The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova | Review

The  Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga #1) by Elise Kova
Publisher: Keymaster Press
Publication Date: January 10, 2017
Genre: Adult (YA Crossover), High-Fantasy, Steampunk
Pages: 395
Source: Received from Author
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Goodreads Description

Her vengeance. His vision.

Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.

When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.

He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.

My Thoughts

Going into this I wasn't really sure what to expect. The Alchemists of Loom was one of those books that I've wanted to read since the first time I heard about for some reason I never picked it up. I was expecting to enjoy the story but not as much as I did.

At the start of this book we are following Ari as she's out on a mission. On her way home she runs into a Dragon and decides she can't pass up on the opportunity to harvest his organs. The Dragon has to convince her not to harvest her organs as well as help him on a mission of his own. After these two characters come to an agreement the story really begins to take take off.

Characters can make or break a story for me and these characters helped me become immeresed in their story and really care about their story. I loved the majority of the characters. They were all really  well written! I enjoyed seeing how each character developed as the story progressed and I can't wait to see how they continue to do so throughout the rest of the trilogy.

There were parts of this books  that were confusing. I didn't complete understand the magic system and the way the guilds work. I thought as I continued to read I would understand a little better but there wasn't really much explained. Hopefully the sequel gives a little more insight into this. The Alchemists of Loom was unlike anything I've ever read and I can't wait to see where the story goes in The Dragons of Nova.

Fairytale Christmas by Merrie Destefano | ARC Review

Fairytale Christmas (The Fair Folk Saga #1) by Merrie Destefano
Publisher: Self-Published
Expected Publication Date: December 4, 2017
Genre: YA/Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 98
Source: eARC from Author
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Goodreads Description

Three thousand years ago, a war began between the immortals and the mortals. It's a war that continues to this day...

Before history began, a legendary queen battled a foreign army, braved the death of her husband, and faced betrayal at the hand of someone she trusted. This is the story of Eire, Queen of the Faeries, the Immortal One, and the leader of the Tuatha de Danann. 

To this day, her homeland, Ireland, bears her name, and this is the story of the war that drove the Immortal Ones into exile. It's also the tale of how she found help from an unexpected place, leading her to a love like she had never known before.

Fairytale Christmas is a story that spans thousands of years. It's also the beginning of all of our fairytales and legends; it's where mortals and immortals survive because they love one another, proving that love is the greatest gift of all.

This is the first installment in the Saga of the Fair Folk, a journey that lasts until the end of time.

My Thoughts

Fairytale Christmas is the first book in what I believe is going to be a YA/Adult crossover novella series. This story follows Eire, Queen of the Faeries, as her homeland is invaded and the faeries are driven into exile. Honestly, that's an over simplification of the plot and I would suggest checking out the full description.

I really enjoyed the premise of the story. The plot was intriguing and the writing was really well done. All these things made the story easy to get into and was engaging to the point where I didn't want to stop reading. However, I felt like this was just the bones of a story. Since this novella was so short, there wasn't a lot of time to explore more than the plot. I didn't feel like I knew much about the different types of fat which made parts of this story a little confusing for me. Also, since the story was moving so fast I didn't feel like I got the time to connect with and really care about the characters.

I'm not sure if this story is based on any specific mythology. If it is, I've never read it (but I would be interested in reading it) and could explain why I didn't understand some of the things that were going on. I would love to see the author expand this into a full length novel so the characters and the world have room to grow. If you're looking for a quick, fun fantasy read give Fairytale Christmas a try!

Hangry by Lily Kate | Blog Tour

Hangry (The Girls #1) by Lily Kate
Publisher: Heat, Heart, and Humor Books
Publication Date: October 24, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 392
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
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Goodreads Description

han·gry  
/haNGɡrē/ 
adjective informal 
bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger. 
"I get very hangry if I miss a meal" 

From USA Today bestselling author Lily Kate comes a brand new series... 

Ladies & Gents, 

I sold my soul for a hamburger . 

And I have no regrets. When a girl is trapped indefinitely in an elevator with a smoking hot burger and an empty stomach, even the strongest of women will crumble. 

The story goes like this: Bradley Hamilton, former professional hockey player and the most frustrating human alive, offered me half of his hamburger in exchange for a date. I took him up on the offer—while under duress—and now I’m stuck with the consequences. Specifically, the scorching kiss that has me drooling for more. 

However, there’s one whopper of a problem. This man has been a thorn in my side for the last twenty years—ever since he moved next door and became my older brother’s best friend. We’ve gone head to head for years, and now, he’s trying to buy out my restaurant in order to plop one of his big fat gyms there instead. 

I refuse to let him ruin my business. Unfortunately, Bradley Hamilton is like an order of french fries: you just can’t have one. It appears our lips are addicted to kissing. He’s alarmingly handsome. Deliciously confident. And worst of all? Underneath that salty exterior he’s starting to show signs of sweet. 

Brad Hamilton is my guilty pleasure, my cheat meal, my greatest craving. 

Which is why he’ll be one habit that’s hard to kick. 

My Thoughts

Hangry is the first book in a new series by Lily Kate. Although she has a few books out, this was my introduction to this author. Hangry follows Bradley Hamilton and Lexi Monroe. The two have known each other for 20 years but haven't really spoken for the last 3 years until they get stuck in an elevator together. They make a deal to go on a date together and the story takes off from there.

Before getting into my opinion, I think the synopsis gives away too much information and is a bit misleading. I felt the synopsis basically gave an outline of the story so I wasn't surprised by most of the events that happened. It was also misleading because certain events were exaggerated or they didn't happen as they were stated in the synopsis. Going into this book, I thought Hangry was an enemies-to-lovers story but it wasn't that kind of story. If possible I would know go into this novel knowing as little as possible, I think it would make the read a lot more enjoyable if you do.

Despite those things, I still think this was a decent storyline. After enemies-to-lovers, life long friends realizing that maybe they love each other is one of my favorite things to read about in contemporary romance novels. While frustrated with them at times, I found myself hoping the main characters worked through their issue and were able to be happy together. Since Lexi and Bradley have so much history, everything else would be worth it in the end. I can see this being a story lots of people enjoy but this one was missing some things for me. I want to check out more from this author in the future.

Bad for Her by Christi Barth | Blog Tour

Bad for Her (Bad Boys Gone Good #1) by Christi Barth
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 432
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
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Goodreads Description

Doctor Mollie Vickers loves the tight-knit community of her tiny Oregon town. But she’s not a fan of the limited dating options. Sleep with a guy who tried to copy off her in junior high? Pass. Mollie’s sex life is flatlining… until a deliciously handsome man she’s never seen before stops to help her fix a flat tire.

As an ex-mobster, Rafe Maguire’s no saint. But he’s trying to turn over a new leaf. Although he probably shouldn’t kiss the hot doctor on the side of the highway. Or suggest a no-strings fling with a woman he has no business pursuing. Rafe’s life is too complicated for love—his new WITSEC-provided identity doesn’t fit him at all and there’s a U.S. Marshal watching his every move. He can’t tell Mollie the truth… but their chemistry is scorching and being good doesn’t mean he can’t be a little bad.

Mollie can’t resist the guy who looks rough, talks tough, and is loyal to the bone. But it’s obvious Rafe is keeping secrets. When the truth comes out, Mollie must decide if she could ever love an ex-mobster… or if this bad boy has truly gone good.

My Thoughts

Lately I've read a lot of contemporary romance novels but Bad for Her is unique when compared to the books I've read that fit into this genre. Rafe Maguire is an ex-mobster and has entered into witness protection in order to keep his family safe. After some trail and error the brothers end up in a small town in Oregon. This is where Rafe meets Mollie Vickers, a doctor that live in Bandon, and there's an instant attraction between the two.

Characters usually have a big impact on my enjoyment while reading a story All the characters that had somewhat prominent roles were so well thought out. While reading I felt like I knew each of them and could point them out a street. It might sound weird to say but they breathed life into this story.

As much as I enjoyed the overall story, I was a bit disappointed with the ending. There was too much that I felt was left open ended. Since there are going to be more books in the series I'm guessing things concerning why the brothers were in witness protection in the first place will carry on to the next book(s). However, I wish there was some sense of resolution for that part of the story even it it was only a temporary one. I look forward to seeing what's next for the Maguire brothers.

Sweet Time by Nina Lane | ARC Review

Sweet Time (Sugar Rush #4) by Nina Lane
Publisher: Snow Queen Publishing
Publication Date: October 10, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 164
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
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Goodreads Description

Stuck in a boring insurance job, vivacious Mia Donovan has spent the last few years searching for her life's true path. She fills her time helping plan the wedding of her best friend to the CEO of the Sugar Rush Candy Company. 

Mia has also been trying to attract the impossibly rigid Sugar Rush security chief Gavin Knight. But for well over a year, the unyielding Mr. Knight has ignored her, despite her short skirts, tight sweaters, and patently obvious flirting. And when he finally approaches her, it's only to assess the wedding plans for potential security risks.

A former soldier, Gavin has intercepted hostile anonymous letters threatening the high-profile wedding. Determined to keep everyone safe, he's forced to work with the maddeningly sexy Miss Donovan of the thousand-watt charm and irresistible body.

Irked by Gavin's many months of disregard, Mia takes her teasing flirtations to a whole new level. But her coquettish ways are no match for the edgy, lust-fueled dominant he conceals behind his impassive exterior. And when Gavin exerts his full control, Mia discovers he can protect everything except her heart. 

My Thoughts

Sweet Time is the fourth book in the series Sugar Rush. This book follows Mia Donovan and Gavin Knight. At the start of the book the two have known each other for at least a year. While Mia has done everything she can think of to get Gavin's attention, he's managed to ignore her for the last year. However, everything changes when Mia and Gavin have to work together on logistics for Polly's, Mia's best friend, wedding.

This my introduction into the series and as can be expected I missed out on some of the references to past characters/relationships. Although I was a little lost on that end I didn't feel like that took anything from the story.

After years of no response, or even acknowledgment from Gavin, Mia has decided to try to move on from him. From Mia's point of view Gavin is impassive but we soon find out he's not unaffected by her as he tries to seem. Once Gavin finally gives in to Mia's advances their relationship takes off. There were the hot and steamy moments but there were also difficult times the two had to talk/work through. They were only together for about two weeks but I felt like they learned so much about each other during this time. I really enjoyed this book and will be going back to check out the rest of the series.

Holiday Spice by Samantha Chase | ARC Review

Holiday Spice (The Shaughnessy Brothers #6) by Samantha Chase

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: October 3, 2017

Pages: 384

Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR

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Goodreads Description

Darcy Shaughnessy has gotten used to her overbearing brothers chasing away any man she wants to date. But a chance meeting with a brooding -- and deliciously handsome -- artist is about to make this holiday season one to remember.

There's only one thing Benjamin Tanner loves more than his woodcarving: solitude. Then he gets snowed in with Darcy in his cozy cabin in the woods, and their heated feelings begin to melt the icy barrier between them.

With Ben's need for privacy and Darcy's love of family and social life, will opposites still attract once the snow clears and the holiday festivities come to an end?

My Thoughts

Darcy Shaughnessy has grown up with her five older brothers and dad. Her mom died when she was a baby so they were all she knew growing up. Flash forward, Darcy is now 25 and she is trying to figure where she's supposed to be in life. As a favor for one of sister-in-law, Darcy ends up in Washington state and gets snowed in with Ben, the guys she went to work with. The story basically takes off from there.

With Holiday Spice being the 6th book in what I believe is a companion series, I feel like I missed out on some things coming into it during this story line. Darcy and her family love each other and it is clear how close they are whenever they are mentioned. However, I didn't have the time to personally connect with them. There was a lot of references that were made and they went completely over my head. I also found it hard to keep up with the brothers and who each of them was married to. That being said, I would like to go back to the beginning and learn about each of the members of the family and see more of the family dynamics between all of them. 

It was interesting learning about Darcy and Ben. The two of them are so different but they also have a lot of similarities. As can be expected this sometimes causes issues between them. Both Darcy and Ben have become so set in their ways but when they meet they challenge each other to face their fears. There was some miscommunications on both ends but there was always an undeniable attraction between them. Their relationship is not perfect but that's what I enjoy so much. It's only October but Holiday Spice has already gotten me into the Christmas spirit. Make sure to add this one to your holiday reading list.

Mine for the Week by Erika Kelly | ARC Review

Mine for the Week (Wild Love #2) by Erika Kelly
Publisher: EK Publishing
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 330
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
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Goodreads Description

From the award-winning author of MINE FOR NOW comes the next sizzling story in her Wild Love series, about a chance meeting that changes the course of two people’s lives.

As the top collegiate shortstop in the country, Ryan O’Donnell’s life is about discipline. But a growing restlessness causes him to bail on his baseball team over spring break to join his buddies at a singles resort. He just needs one week to escape his life, and then he’ll get back on track. But moments after arriving he meets HER, and the world as he knows it changes irrevocably. It should only be a hookup—that’s what spring break’s all about—but one taste of this sexy, vibrant woman isn’t enough. He has to have her. Even if it’s only for a week.

Sophie Valentine—yes, that Valentine—just found out her siblings want to sell off Crazy Hearts—the Peeps of the Valentine’s Day world. Upset, she takes off with her friends on their spring break vacation. She only wanted an escape—she never imagined meeting HIM. But he’s about to start a Major League Baseball career, and she’s launching a fight for her family legacy. They have no future. It’s just…she’s never felt this way for anyone before. 

Are they really going to walk away from this kind of connection…this passion?

My Thoughts

Erika Kelly is a new to me author and I honestly didn't know what to expect from Mine for the Week. This book follows Ryan O'Donnell and Sophie Valentine. The two of them come from pretty different backgrounds and run each other randomly while on vacation at a single's resort. Their unlikely meeting quickly turns into something more.

I never thought this would be something I'd say but I was happy with the use of insta-love in this story. I'm not one of those people who completely hates insta-love but it can be annoying when it's not done right. There was an instant attraction between the two main characters but in the short amount of time that they knew each other they opened up like they've never done before. Not only that, they inspired growth and change in each other and I couldn't have asked for more.

Even though the majority of the story takes place over only one week, it felt like Ryan and Sophie knew each other for so much longer. The downside to this was getting annoyed with Ryan going through the same cycle of thinking. Whenever Sophie would tell him to think about what he wanted and his happiness, Ryan would would focus on making sure everyone else was happy or he was letting them down. I know this was a big part of himself he needed to overcome but I felt like he was taking too long to get to that point.

This was such an exciting journey and I had fun following Ryan and Sophie each step of the way. Overall, I was surprised with Mine for the Week and am happy I had the chance to read it. I would love to go back and read the first book in the companion series.

The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti | ARC Review

The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: September 26, 2017
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Pages: 352
Source: eARC from Publisher
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Goodreads Description

Known for novels featuring “great pacing and true surprises” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) and “nerve-shattering suspense” (Heather Gudenkauf, New York Time bestselling author), New York Times bestselling author Kate Moretti’s latest is the story of a scandal-torn Pennsylvania town and the aftermath of a troubled girl gone missing.

“Where did they come from? Why did they fall? The question would be asked a thousand times…

Until, of course, more important question arose, at which time everyone promptly forgot that a thousand birds fell on the town of Mount Oanoke at all.”

In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a thousand dead starlings fall onto a high school baseball field, unleashing a horrifying and unexpected chain of events that will rock the close-knit community.

Beloved baseball coach and teacher Nate Winters and his wife, Alecia, are well respected throughout town. That is, until one of the many reporters investigating the bizarre bird phenomenon catches Nate embracing a wayward student, Lucia Hamm, in front of a sleazy motel. Lucia soon buoys the scandal by claiming that she and Nate are engaged in an affair, throwing the town into an uproar…and leaving Alecia to wonder if her husband has a second life.

And when Lucia suddenly disappears, the police only to have one suspect: Nate.

Nate’s coworker and sole supporter, Bridget Harris, Lucia’s creative writing teacher, is determined to prove his innocence. She has Lucia’s class journal, and while some of the entries appear particularly damning to Nate’s case, others just don’t add up. Bridget knows the key to Nate’s exoneration and the truth of Lucia’s disappearance lie within the walls of the school and in the pages of that journal.

Told from the alternating points of view of Alecia, Nate, Lucia, and Bridget, The Blackbird Season is a haunting, psychologically nuanced suspense, filled with Kate Moretti’s signature “chillingly satisfying” (Publishers Weekly) twists and turns.

My Thoughts

The Blackbird Season is the first mystery/thriller novel I've read, or at least that I can think of. This story takes place in Mount Oanoke, a small town in Pennsylvania. It is one of those small towns where everyone pretty much grew up with each other and they basically know everything about each other's lives. So imagine living in this small town where the only exciting thing to do is gossip and suddenly one day a thousand birds fall from the sky. However, that news is quickly disregarded when Nate Winters, high school teacher and baseball coach, is accused of having an affair with one of his students.

Early on I was drawn into the story. There was already a sense of what the story was going to be about based on the synopsis that's given. When the book opens up we are following Nate after what's already been revealed in the description then goes back to a previous point, leaving the reader to speculate what lead up to him being where was in the beginning. I really enjoyed this format because as more things were revealed I was able to form my own opinions while trying to figure out what actually happened and who was involved.

As can be expected with anything I read, there are things I didn't like. My main problem was the characters! I found that I didn't like most (if not all) of the characters. Every single character that was introduced had become complacent in their life and was unhappy. Instead of doing things that could improve their lives they only did things that made themselves and their families even more miserable. I'm sure they were meant to be unlikable characters but it's hard for me to stay engaged in a story when I don't like the people I'm reading about. It didn't help that I felt parts of the story weren't really important to the story line I was most interested in.

It was interesting to see the dynamics of Mount Oanoke and how everything changed throughout the book. Everyone pretends like their life is perfect and nothing is wrong even when everyone knows so much about each other. Nate was so well loved by most people in their community and I was surprised to see how quickly people turned on him when the accusation of the affair with his student came out. I was gripped by the mystery of Lucia's disappearance and everything that occurred after that. I had guesses of who might be involved but I wasn't completely sure until it was revealed. The Blackbird Season was a pretty solid mystery/thriller and I now want to check out more.

Fireblood by Elly Blake | ARC Review

Fireblood (Frostblood Saga #2) by Elly Blake
Publisher: Little Brown
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 416
Source: ARC from the NOVL
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Goodreads Description

All hail the Fire Queen.

Against all odds, Ruby has defeated the villainous Frost King and melted his throne of ice. But the bloodthirsty Minax that was trapped inside is now haunting her kingdom and everyone she loves. The answers to its demise may lie to the south in Sudesia, the land of the Firebloods, and a country that holds the secrets to Ruby’s powers and past…

Despite warnings from her beloved Arcus, Ruby accompanies a roguish Fireblood named Kai to Sudesia, where she must master her control of fire in a series of trials to gain the trust of the suspicious Fire Queen. Only then can she hope to access the knowledge that could defeat the rampaging Minax—which grows closer every moment. But as sparks fly in her moments alone with Kai, Ruby no longer knows whom to trust. The fates of two kingdoms are now in her hands.

My Thoughts

Before starting Fireblood I decided to reread Frostblood since I didn't remember too much of the story. I have already reviewed it but after this read I decided to drop my initial rating to 3 stars. It's not that I thought the book was bad, I just couldn't understand why I had given it 4 stars the first time I read it. With that being said, Fireblood was amazing!

Everything I felt was missing while reading Frostblood was given to me in this installment of the series. I felt connected to the main character, Ruby, almost immediately and I was invested in her story. I know this might sound a little crazy but before I felt like there was a distance between the main character and myself. So, while I was interested in the storyline I didn't really care what happened to Ruby or wasn't impacted when something bad happened to her during the first book. Everything about Ruby's character felt real and relatable which made me love her.

Going along with that, there was a lot more tension in the actual story. At least it was for me. Ruby takes so many risks throughout Fireblood and my heart was pounding each moment I was waiting to see the outcome of a decision she made. This brings me back to what I mentioned before, I was a lot more invested in Ruby's story. Also, I felt like the story wasn't as familiar as it was in the first book. A big criticism about Frostblood was that its as similar to too many other young adult fantasy novels and while I agreed I still thought the story had its own unique touch. Fireblood took that and expanded upon it, shaping the story into something I've never personally come across.

While I had some predictions I was not expecting some of the bigger plot points that were revealed. Fireblood was luckily not one of those books that was a victim to the middle book slump. Actually it improved upon the foundation that was set in the opening. Although a journey ended by the end of Fireblood I can't wait to see where these characters go and how their story will end in Nightblood, the conclusion of this trilogy.

Temporary by Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry | ARC Mini Review

Temporary by Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 302
Source: eARC from Author
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Goodreads Description

The most beautiful man I've ever seen is the one who can ruin everything...

The first time I lay eyes on Callan Walker, I know he’ll be trouble. With his smug grin, hot Aussie accent and thousand dollar shoes, he’s just the kind of rich guy who always gets what he wants. 

And he wants two things: a night of sin, and my cooperation as he outmaneuvers his powerful mother to take control of his uncle’s estate.

I can’t afford either one. I’m the only thing standing between my little sister and the foster care system. He may have money and charm on his side, but I have something even more powerful -- pure desperation. This temp job at his mother’s company can become a full time job for me. It has to. 

But when Callan’s eyes rake over my body, sometimes I forget my obligations. His piercing gaze finds the fun, optimistic girl I used to be and not the tired person I’ve become.

And it works--if only for a moment. Our night together was a mistake. I can't afford to get sucked into his high-powered family’s treachery. But the closer I get to Callan, the more layers I find beneath those expensive clothes. Though I can’t forget this is temporary. He’s temporary. I have too much to lose. 

Too bad my foolish heart didn’t get the memo...

My Thoughts

Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry are new-to-me authors. While I haven't read anything by either of them I have heard praise for Sarina Bowen and her books. A big problem that can come with co-authoring a book is a story seeming like two separate pieces were being forced together but that wasn't the case with this book. Temporary flowed together and was seamless. It felt like the entire book was written by one author.

This book took me by surprise. Based on the cover and synopsis I was expecting this to focus on a steamy romance and while that is part of it, that isn't the only topic this book focuses on. We get to see how the characters have been affected by not having the best home life growing up. It also shows how people deal with grief and different family dynamics.

Temporary was such a fun read. It didn't completely blow me away but it was still an amazing read. I do with this was a little longer. Callan and Grace went through quite a bit in this book but I still feel like it's only the beginning of their story. Not to mention that Temporary left off on a pretty big cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to seeing what stories these two authors come up with together in the future.

Drunk on You by Harper Sloan | ARC Review

Drunk on You (Hope Town #4) by Harper Sloan
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 350
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
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Goodreads Description

It was supposed to be fun.
A mutual use of each other's bodies.
To be a ruse to the world around us.
I wanted to be free from my ex, and he wanted to escape his.

One drunken night turned a joke into a life-changing moment.
He warned me not to fall for him, and I should've listened.

He intoxicated me.
He made me crave him.
He ruined me.
In the end, I'll never be the same.

My Thoughts

Before Drunk on You I've never read anything by Harper Sloan so going into this I had no expectations. This book follows Shane and Nicole and they are currently in similar situations. About a year ago each of them broke up with the person they were dating because they caught them cheating. Deciding to take advantage of their attraction to each other, they start a fake relationship in order to get rid of their crazy exes who will not leave them alone.

Nikki and Shane's relationship. . . . I'm not even sure where to begin. There is already an attraction between the two of them before the book even starts and they finally act on it almost from the very beginning of this book. Although their relationship is supposed to be fake it was clear to me that each of them more than they were letting on. And when they had their steamy moments, they were HOT!! Going along with this, I didn't really care for the dominant/submissive role-play that happened throughout the majority of this book. This is just a personal preference and I don't fell like their roleplaying was ever taken too far.

I thought the overall story was done really well! A big part of why I felt I enjoyed the story so much was because of the characters. Shane and Nikki go through a journey of self discovery and learn to allow themselves to be at the mercy of another person. Throughout the journey each of them goes on I felt they each stayed true to themselves while learning and growing from their experiences. Both Nikki and Shane had a lot to overcome from their past relationships and while things aren't perfect I feel like they came such a long way over the course of this book.

However, it wasn't only the two main characters I enjoyed. I found myself really liking most of the other characters that were mentioned, especially Ember and Nate. Unlike most people that will probably read Drunk on You, I have no connection to these characters. As far as I know there are currently three other books in the Hope Town series as well as another series that's connected to this one. There were a lot of name drops and they went completely over my head. I can only assume that these characters were in other books.

Overall, this was a great story. I'm definitely interested in reading the other books in the Hope Town series as well as other books by Harper Sloan. I'm so happy this author is now on my radar. Make sure you guys go check out Drunk on You and give it some love!

Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand. Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Blog Tour: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid | Review

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Chick Lit
Pages: 400
Source: eARC fro Publisher
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Goodreads Description

From Taylor Jenkins Reid comes an unforgettable and sweeping novel about one classic film actress’s relentless rise to the top—the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.

Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds through the decades—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Filled with emotional insight and written with Reid’s signature talent, this is a fascinating journey through the splendor of Old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it takes—to face the truth.

My Thoughts

Before I started reading tis novel I admit I was a bit nervous. This isn't the kind of book that I normally read. Although I was intrigued by the synopsis I was still concerned I wouldn't enjoy it and have to for myself through. I decided to get it a try anyway and I'm so happy I did. From the moment I started reading I was hooked and had to know where the story would go.

The writing was amazing! There was so much that happened in this book that I wouldn't even begin to know details about but everything felt so real. The characters, the places they went, and the people they met, I felt as if I could see everything. There were even times where I wanted to look up different movies mentioned and gossip column articles, only to remember that this is a work of fiction and these things didn't actually happen.

I also really loved the characters. Each of them was flawed and so beautifully human. They all fought to live the life they wanted. They loved, lost, and hurt so deeply. Especially Evelyn Hugo. From the very beginning I felt so connected to Evelyn. I didn't always agree with her choices, honestly most of the time I didn't agree with her, but I understood each time why she chose what she did and how that choice benefited or hurt her lifestyle. Evelyn Hugo is probably the most flawed character I have read about but I appreciate that she realizes and accepts her faults and doesn't regret the decisions she has made.

I don't understand why I was so emotionally invested in this book and these characters but I was. It takes a lot for me to cry while reading a book and I cried three or four times while reading. That might not mean much to you but it means a lot for me. There were so many quotable moments throughout this novel, so many I wouldn't even know where to begin with my list. If this sounds even a little interesting I highly suggest trying it out. I don't think you'll regret it!

Mister Romance (Masters of Love #1) by Leisa Raven | Review

Mister Romance (Masters of Love #1) by Leisa Raven
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: April 30, 2017
Genre: New Adult, Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 317
Source: eARC from Author
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Goodreads Description

As his alter-ego Mister Romance, Max is a drop-dead gorgeous escort who makes romantic fantasies come to life. No sex, just swoon-worthy dates to die for, and the cream of New York's socialites can't get enough.  Whether they want a dominating billionaire, bad boy with a heart of gold, hot geek, sexy biker, or best friend who loves them from afar, Max can make it all happen, but he's careful to keep his real identity a secret. 

Enter investigative journalist Eden Tate. Having caught wind of the urban legend of Mister Romance from a lovestruck client, Eden is determined to publish a scathing expose on Max and his ability to swindle lonely society women out of their fortunes. 

Desperate to protect his anonymity and his clients, Max challenges Eden to give him three dates. If she doesn't fall in love with him, she can run her story with his blessing. If she succumbs to his charms, the story dies. 

Cynical Eden has no doubt she can resist his fake romance personas, but when the real Max admits he’s falling for her, she has to decide if the professional liar is telling the truth, or if the passionate man with the mysterious past is just one more character designed to con her out of her career-making story. 

My Thoughts

I wanted to put this up a few days ago but I was having a really hard time pulling all my thoughts together into a coherent review. When this book opens up we start getting to know one of our main characters. Eden is 25 and stuck in a job she hates. We quickly learn that she doesn't believe in romantic love and is set to spend the rest of her life single and only using men for her physical needs. After hearing about Mister Romance, Eden is determined to write an article exposing how this man is scamming New York's elites in order to advance her career.

Max, or Mister Romance, wants to make sure his business stays private. In order to do this he challenges Eden to go on three dates with him. If by the end of that time she felt the same as before he would allow her to publish her story. However, if Eden falls in love with him by the end of that time she has to drop the story. Of course because Eden doesn't believe in romance/love she agrees thinking she will soon be publishing her story.

I didn't always agree with Eden and how she chose to live her life but I found her to be such a relatable character. I'm personally a hopeless romantic (in disguise) but I shared Eden's skepticism about Max's business. From the moment Max physically entered the story I knew I would be in love. What starts as an attempt to get a reporter to drop the story about his business quickly changes to altering Eden's opinion of romance and love. The more Eden opens up and learns about his actions and the motives behind them, I started believing and accepting what Max was doing.

Another thing I loved about this story that wasn't really the main focus was the relationship between Eden and her family. There were a good number of parts that made me laugh throughout this book and the majority of them happened with her sister (Asha) and her grandmother (Nanabeth). Even though Eden doesn't believe in romantic love it's clear that she loves her family and will do everything she can for them. I do wish we learned a bit more about Eden and Asha's parents because I still had some questions when it came to them.

Mister Romance was one of those books that immediately grabbed my attention and didn't let go until I read the last word. This is the first book in a series (I'm really hoping it's a companion series) and I hope we get to see these characters again in the future. Leisa has quickly become an author that I'll read whatever she publishes! This is once all romance lovers need to read!

Until It Ends by K.A. Tucker | Cover Reveal

I'm excited to be participating in the cover reveal for Until It Ends by K.A. Tucker. She is a new to me author but this books sounds really interesting. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania: population three thousand outside of tourist season.

And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed attempt at a relationship, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has saved: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.

Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works.

For a time.

But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. What begins as an immediate friendship quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something that Catherine is afraid to trust.

Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine…before the spark fades?

Until It Fades will be releasing May 2, 2017 through Atria Books but it is currently available for preorder. Make sure to check out the links.

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About K.A. Tucker

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 14 books, including Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water, and her latest Adult Suspense novel, He Will Be My Ruin. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, and Publisher's Weekly.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and a Chug.

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