5 stars

Book Review — Addicted After All (Addicted Series) by Krista & Becca Ritchie

October 31, 2014 by Aestas · 7 Comments

“I am in desperate love with a girl who desperately loves me back. There is nothing more I want than to experience life with her.”

Buy ADDICTED AFTER ALL (Kindle) — latest book in series, not a standalone.

SQUEEEE!!!!

There’s no doubt about it, this is my #1 Top Favorite on-going series!!! I have loved every single word of every single book so far, and once again, this new book was everything I could have wanted and more!!

This series truly makes you believe in the unwavering bonds of loyalty between family and the strength of love between people willing to sacrifice anything for each other; who want nothing more in life than than to be together. The Addicted series is sexy, angsty, and completely addictive. The characters come alive as you read, they feel like real friends you know and care about. With it’s unique storyline, flawless writing, and compelling characters, THIS is a series that every New Adult romance fan should be reading.

You get a special heart-racing feeling before starting a book in a series you love. That feeling is magnified a hundred times when you know its the last main book about a couple you love. So, all in all, my heart was fluttering all over the place as I excitedly dove into this book.

The moment I started it was like meeting back up with old friends. Everything was so familiar but tinged with the excitement of what was to come. Over the course of this series, the Addicted characters have become such a part of my heart that they feel real. I’ve seen them come so far together — from the highest highs to the lowest lows, and I’ve seen them earn every minute of the happiness they find along the way. But more than anything else, I love that no matter how strongly their love or loyalty is tested, it’s clear that nothing will ever break that bond. These authors have built an entire series around a core group of characters building each other up and helping each other face their battles. It’s refreshing and inspiring.

If you’re new to the series, I’ll just give you a little intro: This is a story that started with Lily Calloway (a sex addict) and Loren Hale (an alcoholic). These two addicts, both fighting so many personal demons, both desperately searching for something outside their grasp, fell in love… and their love for each other gave them the strength and will to battle their addictions, and to strive to become healthy again for each other. For a better future, and for a healthy future. I think the most important thing to remember though is that these are deeply flawed characters. They make mistakes. They are addicts. But equally important is to never let go of the fact that they love each other more than anything. There’s no Lily without Lo and no Lo without Lily. And that love is what gets them through even the darkest times.

Please note: there is no cheating in this entire series.

As I mentioned earlier though. This series should only be read in order so check the bottom of the post for those details. This is NOT the book you should start with. But the review is spoiler free.

This is the kind of series where every single word is important. Each one is filled with emotion. Each one either drives the story forward or gives it more depth. You can just feel how much care went into the writing. These words have weight.

My eyes well with tears… “Against the world, Loren Hale?”

“Yeah,” he nods. “Against the world, Lily Calloway. I’m familiar with that battle.”

I’ve said this before but it’s worth saying again that the core cast of characters in the Addicted series is truly one of the most well developed ones I’ve ever read. There are 3 couples — and individually, that’s 6 friends — and they all have their own unique relationships with each other. Each one of them is thrilling, hilarious, heart wrenching, and gorgeous in it’s own way. Each character is so unique, each couple so distinctive, and the dynamics between each set of characters is absolutely brilliant. This story is not just about the main couples, it’s about friends, family, siblings, lovers and more. Each with their own set of flaws and strengths that play off in each other in different, equally fascinating, ways.

Even though this is Lily & Lo’s book and told from their POVs, just as with each of the other books in the Addicted series, it’s just as much Rose & Connor and Daisy & Ryke’s book. They’re one big unit — a package deal — and each of them has their own moment to shine. Gah! That moment when Ryke went to Daisy and sat on the floor with her, or that scene when he went storming into the meeting, or that epic scene when Connor stood up to Jonathan, and omigosh the whole limo scene too (!!!) and just moment after moment, scene after scene, of pure awesome!

But Lily and Lo are two halves of a whole. They understand each other in ways few other people can. Not only did they grow up together and fall in love, but they’ve battled their addictions together. They’ve each seen each other at their worst and both helped each other get better. Their bond is absolutely unbreakable and you can feel that in every single moment of the series.

“I love you,” he says so empathetically that it tears open my heart. “I understand you. Please hold onto that, Lil.”

I can’t praise the writing highly enough. If I could custom order a series to be written just for me, THIS series would be it. It has everything I love and nothing I hate, and at it’s core it has that wonderful feeling where you know deep down in your heart, that no matter how hard the battle is, they’ll make it through.

By the end, you truly see how Lily and Lo’s story has come full circle as they prove to themselves and the world that their love is and always will be stronger than anything that is thrown at it.

“Lily Calloway,” I murmur, and she finally looks up at me. “I love you.” I don’t even have to say the words before her eyes well with tears. I breathe deeply, my muscles wound tight. Years and years with Lily, my best friend, rush though my veins.

It’s a connection that spawned early on, from chasing her around a golf course and hiding underneath pillows on a yacht. From escaping to a bedroom and playing pretend behind a bar. From shutting out the world until it was just us.

I open my mouth to say more, but it’s hard to put everything to words.

A tear drips down her cheek. “I know.”

There’s a greater message embedded too that most people aren’t perfect and may not fit into the “norm” — maybe they’re too conceited, too shy, too high strung, or too wild, aggressive, or awkward or anything else — but it’s okay to just be who you are. And to be proud of who are you.

“Most people can’t stand me… I’ve realized that the people who can are the ones I love deeply.”

These characters are also extremely open about discussing things which so many people would keep private and I love that. There’s just this complete trust between them all, a lack of judgment, and a genuine desire to make each others’ lives better that is just so incredibly heart-warming.

I say this in every review, but the thing I love most about this series is that it has never once relied on any “stupid drama” or “fabricated angst” to drive it forward. I have limitless respect for the direction that these authors continue to steer the series in. Everything that happens makes sense. Yes, there is angst, and there is drama, but it always feels right for the story and always has a purpose.

The ending was so beautiful that tears were running down my face. The happiest endings are the ones you fight hardest for, and no one fought harder than Lily & Lo. They earned every single moment of their happiness one day at a time. But with each other’s love, and their family’s support, they made it.

“There’s something about her that makes all the terrible parts of me seem irrelevant. It’s love like this that’s worth living for.”

I couldn’t put this book down. From the moment I started, I was glued to the page. Some scenes made me literally gasp right out loud in shock, others had me laughing like crazy, while others had me wiping tears or fanning myself. There’s the perfect balance of everything. And you know it’s a sign that the book is amazing when you read it as slowly as you possibly can to make it last just a little bit longer…

The Addicted series is sexy, angsty, heart-wrenching, and incredibly endearing. It’s addictive, unputdownable, and one of the best character-driven dramatic romances I have ever read.

It’s one of the only series that, each and every time a new book is released, I will drop everything I’m doing to read it without even needing to read the blurb. I have complete trust in these authors. I just hope that they never ever stop writing because I’ll never stop looking forward to whatever they write next.

This series isn’t over yet. There will be two more books coming (Rose & Connor’s POV, and Daisy & Ryke’s) and then the authors teased at the end of this book about their next series and when I saw who it would be about, my heart seriously skipped a beat. It’s going to be absolutely EPIC!!!!! I can’t wait!!! 😀

Series rating: 5 stars!!! I love every book!

Buy ADDICTED AFTER ALL (Kindle) — latest book in series, not a standalone.

Yikes! This review is kinda long. Heh. I thought about trimming it down but decided to leave it. I mean every word and I guess all the gushing makes it pretty clear that I love the series 😉

*** SERIES READING ORDER ***

NOTE: This series must be read in order. These are NOT standalones. However, there are no cliffhangers now so you are safe to start reading. They are all full-length novels. Here’s the full series reading order: Addicted To You, Ricochet, Addicted For Now, Kiss The Sky, Hothouse Flower, Thrive, Addicted After All.

PS: I know it says this one is “book #3” on Amazon but it’s complicated — it’s actually the 7th book in the full series. Basically, the main Addicted series is broken down into 2 sub-series, BUT the stories are all about the same characters so just trust me and read them in the order I listed (which is ALL the books).

Click here for more info on the series & links to all my reviews.

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*** TIMELINE EXPLANATION ***

The first three books (Addicted To You, Ricochet, Addicted For Now) are focused on Lily & Lo and told from their POV with a resolved ending at the end of Addicted For Now — but Rose, Connor, Daisy, and Ryke are all main characters too.

Then Kiss The Sky continues the same storyline but from a different perspective (Rose & Connor’s) and while it focuses on their story, it also continues the journey of all the main characters that we’ve been introduced to. It has it’s own HEA.

The next book (Hothouse Flower) is the same deal but focuses on a different couple (Daisy & Ryke) while continuing the stories of all 3 couples as well. It also has it’s own HEA.

After that, Thrive & Addicted After All go back to focusing on Lily & Lo. Thrive contains their POV during the previous 2 books (which had been told from the POV of other couples). Addicted After All moves forward in time in Lily & Lo’s POV while continuing the story of all 3 couples.

Finally, Fuel The Fire (Rose & Connor’s POV) and Long Way Down (Daisy & Ryke’s POV) will conclude the series.

It is perfectly safe to jump in and start reading this series now. No cliffhangers!

Book Review — Losing Me Finding You by Natalie Ward

October 18, 2014 by Aestas · 65 Comments

I love him. He loves me. But every four years, I lose myself. And every four years, I have to find him. This is our story.

I LOVED this book!! An intense, heart-pounding love story unlike any other I’ve ever read!

I stayed up til 4AM to finish this story. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down even for a minute. The idea of the story was just so unique and it grabbed me from the start so I just had to read it!

The 29th of February, the day I was born.

When I wake up on this day, I’m in a different city, with a different life and no memory of the lives I had before this one. Today is the tenth time this has happened to me. The tenth time I’ve had to figure out where the hell I am. The tenth time I’ve had to try and work out who the hell I am. This is the tenth alteration of the person I am. Each of us has had different lives, different backgrounds and different families. But there’s always been one constant.

Him.

He’s the reason I keep doing this. He’s the reason I spend four years searching. If I’m lucky, I’ll get the trigger and find him quickly and we can spend those four years together before I disappear again. If I’m not, we might get a year, a month or even just a day. Once we got nothing, but that was a choice.

And every time it happens, he patiently waits for me. He says that every time I come back to him, it’s like falling in love with me all over again. I say that every time I come back, I fall even more in love with him than before.

It scares me that one day I won’t be able to find him at all, because when that day comes, I’m not sure I’ll want to keep going. He is my strength, my protector, my one and only constant.

I love him.
He loves me.
But every four years, I lose myself.
And every four years, I have to find him.
This is our story.

My heart was racing from start to finish!! It was pounding. My spine tingled. I had shivers running through me the whole time with the anticipation of finding out what would happen next. Every little hint, every new twist, every emotionally charged moment between them just added to my connection to the story.

I swear, I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough!

The story starts out when Evie and Ben are young children. Even back then, I loved how fiercely protective he was of her. They were just kids but you you could already feel his love for her and as the years went on, his love only got stronger. I just knew in my heart that they were meant to be together. For always.

“I promise I will always look after her.”
And somehow, I know he always will.

This is not what I would consider a paranormal story. I want to be very clear on that. There is no mystical or supernatural element ever mentioned. What happens to her simply happens. There is no explanation ever given and it’s never labelled, but more importantly, there is no reason for an explanation. I’ve thought about this a lot honestly and here’s the thing: If there was an explanation, it would make the story seem unbelievable because it would either be implausible in our real world (and therefore turn it into a paranormal story) or it would seem far fetched… and the thing is that this is a character-driven story. The point of the story is these characters’ lives and their intense, all-consuming love for each other. This is a story about how two people who are forever bound by love make things work in a seemingly impossible situation. The point is their love for each other, not discovering why this is happening to her. And personally, I think that’s a very important thing to remember. This is a love story.

“I love this man and every single thing he does for me, has ever done for me, ever since I was four years old.”

Every word of this story just flows. The writing is fluid and the plot is meticulously crafted so that the story is constantly moving forward with no slow spots at all. The intensity of the emotions just rolls off the page. I felt every word in my heart. The way this author wrote Evie and Ben’s connection and chemistry, the strength of their love, the struggle to regain memories, the impact when they all came slamming back, the missed encounters, the epic reunions, everything was so powerful. There were times when I was reading with tears in my eyes even though nothing sad was happening just because I cared so much and so desperately wanted them to be able to find a way to be together despite their impossible situation.

Minutes, seconds, days, years, this is a story of a never-ending love fighting against time. It’s honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read. It consumed me and took over my life. I loved every word. With most books, if even one scene makes me feel as much as this book made me feel in every scene, I’d consider it a winner. But this book was just a non-stop, heart-racing ride the whole way through.

“Hey, baby,” he says, his voice a whisper. “Miss me?”

There is no stupid drama. It might sound silly to say it but it’s a very important thing to me. The characters are human and do make mistakes (no cheating and no triangles, don’t worry) but their unwavering love for each other is what gets them through.

I loved how real this story felt. With the way that it was written, I honestly just accepted every situation as it was and was genuinely made to believe that these events really happened to this woman.

Some readers have asked me if the story is at all repetitive and the answer is NO. Not at all!! This is not a Groundhog Day scenario at all. I don’t want to give anything away but it’s always moving forward and changing. The author really did a fantastic job with the story development.

Ben Foster is guaranteed to melt your heart. The depth of his love for Evie was so powerful. He loved her unconditionally. His complete devotion to her and acceptance that no matter what, she was the love of his life was just gorgeous. Pure swoon. He protected her, fought for her, stood by her through everything. You knew he’d give anything for her and that there’d be no obstacle he wouldn’t face to be with her.

“I haven’t stopped loving you, Evie,” he whispers. “And no matter what happens or where you go, I won’t ever stop.”

I love the concept of a love so strong that no matter what, they keep finding each other over and over again. The idea that love is powerful enough to prevail over anything is the reason I love to read romance. I am so grateful to the author for stepping outside the box to give us this unconventional and incredibly beautiful book. It was unique, refreshing, thrilling, and this love story will stay in my heart forever.

“I’ll be here waiting for you,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine. “You just have to come find me, Evie.”

Rating: 4.5 — 5 stars. Standalone romance (HEA).

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Book Review — Becoming Calder by Mia Sheridan

September 10, 2014 by Aestas · 15 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review — Black Lies by Alessandra Torre

August 28, 2014 by Aestas · 267 Comments

“If you think you’ve heard this story before, trust me – you haven’t.”

WOW WOW WOW!!!

Black Lies was absolutely brilliant!!! A captivating, intriguing, and mysterious love story with a twist. It was addictive, enthralling, and incredibly well-written. This is one of those books that makes me want to go up to everyone and be like YOU HAVE TO READ THIS NOW!!!

This is one of the most complete love stories I’ve ever read. It’s a standalone with a fully resolved, and heart-warming ending but with the way the story unfolds, you realize just how deep their love truly is.

I know that some of you (like me) are going to be both intrigued but also scared by the blurb but please just TRUST ME. You all know the kinds of things that usually bother me and I promise you’re safe to read this!

Brant: Became a tech billionaire by his twentieth birthday. Has been in a relationship with me for 3 years. Has proposed 4 times. Been rejected 4 times.

Lee: Cuts grass when he’s not banging housewives. Good with his hands, his mouth, and his cock. Has been pursued relentlessly by me for almost 2 years, whether he knows it or not.

Go ahead. Judge me. You have no idea what my love entails. If you think you’ve heard this story before, trust me – you haven’t.

That last line is especially important. There is so much more to this love story beneath the surface.

What makes this story different than it seems? There is a twist. A secret that changes the whole dynamic of the story and it is brilliantly set up. Looking back, you’ll see each of the hidden clues, all the layers of this secret, and it’s so clever the way the author tells you exactly what is happening without ever saying it!

Whether you guess the twist early, or if you know about it before you start reading, or even find yourself completely surprised by it, won’t make a difference. I think this is one of those stories you can enjoy no matter how you approach it because this journey is just as enthralling as the outcome.

In order to keep things spoiler-free, I’m going to tell you as little as possible about these characters because most anything I say (even names) is technically a spoiler. My only comment will be that I found it so refreshing to have such a smart heroine!! Please, when you’re reading, don’t judge her too quickly or harshly. I can honestly say that she’s one of my favorite heroines. This is going to sound odd if you don’t know the story but I absolutely loved the way she handled the situation she was put in. LOVED it!!!

I love stories where the lines are sometimes blurred but the love is unquestionable. You think you know whats happening but then you take a look from another angle and realize that nothing is as it seems. I know the blurb might sound scary to some of you but I promise you that there is nothing stupid or frustrating about any characters’ actions. Once you see the complete picture, everything will make sense.

Black Lies is about people willing to go to any lengths to fight for their love and protect their relationship. My heart was racing as I read. My chest got tight the closer things got to coming out into the light. The layers of secrets and love are woven seamlessly together to create a rich, multi-layered story.

Ok… now, I’m going to be honest. I knew the twist before I started reading the book. I’m not a very trusting reader and with a story set up like this, I just had to know that this was actually a story I’d be okay with. So I found out first. But let me tell you, the moment I found out the twist, I literally dropped everything to start reading immediately. Personally, I felt like knowing in advance made me appreciate the story even more because I knew what to look for and I was able to enjoy the journey rather than worry about the outcome.

For me, the point was not being surprised by the twist, for me it was enjoying the story with the twist as a part of my understanding. I know that I personally loved the book as much as I did because I knew the twist. But every reader is different. I know that many of you love going into books blind and I fully respect that which is why I’ve kept this review spoiler free. But… for those of you who want to know about about cheating, love triangle, and HEA, click this link here for an explanation of the twist.

The way these characters loved each other was absolutely breathtaking. Unconventional to be sure, but all consuming and truly beautiful. I felt like I was left with the strong message that if you never stop believing in it, love will always find a way and it will last forever.

I can’t recommend it highly enough!! Honestly, one of the most BRILLIANT books I’ve ever read!!

I risked losing him.
I risked destroying his life.
I risked saving our love.
Our future.

Rating: 5+ STARS!! Standalone Contemporary Adult romance.

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Top 10 Books That Have Stayed With Me In Some Way

August 20, 2014 by Aestas · 114 Comments

I was on tagged Facebook to list my Top 10 Books That Have Stayed With Me In Some Way… and I wasn’t planning to do it at first because I didn’t think I could manage to only list 10. I guess I just felt like there are so many books I love that I’d feel weird, or even guilty, only naming a few of them because lets face it… I know that all of us have a ton of books we love and adore.

But this wasn’t just asking books I loved or even my “favorite books”, it was literally books that somehow just stuck with me over time so please remember, this is different than a normal favorites list. And, as such, there are 2 books/series listed on it that I’ve never even mentioned before on this blog!

(PS: Thanks Abby C. for the tag!)

Also, I’ve only listed books I’d read prior to 2013 or preferably even way before then. I took this quite literally to mean books that have had a chance to stay with me for a while so even though I have many newer books that have had a strong impact on me, I tried to focus on the ones I’ve loved for longer here…

The Bronze Horseman series by Paullina Simons (My Review) — This is (and I think always will be) the story that has had the strongest and deepest impact on me. It’s the most powerful and epic love story I’ve ever read. And, even though there are many favorite books I love with all my heart and soul, I honestly can’t imagine any other story ever having this strong an impact on me which it’s why I’ve put it on a pedestal as my one and only 10-stars series. It’s absolutely incomparable in my eyes.
Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James — I owe this book for getting me seriously into contemporary romance. I read it back when it first came out as an indie and even though I’d read a few before this and loved them, this was the series that made me go ‘OMG. I want more!’ … For me, and I think for many other readers of romance, this book was a reading life changer. It’s one of those series I could re-read endlessly and it would still make my heart race each time. *sigh* I love you, CG.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer — The vampire who fell in love with the innocent human… This was the first 100% romance series I ever read and I fell in complete and total love with Edward. I think the entire romance world owes this book so much. Not only did I adore this book on it’s own merit but I also love it for the incredible creativity it inspired. So many of my top favorite books today originated as fanfiction of this book and I’m so grateful that this story inspired so many authors to write.
Slammed series by Colleen Hoover (My Review) — Oh gosh, I can still so vividly remember the heart-racing intensity I felt the first time I read this book. That twist!!!! This was still one of the first contemporary romances I’d ever read so I have no idea what to expect and it totally caught me off guard and took over my life!! This was the first book I officially pimped out to anyone who I could get to read it. I even made my parents read it (PS – they loved it!). It was the first book I reviewed — my review was very short but it was something and it inspired me to keep reviewing. But this was the first time I just had to get my feelings about a book out because I loved it that much. And I still do.
Bared To You (Crossfire #1) by Sylvia Day (My Review) — This was the first (and only book) that I’ve ever read straight through and then immediately flipped it right over and started it over again. The kind of relationship that Gideon and Eva have is the kind I most love reading about — characters with a lot of pain in their pasts, who love each other with every fiber of their beings and are doing everything in their power to work together to build a functional relationship. The writing, the characters, the story, everything about this book is just perfection to me.
Thoughtless series by SC Stephens (My Review) — My first rockstar book and still my favorite one!! Kellan Kyle. Holy hell. The things this book did to my heart. The angst was like nothing I’d ever read before. My stomach was in knots. My heart was pounding. I literally stayed up til the wee hours of the morning glued to the pages of this book. Safe to say, it was another life changer for me as a reader.
The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred (My Review) — This was the book that made me fall in love second chance romances. I remember inhaling this book in one sitting. Such strong emotions — such intense emotions — and gorgeous writing. Even looking back now, I can still feel for this story even though it’s been quite a while since I read it so yeah… this one has stayed with me.
Captive In The Dark by CJ Roberts (My Review) — This was the first ‘dark romance’ book I read and it is absolutely still my #1. This book pushed the boundaries of my comfort zones to the very very very limits and me questioning my feelings (and my sanity because of those feelings) over and over again. There was nothing black and white about this story. It was all about the grey zone. Such a twisted and yet beautiful love story. Incredible writing, complex and multi-layered characters, and just this emotionally draining, utterly mindfucking, meticulously crafted story. Gah. I loved this series!
Love Me With Lies series by Tarryn Fisher (My Review) — It’s kind of a big deal for me that I’m listing these books here because on the surface they seem like the polar opposite of the kind of story I love. Interestingly, this series ended up as one of my 5-star top favs. It’s easily the most heart-breakingly dysfunctional love story I’ve read but also one of the most beautiful. People aren’t perfect and this story had a raw honesty to it that just reached right into my heart. And the writing is outstanding. Truly brilliant story telling.
Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3) — Ok, so I’ve never mentioned this series on my blog before because a) I don’t have reviews for them because I read them before I started blogging, and b) the series is kind of a romance and yet, it’s also not. I’d probably classify them as sexy, dark urban fantasy. There are strong relationships and very dark, sexual themes but the whole story is just in it’s own category all together. The world that this author created is entirely, 100% unique and very complex. Gosh, I’ve probably read this trilogy at least 10 times over minimum and it was one of those where the more I read it, the more I loved it. It has Alpha men, strong women, completely original world building but it’s completely unlike anything else I usually blog about. I’ve also never mentioned them because I guess in a weird way, I feel like I need to explain them a little or something (they’re really different)… One day, I’ll re-read and review them but for now, I’ll just add them to this list. (PS: please don’t judge them on their covers. Seriously.)
Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind — This is a fantasy series (like actual fantasy, not fantasy romance) that is another that I’ve read so many times but never before mentioned on my blog since it’s not specifically a romance. There is however a single, strong, unwavering love story throughout all 11 (looooong) books. This series as a whole has a set of very powerful messages which really resonate strongly with me personally and even though this is really not the kind of series that fits in with this blog per se, it’s one of those ones that has always stayed with me.

k, so 11 is close to 10 right?? haha I cheated a little. Sorry! 😉 There are so many other honourable mentions … so many more unforgettable stories. But I’m trying to stick to the rules here. So instead, I’ll just refer you to my favorites list for each of the years I’ve been blogging…

LIST of BEST BOOKS READ EACH YEAR

What about you? What are the Top 10 Books That Have Stayed With You?

I’d love to see your choices so feel free to comment below with them!! 😀

Book Review — Don’t Let Go by Sharla Lovelace

August 1, 2014 by Aestas · 17 Comments

“I loved you,” I whispered. “I always loved you.”

Buy DON’T LET GO (Kindle)

I LOVE LOVE LOVED this book!!! Books like this are the reason I love to read. I absolutely adored it!!

If you love books with intensely strong emotions, that make you feel every word of the story with all your heart, make you go through every range of emotion from laughing out loud to full-on crying, and that have a gorgeous love at the heart of it all that never lets go, then this is the book for you!!

I honestly could not put it down. I literally just sat there glued to my Kindle all day soaking up every single world of this story. I even cancelled my dinner plans so that I could just sit and read without stopping.

This is a second chance romance about a love that remained even after a twenty-six year (!!!!) separation. The hero, Noah, and heroine, Jules, were best friends in childhood, and later on, they became young lovers. He was her first everything and they began to plan a future together. But at seventeen years old, they were torn apart by a event that shattered their world and Noah left town to join the military. For twenty-six years, Jules didn’t hear anything from him. But even with her heart broken, life went on and she married someone else and had a daughter but that marriage didn’t last because her heart still belonged to Noah even though he was no longer there. Then one day, Noah came home… and the secrets that once tore them apart came out into the light as their feelings for each other once again became undeniable.

Ohhhh my gosh, you guys…. that moment when she saw him for the first time when he came home gave me tingles all over from head to toe. My heart stopped. I was completely wrapped up in every word.

Noah and Jules had the kind of connection where you just KNEW that no matter what, these two belonged together. They were soul mates. They had the kind of love that nothing could shatter — no words, no actions, no measure of time. They belonged to each other and nothing could ever change that.

“Everything in me wanted to wind my arms around him and pull him the rest of the way in, to feel his lips come down on mine, but … that was from a lifetime ago.”

This story is also a lot more than just a romance. There are several things I haven’t told you here because I don’t want to spoil the story but there are three twists in particular that added this extra measure of hyper-intensity to the story. I wish I could tell you but I promise it’s best to just discover it for yourselves.

I do want to address one thing because I know that some of you are going to skim other reviews, see this, and freak out a little like I initially did. Ok, so when Noah returns, he’s not alone… he’s brought back a woman that he’s engaged to. I want to stress that this is not a love triangle but I also don’t want to give anything away so just…. please trust me? Please? I promise everything works out. Ok?? — Oh, and the thing I loved most is that it managed to worked out without anyone being the villain. I loved the manner in which the author pulled all the pieces together. It was honestly just perfect to me!

“You aren’t the only one that hasn’t been able to love anyone, Jules,” he said under his breath. “And I’ve tried.”

“Don’t.”

“There’s only one woman that ever fit that bill.”

Noah. Let me take a quick moment to gush about him. This guy. Holy hell!!! Such a total Alpha male. It’s not really highlighted in the book a lot but he actually became a Navy SEAL in those twenty-six years so he’s all kinds of badass. But emotionally, he was just the kind of guy that totally gave his heart over to his girl and wanted to do the right thing by her. And when life took away that control, he lost it… and consequently carried around a lot of baggage and a host of painful memories and unresolved hurt. But what I loved most about him was that despite the pain, he never stopped loving Jules. Gah. *MELT*

“Feel that?” he said. “How do we walk away from that?”

Jules was a really wonderful heroine. What I loved about her was that she was very flawed. She’d made a lot of mistakes in life and throughout the course of this book we saw her go through a really beautiful transformation as she learned from those mistakes and made conscious choices to change. (PS. She didn’t cheat on him, don’t worry.) It was also really cool to see her relationship with her 17-year-old daughter and those consequent struggles. It was such an interesting parallel seeing her on the parental side of a girl who was now the age she had been when she and Noah fell in love so many years ago.

There was this intense push-pull between Noah and Jules as they were faced with all their feelings for each other rushing back so strongly. There were so many unresolved issues to work through so. So many secrets and unspoken feelings that they couldn’t hold back … and mostly, a powerful, forever love.

“I remember everything,” he whispered.”

Some scenes were literally so intense and they would hit me so strongly that just suddenly I’d be crying. Tears would be pouring down my face even when it wasn’t a sad scene. Often, they were even happy tears. I’d just be feeling so much that I felt like I was on constant emotional overload of the best kind.

“I’ve got you,” came Noah’s voice against my ear… “Just breathe, baby, I’ve got you.”

But seriously, the complexity of the situation that’s built is pretttttyyy crazy. It all makes total sense but let me tell you that it is one huge emotional tangle with so many connections and so many different sides. There’s a lot I haven’t told you but this was such a rich, multi-layered story.

It had ALL . THE . FEELS!!!!

There’s actually a quote in the books that says, “sometimes the harder, complicated relationships that you have to fight for are the ones worth something,” and I really feel like that completely represents the story.

It’s quite a fast read despite it being a full length book. I read it in one sitting and there are no slow spots. I pretty much just sat there madly flipping pages til I got to the end. The story just flows.

I want to stress that this isn’t what I’d call a sad book, it’s just very emotional. Honestly, many of my tears (and there were a lot of them) were happy ones! And this book had one of the best endings EVER. The story came full circle in the most literal way you can imagine. Happy tears were pouring down my face!!

You know how Kristen Ashley books have that way of connecting you with the families of the main couple?? Well, this book really did that too (even though the writing style/story is nothing like KA) but the thing I’m comparing is the way the connections between mother/child, father/child, best friends, in-laws, grandparents, best friends, teens, children, etc, were conveyed. Just such gorgeous emotions and such an integral, beautiful part of the story. The deep-rooted bonds of love and family can be extraordinarily powerful and when you have an author convey them so strongly and with this much sensitivity and depth, its really one of the most incredible reading experiences ever.

I highly recommend this for fans of The Sweet Gum Tree. If you’re a fan of that, then you will love this. The story is different, but it had the exact same intensity and “feeling” to it. Absolutely gorgeous emotions!!!!! And it’s crazy because I read The Sweet Gum Tree ages and ages ago and yet it’s still one of my top favorites so it was such a huge treat to find another book that brought back a similar set of feelings while still being a different story. I have a feeling that this book will also end up being a long-time favorite.

I just want to go up to each one of you and beg you to please give this book a shot. You know that feeling? When you just love a book so much that you want the whole world to read it?? Well, this is me shouting from the proverbial rooftops here…. READ THIS BOOK, guys!!!!!! *ahem* Please? 😀

“Don’t let go,” I whispered.
“Never.”

Rating: 5+ STARS!!! Standalone romance.

Buy DON’T LET GO (Kindle)

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