Fool Me Once (Foolproof Love #2)
    by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: Aug. 1, 2016
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 170 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

They say opposites attract, but this is just ridiculous.

Aubry Kaiser doesn’t like people—actually, that’s not right. She loathes people. With her crippling anxiety, there’s no way she can demo her favorite video game at a convention with five thousand other people. Maybe if she brings someone to act as a shield…

But the only person available is the sexy cowboy she can’t stand.

Quinn Baldwyn is in a mess of his own. He’s been dodging his wealthy family’s matchmaking attempts—and life advice—for years, but with his sister’s wedding on the horizon, he needs of a shield of his own.

He and Aubry can barely hold down a civil conversation, but in bed…fireworks. And the closer they get to Quinn’s sister’s wedding, the more he realizes that he might actually like Aubry.

Now it’s up to him to convince her she might actually like him, too.

  

 

 

I had so much fun with this book! Enemies to lovers, road trips, fake dating trope... it's like the trifecta of awesome! Oh and Aubry is a freaking gamer and Quinn is a big, sexy cowboy, so yeah- I was won over from the start!

 

I LOVED these two together! They had such great banter and that hate to love relationship was super hot- their chemistry was just so undeniable. I liked seeing them progress from 'dealing with' one another to actually enjoying each other's company. These two might start off their relationship with just sex, but seeing it progress to more was everything.

 

They also balance each other really well. They may be going on this trip together for their own selfish purposes, but it just works. Aubry is terrified of crowds and has social anxiety, where Quinn oozes confidence. He really does a great job helping distract and keep her wits about her. Quinn's reasons for taking Aubry to his sister's wedding may have started as a ruse to shock his parents and give them the proverbial finger, but he ends up really falling for her and it was hard to see him suffer through his parents' hoity toity behavior.

 

I really enjoyed their friends Adam, Jules, and Daniel too. I really hope Daniel's book is next because I just wanted to hug that man hard. He is stealing dealing with the ghosts of his past and I am looking forward to seeing him find peace and move forward.

 

I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a short, sexy, fun read filled with sexy banter and some very sexy scenes!

 

An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3)
   by: Julia Quinn

Publication Date: Oct. 13, 2009
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: Purchased
Page Count: 358 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Will she accept his offer before the clock strikes midnight?

Sophie Beckett never dreamed she'd be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball—or that "Prince Charming" would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.

Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid's garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?

Sigh. I can't get enough of this series, you guys. Seriously. I LOVE ALL THINGS BRIDGERTON. And Julia Quinn! I don't know what the deal was on Overdrive, but I was on hold for this book for an eternity. Finally, I gave up and purchased a used copy at my bookstore.

I really liked Benedict's book! It was a Cinderella retelling and it was cute! I loved Sophie too. She was the perfect heroine for Benedict. Having grown up as a servant, one night at a ball changes everything for her as she meets Benedict. However, as the tale goes- she escapes him at midnight with nothing but the memory of a perfect night together. The two are reunited a few years later and it is killing Sophie not to disclose that she was the girl at ball. Benedict had been holding on to the idea of this perfect woman and has finally started to give up on her. He finds himself falling for Sophie herself, but knows society would never allow them to be together.

I am all for a case of forbidden love, so I loved seeing the two battle their attraction to one another.

I am looking forward to starting Colin's book next. Everyone says it's their favorite!

Burn (Scan #2)
   by: Walter Jury and Sarah Fine

Publication Date: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Borrowed from the Library
Page Count: 352 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3/5 stars

At the cliffhanger ending of Scan, Tate loses the very thing he was fighting to protect, what his father had called the key to human survival. Tate doesn't have much time to worry about it because he needs to get away, to ensure he and Christina are safe. His father left him one last thing that can do just that—a safehouse, which turns out to be a clue to what's really threatening the planet. As Tate follows the clues his father left behind, he starts to uncover the truth, realizing he's up against an enemy he's only beginning to understand.

A riveting, fast-paced "we are not alone" adventure, Burn thrills to the very end.

 

I read Scan last year, I believe, and really enjoyed how fast-paced and action packed it was! It was also refreshing to have a male protagonist in the driver's seat! The synopsis tells it true- that cliffhanger was BRUTAL! I picked up Burn from the library and started it before I moved, but then never got to finish it. I wonder, if that was part of the problem I had with this one. I picked it back up a couple of weeks ago and really struggled through it. It wasn't keeping me engaged like it's predecessor did. I still loved being with Tate and Christina, but I felt it lacked the spark the first book did. Sadly, this one didn't wow me, but it was nice to get some resolution for our characters.

Wicked (A Wicked Saga #1)
   by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: December 8, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age Group: New Adult
Source: Purchased for Kindle
Page Count: 300 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

 

So, I am always up for a JLA book and I'm kicking myself for not starting this one sooner! I loved the New Orleans setting and the fact that it was New Adult Urban Fantasy! I read so many contemporaries, that it was refreshing to jump into the world of the Order and their fight against the fae.

 

Ivy is our fiery, red-haired heroine and I really liked her. She was a lot of fun and I love how much of Jen's personality and loves were incorporated in this one. (Supernatural, Walking Dead, etc.) Ren was sexy as sin and I loved his cocky, honest attitude. He was great and is definitely a new favorite of Jen's heroes.

 

I have to mention my love for Tink because oh my goodness. I was trying so hard not to laugh at his craziness in front of my coworkers the other day. I have a feeling our little Brownie is going to be a major player in this series.

 

On to Torn!

 

 

Stealing Home
      by Nicole Williams

Publication Date: July 10, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via ArdentPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 211 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3/5 stars

Being the only woman working for a professional baseball team isn’t easy. As the San Diego Shock’s newest athletic trainer, Allie knows all about long hours, endless travel, and warding off players’ advances. Given she’s already the subject of a handful of rumors about how “lucky” she was to have earned such a coveted position, she can’t so much as flutter an eyelash a player’s way if she wants to be taken seriously.

But number eleven is doing more than fluttering eyelashes Allie’s way. Far more. Luke Archer is at the top of his game and doesn’t let the fear of striking out keep him from swinging. This is a motto he applies both on and off the field, but Allie appears immune, seeming to view Luke as nothing more than caution tape on legs.

He’s a player, and in Allie’s experience, they’re all the same. She won’t risk her job or her heart to another one, no matter how different this one claims to be. But as Allie gets to know him, she discovers the number eleven the public thinks they know is very different from the real Luke Archer. He seems too good to be true.

And maybe he is.

Allie will have to confront the stories attached to a player of Luke Archer’s stature and decide who she’ll put her faith in—The man she’s falling for? Or the rumors?

 

 

I love Nicole's Lost and Found series, as well as her Three Brothers. I was super excited to see she was writing a sports romance, because let's be honest- who can get enough of those? Not this girl! And it's a BASEBALL book. *dreamy sigh*

 

I really did love all things Luke Archer. He was such a wonderful hero and sexy as sin! Allie was sweet too and I liked her dedication to her job and how she refused to let anyone tear her down or tell her she was only there because of her feminine parts. She's damn good at what she does and she won't let arrogant jerks keep her down.

 

My issue with this book was that it felt so clichéd. We have Allie and Luke, who aren't looking for anything serious, decide to pursue a sexual relationship, but end up falling for one another anyway. There is your usual miscommunication conflict that causes problems for our happy couple also. I also felt the story could have used more depth and background on our characters. I feel we just jumped right in to the attraction and sexy times, when I could have used a bit more tension and development.

 

I did still enjoy this one despite my issues though, but I don't know that it will be especially memorable.

Torn (A Wicked Saga #2)
   by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: July 19, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via InkSlingerPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 299 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Torn between duty and survival, nothing can be the same.

Everything Ivy Morgan thought she knew has been turned on its head. After being betrayed and then nearly killed by the Prince of the Fae, she’s left bruised and devastated—and with an earth-shattering secret that she must keep at all costs. And if the Order finds out her secret, they’ll kill her.

Then there’s Ren Owens, the sexy, tattooed Elite member of the Order who has been sharing Ivy’s bed and claiming her heart. Their chemistry is smoking hot, but Ivy knows that Ren has always valued his duty to the Order above all else—he could never touch her if he knew the truth. That is, if he let her live at all. Yet how can she live with herself if she lies to him?

But as the Fae Prince begins to close in, intent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld, Ivy is running out of options. If she doesn’t figure out who she can trust—and fast—it’s not only her heart that will be torn apart, but civilization itself.

I am SO SO excited for everyone to get their hands on this book! After JLA dropped that bomb on us at the end of Wicked, I think it's safe to say we were all wondering how this bit of information would change everything for Ivy and crew!

I will keep my review brief, as there will be no spoilers here! I loved being back with Ren and Ivy. Those two... sigh. I just love both of them so much. They made so much progress together in Wicked and are still learning to navigate new waters with their relationship. Ivy now has a huge secret that has the potential to change EVERYTHING. I was worried that it would be this huge cloud over their relationship, but Armentrout handled it really well. These two definitely have their share of obstacles, but I love how they worked through them together. There was one instance where I wanted to shake Ivy though because, GIRLFRIEND. How could you not have figured that out sooner?!?!?!

Oh, can I just mention how much I adore Tink? Goodness gracious! His character was such great comedic relief and I couldn't help but snort in laughter every time he graced the pages. He is by far one of my favorite secondary characters Armentrout has written!

We find out quite a bit more about Ren's past, as well as a bit more about our elusive brownie, Tink. I really enjoyed that, as well as seeing things go completely crazy with the arrival of the Prince (UGH). Secrets, betrayal, sexy times... you'd better believe Torn delivers on all accounts! This book takes a bit of a darker turn towards the end and oh my heart was just hurting at seeing what our beloved friends went through. I am so looking forward to seeing how things get resolved in Burn!

If you haven't started this series, what in the world are you waiting for?!

Welcome to my stop on The Problem with Forever blog tour hosted by InkSlingerPR!

Today I am excited to share my review with you all as well as giveaway!

The Problem with Forever
   by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via the publisher and InkSlingerPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 480 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Indiebound
My Rating: 5/5 stars
 

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

 

Register your preorder of THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER by May 20^th to receive a FREE fan pack! Includes inspirational wall art, a colorful poster, and flag-as-you-read stickers. You will also get immediate access to an extended excerpt from the book.

JUST FILL OUT THE FORM HERE> http://bit.ly/24awVFw

 

 

 

My goodness y'all. Where do I even start with this book? I always love JLA's books, but this one holds a lot of emotional power, especially being an educator of teens. These kids have a lot of emotional issues to deal with and they do their best to push them aside and go to school and not let the world see just how difficult it is to actually do that.

 

Mallory and Rider both carry emotional scars from their past and they are trying to get beyond that, but do so in different ways. Mallory has been adopted into a great family and has such a strong support system that has helped her get the counseling she needs. They are a bit overprotective, but they mean well. They want to see her flourish and they encourage her to tackle the things that scare her. Rider, on the other hand, acts as if he doesn't have a care in the world. He has accepted his status in life and doesn't put forth the effort to try and change people's perceptions of him. He has been beaten down by his past and doesn't have very strong aspirations for the future.

 

Armentrout always manages to pull me in with her books and I never want them to end. I wanted to speed through this one because I was so impatient to find out what happened. I love being engaged like this, because I really do feel like I am right there with the characters and their emotions all transfer to me as the reader.

 

Mallory and Rider together were really adorable. I loved them. There is so much uncertainty and shyness and it was just precious to see them try to discern between the scared kids they once were into the teens they are now. Mallory isn't a frightened, weak little girl anymore who needs protecting. I loved seeing her come into her own and ask for support instead of help. She believes in Rider and she wants him to see the kind, wonderful, self-sacrificing guy she does. He has talent and she doesn't want him to waste that. They really worked together and I loved it.

 

I loved our secondary cast of characters and how much of a role they played also. I love that they weren't pushed aside and that they were integral to these characters' lives.

 

Overall, I can't recommend this one enough. It's one that needs to be experienced and while I could go on and on, I think you're better off jumping in and letting Armentrout work her magic.

 

 

 

 

 

# 1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

 

Website  Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads

 

  

 

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Paper Princess (The Royals #1)
   by: Erin Watt

Publication Date: April 4, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Mature Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Nina Bocci in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 370 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh my. I have been ruined by Royals. Ok, so technically I've been ruined by one Royal in particular.... And after that evil cliffhanger I don't even know what to do with myself and my feels. Thanks a lot ladies. Ok, so really though. I sound bitter, but I promise I'm not because holy hell THIS BOOK. I have been in a bit of a book slump, but when I picked this one up, there was no wanting to put it down!

 

My heart ached for Ella. She has already gone through so much in her life and now she is plucked up by this rich guy she doesn't even know and is brought to live in his house with his 5 sexy as hell, but vindictive sons. They are pretty awful to her in the beginning, and they act as her Judge, Jury, and Executioner without even getting to know her. It's very much survival mode for Ella, but I love how strong she is. She isn't unaffected but she'll be damned before she shows weakness in front of these people.

 

School isn't much better for Ella, as the Royal boys pretty much own the place. She is mostly ignored, with the exception of a girl named Jordan who is the Queen Bee of the school. She also has it bad for Reed, so she won't be rolling out the red carpet for Ella anytime soon. Ella does end up befriending another outcast of sorts, Jordan's cousin, and the two are quite the pair.

 

I wanted to hate Reed and Easton Royal for how they treated Ella, as some of their actions could border on sexual harassment, and I hated how vile they were initially to her. They automatically assume she's a slut and make crude gestures, when she's never even had sex before and is pretty inexperienced when it comes to all things sexual. However, as we learn more about this family and their history, I can understand why it took them so long to warm up to Ella. I'm not condoning their actions, but Ella is a stranger brought in under unusual circumstances, so they are right to be wary.

 

Ella thinks the Royals are insufferable, but she can't get past her attraction for Reed. He is an ass to her, but she doesn't just let him walk all over her. She exacts her revenge and I love how she sticks it to him. He takes to driving Ella to school and to work in the mornings and while he says it's not to embarrass the family, I think he's has his own reasons. As in, he likes her. However, he doesn't want to open himself up in front of her and show he's vulnerable. He tries to keep her at a distance, as he's set on leaving for college in the fall and he can't afford any distractions. These two have crazy tension together and it's seriously hot.

 

I am so ready for Broken Prince. I'm not usually one for drama, scandal, and betrayal but in this case, GIVE ME MORE!

You Were Here
   by: Cori McCarthy

Publication Date: Mar. 1, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 400 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Grief turned Jaycee into a daredevil, but can she dare to deal with her past?

On the anniversary of her daredevil brother's death, Jaycee attempts to break into Jake's favorite hideout—the petrifying ruins of an insane asylum. Joined by four classmates, each with their own brand of dysfunction, Jaycee discovers a map detailing her brother's exploration and the unfinished dares he left behind.

As a tribute to Jake, Jaycee vows to complete the dares, no matter how terrifying or dangerous. What she doesn't bargain on is her eccentric band of friends who challenge her to do the unthinkable: reveal the parts of herself that she buried with her brother.

 

 

This book completely took me by surprise and it is one that I cannot recommend enough! From the flawed characters, to a shipworthy romance, and unexpected formatting that knocked my socks off, I was hooked from the beginning.

 

I did not expect multiple POVs, but I have to say it really worked. I liked getting to know all of the characters and the way McCarthy handled two character's POVs in particular, was pretty genius. As I said, the characters are flawed. They are all dealing with their own issues, which I really liked because it was so realistic at their age. Some issues are heavier than others, but they ultimately all find themselves banding together to follow Jaycee's daredevil dead brother's footprints across the state.

 

I'll start with Jaycee. I wasn't sure if I was going to like her initially because she's so abrasive and isn't afraid to speak her mind, even at the risk of hurting others. However, my heart absolutely ached for her. It has been five years since her brother's death and she isn't living. I feel like she's stuck in time and to see her still so shattered and broken really hurt. She doesn't realize that her pain is actually affecting those around her. There is this huge chasm between her and her best friend, Natalie, and she makes her brother's childhood best friend feel invisible because she doesn't really see HIM for who he is. Her self destructive nature really hurts them and she is in so deep that she can't see beyond her grief. I can't imagine what it's like to lose a sibling, and everyone has their own way of coping, but Jaycee isn't. She wears her brother's clothes. She lives in his room. She is even starting to act like him. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

 

Her relationship with Mik was complicated too. She has always had a crush on him, but after Jake died, she just couldn't seem to look beyond the boy from the past. She doesn't see the guy he is now and that hurts him because he has strong feelings for her. She pushes him away when he gets too close, because she doesn't know how to deal with her feelings for him. They have been recently connected by her brother's death, so it's pretty awkward for her to try and see him in a new light. I shipped these two so hard, even as frustrated as I could be with Jaycee for how she could be with him.

 

Natalie's character was probably my least favorite. She was hard to warm up to because of her superior attitude. She is ready to leave her current life behind and start new. She acts much older than she is and is pretty condescending. I hated how she treated her boyfriend Zach and she really doesn't deserve him, especially after something she did. Jake's death has affected her more than we know and because of that she has pushed Jaycee away, which felt like the ultimate betrayal to Jaycee. These two are constantly at odds during the book, but their screwed up friendship kind of works.

 

Zach is too dependent on Natalie and he just lets her belittle him and make him feel like crap. He doesn't stand up to her because he doesn't want to be alone. He clings to the scraps Natalie throws at him, because there are those times when things are great and they actually get one another. Those moments are few and far between though. Natalie isn't Zach's only issue. Zach's family is pretty messed up and once Natalie and Bishop go off to school, he really won't have anyone left. I hate that he felt left behind but his reasons for staying are so noble that it made me choke up a bit.

 

There isn't too much to say about Bishop, other than he is dealing with heartbreak over a girl leaving him and heading back across the pond. He is loyal to Zach, although he has been trying to distance himself from him, so that when he leaves it won't be such a blow.

 

I just can't do this book justice. These characters are all broken in their own way and even though the way they came together was unexpected, I liked that they really formed this tight knit group, even despite the shit they go through. I like that they follow Jake's map of places he's been to and the dares he's left behind because it gives them purpose and they discover so much about themselves and each other because of it. Friendship isn't always pretty- it can be messy, but true friends will be there for you no matter what and I really felt that in this book. Definitely pick this one up. It's one that won't be leaving my mind any time soon.

 

The Power (Titan #2)
   by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: Feb. 23, 2016
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via InkSlingerPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 344 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

With any great change, there is always strife, and the Covenant University has become the frontline between pure-bloods who want the Breed Order reinstated and the half-bloods who want the right to control their own destinies.
Fate has other plans.

The violence is escalating and war between the races seems inevitable, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Hyperion may be out of commission, but Josie and Seth know they have only earned a reprieve. Seth must get Josie fully prepared, which means controlling her newfound abilities, and they need to find the other demigods before the Titans do.
But the gods are sensing a greater threat.

Only one thing is more dangerous than a bunch of starved Titans, and that’s an out-of-control Apollyon. The aether in Josie is drawing Seth in deeper, and when lust mixes with love and gives way to power, he knows being close to her is not only dangerous to her, but to everyone around them, but letting her go requires a level of selflessness that just isn’t Seth’s style.

The paths taken in the past are becoming the roads of the future.

Just as chaos breaks out, familiar faces from the past return, complicating the already strained bond between Josie and Seth, and when the danger from the Titans erupts with devastating consequences, the dark allure of power calls to Seth again, but this time Josie might not be able to pull him back.

And when the struggle between power and love becomes the deadliest battleground, there may be no salvation.

 

 

 

 

Oh man! I am just so into this series you guys! I didn't want The Power to end! And I am now DYING for The Struggle! I just love being with these characters and this world!

 

Josie and Seth are back in the second installment of the Titan series, and I just loved them together. They complement each other so well and I absolutely love how much they would sacrifice for the other. It also hurt my heart and I felt myself gutted for awhile, but thankfully JLA didn't leave me in despair for TOO long! Seth is still struggling with his feelings of not being good enough for Josie, as well as his fear that he will destroy her, which is why he pulls what he does. I get his fears, but I do wish he would have talked it out with Josie, instead of making her feel the way he did. She just has so much kindness and compassion in her and I hated seeing her light snuffed out. However, Seth really doesn't WANT to stay away from her, which leads to some very sexy times between them. If you thought the first book was hot, JUST. YOU. WAIT!

 

Seth is really struggling in this book with the darkness inside and it was hard seeing him so torn over it. He doesn't want to hurt the people he loves, but the temptation to feed off Josie's aether is quite palpable and I was really afraid for these two. I do love how Josie refuses to believe that Seth is only darkness. She believes in him, in his goodness, and that just gave me all the warm and fuzzies. Again- their balance is so wonderful and is what will get them through even the most difficult of trials.

 

We do see some familiar faces from the Covenant series and I really enjoyed seeing that addition to the story and how that would all play out. There was some tension and jealousy at first, but it soon led to a group dynamic that I really enjoyed. Things won't ever be perfect because of Seth's past, but at least everyone can function as a team to achieve the greater goal.

 

There were some surprises along the way that I didn't see coming and the situation between the halfs and pures has escalated to a point where shit has gotten real. I am so excited to meet back up with my beloved characters and watch them continue to navigate against all the odds that are stacked against them.

 

# 1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

 

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And don't miss Book 1 in the Titan series, THE RETURN, just $1.99 for a limited time only! 

 

 

The Return (Titan Series #1)

Spencer Hill Press

February 16th, 2015

New Adult Paranormal

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

BUY Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SegBNx 

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1PW9eUO 

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Kah152 

 

 

The Return (Titan #1)
   by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: Feb. 16, 2015
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age Group: New Adult
Source: Physical ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 335 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

 

 

Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing is seriously like crack to me. I can devour her books in no time! The same holds true for The Return. Even though I went in not having read the Covenant series, I was still plenty engaged and she does a wonderful job of filling in the gaps for those of us who may have not read it yet for some strange reason.... Don't worry. This year it's happening. Now that I've read about Seth in this capacity, I desperately want to go back and see how everything officially went down.

 

I really loved Seth's character. I need to remember the Seth he is NOW when I go back and see him at his worst. He is still deeply affected by his choices, which is one of the reasons he tries to hold Josie at bay when it came to their relationship. He has some deeply rooted insecurities and I love that Josie was able to break through those barriers and just embrace the guy he is, flaws and all. Even after she finds out about his past and how things ended with Alex, she still accepts him.

 

This book is wrought with sexual tension and I do love Jen's decision to make it new adult. These characters have grown from the previous series and are at a more mature age, so the more mature content works. Having read her NA and Adult titles, we all know Jen knows her way around a good, sexy scene and holy smokes did this book get hot!

 

Josie was such a great female protagonist. She may not have the physical strength, but the girl has loads of inner strength that she doesn't even know she has. It broke my heart to see her loneliness, but she really was a kindred spirit for Seth. They were able to identify and connect to one another on a completely different level. I loved that she was realistic too. She doesn't become this warrior instantaneously. She wants to learn how to defend and protect herself, but also give herself a sense of purpose instead of being this helpless girl. I loved that about her.

 

I really like how the Greek gods come into play in this series and the idea behind halfs, pures, aether, etc. I am also super interested in seeing the Titans come into play because man are they some scary mofos! I am super excited to dive into The Power and see where Armentrout will take Josie and Seth next!  

Strong Signal (Cyberlove #1)
   by: Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell

Publication Date: Feb. 15, 2016
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via the authors in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I was counting down the months until the end of my deployment. My days were spent working on military vehicles, and I spent my nights playing video games that would distract me until I could leave Staff Sergeant Garrett Reid behind.

That was when I met him: Kai Bannon, a fellow gamer with a famous stream channel.

I never expected to become fixated on someone who'd initially been a rival. And I'd never expected someone who oozed charm to notice me—a guy known for his brutal honesty and scowl. I hadn't planned for our online friendship to turn into something that kept me up at night—hours of chatting evolving into filthy webcam sessions.

But it did. And now I can't stop thinking about him. In my mind, our real life meeting is perfect. We kiss, we fall into bed, and it's love at first sight.

Except, like most things in my life, it doesn't go as planned.

 

 

When I first saw Megan was writing this book, I was already in. I love her books, so it was a given that I needed this one. She has combined forces with Santino Hassell and holy hell did these two kill this book. This nerdy gamer girl all kinds of geeked out over the lingo and I found myself torn between wanting to read and going to game! (Kai and Garrett won by the way.) So fangirling and geeking out aside, this book was hella hot. The romance between those two was SO steamy and sexy. However, it's not without its complications. Both Kai and Garrett are navigating their new relationship and trying to fit the other into their life.

 

Garrett has been deployed to Afghanistan and video games are an escape for him. He is ready to be done, but he also has a lot to think about in terms of his future. He doesn't have a wide array of skill sets to work with, so his scope is pretty slim. He is a mechanic in the military and a damn good one, so he hopes to continue that out in the civilian world. He certainly didn't plan on finding and falling for a Twitch gamer, named Kai. However, the two end up forming a friendship and soon Kai is the one bright spot in Garrett's life. They are definitely attracted to one another, but Kai shies away from talk of meeting for reasons that I don't want to spoil.

 

Kai broke my heart a bit. I loved him so much and I hated that he had to deal with the issues he did. Garrett was so good for him and I am glad he was so supportive. Kai doesn't have family like Garrett does and neither have many friends they can call on either. However, Kai does have Shawn and Shawn's mom, who live down the hall, and I was infuriated when someone tried to defile that with ugliness. Garrett's mom and sister ended up being really great, especially when Garrett came clean to them about his being gay. They are not perfect and sometimes say the wrong things, but they love him no matter what and it was refreshing to see.

 

These two were such a good balance for one another. They are quite different, but they mesh so well together and man was their chemistry explosive! I felt both Megan and Santino did such a great job teaming up together to write this series! I can't wait for the next book!