Showing posts with label 4.5 Star Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4.5 Star Review. Show all posts

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Blog Tour (Review): Freed by Lynetta Halat


Synopsis 
Truth. Pain. Freedom. An awakening like no other. When life is determined to buck you off, dig in and ride hard. The bull. The most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves. To survive, I have to face the truth. Easier said than done when it’s not all black and white. There’s the in-between, and this murky void is where I always tend to land. The horns. Lies don’t always hurt. My lies protected me, but when they are exposed and I can no longer outrun the many shades of truth, I’ll be in for one hell of a reckoning. The ride. From the outside, my life looks like one big adventure after another. But, there is no freedom in anarchy, and that’s the way I’ve lived my life. Until now. Until Ransom. Denver Dempsey was a slut for oblivion. Now, she’s a slut for love. And it’s that kind of thinking that got her in trouble in the first place. Ransom awakens Denver in ways she never imagined, but when her true feelings send her reeling, will they catapult her into the arms of Greer—her ex best-friend-with-benefits? After never loving anyone, herself included, she now loves two. One kept her alive. One teaches her how to live. If they didn’t both love her … if hearts weren’t bound to be broken, it would be the stuff dreams are made of. Will Denver remain locked up in the bullpen, or is she strong enough to open the chute and be freed? 


My Thoughts:


We have all been emotionally USED by Lynetta Halat, but she has FREED us with a little more of RANSOM & DENVER in FREED :D!!! Let me just begin by saying that I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED reading more from Ransom’s POV in Freed, because in USED we only got a few chapters in his POV. Freed picks up a few days after Ransom proposes the agreement to Denver in USED.

Denver’s character has improved so much from the girl we got in USED. She still blames herself a little for how things went down between her and Greer, but she has finally realized that she shouldn’t put the blame all on herself. With Ransom’s help, Denver is learning to love herself, not take the blame on all the things that happened in the past, and she is learning how it feels to love someone in return. I loved watching how Denver’s character developed in Freed and how Ransom, her friends, and the new people in her life have helped her free herself of all her troubles.

I was TEAM RANSOM from the very beginning of USED, so I was freaking excited that Lynetta gave us a lot more chapters from his POV in FREED!!! I was already in love with Ransom, but reading his POV in FREED had me falling in love with him all over again!!! Ransom just has it all going for him. He is a hot bull rider and fighter that will have all the ladies swooning throughout the whole story, because he is just the ideal book boyfriend. In FREED we get to know more about Ransom’s family, and Lynetta adds a few little twist to his character that I was not expecting at all. But one of these twists just shocked me, because I was not expecting this from Ransom’s character at all lol.



Ransom and Denver’s relationship picks up where it left off in USED. They were both attracted to each other from the beginning of USED, but they just didn’t let their attraction towards each other develop into a relationship. By the end of USED they both become friends in a way, and Ransom propose the agreement to Denver. In FREED, Denver accepts but not for them to just have a relationship like the one she had with Greer, but to be together as Boyfriend and Girlfriend with the added Bonus of the BDSM. I was expecting their relationship to be a little hotter, since Ransom is into the whole BDSM, but it was not as hot as I expected it to be. I can't complain though, because I was still getting a little hot with these scenes. So I still enjoyed the hot moments between them and their relationship, because they are just the perfect couple. Ransom found the girl he wanted and needed and Denver found in Ransom what she always wanted. I just love RANSOM AND DENVER :D!

I have to mention Greer, since he and Denver were all close in USED. I liked Greer at the beginning of USED, but absolutely HATED his character at the end of USED. In FREED, my feelings for his character changed again, because I just felt sorry for the guy. It wasn’t completely his fault in the way he acted with Denver, but it was still not right to rape her. In FREED, he changes and realizes how much damage they both did to each other, and he is becoming a new and better Greer. So I can say that by the end of FREED I ended up liking his character again.



FREED is what all the TEAM RANSOM fans wanted and expected it to be- at least it was for me. I loved watching Denver grow and become free of all her the troubles and bad experiences in the past, and to have the happy ending with RANSOM. Thank you Lynetta Halat for not making this a love triangle, because that would have just killed me. If you have been USED then be ready to be FREED! If you haven’t been USED, then you need to go and start reading these books.

Final Verdict: 4.5 Stars

 
Meet the Author
author2Since the dawn of time, Lynetta Halat has lived to read and has written innumerable stories and plays. A lover of good books, bad boys, and kickass tunes, she'd always dreamt of penning books that people could connect with and remember. She also has a secret penchant for wringing the emotions out of unsuspecting readers, and she collects reader's tears in much the same way that wine connoisseurs collect their favorite vintage. Her first novel, Every Rose, was the perfect catalyst to launch her into the world of publishing, effectively burrowing her way into the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. Everything I've Never Had was her follow-up adult romance novel. Now, she has penned Used, a New Adult Romance that she hopes sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go.
Her love of the English language prompted her to pursue a Master's degree in English from Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she also minored in snark and interpretive dance. She lives somewhere along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with her adorable husband, two amazing sons, and two loveable dogs. When she's not writing riveting stories, she likes to focus on her macramé art and her scouring of eBay, where she buys locks of hair from her favorite rock stars, most especially Bret Michaels and Dave Grohl.

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Monday, March 24, 2014

Blog Tour (Review) & Giveaway: Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole

Welcome to my stop in the Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole Blog Tour, hosted by Dreams Come True Promotions :D!

 
Title: Beautiful Failure
Author: Mariah Cole
Genre: New Adult
Publication Date:December 17, 2013 


If you're looking for a heartwarming story about a girl who falls deeply in love with a troubled boy who changes her life--a sob story with pretty metaphors and a million ways that'll tell you how "broken" she is, STOP. Don't read another word of this.

I'm not that type of girl.

My name is Emerald Anderson and I'm not going to bullshit you: I flunked out of college after my sophomore year, I've been fired from every job I've ever taken, and I've never had a fully functioning relationship in my life.

I wish I could say that I had a cheerleader in my corner, someone who says, "No, Emerald--You're great and you are good at something!" but I don't. My grandparents are completely oblivious to my life, and my mother's dying words to me were "You're going to end up just like me one day. A beautiful nothing."

She was right.

As I decide to start my life over and take two jobs that will forever change me--one from the inside, and one from the outside, I keep my mother's words close to my heart so I can keep the sexy and mysterious Carter Black away.

He's the first man who's ever pursued me, the first man who seems bent on finding out why I am the way I am, but he's wasting his time.

I'm not broken. I don't need to be fixed. I'm perfectly fine being a beautiful failure...



Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole is a beautiful debut novel! The story is unique and the characters are what makes the story beautiful, bittersweet, and a little heart wrenching.

Emerald Anderson has only known two things in life: 1) You can never have friends, but you can always have sponsors and 2) Use your looks to get what you want in life. These are the two things her mother engraved into her mind since a very young age. Once her mother dies she keeps these two things close to her heart, and this advice ends up ruining her and making her a beautiful failure in life. This is why my heart broke for Emerald's character, because her character is tough, independent, and strong minded, but deep down she is a little broken. She doesn't even realize the problems she has, because her mother always taught her and raised her to believe that nothing was wrong with the things they did together as mother and daughter, when in reality is what ends up ruining her. I loved Emerald's character because she is not your typical broken girl that doesn't know how to handle her problems in life, she is strong and when she realizes what her problems are she faces them head-on and comes out being a better person. I loved the person Emerald develops to be by the end of the book :).

Carter Black is just wow!!!! I believe I have just found another 2014 Book Boyfriend to add to my Book Boyfriend list :D! I instantly feel in love with his character in the story. At first it did seem that he was being stalkerish with Emerald, but I understand the guy- she is a tough girl to go beyond her walls. Why did I fall in love with his character? The things he did and the way that he did not judge Emerald for all of her actions and the things she has done is just admirable. Other guys would have just kicked her to the curve or used her for sex. But this guy is a true gentlemen in every way, but don't get me wrong he can get down and dirty too :). Now, here is the thing with Carter Black that will have me reading the second book...we don't really know his story!!!!! I thought that if I kept reading more I would soon find something out about him, but no that never did happen. So yes, Carter Black is a hot and sexy mystery that I can not wait to uncover in Beautiful Temptation (Beautiful #2).

Emerald and Carter's relationship just sort of happens. They first meet when she is working at a coffee shop- I think it's Starbucks, but can't remember- and they both instantly feel the physical attraction towards one another, but Emerald just acts that she is not interested. Here is another thing about Emerald's character, she doesn't believe in love because she has never been in love before. So the next time they see each other is just a HOT- I can't say how, because I don't want to give a lot away. Anyway once they start to hang out with each other they just end up being in a relationship. There relationship is just one of those relationships that makes sense, because they are perfect together and it just flows. I really loved reading all the breathtaking kisses, swoon moments, and hot sex scenes between these two. I can't wait to see what will happen with them in Beautiful Temptation :D!!!!

Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cols is just a bittersweet, unique, heart wrenching, and beautiful story! This is definitely a must read, so go add it to your book shelf. Now, I will admit that the ending was something that I was not expecting and had my jaw dropping to the ground. But I'm a little scarred to read Beautiful Temptation, because I have a feeling that I already know how things are going to happen, but I will still read it because I want to know more about Carter Black :D!


Final Verdict: 4.5  Stars






Starbucks Addict. New Adult author. Dreamer.


* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mariah-Cole/522717034482807

* Author Website: http://unapologeticmc.blogspot.com/

* Author GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7319309.Mariah_Cole

* GoodReads Page for Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18625288-beautiful-failure

 Amazon  ~  B&N




Monday, January 13, 2014

Blog Tour (Review) & Giveaway: Permanent Lines by Ashley Wilcox

Happy Release Day and welcome to my stop in the Permanent Lines by Ashley Wilcox Blog Tour, hosted by ACS Tours :D! 


Title: Permanent Lines

 

Author: Ashley Wilcox

 

Series: Stand Alone

 

Publication Date: January 13, 2014

 

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

 

Source: e-ARC provided by author for the blog tour in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

 

Synopsis:

Merrick Drake.
Bartender, dirt bike racer, and far from settling down…until that one race, and that one girl that changed everything.
Amelia Driscoll.
Amelia took Merrick by surprise, bringing out emotions that he never knew existed. Amelia stole his heart…
Only to break it.
When fate puts Merrick and Amelia back together, it doesn’t come without a price- it comes with vengeance, determination, and putting his life on the line for the one he loves.
But, how much is Merrick willing to put on the line to have a future with no reason to hide? In the end, fate will decide...
Who's permanent.



Add Permanent Lines by Ashley Wilcox to your TBR Pile---> Goodreads

 


Purchase Permanent Lines by Ashley Wilcox:

Amazon  ~  B&N  ~  Smashwords



My Thoughts:

 

For the first time in my life, I was afraid of the outside world.

WOW! I LOVED Merrick's character the instant he was introduced in Running from Forever, so I was freaking excited to read his own story :D! The little snippet Ashley Wilcox gave us at the end of Running from Forever, I knew I was going to love Permanent Lines.


She carried something dark and I wanted to know; I wanted to know it all...

We don't get much of Amelia's character in the beginning of the story, but what we do get is just Merrick's memories of the time they meet and spent together. I have to admit that I was intrigued by Amelia's character, because we really don't know much about her. I did kind of hate her a little bit for leaving Merrick broken hearted and without an explanation of her disappearance. Once she comes back in the story I freaking loved her. She is a brave, strong, sensitive girl that is so much full of life that she sparks Merrick's life. I wished that Ashley Wilcox could have written a few chapters in her POV, because I wanted to be inside her mind a few times.


Amelia brought out so many emotions that I never knew existed.

I freaking love Merrick :D! At the beginning he did get on my nerves, because he just wasn't living. What do I mean by this? He was so depressed and out of character with the way Amelia just left him without an explanation. I mean I do get it later on in the story, because what the love they share is worth all the risks they have to face. I just have a weakness for my tattooed bad boys, and Merrick is a dirt bike rider :D! Even though I wished reading from Amelia's POV in Permanent Lines, I can't complain from reading from Merrick's POV, because I just loved every second of it.


We didn't need words, we didn't need affection...we just needed each other.

Amelia and Merrick's relationship is another quick deep connection relationship. They meet in a dirt bike race and Merrick is instantly drawn to Amelia, and she is instantly drawn to Merrick. I loved the mystery about Amelia and Merrick's relationship at the beginning of the story, because we don't know what happened between them that made Amelia just disappear from Merrick's life. Once these two meet again their love for each other has not died, and Merrick will have to face the risks that will come with being with Amelia. Merrick's determination to have and protect Amelia just made me fall even harder for him.


No matter the storm that surrounded us, we would survive. We would still stand, untouched and perfectly fine. We were permanent.

Permanent Lines by Ashley Wilcox had my heart speeding with all the mystery and suspense of what was going to happen next in the story. Amelia and Merrick's love is one of those relationships that you will do anything to protect the one you love, even if it means risking your own life. I just can't put to words on how much I loved Amelia and Merrick's story. Permanent Lines is definitely a must read for 2014.


Final Verdict: 4.5 Stars


About the Author:

Living in Upstate, New York, Ashley Wilcox is happily married to her husband of over six years, and a mommy to two little boys, and one little girl who is expected to be here in March 2013. Through her addiction of reading, Ashley has discovered her passion for writing. She loves reading and writing anything romance. Some books that Ashley is most commonly known for are The Forever Series, Summer Rush, and her latest, Permanent Lines.

To find out more about Ashley and what she is currently working on, please visit her website at ashleywilcoxauthor.com.


Find Ashley Wilcox:

Facebook   ~  Twitter   ~  Goodreads


Giveaway:

(4) signed Permanent Lines paperbacks

(2) $50 Amazon CG



 

Monday, December 30, 2013

Blog Tour (Review): Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin

Welcome to my stop in the Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin Blog Tour, hosted by Love N Books :D! Read my review and enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

Title: Finding My Forever

 

Author: Heidi McLaughlin

 

Series: The Beaumont Series #3

 

Expected Publication Date: December 30, 2013


Pre-order begins: 12/16/13 – Amazon only

 

Genre: New Adult

 

Synopsis:

Everywhere I look, my friends are settling down - marriage, children, white picket fences; but not me. Marriage isn't in the cards for me. I’m a ladies man.

A rock star.

I was born and raised in the industry.
I love everything about my life, especially the attention from the women that my status brings me.

Women find me. I don’t chase. I know what they want and they know I’ll deliver.

But after one look, one touch, one night...

now I’m the one doing the chasing.

I need to find a way to show her that I’m serious, that I can change.

I need to find a way to show her that I can love her fully, and only her.

I need to find a way to show her that she’s my forever.

 

 

Add Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin to your TBR Pile----->Goodreads

 

 Pre-Order Finding My Forever:

Amazon (Kindle)  ~  Amazon (Paperback)

 

 

 My Thoughts:

  I have no doubt she’ll satisfy my hunger. She’ll quench my thirst. Then I can move on. I can get her out of my system and go about my business.

Heidi McLaughlin definitely threw me by surprise with Jenna and Jimmy's story! Right from the first book in the Beaumont Series I fell in love with all of Heidi's characters, because they are well developed. We get totally different stories in each book with each couple and this is what I absolutely loved about the Beaumont Series. I never got bored of reading about these characters. I was excited to know that Jenna and Jimmy were getting their own story, and that Heidi paired them off together with a HEA :D!



I know one thing’s for sure: I need to keep myself from falling in love with Jimmy Davis because he’s nothing but pure heartbreak waiting to happen.

In Finding My Forever Heidi throws in domestic abuse with Jenna's character. As we all already knew from the previous book that she had been married to a guy that enjoyed abusing her both physically and mentally. My first thought before reading her POV was "she is probably going to be mentally broken from her relationship with her husband" but I was wrong. Once I started reading from her POV I saw the strong women she became after going through such a horrible experience. There are a few times that she shows a little bit of weakness, but she puts herself back together. I just feel in love with her character because she's strong and doesn't let her own troubles and doubts come in the way of her happiness.


This woman can rock my world with just one look. She’s dangerous and if I’m not careful, she’ll break my heart.

I want to present you all to Jimmy Freaking Davis or as all his fans know him, JD :D! In the previous books I thought that Jimmy was just a womanizer that was never going to be able to settle for just one women, because he loves living the rock star life. Heck, I even thought he was a little immature. Heidi McLaughlin sure proved me wrong and made me fall in love with Jimmy. I love all of my Beaumont Boys, but there is just something about Jimmy that made me fall for him. He is just the perfect balance when it comes to dirty and sweet. His character is also mature in the way he thinks about the situations he experiences in the story. I just fell in love with Jimmy Davis because you get both the dirty hot and sweet with his character.


He’s holding on for dear life and as much as I want to hold on with him, I’m afraid.
I know I’m not the best man out there, but I look at you and you make me want to be better.

Jenna and Jimmy's relationship happened at the spur of the moment. I am not kidding. But this is what I loved about their relationship, because even if they just acted without thinking about the consequences it turned out to be one of the most beautiful relationships. As we all know Jimmy doesn't do relationships because of what his ex-girlfriend did to him. That really ruined his thoughts about anything having to do about love and being in a relationship. Jenna doesn't mind being a relationship, but she doesn't trust Jimmy because of his womanizer relationship. Their relationship doesn't start off as any normal relationship. They have a one-night stand and try to be friends but that is just awkward for the both of them. Once Jenna decides to give Jimmy a chance he does everything in his power to prove to her that he would do anything to gain her trust and believe that he wants a stable relationship with her. Of course Heidi throws a few twists and shock surprises that will test their relationship. 


"Jenna has it all. She’s my home.”

Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin is so different from the other two books in the series. Heidi throws in mystery, domestic abuse, and twists that will have your jaw dropping to the floor with the shock. You will find yourself saying "what the hell just happened," because I usually believe I know what will happen next in the story, but that was not the case with Finding My Forever. Jenna and Jimmy's relationship is by far one of my favorites from the Beaumont Series, because it is so different from what I have read. Know I am left wondering what will come next? I want more of these stories from Heidi McLaughlin, because all of her characters are mature, unique, and memorable.


Final Verdict: 4.5 Stars

 


About Heidi:


Heidi is the author of USA Today, Kobo, Digital Book World, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestselling series, The Beaumont Series.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.
During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.

 

Find Heidi McLaughlin:

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Pinterest  ~  Instagram  ~  Goodreads

 

 

 

OkayCreations – Cover designer

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Brandyn Farrell – Cover model

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Scott Hoover - Photographer

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