A Fool For You (Foolproof Love #3)
   by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: Oct. 3, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 141 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3/5 stars

It’s been thirteen years since Hope Moore left Devil’s Falls, land of sexy cowboys and bad memories. Back for the weekend, she has no intention of seeing the man she never got over…or the two of them getting down and dirty. It’s just a belated goodbye, right? No harm, no foul.

Until six weeks later, when her pregnancy test comes back positive…

Daniel Rodriguez hasn’t forgiven himself for how things went down with Hope all those years ago. He knows she’s better off without him, but when she shows up on his doorstep, panicking because she’s pregnant with his baby, he can’t help seeing it as a chance to make up for the past.

Too bad Hope has no intention of going along with his plans.  

 

 

I was really looking forward to Hope and Daniel's book after Fool Me Twice. There is so much history between these two and after the death of Hope's brother, things have never been the same. Daniel made some poor decisions and he has to live with those every day of his life along with the guilt he feels over his friend's death.

I would have enjoyed this one more, had it not been so rushed. For this kind of story, I really wanted to see more development and build up between the characters. Hope and Daniel were both frustrating to me. Neither one of them can admit they want the other to stay and start over. They loved one another once and those feelings never went away. Hope is hurt that Daniel left her all those years ago and she can't take his feeling sorry for her. She doesn't want him to be with her out of guilt. She wants his love and he is certainly not making that easy. Daniel doesn't feel worthy of Hope and he does still blame himself for her brother's death and the scars she still bears from that accident. I get that these two are facing a lot, but the execution just wasn't there for me. I was disappointed because of how excited I was for this book, but in the end, I am glad to see they got their HEA.

 

I also don't think one is very memorable. It's been a couple of weeks since I've read it and I really didn't remember much, except that it felt too fast. I'm looking forward to the next book by Robert. I do love her writing and hope the next one will be more to my liking.

Twisted Palace (The Royals #3)
   by: Erin Watt

Publication Date: Oct. 17, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Mature Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Nina Bocci in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 370 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

These Royals will ruin you…

From mortal enemies to unexpected allies, two teenagers try to protect everything that matters most.

Ella Harper has met every challenge that life has thrown her way. She’s tough, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to defend the people she loves, but the challenge of a long-lost father and a boyfriend whose life is on the line might be too much for even Ella to overcome.

Reed Royal has a quick temper and even faster fists. But his tendency to meet every obstacle with violence has finally caught up with him. If he wants to save himself and the girl he loves, he’ll need to rise above his tortured past and tarnished reputation.

No one believes Ella can survive the Royals. Everyone is sure Reed will destroy them all.
They may be right.

With everything and everyone conspiring to keep them apart, Ella and Reed must find a way to beat the law, save their families, and unravel all the secrets in their Twisted Palace.

 

 

This series has been the biggest guilty pleasure for me. I am so completely invested in these characters and all the drama that surrounds them. After the mega double cliffhanger of Broken Prince, I was so ready to get my hands on Twisted Palace.

 

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It wasn't my favorite because I didn't really like some of the developments that occurred. However, I was engaged the entire way through, even though I felt it was a bit of a slower paced read. The action and adventure really ramps up at the end and then I felt it just went too fast for me. I didn't feel resolved. I do think they will write more books with these characters (or I'm hoping so!).

I did love Ella and Reed together though. These two have come a long way and we really see that. While the Royals will always be protective of Ella, they have come to realize that she is a force on her own and they definitely respect that.

While I didn't love this one like the others, I am seriously hoping for more. We definitely need an Easton book and I personally would like a Gideon one. We barely saw him in this one and after all the shit with Dinah, I felt he should have played a larger role and gotten some resolution.



The Goal (Off-Campus #4)
  by: Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: Sept. 26, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Nina Bocci in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 350 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.  

 

 

I am such a huge fan of this series. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites in New Adult. After the massive bomb Tucker dropped at the end of The Score, I was psyched to get this book to see how everything had built up to that point.

 

I absolutely LOVED Tucker. He is just such a sweetheart and I loved how he went after Sabrina, even despite how much Dean ranted about her. He really got to know Sabrina and how to treat her. She has been through a lot and has quite a bit of shit to deal with already. Her homelife is a disaster and all she wants to do is be successful, so she can move upwards and onwards with her life. I knew she would be reluctant with Tucker and would be a hard nut to crack, but I actually really liked her. She's resilient and independent and that doesn't just change overnight.

 

I did feel parts of this book dragged a bit for me and I honestly wish we had had more interaction with Tucker's friends. I understand why, as they were keeping their relationship a secret, but I did find myself missing them. The scenes they were in though, completely made my day. I love that crew.

I really hope Dean's sister gets a book with Fitzy. Fingers crossed. 

Defending Taylor (Hundred Oaks #
   by: Miranda Kenneally

Publication Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

There are no mistakes in love.

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor's always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that's what is expected of a senator's daughter. But one impulsive decision-one lie to cover for her boyfriend-and Taylor's kicked out of private school. Everything she's worked so hard for is gone, and now she's starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor's escape from the pressures of school and family, but it's hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she's going through is her older brother's best friend, Ezra. Taylor's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it's hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

  

 

 

Since I was in the mood for a quick, fun read, I decided to pick up Defending Taylor. Kenneally's books are always super fast and engaging, which is just what I was looking for. I found that I liked this book, but didn't quite love it. I felt the book read a bit choppy and simplistic and while that wasn't a HUGE factor, it did cause some slight issues for me. I also felt like Ezra and Taylor's relationship went from 0-100 in no time at all. I get they have history, but had I seen a bit more of that, I think I wouldn't have minded so much.

 

I did really love Taylor and Ezra together though. They are really adorable and I like how easy their relationship was. There was no angst and unnecessary drama. It was very much boy and girl like one another and begin a relationship.

 

What I liked most of all was the fact that Ezra and Taylor are consistently thinking about their individual futures. Taylor thought she had everything planned out, but after getting kicked out of her swanky private school, she starts to reevaluate her life and what she really wants. Ezra is also at a bit of a crossroads, so it was awesome to see Taylor support and encourage him, because he is capable really being successful- just in a different way than his family may have originally thought.

 

I also enjoyed seeing how Taylor handled the girls on her new soccer team. They are pretty resentful of her at first, having once been adversaries, as she played for her previous school's team. However, Taylor doesn't take the easy way out and just quit because they don't like her. It's a great lesson for teens to see and I was glad when some of them came around and befriended her.

 

Ezra really did make the book for me though. Loved that boy so much!

Daughter of Winter (Fairy Queens #3)
   by: Amber Argyle

Publication Date: Apr. 21, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 194 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Bargains. Only the truly desperate make them. Only the truly desperate need them. And always, the desperate pay.

The silence and never-ending dark of winter are all Elice has ever known, for she is the daughter of the Winter Queen. Isolated in a northern queendom with only the seals for company, she dreams of color and music and life. So when a whaling ship crashes just offshore, she doesn't hesitate to rescue the lone survivor, Adar, who quickly becomes her friend. She must keep him hidden from her mother at all costs, for if the Winter Queen discovers him trespassing, she'll kill him.

When her mother reveals just how dark her soul has become, Elice realizes she is as much a prisoner as Adar. To ever know true freedom—to ever become the woman she was meant to be—she must flee with him. But in their flight, she begins to see hints of something more nefarious. The darkness that has taken hold of her mother is spreading, staining the world with its influence.

Unbeknownst to Elice, a bargain was made long ago. A bargain she was born to fulfill.

  

 

 

I have really enjoyed the first two books in this series, so I was excited to read this one, as it centers around Ilyenna's daughter, Elice. This book really hurt my heart because of some of the things that take place, especially since I loved Ilyenna in Winter Queen. I obviously don't want to spoil anything, but Ilyenna has changed quite a bit since we last saw her. She has really transformed into the queen of winter not just literally, but figuratively as well. She is harsh and unfeeling with her daughter and has almost completely lost what humanity she had left.

 

Elice is such a sweet girl. She is a caretaker and a healer like her mother once was and her compassion really endeared her to me. She leads a lonely life and I wanted nothing more than for her to find a companion to keep her company. I really enjoyed Adar, even though I didn't feel I really got to know him as a character. He is hiding something huge from Elice and while I can guess what it might be, I think that prevents us from getting too close because he himself holds himself at a bit of a distance.

 

I did think this one developed a bit slower than some of the other books. There wasn't as much action in this one, but it was more of a build up of what's to come in the next books. I am looking forward to seeing where Argyle takes this series and how things will develop with Elice, Adar, the Summer realm, and her destiny to become more than she ever dreamed she would be.   

Last Mile (Vicious Cycle #3)
   by: Katie Ashley

Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: Physical copy received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Katie Ashley, the New York Times bestselling author of Redemption Road and Vicious Cycle, returns to the dangerous and seductive world of the Hells Raiders motorcycle club…

After her father was murdered in the line of duty, ATF agent Samantha Vargas is determined to take down the scumbags of the drug trade. When her partner takes on a case to infiltrate the Hells Raiders MC, Samantha agrees to go undercover as his old lady but is surprised to find herself drawn to the very man she is investigating.

Benjamin “Bishop” Malloy has worked hard to carve a place for himself both in and out of the MC world. Working days as a mechanic, he spends his nights rebuilding motorcycles with the hope of one day owning his own shop. After taking one of the club’s new hang-arounds under his wing, Bishop is conflicted over his growing attraction for the man’s girlfriend.

Even though she’s determined to bring down the Raiders, Samantha discovers their world isn’t as black-and-white as she thought. And as the stakes grow higher, she’s in danger of losing more than her heart.

 

 

I have really enjoyed this MC series by Katie Ashley! I am sad to see it end, as I have grown really attached to the Malloy brothers, their family, and Raiders brothers. I was looking forward to Bishop's book and while I enjoyed it, I can't say it was my favorite of the three. I can't quite pinpoint why either. I liked that it was low on emotional drama (because we got quite enough of that in the previous book), but I don't know... it just felt a little lacking to me.

 

I really enjoyed Sam and Bishop's characters. Sam was quite the independent, strong-willed heroine and I had to give her props for her gumption. She doesn't back down and is determined to see her case through even after certain things transpire that make it off limits for her to do so. She ends up falling for Bishop, despite everything, and I liked seeing her come to that point. However, with the undercover premise and loyalty being a huge value for Bishop, you knew things weren't going to end well. It was a bit predictable in the end, but that didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

 

I love Bishop's loyalty. He not only is loyal to his MC brothers, but also to his friends. He knew feeling the way he did for his friend's girl was wrong and he had immense guilt over it. He's just a good guy to the core and while I hated how he acted after things went south, I get how hurt he was too.

 

While they had some sexy, steamy scenes together, I felt like I needed to see more of a connection between the two. I don't doubt that they loved one another in the end, but I don't know... I just felt something lacking there.

 

While this wasn't my favorite of the Vicious Cycle books, I did still enjoy being back in the world. I loved seeing how happy Alex, Deacon, Willow, and little Wyatt are, as well as Rev and Annabel. These characters have been through so much... they deserve their happiness! I felt it was a satisfying end to the series and I'm glad I gave Katie Ashley a try!

 

Hawke (Cold Fury Hockey #5)
   by: Sawyer Bennett

Publication Date: March 15, 2016
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 275 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Carolina Cold Fury hockey team proves that love is a power play. As Sawyer Bennett’s New York Times bestselling series continues, the league’s most notorious party animal gets blindsided by the one that got away.

Off the ice, elite defenseman Hawke Therrien enjoys his fair share of booze and good times. And why shouldn’t he? He’s worked his way up from the minor leagues and made himself a star. The only thing Hawke misses from that life is the pierced, tattooed free spirit who broke his heart without so much as an explanation. She’s almost unrecognizable when she walks back into his life seven years later—except for the look in her eyes that feels like a punch to the gut.

Vale Campbell isn’t the same girl she was at twenty. As crazy as she was about Hawke, her reckless behavior and out-of-control drinking were starting to scare her. She had to clean up her act, and that would never happen with Hawke around. Cutting him loose was the hardest thing Vale ever had to do—until now. Because she’s still crazy about Hawke. And if he could ever learn to forgive her, they just might have a future together.

 

 

The Cold Fury Hockey series is one of my favorites, so I've been anxiously awaiting diving back into this world! When I saw Hawke's story would be a second chance romance, I was even more excited because it's one of my favorite tropes! As always, Bennett's writing sucked me in from the beginning and before I knew it, I was already done.

 

After a heartbreaking start to the book, we get to see Hawke reunite with Vale, his first love, after seven years apart. Things are definitely a bit awkward and tense, especially since Hawke is holding on to some serious anger and resentment over how everything went down between them. After having his heart shredded, he hasn't once looked back and did everything in his power to put Vale and their past behind him. However, now that she is working as an athletic trainer for his team, he has no choice but to face her and the feelings he thought were long gone.

 

I liked Vale and Hawke together for the most part. They have an explosive, passionate past as two, wild, crazy kids in love and now have settled down a bit, with Hawke wanting to make a good impression on his team, and her taking care of her dad. They still have some seriously hot chemistry though. I wasn't crazy about how Hawke handled some things toward the end, however. I get that he was hurt, but so was she, and despite it all, she made the decision to move forward and forgive. Hawke wasn't able to do that and that definitely caused some extra issues. It bothered me that one bit of information was enough to make Hawke realize that his feelings were still as strong as ever, but without that information he didn't feel that he could have those feelings again. That was hard for me to buy into.

 

Vale wasn't without her mistakes though. Her reasoning for not telling Hawke the truth when they were younger was kind of ridiculous and seriously immature. I really can't blame him for feeling the way he did initially towards her. How he treated her father though absolutely melted my heart and I loved that Bennett included that friendship in the story.

 

I did like seeing the few interactions with Max, as the next book revolves around him. I am definitely interested in his character, especially since he's been described as a serious guy, who isn't big on the party scene. I do wish we had seen more of our previous couples, but I did enjoy seeing what we did of them during the epilogue, as it gave us an idea as to how a few of them were doing. Overall, I am looking forward to the next book, as I cannot get enough of Bennett's romances!

 

He Will Be My Ruin
   by: K.A Tucker

Publication Date: Feb. 2, 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 352 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series makes her romantic thriller debut with this heartpounding story of a young woman determined to find justice after her best friend’s death, a story pulsing with the “intense, hot, emotional” (Colleen Hoover) writing that exhilarates her legions of fans.

Twenty-eight-year-old Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a bottle of Xanax and a handle of Maker’s Mark, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers secrets in the childhood lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man who Celine herself claimed would be her ruin.

On the hunt for answers that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.

 

 

Having read many of K.A.'s books, I was excited to dive into this one, as it was something different than her contemporary romances! I knew she could do mystery and suspense, because we have seen those elements already in her previous novels. I was definitely intrigued and I love books where I suspect everyone. And I mean, I suspected EVERYONE. I kept creating different scenarios in my head about who could have done it and why, which is always fun. And I was quite excited to see that my gut was right. But Tucker kept me on my toes because just when I thought someone was cleared, she made me doubt myself again!

 

I liked Maggie's character overall. Does she make some bad choices? Of course she does. Did I worry about her safety? Several times. I can't imagine how difficult it was to lose her best friend. Not only that, but she doesn't agree that her death was a suicide. Maggie wants to get to the bottom of everything and she gets thrown into a world where she finds out that she didn't know her best friend quite as well as she thought she did. Reading some of Celine's journals definitely made me hurt for Maggie, because Celine does not censor her feelings about Maggie's wealth and how she even resents her for it at times. I definitely felt that the two had grown apart over the years and that even though she considered Celine her best friend, it made me sad how much Maggie didn't know about Celine and her life.

 

There's not much more I can say because I definitely don't want to ruin anything, but I loved how the book started. I am always a fan of getting the present day situation first and then going back to how we reached that point. There was a small amount of romance in this one, but I don't know that you could really call it that because I didn't really see feelings develop. The two were friendly enough and they liked one another, but I saw it more as a casual thing than a long term one.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this one. I don't read much mystery and suspense, but I do like when my brain is challenged and trying to figure out how the puzzle pieces all fit!

The Distance from A to Z
     by: Natalie Blitt

Publication Date: Jan. 12, 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 316 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

This full-length novel by debut author Natalie Blitt is a pitch-perfect blend of Stephanie Perkins and Miranda Kenneally that proves the age-old adage: opposites attract.

Seventeen-year old Abby has only one goal for her summer: to make sure she is fluent in French—well, that, and to get as far away from baseball and her Cubs-obsessed family as possible. A summer of culture and language, with no sports in sight.

That turns out to be impossible, though, because her French partner is the exact kind of boy she was hoping to avoid. Eight weeks. 120 hours of class. 80 hours of conversation practice with someone who seems to exclusively wear baseball caps and jerseys.

But Zeke in French is a different person than Zeke in English. And Abby can’t help but fall for him, hard. As Abby begins to suspect that Zeke is hiding something, she has to decide if bridging the gap between the distance between who she is and who he is, is worth the risk.

Who can resist a contemporary romance that is in the same vein as Stephanie Perkins and Miranda Kenneally? I knew I couldn't! Everyone has been raving about this book, so I was quite excited to pick it up. While I enjoyed it, I found I didn't quite LOVE it as much as others did. Abby and Zeke took some warming up to and they both made decisions that drove me a bit nuts. I understand it's typical teenage behavior, but it was still hard to get on board with them at times.

Abby is done with all things baseball. With her family's obsession with the Cubs, I can't really blame her. She feels like that takes precedence over her and her life, which is why she was so driven to learn French. It was her own and it was special to her. No one could take it from her and she really thrived on the language. Having graduated with degrees in Spanish and Italian myself, I completely get the passion Abby has for all things French. However, she was a bit abrasive and that really irritated me with her. She completely judges Zeke before she gets to know him and I hate how she treated him just because he was wearing a baseball shirt. When she is paired up with him in French, she is put off by how he treats her at times and I wanted to shake her because she was the one who started the animosity, so who is she to be angry? Zeke DID have this hot and cold routine going on though. One minute he'd be this happy guy with her and the next he'd either be flirting with other girls or shutting down because of a phone call he'd received. I didn't actually start to like Zeke's character until halfway through the book. He has sweet moments dispersed throughout the first half, but he didn't win me over until later.

I knew that Zeke was keeping a secret from Abby, so even after they get together, you're just waiting for it to all implode and I don't always like that in books. I hate seeing so much build up and then when they're finally together, something has to go wrong. I can't blame Abby for being upset and I can't say I blame Zeke either for keeping that from her, knowing how she'd react. While I like how everything worked out, I am really dying for that epilogue Blitt has promised us.

I adored Abby and Alice's friendship though. These two are kindred spirits and I loved how well they meshed together. They were there to support one another through some difficult times and I loved how we see such a positive friendship with no petty drama. I also enjoyed Colin's character and wish we had a bit more face time with him as well.

Obviously, I loved the summer program romance and how they were in a French intensive course together. When they were all about French, it was just so sweet to see. While I might not have liked the 'two' Zekes, I can't deny that when it was just them in their own world, they were beyond wonderful. Once Abby finally admits her feelings to Zeke, their romance really started working for me.

While I had a few issues with this one, I did still enjoy it. It is a cute contemporary and the setting, the French and the kissing, all ended up coming together to make a delightful read.

With Every Breath
    by: Lia Riley

Publication Date: Dec. 29, 2015
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for fair and honest review.
Page Count: 288 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

BREATHE DEEP . . . AND JUMP IN

At the ends of the earth, Patagonia is a land where ambition trumps reason and the savage summit of La Aguja lures the most determined climbers. It's also the last spot a "play-it-safe girl" like Auden Woods expects to find herself. But she'll lace up her brand-new hiking boots and do whatever it takes to secure a dream job at an adventure magazine . . . even if it kills her. And it just might. When disaster strikes, her only chance at survival comes in the form of the surliest, sexiest mountaineer ever to come out of Scotland.

After a climbing accident cost him his brother, professional mountaineer Rhys MacAskill is at the end of his rope. Redemption is not in his future. That is, until a terrifying storm blows a budding journalist into his tent and it's up to him to make sure they both survive until morning. Despite the demons weighing on him, Rhys can't resist the temptation of the charming American and one wild night just isn't enough.

Auden and Rhys soon learn there are no shortcuts as they navigate their way between life, death, and atonement, and discover something they never expected—love.

 

 

When I first saw Lia Riley was writing a romance based in Patagonia, I knew I HAD to read it. I'm so glad I did, because I love travel-adventure books! Not to mention I am always up for a grumpy, gruff hero! (Who is Scottish at that!) While I enjoyed this one and its setting, I did struggle a bit with Auden's character.

 

She was a lot of fun, but sometimes her inner monologue could drive me a little crazy. She is pretty quirky, which I love, but some of it felt over the top. I also didn't like some of the choices she made when it came to Rhys and being truthful with him. I did admire her gumption though. After being made a fool by her twin sister, she is determined to go out and do things that scare her and I just loved that she took such a risk. She is not the most... organized though. She has never done a real climb before, so she isn't properly prepared and when she goes off the beaten path, she stumbles across Rhys MacAskill, a grumpy Scottish man who just wants to be left in solitude.

 

Oh boy did I both love and hate Rhys! (Mainly love though.) I hated how he tried to push her away and convince himself she was nothing more than hook up. He is SO grumpy and I just love grumpy heroes! He has mountain climbing in his blood and after a horrible accident, he is seeking salvation at the top of La Aguja. He isn't thrilled about Auden's presence, but he can't deny that he is attracted to her. They have some pretty sexy times in this one and I liked seeing Rhys slowly drop his guard with her. Their relationship isn't perfect and could be downright hard to witness at times because I hated seeing either of them feel hurt by the other. There is so much self-discovery and growth with them though and I loved seeing how far they'd both come by the end of the novel.

 

I love Lia Riley's writing. She does such an amazing job of infusing such passion into her words and there were several passages that just gave me chills at the depth and magnitude they conveyed to the bigger picture.

 

"We've stumbled to the place of secrets, where lovers through the ages have snuck away. We can't stay here. No one can. But that's what makes it better. Knowing that you'll lose a thing sharpens the sweetness. A kiss should be the simplest thing in the world. Not this gentle stirring, like wind through the underside of leaves, inexorable as the glacier grinding behind us. So hot and yet it doesn't scorch. No, with every breath, with every touch, his kiss carves. When he's finished, my landscape will be forever changed."

 

I always get the worst case of wanderlust when I read these kinds of books and it is clear that Riley did her research. I really felt as if I were with Auden and Rhys as they were traversing La Aguja. It's a beautiful journey that is filled with so much- love, life, loss, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Those are usually the most memorable and I'm glad I picked this one up.

Dirty Deeds (Mechanics of Love #3)
   by: Megan Erickson

Publication Date: Dec. 8, 2015
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Alex Dawn is saying no to men. No to bad relationships, disappointments, and smooth-talkers. Focusing on her family and her job at Payton and Sons Automotive keeps her mind occupied and her heart content. She doesn’t really miss a man’s touch, until one night, a man shows up with the body of a god and a voice from her dirtiest dreams.

L.M. Spencer is only in Tory, Maryland, to scope out the town as a possible site for one of his company's hotels. The British businessman didn’t expect his car to break down or to find the hottest little American he’s ever seen holding a tire iron, piercing him with bright blue eyes.

They agree to one hot night, one dirty deed to burn out the chemistry between them. But from their first kiss, Alex can’t stop saying yes to this man. And when Spencer’s company threatens everything she cares about, they must make the choice to stand together or apart.

 

 

After meeting Alex in Dirty Talk, I couldn't wait to read her book! I loved her tough as nails attitude and how she owned who she was. She didn't try and change for anyone and I really admired her for that. As tough as Alex is, she isn't invincible. She has been deeply hurt in the past and has known emotional pain that she still carries around with her to this day. My heart ached for Alex because she didn't deserve what she had to endure, even though it has made her stronger because of it. She has sworn off men altogether, but seeing her sister settling down and happy, she secretly longs for that happiness of her own.

 

After an extremely hot night with Spencer, Alex's world is knocked off its axis, as for the first time someone is willing to put her needs and desires first and actually asks what she wants. However, the sexy Brit is only in Tory on business and will be on his way again.

 

I really enjoyed Spencer and Alex together. They had some really sexy times and I loved seeing them open up to one another. However, she's afraid to really let herself fall for him because she knows their time together isn't permanent. The conflict in this one is pretty predictable, but the resolution was worth it. I really loved how everything wrapped up and turned out for these crazy kids.

 

My favorite part of this one was being back with the Payton men and the people they hold dear. Cal, Brent, Jack, Jenna, Ivy, Violet, Asher all make appearances, as well as some of their friends, and the tight knit group really just made my heart happy. Alex is surrounded by love and family and I loved how protective they were of her.

 

I did find myself having some trouble staying engaged and paying attention in this one though. I liked Alex and Spencer, but I wasn't pulled in like I was with grumpy Cal and Jenna, or with Brent, Ivy, and Violet. This was still an enjoyable read though and I am definitely not ready to say goodbye to these characters!

 

 

His to Take (Out of Uniform #3.5)
   by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: Dec. 7, 2015
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for fair and honest review.
Page Count: 76 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

A sexy category romance novella from Entangled's Brazen imprint...

Truth or dare...

Erin Robinson is having an epically bad year. Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.

Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can't have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent--something neither of them wants. But now that they're both back in town and she's right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he's never been able to resist, he's questioning everything.

That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin's sure she's got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren's dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there's no way either of them can win…

 

 

While I'm generally not a fan of novellas, I do enjoy the Brazen ones! They are short, sexy, and full of steam, which is the perfect combination. Robert is an author I really enjoy, so I was excited to see she had a new novella coming out.

 

His to Take follows Erin and Warren, who have had something going on since they were 19. However, it was never a serious thing, as they both had their own dreams. Erin has wanted to be an actress on Broadway forever and Warren has followed in his family's footsteps of becoming a Marine. They both find themselves back home in Wellingford for the holiday season and while their careers are in the midst of changing, one thing certainly hasn't: their scorching hot attraction to one another.

 

I like how Warren challenges Erin to a game of Truth or Dare to reconnect with her, but this time he isn't looking for a simple hook up. He wants Erin and he wants her for good. However, trying to convince her of that isn't an easy task. He pushes her buttons and while he means well, it doesn't always come off the way it should. Warren should have come clean with her sooner than he did about his future and I didn't particularly like how quickly Erin changed her mind after she decided to jump all in with him.

 

Aside from those small things, it was a sexy, fun read and I liked seeing Erin and Warren overcome their fears and go after one another. It's been a long time coming, so it was heartwarming to see them finally get it together.  

Tarnished (Perfected #2)
   by: Kate Jarvik Birch

Publication Date: Dec. 1, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Dystopian
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 219 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Freedom comes at a cost...

Ella was genetically engineered to be the perfect pet—graceful, demure...and kept. In a daring move, she escaped her captivity and took refuge in Canada. But while she can think and act as she pleases, the life of a liberated pet is just as confining as the Congressman’s gilded cage. Her escape triggered a backlash, and now no one's safe, least of all the other pets. But she's trapped, unable to get back
to Penn—the boy she loves—or help the girls who need her.

Back in the United States, pets are turning up dead. With help from a very unexpected source, Ella slips deep into the dangerous black market, posing as a tarnished pet available to buy or sell. If she's lucky, she'll be able to rescue Penn and expose the truth about the breeding program. If she fails, Ella will pay not only with her life, but the lives of everyone she's tried to save...

 

 

After that monster cliffhanger at the end of Perfected, I was hoping Birch would write another book in the series. Naturally, when I saw Tarnished appear for review, I jumped at the chance to return to the seriously disturbing world where human girls are kept as pets. My heart ached for Ella, as she has been separated from the boy she loves and is now on her own.

 

While Ella is pretty obsessed with being reunited with Penn, her eyes are opened to the true horrors of NuPet and what they are doing, as well as how the black market operates. While finding Penn is still the most important thing to her, she can't pull the wool over her eyes and pretend none of this other stuff isn't happening. I commend her for taking a stand and fighting for what's right, even as naïve as she is.

 

One character from the first book makes a surprising appearance and I have to say I did not expect them at all, considering what happened previously. The friendship that develops between them really worked though and I was glad for it.

 

I loved Penn just as much as I did in the first one and I'm glad he also dared to be defiant and make the decisions he did. He respects Ella and the fact that she is going to make her own decisions from here on out. They are a team and I enjoyed seeing them in that capacity.

 

We do get quite a bit of action and adventure in this book, as well as some suspense. I thought it would be a dualogy, but Birch definitely left the ending open for another book, as well as raised some pretty important questions. Ella's story is definitely not resolved, so I am hoping we will see another book in this series!

Racing Hearts (Hamilton Stables #1)
    by: Melissa West

Publication Date: Oct. 27, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 218 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

In the lush heart of Kentucky, the Hamiltons are racing royalty. To win takes heart and soul—and to love takes the wild spirit of the land itself…

The oldest of three headstrong brothers, Trip Hamilton is considered the best horse trainer in the world. He is focused on winning and nothing more, until a stubborn, sexy rider thunders back into his life, breaking his resolve—along with several of his rules—and taking his heart right out of the gate…

Emery Carlisle has a point to prove. She’ll be the first woman to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby, if only Trip will agree to hire her so she can ride again. It’s supposed to be strictly business, but as the race approaches, and their undeniable chemistry builds, Trip and Emery may be headed for the greatest win of all—as long as the losses of the past don’t gain on them…      

 

 

Melissa West has really found her niche in writing sweet contemporary romances. Her books are guaranteed to put a dreamy smile on your face and you can't help but fall in love right along with the characters. I felt the same with this book, the first in her new Hamilton Stables series. The second chance romance, the small town feel, and the thrill of rediscovering your passion all come together to infuse this story with life.

 

I did feel the story took a bit to get going though. There is quite a bit of internal debate over making the right choices on both Emery and Trip's parts. After a racing accident, Emery has not ridden a horse since and instead of her parents being supportive and encouraging her to get back on the horse, they shelter and baby her. Emery is an only child and she is close to her parents, and especially wants their support and approval. It doesn't sit right with her that she's going behind her father's back to ask Trip Hamilton to take her on as a jockey. Trip also has his own inner battle to fight. Having been involved with Emery when they were younger, he is taking quite the risk to bring her on as a jockey. For one, she hasn't been back on a horse since the accident, and two, he isn't prepared for all of those old feelings to resurface. I wanted more build up with them, as it takes more than half of the book for them to finally kiss. They spend a lot of time in their own heads and it felt a bit repetitive.

 

Once they finally DO get their heads screwed on straight and stopped worrying about everyone and everything else but the two of them, we were in business. Emery and Trip are really a great match for one another and I'm glad they had some really great people in their lives to remind them of that when things got tough. I liked Kate, Emery's best friend, a lot, as well as Trip's brothers, Nick and Alex. Annie-Jean and Patty were also great characters and I thought their rivalry was too much fun. I wasn't crazy about Emery's father though. I understand his fears, but for him to completely ice her out like he did just seemed extreme. I felt their reconciliation happened too fast and I would have preferred seeing Trip and Mr. Carlisle's conversation and seeing her father realize that he was making some seriously bad choices where his daughter was concerned. Instead, we get an apology and that he's proud of her, and I just wanted more there.

 

I am glad for the way Trip and Emery's story concluded, though I think I would have liked seeing some more flashbacks from when they were younger. I think it could have added a bit more depth to the story to see young love at its peak and strengthened the second chance romance aspect. Overall, I thought this was a good start to a new series and I am looking forward to Alex's book next!

Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1)
   by: Rae Carson

Publication Date: Sept. 22, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 432 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

 

 

Having been a huge fan of Rae's debut fantasy series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. I love the whole westward movement and manifest destiny ideals and let's be real: The Oregon Trail was one of my favorite games ever as a kid. Naturally, when I saw that Carson had added a bit of magic to this time period about a girl who could sense gold, I HAD to read this one. While I'm glad I did, I felt this one read a bit slower than I would have liked. Don't get me wrong, I was still engaged, but there was a lot of traveling and build up and not enough action and fantasy.

 

I really liked Lee's character though. She is resilient and does what she must in order to survive. She disguises herself as a boy and heads West to meet up with her best friend Jefferson, who already left town to hopefully find gold in California like so many others. She does not have it easy though. She has to deal with thieves along the way, as well as always keeping an eye out for her uncle who will undoubtedly come after her for her gift. Seeing her make her way to her friend was pretty impressive because she had to do everything on her own. She meets all kinds of people- some kind, some not.

 

Carson certainly surprised me with some characters' development though. I ended up really liking and respecting characters I never thought I would and the ending scenes were really heartwarming to see especially after everything Lee has lost.

 

While this book focused primarily on the journey, I am looking forward to seeing how things will go now that they have reached their destination. I am also hoping we will see some more development in the romance area, as this book doesn't really have one. It alludes to a potential one in the future, so my fingers are crossed that it happens because I think it would be precious.

 

Overall, I did enjoy this one despite it not being what I expected. I liked the journey west and seeing all the gritty details that went along with traveling at this time. But I am really looking forward to seeing how things will go with Lee's gift and her uncle's determination to use her for his own selfish gain. And of course, I'm looking forward to seeing how the relationships and friendships that were developed in this book evolve and continue in the next book.