REVIEW: The Law of Moses (The Law of Moses #1) by Amy Harmon

Title: The Law of Moses
Series: The Law of Moses #1
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Amy Harmon
Published: November 27th 2014
Format: eBook | Pages: 333
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance (with Paranormal elements)
Source: Amazon

Amy Harmon | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

If I tell you right up front, right in the beginning that I lost him, it will be easier for you to bear. You will know it’s coming, and it will hurt. But you’ll be able to prepare.

Someone found him in a laundry basket at the Quick Wash, wrapped in a towel, a few hours old and close to death. They called him Baby Moses when they shared his story on the ten o’clock news – the little baby left in a basket at a dingy Laundromat, born to a crack addict and expected to have all sorts of problems. I imagined the crack baby, Moses, having a giant crack that ran down his body, like he’d been broken at birth. I knew that wasn’t what the term meant, but the image stuck in my mind. Maybe the fact that he was broken drew me to him from the start.

It all happened before I was born, and by the time I met Moses and my mom told me all about him, the story was old news and nobody wanted anything to do with him. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager.

And Moses was messed up. Moses was a law unto himself. But he was also strange and exotic and beautiful. To be with him would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. Maybe I should have stayed away. Maybe I should have listened. My mother warned me. Even Moses warned me. But I didn’t stay away.

And so begins a story of pain and promise, of heartache and healing, of life and death. A story of before and after, of new beginnings and never-endings. But most of all...a love story.

The first few words of every story are always the hardest. It's almost as if pulling them out, speaking them into existence, commits you to seeing it all the way through. As if once you start, you are required to finish.

Sigh.

There's hardly a moment in any given day that I don't want to pick up a book. But there are times that not just any book will do. I sometimes feel a need, almost a desperation, to be emotionally destroyed by a book. To be pulled so deep into the brink of sorrow and heartache that I'm practically drowning in it. So far down that I'm not at all sure it'll be possible for me to reach the surface again.

I'm always surprised when someone, an author, is able to evoke those kinds of feelings, emotions within me. When I started feeling that craving coming on recently I instantly knew that Amy Harmon and The Law of Moses were going to fill that need for me. I'd previously read her book Making Faces which did all of those things for me while also sprinkling in bits of warmth and happiness, so I was feeling pretty confident. If anything, The Law of Moses probably even made me feel a tiny bit more.

It was really hard for me to put a label on this book when it comes to genre, because at it's heart it's Contemporary, except there was this huge part of one of the characters, and who they were, that was heavily influenced with the Paranormal and/or Supernatural. So I guess you could kind of view it either way. No matter what label you throw on it though the one thing that matters is that Amy Harmon is a brilliant author. She strings together all these words that paint these beautiful images in your mind. Images of tragedy and loss and breaking, of love and mending.  

Whatever it was, when Moses came to Levan, he was like water—cold, deep, unpredictable, and, like the pond up the canyon, dangerous, because you could never see what was beneath the surface. And just like I'd done all my life, I jumped in head first, even though I'd been forbidden. But this time, I drowned.

Just like Georgia, I found myself quickly drowning in Moses. I seem to gravitate towards the broken and Moses could not have been more so. I found myself completely fascinated by his character and constantly wanting more of him. Every time we got to be in his point of view would end up pulling me deeper into his character. The only downside to that was that it could be so heartbreaking at times. Knowing exactly from his own mind how deeply he viewed himself as nothing or worthless or...I don't know. It's really hard to put into words. He made my heart heavy and I just wanted to hug him, convince him he was wrong.

"I'm a very ordinary girl, Moses. I know that I am. And I always will be. I can't paint. I don't know who Vermeer is, or Manet for that matter. But if you think ordinary can be beautiful, that gives  me hope. And maybe sometime you'll think about me when you need an escape from the hurt in your head."

My love for Georgia was right up there with my love for Moses. I loved her small town, country girl attitude. I loved her heart and compassion. I loved her tenacity, her complete and total stubbornness. I think what made me love her the most was the fact that she saw something beautiful and worth knowing in Moses. Something that goes beyond the pretty yet intimidating outer package. When everyone else was afraid of him and automatically assumed the worst, Georgia believed in him and ran towards him instead of away, hard as he tried to push her away himself.

Like I said there was a paranormal aspect to Moses's character that was a complete surprise to me. Normally surprises like that, going in expecting one thing and getting another, end up irritating me but it had the complete opposite effect in this case. It added so much more to this story and added this deeper emotional element that, in my opinion, it wouldn't have had without it. I feel so cryptic with not telling you what was so special about Moses but I really think it's one of those you need to read to find out things.

The Law of Moses was everything I was needing and expecting from an emotional read. It also surprised me at every turn. The characters are complex and complicated in all the best ways. I found it impossible to put down and found myself dreading the final chapter. I wish I could've stayed in this world and with these characters for just a little bit longer. If you love a book that will turn you upside down and inside out then I highly recommend this one.

REVIEW: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Title: Ugly Love
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: August 5th 2014
Format: eBook | Pages: 337
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Amazon

Colleen Hoover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.

Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.

Promises get broken.

Rules get shattered.

Love gets ugly.

Why, Colleen Hoover? Why? Why do you constantly insist on pulverizing my feelings?

Sigh.

It's okay. I still love you.

I always think that I'm emotionally ready to pick up one of her books. Yet every time I do she proves to me how wrong I was. I thought I had some idea where things were going to go with Ugly Love and for the second time in this paragraph, I admit that I was very wrong. Maybe the lesson here is I need to just stop thinking altogether.

Even though I'm a person who believes that the whole "friends with benefits" thing, or I guess in the case of Tate and Miles acquaintances with benefits, will never, ever work, I absolutely love reading a book with this trope. They always seem to prove my point that for at least one person in a relationship of this type, feelings will inevitably be impossible to avoid. You can tell yourself that you won't get your heart involved but I always feel like it's an impossible mission. I don't know, maybe I'm just not a cold enough person and I'm too much heart. But regardless on how you view the FWB game...I'm addicted to reading about them.

Loved both Tate and Miles. Granted, I had moments of pure and utter frustration with both of them from time to time as I made my way through their story. In the case of Miles it was his constant mixed signals. He would preach one thing but his actions would say something completely different. Had I ever at any point felt like he was doing this on purpose I would be writing a totally different review all together. However, it's practically impossible not to love Miles, especially as the story goes on and you learn his deep dark secrets. Then that practically slips away and it's just inevitable. Miles's story completely ripped my heart to pieces. It was dust. Like, I am surprised there was anything left of it to put back together. He is my new favorite Colleen Hoover book boy!

Tate was also a really great character. Tate was essentially every single girl who's met a great guy and walked into a situation with her eyes wide open, knowing all the rules...and couldn't help but break every single one of them. Which I guess is why at times she could be so frustrating. She did stupid things because of a boy she lost her heart to and sure at times the relationship was pretty unhealthy but I respect every direction her character went in. Why? Because it was so damn real. She saw something in Miles that was worth all the heartache, tears and pain and we do crazy things when we're in love. Therefore, I loved Tate and how real she was.

I really don't know where else to go from here. So I guess it's time to just go ahead and wrap this one up!

There is something so addicting about picking up a Colleen Hoover book. You know it's bad for you (emotionally), you know it's going to hurt you. It's not going to be fluffy and puppies and rainbows. Yet like every addict out there, getting your hands on that next fix is so satisfying and you can't wait to lose yourself in the moment and ride the high it gives you. Ugly Love toyed with my emotions and I can't even hate it for that. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. And I loved every single emotion and feeling it pulled me through. I'm already ready for my next CoHo fix.

REVIEW: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Title: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
Author: Becky Albertalli
Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Published: April 7th 2015
Format: Hardcover | Pages: 303
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, M/M Romance, LGBT
Source: Amazon

Becky Albertalli | Twitter | tumblr | Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

After finishing Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda I felt like I had finally found my book. You know how we all have that book, or series, where even if we aren't much of a book pusher we wished we had like a million copies of this one book so that we could just hand them out to every person we come across and just be like, "you have to read this!" Plus I was already willing to proclaim this, in February mind you, that this will be my favorite contemporary of 2016. What can I say, when I fall in love with something I fall hard.

Simon was just a really fun character and I absolutely adored him. He had me feeling all sorts of things for him. I was either grinning at his quirkiness, getting angry in a stabby kind of way on his behalf, and he even made me cry a couple of times. I was impressed with how authentic that Simon's character felt. As a mama of a teenage boy I felt like he could've easily fit into his circle of friends and actually been real. Becky Albertalli did such a wonderful job with not just a teenage voice but a male teenage voice. I don't often feel like many authors pull this off in such a way that makes you really believe them. But I unequivocally say that in my opinion she's nailed it.

I often found myself giggling as I read this, not just because the story was pleasing me so much but also because I found myself in a constant argument in my head with Simon. Yeah, I don't normally have conversations in my head with characters, I'm not crazy haha! Anyway. His idea with who Blue actually was and who I thought he was were totally different. Oh by the way, Simon? I told you so... He was just so adorably clueless sometimes and it would crack me up. Although Becky did do a good job of having me doubt how sure I was about him. Sometimes I felt like maybe I was projecting who I desperately wanted it to be and I was going to be disappointed. Thankfully that wasn't the case!

Once again I've found a book with such an amazing cast of supporting characters. And the diversity of the characters just added to it's appeal. From his circle of friends and acquaintances to his family I found myself loving each and every one. Especially one of his best friends Abby. Like I legit want to put her in my pocket and carry her around everywhere she's that much fun. There was only one who I truly loathed which I guess you're really supposed to because through much of the book he's basically a prick. He would be the person who made me want to get stabby as I mentioned above.

I loved how gradual this relationship between Simon and Blue happens. It seems like when we first start it's just like this really strong friendship. They're kind of the only two people who can really understand each other. Plus the mystery of it all is fun. I mean, we know who Simon is but the guessing game of trying to figure out who is behind the screen name Blue. I also loved how there would be entire chapters just dedicated to their email exchanges. The friendly banter which evolves to tentative flirting. The struggles of wanting to just be open and honest and true with everyone but the fear of the "what ifs" of actually doing it. The angst was just enough. Not overwhelming but also not light enough to feel unnatural.

It's just that perfect amount of Young Adult romance. Sometimes I forget how much I miss them when I've gone through a huge binge of Adult or New Adult books. Sometimes it's nice to have everything sweet and light and have it leave you feeling just as much as if you were to read something more graphic. Ahh! So many warm and fuzzies right now.

I loved this book. I loved it! I want everyone in the world to read it so we can feel all the warm and fuzzies and talk about all the things. I wanted it to last forever and couldn't accept the fact that it was over when I read the last words. This is a book that I will, without a doubt, be reading again and again because it's one of those books that will guarantee my happiness and a huge smile. I loved it! (Just in case I hadn't stressed it enough at this point!)

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!

REVIEW: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Title: Just Listen
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak
Published: April 6th 2006
Format: Paperback | Pages: 371
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: BookOutlet

Sarah Dessen | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

To find the truth, you've got to be willing to hear it.

When she's modeling, Annabel is the picture of perfection.

But her real life is far from perfect.

Fortunately, she's got Owen. He's intense, music-obsessed, and dedicated to always telling the truth.

And most of all, he's determined to make Annabel happy... 

I will admit that I was pretty intimidated and worried before starting Just Listen. I feel like if you're a huge reader and most especially a part of this community, and let's face it if you're here and reading this you obviously are since my blog isn't exactly a huge thing, then you know the name Sara Dessen. I mean, look at that cover up there. The book title is just kind of there small and tiny and the thing that really pops out at you is her name all big and bold. I could probably barely count on one hand the number of bad things that I've heard about any of her books and even then it would be a struggle to think of something.

So much hype but in my case it's all in the name. Until finishing this I couldn't have told you a single one of her book titles off the top of my head or what they were about except for the fact that she writes good contemporary romances and possibly they were YA or at least some of them were. That's a lot of pressure going in! I knew I always wanted to read one of her books though and so one day when I found a few of them on BookOutlet I thought why not?

Sticking with the whole honesty route, things were just kind of average in the beginning. I wasn't immediately feeling anything special. I was enjoying it but it was just a plain old contemporary for me. And if you asked me I couldn't put a finger on the moment when that changed for me. When something inside of me clicked, all I know is all of a sudden I just...got it.

I don't think I've ever identified more with a character or felt that deep connection with one as I did the more I go to know Annabel. Well, except for the fact that she's a model which I obviously wouldn't connect with and this one traumatic event she goes through. But that aside, the more I read the more I thought this was me in high school, eerily so. I had my own Sophie and I lost my own Clarke because of my Sophie. Which I realize how vague that sounds unless you've read it so I apologize. But besides that it's the way that she can't deal with confrontations or how most of the time she won't always say exactly what's on her mind to avoid the possibility of hurting someone or someone being angry with her. So many things. I only wish I would've had my own Owen to help me work through it all. Sigh. Annabel 1, Sheri 0.

I had assumed before starting this book that her books would just be light, fluffy fun. And while it had it's moments there was also a whole lot of heavy that I was not expecting. And the way she dealt with it all and the way that all of her characters grew and changed felt so extremely natural and real. 

I guess I should point out while talking about the heavy that there is a big trigger warning with this book in the form of attempted rape. And I hate putting it out there because it's less of a surprise but since that could be a trigger for some people I feel it's better to not go in and be surprised. Plus, honestly, it's not hard to guess the event will eventually come out. There's a sentence 24 pages in that completely gives it away in my opinion. If it's not something you couldn't figure out on your own based off that sentence, well then...I wish I lived in your happy bubble of a world where that type of thing wouldn't cross my mind. I'm not being snarky I do truly wish rape wouldn't be a thing my mind would jump to.

Just Listen took me completely by surprise. I went in expecting an average light hearted contemporary young adult book. What I got was a story full of heart and complex characters. A story that delved into both family dynamics and those between friends. It touched on a form of mental health and other traumatic situations and dealt with them respectfully and in my opinion accurately. It's relatable and real. I loved it.

Was the hype warranted? Well I've only read one book right now so I guess I'll just say that so far I'm impressed and I'm more excited to give the other 2 books of hers I own a shot!

REVIEW: Royal Marriage Market by Heather Lyons

Title: Royal Marriage Market
Author: Heather Lyons
Publisher: Cerulean Books
Published: December 15th 2015
Format: eBook | Pages: 335
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Amazon
★★★✩ (3.5/5) Stars!

Heather Lyons | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Fans of The Royal We will not want to miss this epic love story! 

Every decade, the world’s monarchs and their heirs secretly convene to discuss global politics and social issues—and arrange marriages between kingdoms. 

Elsa may be the Hereditary Princess of Vattenguldia, but she finds the entire situation archaic and unsavory. While she wants what's best for her country, she isn't about to jump into an unwanted relationship—let alone a marriage—with a virtual stranger. Of course, her feelings matter little to her parents, whose wheeling and dealings over trade pacts and alliances achieved at her expense begin the moment they set foot in California for the Summit. So when a blindingly handsome royal runs into her, she doesn't hesitate to tell him there's no way she's marrying him. 

Christian is all too happy to agree: no marriage. As the Hereditary Grand Duke of Aiboland, his main goal is to get through the summit without a bride being foisted on him. Which is why he suggests they help each other field potential intendeds. As Christian slowly gets to know Elsa, though, he realizes they have a lot more in common than just their feelings about the Royal Marriage Market. Only he can't fall for her, because royal or not, they're not meant for each other. 

Elsa and Christian will have to evaluate matters of the heart verses those of state and crown, and decide whether or not tradition trumps love.

The first time this book came into my orbit I immediately had to get my hands on it. The gorgeous cover, the title and then that blurb that gave me that feel of all those historical romances I love to read so much but with a modern twist. It just sounded like so much fun. However, while I was in very deep like with it...I didn't actually love it as much as I wanted to. And parts of it just left me feeling all out frustrated.

I need to clarify up front that none of my negative feelings toward this book have anything to do with either Elsa or Christian directly. On the contrary, I adored them to absolute pieces. Matter of fact just a few pages in and after having been introduced to Elsa, my first thought wasn't "I love this girl" it was more along the lines of of "I absolutely fucking love this girl." I also felt those instant feelings towards Christian as well. He's on his very own level of swoon worthy. And while I'm putting it all out there I shipped these two just as hard, if not even harder in some cases, as I have ever shipped any of my favorite fictional couples. I needed these two characters to be together almost as much as I needed air.

So, no. There were no flaws where they were concerned.

The thing that ended up sucking so much joy out of this book for me was Christian's mother of all people. She was just such a vile and disgusting....person. (I was tempted to call her a monster instead.) If the fact that she seemed to take such joy in, what I can only describe as emotional terrorism against her own children weren't bad enough, she spoke to her sons in a way that no mother ever should speak to her own flesh and blood. Shortly after we meet Christian, she says to both him and his brother Lukas, "Think about all the pretty girls that will be present. Why, I can only imagine how eager they'd be to open their legs for you." and I was so very nearly close to being done. If I'm being honest, I probably should have been. But I wanted to really give this book a shot and the benefit of the doubt. Trust me when I say that she never got any better.

Thankfully, Christian and Elsa were enough of a draw to keep me turning the pages and the desire to know how their story would end was strong. 

I loved how their story played out. From the hilarious first meeting, to the innocent, though extremely reluctant moments of initial flirtation, to the all out sizzling chemistry and delicious sexual tension that builds to the point of all out frustration on my part. Add to it the fact that in a lot of ways it's a forbidden relationship they're dancing around and I was totally gone over these two.

Even the moments that were, if I'm being honest, kind of cheesy between them, what with all their silly little inside jokes. All of my Christian and Elsa feels completely overshadowed those moments and all I needed and wanted was just more of them. More!

I also loved Christian's brother Lukas and all his playboy ways and then both Christian and Elsa's personal secretaries, Charlotte and Parker. Parker with all his seriousness and adhering to propriety as much as possible but yet you could still see his fun side and how even though he was all of those things, Christian's happiness was what he was most loyal to. And Charlotte and how she was such a force and how even though Elsa was her princess and her employer, she wasn't afraid to speak up, very loudly, and call her on her garbage. All three added some much needed laughter to the book in their own ways just when I needed it the most.

Truly, as you can see I did not hate this book. I think maybe if Lukas and Christian's mother hadn't been quite so...so...ew, this would have been an entirely different review all together. Still, there was enough on the romance front to make it worth all the cringe worthy moments she made an appearance in. I couldn't get enough of them and still want more!

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (Friday Harbor #1) by Lisa Kleypas

Title: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
(Christmas With Holly)
Series: Friday Harbor #1
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Published: April 11th 2010
Format: Paperback | Pages:  224
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Source: BookOutlet
★★★✩ (3.5/5) Stars!

Lisa Kleypas | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Now a Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie (December 2012), CHRISTMAS WITH HOLLY (previously published as CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR) is the first book in New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas’s new series, which begins during the most magical time of year...

ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY 

One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE 

The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC… 

Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

…TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE 

Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home… 

For the last few years there's been a movie that I have to watch, usually more than once, once the Christmas movies start hitting the television. It's this adorable movie called Christmas with Holly, on the Hallmark Channel. Part of the appeal for me is the fact that it's set on one of the islands just a ferry ride off from the town I live in, but mostly because it's a cute, sweet and heartwarming story. My powers of observation failed me for the last few years because it wasn't until quite a few months ago, when browsing through BookOutlet and saw the title Christmas with Holly that I realized it was based off of a book by Lisa Kleypas. Of course I couldn't resist getting my hands on it and with it being the Christmas season I finally allowed myself to dive in!

While the basic storyline is pretty much the same as it is in the movie, there's also a lot...a lot that is different. Normally I'm a read the book before I see the movie type of person but since I was oblivious of the book up to this point I've come to the realization that I seem to be loyal to whichever I get to first. In this case that would be the movie. I mean, don't get me wrong this book was fine. But that's just it. It was just "fine" for me. I feel like had I read the book first I would've ended up skipping the movie all together simply because it was based off of this book. Thank goodness that didn't happen!

The thing that rubbed me the wrong way the most was Nolan brothers and just how vastly different they are between the two formats. In the movies Mark, who this first book centers around, is kind of boyishly handsome and he's sweet, like so, so sweet. I absolutely adored him. Then I read the book and he's just so cold and stern almost, very untrusting and way too buttoned up and serious. And the vibe I get from Maggie is that she views him as intimidating. For me, he was extremely unlikable. Well at least before Maggie starts rubbing off on him and he eventually lightens up again and I saw minuscule glimpses of the guy I loved from the movie.

Plus one of the things that had me really excited to read the book version was I liked the dynamic you had with the three brothers. They weren't exactly close and thick as thieves but you could see the way they looked out for one another and there was an easy banter between them. In the book they're almost all indifferent towards one another throughout most of the book. It was a pretty sad discovery.

Both Maggie and Holly were the bright spots of this reading experience. They were exactly as I was expecting them to be, so that was a plus. Maggie is the type of character you'd want to surround yourself with. She's like positivity, optimism and happiness personified. She's been through a lot and even though she has this sad side and has given up on one part of her life you still can't help but feel happy when she's on the pages and spreading hope and, well, the magic that is her. And Holly, well you can't help but fall in love with this adorable little girl who's lost so much at such a young age. I want to pull her out of the book/movie, either one, and protect her and care for her.

Though once again, the timeline in which certain aspects of the story play out were very jumbled and different. The one thing piece of the storyline that captures my heart the most, the reason I watch this movie year after year and get all emotional about is like wham, bam and done in just a couple chapters. I feel like that piled on top of just how different and unlikable Mark was left me feeling quite a bit indifferent to this book. 

I mean, I feel horrible, terrible saying this but...find the movie and watch it. I kind of wish I'd skipped read this one by myself. 

A part of me kind of wants to check out other books in this story and see what happens with Sam and Alex, the two brothers, now that I know there's a whole series. I am really, really curious. But a bigger part of me is telling me that I should just stick with her historical romances which I absolutely love!

It really makes me sad that I didn't love this one as much as I wanted to!

REVIEW: Sleeping with the Boss (Anderson Brothers #1) by Marissa Clarke

Title: Sleeping with the Boss
Series: Anderson Brothers #1
Author: Marissa Clarke
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck
Published: August 11th 2014
Format: eBook | Pages: 250
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Amazon
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!

Marissa Clarke | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

A satisfying category romance from Entangled’s brand new Lovestruck imprint…

Seducing the enemy has never been so tempting…

For the last five years, bookish Claire Williams has been living for the dying. Now that her stint as caretaker is over, she’s off to see the world. She needs quick cash first, so a temp job at Anderson Auctions seems perfect, especially with the unexpected benefits, including the hottest man she’s ever laid eyes—or hands—on. 

Former Marine William Anderson has been burned one time too many. His military training makes him the perfect man to flush out the spy undercutting his family business, but no amount of training can prepare him for the kind of undercover work he’ll have to do when the sexy new temp is implicated. Desire lands them in bed…but duty may cost him his heart.

So I'd been sitting here in a bit of a Anderson Brother's withdrawal of sorts after finishing the final book in the series, Chance of a Lifetime, the other week. I was both bummed because it was over and also beyond delighted that Marissa Clarke ended the series with such a bang. Yet I still wanted more. So as I was, quite literally, swiping through the titles on my Kindle rather quickly and with a rather ho-hum state of mind, all of a sudden Sleeping with the Boss jumped out at me! It was quite a forehead smacking moment because all I could think was "you complete dolt, you bought that months ago and never read it!" Of course then I had a moment where I did a little jig in my chair because...I HAD ONE MORE MOMENT WITH THE ANDERSON BOYS!

Sigh.

I always seem to fall hardest for books or series where you have a family or a group of friends that have really fun dynamics, and this series definitely falls into that category. I feel like not every author can quite do a good enough job separating the personalities in their characters and making them unique from each other. One of the things that makes these Anderson boys so lovable is how different they are from one another. Michael, book two, is the oldest. He's all business, suit and tie, very rigid, schedule everything and everything is precisely in it's place and neat and orderly. Then you have William, this book, in the middle. Will is more of the laid back type. He is serious and analytical in a sense, but also very playful and charming. He's really good with people and knows how to read them. He's a good problem solver which makes him perfect for his security gig. Then there's Chance, book three, the baby. He's definitely the wild one out of the bunch. He's the thrill seeker type, real adrenaline junkie, but he's also incredibly sweet and kind of perfect.

The three of them could not be more different from one another and yet they have this beautiful bond and are really good at leveling each other out. It's beyond hilarious watching them push each other's buttons and tease and get on each other's cases in a loving and good natured sort of way. But they also look out for one another and have each other's backs and have this amazing blind faith in each other's word. They're a very heartwarming bunch.

And the women they all lose their hearts too are just as great as the guys are! I freaking adored Claire to pieces! She's one of those characters where, if there's the slightest possibility that something could go wrong, when Claire is involved it most definitely will go wrong! That girl had me cracking up so much with all the bumbles and moments that probably would've had me horrified and locking myself in my room for the rest of my life with embarrassment if they were to happen to me. But Claire is just kinda shrugs it off and rolls with the punches. She was such an interesting and extremely fun character.

I will say that even though I did have the whole company spy thing figured out instantly, it didn't take away a single bit of enjoyment in the slightest. I still really enjoyed the storyline.

Oh swooniest of swoons, the romance! Will and Claire have this instant heat that was just so delicious. They easily fall into adorable bouts of banter that would leave me grinning ear to ear...and also in desperate need of some cooling off! They were the perfect blend of steamy and sweet.

The bottom line is, if you love funny, witty and sweet contemporary romances filled with the types off characters you wish you could pull out of the book and hang out with in real life, you absolutely need to give this series a try. Each one you read ends up being better than the last. They're quick and easy reads that were impossible for me to put down! I'm looking forward to see what Marissa Clarke has coming in the future because this series has added her to my list of authors I will buy and read anything from!