Review ~ Submission: Alpha Fighter by Sophia Hampton

ebook downloaded for free via Amazon.

Release Date: September 16th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
I thought my life couldn’t possibly get worse. Then I met him. 
He doesn’t care that I’m a single mom struggling to keep my head afloat to provide for my daughter, that my life has no room for a washed out MMA fighter, that the last thing I need in my life is a bad boy—a maddeningly arrogant, womanizing, wrong-in-all-the-right-ways bad boy. 

He thinks that just because he’s hired me to keep his house in order, that I’m his to boss around. 

He thinks he knows me, knows what I want, what I crave, what I fantasize about. 

He thinks I’m his to enjoy. That he’s going to make me beg and scream. 

The worst part of it all? I think he might be right.

My Opinion

I liked the story behind this book. The plot kept me engaged and I liked the characters enough for me to be able to overlook the issues I had. This book does need another edit as there are numerous typos. However, I read for pleasure and this book sucked me in with it's story. It doesn't really bother me as long as it's readable. All I want is a good story and Submission was a good story about a boxer struggling with his addictions to get back to a life he was proud of and be the man Bailey deserved.


Overall I enjoyed it. If you're a Grammar Nazi I'd stay away, but if you can overlook some errors, give it a go because the story is worth it.

3.5

Review ~ Last Chance: A Second Chances Novel by L.P. Dover

eARC received via the author in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 30th 2016

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
One last chance.

That’s all Luke Collins, local bad boy and motocross champion, has to not only find his redemption, but win back the girl he lost. He’ll stop at nothing to make her his, even if it means playing dirty.

Lara Jacobs doesn’t want her heart broken again and refuses to give Luke a second chance. After he left her after their one night stand, she ran right into the arms of her close friend, Grayson Moore. He’s always loved her, and he’s determined to make her see he’s what she needs.

However, in life nothing goes as planned and tragedy strikes. After a fatal accident nearly claims Lara’s life, she’s left inside a world she can’t remember. Her memories are gone, including those of the men vying for her heart. Grayson sees her loss as a possibility to forget her love for Luke, but Luke sees it as an opportunity to start over. All he wants is one last chance to show her that she’s the one he’s been in love with all along.

My Opinion

This is the book I've been waiting for. Ever since Luke was introduced in the series, I've wanted his story. I kind of hate LP for making me wait until the last book in the series! But it was worth the wait.

Last Chance was everything I wanted. I'll be honest and say as far as winning Lara back I had no idea what the couple's story would entail. LP is on my auto read list and I no longer read her blurbs before buying or requesting an ARC. The story didn't disappoint though. It has everything I love about LP's work in it and I'm sad the series is over. Luckily, all of her books connect so I'm hoping reappearances will be made through other books.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The whole series is great and I'd highly recommend anything by this author.

4.5

Review ~ Fight for Me by Jessica Linden

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 30th 2016

Publisher: Swerve

Description:
Raised in the streets, Knox is a battle-worn MMA fighter with no past, present, or future. Fighting every day just to survive, Knox owns nothing but the pride in his victories and the scars on his hands. When his control snaps and he must flee the city to keep his life, he runs into a stunning woman with the same intent. All big eyes and delicate features, she's not cut out to survive on her own. And when finding her own inner strength leads to a shocking act of violence, Knox knows he must protect her at all costs...

Natalie couldn't spend another day under her father's lock and key. Raised to be the perfect picture of wealth and sophistication, she detests the dark, ugly side of her father's greed. Refusing to be held captive by her life a moment longer, she escapes his fortress - and runs right into the arms of the strongest, most dangerous, most desirable man she's ever met. As instant attraction leads to explosive passion, Natalie finds she cannot leave his side. But as their pursuers loom closer and threaten to tear them apart, Natalie and Knox have to decide: is it easier to stand apart? Or is a love this strong worth the fight?

My Opinion

This read surprised me. I received an ARC awhile ago but I was waiting for the release date to be closer so I'd forgotten what it was about. All I could remember is there was a fighter element.

The start of this book captured my interest with Natalie trying to escape her own house. It posed a lot of questions and made me want to read on. It started off a gritty read and I love those kids of books.

For the majority of the plot this book was well paced and the story line evolved well. I liked reading about Knox and Natalie on the run. That whole side of things were interesting and kept me hooked. My only issue came with the romance. I think it developed too quickly. They kissed almost as soon as they met, and for me, I thought the author could have dragged out the spark and sexual tension a lot more on the run until the point they couldn't resist each other any more. I don't know ... For me, it just had a lot more potential in the romance. I didn't believe in the emotions really since it all happened so quickly.


Overall, this was a good read. It held my interest well and I liked the grungy feel.

4

Review ~ Catch My Fall (Catch, #1) by Ella Fox

ebook received from author in a giveaway.

Release Date: October 10th 2013

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Mia Reeves faith, trust and sense of security were all taken away in the blink of an eye. In need of a fresh start, she settles into a new town and begins to make a new life. 

Tristan Chamberlain has always kept girls at arm's length and he has no intention of changing. He’s caring, smart, handsome, but he’s also dealing with a lifetime of guilt that’s slowly but surely destroying him.

Sometimes what you run from is the one thing that will save you.

Separately, they’re both free-falling. Together, they’re about to find that love can create the strongest safety net of all.

My Opinion

A surprisingly sweet romance with a touch of heartbreaking emotion.

Catch My Fall is a the first book I've read by Ella Fox. I didn't know what to expect, but I found it hard to put this book down. The romance was sweet and endearing. Tristan and Mia had their little quirks and they weren't the generic couple with what they did together. The secondary characters were also well developed and I look forward to Trace and Darby's story.

As for the plot, it was simple and flowed well. While sometimes I would have liked to have seen more  of a slow change in Tristan, I did believe in his emotions. I liked how their stories were all similar so that the book linked in theme, and it kept me engaged.


Overall, I'm looking forward to book 2.

4

Review ~ Draw (Gentry Boys, #1) by Cora Brent

ebook downloaded for free via Amazon

Release Date: July 29th 2014

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Saylor... 
I don’t even know if love is real. After running from the bastard who brutalized me, I limped back to Arizona, choosing a vibrant college town in the hopes of starting over. I never expected to find him there. 
Cord Gentry. 
He and his brothers were tough, lusty forces of nature I’d known since childhood. Years ago, Cord seduced me as a sick game. I’ve hated him ever since. Now here he is again, a man who beats other men bloody for money. 
Cord has always been heartless, dangerous, not to be trusted. 
And I want him so much I can’t think. 

Cord...
They called us ‘those white trash Gentry boys’ until we believed that’s what we were. Our people squatted at the edge of a hellhole prison town for generations. The childhood we endured was the stuff of nightmares. I’d learned early on that my brothers, Chase and Creed, were the only people on earth worth my time. 
They all told us we were bad, that we’d always be bad. 
The horrors of the past have scarred my soul. 
But now I need to be better. 
For her.

My Opinion

I've never read anything by this author before, but thought I'd give her series a go since Draw was up free on Amazon. Overall I enjoyed this book. At times I did feel it could have been cut down as it dragged on a bit and I did lose interest towards the end, but in general I liked the plot an characters.

3

Review ~ Can't Shake You (River Bend, #1) by Molly McLain

ebook downloaded for free via Amazon

Release Date: February 21st 2014

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Lovers to friends to lovers…could it get any more complicated?
One thing Carissa Brandt knows: spontaneity always gets her in trouble. Still, she’s gone and jumped head first into an impulsive summer renovation project with her fingers crossed. When her contractor turns out to be a cheat, it seems her only lifeline is the proffered hand of Josh Hudson—the sexy Marine who left her aching for more than their single night together three years ago. 

Josh has two hard and fast rules: never mix business with pleasure and don’t look twice at women his friends have dated, much less loved. It makes life in a small town simple—or it would, if he wasn’t harboring a secret with the potential to destroy his good name and the reputation of a woman he can’t get out of his head. 

When Carissa finds herself in a bind, Josh’s integrity—both personal and professional—won’t let her fail. Will working together finally extinguish the attraction lingering between them? Or will the smoldering embers of their passionate rendezvous ignite all over again and set aflame the friendships they cherish the most?

My Opinion

I think this is the third or fourth book I've read by this author now. It's another one I got for free on Amazon and it was a cute, sweet read with some steamy moments thrown in. Although I'm not entirely convinced about Josh and Carissa's needs to keep everything from Reed or their guilt, I still enjoyed the book and can't wait for Tony's story.

4

Review ~ Don't Let Me Fall by Briana Pacheco

ebook downloaded via Amazon for free.

Release Date: December 4th 2014

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
I don't want to be here.

When you lose the one person that was your whole life, you'll understand. For me, it was my best friend, Alice. We spent every second of every day together. We planned a life. I was actually living. I was happy.

Now, it's just gone.

And I'm still here. Lonely. A tatted up body with an empty soul.

Getting inside of my head won't be pretty. I'm warning you now that you won't like me. I hate people besides my family. I hate everything around me. I just want to be alone. And I HATE how Logan Mercer doesn't understand that. He's everywhere; getting inside of my head, kissing me when he shouldn't be, messing everything up, and trying to get me to open up. He's making me crazier than I already am. Why do I need to talk about my life? Why does he even care?

Why doesn't anyone understand that I don't want to get attached to people? I don't want to get fixed.

I want to be alone.

I want to be free.

I want to fly.

My name is Rebeckah Lennox and this is my story...of how I fell.

My Opinion

I downloaded book while it was free. To be completely honest, I've had it sitting on my Kindle long enough to forget what it was about. Therefore, I went into reading this blind. I've never heard of this author before and I knew nothing about the story so I had no idea what I was in for.

What I got was a pleasant surprise. The book is well written and kept me hooked. It's a darker read--which doesn't bother me--but there is a growing sense of light and hope in it. It deals with sensitive topics such as suicide and I thought the author dealt with the topic well. Becka felt like a character on the edge. It didn't feel stereotypical or over dramatic, she felt broken and in pieces ... like she had no other options. She's been through a lot and I thought she was a believable character.

I won't say too much about the plot as there are some twists. I will admit I figured out so of the main ones early on, but I won't ruin anything for anyone in case you don't. This book is better left to unfold as you read it.


Overall, a gripping read. It's the first by this author for me, but I'll no doubt pause the next time I see her name.

4

Review ~ Fear of Falling (Fearless, #1) by S.L. Jennings

ebook downloaded for free via Amazon.

Release Date: July 18th 2013

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
I can’t remember the last time I felt completely safe. Security seemed more like a luxury to me, reserved for those who were fortunate enough to have picture perfect childhoods. For those who didn’t bear the ugly scars that keep me bound in constant, debilitating fear. I’ve run from that fear my entire life. But when I met him, for once, I couldn’t run anymore.

He scared the hell out of me in a way that excited every fiber of my being. It wasn’t the tattoos or the piercings. It wasn’t the warmth that seemed to radiate from his frame and blanket me whenever he was near. It was just…him. The scary beautiful man that threatened to alter 23 years of routine and rituals, and make me face my crippling fear.

My name is Kami and I am constantly afraid. And the thing that scares me the most is the very thing I want.

My Opinion

Fear of Falling introduced me to another new author. It was a book I downloaded for free purely based on the cover. I've had it on my Kindle for months so I had to idea what it was about, but it was an emotional read that I couldn't put down.

This book deals with tough subjects such as domestic violence. Kami has been broken by the abuse inflicted upon her by her father and she's barely hanging on. She has a good support system in Dom and Angel, but she views herself as unlovable. This poses the main conflict in the book when Blaine is introduced. He's tasked with breaking through Kami's walls, but in the end it might not be enough.

At times this book was uncomfortable to read. But that's because it detailed harsh truths. The author didn't sugar coat anything and I felt for Kami. I loved Blaine for sticking by her, and he's the guy you cheer on. I wanted them both to overcome everything.


Overall, a moving read. It's a little slow in places, which is why I didn't give it a 5, but the majority of the book is well written and the story held my interest.

4

Review ~ Furious Rush by S.C. Stephens

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 23rd 2016

Publisher: Forever 

Description:
Too fast, too furious-and way too hot to handle . . .
Mackenzie Cox has a lot to prove. Daughter of a racing legend, she is eager to show the world that she has inherited her father's talent in the male-dominated sport of professional motorcycle racing. The last thing Kenzie needs is to be antagonized by her rival team's newest rider, Hayden Hayes. Plucked from the world of illegal street racing, Hayden immediately gets under Kenzie's skin. His insinuations that Kenzie is a spoiled princess who was handed her career fuels her desire to win, and much to her surprise, Kenzie soon learns she performs better when she's racing against Hayden.

As Kenzie and Hayden push each other on the track, the electric energy between them off the track shifts into an intense--and strictly forbidden--attraction. The only rule between their two ultra-competitive teams is zero contact. Kenzie always does her best to play by the rules, but when her team slips into a financial crisis, she has no choice but to turn to Hayden for help. The tension simmers during their secret, late-night rendezvous, but Kenzie has too much to lose to give in to her desires. Especially when she begins to doubt that Hayden has completely left his street life behind...

My Opinion

This is another new author to me. I was drawn to Furious Rush because of the racing element. The fact it deals with bikes rather than cars--which is what I'm used to--made it more interesting. Also, the idea of a female competing alongside the men intrigued me. Since this generally doesn't happen in racing, it made me curious.

Furious Rush kept me hooked the whole way through. The emotion and excitement combined with the sport and romance were great. I could feel the sparks between Hayden and Kenzie, and the forbidden nature of their relationship added another dynamic that only fuelled the heat between them.

As for the story, once again the forbidden quality of street racing added to the excitement. I loved the racing and the romance. I did wish some of it could be sped up as a few parts dragged on, but that's only minor. I'm also assuming this is the start of a series because not everything it sewn up in the end.


Overall, a great read. I'll definitely be looking out for more by this author.

4

Review ~ Hitched: Volume Three (Imperfect Love #3) by Kendall Ryan

   

I’ve ruined everything.

I’ve broken the cardinal rule and fallen in love with my fake wife, and then I went and did the worst thing a husband can do.

Winning her back will be nearly impossible, but I’ve never backed down from a challenge before and I’m sure as hell not about to start now. Olivia will be mine, and I can’t wait to put a bun in her oven.

You won’t want to miss the final installment in Noah and Olivia’s love story, and especially the way this over-the-top alpha male wins over his bride once and for all.

This is the third and final volume in the story.

   

✦ Amazon ✦ Amazon UK ✦ iBooks ✦ Kobo ✦ Barnes & Noble

       

Review

A great end to a real enjoyable series. It wraps everything up satisfyingly, and I'm sad to not hear more about Noah and Olivia.

This series has left me eager for more after every book. They're quick, fun, steamy reads that just make you feel good. I've loved travelling the journey with the characters and I didn't want it to end.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend these books, and I hope Noah and Olivia appear in Sterling's book.

4

   

  

Marry the girl I’ve had a crush on my whole life? Check. Inherit a hundred-billion-dollar company? Check. Produce an heir… Wait, what? I have ninety days to knock up my brand-new fake wife. There’s only one problem—she hates my guts. And in the fine print of the contract? The requirement that we produce an heir. She can’t stand to be in the same room with me. Says she’ll never be in my bed. But I’ve never backed down from a challenge and I’m not about to start now. Mark my words—I’ll have her begging for me, and it won’t take ninety days. On the heels of her smash hit and New York Times bestselling SCREWED series, Kendall Ryan brings you HITCHED, a romantic comedy that delivers heart and heat. A NYC playboy turned business mogul has ninety days to win over the woman he's always desired in order to save his father's company. One tiny problem: She hates his guts.  

Amazon | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Paperback

     

Arranged marriage? Check. Cocky new husband? Check. It's a marriage of convenience—one I’m determined to keep strictly professional. I can't be stupid enough to fall for this sexy playboy's charm or advances. I have to be strong, even if he is my husband. Except he has a huge cock with an even bigger ego, and his main goal in life seems to be getting me to stroke both. The arrogant bastard is like sweet, sugary candy for my libido. I know he’s bad for me. But I want to devour every wicked inch of him. With his sexual prowess and experience, I know he’ll be explosive in the bedroom. And since we’re stuck together for the foreseeable future—keeping up this marriage charade long enough to turn the company profitable again—I deserve something to look forward to at the end of a long workday, right? What could one little taste hurt? This is volume 2 in the Imperfect Love series.   Amazon | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo              

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

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Review ~ Deceitful Choices by C.A. Harms

Title: Deceitful Choices

Author: C.A. Harms

Genre: Contemporary Romance Standalone

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Some lies you just can’t come back from. 

The damage is too deep. 

The effects are too strong, and the path they lead you on can be devastating. 

One lie only led to another as Lindsay tried to be someone she wasn’t. She wanted just one moment to pretend she didn’t live the life she had been cursed with. 

She wanted to live without regret. 

Live for the moment. 

She wanted to laugh and smile without feeling as if at any moment something or someone would corrupt that happiness. But all lies have a way of resurfacing. Those deceitful words can come back to haunt you, leaving you as the one heartbroken and alone. 

Zack had taken a trip with a fellow Navy SEAL. Just a weekend away to regroup. Never had he intended to find the girl who would jumpstart his heart. 

Only then to destroy it. 

But the shattered pieces of his trust weren’t the only things he left behind when he walked away from Lindsay. There was now an innocent life that had been thrown in to the mix. 

But Lindsay wasn’t the only one who lied... 

The odds were stacked against them. There was someone doing everything they could to keep them apart. 

But when the truth is told, and those secrets are revealed, they must decide if they have what it takes… 

To survive the deceit.


Review

I have read quite a few books by this author over the last few months so of course I had to sign up to read Deceitful Choices. It came just at the right time when I was looking for a military romance.

I will admit, I didn't think I was going to like this book when I started it. There is a lot of info dumped on you at the start and it makes for slow reading. However, since I've loved books by this author in the past I stuck with it.

In the end I'm glad I did because once I got past the first few chapters I fell into the author's world and easy style of writing again.

Deceitful Choice was an easy, simple read. It's a heartwarming story that fills you with love. It doesn't delve into details too much, and flows pretty quickly, but I enjoyed it.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend it. Stick with it past the first few chapters and it'll be worth it.

4

C.A. Harms is like any other addicted reader. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories. She hasn't always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently she has taken on a new liking and now is a full blown Romance novel addict.

She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. You will always find her with her kindle or paperback in hand as it is her favorite pass time.

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Review ~ Out of Bounds (The Summer Games, #2) by R.S. Grey

Title: The Summer Games: Out of Bounds

Author: R.S. Grey

Release Date: Aug 1, 2016

I despise Erik Winter.

He’s arrogant and cruel—a man I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy—and by some twisted turn of fate, he’s my new Olympic gymnastics coach.

I’ve had to contend with gruff coaches in the past, but Erik is far worse. His stern demeanor complements a body built for intimidation, and his reprimands come from a mouth so cunning, I know it could strip me of my defenses—if I let it.

Though each of us would love to be rid of the other forever, we are bound to each other by need and necessity. I’m his rising star, his best shot at proving himself to his critics. And without a coach, I have zero chance of winning gold in Rio.

The easiest way forward would be to wave a white flag and make peace with the man I’ll be sharing close quarters with for the foreseeable future, but he is intent on war.

Fine. By. Me.

If he pushes me, I’ll push back harder. If he wants to test me, to play with my head, I’ll show him just how many boundaries I’m willing to cross. Because I know it’s not a choice between winning or warring—not if you can have them both. At the end of it all, I plan on leaving Rio with gold around my neck and his icy heart in the palm of my hand.

Review

This is the second book I've read by R. S. Grey. I first became introduced to her work ahead of a signing I attended in June and I really enjoyed The Allure of Julian Lafrey. However, I enjoyed this book even more. I've been reading a few Olympic based books recently, what with Rio coming up soon. I love sport romances, and gymnastics is slightly different from the usual.

The main thin I loved about this book was the fire in Brie. Her stubbornness and temper made me laugh a few times--especially the leopard print leotard with a tail. She challenged Erik and I really enjoyed watching their battles of will. There was a great spark between them and it was fuelled by their tension.

As for the story, in general, I enjoyed it. The chemistry and relationship was balanced well with the sport element and it held my interest well. I thought it could have been cut down a little as there were some parts that I skimmed and felt were repetitive, but for the most part I couldn't put it down.

Overall, another good read by this author. I haven't read the first book in this series so it can be read as a complete standalone, but I will definitely be back reading.

4

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I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.

I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

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