WHO I'M BECOMING (FireNine #4) by Shanora Williams

Synopsis:

Montana Delray is the most laid back of the popular rock band, FireNine. He’s goofy, charming, blatantly honest, talented, a massive flirt, and extremely handsome. The girls literally throw themselves at him, and he accepts it. He loves the attention. The fame. The parties. His single life. With so many women to choose from, it’s not in his nature to chase after just one, but when Lauren Harkin enters his life, that all changes.

Lauren is smart, sexy, confident, and knows exactly how to get under his skin… and although he hates to admit it, he loves it. He wants her in every way possible, but she doesn’t want anything to do with him. Famous FireNine rocker, Delray isn’t the kind of guy Lauren needs to bring into her life. After having her emotions tampered with repeatedly, she refuses to give into someone who will most likely take her for granted and make things worse. But with much effort and some sexual manipulation, Montana and Lauren come to an agreement neither of them can resist.

As their fling carries on, though, everything intensifies, and once they realize it true fear sets in. Soon they come to the realization that they care for one another more than intended, and they both know caring for someone other than themselves means opening their hearts. The reality they face with each other is totally unexpected and becomes their biggest fear… and neither of them is ready for it.

Nicky's Review

3.5 Stars

Characters-  Loved Montana, but I always have. I really liked Lauren too.

Plot/Storyline- The plot was pretty good, but I felt it hard to connect with Montana's interest in Lauren in the beginning because it was just so out of left field for me, despite him having had this crush on her from a while ago. A little pre-story would have been good to give us a history to experience rather than the minimal detail hear-say we get.

Steam Factor- Well. Let me just say that Montana definitely gets a pat on the back (or smack on the arse, however you like) for pleasing his woman. That man is sexy and selfless. Could it get any hotter??

Cover- Cover is nice. Pretty general. I was at least hoping for the trademark Mohawk to play a part, but it's pretty nonetheless :)

Cliffhanger- NO cliffhanger. This is a HEA with an Epilogue. I just wish the epilogue was a little further in the future and had more life changing events occurring.

Overall- I really enjoyed this book, but I couldn't connect to the characters as well as the other FireNine books. Like, in Roy's story, we were able to see his back story and what experiences he had that brought him to his relationship with Kelsey so I felt more connected to all the characters due to the added detail and story. Or maybe my slight disconnect in the beginning was because it's freaking MONTANA'S book and I had over the top/unachievable hopes for it. And I know that Shanora felt the same pressure to please and help Montana live up to his God-like reputation, but it's hard to create what everyone is looking for, so my hat is definitely off to her for writing his story. Don't get me wrong, I really did enjoy the story as I got more into it.The story started a bit shallow, but then became deeper and more real as the story continued. Just, THANK YOU SO MUCH SHANORA for writing Montana's story. I know it was hard as hell, but you did it and your fans are so grateful for it :) xo

Favorite Quotes:

"I hadn't had enough two weeks ago. Shit, I wasn't even close to getting enough.  With her, I felt like I'd never get enough. That's how good she was- that's how good she made me fee."


"His mouth was only a breath away from mine. My heart stumbled in my chest as I waited- waited for him to make the first move. 'Kiss me,' he murmured. 'And don't give me any bullshit either. Kiss me like you mean it. Like you've missed me... 'cause I know you have.'"


"I couldn't resist Montana, and I didn't know why. There was just something about how sweet he was. There was something about how sexy and dominant he could be, yet how caring and sensitive he could be as well. He had a mix of traits that I loved and had longed to find..."


"We were crazy, but the really crazy thing was how we could be crazy together. How we could go crazy on each other. How we could do crazy things like fight and make up, and act like none of it ever happened in only a matter of seconds. This thing between us was crazy, but I loved it. I loved every fucking moment of it."


"Something happened to me a week ago. Something I thought I'd never experience a day in my life. My heart broke. It broke into tiny, fragile little pieces. For a while, I didn't know what all those love songs were about. I had no clue what the songwriters were feeling because I'd never experienced it before... but now I knew. And they weren't exaggerating about it. It cuts you deep. It brings you back and weighs you down."


"'Love, Lauren, is a risk,' she whispered. 'Love catches us completely off guard and usually it happens to come when the timing seems so wrong, but love, without a doubt, is simply amazing. It can't be denied or avoided, no matter how hard we try to block it out. It just... is. Remember that.'"

~Purchase This Book~

Who I'm Becoming (FireNine Series Book 4)

~CAST~

Breakdown (Crash Into Me #1) by Amanda Lance

Synopsis:

Charlotte Ferro is about to jump.

Yet nothing ruins a perfectly good suicide attempt worse than a handsome do-gooder. After William O’Reilly convinces her to take one last ride with him, Charlotte finds herself forgetting about her own problems and enjoying a world of which she never dreamed.

Now addicted to the rush of fast cars and cool criminals, Charlotte finds herself leaning less towards the ledge and more toward the arms of her savior. But with reasons of his own for keeping Charlotte safe from herself, William is reluctant to involve her in his criminal undertakings. Will his career choice keep them apart? Will Charlotte’s painful past?






Nicky's Review

4 Stars

Characters- I found Lottie "Jumper" a bit immature at times, but you grow to love her. Now William. Oh William. I freaking LOVED him so hard!! He has everything. Sexy smile, sexy bed head, heart of gold, tattoos, and an adventurous side :) 
Plot/Storyline- The story was really good but I did find myself getting lost at times because we are reading from Lottie's POV and that girl gets lost in her own head and thoughts and took me with her. Sometimes I was like, "Wha? Wha? Are we still in the same scene and place? But you, again, get used to her character too and it begins to flow better :)
Steam Factor- There is a lot of sexual tension but the actual act of sex is avoided by a chapter break. You get to see them work up to it, but then... next chapter and cuddling.
Cover- I really like the cover. The girl looks older than a 20 year old (which Lottie is) but she is pretty. I actually enjoy covers that leave a bit of the characters to the imagination but it's a very nice cover.
Cliffhanger- No cliffhanger but it does seem to just end in the middle of a thought. I read the last sentence and then flipped the page to find that that was the last sentence. It wasn't horrible and it didn't ruin the story at all, it was just a bit abrupt.
Overall- I really enjoyed this story once I was into the flow of it. There is a very strong focus on suicide and even some suicidal humor, so if this is a touchy subject for you, you may want to move onto another book. But I did enjoy this book about a girl who is lost in the darkness of her past and her thoughts and just wants to escape, but then finds a spark of hope in a man who may just bring her to open her eyes up and see that life is worth living <3

We get to start this book off with Lottie heading out to fulfill her planned suicide. You know that something bad has happened to her but you don't exactly know what pushed her into the darkness so deep that she feels she has to no longer exist in order to finally be free.

She's standing on the bridge envisioning her final demise when a pain in the ass do-gooder decides to interrupt her plans. She tries to avoid the beautiful blue eyed guy's attempts to talk to her, but his persistence pays off and this is where Lottie and William's story begins.

I'm not even going to say that their relationship is perfect, because, lets be honest: Lottie has issues and that's no mystery to either Lottie or William.  We follow them through their ups and downs as their relationship moves from friendship to the grey area that Lottie is not comfortable with.

William provides Lottie with an escape from her numb existence with his lifestyle, his kind heart, and his friendship.  This story kept me invested and I just wanted to know what was going to happen next, because there are things about William that you discover that will may you question his character. Even with those flaws, I loved him.

This is not a book for those sensitive to the topic of suicide. That is the constant theme of this book, but it's a story of overcoming the depression and darkness and coming out on the other side with a new perspective on life and a HEA ending. Thank you Amanda for reaching out to me and letting me read your book. You hooked me from the beginning and kept my interest all the way to the end of this beautifully broken story. Thank you! xo ;)


Favorite Quotes:

"On the day I went to die. I didn't leave a note. Don't get me wrong. I had written plenty. One rough draft after another found itself in the garbage. However, after a while, i thought the entire ritual itself was cliche, basked in the glory of teenage angst. And being all of twenty years old now, I felt too old for the stereotypical crying during sad songs and mulling over suicide notes. Still, I had made a last ditch effort to scribble something out. It too, however, ended up in the paper shredder. This time it wasn't just because I found a grammatical error in my drafts or even a few. for that matter. Ultimately, when it came down to it, I couldn't find the right thing to say, the words to make my act sound justified without being too pathetic. I couldn't find the right excuse."

"Syrup is a staple food for all other foods, the base of the food pyramid, the founder of all other foods..."
One of his eyebrows went up. "I'm pretty sure syrup isn't technically even a food."
"That's just non-believer talk. Clearly, you have not accepted syrup into your life as your one true savior."

"Oh you know. You flash the nice car, a few choice words with the accent, and any girl who ever had a crush on a Kennedy will be all over you."
"Jumper!" He opened his mouth wide as if in shock. "If you think I'm sexy you can just come right out and say it."

"Y-you don't even know me."
"I'm trying to Jumper." William laughed. "That's kinda the point." Like every second since I had met him, William knew exactly what to say. "Besides, just because you don't know someone doesn't mean you can't care about them. In fact, just so you don't forget that somebody cares, I'll do my best to remind you." William paused as if considering something. "At least once a day until you feel better."

"You're way off, Jumper. I wanted to kiss you from the moment I saw you. I wanted to grab you and kiss all the sad right out of you."

"Are you still with me, Jumper?"
"Yes," I said, snuggling closer against him. "There's nowhere else to be."
"Good," he whispered back, and though there was a hesitation in him, I wasn't sure of it until I felt his Adam's apple as he swallowed hard on top of my head. "Because I am so in love with you."

~Purchase This Book~

Breakdown (Crash into Me Book 1)

~CAST~

BEWARE by Shanora Williams

Synopsis:

Ace is bad.
Very bad.
After losing my brother, I know I should stay away. So why can’t I?
He’s irresistible. He’s confident. He’s amazing… but he’s dangerous.
He was there the night my brother was murdered. He watched it all go down.
I should stay away. The things I saw weren’t acceptable.
I should want Ace as far away from me as possible—I should consider him a monster and a t...more Ace is bad.
Very bad.
After losing my brother, I know I should stay away. So why can’t I?
He’s irresistible. He’s confident. He’s amazing… but he’s dangerous.
He was there the night my brother was murdered. He watched it all go down.
I should stay away. The things I saw weren't acceptable.
I should want Ace as far away from me as possible—I should consider him a monster and a threat—but when my life is at stake I know I no longer have a choice of the matter. He's the only one that can protect me.
He's done what he can to keep me out of danger, but it's not enough. I need answers. I need the truth. He refuses to give it to me, and because of that I don't trust him. He refuses to tell me what really happened and to just forget about it but I refuse.
I won’t back down until I get answers.
But there’s one thing wrong with getting too many answers. It leads to lies. It leads to trouble. It leads to danger. But worst of all, it leads to me falling deeply and madly in love with him.
I've gotta be out of my mind.

London Stallone hasn't always had the perfect life, but she did have the perfect older brother. He did everything for her. He took care of her when no one else would. He’s always been the shoulder she could lean on, but when he ends up murdered, things turn for the worst.
London soon demands answers, and the first person she runs to is her brother’s co-worker and good friend, Donovan “Ace” Crow. Ace isn't the ordinary guy. He doesn't come equipped with flowers and chocolate. He doesn't hand out smiles and hugs to every female he meets. He’s strict and only about business, and London believes he’s a part of the reason her brother was murdered.
Soon, after finding out life-threatening news, it leads to something Ace never thought he’d have to do for anyone.
Protect her.
Although he doesn't want her to get hurt, it doesn't stop him from being selfish or bitter. He's promised to protect her, but has he done enough? Has he sacrificed everything in order to keep London out of harms way?
Sometimes love can get in the way of your priorities. And sometimes love can easily become your enemy—you worst nightmare. It can destroy you.

This is a story full of dishonesty. Disloyalty. Broken hearts. Pain. Suffering. Lies. Destruction. This isn’t a fairy tale love story. This is real. And it just might break you.
You've been warned…

BEWARE.

Nicky's Review

3 Stars

Characters- I LOVED the characters. They are so well written. Ace and London are super hot together!
Plot/Storyline- Okay, the plot and story were AMAZING! I couldn't put the book down. The love story (not your conventional hearts and flowers relationship, but I loved that) was awesome and the added drama and action just made this story addictive. It was a great emotional and mental ride ;)
Steam Factor- Get out your sham wow panties!! Ace KNOWS how to please a woman and things get down and dirty at times. Raw and hot as hell!!
Cover- Sexy, just like ACE!!
Cliffhanger- Nope. This is a standalone. No HEA though.
Overall- I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY enjoyed this book... all the way up to the end. The end just deflated the whole story for me. The entire book was great and very well written, but I'm a HEA person and this book doesn't deliver for that need.

We meet London, who happens to be a walking bad luck charm. Everyone around her dies. First her parents, then her brother, and others. Her whole life is quite upsetting and just one bad circumstance after another.  The loss of her parent's is the reason her brother, Jonah, starts to work for Ace in order to make lots of money to support London with her expenses (housing and college); despite it being illegally earned.  Things go wrong during an exchange and London is left alone with no living relatives.  

Ace and Jonah were pretty close so Ace takes London in under his wing after Jonah passes.  There is a lot more that goes on between Ace and Jonah that you find out throughout the story and explains the REAL reason why Ace takes in London after Jonah's passing, but I won't go into that so that you can enjoy the story yourself.

When Ace and London interact, there is a strong attraction and they both lust for each other. The sexual tension is fun to read as well as the actual sex. Their sexual interactions are so raw and primal and sexy as hell. Ace makes me want to start dressing in silk and pearls.... wink,wink.  

The story's ability to pull you in with the love story and the action/suspense aspect was perfectly executed.  The writing was spot on with plot/story details and character development. I was consumed with the story and was happy with the flow and delivery throughout the entire book. There was never a moment where I wanted to set the book down unless I had to. That was... until the end!! I wanted to throw my iPad and then call Shanora myself and ask her why she would just keep dealing London a rotten hand in life. The ending was so frustrating, but I am an HEA addict, so if you're good with an ending that doesn't end happily (because not all stories do, but I avoid them) then I HIGHLY recommend you read this book because the story is AMAZING and you will love it!!

Shanora, I tip my hat to you in your amazing ability to tell a story. I ate up every last word and was able to fully lose myself in your story, BUT the ending girl!! I needed an HEA after all the crap London had to deal with in life, I needed it for me and for her. Thank you for the escape and for giving us the privilege to read your creative work. XOXO ;)


Favorite Quotes:

“You don’t scare me,” I whisper. Revealing a simple dimple, he says, “Really? ‘Cause you should be terrified.”

"I shouldn't be getting close to her. Getting too close is dangerous for both of us. Spending time with her is wrong, but something inside me enjoys it. There's some part of me that likes her laugh, her smile, her jokes, her careless attitude. I don't want to get close, but the closer I get, the less I feel like I'm a monster or a threat. The more I feel... alive. Human."

"Yes. Love. It's what we feel... we just aren't brave enough to admit it to each other. We have too much pride. We're too afraid of the outcome... the future. We're too afraid to love damaged goods. Monsters. Crooks. Loners. We fear losing something that means so much to us after being alone for so long. We fear falling because We're falling into the unknown."

~Purchase This Book~


  BEWARE
 
~CAST~

Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis:
At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, This Girl, and Losing Hope, Maybe Someday is destined to become another bestseller and long-lasting fan favorite.

Includes a free original soundtrack by musician Griffin Peterson

Nicky's Review

5 Stars

Characters-  The girls involved in the love triangle were so well written that I didn't know who's corner I was in until the very end. I LOVED Ridge!! I also loved Warren! The characters in this book are so well written I felt like we could totally be friends. Just loved them all.
Plot/Storyline- Oh my golly! This was one of the hardest Love Triangles I have ever read! I found myself rooting for both girls (one more so than the other at first, but then I rooted for the winner in the end) but ultimately had to pick one. The story took hold of me and didn't let go the entire time. Perfect flow and series of events. Colleen Hoover, you make writing seem effortless, which we all know it is not.
Steam Factor- Gah!! The sexual tension is excruciating, but worth every bit ;)
Cover- Cute and perfect for the story. Oh that bed, that evil mattress of temptation. Hehe!
Cliffhanger- No Cliffhanger. This is a standalone novel with a HEA, at least in my opinion it's an HEA :)
Overall- I loved every combination of the 26 letters of the alphabet in this story. Every word, every sentence, every emotion set down in ink. I read it, I saw it, and I felt it. Two words of recommendations: READ IT!!! :)

This story is a constant internal struggle between the heart and the mind. I think this quote really expresses a big point of focus in the book:

 “However, I've learned that the heart can't be told when and who and how it should love. The heart does whatever the hell it wants to do. The only thing we can control is whether we give our lives and our minds the chance to catch up to our hearts.”

So, we meet Sydney when she's at her lowest point: recently made aware that her boyfriend is a cheating bastard, that she is now homeless since not wanting to live with the cheating bastard, and it all happens on her twenty-second birthday to top things off.  She is taken in by a familiar stranger, Ridge,(the beautiful musician who lives across her apartment courtyard) and his crazy roommates (who I LOVE). And in true Colleen Hoover style, she has provided great moments of hilarity through the roommates with the pranks they pull on each other. I was LITERALLY LOL!

After Sydney is taken in by Ridge and his roommates, this is where the real story begins. Ridge and Sydney begin to explore writing songs together (he provides the music and she provides the lyrics) and the lines of friendship blur. But there's one problem, Ridge has a girlfriend.

We experience the internal struggle Ridge and Sydney face, especially when it comes to Ridge's sweet as can be girlfriend, Maggie. I found myself being SO turned off by Sydney. I wanted to scream at her and tell her where she could go many times.  This book made me feel so conflicted with myself when it came to which girl I thought I was rooting for. I truly didn't really even know until almost the end. It was fantastically excruciating and kept me invested and searching for reasons to pick one over the other.

You will go through so many internal battles as to what is right and wrong. And you will discover that love can be equally as painful as it is euphoric.  I started this book and could not put it down. It was a one day read for me and I will say no more about the story because I want you to be able to read this story and feel and experience everything Colleen Hoover has created for you. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone, plain and simple. Colleen Hoover, you are a readers dream. You create these beautiful books with characters that take up residence in our hearts and brains. Thank you for borrowing that laptop years ago and for your dedication to your writing. I am forever grateful and will forever be a fan. XOXO


Favorite Quotes:

“Today is a really bad day, Syd. A really, really bad day. Sometimes in life, we need a few bad days in order to keep the good ones in perspective”   

“We try so hard to hide everything we're really feeling from those who probably need to know our true feelings the most. People try to bottle up their emotions, as if it's somehow wrong to have natural reactions to life.”  

“However, I've learned that the heart can't be told when and who and how it should love. The heart does whatever the hell it wants to do. The only thing we can control is whether we give our lives and our minds the chance to catch up to our hearts.”

“Tears begin to well in my eyes. I have no idea how or if I even deserve him, but there's one thing I know for sure. As long as he's part of it, I'll never live a life of mediocrity.”

“There isn't a doubt in my mind that we could be perfect for each others life, Sydney. It's our lives that aren't perfect for us.”

“I never realized how powerful desire could be. It consumes every part of you, enhancing your senses by a million. When you’re in the moment, it enhances your sense of sight, and all you can do is focus on the person in front of you. It enhances your sense of smell, and suddenly, you’re aware of the fact that his hair has just been washed and his shirt is fresh out of the dryer. It enhances your sense of touch and makes your skin prickle and your fingertips tingle, and it leaves you craving to be touched. It enhances your sense of taste, and your mouth becomes hungry and wanting, and the only thing that can satisfy it is the relief of another mouth in search of the same.”

“Me: Oh! One time in high school, I spent the night at a girl's house who I didn't know very well. We made out. I wasn't into it, and it was really gross, but I was seventeen and curious.
Ridge: No. That does NOT count as a flaw, Sydney. Jesus Christ, work with me here.” 

~Purchase this Book~

Kindle Link:

Maybe Someday

~CAST~

Brittany's Review

5 Stars

Characters-  The characters are so incredible. The feel real to me as if they really exist. I love them all!! Ridge, Sydney, Warren and Maggie were my favorites!
Plot/Storyline- Exceptional!! Colleen Hoover's writing is flawless. This story is so different and unexpected. Once you start this book you will not stop until you reach the end. This is a love triangle and to say I had anxiety the entire book would be an understatement! HAHA...I fell in love with both of these ladies and I can see how Ridge could too.

Steam Factor- Very romantic and sexy...EXTREME sexual tension.

Cover- It's absolutely perfect for the story. It portrays and sums up what the story represents.

Cliffhanger- No Cliffhanger. This is a standalone novel with an amazing HEA.

Overall- 

Favorite Quotes:

~CAST~

Review: The Boy Who Paints Me by Sharlay

Synopsis:

Rainie Hart is trapped in a world of secrets, lies and betrayal. Running away is her only option. With her step-dad, Mitch, hot on her trail she knows that she has to keep moving. Running away was easy until her journey lead her right into the path of Daniel Leighton. Falling in love wasn't a part of Rainie’s plan but fate had other ideas. But what will happen when a twisted revelation sends Leighton and Rainie’s world into turmoil? Will love be enough to keep them together or will the secret of their pasts tear them apart?















Nicky's Review

4 Stars

Characters-  The characters were written so well that I felt connected to them and began to feel for them; the good and the bad. And there is a lot of bad, but I promise there is good too.
Plot/Storyline- This story latches onto your heart from the beginning, rips it out and then slowly begins to put it back together as the plot unfolds. There are so many points of anguish, love, and healing and a plot twist I did NOT see coming.
Steam Factor- A lot of special moments of exploration and familiarization. The actual act was very tame and sweet and loving. Just the way it should be for Rai.
Cover- This cover is what pulled my eyes to it. It is amazingly beautiful!!
Cliffhanger- Nope. This is a standalone with a very sweet Epilogue.
Overall- I really enjoyed this book despite the VERY SENSITIVE subject matter. It was hard to read at times, but the story of survival and rebirth was worth the suffering by being able to find the beauty despite and in spite of the ugliness. I would recommend this book to anyone who is not easily offended and is willing to suffer through some traumatic situations in order to see it through to the promise of hope in the end. You did read that it had a sweet Epilogue, so it wasn't THAT traumatic ;)

This story ripped my heart out from the beginning. I was beaten and raw as I followed this story of darkness.  I wanted to know that there was light somewhere poking through the blackness for Rai. I felt so broken for Rai, but wait, the light does eventually peek through in the form of the beautiful boy next door, Leighton. Oh my, could a guy be any sweeter?

Leighton meets Rai and there is an instant draw between them. I am not a fan of insta-love, so trust me, this was not in that category. It was that connection that you have on another level. I understand this because that was EXACTLY what I felt when I met my now husband. I never dated because nothing felt RIGHT with anyone, but I only knew my husband for one week before I had to go away to school for a year. We kept in touch, I came back, and the rest is now history (we've been together for 15 years now ☺). I just say this because I feel that insta-love is thrown around a lot (I've been known to say it, but I only say it when the love connection is not believable at all, when it's clearly just lust that causes an "I love you" to slip and then it begins playing on repeat over and over and over again. You know what I mean), but this is not the case in this book. You will feel and understand their connection. It's not false or lust driven, it's soul driven.

Anyway, the story continues with Rai and Leighton becoming friends and growing closer and closer as time passes.  Leighton is a bit forward when it comes to subtle physical contact (holding hands, hand at low back, arm around shoulders, you get it) and surprisingly to Rai, this contact from Leighton doesn't send her running; instead she begins to crave it! Major breakthrough here guys!

Leighton and Rai's relationship faces MANY conflicts from internal struggles to external issues (ex's, friends, location, etc).  I was so consumed in this story. Page after page I wanted to discover more about Rai's past, more about Leighton; I wanted to see how far Rai and Leighton's relationship would go and I wanted, no NEEDED, to see how their story was going to end.

Now I am one who ALWAYS figures out the plot twist in a book before it happens. It's a fault of mine really because it just takes the gusto out of the HOLY SH#! moment I crave in a book. But let me tell you, I don't know if it was because I was so distracted by everything else going on that I forgot to think about a plot twist, but HOLY SH#! I did NOT expect that twist. I love it when I'm slapped dead in the face with an unexpected moment and this book definitely fulfilled my need for the unexpected shock..... I still can't believe I didn't even consider it.... Oh well. Hehe ;) 

All in all, as I said before, I would recommend this book to anyone who is not easily offended and is willing to suffer through some traumatic situations in order to see it through to the promise of hope in the end. You did read that it had a sweet Epilogue, so it wasn't THAT traumatic ;) Happy Reading and let me just say: WELL DONE SHARLAY!! BRAVO **enter standing ovation with awkward single person clapping right here ;) **

Favorite Quotes:

"Kissing you is the first thing that I think about when I wake up, the last thing that I think about before I go to sleep, and the only think that I ever dream about. And the moment that I allow myself to kiss you," he said before gently, wetting his lips with his tongue, "I'm never letting you go. When I'm sure that you're ready to accept that, then, and only then, will I kiss you, the way that I've wanted to kiss you, since the day that you walked into my life."

"My mom was right, he never his me but sometimes it's the scars that you can't see that are the worst."

"Don't worry, nobody becomes great without failing a few times, try again," he said.

"Sweetheart, there are no rules when it comes to love. When it picks you, it picks you. It doesn't discriminate, and it doesn't care if you're ready or not," Megan said as she raised her eyebrow at me.

"Whether I kiss you in the most private place or in front of the entire world it still makes me feel the same. It changes nothing except the fact that every time that I kiss you, I leave a little bit more of me behind, with you, and I don't want you to give it back to me. I need you to keep it, ok?" He whispered.

"I wanted to trade this life in. I wanted to find the receipt to my life, go right back to where it began and ask for a refund or an exchange, only life wasn't that easy. Life wasn't fair."

"Rai, if I could change everything bad that has happened in the past then I would but I can't, but what I can do is make sure that your future is filled with a whole lot of goods," he smiled as he stroked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

~Purchase This Book~

Kindle Link:

  The Boy Who Paints Me

  ~CAST~

Review: Saving Amy by Nicola Haken

Synopsis:
Eighteen year old Amy’s surname may be Hope, but her life contains anything but. She drinks, she sleeps around, she cuts… anything to help her escape the agonising existence growing up between her mother’s drunken wails and her father’s fists. But nothing works. There is no escape. And Amy wants out…

Enter Richard Lewis – the doctor responsible for saving Amy’s life after her drink and drug-fuelled suicide attempt. Thanks to his own hidden demons, Richard is drawn to Amy and her situation, and despite the incessant warnings from both his own mind and his jealous ex-lover Joanna, he feels compelled to help her.

But how will Amy feel when she discovers Richard’s attachment to her is born out of his own guilt? He was her last resort – her last chance at being saved. Can anybody save Amy, or has she finally reached the end of a very long, torturous road?

(Not suitable for under 18's due to language, scenes of self-harm and sexual content)






Nicky's Review

4 Stars

Characters- I LOVED Richard. Amy was likable but very self destructive and reckless. It took a bit for her to grow on me.
Plot/Storyline- The story was really good but is filled from beginning to end with Amy on self destruct mode. You just don't know when the shoe will drop... The Epilogue is beautiful and tops the story off perfectly :)
Steam Factor- Richard is so freaking hot and sweet. They are perfect together.
Cover- Love it. So pretty and clean. Love B&W photos.
Cliffhanger- Nope. This is a Standalone with a great Epilogue to finish it off :)
Overall- I REALLY enjoyed this book. It was very angsty and took me on an emotional roller coaster ride.  Richard was the main source of comfort and healing, but I loved how Amy was able to save Richard in return :)


This is the story of how one girl is beaten down over and over and over again, but is able to survive... just barely.  

Amy comes from a very abusive family. Her father beats her on a regular basis and verbally abuses her too; while her sorry excuse for a mother stands by and drinks herself into oblivion.  Amy, of course, comes away from this life with some very deep internal scars mentally and emotionally.  She copes through any means of escaping reality for a short while: sex, drugs, alcohol, cutting... Until one night she passes out in the street and wakes up in an unfamiliar bed. Oh no, what happened last night?

Well, here enters Richard. The most amazing guy you will ever meet. I love him so much. I love his heart, patience, and acceptance when it comes to Amy. I also really enjoyed the fact that Richard was able to understand Amy's situation on some levels, which really made me understand why he wasn't running as far away from Amy as soon as he discovered her issues. Instead, he latches on and helps her heal. Have I mentioned how amazing Richard is? We all need a Richard in our lives.

The story is about how Amy and Richard heal each other and are there for each other but it's not a pretty story. Bad things happen, Richard and Amy's relationship is tested, but there is a HEA. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story of survival and finding strength and love along the way. Great job Nicola Haken! I haven't read a book of yours that I haven't fallen in love with. I am looking forward to reading all of your work. XOXO

Favorite Quotes:

“I have this thing about books – a disease almost – that won’t let me give up until I've read to the end.”

“Each and every one of these should be a reminder of how strong you are. You should look at them and remember what you've been through, and feel proud that you’re still here – still fighting.”

"I was growing more attached to him every day and the longer I stayed, the higher the drop would be when I inevitably fell."

"He knew I had nothing and as far as I was concerned, he gave me everything just by breathing."

"I'd never known the meaning of happiness but if this was it I would give up my life just to hang on to it for one extra minute."

"We lay together for what could've been forever. Two guilt-ridden souls, laid bare in every sense of the word- both silently begging to be saved."

"I used to write for hours at a time. It was a sort of escapism I suppose- immersing myself in a world I could only dream of living in. It was the only way I ever got to experience a happy ending... before I met you of course."

"Books, stories... they're always something you can fall back on no matter what life is throwing at you. They offer you a place to go when you just need to escape for a little while."

"Stop it with this desire to be 'normal.' What the hell is 'normal' anyway?" he continued, using air quotes to excess. "'Normal' people as you put it couldn't even begin to imagine the things you've been through, let alone survive them.  Yet here you are, still fighting, striving. You're right, Amy... you're not normal. You are so much more."

  
  

~Purchase this Book~

Kindle Link:

 

  Saving Amy

~CAST~

Review: LoveLines by S. Walden

Synopsis:

Arrive to work at 7:58 A.M. sharp. Check. Count forty-seven steps to cubicle. Check. Arrange pens in their red-blue-black-green-purple order of importance. Check. Apply hand sanitizer before opening email. Double check.

And that’s just the first few minutes of her work day.

Thirty-one-year-old proofreader Bailey Mitchell is a slave to her tics. She inherited Obsessive Compulsive Disorder from her father, and it’s done nothing but inhibit her love life. She’s run the gamut of boyfriends—none of them willing or able to cope with her condition.

Enter 32-year-old Reece Powell, her new coworker at Beach Elite Marketing Firm. He’s more than willing to cope. He finds her habits cute and quirky . . . for now. Reece wins her over, and life coasts along for them until Bailey experiences a devastating blow. Tragedy exacerbates her OCD, and Reece realizes her tics aren’t so cute and quirky anymore. Just like all the others, he has the choice to leave.

But Reece isn't like all the others.

Nicky's Review

3.25 Stars

Characters- Very likable, quirky and sweet. LOVED them, really.
Plot/Storyline- The story was very unique and had a great flow.
Steam Factor- Ummmm..... Yeah, didn't expect THAT from Reece. Damn!! He's a freak in the sheets... And I... Loved it?? Still unsure. 
Cover- Very cute and very fitting for the characters.
Cliffhanger- No. But the Epilogue is a bit random. It's a segue to another book, not about Bailey and Reece. That was a little weird for me.
Overall- I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone looking for something "different" to read because this book hits on weird and quirky and is very entertaining. It's very sweet with some drama. 

Ok, so let me start off with saying this: "S. Walden, I LOVE YOU girl. I like, LURVE you so much and can only aspire to be the writer that you are." With that said, I must say that this wasn't my favorite book.  I really enjoyed the characters, but there was a bit of weirdness going on, and I'm not talking about the weirdness you would think when reading about a girl with OCD. That kind of weirdness is expected but that's not my hang up.

Let me first start by saying that I did like Bailey. She's a sweet, sweet girl with some major OCD issues but she handles them very well in my opinion.  I also like how she is so close to her father. Their relationship was beautifully flawed, like two ugly ducklings banning together to create a beautiful world all their own. 

Reese was super cute and just an amazing guy all around. He's a sweet (but flat out blunt) guy who is like the beaten dog at a shelter who looks at you with his puppy dog eyes and just wants to be loved. Well, I loved him. BUT.... His behind closed doors behavior with Reese was so off to me. I felt a little disconnected from him at times because I started to wonder if he had multiple personality disorder. It was just a bit weird for me. This was the weirdness I was talking about.  

The story itself was very sweet and definitely kept me interested to see when the other shoe was going to drop, what hurdles they'd have to overcome together and how their ending would play out. 

I loved Reese's persistence and loyalty when it came to Bailey and I loved Bailey's ability to find herself and define herself in order to move on in life.  It was a beautiful story of a girl who struggles through life, finds a boy who frees her from some of her metaphorical shackles and allows her to battle some the demons she has lost in the past.  Their story isn't perfect, her OCD is real and will never go away, but they do get a HEA in their own little world.

All in all, it was a good story, just not a great story. Thank you S. Walden for thinking out of the box and creating this very unique and quirky story. It was very entertaining but a bit conflicting at times for me with Reese's character. I am still an avid fan and look forward to all of your future works of art. Not all works of art are perfect, but they are works of art nonetheless. XO




Favorite Quotes:

"Seriously. They honestly think saying, 'Baby, come for me' is all it takes to push us over the edge?"
"Maybe they think our orgasm are like trained circus animals," I offered.
Marjorie laughed. "Have they seen what's going on down there? Is there anything easy about that? Anything that looks like it could be trained?"
"I don't even know what the hell is going on down there most of the time," I replied. "And I own one."

"I like to discover those discarded treasures, adopt them, bring them home and clean them up. I think I relate to them in a way. No one wants me, so I understand how they feel. I mean, just because we're quirky doesn't mean we don't have value."

"He stared directly at my face, just like he did when he visited me at my cubicle for the first time. This guy had balls. Well, I mean, obviously he had balls. I hope he had balls. Bailey, stop thinking about his balls."

"Are you superstitious or something?" he asked after a moment.
"Well..." She averted her eyes.
"Thirteen isn't the scariest number on the planet," he offered. "Although that is around the time you hit puberty, and that mess is scary as hell."

"Bailey..." he said. Like I'm some fucking kid. Like, "Bailey, I'm warning you."
I fucking tapped that fucking pen all over my fucking desk.
He snatched it.
"What the fuck!" I yelled.
And then he scooped up all of my pens and walked off.
"Motherfucker," I spat, and went after him.

~Purchase This Book~

Kindle Link:

LoveLines (Wilmington Saga)

~Cast~

Brittany's Review

3.75 Stars

Characters- Reece and Bailey were so different and that's why I liked them so much.

Plot/Storyline- Very unique, funny and quirky but very S. Walden like ;)

Steam Factor- WOWZERS! I was expecting hotness from this book because of the author but I was not expecting that sexy, crazy and erotica from Reece!

Cover- It's cute! I like it....It's not as catchy as some of her other book covers but it definitely is fitting for the characters.

Cliffhanger-No.....I wish there was a little more at the end though. The epilogue is somewhat a prelude to the next book in the series TanLines.

Overall- It was a nice read and funny! I can say that I really liked this book because the writing of S. Walden (who I absolutely love and adore because she is amazing) was so good.

First, I will say that I basically gave this book 5 stars in my head before I read it. I just KNEW that I would love it why? Well because I have read EVERY S. Walden book and I know that she is an amazing writer and storyteller. But, this was just not one of my favorites and that's why I only could give it 3.75 stars. 

The writing is GOOD, the story is GOOD and even the characters are GOOD but, I think I was a little bored at time with the story. I can't even really pinpoint what part was boring but throughout the story I just lost interest at some points. I HATE even writing that because I never thought I would feel that way about any of Mrs. Walden's books.

I think one of the issues I had was with Reece's character. I just felt like he was two completely different people and I had a hard time connecting with him. I wanted to just love him and swoon him, but I just felt like he was kinda weird at times. Reece is super hot and sexy and very erotic in the bedroom. This is where I loved and hated him. Even though it was HOT, it just felt out of character for him. Bailey is super sweet, naturally pretty and quirky. I just loved that about her. Bailey has major OCD and it was interesting to see how the story would play out and how this affects her love life. I also love that the characters are in their 30's!

I love how S. Walden also made this a story about family. I love seeing families work through the hard times and reconnect. I was very shocked towards the end and saddened by a tragedy in Bailey's life, but at the same time it helped other people in her family realize the importance of love, forgiveness and what's important in life.

I still really liked this story and definitely recommend this book. It's a light, fun, sexy read and all the books in the series sound amazing! I am looking forward to reading TanLines next! 

Favorite Quotes

"There's a really hot guy staring you down!"

"Say it! Don't spray it!" I replied.

"Ain't nobody gonna do you if you say dumb shit like that," Erica replied. "This isn't middle school circa '94."

"Whatever." "Yeah whatever. Now when I say, spin around and take a look. Keep dancing though. We don't want it to be obvious."

"Can men get cellulite?" he wondered as he licked his finger and dabbed it all around the plate, picking up stray bacon bits. Oh, Jesus, I'm gonna get cellulite, he thought, sucking the bacon from his forefinger.

For the record, I don't care what any woman says. No one likes swallowing come. And if she says she does, she's just trying to be cool. It's disgusting and vomit-inducing. The only reason we do it is because it drives men wild. Or in this case, the only way to get eaten out. I swallowed, trying hard to ignore the burn as it slid down my throat leaving a nice bleach aftertaste. "Ugh!" I cried. "Yuck! Fluck!"

""Yuck and 'fluck', huh?" Reece asked. "You're an oral sex bully!"

"Life is nothing but juxtaposing the good with the bad. We have to learn how to handle both-how to cope with the frightening events and embrace the joyous ones. Or perhaps it's the other way around."

~Purchase This Book~

Kindle Link:

 

  LoveLines (Wilmington Saga)