BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Fake Fiancee

Ilsa Madden-Mills does it again. FAKE FIANCEE was such an awesome book, and I can't wait for everyone to read it. Check out my review!

Fake Fiancee, by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Publish Date: February 6, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by TRSOR Promotions
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) They say nothing compares to your first kiss. But our first kiss was orchestrated for an audience.
Our second kiss…that one was REAL.
He cradled my face like he was terrified he’d f*ck it up.
He stared into my eyes until the air buzzed.
Soft and slow, full of sighs and little laughs,
He inhaled me like I was the finest Belgian chocolate,
And he'd never get another piece.
A nip of his teeth, his hand at my waist...
And I was lost.
I forgot he was paying me to be his fake fiancée.
I forgot we weren’t REAL.
Our kiss was pure magic, and before you laugh and say those kinds of kisses don’t exist…
Then you’ve never touched lips with Max Kent, the hottest quarterback in college history.

There was a time when all I read were books in the new adult genre. I love the college setting and the angst and discovery of the kind of love that lasts forever. I don't read as much of it as I used to, but every time I read one of Ilsa Madden-Mills' books, those old feelings come back. 

Fake Fiancee grabbed me from the very first page. Sunny endures a frightening situation and is saved by a beautiful stranger that she gets to share only a few moments with before they're separated. Years later, Sunny is living across the street from a house full of football players from the private college in town. She's trying to keep her scholarship, her job, her car and her apartment, which can be challenging when the football skanks trash her stuff, she is trying to avoid her cheating ex, and on top of it all, someone starts stalking her. 

Enter Max Kent, her hero once before and now again. He's there to tutor her, give her a ride to school, and ber a buffer between her and her ex. In exchange, she pretends to be his girlfriend to keep his own ex, as well as the rest of the football bunnies, away. It's the perfect arrangement - until Max changes the game halfway through without telling Sunny first. 

There's a lot of elements to this book that we've seen before - the rich jock who gets around sees something special in the studious girl who isn't like all the rest of them. But, there's just something about the way Ilsa Madden-Mills writes and weaves her stories that make them seem like the first time I've heard them. 

The chemistry between Max and Sunny leaped off the page every time they were together. Maybe it was because of the way they first met. Or maybe it was because of the way Sunny didn't take any of his crap and fall at his feet just because he's the star of the team. She was the only girl who was real with him, and you could just tell how much that meant to Max, even as he kept proclaiming that football was the most important thing in his life. 

Fake Fiancee is told in dual POV, which I loved. If you like lots of steamy goodness, rest assured - it's here. LOTS of chemistry topped off by lots of hot action makes Krista a very happy girl. 

I hope we get more stories from Ilsa Madden-Mills set in this world. There's a whole host of other characters I want to know more about. And any chance I have to catch up with Max and Sunny will only be icing on the cake. 

Max stalked over to the barrier that divided the stands from the football field and jumped it. The fans went nuts as he brushed past them, some not even realizing it until he was down the aisle. The Jumbotron followed him.

“Good Lordy, what’s he doing?” Mimi asked, clutching at her chest.

“I don’t know,” I said rather weakly, taking the chance to study him the closer he came. He was beautiful, his shoulders impossibly broad. To add to the distraction, his helmet was in his hand and all that dark brown hair was flowing around his chiseled features as if he had a fan in his face. My Viking.

“He’s coming over here,” Mimi commented.

He was. But why?

I stopped breathing . . .right when he came to a halt in front of me and knelt down on one knee.

Eyes the color of a wild ocean gazed at me.

He took my left hand in his right one.

“Max,” I breathed, my heart fluttering.

He gazed up at me. “Sunny Blaine, will you marry me?”

The stadium went wild. In a daze, I looked up at the Jumbotron and felt like I was watching this happen to someone else. Camera phones flashed all around us.

My first clear thought was I’ll kill him.

Aloud, nothing came out but a faint wheeze. Clearly someone had stuffed a giant wad of cotton in my mouth. Clearly I needed something a lot stiffer to drink than this Diet Coke. Clearly my fake boyfriend was a freaking raving lunatic.

He sat his helmet on the ground next to my feet, reached inside it and pulled out a small black box.
No, no, no!

The box opened, and my stomach churned at the sight of the large round solitaire diamond ring that was nestled on the black silk. I blinked repeatedly to clear my vision.

With deft fingers, Max eased it out of the lining and slipped it on my left hand.

I stared down at it. Then back at him.

I was going to murder the hottest quarterback in the country.

Kiss her, Kiss her, the crowd chanted.

We were the focal point of the entire world.

Max stood and tugged me up with him until we were standing. He slid his hand around my neck and pulled his face to mine. The sky was blotted out as he kissed me.

But I hadn’t said yes!
I wouldn’t say yes.
Not to a fake engagement.

The applause of the stadium was deafening. And his kiss—it was deadly. Despite my rage, my body craved him. His lips were hot, so hot, and my tongue met his with a vengeance. We kissed hard, and I nipped at him, my teeth scraping across his lips. But the only one who’d end up bleeding in this scenario was me.

He eased back to take me in, and with a final look at my face he gave a thumbs-up sign to the entire stadium. They went nuts, chanting his name.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered in my ear, letting his hand trail down my arm as he stepped back from me. He walked away backward, eyes on me the entire time. The announcers for the game told everyone who might have missed it that Max Kent had just asked his girlfriend to marry him, and she’d said yes. More cheers came as they replayed him on his knee in front of me with a giant YES written across the top.

I plopped back down in my seat. Frozen.

“. . . did you see her face? Shocked . . .”

“. . . most romantic thing in football . . .”

“. . . luckiest girl in the world . . .”

My face went hot. Even my ears burned. I wanted to crawl under a seat.
God.

What a lie.

The half ended and our offense came out to the field, snapped the ball, and Max threw it straight to Tate who ran it in for another touchdown. My chest constricted and anger churned in my gut.

I didn’t care who won.
I hated football right now. Most of all, I hated Max Kent, and I was going to make him pay.

Wall Street Journal best selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap.

She's addicted to all things fantasy, including unicorns and sword-wielding females. Other fascinations include frothy coffee beverages, dark chocolate, Ian Somerhalder, astronomy (she's a Gemini), and tattoos. She has a degree in English and a Master's in Education. When she's not pecking away on her computer, she shops for cool magnets and fuzzy pajamas.

She loves to hear from readers and fellow authors. Email her at ilsamaddenmills@gmail.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Instagram

BLOG TOUR REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Bedmates (American Royalty #1)

BEDMATES was so incredible! I can't wait for everyone to read it. How about an excerpt to hold you over? Check out my review, an excerpt from Bedmates, and then enter the giveaway!

Bedmates (American Royalty #1), by Nichole Chase
Publish Date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Everyone makes mistakes, especially in college. But when you’re the daughter of the President of the United States, any little slip up is a huge embarrassment. Maddie McGuire’s latest error in judgment lands her in police custody, giving the press a field day. Agreeing to do community service as penance and to restore her tattered reputation, Maddie never dreams incredibly good looking but extremely annoying vice president’s son, Jake Simmon, will be along for the ride.

Recently returning from Afghanistan with a life-altering injury, Jake is wrestling with his own demons. He doesn’t have the time or patience to deal with the likes of Maddie. They’re like oil and water and every time they’re together, it’s combustible. But there’s a thin line between love and hate, and it’s not long before their fiery arguments give way to infinitely sexier encounters.

When Jake receives devastating news about the last remaining member of his unit, the darkness he’s resisted for so long begins to overwhelm him. Scared to let anyone close, he pushes Maddie away. But she isn’t about to give up on Jake that easily. Maddie’s fallen for him, and she’ll do anything to keep him from the edge as they both discover that love is a battlefield and there are some fights you just can’t lose.

If you think royal lighting can't strike twice, Bedmates proves it can. The magic that Nichole Chase created with her Suddenly series is back, except this time, instead of princes and princesses falling in love in the made-up country of Lilaria, she's focusing on the closest thing Americans have to royalty - the first family.

Maddie is the first daughter, and she's being forced to pair up with the veep's son on a community service project in an effort to improve her image. She and Jake have never gotten along, but his time in Afghanistan seems to have changed him. Now, they get along REALLY well. But, Jake's not dealing so well with his time in combat, and Maddie doesn't know if she has what he needs to get through it.

But something had changed; and not just his extremities. There was a darkness behind his eyes that made my heart ache, despite his pompous attitude. I'd seen it on the news when he had first returned to the States and was sad to see it still lurking deep down.

Nichole's ability to write witty and funny dialog and strong female heroines shines in Bedmates. Maddie and Jake have this awesome comfortable relationship that is based on a mutual understanding and dislike of being in the political public eye. They snipe at each other and joke around and they are so frikkin' CUTE. I was cheering for them from the very beginning, especially since it seems like they are only every truly themselves when they're together.

Jake's symptoms of PTSD start to peek through here and there, and every time they did, it broke my heart a little bit more. I think my favorite part about Bedmates is the careful time and attention Nichole Chase brought to our men and women in the military and what they all go through both during and after their service to our country. She treated this delicately and with care and respect. Jake's situation is heartbreaking, and his time now at home is hard. His challenges aren't glazed over or given an easy out.

Maddie and Jake try to navigate the early stages of a relationship in a very unconventional situation. They're both very much in the public eye. Maddie is having to deal with Jake's horrible mother and Jake's trying to keep a lid on his PTSD. Yet, it's obvious they have amazing chemistry. It also helps that both of them are quite the dirty talkers. They are so, so good together and so obviously made for one another.

"You've ruined me, Maddie." His voice was ragged with emotion as he looked up at me. "No one will ever compare to how you make me feel. No one could compare to you."

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the appearance of our favorite Nichole Chase couple. Alex and Samantha don't just make a cameo appearance in Bedmates - we see them quite a bit, actually. And, it was so great to see them together and happy and in context with Jake and Maddie's story.

I'm already dying to know who the second book will be about in this series. Jake's sister Caro, perhaps? And, anyway, it doesn't really matter - I'll buy it in a heartbeat no matter what. 

“I’ll be done in a minute.” He looked down at me and smiled softly. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

“You’re just so easy to be around.” He shrugged as if that summed up the whole world but I had no idea what it meant.

“And… . . . that’s a good thing?.” I frowned up at him. He gave me butterflies and I stumbled over everything I said but he thought I was easy to be around.

He stepped closer and I found myself nose to chest. His fingers tilted my chin up and his lips fluttered over mine. I let my palm rest on his skin where I could feel his heart beating rapidly. He didn’t touch me except for the fingers on my chin and his lips on mine.

When he stepped back, his brown eyes were dark. “It’s a good thing.”

Before I could think to ask anything else, he was gone, taking the stairs two at a time. My fingers drifted up to my lips and I stared at where he had just been, the remote in my other hand forgotten.

I’d never been kissed like that before; with so much tenderness and awe.

Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, The Accidental Assassin, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, The American Royalty Series and several short stories.

Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, two rescue dogs, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

Learn more about Nichole --> Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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RELEASE DAY REVIEW & EXCERPT: Overexposed (In Focus #4)

Overexposed (In Focus #4), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: September 20, 2016
Publisher: InterMix
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: new adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Levi Grainger needs a break. As a reality show star, he’s had enough of the spotlight and being edited into a walking stereotype. When he returns home after the last season of Trip League, he expects to spend time with his family, only to learn his sister is coming back from her deployment in a flag-draped casket. Devastated, Levi decides the best way to grieve will be to go off grid and hike the Appalachian Trail—a trip he'd planned to do with his sister.

His solitary existence on the trail is interrupted when he meets Thad, a quiet man with a hard body and intense eyes. Their connection is stronger than anything Levi has ever experienced. But when Levi discovers the truth about what Thad is hiking to escape, their future together looks uncertain, and uncertainty is the last thing Levi needs...

I love road trip books, and Megan Erickson's In Focus series has taken us on more than one of those. But, in Overexposed We actually go on an OFF-road trip. And I think I might now love those even more.

Levi's determined to hike the Appalachian Trail in memory of his sister, who was supposed to do it with him, but died before they had a chance. And, after spending so long on a reality TV show, in front of millions of people, a few months of solitude sounds like a good idea to him. At least, initially it does. But, hiking and eating and sleeping alone gets... lonely. So, when he sees a hot, equally lonely guy on a rock in the middle of the night, all of a sudden, he has a traveling companion.

Thad was looking forward to the solitude of the trail after what he had been through. And yet, when Levi comes into his circle of awareness, everything changes. And, the more time he spends with Levi, the more he wants from him. But, where he's been and where he's going are details that Thad needs to keep to himself if he wants any chance with this guy who lights up his life.

We met Levi in the third In Focus book. He was J.R.'s openly gay cast mate on the reality show that made him a household name. He was sweet and kind and it was easy to want a happy ending for him. Despite his sister's untimely death and the toll that has obviously taken on him, Levi still has this air about him that says he's someone you want to be around. He doesn't take things too seriously. He wants to make people happy.

Maybe that's what Thad was drawn to. Goodness knows he needs some happy in his life. And it takes no time at all for Levi to get under his skin. Even though, after hanging out with Levi for a little while, he knows that his days with him are numbered.

I think Levi and Thad may be my favorite couple in this series. These two - man, both of them squeezed my heart. They were the perfect yin and yang, and they each needed the other for different reasons. Overexposed was deliciously angsty and oh-so satisfying. It was the perfect way to spend a day.   

For a moment, we locked eyes, and the air between us crackled with the promise of what could come next if we let it. I didn’t breathe—didn’t move—because this rubber band tugging at us could snap any minute, and I had no idea which way it would go.

Thad’s jaw clenched, then his hand shot out and gripped the side of my head. I sucked in a breath as

he pulled me toward him. The heat of his palm seared my scalp as he closed the distance until our mouths were inches away. The tent was filled with panted breaths, pounding hearts, and every cell in my body was screaming want want want.

I licked my lips, the very tip of my tongue brushing his, and that was the last encouragement he needed, because then Thad slammed his mouth onto mine. His body crashed along with it, so my back slammed onto the ground and Thad landed on top.

But I didn’t care about any of that, because Thad was devouring me. His mouth moved against mine, opening me up, demanding to be let in, and I obliged. Thad swept his tongue inside, kissing me like he couldn’t get enough, would never get enough, like kissing me was better than breathing.

Kissing Thad was better than breathing.

I held on as best as I could, clutching his broad shoulders, the muscles shifting beneath his skin. With his knees, he spread my legs and slotted himself between them, grinding his hard cock against mine.

It was a frenzy of tongues and lips and saliva and good, hard, need-you-now kind of sex. Thad broke the kiss to suck hard on the skin along my jaw, and I arched beneath him as he hit the spot below my ear that always got me going.

My cock was achingly hard, my balls already drawn up tight, but I needed something more. Thad’s hands fumbled between us until my boxers were shoved down. A fist wrapped around both of our cocks and began stroking them together.

My brain short-circuited, my lungs screamed for air as I gasped at the firm grip. Thad wasn’t fucking around. This was down and dirty and about getting off on each other.

My hips churned with each stroke of Thad’s hand; his hip bones dug into my inner thighs as each stroke shoved my legs further apart. I had no time to imagine what we looked like, what we sounded like, because Thad bit down on my shoulder, hard, and I came like a fucking rocket. I couldn’t even cry out, as I pulsed soundlessly in his hand. His hips froze on one more powerful thrust, sending my head smashing into the side of the tent, and then he let out one small groan against my skin.

I squeezed my eyes shut, relinquishing my grip on Thad’s shoulders, belatedly noticing my nails had etched crescent-shaped marks in his flesh.

He rose off of me slowly, his eyes skittering away, not meeting mine. He grabbed my pack of wipes, and cleaned himself, then me, wordlessly. I bit my lip, unsure what to say. What did one say when they were dry-humped in the middle of the night by a man who spoke in sentence fragments?

Nothing apparently. Because Thad rose, pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt, and with one last look at me, left the tent.

Without a word.

Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she likes writing her own endings better.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she's been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn't writing, she's either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or... thinking about writing.

REVIEW: Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1)

Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1), by Sarina Bowen
Publish Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

I love a good second chance romance story. Reading about two people separated by time and/or logistics, who now have the ability to reconnect for a potentially better future than they could've dreamed the first time around just makes all my feels happy. But, I've come to realize that there's one inherent flaw in this particular trope that you just can't get around. 

In nearly all cases, someone was a dumbass. Hence - the initial breakup. 

Now, the dumbassery is sometimes intentional, and other times it just can't be helped. But, in every case, it befalls our main couple because they couldn't just freaking talk to each other when it counted. 

Case in point - Leo and Georgia. 

You know what happens when you make assumptions? Yeah, well, when Leo and Georgia were 18, everyone made assumptions without hearing the truth, and as a result, they broke up and have spent the past six years in closeted misery. But the BEST part of the second chance romance trope is when the planets align and the two star-crossed lovers are thrust in each others' orbits once again, forcing them to finally do what they should've done all those years before. TALK. (Okay - and have lots of lets-get-reacquainted sex)

So, when Leo is brought up to play on the NHL team for which Georgia is the head publicist and her father is the head coach, things get really uncomfortable really quickly. Leo has never stopped loving Georgia, despite the fact that she broke his heart. So, he sees this as a sign that he's being given a second chance. Leo is an amazing man. He's sweet and determined and really only wants to see Georgia happy. And he is not willing to let her go this time, despite her efforts to the contrary.

I wanted to yell at Georgia so many times. This amazing man wants her. STILL. And, yet, she continues to find ways and reasons to keep her barriers up and shut him out. On top of that, it always frustrated me when she saw her father treating Leo like crap, and she did nothing about it. She mused about it - wondered why her father had it out for him. And, yet, she never pressed the issue, even though it obviously had to do with her and their past. How could it not? 

As someone with a degree in public relations, I loved the peek inside that part of a professional sports team. It sounds like an incredibly challenging position, and I thought Sarina Bowen did a great job balancing that side with the players' side. Hockey fans will love this book. Heck - I loved this book, and I don't follow hockey at all. 

Rookie Move was a fantastic start to this new series. Sarina Bowen treats her side characters with the same care as her main characters - they're colorful and multi-faceted and they all caught my interest. Which is great, since I'm assuming these characters, who are only peripheral ones in this book, will eventually get their own books. It makes me excited and anxious for the rest of their stories. 

Regardless of whether you love hockey, if you love a hot romance with plenty of feels on the side, Rookie Move should find a home on your bookshelf. 

REVIEW: Furious Rush

Furious Rush, by S.C. Stephens
Publish Date: August 23, 2016
Publisher: Forever Romance
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3.5 STARS

(Synopsis) For Mackenzie Cox, racing motorcycles is in her blood. Born into a family legacy, she's determined to show the world that she has inherited her father's talent in this male-dominated sport. The last thing Kenzie needs is to be antagonized by her rival team's newest rider, Hayden Hayes. Hayden, exceedingly arrogant and outrageously attractive, immediately gets under Kenzie's skin and she can't help but be distracted.

As Kenzie and Hayden push each other on the track, the electric energy between them off the track shifts into an intense - and strictly forbidden - attraction. The only rule between their two ultra-competitive teams is zero contact. Kenzie needs a win, and she also needs to stay away from Hayden. Unfortunately for her though, one thing has become all too clear: she can't.

Fuelled by passion, driven by desire, Hayden and Mackenzie both want to win more than anything else. Except for, maybe, each other. But anger, jealousy and extreme competitiveness aren't their only obstacles . . .

I was really excited to read Furious Rush. I loved the idea of a female motorcycle racer. And the Romeo and Juliet aspect is not to be ignored. I'm always a sucker for those forbidden romances. And Hayden's and Kenzie's relationship was pretty darn forbidden considering she was racing for her father and he was racing for her father's former BFF and now biggest enemy and rival.

Yes, there was lots of stuff I loved about Furious Rush. I loved bad boy Hayden. Most of the time I liked Kenzie. I really loved the racing both on the track and on the street and that Kenzie was so good at it. Girl power and all that. I liked how Kenzie and Hayden fed off each other's competitiveness and used that in races. And I'm glad there was so much racing in the book and that it wasn't just a backdrop for the relationship angst and drama.

However, there was also lots of stuff I didn't love. Pretty much every other character in this book, for starters. They were all - seriously, ALL - horrible in their own ways, and it frustrated me to distraction that none of them ever really got what they deserved. Kenzie or Hayden always forgave them or brushed their actions aside like the things they did and the ways they betrayed others were no big deal.

I also wasn't a fan of the ending - mostly because there really wasn't one. So many story threads were left flapping in the breeze, not even close to being tied up. And that twist at the very end wasn't my favorite part. <-- *understatement* Does this mean that there will be a follow-up book? A part of me hopes so - it's mean to leave us hanging like that. Another part of me just wants to focus on Hayden and Kenzie driving off into the sunset, happy and together, and just leave it at that.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Fading (Fading #1)

Fading (Fading #1), by E.K. Blair
Publish Date: June 19, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 2 STARS

(Synopsis) Can a guilty conscience keep wounds from healing?

Fine arts major, Candace Parker, grew up with a mother who thinks image is everything, and her daughter’s perfection will never be good enough. About to graduate college and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina, Candace decides it’s time to let go and have a little fun. But fun is short-lived when a brutal attack leaves her completely shattered.

The memories that consume and torment Candace are starting to destroy her when she meets Ryan Campbell, a successful bar owner. He feels instantly connected and tries to show her that hope is worth fighting for. But is Ryan harboring his own demons? As walls slowly begin to chip away, the secrets that are held within start to become painful burdens.

At what point do secrets become lies?

I don't usually post 2-star reviews on my blog. Why am I posting this one? I don't really know. I think I'm posting it, hoping for some measure of validation from the masses. Because I feel guilty that I didn't like Fading. I know a ton of people loved this book. I was initially drawn in by the cover. I mean, look at it. It is GORGEOUS. But, ultimately, this book was completely and utterly unsatisfying for me in so many different ways.

Early in the book, we get the sense that Candace Parker is a bit of a loner. Her parents - her mother especially - treat her like crap. She's learned from their example to keep people at a distance, and except for a close friendship with BFFs Jace and Kimber, Candace is aloof and distant with everyone else. It was hard to like her right off the bat because of this. Candace didn't seem to have a sensitive bone in her body. 

And then - the rape. My goodness - it was rough. I will say this - E.K. Blair can write some powerful stuff. This was an audiobook for me, and I had to take a break after listening to that part. It was horrible, and I felt... well, I can't adequately describe how I felt for Candace while that part was happening. 

It's because of what happened to Candace early on in this very long book that I felt guilty later. Because I feel like I should sympathize with her and become her cheerleader as she tries to come to terms with what happened and get back to some semblance of normal in her life. But, unfortunately, I went from not caring for Candace to flat out hating her guts. 

I know - I KNOW! She went through something awful. I've never gone through what she went through, nor have I ever known anyone who has. For all I know, all Candace's actions are completely normal. But, I still didn't like them.

She treated everyone around her like complete crap. Her like-a-sister best friend Kimber got the worst end of the deal. Kimber lived in ignorance and was made to feel like SHE did something wrong for most of a year. And, the worst part was, Candace admitted she knew what she was doing, and yet, did nothing to fix things. Candace also treated her boss horribly whenever she showed concern at Candace's odd behavior. Whenever Jace gently urged her to get therapy or talk to the cops, she ripped his head off and accused him of trying to get her to talk about things she just wanted to forget about.  But, the rest of the time, she clung to him in a very unhealthy co-dependent way. And, yet she couldn't figure out why her life wasn't getting any easier.

The only reason this book gets more than one star is Ryan. I did love him. I thought he deserved better than Candace, to be honest.

Even though the pacing in the beginning was pretty good, after the attack, it felt like the book plodded along at a snail's pace. There was a lot of Candace going to and from school, work and rehearsal, peppered with Candace's internal musings on how much she just wanted to forget everything that happened and get on with her life. She doesn't even meet Ryan until nearly halfway through the book. So, pacing was another problem for me.

The only thing that kept me going when I wanted to DNF was my desire to see Candace finally overcome her fears and bring the guy who attacked her to justice. There was also a secondary desire to see some resolution to Candace's relationship with her parents. Without going into detail, I'll just say that neither situation turned out the way I had hoped. Which just put the final nail in the coffin for me. Despite the excellent narration and the beautiful covers for all the books in this series, I just can't continue with this series. I know that book 2 is Jace's story and book 3 is, basically book 1 from Ryan's POV, but honestly, I just can't go through that story from anyone's POV again. 

EARLY REVIEW: The Power (Titan #2)

The Power (Titan #2), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: new adult paranormal/fantasy romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) With any great change, there is always strife, and the Covenant University has become the frontline between pure-bloods who want the Breed Order reinstated and the half-bloods who want the right to control their own destinies.Fate has other plans.

The violence is escalating and war between the races seems inevitable, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Hyperion may be out of commission, but Josie and Seth know they have only earned a reprieve. Seth must get Josie fully prepared, which means controlling her newfound abilities, and they need to find the other demigods before the Titans do.

But the gods are sensing a greater threat.

Only one thing is more dangerous than a bunch of starved Titans, and that’s an out-of-control Apollyon. The aether in Josie is drawing Seth in deeper, and when lust mixes with love and gives way to power, he knows being close to her is not only dangerous to her, but to everyone around them, but letting her go requires a level of selflessness that just isn’t Seth’s style.

The paths taken in the past are becoming the roads of the future.

Just as chaos breaks out, familiar faces from the past return, complicating the already strained bond between Josie and Seth, and when the danger from the Titans erupts with devastating consequences, the dark allure of power calls to Seth again, but this time Josie might not be able to pull him back.

And when the struggle between power and love becomes the deadliest battleground, there may be no salvation.

I really think Jennifer Armentrout is at her best when she's writing paranormal. Don't get me wrong - I love her contemporary books too. But, there's just something about they way she can capture a completely fantastical concept and make it seem totally real. Like, it's totally possible that Apollo could just wink into existence on my La-Z-Boy or that I could catch a glimpse of a shirtless Seth taking down a daimon army in the cornfield behind my house. 

Oh wait - that last one was actually my dream last night. 

In the Power, Jennifer Armentrout marries the very best part of the paranormal/fantasy genre with the very best part of new adult genre - you get creepy monsters and awesome super powers coupled with angst and feels so strong that I promise your tears will be real. Oh - and there WILL be tears. 

Seth and Josie have hit their stride as he's training her to use her powers by day and being her cuddle bunny by night. But, they have a dangerous mission on which they must soon embark. And old friends are scheduled to arrive that will only serve to complicate matters even more. 

Seth broke my heart in The Power. Into. A. Million. Pieces. He has never dealt with the guilt he still harbors over his actions in the past. And, now Josie looks at him with her heart in her eyes, and it's making him feel even more unworthy. And, he knows she's full of aether now that her identity has been unlocked, and he's tempted every minute by it. Which, of course, only makes him feel worse. 

Seth has trouble recognizing his positive presence in the lives of those around him. He only sees the bad, and every time Josie does something nice for him, it hits him like a ton of bricks. I wanted to give him a hundred hugs. From the very beginning of The Power, you got the feeling that Seth was nearing his breaking point, and we were just waiting for that other shoe to drop.

My heart went out to Josie too. She is flat out totally in love with Seth, and because of his issues, he's running very hot and cold with her. Those hot moments are SCORCHING. But, the cold moments brought tears to my eyes. And things only get more complicated for her when Alex returns with Aiden for their six months topside. It is not easy to be around Seth and Alex with their connection and their history when you're trying to be the new woman in his life. Talk about odd woman out.

Despite how awful all that had to be for her, Josie has no problem stepping up when she needs to and putting her new skills to use. This chick is totally my hero. She's fighting for everything - her man, her life, the whole world.

The Power is feels upon feels upon feels. It's also crazy awesome action and a creative blend of Greek mythology and that certain something that can only come from Jennifer L. Armentrout. You will laugh. You will cry. You will root for the good guys and yell at the bad guys and bemoan the end when it comes, because it will be a whole year until we find out what happens next. But that's okay - that just gives us plenty of chances to re-read.

NEW ADULT MONDAYS: The Deal (Off-Campus #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

The Deal (Off-Campus #1), by Elle Kennedy
Publish Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Self-published
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy... 

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it’s going to be oh so good.

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

I've got my new adult mojo back! After falling into sort of a funk and a general disenfranchisement with the new adult genre as a whole there for awhile, I finally succumbed to intense peer pressure and started to read The Deal. I really dig sports-themed books, and I had heard nothing but good things about this series from sources I totally trust. The Deal was one of my Christmas Amazon gift card purchases, and I have to say it was one of the best (so far, anyway). 

The deal is an example of one of my favorite tropes - the smart-girl-falls-for-the-cocky-jock story line will always be one of my favorites. Mostly because I love it when these womanizing BMOCs meet their match in the most unexpected person. 

Garrett Graham is the most popular boy on campus. He's hot, smart and a phenom on ice hockey skates. He's been pigeon-holed by Hannah Wells, a girl in his philosophy class. She assumes he's a dumb jock who has no brains except for the one he keeps in his pants. But, he can help her get the boy she really wants, and she can help him keep his philosophy grade up so that he can keep playing hockey. And so their relationship begins. 

There is a definite progression in Garrett and Hannah's relationship, and I liked that. There was definitely no insta-love. Hannah had her sights set on another guy, and Garrett only liked Hannah for her brains. They clashed constantly. Hannah was the first girl who didn't fawn all over him, and Garrett just doesn't know what to do with that. But, slowly, the animosity between them grew to friendship. Then, to so much more. And that's when Garrett is REALLY thrown for a loop.

I never expected her. Sometimes people sneak up on you and suddenly you don't know how you ever lived without them. How you went about your day and hung out with your friends and fucked other people without having this one important person in your life.

The banter between Hannah and Garrett was my favorite part. It was so smartly written, too. Totally believable and adorable, the snark and snappy comebacks that constantly flew between these two kept me smiling and laughing even when things threatened to get heavy. 

The Deal is written in dual POV. The sex is about what you would expect from a new adult book. It's not excessive, but what there is is pretty hot. 

The biggest indication that I loved this book is in the fact that, immediately after I finished, I went online and bought book 2, The Mistake. If you're one of the few who, like me, had heard talk of The Deal, but haven't yet pulled the trigger, please go do it now. You won't regret it. 

Early Review: Happily Ever After: A Day in the Life of the HEA (Rook & Ronin #3.5)

Happily Ever After: A Day in the Life of the HEA (Rook & Ronin #3.5), by JA Huss
Publish Date: December 16, 2015
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Life in Rook & Ronin’s world has been bliss for fifteen years. Rook, Veronica, and Ashleigh are still BFF’s raising their kids together. Ronin, Spencer, and Ford have managed to go legit and stay out of trouble. And they have a pack of kids running around the eight thousand square foot Vail mansion they all share for the holidays—begging for gifts, and fun, and love.

But every HEA has problems.

Five is fifteen now, and getting ready to go off to college. He’s put it off as long as he could in order to stay close to Princess Shrike, but his stay of execution is over and in three weeks he’s off to Oxford. But Five can’t leave until he gets the only thing he’s ever wanted. The heart of his Princess.

Ford and Ashleigh never had any more children after Five. And now that Kate is sixteen, Ashleigh is out of her head with desire for just one more chance to have a baby in the house.

Rook and Ronin have two beautiful daughters, but Sparrow is growing up too. And she just got a job offer that has Ronin crazed with paternal worry.

And Spencer is the father of a fifteen-year-old princess who looks way too much like her Bombshell mother for his comfort level.

Join the whole Rook & Ronin gang for a Team Christmas you will never forget.

It has been nearly two years since JA Huss ended the amazing story of BFFs Ronin, Ford and Spencer, a.k.a. The Team, in Guns: The Spencer Book. Except for a few brief glimpses here and there in books about side characters from their story, all has been relatively quiet in Fort Collins, CO as the three couples got married, started families and settled down to live their lives. But, JA Huss is granting us a Christmas wish and letting us see a day in the lives of these three awesome families - Christmas Eve, to be exact - 15 years after the events in Guns. 

What struck me the most about HAPPILY EVER AFTER is that is was REAL. Sure, Ronin, Ford and Spencer are stupid rich and hanging out in a tricked out mansion in Vail for the holidays. But, as we see pretty quickly, they are still real couples with real problems that we real people can relate to. 

Ronin works a lot, and he's starting to realize that, if he doesn't slow down a little bit, he might miss his daughters growing up. Sparrow is 13 now, and going on her first modeling job, which has him totally freaked out. It's not what he wants for her, having lived that life and seen its pitfalls. Starling is now 6 and involved in activities that Ronin didn't even know about. Although his relationship with Rook is solid, he's starting to question what's really important.

Ford's two kids are 16 and 15, and he's enjoying his life now that the time they'll still be living at home is drawing short. Ashleigh, however, has swung in the opposite direction, and with her children getting older, she finds herself wanting another baby more and more. 

Spencer's recently welcomed his sixth, and final, child into his family, and he thinks life can't get any more perfect. Until he realizes his oldest daughter, at 14, isn't a little girl anymore, and Ronnie seems very sad all of a sudden. After six babies, his Bombshell is feeling tired and fat and ugly and old, and he's desperate to make her see how much he still loves and desires her, but just the words don't seem to be doing any good. 

Happily Ever After is told entirely from the four main male POVs - Ronin, Ford, Spencer and Five. Yes, 15-year-old boy genius Five gets his own chapters, as he tries to woo his princess Rory before he leaves for Oxford. Those chapters were absolutely precious. Five has been in love with Rory since they were babies, and he's scared to death that once he leaves, she will move on to other boys and forget all about him. So, he gives her a Christmas Eve she will never forget.

These men love their women EPICALLY. I mean it - these three couples are the stuff of sigh-inducing legends. It doesn't mean they don't get pissed at each other or that they always say or do the right things. It means that, even when they are idiots, they love each other unconditionally anyway. The way Ronin, Ford and Spencer treat their wives should be a model for every other man on Earth. This entire series should be required reading before couples get married.  The depth of love that they have for their wives and for their children brought me to tears. Big, fat, ugly tears. 

I love how close all three families still are, even after so much time has passed. There are now 10 kids between them all, ranging in age from 16 years to 6 months, and they're all the best of friends. The Team lives on, even though their activities have changed to ski trips and dance recitals. I know that, should any of the three families need anything, the remaining two would drop everything to be there. 

Happily Ever After will make the most sense if you read the entire Rook & Ronin series, plus the spin-offs in order: Tragic, Manic, Panic, Slack, Taut, Guns, and Bomb. If you haven't read this series yet, you really, REALLY need to. It's one of my favorite new adult series ever. And, I promise you, this novella will make it 1000% worth it. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Mistletoe and Mr. Right

Mistletoe and Mr. Right, by Lyla Payne
Publish Date: November 5, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: hardback, provided by the publisher
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) In Mistletoe and Mr. Right, Jessica takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays for Christmas break, sure that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily ever after. But it turns out his family – and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend – don’t feel the same way, and the only person making the trip worthwhile is a hot local, who has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most ... and least.

The holiday high jinks continue in Sleigh Bells and Second Chances, when Jessica’s best friend makes her own way across the pond! Christina Lake does not want to be away at Christmas, but she has an intern job as publicist for London’s hottest band at their last-minute concert on Christmas Eve ... even though she had a fling with Cary, the band’s lead singer, that never officially ended. Now forced to reconnect, Christina is starting to think that maybe London is exactly where she’s supposed to be to get the perfect New Year’s kiss – at least until she finds out that he’s been lying the whole time. Can Cary find a way to prove himself before the clock strikes twelve? Or will the New Year ring in a new romance?

Lyla Payne wraps up two perfect holiday novellas, ties them with a ribbon of romance, and tops them with a light dusting of snow. Perfect to curl up with under the tree. Just add hot cocoa!

I have to confess something. 

I am a Scrooge. 

Christmas books and movies are not my thing. And DEFINITELY not before December 1. At least. So, I broke all my own rules when I not only read Lyla Payne's MISTLETOE AND MR. RIGHT, but I read it in early November! And here's the thing. 

I kinda loved it. 

Mistletoe and Mr. Right is a collection of two holiday novellas focusing on college roomies Jessica and Christina. First up, Jessica travels to Ireland on a whim to find out once and for all if her "looks good on paper" boyfriend is marriage material. It's a surprise to him and his family when she shows up on his doorstep unannounced two days before Christmas, and well, you know how well surprises like that usually go over. 

Mistletoe and Mr. Right was funny and sweet. Prim, proper and orderly Jessica is a complete fish out of water among the Donnelly family. She's ignorant to their customs, and it's evident that she's messing with his mother's otherwise perfect Christmas. This does nothing to bolster Jessica's flagging self-esteem. 

Enter Grady, the Donnelly's employee and a man that does nothing to coddle Jessica. He's a believer in going after what you want, not settling for what you think you need. And that line of thinking rocks Jessica's world and causes her to question everything - her relationship with Brennan, her future career... herself. 

The idea that this guy I've never met thinks it's possible to change the world - that I could change the world - opens up windows in front of my eyes. In my soul. 

The second story in the book, Sleigh Bells and Second Chances, focuses on Jessica's roommate Christina, and takes place one year after the events in Mistletoe and Mr. Right. Chris is being sent to London for New Year's to be the personal assistant for one of the hottest bands in the world. What makes this situation painfully awkward is that four years earlier, she fell in love with the lead singer, and he left her without a word. 

I think I liked Sleigh Bells and Second Chances better, only because I'm such a sucker for a good second chance love story. And this one was fantastic. There's the lingering mystery throughout as to why Cary left Chris at the end of that summer four years before in the first place. From the very beginning, it seemed as if he was still totally into her. So, you knew there was more at play here than what met the eye. 

Chris has never forgotten, nor gotten over, Cary. Despite her also still being furious at him for breaking her heart, Cary is determined to wear her down and convince her to trust him again. And this time, he isn't going anywhere. When the truth comes out about why he left, though, there may be nothing he can do about her leaving him this time. 

In addition to the story between Chris and Cary, there is also a side story about Chris and her father, who lives in London with his second wife and her daughters. Since her father divorced her mother when she was a child, Chris hasn't had much contact with  him, mostly by his choice. As you can expect, that has made Chris extremely bitter toward him and hesitant toward his overtures now. I felt SO BADLY for Chris in regards to her relationship with her father. That part of this novella was so compelling. 

Sleigh Bells was more sexy and dramatic than Mistletoe, which was more humorous and sweet. It was awesome getting a taste of both emotions in one package. I also loved the small connection between the two stories - Chris is mentioned and has a few conversations with Jessica in Mistletoe, and Jessica comes to visit Chris in London in Sleigh Bells. It made the two very different stories go together very nicely. 

And, can we talk for a second about how amazing these settings are?? Mistletoe takes place in Ireland and Sleigh Bells takes place in England. The countries are depicted in full color with Lyla's words, and it was part of the fascination and charm I had with this book. 

Consider me a reformed Scrooge - at least when it comes to holiday-themed books. There is still no way that I will ever put up a Christmas tree before the first week of December. 

Lyla Payne is the USA Today bestselling author of the Whitman University series, the Lowcountry  host books, and the holiday novella Mistletoe and Mr. Right. She graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in film but no desire to tackle Hollywood, and made it through three quarters of an M.A. in ancient history before writing took over. She lives in the Midwest with her two dogs, two cats, and the characters in her head. Find her online at lylapayne.com and on Twitter: @Lyla_Payne.

Learn more about Lyla: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

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NEW ADULT MONDAYS: Make It Right (Bowler University #2)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

Make It Right (Bowler University #2), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: September 9, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: paperback, borrowed
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Max Payton lives by two rules:
Size and strength win any fight, and never show weakness.

When a rash of assaults sends Bowler University for a tail spin, Max volunteers to help teach a self-defense class. One of the other instructors is the beautiful pixie-faced girl he keeps butting heads with…and who challenges everything he thought he knew.

Lea Travers avoids guys like Max - cocky jocks who assume she's fragile because of a disability caused by a childhood accident. She likes to be in control, and something about being with Max makes her feel anything but. But during the moments he lets his guard down, Lea sees a soul as broken inside as she is outside. Trusting him is a whole other problem...

When the assaults ramp up and hit close to home, Lea and Max must learn, before it’s too late, that true strength can come from vulnerability…and giving in to trust is sometimes the only way to make things right.

I gotta admit - Megan had her work cut out for her with this one. After how he treated both his girlfriend (well, now EX-girlfriend) Kat and his BFF Alec, I wasn't sure there was any way Max could be redeemed. After reading Make It Right, I've learned never to doubt Megan Erickson again. 

At least Max realizes what a jerk he was, and in the beginning of Make It Right, we see him overcompensating for that. He's feeling awkward around Kat and Alec and their friends after what he did, and to keep from being seen as weak or uncomfortable, he's lashing out at all of them. To make matters worse, Max's relationship with his father is awful, and his dad has backed him into a corner where his future is concerned.  It's really no big surprised that Max is as grouchy as he is. 

Lea has a hard time with large and in charge guys like Max. If she only dates men who are more... submissive... she can keep her feelings for them at a minimum. She has a disability that hinders her ability to walk and includes a nasty scar. Some guys get freaked out by that, so the less attached Lea is, the better. I loved Lea. She's a plucky, strong heroine who doesn't take crap from anyone. I loved the scene in the book where Max walks into the self-defense class he was to assist with and discovers that Lea is not an attendee, but rather an instructor. She blew him away and solidified his attraction to her all at once.

I loved watching how Max's and Lea's relationship develops. In the beginning, they don't really like each other much at all. Well, Max likes Lea, but he doesn't want to like her. It's the same for Lea. So, they dance around each other for awhile, neither willing to admit to the attraction they both feel. But, of course, eventually they both give in to it, and the chemistry between these two was off the charts.

I loved the side story of Max's relationship with his brothers and his dad. He's very close with his two older brothers. They feel for him because they know that he doesn't want to work at the family auto garage, but he's too afraid to tell his father that. Max has some things to work out regarding his relationship with his dad, and we see him struggle with that throughout the course of the book.

The threat of the on-campus stalker is an exciting mystery that results in a scary ending. It was a great catalyst for Max's and Lea's story too.

I'm loving the Bowler University series so much. I'm so sad that there's only one book left now. If I had extra hours in the day, I would definitely spend them re-reading this whole series - it just gets better and better.

REVIEW TOUR: Forever With You (Wait For You #5)

I'm so excited to kick off the review tour for Jennifer Armentrout's latest addition to her Wait For You series, FOREVER WITH YOU. She continues to wow me with this series - I'm always anticipating the next awesome addition, and Forever With You did not disappoint.

Forever With You (Wait For You #5), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date: September 29, 2015
Publisher: Avon Books
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Some things you just believe in, even if you've never experienced them. For Stephanie, that list includes love. It's out there. Somewhere. Eventually. Meanwhile she's got her job at the mixed martial arts training center and hot flings with gorgeous, temporary guys like Nick. Then a secret brings them closer, opening Steph's eyes to a future she never knew she wanted—until tragedy rips it away.

Nick's self-assured surface shields a past no one needs to know about. His mind-blowing connection with Steph changes all that. As fast as he's knocking down the walls that have kept him commitment-free, she's building them up again, determined to keep the hurt—and Nick—out. But he can't walk away. Not when she's the only one who's ever made him wish for forever . . .

I am impressed with Jennifer Armentrout's story-telling abilities. To be honest with you, in the first two books of this series, Stephanie was not my favorite character. She had set her sights on the men that were meant for other women that I loved (no matter that, at the time, those men didn't technically belong to those women yet), and therefore, to me, she was the enemy. I was skeptical that I would be able to like her enough to want to be with Nick, who I've had a fascination with. 

Stephanie has always set her sights on that Big Love - the one that changes absolutely everything. The one her parents shared. She's holding out for the right guy, and she passes the time waiting for him by engaging in casual hook-ups. It's a sort of cynical and yet slightly romantic way of looking at things. She sees Nick tending bar at Mona's thinks he's hot and decides he's the lucky guy that night. 

As luck would have it, Nick has a similar outlook on life, except, he doesn't think that his perfect match is out there. He's content to screw his way through his 20s, and as long as the girls don't ever come back to Mona's again, he's happy with things. And, he's VERY happy with his one night with Steph. They were very WOW together. And, truthfully, I thought that both of them had felt something a little more than they usually do with others that night. But, of course, both brushed it off as nothing, and went about business as usual. 

Until the night Steph wanders back into Mona's and Nick loses his crap, and his manners, and says some really stupid stuff to Steph. She's definitely a take-no-crap kind of girl, and I was internally cheering when she let him have it. It was really an epic moment. It kind of was for Nick too, as he decides that maybe he CAN be friends with a girl. 

Except soon after that, things get real. And these two have to actually start adulting. Together. After initially being really pissed at Steph for how she started off handling the situation, I started to really like her. And, while I always really liked Nick, I started liking him even more. As he opens up to Steph about his past and his present, we see that there is so much more going on with Nick than what he lets on about. And, there's a huge surprise in his past that I didn't see coming, but absolutely broke my heart for him. 

Although I was impressed with Steph and Nick and how they each handled the challenges that were thrown at them (for the most part - there were a few times there where I wanted to shake Steph), the one character I was blown away by in Forever With You was Katie. She's kind of been this running joke for a few books now - the bedazzled, psychic stripper. The best part about her is the unapologetic way she lives her life. She does what she wants to do and she says what she wants to say. I love that about her. And, when Steph needed someone to stop coddling her and tell her to suck it up, that person was Katie. That was my favorite scene in the whole book. 

This book had a lot of heart. It dealt with some really tough subjects, and it was done well. Despite my reservations about Steph, Jennifer made me love her. And I ended up really loving her relationship and chemistry with Nick. We saw plenty of Cam and Avery (and witnessed some big stuff between them too), Jase and Tessa, Jax and Calla, and even Ollie and Brit. I'm now waiting impatiently for Brock's and Jillian's book, so as long as Jennifer keeps writing books in this series, I will keep reading them. 

And don’t miss the previous titles in the Wait for You Series!

WAIT FOR YOU (Wait for You #1)
TRUST IN ME (Wait for You #1.5)
BE WITH ME (Wait for You #2)
STAY WITH ME (Wait for You #3)
FALL WITH ME (Wait for You #4)
DREAM OF YOU (Wait for You #4.5)

 

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:  Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads