Tag: college

Posted in New Adult

Dearest Clementine (#1) – Lex Martin

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

22351498Synopsis

Twenty-year-old Clementine Avery doesn’t mind being called bitchy and closed off. It’s safe, and after being burned by her high school sweetheart and stalked by a professor her freshman year of college, safe sounds pretty damn good.

Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out…in the name of research, of course.

As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake…and maybe even her life.

DEAREST CLEMENTINE is a stand-alone novel with two companion novels. This New Adult romance is recommended for readers 18+ due to mature content.

5 out of 5 Stars

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My Review

“Ah, so my book boyfriend is coming over to tutor me? Why didn’t you say so?”

I stumbled upon Dearest Clementine on Amazon and after reading the synopsis and gazing dreamily at the cover, it was an instant 1-Click. Then when I was picking something to read, because we all know how hard it is to choose from the million books we have, I smiled when I came across it on my kindle and I knew I had to gobble it up asap.

For Lex Martin’s debut novel, I LOVED IT! I think I gushed enough…okay, maybe not enough, but I fell head over heels for this book. HARD CORE. The writing is just amazing, its so flawless that you just keep on reading and reading until you are on the last page and wondering just where the time has got to. The emotions that were evoked from me wee constant throughout the book and as a reader, you really want that to happen, to connect with the story, with the words, the characters and I felt like I really did. There is a little bit of mystery surrounding the story too, and that kept me hooked and thinking of different scenarios of what could be happening to certain characters. This is certainly a book I need in paperback, I need to put it on my shelf, so fingers crossed it will be in PB soon. I NEED my hands on it…like yesterday.

Dearest Clementine is about Clementine Avery. She doesnt date, not after being cheated on by her high-school sweetheart. No, she would rather stay closed off, get through college and survive. But when she accidentally signs up for a Romance Writing class, she needs to find material for her assessment. What better than sexy RA Gavin Murphy. He is more than happy to play Book Boyfriend and helps find the inspiration Clementine is looking for.

They grow closer each passing minute and love is just around the corner for them. But they are mixed between the mystery of a missing Boston student and with Clem being a suspected next victim, Gavin does what he has to to make sure she is safe and protected and maybe the best way to do that is the one that hurts the most.

Gavin Murphy. Welcome to the top of my book boyfriend list. Holy Jesus on a pedestal. I haven’t read about a main character in months and months who had my heart fluttering from everything he does and says throughout the whole book. So this makes Gavin utterly irresistible and special in my eyes. He’s a sexy RA majoring in Journalism/English who plays guitar in a band with Clem’s roommates boyfriend and he befriends Clementine on her birthday. This starts the beginning of their friendship.

I don’t even know how to accumulate my thoughts on Gavin because he has actually stolen my heart. He is funny, charming, oh so sexy, and you can see that Clementine has him in a tizzy. He wants to be with her so the only way he can is to be her book boyfriend, to help her write her book and my god does he help her out. He oozes sex appeal wherever he goes, but you know what, he only has eyes for Clementine. He is he utmost gentleman and will do whatever he can to make Clementine see him as more then a friend. He will go slow, he will protect her and he will bear his love for her. There was a small part where my heart hurt because he was pushing her away, and I wanted to slap the shit into him for hurting my girl but then I hated it for doubting him when it all out into the open. I felt so bad that I had been dubious about him when all along it was for Clem. He was the perfect book boyfriend for Clem and he is the perfect book boyfriend for me.

My heart was going ten to the dozen with every single scene is was in. The way he acts around Clem, the words he would say, his actions. He has me head over heels and if you are looking for a new boyfriend, Gavin Murphy needs to be on your list. I just wish he was real. Lex, if you find him, please send him my way, I need a guy like Gavin in my life.

Clementine Avery. She’s a closed off book and she wants to stay that way. He is beautiful but resists all the guys falling at their feet to take her out. She comes from money but she doesnt want it. Her family dynamic is messed up but she tries to ignore that. She is a strong character, she works hard for her money and she is a best-selling author too, under a pen-name, which helps her pay her bills. But now she is in a stump with her romance class and what better way than to take up Mr. Sexy RA’s offer to help her out.

Clem is a sweet girl. She’s been burned by her ex and her best friend, the creepy lecturer she had in freshman is obsessed with her and her family is more than messed up. She’s bitchy, sarcastic and if not a little broken. She doesnt trust easily and has a hand full of friends who know the real her. She hates romance but with Gavin it comes easily. She lets loose, she enjoys her time with him and you can see a change in her. From bitchy and lonely to a girl who has fun and is slowly falling in love. Everyone can see a change in her but she is still protective of her heart, of getting hurt again but she puts her trust in Gavin.

I enjoyed watching the emotions being evoked from Clementine. From her closed off to finally being happy and in love. She started off robot like, not wanting to get close to anyway, being a bitch and just getting through her days, but each passing day, she cracked more and more, until she expressed her emotions, from lust, heart break, love; she went through them all and it made her more human, it made me proud she had opened up, with the help of Gavin and her friends. When you have friends and a boy like that, it’s hard not to feel the feelings rush through you. You will euphoric and seeing Clem like this made me feel like a proud mum.

I loved watching the build up between Gavin and Clem. Watched them turn from friends to falling in love. It was an easy transformation, but one which Clem knew nothing about. As Gavin said:
“Baby, I hate to tell you this, but we’ve been dating” – he leans down to kiss my neck – “for a while”
The build up was melting. I was hooked wanting to know what would happen next and it was beautiful to watch two ‘friends’ turn into something more. It took a while and it was amazing that it wasn’t rushed. That Lex took her time to make these two really see each other to connect to one another and fall in love slowly and breathtakingly.

The secondary characters are just as amazing as Gavin and Clementine. Their best friends are hilarious and you can see how much they care for Clementine throughout everything she has and is going through in the book. They try to open her up, they cheer her up and make her follow her heart. They protect her and will do anything for her. I loved the one game they played over text, and the things they were sending Clementine are just hysterical and I had to wipe away tears because HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THIS GAME, LEX? I so want to play this game, it sounds freaking awesome.

If you are looking for an amazing book, which will have you swooning, laughing, your chest feelings all tingly throughout it with a little mystery, then pick up Dearest Clementine now. You wont regret reading this book at all because its such a freaking amazing book. I cant wait to delve into Finding Dandelion – which is about Clem’s brother, Jax and her roommate, Dani which is out soon!

Now to go find me a Gavin.

Posted in New Adult, Rachel Van Dyken

Ruin (#1) – Rachel Van Dyken

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

18134249Synopsis

I’m not your typical girl. I’ve been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness…until Wes Michals offered to be my light.

I didn’t know that time wasn’t my ally — that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer–each moment as it came–but it would never be enough.

Sometimes when you think it’s the end, it’s only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn’t–I wouldn’t ever be the same.

And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.

5 out of 5 stars!!

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My Review

I’ve had Ruin on my kindle for months now. When I did my Top 13 Books of 2013, my Twinnie had it down as one book and seeing so many people talk about how amazing this book was that when Fearless and Toxic came out, I knew it was time to get to know Weston and Keirsten like many others have.

Can I just say I LOVE THIS BOOK! It is most definitely a 5 star book from me. The banter between all the characters had me in stitches. The emotional scenes had me crying (I wasnt that far in and I was on a train with tears streaming down my face) and my chest hurting and I was messaging Karli Perrin asking her if something drastic happens – i’m not going to say what because its a part of the storyline, but I was worrying, and frightened and needed to know, but alas she wouldnt tell me.

I cant tell you how much I was on tenterhooks just waiting for the inevitable to happen, for the life-changing (okay, many not life-changing, but for the full on shock and sobbing to occur) scene to happen. For me to break down, find out what the hell has been happening and try to remain calm and hope for the best. And when it did happen, yupp you can guarantee I was sobbing. Such a The Edge of Never moment for me!

Ruin shows the journey of Kiersten and Weston. Both have painful pasts. Kiersten has nightmares about death and losing the ones she loves, Weston is harbouring a pretty massive secret, from virtually everyone apart from his family.

But when they meet, Weston helps Kiersten out, making her overcome her fears and in itself, they are both falling for each other yet Weston is on borrowed time. It’s a story about overcoming fears, battling for yourself and finding love, even in the darkest of times. They both ruin each other.

I adored Kiersten. She was so innocent and sweet and I suppose (stereotyping now) that if you are from a really small town, where everyone knows everyone, it would be hard to do anything when all eyes would be on you. I loved how she trusted so easily, how she was naïve to an extent but also how she was a scared eighteen year old who had yet to experience what most teenagers had. But I suppose what she was harbouring is enough to make someone think negativity about life and about themselves.

I loved the fact that although she didnt really understand, she knew love. She knew that any time she had with Weston she would savour it. She didnt have a clue that something was wrong with him but she treasured the little things. She wrote a list down of things to accomplish and that, in itself, shows how brave she is. Some are trivial, some are huge but each other proved she was overcoming her fears. She had such strength in her and especially when everything went down, of course she faltered but I was so proud of the way she handled it all, handled herself, handled Wes. She is one awesome heroine.

Oh Weston. I LOVE this guy!! He is flirty and funny and has so much banter, but you know he is also harbouring a secret. You kind of unravel bits and pieces about what is wrong throughout the book and your heart starts racing. One part involving Wes is the part I started crying on the train. I had to remotely wipe away my tears before getting off at my stop. He is the most loveliest guy and despite being an RA (not quite sure what that is) and with all the ladies loving him, there is something about Kiersten that he is drawn to – although he doesnt date Freshmen, but he cant stay away.

I really liked his strength in front of Kiersten, despite the fact he didn’t feel strong in himself. He helped her get out of her shell, and in return it felt like he was killing himself with wanting her but knowing his really couldn’t. I admired his bravery, I admired everything about him.
He was a cheeky chappy and with everything happening to him you cant help but command him. You feel sick at points, you cry for him, beg for him but through it all, he’s caring and protective and still thinking about Kiersten, and not really himself. (You will understand when you read Ruin) I loved his love for his redheaded girlfriend, and his inspirational quotes about life and fear. It’s no wonder Kiersten fell for him, I would be head over heels for him.

The two of them together? Sweetest couple ever. The banter they have together, the nickname they have for each other. Cutest nicknames ever and very suiting! The way they are together, they way they protect and care and love for each other is something else. And the way they help each other, consciously and unconsciously makes them both stronger as people.

I loved the ‘supporting’ characters – Gabe and Lisa – who were brilliant. They are cousins and Lisa is Kiersten’s room-mate but they become so close and the banter between the whole group will have you in stitches and laughing through tears. Gabe has his own book – Toxic – which I cannot wait to get started with. I adored him in Ruin, the way he protected and cared for Kiersten and I would love to know more of his background and get his own happy ending.

Havent read Ruin yet? I have no idea why it took me so bloody long! But if you are umming and ahhing on your next read, then PICK THIS BOOK UP 🙂

Posted in Cover Reveal, L.M Augustine

COVER REVEAL: Two Roads – L.M Augustine (+Giveaway)

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth




Two Roads by L.M. Augustine

Release date: August 26th, 2013

Category/Genre: New Adult Romance
 
Blurb:
 
The only person poetry-loving Cali Monroe hates more than herself is Logan Waters, the geeky kid who lives in the dorm building next to hers.

Ever since Cali’s parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better–and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. It doesn’t hurt that he’s part of the reason her brother is dead, either. So Cali hates him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.
 
But when Cali’s parents set them up on a blind date, she begins to realize Logan might not be as boring as she always thought. He shares her love of poetry, takes a sadistic pleasure in making fun of crepes, and he makes her blush when he calls her smile pretty.
 
And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren’t that obnoxious after all…
 
Add it on Goodreads!
 
 
 
Follow the author:


~Cover designed by E.M. Tippetts Book Designs~
 
 
Giveaway:
 
Posted in Book Tours

BOOK TOUR: Indelible – Bethany Lopez

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Indelible Tour buttonToday is the tour stop on The Book Lovers for Indelible – Bethany Lopez. I will be giving you my review of the book.

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17855632Synopsis

After a year of partying, Sam decides to buckle down and focus on college. Things are going great until a one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. Raising a child while going to school isn’t easy, but Sam is determined to be strong for her daughter. She doesn’t have time for guys or relationships, and takes great care to protect her child and her heart.

Judd doesn’t fit the mold of a college ballplayer. His long hair and tattoos may fit the life he’s created for himself, but baseball is the one thing he takes seriously. When he meets Sam, he’s immediately drawn to her curves and refusal to put up with his crap. When Judd learns the truth, can he handle the responsibility that comes with loving a single mother?

Sam yearns for the fire that Judd fuels in her, but her child’s needs have to come first. Can two people at different stages in their life find a way to make a life together?

3 / 5 stars

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My Review

Indelible is the first book I have read by Bethany Lopez. I do have the Friends and Lovers trilogy on my Kindle but I have yet to get to it. When I had see this book on GR and read the synopsis, I just had to add it to my TBR list and when I saw there was a tour for it, I really wanted to be a part of it.

I actually read the book in a day. It was an easy read, I pretty much flew through the pages. Bethany writes with an ease, a way in which you don’t stop reading and suddenly you are right at the end, wondering where the time has gone because it only felt like a few minutes since you started the book.

The reason for my three stars is due to my confusion. It probably is crystal clear to other people but my confusion is over the timeline of the story. When everything happened. Was it over a few weeks? Especially when Judd was meeting Sam’s daughter, Karrie for the first time. After everything Sam said about not introducing anyone to Karrie or letting them know about her because she didn’t want guys coming in and out of her life, she certainly introduced Judd to her so soon. Or was it so soon? To me it was, but perhaps to you, it was weeks later. See, I couldn’t get my head around the timeline.

The other fact was the insta-love. One minute Sam doesn’t want anything to do with Judd then the next it’s all rainbow and glitter. But I dont read a lot of books about insta-love so is that what is it?

But despite all my confusion, I did enjoy the book. I liked the strength of Sam – the young mother. The single young mother, whom not only has to care for her two year old daughter, Karrie but she takes classes and is determined to become an art teacher. I was in awe of her, at juggling her daughter and school but she did a great job in doing so. Add in trying to have a relationship too, and you just felt so proud of her for everything she has accomplished in her life. It must be so hard to be a single mother, but she was brilliant. She had help off her parents and her friends so it wasn’t like she was alone in raising Karrie.

Bethany really showed us (Who have no children) just how it is like to deal with a two year old. The tantrums, the tiredness, the not knowing what is wrong with your child. It really puts into perspective just how hard it is for single mothers/fathers bringing up their child(ren) alone. I applaud every single parent out there.

There is a point near the end where i was so proud of Sam. For doing what she thought was right for her and Karrie and for Judd too. She was so courageous in what she did despite the hurt it caused her but what she did was the right thing to do no matter what either of them wanted to do.

Judd was pretty much amazing too. Not your typical baseball player, he has long hair, tattoos and a motorbike yet baseball is something that he cherishes and its important to him. You see him go from a bit of a player to falling in love and being responsible. One night he spots Sam in the local bar with him friend James (a girl) and he knows there is something about her. But she rejects him. The second time is much more nicer and that’s when he wants something more with her. Something that isn’t just a onetime thing. Despite not wanting a relationship – the same as Sam, they pretty much fall into one. As someone who doesn’t read a lot of insta-love stories, I just couldn’t really get my head around the fact that neither of them wanted a relationship yet it ended that way pretty damn fast, but who am I to say what is right or wrong?

He is a sweetheart when introduced to Karrie and you can instantly see how much she will and is becoming a big thing in his life. He treats her with respect and plays with her and you just fall in love with him that little bit more over the fact that although its not his kid, he treats her like his.

Although I didn’t understand why he went from not wanting a relationship to wanting one, I could see him transform throughout the book, as I’ve already mentioned. He turns into someone who is extraordinary. Who is always there for Sam and Karrie and always will be. It was actually really nice to see.

There is a twist in the book that I actually didn’t even guess and I suppose you might not either. But I was so proud of the way Sam and Judd handled it. Albeit they were both angry, they spoke about it, and dismissed this person right away for the way they acted. It was very brave of Judd to do that.

Molly and James – both Sam’s friends were such great characters. They were funny, gave great advice to Sam and Judd (James did) and were there for the two of them, especially little Karrie who was a doll. It’s great when you have friends who will support you and be there for you when things get tough, especially when you have a kid to look after too.

Although I did give this book 3 stars, it is a cute love story. A love story about finding someone who won’t disregard you because you have a kid, who will change because they have found that one they want to spend their life with and the one who will treat someone else’s kid as their own.

Judd and Sam and Karrie are such a cute family that it’s hard to not love the three of them.

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Follow the tour here
http://wp.me/p20ttU-1Na

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Posted in New Adult

One Tiny Lie (#2) – K.A Tucker

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Tucker_One Tiny Lie coverSynopsis

Livie has always been the stable one of the two Cleary sisters, handling her parents’ tragic death and Kacey’s self-destructive phase with strength and maturity. But underneath that exterior is a little girl hanging onto the last words her father ever spoke to her. “Make me proud,” he had said. She promised she would…and she’s done her best over the past seven years with every choice, with every word, with every action.

Livie walks into Princeton with a solid plan, and she’s dead set on delivering on it: Rock her classes, set herself up for medical school, and meet a good, respectable guy that she’s going to someday marry. What isn’t part of her plan are Jell-O shots, a lovable, party animal roommate she can’t say ‘no’ to, and Ashton, the gorgeous captain of the men’s rowing team. Definitely him. He’s an arrogant ass who makes Livie’s usually non-existent temper flare and everything she doesn’t want in a guy. Worse, he’s best friends and roommates with Connor, who happens to fits Livie’s criteria perfectly. So why does she keep thinking about Ashton?

As Livie finds herself facing mediocre grades, career aspirations she no longer thinks she can handle, and feelings for Ashton that she shouldn’t have, she’s forced to let go of her last promise to her father and, with it, the only identity that she knows.

5 /5 stars

My review of Ten Tiny Breaths HERE

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My Review

Because you’re not a one-night girl, Irish.” Leaning in to place a kiss on my jawline, he whispers, “You’re my forever girl.

*Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy in return for an honest review*

I bloody well loved Ten Tiny Breaths, as you can see from my review, so when I found out Livie was getting a book that was the GREATEST news ever. I literally could not wait for it because I wanted to see how Livie’s life would pan out and if she too, would find love and her obstacles in her life.

I was not disappointed in this book at all. When I picked it up, it was demolished in a matter of hours (not counting how I had to put it down to work) but I was just drawn into Livie’s life, wondering how it was going to end up, wondering about Ashton’s too. You really do feel for Livie and Ashton and that is why I love K.A Tucker’s style. You get sucked in, you have all these feels and you feel the same as the characters you are reading about. It’s hard not to.

Ten Tiny Lies is about Livie and her going off to college. Kelsey’s worried that Livie is going to crack and so she recruits Dr. Stayner to help Livie out, in his obscure ways.  Although Livie doesn’t want his help, she humours him and in the end, she talks to him every Saturday, doing everything he tells her to.  In turn, when she goes to college, she lets her hair down. She drinks, she makes friends and of course, she falls in love. And as I’ve said, not without complications.

Everything in her life is tipped upside down, she has no idea what to do because it’s the only thing she’s ever known. Just what is Livie going to it?

We first meet Livie in Ten Tiny Breaths. She really is the glue to her and Kelsey, especially after everything Kelsey did and went through. She is strong willed, she’s smart, she’s shy and she has her future all mapped out, she has since she was a little girl. But despite all this, she has yet to ‘crack’ under the pressure of everything and she is too grown up for her own good. Kelsey wants her to crack, to act like the teenager she is and to not just focus on looking after everyone, she needs to let loose a little, live a lot and find herself. Enter Princeton, new friends, a lot of alcohol and a whole lot of complications. What is Livie meant to do? Everything seems to be falling apart right under her.

You really do see Livie grow throughout One Tiny Lie. She is definitely a straight and narrow girl, hating to go off track and not knowing what is going to happen, but Princeton is slowly changing her and its scary. She wants to change but at the same time she doesn’t. It’s all shes wanted and known since she was a little girl. What is she to do if she can’t be a doctor?

I loved her journey though. She finds out who she really is, lets loose and lives a lot, makes new friends, gets drunk and gains a new crush in the form of Ashton.  But Ashton is just a little bit broken. Livie has always felt empathy towards people, feels that she can help them in some way and she really did want to help Ashton out, no matter how many times he seemed to push her away. Her determination to ‘free’ him is what I loved about her and she really does find who she is at the end.

Her journey takes her from a straight A’d student to a woman. We watch come out of her shy shell and transform. We see her develop strong feelings for Ashton, watch her deliberate over what the hell to do and literally change her life. Her lifestyle changes, her career prospects change and admitting that out loud is so scary she doesn’t want to, but she has to. She takes babysteps with the help of the amazing Dr. Stayner (What a babe) and he helps her every step of the way with his crazy ideas. But he always makes her see that whatever she does, her dad will always be proud of her.

Dr. Stayner makes Livie understand that you don’t need to plan every single detail of your life, that you should just let things fall into place. Life carries on regardless of if you plan it or not. He really was the father figure that I think Livie needed at that crucial time in her life.

From the get go I was infatuated with Asthton. There was just something about him that I was drawn to – from the way he overpowered Livie to stealing her Jell-o shot and kissing her. HOT HOT HOT! The cocky little bastard that he was. This is the start of a very complicated and back and forth ‘relationship’ between the both of them. They had the chemistry from the first moment but despite Ashton’s cockiness and smugness and flirtiness, he’s pretty damn broken up inside. He’s not ‘free’, and everything he does is a front he puts on in front of his friends and everyone in college.

He hides his private life away, not sharing anything with anyone yet he’s strong, and loveable and you cant help but want to smother him with love and help him through everything. To be the one to free him from his shackles.

He has everything you would want. A great car, goes to a great school, money but there is just someone that he wants but he just cant have her – Livie. No matter how many times he pushes her away, he cant let her go – he’s torn between telling her that she should be with Connor and wanting her to himself. But he’s hiding a massive secret from her, a secret no one, not even his best friend Connor, knows about. See what I told you about the fact that no one really knows anything about Ashton.

But bit by bit he kind of needs Livie to be his reason to be free, to breathe again, and hes there for her as much as she is for him, despite her not fully understanding everything. When you find out the reason why they cant be together, your heart will ache for Ashton. I cried and it pained me that he went through all of this and is still continuing to.

When everything does come out, my heart bled for Livie and Ashton. It was time for Livie to put herself first and take a time out, focus on exactly what she wanted in her life, and if she wanted Ashton in it or not. Her decision was not taken lightly but you could see why she chose what she did in the end. It was courageous of her and of course, she loved Ashton and she really needed to know the truth from him now. Before she fully ‘took’ him back.

They were both exactly what the other needed.

I’m going to mention Connor, as he’s in the synopsis but I really didn’t click with him. He was definitely a safe option for Livie and although he did seem to really like Livie, he just wasn’t really there for her throughout her confusion over her career, her failing grades and I just couldn’t understand why a boyfriend wouldn’t be there for his girlfriend. Thank god she had Ashton around to comfort her and be there for her. She made the right decision.

I was so glad to see Kelsey and Trent and everyone else from TTB cameo in One Tiny Lie. I had missed them so much and although we obviously see Kelsey more – still LOVE this girl and I still love the comments she comes out with, we get to see her and Trent all lovey dovey, which is exactly how we love them!! They deserve so much happiness after everything they have been through. Livie leaves Kelsey in the dark about everything until Livie cracks and returns home after that one revelation one night and tells Kelsey everything. It was so nice to see the two of them bonding and just being the amazing sisters we know them as.

In my opinion this is really what One Tiny Lie is about. Breathing again, freedom, finding who you truly are and being okay with that, with the changes in your life and falling in love and being loved back. Livie and Ashton complete each other. They show each other how to love and how to live and how to free themselves from everything holding them back. They both stole a piece of my heart and I really do hope that they get to be a part of book three – Cain’s book – because I would love to know what happens beyond the end for the two of them.

Please, if you have yet to read Ten Tiny Breaths and One Tiny Lie, grab your copies. These books truly deserve to be read and Ten Tiny Breaths was on my top 10 favourite books of 2012 and would I ever lie to you about great books? No!

Posted in Book Tours

BOOK TOUR: Fall from Love – Heather London

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

FallFromLoveTourBannerToday is The Book Lover’s stop on the Fall From Love book tour. I will be sharing my review with you.

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17695128Synopsis

Struggling to put her life back together after a tragic mountaineering accident kills her college sweetheart, twenty-one-year-old Holly Treadwell is trying to set aside her grief, forge ahead in school, and find herself again.

When Carter Hansen, a guy who brings back horrible memories from the night of the accident, finds his way back into her life, Holly’s unsure if she should let him in. He terrifies her in more ways than one and invokes feelings in her that she thought were buried forever. Regardless of her fears, she knows she must face him in order for her heart to heal.

Everyone tells Carter that what happened on the mountain that night was just a terrible accident, but even then, he can’t help but carry around the guilt and is unable to forgive himself. He’s drawn to Holly and being near her helps ease his conscience and gives him the release he needs.

As Holly and Carter’s relationship grows, they begin to realize that the more time they spend with one another, the more their wounds begin to heal—her grief and his guilt. But when Holly learns the details about the night of the accident—what everyone has been keeping from her—it will rip open old wounds and tear apart what they’ve both worked so hard to overcome…

4 /5 stars

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My Review

If Holly could rewind that night, she would have never let college sweetheart walk out the door. That night changed everything and since her boyfriend died after a tragic mountaineering accident, she is struggling to put her life back together. With the help of her best friend Jenna, she is trying to put her grief aside and get on with her life. But it’s just hard.

Carter Hansen was with Holly’s boyfriend the night of his death. He brings back horrible memories from that night but he finds a way back into Holly’s life. He just wants to know shes okay and he wants her to know the truth about that night too. Although she doesn’t want anything to dowith him, the more time they have to spend together, the more they become friends. He evokes felings in her she thought she’d never feel, but shes scared.

Carter has seen more death in his life than he should have and even though everyone tells him that night wasn’t his fault, he can’t help but feel guilt and he can’t forgive himself. He needs to forgive himself but he needs Holly to understand the truth of that night first.

What happens when their relationship grows, their wounds begin to heal but Holly finds out about that night? That everyone knew apart from her? Will it tear Holly and Carter apart?

When I saw Fall From Love was having a tour, I literally signed up that very moment. I had read the synopsis and had wanted to read the book asap. As soon as it was gifted to me, that was it. I HAD to read it. I was pulled in from the very first page and from then on, I was sucked in and had to get to the end, to know what was going to happen and see the journey that Holly (and Carter) take, along and together.

Ms. London has a way in which she captivates you within the fiction world. She wrote characters in which you care for. You feel for them, whether it’s to smack them across the head, cry for them, want to give advice or want to be their friend, I felt this way with Holly. Wanting to help her through everything she was feeling, wanting to get her to open her eyes, but then I felt the same with Carter too.

You really do go through the motions. You cry, laugh, swoon, want to beat them around the head, want to shout, throw your kindle down, have your own heart aching, but I love these emotions. It made the book and the pain of what Holly and Carter had been through real.

Carter – I loved him. I can’t reiterate how much I loved reading about him. He’s broken, having known so much about death in his 22 years. He has guilt pouring through him, he has pain pouring through him and since that night of Adam’s death, all hes wanted to do was protect Holly. His caring side showing through. Wanting to make sure she was okay, wanting to save her really from the grief that overtook.

Although consumed with pain, feelings shone through Carter. Feelings that he didn’t really understand but feelings that he welcomed, even if he couldn’t share them. He was a great character, he was funny and sweet and vulnerable too.  You wanted to help take away the pain, be there for him, be his friend, be his girlfriend. Help him through the night of Adam’s death that he held onto so badly.

But he was a dipstick at times. He wanted Holly, he wanted her more than a friend but he was scared. Scared of losing her, of losing her if things didn’t work out and scared of telling her the truth. You just wanted to smack him across the head and tell him that Holly wanted him too and to just go for it. You could see the confliction go through him. He had lost so much and if he lost Holly too, it would kill him. The journey he takes, you see him forgive himself, fall in love and revert back to his old self, the person who is happy and loved up. It was a great sight to see.

I loved Holly and her journey. You see her retreating, and rightly so when her boyfriend Adam dies. You see the pain, the grief, the longing for him to be there with her. She just can’t get over the fact that one night he was there, and the next he was gone. Ripped from her. Her pain eats her up.

Her journey is a tough one. She takes it day by day. Some days are good, some are bad, but she proceeds to try and get over her grief with the help of her best friend Jenna and Carter. You see her become stronger day by day, fall in love with Carter, but shes petrified of her feelings. Her feelings for Carter and scared about losing him, as he is too.

There is such a strong connection between them, that they try to ignore it, but they both feel it. With the help of loved ones, she finally breaks down the barrier she has up, she lets go of her pain and the grief she holds onto and although she will always love Adam, she loves Carter. When a certain situation happens, you see just how much she loves him, going to him, waiting for him and showing him that he won’t lose her.

I loved watching her grow, loved watching her become herself again, finding herself, finding love and becoming the strong girl she used to be.

There love was a slow build up. From friends, to best friends, to lovers. It was great to see their relationship move slowly, getting to know one another, falling in love over time. Nothing was rushed, it was taken at a steady pace and even though there were so hiccups along the way, everything turns out fine in the end. Everything is sorted out and they finally succumb to their feelings, after shying away and hiding them for so long. Afraid to change what they had together.

My favourite scene includes Carter and Holly. It involves a night when Carter is mountain rescuing and Holly is freaking out. I’m not going to say anything else about what happens, but it’s a pivotal point between these two and one that changes their whole relationship. For the better or for worse? That is something that you need to read to find out yourself 😉

Jenna and Josh (Carters bff) are amazing secondary characters…okay they aren’t so secondary as they are literally a foursome, they all do everything together. They are so cute and funny together, you can see the love they have for one another and for their respecitive best friend. Jenna is awesome, she is always there for Holly, through thick and thin and she will do whatever she can to make sure Holly can get through Adam’s death and slowly convert back into the old Holly, the one who was full of life. She’s there to help her heal. Josh is the same with Carter. Carter and Josh have been best buds since they were little and have been through so much together. Both friends just want to see their friends happy….with each other as its obvious that Holly and Carter want one another. They say the best things to push them together and I loved Josh and Jenna, together, in their relationship and as friends to the two.

Fall From Love is an emotional journey. A journey of grief, friendship, love and overcoming your past to focus on your present and future. It truly was a great book to read, and I would recommend it to all you lovely people to grab your copy and become engrossed within the story of Carter and Holly. It’s definitely real and heart-clenching and a book that should be read by everyone.

Posted in Book Tours

BOOK TOUR: Bitter Angel – Megan Hand

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Bitter Angel Tour Button

I’ts The Book Lovers stop on the Bitter Angel Tour and I will be giving you my review of this amazingly brilliant book.

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Attractive young womanSynopsis

Torn between two realities.
A choice that will mean life or death.
But she won’t know anything… until she wakes up.

College sophomore, Lila Spencer lived Friday night twice. She doesn’t know how or why, just that she did. As if she split in half and went in two different directions.

Out clubbing with her friends, Heather and Nilah, the girls rock it out and party hard. What begins as an innocent night will lead to a deadly fight for their lives, and Lila might be their only chance for survival.

In bed with her boyfriend, Jay, Lila is safe and warm as she drifts to sleep in the arms of the man she loves. Until she is sucked into a horrifying nightmare of her friends’ deaths.

As the sunlight warms her face on Saturday morning, the two scenarios collide. But there can be only one outcome. Will she wake up in her warm bed with Jay by her side, devastated and grieving for her friends? Or was she there to save them?

The answer is just the beginning.

5/5 Stars

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My Review

College sophomore Lila Spencer has lived Friday night twice. One where she is out celebrating her friend’s birthday downtown and another where doesn’t go out and stays in with her boyfriend Jay.

She doesn’t know how but it’s like she was split in half.

Out clubbing with her friends, what starts off as an innocent night ends up with the girls lives in danger and it’s down to Lila to try and save them all.

In bed with her boyfriend Jay, Lila is save in his arms but once asleep she is sucked into a nightmare about her friend’s death.

Completely freaked out about the two dreams when she wakes up, which scenario will be true? Will she be grieving for her friends while she’s tucked up with Jay? Or did she save them?

The emotions I felt through this book… I can’t even put words to it. If you are looking for a fluffy romance novel, then this is NOT the book you should read. If you follow me on Twitter, you would see just how affected I was reading this book (It was a few weeks ago now though). It pulled at my heart strings, it made me feel sick to the stomach but I couldn’t stop reading it. I had to know just what in the hell was going to happen.

As a debut novel, Megan Hand has written such a fantastic story. Not only is it powerful, but what happens in the book really does go on everywhere. (I’m not going to tell you what it is, as it’s a major spoiler) Just trust me when I tell you that this is a book you definitely have to read. I know I say this for every book I read but this one is completely out of my comfort zone. I had no idea it would be that far out of my zone when I started it, but I am really glad that I did. Although it’s part of the tour, it was on my TBR list before I signed up.

I wasn’t even that far into the book when I had to stop at a certain chapter. It got too much and my stomach was in knots over what I was reading. As I’ve said, it’s not the usual book i tend to read (Even thought I thought it would be angsty then HEA – my love) and it horrified me to know that this actually does happen out there. (I know I’m talking in riddles, but I don’t want to spoil it for you) and that there are some messed up people out there. I felt sick reading her ‘dream’ and was hoping and praying that Lila would get away and save her friends.

I was crying my eyes out with sadness over the pain of the situation, knotted up whether anyone would help her get away. Oh, I can’t tell you how scared I was reading it. It was too much for me but I powered through. This all happened within the first 25% so you can imagine what I was like for the rest of the book!

Lila, the heroine, is a strong character. She’s gobby and stubborn and sarcastic but she loves with everything. She loves her friends and her boyfriend Jay and would do anything for them – anything to keep them save and out of danger. Her dreams really mess with her head and you can see just how scared she is that both scenarios seemed to ‘happen’ and felt so real to her. Once Lila has a thought in her head, she can’t let it go, she has to go through with it and that’s what she does.  I did admire her. She was putting her life at risk to save her friends and other people in the long haul and at times I was shouting at her to stop being so stupid and to wait for Jay to come back, but as I;ve said, when Lilah has an idea, she didn’t back down and it got her into danger more than she’d like to be in.

I really liked Jay.I am a sucker for romance and even though this book isn’t filled with hearts and flowers, Jay is a sweetheart. You could see that Lila is his everything. That he loves her with everything he has and just wants to be with her. He hates living so far away from her for university and it kills him. Lila is his ONE. You really feel for him when Lila is frightened out of her mind and its scares the hell out of him not knowing what is wrong. I loved that when he heard her dream and her plan to stop it, he stuck by her, even though he was cautious about it, and went with her to help her out. Although he got angry at her, he understood her reason for doing what she had to do but he didn’t like it. You will see Jay love Lila, help her out, do the best he can to protect her and even save her. Everything he did for her during the book was down to his overpowering love he has for her. I understood everything he did was for her safety but in the end, he gets Lila forever. And that’s all he really wants.

I can’t really tell you how much more that this book touched me. It was powerful, it was haunting, it had me crying my eyes out, but it also had me smiling at the love the characters had for one another. How close they are, how much they were there for one another. This isn’t like a normal review from me, because I don’t want to spoil the plot. I WANT YOU to read it yourself, and hopefully understand why I didn’t spoil it for you. If you’re an avid follower, you know I read angsty books with a HEA. This book is so much more, and as I’ve said, well out of my comfort zone, but I will definitely be re-reading it. It had that much of an impact on me.

Megan Hart, I love you and Bitter Angel. This is one hell of a great debut and I hope everyone wil give this book a chance. It should be read by everyone and it is definitely on my FAVOURITE list!

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You can follow the tour HERE

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Posted in New Adult, Suspense

Breathe Into Me – Amanda Stone

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

16222687Synopsis Eighteen year-old Kelsey Rien is more than ready to leave her past behind her. Wanting nothing more than to walk into a room without everyone knowing the horrific details of an event that changed her life six years ago, she vows to concentrate on school and make something of herself. But then she meets Kane Riley – the local bad boy. Kane’s reputation is far from perfect, but is there more to him than what everyone else sees? Kelsey soon learns that you can’t run from your past, no matter how hard you try. When her nightmares find her once again, Kelsey must find the courage to face the demons that have been haunting her and save the people she loves most. 4 / 5 Stars add-to-goodreads-button3 ——————————————————–
My Review

Six years ago, something horrific happened in Kelsey Rien’s life. It changed her world upside down and changed who she was. As it would anyone who went through what she did.

For those six years, she has wanted nothing more than to just walk into a room and not have people know her history. Now eighteen, she and her best friend Jesse leave their small town behind and leave for college, away to a state where no one knows her and she can try to leave the past behind.

She never expected to meet Kane Riley, the resident bad boy. His reputation is anything but perfect yet there is more to him that meets the eye that has Kelsey intrigued by him. He’s nothing like his bad boy persona, yet everything still thinks he is. Has Kane really changed? He has some demons he’s fighting too.

Still battling her demons and her nightmares, Kelsey realizes she can’t run from the past, but opening up to Kane is the first step. But when her demon’s come to haunt her, she must face up to them and save the people she loves the most.

I had been waiting months for Breathe Into Me to be released. When I saw the cover on Goodreads it was an instant add to my TBR list and bad boys and tattoos and piercings always get my vote. The synopsis made me want to read it too. I like a bit of mystery wrapped up in books, so I really wanted to know what Kelsey’s past was so I had some theories.

I read this book over two days – mainly because I had to go to inductions for my new job, but I really did not want to put it down. I was hooked with the plot, with the characters and just with the book in general. Amanda Stone developed the story nicely, along with the characters, which you see journey throughout the book into better versions of themselves – due to being in love and growing up over the weeks. She has me laughing, smiling, crying and kindle throwing (throughout certain events throughout the book which frustrated me and of course, had me panicking over what was going to happen).

Although there are many books with the same storyline, it was a cute read with college characters falling in love, dealing with heartbreak with a terrible past added into the mix, but overall, I really did enjoy the book!

We first meet Kelsey when she is moving into her college dorm with her best friend Jessie. It’s a chance at a fresh start away from her past. We don’t find out until a few chapters in but there are hints about what happened to her those six years ago that changed her from the out-going little girl she was to a shy and reserved teenager. She has gone through so much. She feel guilty and although it wasn’t her fault, she harbours this guilt always.

One trip to get some lunch and everything changes. She catches eyes with a pair of grey eyes and from then she can’t stop thinking of them. It helps that the guy is friends with the guy her best friend is seeing later that night.

After that night, Kane and Kelsey become friends. They spend every day together, hanging out, doing work, generally becoming best friends until one night when it all changes. Kane has never seen Kelsey in anything dressy so when the four of them head to the club he works out, he’s stunned. Kelsey is simply stunning and Kane can’t hold back his feelings for her anymore. She’s consumed his every thought and he wants her.

Things are going great for Kane and Kelsey. They have both bared their souls to each other, they love one another greatly and spend all their time together until one night, everything goes wrong and Kelsey gets her heart broken even when it wasn’t Kane’s fault.

Battling heartbreak, even more drama occurs for Kelsey and when it’s a battle of life or death for her and her loved ones, she will do whatever she can to make sure they live.

Kelsey was a delicate character in the beginning. You could see the guilt pouring off her, for what, we did not know yet. She was shy to an extent; she didn’t like ‘putting herself’ out there even though she wanted to be the girl she used to be. You really do feel sorry for Kelsey. Her past has overtaken her life – throwing nightmares at her during the night at times, so she relives that one moment that changed her.

But throughout the book, we see her change; her friendship with Jessie and her friendship with Kane are both factors of this change. We see her turn back into the girl she was, the strong, playful, loving girl. We see her open up her past to Kane which took courage and trust. We see her think of the ‘best’ parts of her past which in turns makes her get a tattoo in memory of that one memory she tells us about. (Hint, it’s on the book cover)

I applaud Kelsey for the journey she took throughout this book. She learned to trust, learned to open up and learned to love and be loved. Although she still harboured the guilt, in time she began to realize that none of what happened was her fault. She has a strength to her that took over her in the end and although that was the past that made me panicky, I am glad that she let go of her past for good and did what she did. So kudos Kelsey.

Now Kane. Before he met Kelsey he had a rep. Love ‘em and leave ‘em rep. But this was his way of dealing with the guilt he had racked up inside of him too. Then one day he just flipped and decided he didn’t want to be that way anymore. Didn’t want to drink, do drug or sleep with numerous women whom he didn’t give a rat’s ass about.

He really didn’t have a bad boy rep if I’m being honest. He was the sweetest guy around. He changed himself for the better, even if he was protective around Kelsey; it was due to never feeling this way before. All these feelings he had, they were new to him and it was pretty lush to watch him fall in love with Kelsey. To want to be the one for her. He’s had his struggles too, he has guilt over his past too, but he bears his past to Kelsey too and in turn, they learn to trust and try to not let their demon’s get to them.

I love that Kelsey and Kane both let one another in. Their relationship was cute and I loved the trust and love they had for one another. It was instant, their attraction was undeniable and it was just perfect for them to be with each other. It was sweet and the things Kane told Kelsey, I just wanted to sweep him up into a hug and keep him for myself, plus I wanted to kiss his lips! Pierced lip is hot…I should know, I used to have my lip pierced 😉

I have to say, my favourite part was when they first had sex. I know, I know, but it was like the perfect scene. It was the perfect time for them to consummate their relationship (HAHA) and it was all Kelsey’s doing, Kane didn’t pressure her or anything and he was so careful and loving with her that he made it that much special for her. I was smiling like an idiot over that scene. I just loved the connection they had and the love for one another for them to take it to the next level.

Although there are quite a few questions that I would love to have answered, I am still giving this book 4 stars. I did enjoy it and I love a tattooed boy, as you should all know by now. If you are looking for a cute college romance, with broken characters with a past that they eventually try to get over together, then Breath Into Me is the book for you.

Mentioned above, I love the bald, tattooed drummer that is Jesse. Growing up with a drunk of a father who used to beat him until Jesse was old enough to fight back, protecting Emmie along with his band mates was the only thing that mattered. Making sure she was safe, especially when the band became famous. Nothing mattered more than Emmie.

Jesse really is a brilliant character. He loves unconditionally, hes strong yet he’s gentle, hes confident and cocky but he never really uses his famous status, more content on being grounded and just basking in the love that all this band mates and Emmie share together.

As everyone in the band, he has a past. He’s never really had anyone who he has felt ‘more’ with apart from Emmie, but he’s just her best friend, so when he hears and meets Layla for the first time, its like a shock to the system. He can’t get this girl out of his head. He just needs her, needs to be with her and have her. It was so nice to see Jesse this way; to find someone who he wants to be with, to pursue romantically because he and Layla had this sizzling chemistry right from the start. As much as she told herself to stay away, she couldn’t, and Jesse was adamant on having her. Their pull just overtook them both and they just had to be together.

I loved how he (and the group) took Layla’s sisters under their wings, treating them with care and love. It was perfect to see this band, who love music and don’t care for the famous status to embrace three new characters into their dynamic and love them unconditionally too.

Jesse really would do anything to make Layla happy – even when they had a tipping point during parts of the book – but in the end, Jesse loved Layla with everything. You will find out just how much throughout the book ;).

Posted in Book Tours, Emma Hart, New Adult

BOOK TOUR: Always Remember – Emma Hart

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

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It’s The Book Lovers stop on the Always Remember book tour and I shall be giving you my review 🙂

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Synopsis

How long does it take for a long-distance relationship to break down? Sixteen months.
When Jen and Carl put their relationship to rest after Christmas, Jen’s biggest problem is going back to London ten days earlier than planned – and her ever-present attraction to Samuel ‘Bing’ Edwards.
Bing has no idea why Jen

left Devon so fast. All he knows is that he wants her as much as he did the first day he laid eyes on her – so spending time with her while Lexy is still in Devon isn’t exactly a hardship for him. When he finds out she’s single, the only thing on his mind is finishing what they started at his dad’s fiftieth birthday party.
Feelings that have been a long time building between the two explode, and they both find themselves sucked into an easy yet passionate relationship, with Bing determined to prove to Jen that she’s it for him. That she is The One.
But in a city like London, the odds are stacked against them, and there’s always that one person ready to stir things up…

And Jen doesn’t know how much of that she can take – even for the guy she loves more deeply than she ever imagined, and eventually she breaks. Bing isn’t down with that. He wants Jen, and he wants her by his side for good.

Jennifer Mason must learn that Samuel Edwards doesn’t do giving up. Especially not when his forever girl is involved.

5 / 5 Stars

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My Review

“I promised you forever. When I promised you forever, I promised to love you forever too.”

Being in a long distance relationship is harder than it seems, especially when your boyfriend won’t leave the countryside to visit you in the big city. It took sixteen months for Jen and Carl’s relationship to fizzle out and break up.

Returning back to London ten days earlier than planned, her biggest problem is now her best friends brother – Samuel ‘Bing’ Edwards. Why is it a problem? Because she has been attracted to him for a long time and now she’s single, it’s going to be harder to try and stay away.

Bing doesn’t know why Jen is leaving Devon earlier than expected, but what he does know is that is desperately wants her as his. He’s waited his whole live to have her and over the past two years, since his dad’s 50th birthday and he’s waited patiently for his chance to have her. When he finds out shes single, this is his chance to prove to her he’s not a playboy anymore, he’s changed for the better and he wants her.

Their attraction to each other has been overgrowing for months, and although they throw witty and sarcastic comments to one another, they slip into an easy, yet passionate relationship with Bing determined to show Jen that shes The One for him. End game but how hard will it be to persuade her he’s changed?

Then comes along someone who is always there, stirring the pot and trying to get Bing back. It’s tearing Jen up and she doesn’t know how much she can take – even if she is hopelessly in love with Bing. It comes to a point where she can’t take it but Bing doesn’t give up that easily. He wants Jen forever and he is going to show her just how much she means to him.

What Jennifer finds out is that Samuel doesn’t give up. Especially when she is involved.

Emma Hart never fails to deliver. I have become obsessed with her books and with her along the way too. I can’t praise her enough.  I don’t know how many times I can tell her I love her and her books without sounding completely stalkerish… but I DO! Never Forget was the first book I had read by Emma and since then I have been hooked by her books and her writing style. The way she can have me hypnotized by the plot, the characters, falling in love with them, wanting to smack them, laughing, crying, cringing (In a good way), oh holy, I am like a fangirl with this author and I know she totally knows it too. I even squealed when I was mentioned in the acknowledgements. THAT mention gave me a totally massive grin on my face. So thank you my love!

Always Remember takes place a year and a half after Holding On. We last see Bing and Jen in a compromising position. Did they or didn’t they kiss? Well you find out in this book. And no, I’m not going to spoil it and say, you’ll have to read and find out yourself.

Bing drives down to Devon to pick up Jen due Lexy request. Bing doesn’t know about the break up and Jen isn’t in the mood for spill the beans. She just doesn’t want to be in a car with Bing for 6 hours. She is sexually attracted to him and being so close will be torture, so in true Bing and Jen style, they spit witty comments back and forth to one another until the snow gets too bad to drive and they have to stop for the night. That isn’t good news for Jen because it means spending the night next to Bing as they have to share a bed. No, it’s not good at all as she wants to jump his bones.

During the days before Lexy and Alec arrive home, Jen needs Bing to take her food shopping and he happily obliges. They have a snowball fight and that is where everything changes for them both.

Over the course of the book you watch Jen and Bing grow and find love together, despite the obstacles that are put in their way in the form of a jealous ex. At one point it all becomes too much for Jen to handle. Too much to continually fight against Heidi, even though Bing has no intentions of ever going back to Heidi. His love is too strong for Jen, but when it becomes too much, Bing has to fight to keep Jen his. There is no way in hell he is letting her go. He’s waited years for her to be his and now he’s got her, well she is not leaving him. Not ever.

And Sam knows the perfect way to prove to her that she is the end game.

Can Jen be real? I want her as a friend so badly. She is still sarcastic and witty and hilarious with the things she comes out with not just aimed at Bing, but towards Lexy and Alec too. I will never stop laughing at her comments. They are too comical! But you can always see shes scared to be with Bing. Scared she will be another notch on his bedpost and she doesn’t know if she can trust him. He needs to prove that she can. You can obviously see why though, from Never Forget and a bit of Holding On, but you see her grow and blossom and alright she has insecurities about being with Bing, once they get past that, her journey is one that you’re proud of. She still has a smart and dirty mouth on her but you still her fall in love, find her ‘bada bing’ and that is what I loved reading about. She may have lost her way for a while but her determination and protectiveness/possessiveness comes out in full force. I freaking love Jen and she and Bing are definitely made for one another. They are both potty mouths but together, they calm each other down and you see the love pouring for one another throughout the book. (They still bicker though, but that just makes them, them.)

Now Bing/Sam. Oh Bingaling! Can he be my boyfriend? I won’t tell the other 5000 boyfriends I have haha. Ohh he made me fall in love with him. He is definitely not the playboy he was 2 years ago.  He’s changed over the years, not wanting to whore around and wanting to prove to the one girl he’s always wanted that he’s different, that he can and will be a great boyfriend, if only she will let him. He continually proves to Jen that he’s a changed man, that she is his one. The one what he has always had a crush on, the one he wants forever. He will fight for her and prove just how much she means to him regardless of the bitch wanting them to split them up. No, no one will ever come between them. Ever. And he even demands everyone to stop calling him ‘Bing’, his name is SAM. This just proves how much hes changed during the past 2 years.

“My name isn’t Bing. It’s Sam…I stopped being Bing the second i met you. A real man gives up one night stands for the one girl he cant live without, and you’re that girl, babe. I gave it all up to give you forever.”

You see his romantic side come out and to be fair to him, although he doesn’t really know what he’s doing, by Jesus, the lines he comes out with are completely swoon-worthy (Even if sometimes they are followed by smutty comments – just the way we love him.) The way he treats Jen, and just the way he needs and wants her, oh God, I was falling in love. I keep saying it, but they really are each others ‘bada bings’. They both change for the better, make one another calmer but freaking smoking in and out of the bedroom.

Bing/Sam is still like Jen. Witty, sarcastic and smutty and of course, you all know how amazing their banter is together and when they are not together too. You will be laughing, swooning and blushing at the comments he comes out with. If I was Lexy I would be smacking his arm at the things he was saying in front of her. But it’s in all good humour though and that is what makes Jen and Sam, Jen and Sam.

Bing/Sam was with Heidi for 6 months. But to be fair to him he only went back because the sex was good. It wasn’t because of the bleach blonde bimbo. She was a bitch. She was just on a long list of girls on his bedpost. But now she is back and wanting Bing back. She wants him for one more night and Bing doesn’t want to touch her again – not even with a barge pole. He only wants one blonde and that is Jen but Heidi is making is hard on Bing and Jen and is like a boomerang and keeps coming back, no matter how many times they tell her to F**k off. She continually messes with them one too many times and that is when Bing has to fight to save his relationship. I loved that Jen put her in her rightful place towards the end, when everything worked out for her and Bing. Heidi definitely deserved a bitch slap (Not that it happened). I would be punching her face for being so pathetic enough to want Bing back after he makes it clear he doesn’t want her and for being petty and doing anything she could do to break them up. Oh gurl, you be gettin’ bitch slapped right now!

The alternative POV’s are something I absolutely love reading in books. Each character had their own personality and you could easily distinguish them, which I am so happy about as sometimes male and female POV’s in books can be a bit funky, but Emma knows how to write both male and female POVS and pure brilliance. I loved knowing Sam’s feelings and emotions for Jen and vice versa for Jen. You really get to see inside their heads and know just how much they have liked and now love each other.

Alec and Lexy as much as me? Well YAY because my fav couple is still the couple I fell in love with. They are perfect and still hopelessly in love with one another. They are a big help with Bing and Jen throughout all the drama in the book and you can really tell that they are protective with one another and the people they love. They are still the cutest couple EVER and I loved how they ended up in the epilogue. They truly got their happily ever after.

Oh god, I am not going to tell you what my favourite scene is because it is one massive SPOILER and I am in no way going to give away what happens. Let’s just say I was giddy and I cried and I cried laughed and although I loved the whole book, this is a pivotal point in their relationship and by god I freaking loved the outcome of it. They both go on a journey and for it to end that way, it was the best thing since sliced bread.

The sex scenes are pretty hot if I say so myself. There are a couple of scenes that will get you hot under the collar…they certainly did with me! Jen and Sam’s sexual chemistry is booming; its like a magnet between the two of them. You could see it slightly in Never Forget and certainly in Holding On but it only intensifies in Always Remember. When you read them, you will act like Jen, all breathy with Bing is speaking close to her. *Shiver* I sure as hell was biting my lip and there was one really intense sex scene which I was like just…holy shit yes.

It was the perfect book to finish off the Memories series. The epilogue will have you grinning at how far both couples have gone and how they are still the same people even after growing up. They still have their own personalities that distinguish they all but they still have the same over-powering love for one another, sibling love, best friend love and of course pure love for their significant other. It truly is a perfect send off knowing just how happy both couple are and knowing that they really are each others ‘bada bing.’

For those of you who have yet to discover the wonders of Emma Hart and her Memories series, then check out my review of Never Forget and Holding On. You won’t regret buying these books because you will be given romance, laughter, tears, sexy times and a whole lot of love in these British novels!

And who doesn’t love adding British book boyfriends to their boyfriend list?

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