Review: Flirting with Fire

Title: Hot in Chicago #1: Flirting With Fire

Author: Kate Meader

Date of Publication: March 24, 2015

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: The first installment in Hot in Chicago, a brand-new, sizzling series from Kate Meader that follows a group of firefighting foster siblings and their blazing hot love interests!

Savvy PR guru Kinsey Taylor has always defined herself by her career, not her gender. That is, until she moved from San Francisco to Chicago to be with her fiancé who thought she wasn’t taking her “job” of supporting him in his high-powered career seriously enough—and promptly dumped her for a more supportive and “feminine” nurse. Now, as the new assistant press secretary to Chicago’s dynamic mayor, she’s determined to keep her eye on the prize: no time to feel inferior because she’s a strong, kick-ass woman, and certainly no time for men.

But that all changes when she meets Luke Almeida, a firefighter as searingly sexy as he is quick-tempered. He’s also the second oldest of the Firefightin’ Dempseys, a family of foster siblings who have committed their lives to the service—if Luke’s antics don’t get him fired first. When Luke goes one step too far and gets into a bar brawl with the Chicago Police Department, Kinsey marches into Luke’s firehouse and lays down the law on orders from the mayor. But at Engine Co. 6, Luke Almeida is the law. And he’s not about to let Kinsey make the rules.

My Review:

I honestly hadn't been expecting much from this novel, in fact based on the cover and the synopsis I was expecting this one to be pretty bad. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself starting to enjoy the story. I loved how Meader created so many different intertwining plot lines and even a secondary romance with one of Luke's foster brothers; there was hardly a dull moment, and I loved that! 

Though there was nothing earth shattering about this novel it was entertaining, in mindless reality television kind of way, but entertaining nonetheless. I loved reading about Luke and Kinsey and the drama surrounding their initial meeting. Flirting with Fire was full of surprising plot twists and I was surprised by how much drama Meader was able to fit into this novel, so often with contemporary novels I find myself getting bored because reading about day to day activities never interests me. From conflicts between Kinsey and her boss to the side story about Luke's foster brother Gage, there was plenty of story lines to keep me entertained. 

As for the romance, Meader executed it astonishingly well for what it was. I've never been a fan of any kind of romance that starts with little meaning behind it, as was the case this time, but the way it was executed made me enjoy it anyway. Maybe it was because I could tell that both Luke and Kinsey were hiding their feelings, even from themselves, but I felt a connection between them that I don't usually feel in romances like this. Though I wouldn't call the romance raunchy it had plenty of perfectly placed steamy scenes and Meader was able to keep everything classy while still adding plenty of spice, something I always appreciate. 

The only thing that irritated me a little bit about this book was how Kinsey and Luke made everything difficult for themselves through poor communication. I suppose there wouldn't have been much of a story if they didn't, but I got a little frustrated with them toward the end of the novel because I wanted everything for them to work out but they were making it so difficult. However, the conflict between them didn't go on long and I was happy to see the two of them work everything out. 

In the end I would definitely recommend Flirting With Fire to those looking for something fun to read that doesn't require a whole lot of thinking. This is the perfect book to sit down with and de-stress at the end of a long day. Fans of contemporary romance have found a winner with Kate Meader. 

4/5

Review: Game On

Title: The Bod Squad #1: Game On

Author: Gabra Zackman

Date of Publication: April 6, 2015

Formats Available: E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: Part caper, part romantic comedy, this hilariously entertaining book in the Bod Squad series features a sassy and sexy undercover operative, Susannah “Legs” Carter, and her Ocean’s Eleven–style team of private investigators.

From Washington, DC, to Paris, Legs is tailing Charles Oakley Palmer III, a white-collar criminal she’s determined to bring to justice. But will romance or betrayal blossom along the way? Find out in the first in a sizzling new series about a team of highly skilled investigators who go undercover to catch criminals—while juggling romance, world travel, and danger around every corner.

My Review:

Maybe I just picked this one up at the wrong time but, though I tend to force my way through every book I take on, I just couldn't force myself to get past 45% of Game On. The cheesy characters, the lackluster plot, and the relatively uneventful story line all came together to make this novel a particularly difficult one for me to finish.

One of the main reasons I couldn't force my way through this novel, despite it's measly 152 pages, was how completely ridiculous the whole story line was. This book uses every cliche ever created and doesn't even use them well. I was cringing at  nicknames such as "Legs" and "Fingers". The second reason I had trouble with Game On was that Susannah was the absolute worst spy I've ever read about. She blows her cover within minutes, she's sleeping around with the enemy, and I just couldn't take anything about her seriously.

 However, I could have lived with everything above if it hadn't been for the writing. The writing itself was what really brought this novel down and made me give it the rating I did. Impersonal and removed the writing offered no real insight into the characters and I felt like the author was telling me what was happening rather than showing me. Even though some of the plot twists were interesting I just couldn't get pulled into the story because I felt like I was watching from the sidelines, rather than living the story with the characters.

That's not to say that the whole story was bad, there were some enjoyable moments throughout, I enjoyed the tongue in cheek dialogue and the exotic locations. Though the plot twists were pretty easy to spot I still enjoyed the idea behind the premise and Zackman had some good ideas, though they just weren't executed in way that made me fall in love with this book.

Overall Game On just wasn't my cup of tea, though I can understand how it would appeal to those looking for a lighthearted action/romance.

2/5

*I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a free and honest review. 

Review: Five Ways to Fall

Title: Ten Tiny Breaths #4: Five Ways to Fall

Author: K. A. Tucker

Date of Publication: June 24, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.

Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s ready to lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.

If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking…

My Review:

The Ten Tiny Breaths series has been been an interesting series for me, I've given these books everywhere from five stars to two and I never know what to expect. Each of these books is always a gamble and unfortunately Five Ways to Fall is a gamble that just didn't pay off. While I didn't exactly dislike this novel there wasn't much about it I liked either.  

Unfortunately for the most part, I was bored by the majority of Five Ways to Fall. Sure, the conflict between Reese and her ex-husband and his new wife was a little entertaining but the rest of the novel just didn't have much going for it. There wasn't a whole lot of romance, there wasn't any sort of major life changing conflict, there weren't even cameos of all the characters from the previous novels. Most of the novel was Reese floating through life on her motorcycle, fooling around with Ben, and thinking about how much she hated her ex and his new wife. While a few of her revenge tactics made me laugh the rest of the novel just didn't have any substance to it.

Even from the beginning of the series I haven't been a huge fan of Ben, he's okay but there was never anything special about him that really stood out to me. After reading this novel, I still don't see anything unique about him and maybe that's why I didn't like this one as much as I had been hoping. I was looking forward to watching Ben grow as a character, learning more about his past, and find out what makes him tick. However, he's the same womanizing man-whore he's always been for about 98% of the novel. No real character growth takes place until the very last pages of the novel and I was disappointed that we didn't get to see more of Ben after he grows up a little bit. 

However, the thing that really brought this novel down was the romance, or lack thereof. Ben and Reese spend the majority of the novel fooling around with each other but without any kind of meaning behind it. I'm not a huge fan of one night stands or any kind of romance that doesn't have any real feelings behind it and this was a classic example of the type of romances I just can't stand. Though the end was a little better I wish they had realized their feelings sooner so there would have been more romance to go on, rather than impersonal flings. 

Though Five Ways to Fall wasn't a terrible novel it definitely wasn't my favorite in the series. I would still recommend that fans of the series check this one out but don't expect it to be as good as Four Seconds to Lose or Ten Tiny Breaths. 

3/5 

Review: Archer's Voice

Title: Archer's Voice

Author: Mia Sheridan

Date of Publication: January 25, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.

Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

My Review:

After reading so many amazing reviews for this novel I just knew that I had to read it. It sounded like it had all of my favorite ingredients; a disabled hero, a cute romance, and a heroine trying to overcome her past. However, the farther I got into this novel the more I started to dislike it

The number one reason I wasn't a fan of this novel was Bree. The more I read about her, the more I couldn't stand her. She was a stalker, and not a very good one at that. I couldn't help but cringe in second hand embarrassment as she just let herself onto Archer's property and basically forced herself upon him even though he clearly wasn't interested in her. Archer was slightly more bearable than Bree, but only barely. Instead of making him endearing his naiveté drove insane and I juts couldn't stand the silly little conflicts between him and Bree over basically nothing. 

Not only was Bree annoying but the fact that everything was just so convenient and unrealistic kept me rolling my eyes throughout the whole novel. Archer can't speak? Well conveniently enough Bree's dad was deaf so she already knows sign language. Archer lived alone for the bulk of his life and never went to school? Don't worry, he taught himself sign language from a book. Bree only likes folded over potato chips? Well, good thing Archer is here to buy several bags of potato chips and pick them all out for her. I mean really,who does that? 

Finally, the writing was what really drove me insane. Sheridan tried really hard to use analogies and phrases that just didn't work. There were sentences that I had to read over again just understand what she was trying to say. The steamy scenes were especially hard to read, especially with phrases such as "the sex act" thrown in, they felt more childish than romantic. But  finally, let me share the gem that made me realize this was going to be a particularly painful and cringe worthy read:

"He had a crease in each cheek, not dimples exactly, just the way his cheek muscles moved when he smiled. I stared at those creases as if they were twin unicorns that he'd been hiding from me under his beard. Magical."

...and it was all down hill from there.

2/5

Review: Dragon's Lair

Title: Wind Dragons MC #1: Dragon's Lair

Author: Chantal Fernando

Date of Publication: May 12, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: The first in a new sexy romance series from bestselling author Chantal Fernando about the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

When I found my boyfriend cheating on me, I did something stupid.

Or should I say, someone?

Because of that mistake, I’m now stuck in a world I don’t belong in.

I’m a law student. They’re criminals. He’s the vice president of a motorcycle club. I’m a good girl with a strict upbringing. He’s my ex-boyfriend’s brother.

And I’m screwed.

My Review:

Dragon's Lair is not the type of novel I'd typically pick up, I'd never really heard of the motorcycle club genre before and though I'd seen this book in passing it wasn't anything I was excited to read. However, when I was offered a copy in exchange for a review I took a second look at the synopsis and decided to give it a try, and I'm super happy I did. 

The first thing I have to do is applaud Fernando for how perfectly she executed the characters. Due to the nature of the motorcycle club, and the fact that Dex has a reputation to uphold as a bit of an alpha male, if his character had been written any differently he would have come off as abusive. However Fernando was able to write him in such a way that he came off as more concerned than anything else. Dex wasn't perfect, and he definitely had his share of jerk moments, but I ended up really liking him. He didn't always make the best decisions  but I loved watching the relationship between him and Faye develop and how protective he was toward her.

Being unfamiliar with the world of motorcycle clubs this novel was super fun to read just because I'd never read anything else like it. With wars against rival gangs, murders, and plenty of illegal activity there was hardly a dull moment. Though I would definitely say this novel was a little on the gritty side it wasn't overly dark and I really liked that. I'm not a huge fan of dark novels and this one had just enough humor and lightness to even out the darker moments. I also loved the unique cast of characters Fernando created and even though they all had a history, I ended up likeing all of them in their own way.

The most surprising thing about this novel though, was how much I loved the different dynamic between Faye and Dex because of her pregnancy. I tend to avoid novels with children or pregnancy but I was surprised about how well it worked for the story. I loved watching Faye and Dex bond over the baby and  how much it ended up changing both of them. After reading this book I feel a strong connection to both of them and I'm excited to see cameos of them in the following novel!

Overall I really enjoyed Dragon's Lair and I'm excited to continue with the rest of the series. Fernando has definitely won me over and I can't wait to get lost in the gritty world of motorcycle clubs and the women who love the men in them.

4/5

Review: Confess

Title: Confess

Author: Colleen Hoover

Date of Publication: March 10, 2015

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies. 

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

My Review:

Confess is a hard novel for me to review because I still have such mixed feelings about it. I started off this novel thinking it was merely okay, then started getting bored and disliking it, and then making a complete 180 and loving it once all the secrets were revealed. I almost gave up on this one and I'm so happy I didn't, pushing though the first half was definitely worth it! 

To be honest, I was completely bored for the first 150 pages or so. I didn't like Auburn, I didn't like Owen, and I didn't like how overly dramatic they were. The story was boring and reading was starting to feel more like a chore than something I really wanted to do. Nothing was happening, there wasn't any sort of drama or revelation, there wasn't even much character development. Not only that but I was extremely confused about the relationships between certain characters and events, after reading the end of the novel I realized it was intended to be this way, but it sure made the first half hard to get through. 

However, once I got past the halfway mark this novel made a complete turn around and I found myself completely engrossed by the story. Learning the truth about Auburn and Owen changed my whole opinion of them and the things they had to go through made me respect them even more. Likewise most of the excitement didn't happen until the last half of the novel and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen between Auburn, Trey, and Owen. It's hard to review this novel without giving anything away, but trust me when I say the last half of this book definitely made up for the lackluster first half.

One of the things that made rating this novel difficult was, even though I gained so much respect for Auburn and Owen once I found out their stories, I still didn't necessarily like them. However, though I didn't really like them, I still respected them and maybe that's what made all the difference. They both had so many things going on in their lives that were kept in the dark until the very end of the novel that it's hard to fully appreciate them until you've learned everything. Though they weren't my favorite I still ended up liking and respecting them in my own way. 

Confess is unlike anything I've ever read, and though the story isn't necessarily anything new there's just something special about it. Though I wouldn't say it was my favorite it was an enjoyable read and I'm excited to try a few more novels by Hoover!

4/5

Review: Bedroom Games

Title: Games #4: Bedroom Games

Author: Jessica Clare

Date of Publication: November 4, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis:  Kandis Thornton isn’t afraid to lie, scheme, and sneak her way to the grand prize money on the Reality TV show, House Guests. That prize money is the only thing keeping her mother from losing her house (and thus moving in with Kandis). She needs that money, and if she has to step on a few people to do so? She’ll do it. House Guests is a show all about outplaying your house-mates, after all, and she’s not there to make friends.

But Kandis didn’t count on the fact that someone else was going to be playing just as hard as her. And she didn’t plan on teaming up with her nemesis, or scheming their way to the top. Nor did she plan on sleeping with him.

But these things just happen when you’re stuck in a ridiculous house with nothing but time on your hands and a hot guy sharing your bedroom…

My Review:

Bedroom Games was hands down one of my favorites in the Games series so far. I ended up reading this one on a long plane ride (16 hours, ahhhhh!) and it was the perfect book for the situation. Light and fun this book doesn't require a huge amount of attention and it's super easy to get sucked into, making it the perfect book for a distracting atmosphere.

Even though this novel didn't take place in an exotic location the power challenges completely made up for it, were entertaining to read, and added a level of excitement that I missed in the last book. Though the challenges could be a little gross they added a little suspense to the story and I loved watching the characters react to each challenge. From bugs, to gross food, and everything in between there was hardly a dull moment when a challenge was going on.

I absolutely loved the character dynamics in this novel. From secret alliances, back stabbing, lying, cheating, and everything else in between there was plenty of drama to keep me entertained to the very end. Kandis wasn't afraid to use everything she had to lie and backstab her way to the top and I loved watching her set up her opponents and then bring them down, all while nobody was any the wiser. Though she was a little manipulative on the outside her intentions were good and I loved seeing the sweet side of her character when she was with Brodie.

Seeing Brodie again was one of my favorite parts of the series. In Playing Games he drove me absolutely insane but I liked seeing him from a new set of eyes and I'm glad he got his happy ending. The romance between him and Kandis can be described as nothing other than hot, and I loved every moment of their steamy romance. Even though their romance was hugely physical I could still feel the connection between them and I loved watching it develop from hate to love.

One of the best series in contemporary romance I can't recommend the Games series enough! Funny, original, and romantic this series has it all. Anyone looking for a fun contemporary romance series need look no further!

4/5

Review: Ice Games

Title: Games #3: Ice Games

Author: Jessica Clare

Date of Publication: July 29, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: Zara Pritchard is a has-been. Once an Olympic darling, she's been reduced to skating in a dinosaur costume and giving lessons at the local mall...which is why she's excited when she's offered a chance to sub on a TV show, Ice Dancing with the Stars. If she wins the show, this could be the break she needs.

There's just one problem - her partner.

Ty Randall is a MMA bad boy looking to fix his image problem. Sure, he's got the nickname of 'Ty the MMA Biter'. Sure, he might have bit a guy's nose off in the cage. But putting him on a reality TV show? A skating reality TV show? He's not interested. He'll do the minimum to fix his image and call it a day.

But when wash-out meets flame-out, sparks fly and tempers flare. And Ty and Zara start to realize that maybe this partnership might be just as steamy off the ice as on it...

My Review:

The Games series is easily one of my absolute favorites in contemporary romance. Though there's nothing groundbreaking or amazing about any of these novels they're just plain fun to read, and thats why I love them so much. Though each book follows a similar story line I love watching the chemistry develop and the drama of being on a reality TV show.

That being said Ice Games was probably my least favorite in the series so far, just because it didn't have as exciting of a plot as the last two. Instead of being stuck on an island or running around the world Zara's and Ty's romance mostly takes place on an ice skating rink rather than any exciting locations. On the other hand I've never read a book that had anything to do with ice skating so it was a nice change of pace and I enjoyed reading about Zara's time as a Olympic figure skater and what happened to change all of that.

Though the Games series romances tend to focus on the more physical aspects of the relationship I loved watching the chemistry between Ty and Zara. They were such opposites, Zara being a tiny figure skater and Ty being a burly MMA fighter, that watching the two of them interact was easily the most entertaining part of the story. I loved watching their relationship go from hate to love and everything else in between. Even though their relationship was so physical I still felt like there was a strong connection between them and thats what I love about Jessica Clare. She manages to make a novel steamy but still forge that connection between characters that makes the romance believable.

Zara was one of the sassiest characters so far in the series and she wasn't afraid to tell anyone off or take matters into her own hands. Between Ty and his bad attitude, the judge that had it out for Zara, and the horrible skating instructor there was plenty of drama and Zara wasn't afraid to fight for what she wanted. I couldn't help but laugh as Zara went through the novel provoking Ty, firing members of the TV show crew, and otherwise being just plain stubborn. I loved Zara and I hope that she makes a cameo in one of the future novels!

The Games series is easily the best contemporary/gameshow romance series out there and I just can't get enough of it! Those looking for a fun, quick, and romantic read should definitely check out this fantastic series by Jesscia Clare!

4/5

Review: Playing Games

Title: Games #2: Playing Games

Author: Jessica Clare

Date of Publication: June 15, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Katy Short doesn't want to be on The World Races. She’s not a social butterfly like her brother (and partner) Brodie. In fact, she’s just as happy to end up in last place as in first.

But when her brother makes a selfish move that pairs her up with silent and surly rock star Liam Brogan, everything in the race changes. Now Katy’s fighting to stay out of the Loser Lodge, just so she won’t have to suffer through all that alone time with Mr. Tall, Dark and Arrogant.

Except Liam? Kinda hot. He’s sexy, pierced… and not nearly as surly as she thought. There’s one good thing about a game with partners -- lots of one-on-one time…

This is book two of the Games novels, sexy contemporaries with a reality TV twist.

My Review:

Writing this review hasn't been easy for me. I always have a harder time with books I really enjoy than with books I don't and Playing Games is one of those novels that I ended up loving so much I just don't know how to put it into words. Full of action and adventure, a fierce game show competition, and plenty of romance to keep me on my toes, this novel had everything I could hope for in a novel and I loved every second of it.

First of all, the reason I loved this novel as much as I did was the travel. I've always dreamed about visiting almost all of the locations mentioned in the book and I loved reading about the country specific challenges. I was rooting for Liam and Katy in Turkey, laughing while they were in Greece, and swooning while they were in Italy. The bouncing from location to location kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't wait to see where they would end up next. Plus the intense competition between the other teams, Katy's brother Brodie, who I love to hate, and the sexy romance between Katy and Liam kept me glued to this novel until the very end.

Katy was cute main character and I loved reading about her. She's sassy and snarky and when she starts off on the wrong foot with Liam I just know that there's going to be sparks flying within a matter of chapters. The chemistry between Liam and Katy was out of this world and though they start off their romance for show, so they can make "good TV", it quickly becomes more than that. Liam is the sexy, tattooed, pierced bad boy we've all come to love in New Adult fiction but he's just a little bit more too. Despite his bad boy looks he doesn't have the douche bag personality I've come to expect from a lot of other love interests in the genre and throughout the novel I was rooting for him just as much as I was for Katy.

Though at it's heart Playing Games is a romance novel I loved how there was more of a plot than pure romance. Clare managed to make this novel extremely romantic but at the same time provided enough outside plot to keep me from getting bored. The drama between other teams of the competition and the little conflict at the end all made for interesting reading and the romance just made it that much better. Playing Games was pure fun and I'm so excited to read the following novels in the series!

Playing Games is a fantastic addition to the Games series and is the perfect short read for readers looking for something fun without bulky page numbers. Full of action, romance, and adventure Playing Games was a delight to read and I'm excited to continue with the series!

4/5

Review: Behind You

Title: Behind You

Author: Carly M. Duncan

Date of Publication: June 10, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: When a mysterious attack lands Heather in the hospital on the brink of death, her family rushes to her side. Through an inconvenient maze of shadowed memory and family secrets, Heather can trust only herself to discover if her husband, parents, sister or aunt tried to kill her. During the course of their own narratives, each character confesses to their various crimes of passion, envy and ignorance, weaving Heather's mystery into an untraditional tale about seizing the opportunity to start over.​

My Review:

Its been awhile since I read my first book by Duncan and while it was enjoyable, I don't particularly remember anything exciting about that novel. When I was asked to review this novel I was expecting the same, a good novel but nothing groundbreaking. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this novel was much more memorable and exciting than I anticipated.

What I absolutely loved about this novel was that there was more drama than a reality TV show and hardly a dull moment between revelations. The best part was that each discovery was so convincing and incriminating that I was constantly changing my mind about who I thought did it. I thought everyone was guilty at some point and that made me even more excited to get to the end and find out exactly who it was that hurt Heather.

All the switching perspectives took me a little while to get used to, just because there were so many characters, but once I figured out who everyone was I loved being able to watch the drama unfold from so many directions. Each member of Heather's family had something they were hiding and I was at the edge of my seat as I was bounced from one revelation to another. Even though the story was great as it was I can't help but wonder about the far reaching implications of each discovery, I would love another book about the more far reaching consequences!

The only reason I'm not giving this one five stars was that the beginning of the book didn't really seem to match up with the end. Though the revelation at the end was shocking, and honestly worked very well for the story, the set up at the beginning just didn't add up with what the revelation was. Another reason I didn't rate this one five stars was because I finished with this book with a bunch of questions, though it didn't take away from the overall story I just wanted a little bit more information than what I got.

However, the little inconsistency at the end didn't change the fact that Behind You was a fantastic book full of drama and mystery. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page. I definitely recommend this one to fans of mystery, you won't be disappointed!

4/5

Review: Undone

Title: Undone

Author: Shannon Richard

Date of Publication: July 2, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:

Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot
Why a shop would ever sell something called "buck urine"
Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy-and infuriating-Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn't easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who's interested in much more than Paige's car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn't sure she'd ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

My Review:

I went into Undone expecting a cute and fluffy read, and while that's exactly what I got I was expecting something just a little bit more than the same played out story I've heard over and over again. The bulk of the novel focused on nothing more than the routine actions of the characters, with very little variation or excitement to break up the monotony. Though the novel wasn't awful, the lack of any excitement made it hard for me to really get into this one.

The novel started off well enough, with plenty of drama between Paige and the townspeople and her developing relationship with Brendan. However, as the novel started to drag on it quickly became apparent that there was going to be no further excitement than the day to day activities of Paige and Brendan. I can only read about so many so-so make out sessions before I'm bored so after about 30% of this novel I was ready to move on. However, I stuck it out and continued to be rather unimpressed, but not bored enough to completely quit.

Paige and Brendan were the typical romance protagonists; Brendan was (of course) absolutely gorgeous and falls in love with Paige, the misunderstood, but still perfect, heroine. Though I was impressed that the two of them managed to refrain from falling into "insta-love" within the first 10% of the novel that was not the case for the rest of their relationship. Their relationship moves so quickly, and all of their interactions are based so purely on the physical, that I felt like I hardly knew either of them. Brendan especially has such a tough underlying story that I was hoping that during the course of their relationship we would learn a little bit more about him and how his experiences affected him, but unfortunately that was not to be.

Despite it all there were some very entertaining aspects to the novel. I absolutely loved the tension between Paige and the rest of the townsfolk and watching the drama unfold. From snarky gossip columns to flat out rudeness there was never a dull moment when trash talking was involved. I also enjoyed the fast pace at the end of the novel, it was one event after another and while I didn't agree with all of the actions on the part of the characters it still made for a more interesting read than the whole of the rest of the novel.

At the end of the day Undone isn't a terrible novel, just an unmemorable one. Fans of new adult and contemporary romance might enjoy this one but I wouldn't put it at the top of your to read list.

3/5

Short Story Saturday: Reindeer Games

Title: Games #4.5: Reindeer Games

Author: Jessica Clare

Date of Publication: August 26, 2014

Formats Available: E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Number of Pages: 70

Synopsis: When mouthy Luna is voted off of Endurance Island: Alaska first, she's a little bitter about it. The only thing that assuages her pride is knowing that Owen(the sexy-but-douchey guy that ousted her) was out next. This means, unfortunately, that they're spending a lot of time at the Loser Lodge together. But will their fiercely competitive natures bring them together for the sexiest Christmas of all?

My Review:

From the get go I knew I was really going to enjoy this novel, the other book I've read by Clare (Wicked Games) was amazing and I had high hopes that this one would be just as good, and it was. Even though Reindeer Games is a short story Clare managed to pack quite a punch into what little time she had and create a developed world full of unique and fleshed out characters.

The thing I love about the Games series is the whole game show aspect. Maybe I'm missing out on a whole genre over here but these are the only books I've read that take place on the set of a game show and I absolutely love it! Watching the characters be put through such unusual challenges never gets old and I love the game show drama that goes along with it. I also really loved the Alaska setting in this one and even though not much of the book was spent in the elements I loved how cozy and warm the Loser Lodge sounded in comparison!

The animosity between Luna and Owen in the beginning of the story was great. I love books where characters go from hating each other to falling in love and Reindeer Games was a perfect example. Clare did an amazing job fleshing out both of their personalities in a limited amount of time and by the end I felt as connected to the two of them as I would have felt reading a full length novel. Even though Owen started off as a jerk Clare did an amazing job giving him some lovable characteristics and he and Luna made an adorable couple. With a sexy romance and the perfect winter setting to boot, I found myself not wanting this short story to end!

A super fun winter read Reindeer Games was a fantastic prequel to the Games series and readers looking for a sample of Clare's work should definitely check this one out. Funny and full of romance this is the perfect short story for a cold winters night. I highly recommend!

4/5

Review: Back To Life

Title: Back To Life

Author: Danielle Allen

Date of Publication: July 31, 2013

Formats Available: E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Sahara Lee has spent the last ten years living with the guilt of a tragic accident and its aftermath. That night irrevocably changed the outgoing, fun-loving college freshman into an introverted, workaholic with no social life. Sahara isolates herself from everyone and everything that reminds her of home in an effort to forget what happened. Using art as a substitute for love, Sahara throws herself into music and art as a way to feel something other than the guilt that haunts her. She accepts her lonely existence as penance for the role she played in the accident. That is, until she meets Tyree Barker, the good looking entrepreneur with baggage of his own.

Blindsided by a legal loophole, Sahara is suddenly forced to confront the past she’s been running from. Juggling the guilty feelings of her past and the unexpected feelings of her present, Sahara’s future becomes complicated as she heads down a path of forgiveness, love, and heartbreak…and not in that particular order.

Back to Life reminds you that living and existing are two completely different ways to go through life. Grief will break you but guilt, guilt will destroy you. And once that happens, what can bring you back to life?

My Review:

Back to Life is one of those books that while there's nothing bad about it, there's nothing really memorable either. While the novel was well written and put together I just found myself a little bit bored with a story that I've read so many times already. Though this novel had a lot of good things going for it, such as the good writing and fleshed out characters, it didn't change the fact that I just wasn't all that impressed by the story itself.

Right off the bat I really liked Sahara, even though she was still hurting from what happened to her in the past I could tell that she was going to be a strong character and push through what happened to her, no matter how hard it may be. Sometimes indie novels have a little bit of a problem with flat characters but Sahara had a well rounded personality. I could relate to her a lot in that she really loved music and art and, though I knew where it was going, I did enjoy how Allen slowly revealed parts of her story, instead of dumping it on me all at once.

The romance between Sahara and Ty moved quickly, super quickly, but it worked well enough for the story. There were some moments where I wish things had been a little slower to give Sahara and Ty a chance to really get to know each other before things between them got so intense, but the quick speed helped the story move along. They both had interesting stories and I liked watching how they intertwined and overlapped. Ty was also a well written character and didn't suffer from the lackluster personality some male love interests suffer from.

Even though I really liked the characters it didn't change the fact that the plot was nothing special. It wasn't bad, but I've read the same thing plenty of times before so I just couldn't get into the story the same way I might have if it had been a bit more original. I could see everything coming a mile away and the only thing that ended up throwing me for a loop was the ending. The cliffhanger Allen throws us at the end was the most exciting and unexpected part of the whole novel and while it did make up for a lot of the predictability in the beginning it didn't completely erase it.

Overall Back To Life wasn't a bad book, just a little on the forgettable side. Allen does have talent as a writer and with a more original plot she definitely has the potential to write something really good.

3/5

Review: Four Seconds to Lose

Title: Four Seconds to Lose (Ten Tiny Breaths #3)

Author: K. A. Tucker

Date of Publication: November 4, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: When a gorgeous young dancer walks through his door, a strip club owner must decide whether to follow his rules or his heart in the third novel by the author of One Tiny Lie and Ten Tiny Breaths.

Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine-year-old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.

Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her can't get distracted by romance.

Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, and that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.

My Review:

I can't believe that I let this novel sit on my Kindle for as long as it did! For some reason life just kept getting in the way of me finally sitting down to read this one and when I finally did sit down to read it I didn't get up again until it was done. I adored every second of this novel and once I stared it was impossible for me to stop. My only regret is that I didn't get around to this one sooner, because it captivated me in every sense of the word.

The thing I was most excited for in this novel was finally getting a closer look at Cain. He played a bigger role in the first novel than in the second, but he always had a bit of a mysterious aura around him and I couldn't wait to see what was hiding underneath that. Cain had much more of a past than I ever imagined and as I slowly learned more about him I began to respect him even though I initially wasn't sure if I would, he is the owner of a strip club after all! Even though he's done his share of bad things he really made an effort to make a difference, especially for the girls who work for him, and I really admired him for that.

Charlie's story was absolutely fascinating and I loved reading about her. She had an intriguing life story and though I can't give much away without ruining the story everything she had to go through with her stepfather, and the strings that came with his marriage to her mother, really threw me for a loop, but it also made the story that much more interesting. Her relationship with Cain developed at the perfect pace and I knew from the start that she was absolutely perfect for him. Even though they both come from troubled pasts they are both able to put everything they've gone through behind them and take what they've gone through to create a more positive outlook for not only themselves, but for those around them too.

Finally, one of the things I really loved about this novel was getting a look into the life of a stripper. I feel like there is a very strong stigma against the whole idea and seeing what all the girls in the club had to go through made me start thinking about them as more than just the reputation assigned to them. A lot of the girls who were there had nothing else to support them and I loved Cain's compassion toward women who most people in society would have tossed to the side. I've never read a book about a stripper and I loved the fresh idea, I really felt for all the girls and what they had to go through; especially the events in their life that made them turn to stripping. I'm really hoping Tucker revisits some of them in upcoming novels!

Four Seconds to Lose is no doubt Tuckers best work yet and I adored every single second of this wonderfully written novel. Tucker has a true talent for writing in the New Adult genre and I'm so excited to get my hands on the next one in the series!

5/5

Review: Pieces for You

Title: For You #2: Pieces for You

Author: Genna Rulon

Date of Publication: December 17, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Samantha Whitney survived unimaginable tragedy only to discover she had been betrayed by a man who claimed to love her. Shattered, Sam spends months at a safe haven trying to piece herself back together. Ready or not, the time has come for her to return home.

As Sam struggles to resume a life that no longer feels familiar, she finds unwavering support in an unexpected, familiar face. Confronting Sam’s raw emotions and open wounds head-on, Griffin manages to take two steps forward for every step she retreats.

But when Sam is once again threatened, Griffin must decide how far he is willing to go to protect the woman he wants…knowing the cost of her safety is the risk of losing her.

Pieces For You is a captivating journey of survival, healing, and sacrifice—teeming with honesty, humor, unexpected twists, and love’s unsurpassed endurance.begin to plague Sam, it is Griffin she is forced to turn to.

My Review: 

After how much enjoyed the first book I read by Rulon I was really excited to get my hands on the next installment in the series. However, this book just didn't strike as much of a chord with me as the first one did. I found myself a little put off by how much the entire novel focused on Griffin's looks, rather than on Sam's recovery or an actual plot, and by how perfect all of the characters were. I did enjoy a few aspects of this novel but overall I just didn't find myself as impressed with it as I thought I was going to be.

I think one of the things that frustrated me the most was how shallow Sam was, especially toward Griffin. Griffin was the perfect love interest, he put Sam before everything and dedicated himself to keeping her safe and happy. However, all Sam ever thought about was how hot Griffin was, how his rock hard body turned her on, how his fine ass made her drool; she never focused on anything other than the physical. There was so much more to Griffin than his looks and Sam just couldn't see that, she rarely thought about what he was doing for her or how much he sacrificed for her. Griffin was so under appreciated in this novel it just made me want to scream sometimes. He was so sweet and loving but Sam never commented on any of that, all she ever thought about was how fine his ass looked in those jeans.

The other thing that bothered me a bit about this novel was the lack of plot. Sure, Sam was having a hard time overcoming what she went through but, I felt like the little mystery involving the threats on Sam's car wasn't enough of a plot to really keep the story moving. I felt like too much of the story was spent obsessing over Griffin's looks rather than focusing on other parts of the story that would have fleshed out the plot and added a little more depth to the novel. The majority of the novel was spent going through the day to day basics of Sam's life, which included an almost never ending commentary on how fine Griffin was. I wish Rulon had spent a little more time developing a plot because not only would it have provided more situations for Griffin and Sam to connect but it would have given readers a chance to connect with the characters as well.

Even though there were some things I didn't like about this book there were quite a few things I really enjoyed about it too. The number one being Hunter and Everleigh, I loved them in the first book and it was really fun to see their relationship from another perspective. I was also interested in the excitement at the end involving the conclusion of the mystery, however that aspect of the story played a minor role in the novel as a whole. Finally, I really enjoy Rulon's writing style, she knows how to perfectly blend humor into her novels and there were a few moments when I was laughing out loud at some of the comments made by the characters.

Overall, while Pieces for You was by no means a bad book, it just wasn't quite what I had been expecting after the first novel. Fans of the New Adult genre will no doubt like this series, and I encourage them to give it a try, but this one just wasn't quite my cup of tea this time around. However, I'm still excited to read more by Rulon and see where she goes as an author!

2/5

Review: Twisted

Title: Torn #2: Twisted

Author: K. A. Robinson

Date of Publication: May 7, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Chloe and Drake have found their happily ever after... almost.

When Chloe's mother comes back into her life with a bang, it sets off a chain of events no one could have ever expected. 
Everyone has their demons, and Chloe and Drake's hit them with a vengeance. 

Sex, drugs, money, a crazy ex, and Rock n Roll.... Can they survive it all?

Things are beginning to feel a bit... Twisted.

My Review:

While I hadn't completely loved the first book in the series, Torn, I liked it enough to give Twisted a chance. I was excited to see where the cliffhanger ending from the previous novel would take the story and I was hoping for a more original plot with the new developments the cliffhanger would bring. While I did find myself enjoying the plot much more this time around I was highly put off by the characters, some of the dialogue especially didn't do it for me and left me having a hard time caring about the characters and what they were going through.

From the very beginning I found myself disappointed with this novel, mainly because Drake was such an ass. I don't know what I ever saw in him in the first book but I spend the entire book wondering why Chloe was wasting her time with such a loser. The second he made a comment along the lines of "I'll keep Chloe in my bed like I always do", I was just done. Despite saying that he loved Chloe I just had a hard time seeing respect, especially with comments like that. Call me old fashioned but I feel that comments like that make Chloe sound more like a possession than a person, who can ultimately decide where she wants to be. That situation, and a couple more, just left me with a nasty feeling that made it hard for me to relate to the characters and get involved in their story.

The plot itself however, was much improved from the first book. I was sucked into the drama between Chloe's family and the drama involving Drake. I really got into the conflict between Chloe and her mom and the ending really threw me for a loop. I wasn't expecting that turn of events and the way everything turned out really surprised me. Likewise the decisions Drake made and their implications also made for some interesting reading, though the reasoning for those decisions was a little weak. The ending was a typical cheesy happily ever after but based on the rest of the book it was obvious that was the direction this novel was heading and it really worked for the story.

While I was entertained up to a certain point during this novel I can't say that I would necessarily recommend Twisted. I just wasn't impressed by the relationship between Chloe and Drake and how they treated each other. Character relationships set the tone for an entire novel and the relationship between Drake and Chloe left me with a bad feeling that was hard to shake. Overall, Twisted is just one of those novels that I just don't recommend despite having a few points in its favor. 

2/5

*I received a copy of this novel via Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

Review: Rewired

Title: Rewired (Progress #3)

Author: Amy Queau

Date of Publication: October 14, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: “Because if it weren’t for Jesse, I would have never been the girl you fell in love with.” -Charlie

Impasse: def. noun. 1. a situation in which no progress seems possible. 2. a difficult or puzzling situation from which there is no easy escape.

Charlie is about to find out how far into Jesse’s tormented past she needs to travel when she hops into his car, leaving the man she loves alone and searching for answers.
But Samuel’s a fighter. He’s not about to give up without an explanation. And he’s soon to discover events in Charlie’s past that offer reasons to her recent behavior. But will it be enough for him to want her back?
Unable to forgive herself for what she’s done to Samuel - and her crumbling future without him - Charlie’s solution is simple: Help Jesse open his mind and his heart, allowing him to trust someone for the first time in his life.

Rewired is the third and final book in The Progress Series.

My Review:

Having been with this series since book one I was thrilled to finally see how it was going to all turn out. Charlie and Jesse have gone through a lot, and after the ending of the last book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book to see how it all turned out. Queau has improved a lot as a writer and this novel takes the cake as the best, and most well written book, in the series. The changing perspectives flowed seamlessly and the writing pulled me in and didn't let me go until the very last page.

One of the best parts of this series has been watching the development of Charlie. She is in such a different place in this novel than she was in the first book and this novel really emphasizes that change. Charlie is now a strong and confident woman instead of the shy girl we meet in the first novel. Likewise Jesse, the whole reason behind her change, is in a completely different place as well. What's fascinating to me is how the chaos that is Jesse has made Charlie into a stronger person, I love that aspect of their relationship and this novel really brings it all together.

This novel was an absolute roller coaster of emotions. Like Charlie, I had a special place in my heart for both Sam and Jesse. I loved both of them for different reasons; Sam for his sweet personality and Jesse for making Charlie into the person that she is. Throughout the novel I was on the edge of my seat, wondering who Charlie was ultimately going to end up with. I could see the story going both ways and I was excited to see what Queau decided on and how it was going to all play out. I definitely didn't see the ending coming and honestly the series couldn't have turned out any more perfectly.

My favorite part of this novel had to be the development of Sam. Even though we're introduced to him in the second novel his personality doesn't stand out as much as Jesse's does so it was easy to forget about him. I loved having the chance to read from his point of view in this novel and gain a deeper insight to his character. By the time I had finished reading his portion of the story I had a whole new respect for him and even though he wasn't quite as exciting as Jesse I knew that underneath it all I wanted him to be with Charlie.

The Progress series has been a fascinating one; not just from the psychological perspective but to the development of the characters as well. A great series the Progress series stands out among the slew of indie novels and I highly recommend this series to fans of contemporary romance.

4/5

Review: Breathing Ghosts

Title: Breathing Ghosts

Author: Laekan Zea Kemp

Date of Publication: September 30th, 2013

Formats Available: E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: She is a winding cosmos, bleeding and bursting into night. She is a dream. She is dead.

River has just lost the one thing that matters most to him—Nia—and all she's left behind is a pile of scribbled love notes detailing their past and a pin-holed map planning out their future. Hopes and dreams confined to one dimension now that she's gone and River’s too afraid to leave his hometown, crippled by the same anxiety that’s plagued his mother for as long as he can remember.

But after a strange encounter with the only girl he ever loved a week after laying her to rest, River, armed with nothing but her map and his memories, decides to finally leave and never look back. And with the help of a pair of eccentrically named siblings as well as a mutt with three legs, he sets out to do the very thing Nia always knew how to do better than he ever could—live.

From the moonlit beaches off of Florida's east coast, to the forests of Mississippi, to Bourbon Street, Cadillac Ranch, and the Arizona desert, River is faced with not only Nia's ghost but his own and he learns that in life there are no accidents, only miracles.

My Review:

I hadn't been expecting to like Breathing Ghosts nearly as much as I did. Tragic and emotionally charged this novel wasn't an easy read but at the same time it was a thought provoking one. It's hard to put into words how special this novel was, something about it really stood out to me and by the end of the novel I felt like I had changed somehow. I could't quite put my finger on what made this novel was great as it was, maybe it was the characters, or the fantastic writing, but what I do know is that this is one novel that I won't be forgetting any time soon.

Let me start off by saying that Breathing Ghosts is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. Kemp has such a haunting and beautiful writing style it was nearly impossible for me not to be drawn into the story and characters. I loved how the novel alternated between the past and the present and, even though she was dead, I loved being able to see glimpses of Nia and what made River fall in love with her. I could sense the relationship between River and Nia and that was part of what made the story so great, instead of fading into the background as the "girlfriend who died" she played an active role in the story. I could see pieces of her shining throughout the novel even though she wasn't there in the parts of the novel that took place in the present.

I've always loved books about road trips and Kemp did a fantastic job with this one. The thing I loved most is that instead of going to well known places or touristy locations River found himself in run down cities and hidden away diners. Each of the locations River found himself in was not only original but had a meaning behind it. Even though he was chasing the idea of Nia all over the country he discovered more and more about himself as the continued on the trip.

Even though River wasn't one of the easiest characters to relate to I think that was part of what made him the perfect protagonist for the story. He had a tendency to close himself off from everyone and after Nia's death he not only discovers more about himself but he opens himself up to others. River wasn't my favorite person, he did a lot of things that I wouldn't have done and things that made me want to scream at him, but that was part of what made the story so amazing. Watching him change, but in a sense still remain the same, throughout the course of the novel, despite everything he went through, was fascinating.

Breathing Ghosts is far from my usual genre but at the same time there was something about it that just really clicked with me. I highly recommend this novel to fans of tragic romances and contemporary fiction. Unforgettable and thought provoking this is a novel that I know I will be returning to.

4/5

Blog Tour: Checking Inn by Emily Harper

Welcome to the Launch Day Tour for Emily Harper's new novel Checking Inn!

The book is officially released today so why not start celebrating the upcoming festivities with a fantastic new read nestled in your stocking . . .

What they say:

‘Kate Foster runs the Summerside Inn (and her life) by well-organized checklists.

Make sure the caterers don’t serve devil’s food cake to the Christian Women’s Alliance– check.

Tell my mother that having a séance to get rid of any unwanted spirits in the kitchen during dinnertime is not okay- check.

Send a friendly reminder to all staff that the pens are colour coded for everyone’s enjoyment, and therefore it is not a good idea to put them all in one jar in order to “spice things up” as was anonymously suggested– check.

But, when an acclaimed hotel critic dies at the Inn, just before she’s about to publish a scathing review that would ruin the business, Kate’s life and checklists are thrown into disarray. And it doesn’t help matters that the detective assigned to the case is messy, unorganized, and too charming for his own good. Now Kate has to prove her innocence and save her Inn, or else the only thing that she’ll be organizing is the prison’s next bake sale.’

Click Here To Buy This Book - UK

Click Here To Buy This Book - US

Author Bio:

Emily Harper has a passion for writing humorous romance stories where the heroine is not your typical damsel in distress. Throughout her novels you will find love, laughter, and the unexpected!

Originally from England, she currently lives in Canada with her wonderful husband, beautiful daughter, mischievous son, and a very naughty dog.

Emily is also the author of the funny and charming novel White Lies, which has proven to be a huge hit with fans. The book will even be appearing on The Marilyn Denis Show as a giveaway next month! For more information on the book please visit Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.

Ways to stalk follow Emily

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Praise for Emily

'The story bounces along, sweeping the reader up along with it, and has a feel-good factor that makes it both unputdownable and downright fantastic'

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Review: One Tiny Lie

Title: One Tiny Lie (Ten Tiny Breaths #2)

Author: K. A. Tucker

Date of Publication: June 11, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Livie has always been the stable one of the two Cleary sisters, handling her parents' tragic death and Kacey's self-destructive phase with strength and maturity. But underneath that exterior is a little girl hanging onto the last words her father ever spoke to her. “Make me proud,” he had said. She promised she would...and she’s done her best over the past seven years with every choice, with every word, with every action.

Livie walks into Princeton with a solid plan, and she’s dead set on delivering on it: Rock her classes, set herself up for medical school, and meet a good, respectable guy that she’s going to someday marry. What isn’t part of her plan are Jell-O shots, a lovable, party animal roommate she can’t say ‘no’ to, and Ashton, the gorgeous captain of the men’s rowing team. Definitely him. He’s an arrogant ass who makes Livie’s usually non-existent temper flare and everything she doesn’t want in a guy. Worse, he’s best friends and roommates with Connor, who happens to fits Livie’s criteria perfectly. So why does she keep thinking about Ashton?

As Livie finds herself facing mediocre grades, career aspirations she no longer thinks she can handle, and feelings for Ashton that she shouldn't have, she’s forced to let go of her last promise to her father and, with it, the only identity that she knows.

My Review:

When I saw that there was going to be a sequel to Ten Tiny Breaths I was absolutely thrilled. Ten Tiny Breaths had absolutely blown me away and I had high expectations that this novel would too. Even though I didn't end up like this one quite as much as I liked the first one I still ended up absolutely loving it (plus seeing little cameos of Kacey, Trent, and Storm made everything worth it)!

I really loved having Livie as a protagonist; even though I had adored Kacey the first time around I related just a little bit more to Livie.  A bit of a perfectionist and a little shy around guys I felt like Livie was just a little bit more down to earth than her older sister. I really enjoyed watching her try to fix Ashton and watching their relationship develop. From Ashton's list of reasons why they can't be together to Livie's embarrassment over their meeting I couldn't help but root for them despite all of the odds against them.

I've never been a huge fan of love triangles but Tucker pulled off the love triangle between Connor, Ashton, and Livie surprisingly well. The romance between Livie and Ashton was absolutely sizzling and I couldn't help but squeal in excitement every time they interacted. Underneath Ashton's flirty and arrogant front I knew there was a sob story just waiting to happen and when the truth about his past was finally revealed I couldn't help but get a little emotional. On the other hand, even though her story wasn't exactly a sob story Livie changed a lot in this novel; going from being everything her parents wanted her to be to being the person she really wanted to be. It was interesting to watch that change in Livie, especially after how she had been such a rock to Kacey in the first book.

Although I really did like the story there were just a few things that didn't sit very well with me, the number one thing being all the cheating. I'm a very big believer in loyalty and watching characters make decisions that would only end in tears was hard for me, especially because I cared about them so much. Tucker did pull it off amazingly well, but it just seemed so un-Livie that part of me just had a hard time swallowing what was happening. However, a huge part of the novel focused on Livie breaking out of the perfect mold she built for herself and becoming who she wanted to be so I could understand it, it just seemed a little out of character.

Despite all that One Tiny Lie was truly a fantastic novel and I really enjoyed it. I loved getting to see new characters as well as reconnecting with old ones! I can't wait to get my hands on the next one in the series!

4/5

*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.