Category Archives: 4 stars

The Right Stud by Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise Review

June 5, 2018 Cait Leave a comment

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and USA Today bestselling author Tia Louise are back with an all-new romantic comedy filled with Southern sass and steamy scenes that will have you laughing out loud and fanning yourself. Pour the sweet tea and get ready…

“The best way to get over your sh**ty ex-fiancé is to get under a shiny new stud…”

As soon as Mr. Tall, Blond, and Handsome walks into that bar, I know he’s the hook-up I need to get over stupid Cheater Kyle.

A few stolen kisses in a dark hallway, and I’m pretty sure we’re headed for a home run—until he disappears without a trace.

Whatever. Men are all snakes in the grass, and I don’t need a new one anyway.

I resolve to forget about his perfect lips (and chest of steel) and instead focus on turning my Granny’s old beach house into a profitable B&B.

What I don’t expect is for him to show up the next day in my kitchen!

You see, my sexy mystery man is none other than Jax Roland, the drop-dead gorgeous home improvement star of The Right Stud, and he’s got an offer I can’t refuse.

With a suitcase in one hand and a hammer in the other, he wants to move in and renovate my old house while he films his new show.

But my roommate has secrets, and they threaten to rip our blossoming friendship—and possible love—apart.

When push comes to shove, is Jax really The Right Stud or is he just another nail in the coffin of love?

— Goodreads — Amazon —

Tia Louise is the USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of 20 sexy romance and romantic suspense novels.

After being a teacher, a book editor, a journalist, and finally a magazine editor, she started writing love stories and never stopped.

Louise lives in the Midwest with her trophy husband, two teenage geniuses, and one grumpy cat.

NEW RELEASE: HIT GIRL, coming March 19! #BadAss #GrlPower #superhero

Recent Releases:
UNDER THE LIGHTS (#1)
UNDER THE STARS (#2)
“Sundown” (a Bright Lights novella)

Stand-Alone Romances:
WHEN WE TOUCH, a USA Today bestseller
THE LAST GUY*
*Co-authored with Ilsa Madden-Mills

The Dirty Players Series:
The Prince & The Player, 2016
A Player for A Princess, 2016
Dirty Dealers, 2017
Dirty Thief, 2017

The One to Hold Series:
One to Hold (Derek & Melissa), 2013
One to Keep (Patrick & Elaine), 2014
One to Protect (Derek & Melissa), 2014
One to Love (Kenny & Slayde), 2014
One to Leave (Stuart & Mariska), 2014
One to Save (Derek & Melissa), 2015
One to Chase (Amy & Marcus), 2015
One to Take (Stuart & Mariska), 2016

Paranormal Romances:
One Immortal, 2015
One Insatiable, 2015

— Goodreads — Amazon — Facebook —

Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap. She’s best known for her angsty, yet funny, New Adult college romances.

A former high school English teacher and elementary librarian, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice; Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She loves unicorns, frothy coffee beverages, Vampire Dairies, and any book featuring sword-wielding females.

Email her at ilsamaddenmills at gmail dot com.

Recent Releases:

I Dare You (2018): #2 Book on Amazon; Amazon’s Most Read Chart 4 weeks straight; Washington Post #5 Bestseller.
The Right Stud: (arriving June 2018)
Dirty English: #1 on Amazon; Wall Street Journal Bestseller #8
Filthy English: #4 on Amazon
Fake Fiancée: #2 on Amazon; Wall Street Journal Bestseller #7
The Last Guy: Amazon Top 25
Spider: Amazon Top 20
Also check out her Briarwood Academy Series, a now complete series featuring stand-alone couples:
Very Bad Things: #6 Amazon
Very Wicked Things: Top 100 Amazon
Very Twisted Things: Top 100 Amazon

— Goodreads — Amazon — Facebook —

Reading The Right Stud was honestly so enjoyable, when I reached the end, I was shocked. The variety of characters and the craziness they brought to the book, kept me engaged and laughing the entire time. Jax Roland is a fairy tale prince mixed with bad boy yumminess, that is impossible to deny. Ashton Hall is a badass woman looking to save her family home, and though she needs some help, she’s not a damsel in distress. When Jax and Ash come together, it is an explosion in the sheets, and magic in front of and behind the camera.

Ashton had my heart pretty much from the beginning. Six months after she caught her ex cheating, she’s trying to rebound and get back in the game. She doesn’t want love, though. She’s too busy trying to restore the house her grandmother left her and her brother, while her brother is trying to get her to sell it. The house is more than just a family home, though. Her grandmother painted mermaids for her to find everywhere. (And we all know how much I love mermaids, so I am Grammy’s number one fan!)

Jax is the love ’em and leave ’em type. He’s too busy working two jobs: his real job as a real estate agent, and his second job, his love, remodeling homes. He’s made a name for himself in the online world, and he’s working on becoming the next Fixer Upper, with his show The Right Stud. There’s no room in his life for a permanent woman, and he doesn’t want a woman in his life. He doesn’t do love, and he definitely doesn’t do marriage and babies.

These two meet and feel an instant connection. They aren’t “insta love” but they both find things they love about each other pretty immediately. They share a love of restoration, and a love of the Conch Shell, the B&B/family home Ash is trying to save. There’s really no OW/OM drama, which was A-OK WITH ME. But the drama they did have, which was extremely minimal, made these two stronger. And as much as these two say they don’t want love, they fall into it fairly quickly.

Things I loved about this book: mermaids!!, safe (even when there’s drama, these two don’t go out and try to hurt each other using other people), Jax’s fine body, Ash’s resilience. the strength these two have individually, and as a couple, and that epilogue. It was so sweet, so cute, that I turned into the ultimate sterotypical white girl with my “I CAN’T EVEN”.

Things I didn’t love: it wasn’t long enough???? (kidding!) I just wished I saw more of Jax and Ash working through things. They had their problems right at the end, and then the epilogue came. It would have been nice to see a little more make up time happening.

**images used are from http://www.freeimages.com and all fonts are licensed, bought from http://www.creativemarket.com. For more info on the fonts used please contact me at caitscreatures@gmail.com**

4 stars, Book Review

If You Say So by AR Myles Review

June 2, 2018 Cait Leave a comment

Sometimes life is a dream you don’t want to wake up from . . .

The night Alison Lockhart walks in to Undisputed, she only wants to have a drink, celebrate a friend’s birthday, and forget about the newest guy her mother tried to set her up with. It’s why, when the infamous Jay “The Hurricane” Hamilton—one of the highest-ranking boxers at The Underground—labels her a ring rat, she writes him off as just another guy with an over-inflated ego.

Only she can’t stop thinking about him.

Or his steel-blue eyes.

Or the apology on his perfect lips.

Their fall is fast and hard, but when Alison’s ex shows up and Jay starts keeping secrets, will they be able to find their way out of the nightmare?

— Goodreads — Amazon —

The author of the Breathe Again and Blinded by Love series, both written under the pseudonym, Emma Grayson. If You Say So is her debut novel as A.R. Myles and her first standalone. Currently she is working on a few new novels as well as a new series, which is focused on single moms who are trying to make it in the dating world after being wronged by their loser exs.

Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, she resides in a small town with her family, her eleven-year-old son, and six cats—yes, SIX cats! She loves her romance with a twist of suspense or comedy, and when she’s not writing or reading or coming up with new plots, she spends most of her time with her son or binging all the shows on Netflix, and drinking Starbucks coffee with her mom and best friends.

— Goodreads — Amazon — Facebook —

I struggled, a lot, to write this review. My conflicting feelings have made me take some time before I wrote it. I wanted to clear my head, really think about how I felt this novel before I wrote it. Also, I wanted to write an honest and true review, without giving away spoilers.

AR Myles had me hooked from the first page. I wanted to read all about Jay and Alison. From their first meeting I loved Jay, even though he was a major jerk face. But after that, he was a major sweet heart, and I loved him for sticking up for Ali, for falling in love with her so completely, that you couldn’t help but fall in love with him too. Ali is strong and independent, despite what her mother wants her to be. She is loved by Jay and by her friends.

This book was literally an emotional roller coaster. The ups were fabulous, and the lows were LOW. Ali’s relationship with Jay was strong, no matter how many lows they had, she never doubted him. He stood up for her against her mother. He bonded with her father. Ali supported Jay through all of his struggles. Their chemistry was off the charts from the very first page.

So while I loved this book, with all it’s ups and downs, I am not a fan of the ending. It’s not my thing, the ending, but it was real and raw. I went back and forth on what to rate this book. On one hand, I wanted to one star it because HOW DARE AR Myles make me fall in love THAT MUCH and then DO THAT to me? But on the other, she created a story I will cry about all night, and every time I think about it. It’s the story I will tell people to read when they need an ugly cry. How could I give it less than 4 stars? I already took 1 star away because I didn’t like the ending. But at the end of the day? This was a beautifully written story, tragic, but amazing. I can’t fault AR for sticking with the truth and with the character. (Well, I can, and I can beg her to give me an alternate, but still…)

4 stars, Book Review

The Beauty and the Beefcake by Pippa Grant Review

May 17, 2018 Cait Leave a comment

There are two kinds of women in the world – those I can bang, and those I can’t.
My teammate’s sister?
She’s a can’t.
I moved in with her to protect her from a nasty ex, not to be the next guy in line.
She’s the brains.
I’m the brawn.
She’s the fruit.
I’m the sausage.
She talks too much.
I don’t talk at all, if I don’t have to.
Should be easy to resist her.
But every minute I spend with Felicity is another minute she gets under my skin. She makes me feel like something more than a dumb puckhead with a big Zamboni pony. And it’s getting harder to remember why I need to keep my hands to myself.

Beauty and the Beefcake is a vegan-friendly standalone romantic comedy featuring a hockey player whose vocabulary is the only thing smaller than a hockey puck, a book smart but aimless ventriloquist with too many voices in her head, a dilapidated old house that may or may not be haunted, and no cheating or cliffhangers.

— Goodreads — Amazon —

Pippa Grant is a stay-at-home mom and housewife who loves to escape into sexy, funny stories way more than she likes perpetually cleaning toothpaste out of sinks and off toilet handles. When she’s not reading, writing, sleeping, or trying to prepare her adorable demon spawn to be productive members of society, she’s fantasizing about chocolate chip cookies.

— Goodreads — Amazon — Facebook —

At first glance, this book is filled with possibly psychotic women who talk to themselves and empty headed hockey players that may or may not have stolen a monkey. But it is so much more than that. Ok, yes it is filled with craziness that sometimes had my head spinning trying to catch up with what was going on. Between Felicity the ventriloquist who doesn’t like the quiet so vents when she’s nervous or to fill the silence, and Ares the grunting hockey player that tries to keep everyone out by letting them think he’s an idiot, I was caught up in the world that Pippa Grant created.

Ares Berger had my heart from the first “moo” he said to confuse people. He walked in with a hurt ankle, and all he wanted to do was get back onto the ice. His teammate, Felicity’s brother, asked him to watch his sister. So he puts Felicity firmly in the “can’t touch” category even if he wants to. But all he knows is hockey and how to keep people out of his heart. So as much as his heart and his head are screaming that Felicity is his, he does his best to keep her far away from his monkey. *wink wink*

Felicity has sworn off guys because she has a tendency to choose the worst men. And then her brother, the goalie for the hockey team Ares plays on, sends them thousands of cookies with dicks on them. Yes, this was actually in the book. Do you see why I was cracking up the whole time? In between working to becoming a PT, venting at a comedy club on the weekends occasionally, and dealing with Gammy’s ghost, her mind and her heart are going a little crazy with Ares Berger living with her. And the more she gets to know him, the more she wants to know his monkey.

Felicity and Ares have more in common than they originally believe. And with Felicity feeling the need to fill the silence, she becomes attuned to Ares’ thoughts. With a grunt, she can tell what he wants to say. It becomes dangerous to both of their libidos and their hearts. Felicity starts to understand the silence, but she also sees Ares for more than the grunting oaf who says random things to throw people off. And Ares begins to see Felicity, and understand she has no idea what she’s doing with her life, despite having a high IQ and four degrees.

I loved these two so much. I’m not sure if it was because of the craziness or despite it, but I loved so much of this book. As my first Pippa Grant book, it was certainly a good one! I was smiling and laughing the whole time! Even when Gammy’s ghost freaked me out. The only reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars, was because sometimes the venting confused the hell out of me. But that’s totally me and my head not being able to keep up sometimes, with the voices and names.

4 stars, Book Review

Asphalt Cowboy’s Girl by Marie Savage Review

May 16, 2018 Cait Leave a comment

On the highway, bad things can happen …
Aimee Jo Elliot isn’t having a good day. Her long anticipated journey to California is cut short when her car is stolen. Stranded at a truck stop in Alabama, with no car, no money, and most of all, no hope, she’s desperate to get back on the road. California holds the answer to her dreams and an escape from the danger she’s left behind in Georgia. Accepting a ride from the sexy truck driver has its own set of risks, but she never considered it would be to her heart.

The life of an asphalt cowboy …
Luke McIntyre has life all figured out. He owns his own rig, makes his own rules, and only answers to himself. The solitude of life on the road suits him just fine. Not one for permanent relationships, he has no problems picking up temporary lovers. And he always makes sure they know the score—hot sex, respect, but no strings. His quiet life is shot to hell, however, when he offers the Georgia beauty a ride. He soon discovers that rules are made to be broken.

In for the long haul …
Luke and Aimee Jo soon realize their simple four-day journey is anything but simple. An instant attraction sidetracks their well-made plans and dreams. When they reach California, decisions must be made. Will they go their separate ways, or journey on together?

— Goodreads — Amazon —

Marie Savage is a new author who is finally fulfilling her dream of publishing her stories. Her first self-published book, Tidings of Comfort and Joy, was her NaNoWriMo Winning work from 2015. It is the first book in her Holiday Love Series, so there will be more books coming out soon.

Born and raised in the Florida Panhandle, she has always had a love for reading and writing, with the romance genre being her obvious favorite. Her desire to expand her horizons led her to join the United States Air Force and proudly serve her country for six years.

While stationed in Atwater California, she met her true love and together they have shared life’s beautiful joys and tragic losses. After spending over half her life in the Central Valley of California, she has moved back to her southern roots, where her desire to write first began.

— Goodreads — Amazon — Facebook — Website — Reader’s Group —

Marie Savage is a new to me author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when it came to this book. The blurb and the title had me interested, since it seemed so different from what I am used to reading. And it was very different from what I’ve ever read. It was original, with the characters and the plot, but the truck driver cowboy thing was also so different, it was so much fun to read!

Luke is the type of guy that’s used to traveling the country in his truck, while stopping around the country finding different women in different spots. He is firmly planted in the bachelor zone, with no plans on ever changing it. In fact, he enjoys the player life. He enjoys travelling around, meeting new women, and not settling down. When he meets Aimee Jo, she feels different, the type of different that would normally make him stay far, far away from a woman.

Aimee Jo has had a string of disasters follow her for the last few months. Between ex boyfriends, death, and a stolen car, Aimee is more than just down on her luck. She is moving from Georgia to California on her own in order to follow her dreams, all alone, and she’s alone for the first time in her life. She is naturally positive, and believes in God, but God can’t help you come up with another $3000.

Along the way Luke and Aimee Jo learn more about themselves and about each other. Spending days on end with only a truck and the interstate to keep you company, you get to know someone very well. Sometimes in the biblical sense, sometimes you get to know someone’s mind. And getting to know someone’s mind is a dangerous thing. A body you can forget, but when someone’s intelligence creeps into your heart and mind, it’s hard to get them out.

4 stars, Book Review

Scars to Your Beautiful Anthology Review

May 2, 2018 Cait 1 Comment

Seven authors bring you stories inspired by “Scars to your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara.

Stories from eating disorders, weight issues, physical scarring and bullying; all problems we’ve had to bear in our life some way or another.
These stories will show you how your scars don’t define who you are, they simply tell a story of where you’ve been.

YOU ARE ENOUGH, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE AMAZING. BE YOU, AND BE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR SKIN.

Build your foundation from the bricks thrown at you, rather than live under them because your imperfections make you beautiful.

— Goodreads — Amazon(Pre-order Link) —

The seven contributing authors:

Jaye Cox — Facebook — Amazon
Aria Peyton — Facebook — Amazon
Riann C. Miller — Facebook — Amazon
Stacey Broadbent — Facebook — Amazon
Becca L’Amour — Facebook — Amazon
Candace Dowds — Facebook — Amazon
Kam Newton — Facebook — Amazon

I’ve never really read an anthology like this before, nor have I reviewed one. From beginning to end, this wasn’t what I was expecting. From seven short stories, I cried, I laughed, I cheered, and I cried some more. Some stories got to me more than others, but every one of these stories was special in their own way.

Everyone carries scars, some physical, some mental, some both. This is an anthology to overcome those scars, recognize your own beauty because of those scars. I truly love this anthology, because there was a story for everyone included. Those that aren’t happy with the way they look, those that self harm, those that were bullied, those that deal with addiction and eating disorders, for everyone dealing with something, there is a story here for you.

I try to be open about my own scars, in hopes that maybe one day I can help someone else. I suffer, still, with major anxiety which makes it hard to leave the house some days. When I was younger, that anxiety morphed into depression, and led to me trying to relieve the anxiety by harming myself. Point blank: I was a cutter. Reading Cut in this anthology, though we had different reasons for getting to the point, and I had never been hospitalized because of it, brought me back to the feeling of needing it; the addiction. It was hard for me to read, even after the help of amazing and supportive family around me (and some really good therapists), but it was for all the right reasons. It was a story that needed to be told. And it was one that wasn’t a “romance” (the only one in the anthology that wasn’t) but a love story all the same. And it’s a kind of love that is more important than finding love with another person. As the great Ru Paul says “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”
Please, please, please if you are depressed, anxious or self harming, get help. Please, message me if you need to, or if you don’t know where to get help. I will help you!

With each story, there is something else to learn and to take in, but they can also help open the dialogue. At some point in our lives, we all need someone to talk to, and these stories can help others connect when they may possibly feel no one could possibly know how they feel.

Everyone will have their own story that sticks out to them in this Anthology, Cut was mine. (Although Oil and Water was a close second). I couldn’t order these stories from “best to worst” because they were all very well written, and so important. They are stories of loving yourself first, though sometimes we need the help of others to show we are worth it. Worth being loved, and loving someone else in return. There were too many stories, too many quotes that I loved, to simply pull three and make them teasers. Too many moments that I adored with all my heart. Thank you to the beautiful ladies who came together to write the stories everyone needed, but didn’t know to ask for.

4 stars, Book Review

Your Rhythm by Katia Rose

April 30, 2018 Cait Leave a comment

You know what they say: save a snare, bang a drummer.

Kay Fischer is well aware of what they say, and she intends to ignore it completely.

After her first step into the world of music journalism ended with a screw-up so royal it deserved a crown, Kay’s been struggling to re-stack the building blocks of her career. Salvation comes in the form of Sherbrooke Station, the latest alt-rock craze to grace Montreal’s legendary music scene.

A front page feature on the band everyone’s talking about seems like a foolproof shot at success, even after Kay meets their drummer. Matt Pearson might have a smile sexy enough to be the eighth deadly sin and a passion for music so powerful it makes her heart ache, but Kay’s got things under control.

She’s a professional, goddammit, and a professional would not get tongue-tied over a source, even a source who’s a six-foot, tattooed rock god with an affinity for tight jeans.

A professional would not find herself opening her door at an hour long past midnight to pull said source inside and lead him to her bed.

No, that’s not at all what a professional would do.

‘Your Rhythm’ is part of the Sherbrooke Station Quartet, a series of steamy rock star standalones from the author of ‘Latte Girl’ and ‘Thigh Highs.’

— Goodreads Goodreads — Amazon (Coming Soon) —

Katia Rose is not much of a Pina Colada person, but she does like getting caught in the rain. She prefers her romance served steamy with a side of smart, and is a sucker for quirky characters. A habit of jetting off to distant countries means she’s rarely in one place for very long, but she calls the frigid northland that is Canada home.

— Goodreads — Amazon — Website — Facebook —

First, please ignore the fact that I can’t spell Rhythm or use spell check on the graphics.

This book was different, for me, when reading Rock Star romances. Usually I read romances where the girl is a nobody(in terms of fame, YOU ALL MATTER), and the guy is a famous Rock Star bored with the groupies. They’re usually drug addicts, or recovering addicts and the girl they fall for is the one that heals them, or whatever. There is 100% nothing wrong with this trope. It can be enjoyable, if done the right way. However, Katia Rose depicts something different and fresh.

Matt Pearson is the drummer for a new and upcoming band, Sherbrook Station. He is responsible, not into using drugs but instead really focused on making the best music he can make with his band, his brothers. He meets Kay Fischer when his band mate, Ace, forgets to go to an interview so Matt goes in his place. BOOM fireworks! He recognizes that Kay is attractive, and he wants to see her again, so he makes sure they have to. Although underhanded, he also recognizes Kay wouldn’t call him unless absolutely necessary.

Kay Fischer has been burned, badly, by the industry and her ex. She is a reporter, who always loved music and wanted to tell the story of the musicians. When she started to dig around in the wrong music group, she is working for a newspaper where she can hide and lick her wounds. From the minute she meets Matt, she feels a connection to him, one she tries to bury. But when she’s charged with writing a story on the band, Matt and Kay work in close quarters.

One of my favorite things about this story, something that will be my favorite in any book I ever read, is the level of respect these two have for each other. They fight with each other, and for each other, but there is a deeper level of respect for both their professions. Kay wants to hide their relationship because it could cause her to lose her already tattered reputation, and although Matt would rather scream from the rooftops that he is with Kay Fischer, he doesn’t pressure her for more than she can give. And it’s not the “I WANT TO SHAKE THIS GIRL” kind of “this is all I can give” it’s one that you understand her reservations, and her fear of putting her job, and her heart, on the line. And Kay, though she didn’t like Sherbrooke Station at first, comes to love not only the band, but Matt’s dedication to his band and his music. And she would do anything to make sure he keeps his love of music.

This book was amazing. I had my reservations in the beginning, but I loved Kay from the start. And from the line “I swear a lot when I’m cold” because if that isn’t me I don’t know what is. There was just enough drama, and push and pull, to keep me thoroughly invested in both Kay and Matt, without wanting to gag or pull my hair out of my head. After reading this, I read Thigh Highs by Katia Rose, in hopes that it wasn’t a one time thing (and also because I follow Katia on Instagram and won a copy in a giveaway- so you should follow her too), and I was not disappointed. After I write the reviews I need to write for a bunch of books… I’m going to download all the books I can by her!

The only thing that brought this book down for me in stars, is that there is a bunch of French in it, which is understandable since it’s set in Canada, but there were no translations! I love some mix of languages in a book, but I know not a word of French. And I tried looking stuff up, but it took away from the flow of the novel, and if I just ignored the French, I felt I was missing something in the dialogue.

4 stars, Book Review

Defile by Jessica Prince Review

April 29, 2018 Cait Leave a comment

Declan Forrester is arrogant, selfish, and insanely sexy.
He was the very first boy I ever loved.
Then fame and fortune turned
him into a man I no longer recognized. I tried to give him
everything he needed, and in return…
he broke my heart.

Now he’s back, and he wants to make things right.
What started as love turned to hate. I told myself I’d
never fall for him again, but he’s determined to
prove me wrong.

He wants to win me.
He wants to own me.
He wants to defile me.

And if I’m not careful…
I just might let him.

Goodreads — Amazon(Coming Soon) — Corrupt(GR) — Corrupt(Amazon)
My Review of Corrupt

Born and raised around Houston, Jessica is a self proclaimed caffeine addict, connoisseur of inexpensive wine, and the worst driver in the state of Texas. In addition to being all of these things, she’s first and foremost a wife and mom.
Growing up, she shared her mom and grandmother’s love of reading. But where they leaned toward murder mysteries, Jessica was obsessed with all things romance.
When she’s not nose deep in her next manuscript, you can usually find her with her kindle in hand.

To be in-the-know before anyone else, follow along on my website, or join my newsletter.

www.authorjessicaprince.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/_KJ0n
Connect with me everywhere else:
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Twitter: @JessPrince2013
Amazon

How do you forgive someone when they cheated on you? When they broke the promises they made to you? When you and the love of your life are falling apart? Can you find love with the person that broke you again?

I hate cheating. If a book has cheating in it, I’m done. It gives me anxiety and hives. I once read a book with cheating in it, and had anxiety for WEEKS, and DNF, but then read the second book to make sure they were ok. I’ve never been cheated on, but it’s a trigger for me and I start freaking out. So after reading Corrupt, I knew I had Defile waiting for me to read and I got nervous. Nowhere in the blurb does it say there was cheating. But Declan and Tatum have history, history that goes back to them being seven years old. They get together young, and Declan and the band make it big when they’re still young. While Tatum is struggling to still be an individual, Declan is caving to the pressures of stardom. In Corrupt, it already says that Deck cheated on Tatum, so I’m not giving that away, but I won’t say what happened. All I’ll say is that I wanted to CRY SO BAD. But it didn’t give me anxiety. I don’t know why (maybe because Jessica Prince is amazing?)

Ten years later, Tatum and Declan are in the same room together, after not being in the same room since it happened. My heart absolutely broke for Tatum, but she made the best of herself. She found who she was, and I think she needed to be away from Declan to discover that. And Deck, WHO I WANTED TO PUNCH IN THE FACE, needed to grow up and find himself in the industry. When Deck sees Tatum again, he knows he needs her back in his life: permanently. He just has to get her on board with it.

I love Tatum’s strength in this book. She doesn’t just forgive Declan, and it takes her awhile to talk with him about what happened. She didn’t let Declan bulldoze her life, didn’t let him become her life. When she did talk to him about what happened, and she decided to try and forgive him, she didn’t continuously bring it up. After the worked it out, they continued to work on it. She did what she had to do to live without him, and she lived and thrived without him. Did she have insecurities? Yes. Did she let them over rule her life? No. Was she afraid? Yes. Did she get jealous? Yes, but she didn’t accuse him of sleeping with everyone or bring it up to hurt him after that.

I don’t know if I could be as strong as Tatum was. I’d have probably just stabbed my man.

Declan can be a huge jerk. He knows it, and so does everyone else around him. With out Tatum he was just living, but he smartened up. When he had the chance to get her back, he did. Declan had a lot of strength too. He had changed over the last ten years, some things for the better, others for the worse. He doesn’t make the same mistakes twice (THANK GOD CAN I JUST SAY), but he is also able to recognize when he’s being over bearing, recognize when he’s losing Tatum this time around. He stops taking her for granted.

I normally hate rock star romances, but I will be continuing this series. I’m already looking forward to the next book! The guys in Civil Corruption are messed up, and I can’t wait to see them stop messing up. (Plus, series like this are like double epilogues. I get glimpses into the other couples!) I’m going to shut up now, but just know that this book is absolutely amazing, and heartbreaking all at the same time.

4 stars, Book Review

Keeping 6, Freya Barker Review

April 23, 2018 Cait 1 Comment

Bookstore owner Kerry Emerson finally seems to be back in control of her life. Her failure of a marriage firmly in her rearview mirror and her recent business expansion a success, she is in charge of her own future. One that is looking better than ever.
The sight of the tall man, with the familiar salt and pepper goatee pushing open the door of her store, sets her hair on end. He doesn’t exactly bring good memories.

FBI Special Agent in Charge, Damian Gomez, is just looking for a decent cup of coffee when he walks into the small store offering books and brew. The pretty, feisty woman behind the counter is an unexpected surprise. Not at all unpleasant, especially since her finger that used to hold a wedding ring is now bare.
Her wild hair, boho style and silvery grey eyes suddenly hold a lot of promise. But when his office is pulled into an international investigation into the trafficking of rare books and manuscripts, the straight-laced SAC realizes he has to keep his distance from the woman who might well be involved.

Easier said than done, since fate seems determined to throw them together.

Goodreads — Amazon(Coming Soon)

Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Driven to make her books about ‘real’ people; with characters who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills, and some hot, sizzling sex in their lives.

A recipient of the RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for best first book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya has not slowed down.

She continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

Goodreads — Amazon — Website — Facebook — Twitter — Instagram — BookBub

Keeping 6 was my first Freya Barker novel, and it was a doozy. This book was jam packed with action, alpha men, and strong independent women, and a huge dose of crazy. There were twists and turns everywhere. When I was almost at the end I found myself watching the page count going “HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE RESOLVED?!” (RELAX, there’s no cliff hangers here!) I was hooked.

Keeping 6 the story of FBI Agent Damien Gomez and book store owner Kerry Emerson. Damien and Kerry met each other a few years before, when Damien was involved in rescuing Kerry from a crazy kidnapping, but she was married at the time. When Damien stumbles into her new book store in Durango, sparks fly once again, except this time she’s no longer married (thank God, because in that prologue and from what Kerry talked about he sounded like a complete butt head.)

Damien, who is resigned to bachelorhood because of his career, tries to ignore the feelings Kerry evokes in him, which isn’t to hard because Kerry seems to dislike him and is completely rude to him when they see each other again. Kerry just got divorced from an overbearing dirtbag, so has no interest in dating or getting married again. She tries to ignore Damien and the feelings he seems to draw out of her.

These two were like cats and dogs at first. Over time, Damien came to terms with his feelings and became super alpha (hot) and Kerry tried to come to terms with Damien’s alpha macho-ness, but has some super hang ups. At the end, I was in love with these two. I thought Damien’s family was awesome, and he tried so hard to keep Kerry with him all the time, but when it came to his mom he threw her under the bus (typical male). Kerry was hard for me to like. I didn’t read the book where we meet Kerry and find out how she was kidnapped or anything, but reading her in the beginning, I wanted to shake her. She took awhile for me to warm up to. It seemed she was always snapping at people and then apologizing. Heck, she snapped at Damien and then he apologized. I felt sometimes she was in the wrong, and would admit she was, but would let Damien take the blame. I felt she still had to grow up. Her snipping at everyone in the beginning and refusing to allow an inch for ANYTHING, even with the people she loved like her friend Kim, was what really brought this book to 4 stars in my head. It was still a really amazing book, Kerry was just so hard on everyone and everything in the beginning, and even towards the end too.

This was also different for me because I tend to read romances featuring couples in their 20s, or with girls in their 20s. Damien and Kerry, from what I gathered because I don’t remember reading Kerry’s age, were in their 40s. Normally I avoid that, not on purpose, but because I feel like I connect more with characters closer to my age. But I really did love Damien and Kerry, and the story unfolding.

4 stars, Book Review

Corrupt by Jessica Prince Review

April 19, 2018 Cait Leave a comment

With the release of Defile, the second in the Civil Corruption series, on the horizon, I received a copy of Corrupt in exchange for an honest review.

Garrett Wilder is rich, famous, and totally bad for me. After one night that ended with me wanting to punch him in his face, the self-absorbed rockstar has become a permanent fixture in my life…
Whether I like it or not.

Now I’m forced to see him every day, and that shield I put up to protect my heart is quickly crumbling to the ground. I’ve gone from hating him to craving him. And the scariest part is that he feels the same.

He wants to know me.
He wants to own me.
He wants to corrupt me.

And if I’m not careful…
I just might let him.

Goodreads — Amazon

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Here’s to another rock star romance I loved instead of cringed at. I laughed, I wanted to strangle people, and I was heartbroken at the same time. Jessica Prince had me entranced from the very first page, with an added “holy exploding ovaries, Batman” and I was hooked.

Gwen is a character that pulled me in. The prologue details how, while she’s still grieving the loss of her father, she loses her mother to cancer. Because of this, she falls into bed with the drummer of Civil Corruption, Garrett. This girl needs some serious therapy, though, because even after four years of grieving, she’s still holding onto their losses in an unhealthy way.

Garrett doesn’t help though. They fall into bed, and he has his assistant kick her out the next morning. When she finds out she’s pregnant, and tries to get a hold of him, she’s instead pointed in the direction of lawyers and the stupid assistant. Garrett is not like-able in the beginning. He tries to stay involved in his daughter’s life, while still maintaining his rock star status, but he misses the important stuff in Liddy’s life. Don’t confuse it though, he loves his daughter, but he likes being single too.

When the truth of Gwen’s situation comes to light, along with the scheming assistant and manager, Garrett decides he wants a to be more involved in Liddy’s life. Through this, he learns just what an amazing woman Gwen is. While Gwen tries to guard her heart, and rightfully so, she’s still yearning for the family she lost a long time ago. Garrett and Gwen have ups and downs, and a lot more downs, but they come together in a beautiful way.

I wanted to strangle Gwen at times, definitely wanted to smother Garrett, but I loved both of these characters. When Garrett decides he wants his family to be whole, he turns into a rockstar alpha, and seriously, who can resist that? These two had so much learning to do, about each other and about relationships, that I almost feel like they needed couples counseling, to move on from the past and have a better future. While I loved this book, I felt like the ending was wrapped up nicely, but didn’t resolve much? The ending just left me wanting more. Which is good, because Defile releases this year, and now I get to see these two interact from an outsider’s view.

But seriously, if you don’t want to strangle your man at least once a day, do you even love him? KIDDING…

…maybe.

4 stars, Book Review

Intuitive Series by BJ Bentley Review

April 15, 2018 Cait Leave a comment

intuitivebanner blurb intuitive1a Sabrina Rhodes is a small town psychic with a knack for choosing the wrong men. You’d think being psychic would give Sabrina a leg up in the dating game, but that’s just not her luck.

After one particularly bad date, Sabrina’s crush, Sheriff Drake Hayes, comes to her rescue. So, when Sabrina’s not talking to ghosts in her kitchen or playing peasant to her feline overlords, Petal and Duchess, can she finally find ‘the one’ in Drake Hayes?

This short novella is a light, quick, feel-good read. It’s also what I’d call a palate cleanser- what you’d want to read in between all those dark romances or while nursing a book hangover.

Goodreads — Amazon

intuitive2 Caty

I’m an art teacher in need of a second job. I find exactly what I need, but don’t want, working part time for Stonewall Construction. This job is going to be dull, but it’s going to pay for the art supplies I need in order to showcase my talent. I just need to keep it long enough.

Archer

I’ve got a reputation for being a serial dater and a flirt. That’s okay; I know who I am. Being one half of the team that owns Stonewall Construction keeps me out of (most) trouble. Until that pixie-faced firecracker blows into my world.

These two develop a rivalry that tests their sanity. Constantly trying to one-up each other, they’ve declared war. But office pranks soon turn to stolen kisses.

This is a ~20,000 word novella with a HEA.

Goodreads — Amazon

intuitive3 Mia Potter is an introverted bookworm who harbors sexy fantasies starring her dream man, Mitch Hayes. Unfortunately, they’re just friends. What Mia doesn’t know is that Mitch has always wanted more.

He’s just been biding his time. And things are about to change.

This rom-com short story is the conclusion to the Intuitive series and includes a bonus epilogue!

Goodreads — Amazon

author 29136192_175603263078789_8700093008424468480_n From her Amazon: I’m a psychic medium, romance author, and cat mom. I shamelessly based my character, Sabrina Rhodes, on myself (write what you know, and all that.) Weaknesses include alpha males and badass babes.
The Intuitive series is a collection of rom-com novellas, and I’m also working on a full-length dark romance novel.
I’m very active on social media, so feel free to stalk me! (Please stalk me, this is a cry for attention.)
Follow me!

— Facebook — Twitter — Instagram — Website — Amazon— BookBub — review

I put all my reviews in one place because these are shorties; I can only write so much before I give away the whole plot.

Do you need something to get you through to the next book? Something to make you smile and laugh until you have to pick up the next soul-stealer? Have you cried your eyes out about a book and now need something short and sweet to cheer you up? Well look no further. These three short “palate cleansers” are definitely the books for you. These three books follow three friends and them falling in love with three brothers.

Handcuffs and Coffee is the story of Sabrina Rhodes, a small time medium, full time cat mom. She is used to people not believing that she has a gift. She meets the sheriff when her neighbor’s house has a small fire, and he is immediately suspicious out by her and her “gift”. Hey, cut him some slack, he’s a cop. Drake Hayes, a.k.a. Sheriff Hunka Hunka Hanky Panky, likes to surprise Sabrina, which she hates, but I’m pretty sure that’s why he does it. There was no drama with this love, which was exactly why I needed it and loved it from the first page. Sabrina and Cat’s friendship was pure gold, and Sabrina’s interactions with those around her were comical. I had a smile on my face through the entire short story. My complaint? This is only in Sabrina’s POV and I’d LOVE to have Drake’s POV.

intuitive3

Masonry and Margaritas is the story of Cat, Sabrina’s best friend, and Asher, Drake’s brother. Cat is an aspiring artist, who teaches classes and works at Asher and Mitch’s construction company. Asher immediately takes to Cat, and loves to piss her off, but mostly because Cat dishes it back. Cat thinks Asher is hot, but that he’s also a jerk, which is fair. What starts out as a simple prank war, turns into margaritas and drunken hookups, and Asher, a.k.a. Anal Wart, claiming that they were gonna happen so get over it (*alphas! swoon*) Cat and Asher’s story was so much fun to read, because who doesn’t love a good prank war? And Asher does everything possible to get Cat to be with him. It doesn’t take a whole lot, because it is a fluff, short novel, but it was still good to see the chase.

I think Temptation and Tea was my favorite installment. Shy, sweet, emptath Mia is hiding her temptress behind a woman who is bogged down with excess emotions. She has admired Mitch from afar, but was always too shy to do anything about it. Mitch realizes right away that she’s shy, so he starts out their relationship as friends. For six months. But once these two get together it is hot, hot, hot! I loved every bit of this novel from Mitch’s obsession with all things Marvel, never DC, and Mia’s sweet demeanor and her love of books. I really loved this fluffy romantic comedy. Plus there’s an extra sweet epilogue at the back of the book, that shows you the lives of these three couples. It’s like a double epilogue for all three books. Double epilogue!

These three books were exactly what I needed to get me through to the next dark/emotional romance. Oh and these books are free on Kindle Unlimited.

4star

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