Tag Archives: contemporary

5 stars, Book Review

Broken Love Story by Natasha Madison Review!

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arcblurb956c1-35239470_1064540333711769_7107813220068360192_nSamantha: 

I had the perfect life; a husband who loved me, and two kids who were my world.
Until someone else answered his phone and my perfect life shattered.
When he died, I was left with answers he couldn’t give me and a box full of lies.
He left me broken.

Blake: 
I fell in love when I was fifteen, knowing she was the one.
For five years, she was my everything—my every breath, every heartbeat, every thought.
She made me promise to move on, promise to find love again, but I broke those promises because I can’t move on.

Two broken souls brought together by tragedy and heartbreak.
Can a broken love story be fixed?

— Amazon — Goodreads — Perfect Love Story — Unexpected Love Story —

aboutheauthor28d32-natasha2bmadison

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

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

reviewbrokenlovestory1

Holy crap I wasn’t ready. After reading Perfect Love Story and Unexpected Love Story, I hoped and prayed Broken was about Samantha and Blake. AND HELLO IT WAS. After all my finger crossing and rain dancing in hopes it was this story, I thought I was prepared for their love story.

I.
WAS.
NOT.
READY.

In her way, Natasha Madison seamlessly blended three love stories happening in concert, while simultaneously creating three unique and individual romances that will leave you wanting more. Each piece of the story you read adds a new layer to the lies that one man told effectively ripping apart the lives around him.

If you hated Eric in Perfect, trust me, it gets worse. One minute, Samantha was taking care of her kids while wondering where her husband was, and the next she got a call that her husband was dead. Not only that, he had another wife. Her life as she knew it was over but just when Samantha’s perfect life crashes down around her, she finds a friend in the most unlikely place: Blake. Her dead husband’s second wife’s older brother. Yeah, say that three times fast.

Blake is a compassionate man, who suffered his own loss when he was young. Because of that, he’s broken in his own way. He’s picked up the pieces as best as possible, but it’s not really until he meets Samantha that he realizes what he’s missing. What starts out as extending a helping hand to someone struggling, becomes more. So much more.

To sum it up: ALL THE FEELS. This book had everything! Healing, love, romance, friendship, and (my personal fave) a single mom. Blake steps up in ways that Eric never did. He shows not only Samantha, but also her girls, what love is like. He shows them what a family is supposed to be. This is probably my favorite of the series (though Gabe is still mine!) because of all the stuff we didn’t see in the previous books. Samantha went from a girl I disliked immensely, to a girl I felt bad for, to a woman I want to be when I grow up. Her strength in living life after a tragedy, in trying to mend her broken pieces, in everything was so amazing I admire her.

Basically, you NEED this book. And this series.

brokenlovestory25star
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5 stars, Book Review

Love on the Run by Gemini Jensen Review!

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arcblurbloveontherunI’ve spent most of my life on the run from a dangerous man, who also happens to be my father. Jumping town to town and changing my name more times than I can even count.
Friendships and relationships are alien to me…
My closest companion being my mother, who has given up everything to keep us safe.

A new town, per usual.
New identities, also per usual.
Only this time, my mother throws me a curveball. Apparently, she plans on staying here long enough for me to settle in and complete my Senior year of High School. She wants me to see what it’s like being “normal.”

That’s how I meet Gray, and there is nothing expected about him at all. Even though the attraction is instant, we both try our best to ignore it. A high-school girl and an older man will cause a small-town scandal, which I need to avoid for my mother’s sake.
The difference in our age isn’t even the half of it. Not to mention my view on love and relationships: Purely chemical and ever-changing.
But how do I fight this when he is everything I don’t believe in, and I’m exactly what he doesn’t need?

*NOTE: This is a sweet, yet steamy, New Adult Contemporary Romance.
RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.*

— Goodreads — Amazon — Bookbub —

aboutheauthorgeminijensenGemini has a passion for all things romance-related.
Particularly… angst-charged, forbidden, slow-burn romance.
Bad boys are her thing!!! Along with tattoos, motorcycles, sexy southern hard-working gentlemen… who are mixed with some hidden vulnerability and alpha-hotness, of course.
She has a desire for her heroines to be uniquely themselves. Her favorite part about writing romance, is creating the journey her characters endure while falling in love.
​
She’s a southern gal through and through. Born and raised in Western North Carolina, not far from a little university known as WCU. She is the mom of two perfectly imperfect children, and wife to a husband who sometimes counts as a third child.
​
She has been reading romance for much longer than she should be able to admit, stealing books from her Mom’s book collection at an early age, and returning them unnoticed. While romance is her favorite genre to write, she also dabbles in some poetry for her own form of therapy and self-expression. When she was in 3rd grade, she entered a poetry contest between all the kids 3rd – 8th grade in 4 different schools, and won! She was named Queen of the parade in her small-town.

When she isn’t reading, writing, or editing, she can be found enjoying time with family which typically includes whipping up something delicious to eat.

— Goodreads — Amazon — Facebook — Website — Bookbub —

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Holy crap, woman. This is a debut? Seriously? This is absolutely AMAZING. From the first page I was absolutely captivated, and when it ended my scream of “WHAT THE HECK” could probably have been heard from Canada. (I’m not kidding). The only spoiler I’ll give: IT ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER. GURL.

Sloane, er- Valley, and her mom are on the run and have been for the last eleven years. She’s bounced across the United States, running from her past and the man that haunts both of their dreams. When she lands in a small town, her mom tells her to make some friends since they will be there for as long as they can. So she gets a new friend… and meets her new friends older brother.

Gray sees Valley and feels an immediate attraction, even though she’s got jail bait written all over her. He’s rude, but it doesn’t deter her from remaining friends with his sister. Gray’s family has had a lot of hardships, so despite his growing attraction he tries to stay away so his sister and Valley can remain friends. And then her 18th birthday hits and BAM there’s no going back.

This book has it all. Angst, drama, taboo relationships, mystery and humor. It also has an alpha male (yay!). There flow of the novel was so good, I almost wished she described every day of the six months because I wanted to know more. I loved that even though it was a young adult/new adult, the characters were mostly mature. I loved that Gray and Valley had to overcome more issues than Vogue to get to where they are.

AND IT’S NOT DONE YET.

But most of all- they had to mature as separate entities in order to love they way they wanted to. So I cannot wait until Love on the Rise comes out because from what I read in book one… it’s gonna be EPIC!!!

loveontherun35star
**All images are from freeimages.com and pexels.com and all fonts are from CreativeMarket.com. For more info on the fonts and images used, please email caitscreatures@gmail.com**
5 stars, Book Review

Tossing It by Rachel Robinson Review!

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arcblurb

Broken glass

Leif Andersson knows a lot of things. How to hunt terrorists, where to hide from his neurotic, overbearing sisters, when to make a reasonable judgement call, and why he’s never settled down with a woman. When a SEAL base opens in the small, coastal town of Bronze Bay, Florida, Leif knows it’s the perfect situation to shake things up after years of fighting a monotonous, global war. A simple place, to build a simple life turns out to be anything but when he meets and falls in love with her.

Dementia stole Malena Winterset’s mother. It also took her father. He abandoned them both a decade ago when the mental illness grew to be more than he could bear. As the primary caretaker for her mother, Malena spends her days planning parties and working at the Bronze Bay General Store. Her nights are spent at home, wishing for something more. When a SEAL base opens, a new, handsome face in town makes his presence known, but his affections come with rules.

1.) Two forms of birth control

2.) Never leave stuff at his place

3.) Be content to never meet his family

4.) Don’t fall in love with him

When the unthinkable happens, and three of the rules are shockingly, and accidentally broken, lives are changed forever.

At least Malena never left her toothbrush in his bathroom…

— Goodreads — Amazon (Coming Soon!)–

aboutheauthorrachelrobinsonRachel Robinson grew up in a small, quiet town full of loud talkers. Her words were always only loud on paper. She has been writing stories and creating characters for as long as she can remember. After living on the west coast for many years, she now resides in Virginia with her husband and two children.

Crazy Good and Set in Stone are International Bestselling novels.

 

 

— Goodreads — Amazon — Facebook — Readers Group — Website — Twitter —

reviewtossingit1

AW man, y’all. You’re gonna want this book. I’m not even sure where to begin with this one?? I mean, it had the alpha male that’s all “No, I don’t need no love thank you very much” and the girl that’s like “I can’t want love and I’m fine by myself.” Then they meet, and there’s that instant attraction that draws them together. There’s no messing around with these two, they both have their rules.

They live by their rules.

Malena Winterset had to grow up a long time ago. Her mother developed dementia when she was young, which caused her bum father to leave. She works her butt off to take care of her mother and pay the bills, and she’s got no time for love. When she meets Leif, she offers him all she can: one night.

Buuuuuut Leif isn’t down for that. Something about Malena calls him to want more in a way he never has. Even when he’s denying it to himself. Leif hasn’t had the time or energy for a relationship. Between the Navy SEALs and his crazy intrusive family, all he wants is a little no-strings-attached fun. But he doesn’t get it with Malena, because his heart beats “Mine” when he’s around her. So he gives her the rules, tells her not to fall in love with him, and claims her.

But what happens when the rules are broken? Laughter, heartbreak, TEARS (JESUS WOMAN), and best of all: Love. Almost all their rules are broken (they made sure to clean up after themselves when they left each other’s houses), but they’re both happy about it. Well… sort of.

This book has everything you will need. It’s heartbreaking, without too much angst. It’s got a hot SEAL, who wants to take care of his girl. A woman who has been taking care of everything for so long, she accepts the help. (Don’t get it twisted- she’s still independent as HECK, but everyone needs help sometimes.) If you like some drama without it being super dramatic and taking up the whole book, then you will L-O-V-E this book. There’s push and pull, but it’s not the entire book.

tossingit35star
**All images are from freeimages.com and pexels.com and all fonts are from CreativeMarket.com. For more info on the fonts and images used, please email caitscreatures@gmail.com**
4 stars, Book Review

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

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newarcbannerblurbtherightstudWall 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 —

authortialouiseTia 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 —

ilsamaddenWall 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 —

reviewtherightstud2

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.

therightstud34star

 

**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**

5 stars, Best of 2018, Book Review

Unexpected Love Story by Natasha Madison Review

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newarcbannerblurbunexpectedlovestoryWhen one man’s death exposes a complex web of lies, three couples discover the true meaning of love, loss and redemption. 

Gabe 
I thought I had it all with the best medical practice in the state and the woman of my dreams.
I wore a smile on my face every single day.
I couldn’t wait to watch her walk down the aisle and start our forever, except she never did.
My runaway bride made me realize love isn’t worth it.

Crystal 
I was the strong one, they said, until two words brought me to my knees.
It was a secret I didn’t share with anyone.
A secret that made me promise I’d never fall in love.
I no longer wanted that white picket fence of every woman’s dreams.

Until the unthinkable happened. 

What happens when your dreams unexpectedly come true?
This is the story of unexpected love.

— Goodreads — Amazon — iBooks — Kobo — Barnes & Nobles —

author28d32-natasha2bmadison

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

 

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

reviewunexpected1

I finished this book in a couple hours, devouring every sentence, every page Natasha gifted the world with, until it was over and I was crying happy tears. The way she weaved this story, not only as a standalone, but also how she connected Perfect Love Story and Unexpected Love Story. Now, I know I’m a big cry baby; I get really emotionally attached to characters and books and movies, and basically everything. So, I prepared for this book. What did Natasha say? “It’s not that bad.” Actually it was in all caps, but you get the picture.

Well, it was that bad. I have four pieces of evidence that I showed her, and I would show you, but I don’t want to give the book away. There were parts I was bawling for, and parts I was laughing hysterically over. Gabe and Crystal’s relationship was the best game of cat and mouse I’ve ever read, and I never wanted it to end, ever. She had two people who swore they would never love again, find love unexpectedly (PUN INTENDED), and embrace it with everything inside of them. They had their own demons to fight, their own battles to face, but it made them individually stronger, and their bond grow.

One thing that Natasha did that I absolutely adored was that she took the thing I hate the most in romance, and made it something beautiful. I hate, hate, hate when a girl or a guy pushes away love because “they refuse to find love” or whatever. They come up with some ridiculous reasons why they don’t want love, and they end up just making me mad or I want to strangle them. Occasionally, I find a character that I just want to strangle, but know their reasoning so I get why they don’t want love and think they can just turn that part of their brain off. Natasha Madison made me fall in love with Crystal, despite her thinking she could get away with a fling with Gabe.

She has her reasons, reasons I won’t give away, because I’m not a spoiler in case you haven’t read Perfect yet, or any other reason. Just know: her reasons are totally valid. She is fun, not annoying. She’s strong, independent, determined to be happy for others. She gave up her dreams, but isn’t living in the dark and hating life. She’s trying to make the best of her life, and all the while, I wanted to hug her close and tell her it’d all be alright.

And Gabe, GABE, who I love, is so freaking sweet, sometimes he’s a grumpapotamus, and he’s sworn off love too. He’s got totally valid reasons for it, but meeting Crystal, getting to know her, changes that. And he weasels his way into her life, into her bed, and into her heart. He’s not afraid to tell Crystal exactly how he feels, and he’s not afraid to make sure she’s not going anywhere. His alpha-machoness made me want to jump into his arms and tell him to forget about Crystal, but also realize that they’re perfect together. I tend to claim a lot of book boyfriends that are twisted and dark, but I am CLAIMING GABE for everyone to see.

Before I write more gushing about the amazing story, it’s best you just go read Perfect Love Story and then read Unexpected when it comes out. See how these two tales come together, giving you a bigger picture of what was going on as a whole, while also giving you an amazing love story. Me? I’m going to be waiting for Broken Love Story to come out, and stalk up on ice cream until I can get my hands on it.

TL;DR: Gabe is mine, and you need this book.

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

5star

5 stars, Best of 2018, Book Review

By the Grace of You by Dominique Laura Review

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newarcbannerblurbbythegraceofyouFaith.
Hope.
Love.
Strength.
Everything came from my trust in Him.
Until I felt like I was starting to lose it all.
My faith was fractured.
I needed to find my way back…
Before I lost my trust in Him completely.

 

 

 

— Goodreads — Amazon —

author16646808

Dominique Laura started off writing under the pen name Rosie C. but grew brave enough to transition to her real name (well, close enough to it). She loves to read and write whenever possible. She’s an advocate for love and happily ever afters, and she’s snarky and sarcastic. She lives in sunny Southern California with her dog, who she’s slightly obsessed with.

 

 

Facebook — Twitter — Instagram

reviewbythegrace1

By the Grace of You is a short novella about losing faith in God and His word. And Lord let me tell you how much this novel broke me and how much it meant to me. If you believe in God, in any God, there may have been a time n your life that you lost your way. Lilli loses her way for a big reason, but as did I, but sometimes it’s something little in your life that can cause you to question your beliefs and your faith.

Sometimes you need someone to help you guide your way back.

Noah is that person to Lilli. Does he make her believe in God again? No. Does he help guide her back? Yes. He helps give Lilli the strength to find her way again, though he’s not the reason. Lilli has Faith already, was brought up in the church, believed in Christ with her whole heart, but lost that belief and questioned everything for a time. Which she had to learn was normal, for anyone, not just for someone who lost someone in the way she did.

Beware: This novella made me cry several times. In the beginning, I was crying big, fat, ugly, sad tears. Towards the end, I was crying again because I was happy. In such a short novella, my emotions were all over the place, empathizing with Lilli, hurting for her. Dominique, in a few words and chapters, evokes emotions you sometimes wish you weren’t feeling because your hurting so much,  but also makes you so happy that you’re smiling from ear to ear.

If you have the chance, if you believe in anything at all, read this novel. Rediscover your own faith.

Dominique: CAN YOU WRITE A ROM-COM SO I CAN STOP CRYING? THANK YOU. (I’m kidding, keep writing ANYTHING, I will always read it.)

MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA5star