Review ~ Rush (Gods #2) by Samantha Towle

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 7th 2018

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Description:
It’s been three years since quarterback Ares Kincaid’s NFL dream came true, and he’s living the high life. The days of cleaning up after his drunk of a father are long gone, and he has no intention of going back.

A car crash and DUI charge meant a lengthy stint in rehab for Arianna Petrelli, and her dream of being a professional artist slips further away when she’s sacked from her position at a gallery. Her need for a job stronger even than her dislike of football, Ari goes to work for her father, the head coach of the New York Giants.

Ares hates alcoholics, which is fine with Ari because she thinks he’s a brainless jock. Yet when Ares rescues Ari from a situation with her ex-boyfriend, an unlikely friendship begins – one that quickly becomes more.

But messing around with the coach’s daughter can only lead to one thing…trouble.

My Opinion

I've been dying to get my hands to this book. To be honest, I'm dying to get my hands on any Samantha Towle book. Her writing never fails to grip me and pull me into her worlds, and Rush was no exception. 

I've been in a bit of a reading funk lately, but this book managed to pull me out of it. From the first page it hooked me and I couldn't put it down. How Ares and Ari met made me chuckle and I felt the spark as their relationship developed. I thought as a couple they worked together and there was just the right amount of drama and chemistry to keep things interesting.


Overall, another really enjoyable read I'd definitely recommend. To be honest, I'd recommend any of Samantha's work and I can't wait to see what she releases next.

4

Review ~ Under Her by Samantha Towle

Under Her by Samantha Towle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another enjoyable read by Samantha Towle. I enjoyed the story and the connection between the characters. Under Her kept me up until the early hours of the morning, even though I was sick and needed sleep.

my only minor quibble is that the ending felt rushed. Other than that, I really enjoyed it.

View all my reviews

Review ~ Breaking Hollywood by Samantha Towle

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: October 3rd 2017

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Description:
It wasn't supposed to be like this...
I wasn't supposed to be boyfriendless, homeless and jobless at twenty-eight. And I most definitely wasn't supposed to hit Hollywood's resident bad boy Gabriel Evans with my car and break his foot.

Now I'm stuck in his apartment, taking care of him while he's incapacitated. Living with the hottest guy in Hollywood, who I've had a crush on forever, doesn't sound like a chore, right? Wrong.

Gabriel Evans is rude, crude, drinks way too much and, as soon as his foot is healed, I'm out of here.

So, why do I keep forgetting to check the classifieds? And keep getting flustered when I see him shirtless? Breaking Hollywood wasn't part of the plan. But neither was falling in love with him.

My Opinion

Let me start by saying Samantha Towle is one of my favourite authors around right now. I love her books, and after laughing out loud to Wardrobe Malfunction earlier this year, I was dying to get my hands on a copy of Breaking Hollywood.

Just like Wardrobe Malfunction, this book had me giggling as I read it from the start. I love the almost slapstick element these books start off with, as in the male leads getting injured by the female lead. In this case, Gabe Evans is broken by Ava and her tiny car and from there a relationship grows.

I have to admit, I loved the banter and quick-witted remarks between these characters. Their conversations--that borderlines on insults most of the time--was paced well, flowed well, and kept me hooked. Books with plenty of speech are my favourite kind, and these two had great personalities that shone through in it.

As for the plot, it was a little predictable, but the characters kept me engaged. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow--and of course the comedic elements with Gucci. Gucci definitely stole the show at some points and I know want a goat.


Overall, another great read from this author. It made me laugh, kept me hooked, and I lost sleep just to finish it. I couldn't have asked for more.

4

Review ~ Wardrobe Malfunction by Samantha Towle

ebook purchased by myself.

Release Date: February 18th 2017

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Vaughn West, Hollywood heartthrob, has been at the top of his game for years. He thinks he’s untouchable—until a betrayal brings him spiraling down. Now, everyone pities him, and if there’s one thing Vaughn hates, it’s pity. 

After a few months of working his way through every available actress, pop star, model, and waitress in California, Vaughn needs to get his life back on track and focus on what he does best—making hit movies. 

Charlotte Michaels is in love. Just not with one person. 
Louis Vuitton…
Christian Dior…
Valentino…
Gucci…
And the list goes on. 

Sadly, Charly’s limited bank account doesn’t allow her those luxuries, and the closest she gets are lucky finds in charity shops and working closely with some of those names in her job as a wardrobe assistant. 

Now, Charly has landed the mother of all jobs—working on the new Vaughn West movie. Excited doesn’t even cut it.

Only things don’t go as planned, and it turns out that Vaughn is actually a jerk. A hot jerk, but a jerk nonetheless.

So, why do their clothes keep falling off whenever they’re around each other? And why can’t Charly keep her mind in the closet and off Vaughn? 

Getting mixed up with a smart-mouthed, fashion-obsessed wardrobe assistant is the last thing Vaughn needs.

Getting mixed up with an arrogant, self-centered, obnoxious, jumped-up actor who has a lack of respect for fashion is the last thing Charly needs.

Things are about to get hot, dirty, and messy in Hollywood. Very messy. Especially if Charly’s closely guarded secret falls out of her closet.

My Opinion

I loved this. Samantha Towle quickly became one of my favourites after her Revved series, and I've read just about every release since. I really enjoy her writing style and this book was no exception.

Wardrobe Malfunction was a sweet--sometimes steamy--romantic comedy that put a smile on my face. It made a bad day better and lifted my mood completely. I didn't quite know what to expect from this since I bought it based on the author's name alone and not the blurb, but I loved Vaughn and Charly. Their banter and interaction was beautifully crafted and filled with humour. I especially loved how they met, it had me chuckling to myself to the point I received strange looks from my family.

I'm not going to say anything about the plot. This is a book you need to experience because it is one that will make you feel good. It's a great story and one that I will definitely be re-reading if I ever need a pick-me up.


Overall, this author just gets better. I loved Wardrobe Malfunction and would highly recommend it.

5

Review ~ Unsuitable by Samantha Towle

ebook purchased by myself.

Release Date: October 1st 2016

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Daisy Smith has spent eighteen months of her life paying for a crime she didn’t commit. Now out of prison, she has only one focus—to get back custody of her younger brother, Jesse, who is deep in the foster care system. Desperate to rebuild her life and show the system that she is responsible enough to care for Jesse, she takes on the only job available to her—working as a maid at the Matis Estate.

On day one of her new job, Daisy meets Kastor Matis, the only son of the owners and her new boss. An enigmatic, handsome Greek god of a man, Kas is closed off, cold, and…well, kind of a bastard.

The more time Daisy spends around Kas, she starts to see there might be more to him than just his cold, bastard ways. He may actually have a heart beating in that frozen chest of his.

But Kas has secrets, too. Secrets that he’s determined to keep.

Secrets make Daisy curious.

And you know what curiosity can do…

My Opinion

This book is a little different from everything I've read by this author before. I've been a big fan of her work since I read Troubled a few years ago. However, I found Unsuitable to be slightly darker a
and grittier with the characters, and I thought the author pulled off the change in writing well.

Just like always, this Samantha Towle book had me hooked and I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know Kas' secret, and I wanted him to prove me wrong and turn out to be the guy Daisy deserved. While I tried to distance myself from him--because I knew he was hiding something dark--he managed to work his way past my defences with his sweet, almost vulnerable attitude towards Daisy. He came across like an ass in the beginning, yet he had these tender moments and he wasn't the typical man-whore a lot of books have nowadays. It was a refreshing change.

Similarly, in regards to Daisy, I sympathised with her for what she'd gone through. It was unfair and heartbreaking. However, I admired the way she didn't dwell on the events once she was out. She was solely focused on getting Jesse back and I believed in her emotions.


Overall, this was a book that kept me reading and I couldn't put down. It's a bit different from what I'm used to with this author, but she does the genre justice and created a great read.

4

Review ~ When I Was Yours by Samantha Towle

Paperback purchased by myself

Release Date: November 10th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
“Marry me.”
“What?” I stared back at him, unblinking.
He moved closer, taking my face in his hands. “I love you, Evie. I look into the future, and the only thing I see clearly is you. Marry me.”

What’s an eighteen-year-old girl who was madly in love with her nineteen-year-old boyfriend say? 

Of course, I said yes.

Twenty-four hours later, I married Adam Gunner at a Vegas chapel to the sounds of “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. Not the best omen. I get that now.

Then, exactly one week later, I left him. I walked out, leaving behind my wedding ring, annulment papers, and my heart, and he never knew why. 

I haven’t seen him since. Not in ten long years.

Now, he’s here, standing before me. Looking at me with nothing but hurt and hatred in his eyes, he wants answers. 

Answers I can’t give.

My Opinion

This was another cute read from Samantha Towle. It held my interest well and I liked the split in time periods. The book was paced brilliantly and I'd definitely recommend it.

Although it's not my favourite book by this author, it was enjoyable. I did find it predictable, and the reveal didn't exactly live up to the hype built, but that's a small problem. I felt the chemistry between Adam and Evie. They had a lot of passion and I believed in their emotions and feelings. They grew well and I'm glad they got their HEA.

4

Review ~ Revived (Revved, #2) by Samantha Towle

Paperback purchased by myself

Release Date: July 12th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
India Harris didn’t have the best start in life. Abandoned as a baby, she and her twin brother, Kit, spent their lives in foster care, only having each other to rely on. Then, at a young age, a relationship with the wrong man left India pregnant. Wanting to give her son the life she never had, she put herself through school and graduated with honors. 

Now, at the age of thirty, she’s a highly respected therapist.

At the top of his game as a Formula One driver, Leandro Silva had everything—until an accident on the track left him staring death in the face. After enduring twelve months of physical therapy, Leandro is now physically able to race, but his mind is keeping him from the track. Frustrated and angry, Leandro’s days and nights are filled with limitless alcohol and faceless women. 

Entering the last year of his contract, he knows he has to race again, or he’ll lose everything he spent his life working for. Forced into therapy to get his life back, Leandro finds himself in the office of Dr. India Harris.

Falling for his uptight therapist is not part of Leandro’s plan. 

Having unethical feelings for her patient, the angry Brazilian race car driver, is not part of India’s plan. 

But what if the wrong person is the only person who is right?

My Opinion

It seems I've been waiting for this book for ages. I ended up buying it from America because I had a voucher, but of course that meant I had to wait even longer for it to arrive. Anyway, I had a nice surprise this morning when it arrived a week early.

Just like with Revved, this book held my attention brilliantly and I ended up not doing anything for the whole day. Although Leandro isn't a major part of book one, I soon came to feel for him and slowly love him. I believed in his emotions and I liked how his feelings developed.

Moreover I liked India. Although she was slightly repetitive I'm glad she came to her sense. I liked that she was self-sufficient and strong. She'd been dealt a rough life, but she was a fighter. She didn't scrounge of Leandro and was determined to make something of herself.

As for the plot it held my attention well. It had a bit of everything and I really enjoyed it.


Overall another great read and I can't wait to get my copies signed next year!

5

Review ~ Revved (Revved #1) by Samantha Towle

Paperback purchased by myself

Release Date: March 17th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Race car mechanic Andressa "Andi" Amaro has one rule—no dating drivers. With a good reason behind the rule, she has no plans on breaking it.

Carrick Ryan is the bad boy of Formula One. With a face and body that melts panties on sight, and an Irish lilt that leaves women on their knees, begging for more. He races hard and parties harder. The youngest driver to ever sign with F1, he’s still at the top of his game five years later, breaking hearts on and off the tracks.

When Andi is offered her dream job working in the glamorous world of F1, she leaves her home in Brazil, positive she can handle working for Carrick. But she’s not prepared for the off-the-chart sparks that fly the moment they meet.

Now, Andi has a crush on the one man she can’t have, and her resolve is about to be put to the test, because Carrick has decided he wants Andi, and he plans on testing her to the very limit…

My Opinion

When I bought this I didn't realise I'd already ready and enjoyed some of this author's previous work. Instead I purchased it based on the sample and Formula 1 premise seeing as I'm a fan of the sport. It's needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when I found out I'd read Trouble late last year so knew what I was in for with this author.

I enjoyed Revved more than I did Troubled. It's one of those books I kept telling myself I'd only read another chapter of and then go on to read half the book, especially once it got going. I had a hard time putting it down and enjoyed the overall story. I've never read anything about drivers before so it was unique in that sense and it was a nice change from all of the MMA or cop books I've been reading lately.

As for the characters I liked Andi, especially at the start. I liked her feisty attitude and did think there was chemistry between her and Carrick. I did think she gave it up a bit too easily, but I still enjoyed it. Carrick on the other hand was the typical player. He was hot, demanding, and knew what he wanted. He was also a bit of an asshole at times but you still love him. I would have liked more detail on his past and how it affected him emotionally as I thought that came kind of out of the blue, but for the most part I liked him and the changing relationship between the two. I believed in Andi's emotions and reasons for doing what she did.

The only other thing I have to say about the story was I was slightly disappointed by the lack of racing. The chapters move around the different races on the calendar but we never got much detail. I know that's because this was a romance essentially, but I felt it could have been added slightly more as it's not common right now for me. Also, there were small things that didn't feel realistic with the racing. I doubt you'd notice them if you're not a fan of the sport, but they did bug me slightly as it's not something that would happen.


Overall though this is the second book I've read by this author an I've enjoyed both. For the most part this was an easy, laid back read I could enjoy over two days and I'd recommend it.

4