FREEFALL by Tess Oliver

 

5 FANTASTIC, MUST READ STARS!!!!

What a fantastic book!!!!!  Nix is my new book boyfriend for sure!!!  I wish this was not a stand alone!!  I want to know more about Nix and Scotlyn but also about the other characters!!!  Cassie and Dray AND Taylor and Clutch!!  I would LOVE to hear their stories!  This could easily be a great series!!

I LOVE Tess Oliver's writing style!  She kept me glued to the page and literally carrying the book around all day just to sneak a page or 2 in between EVERYTHING allowing me to finish in one day!!

Why did I love it so much?  Hmmm...the main characters Nix and Scotlyn were so far from anything I have read before.  Scotlyn not being able to speak was gut wrenching, but I felt everything emotion between her and Nix from beginning to end.  Not only that, every aspect of the story intrigued me!  I have never been so connected to ALL of the characters, not just the main couple!  The only character I did not like was Hammond!!  I despised him!!  BUT that's what I was supposed to be feeling so I loved his character and it was all again...so well written!

I LOVED the ending!  Although it ended pretty abruptly, I was surprisingly okay with that.  I was wondering how she was going to end this last set of intense scenes, which I felt something stirring, but think she did a fantastic job of ending it in a way I was NOT expecting!  I would have liked to see an epilogue so I could hear more, but I loved every word on every page!!!  I am just sad it had to end!

BEFORE NOW (Sometimes Never #2) by Cheryl McIntyre

 

5 PAINFUL, PASSIONATE STARS!!
 
The more I read into this series, the more I fall in love with these characters!
I am in love with Park!!  This was my favorite of the series by far!!  As much as I loved Hope and Mason, and as much as I hated Park in the first 2 books, I was so glad to read his story!  Reading Park's POV for the break up was enlightening!  I actually felt bad for him!!

The pain and passion between him and Lucy was fantastic!!  I don't even want to get into the story line...just know that it's Park's story and I loved every page of it!!  I loved reading about the rest of the characters as well!  What a great series!! 

Blackbird (Sometimes Never #1.5) by Cheryl McIntyre

4 STARS

BLACKBIRD is the story told between the time of the last chapters and the Epilogue of SOMETIMES NEVER.  It's the story of Hope and Mason going to therapy, alone and together and with family.  I like that it sheds more light on Mason's problem and focuses on his family as well.  I was satisfied with how his family moves forward,especially for his little brother's sake!

It's a painful but healing novella and I think an important part of this series.  I loved the ending and can't wait to continue their journey in BEFORE NOW! 

DELILAH'S DIARY (#1 A Sexy Journey) by Jasinda Wilder

3.5 STARS

I needed something "lighter" in between a series that was very serious and affecting!  This was perfect!!  A cute little novella..not so much an erotic tale as some said but more so the humor is what kept me entertained.  Don't get me wrong, there were a few steamy scenes!    Definitely worth checking out the rest in the series. 

SOMETIMES NEVER (#1 Sometimes Never) by Cheryl McIntyre

4 STARS

A bit young adult for me but I really liked it.  Kind of a sweet story but with a lot of anger and a lot of current issues because of the past.  Although they are in high school, they both come off more mature than their age because of their pasts.  Hope is a foster child with lots of step siblings but the only one she connects with and trusts is Guy, who has become pretty much her gay boyfriend LOL!  She has a love of all things candy and plays drums and cello in a band with Guy, her "not boyfriend" (because of her commitment issues) and some other friends AND she's hiding a secret that no one but her "not boyfriend" knows.

Then comes Mason.  He's a boy who moved to her town because his Mom has moved them "every 5 minutes" because of her own issues.  Hope and Mason both cannot believe the attraction to each other since neither has felt anything for anyone since their pasts won't allow them to emotionally connect with anyone.  But something is different...it's like they were made for each other!

After breaking up with her "not boyfriend" to be with Mason, he reveals her secret to Mason who is shocked but does what she thinks he is not going to do and he stays with her and wants to help her.

Just when things were going great, another bomb drops and I am glad to say it has a HEA!!  Looking forward to reading the next chapter in their lives in Blackbird!

TASTING NEVER (Never Say Never, #1) by C.M. Stunich

3 STARS

I had a hard time writing this review.  I have loved C.M. Stunich books, but this one just didn't do it for me.  I liked it, but couldn't get pulled in.  I liked Never's character, but the back and forth between her and Ty was slightly annoying for me.  I found myself really into it, then my interest would drop off.  I stuck it out until the end just because I was hoping I would get more sucked in, but it just didn't happen. 
Can't love them all!  :(

BROKEN BEAUTY (Broken Beauty Novellas #1) by Chloe Adams, Lizzy Ford

 

UNRATED

Unfortunately, this book was not for me.  I have to say it was well written, but the topic was too real and emotional and I couldn't get through it.  I was happy to read other reviews where it helped those who it was intended for.  I will seek out more books by this author based on her writing style.  Thank you for the opportunity to read it! 

*provided by NetGalley for an honest review*

ESCAPING REALITY (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1) by Lisa Renee Jones

 

5 ROMANTIC, DRAMATIC, SUSPENSEFUL STARS!!

WOW!!  Romantic, dramatic, suspenseful, soooooo good!!!!  This book for me was a cross between James Patterson and a mild 50 Shades of Grey which as AWESOME!!!! 

Where do I start??  Lara, aka Amy Bensen, is forced to start her life over because of a past that is following her trying to kill her.  I would have loved to find out why this is, but so would she and that's what makes for most of the suspense!!!

Forced to run again, she ends up on a flight next to a billionaire, Liam, who she feels a reluctant but instant connection with.  He is just as drawn to her and immediately feels the need to take care of and protect her while not pushing her to reveal her past and what she is running from.  Can she trust him or anyone else??

I was blindsided by the ending and had my mouth gaping open for the final chapters!!!  I am so glad #2 comes out next month because I don't think I can wait much longer to continue her story!!!!  

*provided by NetGalley for an honest review*

BULLY (Fall Away #1) by Penelope Douglas

 
5 PAINFUL, REDEEMING STARS!!!

I wasn't sure how I would feel about reading this book.  1) I try to stay away from high school age stories and 2) did I really want to read about a girl being bullied??  I am so glad I took the chance!!!  I have had a streak of bad reads so I was soooooo happy to get hooked on this story and emotionally invested in the characters immediately!!

As much as I don't like the subject of "bullies", I know it has to be dealt with and as hard as it was to read about Tate's struggle, in the end, I grew respect for her sticking up for herself without violent retaliation...OK, maybe with his car LOL, but not with guns or anything!!

So Tate is the girl being bullied by her next door neighbor who she grew up being best friends with.  All of a sudden one summer, he decides she's his target and begins his quest, along with his best friend, Madoc, to make her life a living hell.  Not only do they spread horrific rumors about her, but they basically threaten any boy who would be interested in her to stay away!

The amount of mental torture this girl goes through and still remains strong enough to get away, leaving for a year to go abroad.  When she returns for her senior year of high school, something in her changes and she isn't taking it anymore.  How does the saying go?  "We always hurt the ones we love"?  Honestly, the fact that there is even a possibility of them ending up together is unrealistic, but somehow the author makes it believable!!  I absolutely loved the ending!  Did not see that coming at all!!!!

I could go on and on about this story, but I will stop there.  I'll just say, this is nothing like I have read before and loved every minute of it.  Even when I was hating Jarod and Madoc!!  Am I supposed to fall for Jarod, the bully???  Somehow in the end I did, a testament to the fabulous writing of Penelope Douglas!!!  Looking forward to Fall Away #2!!

THE BET (The Bet #1) by Rachel Van Dyken

 

 

4 STARS

I do not usually like "love triangles", but I don't feel like this really was one either.  I was laughing out loud at some points which was what I needed right now in a book!  I did not like Jake's character at all!!  Even when he tried to be regretful, I had no sympathy for him. 

TRAVIS is my new book boyfriend!!!!!  Who couldn't love him!! 

                  Because of you Kace. Everything I do, everything I’ve done in my life,
                  it’s all because of you.

SWOON!!! 

I enjoyed Kacey also!  Feisty thing LOL!  I loved her and Travis's "altercations"!  Had me laughing so hard!  OMG, between the pie and eggs I don't know where I laughed harder!   Although I think my favorite character...sorry Travis...was his Grandmother LOL!  HILARIOUS!!! 

The ending was great, I was on the verge of tears when she read the letters from her parents and knowing Travis kept everything from them...and she finally realized it was him all along!!!!  **SIGH**

All in all a quick, funny, entertaining, romantic read! 

Loving Me, Trusting You (Triple M #2) by C.M. Stunich

 

5 FRUSTRATING, TRIPLE M STARS!!!
I loved Austin and Amy's story in Triple M #1 and this story takes off where #1 left off.  The focus now shifts to Mireya and Gaine.  Mireya is so tortured by her recent and not so recent past and it won't allow her to love or be happy.  It's no secret that Gaine has had a thing for her for a long time.  He even professed his love to her and she shot him down.  She tries to convince herself, and everyone around her that their "friends with benefits" relationship works for her, but everyone knows better, especially Gaine. 

Although the back and forth, hot and cold that IS Mireya was a bit annoying, it was a good annoying that evoked the right emotion from me!  I feel like it was what I was supposed to be feeling all throughout the book.

There is so much to this story and that's what I loved about it.  There is no chance to get bored!!  It's not just about Mireya and Gaine!!   Triple M MC battle to stand their ground as a "real" motor club but they don't follow the rules of one and many other MC's are not happy about it.  Triple M believes that women can ride alongside men on their own bikes.  Then there is going back to Amy's hometown to save her best friend and bring her along with them...along the way, avoiding their biggest rival MC's due to events in Triple M #1 AND their not "following the rules".  Then there is the hate/love story between Mireya and Gaine, which is all consuming!  And then there is the bank robberies which allow them the money to take off and leave it all behind until things simmer down.  Like I said...a lot going on!!

I naturally try to predict what's going to happen and where the story is going, and I was WRONG most of the way in this one!!  I love the fact that C.M. Stunich keeps me guessing!!  Can't wait for #3!!!

Finished on 9/12/2013

BREAKING NOVA by Jessica Sorenson

 

3 STARS

What makes this book so different is that you start out with the prologue finding out what their pasts are instead of waiting the whole book to find out.  It's also NOT a HEA, which I was surprisingly okay with.

Both main characters, Nova and Quinton, have suffered tragic pasts.  Both were witness to losing the loves of their lives in horrific ways.  Both are left with unresolved, torturous guilt that they cannot deal with or get past.  When the two meet, there is an undeniable pull toward each other.  Both try to resist each other...for fear they will break the unspoken promise to their past loves.  They feel they do not deserve to be happy or experience love again.

One thing I was not a fan of was the drug use.  Unfortunately, it turned me off.  I'm not afraid of reading about it, but there was just way too much and it took away from the story for me.

The prologue totally drew me in, but I am sad to say I could not help but feel with the rest of the book "it's gonna get really good again soon".  It just didn't keep me engaged and wasn't nearly as emotionally raw as with Ella and Micah and with Callie and Kayden!

The ending was okay for me.  I was not surprised by it and was kind of glad actually.  Don't want to spoil it so I won't elaborate, but I was content with how it ended.  Not a cliff hanger, but curious to see what happens in the sequel.  I am giving it 3 stars because I really did like it, but I didn't love it.

INFRACTION by K.I Lynn

 

4.5 BROKEN, HEALING STARS
What a complex, intense, brutal life these two lead!!!  You finally find out fully why they are so damaged and they are on their way to healing together.  The therapy and day to day was grueling but with each "episode", you could feel the love and longing to heal!  Just when I was getting used to this loving side of Nathan, here comes the dirty talk LOL!  What a beautiful ending.  Not completely unexpected, yet beautifully written.

Can't wait to read the final book Reciprocity to find out how their pasts are finally put behind them!!

Finished 9/8/2013

RUIN by Rachel Van Dyken

 

4 STARS

What a beautiful book.  I can't say too much about the story without giving away spoilers, but let's just say, I laughed with them, I was mad at them, and I cried with them.  A very emotional story with a very happy ending which I felt they both deserved!  

Finished on 8/14/2013