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)

Promo Post and Giveaway: LoveLines by S. Walden

Title: LoveLines

Author: S. Walden

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 25, 2014

~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.

The Wilmington Saga

Follow the stories of Wilmington, NC residents as they fall in and out of love, mend and break hearts, grow, change, lose, win, and experience what it means to truly live in this small coastal community.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20636361-lovelines

~Purchase This Book~

Kindle Link:

LoveLines (Wilmington Saga)

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/414689

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lovelines-s-walden/1118866948?ean=2940045734769

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lovelines/id833960431?mt=11

~Excerpt 1~

“Annie!” I squealed, running and scooping her up before she had the chance to escape. I rained kisses all over her face. She was clearly confused, but she seemed to like it. The evidence? She dropped her doll and squeezed my neck.

Erica stared at me through narrowed eyes. “No one, including me, likes my children that much. What is going on?”

Annie giggled on cue, like she understood her mother’s words. I laughed outright.

“Your momma’s silly, isn’t she? Isn’t she?” I asked, poking Annie’s sides.

“Oh my God, who are you?” Erica demanded. “Where’s my BFF who promised me she’d never have children so I could live vicariously through her? I swear to God if you’re pregnant…”

“Calm down,” I said over the top of Annie’s head. She twisted in my arms signaling she was over my show of affection. I placed her on the floor beside her discarded doll. “How would I even be pregnant?”

“Sex. It’s called sex,” Erica replied. She finished folding the last of Little Noah’s shirts, then tossed it in the laundry basket.

“Don’t say s-e-x in front of the baby!” I chided.

“B, she doesn’t know what sex is.”

“She’ll repeat it.”

“Who cares?”

“Oh, so you want to be the mother with the kid who knows the bad words?” I asked.

“Bad word?” Erica asked, laughing.

“You know what I mean,” I said. “You want to be the mother who all the other mothers gossip about? Like about how bad your parenting skills are?”

Erica placed her hand on her hip. “Yeah, I do. Fuck ‘em. Fuck all those mothers. Fuck their playdates and mommy groups and fucking Melissa and Doug puzzles. Fuck their running strollers and baby couture and breastfeeding advice. Fuck their—”

“ERICA!”

“What?”

I looked down at the floor, but Annie was gone. She’d walked away somewhere, no doubt the kitchen since that seemed to be her favorite place to play.

~Excerpt 2~

My phone beeped some time around 6:30 A.M. the following morning.

Reece: We need to talk about that kiss. When can I call you?

I couldn’t read the tone. Who can ever read tones in text messages and emails anyway? My instinct, though, was to lean toward the negative. (Hey, I had a history to back it up.) I immediately thought the worst: He doesn’t like me. He doesn’t want whatever happened at the theater to go any further. I’m a bad kisser.

I glanced at the time: 6:31 A.M. Oh, what the hell? He was obviously awake.

“Reece?” I said hesitantly into the phone.

“Bailey!” he replied. “Did I wake you? I didn’t mean to wake you. That’s why I texted. I thought maybe you turn your sound alerts off at night. I’m sorry if I woke you. I’ve just been up all night. I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to call you yesterday, but I thought maybe I should leave you alone for a day or two. But then it just drove me crazy all day, and then I didn’t sleep last night. I think I mentioned I didn’t sleep. And I kept thinking about you and the theater and . . .”

I grinned from ear to ear as I listened to Reece prattle on about how he couldn’t get me out of his mind. Silly Bailey. And you thought you were a bad kisser!

“Reece?” I interrupted.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I talking too much? I have a problem with that. It’s something I’m working on. I talk more when I’m nervous—”

“Reece!”

He went silent.

“I wanted to call you yesterday, too,” I said.

He sighed into the phone. A happy sigh. “Really?”

“Yes. I nearly did, but then my sister called and wanted me over at our parents’ house last night. She needed to make an announcement and whatever. It’s not important,” I said.

“What announcement?” Reece asked.

“Oh, about how she’s getting married,” I said dismissively.

“That’s pretty cool.”

I grunted. We fell silent.

“I’ve been thinking about you nonstop,” Reece admitted.

“Really?” I asked. I wanted to confess the same thing, but I wasn’t sure it was wise for girls to be so transparent. I’d already initiated the first kiss. That was as far as I’d go.

“Oh, yes,” Reece replied. “I . . . I know we aren’t supposed to date.” Brief pause. “But I want to.”

~Teasers~

~About the Author~

S. Walden

S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband, who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. She is the USA Today bestselling author of Going Under. When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.

She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her twitter feed at @swaldenauthor.

Website: http://www.swaldenauthor.com

Blog: http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/swaldenauthor

Twitter: @swaldenauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/swaldenauthor

~Giveaway~

GRAND PRIZE: 

LoveLines signed paperback; $5 Amazon gift card

FIRST RUNNER-UP: 

LoveLines ebook; signed LoveLines promo poster from Wicked Book Weekend

SECOND RUNNER-UP:

 LoveLines ebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Line that Breaks by JM Miller

Synopsis:

*This is NOT a standalone. It's the followup to The Line That Binds*

While searching for answers involving Stockton Estate's stone well, Ben Shadows and LJ Wayde discover one truth: the curse is real.

Unfortunately, that truth has LJ facing the same fate that's been tied to her bloodline for generations. The curse has given her the ability to help others conquer their greatest weaknesses, but it comes with a torturous price. As the rush of helping people starts to outweigh the pain of the consequences, LJ moves toward acceptance. She considers it a gift, a chance to make up for the way she treated people in the past.

Ben pushes on to find an end to the curse despite LJ's reluctance. He fears the real consequences are far worse than LJ's current symptoms, possibly linked to her Aunt Janine's memory loss. His love drives his need to protect her, even if it means hiding the next piece of the well's mystery.

When LJ finds what Ben has kept secret, she may never forgive him.

Will he lose her heart before he can save her mind?

**Recommended mature YA for mild language and mild sexual content.**

Nicky's Review

4.5 Stars

Characters- Loved Loved Loved Ben so freaking much!!! Loved LJ too.
Plot/Storyline- Oh my goodness. PAGE TURNER!!! The mystery of the curse and the way the story pieced together was done brilliantly. 
Steam Factor- Very steamy in a YA kind of way, but one can definitely use their imagination with the scenes (wink, wink).
Cover- Beautiful as always. Love the Red Dress, which I'm thinking is the dress LJ wore to the party. The photography and editing is beautiful.
Cliffhanger- Nope. This is their story with a PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL EPILOGUE!! Thank you for that JM Miller!! XO
Overall- I really really really loved this YA Romance. This is the perfect book to conclude Ben and LJ's story. The mystery of the curse keeps you turning page after page just trying to figure out the solution along with the characters. I love how the curse has historical roots and we are on the journey with Ben and LJ to uncover and dig up the puzzle pieces that will possibly put an end to the suffering. The story flowed effortlessly and perfectly and the love story was so great!! I will forever be a Ben fan. He was written so perfectly and I love how amazing he is for LJ. I LOVED this series!!! Thank you JM Miller for weaving this beautiful piece of art and sharing it with me. I am so honored and happy to have been able to escape into the world you created. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! XOXO :)

 So, let me just say that this is the PERFECT sequel and conclusion to THE LINE THAT BINDS. This book picks up RIGHT where The Line That Binds left off. We get to see LJ and Ben's relationship battle some trying ups and downs. Along this rocky path I fell more and more in love with Ben. He proves himself to be LJ's Knight in Shining Armor and I couldn't be happier with how committed he is to LJ through all of these rough situations she has to deal with.

I must say, this book had me connected so much to Ben, like heart and soul connected. My heart felt every emotion he went through while trying to support LJ physically, mentally, and emotionally. My heart broke for him when he was struggling and begging and my heart swelled for him when there were little shimmers of hope that presented themselves to him.  I just wanted to crawl into his arms and lose myself in the beauty and love that is Ben.

This book is such a page turner because we are still on the journey of trying to figure out the curse. The way JM Miller weaves the pieces together, tying the past and the present, is executed flawlessly.  I found myself, nose-in-the-book until I couldn't keep my eyes peeled any longer at 1 am. I regretted having to attend to my basic need of sleeping.

The Line that Breaks provides the reader with an adventure and a journey of love that we feel a part of.  This book was the PERFECT and I mean PERFECT conclusion to LJ and Ben's story. The Epilogue was just SUPERB!! It was like the pages wrote themselves and flowed into the best Epilogue ever, but I wouldn't take that credit away from JM Miller and her hard work, because I know she put her heart and soul in this book and I felt so lucky to be one of the firsts to experience this wonderful story and beautiful HEA. Thank you so much JM Miller. I will be looking forward to more of your work. Fantastic!! XOXO :)


Favorite Quotes:

"I think you are doing an amazing job as a boyfriend." She tipped her face back up to look at me.
I combed my fingers through her hair absently. "Oh yeah? I'm not so sure. If I was doing a good job, you'd never cry."
"You know you aren't the reason for my tears."
"But I can't prevent them, and that's just as bad."
"Not the same," she said and shook her head. "What matters is that you're drying them."

"She needed my shoulder. And I'd give her that, along with everything else in the world."

"I couldn't get enough of him. I could almost feel how much he cared anytime we touched. his warmth ran through me, his gentleness consumed me."

"I'm sorry about all of this. I wish..." I paused, tripping on the word, "there was a way for me to take it all away, so you can breathe," I admitted. And it was true. I'd bear it all if it meant she wouldn't have to.

~Purchase this Book~

Kindle Link:

 

  The Line That Breaks (The Line That Binds)

~CAST~

Brittany's Review

4.5 stars

Characters- Loved the characters! They were all so realistic and relatable.
Plot/Storyline- Very interesting. I loved the romance aspect but the main parts are the mystery and suspense of the curse. It is a page turner!

Steam Factor- It's a YA romance but JM Miller did a great job with giving the reader some good stuff =)

Cover- It's beautiful! It depicts the main character and the feel of the story.

Cliffhanger- No this is the end to their magical story! =)

Overall- Great YA romance! I loved the intrigue and mystery involved. LJ and Ben are so easy to fall in love with. I was sucked into this story from the first page of the first book. JM Miller does a great job with details and really making you feel like a part of the story.

Ben is so freaking sweet and cute. He would do anything for LJ. For their ages, I felt like they were both very mature, yet still innocent in their decision making and feelings. I liked that though.

This book picks up right where book 1 ends and the flow is great. I couldn't stop reading it!!! I just had to know more about the curse and what was in store for LJ. The author throws in just the right amount of drama to distract you from what really is going on. You will not be disappointed in this series! It has the perfect mixture of romance and mystery. Even if your on the fence because of the YA aspect, DON'T BE! The story, characters and writing is flawless. I can't wait to read more from Mrs. Miller!!! xoxo

Favorite Quotes:

"I never knew love could feel this way. So absolute. So powerful. It lived deep within my soul, like it was on another plane, existing only for him. I could see it when he looked at me. I could hear it every time he said my name. I loved him. There was no denying it."

Promo Post and Giveaway: The Line that Breaks by JM Miller

~Synopsis~

*This is the follow up to The Line That Binds*

While searching for answers involving Stockton Estate's stone well, Ben Shadows and LJ Wayde discover one truth: the curse is real.

Unfortunately, that truth has LJ facing the same fate that's been tied to her bloodline for generations. The curse has given her the ability to help others conquer their greatest weaknesses, but it comes with a torturous price. As the rush of helping people starts to outweigh the pain of the consequences, LJ moves toward acceptance. She considers it a gift and a possibility to make up for the way she treated people in her past.

Ben pushes on to find an end to the curse despite LJ's reluctance. With reasons linked to her Aunt Janine's memory loss, Ben fears the real consequences are far worse than LJ's current symptoms. His love for her drives his need to protect her, even if it means hiding the next piece of the well's mystery.

When LJ finds what Ben has kept secret, she may never forgive him.

Will he lose her heart before he can save her mind?

**Recommended mature YA for mild language and mild sexual content.**

~Purchase This Book~

Kindle Link: 

  The Line That Breaks (The Line That Binds)

 

~Excerpt~

Prologue:

November, 1864

Tonight was the last night.

Dahlia pulled on her jacket and stepped into the darkness. The air nipped at her face and fingers, but she pushed on, knowing this would be the last night she knelt before the well.

The moon hovered low on the horizon, giving just enough light to guide her across the still property. Winter was close. Color had fallen from the trees and the sun was setting earlier every day. Travel would be harder now, harsher, making the possibility of finding a new home more difficult. Nevertheless, it wasn't enough to dissuade Dahlia from leaving. The only thing that worried her now was how the Stocktons would treat her servant mother after she had gone. Mr. Stockton had passed last month, which meant Charles, with some guidance from his mother, was now in charge of the estate.

Dahlia stopped in front of the well and gazed up to the mansion like she had every night for weeks. Noticing a dim light in the farthest of the upstairs windows, she crouched low to hide. It was Charles' office, not his and Sarah's bedroom. Unfortunately, Dahlia knew which bedroom was theirs most of all─it could've been hers. In the weeks following the wedding, she'd been called upon to help clean their house. Their room. Every time she had to change the blankets on their bed, it made her physically ill. Thoughts of their lovemaking charged her mind. They ripped at her heart every day and haunted her every night. But they also fueled her anger, and kept her coming back to the well.

Seeing no movement within the lit room, she decided to continue. She stayed low and twisted sideways to keep an eye on the window. Digging into her pocket, she removed a thin iron pick. Its rounded tip had been worn close to its base. Her palm gripped the cool metal and its grooves settled into the cuts already etched in her skin. She located the final area of stone then started to scratch.

Hours later, after the last letter was done and her hands were raw and bloody once more, Dahlia read the words aloud and rubbed her hands over the stones. She thought of him as she spoke. Thought of him lying in her bed. His lips caressing hers. His promise for forever.

This was her promise to him and she was certain it would last longer than his had.

It would surpass their lifetimes.

Letting the pick fall to the ground, Dahlia turned toward the house again. A silhouette stood at the window, darkened by the dim light at its back.

It was him.

Charles.

She stared at his figure, knowing he was looking at her too. For one weakened moment, she longed to see his green eyes, taste the breath of his kiss, and feel the comfort of his arms again. Warm tears rolled over her icy cheeks, waking her from the spell.

He'd made his choice.

It wasn't her.

So she walked away from the well, leaving the darkened figure behind and never looking back.

~About the Author~
JM Miller

Goodreads / Facebook / Website / Twitter

J.M. Miller first discovered her love of writing in high school where she penned poetry for extra credit in English class and even braved

the anxiety of an open-mic night at a local coffee shop. Life soon followed, with a couple of careers, marriage, and a baby. The urge to write again came not long after her daughter’s birth, this time calling for more than a few lines in a messy composition notebook.

She is a military spouse, and a veteran herself, who finds inspiration in the people she’s met and the places she’s lived and traveled.

J.M. Miller first discovered her love of writing in high school where she penned poetry for extra credit in English class and even braved the anxiety of an open-mic night at a local coffee shop. Life soon followed, with a couple of careers, marriage, and a baby. The urge to write again came not long after her daughter's birth, this time calling for more than a few lines in a messy composition notebook.

She is a military spouse, and a veteran herself, who finds inspiration in the people she's met and the places she's lived and traveled.

~Teasers~

~Dream Cast~

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~Purchase Book 1: The Line That Binds~

The Line That Binds

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