Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

"I dare you…" 
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs—until the day her uncle swoops in, and Beth finds herself starting over at a school where no one understands her. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does. 
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock—with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him. 
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image is risking everything for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all….
 

 
My Thoughts:
4.5/5 Stars
 
Another great book by Katie McGarry!
Emotional, Romantic, & Suspenseful....
  Beth is stubborn, but she has a heart of gold. Taking care of her mom is her number one priority. No matter what others tell her she is always trying to protect her mom from the crazy, drug addict boyfriend. She has guards up and is determined to let no one else in. When Beth meets Ryan though her eyes are opened up to trust & love. He shows her that it is okay to want to stay in one place. Their relationship goes from bitter to sweet as the book progresses and they quickly became one of my favorite book couples.
 
What starts as a dare soon becomes so much more...
Forbidden love... maybe? Beth is from a rougher family. Ryan is an athlete with uptight, control freak parents. They forbid him to be with Beth, but that doesn't stop him. His passion toward her outweighs everything else. He puts his heart on the line and even his life at one point.

I loved this couple so much and the storyline consumed me from page one. The characters help one another to expose their inner desires and wants. They each go into the book thinking their future has one path and come out with a whole new outlook.
 
I highly recommend it to all YA & NA readers.


Monday, September 22, 2014

You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz

A startling novel about love and grief from the author of the acclaimed memoir I Don't Want to Be Crazy.

Annaleah and Brian shared something special - Annaleah is sure of it. When they were together, they didn't need anyone else. It didn't matter that their relationship was
secret. All that mattered was what they had with each other.

And then, out of nowhere, Brian dies. And while everyone else has their role in the grieving process, Annaleah finds herself living outside of it, unacknowledged and lonely.
How can you recover from a loss that no one will let you have?
 
 
 
My Thoughts:
4/5 Stars
 
While reading this book I felt as though I was grieving a lost loved one.
The realness was there and it was thick! The emotions I felt were intense and the storyline easily pulled me in.
 
Annaleah had a secret relationship with Brian... She had true feelings and thought he did as well. When she comes to find out he passed away un expectantly her world is turned upside down. There is a hole in her heart and an emptiness in her life. As she grieves though, you come to learn that maybe Brian and her didn't have the relationship Annaleah thought they did.
 
Throughout this book you get glimpses of the present and the past. You get to see why she is the person she is and also why she was so wrapped up in Brian. Yes, you will have a love/hate relationship with him. Some parts I loved him and felt for him, others... not so much.
 
Overall I thought this was a great YA read with a HEA!!


Friday, September 19, 2014

Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick Review

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairy tale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Iraq. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and everyone cries for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)
 
 

My Thoughts:
4/5 Stars
 
I love a good mind f and this one provided just that! The Author left us on the edge of our seats trying to piece together what happened in the past and what would happen in the future.
 
The main character is damaged and emotionally broken. She alters the truth and hides secrets about the past. When she meets Mr. Anderson he shows her the attention she seeks. He protects her and provides a safe place for her. She opens up to him and they slowly form a more intimate relationship. Yes it is taboo... Yes it is illegal, but somehow and someway it worked for me.
 
This story is about a tormented soul trying to forget and live a life she can tolerate. My heart hurt for Jenna. She had deep set issues and her family was a train wreck. Her self confidence was gone and she was addicted to cutting.

Mr. Anderson was sneaky and kind. He was a book boyfriend for sure.

The things that I didn't like about this book were... At times the mind f was bit confusing and I felt some of my questions were left unanswered. Overall though I enjoyed it and would recommend it to all readers....

*The sexual scenes are not descriptive. They often cut out and give no details.*
 


Wild Renegade Blog Tour


 
Ace Vaughn
The bad boy, the wild one - that’s what they call me. I guess it suits me. I work hard, but I party harder. I mean, I’m single, so why not? I like clubbing, drinking, and banging random women. Unfortunately, I sometimes hook up with the wrong chicks. Like the ones who gets attached after a romp in the sack, but sometimes that just comes with the territory. I never really thought that one would actually cause so many problems. How do I keep the one I love safe when a former one night stand falls off the crazy train and lands in Psychoville?
Nicole Gionelli
I finally get the job of my dreams as a backup dancer for Renegade for their world tour. It means that I’m going to be away from my friends and family for about a year, but they understand how important this is to me. I meet Renegade on the first day at the dance studio. I knew these guys were attractive, but seeing them in person is a whole different story. Hello! I know I need to remain professional, but damn, it is hard when two of the guys start vying for my attention. Who do I choose? Do I really want to get pushed into the spotlight by dating a member of Renegade? I’m not so sure. But if I do, what's my chances of taming the Wild Renegade?


Warning: For mature audiences only. Contains seriously hot sex scenes that will leave you wanting to fulfill your very own boy band fantasy. Please keep in mind that this is a work of fiction and I made it up from my own imagination.

Meet the Author


Andria is married and a stay at home mother with two crazy little girls and two psychotic cats. She doesn't go anywhere without her precious iPhone and a purse full of animal crackers. She used to be completely obsessed with the Backstreet Boys, but now is only mildly obsessed (still goes to every concert when they are in town). She loves cartoons and Disney movies, and can probably recite every line from Dumb and Dumber. Humor is a must in her life; otherwise, it would be completely boring. Pepsi is her weakness, along with anything chocolate. She can’t sing to save her life, but she pretends she can when she is alone in her car with the music blasting so that she can’t hear herself.

She loves to read Romance. Paranormal, Scottish, Military, Police, Firefighters, Athletes, Cowboys and M/M are her favorite. She is not so much a fan of YA, though. If you haven’t been able to tell from reading her books, she likes - whether she is reading them or writing them - lots of hot steamy sex.

Andria loves her fans and is always willing to chat. She works hard on her books, does not get offended easily, and has a pretty thick skin when it comes to negativity toward her work. She welcomes constructive criticism because she feels that is how one betters themselves, by taking that constructive criticism and using it.


Buy Links

 

Black Lies by Alessandra Torre Review

Brant:
Became a tech billionaire by his twentieth birthday. Has been in a relationship with me for 3 years. Has proposed 4 times. Been rejected 4 times.
Lee:
Cuts grass when he's not banging housewives. Good with his hands, his mouth, and his body. Has been pursued relentlessly by me for almost 2 years, whether he knows it or not.

Go ahead. Judge me. You have no idea what my love entails.

If you think you've heard this story before, trust me - you haven't.

AMAZON LINK-  http://amzn.to/1u72ehT

My Thoughts:
4.5/5 Stars
 
I'm not even sure how you review a book like this without giving away too much. Let's just say you are reading, reading, reading, & BAM.... time to back track and figure out what in the hell just happened.
 
At the beginning of this story I was intrigued, but not quite hooked. The more I read though, the more I became consumed. The characters were great. The reality aspect was there and the story was packed with secrets and lies.

Like the synopsis said... If you think you have heard this story before, you haven't. This sentence is true in so many ways. While, the story has hints of things you see in different books... there are so many more unique twists. Secrets are what holds this story together and when they are revealed they threaten to tear the story apart.

I highly recommend this book to all mature readers looking for a unique, sexy read.
 

Monday, September 15, 2014

Beautifully Damaged by L.A. Fiore Review

Ember Walsh is a trusting soul with the quiet beauty of her late mother, who perished in a mysterious car crash when Ember was three. A little tomboyish from being raised by her father, Ember packs a punch when a stranger gets pushy with her in a bar, catching the steely blue eyes of a tall, gorgeous tattooed man—Trace Montgomery. Still damaged from her last disastrous relationship and warned off the bad boy by friends, Ember fights the smoldering heat that Trace sparks in her when he begins shadowing her like a dark angel.
Burdened by a lifetime of horror and heartbreak, amateur fighter Trace doesn’t want to want Ember. His deep self-loathing keeps him from having any meaningful relationships, but Ember is an itch he can’t scratch. The two push and pull, slowly crumbling their walls, seemingly brought together by fate, because the turmoil that haunts their pasts is interlinked in undeniable ways. But can these two fighters finally lay down their arms?
In Beautifully Damaged, L.A. Fiore delves into deep scars and lets love and forgiveness uncover redemption.

 
AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/WOCUOW
 
My Thoughts:
5/5 Stars

I loved this book so hard! From the moment I started reading I was instantly
consumed by the storyline.
Ember is a woman with demons... Her mother was killed in a car crash and she believes there is more to the story. Trace also has demons in his past... Together they embark on a suspenseful journey of love and uncovering secrets.  

The mystery behind this book is what drew me in. I instantly began making my own predictions on what would happen in the end. The suspense leading up to the ending and what really happens though, blew me away.

The romance between Ember and Trace is beautiful. My heart hurt for Trace. The things he has been through are things you don't wish on anyone. He is damaged goods or so that's what he thinks. He believes that sex is all he is good for so when his heart fills with Ember, he shuts down and goes into push away mode. He is a fighter... The more he feels for Ember, the farther he tries to pull away. It is her that keeps putting herself in his life, showing him that he deserves to be loved and cared for. It's not an easy battle for them, but somehow love finds it's way into their hearts.

I would definitely recommend this book to all mature readers. It has a little bit for everyone. Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Family Drama, & Sexy Time
 
 

The Storm Inside by Alexis Anne Review

“The only thing holding me back was my heart. You know, the broken one.
It knew if Jake and I got back together we’d make our past relationship look like child’s play. It would be a sweet footnote to this new, torrid love affair. ‘Jake and Eve 2.0’ would be an uncontrolled explosion of sex and adoration.

Uncontrolled explosions were dangerous. Everyone knew that.
And yet, I couldn’t seem to stop myself from playing with the matches…” ~Eve

Loving someone and being in love aren’t always the same thing.

That’s what Eve Daniels is trying to come to terms with when Jake Spencer suddenly returns to her life after ten years of silence. Haunted by a past he had no power to control, Jake left everyone and everything behind in hopes of saving Eve from his demons. His one regret was breaking her heart.

From the moment they reconnect, it is clear to Eve the passion, brilliance, and determination that first attracted her to Jake are stronger than ever. So strong that fighting their pull seems useless. But falling back in love isn’t as easy as letting the walls down. Eve soon realizes the choices they’ve both made come with consequences. Ones that will test how deep her love runs for a man living with a storm inside.
**Recommended for ages 17+ due to explicit language and sexual situations**
 
AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1q9F42I
 
My Thoughts:
4.5/5 Stars
 
I really enjoyed this book. It had a great storyline and kept me turning the pages.
The characters were likeable and relatable. Eve is trying to get over the guy in her past... She is content spending countless hours at work and building relationships with men who will never compare to her one true love. When Jake, her ex, shows up at her house her world is turned upside down. Her feelings are torn and she can't decide if she wants to let her guards down... Together they embark on a second chance at love.
 
The Storm Inside kept me interested through the whole book. Jake was the sole reason. He was damaged, yet dominant... controlling, yet caring... sexy & successful. Him and Eve's romance had a real feel. Things weren't always perfect. There were struggles they had to overcome to make their relationship work.
 
While I liked the story a lot I would have liked to see more of the family drama instead of just retellings of it. There were also parts that felt wordy... All in all I recommend this book to all mature readers. It was sexy, consuming, and entertaining.