Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Book Review and Giveaway for Found Underneath by KL Kreig


FOUND UNDERNEATH
by KL KREIG

It began as a ruse.

Take a girlfriend. Divert the press from the fucked up mess that’s my family until my father is re-elected. Stage a public breakup. Move on.

Only that brilliant plan went straight south the moment I set eyes on Willow Blackwell.

I found her.

My center. My future. A soulmate with the will of a mule and the mouth of a harpy.

I now want things I never wanted before. Permanent kinds of things.

Only Fate—and her ex—have other plans for us.

In some sort of cosmic impossibility, our lives unknowingly intersected years before when tragedy befell both our families. Once the devastating truth is finally revealed, the future I’d found in her will come crashing down around us and for the first time in my life I’m completely helpless.

I may very well lose the only woman I've ever loved to a past neither of us saw coming.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"And he's eyeing me as if I'm the queen he needs to secure his kingship, his rightful place on the throne. As if I'm his next and only breath."

WOW! Ok, so we all know how LOST IN BETWEEN ended and the emotional position Shaw and Willow were put in with their pasts colliding. This book immediately picked up where that one left off. Their turbulent love affair was compounded by their pasts, and their pasts have come back to haunt them in a crazy twist of events only the devil can think up. The amount of heartache these two endured because of coincidence is nothing to take lightly.

We saw Shaw falling in love. We saw Willow denying the possibility of love. It was a scary step for them both to take and the journey to get there was an agonizing one. The brevity of their situation was not for the weak, and the journey we took to get to their HEA was a beautiful but very twisted and heartbreaking one. When a man has to fight for his woman, it shows a lot about his character when he won't give up, but he's very cognizant of her feelings and continues to fight. I think KL nailed this one. Shaw is perfection in book boyfriend form. He recognized his innate need for the balm that Willow provides his soul. She was what he needed, and he recognized that. I ached down to my very soul for what Shaw was going through and the juggling act he had to perform with the secrets he was holding.

"You can't beat your enemy if you don't know your enemy and all I know is his weakness, but that's not enough. His weakness is my weakness, too."

I love KL's alphas. I love her in-depth storylines. I love what she does with her characters' hearts and the paces she makes them take in order to find their true love. This one was no different. I have to say that their admission of love was one of the most beautiful ones I have read in a very long time. It will stick with me. It was so intimate, so loving and so true. They felt it. It was just a beautiful profession of love and I honestly loved it. When you get to that point in this book, slow down and revel in it. Soak it up and read it with all the emotion KL intended. It was absolute perfection.

A real man knows what he wants and goes after it, but a good man knows how to take care of and soothe his woman. He knows what her greatest strengths are, but he knows what her weaknesses are too. Shaw knew. OMG. He is sigh-worthy in every way. He fought so hard and so noble, but when he finally decided he was done....he was done. I loved him so hard. He fought so freaking hard. I admire his patience, but loved his tenacity.

While we knew Shaw was a hardcore businessman from the get-go, I didn't really know how strong Willow was. When I was worried that she would be meek and bow down to the pressures of what was perceived to be happening, she actually surprised me and was very strong and was a stand-up heroine. I loved her strength and her straight-forward thinking. She didn't let the what-ifs stop her, instead she saw through it and stood up for her heart and what she believed in. When there was a question about something, she knew to get to the bottom of it and not dwell on the negatives. With Noah being a best friend to Shaw, he was also a shoulder for Willow and to say that I hope that KL writes his story, that would be a gross misstatement. I need Noah's story. I need to see him weak and give in to the one woman that holds him by the balls! I want to see him CAVE!!

I am not and cannot reread a book, so that never works out well for me. Unfortunately, the almost 3 months in between books bit me back hard. I read so many books in between that I lost what was going on so I had to go through and play catch-up again. The book took off immediately and I didn't get a quick recap worked into the beginning of the book, so it threw me off jus ta bit. This is the *only* reason I hesitate on cliffhangers. But the fact that their love story was so intense and so rich, it made catching up easy, allowing me to fall right back into it once I did some "research". KL is so detailed in her storyline and so much depth is provided to enhance the story, I had to make sure to be on my toes while reading this one. I love her angst, I love her stories and I love her alphas!!! Dirty talkers with strong desires, they have a take-no-prisoners mentality and it makes for an amazing read. I will always and easily recommend the books of hers I have read. She has many more on my TBR and I will make the time to read them.

"In them, I saw a means to an end. In you, I only see the beginning."
~BEE


PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon UK: goo.gl/6A8Ws3
Amazon CA: goo.gl/w3gTMo
Amazon AU: goo.gl/vsEIa9
iBooks: goo.gl/iYzZxs




We all have one.

A price.

That magic number that will get us to agree to do anything, be anything.

Don’t sit on your gold-plated high horse and say you don’t because you do. Everyone does. Each of us has something we covet enough that we’d sell ourselves to have it.

What’s my tipping point, you ask? Apparently a cool quarter mil will do the trick.

What does one do for 250 large, you wonder? Anything the infamous, gorgeous playboy of Seattle wants. For the next four months I’ll be Shaw Mercer’s arm candy, his beck and call girl, his faux girlfriend. I’ll be his to command, mold, push and pull in any direction he sees fit.

I’ll fight falling into bed with him. I’ll fight falling in love with him even harder. I’ll fail at both. And when my past and present collide in the most unexpected of ways, I’ll learn that while one man’s love for me has never died, the only man’s love I really want will never be mine.



PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon UK: goo.gl/mbEQTt
Amazon CA: goo.gl/2NwFgK
Amazon AU: goo.gl/naMzS8


~MEET KL KRIEG~
I’m just a regular ol’ Midwest girl who likes Game of Thrones and am obsessed with Modern Family and The Goldbergs. I run, I eat, I run, I eat. It’s a vicous cycle. I love carbs, but there’s love-hate relationship with my ass and thighs. Mostly hate. I like a good cocktail (oh hell…who am I kidding? I love any cocktail). I’m a huge creature of habit, but I’ll tell you I’m flexible. I read every single day and if I don’t get a chance…watch the hell out, I’m a raving bitch. My iPad and me: BFFs. I’m direct and I make no apologies for it. I swear too much. I love alternative music and in my next life I want to be a bad-ass female rocker. I hate, hate, hate spiders, telemarketers, liver, acne, winter and loose hairs that fall down my shirt (don’t ask, it’s a thing). 

~CONNECT WITH KL~

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Friday, May 26, 2017

Book Review and Giveaway for Real Sexy by Meghan March



In Nashville, country stars are a dime a dozen.

I swore I’d never get caught up with one, but Boone Thrasher made a liar out of me.

I said I’d never put my heart on the line, but he didn’t ask before he stole it.

Now we’re facing my worst fears, and we'll see if this country boy is tough enough to see it through.

Girls like me don’t get happily ever afters… but maybe he’ll prove that wrong too.

Real Sexy is the conclusion of the Real Dirty Duet and should be read following Real Dirty.



REVIEW: 4.5 Stars
"You only regret the chances you don't take."

I have decided I need to read all Meghan March's duets now. I don't know if they tell ALL the stories of the characters we met in this duet, but I do know at least one of them does and I need those stories. Yesterday. I have thoroughly enjoyed this duet and it's not often I can sit down and finish a book in a day. I finished both of these books in record time and enjoyed them both so much!

While I raved about how much I loved Boone and Ripley in my review for REAL DIRTY, I don't need to rehash that here, but the second book in the duet was the perfect finish for the series and, truth be told, I smiled the entire time I read it. I couldn't help it!! I smiled through the well placed cheesiness because it was truly a hot and fun love story. There was some OTT family drama, but with as easy a read as this duet was, I was able to overlook it. It isn't my favorite to read about super vindictive family members in a story, but since it wasn't the focus of the story, it actually worked out fine for me. This is a feel-good, perfect duet for a weekend read and has all the elements of a great story. 

Again, the characters were so relatable and easy to understand. Ripley's strength really shined in this one, even though her outer strength contradicted her inner insecurities in many places. Rip had a lot of internal monologue going on which became monotonous in spots, but overall she was strong but hesitant, and in some parts, weak but ferocious. She had some woe-is-me times, and that was understandable given everything that was happening, but I am so glad Boone didn't let it get in the way of better things. Greater things. With Boone being a man of his word, a man that stood behind his promises and didn't live up to some made-up persona, that made him super sexy in my book! But coupled with the fact that he fought so hard for his woman and didn't give up? HELLO. He seriously made me swoon harder than before, because a man that fights for his woman and does it with class and determination, while maintaining his pride? WINNING!! I loved Boone. Seriously, loved him and his dirrrrty and oh-so-sexy mouth!!! 

I really really enjoyed this duet and look forward to reading more of her!!

"I'm a man of my word. I'm done asking you to give me a shot. I'm taking it, because I know I can make you happy."
~BEE


REAL SEXY IS AVAILABLE:




PURCHASE BOOK ONE: REAL DIRTY






~MEET MEGHAN MARCH~
Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She's also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she's ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.

~CONNECT WITH MEGHAN~

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Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Book Review and Giveaway for Falling Hard by Lexi Ryan


FALLING HARD
by LEXI RYAN

 An NFL player with a secret past, and the one woman with the power to turn his world inside out...

Former actress Emma Rothschild is partying in Vegas in disguise. But I’m not fooled. Five years ago, I knew that body better than my own, and I haven’t forgotten a single detail.

When Emma’s unexpectedly left alone in Sin City, I agree to spend the weekend with her. As friends. Why not? If I can knock down the toughest guys in the NFL, I’m strong enough to keep my hands to myself, even if she is the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.

Emma is part of my past—years so shrouded in secrets that not even my best friends know the truth about who I am. I’m a single dad now and not interested in revisiting my old ways or trying to win back the only woman I ever let close enough to break my heart.

But this is Vegas, where all bets are off, and with Emma, nothing ever goes as planned…


REVIEW: 4.5 Stars
"I'd forgotten the little flutter I get in my belly every time he puts his eyes on me."

Ahhhh!!!!! I have loved Keegan since we met him, and if you have been following me for any amount of time, you will know that Lexi Ryan is one of my favorite go-to authors for sweet and sexy, guaranteed good reads. Add this one to the list. I seriously LOVE this series!!! Keegan was everything. Oh my goodness, everything. Just an FYI: if you haven't read any of the books in THIS SERIES, it's ok. They are all standalones with interconnected characters. Lexi always makes sure each book has their own story so you can jump right in and any background story will be caught up within the first few pages.

To say that Emma and Keegan have a complicated past, that's putting it mildly! And I will admit that I am mad at Keegan for how it all "started", but understand the why of it all. These two, while inseparable at one point, had to wade through the past hurts and anger and remember what they loved about each other in the first place to get to their "sweet spot". The pain that I felt for Keegan was jaw dropping. I gasped as I read this book seeing the past collide with the present. Seeing so much of what Emma dealt with, and in turn, causing Keegan enormous amounts of pain as well was really hard and made for a shut-out-the-family-and-read-all-day kinda read. I couldn't put this book down!

Poor Emma has a lot going on in her personal life and she has a lot of ridiculousness to contend with. To see what she went through as a child, to what she was forced to deal with as an adult. It wasn't an easy life and having the past breeze through like it did, it caused some whiplash of emotions to go through me. From happiness to anger, I felt it all for and against Emma.....that is until I got the entire story. My head is shaking. Poor Emma.

Keegan doesn't exactly have it easy either, even though he works SO hard to make sure his life stays on the up and up, but he makes the best of what he has and he lives a straight life. Keegan is a standup man. He is all man and is true to his word, but one thing that I think is amazing is that his emotions are genuine. I loved seeing how heartfelt he was with his feelings towards Emma. He made me smile and sigh and giggle like a little girl batting her eyelashes. I loved seeing the carefree candor they had when they talked. He's such an honest man and super swoon-worthy. I'm still giggling thinking about him!

Love is so important when you can't let go, when your heart still wrestles with the truth of the matter and the reality of the situation. My heart was so twisted up in this book! Lexi Ryan wrote another page turner that is a must read. It is gripping, emotional and heart-consuming. I whole-heartedly recommend this book, as well as this entire series!

"And she taught me what it was like to love without expectation, what it was like to be loved by someone with a pure heart."
~BEE

◆     ◆     ◆     ◆     ◆     ◆

THE SERIES:

Book 1 - SPINNING OUT 
(Arrow's story)
Add to GOODREADS
Book 2 - RUSHING IN 
(Christopher's story)
Add to: GOODREADS
Book 3 - GOING UNDER
(Sebastians's story)
Add to GOODREADS




Book 4 - FALLING HARD
(Keegan's Story)
Add to GOODREADS




◆     ◆     ◆     ◆     ◆     ◆

~MEET LEXI RYAN~
Once a college English professor, I now write full time. I live in rural Indiana, where, when I’m not writing, I get to hang out with my husband and two kids--a six-year-old boy and a two-year-old hellion, er, girl. Not surprisingly, reading and writing remain my favorite activities, though both come in bits and pieces these days, not the big hunks of time I enjoyed before I had children. When I’m feeling virtuous, I like to go running (I use that word liberally. I’m really, really slow) or do yoga. Don’t worry, I’m always careful to balance out such activities with a hearty serving of ice cream or a chocolate martini.

~CONNECT WITH LEXI~

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ARC REVIEW
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SERIES Review and SALE for The Black Lotus Series by EK BLair



BANG

Review: 5 Stars!

I feel like I am missing a link or a friend…..or a beating heart. Yeah, that happened. My heart was ripped out and I want to hate Ek for making this so addicting. This book was like a drug. I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t get enough of it! I absorbed every word in this book….every.single.one.

MY FIRST OFFICIAL MIND FUCK
I have never read a dark book and I have never felt like this at the end of a book. I am seriously……lost. I want, nope….I NEED something. Anything. A lifeline would sure be nice…..but holy hell!! I have never felt this shocked at the turnout of events that happened in a book. I want to cry….but I don’t really cry with books. I want to purge these emotions I am feeling by talking it through with someone because bottling it up would be painful…..but I don’t want to spoil someone else’s rollercoaster of necessary emotions. I want to just curl up in a ball and rehash everything I just read and dissect it. There was so much going on, so much to think about and so much to question…..

Damn you Ek. You are simply amazing. This book is unlike anything I have ever read….and when it was coined a psychosexual thriller, well that was pretty precise. I am shaking my head as I am trying to formulate my review….yes, it appears I do this after I read a book that affects me on this level. This book won’t leave me. I can’t process what I am feeling in my weary mind. I am shaken to the core, my mind is overloaded, my heart is crushed and my soul is wounded.
I have promised a NO spoiler review, which means that the synopsis you read up there is the depth of what you will get from any reviews at this point. But I will say that this book will test your limits beyond anything you have ever read.

This was a single POV book, but it was written with such depth and description that it truly encompassed ALL sides to every one of the characters. The characters were believable, the storyline was deep and the outcome was gut wrenching and heartbreaking!! It moved me and it tore me up, it made me feel for her and made me despise her….I will never be the same.
I am told there are more books in the series…..but I don’t even pretend to understand how that is going to work out. I have my theories, but with the way I was tossed around with the twists and turns in this plot, I won’t really entertain those theories because everything I thought I knew, I truly didn’t. Everything was tested by this book and I am honestly shocked and stunned by the outcome.
Ek is my superhero…..her mind is an amazing place to visit, because this book was beyond extraordinary; it was so unique and beyond comprehension. Just……wow. Amazing. Phenomenal. Fanfreakingtastic.

5 mind-numbing stars. Nothing compares…..nothing.




ECHO

 5 'HOLY CRAP, HOW DO I EXPRESS THIS FEELING' Stars
Ok....Ek Blair is nothing short of BRILLIANT.

So, to explain what happened during this book is impossible. I cannot even begin to tell you HOW it made me feel and WHAT it made me feel. We know with Bang, it was one roller coaster ride of a mind-fuck. It was crazy, mind blowing and mind numbing.....straight crazy, but amazing. I had feelings with Bang that I have never had with any other book. I had to walk away, but I didn't want to stop reading. It was my first dark read and I enjoyed it immensely, and I was shocked.

Blair has such a love affair with words....she regularly posts #WordPorn on her Instagram account....and it's really neat. Well, she is no different in her books. Her words flow uninhibited, her books are a masterful use of words and this one just permeates your soul. DEEP. This book was phenomenal and I couldn't stop reading it. I didn't want to put it down! I devoured it and clung to every word she wrote. She has this amazing ability to immerse you, the reader, into the world she is creating and make you feel everything going on. It was powerful. It was deep. It was harsh. But it was amazing.

The ending left me in a frenzy. This is what the ending did to me:


My mind was racing, my heart was pumping and I was in a complete state of shock! WOW!!! I am not a cliffhanger lover....not by any means, but I can honestly say that her books are so deep and intricate that I can't possibly forget the story, so that makes the cliffhanger a little easier to handle. There is no way you can forget her words, her stories....but, still? Amazing. Massive chills running up and down my spine.....even when I ran out to tell my husband what I had just read, I got the chills all over again!

When I say amazing, that doesn't even tip the iceberg. Phenomenal might begin to describe it, but I feel that word isn't even BIG enough for this book.

I was asked if Echo was better than Bang. Honestly? Bang and Echo are in a league of their own. Better than? I don't know.....Bang messed me up, but Echo freaked me out! This book gave me some answers that I needed, but it also led to so many more questions. I am so excited to read Hush.



HUSH
REVIEW: HOW DO YOU RATE THIS?
"There is simply no cure for heartbreaks that surpass monumental agony."

To say that I have been anxiously awaiting this book for some time, that is an understatement. I needed more Declan, I needed more of their intense love, and I needed to know who was on the freaking plane!! You can't tell me that YOU weren't curious about it! And, for the record, I knew it. Ha!

In epic form, Ek Blair twists our hearts and minds to accept the unacceptable, to believe the crazy, and to understand the insanity. Ek's writing is poetic, and the way she tells the story allows you to fall in love with the characters, flawed and all. This book had some elements to it that showed the depth of Elizabeth's craziness, but just as mentally unstable as she may have seemed, she still loved hard and was the light in Declan's darkness. I loved how much he loved her. I wish there was a better word to describe it other than DEEP, because he loved her with every fiber of his being, with every breath that he took. It was intense. I adore him so much. I just love how alpha/domineering/controlling he was and he knew exactly how to take care of Elizabeth; emotionally and physically. I craved him so much. 

"I love you to the point it hurts, but I relish the pain of it because it reminds me that what we have runs so deep within me."

These two have their own demons that they will never escape, but the LOVE in this story is undeniably profound. Their love is unsurmountable and nothing can or will ever top it; Declan ensures this. The course this story takes is the very proof of their undying love and I absolutely loved the way he embraced her crazy, while helping her get through anything and everything that came their way. The depth that this story takes while you're reading it, I could just scream.....it was beautiful. Truly.

The ending of the book was perfect, as it was Declan and Elizabeth's deserved ending. I truly thought it was fantastic!! But with that being said, some things didn't make much sense to me and the epilogue was completely unnecessary, which took away from the seriousness and the darkness/dankness of the overall storyline FOR ME. I just didn't like it. It turned this dark, epic story into a wonderment....a fairytale. It didn't leave a good taste in my mouth and it was almost maddening. It makes me sad, because if I could unread that ONE part, this book would have been an epic ending to an amazing DARK trilogy. I question why it bothers me so much, because it's not like I expected anything, but I just didn't expect THAT.

"Karma had done her job, but I wanted to bask in the wake of her achievement."
~BEE

PURCHASE

THE ENTIRE SERIES IS $.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME.

GRAB IT HERE.


◆     ◆     ◆     ◆    ◆
~MEET EK BLAIR~
New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling author, E.K. Blair, takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her books. A former first grade teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything dark and moody and has been noted as 'The Queen of Dark and Twisted'. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and spending time with her friends. She's a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and everything in between.

~CONNECT WITH EK~

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Book Review and Giveaway for All the Way by M Mabie



I’m a man’s man. A bro. A pal. A dude. And I love women.

Am I a saint? Far from it.

Do I go out with a lot of women? You’re damn right.

I date them all. Shy. Loud. Too busy. Lonely. High maintenance. No confidence. No filter. Bad habits. Naive. Beautiful ones. Pretty ones—and believe me there is a difference, but that’s another soap box. Point is, I don’t discriminate.

What do I get out of it? Knowledge. I want to be prepared, adept, and ready.

I might find the perfect woman for me today or a few years from now, but I won’t stop until I do. Then when The One comes along, I’ll be ready to go the distance.

Ready to go all the way.

I’m Cord Taylor, and, lady of my dreams, I’m coming for you.

ADD TO GOODREADS


REVIEW: 4 Stars
"His sexy words and the sounds that emanated from him were seduction in the form of sound."

If there is one thing I know, it's that I can always count on Mo to give me a man I wanna sink my teeth into. Not because he's a sweetheart that you wanna snuggle with; even though he is. Not because he's a standup man that has his priorities in order; even though he is. Not because he has a dirty mouth that can make ME blush; even though he does. It's because he was SEXY AF and I wanna bite him!!! HA!! Holy cow, Cord was all sorts of mouth-watering deliciousness and I have to add him to my Mobrary (Mo Library) of men and I am so in love!! So. In. Love. And I'm going to put this out here....Mo can write a scorching hot love scene that will make you squirm! WOW!

So, picture this; a feisty redhead --- I know, hard to believe that's a possibility, but work with me --- and a man living life looking for the "perfect one" while being a serial dater --- again, shocking, I know --- and they MEET and stuff goes haywire in a comical and sweet way. Comical because the writing was telling us a story all the while the characters would "turn" to us and make a comment directly to us as the reader. I was cracking up! I loved the way she told this story. And sweet because as much as Dana didn't want to accept what was happening, Cord was spelling it out and oh man, I fell so hard for him and really quickly. It definitely takes an emotional turn, but I loved the way the pain and the feelings were portrayed and I feel like it gave us a glimpse into what was actually happening in both their worlds as they were dealing. This is NOT a sad book, it was a contemporary rom-com, but I loved the different emotions we went through to get to their HEA.

I feel like the side characters in this story need to be specifically mentioned. I loved the way she had a village-centered family atmosphere with plenty of background to build a series off of. The best part about this book was that the characters were very relatable in every way. They were down to earth with very real flaws, fears, and concerns, and that made them easy to connect with. I'm excited to see if she writes more stories from these characters.

There were two things that stuck out that I had a hard time with, but the only problems I truly had:
~ In Dana's POV, she lamented A LOT about what was going on in her life and it was almost like she was stuck on repeat. She was stubborn beyond belief but she she kept wallowing -- say it once, maybe twice....but stop bringing it up. We get it.

~ The book was SO LONG and since it wasn't dialogue driven in many areas, it got to be a very long and very slow read in some areas. I am NOT a skimmer, but it could have been shortened quite a bit with a lot less fluff.

With Cord being so perfect (I'd take him!!!) and sweet, and Dana being feisty as all get out - the dynamic between these two worked so well. I liked her strength and she had some quirks, but man! After going through everything she did with Cord, I was so glad to see these two figure out what was going on. They complimented each other so well and the way their relationship progressed made for a sweet read. Cord pushed the story along with the way he treated her, the way he spoke to her, and most definitely the way he put her first and spoiled her. He would make any girl blush and fall in love with him. I felt Cord's visceral need and desire for Dana. I felt Dana's pull and attraction towards Cord. You could just feel it! It was an undeniable chemistry that was combustible any time they were around each other. I loved their draw towards each other. I am SO in love with Cord....he is the best kind of book boyfriend. 

"My bones could feel when Cord entered the room. My ears favored his warm, masculine timbre. The scent of him was as intoxicating as his taste."


◆     ◆     ◆     ◆     ◆     ◆
~MEET M MABIE~
M. Mabie lives in Illinois with her husband. She writes unconventional love stories and tries to embody "real-life romance."

She cares about politics, but will not discuss them in public. She uses the same fork at every meal, watches Wayne's World while cleaning, and lets her dog sleep on her head. She has always been a writer. In fact, she was born with a pen in her hand, which almost never happens. Almost. 

M. Mabie usually doesn't speak in third-person. She promises.

~CONNECT WITH MO~

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Book Review for Paper Swan by Leylah Attar

PAPER SWAN
by LEYLAH ATTAR

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.
They lie.
For 21 days she held on.
But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.
Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love triangle.



REVIEW: 2 Stars

So, this may be a weird review for me to write (and probably one of the hardest) and it will not be a popular opinion one: I can't honestly rate this book high. <sigh> Why? Why, when all the other reviews I am seeing out there loved it and all the other people highly recommending this book are saying it's a 5 star read? Well, probably because I couldn't connect with this book until the last 20%. Yes.....you read that right: 80% of the book I struggled through and I'm not entirely sure I can pinpoint exactly WHY. I can definitively say that some people have different tastes in books, and that is important to note. TO NOTE: I did purchase this book based on all the high reviews, and so I am aware my review won't be well received by some. I can only be honest on how I felt about the book.

The writing: Amazing and lyrical with minimal errors. It was wordy.....very wordy, but this author can definitely write. Her words flowed effortlessly.
The love story: I loved their love.....loved it. But again, I couldn't connect until the last 20%.
The cover: Absolutely gorgeous. I mean, look at it? It is beautiful. It truly fit the book.
The plot: This really was a good plot. The way it all came together and the way it was told, however, is where I think it lost me. The way it was told....I think.

Now, having said that....I want to say that I talked this out with some of my favorite book girlfriends, and even an author that LOVED it. I wanted to sleep on it before I reviewed the book because as much as I struggled with it, it was a good story.

I love a story that takes you through something that is hard for others to understand and the words make you feel something....this book definitely took me through the motions; it really did. But the words didn't emote feelings....I just didn't feel it. I couldn't put myself in that situation or feel what was going on during the story.

I love angst.....crave it even. Sadly, I didn't feel the angst, but there was a ton of depth to the back story. It was a very intricate story (with a lot of depth, seriously), but the angst and the buildup was missing for me. I know it was there....because I read it, but I just didn't feel it. Does that make sense?

There was some sweetness around the 60% mark, but that first 80% was torture for me to read. I hate to say that the last 20% made it memorable, but it did. The last 20% was actually beautiful. I just hate that I struggled and questioned even finishing this book 2-3 times. My book girlfriends cheered me on and told me to finish. Was it worth it? After I finished, mostly yes. But while I was reading it, I questioned it the whole time. I feel awful, but I just couldn't connect.

If I had to rate it, I'd rate it one + star for the beautiful writing (a few errors, but not a lot) and one + star for the last 20%.....I waver between 2 and 3 stars. I want to mention: their love came full circle, and you saw 20+ years of love coming back around. I enjoyed figuring out all the little things that played into the big story. I liked how she played in the title of the book and the meaning behind it as well. That was beautiful.

Her writing is beautiful. Please understand that....because it was. She can definitely tell a story. It flowed and there were no major hiccups. Would I recommend this story....I probably would, knowing that everyone has different tastes, but also because I seem to be in the minority regarding this book. I purchased this book as a preorder and I have purchased her other book, 53 Letters For My Lover, of which I fully intend to read as well. This book definitely pushed me to want to read more of her words....that is for sure.

~BEE
~MEET LEYLAH ATTAR~
Leylah Attar writes stories about love - shaken, stirred and served with a twist. When she's not writing, she can be found pursuing her other passions: photography, food, family and travel. Sometimes she disappears into the black hole of the internet, but can usually be enticed out with chocolate.

~CONNECT WITH LEYLAH~

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Monday, May 22, 2017

Book Review and Giveaway for Somebody Else's Sky by Jessica Hawkins


MY REVIEW WILL NEVER COMPLETELY EXPLAIN WHAT THIS BOOK DID TO ME.

SOMEBODY ELSE'S SKY
by JESSICA HAWKINS

If I closed my eyes, I could still see them—all blonde sunshine, ocean-blue eyes, and long limbs. The glint of Lake’s gold bracelet. Pink cotton candy on Tiffany’s tongue. My scenery may have changed from heaven to hell, but some things never would: my struggle to do right by both sisters. To let Lake soar. To lift Tiffany up. The sacrifices I made for them, I made willingly.

A better man would’ve walked away by now, but I never claimed to be any good. I only promised myself I’d keep enough distance. If I’d learned one thing from my past, it was that love came in different forms. You could love passionately, hurt deep, die young. Or you could provide the kind of firm, steady support someone else could lean on.

Lake was everything I wanted, and nothing I could ever have. I was nobody before I knew her and a criminal after. The way to love her was to let her shine—even if it would be for somebody else.


REVIEW: 6 SPEECHLESS STARS
"....because I'm all wrong without you, because I'm in love with you."

It's books like this one, series like this one, that remind me how much I love reading and reviewing. It's books like this one that inspire reviews. It's books like this one that make me so excited about the power of someone's words. It's books like this that renew my passion for reading.....and feeling. It's books like this one that move the book-world.....or grind it to a halt. This is what phenomenal 5 and 6 star ratings are made of.....this book is the REASON we have exclamation points and 6 star ratings.

--> This series is shaping up to be the BEST OF 2017!!!! I cannot say enough how much the book series has affected me so far!!!! Like, seriously....ALL the exclamation points are needed for how much this book made me feel. Whether it's ragey, angry, sad, or giddy, this book made me feel it ALL. Angst in spades. After I finished this book, I sat on the couch staring at the ceiling, just numb. I was completely SPEECHLESS, and if you know me, that's an almost impossible feat. I wanted to cry. I just couldn't. I wanted to yell. I just didn't. I sat there, completely speechless while thinking of all these possibilities and scenarios, and what-ifs that could possibly change this story from where I thought it was going. My heart is heavy. There is an unknown weight just sitting on it and I am not sure my review will allow me to "purge" and move on. I believe this book will be a book hangover of EPIC proportions, and one that I will be talking about for a long time. I'm flustered with my thoughts and ready to discuss them!

"How was it possible to look up and see the same immovable stars I had a year before when so much had changed?"

It's reviews like this that are simultaneously easy and difficult. Easy because you can scream from the rooftops about how mind-bendingly good the book was, and difficult because there is only so much you can say and not give too much away. Am I inspired to write this review? Most definitely. This book had the purest angst in the BEST form possible.....forbidden. The antagonist was probably the best I've read because she's an underhanded bitch with an agenda. The protagonists are completely taken by the other, so much so that their senses are stripped bare but they are combustible when they are around each other. The spark is evident. The innocence Jessica made you feel again.....first love, forbidden love, unrequited love. Oh my gosh, seriously, she nailed this one so perfectly well, and it reminded me of the elation you get, but the pain you feel, in these situations. It was all so real and so true to point. Jessica Hawkins is my favorite author for a reason. I LOVE how much detail, no matter how finite, that she has added into this story to allow for discussion and reflection. So. Freaking. Good. 

I will be honest when I say that I never read cliffhangers if I can help it. I hate them. I do. But holy cow, with Jessica -- I trust her to hurt me oh so good and then to put me back together, in whatever form possible because it will lead to discussions and theories and more book love than ever before. She keeps me guessing with every book she writes and I love that!! I will die a thousand painful deaths while waiting for Move the Stars to come out. Thankfully, the painful wait until October will be quelled by the Somebody Else's Sky Spoiler Room. I needed that as soon as I finished. I think that's what makes this all the more perfect for me, though. I want this pull. I want this heartache. I crave this kind of story because it was REAL. There is so much depth and varied emotion within the pages of this series....so much to think about, to talk about, to feel, to cry over.

I am speechless.....

"She had the power over me that could hurt us both, and I had to be the strong one between us."
~BEE


You can read my review for Something in the Way HERE.

You can purchase Something in the Way HERE.

You can purchase Somebody Else's Sky HERE.

You can preorder Move the Stars HERE.

ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN ECOPY OF THIS BOOK.


~MEET JESSICA HAWKINS~
Jessica Hawkins grew up between the purple mountains and under the endless sun of Palm Springs, California.

She studied international business at Arizona State University and has also lived in Costa Rica and New York City. To her, the most intriguing fiction is forbidden, and that's what you'll find in her stories. Currently, she resides wherever her head lands, which is often the unexpected (but warm) keyboard of her trusty MacBook.

~CONNECT WITH JESSICA~

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