Stalk me. (The Keatyn Chronicles) - Jillian Dodd

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She's popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most-coveted lunch table.

She's just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because, really, things aren't all that perfect.
Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.
Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.
It's exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.
And, deep down, she isn't sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom has a creepy stalker.
A hot, older man flirts with her and tells her they should make a movie together.
And she's crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.
But little does she know, there's someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.

There are a few signs of a good book to me.  1. That I feel some emotion, good, bad or ugly I want to feel something for the main character and in a great book, I want to feel emotions about more than just the main character.  2. I don’t want to put it down, and when I have to, it’s all I think about.  3. When I get to the end, I’m either disappointed that it’s over, or cannot believe it just ended and wait, where is the rest and OMG I have to wait how long for the sequel?!?!

This book fit all those for me.  I liked Keayton, but I would have also liked to shake her around a little, maybe slap her once or twice.  She reminded me a little of Serena on Gossip Girl (the earlier years), there is a part of her that is such a nice girl and could be so awesome, but then she’s also got a mean girl side and she can never make up her mind.  She drove me a little crazy and made me happy that high school is long since over for me, but that I can relive someone else’s drama on paper (or on Kindle for me). 

I loved her family.  I think it’s fitting that this Hollywood type family is a bit of a pieces put together family.  Her actress mom and her not exactly actor step-dad and her 4 half-sisters that you can tell she absolutely loves even when they drive her crazy (their descriptions had me laughing out loud) were loving and supportive but gave her a lot of freedom and opportunities most people (let alone kids) only get to dream about.  A summer in Europe doing whatever I wanted, sign me up. 

Okay, I’m also going to admit from like the very first time they introduced him…I loved Cush! I still love Cush…he shook me up a bit for a little while but I still love him, he is definitely my favorite of all her boys and there were a few to choose from.  He was in your face flirty, honest, kind of a player and I knew he had a thing for her from the first moment… (sighing…Cush) Let’s just say lickable abs and leave it at that!

And her girlfriends, I disliked (though I’m sure you are supposed to dislike them), whether you want to compare them to Regina from Mean Girls, Blaire from Gossip Girl (early years) or the mean girl you know you went to high school with…she’s still there in this book and she is as bad as you remembered!

This book was definitely a got to the end and where is the rest.  I was so not ready for this book to be over.  The last couple chapters (and the brief glimpse into the next book) were just not enough and I need more.  I need to know what is going to happen…so hopefully Jillian will not keep us waiting too long! I think I picked the right one to start with for my first Jillian Dodd book!

The Mighty Storm - Samantha Towle

It's been twelve years since Tru Bennett last saw Jake Wethers, her former best friend and boy she once loved.

Jake Wethers, sexy, tattooed and deliciously bad lead singer, and brains behind The Mighty Storm, one of biggest bands in the world, left Tru with a broken heart when he moved from England to America with his family when they were both fourteen.

Sent to interview Jake for her music column by the magazine she works for, they are both unprepared for the sparks that fly the instant they reconnect. Only, there’s a complication to their instant feelings for one another – Will, Tru’s boyfriend of two years.

Then Jake makes Tru a job offer she can't refuse - travelling the world with him and his band. But taking the job means leaving Will behind, and being on the road with the band means spending an inordinate amount of time with Jake.

Is Tru strong enough to resist the delectable bad boy who once held her heart so completely, or will she willingly risk it all for one night with the worlds most notorious womanizer?

"Jake - a sweet dream? Or a beautiful nightmare?"

SWEET DREAM!!! I loved this book!

I really liked Tru. I liked how we got to know her - who she was and who she is now. I could completely understand how she felt falling for her boy next door best friend and not having the courage to tell him that she liked/loved him, and then the heartbreak of that boy moving away and losing touch for more than a decade. And of course by the time she sees said boy again, she has finally moved on and is happy (good job, great boss, loving boyfriend) and he...he is a super rich, super successful, super sexy rock star and it's Tru's job to interview him! Poor Tru!

"So how did you know I'd take the job?" "Because women never say no to me." - Jake on the outside is a typical rock god. He is known for bedding many girls, drinking, drug use and all the stereo-typical rock star glories. So you fall for Jake, because who doesn't. He's flirty and fun and he and Tru have sexual tension in their witty banter that made me smile a lot.

Then you get to know the Jake on the inside. Broken from his past and present. Insecure and possessive and someone who still remembers his childhood best friend Tru. And you fall more in love with Jake, "I knew one day I would eventually see you again, and I knew when that day came I wasn't letting you go for anything. And these were the things I wanted to do with you when I had you back. No one else, just you." So he's a super sexy bad boy rock star with a good boy heart on the inside...HOLY HELL he's Kellan Kyle!!! I got a Kellan Kyle fix I wasn't expecting and it was good!

I also loved Jake's PA Stuart, he's funny and fun and is one of the few people that can say to Jake's face what others might not. He's the gay best friend every girl wants!

The story takes you on tour with the band while Tru writes about them. The drama of Tru having a boyfriend, and a long time love for Jake. Her insecurities in herself and him and his rock star lifestyle. All the drama makes you not want to put the book down! You won't help but falling for this story.

This was my first Samantha Towle book and I can say for certain it will not be my last. I am already eagerly anticipating The Mighty Storm 2!



Dream Chaser - Angie Stanton

Willow Thomas has a bad habit of running away from things that scare her. And most recently, she quit her high school cheerleading squad after a terrifying fall.

With time on her hands, she auditions for a musical production directed by a Broadway choreographer. Just as things are looking up, Willow discovers she will be performing opposite Eli McAvoy, the best friend she abandoned three years before. To make matters worse, the kids in the musical hate her, her singing sucks, and her dog is sick.

Eli has grown up during their years apart and now possesses confidence and good looks, as well as a giant chip on his shoulder. He is in no hurry to play nice with Willow, but their entwined roles in the musical lead to entwined bodies in the backseat of his car.

Just when Willow finally has her life under control, another surprise is delivered in the form of her greatest challenge yet. Will she run or finally stand and face her fears? And will Eli be there to help or turn his back on her for good?

This book for me was probably a 3.25 star book. I enjoyed Willow. I felt like we really got to know Willow. I felt her pain as she became an outcast, not belonging with the cheerleaders anymore and no longer part of the dance crowd. I cringed when she had to eat in a bathroom by herself.

I loved Willow's family and the relationships they all shared. They had me laughing out loud, and that earns extra points with me. And the whole thing with Twinkie almost had me in tears.

Where this story lost me a bit was the supporting characters. I felt like we only got a superficial look into Eli and her relationship with him. I would have liked to have seen this play out a little more and have Willow give us a little bit more of a glimpse into who Eli was from all the years they spent together before. I think it would have helped me believe in their chemistry.

I truly enjoyed hottie director Tyson. I loved his dynamic with Willow and Eli and how he walked the line between friend and coach/mentor/boss. He was believable to me because of his youth and ties to the community. He was those kids and I could see why he would come back and run a workshop with high school kids like he did.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. I plan to read Rock and Hard Place soon! I would say the best line was the one that summed it all up for Willow & Eli "You Jump, I jump"   

The Redhead Revealed (Redhead Series, Book 2) - Alice Clayton

As their careers catch fire, Grace and Jack -- everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed, funny, and feisty couple -- find themselves on opposite coasts. Grace has landed in New York City, where she loves being onstage again, particularly because she’s playing a fabulous character in a musical written by her old college flame, Michael. Their rekindled friendship makes exploring the city that much more fun.

Wait, it’s just friendship, right?

Meanwhile, in L.A., Jack can scarcely keep up with the swirling throngs of women who track him everywhere he goes, the endless press appearances, and the ridiculous rules his manager, Holly, keeps concocting for him -- all part of the buildup to the release of Time, his steamy new film.

Thank goodness for phone sex.

But even when their schedules allow them to connect, Grace and Jack must keep their relationship off the radar and away from paparazzi cameras. Sure, the sex is sensational, but can this duo survive swirling rumors, the demands of their chosen professions, Grace’s raging internal battles, and a whopping nine-year age difference?

Tick-tock, the clock is ticking. Isn’t it?

This book almost killed me.  I was so happy for Grace to get this chance and so proud of the way the two of them were going to work it out.  Grace almost killed me with the insecurities in this book (turned a little Kiera on me).  I still loved it though.  I still could not put it down, and when I had to…it was all I thought about.  What would happen? Would they be able to work things out or would the pressures of Hollywood life, or the insecurities and distance tear them apart.

Did I mention I laughed and cried again.  I got angry and happy and I think I even sighed.  Damn these books! I’m like an emotional roller coaster reading!

I loved these books and my George and Gracie! I can’t wait for more!!

The Unidentified Redhead (Redhead Series - Book 1) - Alice Clayton

When Grace Sheridan returns to Los Angeles to become a working actor, it's a second shot at a life-long dream. With some help from her best friend and agent, that dream could become a reality, but at thirty-three, has Grace missed her chance at the big time? Will an unexpected sizzling romance with the entertainment industry's newest 'it' boy shine an uncomfortable spotlight on her life?

I have no idea how I didn’t know this book existed before this weekend, but I am so glad I know it does now. This book was a mix of funny, sexy and serious.  It’s about finding love in an unexpected place and the best part is she’s a butterflying redhead!! J HAPPY TARA!!!

Okay, so you look at it and say she’s 33 and he’s only 24 and that’s a huge difference.  I mean I’m 33, so I looked at it easily as when she was 18 he was 9, she was 21 he was 12…wow! 9 years is a long time.  And of course you see all her insecurities about it in the book but it doesn’t matter…you want to stand on a chair and scream at her…stop being an idiot and love the mother freakin’ movie star!

Let me put it this way, I read both books in a day.  Could not put them down.  Love Grace, her insecurities are a bit annoying at times but then, who doesn’t have them?  She’s been through a lot and she’s giving herself a second chance at her dreams – you have to admire that.  She’s a world of crazy, which makes her being a redhead that much better.  I love working through her inner dialogue too, because we all know we all do it.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jack! He’s pretty much awesome.  He’s new to the Hollywood lifestyle so he’s not an egomaniac but he’s confident and cool.  He’s also sweet and loving and probably the more mature in the relationship since he doesn’t have as much baggage or as many insecurities.  Love them together! I don’t care about the age difference.

I couldn’t wait to start the second book to see how things would work out…I laughed, I cried and I started book two right away.

My Heart for Yours - Perry / Campbell

A bargain, a trade, a deal to be struck.

A kiss for a kiss.
Your shirt for mine.
Break my heart, I’ll break yours.

Their disastrous split was no different. Tobin’s spent the last year pretending Delia never existed, and Delia’s been in D.C., pretending to be anything but the country girl that she is.

When tragedy brings her back to town, Tobin and Delia realize that time apart hasn't healed either one of them. But staying away from each other is harder than they imagined, especially in small town Louisiana, and old feelings are quickly brought back to the surface.

In the mess they’ve created, is there anything to be salvaged of a love that they both thought would be forever?

This was a heartbreaking story about love and loss.  It’s about being able to be open and honest with yourself and others.  It’s about being able to stand up for yourself and do what you think is right. 

This book does a lot of flipping back and forth between the past and the present, not necessary by chapters as in other books, but when the story dictated it. 

There were some tough topics covered in this book and I thought the authors did it with a seriousness without being overly dramatic.  I enjoyed the book.  I don’t think it will make my read over and over list, but I’m happy to have read it. 

Chance Encounters - J. Sterling

Caroline Weber was a normal girl who thought she had her life figured out. After graduating from college in New York, she moved to San Francisco with her boyfriend, Clay. Everything in her life felt perfect. There wasn't anything she would change...

...until she met Jackson Parks.

Is it possible that a chance meeting with a stranger can make you question EVERYTHING you thought you wanted? Caroline tries to carry on with her life as if nothing has changed...but the truth is, nothing can ever be the same.

Chance Encounters is an emotional love story about trusting and following your heart, even when it's leading you down a difficult path.

Sometimes other hearts have to break in order to keep yours intact.

This is the kind of books that makes you feel bad about who you are.  If Caroline had been my friend that had the perfect boyfriend, and was chancing throwing that away on some guy she just met, I would probably slap her.  However, as soon as they introducing Jackson, I was hooked on him! It made me feel guilty but I couldn’t help it.  But Jackson lives in New York and Caroline lives with Clay in San Francisco, is it really possible to know if what they have is real and worth risking everything she knows, loves and needs for someone she met so randomly?

It might be worth the read to find out!

New Book Boyfriend – Team Ramsey

So I know it’s the boy that the main character has always loved that is supposed to be your favorite boy in the book, but for me…when reading Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde, it was Ramsey! From the moment they met outside the bathrooms in the Country Club, there was something about him that caught my attention. 

Ramsey is a bit of a wild card.  We still don’t know too much about him and his past but we do know he is hot and he smells like peppermint!  Blonde hair and green eyes…yummy!  He’s considerate, tries not to flaunt his money in front of Lexi because he knows it makes her uncomfortable.  He grew up with money and going to the Country Club, but doesn’t act like it and pushes back on his parents.  He doesn’t just go along to get along.  He is sweet and oddly protective in this book for the little time he’s known Lexi.  But he’s definitely the kind of guy that makes you think…nah, forget Jack, I know it’s been 6 years but let it go and move on with this guy! Okay, I was saying that, but not everyone agrees with me.

There seems to be a huge split in readers of Avoiding Commitment between the Jack Pack and the Peppermint Posse (aka Team Ramsey).  For me it was easy, Ramsey won me over right away! If Lexi was smart she’d walk away from Jack and run right into Ramsey’s strong, handsome arms – but the girls in these books aren’t always too smart so we’ll have to see.

Lengths - Campbell / Reinhardt

Nineteen-year-old Whit Conrad leaves her conservative Pennsylvania home for sunny California, looking for independence, a fresh start, and a place to stash her grief. She promptly finds a job at a tattoo parlor, a craptastic first apartment, and one friend—Ryan—who is a little less friend, a little more benefits.

Deo Beckett is a soulful surfer with a passion for tattoos and beautiful women. On the eve of his twenty-second birthday, he finds himself living with his grandfather, recently unemployed, and seriously adrift. He doesn’t know much about what he wants out of life, but he does know his current situation isn't cutting it.

When Deo meets Whit, she’s all sexy makeup and fierce, smart-ass fun. It doesn’t take him long to see past her tough shell. And when he gets a good look at what's under all the superficial stuff that usually gets his attention, it leaves Deo wondering if there might be more to life than living fast and free.

Too bad Whit has a past she doesn't plan on sharing—no matter how hot Deo is. She might want him, but she knows better than to let her guard down.

Deo falls for Whit, and falls hard. But everything about her, down to that mysterious tattoo and the way she thrashes in her sleep, tells him that the girl he loves is hiding something. And the more he pushes for answers, the more Whit pulls away.

Having your guard up is one thing, but are the lengths Whit goes to to protect her secret worth throwing away the second chance she has at happiness with Deo?

Very enjoyable read. This was my first book for both authors and I thought they did a great job making it seamless. I wouldn't have known it was written by two different people.

This book gets told from both POV's and I think in this book, it was totally necessary to know what was going on with both of them. I only wish we could have gotten a little more insight into each of them. Maybe a little of the time Whit was with her parents from her perspective? I'm not sure...I just felt like with each character there could have been a little bit more.

That being said...I read it fairly quickly and really enjoyed the adventure. I hope to see more from the two of them in the future.

The Opportunist - Tarryn Fisher

Olivia Kaspen has just discovered that her ex -boyfriend, Caleb Drake, has lost his memory. With an already lousy reputation for taking advantage of situations, Olivia must decide how far she is willing to go to get Caleb back. Wrestling to keep her true identity and their sordid past under wraps, Olivia’s greatest obstacle is Caleb’s wicked, new girlfriend; Leah Smith. It is a race to the finish as these two vipers engage in a vicious tug of war to possess a man who no longer remembers them. But, soon enough Olivia must face the consequences of her lies, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption

I just finished this book and am left feeling like I don't know how I feel about this book.

After reading the story summary, I didn't think I was going to like Olivia. The summary doesn't paint her in a very good picture, but after a few chapters I couldn't help it. Even though she did some bad things, I couldn't help but feel for her and want the same things for her that she wanted for herself.

I also found myself wanting to shake her around a bit and I wanted to rough up Caleb a bit. Oh and I hated Leah! Absolutely hated her...hated her like I hate Bekah in Avoiding Commitment.

I do feel that Tarryn Fisher wrote a good book, I was invested...but still I just feel frustrated. I believe there is going to be sequel to this book, and of course I am going to read it and hope for this feeling to get better - but right now - I'm a mess.

While It Lasts (Sea Breeze 3) - Abbi Glines

Maybe driving home after a few (or more) shots of tequila had been a bad idea, but hell, he did it all the time. The cops had to have been freaking bored to have pulled him over. He wasn’t even swerving! That’s Cage York’s story and he’s sticking to it.

Unfortunately, his baseball coach isn’t buying it. Cage has a free ride to the local junior college for baseball -- or he did, until he’d gotten a DUI. Now, Cage has to decide: does he drop out and give up his dream of getting noticed by a college in the SEC, and possibly making it into the Major Leagues -- or does he give in to his coach’s demands and spend his summer baling hay?

Eva Brooks planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbor, had been the center of those goals. He’d been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen, and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she’d received the phone call from Josh’s mother saying he’d been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva’s carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible.

Cage isn’t real happy with his closet-sized bedroom in the back of a foul smelling barn, or his daily interactions with cows, but he knows that if he doesn’t make his coach happy then he can kiss his scholarship goodbye. Only a sick and twisted man would decide his punishment was to be working on a farm all summer. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows.

Oh -- and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he’s every seen. But she doesn’t count, because as hard as he’s tried to charm her out of her panties - he’s pretty sure she’d rather see him hung from the rafters than let him get a taste of her pretty little lips.

Clearly I misjudged you Ms. Glines. I started your books with the Vincent Boys series. The first one was good but since I couldn't stand Lana, I really struggled with the second book. Then I read Because of Low which I liked better than the first two books but realized part of the way in that it was the second in the series and I had just ruined the first book for myself. Then I read the first book and loved it...Loved Jax, loved Sadie, loved their story and finally got what everyone was talking about when they LOVED LOVED LOVED Abbi Glines...and now this book! :)

I loved Cage in Because of Low...even though I thought he was a slut and even though I knew he wasn't right for Low, I still loved him. I was excited to hear he was getting his own story and to start with him getting in trouble for DUI was totally fitting.

And OMG Eva, could your heart hurt any more for one character?

I loved that this book pushed the boundaries a little farther than her previous books did. I know Sadie was only in high school and these characters were a bit older but I feel like we broke into a new type of story teller with this book, and I loved it.

I want more! More Jax & Sadie and definitely more Eva & Cage!

Seduction and Snacks (Chocolate Lovers) - Tara Sivec

Claire is a twenty-something, single mom that grudgingly helps her best friend sell sex toys while she attempts to make enough money to start her own business to give her foul-mouthed, but extremely loveable (when he's asleep) toddler a better life.  

When Carter, the one-night-stand from her past that changed her life forever, shows up in her hometown bar without any recollection of her besides her unique chocolate scent, Claire will make it a point that he remembers her this time.  

With Carter's undisguised shock at suddenly finding out he has a four-year-old son and Claire's panic that her stretch marks and slim to none bedroom experience will send the man of her dreams heading for the hills, the pair will do whatever they can to get their happily ever after.

Warning: contains explicit sex, profanity and enough sarcasm to choke a horse.

The warning on this book should have been Warning:  contains explicit sex, profanity, enough sarcasm to choke a horse and you might possibly pee yourself from laughing so hard!

Okay so I didn't actually pee myself but I did laugh so hard I had tears streaming down my face.  I absolutely, 100% L-O-V-E-D this book.  It is by far the funniest book I've probably ever read.  I could not stop myself from laughing out loud...starting from the first chapter.  I'm pretty sure I'd want to be friends with Tara Sivec since she created some pretty awesome characters.

It's a tie for me who my favorite character in this book was...I loved Claire and her sarcastic nature (I know, that's shocking!).  But Gavin was a four year old with enough personality for an army.  The stuff that came out of his mouth made me have to put my kindle down from laughing so hard.  ("Hey, Carter, I'm on team Jacob, bitch!")

I am truly hoping for a sequel because this cast of characters was very enjoyable and I would certainly love to read more about them. 

Five stars for Tara Sivec and a new fan in me!

Seducing Cinderella - Gina L. Maxwell

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews’s chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds himself in the fight of his life...winning Lucie's heart before she gives it to someone else.

It's actually shocking I haven't read this sooner since I have always had a Cinderella obsession! :)

This book was a quick read, and while pretty predictable, it was still quite enjoyable.  I of course loved Reid, bad boy with a good heart - my serious weakness with these books. 

I can't quite put my finger on what could have made this a four star book.  There was just something missing...but still, I wouldn't only give it three stars, so I'd have to give this book three and a half stars.  It has enjoyable characters, and they were descriptive enough that I have a very clear picture of what Reid looks like in my head.  Lucie, a bit self conscious was easy to picture and relate to as well. 

All in all it was a fun read.  I can't say I'd put it in the rotation of favorites (Fifty, BD, Effortless), but I'm glad I read it.

The Wild Ones - M. Leighton

Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.

Camille “Cami” Hines is the darling daughter of the South’s champion thoroughbred breeder, Jack Hines. She has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was pretty happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future.

But that was before she met Patrick Henley.

“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her. He’s considered the “help,” which is forbidden fruit as far as her father is concerned, not to mention that Trick would be fired if he ever laid a hand on her. And Trick needs his job. Desperately. His family depends on him.

The heart wants what the heart wants, though, and Trick and Cami are drawn to each other despite the obstacles. At least the ones they know of.

When Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, secrets that could tear them apart.

Bonus book that was not on the list previously! :) Okay, this book is a quick read but I really think you'll love it.  My only criticism is the ending...I think it was a bit too abrupt.  No cliff hanger or anything like that, just felt sudden for me.  That being said, I think this one is worth the read. 

Enjoy it and if you're anything like me...you'll choose "treat."

Four stars for me! :)

Here's a quote I enjoyed
"But the last few times I’ve sought solace in the bottom of a bottle has been because of a red-headed devil that seems bound and determined to torture me"

Avoiding Commitment - K.A. Linde

Jack and Lexi never had a typical relationship. After 2 years without speaking, she receives a phone call that changes everything. He unexpectedly asks her to convince the new girl, Bekah, that he's ready to commit. Jack is calling now after everything they had been through because there is another woman. She can't believe it. Follow Lexi in this heart wrenching drama as she relives her past relationship, or lack thereof, with Jack, and not just in her own mind, but to his fiance-to-be. Throw in Bekah's hot brother who always seems to be in the right place at the right time, a past with more secrets to unravel than you can even imagine, and you get a recipe for disaster. Find out what happens to Lexi as she travels to Atlanta to get the closure she so desperately desires from Jack, and how the bumps of life seem to keep getting in the way.

When I started reading this book, I had an idea as to how it would end...part of the way through the book I saw the book having two ending options...I was wrong on both counts! I did catch on to one reveal pretty quickly, but based on the way everything else went - I'm pretty sure the author intended us to know early on about the Armani. 

I give a lot of credit to Kyla Linde for writing characters that made you want to hug them, slap them and even hang out with some of them. 

Honestly, I wasn't completely into the book in the first few chapters, probably something about flipping back and forth between the present and the past but after a little while I did wind up enjoying this story.  I'm looking forward to seeing what is next for everyone.  I'm unsure as to the release date since this book was just released but I will of course keep you posted. 

I also wanted to mention my being a proud member of the Peppermint Posse (aka Team Ramsey!)

Thoughtless & Effortless - S.C. Stephens

For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes…and none of them will ever be the same.

Ahhh…Kellan! I am always torn as to how to talk about this book, I feel like I can’t do it justice.  First I will say, I believe these books are well written in that you really feel like you care about what happens to the characters.  That being said…I wanted to slap Kiera around through most of the first book (Thoughtless) and parts of the second book (Effortless). 

The silver lining to that is, Kellan will get you through.  You will want to dislike him at times, but you won’t be able to because he is that loveable! His friends are awesome and you will love them too. 
 

These books were frustrating and made me angry at times but I also laughed out loud and was so happy at other times.  This book gave me not only a Book Boyfriend but a best of the best best friend too (post ‘This One’s for the Girls).   

I recently found out that the author decided to write a third book for this series *YAY!* called Reckless! CANNOT WAIT!

Love Unscripted - Tina Reber

Ryan Christensen just wanted to be an actor. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he'd become the most sought after film star on the planet. Taryn Mitchell has been feigning contentment while running the family pub in Seaport, Rhode Island. Her peaceful life is tossed upside down when Ryan tries to outrun a group of fans by taking a shortcut through Mitchell's Pub.

Ryan Christensen…*sigh* he made my top book boyfriends of the summer list.  This is one of those stories that you wish you heard more.  Famous actor who is down to earth and pretty normal considering his fame, falls for local girl.  These are the few and far between stories but you still can’t help but falling for Ryan and Taryn. 

Will they be able to withstand the pressures of his friends, her friends, his lifestyle, her ties to her local area?  What about the crazy fans and the stalker fans!?! And of course the hot body guards!

I’m not going to give it away but I will tell you this was a good read for me.  I love it and am truly excited that the sequel should be out by the end of this month! 

The Breathing Series (Reason to Breathe & Barely Breathing) Rebecca Donovan

"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"

He knows there’s something more to the girl sitting in the back of the class the moment he sees her. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and athletic – but she slips quietly through the crowded halls, trying not to exist. Determined to get to know the elusive girl, Evan soon discovers…

Emma Thomas is hiding a terrible a secret.

Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.

I have put off writing about this one for two reasons; 1. I loved it and I find it the most hard to write about the stories that I love.  2.  It’s not finished yet, and the way it ends will have you hating me until she releases the third installment (hopefully before the end of this year.) 

This book was a little more PG in the sexcapades way than some of the other books, and I’m not sure why it was an Amazon suggestion based on my other choices but I am so glad that it was.  Rebecca Donovan is truly talented.  The subject matter she takes up is hard and emotional. 

You find yourself attached to the characters and feeling like you are really going along for the story.  These books will take you through a roller coaster of emotions, everything from sad, scared, frustrated to happy, and heartwarming. 

Honestly, it’s a five stars kind of book for me and I can’t wait for the next book. 

On the Island - Tracey Garvis Graves

Two people stranded on an island struggle to survive—and slowly fall in love—in the runaway New York Times bestseller, now available with a reading group guide and a letter from the authorAnna Emerson is a thirty-year-old English teacher desperately in need of adventure. Worn down by the cold Chicago winters and a relationship that’s going nowhere, she jumps at the chance to spend the summer on a tropical island tutoring sixteen-year-old T.J.

T.J. Callahan has no desire to go anywhere. His cancer is in remission and he wants to get back to his normal life. But his parents are insisting he spend the summer in the Maldives catching up on all the school he missed last year.

Anna and T.J. board a private plane headed to the Callahan’s summer home, and as they fly over the Maldives’ twelve hundred islands, the unthinkable happens. Their plane crashes in shark-infested waters. They make it to shore, but soon discover that they’re stranded on an uninhabited island.

At first, their only thought is survival. But as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.’s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

If you've seen The Blue Lagoon, or were too young and have seen Return to the Blue Lagoon, you've already got an idea of what this story was about.  The added twist to this story is the age difference between Anna and T.J. 

The age difference was what kept this story interesting to me since I've seen both of the above movies countless times.  I was interested to see if they could make it off the island, what kind of relationship they would be able to have. 

I had originally thought I probably wouldn't re-read this story, but after some time has passed...I might actually consider giving it a re-read.  This is a good beach story, or if you're looking for a story that isn't too angsty but with just enough drama to keep you interested. 

Gabriel's Inferno Series - Sylvain Reynard

Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption.

When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide.

An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, “Gabriel's Inferno” is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love.

Another April suggestion and another series I couldn't put down.  I think if I had known more about Dante I would have enjoyed these two books a little bit more but as it was I enjoyed them just fine.  I started off not liking Gabriel at all and wanting her to just forget about him and move forward with Paul.  But I was wrong and by Gabriel's Rapture (the second book) I was back on board with everything working toward a HEA. 

These books have some dark sides to them, and they are quite long but I truly enjoyed reading them.  I would say I haven't re-read them at this point but that might be due more to the length of the books than the content of them.

The Marriage Bargain

A marriage in name only...

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: Avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?

Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

This story was a bit predictable from beginning to end.  I could have pretty much told you what was going to happen within a few chapters.  That being said, I was an easy read.  I definitely wouldn't read it again, it didn't pull at me the way others have, but if you like a predictable story as to not cause you any drama - this one is a good choice.

Bared to You - Sylvia Day

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness... He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private worlds...and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

This book was another April suggestion...I told you my own person Oprah! I will say it reminded me a lot of Fifty Shades.  The characters while placed in different cities did have some similarities and of course had enough differences to make them two different books. 

Once I looked passed the similarities it was easy to enjoy this story.  I haven't given this one a re-read yet as I'm waiting for the release date of the next book, which I believe will be sometime in October.  It's already available for pre-order on Amazon.

I do feel this series needs some more character development which I'm hoping to see in book 2.

Crash - Nicole Williams

Southpointe High is the last place Lucy wanted to wind up her senior year of school. Right up until she stumbles into Jude Ryder, a guy whose name has become its own verb, and synonymous with trouble. He's got a rap sheet that runs longer than a senior thesis, has had his name sighed, shouted, and cursed by more women than Lucy dares to ask, and lives at the local boys home where disturbed seems to be the status quo for the residents. Lucy had a stable at best, quirky at worst, upbringing. She lives for wearing the satin down on her ballet shoes, has her sights set on Julliard, and has been careful to keep trouble out of her life. Up until now. Jude's everything she needs to stay away from if she wants to separate her past from her future. Staying away, she's about to find out, is the only thing she's incapable of. For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love's about to become the thing that tears them apart.

To go from writing books with a supernatural twist to a story about two high school kids has got to be a tough transition. Nicole Williams found a way to bring drama to the story without anything paranormal. The sparks are flying at the beginning of the story and continue all the way through. You get bits and pieces of their individual stories as they go along and feel for the bad guy who is really good on the inside and the perfect ballerina who is anything but perfect.

They both make bad choices and do the wrong thing and you can't help but get frustrated at times and then there is a twist that I actually didn't see coming. Usually I'm pretty good and figuring out what is going to happen but not this time. She actually got me. Good job Ms. Williams!

I loved the Eden trilogy, I loved Fissure and can't wait for Fusion and I read Crash in a day. I will buy and read anything Nicole Williams writes.

The Providence Series - Jamie McGuire

After reading two other books, and missing Travis & Abby still - I decided to see what else Jamie McGuire had to offer a reader.  I learned that The Providence Series took a turn in the supernatural world and introduced us to another side of it by bringing a religious aspect to the table.  Mostly I loved this series.  I will say I do play favorites with series and I think with this one in particular the first book is probably my favorite.  I would say I loved the first two and liked the last one just because I wasn't in love with the way it all ended.  Below are the reviews I posted to Amazon and a little about the first book:

In the old world shadows of Providence, Rhode Island, Nina Grey finds herself the center of a war between Hell and Earth.

Struggling with her father’s recent death, Nina meets Jared Ryel by chance…or so she believes. Although his stunning good looks and mysterious talents are a welcome distraction, it soon becomes clear that Jared knows more about Nina than even her friends at Brown University. When questions outnumber answers, Jared risks everything to keep the woman he was born to save—by sharing the secret he was sworn to protect.

When her father’s former associates begin following her in the dark, Nina learns that her father is not the man she thought he was, but a thief who stole from demons. Searching for the truth behind her father’s death, Nina stumbles upon something she never expected—something Hell wants—and only she holds the key.

Providence
I read this book after reading Beautiful Disaster (which by the way I loved) hoping to find the spark I felt for Travis and Pigeon/Abby. Like Beautiful Disaster I enjoyed more than just the main two characters and truly couldn't put the book down reading about their stories. I had no idea when I started this that it was a three part series, so I found myself hoping for more when it ended and was pleasantly surprised when I got to the end that there was a sequel (with Beautiful Disaster I just re-read the book twice).

I enjoyed the setting of the book and found that I could really picture the town while I've never actually been that far north. I really liked Nina and was pleased that her character wasn't as annoying as some female characters in these types of stories (ie Bella in Twilight). I felt from the first pages that I could understand her pain of losing her father and wanted for her to find some relief to the sadness in her life - enter Jared. I honestly can say I didn't fall for him as quickly as other main male characters (ie Travis in Beautiful Disaster or Christian in the Fifty Shades trilogy), but I did eventually fall for him as well. Her friends were great and I loved Ryan and Beth and Claire almost as much as Nina and Jared (much like I felt about America and Shepley), this author does a great job of incorporating the supporting cast and making you love them too.

This was my favorite of the three by far, and although I loved it and couldn't put it down I would say that I didn't love it as much as Beautiful Disaster so I can only give it 4 stars.

I did find some grammatical errors and missing/wrong words while reading it, which in this day and age I find a bit annoying.

I would recommend the book, however I would note, I was not as pleased with book three as book one.

Requiem
As I ended the first book of this series, I was delighted to find out there was a sequel. I have recently read the Fifty Shades Trilogy and Beautiful Disaster and at the end of both I felt a longing for wanting more and this sequel finally gave me that. Once I found out it was a trilogy also I downloaded this book and Eden right away.
I still felt attached to the characters and actually grew to love Bex and Lillian (still not so much Cynthia, but I guess you're not supposed to love her). I felt we learned more about some of the supporting characters and also fell more in love with Jared and Nina.
I read this one as feverishly as I read the first and felt like she picked up the story line without giving us too much of the "love triangle" aspect that many stories rely on. I liked how she kept us wanting to know more of the secrets of this world she created.

Again (like my first review) I felt that finding errors in all three books was annoying. But other than that I was happy to keep reading and still wanting more.

Eden
I finished the second book and went straight into the third book (three books, in three days!)

I was half excited and half sad that this series was abruptly coming to an end but I couldn't slow myself down, I had to know what was going to become of Jared & Nina, Claire & Ryan, Beth & Chad, Bex, and all the other characters in this book. I actually think toward the end Bex wound up being one of my favorite characters.

I liked this book, most of it I would have given 4 stars for just like the others. Yes, I found grammatical/proofreading type errors, which I again found seriously annoying - but by the time I got to this book, I had learned to let it go.

The only thing I didn't like about this book, and why I gave it one less star is that I felt we had a lot of story and build up over the first two books and then most of the third and then I felt that the ending was rushed. It was this whole story of good vs. evil and then it was just over. I'm not sure if everyone felt this way or if it's just me, nor am I exactly sure how it could have been made better but it left me feeling annoyed when it was over, because I just felt incomplete. Not in the way like with Beautiful Disaster, I just wanted more Travis and Pigeon/Abby, but sort of like I felt let down that it was just kind of over. Here's evil, because He said so, the end.

Obviously, you have to read it if you are reading the first two, but I personally found just the last few chapters a little rushed and I was for the first time annoyed with Nina.