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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HUGE LIST OF NEW RELEASES & BOOK SALES!!!!!

HUGE LIST OF NEW RELEASES & BOOK SALES!!!!!

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Here is a huuuuuuuuuuuuge list of new releases, current sales, and pre-orders!! Happy browsing!!

NEW RELEASES

     
 
    

  • Don’t Make Me Beautiful by Elle Casey. Quote from my review: “A deeply touching, beautiful and inspiring story with a powerful message about the strength of survival and the healing power of love. It’s both heart breaking and heart warming with a strong heroine, a to-die-for hero, and a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading!”  5 stars!! Read my review.
  • A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers. Holy double taboo!! Seriously, we’re talking stepbrother and a deacon!! “Have you ever gone just a little too far? Lexie Banks has… She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.”  <— this is my next book!!
  • All Of You by Christina Lee. What’s this? A tattooed hero who is not only “not” a manwhore, but is actually a VIRGIN??! Holy unicorn! This I must read!
  • Patch Up by Stephanie Witter. This is a brand new release with very few reviews out but I love the sound of it. You can check out the blurb but it seems like it’s about a girl who’se had a rough go of things recently who quite literally collide with her tall, handsome, tattooed TA and “For the first time in a long time, she wants to try and open up to this guy whose dark, intense eyes can’t hide his own pain despite his dazzling smile getting to her.”
  • Broken and Screwed 2 by Tijan. This is the sequel to Broken and Screwed (which is on sale for $0.99) and completes that story. I haven’t read it yet but it’s been recommended to me several times.
  • The Other C-Word by MK Schiller. Ok, this one is from last month but I’ve had this rec’ed to me a few times by readers recently so I’m adding it here. The blurb says that fans of The Secret of Ella and Micha will enjoy it. “Can she overcome her consuming desire for him? Can he make her comfortable with the other C-word…commitment?”
  • In The Fields by Willow Aster. This is rating very highly and seems completely different than anything I’d ever read. It’s a forbidden, interracial romance that takes place in 1971.
  • The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James. Technically this is an older standalone romance I’ve had on my TBR for a while now but it since it just got a new cover (and an included epilogue), PLUS it’s on sale for $1.99 so I’m including it in the new releases list! From the blurb: a fast-paced story about a girl who is tough enough to survive and tender enough to learn to trust in love. 
  • Everything I’ve Never Had by Lynetta Halat. 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.
  • Whispers In The Dark by K.I. Lynn. A short novella with no cliffhanger! Blurb: A power outage leaves Mia Harmon stuck alone in the dark with no source of light except her cell phone. Frightened, she heads to a neighbor to ask for a light. Tristan, the new guy in 7E, is more than willing to help her out. A bad day turns into a night where Mia ends up getting much more than she bargained for.

 

$0.99 and $1.99 SALES

            

  • $0.99 — In The Stillness by Andrea Randall. This is one of my most favorite books ever!! I can’t tell you enough how much I LOVE IT!!!!  It’s a painfully heartbreaking, emotionally charged and beautifully crafted story of love, loss and healing. It’s a standalone second-chance romance and is one of the few books I’ve ever given 6 stars to! Read my review.
  • $0.99 — 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.”
  • $0.99 — Kiss This by Hadley Quinn. Oooohh I’ve got this book on my TBR!! It’s about a girl whose lover was killed and since then has promised herself she wouldn’t kiss anyone she didn’t love. When she meets the hero, he’s the first guy to make her want to disregard that rule and so she makes a bet that he can’t go just one week without kissing her… teehee! Oh, and the hero has a secret! Looks good!
  • $0.99 — Give Me Love by Kate McCarthy. I’ve heard very good things about this! It’s a standalone but there is a new book in the series that was just released called Give Me Strength. Each book is about a different couple. From the blurb: Jared (the hero) is in a business that ‘consults’ in dangerous hostage and kidnapping situations, makes an enemy who’s determined to enact revenge. When his enemy puts Evie in his sights, Jared not only has a fight on his hands to make her his own, but also to keep her alive.
  • $0.99 — Playing For Keeps by R.L. Mathewson. If you’re looking for something hilarious and cute and haven’t yet read this, then you are missing out!! This is an enemies-to-lovers standalone romance that I guarantee will have you laughing!! Plus, it’s only $0.99 ♥
  • $0.99 — Whispers In The Dark by K.I. Lynn. A short novella with no cliffhanger!! Blurb: A power outage leaves Mia Harmon stuck alone in the dark with no source of light except her cell phone. Frightened, she heads to a neighbor to ask for a light. Tristan, the new guy in 7E, is more than willing to help her out. A bad day turns into a night where Mia ends up getting much more than she bargained for.
  • $0.99 — Out of Line by Jen McLaughlin. This is actually a brand new release that’s on an ‘introductory’ sale of $0.99. I haven’t heard too much about it but it looks cute and is rating well.
  • $0.99 — Fall From Grace and Saving Grace by Christine Zolendz. This is a completed rock star romance duet with a paranormal twist for only $0.99 each!! Also, there is an alternate POV book telling the the hero, Shane’s, perspective for $1.50 called Scars and Songs. Read my reviews.

 

SERIES SALES

The Crossfire series by Sylvia Day. This is a must-read series for fans of billionaires, scorching hot romance and tortured heroes!! One of my top favorite 6-star series!! Gideon Cross melts me! The first two are $7.99 and the third is currently $4.99.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. If you are a fan of vampires (and I mean badass Alpha vampires) then this series is an absolute must read! Also, if you are new to the genre, this would be the perfect series to start out with. Each book is a standalone with a HEA and follows a different couple so while you don’t have to read them in one fell swoop, you do have to read them in order because there is an overall story ARC that builds in the background. These books are hot, erotic, kickass and addictive. Highly recommended!!

Regular price is $7.99 each but they are currently $5.99 each for a limited time.


 


SECOND-CHANCE STANDALONE ROMANCE RECOMMENDATIONS 

  • Play It Safe by Kristen Ashley. One of the few books on my 6-star book list, this is a must-read for fans of second-chance romance (and Alpha cowboys). Also, if you’re new to Kristen Ashley books, this would be a great one to test the waters with. Plus, it’s a standalone so you get a fully resolved ending. One of my most favorite books!! ♥
  • Take This Regret by A.L. Jackson. This is another one of the few books that made my 6-star book list. I highly recommended these for anyone who loves deeply emotional and absolutely beautiful second-chance romances. While this can be read as a standalone, there will be a sequel released on September 20th that tells the final chapter of this story. There is also a prequel, Lost To You, which should be read after this book (I recommend after instead of before because you will appreciate it much more if you are already familiar with the characters. But technically, either way works.
  • The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred. This is a bit of a sale alert too because it’s one of my top favorite books and is only $1.49 right now! It’s a beautiful, intense second chance romance standalone. The hero and heroine meet when they are kids and by the end of the book are adults so you really get a deeply rooted, very strong connection between them. I LOVEDIT!! Everyone should read this book!! Read my review.

 

INSIDE OUT SERIES READING ORDER – I’m listing the full series reading order here because I get asked about it so much and it’s fairly complicated as it’s a mix of 3 full length books and many novellas that must be read in order. This series is both an erotic BDSM romance and a mystery. 


 

UPCOMING PRE-ORDERS

    

  • Oct 1 — Red Hill by Jamie McGuire. This is a romance set in the middle of a zombie apocalypse written by the author of Beautiful Disaster. Really and truly, that’s all I need to know. Can’t WAIT for this!! Oh, and it’s a standalone – no cliffhanger! (Release date: Oct 1st)

MORE LISTS

 

Book Review — Don’t Make Me Beautiful by Elle Casey

Book Review — Don’t Make Me Beautiful by Elle Casey

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“I’m no superhero.”
“Tell that to the girl you’re rescuing.”

5 stars!!

WOW!! I absolutely loved this book!!!

Don’t Make Me Beautiful is a deeply touching, beautiful and inspiring story with a powerful message about the strength of survival and the healing power of love. 

It’s both heart breaking and heart warming with a to-die-for hero, a strong heroine and a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading. It touched my heart deeply and reminded me that there are still superheroes out there everyday who save each other. This is easily one of my favorites of the year!

I first fell in love with Elle Casey’s writing with her witty romantic comedy, Shine Not Burn, and when I learned that she’d released a new, more serious romance, I couldn’t wait to try out another side of her writing and let me tell you — I was blown away!!

The story is that of a brutally abused woman, Nicole, whose face has been horribly disfigured after years of beatings at the hands of a man she once thought she loved. She was conditioned to never escape and her body had been broken and rebroken more times than she could count.

Brian is a single dad whose whole world revolves around his son. Things may not have worked out with his ex-wife but they remained good friends and his focus is on living in the moment and hoping that maybe one day, if it’s mean to be, the right person will come along who can complete his family.

When fate crosses his paths with Nicole’s, he rescues her, takes her to the hospital under a fake name and offers to take her home with him to give her a safe place to heal. He might not know anything about her but he wants to help shelter her and help her give her back the life that was stolen from her.

“I’m no superhero.”
“Tell that to the girl you’re rescuing.”

Ok, first of all, despite the fact that this book might seem dark, it’s really not. The base subject matter is grim but I generally found the story to be very heart warming. Because this is inspired by true events, it restored some of my faith in humanity and reminded me that there are true super heroes out there living among us each day.

I was hooked from the first chapter. I felt Nicole’s pain, isolation and desperation. Seeing how happy she used to be and how broken she was now was gut wrenching and I knew I wanted to see her journey to safety and happiness.

“If only she’d known then what she knows now, she would have picked up the nearest weapon and beat John to death the minute she met him. Instead she dated him, moved in with him, and then became his prisoner.”

The things she suffered at the hands of her boyfriend/abuser were sickening. There were no graphic descriptions but just the thought of any human being going through that made my stomach turn. I think a huge part of what added to how chilling it was though was the fact that this was all happening in a normal house in the middle of a suburban neighbourhood. It wasn’t some creepy shack in the middle of nowhere. This was right in plain sight. And nobody noticed!!

“She gave up somewhere along the way out of a sense of survival.”

Brian, was just absolutely to-die-for amazing!!! He honestly might be one of the most heroic and truly incredible people I’ve ever read about. A true hero in every sense of the word. He was the embodiment of kind, caring and protective. He was a wonderful dad, a supportive ex-husband, and just generally the kind of person who just made you feel safe.

When he found her, I just felt such strong relief. He rescued her, saved her, sheltered her and helped her heal. He went above and beyond because that’s just what was in his nature. The world would be a better place with more Brians in it.

“Why would you do that for me? I’m just a woman with a destroyed face and body and no where to go?” …

“No, you’re not. You’re a girl who fell in love with the wrong guy. Your face doesn’t matter, it’s your heart that’s important. And if you can love a guy like that, then I know it has to be twice the size of a normal one. Beside… you do have somewhere to go. You’re going to my place now… you had a few years of your life taken away from you. Now we’re going to get them back… You’re going to stumble, but that’s what I’m here for. Lean on me. I’ll keep you from falling.”

She was scared, terrified even, that her abuser/boyfriend would find her and her instinct told her to run back and avoid the trauma of him finding her after she’d escaped. But Brian would hear none of it. He could see the strong girl hidden behind the scars and was determined to bring back that side of her.

“I need to go back.”
“Bullshit… You are NOT going back there. I don’t care what you say… I’m not letting you go back.”
“You’re not my keeper.” …
“You are your own keeper, Nicole. I’m just your protector.”

That just made me melt. I love that he saw right past her scars. He saw her – the girl underneath it all and was drawn to her. Remember that this is a romance but, given Nicole’s situation and everything she’d been through, that side of the story understandably was slow building for the first while allowing time for healing first. I really enjoyed the pacing and loved that it was never rushed and that they bonded first as friends before anything.

“Scars are your body’s way of healing, making that damaged part stronger than it ever was before the pain.” 

The more he made her feel comfortable, the more the real her emerged. She was such a fun girl! Full of life, a little snark and had the biggest heart. They really were a perfect match and if anyone deserved a knight in shining armour, it truly was her.

But this wasn’t just about healing, this was also about a woman taking charge of her life once again after it had been stolen from her. Owning her life once again. Facing her demons. Seeing the strength that Brian helped her find again and then the rest of the strength that she found on her own was truly inspiring.

This might sound odd to say because it so rarely happens in books but I actually also really loved the relationship that Brian had with his ex-wife. They truly were best friends. They loved each dearly but weren’t in love with each other. It was so nice to see a divorced couple in a book who weren’t at each other’s throats and who genuinely supported each other and wanted each other to be happy.

In fact, every single one of the supporting characters was wonderful — especially Helen (the ex-wife), Agnes (the next-door neighbour) and Liam (Brian’s adorable son). I fell in love with them all in their own way. Except of course John, the abusive monster who, as Helen said, “deserves to be butt raped in jail.”

Another thing that I really loved about this book was that I absolutely respected and understood every decision each character made. Never once did I roll my eyes or want to shake anyone. I’m always very impressed when a book comes a long like this this where I can genuinely respect each one of the characters and where the drama comes from completely external sources. To me that speaks volumes for the strength of the story itself that it’s able to be this captivating without any unnecessary drama.

There was a twist in the last 20% or so that sent full body shivers through me!! I absolutely loved the direction it took the story in and I read the ending with happy tears in my eyes as everything came together. It was truly beautiful and I was left with the most wonderful feeling ever!!!

Don’t Make Me Beautiful is a beautiful, poignant and unforgettable story about survival, healing, and a second chance at life and love. It made me laugh and cry and feel with my whole heart ❤

Seriously, someone needs to make this into a movie!!

Highly recommended!

5 stars!

This is a standalone.

DONT MAKE ME BEAUTIFUL PROMO2

Cover Reveal & Excerpt — FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE (Ten Tiny Breaths #3) by K.A. Tucker

Cover Reveal & Excerpt — FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE (Ten Tiny Breaths #3) by K.A. Tucker

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I am so excited to bring you the cover and blurb from the third book in the Ten Tiny Breaths series by K.A. Tucker! Also, check below for a special excerpt as well! 🙂

FSTL bl

Release date: November 4, 2013

Genre: New Adult Romance

 ❤  ABOUT THE BOOK ❤

Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine year old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.

Twenty-two-year old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her doesn’t need to complicate her life with romance.

 Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.

PRE-ORDER for KINDLE | PRE-ORDER in PAPERBACK

 ❤  EXCERPT ❤

Chapter 2 ~ Charlie’s POV

He’s just standing there, boring holes into my face.

Given I’ve never laid eyes on him before, I don’t know what his normal complexion looks like but I’ll bet it’s not the sickly white pallor that I see now.

Like he’s seen a ghost.

I try to catch Ginger’s eye, to see if she thinks his reaction is strange, but I can’t.

“Sorry…I knocked but you didn’t answer,” she offers in apology. It’s true, she did knock and we waited for close to a minute before entering. I don’t know what he was doing in his office—behind the closed door with a sign that reads “boss man” and pair of lacy underwear pinned to it—but, by the stunned look on his face, we’ve interrupted something. A glance down confirms that his belt is at least buckled.

“This is my friend, Charlie, who I told you about.” Ginger’s long, slender fingers point to me and I force a bright smile. “Friend” sounds a bit misleading, seeing as everything I’ve ever told Ginger about me is a deliberate lie.

I only met her three weeks ago. Her beginner pole dancing class was just finishing up and she stayed on to watch the advanced class. I guess I impressed her because she sat through the entire hour and then talked my ear off in the change room after about how good I am. I took her proffered number with no intentions to call. The next week, Ginger cornered me after class and wouldn’t leave until I went out to lunch with her. Last week, she coerced me into shopping. There’s nothing wrong with her. I’d say she’s in her mid to late twenties, so quite a bit older than me. She has an easy, genuine laugh and a sarcastic sense of humor. She’s persistent, too. I just didn’t plan on getting to know people, seeing as I won’t be in Miami long.  But I guess you could say that we’ve become friends—lies and all.

It’s ironic that we met when we did, actually. By my pole-dancing skills and looks, Ginger automatically assumed I was a stripper. There was no judgement in those bright green eyes when she asked which club I worked at. That’s why I admitted to the few unappealing adult clubs I had applied to and the appalling “interview” at one called Sin City. The one I had run out of. Her pixie-like face lit up, which was not the reaction I was expecting. Then she explained that she bartended at the well-revered Penny’s Palace and offered to get me a job. She asked about my experience and I, of course, lied. I told her that I had worked in Vegas.

I haven’t been back to Vegas since I was six. I have certainly never stripped there.

After my experience with Sin City, I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it. But Ginger promised me that the owner, Cain, is like none other. The way she talks about him, I’d think he holds some sort of ‘boss of the millennium’ award.

But he’s still staring me down.

He hasn’t blinked, once.

I catch the almost indiscernible shake of his head before he offers in a clipped tone, “Charlie. Right. Hi.”

“Hi.” I was cool and confident coming in here, leveraging countless hours of acting classes to ready my wide, friendly smile. Now though, under this man’s steely gaze, I hear the wobble with that one tiny word. I step forward and hold my hand out.

His coffee-colored eyes finally pry themselves from my face to glare down at my hand—without moving—and I fight the urge to retract it. Ginger swore that this guy was first class but… he still makes his money off the sex trade. A lot of things get shaken under this roof and hands are probably not one of them. I never did shake the hand of that slime ball at Sin City—Rick— before he instructed me to climb onto his lap two minutes into my interview. I shouldn’t be surprised by this guy’s reaction.

These owners are all the same.

I take a breath, reminding myself that I’ve handled my fair share of degenerates and can do this.

Hell, I’m a degenerate.

As if snapping out of a daze, Cain finally accepts my hand in his, his coffee-colored eyes locked on mine. “Hi Charlie. I’m sorry. You just…startled me. You look a lot like someone I know.” There’s a pause. “Like someone I knew,” he corrects himself softly. His voice carries with it a smooth, educated sound, which surprises me, given our surroundings.

“Okay, well, I’ll just be at the bar, getting things set up.” Ginger scoots out of the office, closing the door behind her, leaving me alone with this man. I take a few calming breaths. I’m going to throttle her.

I don’t know what to expect now. Ginger didn’t tell me much about Cain, other than that he’s really nice and honest, he treats his employees very well, and if I’m going to dance in Miami, then Penny’s is the place to work. She did say that he sometimes comes off as intimidating but he’s just reserved. And he’s got a lot on his plate, running this place.

She certainly left out details about his physical appearance, I realize, as my gaze skates over his frame to see the well-defined curves beneath a fitted button down black dress shirt and black dress pants. As if that body isn’t enough, his face is flawless—angular cheekbones and a sharp jaw combine to give him a masculine yet almost pretty look. He’s like a sculpture—and about as opposite to Sin City Rick as you can get.

Basically, Cain is panty-dropping hot.

That your boss is panty-dropping hot is an odd thing to leave out of the equation. Cain’s the type of guy that makes you lose your words and your train of thought when he walks by. Except Ginger, it would seem.

But attractive or not, I’m feeling all kinds of uncomfortable right now, as Cain’s hard, intelligent eyes slowly roll over my body, appraising me. Taking a deep breath, I pull my shoulders back. I hold my chin up. I look him straight in the eye. I do all the things I know to do to appear confident. I will not cower under the intense scrutiny. If I’m going to be up on his stage, taking my clothes off for his customers, I can’t be unnerved by this.

And so I stand and let him pass silent judgment while I survey his office, taking in all the shelves, crammed with boxes. Aside from the large desk on one end and a black leather couch tucked into a corner, it seems like a storage room. Looking at him, I’d expect something sleek and tidy.

“Ginger said you have experience?” His tone is more gentle than it was when we first stepped in.

I answer without hesitation. “Yes, one year in Vegas. At The Playhouse.”  I fight the urge to start twirling one of my loose blond curls. I know my tells and that’s one that says I’m lying. Ginger warned me, under no circumstances, to lie to Cain Ford, because he always finds out anyway and it pisses him off when he does. It’s kind of impossible to heed that warning though, given my situation.

Plus, I am a very proficient liar.

And I’m banking on him not doing an in-depth reference check. Short of divine intervention, he won’t find a Charlie Rourke that worked at The Playhouse in Vegas.

Because Charlie Rourke doesn’t exist.

❤  SERIES READING ORDER ❤

Each book in the series is about a different couple and can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading them in order because they are interconnected.

#1 TEN TINY BREATHS
Buy for Kindle | Buy for Paperback | Read my review

#2 ONE TINY LIE
Buy for Kindle | Buy for Paperback | Read my review

#3 FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE
Pre-order for Kindle | Pre-order in Paperback

#4 FIVE WAYS TO FALL
Ben’s Book. To be released Feb 2014. No pre-order yet.

 

Book Review — CAGE (Corps Security #2) by Harper Sloan

Book Review — CAGE (Corps Security #2) by Harper Sloan

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“I have lived a life that makes me know when something is worth fighting for. I took one look at you and knew you were worth it to me.”

If you’re a fan of badass, protective Alphas with huge hearts, this is the series for you!

They are my undoing. They just melt me. Every. Time. And this book is choc full of them!

Cage will have you smiling, squeeing, awwwing and probably drooling! Everyone we’d come to love in Axel is back and this time the spotlight is on Cage and Melissa.

When we first met Cage in book #1, we learned learned that he lost his sister tragically and how losing her brought out the protector in him even more than ever before. While he couldn’t save her, he sure as hell could try and make sure that nothing bad ever happened to the other women in his life and so he stepped into the role of protector quite naturally.

But he had a mission too – to bring down the man who killed his sister and make sure he never hurt anyone again. Unfortunately though, he was too late and that man had already gotten to one more innocent. That was when he met Melissa. As a nurse, Melissa was used to caring for others and herself. She was strong, independent and doing fine on her own caring for herself, her mother and nephew. And despite being attracted to Cage, she also made him work for his victories at first.

“Name’s Greg Cage. Most of my friends call me Greg, some call me Cage, but you can call me whatever you want.”…

“Does that line ever work for you? And why would I call you Cage? Sounds like something you stuff a rabid animal in.”…

“Beauty, you can call me whatever you want as long as you’re screaming it.”

He may have been a big tough Alpha but Meli could certainly hold her own against him. She had no problem saying ‘no’ and wasn’t going to let him push her around but at the same time was smart enough not to keep pushing him away. She knew a good thing when she saw it, she just wanted to be sure about him first.

“This man screams white knight…. I want him to be MY white knight. I want him to save me from me.”

And Cage, well he was smitten from the first time they met but you gotta love his honesty about the whole thing:

“I won’t go so far as saying it was love at first sight, but it damn sure was hard on at first sight. That motherfucker doesn’t have selective taste though, so I can’t rely on that alone.”

Both Cage and Meli had pain from their past to come to terms with but I really liked that they didn’t spend a lot of time pushing each other apart. Granted, they didn’t just fall into bed either – there was an initial cautiousness but they both knew there was something special going on between them and they went for it.

“You’re a good man, Greg Cage. You give me some time, and I might just fall in love with you.” “That’s the plan, Beauty.”

Oh, and yup, he calls her “Beauty”…….. *melt*

But when a bad guy from their past comes barreling back into their lives, threatening everything they hold dear, it’s up to Cage to step full into his protector role and he will stop at nothing to make sure his family stays safe.

Towards the last 20%, my heart dropped!! The ending was intense! I got shivers! Ho-leee fuck, you do not mess with the Alphas. No no no!! Cage took matters into his own hands and teamed up with a biker friend from his past to go save the day! Things got a little dark there and definitely strayed into the more grey moral zone but it was FUN and so totally badass!

Ok ladies, so if you thought Axel was hot, just you wait! Cage takes things to the next level, ladies!! I have three words for you: “Huge, thick, and DECORATED.” Mmhmm *nods* — decorated. Three times I might add!

I really found this book to be pleasantly devoid of what I call ‘stupid’. It was nice to read something that just didn’t make me want to roll my eyes. The road certainly wasn’t always smooth and people did mess up but for the most part, the issues were never too drawn out and I liked that Cage and Meli came out of every hurdle stronger and together.

I loved that despite this being Cage’s book, we still saw a lot of Izzy and Axel and the whole rest of the Corps Security gang. They really were one big family – they had each other’s backs, had fun together, bickered together, fought for each other. Family. Through and through. So much win…

✦ Sway’s glorious glittery antics (he is seriously precious)
✦ Axel and Cage’s Alpha man banter and never-ending TMI (“Never thought I would need a break, but my dick is tired man.”  “Jesus Christ, jackass. Can you not talk about that shit with me?”  “You asked.”)
✦ Cohen and his adorable magical cape of wonders
✦ Cooper and the whole “Don’t say pussy in church, motherfucker” scene
✦ Dee and Beck’s continuing saga (omg I have so many questions!! What is going on there??)
✦ Emmy and Maddox’s maybe-someday drama (*hopes hopes hopes*).

Everything about these guys is just fun to read about. I really love this group and can’t wait to read all their stories! The series should absolutely be read in order however each book is a standalone about a different couple so you do get a full HEA a the end of each one 🙂

This is a definitely must read for fans of Kristen Ashley’s Rock Chick series. While the story here certainly stands on it’s own, the vibes are very similar and if you’re a fan of that series, you will certainly enjoy these!

Highly recommended!

4.5 stars

Casting:

 

 ** SERIES READING ORDER **

#1 AXEL — Kindle | Paperback | My review

#2 CAGE — Kindle | Paperback | My review

#3 BECK — Kindle | Paperback | My review

#3.5 UNCAGED — Kindle | Paperback

#4 COOPER — Kindle | Paperback

Coming soon — #5 LOCKE

 

CAGE PROMO NEW2

Book Review — Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Book Review — Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills

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Why was he my Romeo, but I wasn’t his Juliet?

Hmmmmm…   3.5 stars

I read this one because of all the glowing recommendations I’d received for it. So many readers are absolutely loving this book at the moment and I can certainly see why. It has a lot of the “check marks” for me too — swoony, tattooed hero, a slightly angsty, almost forbidden (ish) tension/attraction between the hero and heroine, and it’s a standalone so you can read the whole story in one sitting. But… it didn’t fully float my boat because there were just too many things that kept pulling me ‘out’ of the story and annoying me — it took the main couple (okay – specifically, the hero) way too long to actually agree to try a relationship, I found the heroine to be too immature for my personal liking in many respects, and I felt the ending was way too rushed. So overall, I did like some of it but it wasn’t a 100% fit for me. I’ll explain further…

The story follows Nora, an 18 year old high school student who is suffocated by her mother’s constant and stifling need for perfection and one day she just reaches her limit. No more good girl, no more playing by the rules. From this point on, she is determined to be as bad as she can be. And it starts at one of her school speeches where she publicly tells everyone to fuck right off (teehee, it was kind of awesome).

This is the first time that Leo sees her and he’s drawn to her. He knows (or rather, thinks) he shouldn’t be because he’s the 25 year old guardian of his brother who attends her school. Besides, he’s the love ’em and leave ’em kind and in his own words has “never met a girl I couldn’t say goodbye to.” Nora is the first girl who makes him want more but their age gap is too much for him to handle and despite wanting her, he refuses to allow himself to give into his feelings.

And so begins the back-and-forth game. She wants him. He wants her. He holds back. She wonders why. And life goes on. He stays with his fuck buddy girlfriend and Nora continues to want him but, since he so blatantly makes it clear that doesn’t want her, she fools around (just fooling around though, nothing “all the way”) with her admirers at school… until finally, towards the end, he realizes the error of his ways and that they might actually be perfect for each other.

Ok so, except for the fact that he kept on rejecting her over and over and over and over again, I actually really liked Leo. The rest of him (minus that element) was absolutely the kind of guy I’d fall for. He was swoony and protective and certainly made my heart flutter in nearly all the times he was around. But I hated that for the majority of the book, he was sleeping with someone else. Don’t get me wrong, he was not cheating since he and Nora weren’t technically together while that was happening but it still really bothered me. A lot.

In all honesty, I did consider putting the book down in places but, at the same time, there were certainly parts of it that gave me butterflies. It was addictive, I have to give it that, and I was curious enough to see where the Nora/Leo side of the story would go that I wanted to see it through to the end.

I found some elements to the story to be over-the-top and Nora’s immaturity had me rolling my eyes on several occasions BUT, something about that first scene where she and Leo connected in the parking lot had really grabbed me and I wanted to know what happened so I kept going.

I will admit though that the parts of the book that had my attention were the Leo/Nora parts, and also the Sebastian parts (he’s Leo’s brother) and there were a lot of in-between scenes that weren’t about them (more about Nora and her school friends). Personally I felt that the story would have been stronger if some of those in-between scenes had been cut down in length.

The message was that “having” physical things isn’t what brings you happiness, that comes from the inside and from being true to yourself. Friends, lovers, following your dreams… those are the precious things in life and sometimes you have to fight to be able to hold onto those.

I will say though that the ending was very sweet. Finally they both admitted and gave into what we all knew from Chapter 2. Despite the fact that it took them 95% of the book to get there, it still did make me swoon because like I’d said, I couldn’t help but be drawn in. But… it was very sudden and basically a complete 180 turn from “we can never be together” to “we will be together til the day we die”.

I liked how passionate they were about each other, I just wish they’d realized it earlier because there was actually only 4% of the book where they were officially “together” and almost 3% of that was a sex scene. So… I just felt it was rushed. I liked the direction it was going in but I wish that there had been more of a focus on them after they got together or at least an epilogue set a few months/years into the future to give us a bit more balance.

Oh, and WARNING — and really, this was my fault ‘cuz I guess should have looked more closely at the table of contents before reading but… the book ends at 84% on my kindle because there are seven previews for other books after it!! It really took me by surprise. So just, be warned… 84% is the end.

Overall I hovered between 3 stars in some places and 4 in others and am rounding it off to 3.5 stars. That being said, this is just my personal opinion. A lot of other readers are absolutely loving it so who knows, you might too…

3.5 stars

VBT

Book Review — COVET by Tracey Garvis Graves

Book Review — COVET by Tracey Garvis Graves

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What if the life you wanted, and the woman you fell in love with, belonged to someone else? 

Please note that novel this is “women’s fiction” and not romance.

When I first heard that the author of one of my favorite books, On The Island, had written a new book, I didn’t even need to know what it was about, I knew I was reading it no matter what. With Covet, Tracey Garvis Graves has once again tackled a potentially controversial topic in a very realistic and relatable fashion. Her writing is vivid and evocative and perfectly portrays each character’s side of the story. With Covet actually being classified as ‘women’s fiction’ as opposed to ‘romance’ though, this was not the kind of book I’d usually read but it was certainly was fun to step outside of my usual genre for a change.

The story is about Claire and Chris, a couple who had been married for several years, loved each other dearly and were building a happy life with their two kids in suburbia. But when Chris was laid off from work, he began to distance himself as it became harder and harder to find new employment. He was a hard worker by nature and not being able to provide for his family was a heavy blow. Despite neither of them saying anything out loud, his distance was pulling them apart and widening the deafeningly silent gap between them.

“I once read an article in a women’s magazine that said it’s a really bad sign when you and your spouse stop arguing. It means that you’ve given up and no longer care about saving your marriage. I hope that’s not true.”

From the outside though, they lead a life of near Stepford-like perfection. But on the inside, they were broken; barely a shadow of the joyous, happy couple who had started a family together.

“We’re the Cantons. Sun-kissed, all-American, picture-perfect. By all appearances, we’re the ideal suburban family. As long as you don’t look too closely.”

Then one afternoon, Claire is pulled over by a gorgeous cop, Daniel, and something about him brings her a few moments of… happiness. They begin a casual friendship and with the stress of Chris’ constant travel for his new job and his continued disconnect at home, she finds herself relishing the small exchanges she has with Daniel – enjoying the freedom that came with being able to have something as simple as a conversation without the worry of saying the wrong thing.

“I realize that these are not the thoughts of a happily married woman, but at the moment I am not very happily married.”

Everything in this story happens very quietly. It moves along at a steady but slow pace. It’s not angsty, but rather shows you everyone’s struggles in a very honest way truly reflecting the real progression of life. There was no grandiose life changing event, no huge trauma, or anything life that. It was all about the subtle changes; little adjustments beyond their control that began to pile up – little mistakes, a lack of communication, and an ever-growing distance.

“I can almost handle that Chris is gone all the time. It’s his job and I understand that. But what I struggle with is that even when he’s home, his time is not his own. The kids take whatever he can give them – as they should – and then there’s me, hoping to lay claim to whatever’s left. But there is never anything left.”

The story is told primarily through Claire’s POV although we also get pieces of both Chris and Daniel’s too. While there aren’t direct flashbacks, we do see the past through Claire’s memories showing us the path to how they got to where they were. We see how passionate Claire and Chris’ love once was and so despite where they had fallen to, it gave us something to hold on to and a place we could hope they’d make their way back to.

But please don’t think that Chris was the ‘bad guy’ here because he really wasn’t. He was stressed out and worried sick leading him to make mistakes – he didn’t communicate, didn’t keep her included in his struggle and didn’t allow them to face it together and as such he pushed her away when his only true intention was to just try and fix things for her and his family. He was a wonderful father and truly loved Claire – that much was never in doubt. He wanted to be the one to give her a better life, and when events outside of his control made that nearly impossible, he just didn’t know how to handle it.

“In all the years we’d been together, I’d never experienced anything quite as heartbreaking as watching the lights of my golden boy fade.”

The whole book had a very quiet vibe to it. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed read, this is not it. You could really feel Chris’ quiet desperation and Claire’s growing loneliness despite the fact that she kept largely quiet about it. There were no extreme acts of any kind but sometimes the silent suffering can feel the loudest.

“I wonder how many marriages are fractured and damaged beyond repair by complacency rather than any single traumatic event.”

I want to address the cheating aspect of this book because it might not be quite what you’re expecting. There was nothing huge that kick-started it — no intense connection, or butterflies, or anything like that. Claire’s friendship with Daniel developed very naturally. She was offered a graphic design job for the Police Department and met Daniel for lunch one day. There was no flirting, nothing ‘wrong’ in their interaction but even just talking to him made her happy for the first time in a long whole. And you know what? For the first time in the whole book (about 40% in), he even had me laughing. He was quietly charming and it felt good to laugh. It was easy to feel why Claire felt more free around him. His presence brought a welcome measure of relief into her life. But ‘one day’ turned into ‘one’ motorcycle ride which turned into days of just spending time together, running errands together, watching movies, talking for hours and becoming more than just friends…  and although there was never any physical cheating, sometimes you don’t need to be intimate for it to count as such.

“Maybe that’s how it starts. You stumble upon something that helps you cope, full a void. Makes you feel something different than what you currently feel. You know in the long run it probably won’t be good for you, but you do it anyway. Tell yourself you can handle it. And before you know it you’re in so deep that you can’t find your way back out.”

With Chris traveling for work for half (if not more) of each week on top of the distance he put between them at home as he struggled to keep up with the mountains of work, the gap between the just kept getting wider and Daniel was there. He was sweet, attentive, and genuinely cared for Claire. He never once pushed her into anything she felt uncomfortable with and never asked for more than she was willing to give. He knew she was in love with her husband and he was fighting his own painful past as well but what they had between them was an undeniable connection and while undefined, they both needed and wanted it.

“I would never cheat on Chris… I still love him. I just don’t feel very connected to him right now.”

Like everything else about this book, the emotional depth deepened quietly. Daniel began filling in the role that should have been Chris’ — conversations before bed, movie nights, fun evenings out, moral support, everything that should have come from a husband and before I knew it, I was torn. I knew what was ‘right’ but I also knew what felt ‘good’. And that was what Claire and Daniel’s ‘friendship’ was – good, but not right.

“There’s a man downstairs who has every right to be in this bed with me, but he isn’t interested. And there’s a man who doesn’t have any right at all, yet he sounds as thought he’d give just about anything for the opportunity. I have never felt more alone.”

Despite what was going on between Daniel and Claire, this isn’t an angsty book, it wasn’t loud or dramatic and isn’t meant to put fear into the readers. Rather, it just portrayed a very believable, realistic situation… something that I could easily see unfolding in real life.

I want to stress though that this book isn’t “about” cheating and again, there is no actual physical cheating in it either. I understand that being physical with someone isn’t the only way you can cheat but the cheating itself wasn’t the sole focus of the story but rather a by-product of the situation that developed.

As I mentioned before, Covet isn’t actually a “romance” per say despite love and marriage being a very central theme. I was told it was classified as “women’s fiction” and honestly that suits it perfectly. Don’t go into this expecting something similar to On The Island because that’s just not the kind of story this is. Truthfully, I wouldn’t normally read this genre but I absolutely love Tracey’s writing and dived into this book blind without needing to know anything more than the fact that she wrote that. For me, she is one of those “if she wrote it, I’ll read it” authors so I’m looking forward to whatever she has coming next!

The ending of this book is very sweet and we’re left with the message that love is powerful, strong and resilient but it needs care, attention and work from all sides to keep it alive. Love also comes in many different forms and sometimes the least expected kinds can end up saving you.

Tracey Garvis Graves has a true gift for taking a potentially controversial topic and making it quite relatable. This is a beautifully written and very realistic story that makes you step back and reconsider every angle. Love, hope, mistakes, forgiveness, all of these are a part of everyone’s lives and I think this is the kind of story that many women will be able to either sympathize with or relate to in one way or another. Claire’s journey over the course of the book could happen to anyone and I think that’s a part of what makes it so powerful.

This is a standalone.

4 stars

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all quotes are from an advance copy and are still subject to change in the final edition. 

Covet is a standalone novel (this is a different cover, but its the same book)
Cherish is a spin-off novella sequel (Daniel’s story)

COVET promo

 ❤  SIGNED GIVEAWAY ❤

Giveaway is Open Internationally. 2 winners will each get a signed copy of Covet.
Void where prohibited by law. Must be over 18 to enter.

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