Review & Giveaway: Come to Me Softly by A.L. Jackson

Title: Come to Me Softly

Author: A.L. Jackson

Series: Closer to You #2

Release Date: June 24, 2014

Source: Received e-ARC from Author in-exchange for my honest thoughts and Review (NetGalley)

Synopsis:

A second chance at life… A second chance at love…

Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed?

To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.

 

Purchase Come to Me Softly:

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 My Thoughts:

When Beauty Breaths back into the Broken. 

These past few months I've experienced a reading funk- I’ve been unable to enjoy reading a book, because the ones I read did not entice or captivate me. The last two books I’ve read have not helped me get out of this funk, that is with the exception of Come To Me Softly by A.L. Jackson. Right from the moment I read the first page I got sucked into the story. A.L. Jackson’s writing is so emotionally intense that you will be captivated by Aly and Jared's story. After reading Come to Me Softly I remembered why I enjoy reading so much- I love getting sucked into the story and developing an emotional connection with the characters, that I even wish I was part of their story. This series has been added to my all-time favorite’s series list. 

For once in my miserable life, I needed to stand up for something that was right.

I felt all of the emotional turmoil, emotional heartache and the intensity of Jared’s character. In Come to Me Softly we get more chapters with Jared’s POV, and I enjoyed this very much because there are so many emotional layers to his character that we finally get to deeply explore. Jared finally faces the demons that have been chasing him in both his sleep and his conscious all this time. This is probably on of the toughest struggles Jared's character has to face in Come to Me Softly, and one of the most emotionally intense parts in the book. I just found myself falling all over in love with Jared’s character because there is so much good and heartache under all of his rough and intense exterior that most people don’t get. I don’t know how many times my heart broke into tiny pieces for Jared’s character, but A.L. Jackson made sure it was put back together- thank you A.L. Jackson for not leaving me with a complete broken heart. 

"I've always been your girl. You just didn't know it."

I loved Aly’s character since Come to Me Quietly and I absolutely loved her in Come to Me Softly. In Come to Me Quietly Aly is going to nursing school and trying to get her degree in nursing, but she is only doing this to make her family happy. But in Come to Me Softly she is finally standing up for what she wants in life, and not just doing what her father always expected of her. Aly's character does not change much, but she has her own struggles she has to deal with in her relationship with Jared. Aly's character is just a likable character and any girl will be able to connect with her character in many different levels. Like I said before, A.L. Jackson's writing is just out of this world, because all of Aly's, and the rest of the characters, emotions were transmitted to me while I read the entire book.

The connection between us was so profound I was sure I'd been created from a tiny piece of his soul.

Jared and Aly’s relationship is almost perfect, and they are getting close to their happy ending. Now that Aly is pregnant Jared is really trying his best to get past his demons, but he is not doing it correctly. Jared is still hiding and running away from his demons. This is what is getting in their way, and they can't completely move forward in a healthy relationship with these demons appearing in Jared’s life. I don’t’ know how many times I shed both happy tears and heartbreak tears while reading all the struggles and challenges both Aly and Jared had to face in their relationship. But there are a lot of hot and steamy scenes between these two ;). Aly and Jared's relationship is a beautifully heartache love that is bittersweet that stands out from all the other relationships. They are one of my favorite book couples this year :).

I always knew his destination would lead him back to me.

Come to Me Softly by A.L. Jackson is a beautifully heartache, bittersweet, intense romance that will leave your emotions hitting a new high. After I finished reading Come to Me Softly I found my fingers itching to pick up Come to Me Quietly again to re-read Aly and Jared's story, because I just can't get enough of these two. The Closer to You Series by A.L. Jackson has become one of my favorite all-time series. Can't wait to read Christopher's story next!

Final Verdict: 5 Stars

About the Author:  

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Pulled, When We Collide, If Forever Comes, and Come to Me Quietly. She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life. Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Look for Come to Me Softly and When We Met: Behind Her Eyes coming soon. 

 Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website  ~  Instagram  ~  Pinterest 

 

Purchase Book One in the Closer to You Series:

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Read my 5 Star Review of Come to Me Softly HERE!

Giveaway:
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Blog Tour (Review) & Giveaway: GUNS by J.A. Huss

Welcome to my stop in the GUNS by J.A. Huss Blog Tour :D!!! I can't believe this is the end of the Rook & Ronin Series :(. I'm going to miss all of these characters, but I hope there will be more novellas about these characters. For my stop you can read my 5 Star Review of Guns and enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

GUNS:The Spencer BOOK (Rook and Ronin Spinoff) By JA Huss

Published March 31, 2014

Contemporary Romance, New Adult-ish, Suspense

Synopsis:

THIS IS NOT A STANDALONE BOOK - IT IS HIGHLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU READ ALL THE PREVIOUS NOVELS AND NOVELLAS BEFORE STARTING THIS BOOK

Spencer Shrike is a man with a plan. Get in. Get out. Move on. He loves Ron the Bomb, and her safety is the only thing on his mind these days. But life is a tricky bastard, and conning criminals for the better part of ten years brings its own set of problems. Sure, Rook lied her way out of a sticky situation, covering for crimes Ronin, Ford, and Spencer committed, and getting them all off scot-free in the process.

But not everyone is buying Rook’s story, and Spencer is desperate to figure out who’s in town setting them up for a fall.

Veronica the Bombshell Vaughn has put up with Spencer Shrike’s shit for years and where has it gotten her? A big fat nowhere. No ring, no house, no kids, and no promises. In fact, Spencer is worse than ever—completely distant and moody. She’s done sitting at home, pining over a man she can’t have.

But she’s not opposed to fighting for him.

Ron the Bomb fights hard and she fights dirty, so she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get Spencer’s attention.

But now there’s another man in town with his eye on her. He’s got secrets too, but unlike Spencer, Bobby Mansi is more than willing to let Veronica in on them.

The entire Rook and Ronin series comes full circle. Every con, every lie, and every skeleton in the closet is back for one final shot at vengeance and the only way to set it right…  is to get out the guns.

Buy GUNS by J.A. Huss:

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My Thoughts:

This was one hell of a ride and journey with all of these amazing characters :D!!!! I loved reading Rook and Ronins story in the Rook & Ronin series, and getting the chance to meet Spencer, Veronica, and Ford in the series. But I was ecstatic when J.A. Huss released the news that both Ford and Spencer were getting their own story, because even though they are secondary characters they stood out and grow on you. Now, GUNS was Spencer and Veronica's story and it was just an explosive hot sexy ride with a twist you never see coming :D!

A quick note: You should read the ROOK & RONIN series before reading GUNS, because J.A. Huss raps up the whole story of all the characters in GUNS.

Spencer Shrike ladies is a hot body painter, dirty talking cavemen and biker!!! If you are offended by curse words, then you should mentally prepare yourself to read GUNS because there are a lot of curse words that come from Spencer's mouth- notice that I didn't say not to read this book, because this is a must ;). I am a die hard Ford fan/pet, but Spencer really got to me and had me swooning, hot, and wanting more Spencer Shrike! If you read BOMB, then you know what to expect from Spencer's character in GUNS, because we get the same guy we got in BOMB and the few missing pieces to Spencer's character are revealed in this story. I have to say that after reading these missing pieces I feel even more in love with his character, because of how deep his love for Veronica aka Bomb is. I will say that some of my favorite scenes were reading his memories :). All there is left to say is that Spencer Shrike is on a whole different level from both Ronin and Fords character- he is my second favorite from the guys, have to stay faithful to Ford's character.

Veronica Vaugh is one of my favorite kick-ass chicks!! She does have a few problems and she did make me want to slap her a few times in the story when she got all jealous and when she was all sad, but this girl is tough. A few words to describe Veronica's character are explosive, tough, kick-ass, hot, sexy, sensible, and lovable. My heart broke for Veronica's character in BOMB, because she is the only girl in her family with her own personal problems, add the fact that Spencer ignores her, and she just feels that no one really listens to her. Now, in GUNS she is working for Spencer as his personal assistant and she is standing up for herself and figuring out what she truly wants in life and what will make her happy. By the end of GUNS, she is finally able to confront and deal with her personal problems, and she is more sure of herself and her self-worth.

Veronica and Spencer's relationship is one fucking massive explosive, sexy, hot ride :D!! This is seriously no joke. Veronica and Spencer's relationship is one of the hottest, sexual angst, intense, explosive, dirty talking, fierce, and explosive relationships in the Rook & Ronin series. I hate to say this, but their relationship is hotter than Ford and Ashleigh's relationship. I just loved everything about Spencer and Veronica together, because even though they do have a few fights and make each other jealous every once in a while, they are just one of my favorite couples in this series. They stand on equal grounds with their love and each others personality. Remember how I said I loved reading Spencer's memories? Well I loved reading his memories of the amazing moments he shared with Veronica. There is also one part in the story when J.A. Huss just made it epic between these two, and it's one of my favorite moments of Veronica and Spencer- but I can't say more or I will ruin the book :). All I can say is that whenever these two are together there are a lot of hot sex scenes that involve dirty talking.

GUNS by J.A. Huss is the hottest read from the ROOK & RONIN Series, because Veronica and Spencer are explosively sexy hot. Now, there is a twist that you will never see coming and had my jaw dropping to the floor, because I just couldn't believe what was happening. This is the perfect ending to the series, but I'm a little sad it is over. The second part of the Epilogue had me smiling and crying at the same time, because it just gives us a glimpse to the happy ending of each couple. I'm hoping there will be more novellas with the characters or more novellas where they make an appearance. J.A. Huss thank you for giving us Rook, Ronin, Spencer, Veronica, Ford, and Ashleigh, and for taking us through this emotional and suspense journey through each character :D!  

Final Verdict: 5 Stars

 

 

BIO

JA Huss is the author of the Amazon bestselling Rook and Ronin series, the epic science fiction I Am Just Junco series, and hundreds of kid-friendly science books in subjects such as biology, physics, anatomy and physiology, astronomy, and forensics. She has an undergraduate degree in equine science and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology. She has never taken a creative writing class and she hopes she never will.

Follow J.A. Huss:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

(99 CENTS) ROOK AND RONIN OMNIBUS: TRAGIC - MANIC - PANIC

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1oufHcj

B&N: http://bit.ly/1gWoHGI

FORD NOVELLA: SLACK: A Day in the Life of Ford Aston

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/J3neRC

B&N: http://bit.ly/1eYQdSN

FORD NOVEL: TAUT: The Ford book

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1dNTjse

B&N: http://bit.ly/1eb1yhl

BOMB NOVELLA: A Day in the Life of Spencer Shrike

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1gRv6AH

B&N: http://bit.ly/1bWf59t

Giveaway:

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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 

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

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

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Blog Tour (Review) & Giveaway: Ridge by Adriane Leigh

Welcome to my stop in the RIDGE by Adriane Leigh Blog Tour, hosted by Love Between the Sheets.

Title: Ridge (Wild #2)

 Author: Adriane Leigh

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 3, 2014

   

Synopsis

Sometimes doing the wrong thing feels so right... I'm a player. I'm an asshole. I'm someone you should stay away from. I have demons. I've made mistakes. And the biggest can't be taken back. I've gone to hell and back in twenty-nine years and I'm only now coming to terms with moving forward, righting my wrongs, and making amends. Except not everyone deserves forgiveness. Sometimes the damage done is beyond repair. Everyday is exactly the same. I focus on the pain, in the quest to feel and forget, but I remember everything. When I close my eyes the darkness encroaches and some days it feels like the things that kill me are the things that make me feel alive. *Ridge, like Wild, is a standalone.  Reading Wild first will provide some back story, but is not required to read Ridge   

My Thoughts:

We first meet Ridge in Wild, but we only had a little glimpse into his character. I don’t know what I was expecting Ridge’s character to be like so I was not prepared for what Adriane Leigh delivered with his character. Ridge has lived with regret his whole life for taking his brothers fiance, Mia, away from him. So he decides that he should end things with her. Once he leaves her, all hell is broken loss within him. If I had to pick two words to describe Ridge’s character it would be masochist and intense. I felt Ridge’s emotional intensity crawling under my skin, and I didn’t have a problem with that because I love it when characters can affect me in some way. I think there might be something wrong with me but I loved that he was a masochist, because that is just what makes Ridge who he is. The whole time I was experiencing conflicting emotions about his character and his actions. There were times in the story that had my heart breaking for his character and other times when I just wanted to tell him to just say what was on his mind to get rid of the situations he got himself in. I just loved the depth and intensity of Ridge's character.

There are two girls in Ridge’s life, Mia and Amy. At first I thought Amy was going to be that special girl that was going to be able to help him forget about Mia. Ridge is just using Amy to get over Mia, which is really messed up. This is where some of my conflicting feelings start because at first I understand why he wanted to date Amy, but I completely disagree with his actions after things start to fall apart. I started liking Amy’s character at the very beginning, then she made me frustrated, then my heart broke for her a little, and then she made me want to open her eyes to see what was right in front of her- Ridge just didn’t love her.

Ridge and Mia’s relationship started all wrong from the very beginning. These two together are toxic, masochist, damaged, hot, and intense. I really loved reading Ridge’s memories of Mia, because we get a glimpse into their relationship and Mia’s character. Just like Ridge, Mia has her own personal problems that deals with her addiction. I felt the same things with Mia’s character at the beginning. At first I hated her, then I wanted her character to completely disappear, but then I ended up liking her a lot and this was because of Ridge’s memories of their time together. After Mia appears in Ridge’s life again I started liking her character a little more, and I wish that Adriane Leigh would have given us more of Mia in the story. I just loved Ridge and Mia’s relationship more than Ridge and Amy’s relationship, because even though they are toxic together these two together ease their pain and addictions.

I don’t know where to start because I had a lot of contradicting emotions throughout the whole story. The story starts off good and the time frame in the story is very quick- each chapter seems to be a whole new week or two weeks. I did enjoy that time within the story was going by fast, but the story itself didn’t feel like it was moving along fast. I will be honest and say that I enjoyed Ridge’s memories of his time with Mia more than the chapters he spends with Amy. Once he meets up again with Mia the story starts to pick up pace, and these are the chapters I enjoyed the most. I wish that there could be more Ridge and Mia in the story. I enjoyed reading from Ridge’s POV but wished that we could have gotten a few chapters from Amy’s and Mia’s POV.

Ridge by Adrian Leigh is the first book that after finishing the book has left me with conflicting emotions about the story and the characters. If you haven’t meet the Wild brothers then you are missing out on some Intense and Hot Alpha Males that will have you wanting more. I can’t wait to read Slade’s story, and I can’t wait to get more Wild & Kat and Ridge & Mia :D!

 

 Final Verdict: 3.5 Stars

 

Excerpt:

"Hey.” She grabbed my chin and turned my eyes to hers. "I realized something about you long ago, Ridge Wild.”

"Oh yeah?” I tipped my head and smiled at her.

"Other than you have a smile that melts panties.” She smacked my cheek playfully.

"Other than that.”

"We don’t have to fix each other. We don’t need to. You’re not perfect, and I’m not perfect, but we’re perfect together. It was never about fixing you; it was always about loving you.” She dusted a kiss along the corner of my mouth.

My eyes danced around her dark features, soaking her up, before I pulled her in tighter to my body and planted a kiss on her lips.

I realized finding her, fighting for her, was about forgiveness, some twisted sense of retribution, coming to terms with our pasts and learning that they don’t define us, but only serve to shape us, make us who we are, make us better people.

As I looked at her, I realized I had two options. I could go back in the direction I’d come from, or I could go forward in the direction I wanted to go.

I was shit without her, but fortunately, when I was with her, she was my other half. My matching piece. My mirror image. My perfect opposite.

When I met her, I'd found me.

 

Buy the Book

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Wild (Wild #1)

Amazon US  | Amazon UK  | Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Adriane Leigh was born and raised in a snowbank in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and now lives amongst the sand dunes of the Lake Michigan lakeshore. She graduated with a Literature degree but never particularly enjoyed reading Shakespeare or Chaucer. Adriane is married to a tall, dark and handsome guy, plays mama to two sweet baby girls, and is a voracious reader and knitter.

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Coming Soon

Slade (Wild #3)

    Behind every beautiful thing, there is some kind of pain... Always overlooked. Always just there. That's what Dillon was to me. Until one night. In one night she flipped my world on its axis and there's no going back. But she has secrets, and secrets fester like an open wound. They color the past and forecast the future, but I'm determined to open her up; free her from her memories so she can live in the light and have the life she deserves. It's just too bad that she wants nothing to do with me. But I'm nothing if not persistent and I'm not a man that gives up without a fight. I've had a taste and there's no walking away. I just have to convince her that I'm not what she fears, I'm what she wants.  Slade, like Wild and Ridge, is a standalone.  Reading Wild and Ridge first will provide some back story, but is not required to read Slade.