Broken Dreams by Callie Anderson

BLURB

Ethan was the boy who climbed into

my bedroom at night.

He's everything I love.

Laced with everything I despise.

He's every happy memory.

And every shattered dream.

He's my everything.

But he broke every part of me.

I'm supposed to hate him.

But I can't.

I don't know how.

My Review

Broken Dreams, a dynamic, fast-paced story of first love and true friendship from the tenderest of ages, under the most difficult of circumstances.   An unusually quick read for me, this complex, friends to lovers/second chances story drew me in and didn’t let go!

Although told in the first person (my personal preference), I was hesitant when I realized this story-line was heavy with flashbacks which to me can be difficult for readers (like me) to follow.  That being said, Callie Anderson makes the transitions from past to present smooth, flowing from one to the other easily.  So much so, I really feel like this story couldn’t be told nearly as well without them…so if you don’t like flashbacks – work through it for this book, you’ll be glad you did!

This story of broken dreams, takes you on a journey through love, tragedy and hope with unexpected twists and turns, as love and hate war against each other in pursuit of the ability to like the lotus flower, “rise from it all and shine bright” toward a happy ending that simply may not be meant to be.  

A little dark at times, very sexy, though with a little less angst than expected, 

overall enjoyed the excellent story telling talent of author Callie Anderson.

ARC provided by Give Me Books for an honest review.

Amazon US / UK

The Negotiator (Harbor City #1) by Avery Flynn

Blurb

Wanted: Personal Buffer

Often snarly, workaholic executive seeks “buffer” from annoying outside distractions AKA people. Free spirits with personal boundary issues, excessive quirks, or general squeamishness need not apply. Salary negotiable. Confidentiality required.

Workaholic billionaire Sawyer Carlyle may have joked he needed a buffer from their marriage-obsessed mom, but he didn’t need a waiting room filled with candidates to further distract him. (Thanks, bro.) But when a sexy job applicant shooes his mom and the socialite in tow out of his office, Sawyer sees the genius of the plan. And the woman. In fact, Miss Clover Lee might just get the fastest promotion in history, from buffer to fake fiancé...

This free-spirit might look like hot sunshine and lickable rainbows, but she negotiates like a pitbull. Before Sawyer knows what hit him, he’s agreed to give up Friday nights for reality tv, his Saturdays for flea markets (why buy junk still baffles him), his Tuesdays and Thursdays for date nights (aka panty-losing opportunities if he plays his cards right). And now she wants lavender bath salts and tulips delivered every Monday?

Yup, she’s just screwing with him. Good thing she’s got this non-negotiable six-weeks-and-she’s-gone rule or Sawyer may have just met this match...

The Negotiator, as sexy as it is clever, will not disappoint the Romantic Comedy lover in you. With its fresh take on the Millionaire Executive meets girl from small town beginnings/opposites attract, will they/won’t they romance, this might be my first Avery Flynn read but it will absolutely not be the last.

I’ll admit when I started reading, the third person point of view had me thrown, but it didn’t take long to get into the flow with this fast paced, unexpected plot.  Let me just say, Avery Flynn had me at Hello…Kitty

The oh so HOT instant chemical and physical connection will have you laughing out loud from the start from Clovers resume – can you say Snake Milker to middle names being the equivalent of parental kryptonite! Before its all said and done there will be a blush to your cheeks and tears in your eyes-“because the fates are bitches”.  

Love the witty, sarcastic dialogue, and the way Flynn combines sultry and sweet together as one in this story of two people from completely different worlds as they come together to pursue different ideas for what their futures should hold, only to discover that 
“if you spend your life just looking for the next big thing because you’re so afraid of missing out, then you’re bound to miss out on what you already have” 
and
“not all adventures are of the saving the rain-forest variety, some of them involve risking your heart- and that kind are just as important.”

SUCH A GREAT READ!

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review.

Amazon US/UK