Review: With Us by Layla Frost

With Us by Layla Frost

4 -4.25 stars

 This was a good book! This is Theo and Dahlia's story. Theo, a rich businessman, meets Dahlia in the coffee shop she works at. He is interested in her right away and asks her out. Dahlia has a lonely life, working two jobs, a sad past and very little romantic experience. She feels like Theo is out of her league, but agrees to take a chance with him. Theo is smitten and he coaxes the gun-shy Dahlia into letting down her guard and dating him. They begin a relationship and fall in love. But Theo is hiding a secret and it all comes to a head for him, putting their relationship and future in danger. Dahlia feels betrayed when she finds out Theo's secret, but after she works through it, is able to finally forgive him. They are able to work everything out so they can have a happy future together.

I really liked Theo and Dahlia. Their romance started a little slow burn. Dahlia grew up in foster care and that made her reluctant to let her self get close to people because she always felt disposable. She has lead a lonely life, but didn't realize until she met Theo and was brought into his big, Italian family. Theo was swoon-worthy. He knew a good thing in Dahlia and he was willing to put in the time and patience he needed to show her that he was in her life for good. She begins to blossom under his love and with his family. I definitely felt the couple's connection. The book is broken into two parts. The first half is when Theo and Dahlia meet and begin a relationship, eventually falling in love. Then there is a big twist and the second half is a little more drama filled. I liked both parts and I liked the way the story played out. Theo and Dahlia weathered a storm together, coming out as a strong unit in the end. I liked the the book was long enough for them to come together and work through all kinks in their relationship so I felt secure in their HEA. I liked the world built in the book and the side characters in Theo's family. I would love to see more from them in future books.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely re-read this book in the future and I look forward to more from Ms. Frost!

View all my reviews

Cover Reveal for Singe by Aly Martinez!

SINGE is the first book in an ALL NEW smokin-hot standalone series by Aly Martinez releasing February 6th!

Add to your TBR: http://bit.ly/2izUumt

Blurb

She was my nightmare. Every time I closed my eyes, I watched her fall into that inferno. Over and over, I failed to save her.

I hadn’t been able to reach her, and the guilt only burned hotter over time. Four years later, I was the unreachable one.

Heroes aren’t always saints. Sometimes, we’re nothing more than jaded sinners driven by sleepless nights and hearts full of darkness.

And then I met her. She was a dreamer who managed to soothe my scars and heal my wounds.

But, as the flames closed in around us, I feared I wasn’t the right man to save her. That is until I realized she was the one woman I’d burn the world down to protect.

About the Author

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five- including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: The Careless Whispers Series by Lisa Renee Jones

The Careless Whispers Series by Lisa Renee Jones

4-4.25 stars

This review is for all three books in the Careless Whispers series- Denial, Demand and Surrender. I really enjoyed this series. I had been waiting for all three books in the series to come out so that I could read all 3 in a row. After I read the Inside Out series (which I really loved) in 2015, I wanted to read Ella's story. I was not disappointed either. I really enjoyed this series too.

This was a wild, romantic suspense adventure. Ella has woken up in Italy in the hospital. She has amnesia and doesn't remember anything other than her name. She was found by Kayden in an alleyway after being attacked. She feels an immediate connection to him, like she actually knows him, but he says that isn't true. But he feels the connection too and he vows to help her find out what happened and who she is. Over the series, they gradually find out more from Ella's past, she gets her memory back and they fall in love. They have to fight their own personal demons, but also there are people out to get them both and they have to figure out why. Kayden vows to protect Ella from her past. Eventually, they defeat the bad guys and are able to face a future together. There is so much more to the story, but it's an epic adventure that I think is best gone into blind.

I did feel like the story was a little drug out. It could have been because I read all three books in a row and not with months between readings them, but I felt there was a good bit of repetition. There also is a lot of back and forth, "should we be together or shouldn't we?" feelings. Kayden and Ella were sure of their strong feelings for each other. But Ella's mysterious past and her amnesia held her back at times, as well as Kayden's past losses.

Overall though, despite their misgivings and while they worked through their suspenseful conflicts, they were a really great, strong couple. Both were badass in their own rights. I loved both Ella and Kayden. Ella grew stronger as the series went on and she regained her memory. Kayden was swoon-worthy, protective and he worshiped her. He opened himself up more and more to the promise of a happy future with Ella. From the moment they met, they had a very strong connection that only grew stronger throughout the series. They were a great team and very supportive of each other as they worked out the mystery of Ella's past and fought the bad guys together. I really loved them as a couple.

This series had a great combination of a deliciously soapy kind of angst, suspense, and romantic, sexy love. I liked the twists and turns in the story. The side characters were well-written and intriguing. I enjoyed catching up with Sara and Chris from the Inside Out series too. I wanted a little more from the end. An epilogue would have helped me see what the future would look like for Ella and Kayden. Hopefully there will be more from them and from this series in the future!

View all my reviews

Review: On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton

4.25-4.5 stars
****

 Ahhh! This was so good! I just love this series! I've been waiting for Easy's story since I first met him in Fly With Me, and I was not disappointed! 

A fighter pilot, Easy/Alex fell in love at first sight with Dani. He first saw her across a room at a party for his squadron. Five minutes later, he was introduced to her by her husband, his new squadron leader, Joker. He was crushed to find out she was married, but he put it aside and they became good friends. He helped her out when Joker was on assignment, including holding her hand during some really hard times.   Dani was very much in love and happy with her husband. Then Joker was killed in a plane crash. Dani goes through a terrible, tough time as she mourns her husband. Even a year after the death, she has pushed everyone away and been in limbo for the year. After a chance run in with Easy at the home improvement store, Dani realizes how much she's missed his friendship. Easy wants to help Dani, so he offers to help her as she gets her house ready to sell. 

As the spend more time together, Easy falls more in love with Dani, but he doesn't think she sees him as more than a friend and he would never act on his feelings first. But even though, she never saw him that way before, she does start to develop feelings for him. He is the only one she can count on to treat her normal and lift her spirits. He is there whenever she needs him. Easy gets ready to deploy and Dani is scared that something will happen to him, like it did to Joker. She tells him so, makes a move and they both give in to their feelings. But they both got more then they bargained for.   Dani is full of guilt about being with someone besides her husband. But she comes to terms with her feelings while Easy is deployed, realizes how much she cares for him, and once he comes back, they decide to start a relationship.

I loved Easy and Dani. Easy was an easy-going, charming guy. He loved Dani so much that he was willing to do anything to make her happy. He was sweet and sexy. Dani was going through a dark time and it was easy to see how her friendship with Easy helped her return to the land of the living. She began to rely on him to be happy. Their transition for best friends to a romantic relationship was a slow burn and it was very realistic. It was a natural progression. The sensitivity that the relationship needed in order for me to be happy with the outcome was definitely there. I am always worried that a book with a "dead ex" will not work for me, because I won't believe that the new love is not a consolation prize. In this book, I felt like Dani's two loves were equal in her eyes. Easy was exactly what she needed in order to heal and go on to be happy again. 

I also enjoyed catching up with Jordan, Noah, and Eric and Becca's lives from the first two books in the series. 

I started this book at 11:30pm, thinking I would read for a few minutes before falling asleep. I could not stop reading and ended up devouring the book in one sitting. It was such a sweet story. I am definitely going to have to re-read it asap so that I can savor it this time. I know that my review can not do this book justice. I cannot fully describe all the feelings it evoked for me. Overall, I very much enjoyed Dani and Easy's story. I hope there is more to come from this series, as it is becoming one of my faves! 

Review: Retreat by Jay Crownover

                                                  4 stars

This was a surprise release and I really enjoyed it! I am a big fan of Jay Crownover's books. So I was  excited for her surprise book, Retreat, which is the start of a new series about 3 not-quite cowboys on their family ranch. 

 Retreat is Cy and Leo's story. Leo is on a week-long retreat at a ranch with her best friend, Emrys. She recently went through a breakup, in which she found out her boyfriend of six months was married, and Emrys is trying to cheer her up. Cy is the co-owner of the ranch, along with his two brothers. As Leo goes on the week long trail ride/camping retreat, she and Cy spend time together and find they have a connection. I won't give too much away, because there are some twists and turns, some bad guys, some suspense, and adventure that changes the way they see themselves and their lives. 

This book is different than anything else I've read by Jay Crownover. The characters are a bit older and a bit more mature. There is a mystery with some suspense thrown in. I really liked both Cy and Leo. They were both great, strong characters. They met and were instantly intrigued by each other. They had great banter and chemistry too. But both of them had bad past relationship histories and neither had much confidence in their ability to make better choices in the future. Neither of them had met anyone like each other though, They were like 2 magnets, and, even though they knew their time together was limited to the trip, they couldn't keep themselves apart. They had an obvious emotional and physical connection, so they decided to make the best of their time together and make some great memories to last them long after they parted. The added suspenseful circumstances that they went through together strengthened their connection even more. So much so that they knew they were willing to make big life changes so that they could stay together after the week was over. I enjoyed watching both Cy and Leo grow as people to get over their pasts. I really liked the side characters, especially Emrys and Cy's brothers, and I also really liked the ranch setting.

There was one thing that bugged me. I didn't like that Cy's occasional friends-with-benefits chick had to show up and have a part in the book. I also wasn't sure how I felt about Cy's having been married in the past. I think I was okay with it, by the end, because it felt like he loved Leo more anyway, but I would have liked for that to be more clear. I also would have liked a longer epilogue, but that's just nitpicking.

But, overall, I did really enjoy this book. I loved Cy and Leo and I can't wait for more from this series! 

Review: Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

4 - 4.25 stars!  ****

 This was a good book! This is the second book in the Kingmaker Chronicles series and I enjoyed this book even more than the first book. This series is set in a world where there are Gods and Goddesses and magic. 

After meeting and coming together in book one, Cat and Griffin are in love, but they have some demons to face still. Cat must finally come clean with Griffin about who she really is and her destiny. They soon find that they both play a role in the fate of the world as they know it. Together, they must fight their enemies, with the help from the Gods, to bring peace to the realm. There are lots of adventures and battles that they must face so they can be on the right track to become rulers of the human world, but they come out together on the other side stronger than ever. 

In this book, Cat has matured and is not annoying, like she was at times in Promise of Fire. She is a bit calmer and her magic is becoming more refined and controllable. She and Griffin's relationship grows stronger and their love never wavers. Once Cat tells Griffin her secrets and is honest with him, nothing holds their relationship back. They become a powerful team, together ready to take on the fate of their countries. I loved how they loved each other and how they only grew stronger and closer as they battled to overcome their enemies. They were sweet and sexy together. They weathered the storm and came out on the other side a couple who loved each other dearly and had great hope for the future of their world under their rule. The side characters were great too, especially the beta team and Griffin's family. I can't wait to see how they are able to accomplish their goals of unifying the nations peacefully. 

This is a really fun, adventurous and romantic series! It kept me guessing on what was going to happen. I really look forward to more from Cat and Griffin! 

My review of  Promise of Fire (book 1):  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1736182077?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Breath of Fire releases today!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Breath-Fire-Kingmaker-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B01JASIY0A/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

Happy New Year! Hello 2017!

Best Wishes for an awesome 2017! I hope everyone is having a safe and fun New Year's Eve! I plan on posting all of my new reviews to this blog (instead of just Goodreads) starting January 1st.



Just for fun, here are some of my 2016 faves by category:


Favorite Sci-Fi Romance: Ice Planet Barbarians series by Ruby Dixon

Favorite PNR: Toil and Trouble series by Heather R. Blair, honorable mention to Force of Temptation by Suzanne Wright

Favorite full length Menage book: Sugar Daddies by Jade West, honorable mentions to Taunt by Eve Dangerfield and Over the Bridge by Meredith Wild

Favorite New Adult book: The Score by Elle Kennedy

Favorite Contemporary Romance (that doesn't fit into any other category): A tie between One by Jewel E. Ann, Stripped Bounty by Dorothy F. Shaw, Abruption by Riley Mackenzie Best Kase Scenario by Layla Frost, Managed by Kristen Callihan, Three Sweet Nothings by Nikki Sloane,  and Athica Lane by Brynne Asher, honorable mention to Change of Heart by Nicole Jaqueline and The Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis

Favorite Sports Romance: A tie between Rookie Love by Sarina Bowen, Hail Mary by Nicola Rendell and Major Love by Kate Stewart, honorable mention to Dirty Player by Stacey Lynn

Favorite Office Romance: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Favorite MC Club Romance: The Dartmoor series by Lauren Gilley

Favorite Dark Romance: Anything by T. M. Frazier, honorable mention to Six by K. I. Lynn

Favorite Military Romance: Chanel Cleeton's Wild Aces series

Most Original Writing: Jack and Jill series by Jewel E. Ann

Favorite Romantic Comedy: Max Monroe's Billionaire Bad Boys series

Favorite BDSM Romance: A tie between The Masters and Mercenaries series by Lexi Blake and anything by Cherise Sinclair, honorable mentions to Jennifer Dawson's Undone series and Worth the Wait by Joey W. Hill

Favorite Guilty Pleasure Read: A tie between anything by Alexa Riley or Annika Martin's Hunky Bank Robbers series

Favorite Adventure Romance: A tie between Confessed by Nicola Rendell and The Mercenaries series by Stylo Fantome

Favorite Menage Scene in a Non-menage book: from Three Sweet Nothings by Nikki Sloane

Favorite Teacher/Student book: Teach Me by Lola Darling

Favorite Canadian themed book: Prime Minister by Ainsley Booth and Sadie Haller (I had to make up a category because I really liked this book and wanted to honor it).

Favorite Second Chance romance: Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

Favorite New-to-me Author: A tie between Nicola Rendell, R. K. Lilley, Stylo Fantome, Lauren Gilley, T. M. Frazier, Jewel E. Ann, Jennifer Dawson and Max Monroe

Favorite Bearded heroes: The Winston Brothers series men by Penny Reid

Favorite Good-kind-of- Angsty books: A tie between anything by R. K. Lilley and Stylo Fantome's Kane series

Favorite Mafia Romance: A. Zavarelli's Boston Underworld series

Most Genre-bending Author: Lauren Gilley

First book completed in 2016: Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward

Last book completed in 2016: Scarlet Stone by Jewel E. Ann




New Releases I can't wait to read in 2017:


Surrender by Lisa Renee Jones - This is the final book in the Careless Whispers series. I have been waiting forever for it to come out so I can read all three books in a row. This series is a spin-off of the Inside Out series, which I really liked! January release.

Rock Chick Reawakening by Kristen Ashley - This is Daisy and Marcus's book! I can't wait to read this Rock Chick prequel novella, as I love this series! January release.

On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton - This is Easy's book. We have met Easy in the other Wild Aces series books   Easy hides behind a charming mask, but is secretly in love with his dead friend's widow. I cannot wait to read this one! January release.

Hard Hitter by Sarina Bowen - I really enjoyed the first book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series, so I can't wait for more! January release.

Dating You/Hating you by Christina Lauren - A new standalone romance from this talented duo? Yes, please! June release.

With Us by Layla Frost - I loved Best Kase Scenario by this author so I can't wait for more from her! January release

Threescore and Tequila by Heather R. Blair - I really enjoyed the first three books in the unique paranormal Toil and Trouble series, I can't wait to read more! February release.

Accidentally on Purpose by Jill Shalvis - The Heartbreaker Bay series continues with Elle and Archer's story. Their chemistry was abound in the other books in the series so I can't wait to see them get their HEA. January release.

Twist by Kylie Scott - I liked the first book in the Dive Bar series, even though I didn't love it. But I loved the premise and the side characters enough to want to keep reading the series so hopefully this will be a good read. April release.

Riveted and Salvaged by Jay Crownover - The final two books in the Saints of Denver series. I really liked Charged so these should be good too! February and June releases.

The Deep End by Kristen Ashley - This controversial new book by one of my favorite authors is something totally different for her! It set in a BDSM club and the hero is an Alpha sub. I don't usually love Domme books, but I do like BDSM themed books so I'm excited to get KA's take on the genre. March release.

Dating-ish by Penny Reid - The sixth book in the Kitting in the City series. I have enjoyed the previous books in this series a lot. This is Marie's book. May release.

Beard in Mind by Penny Reid - Beau Winston's book. I can't wait to see how he and Shelly work this out. September release.

Sex Says by Max Monroe - The mysterious duo of Max Monroe is an auto-buy author for me. Everything they write is hilarious, sweet and sexy! February release.

What books were your favorites by category in 2016? Which books are you looking forward to the most in 2017? Please share in the comments!