ARC REVIEW: Chance of a Lifetime (Anderson Brothers #3) by Marissa Clarke

Title: Chance of a Lifetime
Series: Anderson Brothers #3
Author: Marissa Clarke
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck
Published: November 16th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 220
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Publisher
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!

Marissa Clarke | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Sometimes the biggest risk is playing it safe…

Gen Richards is tired of living down to her family’s expectation of the helpless blind girl. Resurrecting her high-school bucket list that begins with “kiss a total stranger” seems just the thing until she finds herself in a panty-melting lip lock with her big brother’s best friend. 

Chance Anderson thrives on adrenaline, but Genny’s the one risk he’s not willing to take. His recklessness a decade ago landed her in the hospital and ejected him from her life. He’s bad for her and everyone knows it—especially her big brother. 

Chance reluctantly helps Gen complete her bucket list in order to keep her out of trouble. Running through a freezing fountain, playing Spin the Bottle while fending off a mad horde of stinging insects, and skinny dipping with homicidal attack swans don’t hold a candle to the real danger: falling for the one person he can never have.

I received a copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!

My heart is so full right now. I fell in love with this series and the Anderson brothers from the moment I first picked up Michael's book. They are the perfect blend of humor and romance, with a brilliant set of characters that leaves you constantly wanting more of them. Chance of a Lifetime was the perfect end to this series and I'm so sad to see it be over. About halfway through it really hit me that this is it and all I could think was how in a perfect world Chance and Gen, hell the entire Anderson clan and their women need to be in all the books I read in the future. That is how much I adore them.

For lack of a better phrase, I like to go into a series blind. I don't like to know the details or read the blurbs so everything is fresh and a surprise and I have zero expectations. Gen was the most pleasant surprise all. I don't think I've ever read a book with a blind main character before, at least not that I can recall. Marissa Clarke did a fabulous job at putting you in her shoes. You experience things differently through her point of view and it comes across perfectly and beautifully. Plus it's not hard to sympathize with someone who is strong and capable and only has one small obstacle with her day to day life, she can't see, yet her family treats her as if her lack of sight has impacted her mental capacity. It was easy to feel angry for her and cheer her on as she would take control of her life.

Seeing this amazing character as she blossoms and experiences new things brought on a whole new level of emotional for me. I would find myself tearing up at things we find so simple but are a wonder to Gen. And I loved her curiosity and I would always grin whenever her most used phrase would pop up, "What do you see?" I just adored her.

And I loved how Chance supports her and empowers her. He is such a good guy. He's definitely become my favorite Anderson brother. He treated her like a human and he cherished her. Like I wish I could sit here and gush about all the freaking amazing things that Chance does that concern Gen but...you know...spoilers. Trust me when I say you will lose your heart totally and completely over this guy.

"Nobody needs to lead you two to each other. You'd find each other from opposite sides of the planet."

And the connection and sparks between these two. Oh my freaking word! There was this magnetic, tangible heat between Chance and Gen. Honestly I can say that they shared the most intense first kiss that I have ever read or probably ever will read. Maybe because you experience it with all your other senses, Marissa Clarke has a way with vividly tickling your other senses in this book that's for sure. Just thinking about it makes me want to go read it all over again.

As if you couldn't already tell...I am so far beyond head over heels for this book. It was all just so perfect. Does it really have to be over? Are we sure there aren't any Anderson boys hidden away anywhere? No? Sigh....

ARC REVIEW: Your B&B or Mine? (Maple Cove #1) by Melissa West

Title: Your B&B or Mine?
Series: Maple Cove #1
Author: Melissa West
Publisher: Entangled Bliss
Published: November 9th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 165
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Publisher
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

Melissa West | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

All's fair in love and war, especially in the Deep South...

Savannah Hale never planned to come back to Maple Cove, Georgia. Her hometown has too many painful memories, especially of her high school sweetheart, who was killed during combat. And yet here she is…broken-hearted from her mother's death and left to deal with the Hale family legacy—Maple Cove's landmark bed and breakfast. In need of repairs and near foreclosure, she’s hanging on to the B&B by a thread. 

And the man out to buy it is the man she's never been able to forgive…or forget.

Former soldier Logan Park is haunted by memories of his own. Some are of his best friend. Other are filled with longing for the girl he could never have. Now Savannah is back, and their attraction can’t be denied. But Logan has already sacrificed everything to atone for his sins, and there’s no way he’ll let himself fall for a girl who might never love again.

I received a copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!

I have been desperate for a sweet and easy romance. Something without all the complications and stomping of emotions. Don't get me wrong, I love those more often then not but lately I've just really needed something that wasn't going to rip my heart to shreds and yet still give me all the feels. After many fails finally, finally I've found everything I was looking for in this book. The characters, the setting, the second-ish chance at love...it was all just so perfect and exactly what I'd been needing.

I feel like I have this weird little B&B setting fetish. For some reason if it's in the title or mentioned in the description I kind of forget everything else and always decide it's a must read. There's just something so sweet and quaint with a bed and breakfast that attracts me and draws me in. The Maple Cove B&B was perfect in that role. I kind of need it to be a real place along with Logan and Savannah so I can go stay there. Sigh. Dang fiction!

It was so much fun getting to know all of the Hale family, and Logan of course. I mean it is a tragic way to start off meeting Savannah and her sister Leigh and brother Jack. All reeling from the loss of their mother. But in a way you also get to really see each one of their personalities pretty clearly. Savannah the oldest always trying to be the rock and hold everything together. To fix everything. Yet on the inside she's falling apart and feeling like she's failing everyone. I loved her character so much. 

I'll be honest for a tiny bit when you first meet him...Logan kind of got on my nerves. It's really stupid though when I tell you my reason. I'm sure you'll be like "Uh...okay, Sheri. That's it?" It was because he constantly had a smirk. I told you it's silly. But, it was like every single time that Savannah looked at him it was like "a smirk appeared on Logan's face" or even in his point of view "he couldn't help but smirk" types of things. I think because it kept happening I wanted to be like "learn some new facial expressions buddy!" Regardless of that silly fact though Logan is pretty much the whole package with such a huge heart. I am totally smitten with this guy!

I really don't want to say too much because there's more than one complication that stands between Logan, Savannah and happily ever after. But I loved how easy and real all those aspects to the storyline felt and were dealt with. There were just enough complications to make you wonder if things could be fixed but not too much that there wasn't a spec of hope. The relationship was achingly sweet and more often than not had me sighing with what I'm sure was probably a huge goofy grin on my face.

It's just so stinking sweet!!! 

I loved it.

Truly a really great start to a series I can't wait to keep following. I'm really hoping that the next book will be about Savannah's sister, Leigh Hale. Some sneaking around with a certain person in town gets pointed out on a few occasions and it has me all kinds of excited for some secretive shenanigans. It really doesn't matter who it is though, I'm just really excited for another visit to Maple Cove!

This was such an easy read, full of heart and sweet, sweet romance in a quaint little southern town where people know what you ate for breakfast before you even walk out your front door. Lots of fun to be had with this series I can already tell. Bring on more!

Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!

ARC REVIEW: Consumed by You (Fighting Fire #3) by Lauren Blakely

Title: Consumed by You
Series: Fighting Fire #3
Author: Lauren Blakely
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Published: August 11th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 201
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Erotica, Romance
Source: Publisher
★★★ (3/5) Stars!

Lauren Blakely | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

A sexy category romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint... 

She's playing with fire...

Dog trainer Cara Bailey wants to find "the one," but fantasizing about her sexy-as-hell client, firefighter Travis Jansen, is getting in the way. Her only option? Get the confirmed bachelor out of her system-in every position possible-so she can settle down with Mr. Right. Starting right now.

Travis doesn't do relationships, so no matter how badly he wants the pretty little brunette, he keeps his distance. Until Cara goes and changes the game. She'll fulfill all of his fantasies if he agrees to walk away when it's over. But when the wildfire between them blazes out of control, it will consume everything-and everyone-in its path...

I received a copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!

When presented with the opportunity to read and review Lauren Blakely's latest installment of her sexy firefighter series, Fighting Fire, I believe my exact words were "...you had me at firefighter..." What can I say. A girl wants what she wants, and this girl wanted some sexy fireman action. And that's exactly what I got in Travis.

You dangle a second chance romance in front of me and I am going to grab for it every single time. With Travis and Cara, I love how we have this sweet and steamy history between the two of them that goes all the way back to when they were teenagers. There was never anything negative that pulled them apart. Whenever they're near each other they are drawn to one another like magnets but when life sends them in separate directions they would just drift apart still with fond feelings. It brought a different kind of sweetness to they're relationship. There was no fighting off past mistakes it was just hot and heavy whenever the other was near.

While, for the most part, I liked Cara's character...she was also that type of female that drives me completely crazy. The kind that see signs that aren't there, the kind who, for example, would hear a guy say something to them like "oh wow your haircut looks great" and their brain filters it into something more like "let's buy a house and fill it with babies!" Every soft caress or sweet word from Travis she would turn into a sign that he wanted what she did, that he was ready. All I could think was oh honey you are setting yourself up for some major heartbreak. 

I think if I were going to take issue with anything in this book though it would be the fact that I could probably count on half of a hand the number of times that Cara and Travis were together in a scene that did not lead to groping and touching and making out or some form of sexual situation. I know what you're probably thinking "Sheri, what were you expecting when you picked up an Entangled Brazen?" Okay I realize that smarty pants but I guess I just wanted a tiny bit more of the other stuff. Maybe more problems between the two of them or some of their funny cute stuff that involved the clothes staying on.

Don't get me wrong I had a lot of fun reading Consumed by You and I will definitely be going back and reading the first two books in this series. When the antics of Travis and Cara didn't have me in full on swoon mode they had me laughing and grinning, as did their furry, four-legged companions. Absolutely worth the read.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!