Captivated by You by Sylvia Day Review

Gideon calls me his angel, but he’s the miracle in my life. My gorgeous, wounded warrior, so determined to slay my demons while refusing to face his own.

The vows we'd exchanged should have bound us tighter than blood and flesh. Instead they opened old wounds, exposed pain and insecurities, and lured bitter enemies out of the shadows. I felt him slipping from my grasp, my greatest fears becoming my reality, my love tested in ways I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to bear.

At the brightest time in our lives, the darkness of his past encroached and threatened everything we’d worked so hard for. We faced a terrible choice: the familiar safety of the lives we’d had before each other or the fight for a future that suddenly seemed an impossible and hopeless dream…

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1vOJLsd

 

My Thoughts:

2/5 Stars

 

Okay, so let's talk about the book that had us waiting for over a year....
Was it worth the wait? I honestly do not think so.
    Yeah, Gideon Cross is delicious and the more I read, the more I became obsessed, but one character does not make a book good.
     The story continues where book 3 left off. Eva and Gideon are working at a hidden marriage. There are more secrets... more lies... and definitely more drama. Their romance is hot, but their mental state is a bit crazy. They both have issues and while trying to deal with them, they are also dealing with each others.
      Eva is still confused about Brett? I don't get it, but let's move along. Gideon is struggling with his past demons and what happened when he was a young boy. He refuses to discuss it and the more he holds it in, the more dangerous he becomes. Together they are a whirlwind of emotions. On again and off again. They love each other one minute and despise each other the next... Sex is their answer to everything. Gideon demands it and Eva gives in.
      That is where the book lost me... Eva lost herself somewhere along the way. She went from  standing her ground and being strong willed to letting others control her actions. She seemed so weak in this book. I saw hints of the old Eva, but the oblivious Eva consumed the story. One minute she was hurt and angered, the next she was letting Gideon control her body. Let's be real.... Sex doesn't fix things and that is what made this book a filler. Each time they had sex the answers were pushed farther away.
We got more back story, yes, but as for a clear conclusion... we are yet again left to wait for another book.
     The only thing that made this book a fast paced read was the fact that Gideon Cross was in it. His dreams intrigued me and each time we were in his head my mind was boggled. If it was a story from only his side I think I may have enjoyed it more, but because there are so many people's stories involved I had a hard time connecting.
      If you asked what I thought halfway through... I'd tell you I loved it and couldn't put it down. By the end though I was just so mad that we didn't get answers, that it ruined the book for me. I want some kind of closure...
      Will I be reading the next? No, I won't... I think I'll pretend Eva and Gideon broke up and both moved forward. The story is finished for me... No more reading books that go no where.
      I wanted to love this one. I really did...
I'm sad that because of this book the series flat lined.



Are you in a book rut?? These are sure to pull you out....

Are you looking for a book to pull you out of your book rut???
Here are some that captured my heart....

 

Falling for You by Lisa Schroeder- A read for fans of If I Stay by Gayle Forman...

It was romantic, emotional, & suspenseful.

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/11e0yqL

 

Rae's always dreamed of dating a guy like Nathan. He’s nothing like her abusive stepfather—in other words, he’s sweet. But the closer they get, the more Nathan wants of her time, of her love, of her...and the less she wants to give.

As Rae’s affection for Nathan turns to fear, she leans on her friend Leo for support. With Leo, she feels lighter, happier. And possessive Nathan becomes jealous.

Then a tragedy lands Rae in the ICU. Now, hovering between life and death, Rae must find the light amid the darkness…and the strength to fight for life and the love she deserves.

 

After the Rain by Renee Carlino- A gut wrenching romance about second chances and finding hope in the darkness. A Western Must Read!

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/11e0w21

 

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth.

Under the bright arena lights of a rodeo show, young Avelina Belo falls for a handsome cowboy with a larger-than-life personality. After a whirlwind courtship, she happily moves away from her family in northern California and settles into married life with her cowboy on a seven-thousand-acre cattle ranch in Montana. One freak accident later, Avelina’s hopes for the future come to an end.

Nate Myers graduated from UCLA medical school at the top of his class, ready to follow in the footsteps of his father, a superstar cardiothoracic surgeon. Six years later, Nate’s career is being ruined by a malpractice suit. Questioning himself for the first time, he retreats to a Montana cattle ranch to visit his uncle and gain perspective. There, he meets a beautiful young woman named Avelina who teaches him more than he ever knew about matters of the heart.

 

Envisioning Hope by Tracy Lee- An emotional journey of the mourning process.

What happens when you let your guard down to love again?

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1zwEDXH

 

Eyes can only see so far…

Hope Saxton had it all. Her own business with her best friend, Libby, her wonderful husband, Charlie was everything she could’ve dreamed of and her sweet baby son, Sawyer was the light of her life. There was nothing more that she could’ve asked for.
Until one night her world was tragically turned upside down, in the blink of an eye, everything was taken away from her along with something else; her sight. Not having anything to live for, Hope has turned her back on her family and friends and given up on life.
Hopeless.
Therapist Oliver Sheldon has been ordered to help rehabilitate a blind Hope so that she is able to reconnect with the real world. This is going to be a challenge as Hope Saxton has no desire to do anything but wither away and die. Not willing to give in, she fights him tooth and nail to not give up living in the memories of her former life.
Oliver becomes determined to heal Hope with everything that is within him and along the way, he finds not only does he care about this woman’s future but that he wants to become a part of it.
Can Hope open her eyes to something more than darkness and envision the hope she has been desperately wanting to reconnect with or will she be destined to wither away unhappy and hopeless?

 

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer Armentrout- A paranormal  YA read with lots of twists and turns, a sexy gargoyle, and demon who isn't too bad either....

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/11e0oj3

 

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

 

Unteachable by Leah Raeder- A Student/Teacher romance that will consume your heart and steal your breath at times...

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1xQ9WgI

 

Maise O’Malley just turned eighteen, but she’s felt like a grown-up her entire life. The summer before senior year, she has plans: get into a great film school, convince her mom to go into rehab, and absolutely do not, under any circumstances, screw up her own future.

But life has a way of throwing her plans into free-fall.

When Maise meets Evan at a carnival one night, their chemistry is immediate, intense, and short-lived. Which is exactly how she likes it: no strings. But afterward, she can’t get Evan out of her head. He’s taught her that a hookup can be something more. It can be an unexpected connection with someone who truly understands her. Someone who sees beyond her bravado to the scared but strong girl inside.

That someone turns out to be her new film class teacher, Mr. Evan Wilke.

Maise and Evan resolve to keep their hands off each other, but the attraction is too much to bear. Together, they’re real and genuine; apart, they’re just actors playing their parts for everyone else. And their masks are slipping. People start to notice. Rumors fly. When the truth comes to light in a shocking way, they may learn they were just playing parts for each other, too.

Smart, sexy, and provocative, Unteachable is about what happens when a love story goes off-script.  

 

You Against Me by Jenny Downham- A story about falling for the enemy. A forbidden romance with tons of consequences...

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1zwEjYI

 

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge.
If your brother's accused of a crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him.
When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the offense, her world begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.

This is an unflinching novel from the bestselling author of Before I Die. It's about loyalty and the choices that come with it. Above all, it's a book about love. 

 

Flawed by Kate Avelynn- A heart pounding, forbidden romance that leaves you with your jaw on the floor and tears in your eyes...

 

AMAZON LINK-  http://amzn.to/1EVDY4T

 

Sarah O’Brien is alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago — James will protect her from their violent father if she promises to never leave him. For years, she’s watched James destroy his life to save hers. If all he asks for in return is her affection, she’ll give it freely.

Until, with a tiny kiss and a broken mind, he asks for more than she can give.

Sam Donavon has been James’ best friend — and the boy Sarah’s had a crush on — for as long as she can remember. As their forbidden relationship deepens, Sarah knows she’s in trouble. Quiet, serious Sam has decided he’s going to save her. Neither of them realizes James is far more unstable than her father ever was, or that he’s not about to let Sarah forget her half of the pact . . .

 

Come Back to Me by Mila Gray- For fans of Nicholas Sparks... This military, forbidden love is bound to capture your heart.

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/11e07g7

 

Home on leave in sunny California, Marine and local lothario Kit Ryan finds himself dangerously drawn to his best friend's sister, Jessa - the one girl he can't have.

But Kit's not about to let a few obstacles stand in his way and soon Jessa's falling for his irresistible charms.

What starts out as a summer romance of secret hook-ups and magical first times quickly develops into a passionate love affair that turns both their worlds upside down.

When summer's over and it's time for Kit to redeploy, neither Kit nor Jessa are ready to say goodbye. Jessa's finally following her dreams and Kit's discovered there's someone he'd sacrifice everything for.

Jessa's prepared to wait for Kit no matter what. But when something more than distance and time rips them apart they're forced to decide whether what they have is really worth fighting for.

A breathtaking, scorchingly hot story about love, friendship, family and finding your way back from the edge of heartbreak.  

 

Therapy by Kathryn Perez- An emotional mind f that will suck you in from page one...

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1qeTyWr

 

I’m needy.

I’m broken.

Cutting breaks through my numbness, but only opens more wounds.

Depression, self-harm, bullying....that's my reality.

Sex and guys....that's my escape.

The space between the truth and lies is blurred leaving me torn, lost and confused. And while the monsters that live in my head try to beat me-- the two men that I love try to save me.

This is my story of friendship, heartache, and the grueling journey that is mental-illness.

Sometimes you have to get lost in order to be found…

 

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma- A taboo read about forbidden love. The subject is touchy, but the story is a MUST READ!

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1uzmmZH

 

She is pretty and talented - sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But... they are brother and sister.

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

After the Rain by Renee Carlino Review

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth.

When eighteen-year-old Avelina Belo meets a charismatic cowboy the summer before her senior year of high school, she doesn’t know that accepting his invitation to dinner will lead to a whirlwind marriage three months later and an exciting new life on a Montana ranch. She also doesn’t know that, in a few short years, fate will send everything crashing down around her.

A thousand miles away and fresh out of medical school, Nate Meyers is poised to become UCLA’s next superstar heart surgeon. His laser focus is the key to his success, but it’s also his greatest liability. When a routine surgery ends in disaster, derailing his career, he’s confronted with the hard truth: there’s no one waiting for him at home, no one to help him pick up the pieces.

Regrouping on his uncle’s Montana ranch, Nate meets Avelina, a beautiful but mysterious young woman who keeps to herself and barely speaks a word. As he discovers the details of her devastating past, Avelina teaches him more about matters of the heart than he ever knew before. But can they trust each other enough to put everything on the line?

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1yHLvQN

 

MY THOUGHTS:
5/5 Stars

 

Renee Carlino has done it again. Another touching romance that will forever remain on my all-time favorites list. It was emotional, captivating, intense, and utterly beautiful.

After the Rain isn't an insta love... It is slow burn romance that will capture your heart. The story shows how one thing can alter your whole perspective of life. That one thing can pull your soul out and leave you as an empty shell settling for what you believe you deserve. It is a story of finding hope and remembering that even though life seems really tough at times, you can always escape the darkness.

I fell in love with Ava and Jake’s love story first and when tragedy struck my heart ached for all Ava dealt with. Everyone understood why she kept them at arm’s distance, but no one truly could feel what she was feeling. When Nate showed up her whole outlook began to change. We got to see the broken layers peel away to reveal a more happy, confident Ava. She didn’t let him in immediately, but when she did, it was done in such a delicate way. Nate had his own demons he was facing as well, so each minute they shared played an important role in their healing process.

There were so many twists and turns that left me on the edge of my seat. I could feel my heart beating fast and at times I felt broken down emotionally. The way the Author made each scene thought provoking made it hard for me to put the book down. The real factor was a ten! I felt as though I was in Ava’s shoes and when it was Nate’s part…. I felt like I was in the surgery room with him.

I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about this book. All I can say is go read it!! You will not be disappointed.

*There are sexual scenes, but they aren’t rushed and they are wrote in a classy fashion. Renee makes each one meaningful with just the right amount of deatails.*