Make Me Yours, an all-new laugh out loud rom com from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is available now!
Aundi’s Musings…
5 Accidental Text Crowns
Melanie Harlow never fails to deliver superbly written stories that will have your heart beating out of your chest and your soul aching for the couples involved, and this book is no different. I died for Cole and Cheyenne these two owned me from the start and I could not put their story down until I had finished. Melanie delivers an addictive friends to lovers, brothers best friend romance that is sure to give you all the feels.
Cole is a single dad who has no intentions of dating anyone because he wants to give all his energy to his daughter and his job. He’s a widower and due to the unfortunate circumstances regarding his wife’s death he just doesn’t want to take the chance on love again. However, all that changes when he starts to notice the girl next door more than usual who also happens to be his best friend’s little sister. I loved Cole his heartbreaking story will have you tearing up for him on so many occasions because you just want to hug him and let him know it’s okay. This man is beyond sweet and the perfect gentleman until a late-night accidental text session sets of a chain of events changing both his and Cheyenne’s lives. I adored the text aspect of this story it was refreshing and new and it gave a little something extra to the story line. Not to mention it showcased Cole in an even sexier light when he get’s all growly dominate because of it.
Cheyenne is wonderful and such a sweetheart herself; she is a schoolteacher and has a special bond with Cole’s daughter Mariah. To say she was embarrassed by the text message is an understatement, but girl runs with it when it turns out differently when she expected, and I was there for it!! I loved the dynamic of Cole and Cheyenne their connection was evident throughout so much so that everyone picked up on it. Their attraction was strong and deep because of how long they have known each other. And when they finally get together let’s just say it would set off fire alarms that how red-hot it got.
I am obsessed with Melanie’s writing she has a fantastic way with words that pulls you into her stories effortlessly and holds you captivated throughout. Her characters are always warm and inviting and each town she creates is a place you’d love to live. I didn’t think I’d enjoy anywhere as much as I loved Cloverleigh Fields but I should have known better because Melanie went a created Bellamy Creek and this place is just as addictive. I’m anxious for the next book in this series and I can’t wait to see what she does next. This is without a doubt a must-read steamy romance that is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
Ella James brings all the angst in the concluding part of the Dark Heart duet, Twisted Fate. Heart wrenching at times, it’s a story of intense and all consuming, selfless love.
Years have passed but neither time nor distance has done anything to extinguish the feelings, the attraction and need between Elise and Luca. These star crossed lovers are destined to be together, despite the very different paths their lives, the decisions they’ve made, are taking them. Luca is desperate to fight his feelings, a necessity in order to keep Elise from being drawn into his life and suffering as a result of the seedy world he lives in. He doesn’t want to ruin her and the conflict he feels jumps from the pages. Is it possible to be a “Don with a heart”? If it is, then surely Luca is that man, for his deep and abiding love for Elise constantly finds him striving to be a good man whilst living amongst all that which most certainly is not good. Perhaps the fact that, despite feeling duty bound, nevertheless he was a victim of circumstance all those years ago.
He doesn’t take Elise’s determination and ability to see the good him into account, however, and his attempts to stay out of her life are constantly tested. She never really got over the way their relationship ended and is trying to fool herself that she’s looking for closure, whilst at the same time drowning in need for Luca every time their paths cross. They are each other’s Achilles heel and they’re continually drawn to each other like moths to a flame.
Twisted Fate brought tears of both happiness and frustration. Gritty and heartbreaking at times, it’s certainly no ordinary love story. It’s a story of passion, friendship, sacrifice, dedication and sheer determination. This is everything I have come to expect from Ella James’s wonderful storytelling and so much more.
Make Me Yours, an all-new laugh out loud rom com from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is available now!
He’s my brother’s best friend.
The hot single dad next door.
And one accidental sext later, my massive crush on him is no longer a secret.
It’s my own damn fault. I’m thirty years old, for heaven’s sake. I’m a kindergarten teacher and a (reasonably) responsible adult. I should know better than to get tipsy and draft a fake text listing all the dirty things I wish Officer Cole Mitchell would do to me.
I wasn’t supposed to hit send.
He wasn’t supposed to see it.
And he definitely wasn’t supposed to text back telling me to go on . . .
Because after that, things escalate quickly.
Cole is everything I’ve ever wanted. He’s sexy and protective. A devoted father to his little girl. A dedicated cop the whole town adores. The kind of guy you can trust to keep his hands to himself, even when you’re desperately hoping he won’t.
I’m not the girl he thought he’d end up with, but after all this time, I might finally get the chance to say the words I’ve always dreamed of . . . make me yours.
My most anticipated releases of the week are here! Make sure you check them out, add them to your TBR, and pre-order as soon as possible. They are the books I am dying to read or the books I am raving about!
COMING TOMORROW!
Sarah’s Musings…
I will forever live for Melanie Harlow’s small town romance with an extra large dose of steam. This standalone is sure to be another must read.
FULL REVIEW TO COME THIS WEEK.
Blurb
He’s my brother’s best friend.
The hot single dad next door.
And one accidental sext later, my massive crush on him is no longer a secret.
It’s my own damn fault. I’m thirty years old, for heaven’s sake. I’m a kindergarten teacher and a (reasonably) responsible adult. I should know better than to get tipsy and draft a fake text listing all the dirty things I wish Officer Cole Mitchell would do to me.
I wasn’t supposed to hit send.
He wasn’t supposed to see it.
And he definitely wasn’t supposed to text back telling me to go on . . .
Because after that, things escalate quickly.
Cole is everything I’ve ever wanted. He’s sexy and protective. A devoted father to his little girl. A dedicated cop the whole town adores. The kind of guy you can trust to keep his hands to himself, even when you’re desperately hoping he won’t.
I’m not the girl he thought he’d end up with, but after all this time, I might finally get the chance to say the words I’ve always dreamed of . . . make me yours.
Another week is upon us and that means another list of new releases in romance. Make sure you also check out my #soontodrop post to see which books being released this week I am most excited about sharing with you.
Don’t forget about the three e-book opportunities that happen every week:
1. Go to my Facebook page for your chance to win an e-book copy of one of the many new releases being published this week!
2. Comment on any post on this website throughout the week in order to enter to win an ebook from your own TBR ($5.99 Limit). Each comment is an entry, so make sure to comment multiple times throughout the week.
3. Join my reader group to enter the third and final new release e-book giveaway.
Meghan Quinn never falters in writing stories that will have you laughing out loud one minute and then swooning all over the place the next. Her characters and storylines are original and oh so addictive that you can’t help but fall in love with her characters each and every time. Arlo and Greer are the perfect enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance that will leave you with a perpetual smile on your face.
Arlo or as the other female teachers call him Mr. Turns Me On is a straight laced stodgy teacher who demands perfection. He is unemotional and cold with the inability to see any other side other than his own. I have to admit it took me a little bit to warm up to his character. He’s very demanding and unyielding and he commands every room he is in. But as the story progress and Greer slowly starts peeling back his layers you can see the strict impassive persona melt away little by little. Underneath all those layers of ice is a side that is caring and thoughtful he just hides it extremely well.
Greer on the other hand is his complete opposite, she’s warm and lovely always there with a smile on her face. She wants to be the best teacher she can be and she has a more unique way of teaching than Arlo, she feels that interaction and passion will help the students relate to the books that she is showing them. I would have loved a teacher like her in high school she wants the kids to embrace the written word not just read and regurgitate what is required. Her passion bleeds through the pages and into all aspects in her life. She is the polar opposite of Arlo and I think that’s why they work so well, she brings him to life.
Meghan has this wonderful way with words that pulls you into every story she writes engrossing you in its context and design. You immediately feel at home while reading her stories and you become invested in her characters and the outcomes of their relationships, but more than that you feel blissful. Her stories never hesitate to bring a smile to your face and brighten you day just that much more.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
Standalone Contemporary Romance |Cover Design: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative |Photo: Tamer Yilmaz |Model: Nick Bateman
BLURB
The first time I met Hudson Rothschild was at a wedding. I’d received an unexpected invitation to one of the swankiest venues in the city.
Hudson was a groomsman and quite possibly the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on. He asked me to dance, and our chemistry was off the charts.
I knew it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with him, considering the wedding I was at. But our connection was intense, and I was having a great time.
Though the fun came to a screeching halt when Hudson figured out I wasn’t who I’d said I was. You see, that unexpected invitation I received? Well, it hadn’t actually been addressed to me—it was sent to my ex-roommate who’d bounced a check for two months’ rent and moved out in the middle of the night. I figured she owed me an expensive night out, but I guess, technically, I was crashing the wedding.
Once caught, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. As I bolted for the door, I might’ve plucked a few bottles of expensive champagne off the tables I passed, all while the gorgeous, angry groomsman was hot on my tail.
Outside, I jumped into a taxi. My heart ricocheted against my ribs as we drove down the block—but at least I’d escaped unscathed.
Or so I thought.
Until I realized I’d left my cell phone behind at the table.
Take one guess who found it?
This is the crazy story of how Hudson Rothschild and I met. But trust me, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐌𝐞 is now 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 and 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 with Kindle Unlimited!!!
Tricia’s Musings…
5 Lost Boy and his Tink CROWNS
Going in, I didn’t expect to feel as emotional as I did about this story and it surprised me because Brielle and Royce‘s journey certainly didn’t start out in a way which tugged at my heart strings. With Royce getting up to his usual mischief it was far from it, so I had no clue what was to come. I don’t mean I felt sentimental in a “it’s the final Brayshaw book, and therefore this series has come to an end” kind of way but poignant in a way which brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat because we get to see real vulnerability here, need, want and desires flayed open where we’ve only caught glimpses before, hidden under bravado and ego.
Brielle is the perfect match for Royce and in fact for the whole group. She’s lonely and despite having a far from easy life, her spirit isn’t broken. She’s fun and feisty and loyal, with no agenda other than to be a support to whoever needs it.
“All I want is to be whatever it is you hoped for the minute you decided I was worth this”
She’s no pushover but she’s not trying to claw her way to the top by any means either. She’s open and honest and welcoming, and her humor, her smile and easy demeanor draw people in. Kind and insightful, with a strength of character that hasn’t been achieved at the expense of others, there’s not a conceited bone in her body. I absolutely loved her.
I’m so pleased we got this opportunity to see the real Royce. Did he sometimes make the wrong decisions, yes he did, was he infuriating at times, also yes, but what stopped me from wanting to shake him silly was when we caught a glimpse of the parts of himself he tried to keep hidden, the real reason he was acting the way he was. The self proclaimed loner, the lost boy who didn’t need anyone but his brothers and their wives and kids in his life, actually feels he doesn’t deserve anyone good for himself that he’ll never be enough, that he’s always the last choice. I really hoped Brielle would be the one to show him that he, like his brothers, had so much to give and that he too deserved all the happiness in the world. I have to say, whilst we were waiting for him to get his head out of his backside, his inner dialogue and the witty banter between him and Brielle in particular was so funny it had me in fits. He just didn’t get her, she was nothing like he expected and his confusion over his reaction to her and the way she threw him off his game was hysterical. I think that out of all the Brayshaw couples, Royce and Brielle are the ones who stole my heart.
I’m sad we have to say goodbye to this family, for that’s what they are. Maybe not by blood but one created from love and loyalty, who stay together through choice and who are stronger for it. This whole series has been amazing and I really hope we get to visit this world again. I’m really not ready to let them go.
ARC review
Sarah’s Musings…
5 Hot Pocket Crowns
I’m so sad the Brayshaw series is over. I feel bereft, lost. What am I to do with my life now, knowing we won’t ever be back? But know this, Meagan Brandy ends this series with a bang, bringing the story not only full circle but also giving our beloved bad boy the perfect HEA.
Royce Brayshaw wrecked me. We got glimpses of his insecurities he masked with his playboy exterior, but we loved him because of them and because of the heart he had for his family. Royce is truly a lost boy in this book, now more than ever, and my heart ached for the man who has the biggest heart, even when he wrapped it up with barbed wire. I wanted him to see his worth and find love and be happy, truly happy. I wanted someone to come along and show him his ability for light, and, boy, did Meagan deliver a heroine who did all this and more.
Brielle Bishop is not only the perfect girl for a Royce, but she is also the perfect fit for the Brayshaw crew. She is enchanting with her easy demeanor and overall charm. She is quick to win over the hearts of the whole crew in an authentic and unsuspecting manner. She just fits, she’s the missing puzzle piece. I loved seeing her spar with Royce, rise to the challenges he laid at her feet, and love him so fiercely. She changes our beloved lost boy into a true Brayshaw King, loving him the way we all do.
With every book in this series, we have intrigue and suspense. Meagan Brandy has laid clues for an ending one won’t suspect. It was such a phenomenal conclusion to the story, and I loved how it all tied together for them as a couple and the Brayshaw family as a whole. Break Me has the grit and heart and intrigue we have loved in every single one of her Brayshaw books, but is somehow more. And even though the final pages were a bittersweet ending, she gives a the full blown, smile ear to ear happy ending for our favorite Brayshaw and his queen. It doesn’t mean I wasn’t sad. Sad to have to say goodbye to one of my favorite series and characters, but I felt complete and whole with how she delivered the conclusion not only for Royce and Brielle but the whole cast of characters we have come to consider family.
What do you saw when the end comes? You know it has to. An author can’t stay in the same world forever, but it doesn’t make it any easier. This is a crew I truly have fallen in love with. Their ideals of family and loyalty, and the way the Brayshaws love their women with their hearts and soul made me want to a part of this world always. I’m going to truly miss these characters and this world, but I have hope we will see cameos and maybe one day get to enter the Brayshaw world again.
BETA READ
Aundi’s Musings…
5 Tink Crowns
This book was exhilarating but at the same time sorrow crept in because I knew that this is officially the end. Royce is where this series stops and I needed him desperately but was also not wanting to read it so that I could savior the end longer. But alas, as I knew he would Royce took over my entire mind, body and soul, and the only thing I could do was bow to his will and read the entirety of his story in one sitting. I blew through these pages with a fire in my soul and a need in my heart. I’ve been dying to know who was going to tame the untamable beast that is Royce and I was not dissatisfied, Brielle is absolute perfection, she brings light to his dark in the best way. Them together just makes your heart happy to see because we’ve all been waiting for Pony boy to fall and fall he did.
I’ve been completely obsessed with this series since I first read Boy’s of Brayshaw last year and I haven’t looked back since. These characters have owned me from the start and each and every book has made them more alive to me. Each of these boys is so much more than you could have ever imagined they would be. And watching as the woman in their lives fit them with such perfection and ease makes the journey that much more satisfying. I’ve watched since the beginning as Royce took on the role that he presents to the outside world. But for the chance to see the man behind the curtain that is something special. Actually witnessing his loneliness to the point of suffocation will wreck your heart, you can’t help but want to reach into the book and hold him and just be there with him for him. He makes you want to be everything too him because you know if you are special enough to receive his love he will love you with a ferocity that knows no bounds and lives by no rules.
Honestly I was a little worried Brielle wouldn’t be able to hang with our girls, but I should have known better. Because this girl slid right in and clicked into place liked she’d always been there. She carries this light in her that she displays to the world not to trick but just to bring happiness to people in some way. This girl is legit just a good freaking person and it shows in her actions and the way she handles herself and those around her. She brings a brightness to the situations and a calmness that not only Royce needs but they all do. I couldn’t be more in love with her if I tried.
Meagan has produced magic with these boys, she’s designed something that has the ability to take you away and get you lost to all things Brayshaw. I have lived and breathed them for over a year now and I am sad to see them go, was I desperate for Royce without a doubt, but now I’m in a state of melancholy now that it’s officially over. But I know that I will reread their journeys from time to time, because you can’t ever be rid of a Brayshaw once they’ve got you they don’t let go. Thank you Meagan for creating something that is so beyond addictive you don’t have the control to stop, this series is a MUST READ always, I will continually rec this series without hesitation.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
Rise of a Queen is available now! Don’t miss the epic conclusion of the Kingdom Duet!
Aundi’s Musings…
5 Daddy Crowns
Rina has straight blown be away with this, Jonathan and Aurora are pure freaking fire, hitting incendiary levels with this second book in the Kingdom Duet. I read this book cover to cover in one sitting not wanting to put it down for anything. I blew through page after page utterly addicted to this world that Rina has created.
If you thought Jonathan was hot in Reign of a King that is nothing compared to him in Rise of a Queen. His pure Alpha dominance and control is so hot, it’s liable to set your panties on fire. He has this powerful personality that you just can’t help but fall under. His character directs every room he’s in and sets this undeniable tone. His entire being screams OBEY and it is the hottest thing. He is without a doubt the daddy to end all daddies!!!
Aurora is strength personified; this girl doesn’t hesitate to put herself last. Even though she doesn’t deserve what happens to her she understands that the people her father hurt need to take their aggression out on someone and she lets that person be her. She is completely selfless in that regard and it shows how pure of a person she is. It’s her pure strength and unyielding heart that ultimately traps Jonathan. She pushes him in ways he’s never felt before, they balance each other out in the greatest of ways. Bringing out the best in each other and being what the other needs.
This book picks up right where book 1 left off and it’s a non-stop ride until the very last page. These two are so much more than I could have ever hoped for. Their chemistry is off the charts. Their passion is combustible. Their connection undeniable. And watching as Aurora slowly and meticulously gets under Jonathan’s skin until you don’t know where one begins and the other ends, is the most gratifying thing to witness. Every time I read one of Rina’s books, I think this one is my favorite until she writes the next. Rina has this impeccable way with words that draws you into her stories until you are lost amongst the story completely entranced and unable to break free. I can’t wait to see where she takes us next, because I for one am a die-hard addict to all things RINA!!!
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
Hot! Hot! Hot! I thought the first book in this duet was steamy, but I was wrong this book blew that one out of the water. This book has everything you could think of in a RH; MF, MM, MMF, MFM, MFMM I could not get enough of the dynamics interlaced throughout this story. The first book laid the groundwork but this one took those undercurrents and really brought them life.
This story looks more in-depth at a fully functioning polyamorous relationship and what that would look like from the inside. This book starts out right where book one left off after Mia caught Ashton and Brayden in their compromising position. You could feel her heartache pour from the pages; it saturates the beginning of this book really showing you what it felt like for her. After the ending of book one I was beyond desperate to get my hands on this to see how this was going to play out. Mia’s heartache became mine because she was so lost and so hurt. After witnessing her relationship with her parents you can see why she so desperately needs love she’s never had it unconditionally before and that’s what Ashton and Brayden were giving her.
I simply died for the feelings and emotions that K. Webster and Nikki Ash brought forth in this book. Watching as each of them tries to navigate this new and scary relationship will make your heart and soul ache for them. You can feel the love and respect that they have for each other and that brings a new layer to this budding and not quite conventional relationship. These characters grow on you and each and every one brings their own special vibrant personality to the relationship. They ebb and flow with precision and ease and really bring the best out in each other.
I devoured this book in one sitting, the dynamics of each of the relationships play seamlessly against each other and really feel realistic in their depiction. I adored each and every one of these characters that really brought this book to life. K. Webster and Nikki Ash have truly outdone themselves with this utterly amazing and thoroughly engrossing duet that is without a doubt a Top Read for me!!
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
#1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers an all-new emotional enemies-to-lovers romance that blurs the lines between revenge and love…
River Tate is a god on campus. The king of football. A tattooed bad boy with gunmetal eyes that see right through you. The only chink in his armor is her, the girl he pretends doesn’t exist, the forbidden one with the shy smile and lavender hair.
Anastasia Bailey is a nobody. The queen of nothing. An outsider with the face of an angel and a body made for sin. The only chink in her armor is him, her boyfriend’s frat brother, the football player who hates her.
But when Anastasia’s life comes crashing down, River’s the one who sweeps in and picks up the pieces. Torn between loyalty, lies, and secrets, he battles the temptation to take everything from her when they make their revenge pact.
He can’t tell her no. Because revenge (or love) is, sweet, and once you get a taste, the craving never ends.
The Revenge Pact is first in a series about three college football players.
From Bestselling Authors M. Robinson & Rachel Van Dyken comes a full length, standalone romantic suspense novel
From Bestselling Authors M. Robinson & Rachel Van Dyken comes a full length, standalone romantic suspense novel
Trust. Loyalty. Family. The tangled web of mafia life. We grew up together. Me, Eden, my brother Tristian. He was always the safe bet, the sure thing, the good guy. And me? Well, I was the Casanova, the killer who flirted with anyone and anything, breaking Eden’s heart again and again.
We both loved her. Mind. Body. Soul. Until I gifted her to my brother as if she meant nothing, when she meant everything to me. Tristian was safer. Better. Could give her the life I never would be able to.
But things changed. We changed.
My only goal was to protect her, making her hate me in return. Except once my brother wasn’t standing between us anymore, I decided…
It was my turn to claim what had always been MINE to begin with.
“H. Hunting delivers what must be
the most beautifully written, and certainly emotional New Adult books of the
year.”
– LJ Shen, USA Today bestselling author
From New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting writing as H. Hunting, comes a beautifully written and emotional new adult romance, Little Lies, available now!
Sarah’s Musings…
5+ BUT I WISH I COULD GIVE IT MORE CROWNS
Without a doubt, one of my favorite Helena books ever! Like tears in my eyes, clutching my heart angst. I love them. I love their story. Their journey was beautiful and profound and hopeful.
Lavender stole the show for me. She was brave and smart, and more than anything, watching her evolve into a strong heroine is a phenomenal experience. She has all the best parts of Alex and Violet, but what I love most about her character is how Helena portrayed her mental health. It was relatable and real. I was able to feel the anxiety and conflict coming off the pages. It was done with delicacy and accuracy, and it gives hope to people out their like Lavender who feel like a happily ever after might not be for them. I also loved that Lavender owned her sexuality, never ashamed of what she wanted or needed. It was amazing to see a young female character who took charge of her needs.
Kodiak is a boy with the biggest heart wrapped with the sharpest thorns. My heart hurt for him. His internal dialogue lets you into his own mental health issues and how it controls and dictates his behavior. Although he is strong for himself and for her, I love that Lavender takes charge more often than not, asserting their need for happiness over the collective concerns and fears. They are a completely who is flawed and loves completely, because of and not in spite of who they are.
This story is filled with angst and heartache. There are moments that I literally gripped my chest because my heart hurt reading some of the dialogue. I felt them like lashings to my soul. Helena expertly places comedic relief to lessen the constant angst, and when we finally get to the reconciliation, the page off is worth the wait. Lavender holds no punches in the bedroom, and I lived for every single moment they were together intimately or not. What ultimately sold the book for me is how the conflict was resolved. It was realistic and mature and just made me love the characters more than I thought I already could.
Helena also introduces us to a world of secondary characters that I fell just as in love with. I need more of these kids. I need them to all have their own stories. Plus, we got cameos, but in a way that enhanced the story of their kids versus shifting the focus.
What makes the story exceptional and a must read is that Helena introduces us to characters who deal with mental health issues. She shows the complexities and difficulties of families who deal with traumatic situations. She shows how love can lead people to make wrong choices in the name of protection, but readers all get to see that love, familial and romantic, can heal. We get to see that when humans listen and learn and put love and happiness first, happiness can be achieved. In a world where we feel hopelessness often, this was a hard fought journey filled with hope that we can all find peace with the right people.
This will be one of my favorite books of 2020. Without question. The new world, the characters, the romance and story of Lavender and Kodiak will be forever engrained in my heart. I hope you get more from this world, and I hope these two continue to pop up over and over again.
ARC REVIEW
Aundi’s Musings…
5 Figure Eight Crowns
This book is without a doubt my absolute favorite Helena book to date. Lavender and Kodiak are so real, raw and beautifully broken you can’t help by fall in love with their story. This book is pure and visceral causing your heart and soul to ache with the angst that she provides and the hope that you cling to. I wish that I could give this book more stars because to be honest it deserves well more than 5.
Lavender is absolute perfection; this girl is strong, brave and passionate. Watching the transition from the girl she was to the woman she becomes is awe inspiring. She doesn’t let her past and her anxiety dictate the kind of life she wants to have, she owns her truth and it’s beautiful. But I also love how she owns her sexuality, I find it so refreshing to see a young heroine know what she wants and go for it. She’s not made to feel ashamed for her wants and her needs, she’s made to feel empowered by them it’s a wonderful change of pace to how woman can be portrayed from time to time.
Kodiak has the biggest heart and he wants nothing more than to be that safe place for Lavender. His brilliant mind can be a hindrance to him at times, fighting with what he wants and reconciling that with the myriad of possible outcomes his mind produces. But his love for Lavender is the kind of love that can consume you if you let it. Its strength is ever present and its tether is so tight that when one of them hurts the other feels the pain. I loved the honesty in their love, and the real way their parent’s handled this kind of connection. Helena portrays their reactions in such a genuine and authentic way, they are scared and unsure and you can feel that connection to them as parents, it brought a whole other layer to this already dimensional storyline.
This story will bring out so many physical reactions from you. I went from my heart physically aching in my chest, to tears in my eyes, to a smile on my face. This book is so much more than just a story, it’s a full body experience that will live with you long after you’ve finished. I absolutely adored all the secondary characters that Helena has placed throughout because I most definitely need more of this world that she’s created.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
Reclaim, an all-new extremely raw and moving second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez is available now!
Tricia’s Musings…
5 P.S.S.S.S. I’d rather be there with you CROWNS
Oh my goodness, what has this author done to my heart! Reclaim is both heartbreaking and yet beautifully heartwarming and I absolutely loved it. It’s the most wonderful love story, a love that stands the test of time, changing and evolving and expanding as it spans more than 20 years from childhood through to adulthood. Of course it wouldn’t be an Aly Martinez book without one or two bumps (more like head on collisions) along the way, which socked me in the gut and completely knocked me off my feet.
You don’t have to have read Release before you read Reclaim (although it is also a fabulous story, so I would encourage you to), but there are spoilers to that book in Reclaim. For those of us who have read Release, this book answers questions and fills in many of the missing pieces from the time leading up to the events in that story involving Nora’s brother Ramsey. I was shocked and saddened at what these siblings had to endure in their childhood but filled with admiration with how they dealt with life’s blows, their courage and strength of character was incredible.
Camden is wonderful. Despite being only 12 years of age at the start of their journey, he’s intelligent, with great insight and his instincts ensured he was the best friend Nora could ever want. For Nora, that friendship held steadfast and true long after others would have fallen by the wayside. He’s young and makes mistakes as we all do, but he’s hugely supportive and motivated in ways which only become clear as the story progresses. He stole my heart and earned my respect early on for his kindness, and his sheer grit and determination.
Nora is a true survivor, abused in so many ways, and yet her feistiness, strength and courage ensured that her experiences don’t break her. Instead, she uses them as a platform to grow and help others. She did have her dark moments, however, frustrating times where she doubted herself and her worth. I could see how she would, under the circumstances. In these moments, when she was pushing Cam away, my heart broke for them. Both so stubborn, I hoped they would find a way to be together and that (in Nora’s words):
“ … there might a future where one day the two of us find ourselves on the banks of our creek again, this time with free minds, whole hearts, and a lifetime to share”
This whole story is one of love and friendship, courage and survival. Of second chances and a lifetime of devotion. If ever a couple were destined to be together it was Cam and Nora. Their love is an epic love, honest and courageous, one which defies the odds. Reclaim is raw and brutal at times but the quality of the writing, the ebb and flow, the highs and lows made for one incredible, unforgettable love story and I adored every angsty moment of it.
My most anticipated releases of the week are here! Make sure you check them out, add them to your TBR, and pre-order as soon as possible. They are the books I am dying to read or the books I am raving about!
COMING TOMORROW
Sarah’s Musings…
Without a doubt, one of my favorite Helena books ever! Like tears in my eyes, clutching my heart angst. I love them. I love their story. Their journey was beautiful and profound and hopeful.
FULL REVIEW ON GOODREADS NOW
I don’t want you. You mean nothing to me.
I never loved you.
I turned my words into swords.
And I cut her down.
Shoved the blade in and watched her fall.
I said I’d never hurt her, and I did.
Years later, I’m faced with all the little lies, the untruths, the false realities, the damage I inflicted, when all I wanted was to indulge my obsession.
Lavender Waters is the princess in the tower. Even her name is the thing fairy tales are made of.
I used to be the one who saved her. Over and over again.
But I don’t want to save her anymore.
I just want to pretend the lies are still the truth.
Another week is upon us and that means another list of new releases in romance. Make sure you also check out my #soontodrop post to see which books being released this week I am most excited about sharing with you.
Don’t forget about the three e-book opportunities that happen every week:
1. Go to my Facebook page for your chance to win an e-book copy of one of the many new releases being published this week!
2. Comment on any post on this website throughout the week in order to enter to win an ebook from your own TBR ($5.99 Limit). Each comment is an entry, so make sure to comment multiple times throughout the week.
3. Join my reader group to enter the third and final new release e-book giveaway.
11/15 – Twisted Fate – Ella James
11/16 – My Roman – Rose Croft
11/16 – Little Lies – Helena Hunting
11/16 – Charity – Rochelle Paige
11/17 – Better Luck Next Time – Denise Grover Swank & A.R. Casella
11/17 – Bound by Forever – S. Young
11/17 – Wild Like Us – Krista & Becca Ritchie
11/17 – A Wright Christmas – K.A. Linde
11/17 – Mafia Casanova – Rachel Van Dyken & M. Robinson
Monica James has broken me, and not in a small way, but in a, I couldn’t breathe I was crying so hard way. This book is guaranteed to ruin you in the same way. Monica meticulously grabs the thread of your heart and soul slowly pulling and unwinding it page by page, moment by moment, until you’re just a mass of feelings and emotions barely able to form a coherent sentence. She has written the type of book that lives with you long after you’ve finished, that even days later you’ll think of it and it will cause you to tear up because that’s how strong the feelings are that she elicits, this book is more than memorable, it’s life changing.
What would you do if you found out that you were going to die? Would you fight until the end? Or would you accept what’s coming and live the last days of your life to the fullest? Lola has decided to live the last days of her life to the fullest by giving her time to the terminally ill children of Strawberry fields. She’s accepted that she will never have the life that she thought she would, and she’s tired of being alone. The people who she thought were her friends left her when she was at her lowest and most lost. Lola wants to be the safe place for others that she did not have. She wants to give and be there for them the way no one was there for her because she understands what they are going through. She had accepted her destiny until the moment that fate intervened and brought the noble Dr. Roman Archibald into her life. And with him fate brought her something she had long since lost-her will to survive.
Lola and Roman are perfectly tragic and beautifully broken. They’re the type of strong that I could only hope to be if I were in the same situation. These two find in each other what they had accepted was not possible. They found a love that gives them strength and courage. They found a peace in the cards that they had been dealt. This right here, these moments between these two is Monica’s best writing to date. The passion and connection, the love and loss, the acceptance and grief are visceral. These sensations and feelings don’t just pour from the pages, they erupt free overpowering you with the intensity of it all.
This book didn’t just bring tears to my eyes, it tore my walls down and had every emotion I’ve ever had ripped straight from my heart. The kind of crying that I did was the kind that fuels your soul, it’s the kind that cleanses you and shows you what real true love should be like. Monica has proven that she can elicit any kind of feeling from you and to me that shows how phenomenal of a writer she is. You’re probably saying to yourself why on Earth would I voluntarily read a book that will tear me apart? But let me tell you this story may be hard and it will make you cry but it will also leave you with a feeling of peace. The purity of love and loss, of knowing your truth and accepting it, of doing what you know to be right even when it’s hard, these moments, these feelings, are why you should read it. I promise you will not regret it if you do, take the chance of Lola and Roman!
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
This series just continues to get better and better as it progresses. It seems like every book becomes my favorite until the next one comes out and usurps the one before, and this book is no different. I fell hard and fast for Luke and Scarlett these two were slow burn perfection in this heart stopping romance.
Luke is the quintessential good guy chief of police, he’s steadfast and strong with a solid moral compass and an understanding with the gypsies left in town. I died for Luke every page, every moment with him you could feel his calm and patient demeanor. His inherent goodness is palpable and can be felt throughout. And layered in that you can feel the connection between him and Scarlet grow and mature as you quickly burn through this book. The tension and passion between them become its own entity, expanding, and spilling from the pages covering you in the heat of it until it erupts from the pages.
Scarlett is lost and broken she has been through a lifetime of horrible circumstances that have left her without a sense of self. She doesn’t even know what she want’s because she’s never been able to really think about it for herself. But underneath all that she is strong she is a survivor, living and breathing moving through each moment just to make it to the other side. It’s not until she’s with Luke does she stop and really start to find herself. It’s in his relaxed presence that she can finally take a moment and breathe. He brings her this much needed feeling of safety one that she’s never experienced before.
These two will own you heart and soul, Devney has crafted something so beautiful and passionate with them, so much so that it will leave you breathless and desperate for more. Luke’s tranquil, unwavering loyalty with his protective inclinations and Scarlett’s bravery will live with you long after you’ve finished. Bravo Devney for this delicious read that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions in the best way, I can’t wait to see where you take us next.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
Make Me Yours, an all-new sexy single dad rom com from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is coming November 23rd and we have the hot hot hot cover!
Cover Designer: Hang Le | Photographer: Michelle Lancaster @lanefotograf |Cover Model: Heath Hutchins
He’s my brother’s best friend.
The hot single dad next door.
And one accidental sext later, my massive crush on him is no longer a secret.
It’s my own damn fault. I’m thirty years old, for heaven’s sake. I’m a kindergarten teacher and a (reasonably) responsible adult. I should know better than to get tipsy and draft a fake text listing all the dirty things I wish Officer Cole Mitchell would do to me.
I wasn’t supposed to hit send.
He wasn’t supposed to see it.
And he definitely wasn’t supposed to text back telling me to go on . . .
Because after that, things escalate quickly.
Cole is everything I’ve ever wanted. He’s sexy and protective. A devoted father to his little girl. A dedicated cop the whole town adores. The kind of guy you can trust to keep his hands to himself, even when you’re desperately hoping he won’t.
I’m not the girl he thought he’d end up with, but after all this time, I might finally get the chance to say the words I’ve always dreamed of . . . make me yours.
My most anticipated releases of the week are here! Make sure you check them out, add them to your TBR, and pre-order as soon as possible. They are the books I am dying to read or the books I am raving about!
COMING TUESDAY
Sarah’s Musings…
I am living for this world. I love the Tin Gypsy series, and Devney Perry is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
FULL AUDIO REVIEW TO COME THIS WEEK
Synopsis:
From USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry comes a small town, enemies-to-lovers romance.
The night Luke Rosen met Scarlett Marks was the only time he’s regretted becoming chief of police. One horrific night of blood and death, and now she’s living under his roof—all because he swore an oath to serve and protect.
Scarlett is stubborn and infuriating. She has no respect for the order in his structured life, and she never does anything she’s told. Worse, she doesn’t seem to care that the information she has on a motorcycle gang means she might end up dead. But her unwavering strength, her courage and tenacity and beauty, makes it impossible for him to abandon her.
If Luke is going to keep her safe, he’ll have to make the hardest decision of his life. He can either honor his values as a cop, knowing Scarlett is unlikely to survive . . . or he can break all the rules and protect the woman who’s invaded his home and his heart.
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