Review Wednesday: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*


Title: Wallbanger (Cocktail #1)
Author: Alice Clayton
1st Date of Publication: November 12, 2012
ISBN: 9781623420024
# of Pages: 384
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: 
The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly...

In a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight...

Setting: San Fransisco, California in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st Person- Caroline Reynolds 

Goodreads Rating: 4.10

My Rating: 4.25


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: It seems very scandalous. It seems to matcj the title very 
View on the Title: I know that there is an alcoholic drink called a wallbanger, but maybe it is a play on words with the sex.

Pros:

• The main characters are pretty interesting together. They complement each other.
• Caroline Reynolds is a hardworking interior desinger who is great at her job. She loves to bake in her free time while she listens to her neighbor's good-tasted music. She has had a lot of bad luck with seual partners that she decided to go on an indefinite sexual hiatus.
• Simon Parker is Caroline Reynold's neighbor and he isn't the typical neighbor. He has a very different seual life than the average man, but he hasa good taste in musc and an excellent photographer who gets to travel the world. He has a past that causes him to live this certain lifestyle.
• Together Caroline and Simon are hilarious as they try to play matchmaker with their friends. The entire encounter is exciting and captivating.
• This novel is extremely funny alomst as much as it is sexy. It continues to make you laugh. From the baking jokes to the harem jokes, this novel will make you laugh so hard.

Cons:

• The only thing I wish is that there was more depth to Simon and the other supporting characters. But, this is a series so there should be more characterization.

Critics' Reviews:

"Pure escapism...with a funny cast, snappy dialogue, and plenty of hot and sexy scenes.... Readers of Rachel Gibson and Helen Fielding will enjoy Clayton" -Booklist

Alice Clayton's Website:
http://aliceclayton.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles
Easy by Tammara Webber

Review Wednesday: Beautiful Sacrifice by Jamie McGuire

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*


Title: Beautiful Sacrifice (Maddox Brother #3)
Author: Jamie McGuire
1st Date of Publication: May 31, 2015
ISBN: 9781511847506
# of Pages: 270
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: 
Falyn Fairchild can walk away from anything. Having already left her car, her education, and even her parents, the daughter of the next governor of Colorado is back in her hometown, broke and waiting tables for the Bucksaw Café. After every shift, Falyn adds to her shoebox of cash, hoping to one day save enough to buy her a plane ticket to the only place she can find forgiveness: Eakins, Illinois.

The moment Taylor Maddox is seated in Falyn’s section at the Bucksaw, she knows he’s trouble. Taylor is charming, breaks promises, and gorgeous even when covered in filth—making him everything Falyn believes a hotshot firefighter to be. Falyn isn’t interested in becoming another statistic, and for a Maddox boy, a disinterested girl is the ultimate challenge.

Once Falyn learns where Taylor calls home, everything changes. In the end, Maddox persistence is met with Falyn’s talent for leaving, and for the first time, Taylor may be the one to get burned.

Setting: Colorado Springs, Colorado and Eakins, Illinois in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st Person- Falyn Fairchild

Goodreads Rating: 4.08

My Rating: 4.35


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: Why is the woman's hair on fire? Is she giving up her life?
View on the Title: Can a sacrifice really be beautiful when it's going to cause pain and suffering? What kind of suffering and sacrifice can be beautiful?

Pros:

• The main characters are a really interesting mix.
• Don't let Falyn Fairchild fool you. She is not very nice to men interested in her, but she is really great as a waitress. She is sweet, caring, and extremely hard working to the point where she refuses to take any short cuts for her personal mission, which is to go to Eakins, Illinois.
• Taylor Maddox is the perfect package. He's very attractive, successful, and a hotshot firefighter, or someone who fights extremely dangerous wildfires. He has his eyes set on Falyn and he is relentless in becoming closer to her. It's really endearing to read.
• This book really gets at your heartstrings. Falyn's past has more heartbreak in it than the other Maddox boys' women. Falyn's past truly speaks to why her current circumstances are so drastic from what they could be.
• The mystery compels you to read more. Why does she live a life of "rags" when she grew up in "riches?" Why does she hate her parents so much? Why is she cold toward men who are attracted to her? Why is she dead set on going to Eakins, Illinois?
• The secondary characters really add to the story. They provide a lot of depth to Falyn's character as she sometimes holds back information that is vital to know how the story will unfold.

Cons:

• It seemed like there lacked some depth in Taylor's character. If you don't love Maddox boys, then this series will seem slightly repetitive when it comes to the Maddox men.

Jamie McGuire's Website:

http://www.jamiemcguire.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire
Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles
Easy by Tammara Webber

Review Wednesday: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*


Title: Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful Disaster #1)
Author: Jamie McGuire
1st Date of Publication: May 26, 2011
ISBN: 9781476712048
# of Pages: 416
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: 
The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand. 


Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Setting: Eakins, Illinois in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st Person- Abigail "Abby" Abernathy

Goodreads Rating: 4.14

My Rating: 4.5


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: The butterfly looks like it's trapped in the jar, but it looks like it has accepted that it is there to stay. Why is it not trying to get to the top since that's where the lid is?
View on the Title: It seems a bit contradictory. How can a disaster be beautiful? What or who is the disaster? And why is it or whom a disaster?

Pros:

• The plot was very well structured, which made the story seem so beautiful. There were so many conflicts occurring but they were woven so well together that it seemed extremely natural.
• The two main characters are very complimentary of each other.
• Abby has lived most of her life in a troubled spotlight. She was forced to be bad growing up, but she wants to be the one to control her life. She is strong, sassy, and resilient.
• Travis Maddox is attractive, smart, and doesn't let people push him or those he loves around. He is a good representation of a college boy that has no constraints and even lower morals. He's the kind of guy you want to be friends with but really shouldn't.
• The mystery of Abby's past is really interesting because there are times that when you read about it you forget it. But then, you get reminded of it and you want to find out why Abby hides from her past.
• The world of the Maddox brothers is shown here. Travis has four older brothers, which their stories are each told in the Maddox Brothers series.

Cons:

• The two main characters were really frustrating at times. It felt like arguing with someone because they couldn't make up their mind by flip-flopping on their choices. 
• The ending seemed a little too cliche. It should have ended in a little more realistic way. It made Abby seem out of character.

Critics' Reviews:

"Characters, backstory, goals, motivations, and conflicts are a great mix of angst, crippling inner demons, and harsh real life. The pace has a rhythmic beat of two steps forward, four steps back as Abby and Travis grapple with their fierce attraction. Jamie McGuire writes with no holds barred. She writes with honest reflection on young people who move through life by their own rules...The entire cast lives hard, fights hard, and certainly loves hard. Deliciously intense." -USA Today

Jamie McGuire's Website:

http://www.jamiemcguire.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire
Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles
Easy by Tammara Webber

Review Wednesday: Driven by K. Bromberg

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Driven (Driven #1)

Author: K. Bromberg
1st Date of Publication: May 8, 2013

ISBN: 9780989450201
# of Pages: 326

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
Rylee Thomas is used to being in control. But she’s about to meet the one man that just might make her enjoy losing it…

I am the exception to the rule.

In a world full of willing women, I’m a challenge to the roguish and achingly handsome Colton Donavan. A man used to getting exactly what he wants in all aspects of life. He’s the reckless bad boy constantly skating that razor thin edge toward out of control, on and off of the track.

Colton crashes into my life like a tornado: sapping my control, testing my vulnerabilities beyond their limits, and unintentionally penetrating the protective wall around my healing heart. Tearing apart the world I rebuilt so carefully with structure, predictability, and discipline.

I can’t give him what he wants and he can’t give me what I need. But after a glimpse beneath his refined exterior into the dark secrets of his damaged soul, can I bring myself to walk away?

Our sexual chemistry is undeniable. Our individual need for complete control is irrefutable. But when our worlds collide, is the chemistry enough to bring us together or will our untold secrets and battle of wills force us apart?

Setting: Los Angeles, CA, in 21st Century
Point of View: 1st person- Rylee Thomas

Goodreads Rating: 4.31

My Rating: 4.50

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The cover looks scandalous. Why is she holding a checkered flag? Why can't her face be visible? This is the first novel where I have seen a female on the cover instead of a couple or only a male. 
View on Title: Who or what is driven? Why is who or it driven?

Pros:

• The main characters are very interesting because they're very good at putting a public face when deep down they are messed up and their minds are obviously all over the place when either alone or just the two together.
• This novel tells Rylee's messed up past and why she can't let herself love or be loved or even enjoy herself with the opposite gender. She is strong as she clearly struggles with the decision whether to give in to heart or mind. She is very sassy and doesn't really let people tell her what to do while being compassionate to children who don't have a home or family.
• Colton's screwed up past isn't revealed, but I bet we find out about his crazy past in the next book. Colton is a man who is successful and obviously spoiled but he channels his anger through his driving. He seems like he just wants to enjoy life as much as he can to cover up his pain. He is also great with kids and making them comfortable as he interacts with the foster kids Rylee takes care of.
• This novel really focuses on the issue of kids who live in foster homes. These kids don't have parents, have to rely on other adults to be temporary parents, and the home isn't completely their permanent home. Their lifestyle bleeds into their school and social lives as they have acted out in school or don't feel like they are enough. Colton was once a kid who was adopted from a bad place in life.
• Since I read the ebook, I didn't know this was a series while most of the novels in this genre are either stand-alones or companions. The ending seemed extremely abrupt and horrible if the reader didn't know it was a series. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that there will be more about Rylee and Colton.
• I did some digging and found out that this is both a series and a companion that also has its own series, which I am excited to read. 

Cons:

• The pacing was very erratic. It was fast and then slow and then fast again. It felt like a roller coaster that would make you extremely sick if you weren't used to reading stuff like this often.

K. Brombergs Website:
http://www.kbromberg.com/

Other Recommendations:

Wrong by Jane Aston
My Skylar by Penelope Ward
For You by Kristen Ashley

Review Wednesday: For You by Kristen Ashley

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: For You (The 'Burg #1)

Author: Kristen Ashley
1st Date of Publication: March 14, 2011

ISBN: 9780692323663
# of Pages: 534

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
Lieutenant Alexander Colton and February Owens were high school sweethearts. Everyone in their small town knew from the moment they met they were meant for each other. But something happened and Feb broke Colt’s heart then she turned wild and tragedy struck. Colt meted out revenge against the man who brought Feb low but even though Colt risked it all for her, Feb turned her back on him and left town.

Fifteen years later, Feb comes back to help run the family bar. But there’s so much water under the bridge separating her and Colt everyone knows they’ll never get back together.

Until someone starts hacking up people in Feb’s life. Colt is still Colt and Feb is still Feb so the town watches as Colt goes all out to find the murderer while trying to keep Feb safe.

As the bodies pile up, The Feds move in and a twisting, turning story unravels exposing a very sick man who has claimed numerous victims along the way, Feb and Colt battle their enduring attraction and the beautiful but lost history that weaves them together.



Setting: Brownsburg, Indiana
Point of View: 3rd person- February Owens and Alexander "Alex/Colt" Colton

Goodreads Rating: 4.19

My Rating: 4.5

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: I like the heart since it reminds me of a sort of high school sweethearts feel, except it doesn't have the initials of the lovers on it. It looks more like pointless vandalism without the initials.
View on Title: What is "for you"? Who is "you" and who is the one giving or doing something for the recipient? It's really vague nut it seems interesting enough to read.

Pros:

• The ages of the main characters were really different compared to the other new adult novels I have read, which I think made it more interesting. I liked the sense of maturity between the two characters. It really makes you think what is really important in life. Both main characters are in their early 40s rather than in their 20s or 30s like characters in the other new adult novels I have read in the past.
• I really enjoyed the 2 main characters, Feb and Colt. It's easy to tell that they both have a history together. Their history together started really good but something happened to them, and now they can barely look at each other.
• February Owens just want to go back to a normal life where she is only responsible for herself. She's been through a bad marriage and several toxic relationships after leaving Brownsburg for almost a decade. She is a strong character but her world is shaken when someone tries to do her the favor of killing all the people who she is associated with. She doesn't take any trouble from anyone especially since she is a bartender at her parents' bar.
• Alexander Colton is a rags to riches kind of man. Both his parents are alcohol and drug addicts and it seemed like he was headed into that route until he meant the Owens family. He's the lieutenant of the town and is extremely protective of Feb. He is also a  strong character as he doesn't stop to solve and catch the murderer
• The importance of family and why failed relationships occur are important in this book. Feb and Morrie's (Feb's brother) always make sure to put family first, even Colt, and that's apparent throughout the novel. Unfortunately, Morrie's marriage is gone because he chose work over family, and Feb is divorced to a man who would beat her and now living on her own.
• The mysteriousness of not only the murders but the reason of the failed relationship between Feb and Colt makes you want to keep reading.

Cons:

• There were a lot of secondary characters in the book that showed up and it was sometimes hard to keep track if they had shown up earlier in the book. This may have been intentional because when you're in a situation that is very stressful and dire like Feb's then it is normal to just breeze through and lose sight of certain characters.
• The book seemed a little long winded. I felt that the book didn't necessarily need to be as long as it was. The whole situation was very drawn out and there was lot of "white noise" where there was nothing really happening.
• The ending seemed too cliché and parts seemed a little unlikely to happen.

Kristen Ashley's Website:
http://www.kristenashley.net/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Slave to Love by Julie A. Richman
My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Review Wednesday: The Baller by Vi Keeland

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: The Baller

Author: Vi Keeland
1st Date of Publication: January 17, 2016

ISBN: 9781522858416
# of Pages: 284

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.
The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.
When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.
But I don’t date players.
And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football.
I’d date an athlete.
It’s the other kind of player I don’t date.
You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.

Brody Easton was the ultimate player.
Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.
But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.
Turned out, I was that girl.
Simple right?
Let’s face it. It never is.
There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after…
And this one is ours.


Setting: New York, New York
Point of View: 1st person- Delilah Maddox and Brody Easton (and a surprise)

Goodreads Rating: 4.13

My Rating: 4.25

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The man sees to be very fit and attractive, but I want to see his face.
View on Title: There must be someone really good at playing ball. Or, maybe he is just cocky and thinks that he is so great at playing.

Pros:

• This book is different than many of the books in the genre it resides in. It's really neat how it uses the idea of sportscaster and a football player. The main characters are really interesting
• Delilah Maddox has been single for a good amount of time and has no intention of looking since she has had her heart broken by someone she truly loved. She is brand new to the newscaster world, but it's a man's world so that means she has to prove herself. She is spunky and really funny as she gives inappropriate names to people that she doesn't particularly like.
• Brody Easton is a force to be reckoned with. He is a cocky football player and likes to give people a hard time especially female sportscasters. He doesn't let anyone in because he has been hurt by someone else just like Delilah has. He doesn't take "no" for an answer which makes the dynamic between him and Delilah pretty humorous.
• The relationship that blossoms between Delilah and Brody is far from easy. Their first encounter was humorously inappropriate as Delilah tries to get an interview from Brody from the locker room after the game. They have to learn to depend on each other as any couple needs to do.
• I like how the names of the football teams aren't real football teams but sound similar to ones that are real football teams. Brody is on the New York Steel team. It's like the Pittsburgh Steelers but modified.
• The issue of drugs and alcohol is represented in the book and how it could ruin everyone you love (not only yourself). It is probably the most realistic part of the book and it wasn't hidden at all.

Cons:

• The book seemed to repeat the same issues over and over again. It felt like the issues were being beaten to death. It became a little annoying and made the read a little difficult. It took me a little longer to get through this one than it probably could have been.

Vi Keeland's Website:

http://vikeeland.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James
My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Review Wednesday: Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Good Boy

Author: Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
1st Date of Publication: December 28, 2016

ISBN: 9781942444312
# of Pages: 282

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
Hosting her brother’s wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning’s life. Already the family screw-up, she can’t afford to fail. And nobody - absolutely nobody! - can learn of the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. It was wrong, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. Even if he is the sexiest thing on two legs.

Blake Riley sees the wedding as fate’s gift to him. Jess is the maid of honor, and he’s the best man? Let the games begin. So what if he’s facing a little (fine, a lot) of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he’s really a good boy with a bad rap. Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you’ve got to make an effort if you want to score.

But Jess has more pressing issues to deal with than sexy-times with a giant man-child. Such as: Will the ceremony start on time, even though someone got grandma drunk? Does glitter ever belong at a wedding? And is it wrong to murder the best man?


Setting: Starts in California, but mostly in Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
Point of View: 1st person- Jessica Canning and Blake Riley

Goodreads Rating: 4.12

My Rating: 3.75

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Cover

View on the Cover: Can I please have 5 of those dogs and that man, please?
View on Title: It seems a little demeaning if this is for a person, but if it's for a dog then it sounds like a cute tale.

Pros:

• The main female lead, Jess Canning, should be a comfort to a lot of people. She hasn't really done anything in her life and she hasn't really found her knack for something. She feels like a failure when it comes to seeing her other five brothers and sisters with their successes. She just wants to be able to say that she didn't depend on her parents for her success.
• She is very strong as she doesn't run away or give up while she is in nursing school and continues to fight even through uncertainty.
• This book really concentrates on hockey, and the way the characters act in this is exactly how I have seen hockey games. People act a little crazy at these games and try to encourage the players to play a little too rough.
• The novel states the LGBT issues by showing Jess's little brother, Jamie, get married to one of the hockey players, Wesley, at the beginning of the book. Their relationship is seen throughout the novel.

Cons:

• I wasn't a fan of Blake Riley's character at all. He's very immature and the way he acts reminds me of a high school student.
• In general, I did not like the writing style because it felt like there was there were two different writing styles happening at the same time. This is probably because there are two different authors who wrote this book.

Sarina Bowen's Website:
http://www.sarinabowen.com/

Elle Kennedy's Website:
http://ellekennedy.com/

Other Recommendations:

Slave to Love by Julie A. Richman
Fighting to Breathe by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Ladies Man by Katy Evans

Review Wednesday: Say You'll Stay by Corinne Michaels

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Say You'll Stay

Author: Corinne Michaels
1st Date of Publication: June 19, 2016

ISBN: 9781682307533
# of Pages: 310

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
One word.
Stay.
It was all he had to do. Instead, he got on that bus and took my heart with him.
That was seventeen years ago.
I moved on. Marriage. Kids. White picket fence. Everything I ever wanted, but my husband betrayed me and I was left once again.
Alone, penniless, and with two boys, I had no choice but to return to Tennessee. He wasn't supposed to be there. I should've been safe. However, fate has a way of stepping in.
This time around, the tables are turned. It's my decision. Second chances do exist, but I don't know if we can repair what's already been broken...

Setting: Starts in Philadelphia, PA, but most of it is in Bell Buckle, TN
Point of View: 1st person- Presley Townsend Bensen and Zachary Hennington

Goodreads Rating: 4.15

My Rating: 4.45

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Cover

View on the Cover: That man is very attractive. He has a look that says, "Come over here and let me show you what I can do."
View on Title: It has a whiny connotation to it. It makes think that one of the main characters is clingy.

Pros:

• This is a stand-alone novel but it is also a companion novel since many of the characters in this novel will be in the other one, Say You Want Me.
• The story becomes heavy almost immediately into reading it. Usually, stories in this genre have a buildup to the amount of conflict and devastation before an event like the suicide in this novel starts.
• I love this story as a redemption novel where characters who were once very immature and previously made poor decisions become more mature and continue to grow when the novel takes place.
• This novel truly shows the impact people have on each other's lives, and it also shows the actions that someone would take to protect their loved ones.
• The main characters are pretty well-rounded and make the novel flow very easily. It didn't take long for me to finish it.
• Presley Bensen (nee Townsend) was always a simple girl with big dreams. She wants an old-school life of being a wife and mother, which I think is both her strength and downfall. She wanted that so bad that she never became independent on her own, even though she is a great mother. She lets the idea of love cloud her judgment in things and still continues to be dependent on everyone. It makes sense since she has a couple hundred thousand dollars of debt. Although she is very dependent and somewhat clingy, she knows who she is and where she came from.
• Zachary Hennington seems to barely be living his life. He dates someone who he doesn't love and knows it as soon as Presley shows up. I wish he kept his distance more and slowly got reacquainted with Presley. I do have to hand it to him because he is relentless and knows what he wants in his life. Plus, he is really good looking and great with kids.
• The secondary characters are the ones I feel like really make this book pop. My first favorite character Presley's long-time friend and sister-in-law, Angie. She is very spunky and lives life in her own tune, and Presley's complete opposite. Then there's Wyatt who is Zachary's little brother. He is hot and has a good sense of humor, but is always there for Presley and seems like the only one to be able to get her out of her depressing rut. I really empathize with him since he truly loves her, but she has always been Zach's girl.

Cons:

• I felt like there could have been two endings to this novel. Obviously, the first ending would be the one the author gave at the end of the novel. Although the ending was satisfying, the place where I thought the first ending should be would have been perfect. There was a conflict with no foreshadowing, backstory, or thoughts that happens right after where the ending I thought should have been enough. It felt like the author had to put that extra conflict in there just to put it in there. I don't want to give it away, but I thought it was unnecessary after Presley already had to deal with her late husband's suicide and the debt he gave her.
• Even though I understand the pain Presley has gone through in the events before the novel, she punishes almost everyone in the novel for it by not visiting her family and friends. I think that might be a little bit unrealistic because if she loved her family who has done nothing but loves her she would have been homesick and at least visit at least once or twice over two decades. The excuse Presley uses to stay away from her family in Bell Buckle is very immature and ridiculous.
• I felt that the grieving process was almost nonexistent as soon as Presley gets to Bell Buckle. I get that she's angry but she acts like her husband's suicide never happened.

Corinne Micheal's Website:
http://corinnemichaels.com/

Other Recommendations:

Wrong by Jane Aston
My Skylar Penelope Ward
For You by Kristen Ashley

Review Wednesday: Slave to Love by Julie A. Richman

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Slave to Love

Author: Julie A. Richman
1st Date of Publication: January 14, 2016

ISBN: 9781942215325
# of Pages: 284

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
There are risks to mixing business with pleasure...

IF A MAN HAS AN AFFAIR AT WORK, HE'S A STUD.

He was a royal prick.
The night we met, he ignored me.
Then Mr. Big Shot CEO grabbed my ass in a business meeting.
My boss just loaned me out to this guy.
Now, we’re working on a major project together.
And our chemistry is dangerous.
Combustible.
If I allow it to ignite, I’ll risk losing that promotion.
Worse, what if I lose myself in him?


IF A WOMAN HAS AN AFFAIR AT WORK, SHE'S A SLUT.

From the moment I saw her I knew she was trouble.
It was the combination of her fresh face, smart mouth and nipples that seemed to know my name.
This woman could satisfy my needs both in the boardroom and the bedroom.
But there was more to it than that.
I wanted her.
Really wanted her.
And I was in the position to change the course of her life.
But I’ve got secrets, secrets that could destroy her.
And either make her mine or drive her away forever.


Setting: Austin, Texas
Point of View: 1st person- Sierra Stone and Hale Lunstrom

Goodreads Rating: 4.03

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: He is a very handsome, sexy man. He reminds me a little bit of Adam Levine without all the tattoos.
View on Title: Who is a "Slave to Love?" Is the term a good thing or a bad thing?

Pros:

• This is not your typical love story. It shows many real world problems with love and life.
• The first issue it truly shows is women's difficulty to have respect and rise up in a business world or in their own career. They have to work three times as hard to keep their positions.
• It shows the double standard between men and women when it comes to dating in the work force. A man is basically high-fived for sleeping with a woman, but it's the opposite for the woman herself.If a woman has a relationship with someone above her, it marks her as selling her body just to get ahead when really that's not the case.
• The main characters are both really strong and have depth.
• Sierra Stone is a 33 year old woman who is fighting for a new promotion that she deserves more than anybody. She is smart when it comes to managing/leading her own team and knows how to handle a man in business conversations while looking great. She refuses relationships because she is afraid it will mess with her work, which means children are far away from her own thoughts.
• Hale Lundstrom is a 37 year old business CEO and marine veteran who has a past that he tries to bury. He is attractive and likes to test his limits even with Sierra. He wants to settle down and maybe have a family one day, but it never seems to fall in place.
• The banter between Sierra and Hale is humorous yet heartbreaking as they work side-by-side for an important week of events. Their characterization continues to become more fruitful as they become closer in their work friendship.
• There is a lot of sexual tension through the book, but there is little to no resolve for the majority of the book.
• I particularly liked Sierra's mermaid necklace, which symbolized a lot of who she is.

Cons:

• The only real issue I had with it was that the middle seemed to drag. Nothing really was happening. I just kept hoping something would happen.

Julie A. Richman's Website:
http://juliearichman.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James
My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Review Wednesday: My Skylar by Penelope Ward

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: My Skylar

Author: Penelope Ward
1st Date of Publication: June 2, 2014

ISBN: 9781499764529
# of Pages: 312

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
Skylar was my best friend, but I secretly pined for her. One thing after another kept us apart, and I’ve spent the last decade in fear of losing her forever.

First, it was the cancer, but she survived only to face the unthinkable at my hands. Because of me, she left town. For years, I thought I’d never see her again.

But now she’s back…and living with him.

I don’t deserve her after everything I’ve put her through, but I can’t live without her. This is my last chance, because she’s about to make the biggest mistake of her life. I can see it her eyes: she doesn’t love him. She still loves me...which is why I have to stop her before it’s too late.

Setting: Several locations on the east coast of the United
Point of View: 1st person- Mitch and Skylar

Goodreads Rating: 4.36

My Rating: 4.50

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Cover

View on the Cover: It looks like a beach read. Why is the woman topless? What are the man's tattoo supposed to mean? Why does the cover show a somber tone?
View on Title: It seems a bit possessive. Why is the woman his?

Pros:

• This is definitely a beach read. I really enjoyed it and I got it free, which made it even better.
• This book had every possible sad story plot twist in it. All I will say is that it starts out with kids with divorced parents and then cancer, I won't spoil the rest of it. It made the book more interesting. Ward really knew how to make each scenario flow throughout the book.
• The character I found really interesting was Charisma. I kind of hate her, but she is a genius.
• The character development is done very well where it made the characters feel real. You can feel the raw emotions of both Mitch and Skylar. You can understand the motives of both characters and it makes you sympathize with them.

Cons:

• I felt that the sad story plot twists became a little much once the Mitch and Skylar meet. It's a double edged sword, but the stakes were high for the both of them. It gave the notion that love can overcome anything, which is hard to believe.
• Charisma was also a double edged sword. I really hated her and thought she was unnecessary.
• Skylar's indecision really bothered me because that caused most of the problems when it came to her relationship with Mitch.

Penelope Ward's Website:
http://www.penelopewardauthor.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James
Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Review Wednesday: Wrong by Jana Aston

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Wrong (Wrong #1)

Author: Jana Aston
1st Date of Publication: October 15, 2015

ISBN: 9781518729379
# of Pages: 276

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
I have a history of picking the wrong guy. Gay? Player? Momma’s boy? Check, check and check.

Now I can’t stop fantasizing about one of the customers at the coffee shop I work at between classes. It’s just a harmless crush, right? It’s not like I ever see this guy outside of the coffee shop. It’s not like I’m going to see him while attempting to get birth control at the student clinic. While wearing a paper gown. While sitting on an exam table. Because he’s the doctor. Shoot. Me.

But what if, for once, the man I’ve had the dirtiest, most scandalous fantasies about turned out to be everything but wrong?

Setting: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st person- Sophie Tisdale

Goodreads Rating: 3.95

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The man looks very handsome and intriguing. Why is only half of him shown?
View on Title: What is wrong? Why is it wrong? Does the wrong thing happen?

Pros:

• The main characters are fairly well-rounded.
• Sophie Tisdale is a student who works at a coffee shop and is a corporate accounting major at the University of Pennsylvania. She does not want to burden her grandparents with an unplanned pregnancy since she was a product of one. Little is said about her mother and her father is unknown. It makes the reader wonder what happened to both parents. I love Sophie's sassy attitude and her drive for life.
• Luke Miller seems to be very put together and extremely intelligent. He is very confident and is not at all what the reader would think he is. He is very mysterious and attractive, which Sophie likes. I love how controlling but protective Luke can be sometimes. He reminded me a little bit like Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey.
• The name of the coffee shop, Grind Me, is really funny to me because it's foreshadowing and a clever way to call a coffee shop.
• The irony of the entire situation is really funny to me. Sophie thinks that Luke is out of her league partly because she's a student, but he turns out to be a volunteer gynecologist for the college students. I know it sounds a little creepy, but Luke really means well.
• It really hones in on the issue of teenage/college unplanned pregnancies and how it can really change a woman's future. It deeply encourages birth control of different types, the pill, condom, and even abstinence. I love how Sophie is always so worried about the effects of being intimate and tries to be diligent (for the most part) not to become pregnant.

Cons:

• The entire situation seems a little bit too coincidental that it does not seem realistic. On the other hand, my life seemed too coincidental but I still got my happy ending. Maybe these things happen by chance.
• Some of the characters were underdeveloped, such as Sophie's coworker Everly and Sophie's roommate Jean. I soon found out that there is a companion novel for Everly called Right.
• The only thing I really wished for was Luke's point of view. His point of view is seen in the epilogue.

Jana Aston's Website:
http://www.janaaston.com/

Other Recommendations:

My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Sinful Intent by Chelle Bliss

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Ladies Man by Katy Evan
Fighting to Breathe by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Review Wednesday: Fighting to Breathe by Aurora Rose Reynolds

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Fighting to Breathe (Shooting Stars #1)

Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds
1st Date of Publication: June 19, 2015

ISBN: 9781514394632
# of Pages: 202

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
Lea Lamb and Austin Wolf were young when they fell in love. They never imagined the future could hold anything other than together-forever.

When Lea’s father dies in a tragic fishing accident, she's crushed under the weight of her grief and catches a glimpse of another type of future, one she knows she's not strong enough to face.

Austin is angry. For the past fifteen years, he's believed the woman he loved with every ounce of his soul left him without so much as a backwards glance.

When Lea unexpectedly returns to their hometown, all the years of heartache inside Austin bubbles to the surface and presents itself as blinding rage.

Faced with the truth about the past, a newly discovered secret, these former lovers will learn that if they want to have any chance at the future they’d given up on all those years ago, they will have to rescue one another from drowning in pain so debilitating it will leave them both fighting to breath.

Warning this book is intended for mature audiences and may contain triggers for some.

Setting: Cordova, Alaska in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st person- Lea Lamb and Austin Wolf

Goodreads Rating: 4.08

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Cover

View on the Cover: It looks like the girl is drowning. Why is she drowning? Is she literally drowning or drowning in a figurative sense?
View on Title: Why is someone fighting to breath? Are they sick or are they going to die?

Pros:

• It is not your typical love story. It's about second chances and not to throw away an opportunity or disregard a person simply because she or he left. It encourages the readers to seek the truth than believe what is being said or perceived while following the gut.
• I really enjoyed that the story had two different perspectives through the two main characters. I really liked how the perspectives didn't alternate in a consistent pattern, which made it more interesting.
• The secondary characters were a great edition and allowed the book to become three dimensional.
• The setting was new for me. I have never read a book that was set in Alaska so there were some aspects that I read that seemed to be different culturally.

Cons:

• The beginning seemed really slow and then it suddenly felt like everything was rushed. I was ready for something to crash and burn and then suddenly everyone act like nothing happened.
• I believe that Austin's reaction after Lea's mom confesses to him. It didn't seem very realistic because it was as if a flip was switched and he didn't even think about it.
• The cancer story involved seemed very cliché. I understand that it helped the plot, but I'm getting tired of the cancer bombs these authors continue to use in their plots.

Aurora Rose Reynolds's Website:
http://www.aurorarosereynolds.com/

Other Recommendations:

My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Sinful Intent by Chelle Bliss

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Ladies Man by Katy Evan

Review Wednesday: Ladies Man by Katy Evans

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Ladies Man (Manwhore #3)

Author: Katy Evans
1st Date of Publication: April 21, 2016

ISBN: 9781530111640
# of Pages: 298

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
He’s not the guy you date.
He’s the one night stand.

You’d think the man who sends hot looks my way, who called me succulent, would want to strip me to my skin and spread me out on his bed like every other woman in Chicago.

Except he passed on my offer….
Just like I once did on his.
He’s wary, like I am.
He’s broken, like I am.
And everyone knows two broken parts can’t ever make a whole.
So I try to distract myself. I’m back to dating.

Tahoe and I are strictly friends. He doesn’t think my new beau is good enough, but to him, no man is good enough for me. Especially Tahoe himself.

But the more time Tahoe and I spend around each other, the more confused I feel.
I'm trying to open myself to love.
But I'm quickly realizing that the only man I want is stubborn, cocky, unattainable playboy Tahoe Roth.

The one your mother warned you about.
The one my body craves.
The only one who will surely break my heart.

Setting: Cincinnati, Ohio
Point of View: 1st person-Regina "Gina" Wylde

Goodreads Rating: 4.04

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The man on the cover is gorgeous with beautiful blue eyes. He must have a secret story behind those troublemaker eyes. He looks like a heart breaker.
View on Title: Sounds a little naughty. Why is this man a ladies man?

Pros:

• This is actually part of a series, but it is actually a stand alone and sort of a companion book to the others. It's really nice because if you accidentally read it none of the plot is spoiled from the previous ones. I got this as my free romance read of the month book.
• I really enjoyed the character development. The reader learns more about Gina and Tahoe's characters as the plot unfolds. It helps make the characters' actions more understandable. They are truly relatable.
• I love how Tahoe Roth is seen as a playboy. He gets all the ladies all at once. From the beginning, it looks more like the women are a band-aid toward something that he is trying to hide.
• This book really shows the importance of true beauty through Gina's character. She works at a makeup but she has makeup caked on her face even when she sleeps because she can't accept her own beauty.
• The ending does not disappoint. I was not sure if it'll end the way I want or was hoping for.

Cons:

• The part that bothered me the most was Gina's indecisiveness. There were parts where I would get excited when Gina was about to make a move toward something, but then cower.
• This led to some "hype" and then disappointment. It was a constant roller coaster and I was glad when it finally smoothed out.

Critics' Reviews
"A story of true love through and through, Katy Evans delivers pure romance singed with enough spark to warrant a heat advisory." -Mara White, NY Daily News
"Tahoe Roth is the sexy beast that dreams are made of. Katy is the master of turning a slow burn into scorching, blistering heat." -Emma Chase, NYT Bestselling Author
"Yes Yes Yes! Ladies Man is Katy Evans at her best. The perfect mix of heat, sweet, and sexiness. Get ready to swoon!" -J. Daniels, New York Times BestsellingA uthor
"The chemistry between Tahoe and Gina was on fire. The characters were believable and off the charts sexy...one of the best books I've read this year!" -Kim Karr, NYT Bestselling Author
"Off-the-charts sexual tension, well-crafted characters, and a swoony ladies man make this the book that romance junkies are longing for. Definite 5 Stars." -Laurelin Paige, NYT Bestselling Author
"Katy Evans has written an intoxicating and emotionally driven story. Easily a Five Star read for me." -S.L. Scott, New York Times Bestselling Author
"Heat. Angst. Emotion. Katy delivers it all." -Kylie Scott, New York Times Bestselling Author

Katy Evans's Website:
http://www.katyevans.net/

Other Recommendations:

My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Sinful Intent by Chelle Bliss

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire