Book Review and Giveaway for Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan

HOOK SHOT
by KENNEDY RYAN

A deeply emotional standalone romance set in the worlds of professional basketball and high fashion.

Divorced. Single dad. Traded to a losing squad.
Cheated on, betrayed, exposed.
My perfect life blew up in my face and I'm still picking up the pieces.
The last thing I need is her.
A wildflower. A storm. A woman I can't resist.
Lotus DuPree is a kick to my gut and a wrench in my plans from the moment our eyes meet.
I promised myself I wouldn't trust a woman again, but I've never wanted anyone the way I want Lo.
She's not the plan I made, but she's the risk I have to take.

A warrior. A baller. The one they call Gladiator.
Kenan Ross charged into my life smelling all good, looking even better and snatching my breath from the moment we met.
The last thing I need is him.
I'm working on me. Facing my pain and conquering my demons.
I've seen what trusting a man gets you.
I. Don't. Have. Time. For. This.
But he just keeps coming for me.
Keeps knocking down my defenses and stealing my excuses, one by one.
He never gives up, and now...I'm not sure I want him to.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"I need simple, but I want you."

It's after reading books like this that I want to sit down with Kennedy Ryan and just talk to her; find out how she does it, where she draws her inspiration from. How does she write a book with so much vivid emotion? I want to explain to her how she affects me so much with her words. All the words she strings together effortlessly with a mere 26 letters. The smallest denominator in our language, and yet she wields them as if they have the strength of a sword. They are so powerful and so moving and I am one of her biggest fans.

There is such an abandon in her storytelling. It flows easily and confidently, and I love that!! I am in complete awe of her storytelling abilities, but I am equally in awe of her characters. They aren't weak. They aren't misguided. They are relatable and understandable, with a pain that is tangible, and an emotional connection that's tantalizing. I just want to know how she does it. It's almost like a subdued intensity. It's so subtle, but anxiety-pang-inducing. Kenan and Lotus have so much chemistry that is undeniably extraordinary. Undeniably. They have this type of connection that most can only dream about....a true soul mate.

"I have found the one whom my soul loves."
Song of Solomon 3:4

Her words are so romantic and they bring out so much more than I could ever begin to describe. I love that Kennedy's books always transport me. She always gives me a love story worthy of my own emotions and reflection. But she also has a knack for stretching my thought processes, beyond my comfort level or understanding. This one tested me on a few different fronts, and while I wasn't completely comfortable with some parts, it was a captivating read that I could settle in and enjoy with wonder. There was a different tone to it that I haven't read in any of her others. It was sobering, sure - there were a lot of difficult times in this one, but there was an edgier feel to it. One from a world I know nothing of. Grittier, dirtier, bolder than anything I would know first hand - the city life, the culture, the vibe. It was just an all encompassing story in that aspect.

And to be perfectly honest, I am very shocked that I didn't highlight as much as I thought I would with this book. There was something different within these pages that bewitched me, sucked me right in, and I never really stopped reading to make notes or highlight much. I have loved these stories, starting with Long Shot with August and Iris to Block Shot with Jared and Banner, and now I can add Hook Shot with Kenan and Lotus to that list. She hasn't given her characters an easy road in this series and I can appreciate each obstacles they all overcame within their own stories. Not easy by any means, because she writes about the kinds of things that aren't spoken freely of and I respect her and commend her for tackling these hard to broach subjects.

Here I am, just a reader sitting on my couch, once again, put in place by her words - completely mesmerized.

Oh! And now I want to try étouffée....

"I was raised on hope and weaned on miracles so the exceptional feels familiar to me."
~BEE

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My Long Shot Review: http://bit.ly/2ubai8W

My Block Shot Review: http://bit.ly/2O6KCjm

My Hook Shot Review: http://bit.ly/2HZTHtO

~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!

Kennedy Ryan FB Group.

~CONNECT WITH KENNEDY~

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Book Review and Giveaway for VIPER by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine

VIPER
by BROOKE BLAINE AND ELLA FRANK

Scorching chemistry. Red-hot lyrics. An irresistible bad boy.
Halo, the new lead singer for Fallen Angel, never stood a chance against Viper, the legendary lead guitarist for the band.

From the moment Halo set foot in Viper’s lair, the match was lit, threatening to consume the two men with the heat of their desire. But when their casual flings begins to morph into more, will it leave the entire band in flames?

After all, it may have been Halo who fell from grace, but it’s only a matter of time before Viper falls for an angel.

VIPER is the second book of the Fallen Angel Series and should be read following HALO. Halo and Viper’s story concludes in book three, ANGEL.

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REVIEW: 5 Scorching Stars
"Oh, I plan to kiss you, Angel. I'm gonna kiss every single inch of you."

I try really hard not to start a review off about how HOT a book was, but when that is a glaring reality behind Viper's style and demeanor, I don't think I can honestly help it and not do a disservice to his personality. Holy hell. Wow. This book was most definitely hot. And sexy. And naughty. And delicious. Oh my gosh, just....*shivers*. I know, I sound ridiculous but I can't help it. I'm shaking my head at myself and laughing, I promise you that much. Crazy, I know. But Ella and Brooke, I'm gonna need you to keep this writing gig up.

This second book in Ella and Brooke's Fallen Angel Trilogy was nothing short of sexy and fun, but it also allowed a deeper growth that I did not truly anticipate. Detailing a love with so many obstacles and yet, the need outweighed the want in this one. The desire outdid the lust. I am smiling like a love sick fool, and it brought out all the heart eyes from me. I cannot fathom not highly recommending this series to anyone and everyone that is willing to listen to my babbling. It's books like this that make me giddy to write a review and excited to share a copy with someone. They make me so excited that I can't calm down enough to get my thoughts out. Definitely favorites list material right here. My little heart is so full. <sigh>

I can try and pretend to come up with some really cool words to define the love that I have for this story, or these authors, or the characters...but it'll come off as me trying way too hard. Seriously, way too hard. But consider this review as me trying to type out my smile, even though I'm pretty sure I'm failing. I do know that Ella and Brooke's writing is brilliant. I am completely smitten with not only them, but their characters. I love love love what this one did to me. The teasing and meaningful writing they infused into this story read effortlessly. As awkward as it may sound, I didn't know that you could write a well known Rock Star GOD falling in love like this - and make it believable. I loved not only the love story, because that's first and foremost the reason I am here...but the whole navigating unchartered waters through not only Halo's eyes, but Viper's as well. And that is where the story was for me. It was reality crashing with fantasy, and I think they captured that part exceptionally well.

"I didn't need alcohol, because without him, I didn't want to feel a fucking thing."

This story involved a slow, painstakingly guttural ache to see an almost impossible reality shake out. But the pain, the urge, the need to see Viper and Halo figure out this so-called relationship consumed my every waking thoughts immediately upon starting this series, but this book amplified that need. I know I have to make it through another book to get the rest of their story, but I can honestly say VIPER is on my favorites list for 2019 already. So so good. And so hot, in case you missed that.

By the way, the cover on this book cannot be any more perfect. When I envisioned VIPER in HALO, I just knew he was going to be a cocky, confident sonofabitch, but they nailed the broody aspect of him in this picture rather perfectly. It coincided perfectly with the heady, dark and dirty side of him and really accentuated the feel of the book. The naughty side. The dirty side. The hot side. However, after reading this one, though, I think VIPER is synonymous with asshole. Talk about heart palpitations and anxiety pangs. Geez. He made me want to throw things!!! And, of course, watching Ella and Brooke share all their "inspiration" for the other guys in their group just made me itch for more stories out of this band.  In all honesty, it's ridiculous how in love I am with these guys. Absolutely, hands down ridiculous. And now I'm hungover and I don't know what to do. But I do know I will never stop asking for more....

"'This is where you belong', he said in a voice that stroked my cock as effectively as I knew his hand could."
~BEE

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~MEET ELLA FRANK~

Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite contemporary romance, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!”

Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Phillips.

~CONNECT WITH ELLA~

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~MEET BROOKE BLAINE~

Brooke Blaine is a USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance that ranges from comedy to suspense to erotic. The latter has scarred her conservative Southern family for life, bless their hearts.

You could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her ‘quiet time.’ Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas.

She is the author of Flash Point, a romantic suspense standalone, as well as the co-author of the erotic series, A Desperate Man, with Ella Frank. The latter has scarred her conservative southern family for life, bless their hearts. Licked, a romantic comedy, will be released November 11th, 2015 and is the first in the L.A. Liaisons series. 

If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find - just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for ten years.

~CONNECT WITH BROOKE~

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Book Review and Giveaway for While I Was Away by Stylo Fantome

WHILE I WAS AWAY
by STYLO FANTOME

You were in a car accident.

They say true love can last forever.

You hit your head, which caused your brain to swell.

Can span any distance, stretch across time, last beyond death.

The pressure against your skull damaged your brain.

Which leads one to wonder …

The damage left you unresponsive to most kinds of stimuli.

If you fall in love in your dreams,

And this unresponsive state is what's known as a coma.

Can you find that love when you wake up?

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"You and I, we're something bigger. Something better."

Fantastical
Mystical
Eclectic
Mind Boggling
Super Natural
Wondrous

I can use any and all of those words to describe this newest addicting romance by Stylo Fantôme. I picked up the book and never put it down. What a trip!!! If you like a different type of read, one that makes you think outside the normal spectrum of reality, this is the book for you. This book, for me, was seriously a one-off from my norm, but also one that has me excited to talk about. There were some neat understandings coming to light as I was reading it and I was seriously giddy while I was trying to explain it to someone! This was SO good!!! So neat!

Stylo's writing is definitely a different style. More....eclectic of sorts. The existence that we count as our norm doesn't always come in her books, and while that makes her a sometimes scary pick for me, I have enjoyed more of her books than not. So this one, the journey was so different and so bizarre, yet so catchy and so intriguing. I want to discuss this one!!! The intricacies. The wonder. The love. All of it. I loved this book. I can say, the only issue I had was in the very beginning when we started this trip, er....I mean, this book because I was almost questioning the trope that this was. I was almost wondering if it was a women's fiction/science fiction type of read. But once I settled in, I seriously could not put it down.

"What if this is a dream?"
"Then I hope we don't wake up."

This book had magic written all over it. Thinking waaaay outside the box, but also a jaunt into the in between netherworlds. This book seriously gave me LIFE. It provided me some giggles, some smiles, a few gasps and I actually got teary-eyed. I want to talk and discuss and vent and debate and explain and ARGH!! I want to watch you like a creeper while you read it so I can say, "Right?? I told you so!!" I want to relive this through someone else's eyes. I really, really liked this one and falling in love with this couple just kinda made me slow down and sigh. Fate. Dreams. Reality. Understanding. Oh my gosh....it just made me kinda question things and yet, it made me accept and believe. So. Darn. Good. I want so badly to say, look for this or pay attention to this, but there is so much about this book that you just need to immerse yourself in and discover. Pay attention and soak it up. It's so wonderful. So neat. I know I sound like a broken record now....

And just remember: Here is Now.

"Just because you can't recognize me, doesn't mean your soul can't."
~BEE

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~MEET STYLO FANTÔME~

Crazy woman from a remote location in Alaska (where the need for a creative mind is a necessity!), I have been writing since ... forever? Yeah, that sounds about right. I have been told that I remind people of Lucille Ball - I also see shades of Jennifer Saunders, and Denis Leary. So basically, I laugh a lot, I'm clumsy a lot, and I say the F-word A LOT.

I like dogs more than I like most people, and I don't trust anyone who doesn't drink. No, I do not live in an igloo, and no, the sun does not set for six months out of the year, there's your Alaska lesson for the day. I have mermaid hair - both a curse and a blessing - and most of the time I talk so fast, even I can't understand me.

Yeah. I think that about sums me up.

~CONNECT WITH STYLO~

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Excerpt and Giveaway for Force of Nature by SL Scott

~ EXCERPT ~

The pale color of the lace highlights a sheen as if the sun kissed her skin, and I can’t stop myself.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” The smile I receive in return is magnificent. Her surprise at my compliment shocks me, though.

A whispered, “You’re so hot,” leaves her lips. Her hands on my sides urge me back on top, so I move, kissing her again and appreciating the taste of her mouth, her skin, and the way she moves under me. Her body begs for more, and I start to memorize what makes her moan.

A kiss to the lips.

The spot behind her ear.

My hands on her waist.

Fingertips dipping under the lace and teasing.

Her breasts are firm and a good handful. I’d venture to guess a cup size, but it doesn’t matter.

It.

Doesn’t.

Matter.

The thought races through my veins, and I start to digest it. The size of a woman’s tits has always been something I catalogued for entertainment, out of curiosity, and to engage my brain and not just my body. It’s the same as every woman staring below the abs I work so hard to maintain to check out what the good Lord gave me.

But with Winter, it’s different.

Like our time together, this just feels good. She feels good. With her, it’s not a race to the finish. She’s savoring my kisses to her neck and taking the time to kiss mine. She doesn’t want a quick fuck before she ducks to catch a cab home. No, this is different.

New.

Better.

I don’t want this feeling to end although I don’t think I can wait much longer before I explode. I ache to be inside her, so I whisper against the round of her breasts, “Do you want to—”

“Yes. God, yes. Please.”

Lifting my head up to see her face, I smile. “I like you begging for me.”

“I’d like you between my legs.”

“I thought that’s what we were talking about?”

“Your mouth first.”

“First, huh?” She drives me fucking wild. As if I couldn’t get harder, she opens that sexy mouth of hers and makes a request. Confidence is a turn-on. “I can arrange that.” I slip under the covers and tug her legs until she’s flat on her back.

Through laughter, she says, “You’re so bad, Bennett.”

“But I’ll make you feel so good.”

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FORCE OF NATURE

by SL SCOTT

Winter Nobleman is complicated. To say the least.

It was supposed to be simple. Go to Paris, find a client’s daughter, and close a multi-million- dollar deal. Easy. Then I meet her. Stormy blue eyes, quick wit, and the secrets she keeps on the tip of her tongue make me forget my mission for a moment, or six, and why I’m in Paris in the first place—to bring her home.

Distracted by her beauty, I fail to notice the others lurking with missions of their own.

Bennett Everest is the twist I never saw coming. Talk about perfect timing.

He steals my breath the first time I see him and breathes hope back into my heart. He’s a giant in my eyes, a king among men with patience and love to share in spades. Six foot three. Whiskey-colored eyes. Solid gold on the inside.

Despite the dirty deeds of my past, he sees the person I am meant to be and not the person I have become.

If the lies don’t kill us, will the truth set us free?

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~MEET SL SCOTT~

New York Times and USA Bestselling Author, S. L. Scott, was always interested in the arts. She grew up painting, writing poetry and short stories, and willing her days away lost in a good book and the movies.

With a degree in Journalism, she continued her love of the written word by reading American authors like Salinger and Fitzgerald. She was intrigued by their flawed characters living in picture perfect worlds, but could still debate that the world those characters lived in were actually the flawed ones. This dynamic of leaving the reader invested in the words, inspired Scott to start writing with emotion while interjecting an underlying passion into her own stories.

Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling and avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She's obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist. She dreams of seeing one of her own books made into a movie one day as well as returning to Europe. Her favorite color is blue, but she likens it more toward the sky than the emotion. Her home is filled with the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and finds surfing a challenge though she likes to think she's a pro.

~CONNECT WITH SL~

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Book Review and Giveaway for Violent Delights by Jessica Hawkins

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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REVIEW: 4+ STARS
"Some things can't be taken. Some things must be given."

Yet again, another winner. SO worthy! Jessica Hawkins' words can totally make me mad in one instance, yet she has the ability to immediately soothe me with her next words. Seeing all the intricacies that are weaved so deep within this story makes me excited for the possibilities for the next two books - my head is already spinning!! I have so many thoughts running through my mind, and so many questions to correlate with those thoughts. Great opener to this newest trilogy and I think it was a fantastic beginning. This was definitely the kind of book you need to go in blind, but also...the kind that you can't help but want to discuss in depth afterwards.

I can definitely appreciate that I was able to pick a team instantly because while one brother was cold and calculating behind a façade, the other one was just cold and calculating with a goal in mind. SO, the cold and calculating one got my vote. HAHA! I love how this story is taking shape already. I can only imagine the amount of discussions I can and will have in the SPOILER ROOM. I know that I've already spilled my guts in there on a few posts, and I see that the conspiracy theories are aplenty. There was so many layers to divide and dissect, and it makes for fun discussions. I won't lie, but it read too quickly for my wants. I was certainly NOT done enjoying this first part of their story....but it ended too quickly! You know a book has you wrapped up when you can discuss all the many different aspects of it and still come away with different thought processes. Some discussions will change my mind on what I think can/will/did happen, and some of it makes me shake my head at the ideas! That's Jessica's writing though. Completely turned my world upside down in one day and now I am left waiting until June, rummaging through my mind with possibilities and conspiracy theories. ABUNDANT, I may add. This wasn't very twisted like I thought it was going to be, so no mind-fuckery was happening, but I will tell you that the twistedness that are these two brothers is pretty crazy. I can feel the angst building up, but this one wasn't too terribly angsty to start, but when Cristiano touches her....ohmygosh. I can *feel* the sexual tension rolling off them and I can't wait to explore it!!!

Jessica provided me a story ripe with manipulations and lies, but scattered in between were some seriously heavy truths as well. I mean, to already be so invested in these characters and to question the meaning behind the most trivial of things, I am shaking my head. Pay attention to the scores!! I loved that I was able to be super angry at the way something was happening - like, seeing red angry, but other times I was under a spell and just knew I was in it for the long haul. Even understanding that there was a discussable meaning and reasoning behind all the happenings didn't make some of the hard parts easy to swallow, and that was a big deal for me. I want those twists and turns. I want that anger and emotional confusion - and Jessica does that soooo well. While it was somewhat predictable at times, the layered truths that Jessica gave us to look forward to unraveling in the next two books left me giddy! I always say I'm such a slow reader, but then I get Jessica's book in my hands and I can't help but fly right through it. Argh!!! I'm all sad now. Is it JUNE yet?? Because NOVEMBER is going to be a loooong wait!! I will need ALL the cookies to survive this wait. She got me good. Real good.

This book ended on a gasp and I was fuming but oh-so-intrigued, so I have NO doubt that the next two books will be heart-poundingly good! I'll admit, for a non-lover of cliffies, this was a great cliffhanger! I'm sure I'm going to be pulled out of my comfort zone here soon. As a matter of fact, I'm counting on it. This is most definitely a case for having to trust the author with the plot because with three books to get through, this first one was rather rough on the heart in a few spots. There is so much to think about and so much to ponder. I am so ready for more!!

"My brother's using you to light the fire, but don't forget - a match also burns."
~BEE

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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 Kiss and Break Up by Ella Fields

 

KISS AND BREAK UP

by ELLA FIELDS

Dashiell Thane wasn’t a nice guy.
He was an abrasive, demanding, conniving, intolerable brat.
Yet somehow, we’d been best friends our whole lives.
Until our senior year when I finally decided to dip my toes into the dating pool.

All it took was one kiss for jealousy, lies, and betrayal to sweep in and propel us heart first into dizzying, hostile depths.

You’re not supposed to kiss your best friend.
You’re definitely not supposed to kiss your best friend while you’re dating someone else.
And the absolute worst thing you could do is fall for your best friend.

Unless, of course, you want to ruin everything.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS

"If love doesn't terrify you, you're not in love."

I wish I could say it's official, but it's been official....so it's officially official: I love Ella Fields.

I don't trust many to give me a teenaged romance.....oh, who am I kidding, I can't even say that with a straight face anymore. HAHA! Ella Fields has made me rethink the possibilities with YA and NA romances. They are NOT my favorite trope and I honestly do trust only a few at this time, but for some reason I trust Ella every single time - no questions asked, and I've never been let down. It's not just because I love her writing, because that's a gimme. I can talk about her cadence and her flow and blah blah blah, but I do it every time and that should be common knowledge by now, right? Right. That gets boring after five reviews. Anyway, I'm just saying, she writes these stories that have so much more reality and truth behind them. So much so that I can't help but relate to the characters. Their pain and drama? I went through that. I totally connected to them on that level. Their stupid decisions? They're teenagers!! Actually explained away in a teenaged mindset and it worked, because that's how it works in their minds. It really does. The aggravation and the love that was mixed with the good times and the bad, it flowed. I loved this painfully accurate account of a best-friends-turned-lovers trope. Maybe not accurate for everyone, but Ella sure made it feel like I was right there, hurting and laughing right along with them, exploring and questioning while trying to understand the pain and the stubbornness.

"Dash Thane wasn't capable of loving anyone but himself, and I'd do well to remember that."

You know what's really weird? I feel like I was sufficiently warned with this one. Seeing all the underage shenanigans and the considerable amount of heartbreak between the kids, I feel like this one was laid out rather well. How well? Well, I found myself angry at each character individually and as a whole, and I didn't discriminate on that anger. HA! But, to be clear, I wasn't angry for doing stupid stuff that was careless - it was for doing stupid stuff that I actually expected of these entitled, privilege-spoiled teenagers. And I loved it! Hindsight is a beautiful thing. I know I look back and tsk my way through circumstances and events, but if I missed out on those learning experiences, then I wouldn't have those life experiences to draw on. So it's a catch-22 here, with a very valid reality behind it. Exploring and navigating what is already a tricky time emotionally, adding another heart into the mix that you are ultimately accountable for was probably the highlight of this book for me. Dash had me from the beginning, and as selfish and as immature and ridiculous as he could be, he had ONE heart that he held higher than the rest. Including his own. I loved that about him.

"His touch was kerosene, but I didn't want to catch fire."

This story came complete with teenage dramatics, jealous antics, and a guy that would not take no for an answer, no matter how much it hurt. I fell in love with Dash, and yes - he was a jerk. A Class-A, certifiable ass, but he had a lot of heart and the purest of intentions......sometimes. His love for Peggy was what made this book for me. Well, HE made the book for me, but his love and devotion to her is what gave me those little anxiety pangs and the cheeky smiles. I smiled a lot and his mouth, his banter, was the best!!

I honestly feel like Ella nailed the rock | hard space scenario that Dash and Peggy were stuck between. I understood the "not wanting to hurt" the other person's feelings, and that was very prevalent in this book. I looked at this story through my own memories and really felt all the young, teenaged emotions that these two characters went through. Talk about a trip down memory lane in a small town where everyone knows everyone. This one didn't have the angst I am used to reading from Ella, but once again she proved she could write something a little different and still give me an exciting story. This was a great book, easily recommended and happily so.

"She was only ever supposed to be mine."
~BEE

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~MEET ELLA FIELDS~

Ella Fields is a mother and wife who lives in the land Down Under. While her kids are in school, you might find her talking about her characters and books to her two cats. She's a notorious chocolate and notebook hoarder who enjoys creating hard-won happily ever afters.

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Book Review and Giveaway for Worship by Trilina Pucci

WORSHIP
by TRILINA PUCCI

There are only two reasons a man falls to his knees: prayer and pussy. 

And I sure as hell don’t pray. 

But for this woman, I’d fall on my knees to worship every single, gorgeous part of her body. 

And claim her as mine, knowing I shouldn’t want to keep her. 

Because we’re all wrong, too complicated, too explosive….too sinful. I want what I can’t have. 

But I’ll take it anyway because Gretchen Andrews has done the one thing my wife never could….she’s made me love her.

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REVIEW: 4+ STARS
"I hear what you mean, Luca, not just what you say."

I am in love with Luca's tongue. Get your mind out of the gutter!!! I'm just saying I loved the way he used his words as foreplay, and the way he gave me goosebumps. When a man can seductively whisper in your ear, making you flush and go weak in the knees, that's a man with some honest sex appeal. *bites knuckles*  OMGosh, did this one push all the right buttons! Worship was billed as taboo with a hot, brooding Alpha, and while I didn't find anything taboo about it, I can't say that about the rest of the description. Luca was one super broody man with the sexiest tongue I've ever read, and add to that the tendencies I love to read in a true alpha character - we have a winner! But his predatory nature?? Holy crap, that was HOT. He told, he didn't ask....he was all sorts of right for me. I knew he was my favorite brother after reading TRUTH, but I didn't realize how much I was going to love him until this book. Snarky asshole. I loved him. HAHAHAHA!!

What I loved most about this book is that even though it took me longer to read than normal, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I didn't want to stop reading it when life called...and that sticks out a lot to me. When a book invades my thoughts, it makes me that much more apt to recommend it and smile while chatting about it, because you know I love to do that. The way Trilina put in these little nuances that made Luca and Gretchen their own characters, and the deeper meaning to their relationship - it was perfect. They didn't have an easy path to maneuver, which added more depth to their story. I loved seeing them grow. I enjoyed their buildup and the lengths in which they went through to get their HEA. I am, for all intents and purposes, NOT a mafia reader so it still shocks me that I am reading and loving a storyline that has that as background action. Not that I don't like them, it's just that I haven't been drawn to them. I really feel like this one had the perfect balance of drama and pleasure. Some of the drama, rather the business side, was brought to the forefront and some it was off page, and that added a nice complimenting dynamic to the drama of their relationship.

"I know she hates that she wants this as bad as I do, but she never had a choice. I wasn't giving her one."

There is nothing more pleasing than a strong character knowing their true weakness is the love they hold for their soul mate, but also the ability to know when to walk away and when to fight for it. The kind of love that makes them powerless to say no, the inability to walk away or to turn their back on each other, even when things go awry. There was a gritty push and pull to Luca and Gretchen's relationship and I was able to feel their needs and desires, but I was also able to empathize with each one of them individually in regards to their own frustrations. I can honestly say that I love alpha assholes, and I love a strong heroine who is not too stubborn or stupid with her decisions. Trilina nailed these characters, in that aspect. Luca knew who he was, but he also knew who he was with Gretchen. He was a badass, but again, he knew his weakness as well. I loved that part. Absolutely loved it. I think Gretchen's strength was also her weakness and that was a great dynamic to read as well. I love a woman so confident, she knows when to give in and it's not her being weak. So very HOT. They both were, and I am in love with their story.

Talk about leading me farther into temptation with this series! It has five more stories coming up. I know that I am anxiously awaiting at least two more stories because of how she ended this one!! I will say this much....the wait for the next book, which comes in July, is sweetened by knowing it will be Dante's. I cannot wait for that brut to fall down HARD. I'm obviously looking forward to more in this series, but I'm excited to hear what else Trilina will be bringing us in the meantime and after.

This book is billed as the second interconnected standalone in the series. I normally do not ever recommend reading out of order because I'm personally a stickler for order and progression of a storyline, but you can actually take her word for it. I appreciate the fact that this one is technically a standalone and told in a way that did not ruin anything from the first book, nor did she leave us out of any of the necessary buildup for this story. So thankful!! That's not always the case and I'm so glad it played out the way it did. BONUS: no cliffhangers!!!!

I'll leave it at this: for the record, never have I ever wanted to hear an audio book as much as I do this one. The Italian that was spoken in this book was already romantic to read, but I can only imagine hearing it spoken will up the sexiness factor of the love affair I just got to read. Next level stuff right there. Oh my, the thought of it alone makes me smile....

"It's like she allows me to see all the parts of her that she keeps for herself, the ones that are hidden and real.
~BEE

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My review for Truth

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~MEET TRILINA PUCCI~

It all started when…

Trilina decided, 3 years ago, that between making grilled cheese sandwiches and running carpool she was going to write saucy novels for readers to titillate and excite them. She hasn't slowed down since!

Trilina has always had a love of writing; as a child she would journal and typically change the ending of whatever she was writing to suit her daydream. A knack for storytelling has translated into her debut, as an author, being met with rave reviews.

She lives in California where she multitasks the roles of wifey, mama and author. She hopes you enjoy her words and keep coming back for more!

Read Sexy, Stay Sexy!

xoxo, Trilina

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Book Review and Giveaway for Truth by Trilina Pucci

TRUTH
by TRILINA PUCCI

Drew

It was a tryst.
A sin swallowed down by desire.

That’s what I tell myself.
But my body isn’t the only part that
aches for him now.

I sold my soul.
Now my heart is a slave to the devil.
Dominic King.

He unveiled the taboo,
illuminating my lie
and unexpectedly stole my heart.

But I walked away.

Dominic

Lust is my religion.
She became my sanctuary.

If it’s forgiveness she seeks
the price just doubled.

And she’ll pay it bound at my feet.

I gave her pain for pleasure.
Her truth.

Now I’ll make her beg me for more.

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REVIEW: 3.5 STARS
"I'll sit at your feet until you trust me to stand by your side."

New author! New voice! New series! I will say, first and foremost, that even while the book felt a little truncated in some spots, Trilina Pucci's VOICE is what I am very excited to hear more of. I liked the story a lot and felt that I was getting a full story, it was just the execution sometimes lacked complete cohesion. But, I don't want that to take away from the fact that I really enjoyed the book as a whole and I was able to follow it along, connect with the characters, and enjoy the story.

As I was reading, I found that I broke up my feelings based on each 1/3 of the book.....which is weird, but it made me giggle thinking about it. The first was pretty good as she set up the story, the middle kinda slowed down and was a little patchy, but the last third had me reading with eyes wide open! I felt like she got her groove at the very end of the story, and it buttoned up nicely with a nice segue into the next book coming in the series.

While I was really worried about the sex club aspect (since I feel super particular about them), I didn't want it to be the 'token sex club' in a book. While I felt it was probably unnecessary for how it all tied in, it was ultimately the trajectory for their story...so I went along with it. Again, it wasn't bad by any means and the story was good - I'm just super picky about them in stories. But the "scene" in her office felt verrry disjointed and it almost felt like it was thrown in for the obligatory "hot scene" for the book, given the nature of it. What woman, who has worked that hard to get to where she was, does something irresponsible like that....? I don't know, but it was a head-shaking moment for me. I wasn't a fan of that part at all - but that's totally a personal feeling on it, nothing more.

I feel like her writing was something I had to get used to, but it wasn't hard at all - just took me a good minute. Her voice was a little different and it was hard to get a feel for it at first, but once I found a groove with her writing, it flowed much better. In the beginning, she was telling the story and actions were moving, but it seemed to be working as she was setting up the story because I was able to stick through it and follow the story as it progressed. While I struggled with the writing, I couldn't put it down. I know that says something, so the fact that it felt a little forced and lacked some luster, it didn't deter me from finishing. The underlying VOICE was enough to keep me going and I most definitely look forward to reading more of her. I want to check out the next book because I need Luca's story.

I mentally warred a little bit between the character Dominic portrayed to the outside world versus how he truly was emotionally. It was shocking because we literally didn't learn about his affiliations until later in the book, and then it was literally in your face. Is that saying that a 'businessman' like Dominic can't be a softie for his woman? No. No way. Not at all. It just didn't line up cohesively sometimes, but I was curious and really liked his dynamic, so I was able to go with it. He had a clear soft spot for Drew. Drew was a very headstrong character, but not in a stubborn way. I felt it was more her needing to accept her strengths for what they were and realizing that she was in charge of her own destiny, and not some needless, spineless jerk. But when she actually fought for what she knew was 'hers', she came into her own.

"I'd rather live in this lie than in any truth she isn't a part of."

I know I need to follow Trilina Pucci because she can tell a story, and by the time it was inching closer to the end, she made me feel more emotionally connected. Even though there were parts that pulled me out, I liked it overall. I feel with some good editing and proofing, the hindsight style of writing and the ease of her plot holes being explained away will become less frequent, and she will be an author to stalk for heavy emotional reads. Just the kind I prefer.

The idea alone behind the series completely pulled me in. An entire standalone series (interconnected characters) based off the seven deadly sins, with this first one being about lust? Yes, please!! Pucci added this sin in well, and the underlying theme played into their story nicely. It was more of a hint, I felt, and less of a LOUD presence and I feel like that's why it was pulling me in as much as it was. I know this review probably sounds super critical, but I assure you it's not. I left her book with a smile on my face and some good discussions with others that have already read it.

"My entire soul is ignited by my urgency to give into the truth. Our truth."
~BEE

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~MEET TRILINA PUCCI~

It all started when…

Trilina decided, 3 years ago, that between making grilled cheese sandwiches and running carpool she was going to write saucy novels for readers to titillate and excite them. She hasn't slowed down since!

Trilina has always had a love of writing; as a child she would journal and typically change the ending of whatever she was writing to suit her daydream. A knack for storytelling has translated into her debut, as an author, being met with rave reviews.

She lives in California where she multitasks the roles of wifey, mama and author. She hopes you enjoy her words and keep coming back for more!

Read Sexy, Stay Sexy!

xoxo, Trilina

~CONNECT WITH TRILINA~

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Book Review and Giveaway for The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

THE LAST LETTER
by REBECCA YARROS

Beckett,

If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have.

I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride.

My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair.

And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help.

So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family.

Please don’t make her go through it alone.

Ryan

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REVIEW: How do you rate heartbreak on a scale of 1-5?
"Funny thing about broken hearts - only the living have them."

I feel like I need to preface this review by saying that even though the teasers show romance, and the romance community spread this book around and embraced it, this is not a romance. This will not read that way either. There is a romance element, and it is beautifully romantic in hindsight, and in truth, and in reality.....but it's a very painful, sorrowful read. 

I just finished this book and I will never be the same. This is a spoiler free review straight from my emotionally broken and torn heart, but it's going to be jumbled and raw and honest. For that, I apologize in advance. Only two other times have I audibly cried like I did with this one. It's rare, but I'm exhausted now...

I can honestly say I feel depressed.
I'm staring out the window.
The snow is falling.
I'm sitting on the couch, letting the tears fall down my cheeks untouched. Why stop them when more will come?
Staring off....not focused.....not even sure where to begin.

I know I always say I'm not a crier. I don't cry and I am usually strong enough to get through most subjects. But as cold-hearted as I pretend to be and as strong as I try to be while reading, this one broke me. The one recommendation I got for this book was to FEEL. And FEEL I did. I am pretty sure I swore I'd never read a book with this subject matter, and I'm confident it was because I was too afraid to FEEL this heartfelt pain. But the way Rebecca wrote this journey, the way her words invited me along to FEEL, I had no other choice but to cry it out. To suffer through the agonizing emotions. To FEEL. But I'll never willingly read a book with this subject matter ever again, though. Ever. She either set the bar really high, or scarred me very deeply....either way, never ever again.

I had to take a few breathers while I was reading this. Heartache, pain, and crazily enough: fear. Those are just some of the emotions I felt in spades, and they were accompanied by more, you guessed it - tears. The notes I took while reading this one now seem so inconsequential in comparison, after it's all said and done. But while I was reading it, I was sad, then happy. Angry at Ella and sad for Beckett. I was fuming because her rationale was way off. Yet, if I sat back and thought about it, I could understand where she was coming from because I am just as stubborn as she is. Her courage was beyond anything I have ever read and could imagine dealing with. Beckett's strength was probably the best book boyfriend material I've ever read. His allegiance and his honor, his truth in his understanding of love and loyalty. He was perfection, but he had a very selfishly-stubborn, or stubbornly-selfish, side to him that was admirable and I loved it. Moving. Painful. Heartbreaking. Compelling. The emotions I felt ran the gamut, of that I can't lie. I fell in love with their love. I cried when they hurt. I was angry at the universe and shocked at 'fate'. I have no words.

I can't recall the last time I wanted to DNF a book so late in the game, but I couldn't put it down because I was too freaking invested. There was a sad reality to the guilt, the regret, and the requirement to push through. I'm not sure I was willing or even ready to face the guaranteed heartbreak I was sure to receive. But I can't lie and say that the place that Rebecca came from, and the story that she gave me? That is why I read the heavy stuff. That is why I like the deep reads. The intricacies in the story, the love that is unwavering, the pain that is indiscriminate....it was all dished up with a healthy dose of reality.

But if I could emote the beauty in her words, and how well she flowed, I'd be proud to have been able to share that much. With a fractured soul and a broken heart, I can tell you I won't recover from this one anytime soon. It's almost a hollow, sad feeling in my chest - resigned....as if I went through this entire ordeal myself, and I have no recourse. I'm tired and I feel like I could sleep for a week straight. But again, the power in Rebecca's words are written with the tears falling down my face.

I want to be mad, but I'm sad.
I want to be sad, but I'm angry.
I want to be angry, but I can't stop crying.
I can't.stop.crying.....
This is NOT a romance, but that love story was so beautiful.
This is NOT for the faint of heart, and I'm not sure I'm going to ever be the same.

I'm not sure I can recommend this book to many people in the romance community without a heavy warning. Again, it's not a romance and it's not something I would willingly spring on anyone without a warning, but I can't ruin the journey for someone who understands that this is Contemporary Fiction. I likened it to Contemporary Depression.

These aren't the kind of emotions I enjoy from a book. These aren't the kind of tears I enjoy from reading a book. But, having said that, I am glad I weathered through it. I'm glad I felt it. And if I'm honest with myself, I loved the journey. But again, never will I ever read this subject again.

This story was a lesson on living in the now. This was a lesson on seeing the truth in a love destined to withstand life's curveballs. But most of all, this was a lesson to never take anything for granted. Hindsight is always 2/20.

To borrow your words, Rebecca: You don't know me, but you touched me. 

"You can't reason with the universe, no matter how sound your logic is. 
~BEE

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The first thing I ever read of Rebecca's was this blog post she posted on Twitter recently. I came across it and after reading it, I knew that not only was this story going to be an emotional one, but it was going to be told with intimate knowledge of many of the scenarios and circumstances that came into play in this book. My hats off to her. Much respect to her. My thankfulness knows no end.

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~MEET REBECCA YARROS~

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She's a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores. When she's not writing, she's tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years, and they're currently stationed in Upstate NY with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog, but she would always rather be home in Colorado.

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