Book Review and Giveaway for Cruel Prince by Ashley Jade

CRUEL PRINCE

by ASHLEY JADE

Welcome to their kingdom... 

I never thought I'd step foot in Royal Manor again. 

But four years later, here I am...back to finish my senior year at Royal Hearts Academy.

And forced to face Jace Covington. 

My first friend. First crush. First kiss. 

The one I left behind.

Only—he isn't the same boy I gave my heart to.

This new Jace is as cruel as he is gorgeous.

And he's determined to make my life a living hell. 

Along with the rest of his glorified family and crew of tyrants.

They expect me to worship the ground they walk on like everyone else, but I'd rather eat dirt.

If Jace Covington wants me gone...he'll have to try harder. 

Because I've never been the kind of girl to play by the rules.

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REVIEW: 3.5 < 4 STARS

"But the heart doesn't choose who we love by their worth. Because love isn't a choice."

Where do I go from here? I mean, being my first Ashley Jade book, I know I have a world of possibilities out there because I've seen her catalog, but like....I need more of these kids!! First and foremost, I can't believe it took me this long to read her. And now the wait for the next few books in this series is going to be rough. Not only did she tell me a story that I thought about while I wasn't reading, but she set up the series with characters that I can't wait to follow. I can't even begin to imagine how their stories are going to go! This story was the power of teenage love mixed with the brutal side of bullying and miscommunication, so it made for a fantastic ride for me!!

I loved Dylan's strength and determination in this book. I loved that she wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted, but, also, that her fears and pain were spelled out and highlighted accordingly. Jace was giving me whiplash with his constant back and forth, along with his covert comments and arrogance in regards to his attraction to her. So for her to make it through his shade, that made my eyes wide because I would have folded like a wet noodle. His cold demeanor was pissing me off and he lived up to the 'asshole' part verrrrry well. Yet, I loved it! The uphill battle made for a treacherous ride, but once they were there....they seemed to soar and it was all worth it.

Because....holy hell, these two were combustible!!! Like, scorching hot sexiness and broodiness was coming from Jace. He set the bar for steamy seduction quite well. Was it a little intense for teenagers? I don't particularly think so because I remember that need and intensity, and getting caught up in the flirting and the allure of your soulmate is intoxicating and disabling, all in one. Basically, they were both powerless in their attraction of each other, and it was a serious cat and mouse game while reading this one.

The reason for my rating was because while I loved the book and didn't want to put it down, there were a few things that didn't jive with me. Some parts felt a little gratuitous and unnecessary in the drama aspect. It didn't really take away from or detract from the story as a whole, but I didn't feel like it added substance, nor did it warrant the aggravation it provided. Totally a personal opinion, because I was loving it without the added side drama/storylines. What I did love was the chain of events that set everything in motion. That felt well thought out and Jade interspersed it throughout the story by dropping little clues here and there with precision. Small lies painted a very different truth, for sure. I do admit to struggling with some of the actions that transpired - mainly because it didn't fit with the outline of the characters she was giving me in the beginning. It felt 'off' and that added to the unnecessary drama aspect of it, for me. However, having said all that - I enjoyed the spin she gave this story and I didn't want to stop reading. I was completely invested and was anxious to see it play out.

I honestly think the biggest letdown I felt was the epilogue, and only because that didn't read like the Dylan I came to know and love throughout the story, so I struggled with that part. But if that's really all I can complain about, I can't really complain. I am unequivocally excited to try out more by Ashley Jade, not only in this series, but in her other books too - and I'm excited because I have quite a few to choose from. Seeing what she did with the YA/Bully genre, I am looking forward to some hot reading with some of her other stories as well. Do YOU have any suggestions for me??

"I'm tired of living without the other half of my soul."
~BEE

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~EXCERPT~

“Is that why you wore this sexy little shirt tonight?” His warm breath tickles the side of my neck. “Hoping to get my attention.”

“No.”

That earns me a husky chuckle. “Too bad.” He presses his lips against my throat. “Because it’s working. You have all my attention.” He walks his fingers down my torso.

“Question is…what are you going to do with it?”

~MEET ASHLEY JADE~ 

Ashley Jade loves to tackle different genres and tropes within romance. Her first loves are New Adult Romance and Romantic Suspense, but she also writes everything in between including: contemporary romance, erotica, and dark romance. Her characters are flawed and complex, and chances are you will hate them before you fall head over heels in love with them.

She’s a die-hard lover of oxford commas, em dashes, music, coffee, and anything thought provoking…except for math.

Books make her heart beat faster and writing makes her soul come alive. She’s always read books growing up and scribbled stories in her journal, and after having a strange dream one night; she decided to just go for it and publish her first series.

It was the best decision she ever made.

If she’s not paying off student loan debt, working, or writing a novel—you can usually find her listening to music, hanging out with her readers online, and pondering the meaning of life.

Check out her amazon page and Facebook page for future novels. She recently became hip and joined Twitter, so you can find her there, too. She loves connecting with her readers—they make her world go round’.

~CONNECT WITH ASHLEY~ 

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Book Review and Giveaway for Forever and Never by Ella Fields

FOREVER AND NEVER
by ELLA FIELDS

Lars Bradby was supposed to be my forever.
That was before we found out he would become a father at the tender age of eighteen.

For years, he’d watched me.
For months, he’d wanted me.
For weeks, he’d chased me.

Relentless and infuriating, he turned my stubborn heart into something pliable and weak.
Sly and honest, he worked his way into my life as though he’d always planned to be the focal point of it.

In love and naive, even when our future seemed bleak, I believed in us.
Heartbroken and desperate, I tore my bleeding heart from my chest, wanting only the best for him.

In doing so, our forever wasn’t just interrupted. It was chased away with one irreversible decision after another.
And now, we could no longer see it beneath the heaping piles of debris we’d left in our wake.

ADD TO GOODREADS

REVIEW: 4+ STARS
"You taste like a fucking dream, only better. A candy-shrouded dream."

I hate that all Ella Fields books end.

Teenage love beating all the odds is not an easy feat. I feel like there are few that can actually write it and make 'frustrating' perfect. How is perfection frustrating? Well, I feel like a teenage love is already perfect because it's the first butterflies and the anticipation of the first kiss and the innocence of holding hands. That whole part is my favorite - the experimenting, the discovery, the secrecy of firsts that are held dear to the heart. But I also know it's frustrating because communication isn't always there, and teenage drama is a real thing. Needless to say, Ella has the perfect mixture of frustrating perfection. She gave me the torture. She fed me the agony. She dragged my heart through the prickly thorns, and left me hanging for quite a while - but I had no choice but to suffer the pain her characters were, because I too felt their pain. She makes me pace. She writes angst oh so well, and I love that she gives it hard and swift, because it hits me when I don't even know that it hit me until it's too late and I'm too deep in. I crave her style of teenaged drama and angst.

"Heartbreak was a ghost. You didn't need to see it to feel it, and you could never outrun it."

Seriously, only one of a few authors that I can and will confidently recommend in the YA genre repeatedly, without question. The thing about Ella is, hers are always hard hitting.....or heart hitting, if I want to be technical about it. It wasn't until I met Jay McLean and Ella Fields that I realized there were some authors out there that could capture that high school world for me and sum it up in a story that pulled at my heart, angered me to my core, but made me cheer on this love that was inevitable.

"I laughed, and he looked at me with something that sparkled a lot like wonder and felt a lot like possibility."

I love Fields' word manipulation. She uses words in ways I never thought of, but they make perfect sense. Seriously, I LOVE that. It's books like this that inspire excitement and challenge thought processes. You can't simply walk into this 'world' without having an understanding of how messed up a teenage love story can be without obstacles thrown in. Because when the very REAL world is thrown at a teenager, that's a whole new mess of problems to overcome, adding to the difficulty. But Ella Fields seems to greet this opposition with a sharp mind and a deft stroke of her keyboard. The heaviness that she breathes into her characters and their emotions is unrivaled. I never walk away from one of her books without an overworked heart and a discussion on the ready.

I think Fields captured the rawness that came with the struggles that this YOUNG couple faced....but I also think she let Daphne be the teenager that was driven to extremes with her choices, stupid or not, to handle this how she felt she needed to. I can't help but surrender my heart to these stories because Fields never ceases to amaze me. Whether I am mad, sad, happy, angry, in love or broken - she always gives me something to ponder and discuss. Seriously discuss. And with her stories and characters being relatable, there is always a little bit of my heart that I can use to explain my stance on an event, a happening, a reasoning in the story. I love that about her stories.

The drama is real and down to earth, the plight is accurate in so many ways....but their actions speak louder than most because they are still the young ones in an adult world, making the only decisions they know how to make. And as angry as this one made me, it inspired a deep love for Lars and Daphne as well. Ugh. So much to discuss, and I can't wait to have those arguments. HAHA! Remember, we met Lars and Daphne in Kiss and Break Up and I would recommend reading that first so you can get the background of all the stories happening - however, this is considered a standalone.

I love the perfection that is Ella Fields' covers. Shelf worthy on every level.

"You're fucking with every part of me, but I can't bring myself to stop you."
~BEE

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My review: http://bit.ly/2F2lQNU

~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.

~CONNECT WITH ELLA~

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DNF Review for The Last Post by Renee Carlino

THE LAST POST
by RENEE CARLINO

See you on the other side.
Laya Marston’s husband, Cameron, a daredevil enthusiast, always said this before heading off on his next adventure. He was the complete opposite of her, ready and willing to dive off a cliff-face, or parachute across a canyon—and Laya loved him for it. But she was different: pragmatic, regimented, devoted to her career and to supporting Cameron from the sidelines of his death-defying feats.

Opposites attract, right?
But when Cameron dies suddenly and tragically, all the stages of grief go out the window. Laya becomes lost in denial, living in the delusion that Cameron will come back to her. She begins posting on his Facebook page, reminiscing about their life together, and imagining new adventures for the two of them.

Micah Evans, a young and handsome architect at Laya’s father’s firm, is also stuck––paralyzed by the banal details of his career, his friendships, and his love life. He doesn’t know what he’s looking for, only that there is someone out there who can bring energy and spirit to the humdrum of his life.

When Micah discovers Laya’s tragic and bizarre Facebook posts, he’s determined to show Laya her life is still worth living. Leaving her anonymous gifts and notes, trying to recreate the sense of adventure she once shared with her late husband, Micah finds a new passion watching Laya come out of the darkness. And Laya finds a new joy in the experiences Micah has created for her.

But for Laya, letting another man in still feels like a betrayal to her late husband. Even though Micah may be everything she could wish for, she wonders if she deserves to find happiness again.

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REVIEW: DNF at 66%
"Scars are a testament to life."

My thoughts upon immediately starting this book: I feel like the voice in this book was one of ease, but with a quiet power behind it. You and Me, we are chatting. We are having a conversation and the prose is lighthearted, even though the subject matter has some heavy moments.

My thoughts just barely in the book: I feel like something is missing. The things that should have broken me - subject matter alone, read like I was removed from the pain and the turmoil that I should have felt while I was reading the book. Their interactions felt very clipped and robotic. There wasn't any emotion, any inflection in the voice, and there wasn't any feeling in their reactions.

My thoughts towards the end of the book: I liked it enough to try and finish it - but that clearly failed. I don't think I am hating on it - but the writing style seriously lacked in this one for me. Not exactly well written, grammatically or perfectly spelled out, but Renee's voice kinda worked for me....until it didn't. The execution lacked terribly.

This book should have been a lesson in living and letting go of a past that cannot be changed, putting a lot into perspective - love those you love, and love them often for you don't know when that will be the last time you kiss them....love them.....hug them....say goodbye to them. Or even hear their voice. But, the sad reality is who really wants to let go of their one true love? Their soulmate? The one they married, in sickness and in health, until death do they part? I did get teary-eyed a time or two, because I put myself in Laya's shoes, but it took me putting myself in her shoes, not because I was gathering that from the writing itself. I thought about what it meant to lose a love that meant everything to me. It could have been eye-opening and heartbreaking in some points, but for some reason, that wasn't expressed very well and it fell short.

Micah was a different.....breed. Sure, I can joke, but he had his hangups and his own set of issues to contend with. His overall personality made me smile, though, and that gave me pause for a few chapters. He had a heart of gold, wanted 'real' things, and made for a character that had me rooting for him in all the ways possible, but he certainly came across as if he had "problems." I'm not a huge fan of softer men in general. I like a man that is confident and strong, one that goes with purpose and determination. Micah was so different from my norm that I had to ask myself how I truly felt. Honestly, the farther I got in, it got more difficult. I was trying to reconcile his issues with the way he was written, and it came across that he was slow - but he wasn't. A Harvard educated architect should have had more depth, more gumption, more meat to his thought processes. I'm going to blame the writing style on that. He was very one-dimensional when it was all said and done.

But, then again, maybe that's why the attraction to Laya was there because she, too, was very one dimensional. No real inflection in her voice or her character's actions, yet she had this broken heart to contend with. I wish I felt the pain that she was going through. The heartbreak that she supposedly felt. The grieving she did was very out of the ordinary, and I am not entirely sure I was able to go along with it or understand it. Believe me when I say I like different, something to make me think - something out of the box. But, it was just....awkward.

I did love how two souls were blindly feeling their way through new pathways and trying to be respectful of each other, but also pursuing what they felt in their hearts to be something that needed exploring. I enjoyed the tip-toeing around the obvious emotions, but also the calming nature of Micah holding Laya and rubbing her back. This book, it was all about the little things making up the big picture and that was my favorite part. That was all very sweet and relatable, and that was nice to read. As weird as it sounds, I think it's safe to say that I got caught up in the weirdness. The awkwardness between the characters was really endearing, if I can say that as an outsider looking in.

But, when Laya started to turn down a dark road, I didn't much care for the 'demonization' of a certain character. It felt out of place given what I had already read....how I had already fallen in love with them, and now I'm feeling like it was all a ruse. I just didn't care for it and the book took a very downhill turn after this, and it continued down a very slippery slope. That kind of took me out of the book and I started to skim after that. I knew I needed to call it at that point. I don't like skimming and I don't generally finished a skimmed book.

I honestly feel like there were some transitional issues, but the storyline was great. I think Carlino missed out on the ability to embellish with feelings/adjectives because some of her points just.....stop. But having said that, I also know this is how Carlino writes - or maybe it's how she's edited, I don't know. Some parts of it leave me wanting more well-rounded, better thought out phrasing, while other parts made me really feel the storyline and the characters' actions and feelings. The staccato rhythm that came with her storytelling could really go either way. The story itself could have been a 4 for me, easily and happily - but the writing could have been cleaned up quite a bit, expounded upon, so that sits at a 2, barely. I just feel like there are missed opportunities with her ability to flesh out scenes. Instead of cluing us in on some of the characters' feelings - she let them hang and I wanted to see that play out - to give it a more rounded reading experience. She had so many opportunities to build around some scenes that could have been 'felt' more, but they kind of went stagnant and fell flat.

Overall, the writing left something to be desired, but knowing she can write a story that moves me (Before We Were Strangers, Blind Kiss) I may have given it more time, resulting in a relaxed rating in my expectations, because I knew what she was trying to say, and how she was trying to articulate it. But, I was looking for more emotion and feeling being written in and shown throughout some of the scenes. I loved and appreciated what little of Laya's pain I read, and her fear of starting over. I felt some of Micah's desires and worries about stepping on toes, or saying the wrong thing - but it really was over the top and unnecessary. I struggled more with the fact that he talked about seeing a therapist about his "thoughts" and yet, none of that was really discussed or explained through 2/3 of the book so I question if it was really necessary. It added more of an annoyance than a story arc.

Was some of it predictable? Ehh...maybe. I could see things a mile away, but they played out easily and timeline appropriate, and I was thankful for that. Overall, I liked the story, but the writing lacked emotional connectivity and embellishment. I think this was a lesson for me, knowing some of her books work for me and others just have not - I need to read before I get excited about her books from now on. I feel like this was yet another letdown for a book that commanded emotions and feelings and didn't give me any of it.

~BEE

No giveaways for DNF reviews

~MEET RENEE CARLINO~

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com

~CONNECT WITH RENEE~

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Chapter Reveal for Cruel Prince by Ashley Jade

CHAPTER REVEAL FOR CRUEL PRINCE

Thanks to another Post-it note from Aunt Crystal, I was able to figure out which guest bedroom she cleared out for me.

Although cleared out is a bit of an understatement. Aside from the queen-sized bed covered with a purple bedspread, an empty bureau, and yet another Post-it note promising to take me shopping later in the week…the room is bare bones.

Not that I mind. I managed to stuff my entire life into one duffle bag and a medium suitcase. No-frills suits me.

Less shit to get attached to.

I open the closet door to hang up some of my clothes, but three plaid skirts, three crisp, white button-down shirts, and three navy blazers snag my attention instead.

The Royal Hearts Academy emblem above the left breast pockets practically taunts me.

I wasn’t in a position to make any requests considering my aunt and her husband were nice enough to take in a stray—but the one thing I insisted on was attending the local public school instead of Royal Hearts Academy. My dad forced me to go to private school for elementary and junior high and it was one of the worst experiences of my life.

The organ in my chest squeezes. With the exception of meeting Jace.

Of course, the one thing I wanted was the one thing Crystal’s husband wasn’t willing to negotiate on given it’s my cousin’s—technically, step-cousin’s—senior year and he attends RHA.

Wayne thinks it would be beneficial for me to go to school with his son Oakley, so I’ll have someone to show me the ropes.

However, it’s clear good ol’ Uncle Wayne must not be very observant. I only met him once briefly at my aunt’s wedding four years ago, but a quick scroll through Oakley’s Instagram suggests he’s about as useful as a goldfish at a Bob Marley concert.

And by useful? I mean, stoned.

Which probably explains why he didn’t pick me up from the airport like he was supposed to, or why I still haven’t seen any signs of him…despite being here all afternoon and most of the evening.

I send him another text, but just like the first ten I sent today, he doesn’t respond.

Curiosity getting the best of me, I slip out the door of my new room and venture down the long hallway. My aunt said there were six bedrooms in the house—but after knocking on several doors, it’s obvious Oakley isn’t in any of them.

Stifling a groan, I amble down the staircase and wander into the kitchen. Much like the rest of the house, the kitchen is spacious, and everything looks expensive, but price aside, it’s pretty standard. Stainless steel appliances, glass table, large granite island in the center.

And no Oakley.

After checking the living room, my uncle Wayne’s office, and the bathroom on the first floor, I make my way down the stairs leading to the basement.

The smell of marijuana infiltrates my nostrils almost immediately.

I’m not a buzzkill, I have no issues with people who smoke—what I have an issue with is people who indulge so much they forget the important stuff.

Like answering text messages or picking their step-cousin up at the airport.

The big screen television—which is currently broadcasting two naked girls grinding against one another to awful mumble rap—illuminates the basement enough I’m able to see the back of a leather couch. The smoke wafting toward the ceiling fan tells me there’s a good chance I’ll find Oakley on the other side of it.

I don’t know whether to laugh or shake my head as I round the corner and see him passed out with one hand down his pants and the other holding what appears to be a partially smoked blunt.

The baseball cap he’s wearing hides most of his face, but he definitely looks like he’s been asleep for a while. How the house hasn’t burnt down is anyone’s guess.

I’m about to dispose of the still lit blunt and go back upstairs…but then he speaks.

“Hey, babe.”

Uh. Kind of weird, but considering I’ve been called worse by strangers, I decide to roll with it.

“Hey.”

“I was wondering when you’d get here,” he murmurs, his voice thick with sleep.

I tamp down the urge to tell him I would have been here sooner if he picked me up from the goddamn airport like he was supposed to.

We’re going to be stuck together for the next year and bitching at him isn’t a good way to start a relationship.

I open my mouth to ask if he wants to grab a bite to eat later, but he speaks again.

“You’re so fucking hot.”

Okay, this train has officially reached awkward station.

“Um. Thank—”

Before I can finish that sentence, he shoves his sweatpants down and…

Oh. My. God.

Bile works up my throat as he wraps his hand around his exposed dick.

“Come on, beautiful,” he groans. “Quit teasing me and sit on it.”

I’m positive I must have a contact high because that’s the only way to explain why the actual fuck my step-cousin is summoning me to sit on his penis.

“Gross. What is wrong with you?”

Shielding my vision with my hands, I proceed to back away. Unfortunately, I knock into the coffee table so hard I see stars.

“Dammit,” I yelp, gripping my throbbing calf.

“You’re not Hayley.”

Talk about stating the obvious.

“No shit, Sherlock.” I make the huge mistake of looking up. “Oh, my God, dude. Can you please put your wiener away?”

“Sure thing,” the pervert says, rising from the couch. “As soon as you tell me who the hell you are and why you’re in my house.”

He has got to be kidding me.

“Seriously?” I point to myself. “I’m Dylan.”

He tilts his head to the side, like he’s having trouble understanding why my name would have any significance to him.

“Your cousin,” I grit through my teeth and he blanches.

Eureka.

I breathe a sigh of relief as he pulls up his pants.

“You’re not supposed to be here until Saturday.”

“It is Saturday,” I inform him, and his eyes widen.

“Well, shit.” He places the blunt between his lips and inhales. “This stuff is better than I thought.” Coughing, he holds it out to me. “Want some?”

I give him a sardonic smile. “I appreciate the peace offering and all, but I’ll pass.”

He doesn’t look offended in the least. “That’s cool.” His expression turns serious as he snuffs the cherry of the blunt on a can of soda. “Look, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell the parental units I tried to bang you, okay? They’re on my case enough lately.”

Oakley doesn’t have to worry. I won’t be telling anyone he tried to bang me.

I give him a nod.

He nods back.

And then it’s nothing but uncomfortable silence.

Quite the riveting exchange we’re having here.

“It’s Saturday night,” he declares unexpectedly while stretching his arms over his head and yawning. “Christian’s throwing his big end of summer party before school starts.”

I don’t know who Christian is, but I wouldn’t mind going to a party. In fact, meeting a few people and reconnecting with some old friends before school starts will probably make things easier for me on Monday.

My heart does a little flip. Maybe Jace will be there.

There are so many things I want to tell him.

And even more things I want to ask him.

Like why he blocked my number. Or why he never returned any of the dozens of messages I sent him on social media after I left.

“A party sounds like fun. I can be rea—”

“Don’t wait up,” Oakley utters, brushing past me.

Well, that settles that then. My cousin is a bigger tool than the one contained in his pants.

“By the way,” he calls out from the stairs. “The school admins are assholes. I doubt they’ll let you keep that blue crap in your hair.”

Highlights. They’re called highlights.

A smile touches my lips. I hope they hate my blue hair so much they refuse admission and I have no choice but to attend Royal Manor High instead.

ADD TO GOODREADS

CRUEL PRINCE

by ASHLEY JADE

Welcome to their kingdom...
I never thought I'd step foot in Royal Manor again.
But five years later, here I am...back to finish my senior year at Royal Hearts Academy.

And forced to face Jace Covington.
My first friend. First crush. First kiss.
The one I left behind.

Only—he isn't the same boy I gave my heart to.

This new Jace is as cruel as he is gorgeous.
And he's determined to make my life a living hell.
Along with the rest of his glorified family and crew of tyrants.

They expect me to worship the ground they walk on like everyone else, but I'd rather eat dirt.

If Jace Covington wants me gone...he'll have to try harder.
Because I've never been the kind of girl to play by the rules.

~MEET ASHLEY JADE~ 

Ashley Jade loves to tackle different genres and tropes within romance. Her first loves are New Adult Romance and Romantic Suspense, but she also writes everything in between including: contemporary romance, erotica, and dark romance. Her characters are flawed and complex, and chances are you will hate them before you fall head over heels in love with them.

She’s a die-hard lover of oxford commas, em dashes, music, coffee, and anything thought provoking…except for math.

Books make her heart beat faster and writing makes her soul come alive. She’s always read books growing up and scribbled stories in her journal, and after having a strange dream one night; she decided to just go for it and publish her first series.

It was the best decision she ever made.

If she’s not paying off student loan debt, working, or writing a novel—you can usually find her listening to music, hanging out with her readers online, and pondering the meaning of life.

Check out her amazon page and Facebook page for future novels.

She recently became hip and joined Twitter, so you can find her there, too.

She loves connecting with her readers—they make her world go round’.

~CONNECT WITH ASHLEY~ 

FACEBOOK   AMAZON    GOODREADS    TWITTER 

WEBSITE           INSTAGRAM

DNF Review for Drummer Girl by Ginger Scott

DRUMMER GIRL
by GINGER SCOTT

Arizona Wakefield was a beat without a melody. Living a half-breathing life in a half-finished neighborhood with parents who always wore half-hearted smiles, the high school senior only had one thing that let her color outside her family’s perfectly drawn lines—her drums.

Jesse Barringer was a song without a chorus. The son of a washed-up rock star who’s also one hell of a deadbeat dad, he was given two things from his father—musical genius and a genetic link to the bipolar disorder that drives him mad.

One night in a garage at the end of a cul-de-sac in the middle of a bankrupt California neighborhood, Jesse’s melody found Arizona’s rhythm. An angry boy with storm-colored eyes found a blonde angel in Doc Martens with missing lines in her own story. Where her rhythm stopped, his words took over, and together, they wrote one hell of a story.

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REVIEW: DNF Review at 66%, skimmed to the end
"Calm covers storms."

This isn't an overly positive review, but it certainly isn't going to be a complaint filled one either. I feel like this one missed the emotional "mark" for me. I didn't have the connection I thought I could/should/would with this type of subject, but I fell in love with Jesse. With Jesse, I actually felt his depth and his pain. I felt his turmoil and heard his demons. Unfortunately, Ari felt a little blah to me, and I understand why - given what she went through, but she sort of hampered the experience of this whole book for me.

"Jesse has demons. I knew he did, but it still doesn't make it easy to watch someone battle them."

Dual POV - totally a missed opportunity in this book. Ooooobviously, that's myyyy opinion and it should never hold any weight, but I will say that I was seriously hoping for some insight into/from Jesse. Even though this wasn't his story to tell, I feel like it would have added another dimension to everything going on -given the fact that we had issues on both sides of the relationship. Clearly this was Ari's book, her story, her journey. But man! I would have loved to have heard from his mind....to jump into his psyche and heard from him first hand.

That doesn't mean this wasn't good, it just wasn't amazing for me. It didn't really hold my interest, and for the depth of the subject matter, it had the ability to hold me captive. While it did for some parts, it didn't in most other times because it felt as if it/they droned on. Just like with the cadence - it worked for me at some points, but others didn't quite jive, so it felt awkwardly paced, and very slowly at that. I just couldn't finish it and give it a glowing review. It wasn't for me. It was ok and it was leaning towards a 2-3 star review, but it started to bother me with regards to the pacing and what was seemingly filler in some spots, so I just didn't want to not like it. It was almost...dare I say, boring. I think I need to admit I was hoping above hope that this was the twist-me-up, amaze me kind of read that I was expecting. However, it felt very low-key even given the subject at hand, but maybe that's me putting too high of an expectation of "super emotional" on it. Sadly, her voice was too bland for this subject matter for me. Bred was my first read by Scott, and I knew how the original book "read", so I was just amazed and in love with that book, so I was hoping for more of an emotional connection with this one. But with this being a new story, it didn't have the same effect and it just kind of fell flat. Am I sad? No. Not exceptionally, because again, I did enjoy some of it. It was good - just not amazing, not really interesting enough to hold my interest.

But it's also not going to stay with me. Or is it? I am on the fence with this one. It felt very monotonous....there wasn't an inflection in the author's voice while I read, and I like the ups and downs of a journey when it's marred by personal struggles. So, overall, it felt like her voice didn't have the 'punch' I needed to actually dig deep within my emotional self to fall in love with this story. But Jesse and Ari had a relationship that made me smile. Their trust in each other was well noted and I love that Jesse knew he could lean on Ari as heavily as he did and vice versa. But when he was feeling the 'buzz', you could see it in every way and I loved watching his change/growth, but her patience for him was amazing to see.

"I give him my oxygen willingly."

I like the depth a manic character can give me because there is simply so much going on, so to be able to explore the inner workings of their mind, knowing it is an intense journey - I really like that side of it. Not really a spectacle, outside-looking-in kind of enjoy, but more of an admiration, or appreciation of how they can fall in love, but also feel the heaviness from one swing to another. One high to another low. It just adds a level of pause for me because I think it's beautiful to watch someone fall in love and when you're manic, that comes with a deeper, more considerable weight to it. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the heaviness I would have expected and that ruined the "mood" for me.

"His touch is like a dose of venom, and I'm mildly paralyzed."
~BEE

~MEET GINGER SCOTT~

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling, Goodreads Choice Award and Rita award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, This Is Falling, Wild Reckless, The Hard Count, Cry Baby and Bred.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

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Book Review and Giveaway for The Guy On the Right by Kate Stewart

THE GUY ON THE RIGHT

by KATE STEWART

Strike One-My mother named me Theodore after her favorite chipmunk.

Not cool, Mom.

I‘ve spent most of my life answering to Teddy, because I couldn’t make Theo work.

Except for here. College. The place where all bets are off, and I’ve managed to redeem myself.

There’s only one problem, my new roommate, Troy, is football royalty and looks like he stepped off the set of an Abercrombie shoot.

Doesn’t matter, I cook a mean breakfast for his panty parade, and we get along well.

And anyway, this year I got the girl. And she’s perfect.

That’s right. Theodore Houseman, former band geek, now marching band rock star has finally landed the girl of his dreams.

Everything is perfect.

That is, until Troy takes a good look at her.

I’m not going down without a fight. As a matter of fact, I’m not going down at all. As glorious as these days may be for my all-star roommate, Laney is my end game. 

I may not know much about play strategy, but I’ve been the good guy my whole life. I’ve been listening and I know exactly what women want. Framed in a picture standing next to me, Troy may seem like Mr. Perfect, but he’s underestimating the guy on the right.

Spoiler alert: In this story, the underdog is going to win. 

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REVIEW: 4.5 RIDICULOUSLY FUNNY STARS

"I might've fallen slowly, but I just landed impossibly deep."

HILARIOUS PERFECTION!!

First things first: when the honesty and depth of a love refuses to let you give up on its perfection, that is a telling sign. The beginning, middle, and happily ever after that Theo and Laney had was seriously so down to earth, and totally in line with "the underdog" story that Kate Stewart was trying to tell. Flawlessly, I might add. It was heartfelt comedy with some honest emotion, a lot of sass and hilarity, with a love story worthy of a smile. This story was definitely well told.

For someone who doesn't really enjoy RomComs, this book was a massively hilarious WIN for me!! I can't handle the overly dramatic, super pushy, terribly forced melodrama that's awkwardly placed to garner laughs in between the real story at hand in many of the RomComs I've come across, so I've ultimately pulled away from them. The heroine is obnoxious or annoying, and that's not how I want "quirky" portrayed. This one had NONE of the sorts. Absolutely perfectly timed hilarity at every corner. So freakin' funny! But not only was it funny, I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the sweetness and truth to their relationship. This wasn't sticky sweet....nothing like that. It was more like the truth about real men out there. Not an alpha, but definitely not a bowl-over. Theo was an everyday guy, but his heart sets him apart from the rest. So many minute things, so many small actions that made up the big picture, all of which Stewart mastered. From the hashtags to the Grannisms, the attention to detail was smile inducing fun.

I seriously smiled throughout the entire book. No lie. The banter between Theo and Laney was a very well cultivated atmosphere. It was clearly funny, but there was a comfort that was shared between the two of them that gave an air of ease. The way they met was the most perfect catalyst for this entire storyline and like any good comedian, things come back around full circle. Side-splitting laughter ensues from the first chapter on. Was some of it cheesy? In the entire scheme of things, I don't particularly think so but some may construe it as such because of the sweetness factor at some points. But it just made me smile from ear to ear.

"She only lives in the present with the pretense of later."

It was interesting to see how something so....platonic could morph into something so perfect. Now I know that my husband is my best friend and we like to hang out and do things with each other, but that's also how we started out as well. So not only was I able to put myself in Laney's shoes, but finding it so relatable in word form was just the icing on the cake. She was funny. She lived for herself and no one's boundaries and had a good head on her shoulders.

--> I am putting this out into the universe, but any of the side characters in this book could have their own stories and I will be the first in line to sign up to read them. #LivingMyBestBloggerLife

Maybe I love Kate. Maybe I love her storytelling abilities. But her delivery works for me. This one just worked for me in every possible way. Theo and Laney have a story that you can comfortably share with any reader, no matter their preferences. This one, gosh, it made me smile. It really did. The reality, the comedy, the TRUTH to it all. It was perfection. I highly, highly recommend this one!!

"We shouldn't fit, but we do, and our fit is nothing short of spectacular."

~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 Depraved by Trilina Pucci

DEPRAVED
by TRILINA PUCCI

Savagery. Sin. Depravity—-these are my virtues.
My religion.

My name is Dante Sovrano, head of the Chicago Mob,
and I run this city.
Everyone bows down to me.

Except her.

The moment I saw Sarah, I knew she’d be trouble.
She’s fiery and cutthroat, wrapped up in a lickable package.

But there are dark secrets hiding behind those gorgeous blue eyes.

And I plan to know them all because she’ll have to make a deal with the devil to solve her problems.

Too bad the devil always takes your soul.
And I’ll be keeping it—
Because Sarah London is mine.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"You can only tempt me so much before I'll want it...and trust me, I'll get my way."

To be honest, I knew what I was getting myself into with this story. I mean, at least I thought I did. I fell hard for Luca and his mouth. The way he took care of Gretchen could make any woman pause and swoon, so he was holding rank as my favorite in the series. I know, I know...there were only two books out. But dammit! Trilina Pucci teased and tortured me with teasers for a while about Dante and I was becoming a little concerned about Luca holding that favorite spot. Like, do I admit defeat.....? <sigh> I melted over Dante and he will sit as my new, current favorite now. Maybe. Oopsy daisy. But, this also says that Pucci's storytelling is getting crisper and cleaner, and it's sucking me in and making me want more. I knew after reading Truth that I wanted to follow this series and the books have only gotten better and better with progression. I know we have a few more books to go, and as I get to know these guys a little more with each book, the more excited I become to dive deeper into their stories.

"See, following is easy. You just need the right man to lead."

But Dante. Oh, Dante, Dante, Dante. Talk about having difficulties in a relationship. Obstacles to overcome. I mean, blah blah blah - I can say it and we've all heard it before, but noooo, this is on a whole 'nother level. I can respect....that's such a crazy word, but I can respect the depth that Pucci put into these characters and it wasn't a surface level scratch when it came to underlying feelings. There was a growth, a symbiotic gain in knowledge and understanding that made me look beyond the words on the page. The feelings that I felt while seeing these two work through these battles, whether it be stubbornness (gotta love a stubborn man, equally as much as I love stubborn woman), or fear....and even extreme pain and emotional chaos. There was so much to dive deeper into with their backgrounds and their realities, and that added so much more to this storyline.

The dilemma Sarah was in was definitely a predicament for discussion. Girl was IN it. But her strength, and her unknown capacity for love was amazing to see blossom - but she was stronger than I anticipated her to be. But golly, that girl is a stubborn one. Won't lie - I loved it! She wasn't without reason, and I feel it was such a valid reaction anytime she whipped it out. I like when there is reality behind moments that are a cause for reflection, and this one made me feel deeper, made me sympathize even more.

"I can barely handle the emotions he's bathing me in. But we're dripping in it, soaked by our possession, cleaned by our need for one another."

Their chemistry was unmistakable!! So intense. The way a man carries himself is telling. The way Dante was written gave me a chill. His confidence was sexy AF - knuckle biting sexy. I was weak, completely powerless to Dante's magnetism and his strength in and out of the office.....in and out of the bedroom. He was all sorts of dangerously sexy wrapped up in a suit. With the back and forth these two had, Pucci skimmed this invisible line between dangerous, oh so well. I don't think I've ever read the literal definition of fire and ice...until now. With an Irish woman and an Italian man with "ties", what could possibly go wrong?

"A fighter until the end. Breaking her is going to be the highlight of my day."

Dante's world was darker, grittier and more evil in some ways than the first two. I really thought the actions and circumstances warranted it and it was written with great intention and buildup. I know I originally complained about the sex club aspect of this group of characters in my Truth review, yet it played seamlessly into this story as Sarah has worked in the club for a long while. This one fit more, to me. It was them. It was their world. But it was also their escape and the way they played had so much more meaning to it. I loved the vulnerability and the trust, but I also enjoyed their playfulness. It was such an odd mix with all the seriousness they possessed between the two of them, but it was also so fitting for their characters. Absolutely loved it.

My only issue with this one was that the time frame was very hard for me to follow. I kept trying to count the days in my head and work through that side of it - but I'm not sure it lined up for me. However, I will chalk that up to 'other' circumstances, maybe beyond my mental capacity at 2 am. Did it hamper my ability to enjoy it? No. Not even a little bit. It just made me stop and reflect on the days that passed while I read. Clearly this story kept me riveted to all the happenings and actions of these characters' lives and how this family goes hard and loves deep, without fail. Definitely gave me a deeper, perceived notion of love in a crime family like theirs as well and I found that fascinating. And I may have said "Oh dear" a few times.

This review would probably have been much better had it been a video one, but that'll never happen - but wide eyes and giggly smiles never translates well into word form for me, unfortunately. HAHA! I started this and didn't put it down. Truly the best one in the series so far, but Dante sure is putting up a fight for favorite brother. I fell hard for Luca, but Dante sure gave him a run for his money - I'm fairly certain I'm still debating it in my head. The use of Italian in this book was harder hitting than in Worship, but used in an entirely different context and I enjoyed that so much. It definitely didn't feel overused.

Pucci really has made this a true series of standalones, and I can say that truthfully. NOW, having said that....I loved getting to know Dante in Worship before reading this story because it gave me the buildup that set this whole story in motion. It kept me up way past my bedtime. It kept me engrossed throughout the day, and it was a nice escape into another realm of possibilities. And men. Possibilities and Men. HAHAHA!!

"I don't want to ever hear you ever say any other man's name other than mine. Not even God himself. I'll be the only one who owns your pleasure."
~BEE

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My review for Truth

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My review for Worship

~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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