REVIEW – THE FIRE BETWEEN HIGH & LO (Elements, #2) by Brittainy C. Cherry

March 25, 2016March 26, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

There once was a boy, and I loved him.

Logan Francis Silverstone was the complete opposite of me. I danced while he stood still. He was quiet, and I was always running my mouth. He struggled to find a smile while I refused to frown.

The night I saw the darkness that truly lived inside of him, I couldn’t look away.

We were broken together, yet somehow whole. We were wrong together, but always right. We were the stars that burned across the night sky, searching for a wish, praying for better tomorrows.

Until the day I lost him. I threw us away with one hasty decision—a decision that changed us forever.

There once was a boy, and I loved him.

And for a few breaths, a few whispers, a few moments, I think he loved me, too.

***

Book #2 in the Romance Elements Series.

Complete standalone.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

We were closer than I ever knew any people to ever be. He was a part of me in every way possible, our lives twining together as if were one flame burning together.

Brittainy Cherry has another HIT on her hands with this one. I knew when the buzz first started going on about this book that I just had to read it. This author has the gift of being able to create such beautiful and memorable characters who suffer from enormous heartbreak but are able to overcome huge obstacles while also capturing the reader’s heart. Her secondary characters are also such complex individuals that always add so much more depth to the storyline. Once I picked this one up, it was literally hard to put down. The writing is exquisite. I couldn’t stop highlighting so many passages because I found so much beauty within the pages of this book. This story also contained two of my favorite tropes – friends to lovers, and second chance romance. So how could you go wrong with a formula like that??!!!

Alyssa Walters, aka HIGH, and Logan Silverstone, aka LO, met and became the best of friends when they were around fifteen years old. They came from polar opposite worlds. Alyssa’s mother was a successful attorney and they lived in a large house in a gated community. Logan lived in a tiny one-bedroom apartment on the wrong side of town, with his mother who was a drug addict and part-time prostitute. What they both had in common was that they each had negligent and abusive parents, but wished with all their heart that they could just be loved by them. Eventually, Logan and Alyssa will find it hard to deny their feelings for each other and once they give in, the two become inseparable.

Unfortunately, a misunderstanding causes a rift between them and ultimately results in tragedy. The two are forced to spend some time apart when Lo checks himself into Rehab. What was only supposed to be a six-month stint, ends up turning into a five-year separation. During his time away, “High” sends “Lo” daily texts and voicemails that always go unanswered. My heart broke over and over for Alyssa. She loved Logan with all of her heart and tried so hard to let him know that she would always be there for him. I wanted to kick Logan for avoiding her because even though I kind of understood why he kept his distance, I still felt he was being pigheaded.

Family issues force Logan to return back home and since Logan’s older brother is living with and engaged to Alyssa’s older sister, there is no way they can avoid each other. When they come face to face once again, no matter how hard they try, they will be unable to fight their feelings for each other.

But can Alyssa get over the fact that Logan left her when she needed him most of all? And can Logan get over his hang-ups and will he finally realize that he is the only man that was meant to own Alyssa’s heart? Or will another tragedy send Logan back into another downward spiral that he will not be able to recover from?

This is one of those books where once you start it, you will find it hard to put it down for even a second, so I advise that you start this book when you have enough time to devote to it. I have a feeling that those who had issues with the first book in this series, will end up really loving this one. Even though this is book two in the ELEMENTS series, it can be read as a standalone.

*****Dee’s Review*****

4.5 Radiant Stars*****

(ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review)

BRAVO!!!!!! Standing ovation!!!!! Brittainy C. Cherry has done it again, delivering another remarkable story that made my heart burst and my skin tingly with so many feelings. TOP READ OF THE YEAR!!

Two best friends, with nothing in common but pain. Their friendship, the most treasured thing they both have, but sadness and pain will come and shatter their lives.

Years and messages will go by unanswered until tragedy will be the only thing to bring these two broken souls together again. Can they forgive each other and be friends, or perhaps lovers, again?

Read this gorgeous story and find out how The Fire Between High and Lo can consume your days and nights. This will be the most beautiful and memorable love story, you’ll read this year.

Amazing!!!!!!!

*****Mel’s Review*****

4 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
(BR with Dee)

-“Some things-the best things-are always worth fighting for.”

Logan Silverstone & Alyssa Walters meet as teenagers living in True Falls, Wisconsin. They are complete opposites in so many ways, but still become the best of friends. They both have hopes & dreams, but while Alyssa is living a comfortable life, Logan was dealt a tragic life, where he constantly feels as if he’s drowning. Things are bad for him, & never seem to get better. The one thing they do share is they both longed to be loved by their parents & matter to them. As the friends grow closer, things turn more romantic & intimate between them. Suddenly Alyssa becomes everything good in Logan’s life.

-She is my world.

-She didn’t notice how she sparked my heart each time she stood near me.

-All my thoughts were her

Logan’s life continues to spiral out of control, & it causes him & Alyssa to separate. They are apart for a while, but eventually find their way back to one another. No matter how much time passes, their hearts are always connected, & they remain each others home. As usual Brittainy Cherry’s writing is stunningly beautiful!

-He was everything good in my life.

-He was the person I went to each and every time anything hurt or whenever I felt afraid. Like home. Logan was home to me.

-It was crazy how it happened. How one boy could still, after all these years, control every beat of my heart.

-You’re my heart. You’re my soul. I want you. All of you.

REVIEW – FINLEY (Sunset Cove, #1) by Ella Frank

March 25, 2016March 25, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

***A spin-off from the Temptation Series***

It’s time to come home, Finn.
It’s been seven years since Daniel Finley left his hometown in Florida for the hustle and bustle of Chicago’s city life.
Since then, he’s worked hard for his position at the prestigious law firm Leighton & Associates, even when it’s caused distance and isolation from his family and friends. But that’s all about to change.
On his thirtieth birthday, he receives the one thing he never dared hope for. Something that was promised to him years earlier—a note. One simple sentence from the man he’s never been able to forget.
Six words will forever change the course of their lives.
Brantley Hayes has it all. Or so he thinks. When he first made the decision to take a job down in Florida, his family thought he was crazy. But, after years of living in the quiet beach town, he finally feels a sense of community. He’s surrounded himself with friends who are like family, has a job he loves, and owns a spectacular beachfront property that is his sanctuary.
Yet he still feels unfulfilled, as if a piece of the puzzle is missing, and he knows exactly which piece it is. On an impulse, he follows through with a promise he made years earlier. A promise to call home the one he sent away.
Nothing is as simple as it seems.
After years of separation, the former lovers are reunited, but Brantley wasn’t expecting to encounter the high walls now guarding Daniel’s heart.
Daniel may not be the same person he was when he left, but he knows that the first step to healing is the note in his hand.

*****Dee’s Review*****

.5 My Finn Stars*****

(ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review)

I have one word to describe this book, HOT!!!

Intense and very passionate also come to mind when I think about Finley.I’ve always been a fan of Ella Frank but her M/M books are quickly becoming a favorite for me, actually in this whole genre. She can do m/m and do it so well, I’ve never thought I’d crave these stories in such a desperate way. I’m in love!!!!!

Daniel Finley left his home in Florida with a broken heart but with a lot of determination to graduate as a lawyer and become the best one he could be. Seven years of non-stop work has landed him a spot in one of the best law firms in Chicago. Daniel aka Finn has been unstoppable working towards his ultimate goal, to make partner. But seven years of hard work mean nothing when he gets a note that says, it’s time to come home.

Professor Brantley Hayes has a very successful career and a gorgeous home by the beach, in a great town full of wonderful friends, but he knows deep inside him that something is missing, or rather someone…

Daniel was the student and Brantley was the professor. Ten years his senior Brantley tried to keep his distance from his gorgeous and bright college student but Finn was very determined and these two embark in a very hot romance. Even though both men were smart and independent adults, Brantley knew that Finn had a bright future ahead of him, and he was the one that had to make the very painful decision of letting him go, so Finn could fulfill his future, even if that meant breaking his heart.

Now seven years later, the pain and attraction are very much still alive between these two ex-lovers, but what happens now when they meet again? Do they discover that they have both moved on, or will they be able to re-start their love?

Ella Frank is a brilliant writer. She has the ability to create romantic stories that tease you to no end with the most seductive words you’ll ever read. She has mastered the M/M genre and this book especially is now one of my ultimate favorite of hers. If you are curious about trying an M/M book, I think this book could be the perfect starter read, you might even get addicted. ; )

*****Mel’s Review*****

4.5 It’s Always Been You Stars!
(ARC provided by author)

Brantley Hayes is a professor at UCF & lives in Sunset Cove, Florida. He falls hard for his student Daniel Finley who pursues him relentlessly. Daniel is this young, stunningly beautiful blonde surfer who knows what he wants & what he wants is his sexy professor. Daniel is very direct, confident & playful. Eventually, Brantley can’t resist Finn and they develop a relationship. Finn is very intelligent & has a bright future ahead of him. Brantley doesn’t want to hold him back, & thinks he knows what’s best for him. He pushes Finn away & it greatly impacts both their lives. Finn moves to Chicago for law school & is gone for seven years working hard & becoming a successful attorney. His life is now in the big city. Upon his 30th birthday, he receives a note from the man he’s never forgotten or forgiven.

-Brantley Hayes was in a class all of his own when it came to men. And fuck, Daniel thought, he was still the pinnacle of perfection in his eyes.

-He was just so fucking beautiful.

-Brantley was still every single thing he wanted in a man wrapped up in one perfect package.

Finn takes a vacation & buys a plane ticket back home. He wants to know what Brantley Hayes wants from him after all these years. He heads back to Florida but decides when he sees Brantley things will now be on his terms. He’s no longer the 22 yr. old Brantley remembers. Finn is now a man, a gorgeous somewhat arrogant, self-assured man, who holds a lot of resentment for his former professor. His walls around his heart are built up, & Brantley will have to work hard to earn his trust back. All those years ago Brantley truly thought he was doing the right thing when he sent Finn away. He decides it’s now or never. Go for it with Finn, or let him go for good. He has a lot of regrets when it comes to Finn, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to get him back. They reunite & it’s explosive as they get reacquainted. This book was just delicious!!! My fav m/m I’ve ever read! As this couple’s hearts slowly heal & find their way back to one another it’s absolutely beautiful! Just LOVED this one!!! 😀

-It’d been so long since he’d felt such comfort in another’s arms. In truth, he hadn’t felt it since this man’s.

-This man is everything I want.

REVIEW – COLLARED by Nicole Williams

March 21, 2016March 21, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes,
A community is shaken.
Parents turn desperate.
Friends hold vigils.
And the boy who loves her searches.

When a year goes by,
The community is recovering.
Parents feel hopeless.
Friends feel helpless.
And the boy who loves her continues his search.

When ten years go by,
The community has forgotten.
Parents cling to the past.
Friends move toward the future.
And the boy who loves her . . .
Brings her home.

Jade Childs spent ten years in captivity, but now that she’s back, the real battle for survival begins. The media shadows her. Flashbacks haunt her. Her old life evades her. Her so-called new life rejects her. She spent too many years in the dark to recognize the light. She spent too long repressing her feelings to remember how to express them. She spent a decade abandoning hope and cannot dare letting it back into her life. Jade’s not just defined by what happened to her—she’s collared to it.

When the twenty-seven-year-old woman is found,
A community wants to know the story,
Parents want to forget the story,
Friends want to be a part of the story,
And the man who still loves her faces the greatest challenge yet: letting her go.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

I let myself get carried away by that moment. I let myself feel the only joy I’ve felt in ten years. I let myself feel it…then I take an imaginary pin and pop it. That life died the night I died to the world. That life is gone

Jade Childs is just an ordinary seventeen-year-old girl. She has a loving family, good friends, and is in love with the boy next door. On a night when she is floating on cloud nine because her boyfriend has promised her a forever with him, her world gets totally flipped on its axis. She goes from living a teenager’s dream to being thrown into everyone’s worst nightmare. Jade is abducted just several feet away from her front door. She will not return home until TEN YEARS later!!!

This was definitely what I would categorize as a ”dark” read, but the subject matter never got too intense. We meet Jade during one of the happiest times of her young life and then we see that it only takes just a few seconds to turn someone’s world upside down, immersing them into the deepest pits of despair. However, we don’t spend too much time in Jade’s years of captivity. The story flashes forward to ten years later rather quickly and for the most part, we stay in present day with her while we get little snippets of her life in captivity through a few flashbacks. I will say that what she went through was far from pretty but thankfully she was not raped!! Phew!!! I really don’t enjoy reading rape scenes so I was very thankful for that.

Jade was broken down mentally by her captor. He was so persistent and quite sinister with his methods of mind control. For ten years she was forced to be someone else, so now when she is rescued and returned back to her family, she finds it hard to resume her old life and her true identity. Of course, she suffers from severe anxiety and has difficulty socializing with other people, including her family, but there is one person who is able to keep her calm and who has become her tether, Torrin Costigan.

Torrin is Jade’s old boyfriend. The one she dreamed about so many nights while hanging on by a thin thread. He never stopped giving up hope that she would be found. He did everything he could to help with the police department’s search efforts. But now things are so complicated because of the path he chose to take in adulthood. Whenever they spend time together it becomes clear to the both of them that their feelings for each other still remain pretty strong. It’s hard not to swoon over and fall madly in love with this man.

I really got swept away by this story and had such high hopes that it was going to end a certain way, so when it didn’t it went from a “Five Star” to a “Four Star” read for me. I know that there were very good reasons to end it the way it did, but I just wanted MORE!! I have read other books by Nicole Williams and she has proven yet again, to be a truly gifted story teller!

I highly recommend this one. Don’t let my little complaint scare you away from this one. It was a very well written and highly fascinating story.

REVIEW – ELASTIC HEARTS (Hearts, #3) by Claire Contreras

March 21, 2016March 21, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

Victor Reuben.
Most sought out divorce attorney in LA.

Nicole Alessi.
Soon to be ex-wife of Hollywood’s biggest star, Victor’s latest client and his boss’s daughter.

In such a high profile divorce, they can’t afford any extra drama. Luckily, neither one of them has anything to hide.
Unless you count the mind blowing sex they had…
Once…
Twice…
Three times all those years ago.

As long as they leave the past where it belongs, they’ll be fine. But with her wearing those tight dresses and him giving her those heated glances, keeping their hands to themselves is proving to be more difficult than either one of them realized.

It won’t be long before the paparazzi start to smell smoke, and where there’s smoke…

*****Mel’s Review*****

4.5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)

Nicole Alessi is a costume designer going through a high-profile divorce. She was married to a huge Hollywood movie star. Her father is a divorce attorney in LA, so she turns to him for help with her divorce. Her father appoints his most sought after attorney, Victor Reuben to represent her. Only the best for Nicole. The problem is Nicole & Victor had a fling five years ago before they knew he worked for her father. Victor wanted to make partner & put his career first. Nicole was just graduating and starting her career as well. Now reunited as attorney & client, they struggle to keep things professional.

-What was it about being near this guy that made me so needy for him?

-It was this man I lusted after. Always. It had been that way. From the moment I met him, I’d known I’d wanted him.

-The way his eyes caressed over me made me feel like I was slowly burning up.

-Seeing her again…it did something to me.

-“I felt something when I looked at you. Something weird. Something…not normal. I don’t know how to explain it other than maybe my soul recognized something in you.”

-“But I felt it every time we were together.”

Victor & Nicole try to keep their intimate memories in the past, but both can’t forget how explosive they were together. They both are so tempted by one another & are having trouble being in such close quarters. They are off limits to each other & it’s killing them both to want someone so bad that you can’t have. Victor could lose his job, & Nicole has the paparazzi following her every move.

-Fuck. This girl did things to me.

-I felt everything.

-“I need this more than I’ve needed anything else in my fucking life.”

-“You make me desperate for you.”

-“I will cater to every one of your needs.”

They both try to wait to act on their feelings, but can’t resist each other. Victor realizes Nicole just may be “the one.” For the first time, he wants something more, something real. I really enjoyed this book. Victor was delicious!!! It was another fabulous book in this series I adore! 😀

REVIEW – LOVE, CHLOE by Alessandra Torre

March 17, 2016October 21, 2019Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

From NYT Bestseller Alessandra Torre…

You know girls like me. You hate girls like me. The privileged blonde who skips her Ivy League classes when she’s had too many Soho martinis. The one draped on the asshole’s arm because he drives a Bugati and screws like a champ.

I was that girl. I loved being that girl.

Then, my door was broken in. Literally.

And in that moment? Everything changed.

WARNING: This sexy standalone has jaw-dropping moments, crazy sexual chemistry, and will make your cheeks hurt from smiling. Read at your own risk.

*****Dee’s Review*****

4.5 ~I Love New York~ Stars*****

(ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review)

If you are looking for a good time, read this book!! Packed with romance and tons of fun; designed to make you smile and inspire you. I gotta praise Alessandra Torre for always being innovative with her stories. Even though she’s known for the dark and twisted books, I could tell she doesn’t want to belong to just one category. And I’m so happy she’s writing these contemporary romances that I always enjoy so much.

Chloe Madison’s life has crumbled around her. The once heiress to an empire now lives on her best friend’s couch and can’t even collect her education degree due to lack of funds.

Chloe’s situation is bad! Not only is she homeless and unemployed but she’s also heartbroken after her gorgeous millionaire boyfriend cheated on her. Even though Chloe is terrified of this unknown new life, she’s decided to try and make it on her own, since her very selfish parents are no help at all.

She finds a job as a personal assistant to another heiress. Chloe is less than thrilled to be a graduate student who is using her education to play babysitter to a rich puppy. But a job is a job and she needs money and a new place to live.

Her work is hectic as she has to deal with a ton of drama from her boss. Add to that the conflict her ex-boyfriend brings to her life by constantly calling and showing up everywhere she is with expensive gifts and full of charm, trying to win her back.

Chloe is finally able to move into a new place and the apartment is great, plus it comes with a really hot super.

Chloe’s friends have been great throughout her whole ordeal and their friendship has been the one thing keeping her grounded.

As Chloe runs around the city running errands for her new boss, she will also find trouble and a ton of new lessons that will show her that she is stronger and more capable than she ever thought possible.

I love finding inspiration inside my reads. Just like Chloe sometimes we sell ourselves short and it’s not until we are slapped in the face with tough situations, that we look and find the strength to fight to survive and move on.

This romantic standalone was everything I was hoping it would be. Starting with the gorgeous cover, the fun plot and uplifting message; a fabulous book that I would definitely recommend to all my friends…

My Love, Chloe music playlist:
*Ex’s & Oh’s by Elle King
*Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus
*HeartBreakCity by Madonna
*Not a Bad Thing Justin Timberlake

REVIEW – HOOKER (LA Liaisons, #2) by Brooke Blaine

March 15, 2016March 17, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

Whoever said singles were missing out by not finding true love and getting married before the age of thirty had never experienced the sheer pleasure of nightly romantic comedy viewings in their underwear while eating one of Licked’s famous Crazy Cat Lady sundaes. Because life just doesn’t get better than that.

At least, it doesn’t for Shayne Callahan. It didn’t take more than a handful of broken hearts after college to solidify that she was better at pairing up those around her than herself. As a matchmaker at the elite HLS—Hook, Line, & Sinker Matchmaking Company—in the City of Angels, she has a knack for finding the other halves of even the most eccentric clients:

Sugar daddy with a foot fetish? Gross, but no problem.
A severe case of nudophobia? Match made before lunch.

But even the most happily independent of women can find their best-laid plans screeching to a halt when they meet that guy. For Shayne, that guy comes in the form of boyishly handsome, suspender-lovin’, dimple-poppin’ Nate Ryan on a pantsless (we’ll get to that later) Metro ride.

Of course, relationships can never be easy. Before the destined lovers can ride off into the sunset, they must overcome a power-hungry and sexual-punning boss, a celebrity scandal and cover-up, and let’s not forget Shayne’s dreadful foot-in-mouth disease—with which there can never be a happily ever after.

Will fate throw Shayne a freakin’ bone? Or will she be destined to live out her life as sexy(ish), single(ish), and L.A.’s finest Hooker (upper)?

*****Mel’s Review*****

4.5 Stars
(ARC provided by author)

Shayne Callahan is a gorgeous, single, independent Australian woman living in Los Angeles. She works as a matchmaker for Hook, Line, & Sinker Matchmaking Company. She is notorious in LA as the “go to” woman to find your other half. She has a gift when it comes to pairing up others, but wonders if she herself is destined to be single?

Shayne’s three best friends want her to loosen up & live a little, so they talk her into doing this years Annual Pantsless Metro Ride. While on the subway ride Shayne locks eyes with the most beautiful man. He’s absolutely stunning. Between the dimples & the sexy grin, she can’t take her eyes off of him. She later meets her mystery man, & finds out his name is Nate Ryan. He’s a 24 year old guy who is in college studying film. She decides even though he is absolutely delicious, he’s too young for her.

-I’ll be damned. Hot train guy was all about…me.

They keep running into one another & Nate is persistent. He really wants a chance with Shayne & goes after her hard. They have some obstacles thrown in their way, but both develop strong feelings for each other & wants to be together. This was a fun, flirty, sexy read. I really enjoyed it & can’t wait for Paige’s book next! 😀

-My Nate. The most amazing human on the planet.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

This is the second book in the LA Liaisons series, and it can be read as a standalone. I thought it was a very light & sexy read. I was in need of a good RomCom after having gone through an emotional roller coaster from my last read and this story was just what the doctor ordered!

Shayne Callahan is a professional matchmaker working atHook, Line, and Sinker. She is terrific at matching people up with their true soul mates but has had terrible luck with romance in her own life. But Shayne doesn’t let this get her down. She is really quite happy with her single life and dining off of her “meals for one” a la Lean Cuisine. Totally my kind of gal!! Until one day during a bar crawl with her best girls, sans pants, she runs into a seriously HOT guy who seems to be salivating at the sight of her as well. Apparently there is a night in Los Angeles where people get to walk around town in their panties and boxers. Um, I am originally from L.A. and don’t recall this ritual but then again I haven’t lived on the west coast in many years. But I digress.

Nate Ryan is seriously swoony with his cute dimples and charming & sweet personality. Oh, and he definitely rocks the suspenders!! This guy had my full attention from the moment he walks into this story. Shayne plays hard to get at first when she finds out that Nate is about to finish grad school. Thinking that he is far too young for her, she attempts to push him away, but fate keeps pushing these two together and Shayne isn’t strong enough to resist Nate.

As the two start to spend more time together, their feelings for each other intensify, but a potential scandal for one of Shayne’s biggest clients could also end up jeopardizing their budding relationship.

There were several laugh out loud moments and some pretty schmexy situations. I would definitely recommend this when you’re in the mood for something low on angst with a good dose of humor and steam.

REVIEWS – A THOUSAND BOY KISSES by Tillie Cole

March 14, 2016March 14, 2016Leave a comment

synopsis

One kiss lasts a moment.

But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime.

One boy.

One girl.

A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade.

A bond that neither time nor distance can break.

A bond that will last forever.

Or so they believe.

When seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns from his native Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, where he befriended Poppy Litchfield as a child, he has just one thing on his mind. Why did the girl who was one half of his soul, who promised to wait faithfully for his return, cut him off without a word of explanation?

Rune’s heart was broken two years ago when Poppy fell silent. When he discovers the truth, he finds that the greatest heartache is yet to come.

Standalone Young Adult Tearjerker Romance.

For ages 14 and up.

*****Dee’s Review*****

A THOUSAND Cherry Blossom Stars************************

(ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review)

“Moonbean hearts and sunshine smiles”

The beauty of this novel consumed me. Tillie Cole once again takes ownership of my heart with her talent. She wrote a book entirely about love and how powerful and healing it could be. A magnificent story that will stay with me forever.

I’ve been a loyal fan of Tillie Cole for years; I’ve read all of her books. I’ve always admired her ability to always create new and different types of stories. She doesn’t follow a recipe, and she’s always captivated me with every single one.

I must admit that when I first started reading I wasn’t sure I was actually going to love this book. As a blogger, unfortunately, I don’t always get to pick what I want to read next. I usually have to read what’s next on the calendar, always following a deadline. I was very frustrated with myself because while I recognized the stunning writing and characters, I wasn’t connecting with the story. I simply blamed it on my mood. Then… at around 70% into the story, it finally happened, Tillie’s magic finally reached into my heart and the feels, and tears were unstoppable.

Poppy and Rune’s story is very powerful and inspiring. Reading this book truly feels like being kissed by a thousand kisses, your heart will burst!!! You can run and you can hide but it will catch up to you. I won’t lie, it will tear your heart apart. You will cry and get goosebumps as you read one of the most beautiful love stories ever.

Love life even when you feel like it doesn’t love you back. Love is all around us. Love and be loved, intently and purely. Love can change and heal anything and anybody. I believe it.

Thank you, author Tillie Cole for writing this stunning novel.A Thousand Boy Kisses will forever be one of my favorite booksEVER!!!!!!!!

My A Thousand Boy Kisses music playlist:
*Everyone’s Got Something by Perrin Lamb
*Between Us by Peter Bradley Adams
*The Crazy Ones by Paloma Faith
* What We Leave Behind by Labrinth

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****10+++++++++ FOREVER ALWAYS TO INFINITY STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

As I stared at Rune, I asked myself how I had gotten so lucky. I was loved by this boy, loved so fiercely that other loves paled in comparison.

I closed my eyes and replayed our lives in my mind. I remembered the times I hugged him and he hugged me harder. I remembered how I kissed him and he kissed me deeper. And best of all, I remembered how I would love him and he would always strive to love me more.

Where do I begin to describe this incredible story???
Firstly, I’d like to give Tillie Cole a BILLION GIRL KISSES for creating the most beautiful love story I have read….EVER!!!I’d like to follow that up by stating that I also have a bone to pick with her because how can anything I read after this measure up!!??? I seriously don’t think it’s possible! This, in my honest opinion, is Tillie Cole’s MASTERPIECE . She has always been one of my top favorite authors, but after having read this GORGEOUS & HEARTBREAKING story, Tillie has definitely earned her place as my #1 FAVORITE AUTHOR!

I knew even before I read this book that it was YA, and I don’t have anything against this genre, but I mostly read NA and Adult Contemporary books. That being said, I think those of you who tend to steer clear from YA really need to forego that stance and pick this one up ASAP! Rune and Poppy are two of the most endearing and wonderful characters you will ever come across in your reading adventures. Their love for each other was so awe inspiring and it will make you wish that a love like this could come into your lives.

Tillie’s writing is beyond exquisite. I highlighted so much of this book and found it so hard to pick just one quote to add to my review. There were some quotes that were so breathtaking but to post them here, would possibly spoil the story and you definitely need to go into this one blind.

If I could shout it from the rooftops I would say – ”Drop whatever book you are reading and pick this one up!!” Make sure you have a box of tissues handy because the tears will start freely flowing!! Also download the song ”If I Could Fly” by One Direction. It is mentioned in the book and it gave me goosebumps while I was reading this amazing book.

This is definitely my FAVORITE Tillie Cole creation and this story is one I will carry in my heart for a long time to come. BEST OF 2016!! BEST EVER!!!

REVIEW – TYRANT (Scars of the Wraiths, #2) by Nashoda Rose

March 11, 2016March 11, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

“I don’t do nice. Period.” -Kilter (nickname: Off-Kilter)

Kilter is crass, reckless and stubborn. He has alienated everyone—just the way he likes it. Until the day he meets Rayne and emotions he buried long ago reawaken.

“I was nothing but a science experiment.” -Rayne

Rayne has been locked away and used for research ever since she was a child. The abuse caused her to withdraw into a tomb of numbness where she’s found a safe place to hide. But her safe place isn’t safe at all, it’s slowly killing her.
When Kilter rescues her and she is unexpectedly drawn to his raw honesty, Rayne must decide whether to trust him and fight for what she can’t see or drown into the depths of darkness.

For some Scars, it’s the story of healing and redemption, for others it’s the beginning of a tortured existence. Which will it be for Kilter and Rayne?

A band of fierce warriors walk in the shadows of the human world with capabilities derived from the senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries and the rare Reflectors. They are known as the ‘Scars.

*Stygian must be read first. 18+

Scars of the Wraiths Series
Stygian (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 1)
Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 2)
Take (Scars of the Wraiths, standalone)
Credo (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 3) (coming 2016)

*****Mel’s Review*****

4.5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)

Rayne is a young woman living in Toronto and being held prisoner at a compound where she is experimented on for research. She has powerful abilities others want to use her for, & her life hasn’t been her own since she was a young girl. She merely exists as she tries to hide inside herself. She has learned to shut down her emotions. Being trapped within herself has become her only safe place to escape.

Suddenly there is hope when a gorgeous, intense, scary tattooed man named Kilter comes to her rescue. He’s a bit harsh & abrasive, but he helps her escape. Rayne is stunned that this man has come for her. He’s the only person in her life that has ever helped her.

Kilter takes Rayne home with him & is very protective of her. He shows her kindness & Rayne feels safe with him. She also feels a strong connection between them she can’t explain. He’s honest & he’s the only person she feels she can trust. Trust is a tough thing for Kilter. He has been betrayed in the past by those he trusted most. He isn’t used to caring for anyone but himself, but he feels drawn to Rayne. He feels compassion for her & an affection that surprises him. She’s the first person he’s cared about in a long time & he wants to protect her.

Rayne begins to feel dependent on Kilter. He makes her feel whole again. He’s become her hero, & she see’s a tender side of him others don’t. They start to develop real feelings for one another as Rayne heals. As she gets stronger she begins to notice Kilter even more & how beautiful he is. Her attraction is becoming harder to ignore & the feelings are mutual. Kilter has fallen for Rayne & is totally devoted to her. We get action & drama when people are still after Rayne to use her for her powers. We get a lot of other stories I also enjoyed involving other couples. This was another fabulous book in this series! I can’t wait for Waleron & Delara’s book next!!! 😀

REVIEW – PORN STAR by Laurelin Paige & Simone Sierra

March 9, 2016March 9, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

You know me.

Come on, you know you do.

Maybe you pretend you don’t. Maybe you clear your browser history religiously. Maybe you pretend to be aghast whenever someone even mentions the word porn in your presence.

But the truth is that you do know me.

Everybody knows Logan O’Toole, world famous porn star.

Except then Devi Dare pops into my world, and pretty soon I’m doing things that aren’t like me—like texting her with flirty banter and creating an entire web porn series just so I can get to star in her bed. Again. And again.

With Devi, my entire universe shifts, and the more time I spend with her, the more I realize that Logan O’Toole isn’t the guy I thought he was.

So maybe I’m not the guy you thought I was either.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Authors}

She laughs, a floating, happy sound that does nothing to help the squeezing in my chest or the ache in my groin. I am so wrecked by this girl, which means I’m so very thoroughly fucked right now. Totally fucked.

This was one helluva SCORCHING HOT read. I don’t know why I thought it was going to be like a RomCom. I was completely off base on this one. There was a plethora of sex to be had within the pages of this book and for a brief while, I worried that this was going to be a pure smut fest with very little story. Don’t get me wrong, because I enjoy the schmexy times in a story but I also like a good plot to go along with it, and this one definitely ended up having a good story line that had me foregoing a little sleep last night, as I was dying to get to the end to see how it all turned out.

Logan O’Toole is the biggest star in the porn industry. He also has his own production company and films his own movies. He’s a very charming guy and all of his co-stars love working with him. He LOVES his job and he absolutely loves SEX. But Logan has had his heart broken by his girlfriend of three years. She just moved out of their home and took their dog with her, without any warning or explanation. It’s been several months since the break-up and Logan is just starting to come out from hiding. He gets invited to a party that’s being thrown by a really huge production company and happens to run into a woman that he has had a secret crush on for over three years. Devi Dare was his co-star in a menage film that he and his ex-girlfriend also starred in, and ever since she has been the star of many of his secret fantasies. Little does he know that Devi has shared the same feelings for Logan as well.

They end up working on a project that Logan has developed. An adult reality show that focuses on a couple just starting to date and then follows them through the progression of their relationship over a six-week period. As they spend more time together and become physically intimate, lines begin to blur between the professional and personal. Can Logan and Devi’s relationship thrive while the two still remain in the porn industry and make movies with other porn stars???

I loved Logan because although he really loved being a porn star and enjoyed having sex with women, he genuinely wanted to find true love with just one special woman. He was older than Devi and more experienced, but I found him to be the naïve one in the relationship. He definitely melted my heart. Devi was such an adorable heroine with some seriously quirky parents.

I found myself getting sucked into this story and towards the end it became unputdownable for me. I also thought that the combined writing efforts between Laurelin Paige and Sierra Simone were pretty seamless. I hope that they will work together again on another project.

REVIEW – US (Him, #2) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen

March 8, 2016March 8, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

Can your favorite hockey players finish their first season together undefeated?

Five months in, NHL forward Ryan Wesley is having a record-breaking rookie season. He’s living his dream of playing pro hockey and coming home every night to the man he loves–Jamie Canning, his longtime best friend turned boyfriend. There’s just one problem: the most important relationship of his life is one he needs to keep hidden, or else face a media storm that will eclipse his success on the ice.

Jamie loves Wes. He really, truly does. But hiding sucks. It’s not the life Jamie envisioned for himself, and the strain of keeping their secret is taking its toll. It doesn’t help that his new job isn’t going as smoothly as he’d hoped, but he knows he can power through it as long as he has Wes. At least apartment 10B is their retreat, where they can always be themselves.

Or can they? When Wes’s nosiest teammate moves in upstairs, the threads of their carefully woven lie begin to unravel. With the outside world determined to take its best shot at them, can Wes and Jamie develop major-league relationship skills on the fly?

Warning: contains sexual situations, a vibrating chair, long-distance sexytimes, and proof that hockey players look hot in any shade of green.

*****Dee’s Review*****

4 Stars****

(ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review)

Hot! Hot! Hot!!! Wes and Jamie are HOT!!!!

In this second installment, this hot couple are navigating the everyday challenges of domestic life. Wes’s career as a professional Hockey player is starting strong, but this means his personal life has to be kept hidden, at least until his first season is over. Jamie is getting home sick and his job as a coach is not going as well as he had hoped, and to add to all that, Wes is gone a lot and their time together as a couple is very limited.

Miscommunication is the main problem these two are having, and before they know it the little problems become big and not easy to manage.

While Wes and Jamie struggle with their relationship, as a reader and fan of the story, you feel like shaking them silly boys for not talking. They love each other so much, so you pray and hope that they’ll be able to talk it out and move on.

I love the combination of writing styles of these two authors. They are a power couple when it comes to creating sexy and entertaining stories. Even though I loved the first book more I enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it to my friends and followers.

Wrapped Up In Reading

Category: Uncategorized

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REVIEW – COLLARED by Nicole Williams

REVIEW – ELASTIC HEARTS (Hearts, #3) by Claire Contreras

REVIEW – LOVE, CHLOE by Alessandra Torre

REVIEW – HOOKER (LA Liaisons, #2) by Brooke Blaine

REVIEWS – A THOUSAND BOY KISSES by Tillie Cole

REVIEW – TYRANT (Scars of the Wraiths, #2) by Nashoda Rose

REVIEW – PORN STAR by Laurelin Paige & Simone Sierra

REVIEW – US (Him, #2) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen

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