Friday, October 29, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway for JUST LIKE HEAVEN by Trilina Pucci


JUST LIKE HEAVEN

𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥—𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲.

If only I could’ve convinced my heart.

We were gorgeously young and desperate for one another.

His lips whispered promises of all the stars in the sky. While I dreamt of a love that would last forever.

But we’re star-crossed.
Fate had decided our course.
Leaving us to cling to each other as we crumbled to ash.

His need became possession.
My innocence turned jaded.
Our families declared war.
All that remained was hate.

But Calder was raised by wolves. The rules didn’t apply. I was his until he said otherwise—for better or for worse.

Our love story’s bathed in crimson and drenched in bullets.
Because sometimes, Romeo comes with tattoos, guns, and a taste for blood.


REVIEW: HEAVEN SENT....5 Stars....WOW. Thank you?
"She tastes like regret, but I'm happy to suffer through it because I've never felt a bigger high."

This book defines the very understanding of forbidden…. In the heart. In love. In morals. Everything. And oh so worthy of your time, should you set out to read it. 

So - to be frank, do you remember being young and feeling that first butterfly? That first kiss? What about those first goosebumps when "He" touches your hand with that look in his eyes? Yeah? Well, Trilina Pucci captured all that in words and threw them into this book in the form of feelings. I cannot begin to spell out all the ways that she tripped my heart UP.

And
Then
She
Ripped
My
Heart
OUT

But I digress. 

I always question the storyline of a hard-ass falling in love and how it's going to be told to show they actually have a beating heart but are not some wimpy man. I want that cold-hearted man that will still do anything for his woman without a care for the consequences, but that soft spot is an unrealized weakness that he works with. However, because I love this trope, I’m a glutton for punishment - so when an author can humanize anger and love so perfectly in one character through their word choice, that’s a moment of pause for me. Calder is that. He is every single bit of THAT. He has a soft spot for Sutton, but he doesn't turn against his way of life - he uses it to benefit them both. He knows he is the bad to her good and I love that it drives him. I ate him up. I soaked him in. I reveled in his persona and I didn't want to walk away. He is the epitome of the book boyfriend. You know that need - the one that makes you scream inside and get physically tense? That’s what Calder made me feel like he made Sutton feel. Make sense??

I sometimes find it difficult to be in a teenage girl's head. It's arguably monotonous at times, or I want to shake them, or I want to scream at the misplaced drama that has been added for story building purposes - especially when it's always at the expense of the young, immature heroine and she's made to look like an idiot. (Can we get away from that? Kthxbye #SorryNotSorry) But being in Suttons head, listening to her talk about her surroundings and what was going on was not annoying — for a change. She was a real teenager....bad decisions and all, yet they were all fitting for that age of thinking. I actually enjoyed her character, the way she handled things, and the way she carried herself. She was a very strong character, and one that I easily enjoyed.  I love to see a strong, well-written young heroine that has the truth of "teenaged wisdom" pushing her, but the innocence of a young girl that just wants to explore and fall in love. I loved her character. Very worthy of conversations. 

I love that something so inconsequential to someone on a normal day is so moving/intense/eye-opening in someone else’s eyes. I feel like the temper was set, the emotion was poured, the world was mastered - Miss Pucci gave me so many scenarios to wander through and experience through Sutton and Calder's eyes that I felt alive in this world she were sharing with me. I absolutely LOVED it. I will be thinking about them for a long time to come...

Miss Pucci set the scenes effortlessly. She is fluid in her descriptions and the pacing is perfect as the story unfolds, to the point I was completely caught up and loving each moment as I took this journey with Sutton and Calder. I loved the way she stamped my mental visual with cues about the surroundings and happenings. It was such an easy book to “see” and feel. She’s really the why not in YA for me. I’m usually not a typical YA reader or the targeted audience, but there are a few authors I’ll read time and time again, and Miss Pucci is at the top of that list for me.

Calder and Sutton have solidified themselves as one of my favorite couples for the year. This book also showed me more of the growth and strength in Pucci's writing. I have been reading her consistently for a few years now, so seeing the progression of her delivery is such a win for me. A HUGE win for me and I feel like I'm benefitting from all of it!

"I stupidly thought we'd never see each other again, but here he is - the walking definition of sin."

My breakdown:
She gives me those butterflies.
She makes my heart race.
She shows me what a first crush feels like.
Her stories are an experience each time and I LOVE them.

Aaaand the first chapter in Calder’s POV will probably be my all time favorite…. So totally sigh- worthy. I'll leave that there so when you finally get to experience that little gem of perfection, I want all your smiles in a message - P L E A S E. It was so delicious.

This YA novel made me remember the butterflies of a first love and the pull of forbidden, with the unmistakable desire that you can’t brush off. It was chock full of all those angsty, good, young-love feelings with the perfect storm of obstacles to stop them, while making Sutton and Calder fight for the love they were chasing. Because why in the hell else would I want to keep my heart intact....why?? Because I think Miss Pucci might be so kind to put it back together? Let's certainly hope so!! With Sinning Like Hell coming in November, my anxiety will stay ratcheted up contemplating all the possibilities of Sutton and Calder's love story. Miss Pucci is killing me slowly. There’s only so long I can hold my breath from page to page, but I’m getting good at it….

"You're my purpose. My only reason for breathing."
BEE
 





We’ll never run away.

There won’t be stars or a blue sky filled with heaven staring down on us.

All we have is death and destruction.

A life sentence, forced to survive within the absence of our love.
Until five years later.

“Death isn’t waiting for Calder—it’s listening for his instruction.”



~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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Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway for THE NAKED FISHERMAN and THE LOST FISHERMAN by Jewel E Ann


THE NAKED FISHERMAN

It's official.

I'm eighteen and a young woman with endless possibilities on my way to reunite with my mom in Colorado after five years apart—she had a little weed incident in Nebraska.

At the airport, she springs the news on me ... she's leaving for a month of job training. And me? I'm left on my own in the basement she's renting from the fisherman, aka her landlord who lives upstairs.

He's ten years older than me. Never wears a shirt. And makes it hard to remember all the things I learned at Christian Academy.

Did I mention he’s also my new boss?



It’s been five years since I’ve seen him. An unexpected event takes me back to the place where it all began.

But I’m no longer the naive young woman he once knew. And he’s no longer the man who took nearly everything from me.

Can this be our time? Or is it too late? Did I find myself only to lose him?

While this is a review for BOTH books, if you have already read book one, I will gift that first book to someone else to give them the pleasure of reading this duet, while sending you the second book. Thanks for sharing!!

REVIEW: 5 STARS
"You deserve to have your breath taken away...every day."

ONCE again, FATE has been defined by one of JEA's books. If there is one thing I know she can do, it's provide an epic push and pull in a relationship wrought with emotion that can and most likely will make me climb the walls. She is an adventurous and risk taking storyteller and the type I constantly seek out. This duet is the perfect example why no one should ever question Jewel’s ability to tell a story. Whether it be an easy story to tell, or a hard story to read, she always makes sure she gives relatability, understanding, and life lessons mixed with comedy and heat. It's always an amazing story to read. I never regret picking up one of her books. 

I'll be honest and tell you, I normally stop after each book in a duet to write my review so I can gift each one away separately. Not with this one!! I had to keep going. I needed more of their story and JEA didn't disappoint. I even tried to lie to myself and said....maybe just a few scenes? Pages? Chapters? Who was I kidding. I finished this duet in two days and that's very unlike me. I like to savor the book and read slowly, but I couldn't put this one down. This one offered worlds colliding and emotions imploding. It was an emotional journey, to say the least. 

Here’s what I saw while reading this epic journey - there's a lot of Jewel in here. She infuses her characters with so much personality - and not the typical "quirky" you get tired of hearing about. I love the fact that there’s a little bit of her in every character because there is a humble side to the quirky side that compliments the comedic side. It's definitely something I enjoy seeing in her stories because those quirky, quick-witted characters are some of my favorite ones to read.

But, aside from the characteristics of her characters, there's more to her stories with each read. They are never cookie cutter, and certainly never the same from one book to the next. The intrigue always invites me in, but it's the love story that holds me there. My favorite is angst. Whether it's "young love" angst, "immature love fighting to prevail" angst, or the inevitable crossroads her characters come to - it's always the angst. So when this one started to make me feel the telltale signs of it, I knew I was in for a bumpy ride. The nervous pangs are what brings her stories to life for me, and this one was no exception. If I’m feeling it, that means something to me. I felt this one. I physically felt this one and loved every minute of it. 

"You won't regret the bad decisions you make now. You'll only regret the missed opportunities to make mistakes and live."

I think at some point, I have to stop questioning Jewel. Not because I don’t trust her, but because I let my own thought process mess with the "idea" about the titles for this duet. Of course, now that I’ve read it, it’s a mental reminder to let go, open up, and trust Jewel - WWJD. You know, What Would Jewel Do. The title completely confused me when I first saw it...and then I saw the cover, which added another layer of confusion. I mean, whodathunkit? Not me, but obviously it made sense in the best way possible after I settled into the story. Once again, JEA amazes me - seriously amazes me. The meaning behind these titles is so fitting and so emotionally impactful. I feel like a better person after reading this just because she unlocked a part of me and reminded me why I believe in fate. Jewel is one of my favorite authors to make me feel, a visceral feeling, while reading a book. She’s always giving me relatability, she’s always giving me honesty, and she’s always giving me a love worth fighting for.

The only ridiculous part was a hilarious part. Moms, teach your daughters to pop a squat. I couldn't get over that without rolling my eyes. HAHAHA!!! 

ANYWAY. To be able to experience this slowly and organically, completely unrushed — allowed me to fall in love and soak in and process the emotion I was feeling. This is definitely a contender - setting the bar impossibly high for favorite duet of the year.

There’s a point to being caught up in the moment, and then there’s a point of realization dawning on you at just the right moment. A moment in time can change the trajectory of your life - good or bad. The fact that JEA's not a status-quo, follow-the-prompts type of writer is what keeps me engaged and coming back for more every. single. time. She doesn't tell the easy stories and she certainly doesn't make the journey easy for the reader either - but I will always be here for it, time and time again. Thanks for a very entertaining story!! 

Pssst: I do know I'm hoping for a certain side character's story. I think Arnie wants to whisper in my ear.

"Because what we have is effortless. It just...happens."
~BEE

Kindle Unlimited

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~MEET JEWEL E ANN~
Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

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

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

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

~CONNECT WITH JEWEL~

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