Rushed - Gina Robinson

A girl who has everything. A guy who has everything to lose.

Some things can't be…

RUSHED

Alexis
Like there has ever been any doubt which sorority my family expects me to pledge. I'm a third generation legacy. On the first day of rush, I realize I'm in trouble. I'm not like the other girls in the house. But as long as my parents control my college funds, resisting is futile. Until Zach, the live-in houseboy, who's quite possibly the hottest guy I will ever meet, serves me a cupcake and flashes me a sympathetic look. With one enigmatic smile, he flips my heart and my world upside down. My parents will cut me off if they even suspect I'm interested in a house guy. But I can't stay away from him. And so I pledge the house for all the wrong reasons.

Zach
Living in a sorority? I get flipped a load of crap about being a live-in servant, the help. Easy access to the hottest girls on campus? Not with the unbreakable rule—get caught with one of the girls and you're fired. Immediately. Lose this job and I can't afford college. I sure as hell can't ask my parents for help. They wish I'd never been born. Considering what I did, I don't blame them. I've learned to think of the girls like sisters. Until Alexis pledges the house. Now sister is the last thing on my mind.

Oh the struggle I have with books like this. 

There are not many things in life I claim to be an expert about…the Yankees in the 90’s, Notre Dame Football since the Lou Holtz era (minus the Bob Davies years that I pretend didn’t exist), my personal likes and dislikes, and sorority life as I knew it.  I will be the first to tell you, sororities are different campus to campus.  The culture is different.  The same sorority at two different schools could be complete polar opposites.  At my school you wore school colors with pride to a sporting event.  Some people painted their faces and we cheered for our team, even the girls that didn’t care about football.  Jeans, yoga pants and t-shirts or sweatshirts with the school name or logo.  In the south, they were pearls and dresses and treat it as a dress up event… it’s football…but that’s how they do it.  But the rules for recruitment, the things you are and are not allowed to do – that I know! I have been on every side of formal recruitment and this book did not exactly get them correct. 

I’m not sure if the author was Greek and not really involved/misinterpreted what she learned or if she maybe misinterpreted what she learned through internet research, books, movies and tv.  For me, the inaccuracies in the beginning of the books (during “rush”) were distracting.  I had a hard time staying involved in the story…I wanted to look up the NPC rules and paste them in my status updates instead.  Think I’m kidding…. https://www.npcwomen.org/resources/pdf/Unanimous%20Agreements.pdf … but don’t worry, I didn’t type out all of the issues, I won’t bore you with the details of that.

It made me realize something about myself – I need to stop reading books about sorority life.  That’s a personal thing, so I tried to move past it.  That took me to about halfway through.

I considered DNFing…it’s all the stereotypical things you’ve come to hear about the hierarchy of the Greek system.  The hot blondes at the top, the fat or ugly or weird girls at the bottom (did you see House Bunny? – like that).  But there were some things she got pretty spot on – like Homecoming activities, I could totally see happening.  So I kept going…

Thankfully, there were a few redeeming characters that kept me reading (Kayla, the houseboys, even Kelly and Dakota weren’t so bad) and in the end, I enjoyed most of the second half of the book.  Once I could get passed some of my own issues (that someone who wasn’t Greek wouldn’t necessarily pick up on), I wanted to see how it was going to play out.  Some things were pretty predictable, but there were a few things that caught me by surprise in a good way.  But then the end happened, and much like the attraction between Alexis and Zach,  I felt like it was just rushed through.

In the end, it was probably Zach that kept me reading.  I really liked his character and I wanted to see how it would all play out.  I also really liked Dakota’s character, it didn’t go exactly like I thought it would with him…but that wound up being okay too.  I’ll be honest, Alexis kind of got on my nerves, but she’s an 18 year old sorority girls.  Looking back at myself at that time, I’d get on my nerves now too. 

All in all, this probably wasn’t the story for me but I am sure there are people who will enjoy it.  Definite plus that it doesn’t have a cliffhanger – if you don’t want it to. 

 

 

Night Owl (The Night Owl Trilogy #1) - M. Pierce

At twenty-eight, Matt Sky has the perfect life. He has a beautiful girlfriend, a massive inheritance, and four national bestsellers -- all penned under his airtight alias, M. Pierce.

At twenty-seven, Hannah Catalano is a train wreck. Her boyfriend is a deadbeat and her job is abysmal.

Matt and Hannah meet online as writing partners. Their relationship is safe, anonymous, and innocent...

Until Matt sees a picture of Hannah. Hannah's picture sparks an attraction Matt is powerless to ignore. When circumstance brings Matt and Hannah together, the strangers begin a love story that's passionate, poignant, unforgettable, and unstoppable.


From bestselling ebook author M. Pierce comes Night Owl, the first novel in a provocative erotic trilogy where an anonymous online writing partnership turns into an uncontrollable, passionate obsession. 

After the first few chapters of this book, I wasn’t sure how I was feeling about it.  It seemed to be sex, sex and more sex…not that sex is a bad thing but I didn’t feel like I was getting to know Matt or Hannah.  When they start their relationship as Night Owl (Matt) and Little Bird (Hannah), they agree to be anonymous.  Matt’s rule, no personal information.  He was only looking for a writing partner.   

Something about their conversations sparked an interest in Matt.  One night he showed a little more interest than normal and things got electric quickly.  

That’s the part I didn’t understand in the beginning.  How could two people who didn’t really know anything  about each other have these intense feelings for each other.  And then I felt like it was all about the physical, and I’m not talking about a vanilla relationship here.   

Since this book is told in an alternating POV, we do learn a little about each person as an individual and what they are thinking but you know that the other doesn’t know.  We know who Matt is and that he’s got a girlfriend, Hannah doesn’t.   

But then something happened, a combination of these mixed up characters and their flaws with the writing style of M. Pierce and I  didn’t realize I was almost finished with the book.  I had been learning about them as individuals, where I thought Hannah was weak, she turned out to be stronger than I thought.  Where I thought Matt was strong and domineering, we watch him fall apart.  I realized I was invested, and I wanted to know more.   

Just when I finally felt like I had righted myself with the story and it was smooth sailing to a happily ever…..not so fast! I read the epilogue and went back into the tailspin I started in.   

Okay, M. Pierce… I’m in! Bring on book 2!!!

**ARC provided by Net Galley**

Perfect Kind of Trouble (Finding Fate #2) - Chelsea Fine

Twenty-one-year-old Kayla Turner has lost everything. After spending most of her life taking care of her ailing mother, she just wants to spot a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. So when her late father-a man she barely knew-leaves her an inheritance, she finally breathes a sigh of relief . . . until she learns the inheritance comes with strings. Strings in the form of handsome playboy Daren Ackwood, her father's protégé. To see any of her inheritance, she's forced to team up with him. From his expensive car to those sexy dimples, Kayla's seen his type before. But Daren isn't who he seems to be . . .

Struggling to make amends for his family's mistakes, Daren has a life more Oliver Twist than Richie Rich these days. He's beyond grateful that James Turner included him in his will, but working with Turner's princess of a daughter to fulfill his cryptic last wish is making Daren wonder if being broke is really so bad. Still, she's just as beautiful as she is stubborn, and the more time he spends with Kayla, the less it feels right being without her. Soon Daren and Kayla begin to wonder if maybe the best gift Kayla's dad could have left them . . . was each other

Kayla is a twenty-one year old who is lost in life and has lost everything.  She's been out of town for five years and doesn't intend to stay longer than she has to.  She doesn't really know or trust anyone here.  Daren has lost everything that ever mattered to him, or at least what he thought mattered to him including the guy who took a chance on a kid and tried to teach him about the important things in life when he was just a selfish, spoiled child.

Kayla's quirky father left the two of them a mission, that they need to complete together in order to gain their reward.  Given the trust issues the both have, this is going to be next to impossible - but luckily for us, completely humorous.

Perfect Kind of Trouble is the second book in Chelsea Fine's Finding Fate Series.  The first book Best Kind of Broken, from what I understand, was FIne's first dive into the New Adult pool.  I reviewed that book as well and while I thought FIne's writing was good, there was still a YA feel to the story.  Frustrating characters with a lot of communication issues, something you would expect to see from younger people (not that it doesn't happen to us all sometimes).

This book, was a better fit for this category, and therefore for me, a better book.  Were there misconceptions? Yes...but that was two people judging a book by it's pretty cover.  It was the story and Fine did a good job in making me want to follow along, right until the end.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Kayla and Daren.  I liked that neither of them was falling all over themselves because of the other.  It wasn't a matter of he's too hot for  me, or she's too perfect like we see in other stories like this.  They both held grudges against each other and in their own minds were right in doing it.  Because this book is told in dual POV's, you even understand where each is coming from.  I think the sarcasm and banter actually was my favorite part of this book.
"As flattered as I am that you'd extend your public-servicing penis to me, I think I'm going to pass."  In the first book, I wouldn't have thought Fine had it in her but this book proved me wrong.

All in all I thought this book was better than the first and I would recommend it to readers looking for something cute and funny.  It's an easy read, I finished it one sitting, the story moves along well.  I am looking forward to Jenna's book (Finding Fate #3).

**ARC provided by Net Galley**

3.75 Stars!

Until Alex - J. Nathan

 

On the outside, Hayden is every girl's living breathing fantasy, brooding and devastatingly gorgeous. He spends his nights losing himself in alcohol and faceless girls, but it's all just a facade. An elaborate cover for the emotionless shell of a man he is. One who harbors too many secrets and destroys lives the way his was destroyed. It’s the reason he avoids relationships and keeps everyone at arm's length…

Until Alex

Alex’s life just shattered into a million pieces, leaving her with more grief than she knows what to do with and guilt so deep it’s destroyed the carefree girl she once was. Now she’s hundreds of miles from home, living with an aunt she doesn't know, finishing senior year at a college she’s never been to, and trying desperately to get through a single day without breaking down. She's never felt more alone in her life...

Until Hayden

The trouble with Hayden is who he wants to be and who he is are in constant flux. And though he’d die before letting Alex learn the truth about him, he can’t be sure he's strong enough to let her in…or push her away. She’s the one person who just might see the real him 

I’m honestly kind of torn about this book.  When you read through the prologue which is Hayden’s POV…you’re immediately thrust into his broken childhood.  He lives through something no child should have to know, let alone witness.  Then to bounce around in foster care until you can finally get out…you have a real idea why life is so hard for him and why he is broken now. 

He’s had very few real relationships in his life; two really and one of them is no longer around.  The other is his trouble-maker friend Remy.  Between the two of them alcohol, drugs, girls, and together working for a bookie doesn’t add up to a healthy life. 

Until Alex comes along… 

Alex has suffered through her own tragedy, and while that storyline takes some time to unfold you can somehow just understand to be where she is not – it must have been traumatic.  

And here’s where my issue is, I think.  Because that storyline takes time to unfold…I couldn’t really feel for Alex.  Even making his bad choices, I understood why Hayden was so messed up.  With Alex, though you know it’s something and you know it’s something big…it was hard for me to identify with her.  I kept going back to, if I went through something bad (not knowing what it was), I’m not sure I would have been like she was.  But that’s me personally. 

A little more than halfway through the book, I started coming around to their friendship and the struggles Hayden had with involving anyone in his life.  I finally starting hoping the two of them would be able to make it work and get to a HEA.  I really did enjoy Hayden.  I also liked the sarcastic nature of their relationship throughout the book.  I’m always good for a little witty banter and sarcastic undertones.   

All that being said, I’d say reading the reviews (which I did after I finished), most people are giving this book 5 stars.  My 3.5 stars could very well be a case of me personally not being able to identify with a main character and therefore my personal opinion is different than the majority.  I’d say for a debut novel, it’s certainly worth giving it a read.

 

**ARC provided by Net Galley**

 

 

Ready to Wed - Cindi Madsen

Is there anything worse than getting jilted at the altar? How about being a wedding planner getting jilted at the altar for your own wedding...on a cruise already out at sea? When Las Vegas resident Dakota Halifax loses her fiancé, she swears she's given up on love altogether. She pours her heart into her weekly wedding advice column and fills her days planning events to celebrate others' forever love. When her childhood best friend Brendan moves to Las Vegas and they reconnect, she starts to wonder if maybe love could find her again. But then her ex reappears, begging for another chance. Can someone once-burned and twice-shy ever find her way down the aisle again? 

“Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.”  

This story starts out a little heartbreaking.  Poor Dakota being stood up by her fiancé, and dealing with the emotions that go into waiting for someone and realizing they aren’t coming.  I could not even imagine what that would be like, let alone if you are a wedding planner.  Add to that the fact that you are in a foreign place on a boat… poor Dakota.  I instantly felt sympathy for her. 

But this book isn’t all sad.  Dakota is a reformed tomboy turned wedding planner – with a color chart like the terror threat levels but girlier.  She’s funny, smart and I highly enjoyed living in her head and letting it go where it might lead.  Her supporting cast of characters were just as entertaining – though aside from her and Brendan (whose team I was on from the moment he walks through the door), Wild Bill might be my favorite in the supporting role.  Or maybe the firefighters – they are funny too. 

But then there is Grant, he’s sorry – and he’s asking for a second chance.  I have to tell you, there was a piece of me that thought – ARE YOU FREAKIN’ KIDDING ME?!?! But then when we get to hear his side of the story, you actually understand it and feel sort of bad, and you wonder if she should give him another chance.  He tries so hard to get her to see that they are right for each other and that he does love and want to be with her.  He is after all, everything she thought she wanted.   

So it’s second chance love meets a best friend that moved away /second chance love… both my favorite types of storyline.  WHAT IS A GIRL TO DO?!?! Can I have them both? No… okay well if I must choose, I’m choosing Brendan for myself.  Dakota on the other hand, she’s got to choose the one that is right for her…the guy that gives her butterflies…  

“You just stand there.  I’ll do all the work.”  - I want that kiss! 

I also started to wonder if maybe she should just say forget it, be single and work on her life and her career (which becomes a bit of a struggle after the whole non-wedding thing).  I mean, let’s face it, she was with Grant for a while and she did say yes to marrying him, there had to be a reason.  Maybe she shouldn’t be so quick to go back down that road…but with the smiles and kind eyes between both these guys she was absolutely a goner.  And maybe I was too ;) 

This is the first time I’ve seen a love triangle work out where I didn’t hate either guy.  There was no villain, there was only real life – but more humorous and entertaining than real life is for most people. 

This was my first Cindi Madsen book and I have to say, it will not be my last.  I even found myself thinking of a certain character when I had to put the book down and go to work… SWOON-WORTHY!!! Believe me…actually don’t believe me, try this one out for yourself.  I went and purchased another one of her books right away. 

**ARC provided by Net Galley**

 

 

Before He Was Famous - Becky Wicks

One guy, one girl. One in the spotlight. One in the shadows.

Falling in love with your best friend isn’t always a great idea, especially when he’s Noah Lockton - the sexiest, most famous new talent on the planet. When 21-year-old small-town photographer Chloe Campbell is offered the chance of a lifetime – to join her celebrity childhood friend Noah on tour as an exclusive blogger for a New York magazine – she’s certain both have put what happened four years ago behind them. But his eyes still burn; his voice is still a jackhammer to her heartstrings; all his songs are about her. Is it possible that that night still haunts them both?

The music industry is a machine, spinning hype and rumors as much as his records. It’s not just Noah’s girlfriends who’ve got it in for Chloe (there’s no stopping the Twitter-obsessed, cat-loving pop-star Courtney Lentini for starters). Pretty soon, the jealousy and media frenzy surrounding these so-called-friends takes a life-changing turn and it seems making love means making enemies at every turn. When tragedy threatens to pull the final curtain on their relationship, both Chloe and Noah must make a choice. As much as this world leaves them starstruck, is living their dream really worth living without each other?

A story of lifelong friendships, love and hope, set in a world of celebrity, fame and social media gone very, very wrong.


From International Bestselling HarperCollins Author, Becky Wicks, comes a new adult romance that will leave you starstruck. 

***Warning: this book contains graphic language, sex, and mature situations. Not intended for young adult readers.***

"And love is just friendship with wings, isn't that what they say?"

This was a cute story, Noah & Chloe's story.  It took me back to my childhood when I used to pretend to be Wendy and watch Peter Pan every weekend.  I never had a Peter Pan though, and maybe that's why I always love a best friend love story.  

Sometimes the story works, you can see how it was one sided when they were younger or why it just wouldn't have worked.  In this case, I kind of got it but I kind of didn't.  

It seemed that each of them separately had feelings for the other, and everyone else around them knew it but somehow they didn't.  When tragedy strikes their lives, they make what they both do and don't consider a huge mistake that builds a wall in their friendship.  Don't get me wrong, they are still, talk every day kind of best friends but it's not the same.

This is where we join the story, Chloe living at home with her mom dating her stoner boyfriend of five years or so.  Noah is living in New York, working as a barista and trying to fulfill his dreams.  He's made it to the final 5 of a reality TV show singing competition (read as American Idol/The X Factor/etc.)

This story is a little predictable, a lot frustrating with the dual POV and the mixed signals and stupid choices.  It's a cute, fun, quick read.  I did wish there was a little bit more to the end.  I know there is a second book but it looks like it will be Alyssa's so an epilogue would have been a nice way to end it.

There was only one part of the story I wasn't a huge fan of, and I didn't think was completely necessary as the main characters created enough drama for themselves without the added twist but I see how the author plotted to the end point.  It's probably more of a personal choice for me, as this book has gotten a lot of great reviews.  

If you love a guy that can sing, and a cute but frustrating best friend love story, give this one a shot!

*ARC Provided by Net Galley*

Something True - Malia Mallory

Successful children's musician Shelley Taylor sings for all kids, but especially the sick ones. After her little sister died in childhood, Shelley founded the music charity KC's Kidz to entertain hospitalized children.

She didn't sign up to babysit a rockstar.

Irish bad boy superstar Liam Smith is in trouble with the law--again--and needs to perform community service. KC's Kidz seems like the perfect fit, especially since Shelley's as curvy as his favorite guitar and he wants to play her.

Liam's deep green eyes strike a chord in Shelley, and she makes him want to sing a different tune. But Liam lives in a spotlight so white hot it might burn them both before they discover the true music inside their hearts.

Honestly, this is a personal issue that I have with books right now. I miss the story...

The blurb for this story caught my attention, a baby boy rocker story with a different twist...there was so much story to tell. There were so many paths this story could have gone down - we could have discovered more about Liam. We sort of know why he went down the path he did but I felt like there was more story to tell.

Shelley's feelings about Liam turned so quickly I almost lost my head. 

I am personally not a fan of the growing trend of the novella or short story as a whole real story. The worst part for me, was that there was SO MUCH MORE story this author could have told. She had so many pieces of the puzzle she could have drawn from and made this the type of story you could get lost in.

I just felt like we had an introduction, a "let's be friends" type of storyline which quickly moved to a physical relationship and then the story was over. 

I guess if you are looking for a quick read without any drama - this is a good one.

*ARC provided by Net Galley*

More Than Music (A Chasing the Dream Novel) - Elizabeth Briggs

Music major Maddie Taylor seems to have her life all figured out. She’s just finished her junior year of college, has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, and plans to go to grad school to write movie scores. Only her roommates know she practices guitar every night and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars.

Tattooed singer Jared Cross has a new girl every week, but when he catches Maddie playing one of his songs, she attracts his attention in an unexpected way. His band needs a fourth member for The Sound, a reality TV show competition—and he wants her. Though Maddie refuses to be another notch on Jared’s bedpost, she agrees to risk everything for the chance to be a rock star. 

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared behind his flirty smile, and with each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore. When the show pressures Jared to flaunt his player image, they’re forced to keep their relationship secret, but Maddie can’t help but want something real.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.

More Than Music, that's what this story was about...more than just the music and Chasing the Dream. 

Maddie is a self-proclaimed geeky piano playing girl who also knows her way around a violin and a clarinet. But there's a part of her heart that knows she wants more than just a classical piano playing lifestyle.

Enter her friend Kyle who plays in a band. A band that just so happens will need some musical assistance for their audition on "The Sound" (read The Voice). 

The downfall is the ridiculous crush Maddie has on the band's lead singer and Kyle's brother, Jared. "How were normal girls like myself supposed to touch the sun without getting burned?"

This book had a lot of music references, which was cool but the predictability of it made it a little hard for me to give it more than three stars. 

After all was said and done, it was a quick read...I read it in one sitting and will probably read the follow up. I think I needed an epilogue in this story too though because I was left feeling like the wrap it all up in a pretty bow came a little too soon.

*ARC provided by Net Galley*

Ransom (Ransom Brothers #1) - Rachel Schurig

Daisy Harris has no reason to suspect that her day will be any different than usual. She’ll go to class, alone. She won’t speak or make eye contact. She’ll spend her entire day doing her best to go completely unnoticed. That’s what life is like for Daisy now—an endless cycle of loneliness and fear. A life lived hiding behind the walls she so faithfully maintains. 

Then she sees it. A magazine, left behind in class. A simple picture—just his face. And it changes everything. 

It’s been a year since she’s seen Daltrey Ransome. A year since he and his brothers left town to pursue their dreams of rock and roll superstardom. A year since he left Daisy behind—left her to watch as everything she knew crumbled around her. She’s been running from Daltrey ever since, desperate to keep her secret.

But she can’t run anymore. And now that Daltrey has found her—the girl he’s loved his entire life, the girl he’d give up everything for—he’s determined never to let her go again.


**The first book in a brand new series from USA Today bestselling author Rachel Schurig. This New Adult Contemporary Romance novel is a complete story with no cliffhanger.

This story was not what I was expecting. Typically rocker stories are all about the sex, drugs/alcohol, more sex and, well…rock and roll. This story was more cute than sexy and the music seemed to take a back seat to the their story…Daisy and Daltrey. What happened that drove them apart and can they find their way back to their friendship…to each other…to something more?

I loved that the story started out from his POV as a little kid. He was adorable – I know adorable is not the word you use for sexy rock star, but he was just that – adorable. I wish honestly, there had been a prequel or novella to give us more insight into Daisy and Daltrey as kids, I felt like I could have read more about that.

Then story then picks up years later with Daisy, and she’s not the same little girl we met in the prologue. I know, I know you are thinking…cue the broken girl with the sad story, and you are right. But somehow, for some reason I was able to look passed it with this one. I didn’t focus on it, I just wanted to see her find herself again. Does that mean she didn’t make me crazy at times? No. 

Maybe it’s all the Ransome brothers in total that made it easier to take. 4 brothers that make up the band, Cash the typical playboy, Reed and Lennon who seemed a bit more in the middle from the happy playboy to the brooding Daltrey. Enough personality to keep the story moving. Do I sometimes wish we had gotten to hear more of Daltrey’s perspective? Yes, but I also think it would have left less to wonder about – though to be honest, it was fairly obvious to me what was happening and nothing really surprising happened for my read through. 

This was a quick, fun read that I rolled through it one sitting. I loved Daltrey and Lennon and I’m hoping to read more about them someday.

That’s the one thing I would say…this story could have used an epilogue. I felt like we didn’t get a ton of time with these two and I needed a little more to make me feel complete. I know this is the first in a series, but there is no cliffhanger so I’m assuming book two will be another brother (LENNON, Please let it be Lennon!)…so with that being said, I wanted to see something a little more from these two.

They’ve been a part all this time and we only got a brief glimpse into what their life will be like. 

All in all it was a cute read. I’d definitely read the next when looking for something lighter!

Here’s the quote I pulled that really stuck with me:
“I had come to think of all humans as cruel, as calculating and selfish, to be feared and never trusted…[ ]…It’s not every day someone so completely restores your faith in humanity.”

*ARC provided by Net Galley*

Broken a novel - M.L. Young

Bailey Wrenn is a small town girl with a big back story. Her mother left when she was young, leaving her in the care of an out of touch alcoholic father that barely noticed her existence. After trudging through life with no clear direction, she begins to wonder if she needs to leave this scarred memory of a town behind and finally move on. When Bailey hears from her friend Julie that life in Chicago is great and she should come out sometime, she takes that open invitation, and comes to visit her old friend with no idea of when she’s going to leave. 

One night, after Julie drags her from the apartment to see a local fight, she sees Kyle, a mysterious MMA fighter with a winning streak and an elusive personality. He doesn’t talk to anybody after his fights, and disappears faster than Bailey can blink. One day during a chance encounter filling out job applications, Bailey runs into Kyle at his work, and the electricity between them is bright enough to light up the city. 

It’s only when they begin to get close, though, that things are turned upside down. An old boyfriend and a brutal and devastating past makes Bailey believe she can’t be close to another man ever again, even if he seems perfect. She feels alone. She’s broken. 

HEA and no cliffhanger! This is a standalone novel. 
*This book is recommended for readers 17 and up for violence, language, and some adult situations.

I read the blurb for this book and couldn't wait to read it. I started it the day I got it and initially stopped reading it at 12%. I was confused as to how the book and the blurb came from the same person.

I read a few other books by a couple different authors and then decided to give this another try. I picked up at the place I left off and hoped things would get better. 

I'm not 100% sure what it was for me mostly...the story lines that seemed to be incomplete? At 70% and even 90% I thought to myself, guess this one is going to be a series, and then it wasn't which means things were left unfinished. 

I had a hard time with the chemistry between the main characters. I thought Kyle was written very sweet...but I just didn't feel anything when I read their scenes. 

In some ways this book reminded me of others, and then in those scenes it would somehow fall flat in comparison - which probably didn't help how I was feeling about it. 

Broken was just that for me...awesome cover though!
**ARC provided by Net Galley**

Fight For You - Magan Vernon

A mafia prince who doesn't want the crown.
A girl who has secrets of her own.
One love that they'll both have to fight for.

Nicky Ragusa lives his life inside the cage, circuiting the underground ring to escape his fate as the mafia prince. When Jackie Marks crashes into his life, he’ll take the fight outside the cage.

But the battle for Jackie’s heart comes with a steep price. Nicky’s father has wanted him to take over the family business for years, and the time for running is over. Now Nicky is right where his father has always wanted him: in the middle of a war.

All Nicky has ever wanted to do was fight. Now all he has to do is fight for her.

I loved the blurb for this book... I was interested because he was a fighter (I have loved Travis Maddox for years and am always looking for the best new book boyfriend) and I thought this could be a combination of Sempre and Real, mob meets fighter and the sparks should fly.

I liked Nicky's family...

I really wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. There was something seriously missing for me. Something about the connection between Nicky and Jackie...something about Jackie all together...something about it just never felt right or complete to me.

I would add the extra 1/2 star because I did finish it, but honestly I think this could have been a remarkable book if we had gotten a little more depth to the characters. I just needed something more. In a market that is currently saturated with stories, I need something that makes me feel, and this story just didn't do that for me.

**ARC provided through NetGalley**