And get ready for the second book in The Final Harris Brother Duet – Dominate!

I loooove this series SO much!  The Harris Brothers are a million different kinds of addictive!  Did you see Cam’s Love Note to Indie this past Valentine’s Day?  SUPER CUTE!!!

Genre: Contemporary Romance

He’s her patient. She’s his doctor. They shouldn’t. But God, do they want to. Camden Harris, the famously hot, hulk of a footballer is laid up in a London hospital. But his busted knee doesn’t stop him from running his well-practiced game on Indie Porter—his redheaded spitfire of a doctor. She’s not his type, not even close. But she could be the perfect distraction from the soul-crushing damage this injury could cost him. Indie’s tired of her naivety putting a target on her back. As a gifted child, she’s let her education take the front seat her whole life. But a fling with a footballer like Camden might be just what she needs to grab life by the balls. And he could be the perfect guy for the plan she’s been sitting on for over two years. But when feelings make a final play, there’s no amount of medicine that can heal the damage to their hearts.

 

Tanner and Belle are AH-MAZING!  Couldn’t get enough of them…

 

Title: Endurance (Harris Brothers Series Book #2)

Author: Amy Daws

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tanner Harris has been busy shagging his way through the ladies of east London, but getting caught by the paparazzi buck-naked with his trouser snake in his hands means he’s sowed his last wild oat. Dr. Belle Ryan once thought Tanner Harris was the perfect kind of bearded bad boy she needed to relieve a bit of stress after her intense job as a surgical fellow, but an icy cold rejection from London’s sluttiest footballer puts the two at each other’s throats. Fate and a favour conspire to put Tanner and Belle back in each other’s paths and they’re forced to do a lot more than get along to save face and their careers. Rage turns to passion and tempers run sizzling hot when they realise they aren’t just falling for each other—they’re jumping head first. And neither have the endurance to keep their hands to themselves.

Booker and Poppy stole my heart as well – childhood besties, I absolutely can never say no to that!

Title: Keeper (Harris Brothers Series Book #3)

Author: Amy Daws

Genre: Contemporary Romance

They were best friends until they became roommates. Booker Harris has spent the last several years pushing himself to become the best goalkeeper in the Championship League. Tired of living in the shadows of his headline-splashing brothers, he has finally carved a path of his own. As a child, Poppy McAdams was content in her own little make-believe world, until the boy next door with dimples and pained eyes came barreling into her makeshift fort demanding all her attention. Best friends for most of their lives, everything changes when Poppy abruptly leaves London for University. Now she is back, and gone is the awkward girl from Booker’s youth. She has been replaced by a stunning woman with secrets. Secrets that Booker is desperate to know. Sharing a bedroom wall with your best friend from childhood quickly turns to anything but sweet and innocent.

 

Surrender by Amy Daws

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4 “Freedom” “Trecale” “not just one thing” Kisses

Gahhhhhhhhhhhh…I just knew Surrender was going to do some amazing things to me and I REALLY love it when I’m right! I have been dying to get my hot little hands on Gareth Harris from the get go…it’s impossible not to want to crawl around in his delicious brain but W-O-W! I had no idea…it was way more than I ever expected, and I mean that in the best ways possible. I truly loved every second of his and Sloan’s story…I never knew what was coming and that’s not something that happens to me often. So…Surrender is the fourth book in the Harris Brothers Series (Challenge, Endurance, Keeper) – each book is about a different brother and they can be read as complete standalones…but…I highly recommend reading this series in order. The characters and events are building off each previous book and right now I’m so insanely in love with this family I cannot even tell you. Everything is clearly explained so it wouldn’t be a bad thing if they were read out of order…but trust me – this is a series that needs to be read!

Gareth Harris…I think if you look up the definition of tall, dark and brooding there is a picture of Gareth. He has the silent and stoic role down to a freakin’ T – he could probably teach classes, but this isn’t an act for him. There are very good, solid reasons for all of Gareth’s behaviors and every single one of them cracked my heart wide open. What happened with his mom changed all of his siblings, clearly – I’ve been able to experience how her death changed every single brother leading up to Gareth’s, but no one knew her like Gareth did and holy tissue alert…I was not ready!!! I cannot even begin to count the number of times this man stole my heart…he was beyond all my expectations and dreams.

“I miss you, Sloan. We used to be friends.”
Her eyes are practically hooded when she licks her lips and replies, “We were never friends.”
I smirk. “We were friendly.”
She smirks back. “Too friendly I seem to recall.”
I lose the humour on my face and pin her with a sincere look. I do miss her. I miss her face and the effect she has on me. She makes me feel lighter, even if she’s twitching nervously. “Well, I don’t have many friends, but I counted you as one.”

Sloan Montgomery…well, it would truly take a very unique and special woman to capture the interest of Gareth Harris and I don’t think anyone could have fit the bill better than this woman. I don’t even know what I was truly expecting…but she’s exactly what I didn’t know I wanted for Gareth. She’s captivating in the most unexpected ways…she’s kind and gentle, funny and sweet – it’s impossible to deny her charm. I loved her intuitiveness…I loved her passion for her job…and I loved how absolutely genuine she was. Sloan has a lot of inner strength…it’s something that I think she has had to develop over time with her past, and as much as I hate some of the things that she has had to get through, I love that it has made her such a strong, reliable character.

‘Gone is the insecure, hostile woman from outside. The woman standing before me, sliding the short black scarf around her neck back and forth, is a bloody siren calling in ships from the sea. It’s enchanting. On the surface, she’s peaches and cream with a sweet, pleasing sort of nature. But there’s a fire beneath the surface of her that cannot be denied.’

GAH! These two slayed me…and I loved every second of it. Honestly, after seeing the brief interaction between Gareth and Sloan that we get a glimpse of in Endurance, I was intrigued to get the rest of the story…and I was so not disappointed! The reality was actually better than the story I had concocted in my head, and that’s saying something cause my imagination has had two books to run away with itself. I honestly had no clue what might be facing these two…but I knew it wouldn’t be easy…but damn, I didn’t know it was going to be this hard. It’s amazing to see both of them work through their issues…especially because it’s a breakthrough on so many levels for Gareth – every time he opened up to Sloan I thought my heart was going to melt from the feels. Nothing about them is ordinary or expected but every second is beautiful and breathtaking.

‘More than anything, I want to be free. From my mind. From my thoughts. From my past and my future. I want this.
“Let’s do this, Treacle.”’

Amy Daws…I fall more and more in love with this chicks brain with every word I read of this series – and after reading the first part of Gareth’s story, I want to hug her and strangle her…and then beg her for more. I am so loving every second of where she is taking this story, these characters – there are so many options and she has surprised me with every twist and turn. The growth that she has shown with Sloan and Gareth blows me away with every page, the journey their relationship is taking them makes me want to explode from happiness because this is everything that Gareth deserves. There are a lot of different ways that she can take this next book and I haven’t a clue what she is going to do…but the only thing I do hope there is resolution on (FINALLY) is with Gareth and his dad. What happened between them in Surrender tore me up and I really hope Gareth can have a breakthrough like the other brothers have. Something that did catch my eye with Surrender – all of the other books, for the most part, have been written in UK English – since the book is based in England, obviously it makes sense. There might have been a couple of things that snuck by, but for the most part it has worked really well. The snafu with Surrender is Sloan is American…yet her POV is still written with a lot of UK English spelling – it probably wouldn’t have stuck out to me except there is a running joke about Sloan and Gareth correcting each other on football/soccer and other UK/US terms and stuff – it’s super cute, but it made me question why her POV was written more Americanized.

‘He sinks his teeth onto my lower lip, sucking it between his lips so hard, it’s like he’s draining every last part of me. All those bits I’ve been holding back. All those feelings I’ve denied for weeks, for days, for minutes, for seconds. I’ve kept this part of me away from him because I knew deep down what would happen if I didn’t.
This.
This would happen.
Gareth Harris would claim me.’

Alright…*deep sigh* the ending…wow. Lots of things I loved – so many things…all the things I didn’t see coming, the way they were orchestrated, the way they made me feel, all of it was fantastic. A LOT happens in the last two or three chapters…I can’t really say it felt rushed but it was a lot to keep up with and I would have kind of liked a tiny bit more time to process…get ahold of emotions and check in with the characters. Especially at almost the very end, there was an element of surprise with Sloan’s actions…which I did like…but at the same time, I felt like I missed out on a little bit of seeing some of her thought process – but it was totally worth it given the pay off with what happened, so I got over that quickly. But…now we must discuss…the cliffhanger *dum dum dummmmmmmm* Yes…it’s a cliffhanger – and this one is a dooooozy! Here’s the thing though…I am one of those rare readers…I love cliffhangers. I preface that by saying, I love them if done right…a lot has to come together to make an effective and good cliffhanger and this one had a lot of those elements – I liked it, it definitely achieved its goal, cause I’m D-Y-I-N-G for Dominate but…I can’t say that I completely loved it until I see how it plays out in the next book. I can’t say more without spoiling it but I was really surprised with the direction…but I have questions…so I’m intrigued to see where Amy takes it. Regardless, I looooove Sloan and Gareth and I have to know what’s going to happen next. #HarrisAddict

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Amy Daws is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author of sexy, contemporary romance novels. She enjoys writing love stories that take place in America, as well as across the pond in England; especially about those footy-playing Harris Brothers of hers. When Amy is not writing in a tire shop waiting room, she’s watching Gilmore Girls, or singing karaoke in the living room with her daughter while Daddy smiles awkwardly from a distance. For more of Amy’s work, visit her website.

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

“Marry me.”

“What?” I stared back at him, unblinking.

He moved closer, taking my face in his hands. “I love you, Evie. I look into the future, and the only thing I see clearly is you. Marry me.”

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

Of course, I said yes.

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

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

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

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

Answers I can’t give.

Evie POV

My eyes rake over him as I remember the Adam I knew ten years ago and compare him to the Adam I see before me. The long hair is gone, replaced with cropped locks. The unshaven scruff on his face is still very much there though. At least some things haven’t changed.

“You cut your hair.”

“It has been ten years.”

“I know. I just…I remember a time when you said you’d never cut your hair.” A small smile touches my lips at the memory.

“Yeah, and I remember when you promised to love me till death do us part. Shit changes.”

My smile drops from my face. My cheeks sting like he’s just slapped me.

I deserved that. Doesn’t stop it from hurting like a bitch though.

When I Was Yours by Samantha Towle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4 “Rock Girl” “Livin’ on a Prayer” Kisses

Holy bananas…When I Was Yours was exactly what I needed. I was getting over a pretty intense book hangover and I always know I can count on Samantha Towle to give me amazing characters and fantastic emotion and boy oh boy did she deliver in spades! I was completely and totally sucked in from page one until the end…like, I couldn’t put it down, I read the whole thing in one day. I loved everything about Adam and Evie, they angsted my heart to bits and pieces and I could not get enough of their chemistry.

Adam Gunner…so many things to love about this man…Adam held my heart basically from the beginning, but to be honest, I never really stood a chance. First of all…he’s a man whore and I have a slight weakness for man whores, I just can’t stop myself from loving them. Second…he has the drop dead gorgeous surfer look down to a ‘T’…6’3”…long, lean and muscled…blonde hair with gorgeous blue eyes…just YAS! Excuse me while I drool. I loved that his hair was longer and he did the whole scruffy thing when he was younger…just made him that much more delish…but grown up Adam in a suit is a thing of beauty as well. Third…and most importantly…the thing that got me about Adam was his heart. When Adam loved, it was fiercely and passionately. He didn’t have a great childhood…okay, that’s putting it lightly – he had a shit childhood…so if and when he loves…he loves totally and completely and it’s the most amazing thing on this planet. In fact…I can think of three things that Adam truly loves…surfing, his best friend Max and his Rock Girl.

‘From the moment I’d seen Evie sitting up on that rock eleven years ago, I’d been obsessed.
I lusted her, then loved her, and then hated her. I’ve mentally chased her for the last ten years, never giving her up.
My obsession has always been there.
I never could get enough of Evie. And no matter what she’s done to me, whether I love her or hate her, I will always want her.
I fucking hate that.
I hate that she’s my weakness. She controls my life, and she’s not even a part of it.’

Evie Taylor…oh this girl was gorgeous from the inside out and I fell just as hard for her as I did for Adam. Obviously…at first, only getting Adam’s POV, I wanted to not like her (she hurt my Adam – not okay!) but once I got in Evie’s head…any possible chance at not loving her flew right out the window. She has had just as difficult a time growing up as Adam did, for a whole slew of other reasons. This girl has suffered so much loss and rather than adopting a negative attitude, she pushes forward and above all things, remains pretty positive. I loved that about her – I loved her personality period, but her outlook on life just astounded me. Evie had a completely opposite childhood to Adam…she grew up with loving parents and a little sister that she cares for deeply…and I loved her relationship with her family. She is so dedicated and self-sacrificing when it comes to them…putting them above anything and everything when it comes to her own needs. The love and care and devotion that this girl has in her heart is what made me latch on to her so tightly…as much as I wanted to be mad at her for what happened with Adam, I really couldn’t…I knew once the truth came out that whatever reasons for her decisions would be forgivable. And I was right.

‘I press a soft kiss to his mouth, loving as he hums a delicious sound of assent beneath my lips. “And if I haven’t told you this already, I like you, Adam Gunner – a whole lot.”
His eyes smile into mine, and it’s beautiful. He’s beautiful.
“And I like you a whole lot, too, Evie Taylor.” His lips press to mine again. “I think you’re fucking amazing.”
Smiling and happy in a way I’ve never felt before, I tuck my head under Adam’s chin, burrowing closer to his body, not ever imagining myself being anywhere else but here with him.’

Well, I’ve already admitted how much I love Adam and Evie separately, so when they combined forces…I was in heaven. As if they didn’t already have me in the palm of their hands…they have my biggest kryptonite…history! 11 years of it…granted, most of it isn’t ideal, but the good stuff is so incredibly, heart stoppingly wonderful, it makes all the bad stuff seem worth it. (I promise!) I love so many things about these two crazy kids…like the way they meet – so original and cute and amazing. I love their banter…I could listen to them talk about nothing for hours. I love how much he loves her smiles…and that he loves to watch her sketch…and encouraged her to sketch. I love that she loves to wear his shirts…I love her trust and faith in him…and I love the positive influence she had on his life. Adam was never a bad guy…but he definitely didn’t have a real purpose…he was just existing and I feel like after Evie, he had found his purpose. She gave him direction…she grounded him in a way he had never experienced before. It was like separately they were great…fantastic, loveable people, but when they were together it was like they were invincible…they could face anything and everything as long as they had the other one there to support them…it was a beautiful thing to experience.

‘Something changes in this moment and things that seemed important to me before don’t seem so vital anymore.
But what is important are those words she just spoke.
I’ve waited ten years to hear her say those words, to say that she’s missed me.
Now, she has.
Maybe it’s because she said she missed me or because she’s wearing my shirt or because I’ve finally lost my damn fucking mind, or maybe it’s all those things combined, but I can’t stop myself.
I kiss her.
I kiss her fiercely. I kiss her with ten years of pent-up anger and need and longing and desperation.
And I know, in that second when my lips touch hers, that I won’t regret one moment of what’s about to happen. Even when it hurts so badly that I think I’ll regret it, wish it had never happened, I won’t.’

How do I describe the way I feel when I read a Samantha Towle book? I have come to a point with her books that I know without a doubt I will get amazing off the wall feels with characters that I love insanely too much. I love her tone…I love the way she establishes the characters and creates this tangible angst between them…I love the humor that she injects into each book…I love that her characters feel like friends…I just love reading her books, and When I Was Yours is another classic example of why I will keep coming back for Samantha’s personal brand of torture. I do not think I can stress this enough, I love love love LOVE L-O-V-E LOVEEEEEE the way When I Was Yours was told. We get alternating POV’s between Adam and Evie but we also bounce back and forth from past to present. It gave a great balance of seeing their past…seeing them fall in love…getting a grasp on who they were as a couple, to then feeling their pain and angst as they were torn apart and what it did to them as adults. I think the time span is what was the real sucker punch…a decade apart and still knowing your heart belongs to one person is hard core…and wonderful…and the way Samantha presented their epic love was perfect.

‘The feel of her lips moving against mine, her tongue in my mouth…nothing has ever felt so good, so cathartic. It’s like coming home, like waking up from the worst kind of nightmare.
I know this is just a Band-Aid over the bullet hole she put in my chest, but I need it.
I need her.’

The ending flowed really well…I appreciated that it wasn’t rushed and there wasn’t a band aid slapped on the end just to get Adam and Evie an HEA…it felt appropriate for what they had been through and even though I would have liked to see more of them happy in the present, I was still thrilled to bits with how everything came together. Especially the epilogue…good gravy was it amazing. Evie and Adam had an epic, once in a lifetime love and I absolutely couldn’t get enough of it…When I Was Yours was a perfect standalone…but I won’t lie and say that I wouldn’t love a spin off for Max (Adam’s Bestie – he’s a man whore too, and a really awesome and loveable guy…) but if it doesn’t happen, it’s not then end of the world because I totally love the way Adam and Evie’s story ended.

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Samantha Towle’s WHEN I WAS YOURS Release Day and Blog Tour Giveaway

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Callie Mills never intended to return to New Orleans and the life she left behind more than a decade ago. There was no need to open old wounds when she had the life she’d worked hard for in Denver. But when she’s fired from her awesome job in Colorado and her father dies, she has no choice but to return home to run the derelict bar left to her in the heart of the French Quarter. Callie must not only face bad memories but turn The Odyssey into something she can be proud of.

 

And who better to help bring in crowds of people than Declan Boudreaux?

 

Declan is a sought-after musician who knows he’s good at what he does and loves doing it. Known to pack the house, he also loves women and doesn’t expect to be knocked back a step by the beautiful new owner of The Odyssey. Callie is sharp, gorgeous and funny, and makes him yearn for something he never has before… Commitment.

 

But when Callie’s able to turn the business around with renovations, making it one of the hottest bars in the Quarter, will she sell out and leave her past behind once and for all, or will Declan be able to convince her that’s she’s where she needed to be all along…in his arms.

Kristen did it again!  I am so in love with Callie and Declan it’s ridiculous.  The Boudreaux Series is absolutely addictive and I am HOOKED! Check out my review for Easy Love, the first book in the series.

Title:Easy Love (The Boudreaux Series, Book #1)

Author: Kristen Proby

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Eli Boudreaux’s family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hardworking, wealthy family and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At thirty, he is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises, co-chairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic is also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him and Eli’s family is solid. But he’s recently discovered that someone on the inside of his business is stealing from him and he’s determined to find out who.

Kate O’Shaughnessy is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. She’s excellent at blending, becoming part of the team, and finding the weakest link. She’s smart, quick-witted, and she’s now been hired by Bayou Enterprises, specifically Eli Boudreaux. The attraction is immediate and the chemistry is off the charts, but Kate has heard all about Eli’s playboy past and she has a job to do. Sleeping with the boss isn’t a part of that job, even if just the sound of her name rolling off that Cajun tongue and the way he fills out a designer suit does make her sweat.

Eli’s southern charms surprise Kate. The man whose reputation labels him as a ruthless, callous womanizer is not the man she’s coming to know intimately. He’s generous, protective and makes her smile. Cracking through Kate’s cool, reserved demeanor and discovering her love of sexy, expensive lingerie is a challenge Eli can’t resist, but her sweet nature, love of family and sense of humor pull at him in ways no one else ever has.

But when the person responsible for trying to single-handedly dismantle Eli’s empire comes to light, and it’s time for Kate to move on, to what lengths will Eli go to keep the woman he’s fallen in love with by his side?

The Boudreaux goodness continues with Gabby and Rhys in Easy Charm – check out my review here!

Title: Easy Charm (The Boudreaux Series, Book #2)

Author: Kristen Proby

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

I was so excited to be able to sit down with Callie and Declan and get to know more about them!

Lisa:  Callie, I love that you and Adam have a special friendship – how did ya’ll meet and become best friends?

Callie:  We met in high school. Our parents were friends, and Adam and I just always seemed to click.

Lisa: Summarize Declan in one sentence.

Callie:  Declan is the perfect balance of sexy, romantic and playful.

Lisa:   I think your flipping houses hobby is unique and so awesome – is there a particular house that was your favorite to flip? Is there any part of the process that you love more, a certain room that you always have fun fixing up?

Callie:  I really love the whole process, but demolition is my favorite. It’s a great way to get out some aggression!

Lisa:  So Declan, what’s your favorite and least favorite thing about growing up in a large family?

Declan:  Well, there is always a lot of people around. I guess that’s both my favorite and least favorite.

Lisa:  I love your passion for music – I know you play a lot of instruments, do you have a favorite? What’s your favorite song you’ve ever written? And has Callie inspired any songs yet? 🙂

Declan:  Callie’s inspired quite a few songs. She’s heard them. 🙂 My favorite song is always the one I’m currently writing. My favorite instrument is the piano.

Lisa:  Summarize Callie in one sentence.

Declan:  Perfection.

Lisa:  Aww…how sweet!  What are your favorite five things about each other? (physical, non-physical, whatever!) Callie: His arms, his laugh, his generosity, his voice and the way he hugs me.

Declan:   There isn’t anything about her that isn’t my favorite.

Lisa:  Favorite and least favorite thing about living in New Orleans?

Callie:  My most favorite is just the energy of the city. Least favorite would be Mardi Gras.

Declan:  I also hate Mardi Gras.

Lisa:  Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Callie:  Together.

Declan:  Absolutely

Lisa:  Alright, let’s have a little fun with some Either/Or – Soda or Tea?

Callie:  Coffee

Lisa:  Sweet or Sour?

Declan:  Sweet

Lisa:  Loud or Quiet?

Callie: It seems our lives are always full of loud, so I prefer the quiet.

Lisa:  Chocolate or Vanilla?

Declan:  Vanilla

Lisa:  Hard or soft?

Callie: *grinning* Next question.

Lisa:  Cheeky girl!  Books or movies?

Declan:  Books

Lisa:  Fast or slow?

Callie: Both

Lisa:  Alright, almost done – let’s end with some rapid fire – give me the first thing that comes to mind…Music?

Declan:  Soul

Lisa:  Family?

Callie: Complicated

Lisa:  New Orleans?

Declan:  Home

Lisa:  Shoes?

Callie: Happiness

Lisa:  Declan?

Callie: Love

Lisa:  Callie?

Declan:  My heart.

Lisa:  Love?

Callie: Unexpected

Easy Melody by Kristen Proby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4 “bossy” “little things” “I’ve adjusted my sails” Kisses

It’s official – I’m moving to New Orleans! I cannot stand being separated from the Boudreaux family any longer. With each and every book in the Boudreaux Series I fall more and more in love with these characters…Eli made me drool in Easy Love…Rhys made me swoon in Easy Charm and Declan just rocked my face off. Each book is based off of a different set of couples, so they can technically be read as standalones, but the story lines continue to build off of each other the further we go into the series (which is part of the wonderful magic that I love about series in the first place!), so of course I recommend reading all of them. Plus…if you love romance in any way shape or form…then you absolutely cannot go wrong with these books!

Calliope Marie Mills…this girl is hell in heels and I loved her to pieces! I really connected a lot with Callie…we actually have a lot in common…both 5’9” (yay tall girls!)…both only children (we’re a special breed…what can I say)…both blondes…she’s very independent, very strong minded and very determined, which I like to think I am as well, she just pulls it off better than I do! After basically raising herself in New Orleans, she got out the first chance she had and never really looked back…until she had to. Coming back home brings up a lot of ghosts for her…mostly the emotional kind. My heart hurt for her…she is so strong in so many ways, but emotionally she is very closed off and for good reason too. I like that once she put her mind to something, she went at it full force…she gave everything her best effort and I appreciated that about her. Her attitude and personality is what really pulled me to her…she’s kind of a bad-ass-take-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of girl and she doesn’t show her vulnerable side…like ever. But one dreamy musician got her to break down her walls.

“I want to talk with you, learn you, lose myself in you. All of those things. And I don’t have any experience in that shit, but damn it, I want it with you. Because those little things, Callie? The talking as I walk you to your car, or laughing with you as we demo my house? Eating pizza on the porch? They aren’t little things to me. I’ve never done that with any other woman that I’m not related to by blood. I never wanted to.
“Until you, and it’s confused the hell out of me. All I want is a chance to start this over with you. We did it all backwards, and that’s on me. I get it. But damn it, let me try it again, because if you don’t, it’ll be the biggest regret of my life.”

Declan Francis Boudreaux…the Boudreaux boys, they’re just made out of something special. Charmers…the lot of them! Dec is the baby boy of the family, second youngest sibling and he’s a little different from Eli and Beau – they are all business and Declan is the creative type, but that was one of the things I loved best about him. Then again I love a lot of things about Declan…he’s got the southern accent combined with the fact that he can speak French perfectly (don’t ask me why that does things to me…lots of amazingly wonderful things). He’s also a giant, just like his brothers – well, 6’4”, but still…that’s enough for me. Just yum! And the yumminess doesn’t stop there…clearly he’s got the TDH (tall, dark and handsome) thing down and the signature Boudreaux golden eyes that I could stare into all day. He’s charming and smooth, he’s funny and has so much charisma it should be illegal…but he’s also very chill and laid back. But above all things his talent and passion for music was probably the thing that made him most attractive…there is just something about a guy who can play an instrument (I’m not picky!) and sing…that’s just instant 1 million swoon factor points.

“What?” she asks with a grin.
“I love the way you shrug into your badass,” I reply before kissing her forehead. “And I love that I’m the only one who gets to see you when you take it off.”

Oh…Callie and Dec are just…fun! Fun seems like a very simple word to really describe them…but it’s the most concise description of what their relationship was and what they made me feel. There are no pretenses when it comes to Callie and Declan…they are genuine, real and down to earth…granted they have two different personalities but in this case, opposites attract very well. Their passion was insane…I mean they practically combusted and I loved how in lust they were with each other…it was addictive. I also loved the simple things…the way he walked her to her car and made her feel safe, how much she enjoyed helping him renovate his house, how they were perfectly comfortable doing anything and nothing…just as long as they were together…that’s really all that mattered. Everything with Callie and Dec just felt more…more intense, more unique, just more – and maybe it was because neither of them had really felt this kind of connection before, so it was more for them in every sense of the word. I also l-o-v-e-d more than words when there was a surprise connection to the With Me In Seattle Series…I didn’t expect it or even see it coming but it was so flippin’ awesome.

“Tonight wouldn’t have been half as special without you. And not just because of all of this, which I love, but because when I’m with you—”
He kisses my hand and squeezes it three times. “When you’re with me?”
“I just feel better. I feel more.” His eyes widen and then darken. “Emotions are brighter, and that’s the only way I can describe it.”
“I think that’s a beautiful way to describe it,” he whispers before he pulls me in and kisses the hell out of me. “You are more, Callie. We’re more.”
I nod and brush my fingertips down his cheek, his neck. “I like it.”
A slow smile spreads over his sexy face. “I like it too.”

Kristen Proby packs a deadly force…the sex and the swoon. She feeds my inner dirty book whore lover just right…every time – I don’t know how she does it but it’s fantastically sensual and never, ever gets old! And just when she lulls me into my sexy happy place, she hits me with all the right things to melt my heart – it’s the perfect combination and I simply cannot stop myself from loving it. The angst was minimal, but I don’t read Kristen for angst…I read her for pure, unadulterated, amazing romance. The relationships that she develops with her couples is one of my favorite feels of all time…it’s a very unique and indescribable experience, but my heart just feels like it’s going to burst from being so blissfully happy. The other thing she writes beautifully that I love almost as much as the romantic relationship…the family dynamic. It doesn’t matter who is involved or what they were doing…the way the Boudreaux’s interact is just one of a kind. The siblings have this wonderful and unique bond that I absolutely cannot get enough of and their mother is just as amazing as her children. Even their father…while he is not physically present in this book, his memory always serves a purpose and it just makes me adore them that much more.

“What do you need?”
He sighs and rubs his fingers over his mouth.
“I need you to talk to me too,” he replies softly. “I need your brutal honesty, always. I need your body against me every day, and I need to be inside you more than I need my next breath.”
“That sounds good to me,” I whisper.
“I need music, Callie. It’s my soul. It’s been my only constant, until you.”
“You’re damn good at it,” I reply echoing his words. “What else?”
“I need your friendship. Your patience. I need my family, even if they are a pain in my ass most of the time.” He smiles. “I need to protect you, keep you safe. And I know this is going to piss you off a little, but I need to take care of you.”
“I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I mean, I like taking care of myself because that’s all I’ve ever known, but I’m adjusting my sails, and getting used to you taking care of me.”
“Good.” He sighs, the tension finally leaving his tall, lean body. “I just need you, baby.”

The ending was magical…I mean it never really took a whole lot to take me to my happy place with these two but I was giddy over everything that happened. It was exactly what I wanted for them and I don’t think I could love it more if I tried. I never really like finishing a book I enjoy, but I can’t lie…part of the fun of getting to the end of Kristen’s books is finding out which sibling is going to be next…and it’s not who I expected but I’m still super excited. It’s Charly’s turn! And her guy is British – be still my beating heart! I’m ready to count down the days until Easy Kisses comes out in March!

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Have you read Revved?  Check out my review!  I adored Andi and Carrick – they’re totally angsty and extremely sexy!

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Revived by Samantha Towle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

3 “Being second is to be the first of the ones who lost.” “unethical”

I can’t help but get excited about Samantha Towle’s books – I love her characters, the humor, the sex…the result is a combination that just works for me. Plus after meeting Leandro in Revved, I was very ready to see what this Brazilian stud had to offer. While I did enjoy Revived overall, I was slightly frustrated that it didn’t meet the expectations that I was hoping for.

Dr. India Harris…kind, sweet and strong, Indy is magnificent in so many ways. After reading the Prologue I was left thinking and feeling so much. When the synopsis says she didn’t have the best start in life, there is no playing around with that. I truly don’t know where she found the strength and courage to become a mother at such a young age, let alone being an orphan and really only having her twin brother, Kit, to rely on – but she did it. And she’s absolutely more amazing because of it. To me, it felt like Indy had been spending her whole life proving people wrong…that she’s not going to be another statistic, that she’s not a victim of circumstance and that she can do anything she puts her mind to. Which is why she’s a successful therapist with a thriving practice and has an amazing son to show for all her hard work. But all it takes it one patient to truly rock her world and show her what she is missing.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m happy as I am.”
“You’re safe and comfortable.”
“And what’s wrong with safe and comfortable?” I frown.
“It’s boring.”
“Yeah, well, look what happened to me the last time I chased excitement.”

Leandro Silva…he is a delicious combination of fierce, passionate, driven, strong willed and sexy as fuck. It’s not like we get to see him a lot in Revved, but what I did see…I liked. He has this very cocky personality…he knows he is good and he’s not going to let anyone forget it – but it never gets to the point of arrogance (or annoyance!). After the accident that almost killed him, Leandro is struggling…something no man will ever admit to. Not only is it just not in his being to admit weakness, but in his career…it could possibly destroy his reputation and image. He is battling demons that are stronger than him and the only option he has left, besides giving up, is going to professional for help. Fortunately for him, his doctor saves him in more ways than one.

‘I should have died. I would have died a legend.
Not the man I am now.
A washed-up has-been.
I can’t be him anymore. This weak fucking version of myself.
I have to race again.
I have to get back in a car.
I have to do this.
I can do this.’

Indy and Leandro have one thing down pat…they are insanely, deliciously, fantastically HAWT. Good gravy…the sexual chemistry coming off of these two could power a third world country. They have the spark, they have the attraction, they have the lust and when they come together…just wow. I said it in my Revved review – Samantha’s characters are absolutely fantastic, so I knew I was going to like Leandro and India… and the set up for these two was perfect. Individually they are compelling, I loved their back stories, they are endearing, real and likeable in so many ways…and together they are hot, electric, passionate. I got more than I could have ever dreamed from their sexual connection…which don’t get me wrong, was awesome in its own right…but unfortunately, I was missing something.

‘From the moment he met me, I’ve seen Leandro look at me in a sexual way, but I know that’s because he uses sex as a defense mechanism.
He looked at me the way he would any other woman he deemed attractive – as a temporary means of escapism.
But, lately, the way he’s been looking at me is different.
I don’t know how to explain it, but he’s no longer looking at me like I’m just another object for him to screw.
He’s looking at me like he actually wants me.
And it scares the crap out of me.
Because I want him, too.’

At the beginning…I was feeling them, I loved India and Leandro’s connection, it was very passionate and while a little simple and predictable, it still worked for me. I was obviously still hoping for more, but I assumed that was to come. Then we have the pinnacle…where everything comes to a head and I’m holding my breath…I turn the page and get punched in the gut with 7 months later. Holy wow…I was reeling – in a good way. It squeezed my little heart to bits and I was so excited for the angst…only to feel extremely let down. The resounding pay off was…too fast…too quick…too easy. Did they have a connection? Yes…absolutely – granted it was mainly based off of a reciprocal attraction and the interaction in their therapy sessions, but there was no real basis outside of that. They saw each other two other times, outside of therapy…I needed more than that. I understood the reason why they couldn’t be seen outside of therapy, and I’m not trying to discount that…but a relationship is based on more than just the desire to fuck someone and after everything came together, that was kind of all I got. There’s nothing wrong with a superficial relationship, but if you’re going to pull the love card, it’s not going to cut it for me. I’m not asking for a lot here, but I cannot force emotions that I don’t feel and I didn’t feel the love. It seemed like every time there was an opportunity to show them creating a real bond, having a conversation, opening up – anything – it was veto’d for sex. Don’t get me wrong, a I’m a dirty book whore lover…but I missed that connection. I felt the lust…I felt the attraction….I felt the possibility of love…but I also didn’t see the need for the rush.

“You really miss it.” It’s not a question. I already know he does.
He turns his head to me, resting his cheek on his arm. “How can I miss something with a physical ache and be absolutely terrified of it at the same time?”
“Usually, the things we love most are the things that terrify us.”

There were a few instances of redundancy…which is a huge pet peeve of mine, and I guess when I started to really miss the deeper connection between Leandro and Indy is when I started to pick up on that stuff more. It wasn’t to the point of annoyance or anything, but enough to catch my eye. I don’t want it to come across like the book was poorly written – it wasn’t, or else I would have stopped reading completely. The story line was different and honestly did surprise me (like the 7 month moment!) and I was not expecting the twist towards the very end. In the back of my mind, I knew it was a possibility but the way Samantha executed it was…pretty amazing. I really liked it – really got me all tied up in knots…and then, I was a little let down again. At that point, it’s almost at the 90% mark so I was wondering how things were going to finally end…and once again, it just seemed too easy. If the rest of the book had been more angsty or had more conflict, I probably would have been ready for a little reprieve, but I think that was another missed opportunity to inject some life into the story. I didn’t necessarily need it to create unnecessary conflict between Indy and Leandro but…I needed more.

“I have never been in love before, India, so believe me, I am not taking our relationship lightly.”
“You’ve never been in love?” I eye him skeptically. “Ever?”
“No.”
“How is that possible?”
I know I’ve never been in love before him, but Leandro has been around a lot more women than I have men. I just can’t believe he’s never fallen in love with one of them before.
He shrugs. “I waited for it to happen. It never did. Now, I know why.”
My mouth dries. Licking my lips, I ask, “Why?”
His eyes darken with emotions. He traces his index finger over my cheek, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Because I was waiting for you.”

The epilogue wrapped everything up nicely and I did love the end…it was a lot of info to process, but it was all beautiful and made me so happy for India and Leandro. There had been a couple of hints dropped about Kit (India’s twin brother) and Petra (Andi’s friend) and from what was said in the epilogue, I have a feeling Kit’s book might come up later…which would be awesome. Kit’s a manwhore (*ahem*…just like Carrick and Leandro…be still my heart) and with his past and what he went through with Indy, I think it could make for an awesome story.

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Samantha Towle REVIVED Release Week Giveaway

New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and international bestselling author Samantha Towle began her first novel in 2008 while on maternity leave. She completed the manuscript five months later and hasn’t stopped writing since.

She has written contemporary romances, THE MIGHTY STORM, WETHERING THE STORM, TAMING THE STORM and TROUBLE.

She has also written paranormal romances, THE BRINGER and the ALEXANDRA JONES SERIES, all penned to tunes of The Killers, Kings of Leon, Adele, The Doors, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, and more of her favourite musicians.

A native of Hull and a graduate of Salford University, she lives with her husband, Craig, in East Yorkshire with their son and daughter.

Insider by Olivia Cunning

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4 “lamb” “justfriend” “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.” Kisses

I love Rock Stars.  A lot. Part of the reason for that love is because of Olivia Cunning. Her Sinners on Tour series changed me completely and started my obsession with both her writing and the rock gods she creates within the pages. To say I was excited about the spin off series for Exodus End would be…the fucking understatement of the century. I’ve basically been waiting for this book since 2012…patiently…desperately…excitedly waiting…and after Insider, I can already tell this is going to be another amazing series.

Antonia ‘Toni’ Nichols…oh Toni Toni Toni…*sigh* – I challenge anyone to not love this girl. She’s so naïve – but it’s not in an annoying way, like…at all. It’s in an incredibly adorable, totally endearing way. And I think that’s because the naïvety comes from being unexposed to things ‘most’ people are exposed to while growing up. When her father passed away unexpectedly when she was 15 years old, it thrust her into the role of caregiver/substitute mother for her special needs sister…a role she took to like a champ but it kind of stole her adolescent years and forced her to grow up and be more mature. She’s an amazing big sister…like off the charts, you couldn’t dream of a better sibling and her love for Birdie makes her even more amazing in my eyes. But there are a lot of amazing things about Toni…her heart in general, could not get any bigger if she tried. She’s insanely companionate and loving, she internalizes other peoples emotions and just taps in so purely to whatever they are feeling and it’s like nothing I’ve ever read in a character. It made her so special and so unique, I really loved that about her. She’s quirky and weird and goofy…all things that made me love her more. As she is exploring what life is like outside of her comfort zone, she’s learning a lot, but I think going out into the big bad scary world and experiencing new things is exactly what Toni needs.

‘Laughing, probably about her wearing pajamas, the guys headed up the bus steps in single file. Except Logan. He lifted a hand touched her cheek with his fingertips. His thumb brushed her trembling lips. “A sweet lamb left to fend for herself in a den of wolves. Whatever will we do with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll see you inside.”’

Logan Schmidt…playful, fun loving, wild child bassist of Exodus End. I wasn’t expecting his story to be first, but he was definitely a pleasant surprise. His personality is truly one of a kind…he’s totally the class clown, the type that you’re never really sure when he is being serious because he’s that good at pulling off a joke with a straight face. He’s a total manwhore…huge…so of course, I had a soft spot for him right away. He’s an extreme dare devil…motor cross, sky diving, bungee jumping…if it’s an adrenaline rush and there is a risk of getting hurt – he’s totally there, balls to the wall and with a huge smile on his face. He’s kind of a lose cannon…which is both a good thing and a bad thing because the only time he really flies off the handle is if/when he’s truly passionate about something…because Logan really doesn’t do anything half ass. But Logan is damaged in his own way…he didn’t grow up knowing true love…his family life was rough and he holds a lot in – expressing and experiencing emotions is not something that he’s really comfortable with. Which is part of the reason why his hard and fast lifestyle has worked so well for him. But Toni changes everything…

‘“Next time it will be all for your pleasure. I won’t let myself get so carried away.”
As if she was going to argue with that.
“And then the next time, you’ll teach me to suck your cock, right?” she said.
He groaned and wrapped both arms around her to give her an enthusiastic hug. “Woman, you’re going to get me hard again if you aren’t careful.”
Was that supposed to be some kind of warning? She took it as more of a challenge.’

There is so much about these two that I could not get enough of. First of all, they seriously could not be more polar opposite in just about every way, which works out perfectly for their chemistry. She’s the innocent little lamb…and he’s the big bad scary wolf…it’s almost comical how well that fits them in every way…but put the two of them together and things just ignite. Sweet little innocent Toni never expected Logan, in any way shape or form…but at the same time, I know Logan may have had his expectations about what he wanted with Toni, the feelings that came along with it were completely out of the blue. They’re both facing uncharted waters and while it got messy at times, it really fit well with who they were as individuals. Logan and Toni aren’t your average guy and girl…and neither is their relationship, but that’s what I liked most about them. He’s playful and brings that out in her and she unleashes a protective and caring side of him that he’s never experienced. He’s giving her sex lessons (which, for the record, are the best thing in life) and she’s basically…for lack of a better way to call it….giving him an emotional education. All of it came together for an truly special connection between these two that I thrived off of…was completely sucked into…it was magical and just sheer bliss.

“I’m good at paying attention.”
He scowled. “I’m not. The only thing I’m good at is being a fuck-up.”
She rubbed his worried brow with her fingertips until his flesh relaxed beneath her touch. “You’re not a fuck-up, Logan. You’re . . .” Wonderful. She sighed internally, not wanting him to know how infatuated she was with him already. Or maybe her jumping into his bunk with him was a dead giveaway.
“Prove it. Name one thing I’ve done in the past twenty-four hours that wasn’t impulsively stupid.”
“Impulsive, yes, stupid, no. You’re a creature of instinct.”
“So now I’m a creature?”
“A man,” she corrected. “A sexy one who I can’t stop thinking about, even though I know I should be paying attention to my work.”
“I have the same annoying problem when it comes to you.”
“You don’t have to say things like that to get into my panties,” she said with a grin.
“But I do to make you smile.” He kissed her, and she melted against him. His lips moved to her jaw. “Besides,” he whispered, “it’s true.”

I hate talking about what I didn’t love but as many Olivia Cunning books as I have read, I have a certain expectation and the fact that it felt short for me at all is like poison on my tongue. But I’m honest to a fault…and there were a few things that didn’t work, so I guess it’s time to rip off the band aide. I’m a complete sucker for insta-love…give me the right emotions with the right couple and I’m totally there and on board…no questions asked. Toni and Logan are insta-love…kinda – on her side, 100% – but it felt natural for her. I mean, she is the ‘cliché virgin’ but I didn’t mind that and she’s got her own uniqueness that made her stand out and be different in my mind but when she was in love after 48 hours I was a little…disappointed. I had feelings…lots of good, wonderful, positive, amazing feelings…but I didn’t feel the love yet. I think a few more days establishing them with conversations, stretching out their interactions slightly, things like that, and I would have been sold. Then, with Logan’s yo-yo act, I started to get a little frustrated…once he explained where he was coming from, I got it and I was on board…but I never really felt like he had that ah-ha moment where everything clicked and I felt that change of heart in him…and I think for me to really feel their love, that was what I needed. Like the moment when he finally said ‘I love you’ and he really meant it – the setting and everything was awesome…but the way it was presented I was like, what? Wait…did that just happen? And I almost didn’t want to believe it…because of his inner thoughts and everything. When it came down to it, I truly got their connection…it was there and it was amazing and I loved most of it.

‘She smiled softly and shook her head. “You don’t have to lie to save my feelings, Logan. I’m a big girl.”
“I’m not lying.” He lifted her hand from her lap and kissed her wrist. “I wish I could fast-forward time a couple of hours so the show would be over and I could teach you more about making love,” he said. And you can teach me how to love someone.
She wrapped her arms around his head and hugged him to her abdomen. “Why are you so nice to me?”
His chuckle was muffled against her belly. “I have ulterior motives.”
“Such as?”
“Making you mine.” Shit. Why had he said that? He was showing his cards much too soon.
She slapped his shoulder. “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.” He wished he could say he didn’t mean it. He didn’t particularly want to be so far gone. Ah, what the fuck—he liked her. A lot. She was just going to have to learn to live with it. If he could admit it, surely she could accept it.
“I mean it, Toni.” He untangled his head from her grasp so he could look up at her. “I really do like you. And it isn’t just lust.” For once in his dick-led life. “I can’t stop thinking about you. Even when you’re not in my bed, you’re in my head. It’s driving me crazy. I’m not sure how to handle it.”
She smiled, and he saw her feelings displayed clearly in her eyes. “You’re going to break my heart someday.” She released a sigh and stared over his head as she spoke. “I really like you too, Logan. But maybe it’s best if we pretend the only thing between us is lust. If I fall for you . . .” She shook her head and closed her eyes.
“You don’t trust me with your heart.”
“Should I?”
He wanted to say she should, wanted to say that he’d never hurt her, but he, more than anyone, was aware of his track record with women.
“That’s something you’ll have to decide on your own.”’

Don’t get me wrong, even with the minor issues I had, I still completely enjoyed this book – I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face…and when I wasn’t smiling, I was drooling over the boys, or the sexiness between Toni and Logan…there really wasn’t a point when I didn’t enjoy what I was reading. All of that can be attributed to one main factor…Olivia’s writing. Her combination of endearing and loveable characters, engaging storylines, flat out perfect dialogue and sinfully delicious sex is something I’ve never seen. It gets me every time and I never want the spell to be broken. The depth and detail that she puts into her characters, whether it’s the main couple or not, is absolute perfection. I feel like I know every single one of them…and it’s something that can’t be replicated, it’s just a feeling that I get when I read…either it happens or it doesn’t and it’s so powerful with her characters. I also have to say…her sex scenes are some of the hottest I have ever read. Unique, carefully tailored to fit the couple perfectly, never over the top or tasteless…just pure, amazing, red-hot sex.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a bother. I just got a little worked up when you kissed me.”
Logan chuckled. “A bother? You’re kidding, right?”
He wrapped a lock of her hair around one finger and tugged. “You are no bother,” he said. “What you are, Miss Nichols, is a distraction.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to be around a bother. I can’t stop thinking about or wanting to be near a distraction. Does that sound like the same thing to you?”

There is so much packed into this book…that’s part of what I love about the first book in a new series…we get to fall in love with a new couple and then see all the building blocks for what is to come. We get to meet all of the other band members, get the feel of the group overall and how they all interact and gel together…and I’m getting all excited and squirmy because the chemistry and connection between the guys is just as crucial as it is between the couple. So Exodus End is comprised of five people:

• Dare Mills – Lead Guitarist (original band member)
• Steve Aimes – Drummer (original band member)
• Maximillian Richardson – Lead Singer (original band member)
• Logan Schmidt – Bassist (original band member)
• Reagan Elliot – Rhythm Guitarist (substitute for Max)

Every single one of them is so incredibly beyond words perfect that I almost don’t know what to do with myself. The Bro-mances are off the chart…and I l-o-v-e-d every single aspect of it. Plus…Exodus End is an older band (these guys are in their 30’s – and Oh-Em-Gee…that totally made them hotter!) so there is mountains of history –some good, some bad and some ugly…and we barely scratch the surface. Every detail I got made me hungry for more and I’m so excited to see what Olivia does with the rest of the Exodus boys. And the fact that Exodus End Series connects into The Sinners on Tour Series…just…I can’t even tell you. Happiness feels EXPLOSION for me. The Sinners aren’t a major part of the book…but they make their appearances here and there, and with Trey (Sinners rhythm guitarist) being the younger brother of Dare and the boyfriend of Reagan…the bands aren’t going to be cutting ties anytime soon – which is perfectly fine by me!

“You’re lying.” She hoped.
“Why do you say that?”
“You can’t even look at me, Logan.” She touched his hand, surprised when instead of drawing away, he turned his hand over to clutch hers in an iron grip. “At least look at me while you break my heart.”
“I don’t want to break your heart, Toni.” He lifted her hand and pressed it into the center of his chest. His heart thudded against the back of her hand. “Not when seeing you upset breaks mine.”

The ending was…a little quicker than I expected. After the shit hit the fan, my heart was worried about how everything was going to affect Toni and Logan, but luckily, like everything else, it fit so well with the characters, so there wasn’t drama for the sake of drama and things weren’t drug out unnecessarily – and I really appreciated that. I got my HEA…it’s not ‘final’ but then again, it never is with these books because we’ll see more of Toni and Logan as the series continues, but I was really happy with where things were left off. So…in case it wasn’t obvious…I am so ready for Outsider. With the events that happen in Insider, the buildup is perfect and I am already too excited to see what will happen with Reagan, Trey and Ethan. Because of Double Time…I already know the characters…this is just a continuation of their story, so I feel like my excitedness is multiplied by a million. Either way, I know Olivia will blow their story out of the water.

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Title:   Easy Charm (The Boudreaux Series, Book #2)

Author:   Kristen Proby

Release Date:   July 7, 2015

Genre:   Contemporary Erotic Romance

Gabrielle Boudreaux, the youngest of the Boudreaux clan, is a single mother of her young son, Sam.  Running a Bed and Breakfast at the family plantation house at the edge of the Mississippi River, Gabby loves her inn, her boy and her family. She meets new people every day, and takes pride in the house and land that has been in her family for more than five generations. Blessed beyond measure, she’s also lonely, although she would never admit that to anyone. Until Rhys O’Shaughnessy walks through her door, brooding and wounded and the sexiest thing she’s ever laid eyes on.

 

Rhys has been at the top of his game as a major league pitcher for the Boston Red Sox for more than ten years. Baseball is in his blood. But when he tears his rotator cuff and has to sit a season out, he retreats to Inn Boudreaux at the recommendation of his cousin, Kate, to heal and work toward building his shoulder back to perfect shape with only one goal in mind: to return to the game he loves. But he didn’t plan on being utterly charmed by a devastatingly beautiful woman and her baseball-loving son.

 

When Rhys’ shoulder has healed and he’s given the chance to return to his team, will he leave the family he’s come to love behind, or will he stay with Gabby and Sam?

 

 

The Boudreaux Series is another AH-MAZING addition to Kristen Proby’s repertoire – and I am HOOKED!  Check out my review for Easy Love, the first book in the series.

 

Title:Easy Love (The Boudreaux Series, Book #1)

Author:   Kristen Proby

Genre:   Contemporary Erotic Romance

Eli Boudreaux’s family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hardworking, wealthy family and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At thirty, he is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises, co-chairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic is also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him and Eli’s family is solid. But he’s recently discovered that someone on the inside of his business is stealing from him and he’s determined to find out who.

Kate O’Shaughnessy is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. She’s excellent at blending, becoming part of the team, and finding the weakest link. She’s smart, quick-witted, and she’s now been hired by Bayou Enterprises, specifically Eli Boudreaux. The attraction is immediate and the chemistry is off the charts, but Kate has heard all about Eli’s playboy past and she has a job to do. Sleeping with the boss isn’t a part of that job, even if just the sound of her name rolling off that Cajun tongue and the way he fills out a designer suit does make her sweat.

Eli’s southern charms surprise Kate. The man whose reputation labels him as a ruthless, callous womanizer is not the man she’s coming to know intimately. He’s generous, protective and makes her smile. Cracking through Kate’s cool, reserved demeanor and discovering her love of sexy, expensive lingerie is a challenge Eli can’t resist, but her sweet nature, love of family and sense of humor pull at him in ways no one else ever has.

But when the person responsible for trying to single-handedly dismantle Eli’s empire comes to light, and it’s time for Kate to move on, to what lengths will Eli go to keep the woman he’s fallen in love with by his side?

“Good, but you should have called me,” Eli says, then sighs when Rhys kisses my hand. “Are you going to continue to touch my sister for all of us to see?”

“Yes,” Rhys replies simply, making Kate grin.

“I’m not sure how I feel about this,” Eli says.

“You don’t have to feel any way about it,” I reply in frustration. “I’m a grown-ass woman.”

“It’s my job to protect you,” Eli says, as if I’m being difficult.

“But it’s not your job to be an ass,” Kate says, but softens the blow by kissing his cheek. “It’s Rhys. You know him. And they’re cute together.”

“Hurt her, and—”

“Seriously,” I interrupt, not wanting to hear the hurt her and I’ll kill you speech. “We’re fine.”

“I get it,” Rhys says to Eli. “I feel the same about Kate; you know that. We’ve had that conversation. I almost decked you when you showed up in Denver.”

Eli sits back in his chair, and his eyes calm a bit, but he looks no less foreboding.

“Don’t make me regret trusting you,” Eli says calmly, just as our meals are delivered.

“Back at you,” Rhys replies with a cold smile. Kate catches my eye, and we both sigh, and shrug as if to say, what can you do? They love us. They’re worried about us.

Damn it, sometimes they’re idiots.

But lunch is delicious.

“Beau said this morning that you need a new dishwasher,” Eli says.

“I do. I’ll find time to pick one out in the next few days.”

“Just come to the office with me after lunch and sign off on one, and I’ll have it delivered. It’s your inn, but damn it, we can help with that shit. You’re busy enough.”

“Too busy,” Kate agrees.

“I think I’m going to hire some help,” I reply. “Rhys might have talked me into it.”

Eli’s eyebrow shoots up in surprise. “We’ve been trying to talk you into it for over a year.”

“I didn’t need it a year ago.” I shrug and twirl a long string of cheese around my fork. “But I’m much busier now, and Sam is getting more involved in things, so it’s time to have some help.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Eli says, as if there is no room for argument, and I simply laugh at him.

“No, you won’t.”

“Gabby, I have a whole HR staff that can easily find someone qualified to help you.”

“I’m perfectly capable of finding someone to help me,” I reply. “You run your business, and I’ll run mine, big brother.”

He sits back in his hair and tilts his handsome head, watching me. “Okay. You handle it.”

“I will.” I nod once and sip my Coke. “I wonder if I should specify in the ad that felons aren’t welcome to apply.”

“Gabby, let me handle this!” Eli exclaims, and I can’t help but dissolve in a fit of giggles.

“I’m teasing. It sure is fun to get you all riled up.”

“Most wouldn’t dare,” Kate says good-naturedly. “I wonder what people would say if they knew that he’s nothing but a big softie.”

“I will take you over my knee, Kate,” he murmurs to her, and Rhys tenses up beside me, but Kate just laughs and leans her head on Eli’s shoulder.

“Right. Except you have this thing against spanking me, so I don’t think that’ll happen.”

Eli’s lips twitch as he buries them in Kate’s hair and kisses her head.

“I don’t mind being spanked,” I add and eat a chip loaded with cheese and beans, just as Eli’s eyes go cold again, pinned on Rhys, who simply laughs beside me.

“I don’t need to know this,” Eli growls.

“It’s not like he leaves marks. Well, they don’t stay for long.”

Kate is laughing like a loon into her hand, Rhys is smiling widely, and Eli looks like he’s about to spit nails.

Or spank me himself.

Easy Charm by Kristen Proby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4 “Good girl” “inner flirt” “Look at me.” “trust” “not a baby” Kisses

So…if I thought I loved the Boudreaux Series before…Easy Charm made me fall so much harder. Good freaking gravy…where do I even start?!!? When I read the epilogue of Easy Love that I was in love with the set up…it was perfect…and I just knew with Kristen’s brain behind it…the execution could send me over the moon. And I was totally correct. So…million dollar question – do you need to read Easy Love to read Easy Charm? Not really…but it’s helpful. The Boudreaux Series is shaping up to be similar to the With Me in Seattle Series…each book builds off the other…and you get to know the characters better, but they could all be read as standalones. But if you’re a series whore like me…then you definitely want to read these books in order – plus they’re ah-mazingly addictive and I highly encourage you to fall in love with the Boudreaux’s like I have! 😉

Gabrielle Boudreaux…do not let her size fool you, Gabby has more strength in her little pinky than her 6’4” brothers do in most of their body. She’s a pint sized fierce little ball of sass and cuteness and I loved every second of her. While she may be the baby of the Boudreaux family, she had to grow up pretty fast…motherhood will do that to you, but then again, I think Gabby was just born to be an amazing mom. Samuel Beauregard Boudreaux is one of the most delightful seven year olds I have ever read and that’s totally because of Gabby…her love and dedication to her child shine through in everything she does and I adored that about her. The only other thing Gabby is truly passionate about, aside from her family, is her job…and it’s funny because her job is connected to her family. Turning the home that had been in their family for generations into a successful inn took a lot of hard work on her part and I truly admired that about Gabby, she never wanted to sit back and let other people take care of her. She’s so self-assured and independent and it just makes me love her more…and I know it’s what caught the eye of a certain Cub’s pitcher.

“I’m glad that you do something that makes you so happy.” His arms tighten around me in a firm hug. “You deserve happiness, Gabrielle.”
“So do you,” I reply. “Are you happy?” He doesn’t answer me for a long minute. I finally lean back and look up into his deep green eyes. “Are you?”
“I will be, when I get your sexy ass into the house where I can spend the rest of the twenty hours we have left to ourselves lost in you.” He stands, easily carrying me toward the house. “I’m going to make you scream, baby.”
“I’m not a screamer.” And it didn’t escape me that he didn’t answer my question.
“You’re about to be.”

Rhys O’Shaughnessy…mmmm…even his name does things to me. It might also be because I remember a particular lovely scene where he’s telling Gabby a story with an Irish brogue and that just makes me want to lick him. I have a weakness for men with accents. #PleaseDontJudge 🙂 Luckily…the accent is just one of many things that is hot about Rhys…from the sexy half smirk to his gorgeous green eyes…to the drool worthy body that baseball has given him, he is sex on a stick and I was in lust with Rhys from the very beginning. He really does live up to the title of the book…I can attest to that – I was charmed, seduced and swooned clear out of my mind and I will turn around and beg for more every day of the week. There is so much to like about Rhys, I don’t even know where to start…he is such a strong man, he’s overcome a lot both personally and professionally and fought hard for what he has. His strength and determination is incredibly sexy and only made me love him more. Rhys is one of those guys that once he puts his mind to it…there is really no talking him out of it and even better, he always gets what he wants. He has such a huge heart and he doesn’t do anything half way…he’s dedicated, kind, sweet, so loving…and yet he has never been in love. But this sexy beast of a baseball player had to fall under the spell of the baby of the Boudreaux family…but I don’t think Rhys stood a chance against Gabby from the start.

‘“Why is this so easy with you?” I ask, staring at the ceiling, waiting for my heart to return to normal.
“Maybe I just know what I’m doing?” he replies sarcastically.
“Well, you do, yes.” I chuckle and turn on my side, facing him. “But I’m comfortable with you. It’s amazing, but it’s also just…easy.”
“Because we trust each other,” he replies and gently runs his fingertip down the bridge of my nose. “I feel like I’ve known you a long time. This might sound silly, but I feel like your heart and my heart are very old friends.”
I blink at him as my heart swoons. But he’s exactly right. I trust him. I feel like I’ve known him forever.
This feels like…home.’

Gabby and Rhys are so perfectly paired…the way they complement each other is just like two puzzle pieces that just click together. I don’t even know how else to describe it…you’ve got Gabby who has very limited experience with men and Rhys who…well, he’s a pro baseball player, he’s not angel – but he’s not interested in another chick just looking for fame and fortune. The way they came together was so natural and simple…but I think what won me (and Gabby) over the most was the way Rhys was with her son Sam. Talk about a quick way to send a girl to swoonville…watching a sexy man be absolutely adorable with a kid – let me just dissolve into a puddle of mush real quick. Gabby brought out a softer side of Rhys…and I love how he doted on her, it’s something she’s never experienced and truly deserves. Seeing his tenderness for her…how gentle he could be…how much he loved to touch her, especially her hair…it instantly made me smile and just did wonderful things to my heart. And then he’d turn around and say something incredibly hot and dirty…and well, clearly, I’m just a lost cause when it came to the way Rhys felt for Gabby.

“Fuck me, you’re beautiful.”
She tries to look shyly down, but I catch her chin in my finger. “No, don’t look away from me. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. There are seven billion smiles in this world, and yours is my favorite.”
Her smile widens. “Thank you. That makes me feel…special.”
“You are special.” I kiss her forehead, then her nose. “You are beautiful.”
“You are charming.”

The beauty of a Kristen Proby book, for me, is the falling. It’s so subtle…so effortless, like I don’t even realize it’s happening until all of a sudden my heart feels like it’s going to burst from all the love that I have for these two beautiful people. It’s one of the feelings I live for and one of the many reasons why I read romance and Kristen has totally and completely perfected it. It’s why she continues to be one of my favorite authors…I just can’t get enough of the feels she gives me! And the goodness so doesn’t stop there…please, we’re just getting started – there were so many laugh out loud moments in Easy Charm, I practically had a smile plastered on my face the entire time. That’s another one of many joys about Kristen’s books…I could probably die from an overload of good feelings. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good angsty book, but I love a good, super sexy romance just as much. And not that there wasn’t angst in Easy Charm…it’s just not to the point where I feel like my heart is going to be ripped out. I will say, the angst with Gabby and Rhys felt like a storm brewing that I knew was going to get bad but as it continued to build, the knot in my stomach kept get tighter and tighter…I almost wanted to hide until it was all over. A good portion of that was due to Gabby’s actions. It wasn’t like I was mad at her, because I got her reluctance and fear…but I just kinda wanted to put my hands on my hips and give her a dirty look for it.

‘“I love you, Gabby. You’re every hope, every dream I’ve ever had, and I didn’t even know it until I met you. No matter what happens in our life, every day I get to be with you is the greatest day of my life.”
Tears are now rolling unchecked down my cheeks. I can’t take my eyes off of him.
“You make me believe that love isn’t hard because you love everyone in your life so effortlessly.” He cups my jaw in his hands, his fingers mingle in with my hair, and his thumbs brush the tears form my face.’

The ending snuck up on me…I was in my happy little bubble and could have kept reading about Gabby and Rhys for oh…I dunno, forever…but I got my beautiful big red bow happy ending – more than I ever could have dreamed for Gabby and Rhys…and it was perfect. So, my favorite part about ending one of Kristen’s books…well, the only good part about it ending (because I never want them to end – but I digress)…is finding out who is going to be next. And I was not disappointed!!! It’s Declan! Gabby and Declan have a…special relationship. Declan himself is very unique…he’s not like Eli and Beau, but that doesn’t make him any less dreamy…he’s the musician and he’s just a more toned down version of their extreme alpha male…but the hints that got dropped about his book…well, as usual, I’m dying for his book! I will be desperately awaiting Easy Melody!

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

Title:   Easy Love (The Boudreaux Series, Book #1)

Author:   Kristen Proby

Genre:   Contemporary Erotic Romance

Eli Boudreaux’s family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hardworking, wealthy family and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At thirty, he is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises, co-chairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic is also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him and Eli’s family is solid. But he’s recently discovered that someone on the inside of his business is stealing from him and he’s determined to find out who.

Kate O’Shaughnessy is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. She’s excellent at blending, becoming part of the team, and finding the weakest link. She’s smart, quick-witted, and she’s now been hired by Bayou Enterprises, specifically Eli Boudreaux. The attraction is immediate and the chemistry is off the charts, but Kate has heard all about Eli’s playboy past and she has a job to do. Sleeping with the boss isn’t a part of that job, even if just the sound of her name rolling off that Cajun tongue and the way he fills out a designer suit does make her sweat.

Eli’s southern charms surprise Kate. The man whose reputation labels him as a ruthless, callous womanizer is not the man she’s coming to know intimately. He’s generous, protective and makes her smile. Cracking through Kate’s cool, reserved demeanor and discovering her love of sexy, expensive lingerie is a challenge Eli can’t resist, but her sweet nature, love of family and sense of humor pull at him in ways no one else ever has.

But when the person responsible for trying to single-handedly dismantle Eli’s empire comes to light, and it’s time for Kate to move on, to what lengths will Eli go to keep the woman he’s fallen in love with by his side?

Are you ready for the second book in The Boudreaux Series?!?  I’m currently reading it and I’m falling HARD for Rhys…

Title:   Easy Charm (The Boudreaux Series, Book #2)

Author:   Kristen Proby

Release Date:   July 7, 2015

Genre:   Contemporary Erotic Romance

Gabrielle Boudreaux, the youngest of the Boudreaux clan, is a single mother of her young son, Sam.  Running a Bed and Breakfast at the family plantation house at the edge of the Mississippi River, Gabby loves her inn, her boy and her family. She meets new people every day, and takes pride in the house and land that has been in her family for more than five generations. Blessed beyond measure, she’s also lonely, although she would never admit that to anyone. Until Rhys O’Shaughnessy walks through her door, brooding and wounded and the sexiest thing she’s ever laid eyes on.

 

Rhys has been at the top of his game as a major league pitcher for the Boston Red Sox for more than ten years. Baseball is in his blood. But when he tears his rotator cuff and has to sit a season out, he retreats to Inn Boudreaux at the recommendation of his cousin, Kate, to heal and work toward building his shoulder back to perfect shape with only one goal in mind: to return to the game he loves. But he didn’t plan on being utterly charmed by a devastatingly beautiful woman and her baseball-loving son.

 

When Rhys’ shoulder has healed and he’s given the chance to return to his team, will he leave the family he’s come to love behind, or will he stay with Gabby and Sam?

Want a taste of Eli?!?  Oh trust me…you do! 😉

Easy Love by Kristen Proby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4 “Bad idea” “words” “I’ve adjusted my sails.” Kisses

I absolutely adore Kristen Proby‘s books with an unending passion. Everything about her novels is why I love romance so much…I cannot explain the hypnotic powers they have over me…and when I heard she was coming out with a new series…I totally did a happy dance. Easy Love is just another notch in Kristen’s belt for books that completely sucked me in…I devoured this baby…read it in 24 hours because I could not get enough of Eli and Kate and how amazing they were. I never wanted it to end. If this is just the beginning of the Boudreaux series…good lord ladies, we’re in for one hell of a ride!

Eli Boudreaux..O-M-G! I know for a fact that Kristen can write some amazing BBF’s (hello, have you met the men in her With Me in Seattle Series?!?)…so I was prepared to swoon, but oh holy heaven…I was not prepared for Eli. I think he deserves a list:

1.) He’s 6’4”…excuse me while I drool. A lot.
2.) He has an amazing, incredibly sexy accent
3.) I love my good ole’ Southern boys
4.) Gorgeous Whiskey colored eyes that I could gaze into for days
5.) He’s a manwhore – my weakness!
6.) The man was born to wear a suit…just yum
7.) His deliciously fucking filthy mouth and all of the sinful things that come out of it…and his beautiful smile…and how good he can kiss…pretty much anything to do with his mouth is amazing.
8.) He’s a charmer 😉
9.) Incredible brother and son
10.) Oh and he has a nice ass! 😉

If only this scratched the surface of how blissfully fantastic this man is…but it doesn’t. He’s kind…generous…sweet…intelligent…charismatic…thoughtful…I could literally go on for days, Eli blew me away. Something I couldn’t get enough of was the love he has for his siblings and his mother. They are a very close family and it’s apparent with every interaction we see. Even through the tough, business-as-usual exterior, Eli has a huge heart and his capacity to love…and it took a beautiful redhead to show him that he was capable of loving.

‘“Say fuck, Kate, it’s okay.”
“I don’t swear,” she whispers. “I have enough Catholic guilt as it is.”
“Just this once. I won’t tell.” My lips are tickling hers as I talk, and I feel the shiver run through her. She licks her lips and swallows thickly, and I’ve never been so hard in my damn life. “Say it.”
“Fuck,” she whisper, and I crush my mouth to hers, kissing her with all the pent up frustration and need that I have inside me.’

Mary Katherine O’Shaughnessy…oh Kate didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she decided to come to New Orleans. As much as I love Kristen’s ability to create endlessly delicious BBF’s…I think I equally adore her heroines…and Kate’s a superb addition to that group. There is so much to love about Kate it’s ridic…the fact that she doesn’t cuss – it sounds silly, but trust me, it’s the cutest/funniest/most adorable thing on the planet. Her friendship with Savannah and Declan (Eli’s twin siblings)…she had a distinct and unique relationship with each twin and I loved both of them to bits. Her strength…her tenacity…her sass…her humor…I flat out could not get enough of her – she was greatness. The more I learned about her, the more I wanted to make her my bestie…she’s so down to earth and sweet…it’s blatantly obvious why Eli never stood a chance against her charms.

‘He laughs and cages me between his hands. “I don’t want to fuck this up before we really get started, Kate.”
“And then you say things like that that make me swoon and my panties all wet.”
“Are your panties wet, Kate?”
“My panties have been wet for a week, Eli.”
“Good.” He kisses me softly, ending it on a growl. “Please tell me you can get yourself to bed.”
“I can’t get myself to bed.” I grin and bat my eyelashes. “You might have to help me.”’

Oh the amazingness that is Eli and Kate…the bliss…the joy…I challenge anyone to not completely fall into all that makes them spectacular. I loved their connection from the start…the build…the sexual tension and electric chemistry…and good lord in heaven the passion. Eli and Kate are so hot…and I couldn’t help but enjoy every second. I don’t think Eli has an un-sexy bone in his body and both myself and Kate benefitted from this immensely. It’s primal and sensual and good-god-yes-more-please-thank-you! 🙂 But it wasn’t all about the sex…I promise! (that was just the icing on the cake!) I loved that he tried to get her to cuss and that she can’t get enough of his ass (I’m telling you…it’s a great ass!)…I loved all the little ways he showed her that he cared or was thinking about her…I loved their banter and playfulness…I loved how much he loved feeding her (trust me…it sounds strange but it’s amazing!). It’s interesting because they have this cute, fun friendship/friends with benefits thing…that is more relationship-y than either of them care to admit to but it works for them and what they have. Eli and Kate are just flat out easy…effortless…and I say that as the highest form of compliment…there’s no muss, no fuss just all goodness and all the feels that make me swoon.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” he asks quietly, his accent thicker, perfect for this lazy, easy moment.
“Nothing.”
“Now, that’s a lie,” he replies with a soft smile. “I can hear your wheels turning.”
“I was thinking about you.” I squeeze his hand a little tighter, and then bring it up to nuzzle it with my cheek. “And that I’ll miss you when I leave.”
He grows quiet for a moment, not responding at all, and then he surprises me.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment with you, Mary Katherine O’Shaughnessy,” he says, making me smile at the way he says my last name with his accent. “You are a special woman.”

So not only am I falling in love with Kate and Eli throughout Easy Love…I’m also falling in love with the rest of the Boudreaux clan…and seriously, I am so excited for each of these characters to get their own book…I pretty much need them right now. #NotKidding All the little details and hints that were dropped about each character…kind of giving clues as to the possibilities that lie within were like little gems that I wanted to cherish forever (hence my excitedness about the rest of the books in the series!)…but I’m getting ahead of myself…let’s talk about Eli’s brothers and sisters. There’s Beau, the eldest Boudreaux (Eli is the second oldest), the twins – Savannah and Declan, Charlotte (Charly) and Gabby. Each of the siblings have their own unique relationships and seeing them unfold…it’s an indescribable feeling of happiness. Maybe it’s because I’m an only child…maybe it’s because Kristen creates magic between these characters…maybe it’s because it feels so natural and fluid…for whatever reason I cannot help but adore watching this family interact. Seeing them support each other…pick on one another…go through the good, the bad and the ugly…it makes it all the more authentic and genuine.

“What are you saying?” I ask breathlessly.
“I’m saying,” he says and swallows hard, “that you mean the world to me. I’ve been looking for you my whole damn life. I’m uninterested in a life without you.”

The entire book is told from Kate and Eli’s POV…until the Epilogue. *dum dum dummmmm* The lovely surprise is that the Epilogue is told from Rhys O’Shaughnessy’s POV, Kate’s cousin – who is basically like her brother because they were raised together. And guess what that means?!?! His book is next!!! Rhys is not a huge part of Easy Love but he has some very major contributions and given that he’s headed to New Orleans, I’m excited to see what experiencing the Boudreaux’s does to his life. 😉

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

In the Bone there is a house.
In the house there is a girl.
In the girl there is a darkness.

Margo is not like other girls. She lives in a derelict neighborhood called the Bone, in a cursed house, with her cursed mother, who hasn’t spoken to her in over two years. She lives her days feeling invisible. It’s not until she develops a friendship with her wheelchair-bound neighbor, Judah Grant, that things begin to change.

When neighborhood girl, seven-year-old Neveah Anthony, goes missing, Judah sets out to help Margo uncover what happened to her.What Margo finds changes her, and with a new perspective on life, she’s determined to find evil and punish it–targeting rapists and child molesters, one by one.

But hunting evil is dangerous, and Margo risks losing everything, including her own soul.

Marrow by Tarryn Fisher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

3.5 “eating house” “And shit.” “murderess” Kisses

I can honestly say that I have never read a book like Marrow before. I went into it like I’ve gone into most Tarryn Fisher books…with no preconceived notions that I would be able to predict or expect anything that was going to happen and what I got could possible redefine the concept of the ‘mind-fuck’ for me. I REALLY don’t know what I want to think…was it good? Was it bad? I don’t know…because as much as I feel like my brain has been chewed up and spit out, I don’t know what I want to think because I have too many thoughts and not all of them make sense, but…I can say that it was compelling enough for me to never want to put it down. It made me feel…a lot…and think way too many things…and I accept it for all of the weird and awesome craziness it brought into my brain.

Margo Moon…now here’s the million dollar question, do I like her? Strangely enough…I do…I don’t know if I should, but I couldn’t help myself…she’s one of those characters that there is just something about her that doesn’t make you let all your guards down, and yet she’s still endearing. The entire process and journey of understanding Margo and who she is was…different, eye opening…the transformation of who she is at the beginning to who she becomes by the last page is like night and day. It was really hard for me not to be drawn to Margo after all that she has been through…her life has pretty much been utter shit since she was eight years old and was forced to grow up too quickly. In spite of her mother, Margo did not grow up to be a product of her environment. When your neighbors are crackheads and recently released felons….the prospects of growing up to be intelligent and successful aren’t normally in your favor…but Margo defies the odds. I think that’s what she does best…she’s very unassuming – not many people would look at her and think much, she doesn’t stand out in the normal ways, so it’s easy to see how she could just blend in and be forgotten. But nothing Margo does is forgettable.

“I read,” I say. I look at him out of the corner of my eye to see if he’s judging me.
“I do too,” he says. I remember the book he was holding, the day I walked up his pathway. “Mostly biographies.”
“Ew,” I say. And then, “I get enough of real life in the Bone. I want to go somewhere good when I read, not into someone else’s crappy life.”
“Good lives aren’t worth reading about,” he argues. “I read about the struggle. Other people’s growing pains.”
“I like happy endings,” I say. “Real life never has a happy ending.”
“God, you’re depressing. I don’t know why we are friends.”

Judah Grant…he’s like a superhero in a wheelchair, which now that I’ve typed it, sounds incredibly strange…but that’s how he is in my head. Judah is…special…he’s kind of like Margo’s life line, he’s her best friend and they’re the most mix-matched pair ever, but they just work in this crazy, nonsensical way. Something Margo thinks about Judah early on really stuck with me… ‘He wears his wheelchair. His wheelchair never wears him.’ …and the more I got to know him…the more true that statement was. It’s a strangely simple…but the affect it had on me and how I viewed Judah was startling…it wasn’t even that his handicap was brought up constantly, but it was enough to make me never forget – but Judah’s presence and spirit are enough to make you see him for who he is, rather than a crippled boy. Judah has a very open personality…as different as he and Margo are, the way he just kind of gets her and accepts her is deeply comforting…he was the one solid part of her life, the person she could always go to and seek solace in…their relationship was unique but I have no doubt that Margo would not be who she is without Judah.

‘The chair is wearing him tonight, I think. I go to him, kneel down, and put my hands on his knees. I’ve never touched him before. Never dared. His knees are frail, thin. Not like the rest of him. Judah was born to be big, and tall, and powerful, and life stole that from him. How heavy is that burden? His head comes up a little, just so we can exchange looks. He seems…tired.
“Judah,” I whisper. “Why were you waiting for me?”
He blinks slowly, like he’s in some kind of trance, then he looks back out the window.
“I always have.”’

There is no way to really talk about everything that happens in Marrow without possibly spoiling something and honestly…with some of the things that do happen in the book, I think the only real way to base how you truly feel about them, is to read it for yourself. There are a lot of scenes and parts of books that people can describe, that you can instantly know what kind of emotional reaction you will have to them – good, bad or indifferent…it doesn’t have to be experienced first hand to perceive that reaction. With Marrow…you need that firsthand knowledge. There are details that can’t be left out because they translate to how you brain and emotions react and it’s all very necessary…at least IMO. So…how do I describe Marrow…was there romance? Ehh…kind of? I mean…very minimal, but that’s not the point of the book, so that was fine by me. Was there suspense? Well…I always had this nervousness simmering in my body the entire time I was reading. I never felt like it was safe to let myself think everything was going to be okay…cause it was never going to be okay…nothing is ever truly simple or calm or at a point where you can let your guard down for what could possibly happen. I really wouldn’t even want to classify it as anything…because this book does not deserve limits…I cannot be placed into one specific category because it doesn’t fit any mold. It’s a deep, dark, complex journey of a girl who believes in justice.

‘“I have legs, Judah, and I don’t know how to use them. Your life walks, and you’re going to walk out of the Bone and be something. The rest of us, and our working legs, are going to live and die in the Bone.”
“Margo…” his voice cracks. His chin dips to his chest, and I’m not sure if he’s crying until I hear the sniff. He grabs me, before I can grab him, and he holds me tight.
“Margo,” he says into my hair. “I’ll save you, if you save me.”
I nod, the words caught in my throat, sticky with emotion. That’s the best deal life has ever offered me.’

I’ve already said that Marrow is like nothing I’ve ever read before but that’s both the good news and the bad news because…nothing can compare to the thoughts that are running through my mind. Like…does it make me weird that I want to like someone who is possibly/probably a little dark, twisted and may or may not be crazy? Cause…I do like Margo…I don’t know if I want to, but I can accept that overall as a character, I understood her…whether what she was doing was right or wrong isn’t really the point because I got the thought process behind her actions. I kind of envied her conviction…the strength it takes to know what you’re doing is not necessarily legal or morally right…but know that it needs to be done for justice to be served is in its own way, kinda kicks ass. And once again for me to say these things, almost makes me feel like I am stating something that I should be ashamed of…but I’m not. It’s like Margo is an extension of the vigilante part of all of us…being able to do all of the things that we wish we could do but can’t. Seeking to hurt those who hurt others just because they can…giving them a taste of their own medicine…to feel the pain they inflict on the innocent…there is something very deep and powerful about that.

‘I can’t stay the way I am. I don’t remember what it’s like to be free. To be wide open without fear. I need something to break me. Just enough so that I have new pieces to work with – make them into something else. I don’t want to give anyone the right to treat me like a loser. I don’t want to be fat, I don’t want to live in the Bone, I don’t want to be without knowledge. I won’t be the girl who people laugh at. Not anymore.’

Marrow is dark in a way that I’ve never read…and I’ve read some pretty dark books…I’m not afraid of stuff that will make me cringe or the unpleasant side of life – bad stuff happens to good people every day and just because I’m reading about it in a book won’t change that. I don’t read to have the sugar coated version of life, I read to feel and Marrow definitely made me feel….not always good emotions, but once again, that wasn’t the point of the book. If you need a book that is going to be sunshine and rainbows…then this isn’t the right book for you. I’m not saying positive stuff doesn’t happen…but there’s not a lot…and for me it was also how I absorbed the events that were happening as they unfolded. If you need clear cut answers to everything…then this definitely isn’t the book for you. There are things that aren’t explained…at all, that we never get definitive answers on and…it is what is. In my opinion…there isn’t a lot in Marrow that is black and white…it’s a lot of grey and messy and it really has a lot to do with how you interpret things. Whether the way you perceive events is based on fact, emotion or a little of both…I can see a ton of different ways for what happens in Marrow to be construed. I should know because I’m feeling a least 32 of them right now and have been since I finished. But I’m strangely okay with that…or at least I’m getting to that point.

‘I told myself that I was the one pretending to fit in, but life has taught me that we are all pretenders. Every single one of us. We are born ready to cultivate ourselves, find a place where we feel comfortable. Whether that is to fit in with the geeks, or the jocks, or the cold-blooded killers. There is nothing new under the sun. Nothing new we can invent or make up. We grapple with our likes and dislikes, who we want to please, what we want to wear and drive. Our interests, whether they include drawing Italian sunsets, playing video games, or thumbing our way through erotic novels, they are all handed to us by a society that produces them. No matter how hard we try to invent ourselves, there have always been druggies, and tattoos, and ambitious men who take over the world. There have always been artists, and hippies, and meatheads, and that beautiful, single Mother Teresa, who lights up the darkness. There have always been murderers, and mothers, and athletes. We are all pretenders in life, finding a patch of humanity that we related to, and then embrace it.’

The beauty of all of this is that I truly don’t know if any other author could have written this book and made me enjoy it as much as I did. Tarryn’s writing is flat out brilliance…every time I read one of her books I feel unworthy of words. She can take the most mundane and simple things and describe them in a way that blows me away…every single time. I know not every book is for every reader…but I don’t know if every reader is ready for Marrow. This book doesn’t fit into a mold…it doesn’t do what is right or normal or predictable…it tells it like it is and I don’t think it exists for your to love it or even necessarily to like it, because it’s not even that kind of story…you just have to accept it….and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Marrow provoked me…to think, to feel, to understand…it’s grown roots and planted thoughts in my mind that I’ll be thinking of for years after this. I’ll never forget Margo’s dark and twisty tale.

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