Tag: 2016

Play Dirty (The Devils Share 2) by L.P. Maxa

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As bassist of the Devil’s Share, Smith James revels in being the ultimate bad boy, until he meets a good girl…who likes it dirty.

PILLS. PAIN. LOSS. LOVE.

Smith James doesn’t need drugs. He just likes them a whole lot. And as bassist for the Devil’s Share, they are easy to come by. So are the women. With a steady supply of both he doesn’t have to think too hard about his past. But when a beautiful physician’s assistant joins the tour, Smith can’t help but want…more.

After watching her high school boyfriend OD, there is no way Dylan Lawson is going to fall for a rock star with a tenuous hold on sobriety, no matter how sexy his New Orleans drawl. She’s been hired to do one job: monitor the health of the lead singer’s girlfriend and her unborn baby. But once Smith flashes that sweet, vulnerable smile, Dylan can’t help but want…more.

And more is what they’ll get. Love on tour is never simple, and with a music festival in Smith’s hometown, a place he’s avoided for years, near his illiterate, abusive, meth-addled father, Smith is one bad night away from a relapse. But with her heart already lost, Dylan is willing to do whatever is necessary to save him—even play a little dirty.

Book: Play Dirty (The Devils Share 2) by L.P. Maxa
Published: November 11th, 2015
Pages: 118
Genres: Romance, Erotica, Famous, Musician
Format: Kindle
Date Read: October 14-19, 2016
Rating: 4 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

I’m loving the books in this series so much! Thank you so much to my friend for recommending them!

I don’t really have much to say about this one – it was just as short as the first and equally as great! I loved the dynamic between Dylan and Smith. They balanced each other perfectly! Seriously. And I love that we get to know what is going on with the rest of the band. A lot of authors focus a book on those characters and only reference the other ones but this author included the other characters. I love it!

Check this series out, you won’t regret it!

Play Nice (The Devils Share 1) by L.P. Maxa

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Rock a stadium. Bang a chick. Repeat. As lead singer of The Devil’s Share, Dash Conner could get anything or anyone he wanted—until he met Lexi Grant.

MONEY. FAME. WHISKEY. SEX.

For Dash Conner, lead singer of The Devil’s Share, everything he wanted was his for the asking. Whiskey. Drugs. Money. Sex. But not Lexi Grant. For the first time since he picked up a guitar, a girl was actually demanding he woo her. For a chance with her, Dash would do that and more.

Lexi Grant was no groupie. Just because the biggest rock star in the world smiled at her didn’t mean she had to fall into bed with him—but it was going to be awfully hard to resist that impish smile and those tatted abs. Surely one night of fun wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Unless that night ends with a broken condom.

For Lexi and Dash, that’s just the beginning. Add an overly affectionate pit bull, a missing guitarist, a house full of sorority girls, a junkie ex-bandmate and an extreme aversion to Jäger, and it’s either a recipe for disaster or true love.

Book: Play Nice (The Devils Share 1) by L.P. Maxa
Published: July 1st, 2015
Pages: 134
Genres: Romance, Erotica, Famous, Musician
Format: Kindle
Date Read: October 13-14, 2016
Rating: 4.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

First of all – the ONLY reason this book is getting 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because of how short it is. I WANT MORE!

I fell in love with Dash and Lexi within the first few pages of this book. I know this type of storyline has been done so many times before but I never grow tired of it. And the band? I absolutely love them all! I love each of their little quirks and issues, they all just fit together so nicely.

Naturally, I would have liked to have seen more of a build up in Dash and Lexi’s relationship before they became a couple and went the “I Love You” route but when a book is this short things are sped up a little bit. It still worked for the characters! I really can’t think of any part of this book I didn’t like (other than the fact that its so short)! It easily could have been another 150-200 pages so the storyline and characters were more fleshed out. But, it is what it is – I still loved it!

I absolutely love Dagger, Lexi’s dog. I feel like he definitely steals the spotlight in a lot of the book – he’s such an important character.

So, yeah, I loved the book… GO CHECK IT OUT!

And, now I’m off to buy the next book!

When I Was Yours by Samantha Towle

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“Marry me.”
“What?” I stared back at him, unblinking.
He moved closer, taking my face in his hands. “I love you, Evie. I look into the future, and the only thing I see clearly is you. Marry me.”

What’s an eighteen-year-old girl who was madly in love with her nineteen-year-old boyfriend say?

Of course, I said yes.

Twenty-four hours later, I married Adam Gunner at a Vegas chapel to the sounds of “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. Not the best omen. I get that now.

Then, exactly one week later, I left him. I walked out, leaving behind my wedding ring, annulment papers, and my heart, and he never knew why.

I haven’t seen him since. Not in ten long years.

Now, he’s here, standing before me. Looking at me with nothing but hurt and hatred in his eyes, he wants answers.

Answers I can’t give.

Book: When I Was Yours by Samantha Towle
Published: November 10th, 2015
Pages: 307
Genres: Romance, New Adult
Format: Kindle
Date Read: October 11-12, 2016
Rating: 3.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

When I read the summary of this book I knew I had to get it, even though I’ve read quite a few books with a similar premise. I truly enjoyed both characters and learning how their relationship came to be. They are absolutely perfect for each other! Their names are Adam and Evie – does it get any more perfect than that?

That being said, I did feel that this book was so easy to predict. By about 20% in I already figured out what happened and why, hence the reason for not giving it 4 stars. That didn’t stop me from reading it though! The characters were so raw and honest, it was hard not to identify with them.

I can always count on Samantha Towle for a great, fast-paced romance read! Brava!

Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1) by Pepper Winters

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“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed.
I was sold.”

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

Book: Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1) by Pepper Winters
Published: August 28th, 2013
Pages: 377
Genres: Romance, New Adult, BDSM, Erotica, Abuse
Format: Kindle
Date Read: October 7-10, 2016
Rating: 3.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

From the summary of the book, I really thought this was going to be completely different than it was and I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.

The book was very well written so there is definitely no confusion as to how a character feels or why something is happening. The author did an amazing job! However, I’m just not sure I can get on board with this heroine. I get that she is unsatisfied with her love life, even though she loves her boyfriend and is “settled” in her relationship. I get that she wants more from him. But, what I can’t get on board with is where her thought process goes and her rationale after she gets kidnapped (I would say more but I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone).

From the summary of the book I assumed the book was going to be about a girl who is kidnapped and the journey she goes on waiting for her boyfriend to rescue her. I thought there would be parts explaining what said boyfriend does to get her back. Nope. This book is about a girl who eventually falls in love with her “master” – Stockholm syndrome at it’s best. Now, I can get on board with that – I’ve read A LOT of erotica where the girl fell in love with her kidnappers and there is nothing wrong with a book that depicts it. However, what happens to this girl before she arrives at her masters house and during just completely turned me off their relationship. I know that it’s a book and anything can happen but this one was a little bit of a reach for me.

The hero, however, I definitely liked. Q was a very intense, interesting man. I liked his backstory and what he was about. I can definitely see what made the heroine eventually fall in love with him and I would have loved to have read more about this character.

Overall, this was a very good book, it was, I just couldn’t get on board with everything in it. Maybe due to the issues that go on within it or maybe its just me. Why don’t you check it out and decide for yourself?

Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City #1) by Penny Reid

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There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn’t know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can’t help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan- aka Sir McHotpants- witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can’t afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn- the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies- to make her an offer she can’t refuse.

Book: Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City, #1) by Penny Reid
Published: March 14th, 2013
Pages: 394
Genres: Romance, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 12-14, 2016
Rating: 4 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was pulled in by the character of Janie, I loved her nervous habits and her random ramblings. I actually learned a bit from her! Quinn was very sexy and intriguing but I feel like we don’t really know much about him. What I do know, I like a lot, but there is so much about his character that is a mystery.

Now I must talk about Steven for a second because I truly loved this character.

Steven reached forward, squeezed my hand, and kept me in place for a brief moment. His voice was low enough to ensure the comment was not heard by the others. “He’s going to subject you to the silent twenty-minute car ride from hell. After the meeting this afternoon, we’ll order room service and have a sleepover. We can commiserate, and you cry on my shoulder.”
I absolutely love Steven! I hope the author does a book just for him. His character is just so refreshing – he says what he means, he’s in tune with peoples feelings, he’s smart and funny. I want Steven’s book!

“Good girl. Test passed. I think I love you, Janie. Let’s get married and not have children.”
How can you not love Steven?

My only complaint, and the reason this book is not getting 5 stars, is that it just ends. We’re finally getting somewhere with Janie and Quinn and their relationship woes and the book just ends all wrapped up in a bow at like 85%. A chapter ago the characters were nearly broken up and then everything is all happily ever after. What? And the characters that were prominent for most of the book are not mentioned for the last 1/3 of it – Steven, Jon… I feel like the author has such a great story here but then she just ends it without wrapping anything up. Plus, we still don’t really know a lot about Quinn. We can infer a lot of things but we don’t truly know.

I still think this is a great book and I would recommend it, I just wish it was longer and more fleshed out.

Nora Roberts Land (Dare Valley Series Book 1) by Ava Miles

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Journalist Meredith Hale’s ex-husband claimed her Nora Roberts addiction gave her unrealistic expectations about marriage, and she believed him. All dreams of happily ever after—or Nora Roberts Land as her mother calls it—went up in smoke. But when her family asks her to temporarily help their Dare Valley, Colorado newspaper, she decides it’s time to change her life and prove her ex wrong. She’s determined to find her own small-town Nora Roberts hero, prove that true love exists, and publish a story about her quest.

War correspondent Tanner McBride has just returned stateside to work for a major newspaper, and the last thing he expects is blackmail. Yet, before he can even unpack, he’s headed to Colorado. His assignment? Make his boss’s ex-wife fall for him and then break her heart. Her article about discovering love à la Nora might air dirty laundry about her marriage to the media mogul, threatening his senate run. The mogul wants Meredith stopped, and he makes sure Tanner has no choice in the matter.

When the two meet, the sparks between them are undeniable. Meredith, who vowed never to date another journalist, begins to succumb. Could Tanner be her Nora Roberts hero? As they work together to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death, the depth of their feelings unfolds and both realize they’ve kept their secrets for far too long. But before the truth can be revealed, their investigation takes a deadly turn, one that might make Meredith’s personal Nora Roberts Land go up in flames.

Book: Nora Roberts Land (Dare Valley Series Book 1) by Ava Miles
Published: July 2013
Pages: 374
Genres: Romance, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 28-July 26, 2016
Rating: 5 Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

“Fairy tales, like shoes, come in all shapes and sizes. Frogs turn into princes. Princes assist ladies into glass slippers.”
What a powerful first line for this novel! And how true it is! We all want that chivalrous guy who opens the door for us, pampers us and treats us all like the princesses we always dreamed we were!

First off – I just want to say how much I truly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was just so well written, thought out and just AMAZING. I loved Mere and Tanner and their instant chemistry. I loved Mere’s sister Jill, what a hoot that one is!

In the beginning when Mere was explaining what a jerk her ex was and how she was going to find her own happily ever after I wasn’t sure that I was going to enjoy this book. There were so many elements and characters and unknowns in the beginning; I just wasn’t sure this book was going to be my cup of tea. I’ve never been so happy I was wrong in my life!

In walks Tanner – this truly good guy who just wants to do this “job” and get on with his life. Poor guy only wants to protect his family and gets roped into doing something he truly doesn’t want to do. I enjoyed this character so much and I could easily understand why Mere fell for him.

This book was so wonderful from start to finish. It had all the elements of any great novel – romance, comedy, drama, and of course – a happily ever after! Check it out, you won’t regret it!

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

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Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it’s all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better. Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs and all.

After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. What she doesn’t know is her groom to be is a 400-year-old vampire.

Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. His past means love is no longer an option. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real. Too bad both of them are keeping some mighty big secrets…

Book: The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter
Published: June 1, 2015
Pages: 370
Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 15-28, 2016
Rating: 3 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

This was a cute, fun read. There was very little angst (which I LOVED) and the story moved right along. It moved at a perfect pace and everything was tied up nicely in the end.

I truly enjoyed reading this story but I finished it and felt like it just needed more. More story? More character development? I’m not sure what it needed but I felt like this was a novella rather than a novel. It was a good story, nothing was wrong with it but I just wanted MORE.

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery #1) by Denise Grover Swank

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For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She’s had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone’s toilet’s overflowed, but she’s never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn’t enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect.

Rose realizes she’s wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She’s well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won’t help with number fifteen– do more with a man. Joe’s new to town, but it doesn’t take a vision for Rose to realize he’s got plenty of secrets of his own.

Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they’ll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn’t her biggest worry after all.

Book: Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery #1) by Denise Grover Swank
Published: December 19th, 2013
Pages: 374
Genres: Romance, Mystery, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 13-15, 2016
Rating: 4 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

It was so hard to put this book down! I just wanted to keep reading and reading – it completely captivated me from the start!

I absolutely loved the character of Rose. She was so funny, witty and REAL. Violet was okay, I like that she truly loved her sister but she was a secondary character for me.

Joe was a mystery to me for the entire book. I found myself wanting to believe what he was saying but not completely trusting him. Even after finishing the book I’m still not sure what to make of him – he truly is a man of mystery!

Great read, I highly recommend it! I can’t wait to read some of the authors other works!

Rebel (Rebel Wheels #1) by Elle Casey

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Teagan Cross, college senior, rebel, and wiseass extraordinaire, goes from princess to pauper in a single phone call. Overnight, her life of privilege becomes one of survival, and no matter where she turns, it seems like the world is out to get her. She’s not going to fall apart, though. She’s a rebel and she’s strong … determined to live life on her own terms … and nothing’s going to stop her from getting things done and making things right. But when a twist of fate brings her to the doorstep of a different kind of Rebel, she’s forced to figure out when something’s worth fighting for and when something’s worth letting go.

Book: Rebel (Rebel Wheels #1) by Elle Casey
Published: October 29th, 2013
Pages: 294
Genres: Romance, New Adult, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 10-13, 2016
Rating: 3 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

Rebel is one sexy hunk of a man!

I truly enjoyed this book and didn’t want to put it down; such a good read! But, I felt like there were so many things that weren’t explained – Rebel’s back story could have been much more explained. I felt like some parts were just randomly added in, they didn’t “fit” with the storyline. Maybe it’s just me who felt that way, maybe not.

Another reason I’m not giving this book the 4 stars I feel it could deserve is because it just ENDED. Nothing was wrapped up, there were so many questions! Something big happens, we feel like Teagan is finally getting to the bottom of stuff and the books ENDS. Not cool, not cool at all. I understand wanting to leave the book open for the next one and for getting readers to want to purchase the next one but it still wasn’t nice.

Anyway…

All in all, good story, it has likeable characters (some not so much) and it definitely makes you want to read the next book.

Because You're Mine (MINE #1) by K. Langston

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Madison Waters knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. She was already working for one of the most prestigious law firms in Boston as a research assistant, and in a few short months, she would finally graduate from Harvard and collect her law degree. Everything she had worked so hard for was well within her reach.

But when Madison had to take an unexpected trip back home, she was blindsided by the one thing she never planned on.

Desperate to escape his wicked past, Holden Brooks moved to Madison’s hometown five years ago. It’s was a struggle at first, but he eventually overcame the demons that almost destroyed him back in Texas. Holden was in a good place in his life and love was the last thing on his mind.

Everything changes the moment these two paths collide and they soon find out, fate has a plan of its own.

You never know when or where love will come along and change everything.

Book: Because You’re Mine (MINE #1) by K. Langston
Published: September 17th, 2013
Pages: 211
Genres: Romance, Cowboy, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 8-10, 2016
Rating: 3.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

This was a short, cute and fun read. I liked the idea of the storyline, even though its been done so many times before. I love the idea of pretty much love at first sight and just knowing that someone is the right person for you – it intrigues me.

I wish the book would have been longer and more fleshed out; it would have been much better had it been an extra 100 pages. I would have liked to have read more of Madison and Holden’s backstory’s and delving more into why they think and act the way they do about certain things. I also would have liked to have learned more about Madison’s parents and what was going on with her father. She came home because he was in the hospital and after she comes home there is barely any mention of her parents. However, the book was still good as it is and I did enjoy it.

3.5 Stars!