SURRENDER YOUR LOVE (Surrender Your Love, #1) by J.C. Reed

4.5 STARS

 I really enjoyed this book!  I totally fell for Jett and his demanding, sexiness!  At first I was frustrated because Brooke appeared so weak...she melted at the sight of him and did whatever he wanted whether she liked it or not.  But then as the story progressed, she gained strength and resolve and would not be pushed around.

Brooke Stewart is a Real Estate Agent trying to further her career when she finds herself sacked from her current job and hired by this man, Jet Mayfield, who she never even met...or so she thought.  Jet is the millionaire, playboy, bachelor who hires her to be his personal assistant.  Before they can get down to real business, they need to deal with their obvious sexual attraction toward each other and he gives her another "more personal" offer she cannot refuse!

After some steamy, sexy scenes, as the story progresses, her first big assignment is to persuade the owner to sell the latest property that Jett has his sights set on buying.  Brooke is looking for loopholes when she finds more then she bargained for.  Oh yeah and they fall in love too!

I enjoyed the story line, the characters and the twists so far and the whole story kept me intrigued the whole way through.  I loved the ending...which way will it go??  Although reviews and the description mentioned Jett being "dangerous", I am not getting that at all.  I cannot wait to have all of my questions answered in the sequel CONQUER YOUR LOVE!! 

FIGHT OR FLIGHT by Jamie Canosa

 
4 STARS

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I finished it last night and had to just sit there and think about what I just read.  It was not at all what I thought it would be and I have never read anything like it before. It was a sad, desperate, intense, book about survival of the 2 main characters.  Sounds negative, because it was, but I was glad to find that it did have a happy ending.

Emerson is a scared 17 year old girl who runs away from "home" in the middle of the night with a backpack and about $50.  Jay is a "boy" who also ran away from home 2 years prior for the same reasons...because of abuse.  I will not spoil with the details, (and am glad to say it did not go into detail for those who might be squeamish to that sort of thing) however, it's harsh for both of them.  I describe it as "sad" because the whole book contains the story of their life on the streets and how they survived day to day.  

Since Jay had already been on the streets for 2 years, he had learned how to take care of himself.  When he finds Em, he doesn't expect to be drawn to her, let alone fall in love with her and feel a desperate need to take care of her.  The story contains tons of gut-wrenching scenes where I found myself holding my breath.  The only part that I could have been felt more is their love.  The passion between them was missing for me.  I believe he loved her, but I felt like it was more of a brotherly love than anything. 

The ending was bitter sweet.  I was glad to see a happy ending but I feel like maybe it was too easy.  It was believable, but I wanted to read more!  I also couldn't help thinking this was not the harsh reality of today and it made me sad.  :(  I see a sequel in the works and am hoping  Sink or Swim (Fight or Flight 1.5) comes out soon because I have so many questions that need to be answered!  

I am giving it 4 stars because I feel like this book has so much potential to be a fantastic series and am hoping the passion for their survival on the streets comes through in their love for each other in the next book.

CHASE (Complete series) by Cassia Leo

3 STARS
 
A very quick read in a 4 part mini series, which seemed to add up to less than any book I usually read.  I read it last night in less than 3 hours.  Not my cup of tea, but if you like lots and lots of sex with no depth then this is for you.  I don't know what kept me reading...I think because there were a bunch of great reviews so I was trying to get into the story, but I really wasn't all that entertained.  

So basically it begins with Larissa Jacobs who just accepted a job as an escort for high end/high profile celebrities.  Her first client is presidential candidate Chase Underwood who hand-selected her and immediately falls for her.  From the very beginning it was not believable for me.  I'm sorry to say I did not like Cassia Leo's writing style at all.  First, they immediately began and never ended with a ton of sex.  I felt like I didn't get to know either character at all.  He told her he loved her way too soon and again, I felt absolutely no depth to the story.  This was my first mini-series so maybe that's how they are???  

***SPOILER***

Another reason I didn't like it was because I think the writing was supposed to be humorous at times, but I didn't find it funny at all.  Her inner monologues in the beginning were not funny to me, a bit annoying to be honest.  Continuing the story, he hires her for his campaign and keeps her as his lover while he is married to another woman (just a business deal) and they are of course, forbidden to be together...then he wins the election but no sooner does he resign from the presidency to be with her.  Sounds choppy because it was.  I hate to give bad reviews and I apologize if this review seems a bit harsh, but I have to be honest.  I appreciate the fact that the authors put tons of work into these books, but it just wasn't for me. 

THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN (Marriage to a Billionaire #1) by Jennifer Probst

3.5 STARS

A quick, cute story about a handsome, sexy man, named Nicholas Ryan (Nick) and an, of course beautiful & well rounded woman, Alexa MacKenzie.  He was her best friend's brother & tormented her as they grew up together.  He was her first kiss & at 16 years old he broke her heart by laughing at her when she told him she loved him.  Flash forward 10 years & he is a sexy billionaire & she owns a book store where she is struggling to make ends meet & is tortured by her parent's financial issues.  She is desperate to help them so she takes him up on his offer to marry him for one year so that he can become the heir to his father's business in exchange for $150,000.   The "bargain" entails no romantic involvement...a business only proposition.  He does not believe in marriage, family or love.

Undeniable mutual attraction, along with lots of sexual frustration, ends up in them "consummating their marriage" and they of course fall in love.  Sounds simple enough, but with a few twists & turns to keep you interested.  

I gave it only 3.5 stars because it's quite cliche & predictable, but I would recommend it if looking for an easy & entertaining read.

DAMAGED by H.M. Ward

 

4.5 STARS
 
I really enjoyed this story.  Sidney leaves Texas to start a new life with her horrible past behind her.  She meets Peter who is a very hot & intriguing man, which she has not come across since she left Texas.  She sits down at his table thinking he is her blind date & he thinks she is just trying to pick him up.  Very cute beginning.  She ends up meeting her real blind date which is a nightmare, leaves & ends up in the parking lot with Peter again who is having car trouble.  She takes him home & ends up getting kicked out of his house after a steamy "almost" love scene & ends up very confused.

Turns out, Peter is a professor at the college she attends, taking over for a prof who dies unexpectedly, who Sidney was a TA for.  They cannot deny their attraction which is more than physical for both of them.  They continue to torture each other with their "forbidden love" since it is against school policy to be together.  Both characters are "damaged" in their own very different way.  We learn of their deep dark secrets & reasons for being so tortured & end up together of course!  Not a spoiler, just common sense :)  I would agree with some reviews that say she is a bit whiny about her horrible life, but I feel it makes you understand her character & I did not feel it was overdone.

The end of the book is a cliffhanger, but you can tell the direction the story is headed in the next book.  I am intrigued so I will definitely look for it when it comes out.

I did not give it 5 stars because I did not fall in love with the characters & I would not say it's one of my absolute favorites, but I thoroughly enjoyed it & highly recommend it.

BROKEN by Christa Cervone

4 STARS

A good quick read.  A woman tortured by a decision she made 4 years prior that cost her the man she loved...or so she thought.  They reunite 4 years later and rekindle what they never lost.  I was surprised what her decision was...usually I am good at predicting these type of things, but this one I was actually shocked.  Not going to call it one of my favorites, but enjoyed all of the characters, the story line, the romance.  Love scenes were a bit raunchy at times, but if you like that kind of thing...  The story seemed a bit choppy to me.  Skipping months at a time which was odd to me, but didn't necessarily take away from the story line.

I gave it 4 stars because all in all it was a good story and kept my interest.

HOPELESS by Colleen Hoover

3.5 STARS

I finished this book a few days ago but I had to think about what I wanted to write for my review.  I'm still so torn, but here goes...

Please don't hate me...this book had such great reviews I was sure I was going to love it.  Sky and Holder were neighbors and best friends in early childhood and they reconnect by chance when they are now high school age.  Holder recognizes her connection with Sky but she does not remember anything about him or her "former life" before she was adopted.  Memories come flooding back as she is reminded by Holder and places she visits.

**CAUTION MAY CONTAIN PARTIAL SPOILER**

I felt like I was reading 2 stories, but in a distant sort of way.  I have to say I loved the first half of the book.  It drew me in right away, but as it progressed, I felt like Sky was not nearly as connected to Holder as he was to her.  I get that she was supposed to be void of feeling anything, but I just didn't feel their connection as much as I think I was supposed to.   I also am not a fan of reading about abductions or child abuse.  It didn't go into detail or anything, which i was thankful because I would have stopped immediately, but I just didn't like where the story went in the second half of the book.

I guess what I mean to say is that I couldn't get lost in this book.  I am disappointed, but will definitely try for another Colleen Hoover book.  It was very difficult for me to give this only 3.5 stars and I will recommend this as a good read as long as you don't mind the content mentioned earlier.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS -- by Sara Gruen

It's been a long time since I read this book but this is one of my all-time favorite books (yes, your going to hear that a lot from me LOL!), I wanted to review this one next.



5 STARS

I remember it had been a long while since I had picked up a book.  I was engrossed in James Patterson books and I had never read anything like it but a friend recommended it and I read the outstanding reviews so I thought I would take a chance.  So glad I did!  One of my favorite books of all time!!  I love Sara Gruen's writing style and her story kept me interested the whole way. I fell in love with Jacob from the very beginning. I loved how his friendships developed and felt his pain from the time his parents died to when his growing forbidden love for Marlena grew. It ended beautifully and as expected, but was so into the story as it didn't feel predictable.  

A short review but I think that says it all.  Don't want to give anything away.  Just know it's a fantastic book and MUCH, MUCH better than the movie (which I loved and own the DVD :) (although isn't it always?!)

FALLEN TOO FAR by Abbi Glines

4 STARS

I finished this book last night at midnight.  I couldn’t put it down and I wanted to fall in love with it so badly but something just didn't feel right for me.  It had your typical attributes of a story I like to read nowadays.  Tortured man and woman, Blaire and Rush...complicated, forbidden love...sexy, steamy love scenes, holy mackerel!  But I kept waiting for something to surprise and shock me that didn’t happen.  Other than the love scenes which again...HOLY MACKERAL...much of it was predictable for me.  I anticipated Nan’s secret and when it was revealed along with all of the other family secrets that Rush had hidden from Blaire, it just wasn’t right for me.  I think my problem is that I could not get over that they were step-siblings.  I KNOW they aren't RELATED, but it's just weird for me.  All of that being said, I gave this book 4 stars because I do like Abbi Gline's writing style.  Remember, I couldn't put it down!  I don't think I will read the sequel right away, but I will definitely be reading more of Abbi's books.  I do highly recommend this book if you aren't bothered by step-siblings falling in love.   

I know this review seems a bit contradictory, and that's because it is...I loved it but I didn't.  :( 

WALKING DISASTER – By Jamie McGuire

5 BEAUTIFUL DISASTROUS STARS!!!!!

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER told by Travis’s point of view.  That’s what this book is.  I was very anxious to read this one as BEAUTIFUL DISASTER (here in known as “the 1^st book”) was one of my newest favorite books!  **WARNING** Have your tissues ready from page 1!!!  OH, poor little guy!!!  

There are parts of this story that I liked more than the 1^st and some that I didn’t.  Travis’s passion and love for Abby is more clear now which I didn’t feel fully from the 1^st book.  I am glad Jamie McGuire didn’t replay all of the detail from the longest “scenes” from the 1^st book, but was glad she included a lot of the same conversations and made me re-live some of the best, most emotional moments from the story!  Reading it from his perspective now made it even more raw and emotional and I found myself tearing up more reading his POV then from hers!!!   I loved the ending which I obviously knew from the 1^st one, but didn’t include that in my other review.  It was not predictable for me. 

I LOVED the Epilogue and am hoping that means Jamie will be writing another one in this series????!!!!!!  I can only hope!!

GO READ THIS SERIES!!! 

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER by Jamie McGuire

5 SEXY BEAUTIFUL STARS!!!!!

I loved everything about this story!  I loved the characters, the story line, their shady pasts and well kept secrets they revealed only when they had to!  How can you not fall in love with Travis Maddox!  From his fights in the underground circle to his Harley to his gritty, raw ways!!  Described as having "lean muscles stretched under his tattooed skin"..."he oozed sex and rebelliousness with his buzzed brown hair and tattooed forearms". 

Although "Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand" is not fooling Abby Abernathy (or Pigeon as Travis nickname's her :)!  They reluctantly begin as friends and she ends up staying temporarily at his house with her best friend, America, who is dating Travis's cousin, Shepley.  It, not so quickly, and certainly not predictably, turns into a torturous love that spans the rest of the book!  The story took some surprising twists and turns that kept me biting on my nails and on the verge of tears at times!

There is a sequel called WALKING DISASTER which I am about 57% through.  It tells Travis's side of the story which I find very fascinating and answers some of my own questions while reading BEAUTIFUL DISASTER!  I will share that review next!  Stay tuned!  :)

MY REVIEWS

So my book history has taken me from Charlotte Bronte to James Patterson to Dr Seuss (with my daughter of course :), to Stephanie Meyer and  to more recently a lot of romantic, passionate, (yes some quite steamy ;), adult romance.  It may take me quite a while to catch up on reviewing all of the books I have read so bare with me!  I will probably go from a recent to an old one I may have read years ago, depending on my mood, but I will clarify this in my review.  I don't pretend to have the greatest grammar or spelling skills LOL, again, this is ME and how my words spill out onto this page is all ME!  :P  

Hope you enjoy My Book Therapy!