Broken (Broken Trilogy Book One) by J.L. Drake

My name is Savannah Miller.

My father is the mayor of New York. One day after my twenty-seventh birthday I was grabbed from behind. A cloth sack was quickly pulled over my head, and I was taken from everything I’d ever known.

I was beaten, starved, treated like an animal, and forced to live in a room with no windows. With no sense of time and no dignity left I finally gave up hope and made a promise to myself to end it all. Unfortunately, it was going to be a slow process.

Then one night an elite group of US Army soldiers came to my rescue. I was brought to a safe house and given two options:

One—Stay under their protection and follow their rules or...

Two—Leave and be guaranteed to be returned to the savages within a week. 

I chose option one.

As I work with a therapist and begin processing my hellish ordeal things slowly begin to surface. With the help of new friends and a potential new love I fight to get my life back and make choices that will forever alter my future.

This is my story…

My Review

Broken is the first book in J.L. Drakes romantic suspense trilogy~ Broken.  Telling the story of Savannah – Savi to those she holds dear – a brave woman struggling with demands of an enemy she doesn’t fully understand.  Rescued by an exclusive team of military professionals, made up of men who are sure to become a part of Savi’s new life as friends or possibly more.

 Told in third person from dual perspectives, this is a steady, page turning mystery thriller & romance in one.  Trust, survival, betrayal, friendship & love, shocking at times, this story keeps you guessing with twists & turns from the very start.  “Just because we can’t see danger doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,”  Romance with a gradual build that ramps up quickly between these characters who have instant soul deep connection.  “From the moment his eyes met hers he couldn’t shake the protective feeling he had about her.”  Short but steamy love scenes, “caring, kind, respectful, understanding, yummy.”.  Be prepared for an ending that will have you gasping, leaving you with more questions than answers by the time your done – good thing there’s more to come!

 

The story starts with instant intrigue that leaves you ready for more – I love that.  I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters even with the bit of a ‘insta-love’ vibe.  I love the strong bonds these strangers who become friends & ultimately a heartfelt protective family.  Ultimately, this is a really great suspense, with an awesome cliffhanger & so much more – I can’t wait for book two!

"What could be worse than being broken? Shattered."
 

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon US/UK

Well Built (Book Boyfriend #3) by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

When it comes to women, sexy, well-built Kyle Coleman has always been a lover, not a fighter. His one exception? The sassy, tempting, smart-mouthed Ella Fisher. Her family and his are sworn enemies, which make the two of them off-limits—despite the fact that she's inspired some of his dirtiest, most erotic fantasies for years. But when the lines between animosity and lust become irrevocably blurred one fateful evening, their one night stand leads to a very unexpected consequence—that changes everything between them forever.

 

Well built by Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde is a very hot & sexy contemporary romance.  Kyle may have come from small town Illinois, but is now a city boy who calls Chicago his home.  Small-town girl Ella doesn’t know how to say no to anyone but her old high school flame.

 

Told in third person, it is a steady read with longing, angst & sultry chemistry between the main characters.  Haunted by regretful decisions made a lifetime ago, Kyle & Ella are given the opportunity for closure that can sometimes only be found when complicated pasts are faced head on.  Working to heal broken hearts, while wondering what-if, this second-chances romance is "...solid and strong and well built..." - not to mention steaming hot ~ "A little sweet and a whole lot dirty."!

 

Great beach read!

 

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.  

 

Amazon US/UK

 

 

The Difference Between Us: An Opposites Attract Novel by Rachel Higginson

BLURB

I'm cursed.

At least when it comes to finding Mr. Right.

I'm tired of men that only want one night stands or blind dates that are nothing but awkward and uncomfortable. I'm tired of avoiding inappropriate text messages and the constant disappointment of always meeting Mr. Wrong.

After all these years of dates that lead nowhere, I can admit that it's me. I'm the problem. I'm shy and picky and cursed. Definitely cursed.

So I've decided two things.

The first?  I'm giving up dating and relationships and men in general. Maybe, possibly, forever.

The second? I'm going to have to try harder to avoid Ezra Baptiste.

If I couldn't hack it in the kiddy pool of dating, I certainly can't swim in his deep end. He's too successful. Too intense. He's all man when I'm used to nothing but boys pretending to be grownups. He's everything I'm afraid to want and so far out of my league we might as well be different species entirely.

So he'll need to find a different artist to paint his mural. And a different graphic designer to help him with his website. He'll need to find someone else to glare at and flirt with and kiss.

It can't be me.

We're too different.

My Review

The Difference Between Us by Rachel Higginson, book two in her Opposites Attract series, it can be read after The Opposite of You or as a standalone novel.  Striving for success in the heart of Durham, North Carolina, Molly is a young graphic designer & talented painter who is as uncertain in her life as she is prone to be late to absolutely everything (girl after my own heart).  Ezra is a driven restaurateur who always has a vision & a plan “…a man that knew who he was and what he wanted in life. I was just a girl trying to figure out how to check my own oil.”  Different, yes.  Too different…?

Told in first person, be prepared to hit the ground running with this fast paced read that is witty & funny from the start "Why wasn't the not-showered-ratty-pajama look in? Society was the worst. Feminists unite! Also, lazy people. I would also take homebodies.".  This story is full of emotion & inspiration as it takes you deeper, from tough back story beginnings & bad relationships, to sweet, slow-burn, make your breath catch sexy – “sultry wisp of heat…”.  A tale of the challenges of being “in a grown-up life I didn’t know what to do with.” & the search for love & the feeling of being out of your league when it comes to it… “He was basically a Cary Grant movie.”.  Of how to handle over the top uncomfortable work situations, how to make the most out of dysfunctional families & find purpose in this thing called life.  Filled with emotions & refreshingly thought provoking before it’s all said & done. 

I love Molly, her broken filter & internal monologue~ “That’s Alfa Ro-may-o for those of you reading it like Romeo and Juliet.  Because this isn’t that kind of story, yo.”  Bahahaha!!!  I love that Ezra is “…one of the world’s crankiest, hottest, most difficult men.”, alluring & unexpected all at the same time.  I couldn’t get enough of the push-pull snark & enjoyed the verbal duels between these characters way too much.  In the end, I was glad for the how to be “all about following your dreams and going hard after the things you loved most in life.” message.

MUST READ

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. 

Amazon US/UK

Wrecked by JB Salsbury

 

 

Blurb

When you can’t trust yourself, how can you ask anyone else to?

It’s been months since Aden Colt left the Army, and still the memories haunt him. When he moved into a boat off the California coast, he thought he’d found the perfect place to escape life.

Then Sawyer shows up, and turns his simple life upside down.

Beautiful and sophisticated, she seems out of place in this laidback beach town. Something is pushing her to experience everything she can—including Aden. But as much as he wants her, starting a relationship with Sawyer puts them both at risk.

For Aden, the past doesn’t stay there; it shows up unexpectedly, uncontrollably, and doesn’t care whose life it wrecks.  

My Review

Wrecked by J.B. Salsbury is a sexy & emotional contemporary romance.  Aden is struggling with loss in his past & is dedicated to protect those he loves from himself in the future.  Loss is in Sawyers to near future, as she struggles to make good on a promise to the one she holds most dear.  Both drawn to the California coast to find if they are truly "Wrecked beyond repair."

Told in first person from dual perspectives, with minimal flashbacks, this is a story that is a beautiful combination of tragic & heart felt as well as sexy & funny.  This is a fast paced read with difficult themes including post-traumatic stress syndrome, & sadness of loss due to terminal illness.  “Life can change so quickly and in such abrupt ways that we never get a chance to see it until it’s over.”  Heart wrenching & tear jerking, J.B. beautifully intertwines tough circumstances with funny & light hearted moments that honor sacrifice & cherish life.  Seriously sexy, angsty, beyond butterflies, these characters have an instant connection “like an anchor in a sea of madness.” as they journey to learn to take back the lives they once had & become more then they thought possible.  To work past deception-with no regrets, to embrace heroism, overcome fears & to live life to its fullest – trust, take a risk, try something new,

“Life’s too short to let fear keep you from living.” 

I couldn’t get enough of the soul-deep chemistry between Aden & Sawyer.  “she sees past the darkness in my soul to the man I was before.” “…he makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world.”   I definitely don’t want to give anything away – so will only say that between the sultry romance, the self-sacrifice & the ways these characters are given wisdom & strength through cherished friends & family, allowing tragedy & loss to be turned to beauty & love ~ this is a full range of emotion romance that I simply loved, down to my bones:

“Life is beautiful and terrifying,”…”And we deserve to feel that down to our bones.” 

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. 

Amazon US/UK

 

Beautiful Mistake by Vi Keeland

 

BLURB

 

The first time I met Caine West was in a bar.

He noticed me looking his way and mistakenly read my scowling as checking him out.

When he attempted to talk to me, I set him straight—telling him what I thought of his lying, cheating, egomaniacal ass.

You see, the gorgeous jerk had wined and dined my best friend--smooth talking her into his bed, all along failing to mention that he was married. 

He deserved every bit of my tongue-lashing and more for what he'd done.

Especially when that lazy smile graced his perfect face in response to my rant.

Only it turned out, the man I'd just told off wasn't the right guy. 

Oops.  My mistake. 

Embarrassed, I slunk out without an apology. 

I was never going to see the handsome stranger again anyway, right?

That’s what I thought…until I walked into class the next morning.

Well, hello Professor West, I’m your new teaching assistant.  

I’ll be working under you…figuratively speaking.

Although the literal interpretation might not be such a bad thing—working under Professor West.

This was going to be interesting…

    

My Review

 

Beautiful Mistake by Vi Keeland is a very hot contemporary romance & so much more.  Rachel tends bar in Brooklyn, by night & is a feisty Teaching Assistant by day.  She's got a past she choses to lock away.  Caine is a college professor who doesn’t do long term relationships & keeps his own past buried. Together, their love of music, growing up in New York & having names that come straight from the bible aren’t the only things Rachel & Caine have in common.

 

Told in first person, from dual points of view, with some flash back action, this fast paced read has a little bit of everything.  It is sultry, sexy & funny - "If there was such a thing as arm porn, I was watching my very own channel.", with tug on your heart strings tear jerker potential (if you're a little bit of a sap like me) before it's all said & done.  Great friendships & working through forgiving pasts to live life to the fullest in the future.  Some surprising twists & the angst - so much push-pull "I'm the last person who should be giving relationship advice.  But if it's not there, you can't force it.  No different than when it is here and you try to make it not be."  Begging the question, do you believe in guardian angels?

 

I loved this book - initially pulled in by the witty dialogue, chemistry & combination of no holds barred honesty & intense pride of these characters.  The secondary characters held their own & were key to this dynamic story of selfless love between family, friends & even strangers ~ "She wants him to truly be happy, even if he finds that happiness with someone else."  All the love-hate romance & super sexy oh. wow. from Vi were wonderful as always - but it was luck & fate that sealed the deal - I don't want to give to much away, so will just say ~ I laughed, blushed & even shed a tear - enjoyed every minute!

 

"True love is selfless." 

 

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

 

Amazon US/UK

 

 

Wicked Grid (Stark World 1) by J. Kenner

Photographer Wyatt Royce’s career is on the verge of exploding. All he needs is one perfect model to be the centerpiece of his sexy, controversial show. Find her, and Wyatt is sure to have a winner.

Then Kelsey Draper walks in. Stunning. Vibrant. And far too fragile for a project like this. Wyatt should know—after all, he remembers only too well why their relationship ended all those years ago.

Determined to break free from her good girl persona, Kelsey wants spice. Adventure. And she’s certain that Wyatt is just the man to help.

But when Wyatt agrees to give her the job only if he has complete control—on camera and in his bed—Kelsey can’t help but wonder if she’s in too deep. Because how can a good girl like her ever be enough for a man like Wyatt?

Wicked Grind is a Hot Contemporary Romance.  Set in beautiful Santa Monica California, this is a story of two people in the prime of their lives, looking for a way to move forward, personally & professionally.  Wyatt is a driven artist, on the dawn of bringing his vision to the masses & finding the success he's been working toward for a very long time.  Kelsey, still holding back on what she wants, for the sake of those she loves, needs money, fast & for a good cause.  She's willing to do whatever it takes to get it.  Can they work through their pasts – with their families & between themselves, long enough to get what they want most?

This very sexy, second chances romance is told in third person, from dual perspectives with a lot of necessary & well written flash-back action throughout.  Moving along at a steady pace, very emotionally driven with - wicked sexiness, young love, loss, personal tragedy, desire for redemption & the wonder of being true to yourself –in spite of it all.  “Innocence. Longing. Ecstasy.” “Strength and sensuality. Innocence and power. Passion and gentleness.” 

I liked the genuine love & respect Wyatt has for women - he really treasures them, their sweetness, seduction, confidence & so much more.  And enjoyed the character development between him & his muse, the “… walking contradiction. Sensual yet demure. Sexy yet sweet.”.  I love the angst in the flash-backs & honesty of the stolen moments shared in teenage love.  Although I liked the intensity of how well these characters know each other right into adulthood, I felt that the rekindling of the relationship so quickly after so many years apart, took away from the depth of the love & loss they share.  Sultry sweet, sexy & endearing, I loved seeing these characters work through their fears in search redemption, take a risk & tap into that spark, to become “Lit from the inside. Alive.”

AMAZON US/UK

Trust by Kylie Scott

 

BLURB

Being young is all about the experiences: the first time you skip school, the first time you fall in love…the first time someone holds a gun to your head.

After being held hostage during a robbery at the local convenience store, seventeen-year-old Edie finds her attitude about life shattered. Unwilling to put up with the snobbery and bullying at her private school, she enrolls at the local public high school, crossing paths with John. The boy who risked his life to save hers.

While Edie’s beginning to run wild, however, John’s just starting to settle down. After years of partying and dealing drugs with his older brother, he’s going straight—getting to class on time, and thinking about the future.

An unlikely bond grows between the two as John keeps Edie out of trouble and helps her broaden her horizons. But when he helps her out with another first—losing her virginity—their friendship gets complicated.

Meanwhile, Edie and John are pulled back into the dangerous world they narrowly escaped. They were lucky to survive the first time, but this time they have more to lose—each other.  

 

 

 

Trust by Kylie Scott is a M for mature Young Adult standalone ~ that truly does.  Edie & John, two young Northern California seniors, who go through a truly traumatic experience that only they can understand.  Edie, the book lover after my own heart & John the most unlikely of hero's.

 

Told in first person, this is a crazy kind of coming of age story that has everything from emotional & physical trauma, the kind that "... reeked of loss and pain." to  the unconditional insane love of family, the betrayal of friends, with all the classic layers of judgement & bullying high school has to offer.  "An while I knew I'd probably never make prom queen, I'd at least like to live long enough to attend the damn thing."  I have to admit, it was slow going for me for a bit after the initial opening drama.  But then it was like someone hit the gas & there was no turning back.  Did I happen to mention all the witty banter & internal monologue style that Kylie Scott can deliver like no other!  "The couple in the book wouldn't get their act together.  So very annoying." 

 

So sweet , sexy & full of deep, heart wrenching life truths - I loved this story & the characters in it.  I adore Edie & her "this is me deal with it" outlook - "Any kind of marathon outside of shopping, TV, or reading and I'd be guaranteed to come in last.".  And where do I start with John ~ no-nonsense, mature beyond his years &  "...stupidly beautiful, in that he was so beautiful it made me stupid.".  Who would love a guy like that?     

 

All that with life lessons we can all appreciate... "In life, unless you're willing to run away and live in the woods and risk being eaten by bears, some things just were unavoidable." 

 

Must read...

 

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

 

Amazon US/UK

 

 

Train Wreck by T. Gephart

 BLURB 

“No passion, no emotion, no originality—a train wreck of epic portions.”
 

Those were the words to describe Eve Thorton’s exhibition. Not even a fine arts degree from Yale or her daddy’s bank account could save her from the scathing reviews. And failure was a word Eve would never be comfortable with. Not even close.
 

Plotting the demise of every critic who’d written her off was her first instinct. But that would come later. Instead, she would show them that she wasn’t a bored socialite with more money than talent.
 

She would prove everyone wrong, and she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. But when her journey for redemption crashed headfirst into Josh Logan, the sexy, talented tattooist from Queens, getting her hands dirty took on a whole new meaning.
 

Josh was everything Eve wasn’t, translating on skin what she couldn’t onto her canvas. All she had to do was convince him to share his jaw-dropping brilliance, and help her—seeing him naked—a bonus. Then she could go back to her regular life, vindicated.
 

It should have been easy. Pity her plans had a habit of derailing.

MY REVIEW

 

 

Train Wreck, a sexy Contemporary Romance that is fresh & fun. An artist making a career in New York City, Eve has the heart, but does
she have the talent to make it shine through the canvas?  Queens based tattooist, Josh is renowned for his ability to create extraordinary pieces of art on skin leaving no doubt of the emotion that bleeds through.   

Told in first person, from dual perspectives, super sexy & will laugh out loud, funny from the start…”I’d even managed to carry on a conversation, completely hiding the fact my panties had disintegrated the minute he’d walked into the room. That, my friends, was where the real talent was.”  The story unfolds at a steady pace & is as funny as it is sexy, all the while pulling at heart strings & making you want to take a chance at overcoming personal disasters & making dreams come true, “When I want something
bad enough, I go out and get it.”. One moment, your breath will be taken away & the next, will have you holding it in, with anticipation of what will come next for these characters.

I couldn’t get enough of the “verbal gymnastics” that kept a smile on my face for hours!  I love these characters! The passion of Josh’s love of his job, his life, his big heart & his pulling no punches, all or nothing attitude toward life.  Eve’s realness, confidence & never quit outlook.  Real angst & life altering moments that come when you least expect them & yet just in the nick of time.  Words to live by “as long as you learn from it, it’s not really a mistake.”

Such an enjoyable read!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

 

Amazon US/UK

 

 

One Fear by Belle Brooks (The Game of Life Series #1)

“My one fear is now my reality.”

He didn’t offer his name when he fulfilled his need to include me as a player in his game.

I’m number thirteen. Just a number given to the bitches who wronged him.

I was blindsided. Stolen from my life. In his devilled eyes, I have a debt to pay…he wants my final breath to see us even.

“I know who you are Morgan Banks, the question is, who am I? Five games will set you free when you can tell me who I’d be.”- The Wolf. 

Am I strong enough to take on the Wolf?

 One Fear, book 1 of The Game of Life Series, is a psychological thriller that is simply disturbing.  A wife, mother, working hard at a career, Morgan is all of these things.  Who is the Wolf?  He's the one who has turned Morgan's life into her "worse nightmare...", her "...one fear.".

 

Written in first person, from dual perspectives, this quick read is like something you don't want to see, but can't tear your eyes away. Leaving you with more questions then answers, this well written suspense is equally scary & disturbing.  You'll be "captured by a lunatic who is not only sick, but twisted and sadistic." & unable to put this book down.  While romance in the strictest sense is absent, love & the struggles that come with a life of marriage, kids & career are there.  With it's multiple cringe worthy moments, this story will have you rethinking how you end each conversation with those you love... you never know if they will be the last words you share.

 

Genuinely looking forward to the next installment of The Game of Life Series.

 

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon US/UK

Savage (The Kingwood Duet #1) by S.L. Scott

Blurb

From New York Times Bestselling Author, S.L. SCOTT, comes this new and utterly captivating series, The Kingwood Series. With memorable characters and an unforgettable story, you will want to be a part of this new series launch. 

Welcome to the mysterious world of the rich and the damned in this gritty, modern day fairy tale. Two star-crossed lovers will either find their destiny or meet their fate in a world where demons come in the form of familiar faces and pawns aren’t just players, but deadly. 

She was my destiny.

I was her downfall.

We were a match made in hell.

But when we were together, that hell was pure heaven. 

The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she would pay the price for my sins. I wasn’t much older than she was, but old enough to know better. Old enough to know she would be good for me and I was bad for her. But I pursued her anyway. Back then I had hope that maybe she could change my future.

Maybe together we could change our fate . . .

My Review

Savage, the first book of The Kingwood Duet, is a Romantic Suspense/Mystery Thriller like nothing I've read before.  Alexander Kingwood is a man on a mission ,whose life is full of secrets, enemies & lies.  Sara Jane Grayson has her whole life ahead of her, she is the only true constant in Alex's life, the only one he can count on.  All he wants is for her to be his queen.  All she wants is for him to be the King she knows he can be.

Told in first person, from dual perspectives, this story starts out slow, leaving no doubt that the love between these characters is beyond intense.  A soul deep kind of love "We'll never love anyone as much as we love each other."  The sensual & sexy physical attraction between these two is nothing short of hot.  There also is no room for doubt, that this is a tale of good versus evil, light versus dark, just as much as it is a romance "I love you, both the dark and the light.", "I never knew life could teeter between good and evil so easily..."  There is a lot of build up before the nature of the mystery is revealed & I was unsure where the story was going for a while (DON'T let that deter you).  Expect surprises even after the mystery is revealed with more, twists & turns, & an ending that comes to quickly. 

S.L. Scott has the wonderful ability to draw you in, building the story, getting you invested to the extreme without even realizing it!  At first glance, I didn't think the slow build was necessary, honestly thought it was a bit much, just to add to the mystery of it all... until the very end.  This is an epic love story that I never saw coming...  I love Alexander & his knight in shining armor - "determined to be everything she would ever need." way with Sara Jane.  I love Sara Jane & the insurmountable strength she didn't know she had - "There's nothing ugly about the firefly.  Just like her, its strength is illuminated in the darkest of times."  Together they hold to the mantra "Don't let the world win." Oh my goodness how I hope that will be true... S.L. Scott summed up my thoughts on this story best: "I didn't love it because of the ending. I loved it because of the journey.  Every love story has its burdens to bear. It's how they survive it that makes it great."

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon US/UK