Friday, April 24, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway for Ember by Emma Renshaw


EMBER
by EMMA RENSHAW

Ten years ago, I left Hawk Valley.

I never planned to return. Not to the regrets. The bitter memories. The guilt.

My baseball career gave me both the excuse and the money I needed to start over. Then my mom called, and I found myself headed back to the one place I swore I wouldn’t step foot again.


Meeting Delilah wasn’t part of the plan. Falling in love with her adorable son was even less so. And yet, what’s brewing between us is too intense to be denied. The unexpected passion is almost enough to distract us from the crumbling of both our worlds.

But even as the sparks fly, someone is waiting in the shadows to burn it all down.


REVIEW: 3.5 STARS
"One day a kiss would change everything."

Ever since reading the synopsis for Ember - I knew this had to go on my TBR. A synopsis from his POV is always enticing, but the actual story itself was very good in the dual POV she offered. For my first full read of Emma Renshaw's, I can confirm that I've been missing out on her easy flow and her lighthearted love stories. With an evident flair for writing a man with strength in his love and conviction in his belief, I need to check out her other stories. I did start the first book in her Vow Series, but I was mid-tours right after my surgeries from last year, so I didn't get to finish it. I will go back with renewed interest.

Like I said, the writing was nice and easy. Not a lot of depth, but super easy to get into and it allowed me to fall in love with the characters without issue. I easily connected with both Gunner and Delilah, as well as the secondary characters. It slowed down once it got into a groove, the characters grew, the love matured, and the family and friends were incorporated into the storyline - it was seriously the easiest read ever. The love grew quickly, but I actually kept pace with it rather well. I did have a few issues with the transition from scenes and time passage, but it ironed itself out the farther into the chapter we got.

Some of the scenes Renshaw delivered to set a moment were so intimate. The way he crowded her against the counter, breathed against her back and caged her in - *bites knuckle* - that was so sexy. So fun to imagine. I loved the picture she painted for me, because not only did she give me a side of Gunner that I wanted to see, but she also allowed me to feel the side of him that Delilah got to fall in love with and it made me just a little giddy. I do not know how anyone cannot fall head over heels in love with him. He was literal perfection!

It was just a splinter of excitement, but my love grew as Gunner allowed himself to joke around and tease Delilah. Seeing him break out and away from being so quiet and reserved gave him a more human side to him - not just this workaholic, straight-laced, forlorn and withdrawn man. I loved the way he was level headed and very protective of her and it wasn't crazy, over the top. Awww man, he really made me smile. He wasn't only easy on the eyes, but he was easy on the heart and I loved reading about him.

"I'm not sure we ever know the moment we fall in love. It's little things that add into big things that become all-consuming until it's impossible to deny it."

Seeing Gunner and Delilah coming together, it really just provided an abundance of smiles for me throughout the book. Delilah consumed him and it was very apparent. I'm thankful it wasn’t cheesy, even though it was quick. It was an instant connection, but she allowed them time to grow and she did that really well. The progression of their relationship, as well as the story arc overall, was a quick pace. It didn’t feel like instalove - but maybe....one step down from that. I love an instant connection though, so I felt Gunner and Delilah’s draw towards each other.

The only thing that pulled me out of the groove I was in was the OTT drama at the very end. I was flying high. This book was absolutely amazing. The love and the relationship, Tuck - all of it was amazing. Sadly, it was a crazy, completely out of left field twist that knocked it down a peg or two for me. I was so bummed. So very bummed. All the feel good vibes you could ask for in this sweet, small town, big love romance - and I almost felt defeated. I walked away for a minute because I didn't appreciate that craziness, but that epilogue was the ultimate icing on the cake and was the soothing balm I needed. All was right in the world again....

Emma Renshaw literally gave me the most amazing man in Gunner. Not only was he down to earth, quite humbled, a little troubled, and a momma's boy - but he was a good man with a solid heart of gold. All man. I mean, writing this review is making me smile when I think about him. So Renshaw nailed the perfection that is Gunner. Giving him Delilah's heart and soul was a gift beyond imagination. They were the perfect couple and they meshed so well. It really was the background strength to the whole story. I loved them and Tuck so SO much.

Make no mistake, I will be following this series and am excited to see where IGNITE takes me. She paved the way for all of these characters to have their own story, so I am really looking forward to checking out Ridge's story next.

"One kiss that was equal parts Earth shattering, panty melting, and life changing. But still, one kiss."
~BEE


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Read below if you'd like an excerpt from Ember



Releasing July 21st

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~EXCERPT~

Delilah rested her free hand on my chest and rubbed her thumb back and forth. I felt the coolness of her hands through my shirt, but even as cold as they were, it warmed my skin.

“Well, it depends if you ask Makenna or me. If you ask me, Makenna tricked me into drinking so much. It wasn’t my fault that the fire department had to be called because she was stuck in a tree, and it was definitely her fault that I made brownies and then tried to get them out without an oven mitt. That’s what the scar is from.”

A loud, surprised laugh rumbled in my chest. “Makenna was stuck in a tree?”

“Yes. I have a picture of Mak up there. It’s great. But again, it wasn’t my fault.”

She pointed at me and made her eyes really round, and my laugh continued to grow.

“Would she say that it was your fault?”

“You know what I want?” Delilah leaned forward, trying to distract me with the pretty and mischievous smile on her face.

“What?”

“To dance.”

I rose from the barstool with her hand still in mine and led her to the dance floor. An upbeat, fast-paced country song was playing. Mom had taught me how to dance at a young age. It was something I’d never told anyone about until I got older and knew it would impress the girls.

I took her to the edge of the dance floor, and we watched the couples two-step past us until I found a break in the floor and spun her out and then back in. She landed against my chest with a thud and wide, surprised eyes.

“You can dance,” she said as I swept us across the floor.

I held her a little tighter with every song change, and every laugh that bubbled from her lips brought my mouth closer to hers. She was pressed against my body so tightly, there wasn’t a chance even a piece of paper could be wedged between us. I never looked anywhere but at her eyes. Her hand around my neck coasted up and down my skin.

When the song slowed down, I moved us to the edge of the floor and swayed with her in my arms. Then I slowly lowered my head to meet hers. Her fingers tightened in my hair as our lips met. My hand fisted in the back of her shirt as I licked the seam of her lips asking for entry. She opened her mouth and our tongues clashed together.

It was loud with the music and other patrons, but I could hear her soft moan as if it were on blast in my ears. The kiss sped everything up at the same time as it slowed everything down. It was entirely too much, setting my need for her on fire, and not nearly enough, as I wanted so much more.

I’d mostly chalked up my mom’s romantic stories about my dad to her missing him, and I’d rolled my eyes when she told me one day a kiss would change everything.

Fuck. She was right. I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself, but some deep, dark part of me knew Delilah had changed everything.



~MEET EMMA RENSHAW~
Emma loves to write, just don't ask her to write about herself. If she isn't writing, you can find her lost in a book or trying to get her doggo to take a selfie with her. He usually refuses. At the end of the day, you can find Emma at the closest Mexican restaurant eating queso and sipping on a margarita. She lives in Texas with her husband and dog.

~CONNECT WITH EMMA~

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Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway for King of the South by Calia Read


KING OF THE SOUTH
by CALIA READ

The year is 1919, and the Great War has ended. As everyone picks up the pieces of their lives, I have only copious amounts of alcohol and women keeping me together.

Most of the men I went to war with didn’t make it home, including my best friend, Miles. I thought I knew everything about him until I discovered he made me the executor to his little sister Rainey’s dowry.

Rainey Pleasonton is anything but pleasant. Most men in Charleston found her wild and carefree ways to be terrifying, which explained why she was twenty-eight and still unmarried.

I have sixty days to help her find a husband before she loses her inheritance, her family’s legacy, and I lose the last of my sanity.

The only problem is, I’ve watched her go from a little girl who chased us around with a bow and arrow to the only woman in the South immune to my charm. And the men who were once scared of Rainey? They now find my le savauge beguiling, and I do not care for it one bit …


REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"A kiss is a kiss, but a touch can break you."

I'm pretty certain, it's at this point in my "Calia Read Reading Career" that I can put her on my list of must read authors. I need to read her and cannot wait for more words to come from her. She's a special someone - I cannot deny that. I enjoy her group, her books, and she's got a comedic side to her as well. I feel like I got pretty lucky when I decided to jump into my first book of hers, The Surviving Trace. That book set my love in motion and it has kept pace with each book since. So now I have moved onto my fourth book of hers and my love affair is only growing. There's an authenticity to her stories that is unrivaled in many of the stories I'm reading or have read. She definitely dominates a corner of my kindle and I will keep feeding this need for her words.

My goal with my reviews is to always share what a book did to me or for me or with me. I want to show you how it made me feel. The emotions I waded through, and why it did that. I feel that my review for this book won't properly deliver the amount of love I have for Livingston and Rainey. This book spoke to me. It gave me all the feelings and emotions, it brought me back to a time that I have already fallen in love with and it put me right back in my favorite fictional world. I can't say it enough HOW MUCH I loved everything about this story and this family.

"Perhaps, when you dislike someone long enough, the animosity can burn bright enough to start a fire."

I love that the barrier of proper versus desire is the weighted gate between these two lovers. Protocol and responsibility; it’s all so intriguing. What a window into the past with restrictions and requirements. This was a best friends' younger sister/enemies to lovers style trope set in the early 1900's, so it hit the historical romance genre as well - one I don't read often, but I do know that Calia Read delivers it with precision. The fact that she was able to showcase not only the proper side of things, she also shared the very reality of a love that was undeniable - this really was the perfect example of an undeniable pull confronting circumstance. A magnetism that could not be fought.

It blew my mind that she was able to bring me back to a place I loved in another book and the storyline didn't suffer, and if anything, it kept the love alive. It kept the 'dream' alive. I was honestly concerned about this series having the same magic as her Surviving Time series did, but she put my fears to rest. Her delivery of this storyline was unmitigated - completely undiluted perfection. Oh my gosh, I loved this one so much!! I love this family, this era....this dynasty. Absolutely love it!!

"Everything I do seems wrong. But you? You are the only thing that feels right."

Read's words are so descriptive. The way she gives me the sights, the smells, the life of a long ago forgotten world. I smelled the scents, heard the southern drawl, felt the mugginess of the southern summers. It's always amazing to read her stories and be transported to another time and place, and yet, I always feel at home within her stories. She will easily give me story after story to dream upon, and I will happily get lost in them, each and every time.

And let's discuss all that French. It's not just the language of love, but it's clearly Livingston's preferred way to sneak his emotions out. He definitely made me swoon. Livingston has a tongue, and he puts it to good use. Oh my gosh, because wooh-wee. I swooned so hard. I used the translate option on my kindle often, and I just melted every single time he would say something. There was something so intimate about his deepest thoughts and desires being whispered and put out into the universe with his sexy tongue. Grrr, baby. Seriously.....{{drool}} and swoon. I am eagerly awaiting Nat's story, and while I know she is writing that one currently, I am very (im)patiently waiting to see where she takes it. HIGHLY anticipated next book....in one of my new favorite series. 

"Je te veux plus que tout."
       



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


Our love is timeless.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I need to survive love.

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


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

Our love was timeless.

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

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

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

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


My Review: http://bit.ly/2zrWCq8



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

It reigns over kingdoms, and rules over time.

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

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

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

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



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

~CONNECT WITH CALIA~

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Monday, April 20, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway for Steal You Away by Victoria Ashley


STEAL YOU AWAY
by VICTORIA ASHLEY

She belongs to my brother…

I’ve stood back for years watching Dax repeatedly screw things up with Kennedy, as if he doesn’t think anyone could ever swoop in and steal her away.

Breakup after breakup, they always end up back together, even though I’ve always had a thing for her. I’m tired of waiting. He had his chance.

I want mine.

When Dixie’s Alibi — her Grandmother’s bar — needs a new cook for the food truck, I jump at the opportunity, despite the fact that Kennedy Ward hates me. At least, she pretends she does. We both know she secretly wants me and always has.

One way or another, I will get her to finally admit it, even if it involves losing my brother. I plan to
play dirty — real dirty — just like he did. This time I’m going to beat him at his own game. I wanted her first, and he knew that, but our age kept us apart. Not anymore.

Now, I’m grown and ready to take what should’ve been mine to begin with.


REVIEW: 3.5 STARS
"How can I push him away when all I want is to pull him toward me?"


I haven't read Victoria Ashley until NOW but I can honestly say that I am so glad I finally did. This was a whole new experience for me, not all good, but most definitely not all bad either. While the beginning started out a little rough for me, the final push to the end was actually my favorite part of the whole story and it made the entire book for me. I realize my review may sound critical but I ended up actually liking the book. I just hate that it took me a little too long to settle into it. I think there was a lot of give and take in this book. A lot of give on my end in the beginning because by the time I got to 49%, I was ready to walk away - it was going to be a DNF. I couldn't walk away, but I was ready to. Make no mistake on that difference - so that tells me something. That tells me a lot.

The basis for this book was absolute perfection for my little twisted heart. A woman belongs to another, yet she has feelings for the brother? I mean, c'mon!!! This was calling my name!!! I love the forbidden, the push and the pull, the feelings that are ones you just cannot fight. While this book did have some of those elements, if not all of them, there was more to it that made it harder to enjoy than it should have. I honestly think the major trip up I had was that it was reverse age-gap and those aren't always my favorite - but Colson made it work for me. He knew who held his heart. I'm glad because that confidence and arrogance played a huge part in this book.

Some of the things that I made note of:

There was a hysterical level of immaturity that I grappled with regarding both characters, which is a reason why I don't read this genre often. The internal monologue on both fronts was a little much and made her annoying and him slightly egotistical, both of them not being very relatable in the very beginning.

Kennedy being older definitely allowed for me to question some of her actions and common sense. I don’t understand how everyone else saw this attraction AND she clearly felt it, but also pretended not to know how much Colson liked her. So that drama felt completely unnecessary and it made her look like a ninny - I saw it as just another way to ramp up the drama for that scene. The dilemma of him being your boyfriend's younger brother alone ramped it up, but her pretending to not know, yet constantly fighting it, just gave me pause to roll my eyes a few times. Pretending not to know and not wanting to act on it are two totally different things, and this book had both. It felt unnecessary. I did enjoy the fact that she spent so much time in her head counting all the ways he was sexy and how much she hated him.... almost equally. It was comical to a certain degree.

"Who the hell has sex with their boyfriend while thinking about his brother?"

Add to it, Colson had a shit ton of confidence - there wasn't a real given reason for it, it just was. Confidence just oozed out of him in his thoughts, his actions, and in his determination because every girl wanted him and apparently every guy wanted to be him.  He came across as narcissistic a few times, not really as a man that knew his worth and his value but assumed it. It’s wasn't sexy all the time, which dragged out his internal praising. Be humble because you know, don’t be an ass because everyone tells you that you are. I will admit that his banter and his comebacks were definitely sexy at times because of his confidence, but there is a fine line on some of them. It was a little boring reading the same mental mantra page after page, because he made mention a thousand different ways, but alas, it was who he was. It did add to his determination, though - and that was admirable. I won't lie that confidence is equal parts sexy and hot - but it has to be in the right context. I'm not saying it wasn't that way in this book, but some tweaking would have helped.

The fighting between Dax and Colson (the brothers) was pretty tiring to read about, honestly. They fought over her as if she was a piece of property and clearly couldn't make her own decision - and they did it right in front of her. That left a sour taste in my mouth, and I didn't really appreciate her standing by while they did it. These two morons were fighting like she wasn't accountable for her own thoughts and wants. It was almost ridiculous. One of them had to be more mature than the other given the ages they were, yet that seemed to be a problem for both of them. It really was frustrating to see. And to top it all off, Dax was a major douche with a drinking problem. To be honest, I wasn't even sure why there was competition. It made zero sense.

Unfortunately, the fighting didn't stop at his brother, because Colson also felt the need to fight with anyone who said something he didn't like - which added another level of immaturity to deal with. There was a factor that it played into, however, and that actually showed his determination with regards to Kennedy. I loved when he was around her because that man was driven to pleasing her and making her smile. I honestly think that's where he was redeemed.

The buildup really lacked for me in the beginning. Instead of something being built up to or upon, it was all told almost in hindsight. I felt like the entire story was being told to me - again, almost in hindsight, not truthfully in forethought. Why does he want her. Oh! They used to do this. Why does he believe she is his. Oh! They once shared this. HINDSIGHT. Write forward, don’t make me chase facts. I feel like the entire time a statement was made, we chased the background to add to it. Set it up, build it up - don’t catch me up. I want a level of background that gives me purpose to their relationship so I can fight for it with them.

Ok....now that I am done bitching, let me tell you what I loved about this book. The LAST 30% was amazing for me. The story came together and the characters were meshing well. The love was in abundance and the drama between them was legit and working towards the story and not against it. I think my favorite thing was that Victoria Ashley did an amazing job showing Colson's desperation for Kennedy and his need wasn't anything he could walk away from. I love when a strong, confident man can actually upend his life because his world runs his heart. Oh and because it was HOT! Holy shite. Hot. Colson had a swaggar to him that outdid his confidence by a mile. He was always on top of his game and had plenty to smile about. This book was all kinds of hot. I can and will say that much.

This animosity between the brothers made Colson shine though, because if one person was going to treat her the way she deserved to be treated and take care of her, it was going to be him. I will admit that Colson grew on me faster than Kennedy did, but by the time this story was over, I was in love with the way he made her feel and the way he took care of her. He paid attention to who she was and what she liked. I just loved that he always put her first. Always. I can honestly say I loved that she was his priority. The way he sold it and the way he made her realize that he was there for her, that melted my heart. That endeared me to him. I watched him put her first and put her on the pedestal he felt she deserved. So admirable. Definitely made me {{sigh}} a few times.

In the end, Colson's overconfidence and strength in his belief that Kennedy was his one true love is what made me smile and keep pushing through this book. To top it all off, her smile blossomed and she had a true sense of happiness when she was with him. So even though some things were frustrating, I couldn’t stop reading. The flow worked and I found myself reading late into the night. I wanted to keep reading it and I wanted to see how it worked out. I wanted to see how they came together, so that says something, a lot even - but doesn’t negate the frustration, hence my rating.

While I may have struggled with some aspects of this book - the give and take, per se, I will most definitely read her again....without a doubt. She can obviously tell me a story, a hot one at that. I'm hoping the drama isn't prevalent in all the books but was due to their age and immaturity, but again - she can write and she can keep me entertained, which is obviously the ultimate goal in this whole experience.

"It was us before it was anyone else."
BEE





~MEET VICTORIA ASHLEY~
New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Walk of Shame Series.

Victoria Ashley grew up in Rockford, IL and has had a passion for reading for as long as she can remember. After finding a reading app where it allowed readers to upload their own stories, she gave it a shot and writing became her passion.

She lives for a good romance book with bad boys that are just highly misunderstood and is not afraid to be caught crying during a good read. When she's not reading or writing about bad boys, you can find her watching her favorite shows.

~CONNECT WITH VICTORIA~

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Friday, April 17, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway for The Fae King's Curse by Jamie Schlosser


THE FAE KING'S CURSE
by JAMIE SCHLOSSER

Kirian and I were just twelve years old when I pulled him from the icy waters of the creek behind my house. As he looked in my direction with unseeing lavender eyes, I quickly realized our age was just about the only thing we had in common. He spoke with an accent, he had pointy ears, and he was so beautiful it made my heart ache. Oh, and he claimed to be a fae prince cursed by witches who stole his sight.

I thought he was crazy from hypothermia. Turns out, he wasn’t, and for some reason he keeps coming back. But a day in my world is a year in his. Every time I see him, he’s older. Wiser. Hotter.

Over the past six years, I’ve tried not to fall in love with him because the terms of the curse are clear: If he doesn’t wait for his fated mate in all ways, including an innocent (or not-so-innocent) kiss, he’ll be blind forever.

So when Kirian kisses me and pulls me through the portal to his realm, I make it my mission to do some damage control. It’d be a whole lot easier if he wasn’t determined to marry me... And if someone wasn’t trying to murder me every step of the way.


REVIEW: 4 STARS
"She'll be my palace, my fortress, my home."

This one was a bit of a departure for me. Not only was Jamie Schlosser a new to me author, but it was also a completely different genre than I've ever tried. I was dipping my toes rather reluctantly, even though I've been wanting to try the fantasy genre (eventually), I was still a little leery. I'm so glad I finally gave in. I got a message from her to try it, so I wanted to check it out before I went all crazy on my page. Well, rest assured - she opened up a can of worms. But, by no means am I an expert on this trope, or what should be written, or how things are done, but I do know that this one book took me on a magical and fantastical ride and I smiled throughout the entire thing!

The attention to detail was pretty neat. The powers, the wings, the magic - it was neat to learn about a whole new world. I was definitely wide eyed because there was a lot to take in - and I like that it was forcing me to pay attention to all the little nuances and how things slid into other meanings. There was a certain nonchalance in her style of writing and there weren't any tricks up her sleeve. No crazy word usage - just straight forward storytelling. It was a VERY easy read. Very enjoyable.

As I said, I don’t know this trope or genre very well, but this book hit the ground running and we were in immediate action. I started with the prequel, and with that one, the cadence felt a little different - a little stilted. Maybe it was the author - maybe it was the trope, all I knew was it was different. The prequel was a little choppy for me, so I wasn't too sure how I was going to fare with the full length book, especially if this one already felt off for me. Well, I'm happy to report that by the time I got to the full book, I couldn’t stop reading. I was intrigued. Quite curious. Definitely wondering. Not only was Schlosser painting a vivid world, the story held my attention the entire time I was reading it. For me to feel like I was looking at everything for the first time, experiencing new experiences, with my mind tabulating all the newness of my "surroundings" - I loved that I was completely curious and reading with wonder while I was engrossed in this new world.

So while I felt that the prequel almost felt like some things were an afterthought of an ability and not truly a forethought, as in "we knew it before hand so it came in handy at that time," The Fae King's Curse was a whole different ballgame. Huge difference with the full length book, actually. By the time I fell into the fae world, I had adventure flying at me left and right (no pun intended), and wondered soon after how many more books I was going to be getting in this world! I seriously smiled throughout the entire book while reading this one. It was just...fun. It was fun and light, it was easy and entertaining.

But the fact that Schlosser got me so excited about a world I know nothing about, and fairies that I would normally raise an eyebrow at - that tells me something. It was obviously a departure from my normal heavy reads, and maybe this is a good thing, but I loved reading this story. I loved Kirian and how much he ‘felt’ when he was around Quinn. I loved the riddle that I got to solve, yet the curiosity didn't stop there. I loved the possibility of the magic, the wizardry and the love. It really was entertaining and I cannot wait to go back and visit this world again. And, needless to say, I will be keeping a fresh eye open for more books in this genre because it was amusing. It was entertaining. It was just....neat. I really enjoyed it. I can't wait for more!

"I often found myself reaching for her when we were together. Not for comfort. Just because I wanted to touch her."
~BEE







~MEET JAMIE SCHLOSSER~

Jamie Schlosser writes new adult romance, romantic comedy, and fantasy/paranormal romance. When she isn't creating perfect book boyfriends, she's a stay-at-home mom to her two wonderful kids. She believes reading is a great escape, otters are the best animal, and nothing is more satisfying than a happily-ever-after ending.

~CONNECT WITH JAIME~

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Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway for Southern Comfort by Natasha Madison


SOUTHERN COMFORT
by NATASHA MADISON

Buried secrets never stay hidden in the South.

Olivia

When you find out that your fiancé is arrested for swindling over ten million dollars from his clients, you do what any sane woman would do. You escape reality and go undercover, trading in your city-girl Louboutins for country-pumpkin cowboy boots.

It wasn’t a forever change—it was temporary. I only had to stay here until things back home got straightened out, or so I thought.

Casey

I was riding horses before I was walking, or at least that was what they told me. I always knew I would take over the family farm. It’s in my blood.

Country boy at heart, the minute I saw her dragging her luggage up the gravel driveway I knew she was out of my league.

I shouldn’t have started anything with her, because I knew she was just passing through.

I couldn’t stop it, I fell in love with her. Even though I knew, in the end, she would leave me.

REVIEW: 2.5 STARS
"You look perfect," I say, and when she looks over at me her whole face lights up. "You know, in all this time, no one has ever said that to me," she says, looking back in the mirror. "I was told I'm beautiful, and outstanding, exquisite, but I was never perfect."


I am going to make this short and sweet - get to the point and walk away. I was hoping that Southern Chance was a one off problem, so I jumped into Southern Comfort hoping that the issues I had with the first book would not carry over to the second book. It soon became very apparent that this wasn’t a one off issue I was having. She was still repeating things that had no need to be repeated from one chapter to the next. She still had shallow characters more concerned about fashion than circumstance. And I honestly couldn't handle Olivia in the way she treated Casey, in the first book so I unfortunately went in with a chip on my shoulder from the first book.....and yes, it carried over. Sadly.

I have enjoyed a few books by Madison to the point that she keeps me coming back for more. Her synopses always capture me and the covers are always beautiful. This one, I was hoping for the same pull that I have experienced before. The one that kept me coming back and sharing this with excitement. To be fair, I did DNF a book of hers right before starting this series, and the first one in this series was almost a DNF as well - so unfortunately, I don't think I went in with a clear conscience. I think the magic has worn off for me. I'm not saying she's not a good writer - because she clearly works for so many others and I'm not denying that. I'm merely saying she doesn't work for me anymore. Her brand of cheesy actions and responses, coupled with word repetition solely for word count, I need to call it quits. I'm sad because the next story was set up wonderfully throughout these last two books, but I don't think I can honestly read that book and not get frustrated.

Every once in a while, every few pages or so, she had these little gems sprinkled in some scenes between the chaos and the ridiculousness that filled the pages. I sought those gems out each and every time because I was hoping it was a passing phase and she was going to break out in her easy flow prose and allow me to fall into the story. There was more eye rolling adventures of the idiot kind than anything else, and it was getting more frustrating by the page.

I will say this much. She created a great confident character in Casey. He was protective and caring, but he didn't want to give in to this feeling he was feeling. What I didn't understand was the very thing that made him SO RICH was the ONE THING he couldn't stop. It seriously made no sense to me. At every corner. Olivia, however, was annoying. Elvis-lip annoying. No one ever loved her. No one ever did something so nice for her. No one ever made her feel so special. Everything is a new experience for her, but it came across as overplayed and overwritten, but most definitely underwhelming. She was portrayed as vapid and flat, not endearing and sweet. I'm still shaking my head at her (re)actions and personality. I get it, we get it, you had a terrible childhood and a horrible mother. I had zero sympathy for her - maybe it was the way it was written, or maybe it was her and how she conducted herself. I'm not sure, but it didn't read well.

So yes, as you can see, I didn't handle these last two books well. I’m so disheartened at how ridiculous this was. I generally like her flow, I like her word usage, even though sometimes the cheesy comes through extra hard. This one was ludicrous the amount of times I asked myself "what?" while reading, or rolled my eyes, or wanted to quit the book entirely. It was angering because I was promised angst - and all I got was cheesy unnecessary drama. There was exactly ZERO amounts of angst in this series. I honestly believe that added to my frustration because being promised that and it not being delivered really bothered me. I wasn't signing up for a cheesy, drama-laden sweet read. There is a HUGE difference between angst and stupid drama. This didn't have any angst.

Unfortunately, I now realize I am done with this series. Between this second book and the first one I read (one after the other), I knew I just needed to walk away and just count my losses as one massive thumbs down.  I am tired of looking forward to a promised angst and honest storytelling only to be confronted with unnecessary drama and eye-roll worthy moments. This was just the icing on the cake - ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Better than the first, but not anything I can continue on with, unfortunately.

But don't let my opinion stop you....

"You're beautiful." His voice goes even lower, and I look down. I've been told I'm beautiful my whole life from as far back as I can remember, but the way he said it - the softness to his words and the way he looked straight into my eyes - is something I've never had.
~BEE

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Here is my review for the first book, Southern Chance





~MEET NATASHA MADISON~
When her nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips.

It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her...

~CONNECT WITH NATASHA~

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Book Review and Giveaway for Southern Chance by Natasha Madison



Buried secrets never stay hidden in the South.

Kallie

I fell in love with him when I was seven. I scraped my knee, and he helped carry me inside.
Our love story was the talk of the town until a woman told everyone she was pregnant with his baby. The only rational solution was to high tail it out of town and never come back.

My best friend needed a place to hide, and you can’t get much more covert than my family farm, so I came back. For her. It was supposed to be temporary, and I wasn’t supposed to see him, but that’s what happens when you live in a small town where everyone knows each other.

Jacob

Being the sheriff in a small town was never my dream. My father died and my older brother took off, so I had to be the one to look after my mother. I stayed. I fulfilled my duties as a son and I protected my hometown.

My life wasn’t perfect, but I was content. Until I locked eyes with a ghost from my past, Kallie. I thought it was my imagination, it couldn’t be. I loved her most of my life, but now I hated her.

The town gossip mill was going into overdrive. I kept my head down and my mind off of the woman who shattered my heart when she ran away. She didn’t give me a chance to explain, it didn’t matter to her then. I didn’t matter.

A second chance is never promised, but now that mine is right under my nose, I’m not sure I can take it.


REVIEW: 2 STARS
"Do you love me?"
"My heart doesn't beat without you."

I....I....I just can't. Basically, Natasha’s books - after DNF'ing the last book I read, and then trying this one, I've come to one conclusion: I just don’t like them. They’re not for me. So here goes a rough review. This was originally a DNF, but I was able to talk myself into trying to finish so I could carry on with the series. I'm not so sure that worked out in my favor because now I want the third book but there is no way I'm going to read it now, because not only did this one not work for me, but the second one didn't either.  I *wish* the amount of eye rolls didn't outnumber the amount of sighable moments that I was hoping to get with this book. Gosh, it was completely frustrating to have a book/series that was promised to be full of angst and amazing moments to fall incredibly short. Common sense and logic lacked immensely, while style and fashion come into play during this entire book in the most ridiculous of moments. The characters were literally being dressed right in front of you throughout the entire book, and there was absolutely no reason to do that. And apparently, all these characters wear are white jeans or shorts, and off the shoulder shirts. On a farm. In Louboutins.

UGH!!! I am so frustrated because what was promised and what was delivered are two vastly different things. There was not ONE OUNCE of angst in this book. Not one. I was counting on that to get me through this series. Not only was the entire premise of the book a complete slap in the face to Kallie, but Jacob's allegiance was given to the WRONG PERSON. It was so angering to the point of yes, he claimed to love her, but clearly he didn't respect her enough to speak up and speak out. And Savannah - she needs to be smacked. I don't care about the circumstances behind her circumstances, you don't mess with your best friend and lie to your other best friend. So they are ALL stupid. Writing this review riled me up all over again - I apologize. But ridiculous decisions only add drama - and of course, how else will the story progress without ridiculous drama for drama's sake? I am not here for placed and staged drama. 

One big lie that preempts another big lie. The problem is, the value of that one lie supersedes the value of the other. It’s stupid and it pissed me off for 2/3 of the book! *breathing*

It’s apparent why she’s such a win for so many readers because she does have a great flow and she’s a super easy read. I've enjoyed her before and was hoping to add to it with this series. The reasons why I struggle are many, but this one was so very repetitive and it’s very structured and systematic. I like the variables of a mystery but I also like the guaranteed security in a romance. I won't lie about any of that, but when you are repeating the last two pages of one chapter and recapping it in another POV in the beginning of the next chapter, you are wasting my time and making the story suffer for the word stuffing that is happening. It was so so soooo very frustrating.

And the mom? All she does is cook. It's like she has no other worth other than to cook throughout two books. Don't get me wrong, I know the south is centered around food and comfort and family; I get it. I've lived there, I have seen it. She had food for every single reason - but she played no other valid part of this story, and that carried on into the second book as well. Add to it: Kallie and Olivia, all they ever talk about is not having carbs and sugar and they haven't had it is in so long. Blah blah blah. It was a very weird dynamic mixed into this storyline. It just felt so out of place to me.

Everything was as it appeared: surface-scratching level depth without any real laid background. Light and easy, delightfully cheesy. Predictable, too. None of which I like. Add to it, the ridiculous fashion parade that waltzed through this book (and into the next) just left me with a questionable opinion on the girls in general - as in, shallow. And repetitive. I know I mentioned that already....but you get my point now. 

Madison can write so well but she puts so much ridiculous and immature drivel in her books that is completely unnecessary!! I was yelling at my husband about it while I was reading. Why any man would do that to the love of his life is beyond me. Madison resorts to unnecessary drama to drive the story forward yet all it did was stall my love for it. Unfortunately, I now know I am done with this series. Between this book and the second one I read (one after the other), I knew I needed to walk away and just count my losses. I am bummed because they all had promise and that third book looks amazing, but I don't want to walk away from yet another book frazzled and disappointed.

"She was a girl when she left, but there is no mistaking that Kallie Barnes is all woman now."
~BEE


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~MEET NATASHA MADISON~
When her nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips.

It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her...

~CONNECT WITH NATASHA~

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Monday, April 13, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway for The Boy on the Bridge (Bully Anthology) by Sam Mariano


The day I met Hunter Maxwell he wasn’t the rich kid who lived in the giant house, he wasn’t the most popular guy in school, he certainly wasn’t the bully who had chased his own best friend out of town after a falling out—he was just a boy with a black eye and a dark secret.

My life would have been much easier if I had stayed out of it, but I couldn’t. I saw someone hurting and wanted to help. I saw someone possibly in danger and wanted to make sure he was safe.

There’s nothing safe about Hunter Maxwell, though. I thought there might be. I fell under his spell. Whatever the world saw when they looked at him, it wasn’t what he showed me.

The bond we formed was real. I know it was real. But with Hunter, when the tides turn, you’d better hope you’re safely on the shore and out of his reach.

I thought I was a strong enough swimmer to keep my head above water. I thought if it came down to it, I could resist his pull.

I didn’t know, but now I do.

Once Hunter sets his sights on you, there’s no such thing as out of his reach. Whether it’s today, tomorrow, or five years from now, he’s coming for me—and when he does, he won’t stop until he’s destroyed me.


REVIEW: 5 WOAH STARS
"I may not be an angel, but I'm definitely in heaven."

It's every once in a while I get this excited for a story, especially one that is a novella - in an anthology, no less. I realize I scream about books often, but when the internal feelings manifest into giddy outward excitement, that says A LOT to me. This book was E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. good that is Sam Mariano's writing. Her forte is bully. She can tug on your heartstrings on one page and kick your feet out from under you on the next. This type of emotional turmoil is what I live for in a book. Because NOT ONLY am I falling in love with a character, but I am falling in love with excuses and reasons I wouldn't normally entertain.

"I'm not saying I have a crush on Hunter, but I'm definitely preoccupied by him."

I. NEED. MORE. HUNTER AND RILEY. I realize this was only a prequel of sorts with a raging cliffhanger, but it's sitting pretty on my favorites list already. I can only imagine the full book will end up there as well, which I'm now anxiously awaiting. This book reset my ideas of amazing YA in the bully trope and I will forever chase this kind of high with Sam Mariano's books. This is twice now that she's given me this buzz that shows how much I love this book lane she dominates. SO so good.

I am so in love with the way Hunter decides how things are going to be. I know that sounds bad, but hear me out. He's honest, real, and quite obvious....but it all benefits his agenda in its own sly way. But I love how he is with Riley. I love that her angelic side doesn’t turn off his devilish side. It’s seriously the perfect mix!! Oh. My. Gosh. He makes me giggle and smile watching him manipulate any situation for his benefit. I also loved his young man, alpha side. It obviously starts up young with some, but this was completely age appropriate flirting and I honestly loved it. It’s relatable. It’s smile inducing. It’s giggle worthy. It’s perfection. I imagine it has to be hard to write cocky with confidence, but Mariano pulls that off exquisitely, almost effortlessly, with Hunter.

The relationship Riley has with her mother is refreshing and I feel like I want to point this out. It’s real and honest and I love the discussions and the truths they share with each other. The open communication is great to see/read about because not always do we get that dynamic in a book and it's usually a bad relationship with mother and daughter that spurs on the actions and consequences in a book, and I felt like I wanted to point that out because it’s most definitely lacking in many of the books I read.

This story is proof positive that love can't hurt you....unless it affects you. Unless it touches you deep within. You can't deny it when it delivers the gut punch you never saw coming. I am freaking excited for more of this story and I can tell you, I'll be the first one standing in line, jumping up and down for a chance to read this one early and share it with you all.

I want more!!!! THIS is the Sam Mariano I first met and fell in love with. This right here. The bully trope is unequivocally her wheelhouse. She shines in this trope and can obviously write a gripping story of a young love that simply doesn't appear to fit according to plan, and one that pushes some buttons. I feel like she’s going to take great pleasure in my death upon the finish of this story. She's currently writing the full story to be sold separately and plans to have it out sometime on or around May 2020.

"Everything about him feels dark right now."
~BEE

PURCHASE LINKS: 

AMAZON US       AMAZON UK       AMAZON CA

This is part of an anthology and I've only read this ONE book out of the whole thing, but this giveaway is for the FULL anthology.


FULL ANTHOLOGY INFO:

Loving your tormentor isn’t easy, especially when they collect broken hearts and parade them around like trophies. They’re the bad boys, the alpha a**holes, and the thorns in our sides. They push us past our limits, turn us on, and break us.

They’re our bullies.
They’re the class of 2020.

Eight bestselling authors are teaming up to bring you eight unique brand-new stories about the guys we love to hate.

This anthology benefits one of the largest anti-bullying organizations in the world, and all proceeds will go toward helping to support victims of bullying.

Note from the authors
Bully Me: Class of 2020 is a collection of novellas that includes a mix of standalones and prequels that will later be expanded upon.

Shantel Tessier
Callie Hart
CoraLee June
Siobhan Davis
Kaydence Snow
K Webster
C.M. Stunich
Sam Mariano


~MEET SAM MARIANO~

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

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

Sam Mariano is currently working on Dante’s book (if you’re a Morelli reader) and some other WIP. 
Feel free to find her on Facebook, Goodreads, or her blog—she loves hearing from readers!

~CONNECT WITH SAM~

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