emotions – Z. Elizabeth

ARC: Lover Undercover – Samanthe Beck

Posted on April 14, 2013August 16, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

He’s undercover. She’s in over her head. Yoga instructor Kylie Roberts is the good twin. At least she was—until an accident forces Kylie to step into her twin’s sexy stilettos at a posh Hollywood “men’s club.” But nothing could’ve prepared Kylie for the dead body in the club’s parking lot or the ridiculously hot detective who insists the killer is targeting her regulars. Detective Trevor McCade needs Kylie’s help to draw out the killer. It means long nights undercover and long dances where Kylie’s body tempts him with sensual promises. Dances that leave them both wanting more. But despite Kylie’s hidden identity and the danger lurking in the shadows, it’s only a matter of time before Kylie and Trevor take this undercover operation under the covers…

4/5 hearts

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My Review

*Thanks to Publishers via NetGalley for approving me of reading Lover Uncover in exchange for an honest review*

Kylie and Stacy Roberts have been joined at the hip since forever, well they are twins. People back in their home town always had expectations that they were never amount to anything especially Stacy who is deemed the ‘bad’ Robert, so why not live up to that reputation. When they were old enough to move away and try to prove them wrong, L.A came calling.

Kylie is the ‘good’ sister and is a yoga instructor, focussing all her time and effort on her job, which means romance and dating has taken a backburner since…well forever. When her sister is involved in an accident, Kylie is forced to step into her twin’s shoes at a posh Hollywood ‘men’s cub.’ Cursing her sister for making her pretend to be her so they can pay their rent, Kylie couldn’t have imagined she’d find a dead body after her first night or that a smoking hot detective insists the killer is targeting her regulars.

Detective Trevor McCade needs Kylie to help him with the investigation to make the killer strike out again…at him. This means long nights undercover at the club and long dances where Kylie’s body seduces him into a frenzy. Her dances are leaving both of them wanting more and it’s only a matter of time before Kylie and Trevor take this whole undercover service under the covers.

After reading Private Practice by Samanthe Beck, when I saw this book was by her and when I read the synopsis, I clicked ‘request’ and was so happy when I received an email to say I was approved to read it. Gosh, I loved every single moment of reading this book. Samanthe keeps you in tenterhooks, with the investigation, wondering who the killer is, to Kylie’s journey and discovering it’s okay to have people help you and to open yourself up to romance and of course, the ‘undercover’ romance between both Trevor and Kylie- hot, hot, HOT!! Swooooosh!

Samanthe Beck’s writing is engaging; it draws you in so you have to keep turning the pages and its all kinds of sexy and informative – with the police investigation and the sexy scenes. With the investigation and how it was handled, it seemed that Ms. Beck has done her research on how victims should be handled and treated, how secret you must be when undercover and how fast you must react when the killer strikes. Although there are obvious some scenes that in no way would be allowed to happen, it all added to the fun of this book. It all interested me until the very end and I had many different men on my list of suspects. I can guarantee you probably won’t guess who it is…I sure as hell didn’t.

When her twin sister Stacy breaks her leg, she cons Kylie into pretending to be her until its healed as Stacy is technically the one earning the money to pay their rent. Kylie isn’t happy at all, not wanting to pretend to be her sister and to be a stripper but if they want to stay in their house, its something she has to do. Kylie is literally the sweetest character you can imagine. She’s taken a backburner on the dating scene because her mother royally screwed up around men and with her bad parenting, whereas her sister went the other way, screwing men then leaving them, not thinking she is good enough for a relationship.

Kylie is loyal, bright, determined and straight-thinking, yet she’s fiercely independent and doesn’t like the thought of a man coming between her and her dreams of opening her own yoga studio. Because of her mother, who was so dependent on men, it’s turned her the other way to not want a man and to not let him stop her in any way. I kind of admired that about her, yet it annoyed me too. Being in a relationship, you can still have you independency whilst leaning on them to help you with your dream. But I think with her up-bringing it just made her cautious and that is why she was the way she was.

Trevor is a detective who has recently been given a case suddenly has a link when a stripper is seemingly connected to the two men who have been beaten to death. The two men who were regulars of this stripper. Both loyal to Stacy. But with Kylie pretending to be Stacy, its Kylie who had to keep up appearances and who is slap bang in the middle of this investigation into finding the killer. Going undercover, Trevor knows that the more time he spends with Stacy (Kylie) the more he is falling for her but first he needs to know what she is hiding.

Trevor is a loyal character, he’s lovable, a hard worker and protective. He also has a big heart, and the way hes attracted and falling for Kylie is just so sweet, even when he finds out the truth. He wants to be there for her, prove that not all men will ruin your dreams, he especially will help her at any costs to achieve hers. His protectiveness for Kylie throughout catching the killer pulled my heartstrings. He would do anything for her, to make sure she is safe. He is such a cutie.

The attraction that Trevor and Stacy (Kylie) have is instant. They both feel the pull, the need to get closer to one another and when Trevor is the detective on scene of the death of a man Kylie found, that first proper meeting he is there every step of the way with Kylie, both undercover and in real life. You can see the chemistry and that Kylie feels nervous around him…well she is lying about who she is…but also shes never felt the way she does for ANYONE and now Trevor has turned her into this gooey mess. But she’s also turned him into this gooey mess, especially when she dances for him in his undercover-ness. The more he has to pay for dances and pretend to become a regular to get the killer after him, the more its becoming harder for the two of them to not jump one another and just have sex right then and there in that private room as the dances were particularly steamy!

That epilogue. Holy shit, it reminded me of another book in some ways, but I’m not going to mention what book as it could potentially spoil the ending, but dear god, let me find a guy to do that please! Or let me be Kylie so I can have Trevor. It was the perfect ending and perfect for both of them to be ended like that in the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is a lot I haven’t mentioned, but I want you to read it yourself to find out what occurs. I have given you the bare minimum to at least catch your attention in reading Lover Undercover and I truly hope it makes you want to buy it when it comes out!

Pushing aside the investigation and the sexy scenes, Lover Undercover takes Trevor and Kylie on a journey. More Kylie really. It takes her on a journey of growing up, of self-discovery, of love and acceptance and a journey that not all men want you to give up your dreams; you just need to find the right one who will support them. From being a shy women to growing up and blossoming into a confident women, who now knows what she wants.

If you loved Private Practice, you will definitely love Lover Undercover too!

Book Tours, Emma Hart, New Adult, Romance

BOOK TOUR: The Love Game (#1)- Emma Hart

Posted on April 4, 2013April 4, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

HELLLLLLLO!

Today is my stop on Emma Hart’s The Love Game book tour and I shall be giving you my review of this amazingly brilliant book.

If you click on the banner, it will take you to the GoodReads page of The Love Game for you to add to your TBR list 😉

So without further ado, here is my review 🙂

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Synopsis

His challenge? Make her fall in love with him.

Her challenge? Play the player.

Until life changes the rules of the game.

Maddie Stevens hated Braden Carter on sight. Arrogant, egotistical, and the playboy of the University of California, Berkeley, he’s everything her brother Pearce has taught her to despise. So why, when the girls challenge her to play the player, doesn’t she say no? She doesn’t know either.

Braden wanted fiery little Maddie the second he laid eyes on her – and he’d do anything to have her, hence why he’s agreed to make her fall in love with him. After all, it’s the only way he’ll get what he wants. Sex.

But, as Braden discovers, there’s more to the girl from Brooklyn than he ever imagined – and he can’t help but care about the broken girl behind those pretty green eyes.

Maddie finds Braden isn’t just a walking erection – he actually has feelings. He can be sweet, funny and his good looks don’t exactly hurt. That means trouble – but when her brother Pearce turns up in Berkeley begging for her help, she realises Braden and Pearce aren’t so alike anymore.

And maybe, just maybe, they’re exactly what each other needs.

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My Review

The Love Game is about Braden and Maddie. They have only been in university for a couple of weeks, but Braden already has a reputation for leading girls on, sleeping with them then dumping them straight after. But it doesn’t stop them coming back for more.

He’s everything Maddie hates.

So one night at the guy’s frat house party, and after watching girls ogle at Braden, the girls challenge Maddie to stop the playboy antics and make Braden fall in love with her in a month. Sleep with him then dump him. Getting a taste of his own medicine. She reluctantly agrees.

Over the other side of the room, Braden is watching Maddie and he’s wanted her in his bed for weeks. His friends also challenge him to make her fall in love with him in a month, and sleep with her then dump her. He also agrees.

What neither of them anticipated was that the more time they spend together, the more they share with each other, the more the rules of the game are being blurred from just being a game to win, to falling in love with one another.

But what happens when it’s all out in the open? They both played the game, they both hurt one another but can they get past that and be together once more…for real this time though?

The first page. THE very first page and I knew that I couldn’t put The Love Game down. The first book I read of Emma Hart’s was Never Forget and when I read the synopsis for this one of Goodreads, well, I just had to get this book in my life asap. Receiving an Advanced Copy to review as part of the book tour, I gobbled it up in less than 24 hours. Seriously, that is how hooked I was because I needed to know how it ended. If it did, indeed, end badly or happily. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book based on a story like this. Where a girl plays the player to get him to fall in love, have sex than dump him and a boy plays to get her to fall in love, have sex then dump her. They pretty much are playing the same game, but they are both are oblivious to it. I loved this concept and desperately needed to finish the book as soon as I started it.

Emma’s writing style is flawless. The Love Game had me captivated from the first page. It was of pure brilliance and I was feeling all sorts of emotions throughout the book. Happiness, sadness, anger. It had me laughing, crying, shaking my kindle at the pair of them, wanting them to stop with the games and confess. Confess the game they were playing, confess how they both ended up falling for one another. Books that evoke such emotion, in my eyes, are the best kind.

Maddie is a great character. She moved to California from Brooklyn for school. That and to try and start afresh from the pain in her past. But no matter where you go, the past has a way of following you in some way. She was such a strong person, determined not to let Braden get to her, to hump and dump him, hurt him, like he has done with so many people. She truly hated everything he stood for as he reminded her of her brother. But throughout the book, you find out that although shes a strong character, she is also vulnerable, still in pain over the distress of her past and the present, in the form of her brother’s presence. I really liked the fact that although she was playing Braden, she seemed to trust him enough to tell him about her past and her fears. I felt that was so brave of her to do that.

Over the course of the book, she blossoms. She blossoms from someone who was mildly timid, not wanting to get drunk or swear, as it reminded her of her past, to someone who was out-going, who tried not to let her past define her. She grew more confident in herself and the game/her feelings to realizing that Braden isn’t like her brother at all. They are nothing alike and being scared of that fact was nothing but a blip because Braden was always there for her, through everything that happened. Throughout her pain, her feelings were pure. And the game just made her realize that she needed to let someone love her; let someone into her life and trust them.

Braden had me going in round-a-bouts. We first meet him, he’s flirty, cocky, the playboy of the university and he wants Maddie in his bed badly. When he wants something badly, he always gets it. At times I hated what he was doing. He was very clear with his feelings over the game but then I thought about how I liked Maddie but she was doing the exact same thing to him. Hypercritical? Yes, but I made myself believe she was doing it to stop him sleeping around and he was only doing it for a shag. Then at other times I completely loved him. He was realizing just how hard playing this game was. It truly was a dilemma but one I bloody loved reading.

It really was a bad and forth love/hate with Braden but he showed the true Braden. That there is more to him that his status. He’s caring, protective, funny and will do anything for his friends. I wanted to hate him near the end, but I just couldn’t. He wore his heartbreak on his sleeve and I just needed everything to be okay, for him to stop the moping around and win back the love of his life. Although the game started off as a game, it truly was a face for both of them because everything they did with one another, that was pure.

I love, love, love dual POVS. Especially in this book and what it is all about. Playing a game. It was brilliant to get into both Maddie and Braden’s heads and see exactly how they were both playing each other and completely oblivious to one another’s games. How they both thought they had one another wrapped round their fingers. But I also liked how you went through a journey with both characters in the POV. Following them down a path of realizing this wasn’t a game anymore and their feelings for one another were changing but they had to keep the feelings inside and keep up an appearance for their friends. I thoroughly enjoyed their journeys into the unknown, into wanting more from each other than what they initially thought they wanted.

I pretty much fell in love from the word ‘get go’ with Kay, Lila and Megan. HOLY CRAP, these girls are amazing. The lines they come out with, ohhh, they had me in stitches, so much so, I was highlighting every single line I loved from them. They are funny, sarcastic, and supportive and their closeness was lovely to see. To watch they be there for one another, especially Maddie when family and Braden problems arise. They are the kind of friends that I would love to have (and I do, to some extent). They are pure brilliance.

I’m going to share a few lines that I LOVED and had me laughing so hard:

Lila: “Knock knock on your cock”
Kay: “Lurking outside girls’ dorms isn’t a good look for you.” And “You have a stalker down here” (About Braden)
Megan: “The way to Braden’s heart is through his dick.”

That is all you are getting, because seriously, you have to find and read these lines by yourself. They were just a little teaser as to what you’ll expect from these girls!

The love Game from me gets 5 stars. I was like a fish getting caught in the waters. I fell for this book hook, line and sinker. It’s a journey of love, game playing, heartbreak, trust and growing up. You see each character grow up in their own way; you see how love conquers all even when you don’t want it to and that the two people who just wanted to play one another, are really the two people who are meant to be together.

I DEFINITELY recommend The Love Game.

New Adult

ARC: Before You Go – Clare James

Posted on April 3, 2013April 1, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Paralyzed by the past and terrified of the future, Tabitha Kelly is broken.
After a public sex scandal at her college, Tabby moves to a new city with a new school, convinced she can start over. But she soon realizes the changes are not enough. Tabby must take action to help her heal and move on from the past.
And though it sounds crazy, she believes a one-night stand is the best way to take back what’s hers. If she can choose where, when, and most importantly, who … maybe she can regain control.
First, she needs a willing participant.
She finds more than that when she meets Noah Adler.
Unfortunately, she can’t go through with it. And when she tries to forget about the plan—and the guy—it becomes impossible.
Noah quickly weaves his way into her new life and her heart. But as he comes dangerously close to discovering her secret, Tabby’s at risk of losing it all.

4.5/5 stars

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My Review

*Id like to thank Clare James for supplying me with an ARC of Before You Go in return for an honest review*

Tabitha has been through a lot in the past couple of months. From being involved in a sex scandal at her old school, to her friends ditching her, to drowning in a deep depression, it’s a lot to try and overcome so when she goes to live with her dad, she figures she can at least try to get through the next two years.

In doing so, she decides that she just wants one night, one night with a guy in which after, it will help her gain control on her life and she can start over. But not everything is that simple.

Picking up a guy in her local bar, she meets Noah Adler and he’s more than willing to sleep with her. But when they both get to the final stages before having sex, Tabitha can’t go through with it, and she becomes paralyzed and fakes illness.

Tabitha tries to forget about Noah, but it seems impossible when he seems to be everywhere she turns at school. He quickly weaves his way into her life, and her heart and it scares Tabby but she kind of likes it. But shes so scared of him finding out her secret, that she doesn’t tell him. What happens what it all comes out though? Will Noah stand by her or leave her?

When Clare James emailed me and asked if I would like to receive a copy of this book, I read the synopsis and instantly knew I wanted to read it. And I’m so glad I did because I couldn’t put it down. I even took to reading it over my friend’s house last night while they all talked amongst themselves. So yes, I can honestly say I was hooked. I know there are many books about popular girls and sex scandals but really…this book was nothing like any of them. It was completely different and took a different spin on them all, into something that wasn’t just focused on the love aspect, it focused on the issue at hand – the sex scandal and how it affected Tabitha’s life, to how she needed to control her life and get it back on track without anyone finding out about her past.

We meet Tabitha in her local bar and get a glimpse into her past – the night that changed everything about her. Everything that was taken from her. She’s depressed, scared, frightened, emotionally scarred but all she really wants is to move on and take control of her life, thinking the only way to do so is to find a willing guy who will have a one night stand with her. She thinks by doing this, everything will at least, try to be back to normal.

Spotting a hot guy at the bar, Tabitha approaches him, asks him to play bingo with the locals and they engage in drinks and literature all night until they get back to her apartment. But before anything can really go any further, Tabby stops it, a feeling a dread soaring through her, but Noah doesn’t mind, he stays with her, making sure she is alright and playing nurse. Such the cutie, right?

Thinking she would never see him again, shes surprised when he’s in her class and he’s her ‘boss’ at her internship with the school’s newspaper. Noah never wanted her to be a one night stand but not wanting to pursue anything with him, at least that’s what she first says, he slowly worms his way into her life, makes her see that he’s not a bad guy and he really likes her and wants to help her through whatever is hurting her. She never knew that he was the guy she was looking for to help her and love her, loving him in return.

I fell for Noah the instant he appeared in the book. There was something about him that captivated not only me, but of course, Tabby. He was charming, he was sweet, but he also cared about Tabby, becoming persistent in being friends and wanting to pursue more with her. But he knew there was something deep down in Tabby that was still hurting her and I loved that he wanted to help her out, help her to stop being so scared of whatever it was, to help her overcome her need of being in control, both in her life and in the bedroom, in turn gaining her trust and not pushing her to tell him her secret, waiting until she was comfortable in telling him. He was literally the greatest boyfriend/friend that Tabby could have had, and to help her through everything, he was just perfect, even when he was hiding his own secrets.

I have to say; I enjoyed the scenes where Noah was helping Tabby overcome her need to control and her fear of being touched intimately. He knew just want to do to make her feel relaxed and let her, give him some of the control in turn, making her trust him and the ways he used to help her through this insecurity and dread. They were great scenes with Tabby slowly getting used to being touched by Noah and because of that, she let herself go, let Noah touch her, relax her and finally learn that sharing the control meant trusting one another, knowing they won’t push you into something you don’t want. It was great to see her journey throughout the book in gaining back pieces of herself.

I applaud Tabby’s strength. It took a lot of courage to let people in, even though she hadn’t told them about her past. Strength to let a guy in, to trust him and fall in love with him, to having a friend that she can lean on and a family that support her and love her. She pushed everything from her past away, including dancing, in which she loved. She didn’t want anything to do with the old her, but I loved that she just couldn’t stay away from her dancing. It was a big part of her, but also an escape but the more she danced, the more the old her was slowly seeping back. She found that strength to power through and try to overcome her past, and in doing so gained a best friend and a boyfriend who adores her and they both will do anything for Tabby, so when the scandal comes out, Noah does what any guy in love would do, hes there for Tabby. Like he would ever leave her. She has his heart for the taking.

The secondary characters from her Dad and stepmother, Amy to her friend Jules were big parts in Tabby’s story and life. They were constantly there for her, making sure she was okay, pushing her to achieve her potential and helping her overcome her past (even if Jules didn’t know what was wrong, she was there to comfort and assist in gaining that strength back).

Clare James has written a great debut novel, one that I think you should read. I love books that take characters on journeys, to be the best person they can be, and Before You Go is just that. It’s about a emotionally damaged girl who grows day by day in strength with the help of friends and family and who falls in love with the boy who stands by her throughout everything. It’s a perfect read and has the right amount of emotions for everyone. It’s a beautiful read and I definitely think you should add it to you TBR list and read it right now.

Jessica Park, Romance, YA

Flat-Out Matt – Jessica Park

Posted on March 30, 2013March 29, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Matt is a junior at MIT. He’s geeky, he’s witty, he’s brilliant.

And he’s also very, very stupid.

When beautiful, cool, insightful Julie moves in with Matt’s family, why (oh why!) does he pretend to be his absent brother Finn for her alleged benefit?

It seems harmless enough until her short-term stay becomes permanent. And until it snowballs into heart-squeezing insanity. And until he falls in love with Julie, and Julie falls in love with Finn.

But … Matt is the right one for her. If only he can make Julie see it. Without telling her the truth, without shattering them all. Particularly his fragile sister Celeste, who may need Julie the most.

You saw Matt through Julie’s eyes in FLAT-OUT LOVE. Now go deeper into Matt’s world in this FLAT-OUT MATT novella. Live his side of the story, break when his heart breaks, and fall for the unlikely hero all over again.

Take an emotional skydive for two prequel chapters and seven Flat-Out Love chapters retold from his perspective, and then land with a brand-new steamy finale chapter from Julie.

4.5/5 stars

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My Review

For those of you who have yet to read Flat-Out Love, then I’d advise you go and download that right now, read it then download Flat-Out Matt and read that straight after.

Flat-Out Matt is a companion novella to Flat-Out Love. It contains the ‘best’ scenes where us readers and lovers of FOL wanted to see Matt’s thoughts and feelings throughout that particular scene. All the scenes that were included in this novella were all the scenes that I absolutely adored and wanted to read in Matt’s POV. Every chapter I was wondering which scene would be next and I was not disappointed in the ones that Ms. Park used and wrote.

As mentioned in the synopsis, there is a prequel at the start which starts with Finn and Matt hiking and talking about life and their family. I loved reading this side of both of them, especially Matt, who, in Flat-Out Love really had to grew up fast and look after Celeste and do everything around the house as well as attend classes. It seemed that hiking made him free, if only for a moment.

Even though you know what happens in FOL and the story that both these books take, it’s still great to see Matt’s point of view throughout everything that happened. From him starting what he did and why he justified it, to watching him panic over how out of hand its gotten and to how he was feeling along the way – his emotions changing with every scene. You knew what was going to happen, but when you read it in Matt’s POV, it was still heartbreaking to read because everything he did, he did it for Julie and his family, even though he was the one who didn’t want to keep her in the dark with the secret yet that is exactly what he was doing.

But we all fell in love with Matt in FOL and you will definitely love him even more now in FOM because we get it all from his point of view, apart from the last one which is Julie’s.

You can still feel how broken the family are, and Julie, but with her presence, the characters are breaking out from their old shells, into new ones. They are still as loveable and hilarious and even though there are scenes that are not next to each other when reading FOL, in FOM they all blend together brilliantly and the timeline isn’t off at all!

The last scene is steamy. Jessica Park was not lying when she said that, and it was just great to read beyond the last page of FOL and into the added scenes in FOM with Matt and Julie being together and being in love. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic book and I loved knowing that Matt and Julie are totally happy and in love with one another after everything that has happened in their lives.

You all need to read this novella. It’s not a long one, but it packs a hell of a lot in it that you will fly by reading it and come out at the end all deliriously happy that everything turns out super amazing and sexy for Matt and Julie. (And of course, happy for Celeste too! I love that girl.)

New Adult, Romance

Falling Into You – Jasinda Wilder

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

I wasn’t always in love with Colton Calloway; I was in love with his younger brother, Kyle, first. Kyle was my first one true love, my first in every way.
Then, one stormy August night, he died, and the person I was died with him.

Colton didn’t teach me how to live. He didn’t heal the pain. He didn’t make it okay. He taught me how to hurt, how to not be okay, and, eventually, how to let go.

5/5 stars

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My review

So you know how I always mention that if a book makes me cry then it’s a great one? Well I full on ugly cried throughout this book, so much so, I had to stop, redo my make-up so I could go to work.

Oh god, Jasinda Wilder completely drew me in with Falling Into You. It didn’t take me long at all to read it because I literally devoured it. I couldn’t get enough. Ms. Wilder had me beaming, then sobbing then feeling every single emotion both Nell and Colt were feeling. The songs, dear god, they set me off and because I was also listening to music on my Ipod, songs that were convenient to that scene appeared and I was a mess. But I did like feeling this way as I’ve said; books that make me sob are great ones.

Nell and Kyle grew up together. Since the moment they were born they have been inseparable and to everyone, it seemed inevitable that one day they would end up together. During one argument, their confusion for how they were looking at each other differently came to light and since that moment, they had been together. From best friends to lovers, it seemed an easy transaction for them both. And it was perfect. As a first love, Jasinda captured what it was all about. From the awkwardness of talking about sex, to the desire they had for one another.

But then, I was on edge, because of the synopsis. I was waiting in suspense of when the death of Kyle would happen. I didn’t like that feeling at all because I was dreading it. Dreading to find out how he would die. And oh god, I cried so much I had to put my kindle down and take a few minutes before I could continue. My heart broke for both Kyle and Nell.

I instantly loved Kyle. He was the best friend Nell ever had. He was always there for her, making her happy, comforting her when she was sad or upset and he was protective over her. They were both there for each other. When feelings changed for one another, it was inevitable. They grew up together, spent every day together; they knew everything about each other so it was just down to time as to when they would be together.

They were happy-go-lucky, in love with one another, waiting to take the next step all their friends were taking. Shift two years in to the future, and they were the happiest they could have been. Then one night it was all taken from Nell. Kyle was taken from her in the most terrible and perhaps heroic way. He saved her but Nell couldn’t see that. She saw her kill him.

When this scene occurred I, 1. Thanked my stars I wasn’t on the train to work, and 2. Cried my heart out until I just had to shut my kindle down and get some sleep. It was just heartbreaking watching Nell’s reactions and sobs and cries for Kyle, and it just hit my core, the amount of pain they were both feeling, all different types of pain consuming them.

Since that fatal day, Nell was never the same. She didn’t cry anymore, she held all the pain and guilt inside of her, still blamed herself for Kyle’s death and just pottered on in life, having nightmares of that night. She still held on to everything, wanting Kyle back. It choked me up over how she kept all the pain inside and wouldn’t let it out. Kyle was her best friend and boyfriend whom she loved and watching him die that way, I know I would never be the same again.

At the funeral we meet Colton – Kyle’s brother whom Nell has never met. There is this connection between them, they share pain over Kyle but it was more than that. But Nell runs and tries to ignore it. She has just lost Kyle.

When she saw Colton after two years, busking in Central Park, that spark is still there, but so is the pain, for both of them, but more so Nell. Colton can see that and is determined to help her through it. Not to tell her it will all be okay, because it won’t, but just get her to open up, get her to release all the pain and to cry. He sure as hell knows about pain, suffering through his childhood and then the pain he suffered in New York. But he’s dealing with it and tries to help Nell deal with it too.

I loved Colton. Sure he seemed like the tough guy and he was, but he was now reformed. Under all the exterior and the tattoos he was just has broken as Nell, but he found ways to get through it. He was caring, protective and music was his way of speaking. I adored all the music he wrote, they were all heartfelt and had me crying. He wasn’t perfect by any means but he really loved Nell and would do anything to help her through the pain, in turn, helping himself too. His advice and his own past experiences of pain and getting through it were enlightening and truthful. And as I’ve mentioned, they both went through horrific things but together, they were trying to make things okay and less painful.

I liked how things weren’t all rosy and cherries on top, they were both feeling the effects of losing loved ones but together, they made it bearable to live each day and to find love with one another. Even at the end of the book, they were still hurting but being together, falling into each other, they knew they were meant to be and they would always be there, to ease the pain somehow and down the line, maybe erase the pain and just leave the guilt and grief behind and turn it into great memories of lost loved ones.

The sex scenes. Oh heck. Seriously, you’ll be fanning yourself because the chemistry between the two of them is off the scale as is the sex. Colton certainly knows what he is doing and how to bring intense and explosive pleasure to Nell. There’s this overwhelming connection that they both share and it just made the sex between them even hotter. They both know what they want and how to please each other and I just…*sigh* would like a Colton for myself.

Music is a massive factor in this book. The music spoke the emotions that both Nell and Colton are going through. Each song represented what they were feeling, from pain, to love, there was a song for each chapter of their life. And it didn’t help that I was listening to my IPod when I was reading this book and songs relevant to the scenes would play, which in turn made me break down reading the scenes.

Falling Into You, is definitely a Five star book. I loved every second of this book. It’s emotional, but there are parts where I was laughing and smiling despite the theme of the book. You’ll want to hug all the characters, take their pain away too and connect with them, not just through the music but you’ll think about your own losses. Your heart will ache but it will get better, you’ll make it through the book, through Nell and Colton’s journey to try and be okay and in the end, you will be.

You all need to give Falling Into You a read, Jasinda Wilder wrote an AMAZING book!

Erotica, New Adult, Romance, Serenity Woods

ARC: Six Naughty Nights – Serenity Woods

Posted on March 16, 2013August 16, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Six nights to remember, six days to forgive…

Esther is grateful for the strong arms that saved her and her young son from an earthquake. But she wishes their rescuer was someone else. Anyone other than the man who left her pregnant after a holiday fling.

Toby’s carpentry skills take him wherever there’s work, and right now that work is definitely cut out for him. He has to get over the shock that the little boy in his arms is his own son—and convince Esther that he’s always regretted walking away from her.

Esther can’t bring herself to deny Toby his right to get to know Charlie. Besides, with her own home flattened, she has nowhere to go but with him to his apartment…where she discovers a sexy role-playing card game tucked in his suitcase.

When Toby invites her to accompany him to the Northland to attend his best friend’s wedding, the opportunity to explore their still-simmering attraction is too tempting to resist. As the steamy scenarios heat up, they start to realize this is more than a game. But Esther’s hiding a secret that could cause as much devastation as the earthquake…

Pre-order now
396 pages

Amazon UK – £3.04
Amazon US – $4.54

Out 26th March 2013

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My Review

Three years ago, Toby and Esther spent two glorious weeks together in Fiji, where fun and sex were the main course. When the two weeks were up Toby walked away from her, leaving her heartbroken and a few weeks down the line, pregnant.

Now three years later, and in the company of a little boy, Charlie, he and Esther are saved in the midst of an earthquake by no other than Charlie’s dad, Toby, who just so happened to be at the same place, at the right or maybe wrong time.

Toby goes wherever his carpentry skills take him and now he’s in Christchurch. Rescuing the girl who he has always regretted walking away from, it’s a shock to know that the little boy in his arms that he just saved is his own.

Esther doesn’t deny that Charlie is his, nor can’t she bring herself to deny him his right to get to know his little boy. Besides, since her apartment was flattened by the earthquake and with nowhere to go, Toby offers his apartment to Charlie and Esther, which is where she discovers a sexy role-playing card game tucked in his suitcase.

Toby is leaving Christchurch for a few days to attend his best friend’s wedding and he invites Esther and Charlie along with him back to Northland, so he can get to know his son, but also there’s an opportunity to explore their still-sizzling attraction to one another, which is just too tempting to resist.

But as the scenarios heat up, they both start to realize that this is more than just a game. Old feelings are starting to rehash but Esther is hiding a secret that could cause devastation if found out and she doesn’t know whether to spill it or not. It could ruin everything.

I’d firstly like to thanks Serenity Woods for sending me an ARC copy of Six Naughty Nights. You all should know my love for Seven Sexy Sins by now and when Serenity started following me on Twitter, well, I went all fangirl on her and she offered to send me a copy of this sexy book! So here I am, reviewing Six Naughty Nights – the next book in the Love in Reverse series – which was pretty much too hard to put down. Although it did come to a time where I needed sleep and reluctantly had to stop at the next chapter.

For those who have read Seven Sexy Sins, you will know that Toby is a character in that book. The flirty one, the one who everyone teases and it didn’t seem to bother him at all. He’s still the cheeky chap he was in SSS, but we get to see much more of him and his personality. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed at the things that came out of his mouth. He was hilarious.

I love how easy he seemed to slip into the role of being a father, even when he was freaking out about it. He was a natural with Charlie and my heart ached over how much he fell in love with Charlie and how he treated and cared for him even when he had known him for a few hours. It was like he was born to be affectionate and have his own kid to love. He was very family orientated.

Throughout the book, you really see the true Toby appear. Not only is he the cheeky, flirty guy, but he’s sensitive and has insecurities of his own that he has buried deep down because he doesn’t want anyone to know that they do sting when he’s teased. He always tries to get the approval of his friends and family and it pains Esther to see him being treated this way. He’s insecure over his family because he’s the ‘least educated’ one as his two brothers are Lawyers and Doctors.

Despite his insecurities, Toby had a big heart full of love, and he and Charlie were just so cute together. As I’ve mentioned, Toby was a natural; no awkward talking between the two of them and their conversations just flowed, despite Charlie being just over two years old. And for a two year old, he came out with some goddamn funny lines. I just wanted to cuddle him up and have him talk that way with me. He was the most adorable little kid about and you really could tell he was Toby’s son. I also loved how Toby didn’t treat him as a kid as such; he didn’t talk down to him. That way, he and Charlie bantered was hilarious but they also had so many sweet scenes together and the way Charlie just accepted that Toby was his dad, and started calling him ‘Daddy’ brought a tear to my eye.

“You’ve got a big willy.” Charlie observed. “It’s bigger than mine” He studied his own offering.
“Size isn’t everything, dude, or so they’d have you believe.”

I can’t tell you how much I howled reading this conversation.

Esther is a strong, independent woman, but she also has insecurities. Ever since Toby walked away from her after their two weeks in Fiji, she was heartbroken, distrustful and left pregnant. Since then it’s just been her and Charlie against the world. She doesn’t have any family and doesn’t like anyone helping her, rather doing it herself. After Toby’s attempts of getting in contact with her, she ignores them, wanting to punish him for how he left her. She knew how to contact him but she didn’t want to, she didn’t want him back in her life, even if Charlie did deserve to know his dad and Toby deserved to know he had a son. So when she sees Toby in the supermarket as an earthquake hits, and he gets them to safety, she doesn’t deny that Charlie is his when she’s asked.

I loved that Ms. Woods didn’t make Esther withhold the information to Toby. Many books draw that out and after a while you want to scream at them, but Esther was honest and because of that, they could get past one obstacle about their past and power through the rest.

Esther and Toby’s attraction was still pure. It was still as hot as it was three years ago but right now, Esther doesn’t want her feelings to return. She wants them to stay hidden away and not get heartbroken again by Toby. She wants to resist him but she can’t. So when they propose to play the role-playing game while they are in Northland, they try to do the same as Rusty and Faith – keep it physical and not let any emotions get in the way. Oh, why didn’t they listen to Rusty? They have too much history to keep old feelings away and sex is never just physical (for some people), emotions truly do get in the way. The more time they spend together, and the more they play the games, love is inevitably going to get in the way.

Now on to the games. I FREAKING LOVED THEM! Is this game real? I think I’d like to buy it because holy hell, Toby and Esther role-playing…I needed cold water thrown over me everytime they has sex because I was burning up. I loved how dominant Toby was in the bedroom and although Esther hated being the ‘sub’ because of how independent she was, it did turn her on to be dominated. Although she was always insecure about her body every time she was naked, Toby loved every part of her and that made her come out of her shell and play along. She was brilliant and being pushed to her limits playing someone else. Every sex scene was intense and steamy but I reallllllly like the sex scene where he tied her up. It was intense and made her vulnerable but it was also a pivotal point in their ‘relationship.’

Throughout everything that happens with Toby and Esther and when her secret does come out, I felt so sorry for both of them. They loved one another but Esther was determined it wouldn’t work and the secret hurt Toby, but he kind of understood somewhere deep down, why she did it. But the ending! Oh the ending. It was just amazing and I was cheering that everything, truly, would be okay for them both.

I absolutely enjoyed Six Naughty Nights. Serenity Woods’ books always draw me in and there is always an amazing storyline wrapped into the book, where it’s not just about sex, it’s about a connection and their journey together and alone. She makes me care about all the characters and makes my emotions go all over the place, much like her characters. I will always come back for more with Serenity Woods and I am so glad that I got to receive an ARC of this book from her, because I will definitely be recommending this to everyone and saying how great it is.

PS. Much like Rusty, Toby is definitely a new book boyfriend and I really couldn’t decide who I love best. It wouldn’t be fair 😉

Jessica Sorensen, New Adult, Romance, Suspense

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden (The Coincidence #1) – Jessica Sorensen

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.

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My Review

At age twelve, everything in Callie’s life changed. It changed her so much that she hacked off her hair, turned into a recluse and locked up everything that happened to her up. Never telling anyone about it. Six years later, it still consumes her every thought and she cannot wait to leave the small town to start college. It may not be a fresh start, but it sure as hell gets her away.

Kayden has suffered in silence from a young age. He vowed it was the only way to get through the pain when it happened. One night after making a mistake, it seems that his life may just be on the edge until he’s saved. Callie is coincidently at the right place, at the right time and saves him.

Four months after and Kayden can’t stop thinking about the girl who saved his life. But luck is on his side again when Callie is at the same college that he is and he will do whatever it takes to get to know her and owe her for that night. But Callie is closed off and doesn’t want to be owed. “I just did what anyone would have done.” But he knows that’s not true, people would have walked away. The more he tries to get to know her, the more is feels its Callie that needs to be saved.

Jessica Sorensen has done it again. First with The Secret of Ella and Micha and now with The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. She makes me fall in love and feel all kinds of emotions throughout the books and I just can’t get enough. I always ask myself why I take so long to read such amazing book and I literally can’t answer. Well, I can and it’s because sometimes I’m scared. Scared to read it and then have it break my heart. Yes, I know it’s just a book, but no, it’s much more than that to me. I get hooked, captivated and I can’t get it out of my head until I finish it. And even after, I still think about it.

That’s exactly what happened with The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. I was scared to read it, but I took a chance and I am so freaking glad I did! Despite the ending (WTFFFF), I couldn’t put the book down. Ms. Sorensen keeps me wanting more, keeps me turning every page until I am right at the end and begging for more. Begging for The Redemption of Callie and Kayden to be out now and in my hands where I can read it and find out what happens next. But alas, I have to wait until August. Counting down the day? YES I bloody well am.

Callie has been ‘broken’ since her twelve birthday when something horrific happened to her at the hands of her brother’s best friend. Before that incident she was happy and after, she died a little. She cut her long hair short, started wearing baggy clothes to try and make herself ugly and became a loner. She didn’t want attention on her and she certainly didn’t want any boys around her. She didn’t trust them.

Kayden has been dealing with pain since a young age. He has scars both inside and outside his body and going away to college is his chance to try and forget about his past, about his home. It’s his chance to try and start again, away from all the pain. He still owes his life to the girl who saved him all those months ago and when he finds out that shes at his college and is the girl he accidentally fell on top of, well, he’s going to stop at nothing to get to know her and thank for. Thank her for stopping it.

Callie and Kayden have actually known each other since they were kids but not really enough to call one another a friend, despite the fact that Callie’s dad was Kayden’s football coach for years. But one night, Callie was just coincidentally at the right place at the right time and saved Kayden’s life. Something he will never forget.

Four months later, Kayden arrives at college with his best friend Luke in tow. Callie has already been at college for four months, deciding to get away from home early and she’s found solace in Seth – her new best friend who also has secrets of his own. She’s still afraid of everyone, apart from Seth, so when Kayden wants to spend time with her, Seth calls her out and makes her pick things off the list to do. It results in her hanging out more with Kayden, Luke and of course, Seth and they build a close friendship unit, something Callie would never have thought she would be involved in.

She takes baby steps each day, with the help of the list, but shes beginning to trust Kayden, just not enough to tell him her secret, just yet.

Kayden has dealt with pain all his life and he knows Callie is hurting. From what? That he doesn’t know, but he wants to help her. He has learnt to cancel out feelings and emotions but around Callie, she makes him feel, which scares the hell out of him. He doesn’t want to be feeling but he can’t stay away from Callie. He’s protective of her, he dreams about her and as much as he wants to stay away, he just can’t.

The more time they spend together, the more you can see that Callie is slowly trusting him and Kayden begins to feel worthy of being with Callie. Together they are learning to heal from their pasts with the help and love of one another. It’s a tough journey as they have been hurt pretty badly, but just being together is building them back up.

It truly is a beautiful story. It’s powerful and breathtaking and I felt so many emotions whilst reading. The journey that Callie takes is one that I respect. I was proud of her for taking each day at a time and owning that list that she and Seth made. She powered through them like a trooper and I loved seeing her become happy – at least for a while when she wasn’t thinking about the past – and just living for the moment.

I loved how at the top of each chapter it had something from ‘The List’ that Callie had to do. It was a great way for her to try and regain something back in her life and it was a great way to help her along with her journey into at least trying to get over what happened when she was twelve.

Seth was a fantastic best friend to Callie. He was there for her completely. It was mad to think that they had only known each other a few months, but in that short time they had both confessed their deepest darkest secret to each other and that, in itself, made them close and made them determined to help each other through everything. It was a perfect friendship and I loved how Seth pushed Callie to her limit with the list, knowing she could do it and to not be scared to do things on the list as eventually it was breaking her barriers down and she was ‘getting’ better because of the list. It was an awesome idea.

One of my favourite scenes is actually linked to the book cover. When Callie runs into the rain and just spins around. It was like she just forgot everything for that moment and focused on the rain and how free she felt. When Kayden joined her, it was like there was no one else. At that moment it was just her and Kayden, no one else in the world. It was perfect. They are perfect and my heart was racing in the scene for those two where they had such a raw passion for one another.

Oh god, that cliff-hanger! After I clicked the next page hoping it would be okay, I realized it was the end. I cried. Yes tears ran down my face because Jessica Sorensen, that was evil! LOL. I seriously need The Redemption of Callie and Kayden now! I don’t want to wait until August because I’m not sure my heart can take it. I neeeed to know what happens next.

Sigh, I’ll just have to be patient and count down the days till it’s out.

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden is a book not to be missed out. It’s about coincidences, trust, love, abuse, friendship and of course, being saved. It touches upon emotional, physical and sexual abuse, which is not taken lightly at all and both Callie and Kayden are whittled down to the core but surviving somehow. Ms Sorensen writes about the topic beautifully, and despite everything that happen to them, they are still getting along, day by day, trying not to let it affect them too much. They are broken by it, but together, they find a way to forget for a while and just be as two people.

I can’t say how much I enjoyed this book enough. I’m just still thinking about the ending and how I have months until the second book to see how it all ends.

If you’re like me and HATE starting series that have major cliff-hangers (I didn’t know this one did) then I would say wait until august to read this book but if not, then bloody well get your copy and read it now! You won’t be disappointed and you will fall in love with Callie, Kayden, Seth and Luke. Guaranteed.

New Adult, Romance

Blackbird – Nicole Salmond

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

A serious car accident leaves bad boy Nate Williams seriously injured and lucky to be alive. Upon his journey to learn to walk again he meets Claire, a physiotherapist in the last year of University. He’s instantly attracted to her, but Claire is no ordinary girl. She’s resistant to his charms and good looks which only intrigues him more.

Claire is reluctant, to say the least, when Nate comes back into her life again as one of her patients for her clinical placement. A self-absorbed, tattooed, womaniser, he is the last person on earth she wanted, or expected to see again. Nate may not remember her, or the kiss they once shared, but she certainly does. The next five weeks was going to be anything but easy.

Blackbird is a story of self-discovery and the formation of an unexpected friendship between two people who learn that life and love is anything but planned.

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My Review

After being involved in a serious car accident which leaves Nate Williams badly injured and lucky to be alive, he meets Claire, a physiotherapist in her last few weeks on university who will be with him through his journey to walk again. He’s attracted to her but she resists him charms. It only makes him more interested in her.

Nate has been in Claire’s life before but it’s obvious he can’t remember. She’s reluctant to be his physiotherapist but in the end agrees to be professional about it. The next 5 weeks aren’t going to be easy for her. But when a budding friendship develops between them both, it’s getting easier to decide what she wants out of life, even if she finds it hard to begin with.

Blackbird is a story about self-discovery, as the synopsis entitles. It’s about finding yourself in the world and being the person who YOU want to be, not what people want you to be or do. When I read the synopsis the other day, I instantly knew I had to download this book and read it immediately. I was not disappointed at all and Nicole Salmond takes you through a journey about yourself too and what you want in life, as well as going through Nate and Claire’s journey with them. I found this book to be refreshing and it really did have me indulged for the few hours I was reading it, finding it hard to put down even for a split second. I just had to finish it and see what happened!

Oh Nate Williams! He had gone through some tough times in his life. With his father’s death being the main reason he’s gone off the rails a bit. He blames himself for it and that’s why his life doesn’t seem important to him. He puts on a cocky, sexualised front, as to hide his true colours and he never stays with one girl, always jumping from one, one night stand, to the next. But when we see him with Claire at first, he’s, as I said, cocky and flirty and playful with her, trying to wind her up, but the more time they spend together, and become friends, the more Nate changes – for the best. His attitude changes. He’s never really had a girlfriend, let alone been interested enough to have one, but when he’s around Claire, and even when he’s not, shes all he thinks about and all he wants. But with her having a boyfriend, he’s going to have to stay being her friend. But he’s also determined to show her that they should be more. I liked that he didn’t give up on her.

Nate was Claire’s last patient before graduating and when she sees him, she’s angry. They have history but he doesn’t seem to remember. She pushes that aside and is determined to help him walk again. She is a strong character, shes a determined character but she’s also frustrating to read. She had a boyfriend of 6 months (Who was a total douchebag to her) but she has feelings for Nate. When she and Nate become friends, she began to annoy me over her thought process with Dave (her boyfriend) and Nate. It was blatantly obvious that Dave was not the guy for her, as he was still living in the ice ages and that Nate – who gave her time and space to sort her feelings out, hence being friends, was totally the guy for her. He was always there for her, he didn’t push her, he treated her as an equal, but I’m just glad she realized what she had to do to be happy in the end.

I did love their friendship. They had the perfect chemistry and although it was obvious to the reader that they both had feelings for each other, I respected Nate’s decision to not do anything, as she had a boyfriend and to just be her friend and be there for her through the tough times with Dave. They respected each other, had fun, flirted and seemed to spend so much time together, getting to know one another. They really did bring out the best in each other and I loved how they changed one another – to the person they were truly meant to be. They both taught one another how to be free.

The scene that got my gears turning was the dancing in the nightclub. Holy Hell was that steamy! The dirty dancing and the rhythm they both have together and the sexual chemistry just literally poured from the kindle. I want my own Nate to dirty dance with!

I love the book cover. It symbolises the point of this book. To be free to be yourself and to do whatever you want in life, not to be caged up and forced to live your life by what others want of you. You will see why this is, when you read Blackbird. The cover will make sense to you then.

There are a few grammatical issues and at one point Nicole write ‘Nick’ instead of Nate, but other than that, it didn’t particularly bother me. I’m not one to moan about these kinds of issues as the book really caught my attention and had me hooked from the start to finish.

I loved the message this book portrayed and I loved the friendship/relationship Nate and Claire developed and had. It was great to see these two characters change throughout the book with the help and influence they both had on each other. They both eventually learnt that taking a chance will be worth the risk, especially with love and life. If you want to read a quick story about freeing yourself, finding love and discovering yourself, then Blackbird is definitely the book for you. It’s a great read and will leave you thinking about your own life and how you fit in after you finish it!

M. Leighton, New Adult

Up to Me (The Bad Boys #2) – M. Leighton

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Happily ever after doesn’t come easy. But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms. He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest. Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time. And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back. Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises. Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well. She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option. And this is one of them. If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life. But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

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My Review

Olivia and Cash have finally found bliss like no other with each other. They are finally with the person who sets their world alight at every corner. But their happily-ever-after is threatened abruptly when people from Cash’s past begin to turn his world upside and they will do anything – even if it means killing – to stop the information Cash has from getting out.

Giving up the information is a hard bargain and it means that Cash must choose between his father’s life and Olivia’s life. He will do whatever it takes to keep them both safe, but he needs Olivia to trust him if it means she can be protected and kept alive. Can Olivia trust Cash? Even when she is utterly scared of the situation at hand? Especially when her life is now also in danger? Trusting Cash with her life is easy; it’s just trusting him with her heart that’s the hard part.

It’s really hard to write a review for Up To Me because so much of it is spoilers! So I’m going to have to be very careful in what I say about this book so if anyone who hasn’t read it yet, won’t go into the book knowing too much about the plot. It does start off from where Down To You finishes so if you haven’t read that, what are you waiting for?

A lot happens in this book. There is more action, more suspense and steamier sex scenes. But that is all I’m going to say because I’ll be a spoiler review and I really want you to go into the book not knowing a hell of a lot about what it’s about.

Cash is still his sexy self. Even more so in this book because you see his character develop even more throughout his chapters. He’s even more determined to keep Olivia safe and his feelings for her shine with every page. Being a ‘bad boy’ and never staying with one girl, it was great to see how much he cared for Olivia and how much it scared him too. He’s just as vulnerable as the next guy when threats are targeted at him and people he loves and I really liked seeing so much emotion from him. It proves how strong his feelings are for Olivia and just how he will do anything to be with her.

The sexiness of Cash throughout the book to me stems from him being in danger – yes, I’m a girl who likes a guy who will protect her at any cost – and taking reins on the plans of putting away the dangerous people from his father’s past in order to keep everyone safe. Even when trying to protect everyone, he’s still the same old Cash we all fell in love with in book one, the one who knows how to swoon Olivia and knows how to work her body in the bedroom. The sex scenes, Jesus Christ, I need to find someone who will re-in-act those scenes with me! They were hot and steamy and you could feel the sexual tension pouring from the pages when those two were together. I’d also like a bottle of Jack Daniels and Cash ASAP please!

With Olivia, she’s obviously had to grow up a lot since book one, even though it continues straight away but with everything that has happened in the first few pages, it was obvious that although she totally loved Cash, she was utterly scared shitless about everything that was happening and going to happen in her and Cash’s life. They were in danger and she was petrified to lose Cash. And although she had mental battles, she knew she’d never leave Cash and their relationship just grew stronger and stronger towards the end of this book. It did start off a little rocky, with Olivia seemingly pulling away from Cash and when she didn’t listen to Gavin in the middle – STUPID GIRL! But Olivia went through a lot in this book and with both alternating views, I loved how much they were both scared to be without one another and would do anything to be with each other in the end.

Uhhh Gavin! Can I have him and Cash in my bed please? Gavin is Cash’s partner at the club but he also has a dark past. He used to be a mercenary and his character makes him out to be a sexy, hot, dangerous and mysterious bad boy. He’s one you should definitely stay away from but holy hell, since when do any of us listen?! I’d have him in a heartbeat. Despite his past, he’s cheeky and funny and his banter with everyone, especially Cash is great to read. You can see that they truly are best friends and he will do anything for Cash. I hope down the line, he gets his own book, because I’d love to know more about him.

I do have to say that there is a MAJOR surprise in this book. One I was not expecting at all but by god, it was a bloody good one! I’m so not going to say what it is, but you will be going ‘HOLY SHIT’ when it’s revealed.

Up To Me is a sexy and exciting follow up to Down To You which includes sexy times, action, twists, bad guys and banter. I cannot wait for book three to be out and I know who it is about…but I’m not going to say as you have to read Up To Me to find out. But from the epilogue, I am definitely curious about what is going to happen. DEFINITELY read Down To You and Up To Me. You will not be disappointed and you too, will fall for Cash Davenport. YUMMY!