Genre:   Contemporary Romance, Mystery/Suspense, YA

Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen.
Complete strangers since this morning.
He’ll do anything to remember. She’ll do anything to forget.

Are you ready for the next part of Silas and Charlie’s story???  I know I am!

Title:   Never Never Part Two  (Never Never Series Book #2)

Author:   Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher

Release Date:   May 17, 2015

Genre:   Contemporary Romance, Mystery/Suspense, YA

Silas races against time as more truths unravel, while others twist tighter together. “Where are you, Charlie?” Never Never: Part Two is the continuation of the Never Never series.

 

Did you see Silas’s Love Note from Valentine’s Day?

Keep reading to see the full Love Note!

 

My name is Silas Nash, and this Valentine goes out to the girl I’m trying to find. According to the information I found in her wallet, her name is Charlize. However, the notes I found in my car show that I sometimes refer to her as Charlie. Also–according to my notes–I’m madly in love with her. So Charlie, if you get this message, I miss you. I think. I love you. I think. And WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?

Never Never by Colleen Hoover

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

3.5 “Charlie baby” “Never never” “trees” “pearls” Kisses

I am not going to lie, from the moment I heard about this book I was beyond excited. You cannot tell me that two of my favorite authors ever are writing a book and not expect me to flip out a little. Plus the synopsis? Get out of here. My grabby hands were out of control. But I was nervous…because I didn’t want my expectations to be so high that I hyped it up past a reasonable point. I should know by now that when dealing with Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher, I should always anticipate greatness, because they never cease to amaze me.

Charlize Margaret Wynwood…such an elegant name, I like it. Charlie is…unique. For the most part I liked her…but I can’t guarantee I would have liked the old-Charlie. I don’t mean that in a bad way…I don’t have to like everybody, but there are tendencies and traits that the old-Charlie had, that the new-Charlie hasn’t picked up yet and I’m kinda hoping she doesn’t. New-Charlie is…open, inquisitive, guarded to a point but it feels like it’s more out of self-preservation than anything. Between Charlie and Silas…I’d say she’s got a rougher time of piecing herself together…even more so because of the guarded thing, but I did enjoy getting to know her. I feel the times she truly shines and I connect with her the most is when she is around Silas.

‘She’s beautiful, but in a shameful way. One I’m not sure I’m supposed to appreciate. Everything about her is captivating, like the aftermath of a storm. People aren’t supposed to get pleasure out of the destruction Mother Nature is capable of, but we want to stare anyway. Charlie is the devastation left in the wake of a tornado.’

Silas Nash…I’m so close to falling in love with Silas, and I don’t even know that much about him. This boy has an amazing personality that even not knowing as much about him as I would like to cannot stop the fact that he is just flat out wonderful. What I do know…he’s kind, sweet, genuine…determined…thoughtful, he’s not perfect but he clearly tries his best. He’s hilarious…I love his sense of humor…it was really easy to be drawn to Silas, he’s magnetic like that. Silas is…like an open book, he’s really easy to read (that was an unintentional pun, I promise!)…and the one of the few things I know about Silas is how he feels about Charlie.

“Why are you smiling?” she asks, three miles into our drive.
I didn’t realize I was. I shrug. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
I glance at her and she’s waiting for my answer with an impatient frown. “I was wondering how the old Silas ever broke through your hard exterior.”
She laughs. “What makes you think he did?”
I would smile again, but I don’t think I’ve stopped. “You saw the video, Charlie. You loved him.” I pause for a second, then rephrase. “Me. You loved me.”
“She loved you,” Charlie says, and then smiles. “I’m not even sure if I like you yet.”
I shake my head with a soft laugh. “I don’t know myself very well, but I must have been extremely competitive. Because I just took that as a challenge.”
“Took what as a challenge? You think you can make me like you again?”
I look over at her and give my head the slightest shake. “No. I’m gonna make you fall in love with me again.”

Holy mind fuck batman…I felt like I was on the insane journey with both of them and it was amazing. I love mysteries and puzzles and trying to figure stuff out – it’s not even an intentional thing, it just how my mind works now, so reading Never Never was like discovering something I didn’t even know I wanted. I really liked the balance of mystery to romance…because they’re both so intertwined, I don’t think one could have survived without the other. I also enjoyed the way things were revealed…it’s really easy to get frustrated when you don’t know all the facts and details, so there has to be kind of a give and take with wondering WTF is happening to getting clues and piecing stuff together. The way everything worked out was spot on for me…I was hooked and eating up every detail, falling in love with Charlie and Silas individually and together.

“Let’s get out of here,” he says. “Go do something that doesn’t belong to Charlie and Silas. Something that’s ours.”
“You’re talking about us like we’re body invaders.”
Silas closes his eyes and tilts his head back. “You have no idea how many times a day I think about invading your body.”

I have been intentionally vague on a lot of the details of Never Never because it’s not an easily explainable book without revealing something and there is so much about NN that really needs to be experienced firsthand. I love this plot so much, it’s kind of ridiculous – and this is coming from a girl who hates not knowing things. A small part of me is throwing a huge tantrum wanting to figure it out and know all the answers…but I’m really enjoying the ride and the experience. There is a lot to be said for letting go and just hanging on for dear life…it’s very freeing and for the most part it’s making me appreciate the story and characters so much more. The whole story line is incredibly unique and original…I’ve read my fair share of books and I’ve never read anything like this – it’s captivating, engaging and addictive. Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher separately blow me away every. Single. Time. I read one of their books. Combined…it’s like all the planets have aligned to create this perfect book universe where my brain is in its happy place. Sometimes when two authors join forces it can feel like it…the flow is off, pacing is just not there, it’s just not cohesive. Completely not a problem with these two…everything about Never Never works brilliantly.

‘When we lock eyes, I feel like I’m meeting a brand new side of her. A side of her without resolve. A vulnerable side. A side that’s allowing herself to feel something. I want to grin and ask her how it feels to be in love, but I know teasing her in this moment would piss her off and she’d walk away and I can’t let that happen. Not right now. Not when I finally get to catalog an actual memory with all the numerous fantasies I’ve had about her mouth.’

So…the dreaded cliffy – honestly, did it make me want book 2? Yeah…duh. But…that’s the point! I mean the last 10% I couldn’t read fast enough and getting to those last few sentences when so much is coming together and I was basically holding my breath for what was going to happen next. It was awesome…and I’m so beyond ready for  Never Never Part 2…insanely excited to see what Colleen and Tarryn do with the story next and ready to continue my mind-fuck journey with Charlie and Silas. #BringItOn

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Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Maybe Someday, and Finding Cinderella. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

I am a real life villain, truly. I drink sick amounts of Starbucks. Most of the time my hair smells like coffee. I was born in South Africa, and lived there for most of my childhood. I moved to Seattle just for the rain. Rome is my favorite place in the world so far, Paris comes in at a close second. I read and write more than I sleep. When I was eleven, I wrote an entire novel about runaway orphans, using only purple ink. I am addicted to Florence and the Machine and will travel to see concerts. I love scary movies and giraffes. I spend way too much time on Facebook. Meet you there?…

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen.
Complete strangers since this morning.
He’ll do anything to remember. She’ll do anything to forget.

Ooooh…I love Silas’s note…I think…

Keep reading to see the full Love Note!

My name is Silas Nash, and this Valentine goes out to the girl I’m trying to find. According to the information I found in her wallet, her name is Charlize. However, the notes I found in my car show that I sometimes refer to her as Charlie. Also–according to my notes–I’m madly in love with her. So Charlie, if you get this message, I miss you. I think. I love you. I think. And WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?

 

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Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Maybe Someday, and Finding Cinderella. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

I am a real life villain, truly. I drink sick amounts of Starbucks. Most of the time my hair smells like coffee. I was born in South Africa, and lived there for most of my childhood. I moved to Seattle just for the rain. Rome is my favorite place in the world so far, Paris comes in at a close second. I read and write more than I sleep. When I was eleven, I wrote an entire novel about runaway orphans, using only purple ink. I am addicted to Florence and the Machine and will travel to see concerts. I love scary movies and giraffes. I spend way too much time on Facebook. Meet you there?…

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.

When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be.

I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here.
I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room.
But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night.

Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California.

It had been years since I’d seen Elec.

When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again.

And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.

I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone novel.

I love Elec’s way with words…

Keep reading to see the full Love Note!

I was wrong.

Greta Equals Way More Than Great…

I’m so crazy for you…I can’t see straight.

I’ve been filling a novel with you more each day.

That’s falling in love with the letters scrambled, by the way.

You’re a part of me now, like a right arm…

My lucky charm…

Ok…I’m running out of material.

GET CEREAL!

O, Evil You…

(I Love You.)

P.S. This Valentine’s Day I have a double date. It’s with my stepsister and my wife. 😉

Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4 “scramble the letters” “Look at me.” Kisses

I could not put this one down. And I didn’t. Seriously…I read this book, cover to cover, non-stop, in one sitting – I can’t even tell you the last time that happened…it has been a while but OMG I effin loved it! Everything about it completely had me…I was just compelled to keep reading, I couldn’t even fathom not finishing it because every time I said I was going to stop…something else happened and I was like…well, I can’t stop now!!! And so…I sit here writing my review on barely four hours of sleep and I seriously cannot stop thinking about Greta and her ass hole step brother and the rollercoaster ride they just took me on. *sigh* #BookwormProblems

Greta Hansen…is a sweetheart. A little on the innocent side…friendly…kind…but to her very core a sweet girl. I mean only a sweet person would be nice to someone who is as much of an ass as Elec is to her. But don’t let any of that fool you, Greta is not a doormat by any stretch of the imagination…she just picks her battles wisely and stands up for what she believes in. I bonded with Greta in ways I wasn’t expecting…she’s an only child, and so am I…she lost her father very quickly to cancer and so did I. I think that’s why I really fell into the story, I may not have connected 100% to Greta, but I got her and I liked her a lot. I think anyone who has the balls to stand up to a guy like Elec deserves a gold medal, honestly…

‘I left the room and went back downstairs. Seeing him looking so down when he didn’t know I was watching him made me more determined than ever to break through to him somehow. I needed to know if this was just a façade or if he were truly a genuine asshole. The meaner he was to me, the more I wanted to make him like me. It was a challenge.’

Elec O’Rourke…yeah…even his name is hot…but trust me…he only gets hotter…tall, lean muscles, tattoo’s everywhere (and the fact that they actually meant something! Don’t even get me started…), dark hair, grey eyes…but it was his attitude that really sucked me in. He’s an ass…cocky…arrogant…but not in a douchey way…he toed that line very nicely. While he may have said and done things to Greta to get a reaction from her, I honestly didn’t think any of his actions were truly mean or mean-spirited. There is so much more to Elec than meets the eye…I mean, I get people who have it rough growing up…rough would have been a cake walk compared to what Elec went through and just thinking about his childhood makes me tear up Needless to say, he is a momma’s boy, through and through, but I don’t think she could have dreamed up a better son than Elec. I loved that beneath the tough, tatt’d guy was a sweet, gentle heart…I loved that he was a writer…and I loved that he really only opened up to one person…the one girl he wasn’t supposed to love.

“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“You turned away from me. That’s my fault. I made you feel like I didn’t want you looking at me – that self-respect bullshit I fed you. Out of everything I ever said to you, that was the biggest lie, and I regret it the most. I’d started to let my guard down, and it freaked me out. I never had a problem with the way you look at me. My issue is the way it makes me feel when you look at me; things I’m not supposed to feel, things I can’t let myself feel for you. At the same time…nothing felt worse than when you stopped looking at me Greta.”

Oye…where do I start with these two. Why is that I enjoy it to no end when a couple is at odds with one another? I love it when they fight…maybe it’s because it’s a passionate emotion of some kind and I know buried behind that anger or frustration or whatever…is the truth. Elec is an ass to Greta from the start…he barely even looks at her and he’s giving her an attitude so I knew it had very little to do with Greta and a whole lot to do with something or someone else. I loved Greta’s faith and devotion to Elec…he gives her every reason to hate him…give up on him…and she doesn’t. The way they form their bond…over ice cream and video games…protecting one another from the things they can…it was like I didn’t even have to try to fall in love with them…it just happened…but man did they make it a rough ride. And I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.

“You make me feel things, Greta. You always have. When I’m around you, whether it’s good or bad…I feel everything. Sometimes, I don’t handle it too well, and I fight it by acting like an asshole. I don’t know what it is about you, but I feel like you see the real me. The second I saw you again for the first time at Greg’s when you were standing in that garden…it was like I couldn’t hide behind myself anymore.”

I’m an angst whore and Stepbrother Dearest fed my angsty soul! So the book is separated into two parts. Part 1…OMG…the sexual tension was palpable and delicious and I was tortured…and then, things got…hotter than hell. Good gravy…Elec is a sexual force of nature and he may or may not have made me drool (he totally made me drool). Clearly…I’m in my happy little bookworm place with Part 1 and I knew it was about to get angsty again but…I was not prepared for the angst that came next. If I was tortured in Part 1…Part 2 nearly ripped my heart out. Because…it’s still the same angsty goodness with these characters…just more history, with a side of pent up emotions and a dollop of I-still-wanna-fuck-your-brains-out…sounds like a tasty recipe, right? Oh…it totally was. Obviously, the writing was what brought this all together for me and made it that much better. It was fantastic…clearly…I mean, for me it was un-put-downable (yes…it’s a word!)…I mean the story just demanded to be read. It was angsty, hot-n-steamy, funny, emotional and it flowed perfectly. I’ll be honest…this was my first Penelope Ward, but if this is what I can expect from her…count me in cause I’m in love.

“I guess it doesn’t matter anymore,” I said under my breath so low that I didn’t think he heard me.
Elec scowled as he took the empty bowl to the sink, washed it and put it in the strainer.
He looked back at me. “You’ll always matter to me, Greta. Always.”

So clearly…I enjoyed the story, loved the characters, everything was great…but there was part towards the end of the book that I got a little frustrated with. The entire book is from Greta’s POV…but there is a point where we get to see things from Elec’s POV…and I don’t want to say why or how because I feel that would spoil it…but trust me, I was so excited when it happened because the entire book all I wanted to do was climb into that boy’s head! So I’m loving every minute of it until…it got repetitive. I am a lover of dual POV’s, so do not get me wrong on this but I like it up until the point where I stop getting new information. There were certain pieces that I felt did not need to be rehashed word for word…I wasn’t reading anything I hadn’t already read before, and that’s where my frustration came into play. Plus…with what was happening, I almost wanted more from Greta…of her thoughts and emotions from what she is learning. Then towards the end, it all wrapped up so quickly…I felt like I didn’t get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked. Don’t get me wrong, the ending is fabulous…I guess maybe a little more conversation and it would have made me feel better about everything.

“Now, I understand,” Sully said.
“Understand what?”
“Why you’re here with me every Friday night and not on a date with some man, why you’ve been unable to open your heart to anyone. It belongs to someone else.”
“It used to. Now, it’s just broken. How do I fix it?”
“Sometimes, we can’t.”

I was not expecting the ending to be as…thorough as it was. Of course I was hopeful for my big red bow that I love to get…but this was more than I could have ever imagined and the epilogue just thrilled me to bits and pieces. And the fact that it was from Elec’s POV was pretty spectacular. I’m always the girl who wants more, but this is an absolutely fantastic standalone. Stepbrother Dearest is packed full of so much amazingness…an amazing story of two people, the choices they made and the unending love they had for each other.

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Penelope Ward is a USA Today Bestselling author.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family friendly career.

Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.

She is the proud mother of a beautiful 9-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 7-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.

Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.

Author: M. Pierce

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Matt Sky is missing. After a solo ascent of Longs Peak that left only a large blood stain, tatters of climbing clothing, and the tracks of an animal in the snow, he is presumed dead.

Hannah Catalano is guarding a secret: She knows Matt is alive. After Matt’s memorial service, she lingers on the East Coast with his family, but it soon becomes clear that his brothers’ motives are less than gracious. Nate Sky is bent on tracking down the author of Night Owl, a book that charts the last days of Matt’s life with uncanny and scandalous accuracy, and which appeared only after his death. Seth Sky is bent on getting Hannah into his bed.

Tensions rise, secrets grow bigger, and passions run deeper—and hotter—as Matt struggles to find himself, Hannah tries to escape Nate’s libel suit and fend off Seth’s advances, and together Matt and Hannah strive desperately to maintain their ruse and their relationship…until Hannah is put in danger and Matt must make a life or death choice.

Do you remember Matt’s Love Note from last year?

Title: Night Owl (Night Owl Trilogy Book #1)

Author: M. Pierce

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

“Tautly written, complex, and vibrating with a dark sensuality that will have you at once blushing and anxious. You’ll think you have this book pegged . . . but you’ll be wrong.”—Christina Lauren, New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors of The Beautiful Bastard series

From bestselling ebook author M. Pierce comes the first novel in a provocative erotic trilogy where an anonymous online writing partnership turns into an uncontrollable, passionate obsession

At twenty-eight, Matt Sky has the perfect life. He has a beautiful girlfriend, a massive inheritance, and four national bestsellers — all penned under his airtight alias, M. Pierce.

At twenty-seven, Hannah Catalano is a train wreck. Her boyfriend is a deadbeat and her job is abysmal.

Matt and Hannah meet online as writing partners. Their relationship is safe, anonymous, and innocent…

Until Matt sees a picture of Hannah. Hannah’s picture sparks an attraction Matt is powerless to ignore. When circumstance brings Matt and Hannah together, the strangers begin a love story that’s passionate, poignant, unforgettable, and unstoppable.

Title: After Dark (Night Owl Trilogy Book #3)

Author: M. Pierce

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Release Date: March 24, 2015

At twenty-nine, Matt Sky is trying to return to normal, having faked his death and come back to life. He and Hannah move to a simple house in the suburbs, and strive to grow their relationship into something durable and honest. They become more and more entangled, in the best ways possible.

At twenty-eight, Hannah finally has the life she’s always wanted: she’s pursuing her career as a literary agent at Granite Wing Agency, she is writing her first solo novel, and she is living with her hot, passionate lover. For the first time, Matt and Hannah are able to explore intimacy without inhibitions—without lies, secrets, or jealousy—and the results are explosive.

Still life together is not as easy as it seems. Matt is estranged from his brothers in the wake of his cruel stunt; Seth Sky, embittered by his failed pursuit of Hannah, makes a play for Hannah’s sister; and the topic of Hannah’s novel—her relationship with Matt and the Sky family—is driving a wedge between her and Matt. The lovers are devoted to one another, having come through many ordeals, but is their bond strong enough to last a lifetime?

Matt just made me swoon…

Keep reading to see the full Love Note!

P.S. You knew a postscript was coming (no pun), didn’t you? Do you like my picture? Too far? Seeing as you took that pic, I’m sure you don’t mind. And it’s true, Hannah. Whenever I get excited, whenever I get aroused, it’s for you. When I come, it’s always for you. You’re so good with my body—you know what I like—but more than that, you’re good with my heart. My mind.

I don’t know how you do it, but you handle me just right . . . in and out of bed. You’re the only woman patient enough to deal with my “assholery” and loving enough to forgive me when I screw up, but also self-respecting enough to hold me to your standards and brave enough to endure a relationship with me. You are the heroine of my books.

I thought I would have trouble writing this Valentine’s Day note for you—I was combing “The Love Letters of Great Men” for inspiration—but now that I’ve put pen to paper, it’s all here. It’s all in my heart, waiting to be said. I know how much I love you (completely) and how much I owe you (everything). I know what I’d be without you (nothing) and how I want you (forever). I also want you now, right now, today, here. Put down this silly note and come make love to me. I want to kiss you. You know where.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Hannah.

All my love, always,

Matt

Last Light by M. Pierce

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4.5 “little bird” “lord of lies” “Happiness is useless to me.” Kisses

I don’t know what to think or say or feel right now. This series and these characters mean so much to me and I’ve been looking forward to Last Light for a few days shy of a year.   Night Owl completely blew me away and obviously, I had very high expectations for Last Light…needless to say, I was not disappointed. For the record…Last Light is the second book in the Night Owl Trilogy…a trilogy that absolutely must be read in order…and trust me…you need to experience Matt Sky.

Matthew Robert Sky Jr…oh my goodness where do I even begin with this man. Why is it that I find all of his negative traits adorable and endearing? I mean, he’s surly…brooding…at times rude…he has jerkish tendencies, can say some pretty mean stuff and at his worst, he’s really a complete asshole. And yet…I love him. I love him because of those things and in spite of them because while Matt is a very complicated character, I’ve seen the capacity of his heart and that is what makes it possible for me to see past all the negative. Matt isn’t a ‘bad guy’ by any stretch of the imagination…he’s definitely an acquired taste but…I get it. He has two loves in his life…his writing and Hannah. That’s all there is…and it blows my mind how truly simple Matt is, once you break him down.

‘“Hannah-“
“No, listen. I’m okay with that, Matt. I don’t…” She traced her fingers over my knuckles and pursed her lips as she thought.
Reflexively, my fingers stirred against her thigh. We should turn in early. Yeah…right. Hannah was wearing a tiny turquoise nightie and I was in nothing but lounge pants. And after almost two months of living with Hannah, I still felt crazy when I looked at her.
“I don’t want to be the sun in your sky,” she continued. “Do you get what I mean? I’m happy being the moon. I’m happy coming second to your writing. I don’t want to be your whole life. And if this-” she kissed my shoulder. The imprint of her lips burned on my skin. “If this crazy thing we’re going to do is what it takes to protect your first love, then I’m game. We’re in this together, Matt. You can count on me.”
“Hannah.” I spoke her name slowly. I dragged my fingers up her inner thigh. “You’re stronger than I am. Do you know that?”
She shivered. “We’re different…”
“Night and day,” I murmured. The air between us was charged. A few touches, a kiss – that was all it took.’

Hannah Catalano…oh my dear sweet little bird, if it was possible, I grew to love Hannah more… I always thought Hannah was brave and strong…much more than I think she was given credit for, but she blew me away in Last Light. I feel like I got to experience Hannah in a different light…she is and always will be a more submissive woman, at least where Matt is concerned but it’s very interesting because I think being with Matt has made her stronger…more confident…it’s almost like he fuels her. With all that is going on and what she is having to do throughout Matt’s absence, in a way, Hannah blossomed. She had to be strong for both of them…do things she may have not liked…and all the while missing and longing for Matt in a way she couldn’t really express to anyone else. The sacrifices she made for him…because she loved him…made me love her a million times more…she truly is an easy to love character. At least for me.

‘“Great,” I said. “Perfect. I can’t wait…”
“Me either,” she murmured.
“I can’t wait, Hannah.” I pressed the point of my pen against the page. Black ink bled out. “You’re home. I’m glad.”
“Me too. I don’t…want to wait.” Whenever Hannah got embarrassed, which happened often and easily, her voice softened. I grinned and tilted my head. Mm, Hannah’s shy side delighted me. It made me feel like a devil.’

Last Light is very different from Night Owl…we get to see Hannah and Matt’s relationship be tested…we see Matt and Hannah more as individuals, away from their relationship and how they handle being apart…this was both a good and bad thing for me. I loved the angst that the separation brought…and the way it in some ways strengthened their relationship…it was a whole new dynamic and stage for them to get to know and understand each other. The devotion that these two have completely captivated me…granted, Matt has his own unique way of showing it, I couldn’t not love the way they expressed themselves. Matt and Hannah are a very passionate couple…that’s one of the things I enjoy about their relationship…their physicality, their chemistry, it’s part of what makes them unique and it only strengthened over the course of Last Light. And thus that leads to my struggle…I love them so much together…and given the situation that we’re faced with, that’s just not possible.

‘“Do you…like it?” I whispered.
How did this work? Matt’s desire seemed to suck the sound out of the room, and the breath out of my body. And he was only staring. I peeked at him through my lashed.
The look I found on his face is with me forever. It was need mingled with satisfaction. A hunger in his eyes, a thin smile on his lips. Matt wanted me, and Matt already had me. I was his.’

I really cannot get over how much more connected I felt to Matt while reading…I felt like I got to understand him so much more…see him in a different light…he was elusive and untouchable in NO and I feel like in LL everything is laid out on the table…flaws and all and it’s either time to accept him and love him for who he is or…move on. He’s unapologetically who he is…the good, the bad and the ugly…insanely talented, massively arrogant, blunt and crude…but he does have this deep and unyielding passion for the things he loves and seeing that come alive is what draws me to him the most. I love how different he is from other book boyfriends….his surely attitude and sinfully sexy mouth. I also enjoyed getting more of the other Sky boys…Nate, of course, is still the same resilient and reliable older brother. And we also get to meet Seth…I have thoughts on Seth. While I never disliked him, I really never knew what to think about him. I wanted to like him, but there was something about him that made me uneasy. He’s hard to get a read on…he’s a little bit like Matt but with a lot of unpredictability.

‘I should have known better, but I never learned, and I wondered at myself as I waited for Hannah to say more. Why did I always do the worst things? Why did I always arrange my life so that it was on the brink of collapse? That answer came to me as if it had only been waiting for the question. Because happiness is useless to me. Because I need agony and heat in my life.’

I went into Last Light with no expectations…no predictions…and no idea what M. Pierce was going to do to me…and I was pleasantly surprised with the directions it took. It could have been predictable and cliché…but it wasn’t. At all. I’m not going to lie, the beginning is slow…at least it was for me because that’s when Matt and Hannah are apart the most. Because they have to be and…there is purpose behind it. That purpose doesn’t make a lot of sense until towards the end of the book…but there is reason and cause behind everything that happens and I appreciated that very much. Because I went into it not really knowing what might happen…I didn’t figure it out until it smacked me in the face. It worked very well for the characters…it was completely necessary as far as character development, although it brought out some particularly choice emotions on my part…but I should expect nothing less from M. NO and LL are very different books and I mean that in a good way. NO is so passionate and electric and emotionally charged…LL is a little bit more subdued, the intensity is there but in a different way…but it still worked for the flow of the story line.

‘I want this, Matt said. Don’t hold back. Do your best…
Matt always wanted me to abandon reason – in sex as well as in life. That’s what he did. Why couldn’t I? He lived without fear of what others thought. I lived like a normal person, in my self-imposed restraint. But Matt was free, I knew, and I was not, and the double edge of his freedom was his incredible instinctive selfishness.’

Something I loved from NO that I felt was stronger in LL was…the writing. M. has a very distinctive style…and I am a huge lover of basically every word. It’s very crisp and clean with a slight edge…it’s descriptive but not to the point of being over the top or flowery. It’s hard hitting and emotional…but not sappy…it feels raw and real. The connection I feel to the characters in this series just defies words…I didn’t think it was possible for me to love Hannah and Matt more, but somehow M made it happened. I enjoyed seeing a different side to both of them, as well as their relationship…it made me appreciate them more as characters and brought me closer to understanding who they are.

‘“Always,” he whispered. “You feel it, too, don’t you? You always want me. I always want you. We belong together, Hannah.” His fingers dug into my bottom and I squeaked. It hurt just enough to feel good.’

Alright…so the end…it might be considered a little cliffhanger-ish. On the cliffhanger spectrum it is towards the lighter scale…but…it’s there. There are a lot of things still left unanswered IMO…which is a good thing because now I’m dying for After Dark. I know it will be worth the wait because LL was…and I have no doubt, Hannah and Matt will get the HEA they so richly deserve.

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M. Pierce is the bestselling author of Night Owl, book one in the erotic Night Owl Trilogy. The author lives in Colorado and owns a rabbit named Laurence.