Review: Bully

My name is Tate. He doesn't call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all. No, he'll barely even speak to me.

But he still won't leave me alone.

We were best friends once. Then he turned on me and made it his mission to ruin my life. I've been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to stay out of his way. I even went to France for a year, just to avoid him.

But I'm done hiding from him now, and there's no way in hell I'll allow him to ruin my senior year. He might not have changed, but I have. It's time to fight back.

I'm not going to let him bully me anymore.

Title: Bully (Fall Away ~ Book 01)
Author: Penelope Douglas | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Publication Date: June 17 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 371 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Meh.  Don't love it, but I don't hate it ether.
Point of View: 1st person, following Tate

My Rating: 3 Stars

To say this book is 'blowing up' right now would be an understatement.  Mostly I have seen some really positive reviews out there, and even though I didn't necessarily flat out hate Bully, I didn't fall in love with it either.

“What was worse than losing you was when you started to hurt me.  Your words and actions made me hate coming to school.  They made me uncomfortable in my own home.”

I have one major MUST when it comes to reading.  I need a book boyfriend.  This may make me shallow, weird, or whatever else you want to call it... but I need to love the guy.  I need to fall in love with him, I need him to make me want to be the heroine, and I need to at the very least... like him.

Jared.  Jared.  Jared.  *sigh*  I so wanted to love Jared.  He had his moments, don't get me wrong.  When he finally gets his head out of his ass, he can actually be quite sweet.  However, with that said, I just couldn't seem to get past the 75% of evil Jared.  And no, I don't feel that evil is too harsh a word.  The 'pranks' that he pulls on Tate are not of the grade school variety.  Some are quite mean, but none are as mean as some of the things he actually says to her.

In fact, there is one line (and no I am not going to spoil it for you) that I literately had to put my Kindle down and decide if I wanted to continue reading.  I think the reason why I was so taken aback by it is because it was a scene with just Jared and Tate.  He wasn't at school or in front of his friends, so I didn't expect him to be so cruel in that moment.  But wow... it was a low blow.

“Isn’t it about time you fought back?”

Tatum/Tate.  I liked when she started to finally stand up for herself, but I didn't understand her self-loathing.  That is the only way I can describe it.  Toward the end when people started liking her, she has thoughts in her head about how they are only liking her because of one thing or the other.  She never accepts that people would like her or want to help her because of who she is.  I didn't like that at all.  I wanted some character growth there.  I felt that by her still having thoughts such as this, it just showed that she was still in the mindset of somebody who has been bullied.  She still felt less than what her full worth.  Yeah, it just left a bad taste in my mouth.

“You've already made me cry countless times."  I raised my middle finger to him slowly, and asked, "Do you know what this is?"  I took my middle finger and patted the corner of my eye with it.  "It's me, wiping away the last tear you'll ever get.”

K.C.  She is Tate's best friend, well if you can even call her a friend.   I have a hate/hate relationship with K.C.  I did not understand her at all.  She makes some really selfish choices in Bully, and I just didn't get her.  I can't go into too much detail about why I don't like her because it will give away a large part of the overall plot, and I hate spoilers.  I tried my best to give her the benefit of the doubt, so many times, but in the end it turned out I was holding out hope for nothing.  She really disappointed me.

“This is how bullies are made.”

So yeah, sadly I am not the biggest fan of Bully.  I am hoping however that once Until You is released that I will have a change of heart... at least toward Jared.  Until you is going to be a book told from Jared's POV.  The author has said that it will have a lot of new scenes which were not in Bully, but will also have some of the important scenes from Bully re-told.  I love the male point of view, and I am hoping that with being in Jared's head it will help me understand why he did and said some of the things he said to Tate.  Maybe he can still make me love him.  Maybe.

MORE QUOTES FROM BULLY

Waiting on Wednesday #38

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is a perfect way to highlight books that we are waiting patiently to be released... it is also a sure-fire way to watch your TBR pile grow!

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

Expected Publication: August 27 2013
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads

Why am I so eagerly awaiting this release you ask?

Love Katy.  Love Daemon.  Love Dawson.  Love the entire Lux series.  Hate this cover.

I am so disappointed with this cover, I must get this out of the way first.  All of the covers in the Lux series have been perfect... even getting better as the series went on.  But then we get this.  It is horrible.

Luckily this is book four in a five book series, so people will already be hooked on the story and won't be turned off by the cover.  Don't get me wrong, the cover model, Pepe Toth is hot.  But this is not his best shot, or the best way to use his gorgeous self.

Anyway, on to why I am dying to read Origin... The end of Opal ripped my heart out.  It was honestly ripped out and then stomped on, then probably set on fire.  It was a terrible cliffhanger.  So I must know what happens next.  Oh, and Origin is dual POV.  I love me some male point of view, and being inside Daemon's head is going to be completely awesome.

What is your Waiting on Wednesday?

Feel free to leave your links below so that I can check them out and if you are a new follower be sure to let me know!

Review: Thief

Note to Self

Love is patient; love is kind.
Love doesn't boast or brag.
There's no arrogance in love;
it's never rude, crude, or indecent-it's not self absorbed.
Love isn't easily upset.
Love doesn't tally wrongs.
Love trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what.
Love will never become obsolete.
I'll fight for her.

Thief

Title: Thief (Love Me With Lies ~ Book 3)
Author: Tarryn Fisher | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: July 21 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 232 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Caleb is blonde.  Now normally when a book cover model doesn't match that of the description given for the character, I tend to dislike the cover.  However... Just look at that cover. Holy HOTNESS.  This is and forever will be my Caleb, dark hair, blonde hair, it doesn't matter.  That is Caleb Drake.
Point of View: 1st person, following Caleb.  However there are a couple of chapters in alternate points of views.

My Rating: 5 HUGE Stars

I am not a spoiler kind of girl.  I hate reading spoilers, and I hate giving spoilers.  But, I must start out this review with a spoiler alert.  There is absolutely no way to write anything about Thief, without giving away details of the previous books.  So, if you have not yet read The Opportunist or Dirty Red, my first question for you would be, why the hell not?  And then I would tell you to stop reading this review right now, go buy them and read them, then come back to read my review.

“She’s mine.  She always has been, she always will be.”

Well, now that I have that out of the way, where do I even start?  I guess I should talk about how excited I was to read Thief.  I finished reading Dirty Red on a Saturday morning and I immediately started wishing that Thief was already out.  I was in my own version of hell.  This is no joke.  I attempted to start no less than four different books, I didn't even make it past 2% on any of them.  My heart was still with Olivia and Caleb.  Since Tarryn had announced that Thief would be published sometime within that week, I knew I didn't have that long to wait but I am not one for just sitting around. I needed something to read.  So what did I do?  I re-read The Opportunist.  I had only completed it the day prior but hey, who cares?  Then when I was half way through my re-read of Dirty Red, it happened.  Tarryn hit the publish button.

Immediately my heart rate increased, my hands started to get a little shaky and I couldn't sit still.  I felt like a junkie waiting on their next fix.  Then it was there, I one-clicked it and a second later I had it on my Kindle.  This was at 9:30pm on a Sunday night.  Next thing I know it is 3:30am and I am reading the final page.  I didn't even care that I had to be up in four hours to get ready for work.

“You are worth fighting for.  I haven’t given up yet.”

However, with all of my excitement to read Thief, I also had a fair bit of anxiety and nervousness.  I mean why wouldn't I?  At the end of the Opportunist I was a broken woman.  At the end of Dirty Red I was shocked to my core.  And what about my favorite two people?  Things were not very rosy between Olivia and Caleb.  What was going to happen?  What lies and betrayal were going to be unsurfaced next?  How will Olivia and Caleb ever manage to have their happily ever after?  Hell, will they even get a happily ever after?

“The sum of all the things we shouldn’t have done in our lives is enough to kill us with the weight.”

So now that the dust has settled, the series is completed and my anxiety levels are back down to normal... was the late night reading session, nervousness and stress worth it?  ABSOLUTELY.  Thief is amazing, and the perfect conclusion to what I can now call my favorite series of books.  Every up, every down, every lie, every kiss, every look, every betrayal, every miscommunication, every twist and every turn was perfectly captured and brought to life by Tarryn Fisher's suburb talent.

“Maybe our souls touched underneath that tree.  Maybe I decided to love her.  Maybe love wasn't our choice.  But when I looked at that woman, I saw myself differently.”

One of the most unique aspects of the Love Me With Lies series is that each book is written in a different point of view.  Olivia got her say in The Opportunist, Dirty Red was Leah, and now finally Caleb.  What was going on in his head when he walked over to Olivia all those years ago under that willow tree, and later when he chose to walk away from her for what he thought would be forever.  And the biggest question of all, what the hell was he thinking when he married that bitch Leah?  Well finally we get to find out.  And man oh man are there some shocking moments revealed.

Everything comes together so perfectly.  Each of the books have always been told with a forwarding present storyline, but also with the use of flashbacks.  I can only imagine the type of flowchart that Tarryn must have had to use to ensure that each important moment is not only captured from the different points of views, but that everything on the time line flows smoothly and without effort.  Never did I have to stop to think at what point I was at in the story, and I never felt confused or found the story to be muddled.  It simply flowed perfectly.

“She has the kind of love that can stain your soul, make you beg not to have one, just to escape the spell she’s put you under.  I’ve tried to break myself of her over and over, but it’s pointless.  I’ve got more of her in my veins than blood”

Did I get emotional white reading Thief?  Without a doubt.  I am an emotional reader for sure, and I am not ashamed of that fact.  But I think the love that I have for Caleb and Olivia meant that I was even more emotional while reading Thief.  To give you an example, early in the story Caleb goes to take a Coke out of his fridge.  He has the thought that he doesn't even drink Coke, but that Olivia does.  And he always makes sure that he has some on hand in case she is at his house.  Now this might not seem like an important statement, but this is during a time period that Caleb and Olivia have not seen each other for a long time.  And I started crying.  I thought about the love that he has for Olivia and how such a small act shows how even when they are not together, he is always thinking about her.  So yes, I may be a sap but I want to get across how much you fall in love with these characters.  That even a small moment such as this highlights the deep emotional bond they have.

“You couldn’t get rid of the past.  You couldn’t ignore it, or bury it, or throw it over the balcony.  You just had to learn to live beside it.  It had to peacefully co exist with your present.  If I could figure out how to do that, I could be okay.”

There is continued heartache in Thief, but there is so much healing that takes place.  I think that this shows the growth and maturity that Caleb and Olivia are finally experiencing.  But, they have been so much, and the question that has to be asked is....

“How many times can a heart be broken before it is beyond mend?”

So do they get their happily ever after?  Have they managed to find their way back to each other after everything that has happened between them?  Look away now if you don't want to know...

I am happy to report that Caleb and Olivia do in fact get their own version of happily ever after.  Why do I word it like that?  Because the ending is not all rainbows and butterflies.  It's a real life ending.  Not everything works out perfectly, but they are together and they are happy.  And to me this made the ending beyond perfect, because this was Caleb and Olivia's happily ever after.  There is no other way I would have wanted it to end.  Just thinking about it now brings a smile to my face.

My request for you is to go forth and read this series.  I promise you that you will not be disappointed.  I loved every single word of it and I have forever fallen in love with these characters.  Tarryn Fisher has proved herself to be beyond talented, and I will be a lifelong fan of her work.  This is one set of books that I can easily see myself reading over and over again.

“I'll do whatever I have to do to protect you.  I'll lie, cheat, and steal to make you okay.  I'll share your suffering, and I'll carry you when you're weighed down.  I'll never leave you, not even when you ask me to.  Do you believe me?”

MORE QUOTES FROM THIEF

Review: Dirty Red

Dear Opportunist,

You thought you could take him from me, but you lost. Now, that he's mine I'll do anything to keep him. Do you doubt me? I have everything that was supposed to be yours. In case you were wondering; he doesn't ever think about you any more. I won't let him go....ever.

Dirty Red

Leah Smith finally has everything she has ever wanted. Except she doesn't. Her marriage feels more like a loan than a lifelong commitment, and the image she has worked so hard to build is fraying before her eyes. With a new role and a past full of secrets, Leah must decide how far she is willing to go to keep what she has stolen.

Title: Dirty Red (Love Me With Lies ~ Book 2)
Author: Tarryn Fisher | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: December 21 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 265 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Perfect.  No other words for it.
Point of View: 1st person, following Leah

My Rating: 5 Stars

“A woman should never have to fight so hard to be with a man.  He should just want her.”

What can I possibly say about a book that had me seeing red and spitting nails within the first paragraph?  A book whose main character is one of the, if not THE, most disgusting, vile and despicable characters in the literary world.

Have I put you off from reading Dirty Red yet?  No?  Well that is a good thing, because regardless of the fact that Leah is vile, this was an amazing book.  There is absolutely no way that anybody who reads the Love Me With Lies series should be skipping this book.  Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like in the mind of a self-absorbed narcissist?  Yes?  Me too.

“This was perfect.  I was about a ten on the poison scale.  If he needed venom, I could inject it directly into his neck.”

So, I guess you get that I hate Leah?  There is no beating around the bush here. I hate her.  In fact hate is probably too calm of a word to fully express the emotions that I feel when I think of her. However, with all of this said, I am completely fascinated with her.  How easily the lies seem to roll off her wicked tongue.  How calm she is in the face of hatred.  How cool she manages to remain when her insides are slithering around like snakes.  I can not name even one redeeming quality for Leah.

“Maybe the guy loves a good bitch - but you're treading a thin line between attractively bitchy and psycho.”

However, I have to hand it to Tarryn Fisher, there are moments with Leah that I actually felt sorry for her.  Of course these moments only lasted for a nanosecond at the most, but it was there.  And that just shows how powerful her writing is.  Leah is not a character that you are meant to like.  She is the enemy.  The one to hate, to get rid of, to toss to the side.  The fact that even for a few moments I could feel any kind of empathy toward her is amazing.

“I have done a number of things to keep this man.  I have lied and cheated.  I have been sexy and meek, fierce and vulnerable.  I have been everything but myself.”

As with The Opportunist, there are plenty of lies told and even more bombshells dropped.  It is honestly as if the hits just kept on coming.  There was not a chance for me to even consider putting my Kindle down.  This was most definitely a one sitting read for me.  The story is engaging and completely unputdownable.

I have to be honest and say that I can't remember the last time I was this engrossed in a series of books.  It is as if they have taken over my entire being.  They will completely take over your thoughts and the feelings you develop for the characters are very much real.  I can not even describe the love I have for The Opportunist and Dirty Red.  And now... on to Thief.  An entire book in Caleb's point of view.  To say I am excited, is a massive understatement.

“No! I think. I am not the poisonous snake.  Olivia is.  Everything that I’ve had to do is her fault.  I am innocent.”

MORE QUOTES FROM DIRTY RED

Review: The Opportunist

Olivia Kaspen is a sharp tongued manipulator used to always getting what she wants. With just one exception-Caleb Drake, the one she foolishly let slip away.

After a chance encounter brings Caleb back into her life, Olivia finds herself wanting a second chance with her first love, and asking herself how far she is willing to go to get him back. Her only problem is a red head named Leah, Caleb's new love.

Olivia must fight for what was once hers, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.

Title: The Opportunist (Love Me With Lies ~ Book 1)
Author: Tarryn Fisher | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: November 14 2011
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 429 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Love this cover, and every cover in the series is perfect.
Point of View: 1st person, following Olivia

My Rating: 5 Stars

I am broken.  I am but a shell of the woman that I was before I started reading The Opportunist.  My heart was put into a vice, squeezed, and then ripped painfully from my chest.  oooOOOooohhh the emotions that I not only felt while reading, but the ones that have continued to stay with me after.  I am a mess.  The only way I am going to be able to write a coherent review is to give my opinions and thoughts about the main characters.  There is no way I would at this time be able to put my full emotions into words, and then to string those words into sentences and paragraphs.

“I fell in love underneath a tree.”

Olivia.  I love her, but man does she has the largest self destruct button I have ever seen.  She is closed off, ruthless, and can be flat out mean.  But this is the Olivia that she shows to the outside world.  We are in her head, we know that when she makes a bad decision or a terrible choice... we know the guilt she feels about it.  It doesn't stop her from doing it, but the guilt is there.  I felt for her.

It has to say something about the level of excellent writing that Tarryn Fisher has managed to produce, for me to say I like Olivia.  Normally her type of character would have me wanting to pull my hair out.  But those feelings never came.  Did I agree with all of her choices?  Not at all.  But did I understand why she was making them?  Yes.  And that means that I understood her as a character, I got the mess of emotions that were going around in her head.  I understood her.

“And my personal favorite, your lips."  He smiled as a pink flush crept up my neck.  "Full and sensual, puckered, and always turned down at the corners.  They kind of make me want to kiss them until they smile.”

Caleb.  *sigh*  If I actually use the word swoon will you still take my review seriously?  Because honestly, I can't think of another word to use.  He is far from perfect, and to be honest I blame him almost as much as I blame Olivia for the inevitable outcomes that happen.  But, saying that... I think he tried his best.  There is only so much that you can do when dealing with somebody as closed off as Olivia.  But he never stops loving her.  No matter what happens, no matter what is thrown at him by her, he loves her wholeheartedly, and continues to do so to the very last page.

“She is playing games with someone who knows how to play them better.”

Leah.  She is a bitch.  I hate her and I hope for very bad things to happen to her.  Is this harsh?  Nope, I don't think so.  Olivia may be a product of her past, her closed off nature allowing her to make poor choices, but Leah is just a manipulative cow.  A mean, evil, manipulative cow.  Book Two in the Love Me With Lies series, Dirty Red, is from Leah's point of view.  I'm not sure what I think about that.  I know one thing for sure though, I will never like her.  I don't care if being in her head shows me a completely different side of her.  I will not like her.

“Life balances itself on a precarious ledge, we can stay safe up high or propel off the edge.”

Okay, now for the ending.  I have always openly admitted to crying when I read, I am a very emotional reader.  I have happy tears, I have sad tears, and in this case I had big fat ugly cry tears.  Even thinking about it now, my eyes are filling up again.  There are just too many emotions, and this again shows the level of writing that is taking place.  I have some major love for these characters, and my heart is sadly broken right now.

I was going to start Dirty Red before I wrote this review but I felt this review deserved to be written first.  I have no idea what to expect in book two, but I am sure there will still be plenty of twists and turns and roller coaster ups and downs.  But I didn't want it to sway the emotions I had when I finished The Opportunist.  But, I am now off to start it.  This time I am prepared with plenty of tissues.

“I have finally accepted that there are consequences to every action.  I earned them and they are rightfully mine.  There is no time to make bad decisions.  Every step is precious.  The definition of living is mine.”

MORE QUOTES FROM THE OPPORTUNIST

Review: Lick

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas's plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure as hell never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is for certain, being married to rock and roll's favourite son is sure to be a wild ride.

Title: Lick (Stage Dive ~ Book 1)
Author: Kylie Scott | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: July 01 2013
Publisher: Momentum
Length: 286 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Not really how I picture David.
Point of View: 1st person, following Evelyn

My Rating: 5 Stars

“It’s not fair that I remember and you don’t, Evelyn.”

LOVE.  I am in love with Evelyn and David.  Lick has the perfect blend of absolutely everything.  There is fun, steam, drama, some more steam, and it is all filled with some very loveable characters.  I have a feeling I am going to use the word 'love' a lot in this review, so please just bear with me.

“Love isn’t always smooth or straightforward. It can be messy and painful … Doesn’t mean it isn’t still the most incredible thing that can ever happen to you.”

Everything that happened in Lick, made sense to me.  Do you know how refreshing it is to say that?  Is everything smooth and perfect? Absolutely not, but the drama that does happen makes sense and it is believable.  Both characters have their flaws, and both have amazing attributes.

“But I married you, Evelyn, because you made sense to me.  We make sense.  We're a whole lot better together than apart.”

Evelyn was smart.  Her choices were smart and she was believable.  I would like to think that if I were thrown into the same situation that I would handle it all as well as she did.  I really liked her.

David was completely amazing.  I have seen a couple reviews where it was said that he was a bit 'too' sweet to be a rock star.  What?  Is there some unspoken rule that says all rock stars have to be jerks?  I loved David's attitude and you will never hear me say he is too sweet.  He is amazing.  In fact my only complaint about Lick is that I would have loved this to be in dual perspective.  I want more David, and would have loved to be in his head a little.

“His hands cupped my face, holding me to him.  The kiss was so sweet and perfect.  It was a promise, one that wouldn't be broken this time.  We'd both learned from our mistakes and we'd keep learning all our lives.”

Lick is the first book in the Stage Dive series.  You don't have to worry about there being a cliffhanger though, because there is beautifully written ending.  I can only assume that this means that the other books in the series will focus on different characters, probably the other band members.  I haven't seen proof of this anywhere, but it's what I'm guessing.  Although, with that said, I would still love to have more of Evelyn and David's story.  I don't want their happy ever after messed with, but I love them both to bits and wouldn't say no to there being more of them in the future.

“Can you feel what we’re doing here?  We’re building something.”

MORE QUOTES FROM LICK

Review: Axel

Fate hasn’t always been friends with Isabelle West. In fact, fate has been a downright bitch.

Isabelle has learned the hard way how hard life can be when fate isn’t by your side. It can hand you dreams on silver platters, but it can snatch them right back and hand you nightmares. One thing Isabelle knew for sure fate was consistent with was taking away everything she ever loved.

For the last two years Isabelle has been slowly clearing the clouds of her past. Happiness is finally on the horizon. She has a thriving business, great friends, and her life back. All she has to do is jump over the last hurdle…her ex-husband.

When problems start causing her to fear her new life, and memories that are better left forgotten start rushing to the surface the last thing she needs is a ghost from her past to come knocking on her door.

Axel never thought he would look into the eyes of Isabelle West again, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to now. He’s carried his anger for so long he isn’t sure he can just turn it off, but when he is faced with protecting her and an unexpected desire to have her again, life gets a little more complicated.

How will Axel and Isabelle deal when all their cards are put on the table and everything they thought was true blows up in their faces?

Title: Axel (Corps Security ~ Book 1)
Author: Harper Sloan | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Publication Date: July 07 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 283 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: This is the new cover.  It's funny because at first I wasn't a fan of the old cover but then when I saw this one I felt sad that it was being changed.  I liked the idea of the the series each having a different hot guy on the front.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Isabelle and Axel

My Rating: 4 Stars

I am going to be completely honest and say that Axel actually surprised me a bit.  Quite a few book bloggers I follow loved it, so I knew I wanted to read it.  But, for me, it started out a little slow.  I just had a hard time connecting with Isabelle.  But, thankfully I carried on and I am so happy that I did.

“People say karma is a bitch but I have news for you, karma doesn’t have anything on fate when she is after blood. Not a single thing.”

Once Axel came into the story, and it flipped to his point of view, I was hooked.  Holy ALPHA.  There are a lot of alpha men out there in the book world, and can I just say that Axel is right there along side them.  In fact no, he probably isn't beside them... he may very well be leading the pack.  He is hot, sexy, demanding, sexy... oh I mentioned that one... and oh so very swoonworthy.

“I have finally come to the realization that I’m not ready to let her go. Not again. And if I’m being totally honest with myself, I haven’t ever gotten over the fact that she was and always will be ‘it’ for me.”

Honestly, every man in this book was hot.  Well, except for Brandon, you are allowed to hate him.  But Axel runs Corps Security, along with four (yes, you read that right... FOUR) of his ex-Marine buddies.   Axel, Greg Cage, Zeke Cooper,  Maddox Locke, and Beck make up the five hottest band of brothers you are likely to ever come across.  These men ooze sex from their pores and the fact that each and every single one of them are going to get their own book, just makes it that much sweeter.

“Never again, Izzy West. I will never again let anyone take you from me, or anything from us.”

Now let us talk about the steam factor.  There are some flashbacks toward the beginning, but things don't really heat up until after Izzy and Axel reconnect.  This is well after the 50% mark, but man oh man is the wait worth it.  The sparks these two have coming off of them could start a fire, even when they aren't having sex the temperature in the room is increased.  And when they finally get together again?  Wow.  That is all I'll say about that.

“Hear me now, and understand me, we will talk but nothing you can say will change the fact that you and me are happening. I won’t let you go, Izzy. Never. You’re mine, you got that, Princess?”

Don't worry about this being a series, there is absolutely no cliffhanger.  As mentioned above, each book of the series will feature on a different member of Corps Security.  Next up will be Greg (Cage).  I fell in love with Greg, he has a heart of gold.  I am curious to see who it is that he will be falling for, there was a little bit at the end of Axel where he had a mysterious phone call but I can't say that there is anybody we have met that I could see him with.  As of the time of this review, Harper Sloan has given a tentative release time frame of early 2014 for Cage's release.  I am hoping this can be moved up, but if not I can guarantee the waiting will be worth it.

MORE QUOTES FROM AXEL

Review: Frigid

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Title: Frigid (Frigid ~ Book 1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog
Publication Date: July 15 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Length: 240 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: It really is beautiful, however I can't understand why he has his shirt off in the cold...
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Sydney and Kyler

My Rating: 4 Stars

First things first, how did I not know that Frigid was told in dual POV?  I have been counting down to this release for what seems like ages, but when I started it and saw that... I was even more excited.  I may have actually squealed a little.  True story.

Frigid has a completely different feel to it from other Jennifer L. Armentrout / J. Lynn books.  I felt it to be a much lighter or fluffier read than her other stuff.  I'm not saying this is a negative thing.  I really enjoyed Sydney and Kyler, and it was actually a bit of a relief to not have huge emotional back stories for the characters to work through.  The only thing to work through here was Kyler being such a man whore.

“No one could replace me in his life.  I knew that… I was Kyler's best friend.  And because of that, he would never love me the way I loved him…  Girls were like flavors to him and I wasn't one he wanted to taste.”

Boy, can this guy get around.  There were a couple of times when I actually winced a little at the thought of what Sydney had to endure throughout their friendship.  This is a classic case of best friends both loving each other but believing the other doesn't hold those type of feelings for the other.  Sydney chooses to not date, like ever... where Kyler decided if he can't have Syd then he would make his rounds with every other girl.  Like, all of them.

“Yeah, she had me.  I was all hers.
In reality, even though I’d been with everyone else,  I’d always been Syd’s.”

There is also a little bit of  a mystery to the story, somebody is wreaking havoc on the house they are snowed into.  Although, I have to say there really is no mystery.  It's pretty obvious who is behind what is happening, but that didn't stop me from wondering what was going to happen next.

As this is Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn, you know you can expect one thing.  Steam.  And she did not disappoint.  The sparks between Syd and Kyler are evident from the start, and once they finally get on the same page... things really heat up.  There are some seriously steamy scenes.

“Sometimes words weren’t enough— they couldn’t cover the feeling.  This was one of those times.  So I closed the distance and kissed her, putting everything I felt for her, every promise I made her, into that one kiss.”

There is also the inevitable misunderstanding that takes place.  This plot twist is written into the New Adult bible and must be followed religiously.  But, I am thrilled to say that after the small bit of drama, there is a happy ending.  I think some people are a little worried, because there is a second book in this series expected in 2014.  I can guarantee there is no cliffhanger here, and everything with Sydney and Kyler is wrapped up quite nicely.  I haven't seen any news about the second book, so I can only assume it will follow some of the other characters that we meet in Frigid.

“How you’ve always felt?”
“I’ve loved you my entire life,” he said, eyes locked on mine.  “And I would love you for the rest of my life if you’d let me, Syd.”

MORE QUOTES FROM FRIGID

Swoon Thursday #35

Who doesn't love a good swoon?
The ladies over at YA Bound have created this hot and fun meme!
If you want to join in here's all you need to do.
From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling and your stomach fluttering?

Then pick a smaller portion of your swoon and tweet it, just don't forget to add the #YABOUND Hashtag to your tweet!

I have completely fallen in love with On the Island.  I honestly can't stop thinking about this book.  Anna and T.J. have wrapped themselves around my heart, and I don't see them being detached any time soon.  Their love story was slow, sweet, and passionate.  Honestly, if I can get anything across to you, it would be that you need to read this novel.  I have so much love for it.

You can read my spoiler free review of On the Island HERE. 

Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads

I had already scooped some of the breadfruit onto my fingers.  Without thinking, I held them out to her.  She stopped laughing, and looked at me like she wasn't quite sure what I meant.  I waited, and she leaned toward me and opened her mouth.  I slid my fingers inside, wondering if my eyes were as big as hers.  When she sucked the breadfruit off, my breathing got all messed up.

"More?"

She nodded just barely, and her breathing didn't sound right either.  I scooped up some breadfruit and this time, when I put my fingers in her mouth, she put her hand on my wrist.

I waited for her to swallow and then I lost my shit completely.

I grabbed her face with both hands, and I kissed her, hard.

What is your swoon worthy moment this week?

Feel free to leave your links below so that I can check them out and if you are a new follower be sure to let me know so that I can come and check out your blog in return!

Review: Recovery

I have the perfect life.

I’ve finally found my happy ending.

I fought through the loss of one husband, lucky enough to be given a second chance at a lifetime of happiness. Settling into our new lives, however, may not be as easy as it seems.

What really happens after the fairytale ending? What happens after the prince rescues the princess? After he sweeps her off her feet and carries her off into the sunset? Do they truly live happily ever after?

Well…

This is our story.

Title: Recovery (Mending Hearts ~ Book 1.5)
Author: L.B. Simmons | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: June 13 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 142 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Again, perfect and fits the series wonderfully
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Alex and Blake.  Although there is more from Alex.

My Rating: 5 Stars

Even now, my heart is still in my throat.  I would like to first say that this novella could have easily been turned into a full length novel.  However, even with it being a long novella, it was filled with so much emotion.  I couldn't believe how much story L.B. Simmons was able to pack into 142 pages.

“We’re supposed to be partners in this, Alex, but instead, we’re two strangers, living two separate lives, inhabiting the same living space.”

Recovery is a look at what happens after the happy ever after.  Everything is not always rosy and perfect.  I have to say I was a little nervous to start Recovery.  I like my happy ever afters... I like turning that last page with a big goofy smile on my face.  Why would I want to read about the troubles that come after?  Well, I knew that even though there were difficulties as Alex and Blake learn how to merge their separate lives into one... that there would still be another big goofy grin on my face at the end.  And I'm happy to say there very much was one.

“So, when things don’t make sense to you, try not to waste time being upset about it.  Stuff works out the way it’s supposed to.  Some things just take longer than others.”

We see a lot of character growth in Recovery.  The only problem I had with Alex in Running on Empty is that she found it so hard to ask for help.  This is carried into Recovery, and finally she understands that she needs to do more than let Blake into her heart.  She has to open up her whole life to him and allow him to be there for her and the girls.  Blake is as always perfect.  The man is like a dream come true... love him to bits.

We also get our first peek at Noah and Tatum, they are the characters that Running in Place will be focused around.  I think I am really going like these two.  There is also an excerpt at the end which gives us a bit of a sneak peek, now we just have to wait for the release.

“… now that I have you, I’m never, ever going to let you go again.  You are mine.  Without you, I am nothing.”

MORE QUOTES FROM RECOVERY

Waiting on Wednesday #37

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is a perfect way to highlight books that we are waiting patiently to be released... it is also a sure-fire way to watch your TBR pile grow!

It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

Expected Publication: August 29 2013
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads

Why am I so eagerly awaiting this release you ask?

oooOOOooohhh... how I have waited for Untold.  We are getting closer every day, but it is still so far away.  I fell in love with Kami and Jared... and that ending in Unspoken?  It broke me.  Honestly, I just can not wait.

Check out my review for Unspoken.

What is your Waiting on Wednesday?

Feel free to leave your links below so that I can check them out and if you are a new follower be sure to let me know!

Review: Running on Empty

I had the perfect life.

Beautiful and loving husband.Three gorgeous little girls. Successful career.

The only thing missing was the white picket fence. I really wanted that fence.

Three years ago, I lost that life. I lost my husband. And I lost myself. But, eventually, I found my way through the darkness. I’ve made peace with my new life. I have my girls, and that’s all that matters. They are my world. I have no illusions of ever falling in love again or getting whisked away on a white horse.

But then he came back into my life. On a freakin’ motorcycle.

There’s no way I’ll let him turn my life completely upside down. Absolutely no way.

The question is…

How long can I keep pretending that I’m happy with my life being right-side up?

Title: Running on Empty (Mending Hearts ~ Book 1)
Author: L.B. Simmons | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: January 4 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 292 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Adorable, one of my favorites.
Point of View: 1st person, following Alex

My Rating: 5 Stars

I feel like I have been truly blessed with some amazing books over the last few weeks.  Running on Empty was exactly what I was hoping it would be.  Enjoyable, swoonworthy, and loveable.  It exceeded my expectations in every way.

“You’ll never have your happy ending unless you’re brave enough to open the book and start your story.”

I fell in love with every single character in Running on Empty.  Alex was a strong and independent woman, and Blake?  Holy butterflies.  He was amazing.  From the moment he pulled up on his motorcycle to the very last page, I was in complete fangirl mode.  Alex's friend, Harlow, had me laughing several times... but the stars of the show? Nycole, Kyndall and Rylie, Alex's three beautiful little girls.  They were beyond adorable.  I laughed with them, I cried for them... I just fell in love.

“You go on, each day, as though you’re happy and at peace with your life.  Or at least trying to convince yourself that you are.  But you also go on, each day, not really living.”

This is truly a story of friendship, heartache and coming to peace with loving again.  I think some may say that the feelings that Alex develops toward Blake, could be misconstrued as a bit 'insta love'.  But, what you have to realize is that they were best friends for years before Alex married her first husband, Derek.  So no, I didn't get an insta vibe at all.  That initial bond between the two of them was started way before they meet up again now.  It was lovely to see that rekindled friend turn into a deeper affection.  Blake never pushes Alex, and allows her to work through the emotions she is feelings.

“I feel safe.  I feel protected.  I feel relief.  I feel scared.  I feel vulnerable.  I feel desire.  I feel… Everything.”

There is a novella, Recovery, which has already been released.  Don't worry, there is no cliffhanger here, the novella is simply taking us beyond their initial happy ever after.  We will get to see that it's not always rainbows and butterflies after the final page is read.  I have no doubt they will be left in wonderful place, but I really look forward to seeing them come together and working through their new relationship.

I think it will be most interesting to see the girl's reactions.  They fell in love with Blake, but will it be the same when he isn't the fun slumber party Blake, when he is actually having to take the role as step-father.  So yes, I am really looking forward to Recovery.  I just hope that because it is a novella, there is still plenty of room for an amazing story.

“I think you look good, wearing my future.”

MORE QUOTES FROM RUNNING ON EMPTY