More Than Meets the Ink - Elle Aycart

Wickedly sexy James Bowen is a bad boy of the highest order -- tattoos and attitude included -- which unfortunately ranks way up on Tate’s not-a-chance-in-hell list, right there along with skydiving naked over Teheran and juggling Ebola vials just for kicks. But what the heck, she’s on holiday, the guy is absolutely irresistible, and she needs to unplug from her life. With her dad and brother gone, Tate is left to deal with the family restaurant, which is fast going down the drain. Her employees are acting out, her boyfriend has bailed out, and her very own private stalker is emailing her to death with lovely threats of doom, fire, and dismemberment. So yeah, maybe a little holiday fling is in order. Strictly sex though, and no follow-up whatsoever once.

She hadn’t counted on her take-charge holiday fling having an opinion of his own and stubbornly sticking around, before and after the sex, making himself at home in her life. There is definitely more to James than meets her prejudiced eye, and even if she's not ready to look deeper, James isn't prepared to permit her not to.

I didn't know what to expect from this book other than a tattooed body. What we got with James was so so much more than the ink.

Tate has recently been through a tough time in her life and is still dealing with the aftermath of it. She's lost a lot and is taking on some serious family responsibility. She meets James while visiting her mother in Florida and assumes based on his looks that he's the typical bad boy type that her sister always dates and gets her heart broken by. Since she's on vacation and James is making it known he wants to sleep with her, she decides as long as it's just sex – she is okay with it.

ooohhheemmmmgeee!!! JAMES!!!! "He should come with a warning label from the health department: Handle with extreme caution and use at your own peril. Looking will cause palpitations dizziness, and hyperventilation." Soooo true! James is one of my new favorite book boyfriends. He was sarcastic, funny, sexy, possessive, protective...he's too much to put into words.

He doesn't like being judged by his looks and the guys she's previously known. While commitment is usually the last thing on his mind and he would normally be into a sex with no strings relationship, he can't seem to stop himself from wanting more from Tate. Except she keeps pushing him away.

Their relationship was always one step forward, one step back. Every time James would break down a wall, she would push him back into another one. I was so frustrated by her lack of trust in him even after he kept proving time and again that he wasn't the type of guy she assumed him to be. A man can only take being pushed away so many times. It made me a little crazy, but James made this book totally worth the read. It's steamy, sexy, and at times even funny. Four stars!

Ceaseless (Existence #3) - Abbi Glines

Can he make her fall in love with him… again?

When Pagan Moore proved worthy of Death’s devotion, he was given the gift of getting to keep her.

But Dank was never promised that Pagan would keep him.

When a soul is created, so is its mate. In every lifetime those souls find each other. They complete the other’s destiny. It’s time for Pagan’s soul to choose if she truly wants an eternity at Death’s side or if she wants the mate created just for her.

Dank didn’t think he had to worry about her choice. He knew where her heart belonged. Until he realized that every kiss, every touch, every moment of their time together would be washed from her memories. He would have to win her heart all over again and prove to her soul that he was where she belonged.

If only her soul’s mate wasn’t right there standing in his way.

First let me start by saying I really like all my three star books.  It’s the one and two star books I either didn’t like or had serious problems with.  With that being said, I did like this book and I loved this series…I was just hoping for something more.  Please don’t throw things at me, I swear I really do like Abbi Glines!

I loved Existence and Predestined.  I really enjoyed the different take on the paranormal and the fact that Dank was Death was something different and inspired! But there was just something about this book that was anticlimactic for me.  I think because I loved the first two, I was really anticipating this book being the best of the three. 

The premise was great! She can’t remember anything about Dank or who he is… The man whose soul was made to be with hers in back in her life…  He’s her freakin’ soul mate…this is good stuff.  But this is where it fell flat for me.  I wanted more.  I wanted the war for Pagan’s heart to be stronger in this book than it was in the previous two books but I just felt like it wasn’t.  To me it just felt like some of the magic from the first two books was missing in this one. 

That’s not to mean it isn’t worth the read, and certainly if you read the first two it is a must! But compared to the other two books, this one just wasn’t my favorite.  I did love the covers to all three books!

 



Predestined (Existence #2) - Abbi Glines

You would think after helping save her boyfriend from an eternity in Hell that things would go back to normal. Well, as normal as life can be when you can see souls and your boyfriend is Death. But for Pagan Moore, things are just getting weirder.

The high school quarterback and reigning heartthrob, Leif Montgomery, is missing. While the town is in a frenzy of worry, Pagan is a nervous wreck for other reasons. Apparently good ‘ol Leif isn’t your average teenage boy. He isn’t even human. According to Death, Leif doesn’t have a soul. The quarterback may have skipped town but he’s still showing up in Pagan’s dreams... uninvited.

Dank has known from the beginning Leif wasn’t human. But he hadn’t worried about a simple soulless creature. Now, he realizes he made a grave mistake. Pagan’s soul has been marked since birth as a restitution, to a spirit so dark not even Death walks near it. Dank knows saving Pagan’s soul won’t be easy but Pagan is his. And he’s already proven he’ll defy Heaven to keep her. If Hell wants a piece of him too, then bring it on.

 

I read this book immediately following Existence and to be honest, they sort of run together in my mind now...but what we know at this point is that Pagan loves Dank (still can't get over that name!) and Leif is not exactly the "normal" high school quarter back we thought he was.

But we do learn there is more to the Leif and Pagan story and it can't just end with her choosing to love Dank for as long as she can. Again, I knew she wanted Dank and I knew he is who she wanted to choose, but I couldn't help feeling bad for Leif. He truly believes he loves her and he has weirdly been a part of her life for a long time. I believed he would do anything to make her happy and felt heartache for him when she continually chose Death over him.

I love that you can truly see Pagan's love for her family and friends by doing whatever she thinks is necessary to keep everyone safe. She does this in Existence, which is how she proves to The Creator her love for Dank and she does it again in this book.

This story takes some turns I didn't see coming and I always love when that happens. I constantly find myself trying to figure out what is going to happen in these stories and am usually right in the end, but with these there have been twists and turns I couldn't predict and I love that about her stories.

I am definitely excited for Ceaseless now!

 

Existence - Abbi Glines

What happens when you're stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.

Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead.

Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.

He is Death and he's about to break all the rules. 

Abbi Glines does paranormal...and she does it well! I am so glad that I went back and read these books after having read the Sea Breeze series. I love an author that can do both the normal YA romance and the paranormal (Nicole Williams and Jamie McGuire come to mind) and now that I've read this book by Abbi Glines, I will certainly be adding her to the mix.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, I mean what do you say when you know the main character is going to fall for Death? How do you even go about making that work? And then there is Leif who you can't help but fall for, at least in the beginning. I was torn at first as to whether I wanted her to just pick the "normal" road and be with Leif, or pursue Dank knowing it could not possibly end well.

The only thing that really drove me crazy about this book were the names, Pagan? Leif?? Dank??? I guess it's better than referring to him as Death but really? These names definitely take the originality cake!

 

 

Forever Mine (The Moreno Brothers) - Elizabeth Reyes

Seventeen-year old Sarah's life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She's forced to move, leaving behind everything she's ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her one goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno. Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be "just friends". The problem? Sarah's best friend Sydney is not a girl. With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark about the guy waiting for her back home? 

Do you know those stories when you just want to kick a girl? I know I’ve read a few where I was just so frustrated with a character that I just wanted to slap her around a little bit.  Sometimes I just wanted to shake Sarah around and I was wishing Valerie (her cousin) would do that for me.  Yes, I know…violence is not the answer but since she’s fictional, I’m giving myself a pass on this one! 

For the most part, I liked Sarah.  I always feel bad for a character that has to change schools in high school, especially their senior year.  It’s not a personal connection, I never had to do it…I just can’t imagine having to do it.  But then there were the things that drove me crazy…like keeping secrets from your boyfriend (hello, Kiera!) and a little bit of the naivety that she had that I found surprising (if it walks like a duck…).   

On the other hand while I loved Angel, and I didn’t mind his jealousy to a point, I honestly do believe that guys and girls can be just friends as long as that is truly all they want from each other, friendship.  It’s when one or the other wants more that things get complicated.  It all goes back to telling the truth about Sydney from the beginning…lying about it makes it seem like more than it is! 

I really enjoyed the supporting characters in this book also.  I liked her cousin Valerie, I liked that she was her own person with her own way about her.  I enjoyed her best friend being a guy, it’s not something you see in a lot of stories, but definitely something I could related to.  I loved Angel’s brother and his sister Sofia.  I even liked that Angel’s friends were well enough written to be a bigger part of the story.   

This was my first book by Elizabeth Reyes, and happy to say I bought the rest of the books in this series last night and started on book 2 right away! I’m not sure I’ll love any of the other couples as much as Sarah & Angel, but I’m going to try.  I am also hoping they make some appearances in the coming books!

 

 

Down to You - M. Leighton

The scorching tale of one girl and two brothers in a love triangle…that’s not.

Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white.

But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.

Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her.

Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them.

Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire.

She wants them both.

And they want her.

How will she ever choose between them? 

First I want to note that I was 100% TEAM CASH the whole book!!! J LOVE HIM!!!!!!!! (Okay, I had to let that out, I feel better now!) 

So, after reading the teasers that Michelle posted while waiting for this book to be released, I thought I had an idea of what this story was going to be about…and I was completely wrong.  From the first chapter I was wrong, but I liked that! She kept me guessing! 

My brain is always trying to figure out what the end game is in a story.  How’s it all going to come together? I had a few ideas on this one and even came close to the right answer but never fully and I loved that! I love when I can’t predict what’s going to happen! 

I liked Olivia, she seemed like such a normal main character.  Good student, good work ethic, friends that love her and a Dad she adores.  The way she was trying to decide between the two brothers reminded me a little bit of Beautiful Disaster…the one you want vs. the one you think you should want.  The big difference here was that they both were smokin’ hot twins! (Isn’t that every male fantasy?!?!) Well with these two, I think twins just became every female fantasy too!  

The bad boy, owns a club, seems to be a playboy and is very forward with his sexual wants.  Even still I always thought there was more to Cash and found myself rooting for Olivia to choose him.  Even if all he was offering up front was a “friends with benefits” type relationship, and even if he was her boss.  There was just something about him that seemed deeper to me than just the playboy.  I felt like I wanted and had to know more about him the whole time I was reading, and found myself disappointed in Olivia when she felt drawn to Nash.   

The good guy has a girlfriend! And the girlfriend was her bitchy, stuck up, thinks she’s better than everyone else cousin.  That was just the end of the good guy for me.  I know he was smart, sweet and looks at her like he shouldn’t but a girlfriend is a girlfriend.  Even if she sucks! Plus there was just always something that didn’t seem right to me about Nash.  I just couldn’t put my finger directly on it.  

Secrets revealed and steamy scenes add to the awesomeness that is Down to You! But now there is just me, waiting (pouting) for book two to be written…and believe me when I tell you…you will feel like you NEED TO KNOW what happens next!

 



One Pink Line - Dina Silver

Can the love of a lifetime be forever changed by one pink line? Dina Silver's tender, absorbing novel, One Pink Line, is the warmhearted, wry story of love, loss and family, as seen through the prism of one singular, spirited young couple who find themselves in a predicament that changes the course of their lives, and those closest to them. With heart, humor and compassion, this debut work of women's fiction is certain to stir anyone who relishes a good laugh, can stand a good cry, and, above all believes in the redemptive power of love. This unique, contemporary story gives readers a dual perspective.

Sydney Shephard, a sweet-tempered, strong-natured college senior is young, in love with an exceptional man, and unexpectedly pregnant. Faced with a child she never planned for, she is forced to relay this news to her neurotic mother, relinquish her youth, and risk losing the love of her life. Then there's Grace, a daughter, who believed she was a product of this great love, grows to realize her existence is not what she assumed, and is left with profound and puzzling questions about who she really is.

Spanning generations and every imaginable emotion, One Pink Line reveals how two points of view can be dramatically at odds, and perhaps ultimately reconciled. Simultaneously deeply felt and lighthearted, One Pink Line deftly mines how the choices we make are able to alter so many lives, and how doing the right thing and living honestly can bring unexpected, hard-won happiness. It's a must-read for anyone who craves a great love story, absorbing characters, and plenty of laughs along the way. 

The story starts out with Sydney studying for college finals but as we move forward in her life, we also go into the past to see how she got to where she is today.  So we get to see when she meets the love of her life, Ethan, and how things progressed between them that got us to where she starts off the book.     

I felt like the supporting characters in this book were well written.  I liked both of her best friends (one in college and one in high school) and I thought her neurotic mom was just neurotic enough to dislike her sometimes.  Although, for me, her relationship with her sister fell a little flat.  I loved Ethan, he was probably my favorite character in the whole book (including Sydney and Grace.

So, here’s what I struggle with.  I liked this book but I didn’t love it…and I can’t really tell you why.  I bought this book and started reading it without knowing anything about it because I saw that a lot people were reading it and loving it.  I’m not sure knowing what it was about would have made any difference in my feeling for it.  I  just didn’t have the connection to this book, or its characters that I’ve had to other books.  I wish I could explain it better than that. It was well written and a good story, but for some reason, I just didn't feel an attachment to it.  

 

 

Deadly Obsession (Deadly Vices) - Kristine Cayne

When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer...

Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy's perfect life. But it's a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he's always wanted--if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream...

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant--and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what's happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who'll stop at nothing--not even murder--to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition. And the competition must be eliminated. 

I will be honest and say I didn’t know anything about this book when I started reading it.  I hadn’t even read the synopsis for the book.  It was gifted to me by an obviously awesome person who also hadn’t read it, so I didn’t have any expectations when I started reading it.  

Since Nic was a movie star it had a little bit of an Love Unscripted feel to it, but a bit darker.  The stalker in this book takes things those few steps further than any of the crazy fans in the LU series. 

I liked Lauren and Nic.  I liked that although Lauren had her head over heels kind of moments for the famous movie star, she mostly just wanted to spend time with the normal guy he was on the inside.  Their chemistry was well written. 

The story was a bit predictable, as in I knew who the stalker was pretty much right away.  I didn’t necessarily know how it was all going to play out, but I knew who the “bad guy” was.  It annoyed me a little bit when nobody seemed to get it sooner.

All in all it was a good read, I wouldn’t say I loved it, but I’m glad I read it.  Not sure I’ll read the other books in the Deadly Vices Series…but I wouldn’t rule anything out!

 

 

In Dreams - J. Sterling

When Katherine Johns starts dreaming about a boy she doesn't know, her college roommate Taylor is determined to find him. Convinced he must exist, Taylor is relentless... until she finds out exactly WHO the mysterious stranger really is.

The realization sends the girls down a path of unimaginable heartbreak as they learn how to navigate their new reality.

This book is intended for YA readers 12 and up, but I love J. Sterling so I didn’t even read the above before reading this book.  I read Chance Encounters and liked it and decided to buy whatever others books she had on amazon (while anxiously awaiting her new release The Perfect Game).  (I only feel this is important to tell you in light of some of my other 3 – 5 star review books that contain a lot more of the physical aspects of a relationship, this one does not.) 

Katherine (Kat) Johns is a freshman in college who moves all the way across the country for school (really Jenn, she traded Cali for Jersey? – one eye brow raised in question!).  She is a good girl from a good home just wanted something different.  She is rooming with Taylor who is from around the area the college is in and they become immediate friends.

Kat has a dream about a mystery guy who she feels an instant connection to (in her dream of course) and when she wakes up the feeling of him is all around her.  Taylor is sure that this guy might actually exist and they set out to find him.

Instead of the dream guy the girls found Cooper Donovan (a dreamy guy!) who Kat also found an instant attraction to.  He’s sweet, caring, athletic, and totally into her.  I LOVED Cooper! “If you don’t date Cooper the terrorists win”

So what should she do, live the life that is going on right in front of her with a totally hot guy who is pretty much perfect? Or keep hoping to meet the dream guy?

In Dreams came at the perfect time for me.  I have been reading a lot of angst-ridden books lately that have been messing with my head and my heart and while this book has it’s drama to keep you entertained, it was light enough that I didn’t feel messed up when it was over, I just felt happy.  Now I just have to sit back and wait for the sequel, which is actually a prequel! J

 



Crash (Sequel to Clash) - Nicole Williams

The only easy thing about Jude and Lucy’s relationship is their love for one another. Everything else is hard.

Especially when it comes to reining in Jude’s trigger touch temper and Lucy’s increasing jealousy of Jude’s Spirit Sister on the cheer squad who’s attached herself to him in just about every way a girl could. Feeling the stress of trying to hang on to her quintessential bad boy while becoming the foremost dancer in her class, Lucy knows something’s going to break. She wants both. She needs both. But if she doesn’t make a choice, she risks losing everything.

For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love might be the thing that just isn’t enough.

I LOVE JUDE AND LUCY!!! Okay, in all seriousness, if you enjoyed Crash, you will love Clash. You will still want to slap Lucy around a little for being such a girl but if I looked back to myself at 18, I'm pretty sure I'd want to slap her around too. All that says to me is that Nicole Williams created a character that we can all identify with.

Clash picks up where Crash left us off, with both Jude and Lucy following their dreams (although Jude's is a relatively new dream) and trying to work on their relationship together. Their schools are five hours apart which only then gives them weekends to be together and Jude is of course the starting QB for the Orangemen. College football, college parties, college girls...

Enter our new girl-to-hate, Adriana Vix (can't hate all the cheerleaders in the world, but definitely dislike this one). Adriana is the type of girl who has used her looks to get what she wants and isn't shy about making what she wants known...this cheerleader wants Jude Ryder (of course I'm sure she's not the only girl who wants Jude Ryder at Syracuse either).

Insecurities and trust issues will creep back into Lucy's world...between both their schedules, her school and dance and their family's issues, is this relationship really meant to be?

We also got to meet a few teammates of Jude's. Tony was easy to love right from the beginning. His banter with Jude and even Lucy was great and I thought it felt very normal college guy. That helped make them all totally believable characters (I know, the likelihood of a ballerina at Julliard dating any starting college qb is low but the actual characters were believable and likeable - well except of course the slutty ones).

This book was a quick read and I of course loved it. Mix a love story with some football, Nicole Williams may have tipped the "Tara's favorite author" scale in her favor...I love me some football!

I know this was a bonus book as Crash was supposed to be a stand alone novel, but even after this I'm still left wanting more.

 



On Dublin Street - Samantha Young

Four years ago, Jocelyn Butler left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Edinburgh. Burying the grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without any real attachments has worked well for her so far but when Joss moves into a fantastic apartment on Dublin Street, her carefully guarded world is shaken to its core by her new roommate’s sexy older brother.

Braden Carmichael is a man who always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Jocelyn in his bed. Knowing how skittish Joss is concerning any kind of relationship, Braden proposes a sexual arrangement that should satisfy the intense attraction between them without it developing into anything ‘more’. An intrigued Jocelyn agrees, completely unprepared for the Scotsman and his single-minded determination to strip the stubborn young woman bare…to the very soul. 

This book started out heartbreaking! I started reading this based on the recommendation of a friend and couldn't believe the prologue. I was not in the mood for a sad book, but I trusted my friend would not steer me wrong and I kept on reading. What I found was a book that was funny, steamy, heart-warming and lovable!

Joss has been through a lot in a very short amount of time. She's guarded and closed off and she runs away from her problems rather than facing them head on. She is a totally relatable character that you couldn't help but love. Even when she was pushing people away to keep herself from caring about anyone, I didn't get angry with her like I usually get with other main characters - I felt bad for her. I understand what pain like that must feel like and why she wouldn't want to go through it again.

When she is forced to move out of her current living situation (with her also closed off best friend from college) she finds herself in a nice part of town living with her complete opposite - upbeat, fun, outgoing and lovable Ellie.

Then there is Braden...*sigh* Braden is the sexy, smart, successful brother of Joss's new roommate Ellie. Braden is a man who knows and gets what he wants, and he want Joss...naked! When the tension between them gets to be too much to handle he persuades Joss into a friends with benefits type relationship that crosses too many lines at times. He wants into more than just her pants and she isn't looking for romance or to tell her deep dark secrets to anyone, but between Ellie and Braden she feels like someone is trying to knock down the ivory tower she's built herself into, and that doesn't make her happy.

I loved this book. There were laugh out loud moments and heart stopping type moments and hold onto your knickers type moments (yup, I've seen that word in too many of my books now that I feel the need to start using it)!

Definitely a 4.5 star book for me!

Futures and Frosting (Chocolate Lovers 2) (Sequel to Seduction and Snacks) - Tara Sivec

Carter, Claire and Gavin have formed the perfect little family. Their friends are getting married and everyone is growing up, maturing and ready to face the future. Or are they? 

From bachelorette party hell, porn addictions, dinner roll baseball and botched wedding proposals to finding out everyone's extended family is chock full of crazy, Carter and Claire begin to question the strength of the ties that bind them. Unfortunately, these ties have nothing to do with fuzzy handcuffs and everything to do with the mounting differences between them. 

Will their friends make a mess of things with their inappropriate comments and need to know everything, or will they convince the couple that happily-ever-after sometimes really can start with beer pong?

WARNING: CONTAINS SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK N ROLL. Wait, no. Just sex and drugs. And boose and filthy language. Do not read if you have no sense of humor.

If you have a husband/boyfriend/significant other, or have ever had one that snores, the first chapter of this book alone is worth the price! And I can tell you from experience now that laughing so hard that you are shaking the entire bed does not help the sleeping person in said bed stop snoring either! 

Okay, so once again I freakin' love Tara Sivec!!! I loved this book! SOOOO freakin' funny! Honestly, I want to move her into my house and make her tell my funny stories all the time because I have never laughed so hard as when I read these two books. Oh, and I am totally stealing this line "Did you see that? The f*ck I give. It went that way." - GENIUS!

I still love Claire, and I still wish she was real because I still wish she was my friend. I still love Gavin...I am sure I would be completely mortified if he were my child, but since he's not - he's just f'ing hilarious! "My mom's not afraid to punch a kid"

Of course Liz and Jenny and Drew and Jim are still awesome! Jenny and her wrong words and Drew and his t-shirts are instrumental to the funniness.

The one thing I think I loved even more about this book was Carter. I liked him in the last book, but I loved him in this one! 

So she upped the awesomeness with Carter, kept the funny, sex toys and finally let Claire have a lot of sex!!! She even through in some more 80's movie references...FIVE STARS AGAIN!!!

I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!!!

A Love by Any Measure - Killian McRae

An Irish lass. An English lord. 
A love that overcomes all boundaries. 


August Grayson has secretly dreamt of the girl living on his family’s Irish estate since childhoods spent together in Killarney. Now a proper Lord of the British Empire, he knows that Maeve could never be more than just a distant fantasy. Still, if only... 

Maeve O’Connor owns nothing in this world but her good name, which proves just enough to win a proposal for a marriage of convenience to a good, Irish lad. Until the wedding, however, she’s in dire straits. Rent on the cottage she and her father share is due, but there simply isn’t the money to pay. Driven to desperation, Maeve hopes Lord Grayson, her childhood-chum-turned-dashing-English-rogue, will prove lenient when she comes seeking clemency. 

The temptation presented proves too much, and August offers Maeve a compromise: should she permit him twice as long on each succeeding visit to do whatever he wishes in pursuit of his pleasure, he will consider her rent paid. Starting with a mere five seconds, pulses soon out race the ticking clock, as August’s desires become Maeve’s own. Passion blinds them to the challenges closing in on both the Irish and English fronts, threatening to destroy them both. 

Working to bridge that which divides them, tempting fate with each stolen kiss, and torn between desire and obligation, Maeve and August must strive to overcome all and find a love by any measure.

I hadn't read anything about this book before I started reading it. I won it in a book giveaway and when looking for something to read this weekend, I thought I'd give it a try. Because of its older setting (Ireland in the late 1800's), it's a little bit slower of a read in the beginning. Once I got used to it, and could actually hear the accent in my head while I was reading, it became easier and I found myself enjoying the story without concentrating on it too much.

This book was different from most of the books I've read. Yes, there was a love triangle of sorts and yes there was a girl conflicted, but because a lot of the angst was based on history, I felt like I was reading some one's family story. It was all so real sounding.

Maeve is a poor Irish girl who lives with her father (her mother died). She is feisty and stubborn and shows the typical Irish girl many have come to expect. She is pre-engaged to the town blacksmith who she doesn't yet love but expects to be able to someday, as she says is the case with most marriages at that time.

Owen, the blacksmith is a good man who works hard and has promised to give Maeve everything she wants; a home, a good faithful husband, and children. You can tell he loves her and is willing to do anything to make her happy, including keeping her good name by not allowing their relationship to have a physical level because it would be looked upon poorly. So, until Owen can afford the rent on his place in town and the cottage in the country, they have to settle for being pre-engaged and waiting to marry Maeve.

In the meanwhile, after her mother has died and her father has been sick, they have not been able to pay the rent on their cottage and she needs to ask for time and perhaps trade for the rent so they don't lose their home. She's known August since they were children (when his mother was brought back to Ireland when she was dying), and at that time they were allowed to play together because it kept August busy. Now, as the current Lord and property owner she will have to deal with him to get the help she needs, and they haven't spoken since he returned to England after his mother died. Things have clearly changed since they were the little kids running around the countryside.

The chemistry between the two is tangible from the beginning. But what could it matter since they would never be able to act on it in a public way. Back in those days it was not okay for a common peasant girl to be involved with an English Lord, so the angst in this book is also a history lesson. Perhaps I'm biased because I've been to Ireland and see how the country is still not healed, but putting a forbidden love against the war torn back story to me was brilliant. A beautiful story.



Love Unrehearsed (Sequel to Love Unscripted) - Tina Reber

There is no rehearsal for true love.

When A-list movie star Ryan Christensen ducked into her pub to escape his screaming fans, never in a million years did Taryn Mitchell think her life was about to change forever.But now, eight months later, after a whirlwind romance, Taryn wakes up in Ryan’s Hollywood hotel room to find a diamond to die for on her left ring finger—and her face splashed across the cover of every gossip magazine.

Ryan’s very public proposal is catnip to the tabloids, his management team is worried, and Taryn must figure out how a small town girl like her fits into his glittering world. What does it take to make a relationship work amidst telephoto lenses, daily on-set temptations, and jealous fans who will stop at nothing to keep you from walking down the aisle with the man of your dreams?

With no script to follow and no chance for a dress rehearsal, Taryn and Ryan will be forced to take the plunge into real life and risk everything to make their love last.

Five Reasons to Love, Love Unrehearsed (LU2):

1. Ryan Christiansen - RYAN CHRISTIANSEN!!! *sigh* I really could list Ryan as reasons 1-5 as to why I love this book! I loved Ryan in the Love Unscripted but I loved him even more in this book. I feel like we got to see a little bit more of his take control personality as well as his softer love Taryn above all else side. I liked watching his protective nature with Taryn and with their relationship and even a bit of his possessiveness with her (but not in a dominating kind of way). This book gave us more depth to Ryan I thought and more sexy scenes with Ryan - can't complain about that!

2. Taryn Mitchell - While Taryn is still dealing with some insecurities in this book, they certainly aren't the type that made me crazy with her. I don't care how stunning you are, when the man you love is practically naked doing love scenes with another woman, you are going to get jealous! I can't fault her for that. I also can't fault her for wanting to not take advantage of Ryan and his money and for wanting to do things on her own. She shouldn't have to give up complete independence just because Ryan has millions.

3. Ryan & Taryn together - In this book we are still watching each of them grow as individuals but also how they are growing together as a couple. Watching them go from wanting to take their own problems on themselves to finding ways to work together to solve their problems. Working with each other and leaning on each other. I just love them together. They are one of my favorite couples.

4. Mike Murphy - We actually got more Mike Murphy in this book rather than him just being part of the background. We knew from LU1 that Ryan liked Mike a lot and Taryn trust him, but in this book we got to see more of his personality and I loved him!!  I would love to see a spin off for him.

5. The story itself - Tina gave us enough description and dialogue to truly make me feel like I was there while the story was being told. It was almost like a movie going on in my head. While they were on the red carpet, I was on the red carpet, while they were on set, I was on set...you get my point. The supporting characters were given enough of a role in the story that it all worked together and felt real. It makes you really look at celebrities in another light. So much of their lives are not really their own and you could feel that through these books.

I loved this book. I thought it was the perfect conclusion to Love Unscripted. I honestly couldn't have asked for anything more from Tina. I thought the story flowed well and it kept me interested...so interested in fact that I lost 4 ½ hours reading, looked at the clock and one point and then didn't look at it again until 4 ½ hours later and still could not pull my head away from my Kindle. I had to keep reading. This was one of the sequels I was eagerly waiting for and was not disappointed in it's arrival! Thank you Tina for giving us the complete story for Ryan & Taryn!

Fusion (The Patrick Chronicles 2) - Nicole Williams

Patrick Hayward isn’t used to feeling helpless. He’s a man of action used to controlling his destiny. But falling in love with Emma Scarlett had a way of upending everything, his sanity included.

Locked away as inmate number one-three-seven-oh for a crime he didn’t commit, Patrick spends his days slopping toxic sludge onto trays, resisting the urge to tear the heinous, scratchy, orange jumpsuit from his body, and making sure every hardened criminal behind bars with him knows he’s the biggest and baddest of them all.

With the help of his handy little gift of teleportation, his nights are spent watching a certain green eyed goddess from the shadows. When he discovers a couple of Inheritors stalking her one night, he realizes the obstacle of explaining who and what he is to Emma might not be the biggest battle they face.

I started off a giddy school girl to have my favorite brothers back.  Fusion starts with the epilogue from Fissure so I had William and Patrick back together right from the start.  As a self-proclaimed Willtrick girl (my inability to choose between brothers) I was super happy from the start. 

The only thing I thought was missing from Fissure was seeing Patrick with Bryn.  Their relationship was so amazing in the Eden series that I was hoping she would make an appearance in The Patrick Chronicles and I finally got it.  Although I absolutely wanted Bryn with William, I loved her relationship with Patrick as well, it was always the two of them against the world.  This book did not let me down in that area.  It brought Bryn and Patrick and their witty banter and their special kind of love back together within the first few chapters, my favorite trio was all back together (even if it was only at night while Patrick was popping in from jail) - and I was a happy girl!

If I was honest with myself, I would say that I knew what was going to happen in this book…I knew while I was reading Fissure and I can pinpoint exactly when I knew.  But it’s like knowing your favorite team is going to lose in the super bowl, no matter how bad it is, you keep telling yourself there is still a chance and you still find yourself utterly devastated when they eventually do lose the game.  That’s how I feel right now! I knew what was going to happen, yet I’m still devastated by it. 

 
Patrick is the same character we have always loved, but he’s grown a little and I found a way to love him that much more (making the ability to pick a favorite brother that much harder).  I love the way he loves Emma and the way he loves his family and of course the way they all love him in return. 

Nicole Williams gave us five books full of these amazing characters.  She definitely had me emotionally invested.  Unfortunately for me, that emotional investment turned into crying like a baby at 12:30 at night (I mean hysterical, had to go into the other room as to not wake my husband and facebook messaging Nicole to tell her I was mad at her, crazy upset)…  Do I wish the story could have been a different? Of course! But then it wouldn’t have been Patrick and Emma’s story.  Was it sill beautiful in its own way? Absolutely! But just because I understand why she broke my heart, doesn’t mean I like it!

I’m sad to see this series end, but am looking forward to whatever Nicole writes next. 

Taking Chances - Molly McAdams

Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career Marine of a father's thumb. Ready to live life her own way and experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit; she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.

Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family and emotions. Some she wasn't expecting yet, and others she never knew she was missing.

She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with her boyfriend Brandon, and her roommate's brother Chase. Covered in tattoos, known for fighting in the Underground and ridiculously muscled...they're exactly what she was always warned to stay away from, but just what she needs. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both adore and would do anything for Harper, including stepping back if it means she's happy.

Her first year away is turning out to be near perfect, but one weekend of giving in to heated passion will change everything.

I can't tell you how many times my heart stopped on my flight from Minneapolis back to Baltimore while reading this book. I was starting to feel like a damn crazy person loving this book one minute, hating it the next. I was Team Carter, Team Brandon, Team Chase, Team Brandon, Team Chase, Team Brandon - I couldn't decide!

Just when I thought things were going to be okay BAM! Molly McAdams threw in another curve that led to a twist that I totally didn't see coming. It made me sit straight up in bed yell WHAT?!?! and start crying (not for the first time might I add). I literally thought out loud, Good Lord what is this woman doing to me?!?! First I'm laughing out loud then I'm wiping away tears - literally feeling crazy!

I finally finished this book but have been on the brink of tears ever since and can't seem to shake myself out of the fog. I don't mean to say that there weren't funny moments or light moments in this book also because there absolutely were and some of the things that make you want to cry are happy moments too, but Jeez...I don't think my heart could have taken any more!

A lot of female main characters annoy me, and I know some will probably say that Harper annoyed them too, but I didn't feel that way. I (for once) actually understood her pull to first Chase then Brandon (then Chase, then Brandon...).

She leaves her "home" full of Marines to find herself with her new college roommate Bree (fun, funny, outgoing, and quickly becomes the sister she never had) at a party hosted by Bree's brother and his housemates. Harper has been sheltered away from things like this her whole life. She was home schooled and protected by her jarheads, so even this small introduction of a party is well outside her normal comfort zone. Not to mention it's the first time she's ever dressed like a girl. This is also where she meets Bree's brother Chase and he is exactly the kind of guy she has been warned to stay away from...he's the super sexy surfer type who is tattooed and has had multiple girls on his harm all night. He's a typical college playboy who isn't looking for a relationship, and while Harper knows Chase is no good for her, she can't help her attraction and feelings toward him...who could blame her!

While dealing with her conflicted feelings about Chase (loving and hating him), she meets Brandon (Chase's housemate) who is also a hot body and killer smile but learns he's also genuine, smart, caring and about any other adjective that makes him just about perfect...because he pretty much is! She easily falls in love with Brandon, and I have to say I felt like I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop with this guy because I just couldn't believe how perfect he was...

I have a ton of favorite quotes from both of them but don't want to give anything away...

So what happens when two amazing guys fall for the same girl...lots of drama and heartache for me! This book is a journey to self-discovery, it's about love and loss and more love. It's about family, even if not in the traditional sense. It's about forgiveness and second chances.

It's hard to say you love something that leaves you an emotional wreck, but I did, I loved it. And I will read it again someday. But right now I'm still in mourning...I couldn't even start another book right away, I had to take the rest of the night off (a first for me!).

To have an emotional response to a book for me, makes it a good book. This was a great book. Five stars for me, one star for every time I cried!