Patchwhore by Kim Jones **RELEASE DAY!!** and REVIEW

 

I’M THAT GIRL…

The girl who thought she was living her happily ever after.
The one who fell for the lies.
A victim of infidelity.

After months of heartache and loss, anger ensued.
Rage replaced sadness. Fury took over heartache. Revenge became irresistible. 
Now he’ll feel what I felt. One by one, his brothers will take his place in my bed. 
They have a name for me in the MC world…

PATCHWHORE.

And this is my story.

If making her ex jealous is what she wants, Devil’s Renegades Prospect Cook is more than willing to oblige. He only has one rule: He doesn’t share.
She can seek her revenge. Follow through with her plan. But her body will be his. He’ll own her fantasies. And her pleasure. But in her eyes, he’s just a lowly PROSPECT—nothing more. 
Little does she know, she’s about to be enlightened. 

Note: This is a full-length standalone Devil's Renegade Motorcycle Club novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

 

MY RATING: 4 1/2 Stars

REVIEW: 

First, let me just say, in case you missed it in the blurb above, that this is a standalone novel. It is part of the Devil's Renegades series but can easily be read without having read  the others. That said, if you haven't read the others in the  series....WHAT ARE  YOU WAITING FOR?! Seriously, it's one  of my favorite  ever series. Get  on that. Moving on....if you have read the other books, you will recognize a couple of the characters. Particularly our hot male lead, Cook, who made himself well known  in Clubwhore.

Now, Cook.....holy hell, Cook. That man is hot! He barely registered on my meter in Clubwhore because I was focused on other characters but oh boy, he sure has been brought to the forefront now! He may make my list of favorite book boyfriends now, right alongside Luke Carmical from Kim's Saving Dallas. I'll get back to Cook in a second though.

Now, I want to talk about Carmen. I loved this girl. She was hilarious and spunky. I loved her plan for  revenge against her ex that broke her heart. Especially given  how much it goes against how she was raised.  It takes some serious chutzpah to pull off what she wanted to do! I love how, in the end, all she really has to be is herself to get  her revenge.

Cook.  Oh my Cook. This man is hot in all the right ways. Dominant but not domineering. He respects her need for independence and her need to do what she needs to do for revenge. He's determined to right the wrongs he's committed in his own life, showing his own character. He gives Carmen his protection, even though most of the time she doesn't even realize that he's doing it. He's always on the periphery, taking it all in, watching everything going on and if you're on his radar in any capacity, he will probably end up knowing more about you than you know about yourself. Not to mention that the man is ripped and hot as sin.

The only thing that kind of bugged me is that one of the conflicts that built up throughout the book was glossed over with barely a blink. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that it has to do with Cook's status. I also would have liked to see the ex get a little more of his due than just being pissed off here and there. The damage in Cook's past is also glossed over without really being part of the story, other than to explain why Cook is in an MC. All in all, the conflict seemed somewhat lacking in this book. I absolutely adored the Cook and Carmen though, so I didn't really care!

I  already want to read this book again and revisit these characters. It was a fun book without much  of the crazy intensity that usually accompanies an MC book but still with a lot of the fun perks of them. Motorcycles, hot guys, colorful characters, crazy drinking nights, and lots of hot *ahem* .....it's all there!

You can get it here: Patchwhore (for Kindle)

Salvation by Ahren Sanders

Her innocence is masked with vulnerability. Until her walls crumble…

Undeniable Desire

His world is full of despair. Until he finds her light…

Unyielding Chemistry

Falling in love seemed to heal them both. Until their haunting pasts threatens to destroy…

Unrelenting protection

Robbie Hayes’s life changed the day a horrific accident shook his foundation. He’s resolved to regain control. While the physical wounds have healed, the emotional scars remain.

Will he ever be able to outrun the memories? Can she be his salvation?

Ember Walker’s life hasn’t been easy. Fleeing from a world filled with hatred gives her a fresh start, one she desperately craved. Now, she’s stronger, but guilt and insecurities still plague her.

Will she ever be able to outrun her memories? Can he be her salvation?

“What the hell is so funny?” I lick up the column of her exposed throat.

“The look on your face.”

“Glad to amuse you, babe, but you won’t think it’s quite so funny when I punish you for your little stunt.”

“Whatever you say. It was innocent.”

“Innocent? You’re in a bar in a strange city, with some of the craziest girls in the world, looking like a fucking sex kitten, and you call that innocent?”

“You think I look like a sex kitten?” Her voice goes low.

“Absofuckinglutely. Hottest girl in this room. The hair, the body, the outfit... Every guy in here, with the exception of our friends, wants to fuck you. Lucky for me, that’s my job. And when I get you alone, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Her eyes grow hazy with lust, and she licks her lower lip. “Can you tell me more about this punishment?”

I move her to a dark corner and pin her against the wall. “Stop looking at me like that, Ember. I’m not above fucking you against the bathroom wall.”

“Ummm, sounds like fun. What else.” She taunts me, and I grow hard against her pelvis.

“You like that? You want me to talk dirty and tell you I want to eat your fucking pussy until you beg for mercy for leaving me tonight? Make you come silently against my mouth, fingers, and dick while we’re in a house full of people?”

“Yes, I want that. I want you any and every way I can get you.”

 

Rating: 4 Stars

Title: Salvation

Author: Ahren Sanders

Publisher: Ahren Sanders

Genre: Military, Romance, Contemporary

Pages: 379

Review: 

This book is book three of the Surrendering series. It can be read as a stand alone, however, I would definitely recommend reading the other books in the series because the characters are recurring and I think it would be more enjoyable to the reader to know them better. 

I loved the secondary characters in this book. Ember's Aunt Chloe is a total trip and I just wanted to hug her cousin, Cruz. Oh, and Cruz's boyfriend, Alex? Yeah, they are both yummy. They are gay, over protective, alpha male big brother figures to Ember and I loved them to death. I want them to be my big brothers so we can all watch chick flicks together and be snarky together.

Ember's childhood is heartbreaking and causes her to be very shy, withdrawn and insecure. Robbie, an ex-marine, helps bring her out of her shell and show her how to not be afraid to be herself. He's understanding about her insecurities while still being the typical alpha ex-military over-protective sexy male. The sexual attraction between these two is intense and the sex scenes are steamy hot!
 

Without giving too much away, there are other characters from Ember's past that show up whose ass I wanted to kick. Of course problems ensue and then I briefly wanted to kick Robbie's ass too at one point. There is a HEA though and no cliffhangers so definitely read this one, you won't regret it!  

AMAZON * B&N * KOBO

AMAZON

AMAZON

Ahren spent her formative years living in an active volcano. There her family made collectible lava art. She studied rock collecting at the Sorbonne in France. There she met the love of her life-her pet pig Sybil. She returned to the states and started writing. She is happily married to a guy who used to live under a bridge and she met while pole-dancing. They have one amazing daughter.

Now, meet the real me. I grew up in the south and consider myself a true “Southerner”. Most of the special locations mentioned in my books are reflections of my favorite places. Living on the Florida coast, my family spends a lot time at the beach which is where I usually can be found with a book in my hand. I started writing my Surrender Series, in the spring of 2013 and have received incredible support from the Indie community. Throughout this year, I have been privileged to meet some amazing people that I am thankful to have in my life.

Visit me online: Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter

Click on link below to join my mailing list! http://eepurl.com/S4RI9

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My review of Center Mass by Lani Lynn Vale

Rating: 5  Stars

Title: Center Mass

Author: Lani Lynn Vale

Publisher: Lani Lynn Vale

Genre:  Romance, Military,  Suspense

Pages: 353 Pages

Luke Roberts came to the small lazy town of Kilgore, Texas with one thing on his mind: Forgetting. He wanted to forget why he left. Forget those emerald green eyes that haunted his dreams. And forget how it felt to have his heart ripped out of his chest by a woman who didn’t like the fact that he had a child. It was something he’d been doing a damn fine job of doing, too. Until Reese smashed through every one of his defenses, and made him feel again. 

Reese Doherty was just trying to do the best for her little girl. So she moved to the little boomtown nearly an hour from where she grew up to be the school nurse for Kilgore’s littlest people. That’s where she met him. The SWAT officer and the man that would change her life forever. The sexy man who liked to drive fast, and live life like it should be lived. He drove her crazy, and became something she could barely live without. 

But Luke was a hero. A man used to risking his life to make the world a safer place. Something Reese had to decide whether she could handle or not. Preferably before her and her daughter became too attached. 

Just when she’s ready to give him her whole heart, her world takes a huge hit, and everything she thought she knew wasn’t as it seemed. 

Luke wasn’t a quitter, though. Damn far from it, and he’d prove to her that he’d be there when the dust settled. Whether she wanted him to be or not. 

Review: Holy crap this has some of the funniest parts in it. The humor in this book literally had me laughing out loud.

The scene at the movie theater made me snort, I swear it was so funny! Why can't that happen in real life? I'd pay money to see that. (read it to find out what I'm talking about)

The laughs just keep coming! I sh*t you not, my stomach is starting to hurt from trying not to laugh out loud.

Never have I ever, don't judge me. Too true. Loved the coffee cup sayings, the t-shirts the quotes at the beginning of the chapters...those need to be shirts. I'd so buy them.

OH! I adored the story too! I literally read this book in hours and had me laughing, had a few tears in there too and the it was a hot read. I got to know a little bit about the guys that he works with and can't wait to read about them in the series. 

Clipped By Love by Toni Aleo

Rating: 5 Stars

Title: Clipped b Love

Author: Toni Aleo

Publisher: Toni Aleo

Genre: Romance, Sports, Coming of Age

Pages: 448 pages

Summary:

Things are heating up for the Sinclair boys! With one already in the NHL, Jayden Sinclair is hoping to be next!

This has been the toughest year of my life. I watched my brother go into the draft without me, my mom got divorced, and the weight of my family’s issues is heavy on my shoulders. I feel like it’s my job to fix everything while working my butt off in school and trying to make my game better. I have to go into the draft. It will give my family the support they need, and it will prove that I’m good enough. But to get there, I have to show I can be the best captain for the Bellevue Bullies. The spot is mine—no one can take it. First though, Jude is making me go on a brother’s weekend. Innocent enough, I guess…until I see her. She’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever faced. Not only for my spot but also my heart. It’s hard to ignore someone like Baylor Moore.

I don’t lose. I can’t. My dad has bred me to be the best in anything I do. I am driven, I am smart, and I am going to be the first woman in the National Hockey League. No two ways about it. I’ve worked too hard. I’ve been through too much not to have what I want. I know I can do it. I will make my dad proud, and no one will stand in the way of that. That is, until I let him in. He scares me. He makes me feel. And he could very well be the one person who can make me want more than just to win.

We both have the same goal. Victory. But how do you compete against the person you want to win? It’s not easy. Love isn’t something you can control. It isn’t like a puck that can be handled by a stick. No, it has a mind of its own and does what it wants.

Neither of us saw it coming, and we really don’t know if there is a way to score, especially when you’re being Clipped by Love. 

Review:

This book is hilarious at times. I was laughing out loud throughout most of the book and crying in other parts. I loved to see how Jayden and Baylor grew as a couple. How they communicate, how Jayden is with Baylor just makes your heart hurt but in a good way.

Jayden is a great man. There should be more men like him out there. He listened to what Baylor was saying and not saying. They have a lot of obstacles to get through and we get to ride along for the journey. I swear some of the things that come out of their mouths is something that me and my friends would say. It cracks me up!

You get to see how the Bullies pull together as a team, on and off the ice. Baylor really needed to see that. She's been hurt in the past and has insecurities. I love getting to see Elli and Shea, Phillip and Reese. Makes me want to do a re-read of the Assassin Series.

Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Rating: 5 Stars

Title: Making Faces
 
Author:  Amy Harmon
 
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
 
Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Length: 320 Pages   

Summary :  

Ambrose Young was beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know. She'd been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have...until he wasn't beautiful anymore. Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a broken boy and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.

Review: 

I just finished this book and I LOVED IT! If I'm being honest, I had read a couple of the reviews, which I don't normally do, and they were complaining about the religious aspect of the book being shoved down their throats. I'm not really a religious person so I was a little worried about whether or not I would like it. I didn't feel like this book was like that at all. I mean, sure, there was a few mentions here and there but Fern's father is a pastor, so it wasn't like it was out of left field or anything. That said, it wasn't done in an in your face type of way at all. I wouldn't qualify this as a Christian book or a spiritual/religious book.

This isn't the typical romance that I'm used to reading these days, where boy meets girl, they fall madly in love and then fight the rest of the book to stay together. Or even fight to stay away from each other. This one follows a boy and a girl through some of their high school and post high school years as they learn what life is about and some valuable lessons along the way. This book is about more than the love story. It's about a small town and the people that live there. It's about friends and stereotypes and relationships. It's about self-image, expectations and overcoming. It's about life and how it isn't always perfect, it is in fact, sometimes downright awful, but you persevere and you do what you have to do to live the life you want. It's about the journey.

I think that overall, Ambrose grew more as a character. Fern and Bailey were both fairly well-adjusted characters that knew who they were. I think Fern had some growing to do yet, even at the end. I do think she had started her journey towards the end but I got the feeling that she would get there. There is an explanation for this in the book though, that makes total sense. 
I love the poem that Fern writes. It is so fitting for her, for Ambrose and for Bailey. Oh and I adored Bailey. His attitude and outlook about life despite his limitations is so inspiring and, frankly, typical of a lot of people that I've known that had life altering limitations.

Tissue warning!! Have a box handy. That's all I'm gonna say.

This is a book that will stay with me and will absolutely be a keeper for me. It's one I will come back to and re-read. And I get to see Ms. Harmon at the Cleveland book signing next weekend....can't wait to get this one signed!

Purchase Making Faces on Amazon. (Just click the link.)

Reaper's Property by Joanna Wylde

Rating: 4 Stars

Title: Reaper's Property (Reapers Motorcycle Club Book 1)
 
Author:  Joanna Wylde
 
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
 
Genre:  Contemporary Erotic Romance

Length: 306 Pages   

Summary :  

Marie doesn’t need a complication like Horse. The massive, tattooed, badass biker who shows up at her brother’s house one afternoon doesn’t agree. He wants Marie on his bike and in his bed. Now.

But Marie just left her abusive jerk of an ex-husband and she’s not looking for a new man. Especially one like Horse—she doesn’t know his real name or where he lives, she’s ninety percent certain he’s a criminal and that the “business” he talks with her brother isn’t website design. She needs him out of her life, which would be a snap if he’d just stop giving her mind-blowing orgasms.

Horse is part of the Reapers Motorcycle Club, and when he wants something, he takes it. What he wants is Marie, but she’s not interested in becoming “property of”.

Then her brother steals from the club. Marie can save him by giving Horse what he wants—at home, in public, on his bike… If she’s a very, very good girl, she’ll get lots more of those orgasms only he can offer, and he’ll let her brother live.

Maybe.

Review: 

I decided to read this as part of my Popsugar 2015 Reading Challenge for the category of "a book a friend recommended" (thanks Kali!). 

This was my first MC (Motorcycle Club) book! I wasn't really sure what to expect. My only experience with this type of thing came from the three or four episodes of Sons of Anarchy that I've seen. Surprisingly, I really liked the show (who doesn't love watching Charlie Hunnam?), but there are certain aspects of this lifestyle that I don't like so I was a little apprehensive about reading an MC book. I loved it! Those things were still present in the book, but it wasn't 'in your face' and most of it didn't revolve around the main characters, so it didn't bother me.

This book was HOT! Hot and steamy and sexy! It's well written with great characters that are believable, likable and well developed. The relationships grew from the beginning to the end. The two main characters, as individuals, grew from the beginning to the end. The book was paced well  and gave you some insight in to the life of a motorcycle club.

I have this quirk. When I hear different men's names, I tend to think of them in bed with a woman calling out their names. Don't laugh! I think it's my way of deciding if it's a sexy name or not. So that said, I had difficulty with the name Horse. I'm cracking up as I'm writing this because I know that somebody, somewhere is dying laughing while reading this, but come on! I thought they story of why that was his name was comical and I get that they all have street names in the club but every time she called him Horse or it would say that she called his name while in the throes it just made me giggle. That was truly my only issue with this book and it's just a personal quirk of mine.

I loved Marie. I loved how she had the strength to remove herself from a bad situation. I loved her loyalty, to both her mom and her brother and eventually to Horse and the club. She comes across as this relatively quiet girl but she has some spirit and can be feisty when she needed to be. I really liked her relationship with her brother in the beginning, how she was able to see past his flaws and just see her brother and how he was always there for her.

Horse grows on you. He's pretty rough around the edges at first but he's a good guy. He knows what he wants and he's determined to get it. He's protective of those he cares about and by the end you see the softer side of him. And who doesn't love the bad boy? I know I do!

If you haven't checked out this series yet (like me!) then you are missing out and should definitely check it out. It is worth the read. Might want to have your significant other handy while you're reading it though.

Purchase Reaper's Property (Reapers Motorcycle Club Book 1) on Amazon. (Just click the title)

Never Never by Collen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Title: Never Never (Book 1 of a series) This is a serial.
 
Author:  Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
 
Publisher: Hoover Ink
 
Genre:  Young Adult/Suspense/Romance

Length: 140 Pages   

Summary :  


Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen.

Complete strangers since this morning.

He'll do anything to remember. She'll do anything to forget. 

Review: 
  
First, I want to address something I've been seeing around Facebook and on various review sites. Please note the part above where I mention that this is a serial. This is noted on the Amazon page. The authors announced this ahead of the release and it has been fairly well known within the book/reading community. As part one of a serial, this book ends in a major cliffhanger. I've seen lots and lots of people complaining about this. The authors have announced that the second book will be out in mid-May. I have no idea if there is a part three or when it will be out if there is. So now you have been warned. If you choose to purchase this book, do it with the full knowledge that there is a cliffhanger and it's a serial.

Wow. Just wow. This book pulls you in and doesn't let you go until the end of the ride. Even then, you'll be thinking about it for days. Strap in and put the safety bar down, because you're gonna need it with this one! There are so many twists and turns in this book that you're not going to know which way is up when the ride is over.

I love Silas. He's a total sweetheart (so far) and seems to genuinely care about people. Especially Charlie. Even without knowing the full story, he knows that she's important to him, and that's all that matters. Charlie is a little harder. She's a little more abrasive and a little harder to like but she grows on you. She's independent and determined. She also redeems herself by how she treats her little sister and the fact that she's not liking who she used to be.

Overall, I loved this book. I loved the fact that I couldn't stop thinking about it for days afterwards. I love that I am completely clueless as to where this may or may not be headed when I'm usually really good at figuring things out. And I absolutely cannot wait for May!

Purchase Never Never (Volume 1) on Amazon. (Just click the title)

NEW RELEASE! The Morrigan: Raven Heart by Adana Presley

 ★ ☆ ✰ New Release ★ ☆ ✰

The Morrigan: Raven Heart by Adana Presley

#newrelease #debut #romance #paranormal #darkfantasy

The battle between Ulster and Connacht has gone on for centuries. The Morrigan is no stranger to Queen Meba and her deceptive schemes. One evening under a twilight battle the Morrigan, goddess of death finds favor in a fiery warrior name Cuhullian. Cuhullian is the demigod of war and greatest warrior of Ulster.

Cuhullian and the Morrigan join forces against Connacht, but Queen Meba is a skilled and conniving woman. Queen Meba pushes the Morrigan and Cuhullian to the brink when their feelings for each other have just began to form. They will each have to fight for their love and the battle will take them into unknowns where lives will be lost.

Find out what happens to the Morrigan and Cuhullian when Queen Meba seeks to destroy everything that they’ve ever loved.

Adapted form the original Irish myth of the Morrigan and Cu Cuhulainn, Adana Presley warps a story about new beginnings and second chances.

*Suitable for those 18+ due to adult language and content. 

★Sale Links ★

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1IC1l3o

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1DKmRSF

★ ★Teaser Trailer ★ ★ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI3pWY7MB7c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

★Social Media Links ★

Author FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/AdanaPresleyAuthor?fref=ts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9790488.Adana_Presley

Statistic by Dawn Robertson

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Title:  Statistic
 
Author:  Dawn Robertson
 
Publisher: Dawn Robertson (I think)
 
Genre:  Contemporary Romance/Suspense

Length: 199 Pages   

Summary :  


Four Men.
One Woman.
And one of the hardest choices Aurora Alexander will ever have to make.

Newly divorced, single mother Aurora is desperately trying to move on with her life. After a string of unsuccessful blind dates, she turns to internet dating.

Everyone does it, so it has to be safe.

Right?

Hot one night stands. Sexting. And an Alpha man who sweeps her off of her feet. Aurora thinks she has found her happily ever after. But among her suitors is one man who plays by a different set of rules, someone who isn’t who he says.

Will Aurora figure out who doesn’t have her best interest at heart?

Or is she destined to become a Statistic?

Review: 

**We did a buddy read in my book club where we were paired up with another member and chose a book for each other. This is the book that was chosen for me by my buddy. It was a fun experience and I hope we do it again at some point! It's fun to be introduced to new books and/or authors and see what other friends are reading and what they like. I hope she likes the one I picked for her!**

Now on to the review....  

This is a hard book to review without giving too much away. I think I did okay and this shouldn't need a spoiler warning. Proceed at your own risk though.

I went into this a little blind. I read the blurb but didn't read any of the reviews (still haven't) and thought okay, this sounds interesting! Then the prologue completely threw me because it sounded like it was going to go in a completely different direction than I was anticipating from the blurb. And, boy did it!

The book was really good. A few wrong words here and there that became a little annoying. And she screwed up the names in the middle of the book and left it that way for the rest of the book. It was just a middle name, so it shouldn't have been a big deal, and wouldn't have been if she didn't keep having people address the hero with his first and middle names. Once it was changed, it did stay consistent though, it didn't keep changing back and forth. She also used the "c" word, which is probably the one word that I hate the most but she only used it once. I'm no prude, I just don't like that word, personally, and it jars me out of the action when I see it. *Editing to also add: Aurora has only had one sexual partner - her husband, who was also her high school sweetheart. She was very unsure of herself, seemed to have low self esteem and maybe even a little shy...this just didn't seem like the kind of word she would use.

I liked Aurora, she was likable and fun, and her little boy was cute. The difficulties between Aurora and her ex-husband were believable as were the issues that Aurora had because of it.

The suspense built. I suspected everybody...and I did manage to figure out part of it. I'm usually pretty good about figuring things out ahead of time. Then came the end with a HUGE TWIST that I didn't see coming and I gotta say, I was ready to strangle the author! The author's first words after the end of the book were literally "Ok. I know. Ya'll hate me right now." Seriously! I was pissed!

That said, it is a good book and worth reading. It has a good message about being careful about internet dating, likable characters, interesting plot and is paced well. She wrote the little kids very well, which some authors can't pull off. There will be a sequel but it doesn't have what I really considered a cliffhanger. 

There's also a teaser chapter of the sequel at the end, so you get a little peek, although it hasn't been released yet. I haven't decided yet if I want to read it or not.


If you read it, come back and let me know what you think! 
 

Ice Princess by Jennifer Anderson

Rating: 4 Stars 

Title:  Ice Princess (Honey Creek Royalty Series)

Author:  Jennifer Anderson

Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
     Cover Art: K.J. Jacobs

Genre:  Young Adult Romance

Length: 69 Pages 

Summary :  
 
Mya Newman never minded the routine or quiet that came with living in a small country town like Honey Creek, Ohio. For her senior year, she craved something exciting to happen instead of it melting into a cookie cutter routine like the previous years.

When a new girl, Audrey Moore, moves to Honey Creek, Mya finds herself caught in a triangle. She discovers hidden feelings for her best friend, Michael Graves, but he seems to have eyes for the new girl.

After Mya’s father becomes ill and eventually passes, she turns to her best friend, Michael. Never leaving her side, she can’t help but wonder if he’d rather be elsewhere. With fear of rejection and loss of friendship, Mya decides she can’t confess her recently discovered feelings.

When Michael and Mya share a dance at the Winter Formal, does she confess her true feelings for him? Or does she shy away, forever longing to be the princess who finds her prince?

Review:

 I wanted to review this book partly because of the story but also partly because it takes place in my home state of Ohio. This was a quick, albeit emotional, read that I really enjoyed. I loaded it on to my Nook and read it each night before bed while we were on vacation in Myrtle Beach. It only took me two nights and that's only because I was dead tired by bed time. 

I loved the characters of Mya and Michael in this story, or M and M, as their parents call them. They were very real and engaging - especially Michael.  Mya's internal struggle as she deals with her jealousy of Michael's relationship with the new girl, Audrey, is such a typical teenager that it hit all the angsty checkpoints and ran the gamut of angry, sad, and resigned emotions - and was entertaining all at once. Understandably, Mya is worried about destroying their friendship but her heart knows the truth before her head does and watching her figure it all out was interesting. Her attitude about Audrey was surprisingly mature for her age and watching the internal struggle to get there was interesting.

Her relationship with Michael is heartwarming and endearing and kept me rooting for them through the whole book. I loved Michael's devotion to her and how he always seemed to know when she needed him and exactly what she needed. Michael is at that age where he is getting past the most awkward phases of being a teenager and becoming a man. He knows who he is and what he wants and is prepared to be patient.  

The subplot of the illness of Mya's father is heartbreaking and very well portrayed in the space given. It was so sad and brought me to tears in a couple of places, relating to what it would feel like going through that as a teenager. 

Being from Ohio and familiar with the general area portrayed (Fayette County), I was surprised that more scenery wasn't described within the story. We just drove through that area last night and I found myself thinking about this book. Ms. Anderson could have taken more advantage of the beauty of the area. 

One note to the author - it's pop, not soda! And, yes, I am laughing as I type that. Anyone native to Ohio will understand.

I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be checking out future installments of the series. I recommend any teens looking for a new series or romance to read, or anyone that enjoys the Young Adult genre give this one a chance. 

Matching Wits with Venus by Therese Gilardi

Rating: 3 Stars

Title: Matching Wits With Venus

Author:Therese Gilardi

Publisher: Astraea Press

      Cover Art: Elaina Lee

Genre:  Women's Fiction (alternate reality?)

Length: 304 Pages


Summary: 

For centuries, Cupid has longed to be more than Venus’s arrow boy. When he’s sent to eliminate “Happily Ever After by Amelia”, the matchmaking business threatening Venus’s status as the goddess of love, Cupid decides to steal Amelia’s methods and make his own matches. While spying on Amelia, Cupid accidentally shoots himself with his magical arrow and falls in love with her. But bereaved Amelia doesn’t believe in the existence of Roman gods, and she’s certainly not looking for romance. She’s too busy perfecting the patented personality profile that’s made her Hollywood’s favorite matchmaker. Disguising himself as a mortal financial advisor, Cupid manages to break through Amelia’s guarded exterior. As their passion deepens so does Cupid’s guilt about deceiving Amelia. Cupid’s interference with Amelia’s life causes her business to falter, leads to a sterile spring that threatens the animal kingdom and shatters the longstanding peace between the Roman and Greek gods. With the fate of the natural and under worlds at stake, Cupid must decide whether to reveal his true identity and risk losing the chance to live happily ever after with Amelia.Disguising himself as a mortal financial advisor, Cupid manages to break through Amelia’s guarded exterior. As their passion deepens so does Cupid’s guilt about deceiving Amelia. Cupid’s interference with Amelia’s life causes her business to falter, leads to a sterile spring that threatens the animal kingdom and shatters the longstanding peace between the Roman and Greek gods. With the fate of the natural and under worlds at stake, Cupid must decide whether to reveal his true identity and risk losing the chance to live happily ever after with Amelia. 

Review:  

I have to be honest here - I realize that I'm going against the common opinion with this book. I've read other reviews and I know that most people seemed to really like this book. I was given this book months ago to review, so this review is well past due, but when I started reading it, I only got about 2/3 of the way through it and had to put it down. I kept thinking I would come back to it and try reading it again, but I just haven't been able to make myself do it. I'm solidly in the middle with this review. There were things I liked about this book and things that I didn't like.

The concept is interesting and original. There are several Greek Gods and Goddesses that play a central role to the story and it's interesting and fun to see how the author chooses to portray them. And therein lies one of the biggest problems for me: I didn't like the main characters very well. I didn't get attached to them and I wasn't invested in what happened to them.

Amelia, our heroine, runs her own business, playing matchmaker to the millionaires. She does her job very well and it's amusing to see how the celebrities are portrayed. (Note: No known celebrities are mentioned) She is also very nice to some of the local "colorful" people, which is nice to see. But she is also judgmental and comes across as shrewish - to me.

Colin/Cupid is likeable in some respects, but in other respects he drove me nuts because of his childish/immature behavior with his mother. On one hand it's funny, that this Greek God can be ruled by his mother so completely to the point where he is sneaking off like a teenager trying to get away with something. On the other hand, he is quite literally hundreds of years old and I was often left thinking "grow up! Grow some backbone!" And the role of his best friend, Inuus, in this book confuses me. I couldn't decide if he was Cupid's best friend (which you would think would merit some loyalty) or if he is Cupid's mother's errand boy.

There are other characters in the book, that are central to the plot, that I really did enjoy. Jennie, Amelia's assistant, is a spunky character that I loved. Also, Amelia's mother -  she is hilarious in that perfect Hollywood Diva wannabe way and very believable. Justin, the homeless man that Amelia helps, is an interesting character as well.

There were instances in the book that made me almost feel like this should have been given an "alternate reality" type of tag. When Justin sits down at the curb, in the middle of Hollywood and thinks to himself (in essence) "I don't hear any birds singing. Wow, Cupid must have really messed up spring," and the first conclusion that anybody in the near vicinity jumps to when something bad has happened is that the Gods must be angry - this is not my world. Even in Hollywood. 

I do remember running into some grammar issues, but it's been a while since I read the book, and I didn't make note of pages or instances, so I just want to make a small mention of that. 

This author has some very fun ideas, and a sense of humor. I would definitely not be against checking her out in the future at all. This book apparently didn't do it for me. And there's nothing wrong with that. Not every book is going to appeal to every single person the same way. Absolutely check it out for yourself. You may love it!


Kindle: 





Paperback: 

Summer's Journey by Summer Daniels

My Rating: 4 Stars

Title: Summer's Journey (Volume One: Losing Control)

Author: Summer Daniels

Genre: True Romance/Erotica Series

Length: 19 Pages

**Sexual Rating:  *Mild to Explicit 

      (This particular chapter is mild but future installments promise to be very explicit, with elements of D/s. It is labeled as erotica, so be aware of this before you begin.)

Summary: 

Fortyish, newly divorced, searching and longing for something different. Something fulfilling and exciting, somewhere far outside my ordinary comfort zone.

Come with me on my journey of discovery. Explore with me. Touch, taste and feel with me.

Lots more to come following my introduction to you in this first volume of a multi-part True Romance / Erotica series.

“Perhaps I was being picky, but I really didn’t think being able to spell orgasm without being spotted a vowel was asking too much.”

Approximately 6,000 words – this first volume is somewhere around 90% background story, and 10% erotic.

Future volumes will be more explicit as I expand my horizons and detail my journey of sexual self-discovery. 

Review:  

This is a self published series based on the author's life after her divorce, and choice's that she made in moving forward and re-discovering herself. It is a very well written narrative that shows the courage and determination needed to go forward with life and jump back into the dating pool. It also shows the feelings and thoughts associated with a divorce and that past relationship, the doubts you feel afterwards and the questions that inevitably arise. 


This installment is primarily to give you the background of her life and what led her to this point, and also to set up future volumes. We get to see what led her to this point in her life and we get to meet Mark, who is not at all what is expected and promises to be very interesting.Ms. Daniels does a fantastic job of drawing you. Erotica is not typically a genre that I read, but I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.


I have no idea many chapters there will be in the series, so I can't say how much it would cost in total to continue reading, but so far the chapters are priced at $.99. Not too bad for an entertaining, quick read. When this author first contacted me, I wasn't sure what to expect. As a previously unpublished author with a self-published book, I was a little leery. With authors that I've never heard of before, with these qualifications, you just never know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with this one. As mentioned - it is very well written and engrossing. In truth, the only reason I gave it a four star review is simply because of the formatting of individual chapters for purchase, which is simply not my preference. Check it out! And check back here for reviews of future volumes.