Book Review and Giveaway for The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

THE WIVES
by TARRYN FISHER

Imagine that your husband has two other wives.
You’ve never met the other wives. None of you know each other, and because of this unconventional arrangement, you can see your husband only one day a week. But you love him so much you don’t care. Or at least that’s what you’ve told yourself.

But one day, while you’re doing laundry, you find a scrap of paper in his pocket—an appointment reminder for a woman named Hannah, and you just know it’s another of the wives.

You thought you were fine with your arrangement, but you can’t help yourself: you track her down, and, under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. Hannah has no idea who you really are. Then, Hannah starts showing up to your coffee dates with telltale bruises, and you realize she’s being abused by her husband. Who, of course, is also your husband. But you’ve never known him to be violent, ever.

Who exactly is your husband, and how far would you go to find the truth? Would you risk your own life?

And who is his mysterious third wife?

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REVIEW: HOLY. EFFING. ISH.
"It's strange how perception is altered by bitterness."

WOW! This was my FIRST read of Tarryn Fisher's but I can guarantee you it will NOT be my last. I am still smiling at that ending!!! Holy freaking cow!!! *Breathe, Bee. Breathe.* I LOVED THE WIVES!! I loved the rush I got and I loved the look inside her crazy mind. What a deliciously twisted read. I want more of this. This was insanity with a devilishly crooked smile.....on me.

Maybe it was the thrill of reading a well known, very popular, and highly recommended author that gave me the boost I needed to read this book. Maybe it was the different genre that didn’t have any preconceived norms for me to expect that made me turn the pages quicker than I anticipated. Either way, this book worked for me. I feel like Fisher gave me an enormous amount of info, a whirlwind of action, only for it all to come to fruition with a slam of the door. I was left with a gasp and for my first psychological thriller and first Tarryn Fisher book, and this one gave me the best of both worlds.

"But the truth is the heart's desire is a mere current against the tide of nurture and nature."

I got to a certain point in the book, and the writing on the wall became very clear in a blurry sort of way - so trying to make sense of it all was interesting. Now I had answers, but I needed the coordinating questions to match them up to. Not totally unpredictable - given the layout, but completely eye-widening because while I clearly don’t read this genre enough, it had just enough suspense and shock to guide me along, making me cling to her every word. I originally read it one way, but then I found myself scrutinizing the words and the implied tones used earlier, the further I got into it.

This was a fresh voice with a differently paced inflection that allowed me to follow along easily. I loved her flow, her voice, and her pace. I was completely engaged in the storyline because I was following along with a concept that I couldn't imagine myself dealing with, so every turn and every twist had me more and more curious.

I loved that she gave me a character that was so real, in very real form, but had a dynamic that had me OMGosh'ing throughout the book. Also....the fun part about this book was that it was set on my area.

You know all those big words: enraptured, captivated, enthralled. Those overused review words people throw out there for so many books? Yeah, I could throw them out there, but I won’t. I suppose I could also throw around a wow, woah, *wide-eyes* and a few holy cows too. This book, from the minute I opened it until I closed it and had to think it through, it had my undivided attention. All of it.

Do I give it a five star rating because it had me going crazy and turning the pages to the point that I couldn’t stop or do I give it a four and be objective and try to name something that I think maybe could’ve been different, although I really can’t because I don't have any experience in this genre. I can tell you that it was a thrill from beginning to end, and I didn't do anything but SIT and READ. I honestly couldn’t find any fault with this simply because it held my attention from the very beginning until the very end. Nothing was as it seemed.... or was it. <-- Not a question, actually. I really enjoyed this one and it just makes me that much more excited to give her other stories a shot. Her voice is so clear, so animated, and she gave me a story that took me on a wild ride - definitely not the same story I’ve read 20 times. It was a rush reading this, trying to figure out the twist and then seeing it change direction. I felt the urgency behind the actions, I felt the fear behind the words, I totally loved this!! So so good!! Argh...I can't wait to read more by her. 

"Denial is a twisted, perverted soul-thinner."
~BEE

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~ MEET TARRYN FISHER ~

I would like to write a novel that every, single person loves, but not even J.K. Rowling could do that. Instead, I try to write stories that pull on people's emotions. I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force. I love villains. Three of my favorites are Mother Gothel, Gaston and the Evil Queen who all suffered from a pretty wicked case of vanity (like me). I like to make these personality types the center of my stories. I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.

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Prologue Reveal for King of the South by Calia Read

King of the South is a spinoff from Calia Read's Surviving Time Series and is the first book in her newest series, Belgrave Dynasty.

P R O L O G U E 

R a i n e y 

I was born on June fifth 1891, during the heart of the summer. 

The days were so hot you could barely breathe. When the sun set, the humidity stubbornly held its place. People slept with their windows open, braving the risk of mosquito bites. A sheen of sweat would cling to your forehead and neck through the night. 

However, the night I was born, a storm swept through Charleston. It rattled the shutters and caused the wind to whistle through the cracks of the front doors along The Battery. 

“The thunder swallowed your momma’s screams and your cries,” my daddy would tell me when I was a little girl. 

“The devil knew you were comin’ and he got scared,” my Momma used to tell me when I was a little girl. 

To me, it’s fascinating what they each remembered from that night. 

My older brother Miles was supposed to be removed from the home but due to the storm he was sent to the third floor. Once I was born, Miles came pounding down the stairs. His best friend was hot on his heels. 

They burst into the doors just as the midwife placed me, swaddled and content, in my momma’s arms. 

“This is your little sister, Raina Leonore.” 

According to my momma, Miles patted my head and said hello. His friend came up to me and stared at me intently. “Why is her face so red?” Livingston Lacroix bluntly asked. 

Seconds later, I began to wail and it became a joke between our families that it was a precursor to the relationship I’d have with Livingston. 

He poked, I protested. 

However, as the years passed on and I grew older, I would be the one to do the poking. My chagrin for Livingston grew exponentially. High jinks became grand and artful. When I knew our families were to see each other, I would preoccupy myself with the best ways to torture him. And in turn, he would do the same. 

At the mere age of seven, I took our antics one step further when I shot him in the leg with Miles’ bow and arrow. Livingston was eighteen. My temper always got the best of me, and when he told me to leave them—him, Etienne, and Miles—be, I made up my mind then and there it was war. I ran into the house, up the stairs. I searched Miles’ room until I found his bow and arrows and ran back outside where I climbed a tree and waited quietly for Livingston. 

Livingston had charm that no one can deny. He could smile himself out of trouble, laugh away your tears. But no smile or words he said could escape the sleek precision of my aim. 

In 1899, when my daddy died, the agony I felt seized every breath I took. I freely waved a white flag between the two of us. Livingston chased away the pain with grand stories. Each one better and brighter than the last. They were vivid and real. I became transported to a different world and my pain faded. It was temporary, but for a brief moment, I felt as though everything was all right. 

Like most men, he wasn’t fond of tears. He saw them quite frequently the first year of my daddy’s passing. It couldn’t be helped. My eyes felt as though they were fountains that couldn’t be turned off. Late one night, when he was visiting my brother, he found me in the garden crying. Underneath a Spanish moss tree he sat beside me and patted my hand. I’ll never forget what he said next. “Rainey, you have more strength in your pinky finger than most grown men will ever possess. Soon, you’ll conquer this pain. You were born to survive this.” 

In 1901, at the age of twenty-one, Livingston would be the one to wave the white flag when he lost his parents and younger brother in a train accident. I returned the kindness he gave to me by telling him stories. It was a dark period for the Lacroix family. Especially Livingston. I knew better than anyone that even though he would become better at coping with the pain, it would never leave. He would merely adapt to living without his loved ones. During that period, Livingston became a frequent visitor at the Pleasonton household, and gradually he did what I imagined he would with his pain, if not better. At least I thought he did. 

By 1902, Livingston Lacroix became the king of the south with his gorgeous looks that bordered on being hazardous. He drank and charmed away his pain. I felt abandoned. Left in the dust. Stories and comfort were no longer needed. To the utter horror of our relatives, I was the first one to pick up the proverbial weapon and end our treaty of peace. 

While he finished college with his twin brother, Etienne, and my brother Miles, the times I saw him were few and far in between. 

“God be with the woman who marries him,” Momma would sigh whenever Livingston visited. 

“God be with the world with which we live in,” I would mutter whenever he left because wherever he walked there was potential for a trail of broken hearts. 

Very swiftly, he was growing into a man. He never grew tired of our antics as the years passed. Yet that meant he also saw me as his best friend’s baby sister. As I grew older, I wanted to do things to make him see I was not a child, such as wearing dresses that were far more flattering, having my hair down, or even going as far as using rouge. Momma was appalled by my desires. She said a true Southern lady would never do such things, but I vowed the moment I was old enough, I would do all three to simply prove a point. Not for Livingston’s affections. 

I did not care for Livingston in that way. I would never be one of the many ladies who fell for his charm. Of that I was certain. 

Throughout the years we would find ourselves at war with one another. I may have grown into a young woman, but he still saw me as Miles’ little sister. If I took aim at him with my words, he returned the favor every time with a consistency that I more than relied on. Women came and went from his life, and I was there to remind him that he was an impossible reprobate. And he would grin with his devastating smirk that made most women blush and say, “Le savauge, you sound upset that I’m not your reprobate.” 

He had his life before him, and I believed the same for myself. 

But then everything changed when the Great War struck. He left. My brother left. He came back. My brother did not. 

We both lost pieces of ourselves. 

The problem was, neither of us knew how to ask for help. And we were all out of white flags to wave.

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Release date set for February 2020

Curious about the series leading up to Belgrave Dynasty? The one where I fell in love with Etienne and Serene? See below for The Surviving Time series and my reviews.

PURCHASE The Surviving Trace

Our love is timeless.

Will is my fiancé. The shy man I met years ago in college. The person I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with.

This is the life I’ve always wanted until finding a picture of four men changes everything…

Etienne says he’s my husband and the year is 1912. He can’t stand the sight of me, but I don’t know why.

Oh, and he’s one of the men from the picture.

I’ve done the impossible and have become trapped in time and I know Etienne is my key to going home.

The more time I spend with Etienne, the further I fall for him, until I’m questioning which time I belong in and if the life I left behind is the one I truly desire.

All I know for certain is I need to survive time.

I need to survive love.

And I need to make it out on the other side alive.

My review: http://bit.ly/2lBgzDx

PURCHASE The Reigning and the Rule

Étienne Lacroix and I had a fire I thought would never die.

Our love was timeless.

An irreversible decision sent me back to the present day with a family I barely recognize, but I am determined to find a way back to Étienne.

I can survive time. But I can’t survive life without him.

Time bends to no one’s demands, so I must fight with everything I have to return to the past. However, I am terrified that the past I once knew might not look the same, and the man who once called me his surviving trace will no longer be waiting for me.

Time bends to no one’s demands but sometimes love does…

My Review: http://bit.ly/2zrWCq8

PURCHASE Echoes of Time

For Etienne and me, our love has always left a trace.

It reigns over kingdoms, and rules over time.

With Etienne now in the present day, the echoes of time grow louder.

We must face the answers we seek to set things right.

However, we must be incredibly careful. One false move and everything we love will be destroyed.

And this time, could be the end of our surviving trace.

My review: http://bit.ly/2WrD5Tz

~MEET CALIA READ~

Calia Read is the author of the Sloan Brothers Series, The Fairfax Series, Figure Eight and The Surviving Trace. She lives in Ohio with her husband and their five kids. She is currently hard at work on the first book in the Belgrave Dynasty, a spinoff from The Surviving Time Series.

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Book Review and Giveaway for Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

REGRETTING YOU
by COLLEEN HOOVER

From #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us comes a poignant novel about family, first love, grief, and betrayal that will touch the hearts of both mothers and daughters.

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

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REVIEW: 4 BRILLIANT STARS
"I'm happy to finally have you, but I also feel guilty because of the way I got you."

Leave it to Hoover to give me a reality check - no billionaires. No rich man's world. No over the top proclamations or actions. Nothing. Just reality and normal, everyday people....with a devastating journey to watch unfold. This whole story was a story of perspectives. A story of life unfolding without bias or fairness, taking no shame in the lives it's destroying in the process. This book stopped me in my tracks and glued me to my seat.

I had every intention of devouring this one in one sitting. I was going to read it from start to finish. I was going to sink in, soak up, and settle into this book. Then I found myself pacing. There’s nothing like looking at a story with one eye open, knowing something's going to happen. I'm sure I had some idea of what it might be, but I didn't want to really know what it was. Well, cue the anxiousness! It was more by the way of wondering; how in the world was this going to actually happen because of the perspectives I was reading, they showed me SO much. Oh! And contemplation. This entire book was about contemplation and perspectives, but mainly contemplation.

How does one navigate a world of pain and joy consecutively? Guilt and excitement simultaneously? Hoover explores a blossoming love amidst a new world with a tragic background and gives a heartfelt look at two very different takes on the same world. She brilliantly outlined the tired effects of miscommunication between a mother and her daughter - securing the fact that assumptions are the worst! It’s a mother-daughter story with true-to-life tragedy, but watching them learn to deal with it within parallel universes - seriously, so neat to see these connected worlds spinning in different directions, hoping for the same outcome. I could truly appreciate that we got two completely different points of view because the variances between them were so easily understood.

Love, unrequited or not, it’s always hard to give up on - and honestly, I love that pull and aggravation in a story. Years away, days away, immediately - it’s hard. But, while reading this catastrophic chain of events that were compounded by life in general, it was a hard pill to swallow. There was no option of a new course to navigate. There wasn't a "close the book" option to skip forward. It was misadventures aplenty, daily woes magnified, and the daunting task at hand was growing up after having the band-aid of life ripped off. It was SO amazing. A perfectly paced, front seat look at Morgan and Clara's world and how it came together, and then fell apart. I cannot recommend this enough. The heartache was on point. The miscommunication was etched into the pages with truth and so much reality. The love was anything but normal, and that was my favorite part.

The only reason it's not a full five star is because, while I whole heartedly LOVED it, I didn't get a book hangover and ONE thing felt unfinished. Other than that, this was amazing. I'm still thinking about it, but I closed the book with a smile and was able to pick up the next book. I. Loved. This. Book.

I feel like Colleen has her own voice. It’s distinct, it’s poised and it’s raw and it's real. There's always a deeper meaning or perception behind her stories. I love seeing life.....differently. I love the way she tells me a story and I'll always stand in line for the next one. This was simply amazing.

"I'm confident that I'll never spend a single second of my life regretting you."
~BEE

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~MEET COLLEEN HOOVER~

Colleen Hoover is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including the #1 bestseller, Hopeless. She lives in Texas with her husband and three children. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a book subscription service which donates 100% of its proceeds to charity. She also owns The Bookworm Box, a specialty bookstore located in Sulphur Springs, Tx.

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Book Review and Giveaway for The Guy on the Left by Kate Stewart

THE GUY ON THE LEFT

by KATE STEWART

It started with a lie. A night of blurred lines between a teacher and a student.

I wasn’t her student, yet it was the single most defining night of my life.

I’ve never been the man she thinks I am.

Most people have no idea about the life I’ve lived or the words that ring true when it comes to me—still waters run deep.

But you’d be hard-pressed to find a coed on the TGU campus who knows otherwise…because I’ve never corrected them.

The clock is ticking down, it’s Fourth and Inches with the ball inside the one-yard line and the focus is on me, The Guy on the Left. I’ve never felt like a football god, inside I’m…just Troy.

It’s time to set the record straight.

For my son, I‘ll find the strength.

In her eyes, I’m determined to gain redemption.

I will have them both, even if I have to take my eye off the ball.

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REVIEW: 4 STARS

"Love requires a little bit of idiocy and a hell of a lot of bravery."

First and foremost - OMGosh. All. Of. The. Smiles. Troy's swagger (hot), Clarissa's anger (understandable but frustrating), his smirk (weak knees) and her glare (scary)....this one is full of piss and vinegar and everything that made me giggle and sigh. In the end, I walked away with a love for yet another book of Stewart's and all it does is make me want more....

Going into this book, I knew there was going to be some heavy to outweigh the humor that we originally saw in The Guy on the Right. I was sure of it, because the glimpses of Troy that we got - I feel he was the most misunderstood man, and with that comes a lot of emotion. I am so glad that I was able to read an early copy of this one. Kate Stewart did Troy good. She also showed a very tenacious and sometimes (often) bratty heroine that gave hard. I love that Stewart can infuse comedy into a subject so serious, but also retain the significance of the topic at hand. The seriousness. The truth. This one, while I loved it so much, will cause many discussions and pretty adamant thoughts - and I can't wait to discuss them!!!

"I'm drowning in resentment, teetering on the brink of love and hate."

Troy would not give up. He was a persistent little sucker. But with that came some serious heartache and pain. My heart hurt for Troy so much, and yet, his love was filled with determination and he refused to be sidelined. His determination and persistence was probably my favorite thing about the ENTIRE book. I realize that love makes us do crazy things, and I also understand that there needs to be a limit on how much pushback we are willing to accept...but it's almost as if Troy didn't have limits. On anything!! His humor was also head-shake-worthy. He took her bitterness and turned it around - and I could admire that more than anything. Troy made this book for me. He is a standup guy. He made sure he took care of his, and never let anything get in the way once his mind was made up. I love love LOVED him. Also, if that didn't show the true breadth of Troy’s love and devotion to not only Clarissa, but Dante as well, I don’t know what would. I loved the mixture of anger I felt at not only the situation, but at her....and to see it come full circle, that was a great read.

"You keep punishing me for something you won't let me apologize for."

Again, Troy made this book so much more than it had the potential to not be (all comedy with little to no seriousness), and I'm thankful for the dip into the heavy side with the funny highlights. His personality and his reality were woven into the storyline with a sort of comfort and not one bit of it felt out of character for him, nor did it feel forced at all. Having said that, I also had a really hard time with Clarissa's attitude and her responses to some of the ways she handled things. Having said that, I can also say with conviction that I can completely understand why she was the way she was - even if I didn't agree with it. I honestly think that shows the creativity and depth of Stewart's writing in this one. We all know she can write funny, and we have already seen her "heavy" reads....but she meshed those well in this book. She continually surprises me and impresses me with each book I have the pleasure of reading.

In closing: SOLID READ and plenty of smiles!!! Troy’s book was what I needed after the rough patch of books I was wading through. Kate Stewart gave Troy all the emotions he needed and showed the struggle was real!! This is the second book in The Underdog Series, and it kind of runs concurrent to Theo’s and Lance’s stories - but is a complete standalone. I can say that with confidence because nothing was given away in this book that would ruin anything from the first book. I loved seeing the ‘other side’ of the side characters’ stories through another lens. However, after reading Theo's story, Lance's novella, and now this one, I love that she was able to splice in other stories that worked with the happening's of those other books and it was neat to be able to piece it all together from a different standpoint. She definitely did this story and this couple justice. I am absolutely, head over heels in love with Troy.

"There's no story if you give up."

~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 The Imperfections by Sam Mariano

THE IMPERFECTIONS
by SAM MARIANO

Brantley Morrison is a drinker of whiskey, a solver of problems, and a collector of mutts; the kind of loyal, hardworking guy you want on your side—and you’d best not get on the wrong side of.

Alyssa Walton never meant to find herself on Brant’s bad side—never even met the man until he showed up in her bedroom with a loaded gun and a plan to destroy her.

When Alyssa and Brant collide, his simple problem-solving mission gets a whole lot more complicated. Turns out, Alyssa is nothing like he expected, and she just might be everything he’s ever wanted. Sure, she’s a little afraid of him, but every relationship has its obstacles.

Brant’s never had anyone like Alyssa around, someone loyal and kind who smoothes over his rough edges like she was born to do it. Alyssa’s never met a man like Brant, either, and while she admires the way he looks out for those he loves, she can’t help wondering, who’s looking out for Brant?

Now, faced with wanting the girl he was never supposed to keep, Brant has to make an impossible choice. Does he give up the girl who has brought sunshine into his lonely life, or does he hold on tight, even if it might mean letting down the people he’s spent his whole life protecting?

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REVIEW: 3.5-4 STARS

"Some choices can't be undone and some roles can't be recast."

Sam Mariano trips me up and trips me out. She can mess with my head and heart in such a way, I don't know if I'm supposed to laugh or be confused. And that's exactly what she did with this one.... 

This book was soooo good. So good but with.....a caveat. In all fairness, this one didn't start out as my favorite, but it quickly became a book I couldn't put down. I say that because I did put this down TWICE and I walked away, intent on DNF'ing it. This storyline with all its crazy actions, literally and figuratively, made NO sense to me. Not one. "I’m conflicted. But I’m hooked." <-- That's what I kept telling myself while I was reading. But, by the time I was...coerced? totally the wrong word, but by the time I was actually talked through the fact that this is a different side of Sam Mariano and that there were reasons for everything, I continued on. I'm so glad I did but that was a very long and rough initial 30% to get through.

With one eye open, squinting at that opening chapter, I knew that I was in for something. Sam Mariano is a shock starter in the beginning - with good intentions. After the first few chapters, I knew she was going to make me say what the f^&k!! So I settled in, and lo and behold - a story surfaced and I was hooked! Was it immediate? Uh, NO. Capital N. Capital O. Not even close. But once I made it a significant way into this book, it unfolded crazily good. Because, make no mistake, this whole story was crazy, right down to the very ending.

If you want logical, you might have to look the other way. 

If you want common sense, that might not be very common.

If you want real, this might pass for real - with a side-to-side head wobble or shoulder shake.

To be honest, this almost read more like a parody: what not to do when...

While this was well written, it made me cringe in some places, but I smiled throughout. Once I got to the crux of the story, I couldn't stop reading - I was hooked. I suppose if I shelved logic, eschewed normality, lived in an alternate universe, this would be a simply laid out love story. But I'm ever so thankful it was not that simple or straightforward. I'm almost sorry I questioned the track I was meandering down when I first started this book, but the reward was definitely mine for the taking. I learned that sometimes it's hard to push aside what I think would be considered "the right way" and realized that I need to make sure I allow myself to live in the author's head as she's telling me a story. This was light and airy for a 'dark read', but it possessed an underlying sense of comedy of sorts. This has a cult classic/comedy vibe to it. It’s like a Quentin Tarantino movie in romance book form - but gosh, I really enjoyed it. It had plenty of humor  - so go in knowing it's a darkish comedy, but also know that this is where Mariano shines.

I was glad I had the option of "phoning a friend" to help me out in the beginning - I was so dumbfounded at first. I had to be reminded that this was Sam in her element. She doesn't write the dictionary definition of normal in a character - and that was my reminder to keep going. Can I recommend it? Will I? Oh, yeah!! Totally. Totally will and happily so. But I also figure, if I can tell you why I had a hard time and why I kept going, you'll understand my rating and review a little better after you've read it. I really, truly did enjoy this book. 

Mariano is not a "clean" writer and she likes her love stories "messy" - yes, necessary quotation marks utilized. What I mean by that is, her writing floats, it soars, and she's such an easy read, but I love that the love she writes isn't cookie-cutter-clean. There are truths, deep within, and there are realities that aren't in mainstream love stories because not always is the 'disturbed' written about finding love. That is most definitely something Mariano excels at - a messy love. There was almost a coldness - a certain detached voice or emotion present as the scenes originally played out. The fear and emotion on the page was second to the curiosities that caused quite a few eyebrow scrunches from me. It’s almost.....eerie. Brant is ruthless and cold - zero fucks given. Buuuuut......if you make it far enough in, you are rewarded with a crazy love that plays out in the most fantastical of ways. Fitting for Brant and Alyssa, I should say.

"You need a therapist. That was meant to scare you, not turn you on."

Alyssa definitely showed her age throughout the book and I could appreciate the fact that she was a teenager in every sense of the word - true to her age even. I saw Brant getting caught up in his thoughts of her, which made me fall a little harder for him. But, Alyssa? That girl was fixated. He may have been the voice of reason - in a chaotically paced way, but she put the "crazy" in crazy. Without having a conceptualized understanding of who Brantley was originally, I had a hard time placing him in the role he was playing in the very beginning. But knowing what the synopsis said, I knew I was supposed to meet this hard ass that was hell bent on taking care of a "problem." There were so many variables I had to recognize and accept, but also question as their story unfolded just to try and make sense of it all.

There's a reason I follow Sam on every social media outlet I have. She really does write super interesting characters and off the cuff stories that give me a whole new perspective on a love that is so different, but doesn't have any less meaning than the next. I'm usually left thinking harder about how their loved worked instead of why it shouldn't have.

Don't mind me....I'll just be sitting over here wondering when her next story is coming out. I've decided her brand of crazy is exactly what I've signed up for with her books. I'll need that ASAP. Kthxbye.

"I'd rather be with a man thoroughly intent on keeping me than one who's okay with losing me."

~BEE

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~MEET SAM MARIANO~

Sam Mariano has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. She lives in Ohio and has a sweet and wonderful daughter.

Because of You was her first finished story (she started writing it when she was 18) and due to a full-time work and college schedule, it took her years to finish. She has also been telling people for years that there would never be a sequel (sorry, guys!)…which turned out to be a lie.

Sam Mariano is currently working on Dante’s book (if you’re a Morelli reader) and some other WIP. 

Feel free to find her on Facebook, Goodreads, or her blog—she loves hearing from readers!

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Book Review and Giveaway for Violent Triumphs by Jessica Hawkins

VIOLENT TRIUMPHS
by JESSICA HAWKINS

I’ve become a queen to the forsaken, a leader to thieves, and the wife of a man who instills fear in all who cross his path. He was the husband I didn’t want. Now, I can’t fathom life without my king.

I should’ve been ready for anything. Like the caterpillar that feeds on poison during metamorphosis, I was raised in the dangerous world of cartel crime. But nothing could’ve prepared me for Cristiano de la Rosa, his brother’s poison, or the Calavera cartel.

This is still a story about a love strong enough to topple households, unite enemies, and divide brothers. Resilient enough to bring down those who would try to destroy it . . . and selfless enough to make the ultimate sacrifice.

But I was warned, and so were you. Death’s day always comes. This time, it will find what was once a caterpillar is now a butterfly—and hell hath no fury like the White Monarch.

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My Thoughts...
I've gone back and forth with this review for a few days now. It's been very hard to get my feelings out and to explain myself, so please, bear with me. I willingly admit that the six month break in between the second and third book caused me to forget a few details - so some things coming out later, I had to jingle my brain a bit. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it.

Only could I/would I be willing to allow my favorite author to test my reading comfort with regards to an arranged/forced marriage or marriage of convenience - my least favorite trope out there. Hmmm...Tell me a story, Jessica. I'll listen. I happily go into every one of her books with an open mind because I know how she pulls at my emotions, spoon-feeds me angst, and delivers an epic love story worthy of a book hangover. Never once have I questioned what I know her books can do to me. With the first two books sucking me in with mystery and intrigue, this one was sure to give me all the feels. I was sure of it. Unfortunately, I didn't get any of the feelings that Jessica is known for giving me. I just didn't. What’s most frustrating is that I didn’t love this book, but what’s equally frustrating is that I didn’t get the book hangover everyone else did. I just felt....underwhelmed, and that saddens me beyond my own understanding.

“You make me lose control.”
----
“And you make me powerful when others would have me powerless.”

I will say, this final book showed a cool, calm and collected Cristiano - but he was very calculated. He had a seriousness to him that I cannot even begin to imagine; way beyond my comprehension. What a heaviness to digest at all times. Individually, Cristiano was amazing. Natalia was strong. Diego was always a douche. Costa loved his daughter so hard. His Princessa, his baby girl. Barto and Alejo and Pilar have a story and I need it ASAP - please explore that one!! There were so many elements working for this book and it was a busy and fantastic storyline.

But let me dig a little deeper.

Cristiano made me smile. He was the man that you know will always have your back. He took care of everything. He was the unwavering strength in the dark, unknown abyss of an ever-changing world of the cartel and he made sure to take care of his own. Oh, and he had a mouth worth craving. I did like his naughty tongue. I loved every single thing about him. Even the softer side of him that buckled to Natalia's desires. Natalia, herself, was a brat. Straight up brat. <sigh> But Natalia grew on me. Slowly. Very slowly. I know I have to keep in mind that she was only 20, so I can't hate her. But, what I ended up feeling the most conflicted about her character was the change from an insolent child to a queen, seemingly overnight. She didn’t settle, but you can’t all of the sudden grow into a queen if you’ve never tried on the crown. While Natalia irked me in the past two books, I could understand where she was coming from and I knew she would grow, so the buildup that Cristiano’s gruff determination promised me made me fall in love with their dynamic. Yes, I realize the circumstances dictated this change in her confidence, but I struggled with that because for two books, I saw one side of her and then the switch was flipped immediately - and voila! She was a strong, confident woman standing beside her powerful man. Maybe it was the nature of the circumstance that made her "realize" this, but I definitely understood why Jaz questioned her loyalty and truthfulness.

With the extravagance of circumstances surrounding them, I knew there was going to be some things happening that I wouldn't know about, like behind the scenes activities and such. I mean, it's a world I hope to never encounter, so I definitely read on with wonder and Jessica didn't spare any details when it came to building this empire for Cristiano and Natalia. What I didn't appreciate was Diego's role in this book, nor did I understand the ending AT ALL. Like, at all. I didn't understand why Cristiano made it a black and white decision for her, and then changed the plan. That was completely out of character to me, so I had a hard time compartmentalizing this change. The adrenaline rush of the last 25% was fast and almost felt too uneven for me. I was excited, anxious, and all around nervous for what was going to happen - which is the best when your head is spinning with possibilities!! I knew Cristiano was The Devil in disguise.....or no disguise, but he was evil and exacted revenge with precision, so I couldn't deny that I was intrigued with his actions and how he handled certain scenarios.

"There's only the underworld for people like us. But down here, we don't burn. We rule."

Some of the analogies were....interesting, but the way she told the story was definitely in-depth, down to the most minute of details. She was quite articulate as Cristiano amassed a world of chaos and destruction within, all the while including a love that was indestructible. Trust me, I know that Jessica's writing is superb. I've read every book and have walked away star-struck each and every time. But I was looking for more with this one. I was hoping for an ending that made me scream and feel like I needed to jump around and discuss this. In the end, it just felt...done. That’s never happened with one of her books. Ever. This does NOT mean I don't want to read the probable spinoffs from the other characters in this world. On the contrary. I am looking forward to exploring more. I couldn’t stop turning the pages and I couldn’t put it down, no denying the pull it had. But...overall, it ended without flair for me.

I’m very sad that I didn’t get the book hangover that was promised me and I’m sad that I feel so blah about it. That’s probably the most heartbreaking part for me, seeing as this is my favorite author and I’ve never given her a low rating before. I wanted to savor the ending as a book hangover. I wanted to be stuck in a love that held me captive and held me back from moving on. I don’t feel like I got that. Was it good? Hell yeah! It was well written. It was a great ending. But, based on all the glowing reviews, this is just a me thing - obviously.

It is NO secret. I don't hide it. I can't deny it. I love Jessica Hawkins' books. She is my #1 author out of my Top 5 Favorite Authors. Constantly. Continually. Jessica does trilogies well. Jessica does epic love stories well. Jessica writes her men exceptionally well. I love Jessica's books. I can't say it enough. So it bothers me to no end that this one didn't wow me like I was anticipating. This one, I built it up so much in my head, and the first two books ramped up this story to the point that it couldn't go any way other than fantastically amazing. I’m heartbroken that I didn’t love this one. Heartbroken. For this reason, I am giving this book a 3.5 STAR review. Too much didn't work for me to love it, but it was still a great story.

"Don't mistake strategy for weakness."
~BEE

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VIOLENT DELIGHTS
by JESSICA HAWKINS

In the de la Rosa family, old grudges run deeper than loyalty, and betrayal is a three-letter word: war. But this feud isn’t between enemies. It’s between brothers. And I’m the prize.

I was born a princess among criminals. An untouchable among thieves. Heiress to a life others have killed for, and one I'm prepared to trade for my freedom. I vowed not to leave without Diego, my first love and best friend, but if his ruthless brother has his way, I won’t leave at all. Cristiano de la Rosa is a man as big and bold as his legend. Once upon a time, he was our cartel’s best soldier . . . until he became my family’s worst enemy.

A man like Cristiano will bend fate to his will to get what he wants. Even if it means dragging me to hell—and tearing me from his brother's arms.

“She is mine.” Three words from two different men.
A life, future, and love I don’t get to choose.

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VIOLENT ENDS
by JESSICA HAWKINS

I had a life, love, and future to give.

Until my enemy took a wife.

The devil has a name, and it’s Cristiano de la Rosa. On my wedding day, he was the last man I expected to see standing at the altar. He wants to make me his queen. His brother wants to rescue his princess.

Getting Cristiano to lose control becomes the name of the game, and the stakes are life and death. But as truth and lies blur, loyalty is tested, and our chemistry threatens to reach the melting point, the prize grows less clear. Either freedom no longer means what I think it does, or Cristiano is as devious as everyone says, and he’s mastered the art of playing my mind.

All I know for certain is that nothing is certain. And all you need to know? This is a love story.

But even love stories have to end. 

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~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.

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Book Review and Giveaway for The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan

THE REBEL KING
by KENNEDY RYAN

Ambition. Revenge. Love.

Raised to resist. Bred to fight. Survival is in my blood and surrender is never an option.

Though surrender is what Maxim Cade demanded of my body and heart, I had other plans. We were fast-burning fascination and combustible chemistry, but the man I trusted with everything was a trickster. A thief who stole my love. If what we had was a lie, why did it feel so real? The man I swore to hate will have it all, and wants me at his side. But power is a game, and we're the pawns and players.

Facing insurmountable odds, will we win the world, or will we lose it all?

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REVIEW: 4 STARS
"Desire and need suffocate my good intentions."

Disclaimer: I don’t really like when the real world invades my book world in drastic measures. So, I am shocked at how much I enjoyed seeing some political, some activism, some reality to the story, even though sometimes it felt like it was bordering on a certain tone I don’t necessarily want in my books. But I always want real and Kennedy Ryan gave me that - always gives me that.

I do not willingly trust any author with hot button issues in my romance books, let alone political ones. So, while this one was waaaay over my comfort zone lines for political romance stories, there is something to say about Kennedy Ryan's ability to infuse her convictions with her romance so seamlessly in one story. She is meticulous in her research, and thoughtful in her narrative - all by giving us a story worth discussing, one worth feeling. One worth debating, and one worth processing internally. She gave me an in-depth look into a culture that I’m pretty sure I never would’ve crossed paths with. I commend her not only on her strength and drive for knowledge, but her voice and confidence in how she's telling it. This can't be an easy subject to broach with her readers. I can't even begin to imagine, but she did it with a clear voice and certainty, and that I can appreciate.

I could go on and on about how amazing her writing is, and frankly, I do it with every review I write for her books. Because, for me, she is that amazing. It's why she sits on my Favorites Lists for authors and books yearly. It's no secret, and I'm proud to say I've read every one of her books and she has touched me or moved me with each one. So there is no discussion needed on how amazing her writing is. However, this is where I vary off the path I have always walked with her. This one book, this is where my tune changes a little bit. I'll be frank, and I'll be honest - I loved the first book. I mentioned in my review that it was a little preachy and repetitive for me, but that overall the love story was front and center. But this one toed a few lines that I am not sure I would have willingly crossed. Not because it was terrible. It's just such a sticky subject, but one that should be and needs to be discussed - but of course, Kennedy Ryan used her platform wisely and brilliantly. Again, I'm not sure there are many, if any, authors I would allow to take me down a very political and slippery slope in my romance book world....but Ryan stands out in a very small crowd of authors I trust.

I found myself falling deeper in love with Maxim by the page. I love the gruff alpha males and the ones that will stop at nothing for their woman - that is who Maxim is to his core. Seeing his alpha side and subsequently his determination to NOT back down, but also giving Lennix some leeway, only to the point that he’s comfortable with, was an exercise in restraint for him, I'm sure. He is everything. He is perfection in literary book boyfriend material. No denying that - I'd be a liar if I tried to. I loved his moody and broody side, his protective side, his loving side and his willingness to do whatever was necessary for his woman, because he made no apologies claiming her as his. I freaking loved that he never bowed down to her anger, instead listening with his heart and mind. He took it and turned it around into a good thing and showed her he knew her worth, he heard her, he saw her, but never took away from her hard work. He was her biggest cheerleader. He knew how hard she worked and didn't negate the amount of work she put in to get where she was.

"I don't mind playing dirty when I care this much about something."

Lennix was stubborn. I struggled with her choices in this one, far more than I anticipated. She’s so stubborn, but I had to recognize that as part of what makes her who she is, so on the other hand, it was amazing to see that strength. I can enjoy the stubborn side of a character and actually love reading that in a heroine. As someone who is very stubborn herself, I am full of opinions and fire when it comes to what I believe - so I easily recognized it in Lennix. BUT. That girl caused me some serious grief. She had tunnel vision at some points, and that pulled me away from the story a few times because the mental discussion I was having with myself was actually louder than the story I was reading. She, I feel, manipulated Maxim - without regards to his emotional needs - into something without him having the full story, in turn causing their biggest argument. One that I felt was completely lopsided and disrespectful of his wishes and wants. And yet, this is the part where I struggle the most because none of it was moot. She was stubborn for a reason. She pushed Maxim to do things because she knew the outcome would benefit more than just her. She was smart and calculated. But, damn! That girl seriously had me ranting a few times!!

"You don't hold back someone like Lennix because the beauty is in how she flies."

The neatest thing I saw, though, was that she challenged Maxim and that in and of itself is what made her who she was - for him. I felt like her instinct was to fight first, and then acquiesce for the benefit of her and Maxim after the fact. Her stubbornness pushed her into scenarios and difficult situations unnecessarily instead of thinking it through and not acting on a ‘man is evil’ platform. Can I understand why she fights so hard? Yes - 1000% yes. Unarguably, yes. Can I get behind her beliefs and why she fights so hard? Again, yes. BUT, I still didn’t agree with the majority of how she handled Maxim and HIS needs, wants, and desires. He did EVERYTHING for her. Every single thing. The one time we saw him lose his cool, I was right there with him. Her selfish foresight and wants overshadowed his and she didn’t give him the chance to make the decision himself, so I truly feel like she manipulated him without thinking of the impact her decision would have had on him. But again, I can see why that captivated him and pulled him in. That challenge is enticing - especially in a world where one never passes up a challenge. I could invariably see why he loved her so hard and was willing to give up everything just for her. Like I said, Kennedy Ryan has given me much to think about and process. I can't complain when I'm forced look at both sides, because while I have an opinion, I always love learning another side to someone's truth. But I'm tellin' ya....R-A-N-T-I-N-G.

"The need to be inside her is so elemental, I can't distinguish it from the need to breathe or blink."

Put aside everything else, though, and their love was scorching hot. They were made for each other and they were tireless in their pursuit of a level of intimacy you can't throw together in mere words. I feel like Ryan chooses the right feelings to emote through her words, and it just comes across as effortless. I always felt her characters' love oozing off the pages, and I am thankful for that. The emotional impact Lennix and Maxim felt with all the trauma they encountered was placated and supplicated in the most intimate of ways. They gave what they needed, and they gave it without reserve....but they also took what they needed without hesitation. I couldn't get enough of that intensity that simmered between them. Because, to be honest, when a strong partner is able to be vulnerable with the one that completes them, that shows how rich that love between them really is. In this case, we had two very dominant characters falling into each other in the most gracious of ways.

"I grip her by the hips and pull her so close, my body is a hard question. Hers is a soft response. A 'yes' wrapped in velvet, lined with satin."

Kennedy Ryan is an exceptional storyteller and her mind has tunnels I'd love to explore one day. There is nothing that I won't trust her to write for me. Because, honestly, I know I can read anything she throws at me and learn something while falling madly in love with her characters. This one was more political than any of her others, but I wouldn’t trust just anyone else. She possesses a masterful skill in delivering a story of this magnitude, with this much depth and this much heart I rarely read from others. But only her would I blindly trust to give me what she does - time and time again, because she makes me think and she makes me process. Ryan shook me with a truth more powerful than I am able to articulate with this book - and I am confident enough to say that. The love these two shared spanned opinions, time, space, and disagreements. It ultimately showed Maxim's willingness to sacrifice for her, because he loved her. Nothing would ever stand before his love for Lennix - and that's how love should be.

"Traditions are the memories of those before us, breathed to life when we carry them on."
~BEE

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THE KINGMAKER

by KENNEDY RYAN

Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.

My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I’m determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and would do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.

And neither will I.

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~MEET KENNEDY RYAN~

I'm a wife, a mom, a writer, an advocate for families living with autism. That's me in a nutshell. Crack the nut, and you'll find a Southern girl gone Southern California who loves pizza and Diet Coke, and wishes she got to watch a lot more television. You can usually catch me up too late, on social media too much, or FINALLY putting a dent in my ever-growing To Be Read list!

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