famous – Z. Elizabeth

The Art of Keeping Faith (#2) – Anna Bloom

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Lilah and Ben. They are meant to be a thing.

Well, they were. The best thing ever. That was until Lilah decided to teach herself a lesson and let go of Ben since she’s learned The Art of Letting Go.

Now it’s a new academic year, and Lilah has it all to play for and it all to lose as she battles scary lecturers, evil PR girls, and her own inability to make the right decision at the right time.

Life has moved on for Lilah and her friends, and life off campus is more complicated than any of them would have guessed. As the reality of being second-year students sets in and the study starts to build up, cracks begin to appear in the very fabric of their friendships. There is a chance that none of them are going to complete Year Two in one piece.

Facing down her worst enemy, herself, Lilah has to try and change her own past mistakes when she realizes that the only way she is going to get the future she wants is if she manages to learn The Art of Keeping Faith in herself.

The Art of Keeping Faith is the second year in The Uni File Series and continues Lilah McCannon’s diary as she searches for love, tries to find and earn trust, and ultimately discovers who she is really meant to be.

Sometimes the only way to meet your future is to face your past.

5 out of 5 stars!

REVIEW: The Art Of Letting Go – Anna Bloom (+ DELETED SCENE)
EXCLUSIVE: Benjamin Chambers and Trafalgar Square – Anna Bloom

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My Reviews

You know you have the best friend ever when she sends you ARCs, sends you teasers and will let you text her screaming in cap-locks when things happen whilst reading The Art of Keeping Faith. And this was basically me to Anna throughout the whole book. I would text her when things went right, when I wanted to rant about a certain character *COUGH*RICHARD*COUGH*, rant about Lilah and rant about Ben. Basically I just ranted and shouted and raved about The Art of Keeping Faith and I had a lot of feels.

My love for Anna and her books goes waaaaaay past the point of being acceptable. There is just something about the way Anna writes that draws you in, keeps you entranced and flipping page after page until you at the end, holding the book and wondering where the time has gone, why book three is not out yet and badgering Anna for it. (Although I told her not to tell me when she is writing it nor send me teasers because when she does eventually send it to me, it will be the best day ever!)

As I mentioned in my The Art of Letting Go review, the dairy entries are completely unique. You can hear Lilah’s voice throughout it, visualise her writing it all down after each event, and I adore that Lilah still documents her life. Not many people do and I really like that it seems to help Lilah, especially when she re-reads her entries and re-evaluates her life.

I’m going to say that The Art of Keeping Faith was definitely an emotional one. I was filled to the brim with all these different emotions. From joy, fear, heart ache; feeling sick to my stomach and an overpowering sense of anger, before going back to feeling on top of the world with love and grinning from ear to ear.

You feel every single emotion from all the characters, especially Lilah and Ben. Dear god these two! We all know what happens at the end, and have been on tenterhooks needing book two to know what happens. I want to shout from the rooftop about what happens but I shant, i’ll let you read it. I’ll let your emotions wiggle all around and make you lose yourself in the magic and pain of Ben and Lilah. You really do go from highs to low, feel exhausted but your heart races and your smile widened and you squeal at the end and it makes all the pain go away.

Lilah grows up in this book. She has to. With Ben off around the world with his band she has to learn to be alone, be wiithout the love of her life and she gets there. She delves into her work, she meets new people and gets on with her life. But she feels paranoid. She’s seeing and reading things about Ben that you know arent true. It’s hard being in a long distance relationship and it tests your trust and your faith in each other. As someone who has done the whole LDR, I could really sympathise with Lilah. I understood her emotions and everything she was feeling. She’s still her quirky and fun self, but you know she is missing Ben like no other, yet she has to get on with her life.

Those moments with Ben were special and you could see how they both just wanted to shut the world out and spend those few days together. Lilah goes through a lot during the second half of the book, and I could feel her frustration, her heartache and the pain she was feeling. She needed Ben, she needed to let him know something and the texts to him had my chest hurting, and tears in my eyes and I felt as sad and lonely as Lilah did, without Ben by her side. But you know as soon as she gets Ben back in her life, as soon as he is there everything will be right in the world because when its just those two? They are the only two people in the world.

My Benny boy, my Benjamin Chambers. I am so sorry I went though a small phase of doubting you, but those damn articles, those damn photos. I knew you werent like that, but with everything going on I couldnt help but think the worst. But you are the best guy I know, the one who loves so fiercely and would do whatever to have Lilah in your life. But when all that stuff went down and I had no idea where you were, you broke me apart. You broke my heart and I was shouting at Anna to tell me just what the hell was happening. I understood your pain, how you needed to just go away for a little while and sort your head out. You and Lilah had been through so much, you had wanted her, searched for her and you had her. You had her heart and in a way you broke it too. (I realise I am ‘talking’ to Ben, but it makes it easier hahah). But your heart was breaking as well. You and Lilah are made for one another. You bring out the best and you have been through a lot as well. Everything you both went through only made you stronger, made you love stronger and you knew, just knew that nothing and no one would ever come between you again. Benjamin, you redeemed yourself and I love you so much for that. I know music is your everything, but Lilah means so much more to you. It was your turn to evaluate your life and I am so proud of you.

I cannot wait to see how you turn out in book three, how doting you are going to be, how much more love you are going to give. I know you are never going to let Lilah down and you are going to go to great length to show her. You already do. I am so glad you found Lilah and she ended up loving you too. You are one of my favourite couples and your love and determination to be together is overwhelming.

Ps. My characters in my book love you. Please give them free tickets to see you play life. They will love you forever 😉

The Art Of Keeping Faith is truly that. About keeping faith in your love, your relationship, your friends and in the end faith prevails everything. Just look at everything Lilah and Ben had to go through to get to where they end up at the end. I had faith and although theirs faltered at points, their love never and that is what makes this series so special to me.

Anna, get writing book three now!!

Family, Romance

Billy and Me – Giovanna Fletcher

Posted on June 2, 2013May 31, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Sophie May has a secret.

One that she’s successfully kept for years. It’s meant that she’s had to give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.

But then she meets the gorgeous Billy – an actor with ambitions to make it to the top. And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the comfort of her life into Billy’s glamorous – but ruthless – world.

Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? And most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation?

4 /5 stars

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My Review

*Thanks to Katie Sheldrake and Penguin for sending me and Advance copy in return for an honest opinion*

Billy and Me is about Sophie May and Billy Buskin. Sophie is a shy girl, having grown up with a secret that she would very much like to keep secret.

When a film is being made in her hometown, she meets the star – Billy Buskin. At first she doesn’t recognise him, wondering why he is in the small village. They start up a friendship, spending time together when he comes into the teashop. When she eventually knows who is he, nothing changes. Yes hes famous but he’s not egotistical, hes sweet and kind and really likes Sophie.

When they fall in love, Sophie is whisked into his world, surrounded by famous people, bitchy people and paparazzi; her life is thrown into the spotlight, after years of shying away from it. With comments and the scrutiny of being with Billy, can she handle it all? And is she ready for her secret to be exposed to the nation?

What will become of Billy and Sophie?

So I have known about Giovanna Fletcher for many years. Being a McFly fan, it was kind of hard not to know who she was. I really admire her and she is a great role model, so when I found out she was writing a book, well that baby was going straight on my TBR list and the countdown was on for the release date.

I obtained a review copy and when it came through my door, I just KNEW that is was Billy and Me and ripped open the package, gleaming that I had this book in my hand and I was staring at the most gorgeous cover. I proceeded to read it everywhere; on the bus, on the train, in bed, at the bus stop, I could not put it down. No matter how much I needed to eat etc, the book was etched in my hand the whole time.

Mrs Fletcher has written an amazing debut novel. Being married to a famous musician, you would expect her to have encountered many of the things she writes about in Billy and Me and write about her experiences. Either way, if she did, or didn’t experience the paranoia and the paparazzi and the comments, she still wrote the story to perfection. She makes you love her characters, feel their emotions, feel the pressure and paranoia and everything that comes from being in a relationship with a famous person.

I was crying, I was laughing, I felt paranoid, I was smiling so hard and I also had to put the book down at times to take deep breathes because I didn’t want things to happen, or read on to find out what was going to happen. Emotions, people, you feel!

I really did like Billy. He wasn’t like all the other ‘famous’ actors whom are high maintenance, only think about themselves and throw money around. He was down-to-earth, wasn’t in it for the fame, and was genuine, and completely loveable and romantic. It was hard not to fall for him at first read. He was the famous guy who you would love to be with simply because he loved the acting side and didn’t care for the fame and money. He liked his home necessities, his love for him family and the love he had for Sophie was lush to witness. He would do anything to be with her, to make her happy and feel loved.

Sophie is independent. She never used to be but a trauma in her life made her push people away. She doesn’t really have any friends, apart from Molly, the old lady she works for and her mother. She has a warm and caring aura about her. You want to be friends with her, for her to be your best friend and to confide in. She hates gossip, as she has been the subject of it, so she keeps to herself. She’s very comfortable in her ways, there aren’t many people who live in her village, and most of them are older women, she shes not really used to dating or seeing anyone her age around. When Billy comes into the shop, you can see that she finds him attractive, yet she holds her own, despite the lack of men, she can talk to him, make him feel at ease, make him laugh, and that is what is so great about Sophie is that she just has this aura about her that you want to spend time with her, want to know her and have to love her because she is true to herself.

Molly. Oh Molly. I absolutely loved this gem of a woman. She was Sophie’s boss but also her best friend. She was such a brilliant character to read about and you just want her as your own friend or your grandmother because she was funny and caring and gave the best advice. She looked out for Sophie, didn’t like anyone hurting her and pushed her in the right direction. She was the perfect character, and I really loved her throughout Billy and Me.

My favourite scene has to be the first date. I’m not going to say what happens, but seriously..Billy is the perfect romantic and I loved what he did. I really want my boyfriend – when I get one – to replicate this date because it is something that seems so intimate and sweet to come up with and make for a first date. You will be swooning over this date and over Billy, no question about it!

Giovanna Fletcher has written a great first novel. I know I am slightly late in reviewing it….well writing my review as I read this about a week or so ago, but damn work commitments. But seriously, if you are looking for a great love story, then Billy and Me is it. It’s hard to put down; you will fall in love, swoon, cry and generally savour every single page. So what are you waiting for, go grab your copy now and see what I am talking about.

Book Tours

BOOK TOUR: Rock With Me (#4) – Kristen Proby

Posted on May 9, 2013May 8, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

So its The Book Lovers stop on the Rock With Me book tour and I will be giving you all a review and an author interview.

Holy hell, you need to download the book now. It’s smoking hot and I hope my review will persuade you to give Rock With Me a go. You’ll want to be licking Leo’s stars 😉

Synopsis

Front Man Leo Nash from the world-famous rock band, Nash, is the last person on earth Samantha Williams would trust. She’s already learned about loving a celebrity the hard way and isn’t signing up for another lesson.

Every time Sam gives Leo attitude, he wants to knock that chip off her fragile little shoulder. What the hell did he ever do to her, anyway? He’s not used to women treating him like he’s poisonous, and he isn’t about to let her run away every time he gets close. He’s had enough of people running away to last him a lifetime…when this one runs, he gives chase. But, catching Sam isn’t as hard as he thought.

The sexual attraction between them is so thick, Sam can practically hold it in her hand. There’s no way she can deny herself the promise of pleasure being with Leo would provide.

But, pleasure always comes with pain and when secrets are revealed and trust is challenged, who will run and who will chase?

4 / 5 Stars

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My review

“I’m going to make love you you until you’re shaking and don’t remember who you are.”

Okay, so I have to be honest here, Rock With Me is the first book I’ve ever read of Kristen Proby. I didn’t actually know it was part of a series when I signed up even though I have the first three books on my kindle; I just haven’t gotten around to reading them yet.

In my opinion, you don’t particularly need to read the first three, but it could help you when the couples are showcased in the book. It took me a while to kind of know who they were and who they were related to, but after that, there are bits of their past conjured in so you know a feel about each person mentioned. I will go back and read the first three books though, just so I properly know the back stories of each character.

Other than that, when I worked out who was who, I was less confused and more focused on Leo Nahs (Meg’s brother) and Samantha Williams’ (Luke’s sister) relationship as it is their book!

For a first reading of Kristen Proby, I was hooked. Flicking through page by page, engrossed with the story of Sam and Leo, of following their story, their journey, knowing about them and their life. Everything about them both was awesome and uh, I just want to lick Leo’s stars please!! It was sexy, it was filled with laughter and tears, it was family and friend orientated but most of all, it showed us that when you find that love, there is nothing that will break it. I adored Rock With Me! And Leo…oh can I have him please? *sigh*

Leo and Sam don’t get off to the best of starts. Sam is attracted to Leo but she acts like a bitch to him because he’s her best friend’s brother and she doesn’t date famous people. It didn’t end well the last time she did, so she stays away from him. But consequences force them together such as family events and a flat tire and from then they become friends, going running every morning then breakfast.

Leo is on a break from touring and Sam has lost her job so to keep her mind off searching for a job, running is their thing for a while at least. They get to know one another more and the attraction between them is sizzling. Sam wants Leo to kiss her again, Leo wants to but he doesn’t know how to do relationships but he sees something in Sam that is different from any other girl. But then you have Sam who doesn’t do relationships either, just fuck buddies. Leo wants in and wants her but it scares Sam half to death. Will she let him?

Of course she does but Sam and Leo are both stubborn asses and it takes a while to let one another in but when they do, they start falling hard for one another. Sam is an independent woman. She doesn’t like people helping her out, preferring to do it herself but Leo wants to help her. He wants to protect her and love her, and he tries to do that without scaring her off. He tries to break in slowly, letting her know he is not going anywhere.

When Sam’s secret comes out, she gets completely pissed at Leo and as a result they both end up saying hurtful things to one another. But Leo isn’t finished with Sam, he’s not letting her go and proves to her just how much she means to him.

Okay, so because I hadn’t met Sam before this book (I’ve read some reviews and she was a bitch in one of the books?) I can’t comment on that and of course, this review is about Sam and Leo now, so it will be about how I met them in THIS book, as it should be.

Sam is a feisty one. She has trust issue due to a past relationship and because of people using her to get to her brother – whom is famous. Because of this, she doesn’t have many friends and prefers to have a fuck buddy than be in a relationship. She’s lonely, she’s stubborn but she is loyal and protective towards to her family, which in turn lost her her job. She hasn’t told them yet though, wanting to keep it a secret and job hunt by herself.

She doesn’t want their charity and doesn’t like relying on them. She feels inadequate to her family as they are all famous and she feels she hasn’t done anything special in her life. But they don’t see her like that at all. She doesn’t see how much she is loved by them all and how much she means to them.

She truly is a kind and good person. She just has insecurities which make her sarcastic and bitchy at times but other than that, Sam is a great character to read and you really do watch her barriers fall down and watch her fall in love. Being in love is an awesome look on her.

Growing up in foster care, it was a tough time for Leo. It’s also made him have turst issues due to the things that happened in his childhood. And this is where he found Meg and protected her with his life. Besides Meg and his band, he has no other family. Leo has made a name for himself as a famous rockstar for the band Nash and has come a long way since his childhood. He has tattoos, piercings and seems like he has a tough exterior but deep down it’s all a front, especially where Sam is concerned.

Leo has never been in a relationship. He used to fuck groupies, but never kiss them or give oral sex. He felt that was too personal, but with Sam he does just this. He truly adores Sam, there is something different about her and Leo likes it. He likes this feeling he gets when he is with Sam. He likes having someone to call his and they have so much fun together, ripping into one another, teasing one another. It was great to see them both let someone in and learn to trust again.

He is just as stubborn as Sam but he knows and tries to break down this barrier and get to her open up to him. He’s falling in love with her and wants to know every single thing about her. He’s never done this relationship thing before but he sure as hell wants it if it means he gets Sam.

Can I have Leo please? Please?

So uhm, I need to mention ALL the sex scenes. Fuck me sideways. Kristen Proby sure knows how to write some freaking steamy stuff. I was fanning myself every time Sam and Leo had sex. Jesus Christ seriously. Leo sure knows the way around a woman’s body and Sam is working it for us girls! Lick those stars girl!! I know all of us envy you and want to be you. Finger licking good. And it’s not just the sexual chemistry, that made them so great together. Their swooning romance and heart-felt moments between the two that grows with both of them. It grows into love, an overpowering love that neither of them thought possible, but together, it is perfect for them.

I loved reading Sam and Leo’s story. Watching their journey together and alone. Rock With Me really is a book you all should get your hands on (And you should buy the other three in the series too). I am going to read the first three books then come back to Rock With Me. I should be more than acknowledged with everyone then, instead of meeting them for the first time in Rock With Me. But never mind, you get over the confusion and just focus on Sam and Leo 😉

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AUTHOR QUESTIONS

1. I know you probably get asked this question a lot, but what made you start writing? Did you always want to be a writer?
I’ve written since I was a little girl. One of my earliest memories is making my mom sit at the table with me with a pen and paper, asking her how to spell the words so I could write my story down.

2. How did you come up with the ‘With Me in Seattle’ books?
Wow, this is a popular question during this tour. LOL It all started with CAWM. I hadn’t planned on writing a series at all, but then I met the Montgomery family, and it was a no-brainer that all the siblings needed their own books.

3. How do you come with the plot of your books? Do the storylines just come to you?
I spend quite a bit of time brainstorming with a critique partner. Most of my best ideas come to me in the shower, of all places. I need to keep a notebook in there. LOL

4. How do you pick the names of your characters? And do you spend time thinking of the ‘right’ names for your characters?
They just come to me as I’m writing. There isn’t a magical formula or any real research that goes into them.

5. Out of all the characters, if you could pick one guy and girl, who are your favourites? Or instead, which couple did you enjoy writing the most so far?
My favourite couple is always the one I’m currently working on because I’m right in the middle of their love story.

6. You still have 3 more books left to write, out of these three, which one are you most excited for us fans to read?
Honestly, I’m excited about all of them for very different reasons. There are some surprises coming up that will throw everyone off.

7. For people who have yet to read the series, would you recommend them to begin with book 1, Come Away with Me, or can your books be read as a standalone, despite the returning characters involved in each book?
I do recommend starting at the beginning so you can follow the characters through out the series.

8. Your books involve some pretty hot sex scenes, do you get hot under the collar when you write them?
LOL Sometimes, sure. My characters are passionate, and their love scenes reflect that. Plus, the guys say such amazing things during sex! Swoon!

9. Do you have any more projects in the work after you have finished this series?
I have another project that I’m just now starting. I can’t really say too much about it yet.

10. Have you thought about who you would like to play each character if your books were made into movies?
That’s such a wild fantasy, and there are so many characters. I do have favourites.

11. And lastly, is there a deep, dark secret that you would like to share with the rest of us 😉
If I shared them, they wouldn’t be secrets, now would they? 😉

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If you want to follow the tour, here are a list of the blogs participating:-

May 1^st

Natasha is a Book Junkie
Once Upon A Twilight

May 2^nd

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH
I Read Indie
Read This Hear That

May 3^rd

Lori’s Book Blog
Tyhada Reads

May 4^th

Sinfully Sexy Books
I Love Lady Porn

May 5^th

Mostly YA Book Obsessed
#BookNerd

May 6^th

Whirlwind Books
The Soul Sisters

May 7^th

My Secret Romance
Loverly’s Book Blog

May 8^th

Romantic Book Affairs
The Readiacs

May 9^th

SM&I Book Club
The Book Lovers

May 10^th

Hesperia Loves Books
Dear, Restless Reader

May 11^th

Shh Mom’s Reading
Romance Addict

May 12^th

The Book Avenue
The Autumn Review

May 13^th

I Love Indie Books
Vilma’s Book Blog

May 14^th

Book Bitches Blog
The Bookish Babe

Romance, YA

HDU (Part 1) – India Lee

Posted on February 5, 2013February 5, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Amanda Nathan just lost everything – her first real boyfriend to her lifelong best friend, her half of their shared apartment in St. Louis and her first post-grad job as a receptionist. Forced back under her parents’ roof in Merit, Missouri, the gossipy town she’d spent her life trying to escape, Amanda has but one saving grace – being an anonymous moderator on HDU, the Internet’s largest celebrity gossip community. Unemployed and alone, Amanda relishes in the one thing she has control over – Hollywood gossip. Now, her idea of fun is getting lost in the glamorous lives of others and posting nasty rumors about her former bestie’s favorite actor, Liam Brody, a playboy notorious for dumping his model girlfriends on a monthly basis.

So who would’ve thought that Liam Brody would be Amanda’s answer to escaping Merit? When the controversial womanizer needs an image boost to land a new role, he turns to none other than HDU for some good press. As it turns out, Liam is as eager to shed his playboy image as Amanda is desperate to move out of Merit. The solution to both problems? Fake a romance in which Hollywood’s biggest playboy falls for an unknown, sweet and shockingly plain Jane.

With the help of Ian, a fellow HDU moderator and self-developed expert on stardom, Amanda packs her bags for her new life in New York, where the overnight fame and glamour of being a celebrity girlfriend awaits. But Amanda soon discovers that their little ploy is a lot more emotionally complicated than she imagined. And while she finds that life works a thousand times better in her Hollywood circle, so does manipulation.

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My Review

22 year old Amanda is back living with her parents after her childhood best friend and roommate did the one thing that no best friend should ever do – steal your boyfriend. With no job, no boyfriend and a gossiping town who completely adores her best friend Megan, she finds solace in her ‘job’ moderating the celebrity blog HDU and spouting how much she dislikes Hollywood’s heartthrob Liam Brody due to his womanizing ways.

But one day she receives an email from Liam who needs a favour from her. He really wants a part in a film that seems close to his heart but Amanda’s hate posts about him using and dumping models will have the opposite affect and so – as it was her sarcastic idea – Liam asks her to be the ‘normal’ girl to date for publicity and this kick-starts something in Amanda who agrees, seeing as she needs to get away from her small Missouri town and New York is just the key.

Thus, this starts the beginning of their ‘relationship’ and with Amanda being quite literally thrown to the wolves, the both of them are slowly seemingly becoming more but as everything unravels and drama comes a-knocking, what will happen to the couple who were pretending?

I love reading books like this – the normal girl who dates the big Hollywood star but with a twist. I loved Tina Reber’s Love series and I’ve already fallen in love with book 1 of HDU! I’m now impatiently awaiting book two to find out the next part of Amanda and Liam’s story and how they are going to deal with everything from malicious ‘friends’ to the celeb blogosphere. I must admit, I am prone to lurking about Celebrity sites to get my fix about their lives – Perez Hilton being one of them, and I think that was part of what also attracted me to this book. Romance, Hollywood, normal girls and blogs – yes please!

Amanda has literally lost everything. He best friend stole her boyfriend, kicked her out of their flat, she hasn’t a job and moving back with your parents is every young adult’s nightmare (I should know). Her town is a gossip site and she’s been holed up in her room away from the attention of why she is back. The only ‘friend’ she has is her fellow blogger ‘FilmFreak’ whom have been speaking for years but have never met…until know when they both talk about how depressing their lives are.

Showing Ian aka FilmFreak the video Liam sent her, he persuades her to be the girlfriend thus throwing both of them into the public eye and making them ‘famous for being famous.’ Enter Liam coming to her hometown, being shown off to her family and friends then flying her and Ian back to New York with him to begin their journey as a ‘couple.’

Amanda is witty, sarcastic, and a bit naive but she is incredibly loyal to those she loves, standing up for what she believes is right especially being thrown into the public with no idea how to react – she did exceptionally well. But she really did deserve to have a bit of luck come her way after a disastrous couple of months, and I was happy that despite having no idea what she wanted in life, she got Liam and a perfect job along the way.

I fell in love with Liam from the word go / when he emailed Amanda. His sarcasm shone through on his email and I was highly amused by what he said to her that after that I was hooked and waiting to read more emails from him. Needing a normal girl to boost his publicity, Amanda seems the perfect choice and although he’s very head strong and the first meeting seems very uncomfortable between them, they did actually fall into the whole relationship with ease, with friendly banter, kisses, hold handing and slowly changing their perceptions of each other. I just loved watching the relationship change at every corner.

Liam proved that he wasn’t a womanizer, that he just liked woman but he stayed faithful to Amanda throughout their contracted time and over the time, you could see that he had grown and was becoming a changed man thanks to having Amanda in his life. He could be jealous at times when they were out, especially when fellow actor and heartthrob Dylan was around, whom I did like but I wish he stayed away from Amanda (Even though he had been her crush for years). He truly cared about her and only wanted the best for her, that’s why when the contract ended, he let her go, even though it obviously pained him to do so. It proved that something had changed in both of them and it was real between them now, it just couldn’t happen…no yet anyway.

I loved the banter between Liam and Amanda. From the first email right up until the end of the book you could see how much they grew together and although it was all ‘pretend’ it started to certainly not feel that way – for both of them down the line. Although they both started off on the wrong foot with each other, which is why the banter had me laughing so hard, they eventually began to know each other and the more time they spent together, it was like they truly were a couple, especially the way they would act in public with each other, for all to see.

I was disheartened when the contract ran its course. I wanted them to renew it, but I knew what Liam was doing. He wanted Amanda to spread her wings and be everything she should be in the Big Apple, just everything turned to pot in her life after he left to film to movie. I was sat wishing that she didn’t let him leave and that he would come back before the book finished – which I am super happy he did, because that ending was perfect and left us ready for the next chapter in their lives.

There were a few scenes that I adored but I have to say the one that I loved the most was when they were in the restaurant, slightly tipsy and the waitress was trying to get Liam’s attention and Amanda was telling him he could look as she wouldn’t be going away until he did and he said he didn’t want to look and you could really see that those two just had eyes for each other and their feelings were starting to change. I LOVED THAT PART!!

The secondary characters were refreshing and their storylines kept me hooked as well. It seems to be hard to find great friends in the Hollywood world and Casey was no exception. Liam tells Amanda that she’s bad news, but Amanda – who had no female friends – wants to believe differently. I liked their relationship at the start but then Casey started to become the person Liam warned Amanda about. I can’t wait to see what happens with these two in the next book!

Ian was a great friend but his life took a turn for the worst throughout most of the book. I felt so sorry for him that he was spiralling down, and fast. As much as everyone was telling Amanda to not help him, she’s too loyal and I’m just glad she got to him before he really did do something stupid and made him get the help is needed. I can’t wait to see how he is in book two and if he’s straightened his life out.

And finally Megan. She was just an attention seeker who was so very jealous of Amanda and her life. What she did and continued to do to Amanda was disgraceful and I was so happy and glad that Amanda stood up to her in the end because that bitch deserved a slap – although she didn’t receive one.

HDU is the first book I have read by India Lee and her writing style certainly drew me in, so much so, I could not put the book down. The plot flowed; the writing was witty and brought a burst of life to the story. I especially loved all the blog posts and articles throughout the book.

The only thing I will say is that I wish there was more Liam and Amanda because scenes with those two were so funny and cute to read and vision them both together. I hope there are more in the second installment.

I definitely recommend this book if you love celebrity blogs, Hollywood heartthrobs pretending to date normal girls, perceptions of others being changed, drama and romance. I, for one, loved this book and will definitely be re-reading it very soon.

Jade C. Jamison, Music, New Adult

Everything But (Tangled Web #2) – Jade C. Jamison

Posted on December 3, 2012December 3, 2012 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

High school English teacher Erin Lancaster is stuck with the unwelcome job of filling in for the injured cheerleading coach, but she wants to back out when she discovers she has to be auctioned as a date during the annual spring fundraiser. She’s horrified to find her rock star crush Riley Schultz, former frontman of Spawn, will be playing emcee for the event, but she’s even more shocked that he also happens to be the highest bidder for her affections, and sparks fly when she discovers that maybe their attraction is mutual.

Riley’s been in the music business long enough to know that true love is not in the cards for him, but the cute blonde he’s dropped a wad of cash on would be a welcome distraction during his vacation. He has no idea there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Will one week together be enough for them to quell the flames, to enjoy everything but?

Warning: Not for the faint of heart! This book contains explicit sex and naughty language. Proceed with caution…if you dare.

Everything But is the second novel in Jade C. Jamison’s Tangled Web series. It features a little fun with handcuffs, an everything but sex scene that’ll make you giggle and blush, and a lot of heat!

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My Review

“You know Mr Schultz, I was prepared to give you everything…everything but…”
“Love?”
“Yeah…but I think you even got that out of me.”
“Only fair, Ms. Lancaster, since you managed to get that out of me too.”

Erin is an English teacher – in no way is she a cheerleading coach – but that is exactly what she is for a couple of months since the Coach has busted up her leg and is now in a cast from thigh to toe. Reluctantly agreeing to sub the team, their annual spring fundraiser is coming up and Erin, as the sub coach, is dragged into be auctioned off for a date too, much to her dismay.

It’s one thing to be auctioned off but it’s another when Rockstar God Riley Schultz is presenting the auction, especially when Erin has a crush on him and as he’s the highest bid for Erin, earning himself a date with her.

Rockstar Riley has come back into town for a week or so, while his new album is being mixed. His mother – who is on the school committee – has volunteered Riley to be a part of the auction, and although he’d rather sit on his mothers couch watching DVD’s, when he spots Erin, he can’t take his eyes of her and so that’s why he’s the one to win a date with her…at $500!

I absolutely loved the sexual tension in the car on the way home from the date. Especially when Nine Inch Nails’ Closer came on the radio. Bloody love that song and oh my god, it was the perfect song for how Erin was feeling – all hot and bother, and I would have totally felt the same way too!

This story, in my opinion, is about two tormented souls who have been scorned by ex-lovers in the past. Spending the short time together, they both begin to feel something for the other, completely new and scary territory for the both of them as they don’t want it to end up like their previous relationships. They tackle some major issues during the days they spend together – Riley’s family included – and get to know one another, which makes them fall that little bit more for each other.

Since reading Tangled Web, I was so excited to read Riley’s story and this book was everything and more. Riley has been dragged through so much in his past, from drug taking, groupie sex, alcoholism and generally being a bad boy, but when he meets Erin, who is slightly conservative shall we say, and vows to be celibate after two crappy relationships, everything turns upside down for him and it was a nice change to see some feeling flair from Riley.

Although there is a part where he acts like a jackass, I could see the conflicting ways of his actions. He really liked Erin but didn’t know what she was after from him and so acting so out of character (to her) would make it easier for him to walk away. Hm big mistake there for him but whatever the outcome – from both their actions – they just can’t seem to stay away.

I now come onto the sex. Holy Jesus moley! Every sex scene had me wishing I was Erin, and I’d like to say – Riley can definitely handcuff me any day…I just need to find him first! I could feel the chemistry sizzling between them both and I loved the build-ups to each sex scene. There was so much passion I didn’t know what to do when I was reading it. I was getting flustered!

It has now totally turned out to be one of my favourite books. I was completely captivated by the storyline, especially how they were both afraid of love. Riley and Erin, albeit, seemed to go through so many rough patches during the week, finally came together at the end – pushing past everything that had happened throughout the week, to finally finding that they can’t be without each other, no matter what is put in their path to stop them.

Jade C. Jamison, Music, New Adult

Tangled Web (Tangled Web #1) – Jade C. Jamison

Posted on December 1, 2012December 3, 2012 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

A Steamy Heavy Metal Novella
Katie Logan has had a secret crush on her best friend Johnny Church since high school, but he’s never looked at her the same way. So when Johnny—now a famous rock-and-roll guitarist—comes home to visit, Katie can’t bring herself to tell him she’s engaged to be married. She should have, though, because she soon discovers that maybe the attraction is mutual…

Warning: Not for the faint of heart! This book contains explicit sex, drugs, and rock and roll, not to mention a few eff bombs here and there. Proceed with caution.

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My Review

Katie leads a boring life. There’s nothing more she wants than to come home from work and curl up in bed with a book, in the company of Sam, her cat – not her fiancé Grant. She likes being alone, mainly due to how she now views her life as she works in the Child Protective Services, which can be pretty full on at the worst of times.

One night, when all she wants to do is read, a knock at the door disrupts her night and her childhood best friend and famous rockstar Johnny Church, or J.C Gibson as he’s known to the world, is standing at her doorstep. She hasn’t seen him for a couple of years now, but it’s like they have never been apart.

Growing up together, Katie harboured the ultimate crush on Johnny, but never took it any further than that as he had never looked at her in that way…or so she thought.

Now that Katie is engaged to be married and Johnny is back in town for a while at least, she never tells him of her engagement until after they end up in bed, where he finds out she has a fiancé and all hell breaks loose.

Will Katie be able to fix their friendship and keep Johnny in her life, or will she loose him and never regain his forgiveness? THAT is something you will have to find out.

I loved Katie. Although she lead a boring life, and she knows it, after Johnny leaves, he makes her see that she can be so much more which leads her to studying Creative Writing – her lifelong passion which she put on hold when her dad was ill. Now that she has left her old job, left her fiancé and finally pursuing her writing dream – there is only one thing she is missing and that is Johnny.

Johnny was your typical rockstar but he also had a vulnerable side, especially when he finds out about Katie’s engagement. Towards the end, I felt that Johnny was a complete asshole they way he spoke to Katie and how he left her in the room – although she probably did deserve it, maybe a little bit. Although it seemed that he was still angry at her for sleeping with him when she had a fiancé, it pains her that he thinks she would be his fuck buddy and that all those years of friendship are now down the drain. But he completely redeems himself at the end. What he confesses had me gushing as it was so sweet.

I also enjoyed the jumping back and forth from current day to past times of the two of them. It let us, as the reader, understand their relationship. For those complaining about that part, I felt it slotted in really well with the story, as things mentioned ‘in the past’ were then explained when Jade wrote about that past, clearing things up a bit, especially the night that Johnny turns up looking worse for wear and needs Katie to look after him.

To end, I have to say, I love how Jade writes sex scenes. She makes it really intense and as a reader, I love to see the chemistry between the characters when sex is involved.

Definitely give this book a read. It’s about two people who have loved each other all their lives, just have never known it. It’s a quick read too so if you don’t have much time, pick up this book and become obsessed with Johnny and Katie’s relationship to the very end.

I am looking forward to reading Everything But, to find out about Riley Schultz, who is mentioned in this book. He was the bad boy that everyone wants to date – including me, so I can’t wait to read his story next!

Also a big thank you Jade for sending me copies of your books 🙂

Jade C. Jamison, New Adult

MADversary – Jade C. Jamison

Posted on November 25, 2012December 8, 2012 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

They make sweet music together, but can it last?

Megan Walker doesn’t plan to attend her high school reunion, but her best friend Lisa begs her to come along. Megan doesn’t want to risk running into her old boyfriend Tyler Green, a man who has since become rich and famous as the frontman of a heavy metal band called Madversary. Lisa convinces her that Tyler would never show up for something like a reunion, so Megan gives in, only to regret it. Because when Tyler does show up, the spark reignites, and she doesn’t know that she can bear letting him go again.

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My Review

This is the first book I have read by Jade Jamison and oh wow, I think I will definitely be downloading more books of hers because I could not put this book down. It was my Lazy Sunday book and I enjoyed every page of it.

It’s been ten years since high school ended and ten years since Megan Walker has seen her old high school boyfriend Tyler Green – now famous rockstar and adored by millions of girls and she’d like to say she hasn’t thought about him, but that’s not true as she had kept up with his career, no matter how much it hurts.

When her best friend Lisa begs her to go to their High School reunion, Megan doesn’t want to go in risk of running into the boy who stole her heart for those short months they were together but in the end tells Lisa she’ll go, but if she sees Tyler, its game over, she’s going home. Lisa has convinced her that in no way would Tyler want to come to the reunion.

Problem is, Tyler does turn up and he heads straight for Megan, looking as gorgeous as he was ten years ago, just more muscular and manly. The more alcohol Megan consumes, the more she feels relaxed in her and Tyler’s little bubble in the corner of the room. But it’s a bad thing, because the more they talk, the more all her old feelings are re-servicing and she decides she’s never really gotten over him, no matter how short their relationship was.

As it’s only a weekend thing, Megan can’t help knowing that this is only for a few days and after that Tyler will go back to the rock and roll lifestyle and she will be left heartbroken again. It takes every bit of energy to return the next two days. And even then, Tyler can’t stay away from her.

Megan was a great read. I felt her hesitation about going to the reunion. In my opinion, Tyler was the one who got away and seeing him would bring everything back up. She was really strong to go to the reunion, even though she was pretty much left along for most of it, due to Lisa wandering off, which I actually thought was highly unfair seeing as Lisa was the one who begged Megan to go and didn’t want to go on her own – whereas Megan didn’t even want to go, and she was stranded.

I fell in love with Tyler. He wasn’t your typical rockstar. Yes he’d had his fair share of groupies, but when he was first introduced, he was so happy to see Megan and really wanted to reconnect with her. You could see that he could have only really been there for Megan and it got me thinking about if he had called to see If Megan was going, just so he could go and see her. As many of you know, from reading my other reviews, Tyler has tattoos and piercings, which is a massive thumbs up from me. It was great to see another side to the famous people I read about. Tyler was sweet and considerate, highly good at sex (woah) and of course, still harboured feelings for Megan.

There is a big bust up near the end, concerning a psycho ex who begins to spout lies about Tyler to Megan to keep them from each other, but in the end, love concurs all and I thought the ending was particularly sweet with what Tyler does and how two high school lovers, who just needed time apart to get their lives sorted, came back together after still feeling the same way about each other that they had done ten years ago.

It’s a short read, but one where I couldn’t put it down. I’m going to finish this review with some appropriate songs that played during some of the scenes. I’m not lying when I say they actually came on my IPod during these scenes without my shuffling them to fit the mood.

First one: The first time they have sex – John Mayer – Your Body Is A Wonderland. Tots approps as Megan kept going on about Tyler’s physique and how muscular it now is.

Second: Blue – If You Come Back (Youtube if you don’t know the song). When Megan leaves after having sex the first time and misses the second morning get-together and Tyler asks Lisa if he’s done anything wrong to Megan

And lastly: Robert Miles – Children: The time they have sex in the locker room. This song plus that scene was pretty intense to me.

Listening to music whilst reading this book really did intensify the book and the words I was reading especially when songs that are apt to the scenes come on and make you feel so much more about that scene or character. All in all, I highly recommend this book and I shall definitely be downloading more Jade Jamison books.