REVIEW: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: May 6th 2014
Format: Hardcover | Pages: 449
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: BookOutlet

Morgan Matson | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um... 

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait...what? 

Do you know how nerve wracking it is to go into a book that everyone loves? Seriously. Everyone loves this book and Morgan Matson in general. I was really nervous that I was going to find it overly hyped. I mean, I have previously read Amy & Roger a few years back and while I had liked it I didn't love that one as much as everyone else seems to do. If you were to ask me if I thought you should read it my response would probably be, "eh, if you want to" as I shrugged it off. It was cute but I wasn't a huge fangirl. So knowing that added even more to my nerves. But I grasped on to those few shreds of hope that I had because of the fact that that blurb was just so intriguing!

I think initially I allowed all that doubt and worry shadow my reading experience. I started out not liking Emily. I felt like she was being overly dramatic and had some intense codependency issues. Which granted I still feel were true in the very beginning and sporadically throughout the rest. But as the book wore on I actually really started to like her. It was fun to watch her blossom and embrace the things that would paralyze her with fear...eventually. She went from someone I felt was too timid and slightly annoying to someone who was fun and exciting and I was cheering for as I went on.

I loved, loved, loved the whole concept behind the to-do list. When you first see the list and the thirteen items on it a bunch of them make no sense at the time while others, the ones listed above being a perfect example, are crystal clear. But I loved the fact that there were some that didn't mean anything at the beginning. It was fun trying to puzzle them out before they were eventually revealed. (Which I did not accomplish by the way haha) But it was also fun because even though Sloane isn't there as Emily goes on this summer long adventure in finding herself, and hopefully her friend, you get to know the crazy, free spirited Sloane as well as Emily ticks each item off and learn what each one of the them means to both of them.

I shipped Frank with Emily so hard from the moment he appears in the book. He's one of those genuinely good guys. It's his sweet thoughtfulness and how full of ambition he is. Or the fact that he seems to be at ease in any setting. I loved how easily he pulled Emily into his life and kind of became her new rock and helped her grow and encouraged her.

There was a huge number of supporting characters as well that were each so different and full of personality that really added some fun to the story as well. Everyone was just so much fun that I didn't want this book to end. Quite a difference from when I started it that's for sure!

Even though Since You've Been Gone started out a bit rough for me, it didn't take long until I fell under it's spell and absolutely fell in love with it. I wanted to be friends with all the characters and wished I could have had that crazy unexpected summer along with them for real! Mostly this book was just plain fun. It tugs at your heart in many different ways and had me sad to see it end. I now can't wait to jump into my next book by Morgan Matson!

ARC REVIEW: Abby and the Cute One (Backstage Pass #5) by Erin Butler

Title: Abby and the Cute One
Series: Backstage Pass #5
Author: Erin Butler
Publisher: Entangled Crush
Published: November 16th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 172
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Publisher
★★★★ (4/5) Stars

Erin Butler | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

He's cute. He's famous. And he could ruin everything...

Every member of Seconds to Juliet has a girlfriend-except for Nathan Strong. Now the band's manager is leaning hard on "The Cute One" to play the role of the band's heartthrob. With the band's sales in decline, it's up to Nathan to keep the fans' fantasy alive.

The plan is to stage a fake relationship and a fake breakup, and then let the fans fight to be the one to mend Nathan's broken heart. Just one problem. There's another girl in the picture-one Nathan can't stay away from. In private, Nathan's stealing kisses with the band's new opening act, Abby Curtis.

If they're caught, no one wins. Abby will be fired, and the band might not recover the success they need to survive. But even with the pressure mounting, Nathan and Abby can't stop themselves from stealing one more touch, one more kiss. And it's only a matter of time before it all falls apart.

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've been following the Backstage Pass series from the beginning. Even though the last two books weren't exactly my cup of tea, I still knew I wanted to see this series through to the end. Though there were a few cheesy moments here and there, I couldn't be more pleased with how this series came to a close. It made me fall in love with each one of the guys from Seconds to Juliet all over again and it was hard to put down.

I was so excited to finally, finally get to know something about Nathan. He's been the most mysterious. I mean, besides the fact that he's "The Cute One" it's really hard to get a read on his personality to this point. If you'd asked me before reading this book, I'd have told you Miles was totally my S2J guy all the way. With Ryder nipping closely at his heels of course. But since getting to know Nathan I'm a Strong girl all the way! He is just so sweet and genuine and adorable. He has this tremendous heart and actually made me cry at one point when he does the sweetest and most thoughtful thing in the middle of the book for a couple fans. I had been slowly losing my heart to him up to that point, but once it happened I was a total goner.

Abby was the perfect girl for someone as thoughtful and giving in nature as Nathan was. I loved how down to earth and grounded she was. And especially the fact that she was every bit as talented, probably even more so, than the guys were. How she knows she has this gift with her voice, but instead of it inflating her ego or having her be driven for fame, she just wants to connect and make people feel the passion that music can inspire. These two are just cuteness overload and perfect together.

One thing that each and every author in this series did perfectly the same, was inspire the deep, deep hatred that I felt towards S2J's manager, LJ. The guy was slime. No. Worse than slime! Ugh I could not stand sitting her in each and every book watching him manipulate and threaten these young men in his power hungry ways. And watching each one of them believe his words. With each book I was hoping at first he'd be fired, but then as the series went on I was picturing bad things happening to him. And liking it. Sigh. I was really hoping he'd get killed off by the end of the series, but alas...that didn't happen. But I feel like Erin Butler got me to hate him the most. She really brought out his evil side! And I couldn't have been more pleased with how she handled the situation.

Sure, like I said, there were moments of real cheese, but they're 16 years old. I remember things being cheesy and overly dramatic at that age. Regardless, I really thought the romance was sweet and loved the connection between Abby and Nathan.

I had such a fun time reading this last book in the series and now that it's happened I'm sad to see it go. Thank goodness Erin Butler came along to finish it up. This was my first time reading one of her books, but after reading this, it definitely won't be the last! 

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

ARC REVIEW: Rolling in the Deep by Rebecca Rogers Maher

Title: Rolling in the Deep
Author: Rebecca Rogers Maher
Publisher: Loveswept
Published: November 10th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 180
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Publish via NetGalley
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

Rebecca Rogers Maher | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

In this raw, moving novel for readers of Jill Shalvis, Molly O’Keefe, and Karina Halle, two kindred spirits share a winning lottery ticket—and discover what it really means to get lucky.

Holly Ward is stretched to the breaking point, raising her young son alone and working long hours for minimum wage at a local superstore. Sure, she’s noticed the new guy with the easy grin and warm brown eyes, but she’s learned the hard way that relationships aren’t worth the pain. Still, when he invites her to split a lottery ticket, she figures a little innocent fun couldn’t hurt. The last thing she expects is to score big, which is exactly what happens . . . in more ways than one.

From the moment he meets Holly, Ray Lopez is drawn to her quiet dignity and openhearted beauty. And when they hit the jackpot together, he’s thrilled that the single mom can give her kid a better life. The only problem is the chaos surrounding them: lawyers and reporters swarming, friends and family angling to get their cut. In all the chaos, Ray discovers an oasis of calm and passion in Holly. But with the stakes higher than ever, winning her trust could cost him everything.

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!

This book was extremely hard to get through, strictly on an emotional basis and nothing to do with writing quality at all. You know how sometimes you come across those books that will restore your faith in humanity and lift you up, all that kind of stuff? Yeah this did none of those things for me throughout huge chunks of it. I kept having to stop and start, over and over. I desperately wanted to see how it would all come to an end, but at the same time every few pages I was either angry or hurting or a really messed up combination of the two.

My feelings towards Holly's character are very, very mixed. As a mother, she's pretty freaking great. She would and has sacrificed anything for her son. On that front I have copious amounts of respect for her. However, due to the verbal abuse of her ex-husband she is an extremely weak person to the most annoying extent. Don't get me wrong, I realize that this, in a way, is not her fault. Her ex is a real piece of work let me tell you. But the fact that she allows it to go on and even years after their divorce lets herself be a doormat for him drove me insane. Every time it was in her point of view she would internally question her own worth, her worth as a mother and so on and so forth. I had plenty of moments when her whiny, self-depreciating inner monologue was almost too much.

But what really and truly made me lose faith in mankind was less the main characters and more the brief side characters. First you have Holly's ex-husband, Brett, who is bad enough as it is. He would constantly degrade her which is bad in itself, but what made it a million times worse is the fact that he would do it while standing right next to their son who is around 10 years old I think. So he's obviously old enough to understand what's going on. I was seeing red so freaking much. Holly would bring Drew to his house to drop him off for his week with the kid and as they got out the car Brett would look her up and down with total disgust and say things like "You really just don't even try do you?" or anything else he can find to pick at her about with Drew right freaking there. Bless Holly though for the fact that she never responds, instead she'll just bend down and hug her little boy and tell him how much she loved him. Ugh. It's been days and I still feel all the rage just thinking about that jerk. 

Or the heartless, piece of crap reporter who did something so incredibly unthinkable that was the worst invasion of privacy I could ever imagine to Ray. I won't give it away, but I really have no words for how sick and gutted it made me feel. Mostly because I could actually see this happening in the real world and it hurt my heart.

People suck.

Everybody always dreams about how amazing life could be if you hit it big, won the lottery. You imagine spending the money in your mind and how different it could make your life. Heck, I did it myself while I was reading. Went through all the what ifs.

I loved that this book didn't paint it all with champagne and roses. You see a darker side. You see the pain, the fear and the worry. The doubts that settle in. You see these characters struggle with trust and how to go on and move to the next phase when everything they've known their whole lives changes in the blink of an eye. Rebecca Rogers Maher did such an amazing job of pulling you into that negative side of something that most would think of as a blessing and really tugging at your emotions and give you that feeling of "be careful what you wish for."

Even though Rolling in the Deep was hard to read due to the huge toll on the emotions it was such a good and engaging story. I adored Ray and his genuinely good and giving spirit. I loved the romance between Ray and Holly. I adored little Drew and what a great kid he was despite the kind of man his father was and displayed to him constantly. It was just a really good, dark and intriguing story and I will definitely be reading more from Rebecca Rogers Hughes in the future!

Big thanks to Loveswept for the opportunity to read and review this book!

ARC REVIEW: His Pirate Seductress (Love on the High Seas #3) by Tamara Hughes

Title: His Pirate Seductress
Series: Love on the High Seas #3
Author: Tamara Hughes
Publisher: Entangled Scandalous
Published: November 9th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 164
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: Publisher
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

Tamara Hughes | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

A woman of passion. A man of principle. And only one can win...

With her son's life in the balance, Catherine Fry is forced to locate and steal the priceless Ruby Cross of the Knights Templar. She knows who has it—it's just a matter of coercing Thomas Glanville, the handsome and incredibly stubborn captain of the ship she’s captured, into telling her the exact location. Fortunately, Catherine knows that there are many ways to get a man to talk...

Captain Thomas Glanville has the cross and he'll be damned if he's going to hand it over now that he finally has the means to buy a ship of his own. He's at the mercy of a fiery woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. But Catherine has no idea who she's dealing with—and Thomas has his own means of charming a woman into his mercy and his bed...

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.

Even with my love of Historical Romances, I never thought that I'd be one for the swashbuckling and danger on the high seas. I really didn't think pirates would be my thing. Okay, sure. I admit that I may have had a fantasy or two about a certain captain with an affinity to rum and a very bird-like name but come on....Johnny Depp. Anyway. When the first book in this series, Tempting the Pirate, came across my path, the little book devil that sits on my shoulder and pressures me to read ALL THE BOOKS, was like "you really need to read this book." Well I listened. I've been hooked on the Love on the High Seas series ever since. With this addition to the series, and the promise of a female pirate I was the most excited I'd been to step into this world and lose myself. While it took me a minute to really get into the story, once I did I fell just as hard for this one as I did both it's predecessors.

I think the reason it took me a few pages to truly accept the storyline and get into the flow of things and really enjoy what I was reading was the fact that Catherine was more of a reluctant pirate. It definitely wasn't a choice or something she sought doing. I kind of went in blind because I prefer it that way when I'm working my way through a series. So I guess I was expecting more of a fierce, tough as nails woman. While she had strong, stubborn streaks she wasn't what I had pictured in my mind I was going to find. Once I embraced the story though, I think this is a very good thing. I don't think I would have found the romance between the type of woman I was expecting and someone as stand-up and alpha-ish as Thomas very believable. It ended up being more fun than I had been hoping for anyway!

Though I do feel like the previous book had more of a heart pounding intensity and danger to it, this one still had quite an edge of danger on it's own. Definitely enough to keep you turning the pages and make it nearly impossible to want to put it down.

There has been such a fun variety of characters within this series. They're all very well written and complex. Plus Tamara Hughes always does a fantastic job at making you feel as if you truly are on the high seas or sucked back in time. It's fantastic.

If you love Historical Romance and haven't read any pirate books before, but are curious, I highly recommend giving this series a go. They are so much fun and filled with banter, breathtaking romance, heart stopping danger and sexy swashbuckling men (and women). I've thoroughly enjoyed the Love on the High Seas series and can't wait to see what Tamara Hughes has to bring us next!

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

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: Wait for Me (The Outback Bachelor Ball #3) by Sarah Mayberry

Title: Wait for Me
Series: The Outback Bachelor Ball #3
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Publisher: Sarah Mayberry
Published: October 20th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 162
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Author (Joan Kilby)
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

Sarah Mayberry | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Three in The Outback Bachelor Ball Series 

Sometimes it pays to wait for the things you want, even if it’s the hardest thing you ever do. 

Beth Walker hasn’t just been burned by her philandering country music star ex, she’s been barbecued to a crisp. Coming home to Australia and into the arms of her best friends is exactly the balm she needs. Cocktails and laughter at an Outback Bachelor and Spinster Ball seem like the perfect distraction. Until she bumps into the last person she wants seeing her heartsick and pathetic — Jonah Masters, rising country music star and witness to the failure of her marriage. If only she’d met Jonah first. Now she’s broken and won’t ask him to wait until she heals. 

Jonah can’t believe he and Beth are finally standing under the same stars. The connection they shared on the road years ago has haunted him but he wouldn’t pursue a married woman. Now she’s free, and Jonah can’t refuse the one night Beth impulsively offers. Can he convince the woman he’s always loved that he’ll wait — however long it takes — for her trust? 

Wait For Me is Book 3 in The Outback Bachelor Ball Series. Don't miss out on Book 1 - Win Me by Joan Kilby and Book 2 - Woo Me by Karina Bliss.

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

I think after getting to know each one of the girls in this series, if only briefly at first, I feel like this one was the book I was the most nervous to read. It clearly states in the blurb that Beth is just coming out from being with a cheating, lying, no good guy and as you initially see Beth through the eyes of her best friends at first you get an idea that Beth is kind of nothing more than a shell of her former self. I had to wonder if I was really in the mood for a character like that. Did I want the ups and downs and the possible emotions that you take on with a character that's in a really messed up moment of their life. Turns out, I worried for nothing and I really enjoyed Beth's story.

I did get small doses of the Beth that I was expecting, the sad, withdrawn, wanting to hide away from the world and heartbroken kind of girl. But she was so much more than that and you get to see other sides to her. She's a lot braver than I expected her to be and she's funny and has a huge heart. Surprising seeing as how her ex did a major number on it. Plus I respected the fact that even though she knows she's feeling something for Jonah and that it's probably real, she's smart enough to know that it would be a disservice to both of them to just jump in head first and not sort herself out first and had the strength to walk away and learn to live her life again, knowing that he might not wait around forever and she could've been giving him up forever. 

There's not a lot of Jonah that you don't fall in love with. I mean there's spots where Beth questions him as to whether or not he's been manufactured in like a "perfect guy" store and I happen to agree with her because he is pretty perfect. What I love most about this guy though is how understanding he is and how patient he is. He never pushes her or puts pressure on her, especially since he knows she already has a lot to deal with from her ex. So even though he's got all these feelings swarming around inside of himself from the torch he's been carrying for her for years, he keeps quiet and allows Beth to dictate how they progress on her own time.

Holy mother of all that is holy, I think that Wait for Me was the steamiest of the three. Well, to me that is. There was so much passion and feelings and intimacy between Jonah and Beth that it was almost a tangible thing. There were times I very nearly had to go take a cold shower it was so juicy! I was torn so often between thinking "good for you Beth!" because she was taking the time to find herself before jumping into something new so soon and wanting her to just say screw it all and run off into the sunset with Jonah.

So for the book I was looking forward to the least, this one was probably my favorite of the three. I had a lot of fun reading Jonah and Beth's story and I wasn't ready to say goodbye when it was done.

Huge thanks to Joan Kilby for eARCs of this entire series and the opportunity to read and review this book!

ARC REVIEW: Woo Me (The Outback Bachelor Ball #2) by Karina Bliss

Title: Woo Me
Series: The Outback Bachelor Ball #2
Author: Karina Bliss
Publisher: Karina Bliss
Published: October 20th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 100
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Author (Joan Kilby)
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

Karina Bliss | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Can true love overcome a bad hide day and a series of unfortunate events?

Disillusioned in love, Jen Tremaine is done with men. So when her best friends dare her to wear a cow costume to their reunion at an Outback Bachelor and Spinster Ball, she's all over it. Who would have thought dressing as a heifer would make her irresistible to a bunch of lasso-twirling, drunken cowboys? 

Maybe you should have thought this through, says the sexy security guard who keeps finding her at the center of trouble. Even though Jen's always dismissed soul mates as a load of bull, the sizzle between them is making her wonder: What if you met The One while wandering lonely as a cow? Would you find the courage to become a believer?

When ex-Special Forces soldier Logan Turner is roped into helping out with security at the B&S ball, he isn't expecting to find love - but after months in all-male company he sure is hoping for lust. He certainly isn't expecting to fall for a feisty, funny, trouble-making Cowderella. Only problem is, she's leaving Australia tomorrow. Convincing Jen they can still have a future together may wind up being the toughest mission of his life. 

Woo Me is Book 2 in The Outback Bachelor Ball Series. Don't miss out on Book 1 - Win Me by Joan Kilby and Book 3 – Wait For Me by Sarah Mayberry. 

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

So let me just start this off by saying that as a general rule or whatever you want to look at it as, insta-love absolutely drives me crazy. Now there are the rare exceptions here and there where I truly love the storyline so I grudgingly let it slide because the rest of the book was just too good to toss aside because of that one thing. I'm still a little miffed but whatever. Then there are the books that are even more rare than that. The ones that I don't even flinch or roll an eye at. The ones where a couple falls right into love and I find myself sitting here saying "Yes! Yes! And get married and make hundreds of babies and all the things!!" Woo Me fell into the 3rd category here. Color me surprised.

It's all about the characters, truly. I instantly fell in love with Jen. I instantly fell in love with Logan. So why in the hell should they not instantly fall in love with each other? Oh dear, now I'm defending it. See how much  I adored these two?

When I briefly met Jen in book one I really didn't think I was going to end up liking her. I was worried she was going to come off snobbish and materialistic because she really seems like the type when you first meet her. It's like a gut reaction. But it didn't take but a moment to dismiss that snap judgement and just really love her. Beginning to end, well nearly, this girl is like a walking disaster. If something could possibly go wrong with her it will happen. I mean, a lot of those moments are pretty freaking funny even though you still feel horrible for her. She makes it extremely easy to sympathize with her and pray that things will turn around for her.

Logan is just a huge ball of sweet, wonderful sexiness. He also happens to be there for nearly every bad thing that goes wrong with Jen's night and never quite catches her in a good moment. And  yet he's like the knight in shinning armor type of guy. He doesn't even hesitate, he's just there and pulls her out of a few jams and doesn't feel the need to run for the hills thinking "whoa this girl is a mess" instead it intrigues him and I think that made me love him even more. The first time he sees the real her she's covered in sweat and practically dehydrated, not exactly at her most glamorous self and he doesn't care. He sees something in her and it's not about the pretty package that she normally is. I love that. 

They had this incredible connection that left me a swooning puddle of goo. I mean it was so strong I felt it and like from the first moment you see the sparks and feel the tingles between them I was ready to say "Okay. Happily ever after. The end. Now. Before someone messes up!"

Sigh.

Sometimes you just have to let go of all your ideas of how love should be and just believe in the magic and every once in a while a book or a set of characters will come along and let you feel that magic and think sure that could happen. This is one of my books. It was sweet and funny and full of feels. Loved it! (See what a mush it turned me into?)

Huge thanks to Joan Kilby for the ARCs for this entire series and the opportunity to read and review this book!

ARC REVIEW: This Book Will Change Your Life by Amanda Weaver

Title: This Book Will Change Your Life
Author: Amanda Weaver
Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Published: September 28th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 193
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Publisher
★★★★ (4/5) Stars

Amanda Weaver | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Take a chance and change your life…

College was supposed to be where Hannah’s hard work paid off, but the major in honors chemistry she’s been working towards since childhood is slipping away. Worse, she’s not sure she wants it anymore. Salvation comes from an unlikely place—a used bookstore and Ben, the passionate college senior who works there.

Ben’s trapped in a life mapped out for him. Trapped in a future career as a lawyer to make his father happy. Trapped pursuing a girl he doesn't even like because she fits into a world he doesn’t want, but can’t escape. But then he meets Hannah. And for the first time, he knows what it means to truly want something.

So he gives in to being her friend. Then to wanting her. Then to kissing her. And within the freedom of his impulsivity, both of their carefully planned lives begin to fall apart...

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.

This Book Will Change Your Life had me completely enchanted from the moment I started it. It did start to get rocky towards the middle and had me doubting the depth of my feelings for it. But by the time I made it to the end I couldn't deny that it gave me all the warm and fuzzies and I wasn't ready to let these characters or this world go.

The thing that had me so captivated and reading with such a huge grin on my face through the beginning is the fact that you have Hannah who is this really sweet and smart girl, I mean she got accepted into a limited spacing college honors chemistry program for crying out loud. No doubt the girl is smart. But she's never really been a reader. At least not for fun that is. Yet in the middle of a rainstorm she ducks into the first door she comes across and ends up in a used bookstore. Long story short the as she's talking to Ben, the adorable guy who works there, and expresses to him that fact, he can't believe it and makes it his mission to turn the adorable Hannah into a book lover. He drags her around the store trying to find just the right book for her. The one that will inspire her to become more of a reader.

You immediately recognize Ben's passion for books. The excitement of him dragging her through the store and pulling books off the shelf, muttering to himself about how good of a fit the book in his hand would be or not then either quickly putting it back on the shelf or putting it in a "maybe" pile was infectious. I was on the edge of my seat desperate to know each title and wondering just exactly what book passionate, bookish Ben would choose for Hannah. And then when he finds the one and hands it to her and says "this book will change your life" my excitement blew through the roof. Would Hannah like it? Could one simple book take someone with a scientific, kind of logical type of brain and get her to fall in love with a fictitious world and characters?

Then, after she's read the book, to see her talking about it so animatedly with tears in her eyes I just wanted to yell "YES!" Because we've all been there am I right? So overwhelmed with feelings about a book that it brings tears to your eyes just thinking about it. And seeing this in someone for the first time, well it was fun to almost live through it vicariously, that first book that gives you all the feelings. Sigh.

And then it was just so enchanting and sweet and fun to see this happen over and over as Hannah returned to the bookstore and have Ben drag her around picking out the next book. They were just so sweet and my need for them to become a thing was almost overwhelming itself!

That's not to say this book was just completely perfect or anything. Like I could have done without the "almost" love triangle. I only say almost because it wasn't exactly a full fledged triangle but it was close enough to really tick me off when a couple of things happened.

Regardless I really, really enjoyed this book. Both Hannah and Ben were really solid characters and I loved them to pieces, especially Ben. Their relationship was sweet and heartwarming and I couldn't get enough of them. They both had very sad and complex back stories and the support and trust they found in each other was really great. Plus this book gave me a list of books that I've added to my TBR pile to see what Ben found in each one that also sparked something within Hannah.

It was just so much fun! It's the kind of book I could easily reread again and again and still be just as enchanted by the story and the characters as I was the first time.

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

ARC REVIEW: Slow Ride (Playing for Keeps #1) by Cathryn Fox

Title: Slow Ride
Series: Playing for Keeps #1
Author: Cathryn Fox
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Published: September 28th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 87
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Erotica
Source: Publisher
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

Cathryn Fox | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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

He's looking for love. She's looking for trouble...

As a successful doctor and weekend cowboy, Chase Cooper enjoys a full life with plenty of female company. But lately, something hasn't felt right. He's been distracted. Antsy. Damn it, he's been lonely. With an eye on settling down with a nice girl, Coop invites his high school best friend down to his ranch to see if maybe she's the one for him...

Instead, her twin sister shows up. The one who loathes him.

Julia Blair is already halfway to Coop's ranch when she learns the invitation wasn't for her, but her vivacious twin sister. She has two choices: slink back home, or see just how far this farce will go. One glance at hotter-than-sin Coop, and she knows she's playing a dangerously hot game. Because what this cowboy wants, this cowboy gets...

Previously released on Entangled's Flaunt imprint as Cowboy's Way - November 2013 and has been enhanced with new material.

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.

For only 87 pages this sure packs the punch of a full length novel. It was incredibly hot and intense yet at the same time achingly sweet. The perfect Brazen to pick up when you want to get through something very quick yet still leave you feeling the satisfaction of reading a full sized book.

The blurb is a bit misleading, but I'm actually happy with that. What I read was so much better than what I was expecting. I was expecting Julia was going to try to trick him into thinking she was her sister or something but thankfully that wasn't the case. I mean it would've been cute still I'm sure but I absolutely loved what I read instead.

I feel like this, in a way, is pretty much a second chance romance. Coop was completely hung up on Julia in high school but since her twin was his best friend he put her in the off limits zone. You don't date your best friend's sister. On the other hand Julia always had a thing for Coop as well, but she, like everyone else in their lives, assumed there was more to his relationship with her sister so she buried her feelings for him as well. I loved it! It was such a perfect premise filled with the promise of feels.

Coop and Julia were great characters. I loved how open Coop was and how he wore his emotions and didn't really hide anything. How he wasn't actually afraid to feel and actually wanted someone to share his life with. It's always a breath of fresh air compared to the fear of commitment characters we're normally bombarded with. Julia was so sweet and adorable. I loved how even though she was an identical twin and in a lot of ways felt 2nd best compared to her twin, she was still so positive and selfless and giving. She was just a really good person.

It didn't take long for things to heat up between these two and when they did? Explosive! Those were some pretty freaking hot and intense scenes.

I adored everything about this book. From the characters, to the storyline and the setting of the ranch. It was over way too quickly and I really wanted more of Coop and Julia. But I'll have to satisfy myself with two of Coop's best friends and their "ones that got away" that release in the next two months. I'm really looking forward to Mac and Jag's books!!

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