Book Review and Giveaway for Love You Now by M Robinson

LOVE YOU NOW
by M ROBINSON

I should have told her everything.

How much I loved her.
How much I've always loved her.
But I didn't.
I couldn't.
I just wasn't made that way.

Instead... I claimed her.
Teased her.
Taunted her.
Worshipped her.
Until... I broke her.

My best friend.
My savior.
My girl.

From my mind to my heart, to every single bone in my body.
She owned me.
I was hers.

Every look.
Every kiss.
Every touch.
Every tear.

It was always her.

The only thing I feared more than losing her was forgetting her.
I hated how much I needed her.

She was mine.
Always and forever.

I hated her then.

But Harley Jameson was about to find out how much...

I LOVED her now.

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REVIEW: 4 STARS
"She was a fuckin' vision I was addicted to."

ALL THE SMILES!!! If ever there was a finale that had me concerned (but obviously produced a smile throughout), it was this one! Not concerned as in she won't be able to meet the rush the first one gave me, but more along the lines of how is this story going to play out when it can go so many different ways!!! So.Many.Ways. I knew there was going to be a twist coming that rocked my understanding of the foundation of this very story, and sure enough - Robinson nailed it.

A few things raised my eyebrows, a few made me say "yeah sure" with a questionable eye, and some of it was entirely predictable - BUT, I never put it down once I started it. I was immersed in Jackson and Harley's world and was completely caught up in their turmoil. I love that Jackson and Harley's age allowed the innocence and the ridiculous remarks to actually work in their favor, not only giving the young adult angsty side of it, but also providing just enough comedy to lighten the mood every few pages. But I think the most amazing thing to see was Jackson's determination, through thick and thin, to get his point across to her. He was headstrong and stubborn - not saying she wasn't, but also overly cocky and had the pride of a grown man - none of which truly concerned me because the cockier, the better, in general. As long as it's justifiable, and with Jackson it was.

"She was like an angel and a demon at the same time. She was sinful as much as she was heavenly in my arms."

The underlying message, the meaning behind everything, was so carefully placed in these books, I loved seeing it all come together. I loved discovering right along with Harley how much love Jackson had for her - how far he would go to show it in his own ways, and how every single action and word meant something. Of course, looking back as it all came to light was a great thing to see. Jackson's confidence worried me in some aspects because of how tenacious he was, and how many women would put up with that much drama? That much turmoil? That much pain just to get the love they knew they deserved? Well, it definitely took a strong woman and Harley was just the one to wrangle him in and keep him in check, with her knee or her mouth. It was definitely smile-inducing to the very end, and I'm so very thankful for that.

And I must admit, the cover model for these books was the perfect "picture" for me to see Jackson Pierce and how sexy he really was, because it kinda brought the story more to life for me. Sometimes picturing a character is the hardest thing for me to do, which I find really weird - especially if the author is painting a great picture with their words, but characters are always seen through my 'own eyes' because of my life experiences and such, so seeing her vision for him really put the icing on the cake. So fitting.

Robinson did such a great job making this a standalone duet from her spinoff of her Good Ol Boys series. I really can easily recommend this as a first read of hers for any newbies, all the way to a great way to jump back into the first world of hers to the regular readers. With this duet being the kids from her kids from her Good Ol Boys series (did you follow that?), there was enough of a separation between storylines and little to no knowledge necessary about Creed and Mia to understand their dynamic and how they played into this series. While there was some action from them, it was negligible in terms of required knowledge to continue the flow with this duet. However, I am going to say that she set up at least two more books from this duet alone for other characters, and I am anticipating some angst and drama coming from the next one and I am perversely excited about them. It's so wrong and so good on a whole different level!!!

—> This one actually had me sprouting tears....don't tell anyone.

"Gremlin, you had to hate me to love me."
~BEE

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HATED YOU THEN IS THE FIRST BOOK IN THIS DUET

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~MEET M ROBINSON~

Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author M. Robinson loves to read. She favors anything that has angst, romance, triangles, cheating, love, and of course sex! She has been reading since the Babysitters Club and R.L. Stein.

She was born in New Jersey but was raised in Tampa Fl. She was pursuing her Ph.D in psychology, with two years left. However, she dropped out of school and became a full-time writer.

She is married to an amazing man who she loves to pieces. They have two German Shepherd mixes, Kobe and trooper, a Wheaten Terrier, Teddy and a Tabby cat, Gio.

She feels blessed to be living her dream.

Join her VIP Group.

~CONNECT WITH MONICA~

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DNF Review for The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB
by LYSSA KAY ADAMS

The first rule of book club:
You don't talk about book club.
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.
Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

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REVIEW: Umm.....I can't. NOPE

Disclaimer: this is a jumbled mess of emotions and anger. This book didn’t work - as hard as I tried to make it work. This review is long and uncoordinated. ♥️

I've always been the type of person that has valued trust and honesty in a relationship (friendship/love/family/etc.). Always. I will never stray from that. I have also always believed that YOU are the one responsible for your own happiness and YOU alone. Having said that, I do not and cannot appreciate putting up a farce in order to "win over" someone if you cannot be true to yourself. What in the world am I talking about? Well, here comes a very unpopular opinion because this book struck a chord with me and it was not a good one.

First and foremost, let's get this out of the way: Lyssa Kay Adams can write. Her words had a good cadence and the flow was there. I actually enjoyed her 'voice' in that aspect because it didn't feel forced and it was a smooth read.

That's where my like ends.

I will never complain about someone's opinions or beliefs, because I will always have my own. But when you are complaining about an issue and then reversing and applying it to a storyline....well, that's when I have an issue, and therefore - an opinion. I wish I read her essay on "Addressing Toxic Masculinity" before I read this book. I would have known immediately that she was not the writer for me for this subject at hand.

Don't live a lie. Ever.

I am clearly not the intended audience for this book. I don't believe in allowing others to "offend" you, because that's giving them a power over you and your emotions that they did not earn. I do not believe in the strength of "toxic masculinity" and I am not a feminist. I know that is terrible to say and I won't apologize for how I feel just like I don't expect others to, but let me explain that little bit. If a man is too good for his britches and thinks his turd don't stink, well then he's an idiot. If he believes women should bow down to him, serve him, placate him for his ego necessities, that makes him a pig. I believe that men should open doors for women, but I also believe a woman is capable of doing it for herself AND for those behind her: it's called common courtesy. That's all. So I am of the firm belief that we are all equal and can do whateverthefuck we want to.

So while this book spouted off about men being embarrassed about drinking a PSL and how they had to "hide it" or that reading a romance book so they can "learn how to make a woman happy" - I just couldn't get on board with it once I got deeper into it. Because if you are embarrassed, you have no backbone. Stand up for yourself, and dare I say it: be a man. If you want a PSL, order it. Only YOU are allowing others to define you mentally, so that is crap. Why did we spend so much time discussing feminine vs masculine? I know, I know...it was the whole reason behind the book. But I didn't connect with the message. Maybe I took it too seriously. That's on me, I suppose.

Gavin's mouth dropped open. "You drink these too?"

Del dropped unceremoniously into a chair by the window. "I love them, but I'm too embarrassed to order them for myself."

Mack plopped down on the couch and kicked up his feet. "Don't be ashamed for liking them. The backlash against the PSL is a perfect example of how toxic masculinity permeates even the most mundane things in life. If masses of women like something, our society automatically begins to mock them. just like romance novels. If women like them, they must be a joke, right?"

So, anyway - I'm sure I've already turned off quite a few people because of my very opinionated opinions up there, but I don't like pigeon-holing people or ideas. I think it's ridiculous. I do. I really am an easy going, happy-go-lucky gal that enjoys my freedom, my strength, and my very masculine husband with a heart of gold that he has NO problem showing or "acting" out. Maybe I'm in my own little world, but this book actually pissed me off. By the time I got to about 20% - so early on!!, I knew that my patience was being tested and I couldn't sit around and read this with an honest, open mind anymore. It just rubbed me the wrong way, but I'll tone it down for my review.

The idea of the book somewhat intrigued me but didn't completely pull me in, so after a few of my blogger friends had read this and loved it, I decided to jump in. It’s a sweet book. It’s funny. It made me giggle in some parts and I definitely enjoyed reading it - until I didn't. I feel like all the bad thoughts overshadowed what could have been good about this book. I smiled mostly throughout and it was a nice departure from the heavier, more angsty reads I normally enjoy. The guys’ club felt like it was more akin to an AA/NA meeting (standing up and introducing yourself - explaining why you're there) because of how it all played out, but their seriousness about how important the club was and how this type of club saved their marriages really put a light and fun twist on the whole “alpha sports player” trying to stay happily married. This book showed these big burly men being super soft and so different than their outside appearances - soft and sweet, pumpkin spice latte loving, romance book reading softies. Is there anything wrong with that? Nope. Not ever going to say there is - and it was so different than what we usually see and read, so that was the main draw. While I can appreciate a man with a softer side (married him), he should still be who he is inside and outside of a private area (married him), yet also be a strong man with a heart and conviction (married him) and will stand up for what he believes in. It just didn’t gel that way in this story for me. It felt like they were hiding that softer, emotional side because they were embarrassed but only ‘played the part’ for their women. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

As for the characters. I loved the guys in the book club, and especially poor Gavin. He was in his own little world and didn't bother peeking out long enough to check on his wife, so he had a very hard lesson to learn and essentially correct, but I felt his honest pain for what had transpired and his desire to right all the "wrongs" he supposedly had. The guys had me laughing in some parts and they had me rolling my eyes in others - but overall, they had my attention and support for their cause. With Thea, I couldn't connect with her at all. I felt she was a very selfish and immature woman in some aspects, even though I’m sure there was more to her overall problems. I obviously saw her hold up because of her family and how she grew up, but with her strength and determination to "fix" what went wrong in her life - you'd think she'd have a better understanding of communication and hard work. She definitely needed counseling for a multitude of issues she harbored. I didn’t like the way she handled Gavin, nor did I like the way she blamed him for some of the issues while not looking deep within herself as well. I do feel that while Thea was justified in her fears, I feel that she was unjust in her actions - and I struggled with that immensely. Although Gavin was an idiot for his reaction to her first O - they both were immature in how it was all handled. But again, that’s a personal opinion and one I’m probably not qualified to give....but I did.

The reason given behind the separation was the hardest thing to accept and immature at best. That really bothered me. Yes, I’m married. Yes, I’m a mother. So yes, I feel like I had a somewhat emotional understanding of where Thea was coming from - but BUT for being 26, she really wasn’t being mature about it. There was the Perfect Storm leading up to this fight, though, and that I could see as it played out. Emotions were high, adrenaline was going - things were in disarray because of the excitement that surrounded the night. And then, when it all happened, I was left with a WTF moment.

This could have been funny. But I found it to be lacking, overall. The first rule of book club: you don’t talk about book club. That sounds like it would be FUNNY!!! Right? No. Before anyone says I missed the intended funny side of this sweet story, I assure you - I did not. I liked that side of it. For some reason, the 'message' was lost in translation of what I felt she was trying to relay and how I read it. Again, I wish I had read her essay "Addressing Toxic Masculinity" beforehand.

I more or less think this book is going to hit many people differently on the spectrum of loved it vs hated it for many reasons, one of which is the emotional side of a marriage being destroyed over something so fixable, all the while accepting the characters’ actions and their emotional fortitude. One I think lacked more than the other, but that’s *my* emotional two cents worth. It also has an underlining ideology worked into the whole ‘men reading romance books’ novelty that maintained a thought process that women and men can't/shan't do things equally and once again, assigning a gender allowance on it. Isn't that what the author is working against? No. Just no. Was this bad? Not entirely. I smiled a few times. Some of it was working for me - until it wasn’t. I was actually really enjoying this book until these rants about “toxic masculinity” started being thrown around, and then I realized I just couldn’t make it through this one with an honest smile on my face.

The storyline felt like it was contradicting on two very different levels. First, let's hide behind the fact that you like ‘feminine’ things (her words, not mine) - and then, now let's carry on perpetuating a lie by ‘learning how to flirt with a woman’ and acting some certain way to win her back. So, be manly and learn to flirt with your woman and be something you’re not - and don't forget to wink at her? Is that how this works? Huh. Gotcha. If you can’t be you, and they don’t love you for you, flirting with them and pretending to be someone you’re not will NOT work in the long run either, I can promise you that much. I know how I sound, but I'm having a hard time articulating how it read to me versus what I read. Can a man learn to flirt? Sure....of course. Do I love that side of it? Hell yeah, I do. I love a man that can flirt and wink at me and generally make me feel wanted and loved. But I guess the way it was being told and how it played out in the book was what turned me off. It just made me feel weird.

Maybe this book just missed the mark for me. Maybe I read it in a different voice than the author intended and that's why it sat awkward with me. I don't know, but what I do know is I rolled my eyes way too much while reading this one. I yell-discussed this way more than I should have with/at my poor husband. Who knew his eyes could get that big while listening to me react to a book that should not have caused this much of a reaction?

I knew I should have listened to my gut on this one. All this book really did was read to me as a woman writing about how she is empowering men to be softies, but it read like she was emasculating them and ‘putting them in their place’ and shoving feminist ideologies down my throat about how SHE perceives it should be. I felt like I was reading one woman's beliefs on how to best tackle this "masculinity problem" so rampant in our country - spilt as gospel, but read like an emotional rant. Here comes my opinion that will probably be said that I’m assisting the toxic masculinity BS. Be a man!! Step up. Be confident in your decisions - just don't be a douche! Just like anyone else, I can say screw you to the people that say I’m shallow because I read romance. I get to tell them to eff off - just like anyone else can. Just because I like it doesn’t mean you have to. There is nothing wrong with liking something, being male or female. Stop perpetuating that issue of gender responsibility requirements. Also, stop giving people power over your own emotions. You like it, own it!! Don’t be embarrassed and don’t give me some song and dance, woe-is-me BS about not being able to be true to who you are. That’s crap.

This book didn’t sit well with me. And it certainly didn't make my "pink parts stand at attention." (Again, her words, not mine.)

"Nothing on Earth is as strong as a woman who's good and fed up."
~BEE

~MEET LYSSA KAY ADAMS~

Lyssa Kay Adams is the pen name of an award-winning journalist who gave up the world of telling true stories to pen emotional romances. She’s also a diehard Detroit Tigers fan who will occasionally cheer for the Red Sox because her husband is from Boston.

Lyssa lives in Michigan with her family and an anxiety-ridden Maltese who steals food and buries it around the house and who will undoubtedly be a character in a future book.

Things Lyssa loves: Baseball pants, mashed potatoes, and that little clicking sound that scissors make on the cutting table at fabric stores.

Things she doesn’t love: Mean people, melting ice cream cones, and finding food in her underwear drawer.

~CONNECT WITH LYSSA KAY~

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Book Review and Giveaway for Tell Me Everything by Amy Hatvany

TELL ME EVERYTHING
by AMY HATVANY
An ARC review

A happily married couple. A dance with a stranger at a bar.

One night--one seemingly insignificant choice--can change everything.

Jessica and Jake Snyder love each other, and their life together. Successful in their chosen careers, they reside in the picturesque, though at times stifling, Seattle suburb of Queens Ridge as they parent teenagers Ella and Tucker.

As so often happens in marriage, their romantic life falls casualty to busy schedules and repetitive routine, until one night, a stranger asks Jessica to dance. On a whim, Jake urges her to say yes, saying that he wants to watch this other man touch her, something that surprises Jessica by arousing her like never before. A door opens for them then, into a realm of exploration neither of them knew existed.

They create rules to protect their marriage, and are thrilled when their relationship is strengthened and enriched by deeper levels of communication and trust brought about by this exciting, but taboo behavior. That is, until Jessica keeps a secret from Jake and embarks on a tryst with an intriguing man from her past, who, when she tries to end things between them, decides to seek revenge.

What happens after that will threaten to destroy their world--and them.

A juicy and insightful look into the shifting definition of modern marriage and the limits placed upon female sexuality, TELL ME EVERYTHING will make you question everything you thought you knew about what constitutes marital bliss, and keep you turning pages into the night.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"In that bedroom, I wasn't a mother or a wife. I was simply a woman. I was Jessica."

I love when a book is so different that it has me more turning the pages with wonder and curiosity than anything else. This one was riveting. I couldn't stop reading it and knew going in that it was already going to be one that tested not only my beliefs and understandings, but also my ability to see beyond the normal confines of others' directives on how a marriage should be lived. Let me tell you, I enjoyed stepping outside my comfort zone with this book. Very much so.

I have always maintained my love of a triangle storyline not only because of the forbidden aspect of someone stepping outside the relationship, but more of the exploration of one's emotional capacity, mentally and physically. That has always intrigued me. So many opinions about how you can't love more than one, or you can't fall for someone else if you're truly in love with your GF/BF/Spouse/etc. I love the discussions. I love to debate it, pros and cons. So when I had the opportunity to read this book after seeing it around FB, I knew that I was in for a ride. After reading, the title for this book was perfection in three words - it couldn't be more perfect.

I love that this book gave me another perspective on an otherwise closed subject. To be able to listen to opinions, thoughts, ideas and reasons - ones that give me a better idea about the subject at hand, with an open mind, definitely gave me a different insight. The discussion alone was animated, and this one gave me a lot to ponder. A lot to chat about with my husband conversationally and trust me, a lot of conversation was had about this book. I love that this book challenged my thought processes on a subject that has a black and white final answer for me, but definitely gave me plenty to think about and discuss. I loved the variables this storyline offered me, as well. The scenario gave a very thought provoking reality of how things can turn and what once was good could be toxic. I loved this dynamic. Again, so much to discuss. I am actually shocked at how much I enjoyed this one. Not that I doubted I would, but the truth of how much I did.

"My husband loved that I was a strong woman -  I knew that side of me was much of why seeing and hearing about me having sex with another man turned him on."

The complexities alone for navigating this type of relationship - I cannot even begin to acknowledge my own inhibitions and thoughts, let alone think it could/would be something that could be a "put myself in her shoes" sort of thing. This book made me perfectly uncomfortable, but bewitched me at the same time. I honestly couldn't stop reading!! It was like watching a train wreck because I couldn't look away - total definition of morbid curiosity, but I couldn't help but not read in wonder, watch it as it played out. I enjoyed the highs, but the lows were rough. The best part about this one was that it was all plausible. It was all real and I could 100% see this all happening as it did.

It would do me good to remember that this was a blend between women's fiction and romance, and that it doesn't necessarily fall under the romance umbrella as a whole. Not in a bad way, but the focus wasn't necessarily on the romantic adventure of this couple, but centered around their entire life they've built and how this actually affected their relationship as a whole. There was plenty of romance, don't get me wrong. The eventuality of change, and the possibility of it straining your relationship was imminent from the beginning. Having said that, the only thing that really bothered me was the constant switch from current life - learning to explore with her husband, and the past and her upbringing that made her the type of person she was today. Not really bad....it just felt cumbersome in some parts. However, by the time it was over, it gave me some insight into her past (necessary to understand who she was now), but the back and forth felt awkward in some stages. Overall, all in all - this was a well rounded story and definitely gave me plenty to think about as I read it.

It was fascinating to watch the lives of this married couple navigate uncertain waters, but also the way in which they worked through it. It wasn't scandalous, but it did provide a very real truth to this kind of scenario. Some of the discussions of the repercussions were missing in that conversation, I feel, but who am I to judge how someone comes to an understanding on things? Because I'm not. I couldn't put this book down. This book is not for the judgmental ones that can't accept different lifestyles. This isn't for the ones that don't understand the need to explore. This book reminds me of a wildly true book that I read a few years ago that got so much flack because of the painful honesty that it delivered. And that was my favorite part. The realness of it - the fabricated truth in not only the outward appearances, but the underlying reality to it behind closed doors.

Maybe I didn't mention this before, but I couldn't put this book down.

"He was different than being with Jake, intoxicating in a way I'd never felt before.
~BEE

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EXCERPT

The first thing you should know about me is that I love my husband. The second is that I occasionally have sex with other men.

Here I am, on a Saturday night, in the arms of a man we found together. He is smart, funny. He understands our need for discretion. He knows that he is only a visitor.

I kiss this man. I undress for him and let him touch my body. He teases me, as I do, him. We fall into bed, and I memorize the taste of his skin, how it feels when he pushes inside me. The number of times he makes me come. I etch every one of his movements into my memory, filing them away, like dreams. Knowing that what happens between us is everything. And, yet, at the same time, nothing at all.

When we finish, I leave, almost immediately, and go home to the man who cherishes me.

I find him waiting for me, always, knowing exactly where I’ve been. I hurry toward him, my flesh still scented by another mans’ caress, my body aching from the pleasure of what we’ve just done.

My eyes lock on my husband’s. Our desire for each other pulses like a heart that has just been brought back to life.

When I reach him--when I am finally, truly home--he pulls me to his chest, his lips pressed against my ear.

“Tell me everything,” he says. “Don’t leave anything out.”

~MEET AMY HATVANY~

Amy Hatvany was born in Seattle, WA in 1972, the youngest of three children. She graduated from Western Washington University in 1994 with a degree in Sociology only to discover most sociologists are unemployed. Soon followed a variety of jobs – some of which she loved, like decorating wedding cakes; others which she merely tolerated, like receptionist. In 1998, Amy finally decided to sell her car, quit her job, and take a chance on writing books.

The literary gods took kindly to her aspirations and THE KIND OF LOVE THAT SAVES YOU was published in 2000 by Bantam Doubleday. THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS was picked up by NAL in 2002. (Both titles published under "Yurk.")

Amy spends most of her time today with her second and final husband, Stephan. (Seriously, if this one doesn’t work out, she’s done.) She stays busy with her two children, Scarlett and Miles, and her “bonus child,” Anna. Their blended family also includes two four-legged hairy children, commonly known as Black Lab mutts, Kenda and Dolcé. When Amy’s not with friends or family, she is most likely reading, cooking or zoning out on certain reality television shows. Top Chef is a current favorite. She eagerly awaits auditions for the cast of “Top Author.” (“Quick Edit” instead of “Quick Fire” Challenge? C’mon, producers! That’s gripping television!)

~CONNECT WITH AMY~

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Book Review and giveaway for Confessions: Bailey by Ella Frank

CONFESSIONS: BAILEY
by ELLA FRANK

Black and white. Right and wrong.
That’s how Craig Bailey has always lived his life.
The son of a fallen, decorated police officer, he’s had no choice but to follow the rules.
Until he met the ultimate bad boy and decided to follow him instead.

Henri Boudreaux is everything Bailey never knew he wanted.
Mysterious, sexy, and hiding more secrets than friends.
He’s exactly the kind of man Bailey knows could break his heart.

But there’s a vulnerability to Henri that calls to Bailey.
A longing for a connection that Bailey is unable to resist.
And while Bailey has always lived his life on the straight and narrow, he is now beginning to understand that falling in love is never so black and white.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"I've never had anyone make me feel the way you do."

There is nothing better than finishing a book and being able to sit there and just smile. I mean, I smiled all the way through this book and I may have shuddered in pain for Henri and Bailey during it, but my overall feeling is absolute adoration. Hands down, completely intoxicating. The heartache was strong in this one and I was actually shocked at how hard it hit me. Bailey and Henri have to be some of my favorite men in this series, but then again - I have enjoyed them all. I have fallen for the way Frank writes her men. They are strong and confident, but there is a vulnerable side to them that is so sexy to read. That juxtaposition works well in her books and in her stories. And once again, falling head over ass into another love story she penned gave me yet another reason to marvel at her words and her smooth style of delivering a love so profound.

At this point, I think it goes without saying that these books are HOT. Capital H, Capital O, Capital T. I could totally and completely feel the desire that was very evident between Henri and Bailey, and the fact that it caught them both by surprise, showed them both that things can be different...my gosh, I just loved them so much. Their pull was unmistakable and that was a great theme throughout both books. Because, as with life, we know it gets in the way - right? Right. And so with having this pull they can't deny, nor can they explain away, it made for a great anchor for not only the highs, but also the lows.

"How was it possible to feel so connected to someone when you barely knew more than their name?"

There was such a masterfully laid background of their story, one with a lesson to be learned and understood. Jaded mental pictures of our own worth are the worst to combat, and knowing what our sweet Henri had gone through, he deserved all the man-love he could soak up. I say, who better than Bailey? These two were literally made for each other. This book, duet really, was actually the best layout necessary for the Gruff One and Saint Bailey to learn something new about themselves and the power of a love that was unquestionable in every way. This is proof that love doesn't have rules. It crosses boundaries we may have set up for ourselves, but it doesn't have rules.

The physical side of Frank's words were abundantly clear - they were tangible. Two grown men that can't take their eyes off each other; the kind that have meaningful sex - not just powerful sex. Mind boggling desire mixed with scorching, red-hot lust. They just felt each other, wholly and purposefully. An undeniable intensity that robbed each other of their senses....and I sigh hard when reading a love about giving in like that. I love feeling like I'm being swept up in this love that is just falling off the pages right along with the characters. I love that their love story can be wistful and heart-tugging in one moment, but bold and complicated in another. It ran the gamut of emotions, but it wasn't an emotionally tiring read. It just fit every pocket imaginable for me, and I really enjoyed their story so much.

After waiting patiently for this second book, I can safely say that Frank delivered a worthy story. I was completely caught up in their budding relationship as it grew, so waiting was a sweet form of torture, but she did not let me down. I am inexorably in love with Ella Frank's writing and cannot wait for more. Her voice is so charismatic. She possesses a strength with a heavy yet sensual side to it. I get all caught up in her stories and I always hate when they end....

"There was something to be said about being the one person another could be free with."
~BEE

PURCHASE BAILEY: AMAZON

PURCHASE HENRI: AMAZON

My review: http://bit.ly/2kqbTU5

Henri is book one of this interconnected duet. Bailey cannot be read as a standalone.

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If you are interested, here are the purchase links and my review links for the first four books in the series.

PURCHASE ROBBIE:  AMAZON

My review: http://bit.ly/2p5Oi9E

PURCHASE JULIEN:  AMAZON

My review: http://bit.ly/2HtJcuT

PURCHASE PRIEST:  AMAZON

My review: http://bit.ly/2wbv5HN

PURCHASE THE PRINCESS, THE PRICK AND THE PRIEST: AMAZON

My review: http://bit.ly/2zi6Byd

~MEET ELLA FRANK~

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

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

~CONNECT WITH ELLA~

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Book Review for Pan by Gina L. Maxwell

PAN
by GINA L MAXWELL

From NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Gina L. Maxwell, comes a brand new series with a fresh twist on an old classic.

Once upon a time, in Neverland, North Carolina—I fell in love.

I was twelve when Peter first climbed up to my balcony.
Thirteen when I sneaked out to see him at the School for Lost Boys.
Seventeen when his touch made me fly,
And eighteen when his words made me cry.

We were magnetic, drawn to each other from that very first night, and what I thought would be forever. But when it came time for me to leave, he wouldn’t come with, so I left town with a map for my future and a shattered heart.

Ten years later, I’ve returned to Neverland, hoping to find a man in place of the boy.

Peter was partially right, growing up is no fun. After quitting my fancy career that sucked the magic out of life, I’m now organizing the fundraiser of the year. In a move that could make or break the event and my new company, I’ve hired Peter, master mechanic and owner of LB Automotive, to help me pull this off—trusting him to rebuild a classic car for the auction that could help hundreds of foster kids in need.

I thought I was prepared, but the boy who refused to leave is now a man hell-bent on getting me to stay, and as sparks fly between us, that undeniable fire flares back to life, deeper and hotter than ever.

But that ripped body doesn’t mean Peter’s matured enough to make us or this event work, and not everyone in Neverland is happy about my return.

Not every wound heals.
Not every heart can be fixed.
Not every boy grows up.

And after all this time, the love we found might be lost to us again…this time, forever.

*Pan is an adult contemporary romance retelling of Peter Pan, complete with Wendy, Hook, Tink, and all the Lost Boys as sexy mechanics. There are no fantasy elements in this world, other than the "magic" that happens between the sheets.

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REVIEW: 3.5 STARS
"But for the record, whether or not I'm looking at you, I'm always paying attention to you, Wendy."

I have made it no secret that I have enjoyed the fairytale side of the naughty in a few books, and being able to add Peter Pan, Tink, Wendy, Hook, etc to that lineup was nothing short of exciting for me. I mean, how do you capture that innocence and wonderment that Peter Pan had? The not-a-mean-bone-in-his-body kind of child, but in a mature, grown man? I can't imagine that would be easy, but I feel like Gina L. Maxwell gave him and Wendy a great story and the beginning of a standalone series of interconnected books - of which, I will be following closely. I really, really enjoyed this one.

I could definitely enjoy and appreciate the way Maxwell gave Pan his own voice, but followed the innocence of the original Peter Pan we knew and loved while growing up. The 'moral, clean side' of the fairytale shines through in this retelling but he just happens to be a little naughtier now. The wonderment of life, from the POV of a child suspended in a fairytale yet set in modern times, is what I loved most about this one. I think she captured that innocence so very well.

"Instead of being thankful that I've somehow landed an incredible woman I don't deserve, I need to do everything I can to become the man she does deserve."

This was the easiest book to read! Visually appealing, mentally stimulating...and memory jogging. I obviously remember Peter Pan from growing up, but I feel like Maxwell gave me back a little bit of my childhood (not the naughty side!!) with the way Pan acted and how he spoke. He felt like, to me, that he was still living in a fairytale world but had grown into a possessive man in a gentlemanly way. I wish I could put into words exactly what I'm trying to say, but I feel like I'm talking in circles. It's almost like she physically took Pan out of Neverland, but he never really left that world mentally. Does that make sense? Let me try again.... the edge and grit Maxwell gave The Lost Boys wasn't anything we would have seen in the original movie growing up, but the play on their circumstances and their backstories is what kept me turning the pages, but also has me jonesing for the next book in the series.

I will admit that I hope that the voice in this story was lighter and easier going because of Pan's personality and who he is, whereas Hook will hopefully read deeper and with more heaviness added in because of his situation. His backstory was hinted at in this one, so I know that when I dive into Hook, I am probably going to struggle emotionally with the impact of his youth and his personal struggle. I cannot honestly wait to read that one.

One thing I did ask, because I feel like I'm completely vested in these characters individually and as part of a whole, is if there will be other stories. She told me that she has ten books planned in the series with Tink following Hook, and then she stated that she's operating on a "No Lost Boy Left Behind mission" so they each will get their HEA, because based on how she set this up, they all have a story to tell. She gave a brief idea of what her Lost Boys of Neverland books will consist of - in no certain order:

Thomas
Silas
The Twins + Tiger Lily (MFM)
Nick
Carlos
Chief
Smee + Starkey + female (MMF).

I'm suuure you can see that I'm definitely here for the next few books because MFM and MMF are two of my favorite tropes and I cannot wait to see how she spins their stories...but I'm also here because for my first read of Gina's, I am definitely hankering for more.

"I rarely lose, Wen, but I never lose when it matters. And you will always matter."
~BEE

PURCHASE 

AMAZON     B&N     APPLE BOOKS     KOBO

HOOK IS LIVE!!

AMAZON      B&N     APPLE BOOKS     KOBO
Links to be updated as they all go live

~MEET GINA L MAXWELL~

Gina L. Maxwell is a full-time writer, wife, and mother living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. An avid romance novel addict, she began writing as an alternate way of enjoying the romance stories she loves to read. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, hit both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists in less than four weeks, and she’s been living her newfound dream ever since.

When she’s not reading or writing steamy romance novels, she spends her time losing at Scrabble (and every other game) to her high school sweetheart, doing her best to hang out with their teenagers before they fly the coop, and dreaming about her move to sunny Florida once they do.

~CONNECT WITH GINA~

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