ARC: Saint – Sierra Simone Book Review (Priest #3)

SAINT by Sierra Simone
Release Date: September 7th

Genre/Tropes: M/M/Second-chance romance/Brothers Best Friend/Forbidden Romance

Blurb

I can’t have Elijah Iverson.

I can’t have him because he’s my older brother’s best friend. I can’t have him because I broke his heart five years ago; because he’s now engaged to someone else—someone kind and dependable who deserves his whiskey eyes, his soft mouth, his fierce intellect.

I can’t have Elijah because I’ve chosen God instead.

The Bell brothers, though . . . well, we don’t exactly have the greatest track record with vows. But I’m determined to do this monk thing right—to pledge myself to a cloistered life and spend the rest of my years in chastity and prayer. But now Elijah’s here. He’s here and he’s coming with me on my European monastery road trip, and between the whispered confessions and the stolen kisses and the moments bent over an ancient altar, my vows are feeling flimsier by the day.

And vows or not, I know in my heart that it would take more than a good and holy monk to resist Elijah Iverson right now. It would take a saint.

And we all know that I’m no saint.

**This is the third full-length standalone in the Priest Collection, featuring Father Bell’s brother, Aiden Bell. You do not have to read Priest or Sinner to read Saint.)This is Aiden Bell’s story**

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Review

As always, I’m left shell-shocked by Sierra Simone’s unmatched talent and prose.

I don’t quite know where to begin other than that this book was phenomenal. Every time I read a Sierra Simone book, I come away fundamentally changed, like I can’t go back to who I was before reading the book and that I’ll be forever changed going forward. I’m not sure how to really describe that feeling but I will say that it’s a feeling I’ve only felt for one author’s work and that is Sierra Simone. I guess it’s something akin to awe and inspiration so I’ll say this, you must read this book, it is everything and more!

Saint took me by surprise in so many ways and I loved it for that.

I went into this book with tons of excitement. It had been a while since I last read a Sierra Simone book and I was eager to dive in and experience the rush of emotions that was sure to come. What I got was beyond the scope of what I could have expected and it shook me, crushed me and put me back together again.

There is a really tragic and heartbreaking quality and tone to this book. It is ever-present and incredibly powerful. It hangs over moments of happiness, sexy times and anything in between. It was like a cloud just hovering over everything and maybe that’s symbolic but it certainly evoked something in me.

The writing in Saint was incredible. It was truly flawless, seamless perfection with addictive prose and a beautiful, gut-wrenching plot. It’s the kind of writing that builds a story that sucks you in and one that you don’t want to escape. The range of emotions it made me feel was crazy. I was completely and wholeheartedly invested in the story.

The characters as well were phenomenal. I don’t think I’ve ever related to so much with a male character before but man did I ever with Aiden. I could identify with so much of his experience and journey and I loved him instantly. He carved a place into my heart and his special story won’t ever leave me.

Aiden was the epitome of grace, kindness patience and self-awareness. Those things came with time but it’s clear that he embodies those tried wholly. Aiden is the kind of character who inspires with his struggles and triumphs and despite the horrible sadness and heartbreak of his experiences, it was wonderful and uplifting to see the light within him, the fun and charming, happy personality that shone through every so often. He really was an amazing character.

Elijah too was amazing in his own right. His patience, unwavering support and unconditional love were wonderful to see. He was a man with so much dedication, selflessness and heart. Seeing how gentle he was with Aiden and how he cared for him was beautiful. Honestly, their entire relationship was beautiful even when it was heart-rending.

Aiden and Elijah had an immovable connection. It was clear that they were soulmates because, despite hard times, they kept gravitating right back to each other. There was no keeping that chemistry apart, it was just undeniable. Aiden and Elijah had such intense passion and of course a perfectly steamy romance. Sierra Simone did an excellent job weaving the romance into the wider story arc and it was developed extremely well, as were the characters individually. As a whole, the romance was amazing and incredibly satisfying.

I don’t want to ramble on too much about how phenomenal this book was because I could go on for days and probably not even succeed at expressing just how great it truly is so I’ll leave it at that. My only critic is very much a personal thing so take it with a grain of salt. I respect the author’s decision to have Aiden be the main character and the subject of the book because well, it absolutely makes sense given the storyline but in doing that, I feel like I didn’t really get to know Elijah. I got to know Aiden extensively because the book was largely written in his POV but save for a few chapters to glean Elijah’s thoughts, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to really get to know him as deeply as I might have liked to. In the end, that didn’t really bother me too much because I got to know him through Aiden’s eyes to some extent and the book was just so well done that a minor thing like this didn’t really hold any clout.

With impeccable prose and featuring a beautiful, yet heartbreaking love story, Saint is an emotional journey of tragedy, passion, love and so much more.

Overall, everything about this book was amazing and I loved it like everything! Saint just reinforced why I love this author so much and why she is unmatched in my mind and my heart. I am giving Saint 5 incredible stars and would recommend it to everyone but especially fans of m/m romance with forbidden and second-chances romance tropes.

About the Author

Sierra Simone is a USA Today Bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk.) She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

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ARC: A Gorgeous Villain – Saffron A. Kent Book Review (St. Mary’s Rebels #2)

BLURB

Two years ago, Reed Jackson betrayed Calliope Thorne and broke her heart. So she stole his most prized possession – a white mustang – and drove it into the lake for revenge.

Now, Callie is stuck at a reform school while Reed is off at college, living his life without repercussions.

Until he comes back.

With him comes back all the feelings that Callie has been trying to bury: anger and heartbreak.

But most of all, desire. At the sight of his beautiful but lying lips and his gunmetal gray eyes that still taunt and smolder when he looks at her.

Whatever though. It’s not as if Callie is ever going to fall for her ex-boyfriend again. Or let him corner her in a bar one night and touch her, kiss her…

Neither is she going to kiss him back. Or worse, sleep with him.

Because that would make her naïve and foolish.

Oh, and also pregnant.

And there’s no way Callie is ever going to get pregnant at eighteen and with Reed’s baby, no less. The guy she hates.

The guy who taught her all about heartbreak. Who might look like a gorgeous hero but really is the villain of her story.

REVIEW

A Gorgeous Villain was one heck of a chunky book!

If you’re into long books, I’m talking 700+ pages, then this book might be for you. However, if the thought of this makes you cringe then maybe stay away…

I am no stranger to Saffron A. Kent, in fact, The Unrequited and Medicine Man are two of my all time favorite books. I was really hoping to adore this book as much as those ones because the premise was so exciting but, like many others, something didn’t quite work and it fell short in many areas. That isn’t to say it wasn’t a fun read, it was just a little stilted and I wasn’t as consumed by it as I would have liked to have been.

The story started off strong but dropped off after awhile…

In my opinion, the first half of the book was really well done. I enjoyed seeing Callie stand up to Reed and making him work for her. It was refreshing to see her stand her ground and not immediately fall to her knees for Reed especially after how he treated her at the end of the prequel novella. As for Reed, he didn’t surprise me at all. He was pretty much the exact same as he was in the prequel. Their romance was nice in the beginning because of the angst and tension between them. I liked the push and pull, the forbidden aspect of their relationship and the fact that they had to navigate the hate her brother’s held for Reed. However, come the second half of the book with the surprise pregnancy, things started to stagnate. At this point, this is where my issues with the book started to shine through and frankly, I wasn’t able to ignore them or make excuses for them either.

In my review of the prequel, I mentioned an issue with repetition and description that was often unnecessary or filler. I attributed this to the fact that it was a prequel setting up for a full length novel and hoped that this wouldn’t persist throughout AGV but alas, it was very much a pervasive issue. The repetition in words, sentences and general statements/ideas quickly became too much. Then there was the overuse of adjectives to describe Reed as well as her brothers and their overprotectiveness. It got to a point where I was like, I understand that his eyes are like so and so and her brothers are like so and so… It was like I was being reminded at every corner and I didn’t need those reminders at all. This got to a point where the content of the story was just dry and didn’t evolve or develop and as such the characters and their romance didn’t either, at least not to a satisfactory extent.

Ultimately, from a substance point of view, AGV fell short particularly in comparison to the author’s other novels. However, if I look at this book in isolation and ignore the issues with the content and writing, then it was pretty fun especially if you like very dramatic stories. If you’re a fan of high school/college romances, which I tend not to be, then this might be right up your alley. I just feel like I may have had higher expectations based on precedent.

Filled with drama and angst, A Gorgeous Villain was a pretty good continuation of this series with both highs and lows.

Overall, I had an ok time reading this book. I had high hopes for what it would be but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I really enjoyed the first half but the second was a little dull. The plot itself was good but the execution is where I had my issues. The writing was just much too repetitive, heavy on the description and long-winded. It did make me excited for the rest of this series and the rest of the side character’s stories though so that counts for something. Overall, because of the back and forth, I am giving A Gorgeous Villain 4 stars. I wavered between a 3.75 and a 4 but I settled on 4 because I never felt like DNFing or giving up on it. There was always something that kept me coming back and so I feel like for that, I’ve got to bump it up that little bit. I would recommend AGV to fans of forbidden, second-chance romance and any fan of Saffron A. Kent.

The Wild Mustang & Dancing Fairy – Saffron A. Kent (St. Mary’s Rebels #1.5)

Blurb

Calliope Thorne is a good girl. A straight-A student, a rule follower, and an aspiring ballerina.

But most of all, she’s a good sister to her four older brothers.

Brothers whom she loves and adores to pieces. Brothers who love and adore her to pieces in return.

And who hate just one and one thing only–Reed Jackson.

Rich, arrogant, and the most popular guy at Bardstown High, Reed is Callie’s brothers’ enemy and she has sworn to stay away from him.

Until one night when she wanders into the woods and finds herself in his clutches. A villain with pretty gray eyes and a seductive smirk.

Until he asks her to dance for him with a look in those eyes that makes her forget why falling for her brothers’ enemy is a bad idea.

Review

This little prequel novella has definitely made me that much more excited about A Gorgeous Villain!

I love Saffron A. Kent and A Gorgeous Villain has been a book that I’ve been eager to read ever since it was first announced. This novella was a perfect treat as I was able to get to know the characters and get a taste for what their story will be like. It has piqued my interest and I just know Callie and Reed are going to be epic. They have a great connection and the tension and angst between them is out of this world. Theirs is a sort of forbidden romance and the whole concept is incredibly engaging and exciting. I can’t wait to see how things progress between them and how they navigate their relationship with all of Callie’s brothers fighting it and of course their history. Gah, I’m just really pumped now for the real deal!

Quick, sweet and intense, The Wild Mustang and The Dancing Fairy sets the stage for what’ll surely be a fantastic forbidden, second-chance romance!

Overall, this was a wonderful prequel novella. There was a bit of repetition and lots of descriptions but it wasn’t too bad. I’m attributing this to the fact that this is an introductory book, but still. In any case, it didn’t affect my enjoyment too much because the story was really great. I am giving The Wild Mustang and The Dancing Fairy 4 stars and would recommend it to fans of forbidden, second-chance romance and any fan of Saffron A. Kent!

The Wild Mustang & The Dancing Fairy (A Gorgeous Villain Prequel Novella) eBook: http://bit.ly/AGVPrequel-FREE

The Wild Mustang & The Dancing Fairy on Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/53w2a3cp

 

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ARC: Pure Seduction – Ella Frank Book Review (Chamberlin Brothers #1) + Excerpt

Pure Seduction, an all-new emotional second-chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Ella Frank is available now!

Small towns are definitely not for me. Probably because I was born in one, raised in one, and eventually run out of one. The understanding was that I would one day return to Chamberlin California. After all, it is my namesake. What my father didn’t count on however, was that once he sent me away, I would never come back—at least not until he was gone.

Which brings me to now, his wake, at the family winery that was supposed to be mine. It also brings me to her. The sweet girl I left behind. The girl who has since grown into the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on—Laurel Anderson.

She’s looking at me as though she wishes I was the one she watched get buried this morning. But she’s out of luck. I’m alive and kicking. I’m also stuck in this town with nothing to do but wait until the will is read.

Well, nothing to do but see if I can seduce the pure and passionate Laurel, and change that anger I see in her eyes to something just as fiery…desire.

***

The last time I saw Noah Chamberlin, I was a doe-eyed innocent and he was the boy of my dreams. My future was all planned out down to the wedding dress, until one morning I woke up and he was gone.

You’d think after all these years, I’d feel the same blind indignation and rage that has haunted me since that day. Instead, the second I set eyes on him again, I felt something altogether unwanted and unexpected—lust.

If the rumors are true, he’s only going to be in Chamberlin for a few days. I can handle that, as long as he stops looking at me as though he’s thinking about the last time we were together.

But when Noah’s forced to stay and run the family business, it puts us in dangerously close proximity. And in a town this small, that can only mean one thing—trouble.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited !

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Mz4Ia4

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/pureseduction

Review

Ella Frank is my go-to author for absolutely everything!

Pure Seduction marks the 24th book I’ve read by Ella Frank and all I can say is she is insanely talented. Her stories never cease to suck me right and have me chomping at the bit for more. Despite having read so many of her books, this is the first time I’ve read an M/F by this author and it was fantastic! I’m ready to binge all of her M/F that I haven’t gotten a chance to read yet because this author knows how to write a truly entertaining book!

I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book but I knew I was in for a really amazing story and a unique setting to boot!

Pure Seduction was great. I’ve been in a slump for the last little while and was looking for a pick me up, a book that was fun and exciting and this book definitely succeeded. Noah and Laurel were great characters who complemented each other so well. They were a great couple and their romance was one that I had a lot of fun seeing develop over the book. I was immediately interested in their dynamic and seeing how things would play out and it was one hell of a ride. These two just got on so well, they bantered back and forth and their connection was quite literally absolutely undeniable. These two made sparks fly and I was all for it! The ending was lovely and left me super excited for the rest of this series so all I can say is, Pure Seduction was an amazing start to an exciting new series by my favourite unicorn author who can rock any book!

Sexy, fun and sweet, Pure Seduction was a great introduction to this new series!

Overall, I had a great time reading this book and really can’t wait for more. The characters were amazing, their romance was beautiful and the story really played on my emotions. I am giving Pure Seduction 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of second-chance romance!

Excerpt

“Laurel Anderson.”
My heart all but stopped at the sound of my name in that smooth, seductive timbre, and my fingers tightened on the handle.
“Hi.” Brilliant. After all these years, that was what came out of my mouth.
A smile slowly curved Noah’s lips, as though he knew I was tongue-tied, and I wanted to kick myself—or him—for it.
“Hi yourself.”
I swallowed and tried to remember that somewhere inside my head I possessed a brain. Now if I could just locate it, that would be fantastic. “I, uh, I didn’t know you were coming today.”

“No? Everyone else in town seemed to.”
“Well, you know how it goes. You can’t rely on everything you hear.”
“Ah. So you heard—you just didn’t believe it.”
“I didn’t really think about it either way.” Liar. “I’m sorry for your loss, though. Harry was—”
“An A-grade bastard?”
My eyes widened at the cool edge to Noah’s voice. It was a tone I’d never heard from him before. But then again, I didn’t know this man, so I had no point of reference.
“That seems harsh, huh?”
“It seems…” Noah’s eyes locked on me with an intensity I felt all the way to my bones. “Honest.”
He shifted the wine bottle from one hand to the other, then he held it up by the neck and asked, “A good year?”
I focused on the label, a 2012 Pinot Noir. “It was a great year.”
Noah nodded and turned the bottle around so he could look at it again. “And you should know, or so I’m told. You manage this place now.”
I wondered who had told him. His mother? Or one of his siblings? I’d never imagined a career in the wine business, and I certainly hadn’t imagined one here at his family’s winery. But circumstances had left me little choice, and now I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
“I do. I’m also the head sommelier.”
Noah let out a sound of disbelief that made my spine stiffen. I was good at my job—damn good at it.

“I hope that won’t be a problem for you.”
“A problem?” Noah shook his head. “No. I was just thinking how my family hasn’t changed at all. They still like their secrets.”
The temperature in the room dropped back to arctic, and as I was about to hightail it out of there, Noah took a step forward. I plastered my back to the door and, cursing myself for showing my hand—and my nerves—counted back from ten before daring to look him in the eye.
That was a mistake. I recognized those eyes and the thick lashes that curtained them. I also recognized the look in them right now. It was one of curiosity and interest.
“I wasn’t so sure about coming back here when I showed up earlier.”
His gaze roved over my face, as though he were searching for the girl he once knew, and I wondered if he saw parts of her in there.
“But suddenly I find myself even happier that that asshole up and died. Otherwise I’d never have known you were here.”
I wasn’t surprised in the slightest that my working here had been kept quiet. Harry had worked really hard to remove me from Noah’s life. He wasn’t about to tell him I was still around.
“Well, um, I don’t want to hold you up anymore, and I need to get back to your mother’s guests.” I turned to open the door, but when I felt his hand on my shoulder, my feet froze.
“Looking to make a quick escape again, Bonnie?”

I closed my eyes and for a second allowed myself to remember the first time he’d ever called me that. Then I quickly shoved it aside, not willing to allow in the emotions and vulnerabilities those kind of memories would bring.
“Do you blame me?”
There was a pause, and the tension simmering in the air made it even more imperative that I get out of there right now.
“No. I guess I don’t. But before you go?”
“Yes?” As his hand fell away, I let out a silent sigh of relief.
“I was wondering if you could tell me the best place to stay in town?”

About Ella Frank

Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!” A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.

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Mine – Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli Book Review (Ties That Bind #1)

Blurb

She was never supposed to walk into my club.
But she did.

I shouldn’t have looked twice at her.
But I did.

The criminal underworld is no place for a girl like her.

One night with Katerina isn’t enough, but men like me can’t afford to be weak.
So, I tell her to leave me behind.

She does, but not before she sees something she shouldn’t.

When she goes into hiding, it’s my duty to hunt her down.
I have a job to do, and she needs to disappear for good.

But four years later, Kat isn’t alone anymore.
And the little boy right beside her looks just like me.

Review

Natasha Knight and A. Zavarelli are a match made in co-author heaven! What a fantastic duo they are!

What a freaking thrill! I am a big fan of A. Zavarelli but I’ve never read anything by Natasha Knight on her own despite having a couple of her books on my TBR. Mine was such an amazing read, now I just want to binge read all of these authors’ books back to back. Their writing is phenomenal, addictive and engaging. This book was epic, bravo ladies!

I absolutely adore mafia romance, it’s one of my favorite sub-genres and Mine was everything and more I could’ve hoped for!

Mine is a staple Russian bratva/mafia romance with a dark, gritty and dangerous vibe. There is also a secret baby trope going on which, I’ll tell you, sometimes doesn’t float my boat but in this case it was perfect.

The storyline was absolutely addictive. From start to finish, I was all in and couldn’t get enough. And in the end, we get a nice cliffhanger that I guarantee will have you craving book 2, His. The characters were awesome as well. Lev and Kat are polar opposites in that he is cutthroat and she is spunky but from the moment they meet both lust and emotions run high. The spark between them ignites and sets a beautiful and tumultuous romance into motion.

“But this is him, isn’t it? The dichotomy of Lev. Violence and tenderness, they’re interchangeable.”

Lev and Kat had such an instant and deep connection and there was none of that insta-love. I actually don’t mind insta-love all that much but I can appreciate a love story that is developed and this one definitely is. There is a level of insta-lust but the chemistry between the characters does grow in a very natural way which I appreciated. Everything that went on between them felt 100% genuine and I loved that about their relationship.

The characters were so easy to love! I adored Kat’s sweet soul and kind heart and I especially enjoyed her evolution into a strong mother who would do anything for her son. In Lev, I adored that he had an edgy and dark vibe to him but was actually a nice guy under all that bad man exterior. His protective instincts with Kat were swoony and his possessive side and protective side kicked up a notch when he found her and their son and let me tell you, that was hot!

Their sexual tension and the fiery hot and intense chemistry is off the charts and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. They have something extremely special and I cannot wait for it to become the explosive power romance I know it can be. With the cliffhanger it ended with, I can’t wait for more, more Lev and Kat, more family time with their son, more thrilling suspense, just more more more! Bring it on!

Sexy, edgy, dark and dangerous, Mine is a must-read mafia romance with a secret baby and thrills for days!

Overall, I loved this book and cannot wait for book two. The characters were amazing, the romance was swoon-worthy and the storyline is so addictive. I am giving Mine 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of mafia romance and secret baby romance.

“I want to know about her scars. Her pain. Every tear she’s ever shed and every secret that might pour from those lips.”

 

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ARC: In the Garden of Discontent – Lily White Book Review + Excerpt

Title: In the Garden of Discontent
Author: Lily White
Release: February 19, 2020
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50498768-in-the-garden-of-discontent

Blurb:

This is a love story.
It’s brutal.
Heartwrenching.
Terrifying, honest, and raw.
But a love story nonetheless…because it is so beautiful.

Ensley:
Noah Carter was the type of guy that every girl wanted.
Gorgeous. Talented. Smart and kind.
He was the world that revolved around me even though I didn’t deserve him.
But then something went wrong.
He snapped maybe, just lost his mind.
I found him the night my family died, their blood staining his hands.
I put him in prison. I got my revenge.
But then years later he broke free and stole me away from my life.

Noah:
You couldn’t know Ensley without wanting to strangle her.
She was beautiful. She was wild. She was the girl next door.
I grew up with her by my side.
I watched her destroy herself while I held on.
I protected her when she had been blind to the danger that surrounded her.
I let her go once, only to find her again.
She would see me this time no matter what.

Review:

Lily White’s writing is special and beautiful, eye-catching and enchanting!

I haven’t read many books by this author but from the hand full that I have read, I can tell you this, her stories are beautiful, poignant and addictive. The narratives suck you right in and promise one hell of a ride. Whether that ride may be heartwrenching, angst, fun or dark, it’s always a journey that is a pleasure to read! If you haven’t read Lily White yet, do it!

In the Garden of Discontent was a diversion from all my expectations and was a truly heartfelt and amazing read.

This book is emotional and deeply moving, it reminded me of Romeo and Juliet in many ways. In the Garden of Discontent broke my heart and mended it, it made me want to cry but also had me swooning and smiling for the beautiful romances that developed over several years.

I never wanted to exist in a world without Noah.

Ensley and Noah were both young children when they met. They bonded over their messy lives and grew into adults with each other by their sides. Their bond was unbreakable, strong and resilient. Their love for each other was fierce and unwavering until devastating events tear them apart in the most brutal way. I felt deeply for both of these characters. I felt frustration, anger, and despair for Ensley but also felt her power and her bravery. I felt hopeless, helpless and sad for Noah but also invigorated by his loyalty and devotion. Both Ensley and Noah had experienced some tough things but they both came out on the other side intact but with scars. I particularly loved how much they cared for each other and always had each other’s best interests at heart. They were best friends and lovers and the connection and chemistry there were intense.

There was nothing in the world, and no person in existence, that could ever force me to let her go.

I’m not a huge fan of time jumps and this book does spend a lot of time in the past but I grew to appreciate that over time. I enjoyed getting to see how the relationship between Ensley and Noah first blossomed and how it developed over the years. At times, I felt like I wanted more from the present but the writing style is specifically this way for a reason so I understood that choice. Given how well the past was developed however, I didn’t feel like I needed much present development by the end because their relationship was largely the same. As always with Lily White, the romance was strong, sexy and addictive. I loved the raw sexual tension between Ensley and Noah and their love was angsty! I don’t want to say much more than that. This book really is something special and will surely grab you by the heartstrings!

“You’re not allowed to leave me, Ens. If you go, I go. You hear that? I can’t exist in the world if you’re not in it with me.”

Emotional, heartbreaking and poignant, In the Garden of Discontent is a beautiful story of true love, heartbreak, and resurgence.

Overall, I very much enjoyed In the Garden of Discontent. Lily White did a fantastic job with this book and these characters and I was very pleased with the way the book wrapped up. I am giving In the Garden of Discontent 4.5 stars and would recommend it to fans of emotional, dark romance.

“I mean it, Ens. If you die, I die. Never think I won’t follow you.”

 

Buy Links:

Buy Links: Kindle Unlimited
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Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2UUN7eU

Praise:

A barbaric love story of mangled hearts, who despite standing in ravaged lives, find love in stolen hours in the darkness of night. It hurt my heart to go on, yet I couldn’t stop. ~ Shabby, Book Bistro Blog

A truly unique, unpredictable, raw, heartbreaking and utterly riveting read! ~ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books

A love with no limits, no restrictions and no bounds. A pure unconditional love. This story is so devastatingly heartbreaking. It is raw, gritty and disturbing. ~ Literati Literature Lovers

Giveaway:

https://www.facebook.com/authorlilywhite/photos/a.693425087366777/3632050363504220/?type=3&theater

Excerpt:

Leaning down, Noah trapped my bottom lip between his teeth, the hold a punishment, the sting a balm. A part of that ugliness inside me fractured, that tiny amount of pain enough to knock something loose until its was rolling around and rattling.
Opening my lips with his, he swept his tongue into my mouth, filling me with his taste.
I was held up only by his grip on my shirt, balanced only by the strength of his arm and shoulder. My head fell back as he kissed along my jaw and down my neck, teeth scraping the skin, his bite sinking into my shoulder.
Lifting his head, he pressed his mouth against mine and moved to shove me against the wall, trapping me in place.
“I won’t fight you anymore, Ens.”
Noah spoke against my mouth, his knee coming up between my legs, spreading them until he could bring it up further. I rubbed against him, desperate to soothe the throbbing pulse that beat for only him, but he grabbed my hip with his other hand and held me still.
“Not anymore. You want to feel something? You need a release? I’ll give it to you, but not like this. I’m not a teenage boy whose hand can be forced. Not by you, and not by anyone.”
Our pain had raised the boy, but prison had shaped the man.
Tears welled in my eyes, the need so overpowering, that I slapped at him with my hands. He didn’t wince at my blows, he only pushed me tighter against the wall trapping my body with his own.
“Please…” The word tumbled from my lips, my body crumpling against him.

Author Bio:

Lily White is a romance writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. She is most known for her Masters Series, Target This, Wishing Well, and Asylum. In addition to dark romance Lily writes contemporary romance, taboo romance, and psychological thrillers. Lily enjoys stretching her writing muscles by continuing to challenge herself with each book she publishes.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlilywhite/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/lilywhitebooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilywhiteauthor/
Website: www.lilywhitebooks.com

 

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ARC: Perky – Julia Kent Book Review

Synopsis:

One hundred years ago when I was young and impulsive (okay, it was five, alright? Five years ago…) I let my boyfriend take, let’s just say… compromising pictures of me.

(Shut up. It made sense at the time).

Surprise! The sleazy back-stabbing jerk posted them on a website and, well, you can guess what happened. That’s right.

I’m a meme. A really gross one.

You’ve seen the pictures. And if you haven’t – don’t ask. And don’t look!

As face recognition software online improves, I get tagged on social media whenever anyone shares my pictures. You try getting a thousand notifications a day, all of them pictures of your tatas.

So. I’m done.

It’s time for revenge. Let him see how it feels! But how do you get embarrassingly intimate pictures of your jerkface ex who double-crossed you five years ago?

Especially when he’s a member of the U.S.House of Representatives now?

Getting sweet between the sheets with a congressman is pretty much every political roadie’s dream, right? I’m one in a crowd.

Except to this day, he swears he didn’t do it. Pursued me for months after I dumped him five years ago. Begged me to take him back.

And I almost did it. Almost. I was weak and stupid and in love a hundred years ago.

Okay. Fine. Five.

But I still have the upper hand. Second chance romance has all the emotional feels, doesn’t it?

I can’t wait to punch him in the feels.

All I need to do is sleep with him once, take some hot-and-sweaty pics of him in… delicate positions, and bring him down. That’s it. Nothing more.

Pictures first. Revenge after. And then I win.

At least, that’s how it was supposed to happen. But then I did something worse than sexting.

I fell in love with him. Again.

 

Review:

Julia Kent’s books are the best if you’re looking for sassy characters who are hilarious!

I really enjoyed Fluffy when I read it a few months back. It was the first book I had read by Julia Kent but it sounded so good and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read and review an ARC. In Fluffy, Mallory’s friend Perky was introduced and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t super excited to read her story! Perky was a lovely read with tons of sass, banter, romance and was just so much fun.

If you’re looking for a book to put a smile on your face, look no further than Perky!

Julia Kent is uber-talented in delivering awesome romantic comedies that make me laugh out loud and make me feel all the feels. Her writing is so feisty and fun, you can’t help but just love her characters. They are so relatable and I honestly just want to be the fourth member of Mallory, Perky and Fiona’s triad! I will say that there were moments when I felt a little disconnected from the story or not completely gripped by it in the beginning half but aside from that, it was a really good read!

Persephone Tsongas A.K.A Perky has been living in limbo for the last five years when a photo of her half nude went viral. Ever since, she’s been trying to drown out her incessant anger and other feelings for her ex-boyfriend, Parker Campbell, who supposedly shared the photo, to begin with. Life without the other half of her heart has been tough but her friends have been by her side every step of the way as she’s attempted to get over him. That is until he shows up in town, begging for a chance to apologize and explain adamantly that he didn’t post the picture. But if not him, then who?

Parker Campbell is a successful congressman who’s won the hearts of many but no longer has the one he longs for the most. Persephone Tsongas was the love of his life until she dumped him when a nude photo of her went viral. Parker has tried to explain that he isn’t the culprit but Perky has shut him out cold turkey. When the chance to get back in Persephone’s life comes up, Parker isn’t going to back down. No way is he letting this girl get away a second time. No, she’s going to listen and finally understand that he wasn’t responsible for the photo that has wrecked her so badly.

Perky was a barrel of laughs. I loved her witty sense of humor and her sassiness. Her comebacks were hilarious and her personality was just so unique and strong. It was also nice to see her vulnerable sometimes as well as she navigated her feelings for Parker. Perky was unapologetic, unfiltered and entirely herself and I admired her very much!

Parker was such an amazing guy. He was persistent, patient, compassionate and hot! He knew when and to say ni matter the situation and was such a comforting guy. His affection was unwavering, he was genuine and compelling when it came to what he was passionate about. His kindness and ability to banter back with Perky made him super lovable!

These two were loads of fun together. Their banter was awesome, sexy and hilarious. You could tell there was tons of chemistry between the two of them and a bone-deep connection that’s telling of their history together. Persephone and Parker had an intense and passionate romance and that was definitely seen in every one of their interactions. There was this epic sexual tension and angst between them that was oh so good. I really liked the second-chance romance aspect in Perky and I thought it was executed really well. I enjoyed seeing the characters rekindle their undeniable love for one another that never did go away!

Fun, witty and full of sexy sass, Perky is another hit from Julia Kent!

Overall, I had a really great time reading this book. The characters were awesome and I loved their relationship. It was great to see Perky get her man back and her HEA! Julia Kent really brought all the banter I so love from her so I was thrilled with that. Aside from not being 100% hooked to the book from beginning to end, I still did really enjoy it. I am giving Perky 4 stars and would recommend it to fans of romantic comedy and second chance romance.

“You’re everything to me, Persephone. You’re the world, heaven and hell, the solar system. You’re the sun and the moon, the elements and the stars. I don’t know how I made it through these last five years without you.”

 

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ARC: Fluffy – Julia Kent Book Review + Excerpt

Synopsis:

It all started with the wrong Help Wanted ad. Of course it did.

I’m a professional fluffer. It’s NOT what you think. I stage homes for a living. Real estate agents love me, and my work stands on its own merits.

Sigh. Get your mind out of the gutter. Go ahead. Laugh. I’ll wait.

See? That’s the problem. My career has used the term “fluffer” for decades. I didn’t even know there was a more… lascivious definition of the term.

Until it was too late.

The ad for a “professional fluffer” on Craigslist seemed like divine intervention. My last unemployment check was in the bank. I was desperate. Rent was due. The ad said cash paid at the end of the day. The perfect job!

Staging homes means showing your best angle. The same principle applies in making a certain kind of movie. Turns out a “fluffer” doesn’t arrange decorative pillows on a couch.

They arrange other soft, round-ish objects.

The job isn’t hard. Er, I mean, it is — it’s about being hard. Or, well… helping other people to be hard.

Oh, man…

And that’s the other problem. A man. No, not one of the stars on the movie set. Will Lotham – my high school crush. The owner of the house where we’re filming. Illegally. In a vacation rental.

By the time the cops show up, what I thought was just a great house staging gig turned into a nightmare involving pictures of me with an undressed star, Will rescuing me from an arrest, and a humiliating lesson in my own naivete.

My job turned out to be so much harder than I expected. But you know what’s easier than I ever imagined?

Having all my dreams come true.

Review:

Fluffy was hilarious and such a sweet story! It was great!

I had so much fun reading this little gem. I had never read anything by Julia Kent before but wow, after Fluffy, I know I’ll be reading more from her for sure. Julia’s writing is sweet, angsty and full of irresistible humor. Her characters are relatable and easy to fall for and I completely loved Mallory and Will!

I don’t think any single book has had me laughing in public like Fluffy did!

I stumbled upon the opportunity to receive an ARC of Fluffy by random chance and was immediately taken by the blurb. As soon as it hit my kindle, I dove in headfirst and was smiling the whole way through. First of all, Julia Kent’s writing is addictive in a hilarious kind of way. Her humor made me read on like crazy and I couldn’t put this book down. It was sweet in a way that any successful rom-com should be and I loved it!

As for the character, Mallory and Will were amazing. Mallory’s in a bit of a financial pickle when she stumbles upon a help wanted ad. It’s right up her alley so she’s quick to apply. When she gets the job and shows up for her first day, she’s shocked to find that she’s unbeknownst to her signed up to be part of an illegal endeavor. Nor did she imagine this illegal endeavor to be taking place in her high school crushes house. Will has been subconsciously on her mind for the last 10 years and now being so close to him after so long has her all over the place!

Will left home after high school and hasn’t looked back until now when he’s come back to sell his parents’ house. The last thing he expected when he rolled back into town was to find his high school valedictorian, Mal, in that exact house with a group of people readying themselves to perform salacious acts on camera. You see, Mallory had left her mark on him since the last time they spoke and he hasn’t ever gotten over her. Now that she’s back in his sights, he’s gonna take this chance to be everything she deserves and finally get the girl.

I loved Mallory so much! She was completely relatable, a total sweetheart and absolutely hilarious. Her naivety made her so damn funny and some of the things that came out her mouth had me laughing so hard. She had a shining personality, a heart of gold and was so kind to everyone around. Heandjd her friends were total friendship goals and their conversations were a hoot as well! Will was amazing because he was such a good guy. He said the sweetest things to Mal and was always there for her. He was protective, took care of her and made sure she knew exactly how amazing she was. He was also super hot and his bit of dirty talk was swoon worthy! He was an amazing man and his witty humour was equally as irresistible!

Mal and Will together were awesome. They had such great chemistry and an amazing connection that withstood 10 years of distance. Their banter was sweet and the angst was full of sexual tension. Some of the moments between them were absolutely hilarious and others were so swoony! Though I completely loved their dynamic I kind of would’ve liked to see them in an actual relationship for a little longer. However, the ending was so sweet and their entire romance was gorgeous so I loved it anyways!

Hilarious, sweet and a total feel-good story, Fluffy was a wonderful romance!

Overall, I loved Fluffy. It was such a fum read and a great rom-com. Julia Kent’s writing is super sweet and very addictive. I can’t wait to read more about Mallory’s friends because they were awesome as well! I’m giving Fluffy 4 stars and would recommend it to fans of romantic comedy at it’s best!

“It’s obvious you don’t see yourself the way I see you. I don’t understand why you would say that. You’re gorgeous. And smart. And funny. You’re the whole package.”

 

Buy links:

AmazonUS: mybook.to/fluffy

AmazonUK: smarturl.it/fluffyAMZuk

AmazonCA: smarturl.it/fluffyAMZca

AmazonAU: smarturl.it/fluffyAMZau

Nook/BN: http://bit.ly/2CGtnBE

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2RmE159

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2BjWvxL

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2COKLmQ

Audible: https://adbl.co/2KRgFGR

Print: mybook.to/fluffy

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2TjDjqS

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2ThoLrZ

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men’s room toilet (and he isn’t a billionaire). She lives in New England with her husband and three kids in a household where Julia apparently is the only one who possesses the gene necessary to change empty toilet paper rolls.

Social Media Links:

Website:  http://jkentauthor.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jkentauthor

Newsletter:  http://bit.ly/2PIBi9n

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jkentauthor/

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-kent

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3238619.Julia_Kent

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/

Excerpt:

“You’re changing the subject.”

“How do you know that’s what I’m doing?”

“Because you have this thing you do when you get nervous. You did it in high school and you’re doing it now.”

“What’s that?”

“You start cracking your knuckles. One by one.”

He halts mid-crack on his ring finger. His bare ring finger.

Will looks down. A slow smile pulls at his lips. “You’re right. I do.” Our eyes meet. “How did you know?”

“I sat behind you in nearly every honors class, Will. I’ve watched you answer countless questions from teachers. And every time you didn’t know the answer, you cracked your knuckles. One”–I crack my index finger–“by”–I crack my middle finger–“one.” My ring finger won’t snap.

He waits.

“You spent a lot of time paying attention to me, Mallory.”

“I sat behind you. It’s not like I could stare at your ass all day. I had to have something else to look at.”

“You stared at my ass?”

“It was two feet in front of me! Four classes a day!” I start to sweat. The memory of him in football uniform pants. Oh, sweet ice cream fairy, deliver me from evil.

“You okay? You look,” he says, stepping closer, “a little disturbed.”

“I’m fine.”

“Hot, even.” The rise and fall of his chest pauses after those words, as if he’s holding his breath, too.

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ARC: Fireworks – Sarina Bowen Book Review (True North #6)

 

Synopsis:

Skye Copeland is on paid leave from her broadcasting job after accidentally drawing a pecker on the traffic map.

Let that sink in. Like it’s her fault the traffic pattern created a perfect schlong?

Skye isn’t laughing. She needs this job. And that’s the only reason she’s willing to chase down a story in her least favorite place—that hell on earth known as Vermont.

A quick trip. In and out. Much like – never mind. She can sneak into the town that once tried to break her, get the story and slide back into the good graces of her producer. Easy peasy.

But things go sideways the moment she steps over the county line. Her stepsister is running from a violent drug dealer. And the cop on the case is none other than Benito Rossi, the man who broke Skye’s teenage heart.

His dark brown eyes still tear her apart. And even as she steels herself to finally tell him off after twelve years, the old fireworks are still there.

Things are about to go boom.

 

Review:

 

*I’ve decided to start writing shorter reviews for books I give between 3 to 4 stars, so this review will be a brief one.

 

Fireworks was easy to get into and was all around really enjoyable!

I had the opportunity to review an ARC of Fireworks and though it wasn’t phenomenal nor did it exceed my expectations, it was quite suspenseful, funny and sexy! Sarina Bowen did a great job developing this story and it was a good read!

If I’m being honest, I had higher expectations for this book but I was really satisfied with the outcome regardless.

I’ve read one other book by Sarina Bowen and that was Goodbye Paradise which I loved! I was excited to get into this one and despite not having read any other books in this series found it easy to understand and get into. I do understand why you might want to read the other books first because the characters from those books are mentioned but it definitely isn’t necessary. When it came to my enjoyment of this book, I really did like the storyline itself. It was nicely developed and fleshed out quite well. Sarina Bowen created a complex story with this book and I thought the execution of it was good. The writing style itself was also very nice. It flowed well, was easy to get into and I like the little bits of humor thrown in. I had a good laugh every once in awhile throughout my time reading this book and I enjoyed that. Moreover, I thought the romance was well done as it was a nice blend of sweet and sexy. As for the suspense, I thought that element was very nicely incorporated in the storyline. It was a crucial element and I’m glad it was worked in so thoroughly because it really added to the story. When it comes to the characters, I did like them to a certain extent. I thought Benito was honorable, loyal and very kind. He took care of Skye in such a loving way, he was just an all-around sweet guy. Skye was gentle, innocent and very careful. She had her own sweet streak but could still hold her own when it came time to. While the characters were good, I found it hard for me to build a connection with them and this lack of connection made the story drag at times. I felt sometimes like I wasn’t totally into the story which was disappointing but thankfully that was only on certain occasions throughout the reading! Aside from those short bouts where I was distracted from the book, it had some great things going for it!

Funny, sweet, sexy and chock-full of suspense, Fireworks was a well written and enjoyable read by Sarina Bowen!

Overall, while I did really enjoy the writing, the romance, the storyline and the execution of this book, I found it hard to stay completely into it because I couldn’t fully connect with the characters especially Skye. Her reactions were a bit forced at times and this made it hard to bond with her. Benito wasn’t too bad but I felt like we could’ve learned more about him on a deeper level. I am giving Fireworks 4 stars because it was interesting and has made me want to read the previous books in this series. I would recommend it to fans of romantic suspense and contemporary romance!

“I need you near me. I need to come home to you every night, eat dinner in my kitchen, and hear about your day. I want you in my bed, and in my life.”

 

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