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ARC Review….Thrown by Colette Auclair

Thrown releases December 16

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Simon & Schuster ~ iBooks

Synopsis:

THROWN is a lighthearted yet steamy contemporary romance by Golden Heart finalist Colette Auclair, featuring a young woman who must choose between capturing a gold medal and the man who’s captured her heart.

In THROWN, professional trainer Amanda Vogel dreams of riding jumpers in the Olympics, but after seeing her best friend die in a riding accident, she’s so traumatized she can’t show. Broke and desperate, she takes a summer job in Aspen teaching some big-shot widowed movie star’s spoiled daughters to ride—even though she hates teaching kids. She braces herself for three miserable months. But by Labor Day, she has to choose between capturing a gold medal…and the man who has captured her heart.

THROWN was a 2012 Golden Heart finalist in the single-title contemporary romance category. It also won the 2011 Winter Rose Contest (Yellow Rose Romance Writers) and finaled in the 2011 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest (North East Ohio Romance Writers Association)

My review:

Thrown is the first work from debut author Colette Auclair and was truly enjoyable from start to finish.

Trying to pick up the pieces after seeing her best friend killed in a riding accident, Amanda Vogel finds herself the personal trainer to one of the biggest movies stars in Hollywood’s two little girls. More like two little spawns of Satan, if she’s being honest. Seems like Amanda really can’t catch a break. She’s had to sell her beloved horse, she lost her best friend, can’t even think about jumping anymore without going into a panic attack and now she has to train these little brats. There was one up side though…getting to see the girls’ gorgeous movie star father, Grady. A girl could get used to seeing his sexy self every day. Grady’s personal assistant already warned Amanda that she was to keep things professional and that trying to get into Grady’s bed was not part of her job. Well, Amanda didn’t have time for a relationship anyway, so no worries there. Plus, the last break up still stung. Looks like the only thing left to do was focus on her work, get these girls trained and hopefully move on once the summer and this job was over. Except fate seems to have a different plan in store for Amanda and this job may be exactly what she needs to put the bad memories behind and find a chance at life, and love, once again.

Thrown is one of those books that leaves you feeling happy and smiling from ear to ear when you finish reading. Amanda’s story was pretty damn sad when we first meet her. Her dreams of being an Olympic jumper and all but crushed when her best friend dies tragically and the accident Amanda emotionally scarred and unable to jump. But she’s got a strong will and is trying her very best to pick up the pieces and move on. I truly admired her strength…which she sure needed in dealing with Grady’s two little girls. Ugh, those two were rotten in the beginning of the book! Amanda had her work cut out for her, but she managed to build an amazing relationship with those two little girls who were in need of a mother figure in their lives. Speaking of relationships, what Amanda and Grady build throughout the story is one of those “dreamy sigh” kinds of relationships. The attraction between them was there from the start and builds slowly and beautifully. There were more than a few starts and stops and a lot of emotional ups and downs between them and I really wasn’t sure of they could get past all of it and make things work between them, but it ended exactly how I wanted it to. Oh, and Grady’s best friend and house chef, Harris, is someone I want to hang out with! He is quite a character and the voice of reason on more than one occasion for both Amanda and Grady. Love that man!

Overall, Thrown is a beautifully written love story with a whole lot of heart. I will be looking forward to see what comes in the next book, Jumped, due out in June. Thank you, Ms. Auclair, for a fabulous read!

Four Loves

About the author:

I write lighthearted, sexy romances that often include horses and a Portuguese water dog or two. My debut novel, Thrown, will be available as an e-book in Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Star line on December 16th (you can order it now). Stay tuned for the next book in the series, Jumped, in June 2014.

My agent is the lovely and talented Emily Sylvan Kim of Prospect Agency.

I live in Colorado and—not surprisingly—have a Thoroughbred mare and a Portuguese water dog. Both are smart, sweet and gorgeous. I’m originally from Pittsburgh and am still fiercely loyal to all of its pro sports teams. I studied theatre and advertising at Northwestern University (go Cats!) and have been a copywriter for more than twenty years. If you ever meet me, beware—anything you do or say could end up in a book and I make no apologies.

Personal Interests: Horses are right up there, as well as dogs, food (cooking and eating), wine, chocolate, gardening, Mad Men, hiking, Italy, gazing at the Rocky Mountains, reading, and making my husband laugh hard enough to cause whatever he’s drinking to exit through his nose.

If you want to talk books, writing, horses, food, wine or just about anything else, email me at colettea@gmail.com.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Goodreads

Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst….ARC Review & Giveaway

Happy release day to Jennifer Probst and Searching for Someday!

In honor of this fabulous release, and along with my FIVE LOVES review, I have two paperback copies to give away. Enter to win in the rafflecopter below (U.S. & Canada entries only, please)

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

Synopsis:

Kate has given up on love—at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people—a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success.

But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love…only to find herself falling for him along the way.

My review:

Searching for Someday is the first in a new series from author Jennifer Probst. As a big fan of Jennifer and her writing, I was so excited for this book and let me tell you….Jennifer has done it again. This book was incredible!

Her one-hundredth date in the books, and still no love connection for Kate. If that wasn’t a sign that she wouldn’t find love, she didn’t know what was. Deciding to put her own search for love on hold, Kate has vowed to put all of her efforts into finding it for others in the matchmaking business she formed with her two best friends. Yep, she would use the magical gift the runs in her family to find other people’s soul mates. Kate has dealt with her shares of hurdles in life and being struck with adversity is nothing new for her. Neither was overcoming those obstacles and ultimately succeeding. Now a woman on a mission, she is surprised when the older brother of a new client storms into her office and accuses her matchmaking skills as nothing but fraud. Kate is even more determined to make love happen….and this pissed off, arrogant divorce attorney big brother would be her greatest challenge yet. It would take a miracle, and perhaps a bit of magic, to get this cynic to believe in a happy ever after and lucky for him she just happened to be up for the challenge. What Kate isn’t up for is the overwhelming zing of her ability to recognize soul mates when she touches him. Surely fate wouldn’t be this twisted, or would it?

Slade Montgomery has seen lots of heart break walk though the doors of his firm and as a divorce attorney, he’s learned that the elusive “happily ever after” truly does not exist. When his younger sister tells him she wants to be out on her own after a breakup that nearly broke her apart, he is happy to see she’s ready to live again. What he isn’t happy about is when she tells him she’s signed up with a matchmaking firm. Could there be a bigger scam? Determined to protect his sister, he pays Kinnections a visit and attempts to show these so-called matchmakers a thing or two when he himself signs up for their services. No one could sell him on this fairytale….well, except maybe the beautiful blond he has been verbally sparring with since he walked through the door.

Kate and Slade couldn’t be more opposite but you know what they say about opposites attracting, right?

Talk about a match made in, um, yeah…not exactly heaven. A matchmaker with ideas of true love and happy endings pairing up with a divorce attorney? Freaking brilliant. The push and pull between Kate and Slade was scrumptious from the start and only got better from there. Kate is smart, sassy, romantic and real. She’s loyal and loving and it made me so sad that she had decided to give up on finding love for her own. I mean I get why she gave up and I understood where she was coming from, which made it even sadder. I couldn’t blame her one bit. Enter Slade. The arrogant, successful, sexy alpha male attorney. He was dead set in his belief on the non-existing fairy tale of true love and as with Kate, I couldn’t blame him for feeling the way he did. Both of them had some seriously strong arguments for their cases. The banter back and forth between them made for some amazing chemistry and for some seriously hot scenes. That leads me to the ending and how much I loved it. Jennifer writes these ending that read like those movie scenes in your favorite romance flick. I mean, I have never read one of her endings that didn’t have me laughing and crying like a bumbling fool and this was no exception!

Oh, and the rest of the characters? Amazing. Kate’s best friends and business partners are a fabulous group and support system. I loved reading both of them. Slade’s sister is also a character that I would love to see more of. Of, course I have to mention catching up with some of the favorites from the Marriage to a Billionaire Series! Nick, Alexa, Michael, Maggie, Max, Carina and a few more all popped in and it was great to see them. But my fave supporting character was Robert, Kate’s dog. He’s one in a million and the epilogue from his point of view was truly special.

If you’re a fan of love and romance, pick up this book. If you’re a fan of Jennifer, pick up this book. If you love a true blue great read, pick up this book! Thank you, Jennifer, for Searching for Someday and for a fantastic kick off to your new series!

Five Loves

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. At twelve, I took a pen in hand and wrote my first love story. I haven’t stopped since. Those heroines taught me valuable lessons that served me well. I learned to keep my head up high and surge forward when I was afraid; I learned to demand respect in a relationship; I learned about compromise and dreams and independence. Those are the stories I want to write, and I can only hope I give back some of the joy I received over the years.

I live in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. I’ve traveled to many places but always seem to be drawn back to the mountains. I graduated with a business degree, worked for Mercy College, and now spend most days dedicated to my family and my characters. I’ve pursued many career paths such as travel agent, yoga teacher and insurance salesperson. I’ve wanted to be an airline pilot, a dancer, an archaeologist, and a vineyard owner. I have been all of the above through romance novels, and intend to explore many more.

One of my turning points in my career was when I joined Romance Writers of America and met the wonderful people in my local chapter, The Hudson Valley RWA. Through supportive critique sessions, I learned how to develop my raw skills to get a publishable manuscript. I discovered my tendency for wordy prologues and passive phrases that all new writers work through, and now try to help others on their journey.

My “leisure time” is spent writing, reading, and raising two active boys. I believe animals are the other children in this world, and enjoy spending time at the local animal shelter, where I got my first “baby” Bella, a shepherd hound mix who gets into as much trouble as my son! I rescued my second dog from an abusive home, a beagle, basset hound who is the peacemaker in the household.

I met the love of my life when I had finally given up on my own romantic journey. The first time he asked me out he promised to buy my book if he could buy me dinner. We had dinner and fell in love over sushi and haven’t been apart since. We married and settled into domestic bliss. That’s when I learned it wasn’t about happy endings. It was about happy beginnings.

Visit her website

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jenniferprobst

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Hard as it Gets by Laura Kaye….ARC Review & Release Day fun

Happy Release Day to Laura Kaye and HARD AS IT GETS!

Please enjoy my review, a fun Q&A with Laura and the fab book trailer!

Thanks for stopping by!

Book links:

amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Tall, dark, and lethal…

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey’s tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome — pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He’s left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander’s daughter. Loyalty won’t let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn’t expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge…

My review:

Hard As It Gets is the debut novel in a new series, Hard Ink, from Laura Kaye and oh my, what a mouth watering first course!

Being an ER nurse, Becca Merritt is used to dealing with chaotic circumstances and loss of life in her line of work. Unfortunately loss and chaotic circumstances have worked their way into her personal life as well. Becca had lost her mother and older brother years ago and most recently her Army Colonel father. He was killed along with half of his unit in Afghanistan. Now, the only family she has left, her younger computer wiz brother, is missing. The only glimmer of hope in a dismal situation she’d been trying to deal with is the note she’d found telling her to get in touch with her father’s former second in commend, Nick Rixey. Becca has had no luck with the police and there doesn’t seem to be anywhere else to turn to for help. Her last piece of faith depends on a total stranger helping her get her brother back and lands her at the Hard Ink tattoo shop, staring back at the very unwelcoming face of Nick Rixey. Will she be able to appeal to his sense of honor and loyalty to her father to gain his help? God, she really hoped so….or she’d lose the last family she had left.

To say that Nick Rixey was shocked to see the daughter of the man who betrayed him and his brothers in arms standing in his tattoo shop would be a gross understatement. One year later, and he was still trying to come to terms with the disloyalty of his Commanding Officer that had gotten half of his unit killed and the remaining men dishonorably discharged from the Army. The very last thing that will help him pick up the pieces of his old life and try to build a new one would be to help Becca Merritt. The wounds her father cut were entirely too deep and too raw. What would he care if Becca’s brother was missing and why in the hell would anyone have sent her here knowing damn well that he is the last person who would be willing to help? So why was it so hard to turn her away and why was he still thinking of her all those hours later after telling her to pound sand? Curiosity, and a pull toward Becca, has him suiting up to do a little surveillance on Becca and ends up throwing him into the middle of a mystery involving the biggest gang in the city and digging up the past. Now, Nick has to call on the remaining brothers in his unit for help and at a chance to right the wrongs Colonel Merritt caused in Afghanistan a year ago.

With so much at stake and with so many secrets being unearthed at such a breakneck speed, the only thing Becca and Nick have to hold onto is each other. Will something true and good come from such a dark and ugly situation?

I was SO looking forward to reading this after seeing the cover and reading the summary. Tattoos, military hunks and mystery…oh my! This kickoff to the Hard Ink series is a stellar one. Becca is an admirable book heroine in every way. She’s honest with her feelings and not once did she handle a situation in a way that annoyed me. Come on, you know a lot of book women get on your nerves with how long they drag things out and you’ve yelled at your e-reader telling her to just “SAY IT ALREADY!”…well, not with Becca. She’s strong and real and just gets it. She knows life is too short to not say all the things you mean or to give everything your best shot. She’s well rounded and also admits her fears and doubts and doesn’t sugar coat things. She was refreshing to read. Nick is a lost soul. His work with the Special Forces was the only thing he has done where he felt like he was home. Now, he’s trying to figure out a new home and it killed me to hear how lost he felt. He’s loyal and trustworthy and also learns quickly how to be real with his feelings. There was no yelling at him, either! Together, they work so well at balancing each other out. The sexual tension between them is delicious and really well done, too.

The introduction we get to the members of Nick’s old unit has me so flipping excited for the rest of the series! These guys are a cast of characters filled with guys who each have their own cross to bear after what happened in Afghanistan. I’m sure I will be shedding tears for more than a few of these guys. Broken heroes, each with a personality and story all their own….sign me up!

The pieces of the mystery we get to uncover while reading are just the very outer edge pieces of the puzzle. I can assume that with each book, we will find more and more pieces in the pile that will help create the puzzle as a whole. Hard As It Gets gave us just enough to start and it has me going over all the possible scenarios in my head. Laura nailed the suspense aspect for sure!

Overall, this book has everything I love….and kept me busy searching for pictures of yummy tattooed guys for an evening or two. If you love a suspense filled with emotion, mystery, lots of heated moments and super sexy tattooed ex-Special Forces soldiers, then by all means, get this book on your to-read list! You won’t be disappointed!

Five Loves

Q&A WITH LAURA KAYE

HARD AS IT GETS is one steamy read! How did you first get into writing?

Thanks so much! And thanks for having me here! I’ve been a writer all my life. I’m a historian by training, so writing non-fiction was a part of my job for the fifteen years I worked as a college professor. But I started writing fiction in 2008 in kind of an unusual way. I hit my head on July 4, 2008. I didn’t think much of it that day, but soon after I realized I’d really hurt myself, and it turned out I had a minor traumatic brain injury. As I recovered, I was filled with an amazing urge to be creative, so I started taking guitar lessons (still not very good at that!) and wrote my first novel in 12 weeks (fortunately, I’m better at that LOL!). The experience of writing that first book was truly transformative. It was what I was supposed to be doing, so I revised that book until it sold and kept writing new ones. And I haven’t looked back since!

Why did you choose to write romance?

I had been an avid reader of paranormal romance for years at that point, so I wrote what I loved. But I also picked romance—unconsciously, I think—because to me it’s an incredibly hopeful genre. Romance stories are inherently stories about people who can’t find love or think they don’t deserve it who overcome the odds and find it in the end. In the years leading up to starting writing, I experienced a number of very hard personal losses, so writing in this genre was one way I worked through those issues.

What does “Hard Ink” refer to? What importance do tattoos play in your story?

Hard Ink is the name of the Rixey brothers’ tattoo shop in the Hard Ink series. Nick and Jeremy Rixey are co-owners, though Nick (the hero of book one, Hard As It Gets) prefers to be more of a silent partner, despite Jeremy’s efforts to put Nick’s artistic talents to work. In this series, tattoos are a way people remember, pay penance, or highlight what’s important to them. The act of creating permanent marks on skin has deep meaning to them. And the shop creates a gritty setting where diverse kinds of people meet and interact in the series. I really love it!

Describe Becca—what do you love most about her? And Nick?

I’d love to! Because I really loved writing these characters!

Becca Merritt is smart and strong and honest and protective. I really loved the way she was willing to stand up for those she loves, even against people and forces who might be stronger and even a little scary. There’s a scene in particular when she dresses down Nick’s Special Forces teammates after a fist fight where I was particularly cheering for her! LOL

Nick Rixey is, omg, so freaking hot, you guys! He’s brooding and tortured and honorable and when he falls he falls so hard. I especially loved Nick’s mix of hard, alpha edges with his artistic side. When Nick shows Becca what her idea for a tattoo might look like on her skin, it’s just scorching!

What significance does the military play in the book?

Military themes are central to the whole Hard Ink series. The military isn’t just sexy window dressing nor is it just there to provide an intriguing backstory. The prior SF guys are this series are entirely defined by their military experience good and bad. It informs their identity, their sense of honor and duty, their view of the world, and of course gives them the skill set required to fight the battles they face in the series. The overall series mystery the characters are working to solve revolves around a military conspiracy in Afghanistan, so even though they’re out of the Army, the military themes are central.

If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?

In #HardAsItGets, an ex-soldier joins forces w/his dead commander’s daughter to regain his tarnished honor & save her brother from a gang

Is there a particular author or book that has influenced your writing?

There are a number of authors that have influenced me, but if I had to pick one it would be J.R. Ward. A lot of what I know about how to write sexy, authentic male point of view comes from reading her books. And I definitely learned the importance of a good bromance to a romance novel from her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, too. Given my ginormous fangirling, you can only imagine how flipping excited I was when this happened:

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

You guys, I bawled like a baby in the middle of a huge workshop put on by my publisher. For real. LOL

What advice would you give aspiring writers looking to get into the publishing industry?

Here’s my advice:

1) Write, write, write. You can’t revise what you haven’t written and you can’t sell what you haven’t written. And the psychological and emotional boost you’ll get from writing “The End” for the first time cannot be overestimated.

2) Revise, revise, revise. That first time you type “The End”? Yeah, you’re nowhere near done. Your book will need to be edited, by you, several times before you ever put it in front of an agent or editor. You get one shot with them, so don’t waste it by not showing them your very best and most polished work.

3) Find critique partners. And your mom, siblings, and best friend do not count (unless you’re really lucky, like me, and your best friend happens t also be a professional author). You need other aspiring writers in your genre who will give you honest but constructive feedback about how to improve your manuscript. Let them catch all the embarrassing goofs and plot holes you thought you caught before it gets to an agent or editor.

4) Want to be a professional, then act it. And by that I mean join the professional organization(s) of the genre in which you write. Through them you will find classes to help hone your craft, critique partner match-ups, networking opportunities, calls for submission, and other opportunities invaluable to breaking into publishing.

5) Don’t give up. You will hear way more no’s than yeses, particularly early in your writing career. Stick with it. Believe in yourself. Give yourself one day to wallow in the rejection and eat a bunch of chocolate and then get right back on the horse. If your first book doesn’t sell, chalk that up to learning and write a second.

What can fans of HARD AS IT GETS look forward to next?

I’m currently writing four series: two contemporary (Hard Ink, Heroes) and two paranormal (Hearts of the Anemoi, Vampire Warrior Kings). I’ll have books from all four of those releasing in 2014. My next release is Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2) coming 2/25/14!

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey….Blog Tour, ARC Review & AMAZING Giveaway

Happy Release Day to Tessa and Asking for Trouble!

Read my FIVE LOVES review below and keep on reading ayer my review for details on one of the most AMAZING giveaways I’ve ever had the pleasure of telling you all about!

Buy Links for Asking For Trouble

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo

Synopsis:

Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead can’t stand each other. She plans exclusive parties for her rich family’s charities. He’s a rough and tumble cop who rigs explosives for a living. Could two people be any less suited for conversation? They think not and prefer to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, their two best friends are deeply, disgustingly in love. Forced together, the mutual attraction simmering beneath the surface of Brent and Hayden’s non-relationship grows with every argument until it explodes into a scintillating night of mind-blowing sex. And it wont be the last, as far as Brent’s concerned.

Hayden has a secret, though. Her father’s company is relying on a merger to save them from financial ruin, and only Hayden’s marriage to the CEOs wealthy son can secure the deal. If she’s to protect her family, she’ll have to forget Brent. And he has no intention of being forgotten.

My review:

Asking for Trouble is the fourth book in author Tessa Bailey’s Line of Duty Series. I am a ginormous fan of Tessa and this series and I have loved every book, but Brent and Hayden now reign as my new favorite. Damn. This book is just too good.

Hayden Winstead is used to living in the upper class with the finer things life has to offer. It’s just the way she was brought up, all she’s ever known. But if she’s being honest with herself, it’s not really who she is. Yes, it’s nice to not have to worry about money, but in the end, money wasn’t all that important to her. Her friends, her adoring father, and the charity she worked with, that was what mattered most to her. It irritated her that Brent, the hot NYPD bomb tech friend in their little group, couldn’t see past that and constantly teased her about her wealth. He knew it got under her skin when he called her duchess. Well, two can play that game and she knew just how to dig right back. Throwing his blue-collar career back in his face pissed him off….and kept their banter going. Secretly, she loved it. It’s during one of their verbal sparring matches that she finds herself in way too deep and issuing challenges she was far too tempted to act upon. Challenges that involved handcuffing this big, muscled, hot as sin cop and having her way with him. Would she back down? Would he let her? She was so screwed…..

Brent Mason loved lots of things. His family, his buddies, his job, and pushing Hayden’s gold plated, diamond encrusted buttons. The truth of the matter was, she drove him bat shit crazy with her tight-laced exterior and her haughty attitude towards him. Tonight though, after their friends all left them, they were alone and he intended to push her hard. He knew what she needed….she needed him, in her bed. Hell, if he could dismantle a loaded bomb that had the potential to blow him to smithereens with one wrong touch, surely he could handle a Manhattan socialite….right?

Holy mother of all things holy in holiness. I devoured this book. Tessa has outdone herself with these two. I’m not sure exactly what did it for me because there were just too many amazing things. Hayden was definitely a bitch in the beginning of this book. I wasn’t sure I liked her all that much. I quickly changed my mind. Once I realized she wasn’t really sure where she belonged in life, I immediately liked her. She didn’t really love being with the ritzy-pitzy people, and felt stuck. She hadn’t ever truly known what it was to be like with a real man. A man who got down and dirty and wasn’t worried about wrinkling his slacks while having a quick make-out session. Her mother treated her like a child and more than a few times, my heart hurt for Hayden and the ivory tower she was stuck in, and desperate to break free from. Brent is just too damn delectable. Not only is he big and muscled and hotter than hell, he’s got a heart as big as his size 15 work boots. He takes care of his family, works his ass off and even though he jabs the hell out of Hayden, he truly does see her for more. The push and pull between them is all-consuming and their foreplay with words is beyond scorching. There were also some really funny moments between them and it brought that much more to their relationship. Beyond that though, Hayden and Brent are the unlikely couple that you want nothing more than a happy ending for. There are many ups and downs as they navigate through social status shortcomings and family issues, but in the end, if they can see past all of that, they really have found something rare and something to be cherished.

And how awesome was it to see more of the characters we know and love from the rest of the series? Ruby and Troy, Daniel and Story…we saw all of them and got to see way more into Hayden and Story’s friendship which was a real treat. They are too funny together! Totally gals I would love to hang out with.

The once scene though that is screaming at me as I type this review, besides Hayden and Brent’s “pillow puns” and her calling him Florence (some serious funny during a seriously hot moment), is the ending. Tessa wrote a side of Brent that I absolutely melted into a puddle over. I was crying and laughing while reading that moment in the courthouse. Now you know I won’t give any spoilers away, but when you read that scene, you will know exactly what I mean! It was like an ending to one of those amazing romantic comedies that all girls adore. (I will be reading that scene again as soon as I finish typing this, by the way!)

Fans of this series will love Hayden and Brent, and if you haven’t read this series yet…what the hell are you waiting for!? Trust me folks, this is a must read if ever there was one.

Thank you, Tessa, for another smoking hot, emotional, funny, intense and truly enjoyable read. You rock my book-obsessed world!

Five Loves

Giveaway:

Want a chance to win an autographed copy of Tessa’s first two books Protecting What’s His & Officer Off Limits? It’s the first time they’ve ever been in print!

She’ll be giving away 3 sets. All you have to do is leave a comment below to enter. Giveaway ends 12/1. Limited to US residents only.

~Increase your chances of winning by visiting the rest of the tour HERE~

About the author:

Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

Connect with Tessa:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Fall Into Me by K.M. Scott…ARC Review

Fall Into Me releases tomorrow

Book links:

Goodreads

*I will post the purchase links when they become available on release day

Synopsis:

Wealthier and more powerful than most men his age, Tristan Stone merely has to give voice to his desires and whatever he wants is his. Money has given him the ability to say nothing and no one is beyond his reach.

Except for Nina. Stripped of her memory after an accident, she doesn’t remember the man who loves her. Now he must find a way to show her why she fell in love with him, but the past is always just a step behind, threatening to take her away forever.

Unsure of everything about the past four years, Nina believes that Tristan loves her. But will the secrets he holds tear them apart just when she needs him most?

My review:

*Reviewer note: if you haven’t read the first in the series, Crash Into Me, I recommend you do so before reading Fall Into Me and this review*

Fall Into Me is the second book in author K.M. Scott’s Heart of Stone trilogy and picks up where the story left off in Crash Into Me. I was dying to get my hands on this book to see what was in store for Tristan and Nina. Well, K.M. did it again…another emotional ride from start to finish that left me wanting more!

The last four years of Nina’s life are a total mystery. After the accident, she found she had completely lost her memories of those years. That includes Tristan and their entire relationship. Her best friend Jordan has assured her that she and Tristan are crazy about one another, and just looking at Tristan and knowing how much he cared for her the whole time she was in the hospital, it was plain to see that he indeed cared for her very much. The problem was, he was practically a stranger to her. She was more than willing to take a chance at love at see if her memories would come back and give her back the happiness she had found with him, but what if they never did? Would she have to learn to love him all over again? What if, when all was said and done, she didn’t? The only way to find out was to put her faith in Tristan and the relationship they had and jump in with both feet.

Tristan should have felt immense relief when Nina was alive and well after the accident. He was relieved, of course, but not completely. Between the two of them, he was the only one that remembered why she left that day and got into the accident in the first place. And now knowing he was going to have to tell her all over again was a special kind of torture. He needed more time. More time to find out more information on what her father stumbled across those four years ago and why it was damaging enough to his family that his father had the man killed. First things first, though. He was bound and determined to get Nina to fall in love with him again. After that, maybe if he had more details on the darker side of his family, she would love him enough to believe he was truly sorry for the horrific pain his monster of a father had caused her.

The obstacles Nina and Tristan are numerous and enormously significant. Will the love that they had found, and hope to find again, be enough to forgive the sins of a power hungry businessman?

Whoa. Well, what began as a mission of discovering love again turned into a mystery with a thick and devious plot that I sure as hell never saw coming. Nina, as in the last story, was a refreshing heroine with her open and honest attitude. I admired her willingness to believe in what she and Tristan had and take a chance at finding it again. Her frustrations with memory loss broke my heart and I was pulling for her from the very beginning to find some spark that would jog a memory or two. She’s a strong gal, that Nina. Tristan and his internal struggles were dark, desolate and written really well. Trying so hard to keep a mask in place to keep Nina happy took its toll on him towards the end and his ultimate break down was such a real response to the stress of keeping up such a hard façade. Tristan stumbles across more details of just how treacherous his father really was and it was worse than he thought in the first book and it hurt him even more to have to tell Nina the truth eventually. I never saw parts of this story coming and it was a shocking and enjoyable added layer to the mystery! There were many happy and loving moments in this book as well as the intense scorching heat I adore so much between Nina and Tristan but the ending kicked my ass (and yes, of course, I freaking loved it!)

Now, because I know some of you loathe cliffhanger-ish endings, I feel I should mention that some might think this story fits into that category. I don’t…I feel that some questions were answered and other mysteries revealed. I enjoyed it!

Thank you, K.M., for another thrilling installment and I am eagerly awaiting the final chapter in the Heart of Stone Trilogy!

Four Loves

About the author:

USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author who loves sexy stories, sexier men, and HEAs (not necessarily in that order)

Twitter ~ Facebook

Review…Collide by Riley Hart

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

At ten years old, Noah Jameson and Cooper Bradshaw collided mid-air when they dove for the same football. For three years, they were inseparable…until one day when Noah and his parents disappeared in the middle of the night.

Noah and Cooper never knew what happened to each other. Now, seventeen years later, after finding his boyfriend in bed with another man, Noah returns to Blackcreek looking for a fresh start. And damned if he doesn’t find his old friend grew up to be sexy as sin. Coop can’t believe Noah—the only person he trusted with the guilt over his parents’ death—is back. And gay… Or that Cooper himself suddenly wants another man in his bed for the first time.

There’s no denying the attraction and emotion between them, but can they overcome the ghosts of their pasts to have a future together?

This title contains two strong, sexy men, and a passionate friendship that transforms into a sizzling hot romance.

My review:

Collide is the debut work from author Riley Hart and the first in the Blackcreek Series. I really enjoyed this touching story and think it was a great start to a series I’m looking forward to continuing.

Looking to make a new start, Noah Jameson wasn’t all that surprised when he found himself returning to the one childhood hometown that meant the most to him. Noah moved around a lot as a kid, but Blackcreek held a special place in his heart. After having his heart broken finding his boyfriend in bed with another man, he figured this town was a good place to pick up the pieces and start over. Of course getting hit by a truck wasn’t exactly the start he had planned. But fate, that tricky thing, seemed to have a plan. The driver of the truck that hit him turned out to be his childhood best friend. The best friend he never could replace after moving away all those years ago. The best friend that looked really freaking hot these days….Cooper Bradshaw. Now, finding himself staying with Cooper while recuperating, Noah can’t help but think things were only going to get better from here. Finally, things were looking up. Unfortunately, also looking up was his attraction to his very straight best friend.

Cooper Bradshaw couldn’t believe Noah was back in town…and that he’d hit him with his truck. If he was being honest though, he’s kind of happy he did because now his friend was going to be hanging around for a while. He was planning on renting out one of the rooms in his big old fixer-upper of a house and now he didn’t have to worry about a stranger living with him. He had Noah. Cooper was taken back a bit when his friend mentioned he was gay, but it didn’t bother him in the least. He was still the kid he shared the best years of his childhood with and that’s what mattered most. Besides, Cooper liked girls. Right. He did. Really. So what the hell were all these new feelings Cooper was having when it came to his friend?

Reconnecting has been great for Cooper and Noah and now it seems they have a lot more to talk about besides the good old days when the attraction goes from being one sided to very much a two way street. Could fate really have had a master plan when she put Noah in the path of Coopers truck that day?

Collide was an emotional journey that had feelings ranging from sweet and tender to sizzling hot and intense. Noah and Cooper have a great relationship right off that bat and it was great to see the evolution from friends to much more. What starts out as Noah pining over Cooper and a relationship that could never be turned into Cooper exploring all the foreign feelings that had awakened within him. This was the first M/M romance I have read where one of the main characters wasn’t experienced with a same sex relationship going into the story. It was really beautiful to see Cooper’s acceptance of his feelings and his willingness to try a new kind of relationship. It was also beautiful to read how patient Noah was with Cooper, treading lightly and waiting until Cooper was ready. From the very start I wanted nothing more than for Noah and Cooper to be together and find their happy ending. They have both been through so much in their own lives and I had faith that they could find happiness in one another. Oh, and when things got hot and heavy between them, damn…it was freaking delicious! Talk about some seriously scorching sex scenes. I was fanning myself on more than one occasion.

Overall, this was a great story and had some very real emotions involved along with the passion, thrill and intensity of a new relationship. The total package for a win in my book! Thank you, Riley. I’ll be looking forward to more from the Blackcreek Series!

Four Loves

About the author:

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic. A lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together. If she’s not writing, you’ll probably find her reading.Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.

Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Website

Review…The Guardians by T.M. Franklin

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

It’s not every day a girl discovers she’s not entirely human and unlocks hidden powers strong enough to make even the First Race take notice. Then again, Ava Michaels is no ordinary girl.

Now, the Race’s Ruling Council wants her under their control, and that’s just the beginning of her problems. Her boyfriend, Caleb Foster, has disappeared—accused of betraying the Race—and Ava herself is implicated in a crime she didn’t commit.

Clearing their names will mean uncovering a web of deceit and intrigue with Ava woven right in the center. To unravel the strands, she joins forces with some unlikely allies; a Protector who once haunted her nightmares, a young girl with secrets as unexpected as Ava’s, and a group of rebel Guardians who have their own fight against the Council.

Together they stand in a battle to find the truth, bring Caleb home, and secure Ava’s freedom—not to mention save her life.

My review:

The Guardians is the second installment in author T.M. Franklin’s More Trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this read and absolutely cannot wait to see how this trilogy plays out in the next book!

Trying to come to terms with her Race heritage and learning she isn’t exactly a human has kept Ava Michaels busy for the last few months. She’s been training with her boyfriend, Caleb, trying to hone the supernatural skills she has and also trying to unlock skills she feels buried deep within her. Oh, all while being watched by the Council to make sure she isn’t a threat to them, being a half-breed and all. Now, as if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Ava senses something is off with Caleb lately. He’s had a short temper and been snapping over the littlest things, really unlike his normally patient and kind manner. Things go from a bit off to jumping off the charts after Caleb disappears and is suspected of working with Rogues and deceiving the Race and everyone he knows. Certain that there is no way he could be responsible for the charges against him, Ava sets off with the Protector in charge of keeping an eye on her to find Caleb and find out just what the hell is going on. Along the way, she will meet allies and foes all the while having to figure out who falls into which category. Danger and deceit lurks around every turn but to Ava, it’s all worth it to save Caleb. Will she have what it takes?

The twists and turns in The Guardians made this book an amazing and thrilling ride. Ava proves, on more than one occasion, that she is a force to be reckoned with and she will never back down from what she believes in. Knowing Caleb couldn’t have done what he’s accused of, she will stop at nothing to find him and get to the bottom of this mess. What she finds, however, is not at all what she thought she would. She uncovers a plot to take down the Council and the Guardians. In other words, a plot to take over the Race. Also, the mystery of where she came from before she was adopted is somewhat solved during her search for answers regarding Caleb and gives us an idea of what she will have to deal with in the next book (which I can’t wait to read!). Characters thought to be trustworthy prove otherwise while others step up and prove they will fight alongside Ava. I really enjoyed getting to see a different side of Tiernan as the story progressed. He’s turning into quite the softie when it comes to Ava. Love that! By the end of the story, Ava has gained a pretty great team supporting her and Caleb. Goodness knows she’s going to need all the help she can get to fight the opponent we are introduced to in this book. I apologize if my review sounds vague, but you know how I hate to give spoilers away….and trust me, there are a whole lot of things I don’t want to spoil!

Just believe me when I say, if you love a good mystery combined with fantasy and supernatural elements, pick up this series. You will not be disappointed. Thank you, Ms. Franklin, for a fantastic read!

Four Loves

About the author:

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. After writing and unsuccessfully querying a novel that she now admits, “is not that great,” she decided to follow the advice of one of the agents who turned her down—write some more and get better at it. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mike, is mom to two boys, Justin and Ryan, and has an enormous black dog named Rocky who’s always lying nearby while she’s writing. Whether he’s soothed by the clicking of the computer keys or just waiting for someone to rub his belly is up for debate.

In addition to MORE and The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short story, Window, as well as another short story, A Piece of Cake, which appears in the Romantic Interludes anthology.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Stop & Review….Hers by Dawn Robertson

Welcome to my stop on the Hers by Dawn Robertson Blog Tour!

Please enjoy my review and thanks for stopping by!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

I am weak.

I am lonely.

I am a slut.

I am strong.

I am Dominant.

I am independent.

I am Seven James.

My entire life, no one has wanted me, and that was fine, because I sure as shit didn’t need anyone else. Blah, Blah Blah, insert sad story here about negligent parents, and shitty siblings, and you have my life story in a nut shell. When my college boyfriend dumped me, it was just icing on the cake. Five years, and a booming career later I am here to collect my revenge.

That was until a delicious plaything walked into the kink club I frequent, and rocked my typically un-rockable world. Causing me to break the one rule I have lived by since Daniel Alexander walked out of my life, never have sex with the same person twice. Ever.

Warning!!!! Hers contains sexually explicit situations that may be uncomfortable for some. These include FF, FMF, and MFM interactions.

My Review:

Hers is the debut work from author Dawn Robertson and the first in a sexy new series. This was a great, smoking hot start and I gobbled it up on one sitting!

Seven James decided years ago when her college boyfriend left her she wasn’t going to be treated like dirt ever again. Since then it has been her mission to teach him a very important lesson: Don’t eff with Seven James. Now her company is taking over his family’s business and she plans on making her ex miserable…by being his boss. Revenge never felt so sweet. To celebrate, Seven goes to her favorite kink club to blow off some steam and indulge her darker side. The darker side that was spawned after years of being unloved and unwanted. Pushing her sexual limits is now what brings Seven a sense of peace and the minute she sees the hot newbie in the club, she knows he’s the one who will be helping her get to her happy place tonight. Too bad Seven has a one-and-done rule because he proves to be one hell of a partner and gives her the most pleasure she’s felt in a really long time. Clearly fate doesn’t like Seven’s love em’ and leave em’ attitude because she ends up seeing the club newbie alright…..sitting at the boardroom table of the newly acquired ex boyfriend’s company. Well, hell. Now what?

As I said, I read this book in one sitting. It was raw and gritty but filled with some pretty deep emotional turmoil. I really enjoyed Seven and her take no prisoners attitude. She has been hurt far too many times and has made damn sure it won’t happen again. I liked her even more when she started to show a vulnerable side and threw caution to the wind with Levi, the one-night-stand guy who ended up being so much more. Levi was a great match for Seven and called her out on some of her issues and really made her take a step back and let him in. Loved him for that! The sex between them is smoking hot and has a whole lot of kinkiness to it, so be warned, if you’re not into hardcore kink, you probably shouldn’t read this. The ending held a surprise that I never saw coming, but was so happy that’s how this story ended and how this is really just the beginning of Levi and Seven’s story.

So, if you’re looking for some serious heat and a kick ass heroine, look not further! Thank you, Dawn, for an emotional and sizzling read!

Four Loves

About the author:

Dawn is a woman of many colors. Born and raised in the North-East, the youngest child of three, to two hard working, and extremely dedicated parents, she thrived on her love for creative writing. Her commitment to hard work lead her down a number of career paths over the years, stopping with her love for fiction.

In a bold, and unexpected move, she quit her full-time nine to five gig to thrust herself into her debut erotic novel, Hers.

Dawn is a mother, entrepreneur, and self proclaimed book whore.

Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Website

Book Tour & Review…..Divinity by Patricia Leever

Welcome to my stop on the Divinity by Patricia Leever Book Tour!

My review of Divinity is below and you can also find the rafflecopter to the tour-wide giveaway below. Up for grabs are five (5) ePacks of Divinity and the prequel short, Clarity.

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy!

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Purchase links:

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Demons.

They’re everywhere, hiding in plain sight. Chances are, you’ve interacted with one or two of them in your lifetime without even realizing it…

Demon hunter Evelyn Brighton saves unsuspecting humans from the malevolent creatures masquerading around them every day. Working under the Lebriga Corporation’s direction, she never fails to bring her A-game with her keen skill, fiercely independent spirit, and the best weapon in her arsenal: the Divinity blade.

Evelyn’s world is turned on its ear, however, when she is ordered to train cocky new recruit Daniel Summers. They both feel an instinctive pull drawing them to one another, the ancient spells tattooed into their skin illuminating whenever the two hunters come into contact. But with evil looming over the city of Los Angeles, Evelyn and Daniel’s mutual competitiveness and sense of duty to Lebriga and all humankind forces them to hold back their desires. Will their restraint be enough to keep them focused and save southern California, or will the dark forces prevail?

Set in modern-day Los Angeles, Divinity is an action-filled, fast-paced marriage of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Edgy, witty, and sexy, it will bind you in its spell.

My review:

Divinity is the first book in author Patricia Leever’s Divinity Series and kicks off this series with a fantastic start! I am totally hooked on this series!

Evelyn Brighton has been seeing demons for as long as she can remember. She always noticed the evil nature hidden under the mask of a human. Evie also realized at a young age that she was the only one who seemed to notice these creatures. It was that sense that brought her to the attention of the Lebriga Corporation and it’s there she has worked for the last one hundred plus years. Slaying demons and the things that go bump in the night with her magic and her charmed Divinity blade by her side. She’s one of the company’s best hunters and it’s being the best that lands her in charge of their newest recruit, Daniel Summers. To say she’s annoyed would be a gross understatement. She didn’t have time for the young, arrogant newbie and has no idea why they higher-ups would have put her in charge of his training. Even more of an annoyance is the twitching of her one specific tattoo. The tattoo specifically designed to act up in the presence of a worthy mate. No way could the arrogant and annoying, albeit really freaking hot, Daniel be her possible mate…..

Daniel Summers still can’t believe he was transferred to the LA office of the Lebriga Corporation. Hell, if he’s being honest, he still can’t believe seeing all the weird and evil stuff through his life had actually meant something and he wasn’t crazy. Now he’s here and after meeting the delicious woman in charge of training him, he is thanking his lucky stars for that ability. The minute he meets Evie, he is totally enthralled. She’s a real tough ass, but stunningly beautiful and he is determined to get her to think of him as more than her student. Surely he isn’t totally wrong when he notices her attraction toward him, even if she is trying to pretend it isn’t there.

Daniel and Evelyn have much more than their love/hate relationship to deal with. While Evie tries to deny her attraction to Daniel and while Daniel tries to get Evie to admit it, things around the demon world are a bit off lately and have reached a bit of a fevered pitch. Now they must work together to save humanity….and hopefully live through their latest assignment.

I’ve read more than a few series involving demons and demon slayers and sometimes they’re really awesome, and sometimes they are really not awesome. This is one of the awesome ones. Not only is the whole premise behind the story a great one, but also the characters are kick ass. Evelyn has perfected her craft over the years and excels at what she does. What she doesn’t excel at is the relationship department. Bottom line? She’s scared to let someone in. She’s been around long enough to have seen what happens when a loved one is killed in the line of duty, and it’s nothing she ever wants to endure. So she’s tough and hard and keeps guys at arm’s length. I totally get that. Daniel is adorable. I loved his sense of wonder when it came to learning all of the magic and battle skills needed to be not just a good slayer, but a great one. I also loved how he handled Evie. He figured her out pretty quickly and knew she needed time and a bit of convincing. I won’t ruin anything, but I will say the slow build in their relationship is done deliciously well. Their push and pull and the sexual tension between them is palpable.

Patricia really pulled me in with this story. I want to know what happens next with all of the Lebriga and what evil has in store for them in the next books in the series. Yep, I’m a fan! Thank you, Patricia, for a series I am totally addicted to…I can’t wait to read more!

Four Loves

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Patricia Leever is a wife, stay-at-home mom of four and owner of one dog and one really old cat. On the average school day she runs about town like a lunatic picking up and dropping off kids and trying to find a moment of quiet to write down a word or two.

She’s a sci-fi geek that loves to dress up like a zombie and participate in the local zombie march down Main St. and laugh as much as possible; laughter frees the mind and heals the soul.

Live. Breathe. Write.

Connect with the Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

ARC Review….Neighbors by L.S. Murphy

Book Links

Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Rena Woods has a great life. She recently landed the contract to decorate the home of basketball wife, Cecilia Hood, her business is growing, and this contract could make her the elite decorator in St. Louis. Rena’s sacrificed her personal life for her company without a single regret. When Staff Sergeant C.J. Riker moves in across the hall, Rena can’t stand to be around him. He may be on the volcanic side of hot, but his attitude sucks. Riker does whatever he can to get under Rena’s skin.

After a massive blow to her business sends Rena on a self-destructive binge, Riker is there to save her from doing something she might regret. Could there be more to Riker than meets the eye? And will he open up enough to Rena to tell her how he lost his leg or shut out love forever?

My review:

Neighbors is a novella from author L.S. Murphy and is the first work I have read from her. I really enjoyed it!

When Rena meets Riker, it’s not exactly in the best of circumstances. She needs him to move his truck so she can move her car. She’s annoyed with him and he’s annoyed with her. Well, the circumstances don’t get much better and it seems like every time they see on another it’s not exactly a pleasant exchange. Rena knows a bit of his back-story. He was in the military and has a prosthetic leg, so clearly he has some reason for being less than happy these days. She could only imagine what must have happened to him, and it broke her heart. Still, Rena doesn’t think too highly of his gruff attitude…until she sees him around their apartment complex every now and then doing something nice for someone. Soon Rena realizes she may not have given him a fair chance and when her job suddenly takes a nosedive, she thinks maybe giving him shot at friendship could be the distraction she needs. Who knows, maybe something more than friendship is what they both need?

This novella was really great. Sometimes a quick and entertaining read is just what the doctor ordered in between full-length novels. I enjoyed both Rena and Riker and would love to see more of them in the future!

Thank you, L.S.!

Four Loves

About the author:

L.S. Murphy lives in the Greater St. Louis area where she watches Cardinals baseball, reads every book she can find, and weaves tales for teens and adults. When not doing all of the above, she tends to The Bean (aka her daughter), her husband and a menagerie of pets.

She is a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the St. Louis Writer’s Guild.Email: LSMurphy524@gmail.com

Website: http://lsmurphy.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LSMurphy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LSMurphyAuthor

Review…Keep Me Still by Caisey Quinn

*ON SALE FOR 99 CENTS DURING RELEASE WEEK! THIS BOOK IS ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME AND WILL RETURN TO ITS REGULAR PRICE OF 3.99 AFTER SALE ENDS!*

**Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads ~ Kobo ~

**THIS IS THE STANDALONE EDITION OF KEEP ME STILL AND INCLUDES THE PREQUEL AND SEQUEL NOVELLAS Let You Leave and Hold Us Close

Synopsis:

Scarred by loss, Layla leaves her hometown of Hope Springs, Georgia, hoping to put her painful past behind her and start over in college in California. When she runs into Landen at freshmen orientation, she has a choice to make. Reinforce those steel walls she’s built up around herself or give the only boy who can keep her still a second chance.

Landen’s more than ready to tear down those walls, but this time when they come crashing down, they might bury her

* This special edition of Keep Me Still includes the novella, Let You Leave & Hold Us Close:

Layla Flaherty had the perfect life, or close to it. Until a stranger gunned her parents down right in front of her, leaving her with seizure inducing PTSD. After years of trying to pass as normal and failing miserably, she resigns herself to being invisible. But new to town Landen O’Brien sees her, and he likes what he sees. Much to Layla’s surprise, he doesn’t freak out when she has a seizure in front of him. He does the exact opposite, calming her until the tremors subside. But Landen has secrets of his own. Secrets that will either bind them together or tear them apart.

My review:

Quick note: the edition that I just read included the novellas Let You Leave and Hold Us Close which in essence are the events leading up to and following the main novel, Keep Me Still. I do recommend this edition, if for no other reason than you get more Landen!

Keep Me Still is a novel by author Caisey Quinn and the first of her works that I have read. Well, after this, I will be adding all of her other works to me to-read list (oh, goodie! She’s got a bunch of books out!). This book was a crazy, intense emotional trip that I absolutely loved.

Among the many things Layla Flaherty has wished for in her life, being normal and happy are the two that mean the most. She has been through more in her life than anyone should have to endure. She lost her parents in a horrible act of violence that left her scarred emotionally and physically. Even though you couldn’t actually see her physical scars, they have ruined her reputation at school in the form of a seizure disorder and threaten to ruin her chance at a normal life. Things change, however, the minute new student and star soccer player Landen O’Brien moves to their school. She thought things had changed for the good when they became fast and close friends that slowly grew to more. Soon she realized that things actually changed for the worse when he broke her heart and ended up moving again…away from her. Even a year later, freshly tucked into freshman year at college far away from her hometown and all those memories, she couldn’t forget him. He was it for her and no one will ever live up. Imagine her surprise when she finds out he’s on her college’s soccer team. Is fate giving them another chance? Would she be able to get over her broken heart now, with him here?

As an army brat, Landen O’Brien was used to moving around. He was also used to a crap home life with a less than warm and fuzzy father, to put it nicely. The only good thing in his life was soccer….until he met Layla. For once, he was thanking his lucky stars that they had to move again and that he ended up here, with Layla, in this small town in Georgia. After spending time together, he knows he’s fallen hard and fast, but like all things in his life, nothing good lasts and he soon finds out he has to leave her. He broke her heart the day he left and he knew enrolling at the same college she was going to may not be the best choice, but he has to try to get her back. She was everything to him and he is going to do all he can to make her realize that. Since he left her a year ago, he’s been planning this. Even with his unanswered emails, texts, phone calls, he was determined. Now, with a little undercover help from Layla’s aunt, he’s here and there’s no way is he going to let her slip away again.

Layla and Landen embark on an emotional, moving, touching journey that will test their commitment to each other as well as to themselves. Individually they carry their own heavy burdens and things will get hard along the way, but with love and trust in the bond they’ve found, they have the power to make it all work out in the end. It may not be easy, but some things are worth fighting for.

This book kicked my arse and I absolutely loved it. Layla broke my heart at the beginning. She was so damaged and lost and just plain sad. To have gone through what she did and still be willing to try to get to some kind of normal life was so very admirable. Then to see her grow with Landen’s help, and to gain some confidence was fantastic. It was that confidence that had me loving her through the book. After coming out of her shell, so to speak, she really learned that she could take charge of her future and that her scars and her past didn’t define her. It was beautiful to see that change in her. On the flip side, Landen ended up breaking my heart at the end. He is a book boyfriend that I know tons of gals will be swooning over. An adorable, all-American jock with a damaged side that slayed me. Reading some of his scenes had me bawling my eyes out. Of course, that made me love him even more. His determination to be with Layla and his love for her was so real and intense. The dynamic between Layla and Landen is amazing. He helped her when she needed it most and pulled her from her darkness and eventually she has to do the same for him. Their trip to a happy ending is a really, really, REALLY rough one but so damn well deserved. Gut wrenching, sob inducing, heart breaking, emotional charged scenes put this book on my list of favorites. I absolutely adore Layla and Landen and reading the last few pages of this book made me so very happy for them.

Oh, and Layla’s roomie? Corin…. KICKED ASS! That girl is a friend we all would be lucky to have. She’s there for Layla when the chips are down and it honest even when the truth hurts. Loved her!

Yes, this is clearly one of my long and rambling reviews, because I just LOVED this book. Again, I recommend getting the edition with the two novellas because, well, more is always better! Thank you, Caisey, for Layla and Landen and for this amazing story.

Four-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. You can find her online at www.caiseyquinnwrites.com .

Website: http://www.caiseyquinnwrites.com/

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