Tag: Tattoo

Posted in M. Leighton

All The Pretty Lies – M. Leighton

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

18626680Synopsis

“Live, no regrets”

Her…
Sloane Locke has led a sheltered life. However, with a history like hers, she can understand why her brothers and her father want so much to protect her. She has gone along with it for twenty long years, but those days are over. For the girl who never makes promises, Sloane has made a pact with herself that things will change on her twenty-first birthday. So when the clock strikes midnight, Sloane strikes out to spread her wings and break a few rules.

Him…
In addition to inking skin, Hemi Spencer possesses many talents. Controlling himself has never been one of them. It’s never had to be. He’s lived a life of indulgence for as long as he can remember. Right up until tragedy struck. Now, he’s nothing but controlled. He’s a man on a mission, one who will let nothing and no one stand in his way.

Them…
Nothing in their lives could’ve prepared Sloane and Hemi for what they’d find in each other—distraction and obsession, love and possession. But the one thing they can’t find is a future. Neither one has been totally honest. And they’ll soon learn that the devil is in the details. In the details and in the lies.
How far will two people go to live in the now when the now is all they’ve got?

5 out of 5 stars

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My Review

Give me an M.Leighton book and you know I will gobble that shit up. Anything she writes, I know I will automatically become obsessed with and love and All The Pretty Lies was no exception. M.Leighton can hook you within the first page and from then on you are reading until you have reached the end, absorbed with the story, the characters, just everything keeps me involved and I feel every emotion that the characters do, which is definitely what you need when reading a book. It makes you feel connected to them and I definitely did with Hemi and Sloane (and Sarah – she’s wicked naughty).

All The Pretty Lies is about living life with no regrets. Living it to the fullest and being free, letting go. And both Sloane and Hemi definitely begin to live with this motto.

Sloane has been protected and mollycoddled by her father and three brothers ever since her mother died when she was a young women. They have protected her and bubble wrapped her and shes had enough. At 21, its time for her to break free, to do what she wants to do, to live but its hard enough trying to make the four men in your life understand that need when they want you safe and sound and still treat you like a little girl. Sloane hasn’t had the life experience of going to parties, going on dates, having a boyfriend, like the rest of us have but now is the time to experience all she has missed and that is just beginning with getting a tattoo…which ultimately changes her life.

I adored Sloane. Despite being innocent and naive, not at all her fault, she really wants to live life to the fullest now shes of legal age. Although it doesnt help that the men in her family are all police officers. She wants to show them that she doesnt need protecting anymore, that shes old enough to be herself, to do what ever she wants. You feel everything she is going though – albeit, we probably went through this a lot younger, but from fancying a guy, to falling in love to being playful and feeling hurt, those feelings don’t go away and are always foremost in your mind.

I liked seeing Sloane gain confidence in herself, in her feelings and in what she wanted. To see her from a protected young women and going through the motions of liking a guy, trying to get his attention then feeling a step back when she feels he doesnt like her only to gain that confidence when he actually does makes you feel like a proud friend to see her putting herself out there. I loved her tattoo and I think it represented her perfectly. She really did live by that tattoo and you can see that it means a hell of a lot to her. We watch her grow up, go through a lot and come out in the end happy and in love and completely at bliss with Hemi….but that doesnt mean its all smooth sailing with these two and at certain points I prayed they could get through it, get through their situation and thank god they did. I don’t know what I would do it Sloane and Hemi didn’t end up together!!

I definitely have a little crush on Hemi…..okay okay a hella big crush. You can see the turmoil he is going through, how he wants Sloane but he doesnt too. How he needs to stay away but he cant. You actually can understand in a way, why he cant go there, but when he breaks, its pure joy! Its beautiful to see him ‘lose control’ as such, to want Sloane, an innocent young women, someone he wouldn’t go for because he goes for the ones who expect nothing and leave when he’s in the shower in the morning, but there is just something about Sloane that he craves, that he wants and it was lovely to see him break this barrier down.

My heart broke when the news came out about what he was searching for, but you know that his feelings are pure, that he cares a hell of a lot for Sloane, and he has never felt these feelings for anyone before. You want to forgive him and you actually beg for Sloane to forgive him, to give him another chance, to listen to him. The pain, the hurt, the guilt overtook him but you could see that above all that, his heart was taken, his heart belonged to her and he didn’t want that heart to belong to anyone but her.  My heart tore when shit went down, when he wouldn’t leave her side and you could feel the terror that was radiating off him, the fear of losing the one person he loves the most and you were right there along with him.

Despite everything, Hemi is a beautiful being. He’s an owner of a tattoo shop, he’s been through pain of losing a family member, wanting to find the person who killed his brother but in the end, the grief and guilt was too much to take and he had to let it go, he had to learn to life again – “Live, no regrets” and that is what he did with Sloane and it was such a delight to see both of these characters join together, learn to live life together and that ending just had me in tears over who perfect these two are together.

M. Leighton sure knows how to captivate you into her writing, into her stories and the characters. You feel their emotions, you turn every page, wondering just where the time has gone because all you’re been focused on is Sloane and Hemi’s story, needing to find out their secrets, what will happen when they are revealed and how their ending is going – will they stay together or not?

But the ending is the perfect conclusion to their journey. It sums up everything perfectly and I was crying with happiness over the event that took place at the ending. OH how I was so happy and smiling with glee over Hemi. I cant wait to see if they make an appearance in book two, which will be about Reese, Hemi’s brother. PLEASE say they will, I’d love to keep up with their developments 😉

Posted in Cherrie Lynn, Erotica

Take Me On (Ross Siblings #4) – Cherrie Lynn

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

17882692Synopsis

The consequences of a moment can last a lifetime.

Gabriella Ross suffered every bride’s worst nightmare: a no-show groom. Now summer stretches before her with nowhere to go but home, at least until it’s time to go back to medical school.

Determined to prove she might be down but definitely not out, she chucks all her old plans in favor of having a good time—starting with giving herself a pair of wings. Tattooed wings, that is, in the form of a phoenix on her back.

When everyone else at Dermamania chickens out at the prospect of putting the gorgeous, perfect skin of the boss’s big sister under the needle, Ian Rhodes finds himself stepping up. Then unexpectedly connecting with her through tears that have nothing to do with the pain of getting inked.

Attraction flares into one hot night that was supposed to stay that way—single, and secret. But best laid plans have a way of getting blown out of the water. Now two perfect strangers must plan for a very different future…beginning with whether there’s enough common ground to spend it together.

Warning: Contains explicit sex, graphic language, Ross family drama, reuniting with beloved old friends…and a hot tattooed, Harley-riding hero who doesn’t mind being robbed from the cradle.

4 out of 5 stars!

My review of Unleashed #1
My review of Rock Me #2
My review of Breathe Me In #2.5
My review of Leave Me Breathless #3

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My Review

I adore this series so much and have been waiting (im)patiently for Gabriella’s book to be out so i can get to know her and learn all about her. Since Evan’s book, i have been hooked on all of these characters, wanting to know about them, about their lives, watching them fall in love, deal with shit, and find their happy endings….doesnt hurt that the sex is smooooooking hot either.

Take Me On is about the eldest Ross sibling, Gabriella. She is a nurse but she is studying at Med school to become a Doctor. She lives three hours away from Brian and her parents, but after being left at the alter by her arsehole fiancé, she is back living at her parents for the summer whilst she sorts everything out for the next school year.

Fed up of being in a funk, and with everyone thinking she is spiralling, she decides on getting a tattoo. After both Brian and Ghost chicken out of tattooing her, the new guy, Ian steps up to the plate. What starts off as just a tattoo, becomes so much more for both of them and now they have to figure out what they are going to do, if they can have a future together.

This review will be short and sweet. What happens in the story is a massive spoiler so there is no way I can do that to you guys at all. I would totally recommend reading the other four books too, just to get a gist of who the other characters are because they do make appearances and have a small storyline on the sides too.

As I’ve mentioned, Gabby has her whole life planned out in front of her. She’s going to marry Mark, have children before she is 40, become a Doctor but all that turns to pot when Mark doesnt turn up at the church. Devastated and completely humiliated she returns to live at her parents for the summer. Gabby is someone who likes to be in control – of everything. She likes to know exactly what is going to happen and when this happens, she is most definitely not in control. So she decides to get a tattoo, of a Phoenix on her back. It represents strength and moving on and that is what Gabby wants. What starts off as a tattoo, ends up with her in bed with Ian…and that night changes everything.

I took a while to warm up to Gabby, mainly because I adore Candace, Macy and Kelsey, but I learned to understand Gabby more in her book. We see her tough side, she is blunt, takes what she wants yet she has a vulnerable side too. One that makes her more human I suppose. But even with her vulnerable side, we see her take charge of her life, even if she has to take it day by day and that was admirable when she never does that.

I did like her banter with Brian. You always have that with a sibling and calling each other ‘Little Shit’ and ‘Big shit’ was hilarious. I did grow to like Gabby. Her choices at times were a little bit of a headbang, especially near the end and I was so annoyed at her but I got it, I got how alone she was feeling, how she didn’t know what to do and she just wanted someone, so really you can and cant blame her for what she did and was thinking.

Ian is the new guy, and volunteers to tattoo Gabby after the others chicken out. He’s heard about The Wedding That Wasn’t and heard about her from Brian. He gets the impression she is uptight but holy hell, he thinks she is gorgeous and after a little moment in the tattoo room, they get on great, so great they end up in bed together after a bet at the bar that night.

Ian is funny, he’s artistic, he has a dirty mouth, dirty bedroom moves, drives a motorbike but underneath his carefree vibes is someone who is hiding a bad childhood. He moved from Dallas to make a fresh start and to forget about the pain back home. One look at Gabby and he knows he’d like to get to know her, but she’s off limits as she is the boss’ sister but after that night he is now in it for the long run, there is no getting rid of him.

I adored Gabby and Ian together. They definitely had the connection, the banter, and sexual connection too. Despite the circumstances, you could really see how much they wanted each other, but would they get together if it didn’t happen? Both their lives are changing, alone and together and they have a lot to think about, to mull over…but as Ian said ‘take it day by day’ and that is what they did.

Now, we should all know by now that Cherrie definitely knows how to write a sex scene and HOLY SHIT Take Me On’s sex scenes are no different. They are steamy and sexy and frigging hot. You can see how compatible Ian and Gabby are in the bedroom and they certainly know how to turn it up a notch. Being 8 years younger than Gabby, Ian knows how to pleasure a woman and Gabby knows a thing or two too. I loved reading about these two and how they learnt what they other liked, how to please one another. Age meant nothing to them at all and I loved that!

Cherrie sucks you in in this series. From book 1 to book 4, I have avidly been waiting and reading from the start. You all need to get the Ross Siblings in your life. Watch them all grow with the series, delve into their life’s, watch them overcome drama and watch they fall in love. I love this series and would love another book but if not, I am more than content to re-read again and again and keep these characters in my heart.

Posted in Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday: Just Human – Kerry Heavens

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. It’s a weekly event that allows all us book bloggers and lovers to talk about what upcoming book we’re most looking forward to reading.

Sooooo, I’m not really waiting on Just Human…well I am because I will buy it, but I have already read it 😀
I wanted to feature Kerry, as I have featured all my other close author friends and now her cover has been revealed, its timeeeee to add Kerry to my WOW 🙂

JustHumanCoverFINALSynopsis

Meet Liv and Danny…
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. They quickly find that they are intensely compatible in ways they hadn’t even begun to explore before they were forced apart.
Can they put aside their fears and give it a go? Or will deep rooted doubts and insecurities tear them apart?
Release Date : July 22nd 2013
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Posted in New Adult, Suspense

Breathe Into Me – Amanda Stone

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Notes

Book tattoos?

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

imagesWhen I was 18 me and my friend decided we wanted to get a tattoo. We had just finished out A- level’s and were a week from our first girls holiday. The tattoo idea was mentioned a week before we went to get it.

They cost us £20.

She got a star (original :P) on her hip and I got a bow on the back of my neck. Yes, it killed, and yes, i nearly fainted.

My tattoo
My tattoo

When asked why I got a bow, my response? It reminds me of my girly side. When i was growing up I was the ultimate tomboy. Playing with all the boys in my street, climbing trees etc and even though my friends tel me i am definitely a girly girl now, it still symbolizes the girl inside me. Sounds stupid i know, but that’s my response.

People always say that you get the itch to get more once you have one, and the is definitely true.

I have many thoughts about my next tattoo. I want ‘LIFE’ tattooed on my wrist because that is what ‘Zoe’ means.

But now I want something to do with books as well.

I’ve thought whether I’d have a quote tattooed one me…but which one?
Or would I get an open book tattooed one me
Or a book cover? (probably not)
Or something symbolic from that book?

The list is endless.

My love of books will never dwindle. Whomever i end up with will have to deal with my kindle being my baby. Me being an emotional wreck when reading and my love of book boyfriends.

But i ask you this, do any of you have a book tattoo? Or would you consider getting a book tattoo?

Let me know 🙂

Posted in New Adult, Romance

ARC: True – Erin McCarthy

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

17332551Synopsis

When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.

Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…

Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

4/5 stars

Release Date: 7th May 2013

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My Review

*Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for an instant download of True in return for an honest review*

When Rory accidentally lets out that she hasn’t slept with anyone in her 20 years, her roommates Kylie and Jessica decide to help her out. Behind her back. It’s out of kindness as they want her to experience sex, so they decide to hire tattooed, bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job. Will he go through with it?

Tyler Mann has admired Rory from afar. She’s different from all the other girls but he knows he isn’t good for her. He’s barely scraping by his EMT program so he can get his brothers out of the hell hole of his family home, away from his druggy mother. Rory is too smart for him but he cant resist taking up the offer as it’s a way to know her better.

The more time they spend together, the more they are falling for one another. They open up to one another but what happens when Tyler’s family threatens his future. Will Rory stand by him or cut ties? Tyler had always known his not good enough for Rory, but he loves her. Will he fight for her or let her go?

I wrote this on Twitter when I was only a few pages in. I had a slight premise of what True was about, I had just forgotten who the guy was. So when I started reading about Rory’s roommate Jessica sleeping with Tyler, I was like “Hang on” and went back to read the synopsis. Now this is probably a spoiler, although you would have found out a few pages in anyway and been like “Hold up” but, in my opinion, I would NEVER want to sleep with a guy my friend had been getting with. Wouldn’t that just be completely weird?

But once I got over the whole issue of that, it didn’t actually bother me a whole lot throughout the book then. At the start Rory was a bit funny about it and about liking Tyler but it didn’t bother Jessica, seeing as her and her other roommate Kylie hired Tyler to help Rory lose her virginity and it didn’t bother me either.

This is the first book I have read of Erin McCarthy’s and when I saw it on goodreads and read the synopsis, I KNEW I had to get my hands on it. So when NetGalley emailed me saying it was a free download for a day, I jumped at the chance to download it. Seriously guys, you will not be disappointed in True at all. I devoured it, I fell in love with the characters, I smiled, cried, gasped, threw my kindle down. All the usual acts I do with a great book. Although it sounds like a book that has been rehashed many times over, it certainly isn’t like that at all. The book is completely different to every good girl/bad boy college love out there and you would be a fool not to read this.

As mentioned, Tyler is hired to help Rory lose her virginity, unbeknown to her. Tyler used to sleep with Rory’s roommate Jessica and so Rory is hesitant to get to know him, because she does like him but she finds it a bit weird to like him when he is sleeping with Jessica.

But when Jessica tells her that it’s fine, they weren’t together, Rory decides that maybe it’s okay to hang out with him. They both get along and are both helping each other out with their courses. The more time they spend together, they more they are liking one another but when Rory finds out about Tyler being hired to sleep with her, she’s so angry and upset that she lies to her roommates and tell them that she slept with him. She doesn’t want to lose her friends even though they set it up so she keeps quiet about knowing.

After a week of ignoring Tyler, they go back to being friends. One night there is a family emergency at Tyler’s and he takes Rory with him. No one has ever been to his family house, Rory being the first. This is the part where they truly begin their relationship.

But with every relationship comes family drama and although Rory and Tyler seem strong, something happens that tears them apart. It breaks Rory but what can she do? She doesn’t want to talk about it, she tries not to think about it but it’s all she thinks about. When a tragedy occurs on Tyler’s side, she goes to pay her wishes. She still loves him but she knows she can at least live without him, even if it hurts, but when they both talk and Rory walks off, Tyler can let her leave once again. Will she take Tyler back or let him go?

I really, really adored Tyler. From first glances, you would totally say he was a tattooed bad boy, but underneath his exterior he is a caring soul. He’s smart, he’s on the EMT programme and he is definitely family orientated, trying to power through college so he can pull his two brothers from the hell that is their druggy mother. He will do whatever to make sure they are okay and protected, coming to their every need. I truly admired him for this. For loving and protecting his brothers so fiercely that he would do whatever he could for them. He and his older brother both have a tattoo that reads “TRUE”. It is after the four bothers names and that proves that their bond is so strong that nothing will ever break them apart. They will fight together and for one another. I think this part of him is what made me want to be with him and be Rory. To be there for him when things got tough, to befriend his brothers, to be there for him and them. That is exactly what Rory did and you could really see the love Tyler had for Rory, to show her this side of him that no one has ever seen.

I really liked Rory too. Shes not like many young adults we read about in NA. Since her mother’s death at a young age, she’s had insecurities. Her father didn’t know what to do when her mother died and in turn, that meant all the parties she used to get invited to slowly decline until it was just her and her father for company. This is why she is so socially awkward. She’s a virgin and shes socially awkward but her roommates try to get her out of her shell, giving her hugs which is something she is not used to, trying to get her to open up and in turn, she craves the connections now, understanding that she actually likes being hugged or kissed or touched. Shes grown up not having this and now shes got it, she feels loved.

She’s a logical and honest girl, not like most heroines we read about who are so angst-ridden (even though I love those kinds of books) and it was kind of a breath of fresh air to read about Rory and see her grow into herself. Learn to understand that there are guys out there who like her – such a Tyler – who want to spend time with her, who find her interesting. Tyler lets her into his world and she lets him into hers. I think this helped her open up, to show her feelings, to fall in love, to actually talk to her dad about their feelings instead of bypassing them like they always did. She definitely got stronger throughout the book and I really liked that.

It was nice to see their friends and family take a big part in the book too. From both their friends being included a lot, you got to see their story and their personality throughout the book as well as both Tyler and Rory’s families. You got to see into their family background and why they are the way they are. Rory being the socially awkward girl and Tyler being the family orientated guy. It was lovely not to just focus on their relationship, but to add in the family and friends too, making True a wholesome book.

Rory and Tyler both go through a journey. A journey of acceptance, of learning to love, of growing up, but they do it together and alone. I truly enjoyed reading True and Erin McCarthy did an amazing job writing it that I hope you will all pick up your copy when it is out. If you are like me and don’t like the fact that you are going out with the guy your friend was a Fuck Buddy with, then don’t worry, you will completely bypass and forget that part when you see how utterly great Rory and Tyler are together. They bring out the best in each other and share sides that no one else has seen in them. It was pretty awesome to witness this.

So yes, please do read True. You will fall in love with Tyler and his brothers and just want to cuddle them all. I certainly did. Amazing book and I cannot wait to see more of Rory and Tyler in the book instalment which will be Jessica’s book.

Definitely recommend True to all you lovely readers.

Posted in New Adult, Romance

Torn (Torn #1) – K.A Robinson

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

17214221Synopsis

Chloe hasn’t had the best life. With a mother who is gone more often than not, she has had to raise herself. After graduating high school, she leaves to start a new life away at West Virginia University with her best friends Amber and Logan, determined to leave her demons in the past.

On her first day, she meets a stranger who takes her breath away at first sight. Until she met Drake, no one had ever sparked her interest. Now this tattooed and pierced bad boy is all she can think about, no matter how hard she fights it.

Falling for Drake was never part of her plans, but when it happens, things seem to do anything but fall into place.

Dealing with a tragic past, Drake has never cared about anyone else but himself and his band. But when Chloe takes the empty seat next to him in class, things start to change. Instantly drawn to her, he begins to wonder if one girl can take a cold hearted womanizer and change every part of him?

Long hidden feelings are revealed and friendships tested to the brink.

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My Review

Chloe, along with her two best friends Amber and Logan are off to start another chapter of their life at West Virginia University. Chloe hasn’t had the best childhood, with a mother who was gone more than often, leaving her to fend by herself. Now, she’s off to start a new life and to hopefully leave the demons in the past.

On her first day, she meets a guy, Drake, who literally takes her breath away. She has never felt like this before, but there is something about this guy. He’s tattooed and pierced up and hes all she can think about, despite not wanting to.

Becoming friends with Drake and falling for him wasn’t her plan. She just wanted to finish college and start her life, but no matter the attraction, from both of them, things just don’t fall into place for either of them.

This book had to the substance to be a great book. I’m not saying I didn’t like it, because some parts I did, like the flirting and some of the cuter scenes, but most of the characters literally annoyed the hell out of me due to their ways.

Chloe is classed as the hot (but she doesn’t know it) rocker chick, with D sized boobs and long, blonde hair down to her waist. (That hair would literally piss me off and I would chop it off). She’s oblivious to all the male attention YET she dresses provocatively when going out clubbing/pub and she seems to get steaming drunk every time– just like her mother, who she hates.

She’s indecisive when it comes to Logan and Drake, and that annoyed me because HELLO! If you wanted Logan you would have liked him before jumping into bed with him and if you liked Drake, you wouldn’t have got with Logan. Oh woman! You do my head in, and I am one too and I know who I would have chosen. If she was my friend, I’d tell her to stay away from both of the guys, until she was certain of which one she had feelings for. It wasn’t fair on the guys to be messed around and hurt because she couldn’t make her mind up. She does cry a lot in the book, over her past and the things she has does, but she doesn’t try to make amends until right at the end when everything goes tits up.

I have to say, Logan just didn’t warm up to me at all. I found myself shouting at him and Chloe through my Kindle because their relationship/friendship was just too much. He was possessive and not in a good way. Yes, he loved Chloe but they weren’t even going out and he was like overpowering with his possessiveness and jealousy. If he was my best friend, I would tell him to take a leap and let me live my life as I’m not in a relationship with him, nor is it any of his business who I see/dance with/ kiss. As much as Chloe did tell him to back off, it annoyed me that he kept pushing himself to be the ‘protector.’ Now, I like possessive, just not the extent that Logan was dealing it out. As I said, I would tell him to back off and leave me alone. Saying that, when he wasn’t in caveman mood, he was sweet to the Chloe, especially when her mum calls her and Chloe is literally shaking in her boots. It was nice to see another side to Logan, a softer side.

Drake. Now he’s a one character that I felt drawn to. The whole bad boy (Who really wasn’t bad at all), tattoos, piercings everywhere – and I mean everywhere and the lead singer in a band. I think the only thing that makes him a ‘bad boy’ was his womanizing ways which you didn’t really read about, other than girls sitting on his lap. You never hear him bragging about sleeping with this or that girl. Other than that, he was a sweetheart and a flirty so and so to Chloe. I can see why she fell for him.

Their will-they-wont-they friendship annoyed me at times. Yes, he has slept with shit loads of girls and yes he told her he couldn’t be in a relationship with her and to go to Logan, but dear Chloe, you utter stupid girl, everyone was telling you Drake wanted you but no, you wouldn’t listen and did go to Logan. *Rolls eyes* Dear god, if it was that easy to go to Logan, then did you really have such strong feelings for Drake like you say you did? You would have fought for him and not taken no for an answer.

Chloe and Logan’s relationship was all wrong. I didn’t understand how Chloe could magically decide that she should give Logan a chance after never having romantic feelings about him and I think she got with him to spite Drake. He told her to get with him so that’s what she did. I think she knew being with Logan was the wrong thing to do, hence why she did what she did with Drake – Twice. Logan was a safe option. He wouldn’t hurt her, knew everything about her and loved her, but her feelings for Drake were much stronger than her feelings for Logan. Plus I would have dumped Logan’s ass if he had told me I couldn’t see Drake again. No one should EVER dictate who anyone can be friends with. I would have punched him.

Now, the scene I really liked reading was at the end of the book, near enough, where Chloe and Drake are at the ‘cheat lake’ and Drake takes his top off and he has the exact same tattoo as Chloe does – Never loved. I thought it was really cute and sweet that he got it to remind him of her, about their pasts and how that tattoo really has no meaning to them as they both love each other.

As much as I liked this book, I didn’t too. The characters need more development because I didn’t really feel much for any of them because I didn’t know them. I’m hoping in Twisted they are developed much more so I at least feel something. Saying that, I did enjoy the story; bad boy, good girl who can’t decide who she wants – love these kinds of books.

I will be reading Twisted, just because the end kind of left at a cliff-hanger and I need to know where the relationship is going, especially with how the ending finished and the person who entered their life. I want to know what they want and how they tracked Chloe down.

Posted in M. Leighton, New Adult

Down To You – M. Leighton

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

16001893Synopsis

The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not. Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white. But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.

Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her. Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them. Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire. She wants them both. And they want her. How will she ever choose between them?

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My Review

Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl in college trying to get through it so she can return home and help her father out on the farm and run his business for him. Living an hour away, she’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him so she’s going to get through college and move back home; even if it means putting her own life on hold to be with him.

But then she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. Sexy twins but completely different to each other. Cash is the bad boy and everything she wants in a guy, whereas Nash is successful and everything she needs in a guy. Only problem is he’s taken. But staying away from both of them is proving hard and thus starts a love triangle…that’s not really a triangle. But you’ll have to read to find out what that means.

Olivia is a shy, insecure girl but with the boys, they bring out her feisty and confident side. After Nash and Cash meet her, they are instantly attracted to her. They think she is gorgeous, funny, witty and smart but she doesn’t understand why they think that. She’s instantly attracted to both of them, but she has to decide which one she wants…both of them make her insides crumple every time they spent time together, so I know picking would have been so hard to do.

Cash. Swooon. What can I say about him? Well he’s a club owner, he’s successful, goes after what he wants, a bad boy (which I loveeee), and has tattoos. The first time he sees Olivia, he knows he wants her for himself, it’s just trying to make her see he isn’t like all the other bad boys she’s dated, he’s different – hence the secret he’s been keeping most of his life.

Oh Nash! I’m sorry but Cash stole my heart. Albeit, you were career driven, ambitious, taken by Olivia’s cousin and everything Olivia wanted in a man, but it just wasn’t enough. But where does Nash come in to the secret?

I completely loved Down To You. Everyone had been raving about it for weeks and although I had it on my Kindle, I had yet to read it. But I am so glad I did. I was captivated by the book and it took me about 3ish hours to read; that’s how involved I became. There are three POV’s in the book, from Olivia and the boys, and it worked amazingly well. It gave in insight into their feelings about the situations and about Olivia and how they felt about her. The POVs worked also; because of the twist at the end…well I didn’t see that coming at all.

There was so much chemistry between the boys and Olivia, but I must admit, Cash stole my heart. I felt he and Olivia were much more suited. They were just drawn together no matter how much Olivia didn’t want to be a badboy’s girlfriend again, she just couldn’t stop the attraction to him and Cash was the same. He wanted and needed Olivia for himself and to prove he wasn’t like all the other men she’s dated. He wouldn’t want to crush her heart or cause her pain.

When the secret came out, I wasn’t all that surprised by Olivia’s reaction. There are two parts to this secret, and the first part surprised me. It showed a more sad time of Cash’s past and to be honest, I felt for him having to go through it and do it for his family. It proved that Cash was like Nash. He was educated, he was sensitive and he was head over heels for Olivia. But those long days that Olivia ignored him, you could see he was in so much pain that he needed to get her back. And that’s exactly what he did.

I just can’t wait to Up To You to be released now. The ending was a pure shocker and I definitely need to know what is going to happen to Cash and Olivia! The teasers on M. Leighton’s website are totally not enough, I need more! And that club scene in the teaser. HOLY HELL GIVE ME THE BOOK NOW.  I can’t wait until January!

Posted in Erotica, Romance

Inside Out – Lauren Dane (Book #3)

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Ella Tipton is a survivor. In the wake of an attack that nearly left her dead, she has spent each day putting her life back together. Once vibrant and outgoing, she’s needed to reclaim the best parts of who she was while retaining the hard-won lessons. There hasn’t been room for any romantic entanglements, even if she were ready. Still, it doesn’t mean she has to stop sneaking looks at Mister Tall, Dark and Tattooed himself.

Security professional Andrew Copeland isn’t quite sure when his jones for the lovely and decidely skittish Ella developed. He’s known her for years, has watched her triumph over the pain she’s been dealt. Cope is no stranger to women, but he knows the nervous flush he gets every time he talks to Ella is different from any attraction he’s had in the past. Determined to get Ella to let him in, Cope does the one thing he can think of to get close: he offers her hands-on training in self-defense.

While Ella’s sure Cope is just being nice, the prospect of being able to touch him and and gain the tools to push away the last vestiges of her fear is more than she can resist. Soon enough, Cope shows Ella his feelings are far more than friendly, and he reignites something deep inside her. It isn’t long before desire and love turn them both inside out.

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My Review

Inside Out is one of those books that completely shocked me to the core. As you can see, recently I have been reading a lot of erotica, where they have a little story adapted into the sex scenes. So when I read the synopsis to this book that is exactly what I thought it would be about.

The synopsis is pretty heavy going and I thought Lauren Dane would just quickly bypass the problems involved, getting straight to the sex. By God, I was so wrong, and I’m so glad!

The story has so much depth in it, with Ella being a survivor of a violent attack from her ex-boyfriend who wanted her dead. It’s taken her years to try and get her life back on track, and thanks to her friends and family, she is getting there. You follow the struggles that Ella faces every day, from needing control in her life to get her through the day, to being so wary of everything around her, from looking in the backseat of her car every time she gets in to placing a chair in her direct view in her apartment so she can see if anyone has broken in.

No one ever sees her legs either, which are tarnished with scars from the attack. She wears trousers every day and if she wears a dress, it needs to hide the scars. She doesn’t see how beautiful she is though, especially to Andrew Copeland, who has watched and crushed on her from afar for years, but he knew she had to spend time gaining back courage and time to get over the attack without him swooping in, much as he had to grow up and stop sleeping around with women.

Andrew, or Cope to his friends, flirts with everyone. But that’s just how he is, he’s a friendly guy. He’s wanted to be with Ella for years now, but after the attack, he knew she had to sort her life out, and so he was there for her, as a friend. But recently he’s changed and now he knows Ella has to, so it’s his chance to get to know her more and be with her.

Throughout the book you see her strength shine through with everything she does and achieves. And Cope is so proud to be with her, helping her through her fears but giving her one-to-one self-defence training so she can feel in control of her life again. Watching her fall for Cope was so cute to read. Although she has liked him for years, she had never thought he would want her, but yet he does.

Cope, to his friends, is the playboy, the one who has one night stands but to Ella, he shows his real side. He’s kind, shy, loves poetry, is artistic and loves Ella so much. He’s scared to show his true side to his friends in fear of being rejected but you can see how close this group is and Ella tells him they wouldn’t reject him – they are family.

They both have protective streaks in them, for each other and their friends, but they also bring out the best in one another. There are a few sex scenes in here, but they don’t go too graphic. They were a nice touch to their relationship, and to see Cope not care about the scarring on her legs, it made my heart skip because she was so afraid of anyone seeing her legs, but Cope loved her for her and wouldn’t have been turned off by them, which is what Ella was afraid of.

This book is part of the Brown Sibling series. It’s the 3rd book, and it’s also the first I have read. You could read it as a standalone, but, as I was for a part of the book, I was confused over the characters especially Erin, Ben and Todd’s relationship, so I’m going to download the others in the series and catch-up over what their stories involve. I’m so glad these stories have such depth in them, with some sex scenes wrapped into them. Stories like these really pull me in and I begin to feel attached to the characters. I felt connected to them all, feeling everything they were, and that doesn’t really happen too much to me. Sure I feel something for the characters in books, but they all pulled me into their own stories encased in the book.

The only thing that was a tad confusing was that all the girls had names beginning with E. Ella, Erin and Elise. But other than that, this book really did touch me and I will definitely download the first two and the books after this one to see how their lives evolve.

Posted in Erotica

The Sweetest Tattoo – Cameron Dane

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Tattoo artist Kelsie Cole cannot believe her brother would give his best friend use of his cabin the same week he promised it to her. She had been butting heads with straight-laced John McBride since they were kids.

John McBride only takes one week of vacation a year, and there isn’t any way he’s driving down a mountain back to Raleigh just because Kelsie Cole is already standing on the porch staking her claim when he arrives.

The cabin has two rooms, and they are adults. They can share a space for seven days. It’s not like they’re attracted to each other or anything, right? Kelsie grits her teeth, but assures herself she can handle it.

And then John kisses her…

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My Review

Kelsie Cole is a well-inked tattoo parlour owner; she has pink hair and hasn’t worn a single-digit clothing size since her teenage years. Off for a week, she is holidaying at her brother’s lakeside cabin, but when she sees a familiar car pull up outside, she is not impressed at all. Stepping out of the car is her brother’s best friend and business partner John McBride. He’s the total opposite to Kelsie. He wears suits and ties and is everything she’s not in his appearance. She’s known him since she was nine and 20 years later they are still bickering at each other.

John doesn’t know why he and Kelsie bicker or why everything he says makes Kelsie snap at him. He’s been infatuated with her from a young age, but Kelsie interprets all the glances and questions he’s given her throughout the years as judgements on her lifestyle and her tattoos. But in reality he’s completely fascinated with her and just wants to be the type of man she wants to be with, so he can treat her like she’s supposed to be treated. This week is a chance to hopefully make Kelsie see that he wants her and he’s determined to change things between them.

Kelsie always calls John, McBride and it really wires him up. He tells her if she calls him that again, he will kiss her to make a point. Kelsie doesn’t understand why he would do that but one night she slips up and that’s it, she and John are kissing and that’s the beginning of everything that happens during the week.

The chapters are named after the days of the week, and different things happen during those chapters. There is a lot of character development and it jumps from both Kelsie’s side and John’s side so you can see what they are thinking about one another, especially when Kelsie thinks John is just using her for a fling, but you see that he isn’t when it’s his ‘voice’ speaking.

The sex scenes are crazy hot, with so much chemistry between the characters and there were a lot of sex throughout the book, mostly in every chapter. They varied positions and where they took place which thankfully, was great as it would have been monotonous if they just had sex in a bed every day. I did love the last sex scene outside; it was full of passion and lust and made me feel tingly over what they were talking about. The other scene I really liked wasn’t so much a sex scene, it was when Kelsie had a bad dream about her childhood and John pulled her on top of him to comfort her. It was so sweet as they developed throughout the book, from Kelsie hating him to her feelings being confused over what was happening between them to falling for him.

It was a great read with a lot of steamy scenes wrapped into. If you just want a quick, naughty novella, then this book if for you.