pasts – Z. Elizabeth

BOOK TOUR: Fall from Love – Heather London

Posted on June 25, 2013June 15, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

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

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Synopsis

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

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

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

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

4 /5 stars

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My Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GUEST REVIEW of the THOUGHTLESS series by Kerry Heavens

Posted on May 28, 2013May 26, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

So I volunteered to write a guest post for Zoe, something I have never done before. But writing is supposed to be the one thing I can do with ease right? And lets face it, I am never short of things to say, especially about books I’ve loved.

So what to review?

I had a quick look at Zoe’s list of reviews to find out what I could bring to the party. I decided to start at the bottom of my own favourites list, because the ones at the top of the list will have already been reviewed won’t they? Won’t they?

That’s when I noticed that Thoughtless wasn’t on the list…or Effortless…or Reckless for that matter! This is weird, I thought. Oh wait, she probably loved them so much she put them under their own tab…no? Oh maybe she loved them so much she has an entirely different blog dedicated to them?…NO!

This was that point when I got straight on to Zoe to find out what the hell was going on. “Oh, I haven’t got round to them yet.” She replies casually! WHAT????

So I have the distinct honour of reviewing my all time favourite series for you, with the hope that if nothing else it will make our esteemed blog host read them and save her reputation as a serious book blogger!

My only other issue before I begin (no I haven’t even started yet, get comfortable!) is that I’m not sure how I feel about this whole spoilers thing. I don’t want to give you a blow by blow, I want you to read them and love them. It is going to be very hard to tell you about all three books without some spoilers, but I will try to stick within what the synopsis reveals for each one.

It is no word of a lie when I say, Zoe, you are so lucky! I would give my right arm (the book holding one) to switch places with you. So that I could be the one that hasn’t read these books and you were the one recommending them…Then I could read them for the very first time, all over again. *sigh*

I read each of these longer than average books in one sitting, on consecutive nights, resulting in the kind of book hangover you never want to experience. 4-5am nights, then up for the school run, three nights in a row! I would say it was a labour of love, but it was no labour, just pure love!

So Thoughtless…

Synopsis.

For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes…and none of them will ever be the same.

Let me say right now. Infidelity is a HARD limit for me in life. It happens, I know. It can make for a great story, I agree. You can write about it, I will read it, enjoy it even, but don’t expect me to sympathise with the characters. Whatever they get, they deserve!

So S. C. Stephens plays a blinder here. Because all my morals went out the window, the very first time Kiera hears Kellan sing. I wasn’t endeared to Denny particularly, so that was the first dent to my moral code. I didn’t care about him enough to be outraged for him. Their relationship just never convinced me.

Kiera will most likely start out irritating you, then you will get quite angry with her and it won’t get better until you are in a full blown fit of hatred for her weak, pathetic, prudish nonsense. Seriously the blood rushes to that girl’s cheeks more often than it would to a 17 year old boy’s ‘gentleman’s area’ at a Playboy pool party! It is just ridiculous! I can’t tell you one single thing about her that shines out as a redeeming quality. On paper she is terrible, in real life I would be forced to slap her and I’m not a violent person and yet…I don’t hate her. I can’t. Because I know, that faced with Kellan Kyle, I would have been just as much of a waste of space as she was, beginning to end. Guaranteed. I mean, I definitely wouldn’t have been so prudish. But I’d have made just as many appalling decisions.

This brings us neatly to Kellen Kyle. GOD. Quite simply the most perfect man ever to occupy my thoughts. I mean LOOK AT HIM!!!

“Everything about him had screamed, I’m going to take you right here and make you forget your own name.” – Kellan.

I don’t need to tell you all about his phenomenal good looks or how perfectly imperfect his hair is when it falls just so. Kiera will bore your arse off about it constantly. It goes without saying. He is funny and talented and charming. But it is what is on the inside that makes Kellan so special, something I wished Kiera had been more conscious of. He is damaged, fragile, so vulnerable and you just know she is going to crush him with her obliviousness. (Is that even a word?)

So while Kiera hedges her bets and frankly disgusts you, you will fall so hard for Kellan that even when he is being a shit, your only thought is, she drove him to it.

“You wreck me.” – Kellan.

So, you know it will be a gut-wrenching rollercoaster. I admit that I hid it under my pillow and paced my bedroom at least once, like Joey from Friends when he hides The Shining in the freezer. But the passion and love that is expressed in this book, that you actually live through this book is worth every second of the pain. I cried, I feared a heart attack at one point and I rather embarrassingly caught myself panting every time he touched her. BECAUSE IT IS THAT GOOD.

The supporting characters are all equally brilliant. The D-Bags, Kellan’s band are all sweet hearts, well except Griffin. Griffin is something else! You will love him. He is the original FIGJAM, and he just lives to get a rise out of Kiera (I refer you to the aforementioned gratuitous blushing. PFT!). The girls are great too, Jenny is Kiera’s conscience when she most needs one, but she is a great friend to Kellan too. They are all just great.

The scene setting, the atmosphere, the pace, it is all brilliant.
Have I gone on enough? Just Read it, you won’t be disappointed!

Effortless…

Synopsis.

After being caught in the middle of a love triangle which led to a devastating betrayal, Kiera pledged to learn from the mistakes she’d made. She was determined to never again inflict that kind of pain on anyone, especially the soulful, talented man who held her heart. But life offers new challenges for every relationship, and when Kiera’s love is put to the ultimate test, will it survive? Love is easy . . . trust is hard.

I am going to try not to spoil this, or the ending of the last one for you, here goes…

Kiera is infinitely less annoying. She grew up. A lot. So that is a relief

“Loving you, Kellan, is so easy, it’s effortless…” – Kiera

You’re damned right about that Kiera!

If you thought it wasn’t possible to love Kellan any more, you were wrong. Everything that endeared you to him in the first book is still there and bought reinforcements!

“But, if for some reason we’re not closer, if something has gotten between us, please, I’m begging you…don’t give up on me. Stay. Stay with me. Work it out with me. Just don’t leave me…please.” – Kellan

The moral of this book is trust has to be earned. If everything you hold dear was acquired dishonestly, you will spend every day scared half to death that you could lose it in exactly the same way. That’s just how it is. In telling us this part of the tale, S. C. Stephens does it again, no she doesn’t do it again, she never stops doing it!

“You are told from the moment you enter school that time is constant. It never changes. It is one of those set things in life that you can always rely on…much like death and taxes. There will always be sixty seconds in a minute. There will always be sixty minutes in an hour. And there will always be twenty-four hours in a day.

Time was not fluctuating. It moved on at the same, constant pace at every moment in your life.

And that was the biggest load of crap that I’d ever been taught in school.

Truth was, time did fluctuate. It was easy to lose hours or even days in a blink of an eye. Other times, it was a struggle to get through a mere hour. It ebbed and flowed as relentlessly as the

tides, and just as powerfully too. The moments that you wanted to last forever were the ones that were washed away all too soon. The moments that you wanted to speed up, were slowed down to a snail’s pace.

That was the truth of the matter.” – Kiera

Oh and if Griffin (and his Hulk) hasn’t got under your skin yet, he will. 😉

“Well, what’s the point of being a rock star if I can’t bang the groupies?”

Rolling my eyes, I found myself muttering, “I thought it was supposed to be about the music?”

Griffin, unfortunately, heard my sullen comment and chose to respond to it. “No, no, I’m pretty sure it’s the pussy.”

Griffin ❤

Reckless…

Synopsis.

When the band hits it big, Kiera and Kellan must ask themselves: Can their love for each other survive the constant pressures of superstardom? The friendships they’ve formed, the new family they’ve found, and the history they’ve forged will all play a part in helping them navigate the turbulent waters of the band’s exploding popularity. A greedy executive hell-bent on success, a declining pop star looking for an edge, and a media circus that twists lies into truths are just some of the obstacles the lovers will have to overcome if they are going to remain together. Fame comes with a price-but will it cost Kiera and Kellan everything?

You will finish this book totally distraught that it is over.

This is all about the redemption. You more or less forget that you ever wanted to throttle Kiera. All the characters stories are developed. Griffin will become your new second favourite book boyfriend, behind Kellan. I can’t quote it without spoilers, but his speech in the VIP room at the nightclub where he tells Kiera why he didn’t fuck those two girls, was the moment I fell HARD! From there on in, I was just eating up each new sweet thing he did. Yes I said sweet, you’ll see.

God, I want to say so much (I’m bursting here!), but it will ruin it and as I said right back at the beginning, I wish I was you and it was my first time, so I know I can’t!

Knowing that I will never hear the D-Bags play, that I can’t rock up to Pete’s for a beer with the boys any time I want. Knowing that Griffin will never try and grope me and that…gulp…Kellan isn’t actually real and I will never have him…well that nearly put me in therapy.

The whole thing really is a rollercoaster. But it was the ride of my life!

I know I just chewed your damn ear off, so sorry about that, but I am slightly passionate about these books! The fact that I managed to do it without telling you to hop straight over to Twitter and follow the undisputed King of the TL, his royal sexiness, @GriffinakaHulk because he is everything you hope Griffin will be and you can actually talk to him, for real!…shit! I mentioned it didn’t I? Oh well, you should, so I’m not sorry!

Thanks for having me here, I’m sure I won’t be invited back; I talk far too much.

Kerry x

Oh, and before I go. Once you have read them all…promise me, you won’t do it until you have read them all? Ok, if you promise! Once you have read them all, check out the original ending of Thoughtless, before S. C. Stephens decided to make it a series.

To say I am glad she changed her mind is an understatement; I don’t think I could have lived with this…

http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2715147/1/Thoughtless_Original_Ending

There is also a Kellen’s POV from the rain scene, google it. X

ABOUT KERRY HEAVENS

My debut novel Just Human will be out this summer, follow me on Twitter @kerryheavens or Facebook – Kerry Heavens Author for updates.

Just Human – By Kerry Heavens

What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?

Liv loves Danny. She knows she loves him more than he loves her, so she lets him go without a fight when his parents make him move back to America. She knows she will never love anyone like she loved him, but she has to move on.

Danny loves Liv. He knows he loves her more than she loves him, because she does nothing to get him to stay,so he goes quietly when his parents leave the UK. He knows he will never love anyone like he loved her, but he has to move on.

Twelve years on, they have made a good job of pretending, they may have almost forgotten. But when they get in touch via Facebook, it seems that it is all still there.

Can they put aside their fears and give it a go?

Or will deep rooted doubts and insecurities tear then apart?

Family, Romance

The Doctor Wears A Stetson (#1) – Anne Marie Novark

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Jessie Devine can rebuild an engine blindfolded, but when it comes to men, she’s all thumbs. When it comes to Cameron McCade, it’s even worse. He stole her heart in high school, then left town for good. Now he’s back and sparks are flying. Can they take up where they left off? Can Jessie risk her heart again? Repairing cars is no problem, but taming Cameron’s restless spirit is something else entirely.

3.5 / 5 Stars

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Excerpt:

The atmosphere sizzled in the small office. Jessie stood like a statue, her eyes opened wide. “Why did you come back?” Her raspy voice held a note of accusation.

Cameron also heard anguish in her words. Was he causing Jessie pain? When all he wanted was to hold her in his arms, take her to bed and make love to her until the passion between them was spent?

In two long strides, he was beside her. She backed against the file cabinet. He stepped closer.

“You know why I’m back. We need to finish what we started seventeen years ago.” He touched a finger to her cheek, traced the smooth line of her jaw, eased his hand behind her neck and pulled her to him. Her trembling intensified and she put her hands on his chest as if to ward him off.

He caught her hands and moved them over his heart. “Feel my heartbeat, Jess. It’s beating for you.” He pressed his body against hers. “Feel how much I want you. I tried to stay away, but God help me, I couldn’t.”

His mouth claimed hers in fierce desire. Jessie moaned, holding back only for a second, knowing deep down resistance was hopeless.

She couldn’t help it . . . she kissed him back
(From Goodreads)

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My Review

17 years ago, at 15, Grease Monkey Jessie was asked out to a high school dance with Cameron McCade. The guy she has always had a serious crush on. After having a great night, he stole her heart but after that night he finished school and left town for good, leaving Jessie broken-hearted, even though it was only a few hours, she felt that spark and she knows he must have too.

Now 17 years later, and after nursing a broken heart for the death of her parents and her husband, Cameron is back in town for a couple of days and seeing him brings back all her old feelings for him…feelings that never went away. But can she got there? She’s filled up with guilt but her feelings are so strong for Cameron that it’s hard to resist him. But how long can she resist him for before she gives in?

Cameron had a plan in high school. To get out of the small town and become a Doctor. And that is exactly what he did. He never really comes back to his home town but he’s been offered a promotion at work and it’s his mother’s birthday so he’s back in town for a few days. Never did he think seeing Jessie again, working in her father’s garage would spark his old feelings for her, but they did and now it’s time to try and get Jessie to agree to start off where they left off 17 years ago.

I have an obsession with reading about Cowboys. I’m not sure where this stemmed from but I want to go to Texas, just hang out on a ranch and ‘bump’ into a sexy cowboy who wears a Stetson, has his top off and sweat glistening off him, has a sexy accent and a pick-up truck….*goes off into a dream world*okay, I’m back. So when I found this little gem on Amazon, 1-Click called out to me and I read it within a couple of hours.

Okay, so Cameron isn’t exactly a cowboy, but his family live on a ranch and he wears a Stetson so that is good enough for me.

So it’s the first book I have ever read by Anne Marie Novark but it certainly wont be the last! I will be downloading the next few books in the series as they focus on the other brothers in the family and their love life’s too. From reading the synopsis and the excerpt on Amazon, I knew it would be a great book, and I wasn’t wrong. Ms. Novark had me engrossed within the storyline, wanting to know every little bit of Cameron and Jessie and of course, the supporting characters who were there for both Cameron and Jessie. It was a fun, sexy and sometimes frustrating book to read (In a good way) and it has paved the path for me to read more about the sexy McCade brothers now. More Cowboys!!

As mentioned, the book starts when Jessie is 15. She’s an utter Tomboy and helps her dad out at his garage. She’s a grease monkey, so when Senior Cameron McCade asks her to his prom, she hesitates until he begs her to go with him. She accepts, buys a gorgeous dress and goes to the dance with him.

She may be a little young and inexperienced, but that night up on Lover’s Point, she gave her heart away to Cameron only to have it broken in two when he left the town straight after high school.

For 17 years, Cameron has been at the back on Jessie’s mind. She’s had to change up her life after her dad became ill and died. She got married and then became a widow when he died too. So her life hasn’t been the greatest and now, after trying to safe her dad’s shop, she has the dilemma of running out of money. When TR died, she inherited a piece of land on the McCade’s ranch and although she promised Cameron’s mother she wouldn’t sell it to the big oil companies, now is the time where she is in a rut. She feels guilt and doesn’t know what to do.

Cameron McCade hardly ever returns to the small town he grew up up. He’s not a busy Doctor and really doesn’t have time. His plan for to move away and that’s what he did. But his life isn’t all the fulfilling anymore and when offered a promotion, he is given time to go away and think about it. So he returns back home to think on it and visit his family as it’s his mum’s 60^th.

Pulling up outside Jessie’s shop with his flash car in tow, he needs it fixing and when he sees Jessie still in town, working at the shop, all his old feelings for her spring back and he knows now, that is needs to start back up what they began 17 years ago.

But with obstacles along the way, guilt eating up Jessie and Cameron’s careful planning going to shreds, will they get their happy ending?

I kind of felt sorry for Jessie throughout the book and at times annoyed and frustrated with her – But then I kind of understood, a tiny incy bit, where she was coming from. But not a lot to want to strangle her and tell her to go with her heart. She had her heartbroken at 15 to Cameron McCade and over the 17 years has seen fleeing sights of him. She had to leave her dream of going to college behind when her father became ill and when he died, she took over his garage and has been working there ever since. She is also widowed but she feels utterly guilty for not loving him the way a wife should. She also feels guilty for not being able to give him children and she also keeps turning down Cameron because of a promise she made to TR before he died.

All of this weighs on her so much so, that you just wanted to shake her and be like “PLEASE just stop it. You love Cameron, always have done but TR is dead and you need to stop living in the past and live for the future.”

You do feel sorry for her. The guilt is enough to make anyone down and although when she does get over it and realizes nothing is her fault, she is a bright and bubbly girl who loves being with Cameron.

She bloody well goes through a journey. You see her at 15, see her lose her heart to Cameron only to have him break it when he leaves. Then he’s back and she feels all the feelings rush back to the surface, having never gone away. The thing that annoyed me was that she let him back into her life too easy, but then I suppose, they didn’t know each other that well when they were younger and only spent a few hours together, so maybe it was easy to slip back into the ‘friendship’ mode and act normal, even if they hadn’t seen each other for many years.

It really was nice to see the chemistry between the both of them. To see they really should be together and finish off the rest of their life, just like it start 17 years ago, even though they were both to young. 17 years is a long time to be apart, but they flowed right back into how they were when they were kids and i suppose all that time just drifted away and it was like they were never apart.

Cameron McCade has always been a planner. At 18 he had his life planned out. Get out of the small town, go to medical school and become a Doctor. And that is exactly what he did. He didn’t want to become a rancher like his brother and father, he needed out. He left straight away after high school, not even saying goodbye to Jessie as he was scared of his feelings for her and since then he has hardly returned home.

Coming back home for his mother’s 60^th and to think over his promotion, he hangs out with Jessie a hell of a lot. Being with Jessie is changing something in Cameron, which was really nice to see as you realize he really does plan his whole life. Being around Jessie makes him not want to plan his life anymore, she makes him calm, different, and perhaps a little scared as he had never felt this way about anyone.

I loved how determined Cameron was to make Jessie see that they have this amazing chemistry and are good together – that they should continue what they started as kids. He never gave up on pursuing her, knowing that she really is The One for him. He goes through his own obstacles during the book such as his feelings for Jessie, how he doesn’t have a plan for once but he kind of likes it. It was really nice to watch him change and grow along the way too. The fact that he loves Jessie so much to switch up his life, well that just made me smile a lot.

There are a lot of barriers along the way, which could have easily been straightened out and a lot of blind sighting from Jessie and Cameron which also could have been straightened out if they both just cut to the chase of what they were hinting and their feelings for one another. They are eventually sorted out but I felt that if they both just said what they meant in the first place, a lot of what happened wouldn’t have dragged on.

Jessie and Cameron do get a HEA though and I cannot wait to see cameo’s of them in the next couple of books.

So if sexy Doctor’s who wear Stetson’s and are literally like a walking sex stick is your kind of thing, then give The Doctor Wears A Stetson and fall in love with Cameron too. Then go and download the rest of the books (Like i am) and fall in love with the other McCade brothers.

New Adult, Romance

Falling Into You – Jasinda Wilder

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

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

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

5/5 stars

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My review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jessica Sorensen, New Adult, Romance, Suspense

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

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

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

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

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

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

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My Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Adult, Romance

The Cirque – Ryann Kerekes

Posted on March 7, 2013March 7, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

A good girl trying to find herself.
A troubled boy running from his past.
The seductive allure of the cirque.
One summer that will change them both forever …

Eighteen-year-old ballerina Ariel is determined to experience life outside the dance studio. She auditions for the cirque on a whim, and though ballet training didn’t prepare her for dodging knives, she refuses to flinch and wins the spot of target girl alongside Gabriel, the mysterious knife-thrower. There’s something unmistakably dangerous yet tempting about Gabriel’s crystal blue eyes and tattoos. She’s determined to solve the mystery of his past after learning he’s on the run from the law. Especially since the distraction is just what she needs to avoid admitting to her parents she was dismissed from her ballet contract.

The more she learns about Gabriel, the scars on his body, the foster homes he grew up in, and his fascination with knives, she knows she should run the other way, but that boy’s like crack, oh so bad for you, yet addicting as hell. When he’s arrested and forced to deal with his past, she has to choose between putting her own life back together and dealing with her parents, or taking a chance on Gabriel, as no one else has.

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My Review

Eighteen year old Ariel has been let go of her dancing contract. Although shes upset, she had lost her passion for it. On a whim, she auditions for the Cirque and although her ballet training doesn’t come in handy, she’s given a chance at becoming a target girl – to have knives thrown at her. Determined not to flinch, she wins the spot alongside Gabriel, the mysterious, blue-eyed, tattooed knife-thrower.

After hearing how close-lipped he is, especially about his past, Ari is determined to solve the mystery after finding out he’s on the run. This is a great distraction from telling her parents about her ballet contract, but the more time they spend together, the more Ariel is falling for her act partner and the more she learns about him, she should be running away, but she just can’t stay away from him.

When he’s arrested and forced to deal with his past, Ariel then knows she too, must deal with everything in her life, much the same as Gabriel, as well as learning to take a chance on Gabriel, which means telling her parents everything and finding out how to help him.

We first meet Ariel when she is being let out of her ballet contract. She seems a bit flustered about it, but she understands the reason. She just doesn’t feel ballet anymore and they can tell. But because of this, she’s apprehensive about what shes going to do next, how to tell her parents as they will be coming to see a show she’s not in anymore, what she’s going to do in her life now that ballet has been taken away.

Exiting the building, she sees a leaflet about auditions for a traveling cirque and thinks ‘why the hell not’. Although there isn’t a slot for her dancing, she is given the chance to audition to become a target girl. Without flinching when the knives are being thrown at her, she’s given the job. Although hesitating about being a human target, it’s a chance to get away from New York, a chance to be free for the summer and a chance to figure out how to tell her parents about being fired.

I really enjoyed reading about Ariel’s journey throughout the book. She’s deemed as being innocent with her big eyes and a bit naïve but it’s probably due to the fact she seemed quite lost in this whole different world she was now in and a bit lost as to what to do now she didn’t have ballet. She had been in this bubble all her life where she tried to impress her parents but now she was free, she didn’t know what to do. I loved how she progressed though, to becoming stronger, to facing her fears (after a while) and finally finding a place in the world. She gained a backbone when everything happened in the book, and I loved her for it. She stood her ground over Dmitri and Gabriel and proved she wasn’t some little girl. She was brilliant.

When we meet Gabriel, he’s sat alone, reading a book. When he’s called to let Ariel audition, she sees the intensity in his eyes. He’s dangerous and mysterious but shes intrigued by him. He’s the type of person to keep himself to himself and he hardly talks to Ariel, which only frustrates her because shes panicking over their act. He makes it awkward for her as he seems to stay away. But she can’t stay away from him. Shes attracted to him and to get his attention she starts playing games with Gabriel, by trying to make him jealous that she goes to Dmitri, an acrobat with a reputation, whom hates Gabriel. The feeling being mutual.

Gabriel is very protective over Ariel and literally saves her from a situation which could have turned out horrible. After that, the two become friends, but Gabriel is still blowing hot and cold with Ariel and its stressing her out because she’s starting to fall for him. Their relationship slowly begins to turn from friendship to much more, and when Gabriel tells Ariel bits of his past, she doesn’t run like he expects her to. Because he grew up in foster care homes, he’s closed off and afraid to get close to people in fear they will leave him too, but Arial doesn’t do that. She’s invested in him but when everything turns to pot and Gabriel gets arrested, it’s down to Ariel to face her fears, much like Gabriel does. What does this mean for them both?

Oh totally have a new book boyfriend. Gabriel, although looking like your typical bad boy was anything but. He read romance novels; he painted, loved his dog, Gertie and was very protective over Arial, which took their friend Sasha, by surprise as he has never acted this way before. He was closed-off; in fear of letting anyone in as he was sure they would leave him much like everyone else did. Sure, he has a past, and although he ran from it, he went back and dealt with it. I was proud at him for sticking up for Arial, for letting his guard down around her and trusting her with his past. I was also proud that he went and dealt with his past.

Their relationship was intense. Before they got together, the chemistry sizzled every time they were together and it kept building up that I was shaking my kindle and wishing for something, anything to happen between them. I was desperate!! I loved how their relationship progressed. From friendship to being in a relationship. It wasn’t rushed, like most books. It took time and patience (although Arial wasn’t patient at all) and it was really nice to see the progression, especially as neither of them could stay away from one another for too long. It was like a magnet pulling them closer each time.

I disliked Dmitri from the moment he entered the story. Although he seemed nice enough, you could see that he was preying on Ari; she was the new girl. The more we get to see him and his personality, you will be wanting and wishing something bad to happen to him He was sleazy, a creeper and would do anything to get into Ari’s pant, even though she was only using him to make Gabriel notice her more. Little did she know, she already had Gabriel’s attention. Yes she made mistakes, but she just wanted to find herself and she made the right choice in the end.

Sasha and Tanner were amazing friends to be Ariel and Gabriel. I loved their friendship and commitment throughout the summer. They were always there for each other, from the start, through the drama’s and right to the end. Just brilliant friends to have.

My favourite scene. Hmm…I’m going to say when Gabriel took Ari on a ‘first date’ and took her hiking where they had a picnic. Oh how I wish he took me with him. I loved that scene because you could see the attraction and sexual chemistry between them and I was hoping something was going to happen to further this ‘in between relationship/friendship’ thing they had going on. I’m not going to tell you what happened, but I was giggling like the girl I am.

The ending. Oh how I was longing for a happy ever after and I got it. THANK YOU RYANN. I adored what happened. It was long awaited and it brought a massive smile to my face that they finally got to be together after everything that had happened that summer. The perfect way, to end a perfect book.

I liked the setting. A travelling cirque? Yes please. I used to go to these when I was younger, albeit, I can’t remember anything that happened, but reading this book made me wish I had some great talent so I could be a part of it. I loved reading about the performers and the performances; Ms Kerekes really brought them to life and brought the atmosphere alive through the book as well. The writing and the plot flowed perfectly; I felt the unease, the frustration, the adrenaline, the lust etc coming from Ari in the act and behind the scenes. The Cirque made me laugh, had me smiling, frustrated, giddy and on edge. I’m so glad I spotted this on Amazon and downloaded it immediately. Ya’ll should too!

If you’re after a book about finding your place in the world, about taking risks, falling in love and making some amazing friends along the way along with some drama thrown in, then this book is the one for you. It’s a coming of age story.

I’d definitely recommend The Cirque to everyone.

Erotica, Olivia Cunning, Romance

ARC: Hot Ticket (Sinners on Tour #3) – Olivia Cunning

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

There are things in bassist Jace Seymour’s past that he is unwilling to share with anyone. To cover his guilt and anguish, he seeks dominatrix Mistress V (Aggie) to temporarily placate his inner turmoil.

Aggie doesn’t have much use for men–besides the power rush she gets when they’re begging for mercy at her feet–but Jace isn’t like her usual clients. His cool defiance and unexpected dominance in the bedroom drives her to distraction and quickly steals her heart.

When circumstances threaten Jace’s position in Sinners, Aggie must help him regain his rightful place in the band while showing him that time and love can heal all wounds.

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My Review

There are things in his past that he just doesn’t want to share with anyone and so to take away the guilt, Jace Seymour likes to feel pain by being punished. One night he seeks out Aggie, who is Dominatrix Mistress V to temporarily make him forgot for a while.

Aggie doesn’t really like men; she thinks they are all sleazy. She gets a power rush when they are at her feet, begging her for mercy. But when she spots Jace, he isn’t like any of her usual clients. He doesn’t scream when she hits him, he just stands there and takes it with a hard exterior. Because of this, she knows he’s got a closet full of secrets and pushing away her list of guys, she is slowly falling for the quiet one of the band. She wants to help him through his past and show him that he is loved by everyone including herself and he deserves to be happy after feeling guilty for so long.

Hot Ticket is Jace’s story. The quiet one of the band. The one who doesn’t let anyone in and fears if he did, they wouldn’t want him in the band anymore so he keeps quiet. Before Hot Ticket, I hadn’t really thought much of Jace. He seems to keep to himself so you never really knew much about him in the other two books (I’m disregarding Double Time, which is meant to be book five even though it was released as book three) but in his book you can see how much the band means to him and how much music is such a big part of his life that he wouldn’t know what to do without it. He doesn’t crave attention like the other members, he’s just there to play great music.

Oliva Cunning did a great job in writing Jace’s character. You kind of know from the first two books that Jace likes to be hit – to feel pain but you never really know why until now. In Rock Hard, when they are in the strip club for Brian’s stag night and Sed says he sees Jace go towards the girl with a whip and in leather – that is Aggie. He seeks her out in return to cover up his guilt and anguish over his childhood and his demons that he has locked away all his life.

Jace has things from his past that he would sooner forget and by visiting dominatrix’s, they can stop his turmoil, if only for a few minutes. When he sees Aggie, he knows he must have her inflict pain on him but he never thought that she would worm her way into his heart and try to help him through his past.

Aggie likes her job at the strip club. She likes being a Dom as it gives her power over the clients she has. She likes having them beg for mercy. She doesn’t like men and has two lists. List A: Men not worth my time and List B: Men I’d like to fuck. All of the men have been in List A, but then when she spots Jace, he’s the first man to be put into List B and possibly her new list, List C: Men I can’t instantly label. Aggie could instantly see that Jace was hiding pain behind his calm exterior. He wanted pain, she gave it to him but in turn, her heart was fluttering for him, which never happens to her with clients.

She’s there for Jace and helps him open up about his past. Even with him attempting to push her away in some scenes, she never leaves him as she is completely head over heels for him and she knows he loves her too, even if he can’t show his emotions or feelings because of his past. She shows him so much love and shows him it’s okay to bare his soul and past to her, she’s not going anywhere. It was great that Aggie stood her ground with Jace and slowly, he began to tell her the pain of his past and the scars of his heart. These scenes were quite emotional to read, as I began to really love Jace so by reading about his anguish over his past and reading what happened, they pulled my heartstring and made me want to climb into my kindle and give him a massive hug.

Because of his past, Jace also feels that he’s not good enough. Not good enough for the band, not good enough to be loved; none of this is true. The band absolutely adore him and only tease him because they love him and this proves that he is loved by everyone in his life. As he didn’t really have a childhood, he had to grow up fast and so by all the teasing, he feels that he’s not wanted, but that is not true and Aggie eventually gets through to him that the band love him and that’s why they tease him.

It was fantastic to see how much progress Jace had done with telling Aggie about his past to showing his emotions to her in front of the band. It made me so proud of him to come out of his shell and let go of the guilt he’s felt for so many years. And it’s all thanks for Aggie.

Now for someone who isn’t a fan of BSDM (I just about got through with 50 Shades) it drew me in with the descriptions of what was happening and what both Jace and Aggie were doing to each other. It wasn’t heavy going and it didn’t make me want to skip it. I knew when I read the synopsis I was either going to love or hate this book because of the BDSM but I loved it. The sex was utterly smoking hot!! Olivia definitely knows how to write a sex scene to make you all flustered when reading it and it’s the same in Hot Ticket. Although there was less sex in this book than the others, it definitely doesn’t mean that the scenes were any less inadequate than the other three books because holy moly it wasn’t. Jace and Aggie had such great chemistry and they were so perfect for one another.

From the first two books (and the last) Jace has always looked up to Eric (You’ll know why in this book) – the drummer of the band – and in Hot Ticket, you finally see why that is. Eric calls Jace ‘Little Man’ because he’s the smallest and youngest of the band. Jace feels that Eric saved his life all those years ago and so he’s been Eric’s biggest fan since. They have a strange relationship as Eric can be a bit of an arsehole to Jace but you find out that really, Eric thinks of Jace as his best friend in the band. It was the cutest line ever in this book between the two and although Jace was still understanding how much the band really did love him, it was hard for him to believe but he got there in the end. I cannot wait for Eric’s book and to see how this friendship develops.

I loved Hot Ticket. It possesses hot sex, demons, guilt, love and of course drama. But with The Sinners there is always so drama 😉 it wouldn’t be them without it. I love Olivia Cunning and her books and if you haven’t read any of The Sinner’s books yet, then click on Olivia Cunning in my category dropdown box on the side and get reading my reviews. You will be panting just to get your hands on these books!

When Eric’s book is out, I am definitely planning to re-read all the books in order.

Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with an ARC copy of Hot Ticket via the publisher in return for an honest return.

Romance, Suspense

Poughkeepsie – Debra Anastasia

Posted on January 3, 2013January 3, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she’s surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.

Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?

In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice. Complicated families and confused souls find their way to light in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.

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My Review

“No one has really seen me in years… But when you saw me for the first time, you actually saw me. You saw me, and then you smiled like I was just the same as everyone else on that platform.”

Blake Hartt spends his days sitting at Poughkeepsie train station waiting to see the girl who has him captivated, waiting to count her smiles towards him. Blake Hartt is homeless, but seeing the girl day in, day out makes his days so much better. Livia always sees him sitting there, in the shadows, never asking for any handouts. She sees him, for him. It’s not until some bullies were picking on him that she stands up for him and that is when Blake and Livia finally meet. She finally gets to see his green eyes up close after nicknaming him for so long.

After that initial meeting, Livia spends more time with Blake before her morning train and after her night train. She has a boyfriend, but she’s been trying to dump him for a long time and when things seem to progress with Blake, she knows she definitely cannot continue the relationship with Chris. Her heart is calling out to Blake. When she finally finishes with Chris, he doesn’t accept it. He won’t be the laughing stock of Poughkeepsie and he feels he’s been shamed by Livia for choosing the homeless guy over him. He decides he’s going to do everything he can to get rid of Blake and get Livia back, thus starting his plan to win her back, even though Livia wants nothing to do with him. This starts part of the story, but you’re going to have to read this book to find out what happens.

Blake was a beautiful soul to read. Albeit, he was homeless and afraid of the sun as he seemed to think it changed his appearance. But he was gorgeous; he never asked for anything and would never accept handouts until he felt he deserved it. He was tormented about his past, but he was charming, chivalrous and well spoken beyond any means. Growing up in foster care, he knew how to look after himself after living on the streets for so long, yet he was a gentle soul. He absolutely worshiped Livia, grateful for every moment they spend together.

He has two ‘brothers’ whom he met at his foster home and they were everything to him. They all had matching tattoos and looked out for one another. Beckett is the naughty brother. His business is anything but legal and being the first out to grow out of the system, he felt it was up to him look after his brothers so trying to gain respect in the community was something he had to do so when Blake and Cole came out of the system, he could protect them and make sure he gave them everything he could. Although what he does is illegal on so many levels, the love he has is fierce and he will do anything, even die for the two of them. Cole is also a tormented soul. He lives in the church and is trying to become something better of himself. His past, as you will read, is horrific and he had been brought up afraid of love as he thinks love is pain. But then comes along Kyle, Livia’s sister, and everything changes for him. He’s found his purpose and he’s found love and those two were a treasure to one another.

The three of them each carry heavy baggage, but together they have come a long way since their childhood and foster care and although they aren’t blood related, they couldn’t be closer or more bonded in any other way.

Livia was a strong, independent, level headed young woman. She didn’t care that commuters would talk about her when she was with Blake, she only cared about him. She was kind, caring, full of love, but she could be tough and wouldn’t hide from dangerous situations, as you will find out when you read this book. I loved how much she felt for Blake. She didn’t care that he was homeless, she saw him, for him. She didn’t care that he had no money, she just knew that she wanted to be with him, homeless or not. She loved him and made sure to help him through his childhood issues, without being judgmental and she was there every step of the way .The love they had for each other poured from their core and with everything thrown at them, it only made they stronger.

Kyle, Livia’s sister also had a tormented soul. She felt it was her fault her mother had left when she was born so she set out to punish herself over it. It’s not until she finds Cole and he tells her she has to be her, that she stops hurting herself over her mother’s departure and she finds solace with Cole. Their journey isn’t one without harm but their love for one another is strong to fight anything. Kyle becomes the woman she was meant to be when she found Cole and Cole became the man he was meant to be with Kyle. A match made in heaven…literally.

I have to say, I completely fell in love with Beckett and Kyle. They seemed like people who I’d love to be my best friends. They had potty mouths that kept making me laugh at the things were they saying and to be honest with you, I can have a potty mouth too, so I would definitely be joining in with the banter those two dished out to everyone. I also loved that they were fiercely protective of their loved ones. You hurt their family and friends and you were a goner. Family was immensely important to them and I really enjoyed how much everyone protected one another, especially when everything blew up with Beckett’s business drama and with Chris’ revenge. The two dramas interact and all hell is blown up that you become engrossed over what is happening. I literally could not put the book down.

I could never say that the characters outside of Blake and Livia were secondary, because you see everyone’s story and it combines into the book. You see everyone’s past and why they are involved the way they are, and how it formed them into the person they are today. All the stories are really heartbreaking.

The ending to me was one of perfection. Blake and Livia got their happy ending after everything that had happened in the book and you could tell that they really were made to be together; they were soul mates. This book has a little bit of everything wrapped into it. It has romance, banter, murders, kidnapping, jealousy, revenge, love, steamy moments, friendship, bonds, midnight mass but most of it, it’s about finding love and protecting those you love. It truly is a beautiful book to read and you would be mad not to give it a read.

It really did captivate me and I cannot wait for book two, where we get to read about Beckett.

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