Book Review for Blood Type by KA Linde

BLOOD TYPE
by K.A. LINDE

For Reyna Carpenter, giving up her body isn’t a choice. It’s survival.

In a civilization laid waste by poverty and desperation, Reyna accepts a high-paying position with the wealthy and hungry vampire elite. Her new job is as the live-in blood escort for the intimidating, demanding, and devilishly handsome Beckham Anderson. He’s everything she expected from a vampire, except for one thing—he won’t feed off her.

Reyna soon discovers that behind Beckham’s brooding, wicked façade lies a unique and complex man. And that, in a dark and divided world, she is more valuable than she ever would have believed.

For with each passing night, Reyna can’t shake the sensation that it’s Beckham who’s afraid of her.

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REVIEW: Still deciding.....

"Every journey begins with one step."

I am aware it is rather odd of me to withhold a star rating until I have fully completed a series, but there is a reason with this one. Bear with me as I try to maneuver my way through my first Vampire PNR and how I felt about the story and the writing as a whole. And yes, you are reading that correctly: I, The Book Bee, read a PNR book with a vampire in it AND. I. LIKED. IT. Weirdly enough...I liked it a lot. I was completely drawn in to the story development and the different nuances this one had. However, as much as I liked it, I also had some issues with it. Not enough to push me away from reading more of the story; just enough that I felt I needed to mention them. 

I am not a huge fan of third person; a lot of the time it's because it's just not written well. It doesn't flow well for me, and sometimes it keeps you on the outside of the story, looking in - not really feeling a part of it. Sometimes my ability to connect with the characters is even inhibited. Unfortunately, such was the case with this book. In general, it felt very scripted for a good amount of the book before it started to flow. Maybe it was me needing to warm up to KA's style of writing, or maybe it was the POV. I'm not sure, but being in that POV, it separated me from the actual emotions of the book and being in Reyna's shoes. It did, however, allow me to watch everything happen from afar. Which, if I think about it, is probably what I needed since I have never read a book in this genre and I needed to experience this one a little differently.

Also, if I'm going to be nitpicky here, Reyna was obnoxiously irritating. Why? I am not entirely sure why she was, but she most definitely was. Her job, her desire for this change, and her reasonings behind it all made sense, but her actions disputed that sense. Some attitude was justified, but many of her childish rants and tantrums were just that: childish. She didn't come off as strong and independent. She came off as bratty and immature. For someone who had nothing, she sure was ungrateful. I'm not bemoaning the fact that she had an attitude and rightfully so. Not at all. I just didn't care for her character as a whole. She could almost be described as wishy washy. I wrote in my notes that she was "stubbornly wretched". Her anger and rudeness were contradictory to some of her statements/actions, so I had a very hard time warming up to her. But again, she was going through something I can only imagine, so I had to dismiss her insufferable antics to get through some of the scenes. I realize she was in a situation she didn't want to be in and I can totally recognize that. Even though I felt she was completely out of line in some aspects, if I had to put myself in her shoes, I would probably be a bitch too. {{just saying}}

"Beckham was an enigma wrapped in a mystery."

That quote couldn't be any more true. Was Beckham perfect? No. He was was so closed off and too controlled to allow himself to feel anything. But there was something about him that I needed to discover through this story. His reasoning....his why. I wanted to know what was going on with him and I loved seeing his control break and him losing himself with Reyna, no matter how brief it was. That 'break' is what I looked forward to. I didn't necessarily feel their blooming love immediately though - it felt like it came out of left field. In the beginning, their relationship felt very clipped, almost forced. I was 'told' about this love long before I ever felt it, but I did eventually warm up to it and them and the book went a little more smoothly for me.

Having said all that, I know it sounds like I didn't like this book, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Even though I had some issues, I did actually really enjoy the storyline. Having never read a Vampire PNR, it definitely made me want to read more in this genre, but I felt like I was overly picky because I was paying attention to every little detail. I liked the way this one was different than anything I've ever seen before (I can only compare to movies/tv series that I've seen - lame, I know), but I liked the vision K.A. Linde was affording me through her tale. Overall, this fantasy world had me turning the pages, because as irritated as I may have been, I was really curious as to where the story was going - I was genuinely intrigued. I may have struggled, but I couldn't put it down and that is such an anomaly for me, but it also says something. I warred with myself between the writing and the storyline, but I have to say the storyline won out. I normally would have put the book down and walked away without looking back, but there was just something about it that really sucked me in. {{NO pun intended}} I'm very interested in seeing the outcome for Reyna and Beckham play out. I actually can't wait to read more of this series, as well as some other Vampire/PNR books. I'm looking forward to BLOOD MATCH and BLOOD CURE. 

~BEE

P.S. to my review: The writing in this book was quite literally jarring. We get a sentence. Then a period. We get a reaction. Then a period. We get an action. Then a period. It was very awkward to read. Where are the conjunctions? Where are the commas and the embellishments? Lengthen those sentences. Make the words talk! Make them pop!! Don't make them sit on a page, stagnant and not moving. The structure was almost elementary in form and it was quite distracting. I was told this was not indicative of her normal writing style; that this may be a publisher editing/indie writing difference. I can only hope.

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~MEET K.A. LINDE~

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

~CONNECT WITH KA~

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EXCERPT Reveal for Sombra by Leslie McAdam

Prologue

From the shadows, he emerges. The small pool of olive oil on his hands glistens in the candlelight and drips on the tile floor through his fingers.

Decadent.

Hedonistic.

Dark.

I glimpse his face as he approaches the bed, and he’s grinning wickedly, his hair messy and wild. Bare feet on a cold floor. Shirt off. Jeans unbuttoned, with a thatch of groomed pubic hair peeking out, his root showing.

My body tingles and gooseflesh erupts on my arms and legs.

His appraising eyes slowly, languidly, take in my form.

And I love it. I absolutely love the way he looks at me, like he’s appreciating every freckle, every hair follicle, every curve. My painted toes. My voluptuous calves. My ample thighs. And on up.

Another drip of olive oil plops on the floor. Part of me thinks it’s a waste. The other part of me loves this game.

The wait, the watching, makes me pant, and I breathe faster and faster as he comes closer. My skin’s glowing in his dim room.

What surprise does he have for me this time?

The mystery. I love the mystery and anticipation. I don’t know what’s coming next. I don’t know the plan.

I have no idea what pleasures are in store for me tonight, but I’m sure they’re coming.

He knows what he does to me. He knows I’m resisting writhing on the crisp, rough sheets, which are crackly from drying on a line out back in the cold, wintry Andalusian sun. We’ll soften them soon enough when our bodies join together, but right now they’re almost like brittle sandpaper, chafing my skin.

With a bite of his lip, trying to control his smile, he rubs his hands together, making a suction sound from the lubrication. The oil smells fruity, green—if you could smell a color—and bitter.

I’ve licked it on his skin enough times to know its taste. The complexity of the flavors. How just a drop on the tongue can make me want so much.

I love it.

Even though I shouldn’t.

My eyes stay on his hands. I’m obsessed with them, especially his callouses. Over time, they’ve built up on the pads of his palms, right next to where his fingers begin. The telltale sign of a life lived working outside, although it’s not what he wants. Sometimes his rough patches crack and bleed, a hazard of using a rake to beat the olives out of the trees.

A hazard of using his hands.

Those hands, those scratchy callouses now skim down my naked body, half-lit in the dark room, leaving a trail of oil. My hair splays across the pillow. His light touch makes my nipples point up. My pulse pound. My body ache. I arch up into his fingers, wanting more. Needing more.

Needing him.

We shouldn’t be doing this. This isn’t how my life is supposed to be.

But nothing can stop our desire.

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SOMBRA

by LESLIE McADAM

Everything in moderation. Including virtue. 

I step off the plane in Madrid and meet his warm eyes. His crooked smile. His devastating charm. 

Worse, he’s courteous. Honorable. Sensuous. Impossibly attractive. 

Tavo awakens my desires—my body—without even touching it. 

I don’t want to be attracted to him. I’ve made my promises. 

My future has already been determined. I'm wearing a ring. 

But I can't control this pull to him. 

He wants to explore my shadows. 

I want to get out of the light. 

I shouldn't feel this way... 

Problem is, I can't restrain my heart

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~MEET LESLIE McADAM~

Leslie McAdam is a California girl who loves romance, Little Dude, and well-defined abs. She lives in a drafty old farmhouse on a small orange tree farm in Southern California with her husband and two small children. Leslie always encourages her kids to be themselves - even if it means letting her daughter wear leopard print from head to toe. An avid reader from a young age, she will always trade watching TV for reading a book, unless it's Top Gear. Or football. Leslie is employed by day but spends her nights writing about the men you fantasize about. She's unapologetically sarcastic and notoriously terrible at comma placement.

Always up for a laugh, Leslie tries to see humor in all things. When she's not in the writing cave you'll find her fangirling over Beck, camping with her family, or mixing up oil paints to depict her love of outdoors on canvas.

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Book Review and Giveaway for Iron Princess by Meghan March

IRON PRINCESS
by MEGHAN MARCH

He’s a mystery. An enigma. 

His very identity is a secret buried beneath layers of deception.

He’s also an addiction I can’t shake. An attraction I can’t fight. 

And then I found out exactly who he is—a man more dangerous than the devil himself.

Now I need him in order to save everything that matters to me. 

I have to pull back. Protect myself from the danger that haunts his every step. 

Which would be easy . . . if I could stop myself from falling in love with him.

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REVIEW: 4.5 SOLID STARS
"I see you, Temperance. I see every single part of you - even the ones you don't want to see yourself."

I just finished this book and I am writing this review on my high of "WHAT IN THE EVER LOVING EFF JUST HAPPENED!!!!" I actually was betting this went a different way, but then Meghan March sure enough sent my thoughts packing and now my heart is reeling for Temperance!!! My head and my heart are spinning because of that twist!!  And now I have to wait?? This cliffhanger will be a hard one to wait out!! That ending just killed me!!!

Ok, to start, this book is my favorite in this trilogy so far. It was hotter. It was more fleshed out. It was deeper. And it was most definitely eye opening. The story flourished in this book. It really took off and sealed the trajectory of the storyline well. I loved the symbolic line between wanting what we can't have and not thinking the option is even possible. That played a very heavy part in this book, and those lines were very jagged. MM did a really good job on the push and pull aspect of wanting what they couldn't have. My gosh, I am still smiling and excited about that ending!!!

Meghan wrote about this very private man and this very tempting woman. It was hot and sexy, but believable and not cliché - thank gosh! I felt him fight and give in. I watched her tempt and submit. The proverbial power exchange and it had me all giddy inside. It was just sexy!! But, I feel like I need to define how heartbreaking their desperation was- not just hers, not just his, but theirs. The thing about it for me was it was just so authentic. I felt the desperation. I felt that visceral need. This book had more emotion than the first one - for me, by far, and I was completely caught up in their almost clumsy fall into each other's hearts. I don't mean clumsy as in awkward. I really mean it in the manner of them falling without any control over their hearts in any way, stumbling through this new reality of theirs while trying to make sense of it. I liked the way she showed them navigating this unchartered territory and how they had to literally feel their way through it. I just felt like I was discovering a new love, a new feeling, right along with them. But that ending got me like...

"I should be cursing her, but all I want to do is make her feel the same storm that's raging inside me."

This book got suuuper interesting, real quick, and by the fourth chapter, this book was already standing out as intense and quite fascinating. So much happened, and so much has to happen, for everything to button up. The goings-ons caused some serious gaspable moments for me and I definitely wide-eyed it through a few pages. She spun an easy to read story, full of emotions, crazy actions and likable characters. It just felt authentic, but man did she mess me up bad with that ending!!

I am definitely enjoying these books of hers because they are a tale spun of unknown adventure and she adds a ton of excitement to an underworld I would never have given a second thought to. While I don't feel these books are super deep, they are ripe with emotions in general, and this plotline has never dragged for me. As with any drama filled books, there are bound to be some eye-roll worthy moments here and there. I can't deny there were some in this book, as well as some over the top cheesy lines, but I don't think we can honestly get away from them completely and they didn't hinder the story for me at all. Having said that, the sentiment was there and it kept the momentum going in this second book. Overall, this was a really good book and I loved it! Did I tell you that ending jacked me up?? Maybe I should mention that....

"I'm still going to test your limits, temptress. Because you're trying to destroy mine."
~BEE

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~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.

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Book Review and Giveaway for The Real by Kate Stewart

THE REAL
by KATE STEWART

They say it happens when you least expect it.

It did for me.

It started the moment I saw the simple message pop up on my computer screen:

Cameron’s Mac: Hi.

And when I met the eyes of the gorgeous man messaging me from across the coffee shop, I never thought my reply would lead to the most intense, sexual, and passionate relationship of my life.

We both agreed to check our bags at the door and put our future hopes and aspirations on the table.

It worked.

I fell in love with his no holds barred attitude, sexy smirk, and undeniably good heart . . . and for a while we forgot about our baggage. We happily tripped over it to get to the other, neither of us willing to show the contents of our pasts in the off chance it could ruin us.

We built our love on a foundation of gray.

It was life in black and white that threatened to tear us apart.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"Sacrifice would be my penance for taking her trust and muting it to hear my own heartbeat."

FIRST AND FOREMOST:  I will need this signed on my shelf. I will need to regularly pet it, smile at it, think about it, and then set it back very carefully. This will be the kind of book that you remember fondly after reading it. While 95% of it was the epitome of the perfection of falling in love, there was some heaviness to it, and it was very well written, but overall it's a very fun story to read. I smiled throughout...I may have even <sighed> a few times.

This book pulled me in and, for the sake of not sounding cheesy.....well, I'm going to: It held me hostage! I blocked out the world and got sucked up into messages and hearts, secrets and filthy comments. I loved the feeling of the anticipation for new messages. I reveled in the excitement of butterflies and the discovery of a new love. I felt giddy at the possibilities and where this was leading up to. I swooned at how PERFECT Cameron was. With a heartbreaking chain of events, some out of their control, and others slipping away without them even being ready to accept them, this book was one heartfelt exercise in trust. Dreamy....seriously. Dimples on a man make me weak in the knees, but add a sexy smirk, a wink, and a raspy voice and I'm a goner.

Sometimes, there is an author that writes that perfect boyfriend....the one that makes you smile, makes you squirm and gives you the goosebumps. Well, Kate did that with Cameron. Even though I was on edge because there was a secret he was hiding, I couldn't help but fall for him. His secret, while it was his to bear, was a true testament to his character as a whole. I had a really hard time with what happened to him, but it made me fall deeper for him, for his entire character, in the long run. The weird thing is, I figured out the twist, but it was a "what if" scenario for me and seeing it all unravel was making me turn the pages with intent. Because if I thought I had it figured out, Kate made sure I did NOT.

"Love broke us both and put back together."

And my gosh, when I say Cameron was just so perfect, I mean it - flaws and all. Even though they both had a rough go at love, Cameron didn't let it stop him. But Abbie was jaded. It took someone with the patience of a saint to bring her back to a trusting person, and while that was no easy feat, Cameron went in with determination. The thing about his determination (and love) was that it wasn't over the top. It wasn't in your face. It wasn't anything that made me side-eye him or his intentions. What it was was pure. It was understanding. It was patient. It was comforting. I just loved how he took care of her from afar. How he made sure she was always ok. He always had her best interests in mind. There was a lot of gray in their world though....some murky parts that needed some clarity. I adored him. I just did.

I can definitively say that you want to read this book. You do. It was that fun. That smile inducing. That perfect of a love. This one was just one of those books I fell in love with easily and comfortably. I know that Kate seems to have the words that speak to me. Her flow is easy. Her cadence is easy. Her stories are easy. Twice now I've read her and twice now I've loved her books. I will happily recommend this book to anyone that wants a book with a truth behind the love; a depth behind the need. I loved it so much.

"And in case it's not clear by now when it comes to weakness, you're becoming mine."
~BEE

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~MEET KATE STEWART~

Kate Stewart lives in Charleston, S.C. with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. A native of Dallas, Kate moved to Charleston three weeks after her first visit, dropping her career of 8 years, and declaring it her creative muse. Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it's what she loves as a reader. A lover of all things '80s and '90s, especially John Hughes films and rap, she dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity only and does a horrible job of playing the ukulele. Aside from running a mile without collapsing, traveling is the only other must on her bucket list. On occasion, she does very well at vodka.

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Book Review and Giveaway for SEVER by Mary Elizabeth

SEVER
by MARY ELIZABETH

Misery overstayed its welcome.

But fate will not be so easily swayed.

Gabriella Mason and Teller Reddy have walked a thin line between affection and hostility for years. The intensity that once set them on fire has ended their engagement and separated them by more than just miles.

Forced together by circumstances they never saw coming, Gabriella and Teller have no choice but to face the past that brought them together and ultimately severed them apart.

Wrecked and Damaged have collided.

This is what happens when they try to pick up the pieces

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REVIEW: I Just Can't Right Now....
"To a fiend like him, my unease is delicious, and he licks his lips."

This story is the exact reason why I look forward to Mary Elizabeth's books. This is the reason I crave her words, her angst, and her stories. I make no secret as to how much I love angst and how much I love a painful love story. A truthfully painful love, no less. Well, Mary definitely made this one painful. I mean, she took stubborn to a whole 'nother level. Yes, I said 'nother because it fit. Work with me here. I am not entirely sure what to say about this one, because I know without a shadow of a doubt that you need to live through Teller and Ella's story in order to understand, but this one was rough. Necessary.....but rough. After reading Closer, I knew I was in for a rough ride. I just didn't imagine it would be this rough. Waiting this long for their conclusion almost felt symbolic in a way. the fight alone was worth it. Painful, but worth it.

"I wish hurt were as easy to wash away as a hangover is."

How do you explain a love so volatile it's necessary to function? Teller Reddy and Gabriella Mason embody this kind of love like no other. It's probably not healthy, and I'm sure there will be people that will complain about it because of the real issues that can surface from it, but if you look deeper, if you look to the root, deep inside, you can see and feel the truth behind their love. Their love was deep. It was built out of circumstance, but one that thrived. Did it thrive on pain? On love? On purpose? On accident? This one took me through the wringer - it's exactly the kind of story I love.

I loved Teller. His misguided attempts to right all the wrongs, to fix all the broken, to make everything ok, all because he loved Ella so desperately? The depth of his love is unmistakable in it's entirety. He loved her to the detriment of his own sanity, and you can see she's loved with every fiber of his being. This was a painful love to watch unravel.....and I reveled in it. I sound evil, don't I? I just loved how she spun their pain and their love, as if it was symbiotic....or harmonious, even. But it wasn't. Their love was only necessary to live. To breathe. To exist. I felt every tether snap between them and I was seriously freaking out. Their love story seized me wholly and completely.

"Teller Reddy is one hell of a drug, but I'm rehabilitating."

Mary Elizabeth's words are so poetic. Her descriptions and her dialogue are so heavy with meaning. When the excitement for the pain, the giddiness for her angst, grips me, makes me breathe funny and makes me pace, I know it's gonna be a good story! I love the anticipation of destruction that Mary Elizabeth gives me. Love it. She easily, slowly and meticulously lays out this story, one word at a time, and she brings me deep into this world of depravity and agony while single-handedly breaking my heart with ONE line:

"I don't know how to be without you, Ella."

Broke. My. Heart. And Ella is one stubborn and confused woman that knows the truth and the reality behind that ONE line, yet she also understands the perfectly crazy side to his undying love. She can't deny it. She can't deny her own love. Her own need. It's gritty and raw, it's real and painful, but it's true. It was a love story that needed to be felt. And I did.....painfully so.

I can tell you that this cover is the most accurate deserving cover I have seen in a very long time. That picture was 100% Teller to me. An amazingly beautiful muse for him. I am not one to comment on covers often, but after reading and falling in love with Teller and Ella, living their story with them for so long, I can definitively say this one was perfect. <sigh> I will never have enough of Mary's tumultuous words....never. Ever. I know Teller's palpable need for Ella, because that's how I feel when I read one of her books. I soak it up. I can't get enough. This will once again be on my favorites list. The heaviness and the aching I felt while reading this one was undeniable and intense. Just how I like it.

"How could the universe be so cruel to make this man both my beginning and end?"
~BEE

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My review for Closer is HERE.

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~MEET MARY ELIZABETH~

Mary Elizabeth is an up and coming author who finds words in chaos, writing stories about the skeletons hanging in your closets. 

Known as The Realist, Mary was born and raised in Southern California. She is a wife, mother of four beautiful children, and dog tamer to one enthusiastic Pit Bull and a prissy Chihuahua. She's a hairstylist by day but contemporary fiction, new adult author by night. Mary can often be found finger twirling her hair and chewing on a stick of licorice while writing and rewriting a sentence over and over until it's perfect. She discovered her talent for tale-telling accidentally, but literature is in her chokehold. And she's not letting go until every story is told.

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Book Review and Giveaway for Chaser by Kylie Scott

CHASER

by KYLIE SCOTT

Given his well-earned bad boy reputation, Eric is having a tough time scoring.. When single Jean moves to town, she seems heaven sent by the sex gods. Only problem is, she not only wants nothing to do with him, but it turns out that she's pregnant.

Starting over in a small town, Jean is determined to turn her wild lifestyle around and be the kind of mother she always wished she'd had. Since local bar owner and all round hottie, Eric Collins, is now determined to steer clear of her pregnant self, it should be easy. When she goes into labour during a snow storm and her car slides on some ice, it's Eric who comes to the rescue.

There seems to be a bond between them now, but is it enough? And can Eric give up his manwhore ways to be the man Jean needs?

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REVIEW: 3.5 Stars

"I just smiled. The truth being that her whole existence worked for me."

Ok, this was only my second book by Kylie Scott, and I was SO excited to jump into it after loving TRUST. So, having said that, you will understand that I have not read any of the books in this series. This was described as a standalone book within the series, but make no mistakes (like me), this is most definitely a book that you will benefit from reading the other books in the series first. There was just too much going on that was alluded to, and not sufficiently explained in the beginning, that it kinda caught me off guard....as well as the character buildup as to who Eric was in the group. Again, I realize I went into the third book in the series, but sometimes a standalone series isn't as standalone as they were quoted as being. BUT, having said that, after I got into the book and started to fall into the storyline of Eric and Jean, their story flowed much better. 

I will admit that I eventually fell in love with Eric and his awkwardness, and even though he was billed as this womanizer, he was just.....a goof! A good looking one, but a goof, nonetheless. But it's safe to say, Eric *really* started to grow on me. His nature, his demeanor, was completely different than one I have read.....ever? in a long time? Not sure, but he was.....different, and I liked it. I tried to explain him to a friend while I was reading it that he was a doofus. Not in a bad way, just in a "I have conversations with myself all the time" kinda way. And with reading these monologues, I really got to know his inner workings. I scratched my head in the beginning - because I struggled with his description vs the actions I was getting, but I easily started to fall for him. His heart was pure. He was so sweet and his growth was one I could easily measure in chapters. With Jean being his kryptonite, I could actually feel their toe-dipping into this potential world of maybes. Maybe we can hang out. Maybe we can hook up. Maybe we can be more. I definitely enjoyed their story. Their buildup was gradual and I looooved that part about it. Not knowing all the characters from before, it made me pay extra close attention to everything happening - so that was a bonus, but after getting in line with everyone, the story picked up and flowed nicely.

I will say this: I didn't like how mean Nell was to Eric. I am aware that they have a pretty volatile past and so there is already some bad blood between them, but it was just awful the way she was so rude to him and about him. Again, this is something I waded through having not read the previous books, and I know their story is the one before this, so I will have to check it out. Get to the bottom of this mystery! HA! I just hope this doesn't harm my enjoyment of the previous stories with her in it. 

I definitely walked away from this book feeling like I needed to not only read more from this series, but also from Kylie in general. I really like her style. It's a little more crisp, a different tempo/beat to her words, but her stories have always drawn me in. While the beginning was a rough start for me, the entire crew grew on me. I will be checking out more by her, for sure!

"Maybe I'm more me with you."

~BEE

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~MEET KYLIE SCOTT~

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance  Writer of the year, 2013 &amp; 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/

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Book Review for Rebel Heir by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

REBEL HEIR

by VI KEELAND & PENELOPE WARD

How to kick off a great summer in the Hamptons:

Snag a gorgeous rental on the beach. Check.

Get a job at a trendy summer haunt. Check.

How to screw up a great summer in the Hamptons:

Fall for the one guy with a dark leather jacket, scruff on his face, and intense eyes that doesn't fit in with the rest of the tony looking crowd. A guy you can't have when you'll be leaving at the end of the season.

Check. Check. Check.

I should add--especially when the guy is your sexy, tattooed God of a boss.

Especially when he not only owns your place of employment but inherited half of the town.

Especially when he's mean to you.

Or so I thought.

Until one night when he demanded I get in his car so he could drive me home because he didn't want me walking in the dark.

That was sort of how it all started with Rush.

And then little by little, some of the walls of this hardass man started to come down.

I never expected that the two of us, seemingly opposites from the outside, would grow so close.

I wasn't supposed to fall for the rebel heir, especially when he made it clear he didn't want to cross the line with me.

As the temperature turned cooler, the nights became hotter. My summer became a lot more interesting--and complicated.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

ADD THE SERIES TO GOODREADS

REVIEW: 4.5 Stars.....and waiting. 

"Sometimes you don't realize what you're missing until you see it right in front of you."

#Vinelope is my favorite writing duo. I've made no secret about that love and once again, they've showcased it perfectly as to why. Their ability to write a Hero that can bring any woman to her knees is very evident. We get a very swoony man in Rush that has just enough flaws to make him relatable, and just enough charisma and swag to make him dreamy. But this time, their heroine made me really happy as well! I loved her strength and her carefree attitude. 

The thing is, they nailed these characters with ease. I loved Gia, and Rush was drool-worthy. Gia was obviously written a little close to their heart, given her occupation and struggles. I loved seeing that side of her journey because that gave a little more depth to her story - and it was a depth seated in reality. Gia stood up for herself and what she believed in, and with her unassuming nature and bold mouth, she was all sorts of perfect for Rush. Rush had a mouth that was sinful and deliciously tacky! He was dirrrrty and it was so natural and sexy on him! And with Rush being the rough on the outside, soft on the inside jaded man being brought to his knees, the reasoning was different and unique. This story worked really well for me, and it all came to a head nicely. I mean, even that cliffhanger wasn't too bad. I figured out the twist a little earlier than I wanted to, but being able to see how they spun this story was what kept me going. 

"Second base? What the hell is second base if you think going down on me is first?"

There was wit. There was banter. There was sexy times. There were great characters. Some of it felt...a little too perfect, but their writing was fascinating and lively, and I was all caught up in the lives of Gia and Rush, as well as their jobs and their love - a full story! I just really enjoyed this one. One thing to note was that there wasn't any drama...

Until.

The.

Very.

End.

Let's face it: while this one may have been a little cliché, a little predictable, the way these ladies set it up, it made this book one I couldn't put down. Sure, we've heard the story before, but again, their storytelling came through because not once did I roll my eyes or feel like I was reading the same story. The development of their characters, the absolute perfection that is Rush and Gia, I had a smile on my face throughout the entire book. I easily fell in love with both characters and nothing ever felt forced between them. This is what will bring me back for more of Gia and Rush's story, as well as more of #Vinelope as well. Very good story! I only wonder how they are going to work this one??

"Loyalty is pledging the truth to yourself and others."

BEE

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~MEET VI KEELAND~

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn't change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

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~MEET PENELOPE WARD~

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island. 

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Book Review and Giveaway for Epoch by Jewel E Ann

EPOCH
by JEWEL E ANN

Some lives end unfinished, and some transcend time.

After a horrific incident, Swayze finds herself trapped between two lives. Patchy memories and fear for her own safety thrust her into a gut-wrenching journey to uncover the truth.

Will she let her dreams slip away to seek retribution and find the missing pieces to a puzzle that existed a lifetime ago?

“I’m not going to watch you self-destruct. I’m not going to watch you fall in love with another man.”

Or will she discover the only truth that matters?

Epoch pushes the boundaries of what we believe and what we know. It redefines fate and proves that the only thing separating the heart and the soul is an infinite timeline.

“I think a part of you will be mine to love in every life.”

ADD TO GOODREADS

REVIEW: 5 Unforgiving Stars
"Don't lose yourself in search of her."

Me: "Oh, hey there." 
*pats bench*

Me: "Come sit down with me"
*grabs hand* *stares down at hands* *rubs hands slowly*

Me: "I need to let you know...." 
*slowly makes eye contact*

Me: "YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE THIS BOOK IN ONE PIECE."
"I know, I know....shhh. Shhhh, calm down."
*pulls head to shoulder/rubs hair*

I didn't believe this book would affect me quite like this. I know. It doesn't make sense, right? I mean, this is Jewel E Ann. She writes these epically charged romances that leave you reeling while you're trying to find your footing, but she makes you hold on tight and then puts you back together. You may have some pieces of your heart tragically repositioned, but I can promise you one thing: YOU WILL NOT COME AWAY UNSCATHED. This one was definitely the angstiest book I have ever read. And one of the most painful.

I just feel like, I dunno....I need to prepare you. I did not survive this book in one piece. I physically ached while reading this one. And, believe it or not, I felt ill while reading this one as well. My stomach was in knots and I couldn't calm down. The pacing. The shaking. The breathing. It was all sketch. The emotional turmoil that I felt while watching this story unfold was unlike anything I have ever felt before. Because it wasn't just emotional. It was the physical side of it, it was mental aspect of it; it was soul altering in every way. What I mean when I say that is, I felt this book. I tasted the raw grittiness that she gave us while telling Nate, Griffin, and Swayze's story. But there was more to it. This wasn't just a triangle. Nope. This was, in all essences, a true quadrangle. There was so much more going on; each element had it's own arc in the storyline. And adding all of these differing, but completely connected emotions and characters and nuances to tell this addictive story? It had to be exhausting for Jewel!

"Remember when you were mine?"

The pain felt by all persons involved was palpable. I felt all this as if I was going through all the pain she was living. Swayze was living this pain. I felt the confusion and the fear, the questions and the unknown closing in on me as well. The what-ifs. The why-nots. This was a tough read. If you think about it, there was absolutely NO easy way out of this situation. Not one avenue was easy. One person, at the minimum, was going to be hurt. The predicament causes the pain. Not the misdirected emotions. There is only truth in love. No discrepancies are allowed or accounted for there.

This was a full-bodied exercise in FATE....granted, an otherworldly fate, but fate nonetheless doing it's job. Not always does a story turn out the way we wanted or thought it would, but the fact that you know the author will take you on this heartbreaking journey and you just know you can trust them with your heart implicitly? Yeah, that says something. Jewel is that one. Jewel is one of a few. Jewel always affects me. Always.

I wish I could read this all over again for the first time.....to feel this one for the first time. I've never read this much angst. Ever. When I felt so invested in each character indivisible, and as a couple, I didn't know how far I would actually make it given all the ups and downs of this one. I'm not sure I'll ever be the same again after this book. It reached deep down inside, into my soul.....it dug out the pain, slowly and methodically. It broke me.

I will say this: I don't know if I'm heartbroken because of how it ended.....or simply because it ended. What am I supposed to do with myself now?

"Don't steal anything from the past or borrow anything from the future."
~BEE

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~MEET JEWEL E ANN~

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree a a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course . . .heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

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