teacher – Z. Elizabeth

Officer Off Limits – Tessa Bailey

Posted on June 23, 2013June 22, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

His need to possess her is non-negotiable.

Story Brooks’ fiancé just called off their wedding two weeks before the happy day. As if that isn’t bad enough, her semi-estranged father, an infamous NYPD hostage negotiator, has suffered a heart attack. Not wanting to examine her lack of emotion over the broken engagement, she hops on a plane to reconnect with her father before it’s too late.

Playboy hostage negotiator Daniel Chase has never, not once, been refused by a woman, so when a debate over hospital snack foods with a delectable kindergarten teacher ends in flat-out rejection, he makes it his mission to seduce her. His only obstacle? She’s the daughter of his mentor who implicitly forbade Daniel from pursuing her.

Despite her father’s warnings and Daniel’s troubled past, Daniel and Story can’t resist their intense attraction to one another. But when the reason for her fiancé’s abrupt wedding cancellation comes to light, can Story and Daniel’s already forbidden relationship survive?

5 / 5 stars

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My Review

Since reading Protecting What’s His, I have been grabbing my sides (and clenching my legs ;)) to read the next two books from Tessa Bailey. I couldn’t resist anymore and I couldn’t stop thinking about them so Officer Off Limits was the next book I literally devoured.

As I mentioned in my review for Protecting what’s His, I couldn’t put it down. Ms. Bailey engrosses you within the story, rooting for both hero and heroine, making you fall in love with them and mentally telling them what to do, as well as picturing yourself having sex with the hero….yes, we all do it, don’t be shy now.

I read the majority of books on the bus and trains to and from work, so I have so many different facial expresses but when sex scenes appear, they get me highly strung…seriously people, don’t read sexy books in public places, you will want to jump the next boy/girl who sits beside you. Don’t worry that didn’t happen but the book will be on your mind all day until you can get your hands back on your kindle to finish it. THAT is the type of book I love, the one where the story plays all day in your mind and you just need to know the ending. It surely didn’t take me long to read 😉

After her fiancé called off their wedding just weeks before the big day and her dad, whom she hasn’t seen in years decidedly has a heart-attack, Story Brooks decides to visit her dad in New York while examining why she isn’t broken up about her engagement.

While she’s there, she meets her father’s partner, Daniel Chase. Playboy Daniel was recruited by Story’s dad when he was younger and her dad has been his mentor throughout the years. Never thinking himself good enough for love, he jumps from bed to bed never staying long enough for anything serious, until he spots Story. Her blasé attitude only makes him want her even more but when he finds out she’s his mentors daughter, he’s forbidden from pursuing her.

But the chemistry between Daniel and Story is just too strong and despite the warning, they cant stay away from each other. Story learns about Daniels troubled past and helps him learn to love, whereas Story wants a rebound yet does she really? When everyone finds out the real reason for the cancellation of the wedding, can Story and Daniel’s relationship survive?

I’m going to start with Daniel. HAHA but of course, who wouldn’t. You all know me by now, such a book boyfriend whore so I HAVE to start with the guys first 😉 But yes, DANIEL CHASE! I pretty much love him (as I do with other BBF I’ve written about). He is primal and possessive and raw but he doesn’t think highly of himself. He doesn’t think hes worthy of love because of his past and being thrown around the system and that one event that changed him and shaped him into what is now his career. Because of this self-doubt, he whores himself around because he thinks hes not worthy of being loved, or even loving. Oh baby, you are sorely mistaken about that.

He is great at his job, been with plenty of women so he pretty much knows the way around a woman’s body but when he spots Story, hes taken aback. She is something different altogether and it’s a damn shame she is off limits, but does that stop him? Fuck no. He wants her, want to get to know her and he knows there is something between them, something more than a quick fuck. He’s hooked from the get go and now it’s time to prove that this is more than a rebound, that it’s something real.

I loved Story. She is a kindergarten teacher and when her fiancé breaks off their engagement she just has this blasé attitude towards it. Like she didn’t give a shit that they were no more, she just ordered cake and champagne to go. THAT made me laugh so much. She’s strong willed and feisty and spunky and she can give amazing banter back but shes caring and sweet and wants to see the best in people. I suppose that is from being a teacher. You can see that she does take after her dad though; you will see why when you read it.

Tessa surely makes her heroines strong and feisty and I love her for it! Her characters aren’t pathetic, they have pasts but they power through them, coming out in love and happy in the end. They can give as good as the hero’s can and can make their own decisions upon what he right and wrong. You watch Story and Daniel fall in love over the few weeks they spend together, and you can see that they really do deserve one another. This was no rebound, this was their forever.

I’ve mentioned this in Protecting What’s His review but TESSA, where the hell do you have the ideas for these sex scenes? Jesus woman, you are killing me every single time. I need a Daniel to recreate them. Tessa has me squirming and I need to jump someone. The sex is just raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw and throw me against a wall and take me sex and the things that man can do in 60 seconds? WAAAH I want. The sexual chemistry and all the sex really intensified their connection and brought out another side to Story, which I loved as it brought her sexy shell out.

You totally wouldn’t mind Daniel in your bed; seriously, you will be fanning yourself and this one scene? Oh Oh Ohhhhhhhhh yes please. 😉

Tessa Bailey has really done it again. She brings feisty, caring heroines, possessive and dirty mouthed alpha males, humour, sarcasm, hot sex scenes and a great plot within this book which I can tell you is hard to not read once you’ve read one book by her.

If this review doesn’t get your butt over to Amazon and pressing the 1-click button, I’ll leave you with these two quotes…..

“Do you feel that gorgeous? I keep my cock hot and hard for you. Only you. Any time you want it, you just crawl right onto my lap and take what you need.”

And

“Fuck yeah. Bite me gorgeous. Mark up my whole body. I want everyone to know who I belong to. Who I get hard for. Just you, Story. Just you.”

*dies*

Colleen Hoover, New Adult, Romance

This Girl (#3) – Colleen Hoover

Posted on May 11, 2013May 10, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Layken and Will’s love has managed to withstand the toughest of circumstances and the young lovers, now married, are beginning to feel safe and secure in their union. As much as Layken relishes their new life together, she finds herself wanting to know everything there is to know about her husband, even though Will makes it clear he prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong. Still, he can’t resist his wife’s pleas and so he begins to untangle his side of the story, revealing for the first time his most intimate feelings and thoughts, retelling both the good and bad moments, and sharing a few shocking confessions of his own from the time when they first met.

In This Girl, Will tells the story of their complicated relationship from his point of view. Their future rests on how well they deal with the past in this final installment of the beloved Slammed series

5/5 Stars

My review of SLAMMED
My review of P.O.R

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My Review

“So you keep your ocean, I’ll take the Lake”

Layken and Will have stood the test of time. They have overcome scenarios that no one would even want to be in but their love has come out the other side stronger than ever. Now on their honeymoon, Lake wants to know everything about Will, about his past and about theirs. Although Will would prefer not to rehash these painful memories, he cant resist his wife’s pleas and so he begins to tell the story, his side of the story from his parents death to the very part of their marriage.

Will reveals intimate thoughts and feelings, retelling good and bad parts and sharing confessions that Lake never knew from the time they both first met.

So join Will and fall back in love with his versions of events.

I’d like to first start off and say, if you haven’t read Slammed and Point of Retreat yet…HOLY CRAP get to Amazon, 1-Click or order the book and get this series in your life right now. You will love every single character in this book; they will evoke all sorts of emotions from you, from tears, to laughter, to smiles to anger, you name it, this book has it. But it also makes you fall in love. Fall in love with the journey that all the characters go through – In both books now. You see that love and family and friendship can survive anything when you have each other to get you through painful and also happy scenarios.

Colleen Hoover is a god and This Girl is the perfect book to end the Slammed series. It isn’t just a rehash of Slammed and P.O.R in his point of view, oh no. We get the scenes which we loved and disliked (disliked in a good way because they were so sad to read) and we also get to see Lake’s reactions in the present time when Will finishes his versions of events as well as a special epilogue!!

Normally I would sum up what happens in the book, but if you read my reviews of Slammed and P.O.R then you will get the jist of what This Girl is about, but there are new events, events that weren’t in Slammed because it was Layken’s POV, events that will tear at your heart, make you catch your breath, make you cry; just have that pounding in your heart for Will. There are new slams, and by god are they powerful. They captured my attention, had me sitting up straight. They conveyed so much depth; you couldn’t help but reread them.

This Girl had me hooked. I was going to wait to read it, but my fingers kept hovering over the title until I clicked on it. I couldn’t have cared less if I had a load of ARC’s to read; This Girl had to be read. I had to love Will even more, I had to know his versions of events, and I had to see how their story ended. It didn’t take me long to read because I couldn’t put it down.

Throughout the book, from Will’s POV, you really see how much pain he has gone through. From losing his parents, to having to give up the girl he loves – Lake. You can see how much he loves Layken from the beginning. From the very first moment he set eyes on her. He was completely hooked and it killed him so much to find out she was his student. Killed him that he has to try and stay away from her even though all he wanted to do was be with her; to have found this girl, to have fallen in love and not be able to be with her.

God the emotion you feel coming from Will and Lake in these scenes really hit you. You feel the pain and heartbreak and the anger from both of them that they can’t be together, that they have to try and stay away, act like they don’t know one another. My heart was hurting so much.

Throughout the stories, you will see every emotion pour not just from Will, but from yourself as well. Will bears his heart and soul into this book, and when telling Lake – from losing his family, to the Slam poetry, this all comes from his heart. You will melt, you will sigh, you will want to give him a massive hug. Seriously, you will be a wreck reading his POV.

What I also loved was how close Gavin and Will are. You never really see their friendship until Will and Layken are ‘figured’ out and are together, but it was brilliant to see that Gavin and Will were close. BFF’s ;). We never really got to see anyone be on Will’s side, to talk to him and keep him in line. Tell him what he is doing wrong. I really like Gavin and he was there from the very start when Will took Lake on the first date and he’s there until the very end too!

Now, what I loved was the epilogue. I was laughing at Gavin’s reaction, crying at Kel – the sweetest little man even – or should I say teenager? And crying at Will and Lake. It was the perfect way to end the Slammed series and it was so nice to see everyone get their happily ever after. They all truly deserved it after all the things that had been through and to be together, still so close and so happy; it was the greatest ending that could have been – especially with the last slam poem at the end. Oh. Floods. Of. Tears!

I don’t really want to say a lot about This Girl, but I beg you to read this series. You get added bonus scenes in This Girl, you get to see Will and Lake on their honeymoon, being all cute and you get to see them in the future, in the epilogue. I cannot express how much I love this series. How much emotion has gone through me with these books and how much I will cherish these characters and their journeys.

It’s butterflying amazing.

“You want to know my sweet?” I ask her.
She nods.
I kiss her on the forehead. “You. Always you.”

New Adult, Promotional Events

DAMAGED – H.M. Ward + GIVEAWAY!

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Title: DAMAGED
Author: H.M. WARD
Publisher: Laree Bailey Press
Release date: April 6, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Description:

A new adult romance novel by New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author H.M. Ward

Life sucks. And, as soon as Sidney picks up the pieces something always knocks her back onto her butt. It’s never pretty, but this time is different. This time pretty isn’t even the right word.

Peter is the personification of perfection. It’s like he fell off his angel perch in purgatory, because let’s face it–any guy that hot has got to be naughty. He was probably sent here to ruin her life.

Peter is beyond beautiful with his sexy blue eyes, dark hair, and toned body. Add in his charming wit and Peter is everything Sidney ever wanted in a man, but when things get hot and heavy Peter shows her the door. Sidney takes the walk of shame and leaves. It’s the end of the worst blind date ever. Her life couldn’t possibly reach higher levels of suckage, but it does.

The next morning everything comes crashing down. The insanely hot guy from last night, the one that saw her half naked, is teaching at the front of the class room.

Genre: New Adult Romance Novel, approx. 325 pages
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Excerpt

He watches me as I try to crank the engine. It doesn’t start. It doesn’t catch. I look at the little gauges and notice the battery. He’s standing next to me now. “So, you’re a mechanic?”

I shake my head, “I just pretend to be. It makes for more interesting evenings.” I grin at him, not sure what’s come over me. I never talk random guys, but it’s not like he’s random anymore, right? Hot guy’s face falls and I realize that he believes me. “I’m just kidding. I know a little about cars. For instance, I know this one isn’t going anywhere tonight.”

“And why’s that?”

“Your alternator’s dead. Either that or you shoved a hamster up the tailpipe—” My face falls. I wonder if he did something stupid. Guys do all sorts of stupid things to talk to girls. I get out of his car and slam the door. Then, I tilt my head and cross my arms over my chest. “Tell me that that isn’t the reason the car won’t start.”

He laughs and presses his hand to his chest, shocked that I’d say such a thing. “No, I didn’t do anything like that! And correct me if I’m wrong, but you were the one who came onto me first. I didn’t get here early and sabotage my own car just so I could meet a girl, who I didn’t know was coming.” The way he smiles is contagious. He runs his hands through his dark hair, like he wishes he could say more, but he doesn’t. The corners of his mouth curve and he gives me a look that makes tingles slip over my skin.

I step toward him, smiling too wide. “I did not come onto you!”

“You did. Right back in there.” He points toward the restaurant. His face is serious, all smooth features and big blue eyes. “You sat at my table and made me very uncomfortable. I haven’t had such a beautiful woman overtly hit on my like that before. It was quite embarrassing.”

My smile is making it hard for my mouth to hang open in shock. It keeps opening and then my grin snaps my lips shut. “I did not!” I know he’s teasing me, but I can’t stop. I don’t want it to stop and I realize that I’m actually laughing.

His arms are folded over his chest. He taps a finger to his lip like he’s remembering. “You did. You ordered wine and just assumed that I’d put out. Really Sidney, you’ll have to learn to control yourself a little better from now on.” He looks at me out of the corner of his eye, as he glances at his car.

I know he’s baiting me, but I can’t ignore him. I can’t walk away and I don’t want to. He smiles at me with those wicked lips. It makes me want to kiss him, hard. I change tactics. I want to throw him so far off balance that he falls over. I step in front of him and look up at him from under my lashes. “Okay, you caught me. I like you. I want you. I can’t keep my hands off of you. But tell me this, beautiful man; why should I bother controlling myself when I can tell that you want me so much?” Slowly, I step closer to him. Our bodies are a breath apart as I look up into his eyes.

He’s smiling and manages to say, “You shouldn’t.” He watches me, waiting to see what I’ll do. I feel my heart pounding. His eyes drift to my lips and back to my eyes. Every inch of my body flickers to life. I want to feel his hands on me. I want his lips on my mouth. From that look in his eye, I know he wants it too.

I lean in closer, teasing him. I feel his breath on my lips. His scent fills my head and I breath him in. “Are you always this irresistible?”

“Are you always this coy? Do you just flirt, leaving your lips way too close to a man that desperately wants to kiss you?”
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Buy Links:

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Damaged-ebook/dp/B00C6OHRLS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1365561688&sr=8-3&keywords=damaged

Barnes and Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damaged-hm-ward/1114987452?ean=2940016660714

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GIVEAWAYYYY

(1) eBook copy of DAMAGED. All electronic formats will be available via a Smashwords coupon code. Open International. Participants may handle the giveaway however they would like.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Additional Giveaway

The below giveaway is from the H.M Ward to celebrate the release of DAMAGED. This giveaway is US Only: (1) Kindle Fire Prize Pak: Contains 1 Kindle Fire, a Signed copy of DAMAGED, plus all of H.M. Ward’s romance ebooks: DAMAGED, New York Times & USA Today Bestseller SCANDALOUS, SCANDALOUS 2, THE ARRANGEMENT VOL 1 -5, SECRETS 1-5, THE SECRET LIFE OF TRYSTAN SCOTT 1-4, and CHRISTMAS KISSES. (Value $230)

Rafflecopter giveaway

Colleen Hoover, New Adult, Romance

Slammed (#1) – Colleen Hoover

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

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My Review

Three days ago, I was devastated, bitter, and hopeless. Today I woke up feeling happy for the first time in months.

After the sudden death of her father, 18 year old Layken is quite literally forced to be the rock in her family, for her mother and 9 year old brother. With her mother selling their house in Texas, they are uprooted from the house they have lived in all their life, to a smaller house in Michigan and Lake is not happy to be leaving at all. She’s still processing the death of her father, but she needs to act strong for everyone else.

What she didn’t expect to find upon her arrival was a very attractive neighbour in the form of Will Cooper. 21 years old, has a passion for slam poetry and has captured Lake’s attention, much as she has captured his. Within days, they are spending time together and have formed in intense emotional connection, leaving Lake with a feeling that maybe, just maybe she will be okay living here. But after a heart-stopping first date, Monday morning rolls around and shocks them both with the realization of what cannot happen between them both.

Daily encounters are painful, and with both their brothers becoming best friends and spending every second together, it’s becoming harder to keep a balance of being ‘just friends’ to staying away from one another when their feelings for each other keep pulling them back together, no matter how much they try to keep them at bay from the outside world.

I have to admit, I’m not one for poetry. It never has captured my attention and I just hated reading/writing it in school, but Colleen Hoover is the one exception! I have never heard of Slam Poetry but by gosh, the way Will describes how much it means to him plus his Slam poems really had me hooked on his every word, much like it did with Layken. Once I finished the book (1am UK time), I laid in bed, thinking of my own poem – it wasn’t very good, so I think I’ll let Will stick to the writing and performing it, he seems to know much better than me.

I say this with a lot of book that everyone on my Twitter timeline tweets about, but WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ THIS?! This is the second book I’ve read of Colleen’s and I was as much captivated by Slammed as I was with Hopeless. For avid readers of my reviews, you will know that I LOVE to read forbidden relationships and the forbidden factor of the whole relationship when they both eventfully find out who each other are. And Slammed, in no way, disappointed me.

Lake was super close to her dad, so when he died it was like her whole world fell apart. But she knew she had to be there for her mother and brother, to help them through the heartache too. I think that was one of the reasons she was so resilient in her life. On moving day, she meets her neighbours across the road, Will and his little brother Caulder, who instantly seems to become best friends with her brother Kel.

Upon meeting Will it was love at first sight – for both of them. Will asks Lake on a date, but it’s unlike any date she’s ever been on. They don’t indulge in the obvious ‘do you have a cat etc’ questions and he’s not about to take her to dinner either. Oh no, his plans involved Slamming and Slamming good!

Lake becomes absorbed in the Slam poetry, finding it powerful to hear and she begs Will to do one of his. He obliges and Lake just can’t seem to get enough of this guy. He’s something completely different and she’s fallen. But everything changes on that Monday morning, and her heartbreak over the realisation of who he is has not only shock her, but also Will. What is going to happen?

Will had had to grow up faster in his 21 years of life. He looks after his 9 year old brother Caulder, works his ass off to make sure he can pay his bills, put food on the table and make sure Caulder is okay. They have been through so much in their young lives that they only have each other now. He’s been closed off for years, but something sparks inside of him when he spots his new neighbour and he just has to know who she is.

Will knows this girl has awoken something in him and so he asks Lake out on a date. Of course, Will is different to every other guy and takes her to a club where he recites Slam poetry. Watching Lake’s reaction to the words people are expressing on stage, he’s falling that bit more for her over the fact she’s so affected by it.

Happiness being together has consumed both of them, even if they haven’t known each other long, but when he sees her Monday morning, he’s broken, he doesn’t know why this has happened, and no matter how much he wants Lake, he knows he can’t have her now. Not when it could affect his job and Caulder, who he has to put first.

Although both of them know they can’t be together, no matter how much it hurts seeing each other day in and day out, as well as having brothers who spend every spare minute together, they try to reach a middle ground where they try to be ‘friends’ because of their brothers but it’s getting harder and harder everyday to push their feelings away and act civil. They have to overcome many obstacles throughout the book, and you really do root for them to be together – they belong together. Everyone knows they belong together.

You go through all the emotions too; the fun times, the heartbreak, the tears. It broke my heart that Lake was hurting over knowing that she couldn’t have Will. She literally became obsessed with watching him come home from school, just so she could see a glimpse of him every night. But with so many factors standing in their way, and at times I did get annoyed at Will. Lake was doing so well trying to stay away and Will would just pull her right back in and made her start all over. I became obsessed to get to the end, hoping it was happy one, but although it was, in a way, I still had tears flowing down my face. It really is such a powerful book!

All the secondary characters in my eyes weren’t that. They were as much as the story as Will and Lake were. I loved Eddie from the beginning. She was a very bubbly person who embraced Lake on her first day and adopted her into her small group. You find out about Eddie’s past and you come to see that now, where she is, is where she should be. She keeps Lake grounded when everything is going to pot and she really is the best friend Lake could have in her life.

Julia, Lake and Kel’s mother was a wise one. She moves them to Michigan because ‘they have no money’ but Julia is hiding something from her children, which you will find out and it will leave you heartbroken over her news. She really has some great words of wisdom for every character, and she adopts Caulder and Will into their life, which in turn, she treats them both like her own. She forces Lake is ‘man up’ and do the right thing regarding Will, which includes a stage and her poem and you can really see how much Julia is respected in every characters life. Regardless of her secret, she really was a breath of fresh air.

There are way too many parts of the book to choose from as a favourite, but one that sticks out is at the start of the book, when Lake finds a hairclip from her childhood that her dad gave her. Although it’s dusty and mucky, it holds so many memories of her dad that she just can’t leave it behind in Texas and it means so much to her, even if she doesn’t use it again, she knows that it’s ‘magic’ to her.

Slammed is not just another fluffy book – it speaks to you through Slam poetry, which is so powerful that even as someone who hates poetry, become absorbed in each Slam poem that was expressed on the pages, through each character that got on stage and poured their heart out. It gives you wisdom, it gives you heartache and it gives you love. The power of the words, the poems, the advice and wisdom really stick with you after the finish the book. It kind of gives you hope that one day you will find someone like Will, who will be your own rock and soul mate.

I also have a new book boyfriend in the form of Mr Will Cooper and book little brothers in the form of Caulder and Kel – those two are so sweet, especially when they fell asleep together, with their hands in the shape of a gun. Oh adorable. They are the little troublemakers you definitely would want as your brothers.

If you were like me and either have this book on your kindle, sitting there for months or haven’t grabbed yourself a copy of Slammed (And Point of Retreat – which shall be read tonight) then GET IT NOW! Colleen Hoover drags you into the story until you just have to keep turning pages to know what is going to happen. It’s completely entrancing and I cannot wait to continue Will and Lake’s story in Point of Retreat!!

New Adult, Romance

Losing It – Cora Carmack

Posted on December 22, 2012December 22, 2012 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible– a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren’t embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She’d left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

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My Review

“Best thing that ever happened to me…that girl finding out about us.”…
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say my best friend was the best thing to ever happen to you.”

Bliss is twenty two and about to graduate from college. The thing is, she still has her virginity in tack. Being the only one out of her friends that is still a virgin, she decides the only way to ‘get rid’ of it is to have a one night stand. Only problem is, when she’s about to have sex, she freaks out and leaves the gorgeous guy in her bed, alone, while she watches and waits for him to leave so she can go back in her flat. If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, the next day in class, there’s a new teacher, and it’s none other than the guy she left behind mere hours ago.

Garrick, or Mr Taylor seems more than surprised to see Bliss in his class. After the lesson, he asks her to stay back and they both decide that they should keep things professional, even though you can feel the sexual chemistry between them. Agreeing, Bliss can’t stop her mind from being on Garrick but because he wants to be professional and she doesn’t want to lose her scholarship, she tries to do the same. But there gets to a point where staying away just isn’t going to happen and the chemistry is too strong for them to ignore it, so they decide to keep their relationship a secret until she graduates where they can be together freely.

Bliss and Garrick are the perfect literary couple. The first time they meet you could see the attraction for each other and how affected Bliss was when she was around him. Garrick is British (Like me), loves theatre/acting, reads Shakespeare and is the perfect guy for Bliss as she is doing a theatre degree and loves Shakespeare too! As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews where there is a teacher/student relationship, it is my favourite kind of book. I didn’t think it was a big deal if Bliss and Garrick were together, mostly because they were both around the same age and Bliss only had a few months before she graduated and then she and Garrick would be leaving the school. But I did understand that in the end, he was of authority, so they still had to keep it a secret until she graduated.

When they do have sex, I found it was the right time for Bliss and definitely the best situation as she was in love with Garrick, they had been through quite a lot in the past few months they had been together but worked past it and she was on a high from having the best performance in the college play playing the lead role. It was intense and funny and everything sex should be when you’re first time is with the one you love. The one line from this sex that had me in stitches was:

“Let me get this straight… you didn’t have a cat? Did you get a cat just so that you wouldn’t have to tell me you were a virgin?”

You don’t need me to tell you what she told him when she bailed the first time. But Garrick was lovely and didn’t want to push her into having sex, but Bliss knew it was the right time for her and so began the next step of their relationship.

The scene I loved the most was when she has mono and Garrick was looking after her, but she thought she was dreaming him being there, and then when he got mono, she looked after him too. It was great to see that they truly did care for one another to make sure they were both doing okay throughout their sickness and it was the first time either of them confessed their feelings.

I found this book to be amazingly brilliant. It had me sighing, laughing and gasping and I was really jealous of their love for one another, even when they decided to stay away and keep it professional, they just kept getting pulled back together until it was inevitable they were made for one another.
You should really download this book and give it a go, it’s definitely one to read and you will fall in love with Garrick…that is a no-brainer!

Jade C. Jamison, Music, New Adult

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

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

Synopsis

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

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

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

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

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

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My Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Romance, YA

When Summer Ends – Isabelle Rae

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Chloe Henderson has never been one to break the rules or push the boundaries… but during her summer break, she and her friends use fake IDs to sneak into a club. It’s there that she meets handsome and alluring bartender, Will Morris. The pair hit it off immediately, growing closer with every passing day. But as with every summer, it has to end sometime.

Chloe’s senior year approaches and there’s a shock in store when she returns to do her final year at school. Will is there too, but he’s not one of her fellow students…

A tale of forbidden love, broken hearts, friendship, and rivalry.

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My Review

As a Fan of Pretty Little Liars and a massive fan of Ezra and Aria – A teacher and pupil – i do, in fact, love the whole forbidden (thanks mum for the word) relationships. It’s a kind of thrill to read them as i would have never thought to get into a relationship with a teacher, let alone thought about it. But the way Ezra and Aria and Chloe and Will got together were similar and both guys didn’t know how old the other were until they inevitable happens and they become the girl’s teacher’s.

Chloe and Will meet in a bar, as she uses a fake ID to get in and he is a bartender. They hit it off immediately and spent every day together. Will (22) thought Chloe (17) was college age and never questioned it and Chloe thought Will was just a bartender. The more time they spent together, the more they seemed to fall for one another.

Meeting Will’s parents on the second day they knew each other, his parents and brother took an instant liking to her, so when the day of school came around, and everyone was on about the new maths teacher, it came as a massive shock for both Chloe and Will to find out she was a minor and in his maths class. So of course, Will has to break up with her.

Throughout her break up, so regularly went on ‘dates’ with Will’s brother Sam, much to Wills dismay. But Chloe finds a great friend in Sam throughout her heartbreak over Will and Sam knows that Will is feeling the same way.

Trying to make Will jealous, Chloe begins to go out her classmate Oliver, whom she has no feelings for and his possessiveness over the amount of boy friends she has pushes her over the limit especially as her ex- boyfriend turned best friend Nick, needs her during the time of year his mum died.

During the course of the book, Will and Chloe learn to be friends – I think I’d say, although the attraction for one another is still there and it all comes together when during one detention over Oliver fondling her on school property, Will buys her Malteasers and they both throw them in the air, trying to get them in their mouths. Because of this and trying to act normal around each other, when they go on a school trip paint balling, Chloe accidentally shoots Will on the shoulder when they are waiting to start, which makes me shot her on the bum.

She gets stranded from Nick during the game and Will finds her. They begin to talk and end up kissing, Will confessing his true feelings for Chloe and they get together once again.

Although they have to be super careful over their relationship, big trouble occurs for them both and Sam comes to the rescue, to solve the problem and sort it all out so his brother and Chloe don’t get in trouble.

I was actually on edge for most of the book, waiting for something extremely big to happen, which of course something did, but thanks to Sam it was all okay.

Although it’s a forbidden romance, you can’t help getting sucked in and I actually thought 5 years wasn’t that big a deal, as Will kept reminding her that she was a minor.

What he did for her 18^th though, super cute and I really want someone to do that for me.

The epilogue was a great way to end the book, especially the last sentence.

A definite recommendation for this book as it has everything. Fun characters, forbidden romance, heartache and big laughs. You will instantly fall in love with Will, Sam and Nick! I guarantee.