Tag Archives: love

Voyeur by Fiona Cole Review

blurbvoyeurI didn’t know she was my student the first time I paid to watch her at Voyeur.

Once she walked into my classroom, another smiling college freshman, I knew I should stop going. Stop watching.

But I couldn’t do it. Everything about her makes me want more, and once I realize she wants me too, the temptation becomes irresistible.

The worst part is that she has no idea her professor is the one watching behind the glass.

I just have to hope that once she finds out the truth, she wants the same thing I do. Because now that I’ve seen all of her, I can’t look away.

GoodreadsAmazon

author

29872499_1945047725537165_8521270309032165253_o.jpgI never imagined I would ever write a book. I wasn’t even really a reader until the age of twenty. But I picked up a romance and that was it for me. I fell in love. And then one day I stepped into this indie world of books and I started writing. Then I wrote enough to keep going. And then I had a book. Sometimes things happen when you least expect it, but it all falls into place. Writing is it for me.

I’m a stay at home mom with a degree in chemistry and biology. I LOVE science. If you get me started talking about biochemistry, it’s all over. I’ll rattle on for days! But I use all that knowledge to take care of my two little girls. Mostly while my husband is away being a soldier.

It’s taken me a long time to get here, but I like it … And I think I might stay a while.

GoodreadsAmazonFacebook

reviewvoyeur3

When I saw this book, I was really nervous. Voyeurism isn’t my thing; it makes me uncomfortable. And this went even further because there are some couple scenes in the book, though they’re faked. I didn’t know this when I went to read it, but I figured there would be couple scenes, which put me off even more because it felt like cheating in my head. So, I didn’t sign up to try to get an ARC, didn’t even plan on reading it, really. But, I’ve heard nothing but good things about this book, from authors and readers alike, so I decided I’d give it a try. Worse thing to happen? It just wasn’t my thing so I wouldn’t finish it; wouldn’t leave a review or anything because just because it wasn’t what I was into didn’t mean it was a bad book.

But holy hell, thank you Jennifer Vester for telling me how good it was, and thank you Fiona Cole for writing this book. I was sucked into the taboo of someone watching someone else perform sexual acts, as well as the characters in the book. Although naughty, I mean hello how can it not be, it was so supremely well written, that I found myself sucked into the world and the lives of Oaklyn and Callum. And God what crazy lives they lead.

I’m not going to put a synopsis of the book, because it’s everywhere, and the blurb covers it quite nicely. When writing a taboo novel, such as teacher and student, and then adding in the voyeurism aspect, there had to be a careful dynamic so no one had more power over the other. Of course, they both thought the other had the power in the relationship, but in reality, they didn’t. And it was SO. WELL. DONE. These two have a distinct friendship that pushes the boundaries of teacher/student, even when you take away the fact that Callum had seen her getting herself off.

There were also sexual awakenings in the book, for Oaklyn and Callum. Oaklyn has to discover her inner strength and sexuality in order to perform for anonymous strangers, and Callum has his own discovery (which I won’t discuss cause hello spoilers!). But Callum is so broken and my heart literally hurts for him. And when he recognizes he’s put all his happiness, his survival, on one person, he recognizes that it’s not fair to her, and has his own reflection on the life he’s lead. So, he goes back to get help for it in order to lead a healthier life, with Oaklyn.

AND LET THE CRYING COMMENCE. So many times I wanted to hug both Cal and Oak, tell them that it was all going to be ok, even when it wasn’t. Individually, these two were HELLA strong, for sticking to what they believe in and also for asking for help and asking the other to communicate even when it was hard to do. Even when they didn’t want to. By the end, I had real tears running down my face. This book was that good.

So yes, I started out reading the blurb and seeing the title and thought “This book isn’t for me.” And no, not everyone will love it, because that’s the nature of people and writing a book that’s dirty (in all the right ways if you ask me), but I implore you to try it. It is so freaking worth it. From beginning to end, it was worth it. I can’t promise you’ll love it, but I KNOW I DID.

(Sorry for the shouty caps)

voyeur15star

My review of SWEET BABY JESUS by Gillian Jones

blurb

mymindseyeRyker

She is the epitome of the girl next door, but with a feistiness that makes my dick throb.
I’m drawn to her like no other. She stirs things in me I have no desire to feel, makes me long for things I shouldn’t.

This is my game. I choose the players. I never play for keeps.

I don’t believe in fate. I make my own destiny. I work hard and play harder. Luck is for pussies, karma for idiots. Me, I make shit happen.

Meeting her fucked up my plan. Threw me off my game.

I’m now face to face with my karma. Her name is Kat Rollins.

Kat

Ryker Eddison is the epitome of a player. You know the type: Mr. Get In and Get Out.

He’s all about the chase, wanting just one night. Everyone knows this, I know this. Still, I find myself craving him, my greedy body betraying what my heart and mind already know: he will only bring me pain.

He’s the guy that girls like me should avoid. I’m smart, I know better. But when I’m with him, I feel things I’ve never felt before. Things I never knew I wanted.

I can’t deny it … I like the chase. The high is explosive but I’m afraid if I give in, I may end up losing more than I can handle: my heart.

GoodreadsAmazon

authorgillian jonesWife, mother, proud Canadian. Shoe addict, red wine connoisseur, lover of laughter and the friendships that cause it. I’m a sucker for those epic romances that steal my breath and leave me always wanting more.

Goodreads AmazonFacebook

 

review

mymindseye2

Ok first: JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, I need to go to CHURCH after reading this book. I curse like a truck driver, but I think Ryker’s got me beat for f bombs. And Lord that man could dirty talk. The amount of times I took the Lord’s name in vain and squealed “OH. MY. GOD” while reading will surely mean a ton of penance for me. I mean JESUS. Kat was a goner before she even realized it.

And I loved every single minute of it.

I’ve read so many good books lately, and I’ve got a TON of reviews I need to get done (including Natasha Madison’s Perfect Love Story which freaking broke me) but instead of doing all the crap I need to do, I read My Mind’s Eye and finished it at 2:30 in the morning and immediately wanted to write this review. That’s how good this book is. I knew when I read Fighting Weight that I loved Gillian Jones. So much so that after one book, I found out she was going to be at the Books by the Bridge event in NYC this year, so I bought my ticket. Literally, just to meet her. (Am I a crazy stalker or is she just that awesome of an author?) So, while procrastinating writing reviews, I decided to grab My Mind’s Eye (which is available on KU-HOLLA). I made a couple mistakes while reading though.

Mistake #1: I was unprepared- so I’m preparing you. Grab your big girl panties, a glass of wine, and settle in for a read that will have you not wanting to put the book down. At all.
Mistake #2: I was expecting a slow burn, and it was, but LORD THESE TWO BURN. Grab yourself a fan too, with that glass-er bottle, of wine because you’re gonna need it. Kat & Ryker fight their attraction to each other for so long, both denying how they’re feeling, that when these two hit the sheets, I’m pretty sure my house could have burned down around me and I wouldn’t have noticed.

Ryker is a huge playboy, not looking to settle down with any one woman. Kat is just dealing with a nasty break up, and looking to relax after dealing with a fire in her dorm the previous year. Ryker freaking growls when he accidentally catches her changing one day (*fans self*) and loses all sense of the English language. Kat pushes him away, not sure she can do the one-and-done thing her best friend thinks will be good for her. Ryker isn’t ready to lose his playboy ways just yet. Though these two fight it, they both end up together when Ryker decides he’s not going to sit around and let someone else take his girl(*sprays water on self*). Ryker is one hell of an alpha male; jealous, possessive, but also caring and supportive of Kat’s dreams. He helps her study and wants her to continue having a good relationship with her friends. Kat is goal oriented, and definitely not a damsel in distress; when Ryker loses his stuff at work, Kat is not afraid to tell him to back off. She may be insecure, but she’s not weak.

In case you couldn’t tell by anything I’ve said previously, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It is so freaking amazing, and it’s safe! By safe, I mean that Ryker isn’t out trying to bang other girls to get Kat off of his mind; and when he does try, Kat seems to be there reminding him of exactly why he hasn’t even wanted to touch another girl since he met Kat. Kat tries to push him out of her mind, and when she does try to get Ryker out, he is right there to remind her that it ain’t happening.

I’m pretty sure I could fangirl over this book ALL NIGHT but you will just have to read it to see. And when you do, message me so we can talk about it. I’m not even kidding.

mymindseye35star

Smoldering Heart, the Fleming boys are back!

blurbsmoldering heartHigh-risk. Something that Madison had been avoiding for the last five years. After the loss of her fiancé years ago she had vowed that dating would never enter her life again.

Being single was safe. No danger. Zero. She had her shop and her dad’s firefighting buddies to take care of to occupy her time. It was enough…most days.

Then he barged in bringing danger with him in more ways than one. Green eyes with a body that fueled fantasies. And oh — that dirty mouth. He would burn her if she let him. All she had to do was resist his looks and the flames he was igniting. Simple, right?

High-risk. Something Owen Fleming had always loved. Bounty Hunter by trade, occasional bodyguard. As long as he kept bad things from happening to good people he was in.

Being single was a choice. He didn’t have time for love with his occupation. The job wore on him more days than not, and he craved a change. It was enough…for now.

Then he met her. It only took one powerful moment. She ignited something in him and made him burn. And now he was on the hunt to possess her while protecting her from the danger he’d brought into her life. She would be his one way or another. Simple, right?

GoodreadsAmazonauthor

Jennifer Vester is a romance author whose ambition is to entertain readers with off-beat female characters and the over-the-top alpha men that love them.

Her books revolve around romantic suspense with a little something for every reader. Always an HEA….(but look out for those twists!) It’s romance suspense after all.

The Lakefield series deals with some very serious subjects at times.

Come follow me!
Facebook

Or, join my reader’s group on Facebook:
Vester’s Vixens

Newsletter  —   Website

reviewsmoldering heart2

Oh man I love the Fleming brothers. Have you read the Lakefield series yet? If so, you’ve met Brock, Noah and Owen in Chase, and if you’ve read my review, then you know I love Brock(he’s mine!). After I was traumatized and was recovering from a book hangover from Damage, Jennifer kindly pointed me towards Owen’s book (I also maybe wanted to petition her for the Fleming brothers stories but she was already starting them).

Smoldering Heart is a novella filled with insta-love, self realization, healing, and crazy families. Maddie is still recovering from the loss of her fiance. She’s not mourning his loss per-se, she’s just not sure she can ever love someone the way she loved Jason. Owen has become complacent in his career, which has led to mistakes made. One of those mistakes led to Madison, and a new career path. The moment he sees Madison, his world shifts.

Owen, in true Fleming fashion, goes overboard with trying to get Maddie to realize they would be perfect together. They have ups and downs, which lead to both of them coming to terms with the other, while also compromising on certain things. Owen still tags Madison with the Fleming Family Tracker, which ends up saving her life, so she can’t really be mad when she finds out about it.

In true Jennifer Vester fashion there are some major plot twists, which I loved. We also get to see a softer side to Owen, when he writes letters to Madison to apologize for (some) of his mess-ups. Rachael, Madison’s crazy sister, also adds some humor to the situation because she’s a she-devil, and since Noah wants her tagged too I think she is his love for the next book (which would be SO awesome seeing him try to manage her in his orderly world).

As always, Jennifer kept me smiling from the very first page. There was just enough darkness and heaviness to counteract the ridiculous encounters scattered throughout the book. This was also written in dual-POV, and I loved reading through Owen’s eyes. It brought new depth to the book that I hadn’t seen from her yet. She’s left me anxiously awaiting the next Fleming brother’s book, but also wishing I could meet the Fleming parents that raised three crazy protective brothers.

smoldering heart35star

Jennifer Vester did it again.

newarcbannerblurbdamageWhat if the pivotal moment in your life, hinged upon all the events that happened in your past?

Suzanne had survived, had endured. At least that’s what she told herself. So many mistakes littered her life, and she was determined not to repeat them.

Living in Lakefield, with the memories of a man she loved and lost hanging over her, she decides to embark on a new life. It’s a choice that will put a series of events in motion, that could ultimately save her or break her.
When she meets a man who isn’t who he says he is, her reality is suddenly altered, and nothing is quite what she thought it was. Everything in both of their lives will dramatically change.

Fighting against their pasts and a determined killer, two people that thought they knew what defined them, will have to rethink what they know about themselves and each other.

With love and their future on the line, they’ll have to find a way to survive the maniac that’s working to destroy them.
Release Date: April 24th, 2018

Goodreads — Amazon(Coming Soon) — Seriesauthor

Jennifer Vester is a romance author whose ambition is to entertain readers with off-beat female characters and the over-the-top alpha men that love them.

Her books revolve around romantic suspense with a little something for every reader. Always an HEA….(but look out for those twists!) It’s romance suspense after all.

The Lakefield series deals with some very serious subjects at times.

Come follow me!
Facebook

Or, join my reader’s group on Facebook:
Vester’s Vixens

Newsletter  —   Website

reviewdamage2

I just want to start out by apologizing in advanced for the shouty caps- there will probably be a lot of them.

Can I give something more than five stars? Because that’s what this was. It was amazing. It was everything I wanted and needed from the last Lakefield book (though I’m sad it’s over!). This book wrecked me. I was 15% in, FIFTEEN PERCENT IN when Jennifer Vester started breaking me with this book. Did it get any better? NO. If I thought Break had plot twists, it was nothing– NOTHING– compared to Damage. Ok, now to try and write this without giving anything away…

Suzanne has been a figure in the Lakefield series since Olivia’s story. She and Cade had been dancing around each other for awhile, but they hadn’t acted on it. And then Break happened and Cade DIED. And left me completely destroyed. Eight months after his death, Suzanne decides it’s time to move back home, away from Lakefield and the memories, and help her mom. When she moves home, she meets Mark, the manager of the bar and grill she applied to work at.

Sparks fly immediately between these two. But what happens when a serial killer targets Suzanne? Alpha Mark comes out. And, Mark is hiding his own secrets– secrets that will wreck Suzanne all over again. Can she handle it?

Well, duh she’s awesome. She can handle anything. Including alpha males that don’t know when to shut up, or trust her to make the right decisions. She can handle the FBI and Latimer security getting involved. She’s a fighter, so she’s going to fight for everything, and everyone, she wants.

This book was gold. GOLD. And it was an amazing conclusion to the series. (Can I get a petition to add Brock’s brothers to the series? I’m not ready to let the craziness go). I hope my review got across how much I loved EVERY SINGLE MINUTE of this book, I devoured this book. It wrecked me in all the best ways. I have a book hangover now. Excuse me while I try to drown myself in another book while I desperately try to move on from the epicness this novel was.

Cracked Grunge Background.5star

Serenity Cover Reveal!!!

Serenity, the conclusion to the emotional and romantic Fortuity Duet by Rochelle Paige, is coming May 8th!

Serenity - 5x8_Cream_310(1).jpg

Title: Serenity

Series: Fortuity Duet, Book #2

Author: Rochelle Paige

Genre: New Adult Romance

Release Date: May 8, 2018

Cover Designer: LJ Anderson, Mayhem Cover Creations

Photographer: Sara Eirew Photography

Models: Daniel Rengering and Pamela Tremblay Mcallen

I’d lived a privileged life, in the lap of luxury and surrounded by family. It had felt like I was on top of the world…until tragedy struck.

My sense of loss felt bottomless, and I struggled with it every single day. Finding my path back into the light seemed impossible.

But then I met Faith—she was smart, sexy, and out of my league even though she didn’t have a penny to her name. We grew up in different worlds, but somehow we fit perfectly together.

Except neither of us had counted on learning that our connection was more profound than we knew.

Preorder the Duet Today!

Serenity

iBooks: https://apple.co/2GWr1m9

Nook: https://bit.ly/2HoLBLB

Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2JKHac8

Fortuity

Nook: https://bit.ly/2ubr8Ey

iBooks: https://apple.co/2pDi86j

Sign up here to get notified as soon as The Fortuity Duet goes LIVE on Amazon:

https://mailchi.mp/62efb24743c9/fortuity-duet

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rochelle Paige is the Amazon bestselling author of more than twenty books. She absolutely adores reading and her friends growing up used to tease her when she trailed after them, trying to read and walk at the same time. She loves stories with alpha males, sassy heroines, hot sex and happily ever afters. She is a bit of a genre hopper in both her reading and her writing. So far she’s written books in several romance sub-genres including new adult, contemporary, paranormal and romantic suspense.

She is the mother of two wonderful sons who inspired her to chase her dream of being an author. She wants them to learn from her that you can live your dream as long as you are willing to work for it.

RochellePaige.jpg

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ rochellepaigeauthor/

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1436132763270558/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/Ly1Tn

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ RochellePaige1 | @RochellePaige1

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ rochellepaigeauthor/ | @rochellepaigeauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ author/show/7328358.Rochelle_ Paige

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/ Rochelle-Paige/e/B00HEWGCFY

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/ profile/rochelle-paige

 

Truck Stop Tempest by Krissy Daniels

arc review 1blurbtruckstoptempestMy stay in Whisper Springs was supposed to be temporary. A slight detour on my flight to freedom.
Then Tito Moretti stormed into town.
He was everything I wished I could be. Everything I’d been taught to fear.
Confident. Fearsome. Untouchable.

I wasn’t supposed to make friends. I never meant to fall in love.
When Tito learned the truth, would he break me,
Or help me break free?

Tuuli Holt was off limits
Young. Naïve. Pure.
I had no right wanting the blue-eyed bunny.
But damn, that little beast stormed into my life, and scattered my demons.

She had her share of secrets, but they were nothing compared to my sins.
Tuuli said my past didn’t matter.
I wanted to believe her, but when my crimes were exposed, would she bolt?

I should’ve stayed away, set her free.
We could never work.
Church girls didn’t fall in love with executioners.

GoodreadsAmazonTruck Stop TangoTruck Stop Tryst

author

krissy.jpgKrissy is a full time writer, avid reader, and lover of dark and dirty romance.
Growing up surrounded by the great outdoors, her childhood was full of adventure that fueled an overactive imagination and ignited a passion for storytelling. Whether it be dolls, or running free through the wooded areas surrounding her home, playtime always included a tormented villain, a damsel in distress and a larger than life hero.
After relentless encouragement from friends and family, she finally put the characters in her head to pen and paper. The only thing she loves more than curling up with a steamy romance novel, is cozying up to her desk and writing her own sexy adventures to share with others.

GoodreadsAmazonFacebook

reviewtruckstop2

OK FIRST THIS BOOK IS LIVE EARLY. Which means you should go one click the hell out of that button. This book is that good. After reading this, I went and bought Truck Stop Tango (which is free) and then bought Truck Stop Tryst as well. I’ve read all three books and can say, with full authority, Tito is mine. I don’t care what you say, he is mine.

Now that the ugly is out of the way…

I didn’t know when I read this that it was a continuation of two other books. It didn’t hinder my ability to read and enjoy this book thoroughly. It can be read as a standalone, but it’s probably better to read the book third. After reading the first two books, things made more sense (which means I need to do a re-read). Tito is broken, damaged, by the life he was dealt. He believes he is unlovable, and that he can’t love. When he meets Tuuli, he is drawn to her, but he tries to stay away.

Tuuli has her own secrets. Secrets that could ruin everything she built, everything she was trying to get away from. She is drawn to Tito, but her secrets, her past, and Tito’s feelings that he can’t do forever stop her from jumping in head first into Tito.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, for both of them, they are drawn to each other in inexplicable ways. Spoiler: they end up together.

One of my favorite things about this book (and ultimately about the series) is that each couple has something special, something just for them. Tango and Slade have dancing, Tucker and Aida have singing. Tito and Tuuli have “Tell me something I don’t know about you,. Something big.” Each moment, each secret revealed, results in a kiss. And they ultimately end up healing each other, giving each other the strength they need to heal.

I love, love, love Tito, and his journey to heal. Tuuli pulls him back from the souls that torture his heart. And Tito gives Tuuli the peace to move on from the secrets holding her back. Basically, I love everything about this book. And this series. I need epilogues, and novels of these three like 10 years in the future. I’m obsessed with this family. Because these couples, and those they bring into it, are family.

truckstop35star

The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise Review

arc review 1blurbthehardestfallThe first time you meet someone, you make eye contact. You smile, say hello. Should be simple, if you’re anyone but me. The first time I met Dylan Reed, I found myself making eye contact with a different part of his body. You see, I’m very good at being shy, not to mention extremely well-versed in rambling nonsense and, unfortunately, rather highly skilled at making a fool of myself in front of a guy I’m attracted to.

At the time, I knew nothing about him and thought none of what I said would matter since I’d never speak to him again. Turns out, I was very wrong. He was the star wide receiver of the football team, one of the few players expected to make it into the NFL, and I ended up seeing him all over campus.
I might have also propositioned him, run away from him, attacked him with a cooking utensil…and…uh, maybe I shouldn’t tell you all of it. It’s pretty normal stuff, things you’d expect…from me. Eventually, the time came when I couldn’t hide anymore—not that he’d have let me even if I tried.
Before now, he never knew I was secretly watching him. Now that we see each other every day, he knows when I have a hard time looking away. It doesn’t help that I’m not the most subtle person in the world either.

He smiles at me and tells me he finds me fascinating because of my quirks. I can’t even tell him that I think my heart beats differently whenever he’s around.

He thinks we’re going to be best friends. I think I have a big thing for him, and the more I get to know him, the more I don’t care that I’m not allowed to be his friend, let alone fall for him.

The thing is, that’s exactly what I’m doing—what we’re doing, I think.

GoodreadsAmazon

authorProcessed with VSCO with x1 presetWriting has become my world and I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than giving life to new characters and new stories. You know how some things simply makes your heart burst with happiness? A really good book, a puppy, hugging someone you’ve been missing like crazy? That’s what writing does to me. And all the hard work, all the sleepless nights, all the anxiety…everything is worth it at the end. And I’m hoping that reading my books will leave you with that same happy feeling.

VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/Ella-Maise/e/B…

VISIT ME ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/authorellamaise

JOIN MY PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ellam…

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/authorellam…
review
the hardest fall.jpg

I. Love. Dylan. He’s mine and you can’t have him. Not even if your name is Zoe. I’ve claimed him. He is the sweetest guy, nowhere near a player like the usual jock trope. He is an admittedly “one woman” guy. The SWEETEST guy. He plays football, wide receiver, and is destined to be in the NFL. Although he meets Zoe twice before, things haven’t lined up for them to get together. At the beginning of his senior year, things finally seem to line up for these two… maybe.

Zoe is awkward as hell. She is awesome, but can’t seem to keep her mouth shut when she’s in the same room as Dylan. Two awkward and completely embarrassing encounters later, and Zoe sees Dylan again. And she’s just as completely ridiculous as you would hope from her. And it doesn’t stop there. Due to some circumstances neither one was expecting, they end up living together.

I have to admit, although I loved Zoe and Dylan, I almost didn’t finish reading. I was going to PM the author and ask for some spoilers or something so I could keep reading because I really did love them. There were just some issues I had with the book, but because of plot twists and part of the suspense of the book, I can’t really talk about which issues I had with it. (This book releases on the 20th so when ya read it please message me on Facebook so we can talk as you read.)

I gave this book 5 stars, because even though I wanted to put it down, I couldn’t. I was so completely and totally invested in everything that had to do with these two. From the very first page, their very first encounter, I was hooked. I’ve never read anything from Elle Maise before, but I’m currently stalking her now. Because I’m gonna need more.

Basically, this book was funny, awkward, cringe inducing, plot twist central and it was SO good. So go get it. Add it to your TBR. You’ll love it.

the hardest fall 2.jpg5star

Even if it Breaks Me

**Please note, I suck at taking pictures so I definitely did NOT take the picture above. None of the pictures I have used, or will use, are mine. This one was from Dominique herself!**

arc review 1blurbevenifitbreaksmeAt fourteen years old, I loved him.
Hard.
So hard it hurt.
I loved him, but love isn’t what it was.
It was a game, a lie. And I would never be the same.
I fell in love with a liar, and when the truth was uncovered, he left my heart shattered and never looked back.
So I didn’t either. I moved on, went to college, and I lived my life without him, pushing thoughts of him away whenever they tried to break through the bubble I had created for myself.
I was twenty-four when he came back into my life, a month before I was set to marry someone else, someone who had pieced together the broken parts he had left behind.
I shouldn’t have agreed to meet with him, but I did. I had to.
My heart broke all over again.
My head and heart were officially at war.
I had a choice to make, and it should have been easy, but it wasn’t. Because whatever choice I made, head or heart, I knew it would break me.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

review
evenifitbreaksme.jpg

SHE DID IT AGAIN. Dominique Laura gave me another novel that had me in tears. This was emotional in a different way, because it’s the story of your first love. She gave me another YA/Contemporary Romance that I connected with on a level I didn’t know I could, since my first love, I thought, wasn’t like Jade’s. My first love was different because it didn’t last years, like Jade’s did. Mine was short (three months!), tumultuous, and definitely didn’t carry over to college. Hell, looking back, I don’t even know if it was love. But throughout the rest of high school, he definitely impacted my life. I’d get the call or text every few months, trying to be friends, and have to learn all over again he was a grade-A jerk.

I think our first love always holds a special place in our hearts. It’s the one I think teaches you the most about what you want in life. It’s the one that hurts the most. It’s the one you thought would last forever, even if your head (and everyone around you) told you it wouldn’t last. There’s manipulation, tears, fights, and happiness.

Going into this, especially with the prologue, I thought for sure I’d root for Jade’s first love. I mean, who doesn’t like to read about the guy you fell in love with, fought to be with, coming back into the girl’s life and they end up together? I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, much like Jade had, with her relationship with Dylan. What was going to be the thing that pushed her towards Tian?

But God, this was so much better. Because it was real.

Dominique eloquently and perfectly describes the falling in love so young, thinking it is going to be your everything, allowing someone to hurt and manipulate you into forgiving them, ignoring the signs they aren’t who you think they are, and the hurt that follows when you have to choose yourself over someone else. Someone you thought you loved. Someone you thought loved you. She describes the hardships of falling in love with someone new.

Dominique: Keep writing your amazing stories. They are beautiful, and you have a true gift! I will gladly have tissues and ice cream ready for every tale you weave, as long as you continue to do it.
Everyone else: GET THIS BOOK! And when it releases, look in the back for true lessons readers learned from their first love. (Which I will be getting just to read those stories).
evenifitbreaksme1.jpg

5star

Living In the Gray

arc review 1blurbin the gray“There isn’t always a clean beginning and ending to every story. Instead of something being black or white, it’s a mixture of both, forming a nice shade of gray.”

Writer Lori Stevens was eighteen when she was assaulted by her mentor, learning people aren’t always what they seem the hard way. She’s found solace living in the gray, keeping everyone at arm’s length with her secrets safely tucked away.
When the biggest story of her career hits too close to home, Lori is forced to face her demons and question everything—like her feelings for Steven Duncan.

Steven was meant to be nothing more than a failed one-night stand, but when a cruel twist of fate brings him back into her life, she begins falling for him.

There’s one slight problem: he’s dating her best friend.

Officer Steven Duncan is no stranger to tragedy, but that never stopped him from searching for his fairytale. Now, he’s dating the perfect girl, only it’s the wrong girl who feels right.

Steven is willing to fight for Lori—to step outside the boundaries of his black and white world—but can they find happiness living in the gray?

***This book can be read as a standalone***

GoodreadsAmazon

authoradmccammon

Amber McCammon is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and avid reader who also happens to write contemporary romance/women’s fiction. She currently has two self-published novels, In This Moment and Crushed. In the Gray, releasing April 19th, is the third book in her standalone series. The fourth is expected to release in late 2018.

Amber lives in Tennessee, born and raised, though she recently left her heart in the PNW. She’s a Ravenclaw, fall is her favorite season, and she believes that music is food for the soul.

FacebookGoodreadsWebsiteAmazonTwitter

review
inthegray1

First, Thank you. Thank you for writing this book. I don’t normally read love triangles, because they’re messy. I like romances because I escape from reality, and I’ve got enough mess in my life. But when I read the blurb for this book, and had an opportunity to read it, I asked for the chance. Something I forgot about emotional reads? They can rock your world, rip you apart from the inside out, and still leave you wanting more at the end.

Lori Stevens was not a like-able character. God, I wanted to shake her and scream at her so many times it’s not even funny. She has suffered heartache that no one ever should, so she’s been busy pushing everyone away, worrying about everyone else’s happiness, believing she doesn’t deserve it.

Steven Duncan is a nice guy, who I loved from the beginning, who chases Lori as much as possible, but she never lets up. When he meets someone new, someone who makes love easy, he takes it as a sign to move on. The problem? His perfect girl is Lori’s best friend, Cat. WHAT A MESS! Although I loved Steven from the beginning, LORD did I want to throat punch him sometimes. The relationship with Cat, though, allows both Steven and Lori to become close, under the guise of friendship.

There is no cheating happening in this book. Both Lori and Steven try to ignore their feelings for each other, try to be friends, for the sake of Cat. They do not cross physical boundaries. Not once.

Growing up, I think I’ve had the “what is rape?” talk many times. I had to watch a video starring Kristen Stewart on my first day of college detailing date rape, and other kinds of rape. When I watched the video, I felt my heart in my throat thinking “Wait, that’s rape? That’s assault?” They still didn’t cover being groomed for assault. They didn’t talk about the stigma that follows you when you try to report something that happened. “Should women be arrested for falsely reporting rape?” pictures are all over different social media on any given day. We still live in a world that tries to blame the victim because they don’t understand that even though you didn’t say no, or you said no then said yes, you do not want to be in the situation you’re in. This book had me in tears, telling the story of three women suffering from assault that they were trained to believe was not assault. They were manipulated and lied to, so they would keep quiet and never tell their story.

So thank you, A.D. McCammon. Thank you for writing this story. Thank you for giving me Lori and Steven to stay with me forever. Thank you for telling a story that needed to be told. This will be a book I recommend to anyone I can, because it’s that good, and that heartbreaking. Thank you for writing a story about a side of assault we (at least I) don’t normally hear about. Just, thank you.

inthegray3

5star

I love the Chase

Did I just make a reference to Garbage? Yes, yes I did.

I received a copy of Run, Hide, Break & Chase, in exchange for honest reviews. Here’s my fouth one… Damage releases April 24th!

blurb
chase.jpgAndi had it all figured out.

She had a sweet job for the summer working at a luxury hotel and her brother was happy. That’s all she really needed and that’s all she wanted to focus on.

Her horrible past was way behind her and she was making a better life for them both. Even if it was built on a lie, it was better than the one they had. She gave up chasing her dreams long ago.

She would keep their secret. To protect her brother. To protect herself.

Then he showed up.

He’s out to catch a criminal and asking for her help.

Brock, the genius — He wasn’t modest about it.
Brock, the incredibly inquisitive — He wasn’t going to give up.
Brock, the guy with the GQ looks and bad boy reputation — He wasn’t denying it.

He was asking for the truth about her past that she couldn’t give. If she told him it could risk everything.

But Brock is in this to win and it’s hard to deny those stormy green eyes and kinky whispers in her ear. Chasing her seems to be his new priority and he’s playing dirty. If he caught her what would he do?

He may be digging into Andi’s life but this controlling and complex alpha male has some secrets of his own.

Lies and secrets. Everyone told them and had them. How far would they go to keep them?

**Full-length standalone romance. 80,000+ words. No cheating or cliffhangers with a Happily Ever After!

GoodreadsAmazon

author

Jennifer Vester is a romance author whose ambition is to entertain readers with off-beat female characters and the over-the-top alpha men that love them.

Her books revolve around romantic suspense with a little something for every reader. Always an HEA….(but look out for those twists!) It’s romance suspense after all.

The Lakefield series deals with some very serious subjects at times.

Come follow me!
Facebook

Or, join my reader’s group on Facebook:
Vester’s Vixens

Newsletter  —   Website

review

chase2

YES! The references to committing their other half is back! Let’s be honest, if you haven’t considered seriously murdering and or committing someone to a mental hospital, do you really love them?

Ever since Andi slapped Brock in Break, I have been looking forward to their story. Brock’s obsession with keeping tabs on everyone and everything made for a good mental patient- I mean love interest. It’s bad enough to have an alpha that is obsessed with your safety and has psychopathic tendencies, but add in a tech genius and what do you get? Madness. And I loved every second of it.

Brock and Andi have chemistry off the charts, and they’re not afraid to give the other one hell. Andi has a rough past, one that she is hiding from if only to protect her brother, and Brock is hell bent and determined to find out what that past is. For someone who knows everything, can crack every puzzle, he has a hard time cracking Andi. So he goes about it the old fashioned way- seduction. Andi fights hard to trust Brock, but the nature of his job means he’s kept secrets. Secrets that affect their relationship.

This book didn’t have as many plot twists as the previous one, thank God because I don’t know if my heart could handle it, to be honest. There were still a few, and they were good ones, but makes you question whether Brock really is insane or if he’s got the right idea. I love that Andi puts Brock through hell, but Brock puts her through just as much. He is known as a player and flirt, but from the moment he met Andi, he stopped.

Are we going to see more of Brock’s dungeon though? Because I really like the dungeon…

The Lakefield crew is as crazy as ever, but they stick together. I cannot WAIT for Damage to be released in three weeks. Each of these books has gotten better and better, and Jennifer’s wit continues to keep me laughing the whole time.

chase3

5star