ALPHA by Jasinda Wilder — REVIEW

ALPHA by Jasinda Wilder

It is really easy to write a review for a book that you loved. Not so when you didn’t love it. You almost would rather not write a review at all, but what kind of blogger/reviewer would you be if you raved and gave five stars to every book you read…not a very good or honest one.

I was crazy excited about this book! Did you read the blurb? Kyree is flat broke. She is trying to pay two college tuition’s, her mother’s medical bills, rent, and other expenses when she gets laid off from her job. That very same day, in her mailbox is a check for $10,000 from VRI. She has no clue who that could be, but in the memo line, is the word YOU. Next month, same thing, except the word BELONG in the memo line. The following month? Another check, this time with the words TO ME. Kyree receives a total of $120,000 before she gets a knock on her door… She needs to pack her bags….It’s time to pay back her debt. What a premise, right?

Unfortunately, the story just didn’t deliver.

I found there to be absolutely no chemistry between the two main characters. I just didn’t feel that they were developed enough and that led me to care very little about them. You could tell what the “twist” was going to be almost from the beginning. While I certainly enjoy a racy book, the sex scenes, hot at first, really faded for me. These were people who hardly knew each other (She didn’t see his face or know his name for the first few days she was LIVING with him) and yet they were having wild sex. Not finding it believable, I couldn’t get into it. I feel like it deviated so much from what we were promised. I enjoyed the book up until about 40%… then it became a different book, and not the one I felt I was getting going into it.

I have read Falling Into You, Falling Into Us, Wounded and Stripped, all by the same author and LOVED them, so I know I enjoy her writing. Sadly, I just had no connection to this one.

2.5 STARS

Cover Re-Reveal for The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window by Kristy Mosley

This international bestseller has reached its two year publishing anniversary with 2,746 five star reviews on iBooks and over 500 five star reviews on Amazon.com.

Cover Design: https://www.facebook.com/mjwilsondesign1

Book Description:

Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother’s best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.

Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.

Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother’s best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer? Find out in The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window

The Author

My name is Kirsty. I was born in Hertfordshire, England. In 2000 I moved to Norfolk, it was there that I met my husband, Lee. Now, what can I say about Lee, apart from everyone should have one? He’s my biggest supporter, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without his encouragement and endless support. He is my inspiration behind most of my male leads, I always try to bring a little of him in somewhere, be it his kindness, selflessness, or just his ability to make me feel treasured.

In 2005, I was gifted with the birth of my son. He is, and always will be, the best thing I have ever done in my life. As you can probably tell, I’m a very proud mummy. I have always been interested in writing, but after the birth of my son I accidentally came across an amateur writing site. After a couple of months of just reading on there, I finally plucked up the courage and posted one of my stories. I was shocked and overwhelmed by the support of readers on there and they gave me the confidence to get where I am today. In April 2012, I self-published my first novel ‘The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window’. And in October 2012 I took the plunge again, publishing my second novel, ‘Always You.’ Lastly, if I had to sum myself up in one word, it would probably be ‘daydreamer’ – but unlike most of my school teachers, I don’t necessarily view that as a bad thing. After all, I read somewhere once that books are like waking dreams….

Where to find Kirsty:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Buy Links:

iBooks | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

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Love, In English by Karina Halle – Jenn’s Review

Love, In English by Karina Halle

I finished this book a few days ago, but hesitated in writing a review. Not being a writer myself, just a book lover, I wasn’t sure I would be able to find the words needed to convey what Karina Halle’s story made me feel. Normally, I try to sneak in a chapter here and there during the day when I’m reading something new, but I felt as if I was cheating on this book if I didn’t give it my undivided attention; and by undivided attention, I mean shutting myself off from all outside contact and hiding under the covers in a dark room.

When an opportunity to teach conversational English at an isolated resort to a group of Spanish professionals presents itself to 23 year old Canadian, Vera Miles, she jumps at it. She thought she would meet some new people, learn a new culture and have a good time. She never expected to fall in love with a 38 year old married man.

Mateo Casalles is at a crossroads. In the last eight years, his life has taken a turn he never expected or wanted and he’s lost and feeling trapped. Mateo is a well dressed, married business man, a polar opposite from Vera’s pierced and tattooed free spirit.

From the moment Vera and Mateo meet on the bus, you know their relationship is going to be special. It wasn’t instant love, like we are so used to seeing in books today, but a mutual respect. During their four weeks at the resort, their friendship continues to grow. As they get to know each other, Vera can tell she is falling for Mateo, but refuses to accept or acknowledge her feelings, at risk of being the “other woman”.

I was reluctant to start this book because I generally avoid all books with a love triangle. While I like a little strife and angst, love triangles frustrate me. Even though Mateo is married, this book did not come across as your typical love triangle. Vera and Mateo spent weeks fighting against their attraction to each other, but this wasn’t a case of searching for love… Love found them. This was a story about making choices that might not be popular. This is a story about following your heart, no matter the consequences. This is a story about being brave and decisive and fighting for your own happiness.

Love, In English is not a story to be missed.

5 STARS!!

Infinity by Layne Harper — Jenn’s Review

Infinity by Layne Harper

PFM

Colin McKinney and his teammates have a phrase they use whenever they pull of a miraculous play. Pure F***ing Magic.

In this case, PFM stands for the magic that is Infinity. Simply, Layne Harper has done it again. When I finished Finding Infinity, I was perfectly content with the ending we had for Charlie and Colin. Everyone always wants more when they are in love with the characters, but I felt we left them at a good place in their lives. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Layne was releasing a fourth book…and what a book it was. Infinity gave us the final glimpse into the McKinney’s that we didn’t know we wanted, but now that we have, we couldn’t live without it.

Infinity picks up a year after we witnessed Charlie and Colin’s surprise nuptials. Colin’s team has won the Super Bowl and Charlie is pregnant. Life seems to be on the right path for these two, whom have come so far and endured more strife than most people do in a few lifetimes. Being the QB of a super bowl winning team, and first time parents is, unfortunately, not an easy feat, and we get to see Colin and Charlie struggle to maintain the balance they have fought for years to have.

One of the beautiful qualities of the Infinity series is that, while a fairytale, it’s hard fought one. From the very beginning, there are obstacles on the road to lifelong happiness for Colin and Charlie. They claw and fight for every victory. Love did not come easy to them and the beauty of that is, that is real life. Too often, we read stories of couples who fall in love from across a crowded room and life is just perfect… Not the case for the McKinney’s and I think that is what drew me to this story. Colin and Charlie push to be the family and couple they WANT to be, not who people are telling them they should be. My favorite quote in the book is, “You’ll probably hear some arguing, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t love each other. It just means that sometimes we love each other a little too loudly.“ That right there… is true life.

There are plenty of ups and downs in their story, and while I don’t want to give any of them away, I can guarantee you will close the book and feel fulfilled and satisfied. That is what Layne Harper does. You are drawn so deeply into the story, that you are a part of the ride that Colin and Charlie are on. You feel their pain and their happiness as if you were experiencing it. This book, and series is a MUST READ.

5 STARS!

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The Infinity Series

The Will by Kristen Ashley — Jenn’s Review

The Will by Kristen Ashley

Kristen Ashley could write the phone book and I would read it. Lucky for us, she takes us to a place far beyond address and phone numbers. Every one of her books (and I have read every single one) takes us to a magical place where we are living the story along with her characters. The Will is no exception.

The Will takes us to Magdalene, Maine, a town of hope and refuge for Josephine “Josie” Malone. Josie is saying her final goodbye to her grandmother, Lydie Malone, who simply put, is her everything. Her Gran was there for her during Josie’s horrific upbringing and provided her with peace during a terrible time. While Josie now feels alone, her Grandmother has other plans. At the reading of Lydie’s will, Josie is surprised to find she is not the only one there. Another man, Jake Spear, has been asked to attend, and the reason is shocking. Lydie has given Josie to Jake in her will.

For those familiar with KA’s books, this story builds slower, and has less action (i.e. Rock Chick) than her other works. This in no way takes away from the story, but I enjoyed that it had a different feel to it. To be honest, I despised Josie in the beginning. It took me some time to warm up to her, but once I did, she was as endearing and fierce as all of KA’s other heroines. Jake was your typical KA hero; bossy, foul talking, alpha male. KA has cornered the market on the alpha male. There just is not anyone out there who writes a male character the way she does. Boss me around, please!!

The Will was more than just a male/female love story. It was about love at all stages and between all types of people. It is about acceptance and forgiveness. It was a beautiful story filled with highs and lows, swoon worthy moments and giggles, my favorite….

(Ethan: “So, instead of Josie bein’ around out place more, we should come here more. She doesn’t have as big a TV but her couch is all squishy” Jake: “You’d give up our TV for a squishy couch?” Ethan: “It’s like it hugs you.”).

The epilogue had me in tears, which is hard to do, and had me thinking about these characters long after I finished. Trying to decide which KA book is my favorite is like asking me which one of my kids I love more, but there is no doubt that The Will has jumped to the top of the list.

5 STARS!!

Tangled In The Laces Excerpt

Check out this excerpt from Tangled In The Laces by Toni Aleo, part of the Seduced By The Game Anthology. Grab it today!!

Seduced By The Game by Toni Aleo and MORE!

Excerpt from Tangled in the Laces by Toni Aleo

“So you’re Grady’s sister, right? Younger sister?”

She nodded as he got lost in depths of her green eyes. “Yes, I may be younger, but I can still make him cry.”

Karson laughed. “Good to know and, if I may add, that’s kind of hot.”

He wanted to make her laugh. When her lips curved in a smile, the laughter followed, and his dick came to life in his pants. It was such a heavenly sound, and he had never wanted to make a girl laugh as much as he wanted to make Lacey.

“You’re a dork.”

“That’s a good thing, right? That turns you on?”

She laughed again as she shook her head. Looking at him through hooded eyes, she said, “Maybe.”

“Good to know. It was great to see that you came to watch me play tonight. I’m pretty good, huh?”

She laughed, rolling her eyes. “Wow, conceited much?”

Karson grinned. “I know what I saw.”

“You’re delusional. I came to watch my brother.”

Still grinning, he said, “But you watched me.”

“You were on the ice; I was watching the game,” she protested, but he shook his head.

“Your eyes never left me.”

“How do you know?” she asked with an amused look.

“Because when I wasn’t trying to score, I was watching you.”

Her cheeks deepened with color as she looked down, playing with the label on the beer. “I’m not sleeping with you; you’re wasting your time throwing all this game at me.”

He was a goner. This girl was it. Any other girl would have fallen for his game, but not Lacey Martin.

Smiling, he said, “Who said anything about sleeping together? Are you thinking about having sex with me?”

Her cheeks colored more before she looked away, laughing louder, making him think that maybe she was. He liked that. A lot. “Oh my God, shut up!”

“I never once brought up sex, and you did.”

“Whatever,” she said, a grin still pulling her lips.

“You are really beautiful when you do that. I like that half smile thing. Really hot.”

Meeting his gaze, her smile fell as she looked away, shaking her head. “You’re wasting your time.”

“Let me be the one to decide that, and aren’t you supposed to thank me? I did just say you are the hottest girl in the world.”

Her cheeks still burned with color as she nodded. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

BULLY by Penelope Douglas – JENN’S REVIEW

Bully by Penelope Douglas

My reading trends don’t usually skew towards the high school level. There have been a few books from that genre that I have enjoyed, Slammed being one of them, but I generally avoid it. When I first heard buzz about the Bully, I wasn’t sure what to expect. She’s bullied and then fights back? Not really interested…. But the feedback! The feedback was incredible, so I had to see for myself what all the hype was about.

Bully is the story of Tate and Jared, childhood best friends, who have a falling out and are now mortal enemies. Jared lives to torture Tate, and while Tate has no idea why he turned and hates her so much, she has taken it for years. Until she doesn’t. Right before Tate is set to leave for a year abroad, she starts to fight back.

“Do you know what this is?” I took my middle finger and patted the corner of my eye with it. “It’s me, wiping away the last tear you’ll get.”

No one knows why Jared picks on Tate so much, but no one wants to mess with him, so they do what he says. His best friend, Madoc, goes along with him, but you can tell that Madoc knows this is more than hate. That deep down something happened to make Jared so angry with Tate and cause him to be so nasty. Jared is an enigma, (thankfully we get his side in Until You), and I spent the first half of the story trying to figure out why he was so mean. Jared wasn’t the most likable character at first. He had a lot of work to do for me to consider him a hero.

“Don’t touch me.” I’d meant to yell, but it came out as a whisper.

Jared moved his head from side to side trying to catch my eyes, his lips inches from my face. “If I ever lay my hands on you,” he said low and husky, “you’ll want it.”

Tate embodied all that I love in a heroine. She was snarky, loyal and once she decided not to take Jared’s crap anymore, kick-ass. I love how she fought back and waged her own war against Jared. She’d had enough and everyone was going to know it. She is unaware of Jared’s true feelings for her and when her hatred boils to the surface, she cuts him deep.

”You were my tempest, my thunder cloud, my tree in the downpour. I loved all of those things, and I loved you. But now? You’re a fucking drought. I thought that all the assholes drove German cars, but it turns out that pricks in Mustangs can still leave scars.”

I want you to experience the story without spoilers, but I will say that once Jared and Tate come to a head, It. Is. EXPLOSIVE! There is some serious hotness and chemistry. There is definitely something to be said about anger giving way to love. It wasn’t sunshine and rainbows for Jared and Tate, however. They had a lot of barriers to overcome and I wasn’t sure if their pasts would allow that to happen. I loved finding out along with them, if they had the strength to wade through all the muck and make it work. You will too.

“Are you mine?” I asked as I wiped me tears.

He kissed the corners of my mouth softly… “Always have been,” he whispered.

5 STARS

Room For You by Beth Ehemann — Jenn’s Review

Room For You by Beth Ehemann

Brody Murphy just wants to get home, but the storm of the century is delaying those plans. He finds himself stuck, literally, at an inn for the night. Good looking, successful mama’s boy, Brody has a lot going for him when he knocks on the door of the Cranberry Inn. That’s when Kacie Jensen answers the door and rocks his world.

“I don’t know what I was expecting when I knocked on the door to this inn, maybe a little old cat lady or a family of cannibals in the woods? Whatever it was, it definitely wasn’t her. A pint-sized little cutie whose sparking green eyes nearly knocked me on my ass.”

Kacie is a young, single mom of 5 year old twins. Four years ago, Zach, Kacie’s boyfriend, and the father of her twins, abandoned them, leaving her to pick up the pieces and put her life back together again.

There is instant chemistry between Brody and Kacie, but Kacie is hesitant. She has been let down by the two men in her life, Zach and her father, and is not ready to hand her heart over again. Brody works at making Kacie trust in him and their relationship. He doesn’t play games or treat her like one of many. He fights for her and protects her. I haven’t even mentioned how he is with Kacie’s daughters, Lucy and Piper. Brody Murphy is 100% swoon worthy. In fact, one of the things I LOVED about this story is that Brody is not your typical “I’m young and hot and famous so I can sleep with as many woman as possible” character. From the very start he is devoted to Kacie and making their relationship work. For all the times Kacie tries to keep him in the friend-zone, Brody pushes back, making her fall for him.

This book was sweet, at times sexy, and laugh out loud funny. The secondary characters added so much depth to the story, rather than take away from it, which sometimes happens. From the opening chapter, I found myself completely immersed in the story. The dual point of view keeps you fully entrenched in the minds of both characters, without having to guess what the other is thinking. The book ends on a very small cliff-hanger, which really only leaves you wanting to dive into the next book immediately, not without answers. Do yourselves a favor and read this. Brody Murphy is about to become your new book boyfriend.

5 STARS!

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The Cranberry Inn Series

Just Between Us by Hayley Oakes — Jenn’s Review

Just Between Us by Hayley Oakes

Sophie King hates Kyle Hanson. He’s arrogant, cocky and a jerk. Unfortunately, her mom is married to his dad, so she has to live with him. Fortunately, he completely ignores her…until one night while on a family vacation, when he asks Sophie to accompany him for a night out on the town. After that night, their relationship will never be the same.

In the months before they are heading off to college, Sophie and Kyle embark on a summer long secret “forbidden” relationship. Publicly, Kyle is still trying to ignore Sophie, pretending she doesn’t exist, the way he has for years, but his feelings for her are getting in the way and their inner circle is starting to take notice. Before they get found out… their relationship implodes.

Fast forward 10 years, Sophie has moved home, after ending a relationship one month before her wedding, when Kyle comes home for a weekend and offers her a chance to get away for the summer and decompress.

The heat, (and do they have some SERIOUS heat) between them cannot be denied and it’s not too long before they find themselves back in each other’s arms. But do they have what it takes to see the relationship through? Can Sophie get over her insecurities? Will Kyle wait for her to figure out what she needs?

I went into this book blind, not knowing anything about it or what to expect. What I didn’t expect was to stay up all night, reading until the very end. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Separately, Sophie and Kyle are flawed, but together they are whole. I really enjoyed reading Kyle’s POV. Until then, you figured him for an egotistical teenager who just wanted the one girl whom he could never have. It was refreshing to experience his thoughts and feelings. This was an incredible story and I was hooked from the start. I will definitely be reading more from Hayley Oakes.

4.5 STARS!