Tag: love

Posted in New Adult

Not Yet – Laura Ward

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

22551385Synopsis

Emma Harris is learning that life is just a series of lessons.

Lesson #1: Nothing goes the way you plan.
Lesson #2: You can’t trust men. Especially not the pretty ones.
Lesson #3: Turns out, appearances are almost always deceiving.

Emma thinks she has life all figured out, and what she knows isn’t good. For years, she’s put her big sister, who was born with Down syndrome, first. Now Emma’s ready to start her own life, but fate has other plans. To do the right thing for the sister she loves, Emma’s dreams will just have to wait.

She doesn’t plan on meeting Landon — a rich, flirtatious jock, who never has to wait for anything. Not for attention, not for money, and certainly not for girls. Meeting Emma marks the first time in his life that he’s had to fight for something. And Landon doesn’t know how to lose.

Emma has no interest in wasting her summer with a superficial guy like Landon. But very soon she realizes she is wrong about him. The question is, can she trust him? Or will he let her down like every other guy in her life? But most importantly, can Emma trust herself enough to live the life she’s always dreamed of?

Life has a way of sneaking in the most important lessons when you aren’t looking. And once the heart gets involved, that’s when the real learning begins.

5 Out Of 5 Stars

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My Review

As you know, I have stopped writing reviews in turn for focussing on my writing. But I did say if a book I NEEDED you all to read came along, then I would write a review for it. And here it comes. I HAVE a book for you – Not Yet by Laura Ward. I need to write this review, I need you all to read it and just bask in the beauty of the book with me. Because it is such a 5 star book, its out of this work.

From never reading a book about people with disabilities to finding a whole array and gobbling them down like they are my next breath, Not Yet is definitely a top contender. As a debut novel, Laura pulled me in. Her writing, the story, it hooked me in and I read this book in about three hours, only stepping to express my emotions for what was happening. From smiling, to giggles, to the steam factor. And then the twist. Oh man, my heart stopped, and I kept re-reading that passage. Eyes wide open in shock. And then I felt the emotions from Emma and Landon. The heartbreak, the pain and love. Laura had me throwing my kindle, clutching it to my chest and I cannot think of a better book to read on my lazy Sunday morning.

Not Yet is about Emma. She’s had to finish college early to come home and help her mother out with bills and her sister, Evie, who has Down’s Syndrome. Over the summer she takes a job in a country club managing lifeguards where she meets the devilishly handsome, Landon.

Landon slowly breaks down Emma’s walls and the more time they spend together, the more they fall, but a secret comes to light and ends everything. But they say love prevails, so will it for both Landon and Emma when it really counts?

I was sold on this book from the synopsis and cover and then we meet our two characters and I was sucked into them.

Emma is a strong character. She knows what she wants and is determined to get there but her plans are put on hold when she had to return home. She puts her walls up, she’s bitchy and argumentative and keeps to herself, keeps her personal life private. She loves her family hard, especially her sister and you can really see the love she has for Evie. She will do anything for her older sister. She’s old beyond her years but there is something utterly special about Emma that I was smiling at everything she was doing. Proving and showing that everyone is equal, that everyone is the same regardless of who you are, regardless of your disability. We all want the same – to have and to be loved.

I loved watching her walls break down around Landon. Loved seeing her carefree and smiling and giggling and doing things twenty-one years old should be doing. She learnt life lessons along the way, both negative and positive but it all comes down to learning. Never regretting anything you do because it leads you to the path you finish on. The path in which love prevails if you just wait. If you love hard and deep enough, true love will always be there. Sure Emma went through some dark paths; heartbreak, shock, anger and gossip but she got through it. She proved how strong and selfless and amazing she was and she’s a character that everyone should look up to.

I was hooked on Landon from then get-go. That smoking hot, cocky guy who has all the girls falling at his feet? Who wouldn’t be a part of that? Emma, that’s for sure. A footballer who is starting school in the fall, he’s superficial. He acts all cocky and like a playboy but there’s so much more to him. So much underneath that façade that that side of him gets stripped away the more he spends with Emma.

I loved the changes in Landon. The more time he spent with Evie and Emma, the more he moulded into the guy who was always there, just hidden. He proved himself, he proved he wasn’t an ass, he proved just how amazing he was, asking questions about Evie, helping out Trevor and helping him progress with the water and the pool. I was laughing at him making a fool of himself, swooning over everything he was saying and doing to Emma and I just loved seeing them together, seeing him carefree and seeing him care. He learns some lessons too, about himself, about life and love. About secrets and heartbreak. He begins to see things differently but when his secret comes out, everything around him and Emma comes crashing down. His secret shocked me to the depths. I was not exprecting something like that and it broke trust and everything between them. You could feel the pain from Landon. How utterly upset and shocked and disappointed he was in himself for keeping it from Emma.

The ultimate betrayal. But I loved how he fought for her. He fought for her love, for his love and he would wait forever for you. A year to him was nothing when the end was the love of his life. You see a massive change in Landon. From cocky to loving. From superficial to being his true self. Everyone could see it and I was so proud of him for everything he did throughout the book.

It wasn’t just Emma and Landon’s journey, it was Trevor and Billy and Evie and Garrett and Amy’s journey too. You meet them, you love them and you root for all of them. They all have disabilities but do they let them hinder them? No, not by any means and you feel so happy for them, that they grow stronger and more resilient everyday, teaching us that no matter who you are, you can do it, regardless.

What I adored about this book was that the main focus was love, in all kinds. That everyone deserves something and someone special. How disabilities shouldn’t matter, that we should all be treated equally, because at the end of the day, we ARE all equals. I loved that Laura integrated different people with special needs. From Down’s Syndrome, to Autism and she made me really open my eyes and learn along with Landon. People with special needs can teach us so much more than we can teach them. They are truly amazing and they teach Landon and Emma, at times, so much more. About love, about life and being in the moment.

Please read this book. I really need you to. It will change your whole perception on everything. It really did to me.

Posted in New Adult

Bite & Release – Cory Cyr

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

20983763Synopsis

Ryan Chase left Fairbanks, Alaska, when she was 21 years old to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Somewhere along the way her dreams of stardom crashed and burned, along with her life.

Thirteen years later she is forced to return to Fairbanks because her unforgiving and emotionally-distant father has suddenly died. Ryan seizes the opportunity to not only escape her abusive husband but to be able to attend her best friend’s wedding. What could go wrong? It’s only Fairbanks, Alaska…
While wishing she was anywhere but her father’s funeral and wake, Ryan is struck senseless by a stunning, drop-dead gorgeous man. Her thoughts turn carnal and she desperately wants to know him in every way—and position—possible. There’s only one problem…

He’s the devil’s spawn.
He’s the one who marked her for life.
He’s the kid she used to baby-sit.
And he’s hotter than hell!

Shea Michaels has loved Ryan Chase for most of his life. After surviving an unspeakable childhood, he became a man of whom she could be proud of…if she ever came back.
Now that she’s returned, Shea pursues her with a vengeance, undaunted by the thirteen year age difference that Ryan uses as the shield between them.

Confusion, guilt and lust bombard Ryan as she battles the memories of the little boy she used to know while still being drawn to the heart-stopping man he has become.

***18+ due to explicit sexual situations, graphic language and intense adult themes

5 out of 5 STARS

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My Review

I found out about Bite and Release from a blog on Facebook and am i glad that i downloaded it straight away? HELL YES.  I was hooked from the start and with the twists throughout the book, i was on tenterhooks throughout, needing to know the outcome. I first picked this book up because i was intrigued with the synopsis (the photo certainly helped too). I’m pretty obsessed with friends-to-lover books but this was ex-babysitter/child-now-adult – to lovers (understand? haha). I knew there would be a big age gap and that normally bothers me – dont ask why – but i was happily pleased to find that the age didnt bother it. It was like there wasnt even a gap anyway.

Cory brings out all your emotions. I was laughing, frustrated – in both senses ;), I teared up – both happy and sad. I even shouted at my kindle a few times and i also felt panicky at certain scenes, rushing to read what was going to happen. Seriously, your emotions will be all over the place. AND I LOVED IT! Cory has a writing flare that just keeps you reading page after page until you are at the end and looking at the clock wondering where the time has gone. She makes you feel for the characters, for their stories and i urge everyone to get their hands on Bite and Release and gobble it up just like I did. You will not be disappointed.

Ryan is a hard character at first. She comes back to Alaska after her father dies and its the perfect opportunity to hide from her abusive husband, as well as attend her BFF’s wedding. You can see she has a backbone, that she doesn’t want to be back in Alaska, not after running away from her home town but she has no choice. She’s bitchy, sarcastic and swears like a trooper. Her life hasnt exactly panned out the way she had hoped especially with her acting and with a husband that abuses her but she needs to get away from him, she needs to divorce his ass and hide until everything is final.

Then from across the room at her father’s wake is a sexy, suited up man who has had his eye on her all day. She’s intrigued until she discovers its Shea, the little boy she used to babysit. You can see her conflicting thoughts over seeing him. He looks yummy, sexy, so damn good, but she remembers him as a little devil and he’s 13 years younger than her.

She wants him but she doesnt. You can understand her though, because this is the LITTLE BOY she babysat, the little boy who was a devil and now, well now hes a sexy machine. It’s hard to be annoyed or angry at her back and forth-ness because you could quite possible be thinking the same as her. She had self-esteem issue, she was low in confidence but you watch her grow throughout the book. She becomes stronger and knows exactly what she wants – Shea – even if one part made me gasp in horror and had my heart breaking for her and Shea.

But throughout it all, age is just a number, it doesnt matter and if two people find one another and love each other, no one else’s opinion should matter and that is one thing i adored about this book was that no one took a second glance at the 13 years between them because love is love at the end of the day, and it’s no ones business but your own.

Shea is pretty damn amazing. Even I fell in love with him throughout the book. Despite everything he went through as a kid, despite how tough it was, he got through it and he turned out incredible. Life through him a curveball and he dealt with the hard parts until he cleaned his act up. For a 21 year old, he sure is older and I suppose you would be too. He has loved Ryan since he was eight and she was twenty one and when he sees her again, for the first time in 13 years, his love is still as strong as it was when he was a kid. I adored him from the get go. With his dreamy blue eyes, his tattoos and just his manner. He can turn the charm on full blast but then he can be sweet and vulnerable too. And i think that is what drew me to him as well.

He is such a great character. He knows what he wants and goes for it. He’s a hard worker, wanting to make something of himself and wanting to make Ryan proud of him, to be someone who would want him. You know that he would do anything for Ryan, even if it means staying away from her, but with so many years gone by, he wants her. The things he would say – both steamy and sweet- had my heart and chest clamping together. Gone is the ‘devil’ child and in replacement is the most sweetest, genuine and sexiest guy imaginable. He still habours the pain of his childhood but with Ryan by his side, it become bearable to get over them, to embrace the past to get into the present, into the future.  And what a future they have!

You will most definitely understand where the title of this book comes from too. It’s only a few pages in and in a way, its actually such a sweet memory, even if it wasn’t to those two. But it bonds them together, always has, and always will.

There are a few twists and turns in the book which had me gasping and flicking through the pages so fast because i need to know answers, needed to know just how it was going to end. Cory certainly keep you on edge with this twists that i couldnt put the book down. Not for one second. I stayed in the same place for 3 hours whilst i read Bite and Release, not wanting to put it down for anything.

Bite & Release truly is an awesome book. It was such a relief to see an older woman and younger guy story but it didnt feel like they had an age gap at all – like i already said. There are smoking hot sex scenes, cocky and sweet statements and a whole lot of loving and drama wrapped around. The relationship wasn’t rushed at all, it built up slowly and it seemed genuine and real and it progressed over time – that is what you want in a book. The characters to really know one another, to let each other in and Ryan and Shea really did do that over the book (apart from that one problem that Ryan failed to admit 😉 )

I’m so glad i found out about this book because i truly and utterly enjoy every single minute of reading it!

Posted in New Adult

Infinity + One – Amy Harmon

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

20901080Synopsis

When two unlikely allies become two unwitting outlaws, will two unforgettable lovers defy unbeatable odds?

Bonnie Rae Shelby is a superstar. She’s rich. She’s beautiful. She’s impossibly famous. And Bonnie Rae Shelby wants to die.

Finn Clyde is a nobody. He’s broken. He’s brilliant. He’s impossibly cynical. And all he wants is a chance at life.

One girl. One boy. An act of compassion. A bizarre set of circumstances. And a choice – turn your head and walk away, or reach out your hand and risk it all?

With that choice, the clock starts ticking on a man with a past and a girl who can’t face the future, counting down the seconds in an adventure riddled with heartbreak and humor, misunderstanding and revelation. With the world against them, two very different people take a journey that will not only change their lives, but may cost them their lives as well.

Infinity + One is a tale of shooting stars and fame and fortune, of gilded cages and iron bars, of finding a friend behind a stranger’s face, and discovering love in the oddest of places.

4 out of 5 stars

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My Review

“It’s not infinity after all. It’s not even two. It’s one, Bonnie Rae. Didn’t you tell me? You and me? We’re two halves of a whole. We’re one.”

Bonnie and Clyde has always intrigued me. And when I found out Infinity + One was a loosely based upon their story, I knew I had to read it as soon as it came out. A rich country singer who has reached boiling point and who just wants to die, and a nobody who just wants a chance at life. Together though, they may just be the best damn thing to happen but that isn’t what the news channels are saying. But when does the news ever get a story right?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from start to finish. I have been in a major reading slump and then I picked up Infinity + One and I was hooked on it. Amy has me picking up my kindle at every opportunity, wanting to know more about Bonnie and Finn (Clyde), about what would happen when their past and future caught up. I adored Making Faces and I knew that this book would be a great read too, and I wasn’t disappointed. From the maths involved from Finn, and the songs from Bonnie, you can see the passion and the energy and the hard work put into the book and the end result is an awesome read!

As mentioned, it’s loosely based upon Bonnie and Clyde. Despite running from the law, they did one thing right, they loved each other so much they would died for one another. And just like our Bonnie and Clyde who were running away from their past and future, they too, loved each other. This is an instalove book, but it doesnt feel like it. There is so much packed into this book it feels like they have known each other for ages, that their love has evolved and they haven’t fallen in love in the few days they are running away together – it really is a whirlwind romance which will have you hanging onto every step of the way.

Infinity + One begins with Bonnie Rae Shellby having enough of her popstar lifestyle. She’s done with it. She’s been the good girl following all her gran’s demands but shes had enough. And that is how Bonnie is ready to kill herself. But due to fate or just a random act of compassion, Infinity James Clyde, or just Finn, stops her. And that, ladies and gentleman begins the start of their story. One where they are running away together, one where they are running from the media, who are ‘following’ their story and running away from everything, especially each other. But two people who have so much more in common than they thought cant stay away, and its just like the real Bonnie and Clyde, their love overpowers everything else.

I sympathised with Bonnie. She is going through a hard time, she is grieving and I just wanted to give her a massive hug. She’s a hard worker, always having demands thrown at her from her gran and it’s enough. She’s had enough. Her gran is cashing in on her grief and she wants to cut loose. She’s struggling and the only thing she can think to do is take off – run away forever – but fate steps in in the form of Finn and as they say the rest is history. Bonnie is crazy, shes funny and loud and blunt but she is also sad and that is the hardest emotion to hide.

But what I liked the most? She came out of her shell. She had Finn by her side, she had love in her heart and that together is a dangerous combination that worked out amazingly. She grew a pair, she laid down the law and she overcame everything because she trusted in her love, she trusted in Finn and when that is greater than everything else, you know you can do anything. Infinity + One = Bonnie and Clyde forever.

Infinity or Finn or Clyde is trying to get away from his past. He wants to start afresh where no one knows who he is or what is supposedly did. Maths has been his way of life. He loves numbers and it has saved him more than once over the years. Then one night he sees someone and he knows he has to stop whatever is about to go down and this begins his story of Bonnie and Clyde. We get dual POV’s which I always love because we got to see the encounters, the trips and ‘adventures’ from both sides. We get to delve into the silent, strong but scared head of Finn. We get to understand his love of maths and how it saved him, we see his past, from his pov and the media’s and we see how scared he is of his feelings for Bonnie because they consume him and he doesnt know what to do. Whether to kill her or kiss her at times. But even if he knows he would be better off without her, he just cant let her go. He fights it, hell he does, but in the end, its Bonnie. He’s found his other halve again and there are so many signs leading to both of them that maths really does save him.

He’s cynical, he just wants to get to Las Vegas, get on with his life and with Bonnie, well she has switched him all around. For a broken guy who wants to leave his past and live, and from a rich popstar who has had enough of life, they sure inject passion and life back into one another. Reminding one another that they were meant to meet, that the signs were all pointing their way and that despite losing their other halves, they had one another, they were each others significant others. The road certainly led to both of them.

I really enjoyed the new reports following Bonnie and Clyde. I hated how there was so many lies being spouted without any real truth to what was happening. But then I suppose that is what makes this book that bit more real. New channels will report on anything news worthy even if it is a lie (This is coming from a graduate journalist). It makes it for an entertaining story but I felt so sorry for Finn. His past being splashed on the cover of magazines and the TV. My heart went out to him as he was being convicted for something he wasn’t even doing. But you need to go through the hardships to get to the end, and that is exactly what Bonnie and Finn did, what they do.

Amy has written a great book and it is one that you should read. Yano, right now. It is the weekend and that is what reading is for! Now I am off to research more Bonnie and Clyde things, because this book has made me even more intrigued about them.

Posted in Anna Bloom

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

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

cover_pink_fade_no_spSynopsis

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!!

Posted in Tessa Bailey

ARC: Baiting the Maid of Honor (#2)- Tessa Bailey

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

18744922Synopsis

He’ll own her from the very first touch.

Julie Piper and Reed Lawson have nothing in common. She’s a people-pleasing sorority girl hiding behind her perfect mask. He’s a take-no-prisoners SWAT commander who isolates himself from the world. But when they’re forced together at their friends’ posh destination wedding, one thing is clear—Reed wants Julie more than he wants his next breath. Which is why he’s not about to stand by when she’s dared to seduce another man.

Julie wants neat, tidy sex, so she could get back to what she does best—making everybody else happy. She never expected to slip into a dark bedroom and have her mind blown by rough, demanding hands, and a sinfully filthy mouth—neither of which belong to the best man.

One night should have been all Reed needed to get the blond temptress out of his system, but when one taste is nowhere near enough, he’ll be forced confront the effects of his hellish past. One that may push Julie away forever…just when he realizes he can’t live without her.

Grab the rest of the Wedding Dare series! 

• Dare to Resist by New York Times bestselling author Laura Kaye
• Falling for the Groomsman by New York Times bestselling author Jen McLaughlin, w/a Diane Alberts
• Seducing the Bridesmaid by New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert
• Best Man with Benefits by USA TODAY bestselling author Samanthe Beck

5 out of 5 stars

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My Review

Since that day I stumbled upon Tessa’s books, I have been hooked. I’ve demolished everything she has written and every time I see an email from her in my inbox, I do a little dance because it means I get to fall in love with new characters and add them to my book boyfriend and girlfriend list. And no joke, but all of her characters are on that list, and pretty damn high up too! So when I realised she was a part of The Wedding Dare continuity, I one-clicked all the books and then she asked me if I wanted an ARC and how the hell could I turn it down? I couldnt, thats the answer.

Tessa always outshines herself with each book. She sets the scene, she develops the characters and you can distinguish their voices perfectly. It helps that she writes freaking sexy-as alpha males who can turn you to goo and strong females who arent afriad to stand up for themselves. This is what I love about her books. That and the fact she knows how to get you hot and bothered as each sex scene is entirely different and gets under your collar. Grab a fan people, seriously.

Baiting The Maid of Honor is the second book in the continuity but really, you can read it as a standalone. It follows Reed, the best man’s childhood friend and Julie, the bride’s Maid of Honor (of course).

Julie and Reed are different on so many ways. Reed is the strong, silent type, keeping to himself and Julie is out-going, she is a people-pleaser and wants to make everyone happy, even if deep-down she isn’t. One dare to get with the best man has her walking to the wrong room. And she knows it.

One night, one mistaken identity in a dark room changes the whole dynamic of Julie and Reed. Reed wants one night to get her out of his system, but is one night enough? Julie wanted ‘boring’ sex but when her sexuality is unleashed, Reed figures out she is not so nice in the bedroom, really, she’s rather naughty. But when things go down, when things get mixed up, can Reed walk away from Julie? Or does he realise she is what he needed all along?

Oh Julie. My heart went out to her. She’s a people-pleaser, wanting everything to run smoothly, needing everything to go to plan. She’s fiery, shes witty and she seems to know what she wants. But underneath her façade is a vulnerable young woman. Someone who is trying to hard to please people that she is losing herself. Losing who she really is because of her past. She can’t see it, but others can.

She really is witty and sarcastic and will bite at Reed but you see another side of her, a side she wants to keep hidden and you do really feel for her when you see little snippets of doubt and her self-confidence slipping. She hides behind a mask and she hates it to slip off. Everything she does, she tries to be her late sister and its taking a toll on her, day by day. You can see it and everyone else can, especially Reed, but she cant. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to cool it down, let everyone else worry for once, but Julie is determined in what she does, which in a way is kind of endearing.

But when around Reed her fire burns, shes feisty but he brings out something in her, something that has been dormant. He brings out this naughty side, a side she wouldnt have ever seen if it was no for him. Shes sexy and experimental and holy shit the things she does, shes like a temptress, no joke. There was one scene that im sure when you read it you will understand by the river 😉 SAY WHAT! I was impressed by her boldness and im sure I fell in love with her like Reed did. I’ll be taking some notes from Julie.

My heart ached for her when she told Reed about her past, about not feeling worthy enough, about why she works herelf silly and when the day of her past came around, I wanted to cry for her. She was doing it all alone but then Reed came along, willing to help her through it and you knew, just knew that one night would never be enough for these two, that they were made for more than one night. Forever. I liked seeing a lighter Julie, one who calmed down, who owned her sexuality and one her loved Reed like no one else. The differences are what brought them together and their story was perfect.

Reed. Hello sexy tattooed dirty talker SWAT commander. That mouth should be made illegal or washed out with soap! Holy crap, he could turn your knickers dripping wet by just a look and you wouldn’t care as long as he did something about it. As mentioned, he is the strong, silent type. He observes and he can call you out on your bullshit. He also has his sights set on southern belle Julie, who really isnt his type but for some reason he wants her – really bad.

He’s a cocky son-of-a-bitch, he runs his mouth and he knows exactly the right things to say – both to rile up Julie and to get her hot and bothered. Hes smarmy but loveable in his own way. And he wants to know Julie, wants in her knickers but he sees past her hard-working front and wants her to let loose, with him.

The more he gets to know her, the more he wants her more than once. This never happens and it has himself second guessing his feelings. He’s never had love in his life, his past isnt the greatest so its all foreign to him. But Julie awakens something inside him and he is certain she will end up in his bed one way or another…you could say he was determined and stalked him prey 😉

Julie was never far from his thoughts, and he was conflicted about his feelings. He didnt have the best childhood and thank god Colton and Brock ‘adopted’ him or who knows what would have happened. I think thats why he’s so closed in, so demanding, controlling, he needs all that due to his past, which is fair enough and the reason he doesnt last longer than a night with a woman. He doesnt want to commit, but there is something about Julie that has him stuck.

I really enjoyed their interactions. They had a push and pull, a ‘I hate you but I want to be near you’ sort of relationship. They bounced off one another and their chemistry was instant. Reed brought out so many emotions from Julie, and he always brought out her sexuality. Let her know that is was fine to be totally naughty and kinky in the bedroom, hell its the best form of sex in my eyes. The sex can most definitely happen to me in real life, and Tessa, as i’ve mentioned in past reviews, knows just how to make you feel hot and bothered, god she makes you want to jump inside the book and be the MC who is getting a right seeing too. The scenes only made their relationship intensify and along with the more emotional, heart tugging scenes, you can see that Julie and Reed are going to last, especially with that epilogue.

You all know my love for Tessa by now, and anything she writes I am there reading it, falling in love with her and her characters. She knows how to write freaking hot alpha males, strong females and a damn great story in between. In my eyes, she can do no wrong with her books and she will be an author who I will follow every single book. Now if only I can get all her books in paperback…..;) one day soon I hope! I need them signed and on my bookshelf!

Posted in Erotica

Hard Time – Cara McKenna

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

19091520Synopsis

In this all-new novel from the author of Unbound, a woman with a rocky past finds romance in the last place she’d ever expect…

Annie Goodhouse doesn’t need to be warned about bad boys; good sense and an abusive ex have given her plenty of reasons to play it safe. But when she steps into her new role as outreach librarian for Cousins Correctional Facility, no amount of good sense can keep her mind—or eyes—off inmate Eric Collier. 

Eric doesn’t claim to be innocent of the crime that landed him in prison. In fact, he’d do it again if that’s what it took to keep his family safe. Loyalty and force are what he knows. But meeting Annie makes him want to know more. 

When Eric begins courting Annie through letters, they embark on a reckless, secret romance—a forbidden fantasy that neither imagines could ever be real…until early parole for Eric changes everything, and forces them both to face a past they can’t forget, and a desire they can’t deny.

5++++++++ stars

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My Review

“Would’ve been worth anything they took from me, just to hear you say my name.”

Before I begin this review, I’d like to say MAJOR BOOK HANGOVER. No joke, I am suffering so much. I have been in a bit of a slump recently, all the book seems to be the same and then BANG Hard Time came along and I was in deep. Hook, Line, Sinker. It’s been weeks since I finished this book and it’s still all I can think about (it’s taken me this long to write a bloody review!) About Eric, about his letters, about Annie and their forbidden romance. Seriously, why hasn’t a movie been made around this topic? LIKE REALLY? I’d be there opening night, front row.

Hard Time is the first book I have picked up and read by Cara McKenna. The topic had me intrigued – a librarian who works in a Correctional Facility once a week and becomes entangled in a forbidden romance with an inmate through letters. Sexy letters at that. I’ve never read anything like this before and Cara really does make you think about if this was your life, you were in Annie’s situation. We all love a bad boy, you know it, but then would you indulge in this ‘fantasy’? Would you reply to his letters and just, for a slight moment, feel towards him, believe him and not be freaked or scared because we know he’s locked away and cant do anything, cant come near you apart from that brief encounter every week? It’s enough to actually think it through and decide if you would play on it or not. And as weird as it seems, I would, because you get to know Eric through his letters and you see him each week; granted there is a police officer in the room too, but its enough to not feel scared for those few hours each week.

It’s taken me so long to write this, because I had no idea how to formulate a review. When I read this book, I spammed my Twitter and Facebook about Hard Time and now it comes to it, its so hard to write a review on a book that took me by storm, but I will try my best. You already know the premise but there is so much more to it. What happens when he gets released? What are in his letters? Does Annie stay away from him or get with him when he’s out of prison? I actually wish this was the book I had written.

I need to begin with Eric. Although a convict, he was like unlike any other inside. He kept to himself but he had authority in the way he came across. He was the strong, silent type who stayed out of trouble but respected why he was inside; what he did. He was the brooding type but you could tell Annie had a massive effect on him and he wanted help from her, which I adored from him. He wasn;t afriad to ask for help and Annie, unconsciously, was the fire he needed to better himself inside with his literacy and writing. Thus beginning the letters he would send to her. The letters are the way into his body, his heart, his soul. He bares all; the romance, the sexual feelings he had towards Annie but also little titbits about himself, revealing himself to her. I was like a dog on heat awaiting the next letters from him, much like Annie was and I was obsessed with knowing what he was going to say next, what he was going to tell her to do, what he wanted to do to her. The way he began and ended the letters made me sigh. For a convict, someone whom, in a way, you would feel scared of, I felt nothing like that. I just wanted him in my bed. But as I said, it felt safe because he wasn’t outside the prison and it was like a ‘fantasy’.

But when he was released, he was the same, if not more timid around Annie. You can imagine her reaction when he was out and he stayed away. He was scared of seeing her, scared of bumping into her. The feelings he had for her were so strong, but he respected her decision. It was all on her terms and I loved that about him. Not all convicts are the same and Eric was definitely not a bad guy. He dud what he did to protect his sister and I understood that when you find out what happened. I saw a passionate guy, a guy who would do anything for the ones he love, Annie included and I saw a guy who was sweet and considerate and worked bloody hard after prison to make a better life for himself. The love he eluded, the passion for his hobbies made my heart sing and I knew that I would totally snatch Eric up if I was Annie because despite spending five years in prison, he was nothing the sort of a convict and he just wanted his life back, he wanted Annie and he wanted to live the rest of his life with her.

Annie was a timid character too. She hasn’t been with a guy in five years, not since her college boyfriend thought to be abusive towards her, which is how she ended up in a small town. Annie is polite, she’s sweet and really, keeps to herself. She doesnt really know anyone in the town and is scared when she begins to visit the prison. She has to be strong though, not show weakness because that is how the prisoners will intimate her and that is what she does. She stands up strong. But then helllllo fitty! She spots Eric and something awakes inside her. Something that has been dormant for five years.

I liked her as she felt real. You could feel her feelings, her emotions and how awaken she felt by each letter she received. During her life throwing colours at her, she came out of her shell, made friends in the pub downstairs and she become stronger. She clung to the weekly letters much as I did and they made her feel great, made HER FEEL again. I was so happy it was Eric doing this to Annie. I loved the forbidden factor as much as she did. But then she finds out Eric is coming out and the fantasy is smashed up. She bounces back and forth about the letters, what they have shared and it shares the crap out of her. You know she feels something for Eric but you know that she was only doing this too because he was behind bars; she struggles with her feelings. I understood her reasons for what happened when Eric got out. How she was scared of bumping into him but after a while she couldnt stay away. She needed him just like he needed her.

I also loved that she could get mouthy, put her point across and be angry, at Eric, at his situation, at his sister too. I enjoyed this part of her. She wasn’t a push over and knew what she wanted, what she didn’t like and told it as it was. She was also a little bit protective over Eric. I truly enjoyed the realism of this character. Of her being shy to growing into a fully blossomed woman with the help of Eric.

When Eric and Annie are finally together, holy hell, you can feel the thick, sexual tension between they sizzling. It is just as strong in person as it is on paper and you know that when they sleep together it is going to be amazing. And reading it, it was. God, you will feel all hot and bothered and hot damn, mixed with the things on the paper and their chemistry together, inside and out of the bedroom, there was nothing that could stop it being utter rubbish sex. No way in hell. Not with those two.

There were two things that irked me and one was the ending. It did end rather abruptly and I would love to know what happened next between them but other than that, i’m not going to drop a star because of the ending. And two; I wanted Eric to meet Annie’s parents. You will understand why when you read it. Other than that, I loved this book and everything inside it.

Seriously, give this book a read. Its sexy, its heartfelt and dangerous 😉 Cara McKenna has made me want to read every single one of her books now, and that is actually what I will be doing! But first, I think a re-read is in order!

(Hard Time is out in the US, and it WAS out in the UK until it got taken down because it got snatched up. It will be back up in November so GET IT THEN!!!)

Posted in Book Tours, Cora Carmack

BLOG TOUR: All Lined Up – Cora Carmock

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

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18505845Synopsis

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That’s what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn’t always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It’s obliterated.

Dallas doesn’t know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn’t know that Dallas is his new coach’s daughter.

And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

5 out of 5 stars

36244-addtogoodreads

 

 

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My Review

“In Texas, two things are cherished above all else – football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.”

Can I just start by saying – HOLY CRAP! This has got to be my favourite Cora book! (I love the Losing It series but this is something else!) I cant even begin to tell you how much I need this book in paperback RIGHT NOW! There is just something about All Lined Up that had me hooked from the very first page to the last and even after this book was all I could think about. Dallas and Carson were and still are embedded into my mind and I seriously need more of these two. I need them in book two and I need to know where they are and how they are and Cora, can we just please have another book or novella about these two? Pretty please with a hot guy on top?

I love football (Sorry, I mean the English Football) but Cora has written the football scenes perfectly for us lot whom have no idea about American Football – like me. She actually made me wish I had grown up in America, going to all these football matches and pep rallies because we do NOTHING like that over here, which is pretty sad and I am going off topic right now. But yes, if you are like me and you earn for that American college lifestyle, Cora makes you feel like you are a part of it, and I could see everything in my mind when she was describing so I pretty much felt like I was there. And of course, with Cora being a Football coaches daughter, she, of course, was going to put her all into this book, let us know her perceptive of growing up as the coaches daughter through Dallas and the hardship of kind of being second best to football.

All Lined Up is captivating, I hung onto every page. Cora has written a fantastic and sexy and steamy college romance novel, with little bits of drama embedded in-between and of course, gossip and football along the way. You will be fanning yourself, swooning, shouting at the characters but most of all, you will fall in love them and the story and hate it when you get to the last sentence because you never want the book to end.

Dallas has always felt she was second best to her dad. Football, then her. It also doesnt help that she is the Coaches daughter and that leads to players using her to get closer to her father but she’s had enough. Her ex was an asshole so she tells herself she is never going to date a footballer player again.

But one crazy night and she meets Carson – a football player who has just transferred to Rusk University. He has no idea that she is the Coaches daughter, but he doesnt care. From the moment they meet, something changes for both of them but Dallas cant be more than friends with Carson and Carson needs to focus on his football if he ever wants to be in the starting line-up.

No matter how much they try to deny the attraction, neither can walk away. But what happens when they both find out who the other is?

I really enjoyed knowing Dallas. She is a dancer, she tries to stay in the shadows and she is the Coaches’ daughter. Plus she loathes football and knows she is second best to it. But she just gets on with it and pretends she doesnt care, but you know deep down she does.
The first meeting with Carlton changes her. In a good and bad way because hes a football player and she doesnt date them anymore but he kind of pulls her from her shell – she feels at ease with him, like everything will be okay. But when she finds out he’s a football player, she just cant go there again. Thus beginning the back and forth between her feelings for him. You really wanted her to say ‘fuck it’ and go with him but I understood her reasoning, guys use her to get close to her dad or get on the team and she doesnt want that again. Not after her dickhead ex-boyfriend but something switches and she cant stay away from Carlton, no matter how hard she wants to. She just keeps going to him, like a magnet.

I understood her need to stay under the radar, to try and not let people know she is the Coaches’ daughter and to pave her own future without her father stopping her. Being under his eye, knowing everything you do – to some extent – would really annoy and infuriated me. Especially to be scared to let loose because you know someone on the team will tell him about your fiascos. But I loved how she become stronger, she laid everything out, she bared her soul and it was really therapeutic for me to watch her do that. For her to say ‘this is what I want and I am going to do it’. I was really proud of her.

I adore Carlton so much. He is pretty dang sweet and funny and you know after that first meeting Dallas has entered and stayed in his mind. But he cant let a girl into his life, he has to concentrate on making the starting team because he wants to be something, wants to help his family. I admired his hard work, his need to be something and he put his everything into his football training and his school work proving that he really wants this. To give something back to his family after everything they face up for him. The only thing I wish we knew more of was Carlton’s family, but other than that I was content in knowing him.

You could see how affected his was around Dallas, how his head was in turmoil over her. He wanted her but he couldn’t too, he had to focus. So being friends was what it was all about. But you knew that the attraction was too much. My heart pain for both Dallas and Carlton over certain scenes and you knew they were both hurting, both stubborn in that they wouldn’t text or call one another but yano, when they get over the shitstorm, the love comes after and Carlton was definitely swoon-worthy. You knew he loved Dallas a hell of a lot and the ending for them was just beautiful. I cant wait to see how these two progress because when you have characters like these two, you know they are in it for the long haul!

I loved the chemistry between Dallas and Carlton, even right from the beginning you see it, feel it and you vow for them to get together; they are absolutely amazing together and every time they were pulled inside their heads, every time they were just friends you wanted to shake them and tell them that they had too much chemistry, too much attraction to stay away, that they had to be together, they needed to be together because they were perfect. I knew they were both scared, they both had things going on but in the end they just gyrated towards one another, let each other in and I just sighed so hard when they finally got their acts together. There are ‘steamy’ scenes, but it just makes their connection all the more real and everything they went though was worth fighting for.

If there is one book you pick up today, let it be All Lined Up. You won’t regret falling in love with Dallas and Carlton!

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Cora Carmack bio picCora Carmack Bio:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

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Buy Links:

Amazon || Amazon UK || Barnes and Noble

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Links:

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads ** Novel Goodreads

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Posted in New Adult

Choose Us – Caylie Marcoe

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Final Cover Round 2Synopsis

Riley Logan and Travis Grayson have been best friends for the last fifteen years. She would do anything for him, go anywhere for him…and she has, countless times. Except now. Now he’s asking for too much. Their friendship has reached a breaking point and she doesn’t know how to go back. But as Travis’ personal assistant, Riley spends her every waking moment by his side. 

When a fractured ankle puts Travis’ BMX career on hold he’s given more downtime than he knows what to do with. Always one for excitement, he agrees to become the bachelor on a televised dating show, but only if Riley goes in undercover to help weed through the girls. 

What was supposed to be eight weeks of freedom has turned into eight weeks of hell surrounded by desperate girls all vying for Travis’ attention. He promised her the show would be smooth sailing. He promised he would listen to her advice on which girls should be eliminated. But now he’s breaking those promises and getting way too close to the girl Riley despises the most. 

She shouldn’t care. Except she does. Much to her surprise there is one girl she wants Travis to choose…

Her. 

Will she get what she wants, or will Riley lose her best friend along with getting her heart broken on national television?

4.5 out of 5 stars

36244-addtogoodreads

 

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My Review

I stumbled across Choose Us whilst browsing Amazon for new books to download. Spotting the hand holding cover, I had to know what the book was about. A famous BMX’er, his best friend as his PA, a Bachelor type reality dating show and a lot of confusion, jealousy and love mixed all together. Yupp, I had to get this book into my life asap.

It’s safe to say I literally devoured this book, from front to back. I started it on my journey to work and by the time night fell, I was crying, smiling and in love with everything Travis and Riley. Caylie has a writing style that wins you over. You cant stop reading no matter what (I was on edge all throughout work wanting to get back to Travis and Riley) and I had so many emotions, feeling what Riley was feeling, my heart twinging and breaking and sighing at every page.

You will hang on to every page, especially when there are girls competing and fighting for Travis’ attention, none of them knowing that Riley is undercover and reporting back to Travis about them. Friends to lover stories are always my favourite, mainly because of the deep connection they characters have and Travis and Riley are no different.

Choose Us is about Travis and Riley. They have been best friends r 15 years and spend every day together – Riley being Travis’ PA. When an injury forces Travis to rest for 8 weeks, he gets a proposition for be on a dating show. He has one condition to agreeing though, that Riley is one of the girls and reports back to him on the girls. Riley is pissed but she agrees after some hard work.

But as the show goes on and the girls are dwindling, there is one girl who is just out to get Travis for his status and that doesnt go down well at all with Riley. Travis isn’t listening to her and her feelings for him are coming on strong. Now she wants him to pick her but what does Travis do?

Will this cause 15 years of friendship down the drain along with a broken heart of national TV or will Travis pick Riley after all?

I truly loved Riley. She is the type of girl who doesnt have many girl friends but that doesnt seem to bother her. She has Travis and that is enough for her. She’s not the girly type either, but as long as she has her coffee in the morning she can deal with anything. Riley can banter, she can keep up with Travis and she always there for him throughout everything. Not just as his PA but his best friend too. So when he’s injured and his only condition for going on the dating show is if Riley gets to be one of the girls, I could understand her fear, her anguish over being surround by girls wanting Travis’ attention. In one way, she doesnt have any girl friends and isn’t good being friends with girls and secondly, deep down, unconsciously, she was afraid that A) she might loose him to a girl from the show and B) Fall in love with him and C) the girls would find out who she really was.

I enjoyed watching all these feelings rush over Riley though. From actually seeing herself as a ‘girl’ for the first time, feeling like she actually is a beautiful girl and dressing like one too. I liked her friendship with Taylor, one of the girls on the dating show and I liked how close they became. It wasn’t like a competition for them. It didn’t matter who ‘got’ Travis, they actually formed a fully-fledge friendship and I love that Riley had a girlfriend like Taylor. But most of all, seeing Riley’s feelings for Travis creep up on her. Really seeing him for the first time gave her confused feelings for him and I know just how she feels feeling her for best friend. But mix in the other girls, the confusion over what was happening between them and jealousy she felt when he went on one-on-one dates, its enough to push anyone over the edge especially after her birthday in the house and what came after that.

You slowly saw Riley fall for Travis, watched her actually begin to fight in the dating show, fight for Travis even through the pain of carrying on the show and him going off on ‘dates’ still. I felt the uneasiness, the pain of witnessing and hearing about the dates, the fear of losing and loving her best friend and then the heartbreak – god that sucked me right up. How she came undone and the pain shot through my heart whilst I was reading about her walking away. God, I even felt the awkwardness and the heartbreak at the end too, but yano what, I also felt the lightness and the love and the cage being ripped from Riley (and my heart) and I felt the radiating love that both Travis and Riley have for one another.

I told Caylie on Twitter that I want my own Travis. I really really do. There is just something about him that draws you right in and he wont let you go. Travis is sweet and caring and is boisterous – well he is a BMX’er, and he adores his best friend Riley, whom he will do whatever for. When an injury stops him for a few weeks, he becomes the main focus on a reality TV show, along with the help of Riley. He wants her to wig out the bad nuts so he gets the best girl in the end. You know everyone will end up loving him, he’s cheeky and flirty and smirky all wrapped into one and you know you will love him too.

He’s considerate and you know that, like Riley, deep down he has got to have thought about them as more than friends, so to me, it was no surprise when something happened. You watch their relationship change, you see Travis start to confuse himself over Riley, despite her being the one for him and then you watch their banter slow down, watch the drama unfold between them and it hurts to see Travis still go on dates. But fair play to him, he never backs out of contracts and although I wanted him to, I understood why he didn’t, even if it did end up hurting Riley and him and breaking both their hearts.

At times you will want to wring his bloody neck. You will shake your head at him for not listening to Riley, to not believing her when she told him about a certain young lady and shout at him for how he handled everything. But you will cry at the ending, at how much you want them to be together, at how much you need Travis to explain his action and you know, know you will forgive him because what he tells Riley? I wanted to jump into the book and hug him tight and make him say the words to me.

I truly loved reading Choose Us. It’s so refreshing from other books I have read recently. It sucked me in, had me feeling every emotion and I felt connected to Riley and her growing feelings for her best friend but most of all? This is a book I need to buy in paperback and have it on my bookshelf.

Posted in Books I've Bought

Weekly Splurges #2

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

21902905Liam’s List – Haleigh Lovell 

Synopsis

A New Adult Romance packed with Heat and Heart. 

His best friend’s sister. 
A list.
A love story.

Can Vivian help Liam heal one steamy encounter at a time?


NOTE: Rated 18+ for language and frequent sex scenes. Complete novel. No cliffhanger. Dual POV.

Amazon UK: £1.83
Amazon US: $3.07

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18780453The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller – L.B. Simmons

Synopsis

Death. 

For some, it’s simply one of life’s certainties, nothing more. For others, it’s merely a fleeting thought, one often overshadowed by the reckless delusion that they have been blessed with the gift of immortality. 

For Aubrey Miller, death is the definition of her very existence. Overcome with the guilt resulting from the loss of her beloved family, she alters her appearance from the once beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl to that of one shrouded in complete darkness, enveloping herself in her own unbreakable fortress of solitude as a form of protection for others.

As she enters her first year of college, her goal is simple: Earn a degree with the least amount of social interaction as possible. What she never anticipates is the formation of very unlikely relationships with two people who will change her life in ways she never believed possible: Quinn Matthews, the boisterous former pageant queen, and Kaeleb McMadden, a childhood friend from her past who never really let her go.

Over the years, as their connections intertwine and grow, a seemingly indestructible bond is formed between the three…

But when death painfully reemerges, Aubrey is lost once again, burying herself deeper than ever before inside the familiar fortification of her fears.

Will the refuge of friendship, the solidarity of life-long bonds, and the power of unconditional love be enough to do the impossible?

Will they be enough to finally bring about…

The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller?


****NA Contemporary Romance****

****WARNING – Due to the graphic nature of some scenes, this book is not recommended for those who are particularly sensitive to the death of a child and/or suicide and is intended for mature audiences only. Contains adult language and themes.***

Amazon UK: £1.83
Amazon US: $3.07

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 21005751Wrecked – Alla Kar

Synopsis

One wrecked plane … 
Two wrecked souls … 

ANNABELLE JACOBS is comfortable with her boyfriend of a year JORDAN FINCH. But Jordan’s best-friend BEAU RICHARDS doesn’t make Annabelle feel comfortable—he makes her feel alive. One drunken night things get out of hand leaving Annabelle and Beau with a fire in desperate need of extinguishing. 

But sometimes the direst of problems need more than a fire extinguisher to stop the burn. 

The class trip to Spain was supposed to be fun. But fun takes the week off when their plane crashes over the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Spain. Only a few of the passengers survive. 

With loved ones gone, Beau and Annabelle cling tight to one another to survive the hot days and freezing nights. But the guilt of their feelings keep one another from the path they truly want to take. 

But sometimes love doesn’t take the backseat. 

Sometimes love wrecks you before it claims you

Amazon UK: £0.77
Amazon US: $1.29

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18655896 Good Girls Don’t Date Rock Stars – Codi Gary

Synopsis

Gemma Carlson didn’t plan on waking up married.

She also didn’t count on running into her old flame—and her son’s father-turned-country rock star—Travis Bowers, followed by a night of drunken dares. Apparently one of those involved a ring on her finger and a vow … neither of which she intends to keep. Now with a hangover from hell, this good-girl-gone-bad knows there’s just one thing to do: run.

Travis has been all over the world, but Gemma has never been far from his thoughts. So when they had the chance to catch up over a few drinks, he didn’t hesitate. Of course, he didn’t expect it would lead to marriage, or a runaway bride! Travis finally has a second chance and doesn’t plan on losing Gemma again—or the son he didn’t know he had. He proposes, albeit belatedly, a date. Or rather, a few. If they can make this marriage work by starting over, he stays. If not …

Gemma’s not interested; she’s got a son to protect and a heart to heal. But having Travis around could make both a little easier. Still, good girls don’t date rock stars . . . right?

Amazon UK: £0.99
Amazon US: $(I cant find the price)

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18748381 (1) Love, In English – Karina Halle

Synopsis

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter. I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.

Amazon UK: £2.48
Amazon US: $4.16

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Posted in Terri Anne Browning

The Rockers’ Babies (#6) – Terri Anne Browning

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

18171065Synopsis

~Emmie~

After the nightmares of our childhoods my guys and I have finally found the happiness we deserve. Shane is getting married, Drake and Jesse are going to be fathers, and I’m making my own career with Nik’s encouragement. It’s taken a lifetime, but finally we have moved on…

I should have known better than to think life was just going to be simple from here on out. I knew from firsthand experience that right when you get comfortable and content those bitches Fate throw a curve ball into the mix. I wasn’t expecting the possible tragedy that we are faced with. I’m the strong one, the one that has to help the rest of them through the tough times, but I don’t know how strong I can be for them through this…

My reviews for the first five books HERE

5 out of 5 stars

36244-addtogoodreads

 

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My Review

I’ve been with Demon’s Wings from the very start. From the first book, where I became hooked on Emmie and Nik’s story to the last book where we see all the band members loved up and their significant others pregnant or with a child already. I cannot tell you enough times my love for this series. Each book gets better and better and my love for all the characters overflow in each book too, the more we get to know them – (although I have to say Drake is still my fav).

Terri Anne has created an amazing series, a loving group of characters and an even more outstanding backgrounds for each band member and each girlfriend/wife – despite the fact that the band members and Emmie all grew up together, they all had different backgrounds to one another but yet they are brothers in every sense of the word. They will do anything for each other and will be there at the drop of a hat, especially for Emmie, whom they have protected since she was a little girl.

If you have read the books or just read my reviews, you will know that each member has overcome their past, with the help of each other and their girlfriends/wives. They have found The One and your heart becomes so proud of them for struggling yet overcoming their past, for finding love and not letting it go. And now we are on the sixth and final book for Demon’s Wings it made my heart tingle knowing how happy each member are, to see them come so far in their lives over the past years and to see them content with their love and where they are up to.

The Rockers’ Babies is just that. We see Lana and Layla pregnant, in which we saw in The Rocker That Needs Me (Lana and Drake’s book), we see Shane and Harper blissfully happy and engaged, we see Nik and Emmie and Mia all cute and Jesse and Layla and Lucy one happy family with 2 more on the way. And then we have Axton (from OtherWorld) pinning for Dallas and what he stupidly lost.

I loved that Terri had alternative POV’s from each character so we were kept up-to-date on how they were feeling, how their lives were going especially when a dramatic moment occurs. When this certain storyline was mentioned, I knew something was going to happen. My heart was pounding, I was turning every page hoping to God nothing would happen, and every little twist and turn proved it couldn’t be stopped. Dear gods, I was on tenterhooks throughout this part of the book!

I teared up a lot during this book. From happy tears to sad tears, you really go through the motions and not everything is plain sailing, oh no. As i’ve mentioned above, there are certain sub-storylines with each couple that will tear your heart apart, but it makes them stronger together and alone and you know that they can get through anything with their close-knit family around them.

Gods, I adore this series and Terri so much. I am so glad I came across this series back last year and I am so happy to have found a series that has a special place in my heart. Terri’s writing has gone from strength to strength throughout the series, she has put some much effort into each member’s book and I cannot wait for Axton and the OtherWorld member’s books now.

But I hope that the gang are still mentioned, I’d love to see where they are in their lives.