[Review] Locked - Maya Cross

Released: March 25th, 2013

Who is Sebastian Lock?

The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn't look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she's ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.

But that's nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he ix exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn't care much for her promises.

Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he's opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she'd enjoy.

There's just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he's a puzzle Sophia can't quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.

Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian's privacy tear them apart?

"Pain and pleasure wound themselves together, until it was difficult to see where one ended and the other began."

Well, this book was exactly what I expected it to be. An erotica that mostly focused on the sex rather than the romance. Though, the mysterious aura the sexy Sebastian Lock gives out definitely is a plus!

Oh, by the way, this is just a novella, so it's super short and easy to read! The story moves pretty fast too so I finished it in two hours or so. And since it's super short, I can't really write much about it hehe so this will be a quick review.

First of all, I really liked Sophia's character. She was an intelligent, independent woman. She works for herself and not to please anyone. Although, I wish she could've been more tough. I wanted her to be more stern towards Sebastian, but then again, he's a dom so *shrugs*

Sebastian Lock! *swoons and melts into a puddle of feels* He is the next Christian Grey! But, definitely not as hot. Christian Grey has this certain appeal to him and he's a freaking sexy billionaire. So is Sebastian, but Christian has a special place in my heart :")

Of course, as a dom, he's an arrogant arse.

She'll have a glass of the Krug thanks Amber. And i'll take another Laphroaig. Neat. The Krug is lovely. Dry, fruity, but with a hint of sweetness too. And the smell is to die for. I think you'll like it." - Sebastian

He's the typical caveman or just an average man actually, always assuming that they know what women wanted.

But he's also fucking sexy with his sensuality and, since, everything about him just oozes sex inside out.

You could make it up to me by coming home with me tonight." - Sebastian

OH YES PLEASE! I'd take that hot ass with me home anytime.

Though, there was this one particular line that was SO CHEESY.

Mr. Keys. Mr. Lock. 

And then she was shocked. I mean, really? How did you not see that coming?

Minor Faults:

• Blurb was too exaggerated
• Character barely had any appeal to them
• Plot too underdeveloped but it'll probably be more in the second book

MY RATING:

THREE EROTIC APPLES!!!!!

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❤ READ MY REVIEW OF HER BOOKS ❤

Lockout (The Alpha Group #2) ❊ 3.5 APPLES!!!

Unlocked (The Alpha Group #3) ❊ 3 APPLES!!!

About The Author:

Maya Cross is an author who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a bookstore, she had a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. Her previous work spans many genres, including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and she has no started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

COVER REVEAL: Something to Prove - Shannyn Schroeder + GIVEAWAY!!!

IT'S TIME TO REVEAL THE COVER FOR A FANTASTIC UPCOMING BOOK!!!

Something to Prove

By Shannyn Schroeder

Contemporary Romance

Date to be Published: January 2014

SYNOPSIS:

Two ambitious people team up to prove themselves to their families – and find there may be more to their partnership than just business…

Elizabeth Brannigan is determined to show her father she's capable of running the family business. Saving his struggling Chicago bar seems like the perfect project. But she'll need a little help dealing with the rough crowd. Who better to assist her than the handsome co-owner of a thriving Irish pub? Of course, with so much work to do, there are bound to be a few late nights…
Colin O'Leary's father passed away before he could prove to him that he wasn't a screw-up. Now he wants to show his brother he's responsible enough to own a bar of his own – and Elizabeth may be able to help him. But when their professional aspirations clash, tempers – and passions – flare. Are they mature enough to mix business with pleasure – or will they have to choose between the two?

Not only the author is revealing the cover to a fantastic, SEXY book, but she's also giving away a digital copy of A Good Time, a book of the O'Leary's series! Enter the giveaway below:

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About The Author

Shannyn is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids. She never considered a career as an author but after the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, "If you're going to read so many damn books, why don't you just write one?" So she did.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

BUY SOMETHING TO PROVE HERE:

Amazon | iTunes | B&N

Well then, without further ado, HERE IS THE (SEXY AND SUPER HOT) COVER!!!

This reveal is brought to you by Tasty Book Tours, you can find the other blogs in this reveal right here.

COVER REVEAL: Breaking the Rules - L.K. Lewis

ANOTHER COVER REVEAL TODAY!!!

Breaking the Rules

By L.K. Lewis
Cover Design by: Cover It! Designs

Contemporary Romance

Date to be Published: September 17, 2013

SYNOPSIS:

Morgan Lane has just completed grad school, and has accepted a job at Baylor Industries with the help of her father, who just so happens to be gold buddies with Drake Baylor Sr., CEO. Morgan has lived her 24 years of life under her parents' thumbs, and is more than eager to start living and carving successful career for herself.
Drake Baylor Jr. is being groomed to take over as CEO of Baylor Industries upon his father's retirement. Although he was raised in an affluent household, his formative years were rough, leading to a string of bad decisions, and hard lived years. In order to take over as CEO, his father has given him a set of rules to live by for an indefinite period of time: No drugs, limited alcohol consumption, and absolutely no relationships whatsoever with women – his greatest weakness. If Drake can abstain from those three things, work hard, and gain his father's trust, he can have the keys to the Kingdom. Drake meets Morgan on her first day at Baylor Industries, and the phrase "love at first sight" doesn't even come close to describing what is felt between them. Their instant attraction is a magnetic pull that is stronger than either one of them can handle. Now Drake and Morgan are faced with figuring out how to fight for their future together, hoping not to get caught "Breaking the Rules"

DOESNT THAT SOUND ABSOLUTELY AWESOME?!

About The Author

L.K. Lewis lives in Northern Michigan with her husband and 2 year-old son. Born and raised in Michigan, L.K. spent her early twenties chasing the man of her dreams around the country, residing in different places. When L.K. isn't working, writing or chasing her son around, she enjoys boat days, playing in the sunshine and giggling with her husband.

Check her out in these sites:

Twitter | Facebook

SEE BREAKING THE RULES HERE:

Goodreads

WELL, THE WAIT IS OVER!!! Here is the gorgeous new cover for Breaking the Rules!

This reveal is brought to you by AToMR Tours!

COVER REVEAL: Forever in Bloom - Jennifer Domenico + EXCERPT!!!

IT'S TIME TO REVEAL THE COVER FOR A FANTASTIC UPCOMING BOOK!!!

Forever in Bloom - Turn Towards the Sun

By Jennifer Domenico

Contemporary Romance

Date to be Published: 9/16/2013

SYNOPSIS:

From the moment he told her, Ava never doubted Enzo's love for her. How could she? He spent every day of his life making sure she felt it. Through every trial, the couple has only come out stronger for it. She was confident that no matter what challenge life had in store, she and Enzo's love would endure.

Just as Ava's dreams for the future fall into place, something happens that she never imagined. Still, she knows with Enzo by her side, happiness is always just around the corner. What Ava doesn't know is a threat she thought was long gone is back and will stop at nothing to take everything that is precious away from her.
A love, even as strong as theirs, can only be tested so much before it breaks. Can Enzo and Ava's love survive their toughest challenge yet? Will Enzo's love be enough to keep Ava safe or is she better off away from the only man she's ever loved? Will they ever get the happily ever after they deserve?

ASIDE FROM A GORGEOUS COVER, the author is also giving an excerpt for you special readers out there ;) Here you go!

EXCERPT:

I close my eyes and try to calm my rattled nerves. I can’t believe the fucking nerve of this woman. I know I have to talk to Enzo and find out what he knows about this. I can’t imagine that he saw her and would keep that from me.

I dial his cell phone but my hands are shaky. I wait patiently for him to answer, knowing he had meetings at Girasole that morning, and wondering just what I’m going to say if he tells me he saw her.

“Ciao, amore,” Enzo answers, cheerfully.

“Enzo, Anna called me.” I don’t waste any time on pleasantries.

“What?!” 

“Anna fucking called me and said she’s already been in contact with you. Tell me she’s lying.” His sudden silence makes my heart sink. “Are you keeping secrets from me, Enzo?” I ask in utter disbelief.

“We need to talk about this when we both get home.”

“You saw her? You fucking saw her and didn’t tell me?!” I yell into the phone.

“Calm down, Ava.”

“Calm down?! Why the fuck haven’t I heard about it until now. Do you know how fucking humiliating this is to me to hear it from her?”

“Ava, stop swearing at me.”

“Don’t fucking tell me what to do!”

Enzo takes a deep breath. “Ava, this is something I wanted to discuss with you but I was waiting for the right time. I refuse to do this over the phone.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine how you’re going to explain this to me. She’s not even supposed to be anywhere near us. Why haven’t you had her arrested yet?”

“I said we’ll discuss it in person.”

“Well then you better stop whatever you are doing right now and meet me at the house.” 

I slam down the phone, the only time I’ve ever hung up on my husband. My blood is fucking boiling right now. I know in my heart that I am not going to like what I hear. Suddenly his secretive behavior is starting to make a lot more sense. 

About The Author

Jennifer Domenico is the author of The Sunflower Trilogy: Turn Towards the Sun. She islso the author of Have My Heart - a novella, and Beautifully Twisted. When not writing her next novel, she spends her time devouring the words of other great authors, watching home improvement shows or talent competitions, and sleeping whenever possible. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizone with her very Italian husband and she loves connecting with reads so stop by and say hello to her.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

SEE FOREVER IN BLOOM HERE:

Goodreads

HERE WE GO! The sweet, new cover for the final installment of the Sunflower Trilogy!

This Cover reveal is brought to you by Reading Addiction Book Tours

COVER REVEAL: The Darkest Joy - Marata Eros

IT'S TIME TO REVEAL THE COVER FOR A FANTASTIC UPCOMING BOOK!!!

The Darkest Joy

By Marata Eros

Dark Romantic Suspense

Date to be Published: February 18, 2014

SYNOPSIS:

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost sous who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

Twenty year-old Brooke Starr has escaped the aftermath of a brutal tragedy by abandoning her music studies and moving north to take a summer position as a part-time deck hand on a deep-sea fishing boat. When her survivor's guilt becomes unbearable, Brooke realizes there's only one thing she can do to finally erase the pain.
Deep sea fisherman, Chance Taylor, has just wrapped his guitar set at the local saloon when he sees the silhouette of a young woman in repose, the full moon highlighting her shadow as she plummets from a pier too high for diving… into water too cold to survive. Without thinking, he plunges in after her, saving Brooke from drowning.
As Chance works to save her from her own emotional fragility, Brooke finally begins to learn how to save herself. But when their chemistry begins to consume them, Brooke withdraws. She's determined to be the master of her own destiny… until the past catches up with her in a cataclysmic plan, so final… it threatens their love and their very lives.

HOLY SHIT OR WHAT??? I'm definitely looking forward to this book ;)

About The Author

Marata Eros is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

SEE THE DARKEST JOY HERE:

Goodreads

Well then, without further ado, HERE IS THE (SEXY AND SUPER HOT) COVER!!!

This reveal is brought to you by AToMR Tours!

WoW: Consumed - Emily Snow

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine to spotlight releases that we're looking forward to! Here is my choice this week...

Consumed

Title: Consumed

Author: Emily Snow

Is it a sequel? Yes, to Devoured

Release Date: September 17th, 2013

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Now that Lucas has declared his love for her, Sienna is sure the drama between them is over. 

She's not afraid of Lucas' ex-wife or whatever secret the other woman is holding over him. For two blissful days – the remainder of Sienna's contract with Lucas – they hole up in a vacation house in the mountains of Tennessee consuming each other. At the end of their stay, Lucas comes to Sienna with a proposition: his band, Your Toxic Sequel, is going on tour with Wicked Lambs, and he wants her with him the entire time. Sienna agrees to work wardrobe and be his official girl.

Life on the road is different from anything Sienna has ever known. Not only does she have to deal with Lucas' band members, but she's also forced to be around Cilla, the lead singer of Wicked Lambs, who's clearly in love with Lucas. Despite horny bandmates and a persistent gorgeous rock goddess determined to sink her claws into Lucas, Sienna stays by his side.

Then the threats start.

Lucas' ex-wife Sam isn't happy that he's moved on, and Sam begins harassing Sienna – everything from threatening emails to phone calls and even fake accounts on Your Toxic Sequel message boards slamming her and spreading vicious rumors. Sienna keeps this from Lucas since she knows how bad Sam is for his music.

It's not until Sienna is attacked by a crazed YTS fan hired by Sam, and Sam starts to aim her verbal threats to Sienna's grandmother, that Lucas finally reveals his secret. And it's a big one…

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

My Comments:

AAAAAH!!!! Super excited for this sequel since Devoured was an awesome read. Sienna and Lucas are just alwkejralkwejr. Plus, there's a "big secret" in this one so I'm definitely curious. I just hope I won't be disappointed with this book :)

What are YOUR choices this week? Let me know in the comments below!

[Review] Don't Hate the Player…Hate the Game - Katie Ashley

Released: April 30th, 2013

For Noah Sullivan being the best friend to a douchebag and player like Jake Nelson has never been easy. It's been a rocky road since kindergarten when Jake duct taped Noah to his chair before recess. With just six weeks to high school graduation, Jake accidentally blows himself immersed not only in a whirlwind of grief, but on a quest to find a mystery girl from Jake's past.

While cleaning out Jake's room, Noah and Jake's dad make a startling discovery. Instead of the obligatory porn collection or pot stash, they find a ring, but not just any ring. It's a half a carat of commitment in a platinum setting-proving even man whores have taste. After Jake's mom pleads with Noah to find the girl who meant so much to Jake, noah begins a modern day Grail quest to track the girl down. 

Since Jake was a notorious player with a legendary collection of trophy panties, Noah finds himself in over his head. There are the usual suspects like Avery, the Ice Princess Jake dated for appearances, or Presley, the school mattress Jake dated for convenience. But the trail beings to point to the most unlikely of suspects: Maddie, the Valedictorian and choir girl who was trying to help the unmotivated jock graduate – the girl who also has surprisingly caught Noah's eye and meddled with his heart.

Hanging out with Maddie shows Noah a different side of Jake – one that was deeply human and surprisingly douche-free. And the more he tries to solve the mystery of the ring and of Jake, the more Noah starts to discover about himself and of love.

Sometimes we just have two sides to us, Noah. One that we're willing to let the world see, and then the other that we hide deep within ourselves.

This book was an okay for me. I guess, because of The Proposition, I was expecting so much from Katie Ashley. She did such a fantastic job with that book, even though The Proposal was a real downer. But, God, I had so much faith in this book that it ended up being a let down for me.

I mean, the plot sounded so good! It started out pretty well. They showed how Jake had two sides to him. I think I would've loved it if they developed Jake and Maddie's story instead of Noah and Maddie's. I wanted to see more of Jake. I just kept waiting throughout the whole book, asking myself, "Will Jake live again? Was this all a joke?" I WANTED A FREAKING PLOT TWIST!!!

Because from what I see, Jake's a pretty fucking awesome guy. He's actually really thoughtful, despite his jackass reputation.

So, in all honesty, this book just wasn't that good, sorry to say. A stunning cover, though.

The characters were just okay. I, well as you know from my previous paragraph, loved Jake. Sure he did a lot of bad shit but well, you know, he regrets some but then moves on and tries to fix them. Still, the way he died was pretty stupid. That's why I kept expecting Jake to come back, saying that he's alive and he just went away for a while to start over or some shit.

Noah's world sort of fell apart when Jake died.

The world I'd known had shattered around me in an instant, and now everything seemed so surreal. People went on doing exactly what they'd done before while I tip-toed through this new reality." - Noah

But his character was boring. He was undeniably boring. I didn't see the appeal in him. No special personalities or interesting traits. He was a normal dude.

You saved me from the darkness and brought me to the light." - Noah

Yes, he was in despair when Jake died but I have no idea how Maddie supposedly brought him back. She spent time with him? Sure. She talked to him? Sure. But she didn't really help him do anything.

I also wasn't a big fan of Maddie's character I don't know why. Honestly, she's as boring as Noah is. Not because she was the good girl and somehow turned "wild".

Not much to say about this book really though. I just couldn't feel it. The romance was tedious, the characters not captivating enough. The plot was pretty good even though Jake's way of dying was a bit unbelievable. But Jake was the one character that I actually liked since he actually had a personality. He had something while the other characters were just bleh.

A read in your spare time. A bit too boring.

Minor Faults:

• The characters were just too boring, not fascinating or charming at all

MY RATING:

THREE APPLES!!!!!

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About The Author:

Katie Ashley is the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author of The Proposition. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with ehr two very spoiled dogs and one outnumbered cat. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Supernatural, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo. She spent 11 and a half years teaching MS and HS English until she left to write full time.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

[Review] The Bronze Horseman - Paullina Simons

Released: April 2001

The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler's armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.

Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious yet troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana – and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander's impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects – a secret as devastating as the war itself – as the lovrs are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.

"There are some battles, no matter how much you don't want to fight them, that you just have to fight. That are worth giving your life for."

The Bronze Horseman is a bewitching novel that is unbelievably magnificently written. An intense, heart-wrenching novel that focuses on the impact of war on children, families and people in general. It shows how the war pressures the youth to mature and grow much faster, creating selfish and desensitized 'adults'. It focuses on how, at the state of desperation, suffering and misery, people prove apply the phrase "every man for himself" into their lives.

I decided to read this book because one of the book blogs I follow gave this a 10++, its own category of stars even! Though, I was blown away by how powerful and amazingly written this book was, I was also disappointed by how too prolonged it was.

Let me start on the characters. I abso-freaking-lutely loved loved LOVED Tatiana. She was the female protagonist, who is not only unselfish, strong, and independent, she was also intelligent, sharp and amusing. She's stubborn beyond doubt. But I loved how she could stand up to Alexander. She doesn't just follow whatever he says like an obedient puppy. If she thinks what he's saying is wrong or if she has a different opinion, she argues with him, which totally drives Alexander over the edge. Towards the end of the first part, she came off more as a pushover to her family, and even in the second part, when she lived with the ladies. That drove Alexander insane too.

The way they met was pretty cute.

When Tatiana looked up from her ice cream, she saw a soldier staring at her from across the street.

Tatiana normally would have glanced past him down the street and moved on, except that this soldier was standing across the street and staring at her with an expression Tatiana had never seen before. 

Tatiana was a reckless character initially. She was merely a child but the war happened. She had to become the responsible one in the family, staying strong and supplying her family with food and help. It shows how much she's grown from the first chapter towards the middle of the book.

I grew up, Dasha, thought Tatiana. Somewhere between Lake Ilmen and the start of war, the child had grown.

But she was also kind of a comical relief in the book, since it was mostly very bleak. When she talks, sometimes she doesn't filter her words, which is hilarious!

Dasha: "Because of you I'm going to die an old maid."

Tatiana: "Soon, I hope. So i can marry and have my husband sleep next to me." 

Then there's Alexander. Wise old, Alexander. He is always right. Even Tatiana thinks so.

Ask yourself these three questions, Tatiana Metanova, 

I honestly could go on and on about Alexander but that would take much too long. But I could really see how much Alexander truly loved Tania as he was always truthful with her, and he'd always put up a brave front for her. Out of all of them, he always put her first.

Tatiana: "You're a man. Go on with Dasha. She is right for you. She is a woman and I'm–"

Alexander: "Blind!"

Tatiana: "Oh, Alexander, what do you want from me…"

Alexander: "[whispers] Everything!" 

SWEET JESUS RIGHT. Alexander is fiercely protective of her. But I'll let you read the book so you'll know how protective he really is. I want a man like Alexander because he's noble, understanding and absolutely amazing.

Now, onto Tatiana and Alexander

The first half of the book was so freaking depressing since them being together was impossible. Tatiana wanted to avoid the heartbreak and tearing her family apart, so she and Alexander had to hide and suppress their feelings from everyone else. Jesus, man, like seriously, the first half was filled with sexual tension! It's like a ticking time-bomb.

And when the bomb finally exploded? HOLY SHIT!!! The hot sex finally appeared and you can imagine Alexander, a built, strong soldier. Dayummm. He unleashed the sex monster within Tania.

Tatiana: "Why did we spend two days fighting when we could have been doing this?"

Alexander: "That wasn't fighting, Tatiana. That was foreplay."

OH AND I LOVED HOW PAULLINA SIMONS ENDED ALMOST EACH SCENE IN THE SECOND PART WITH "DISCREET" SEX.

Don't be too loud in the woods, he told her, lifting her onto himself and kissing her.

Afterward Alexander said, "that's like asking you to shed your freckles for a day, isn't it?"

And shit, Alexander just melted my panties right off me.

I was thinking," Alexander said, kneeling by her, "that i'd like to undress you, spread ice cream all over your body and lick it off you."

Dropping the spoon, Tatiana said hoarsely, "Sounds like a waste of perfectly good ice cream."

Though she didn't think so when he was done with her.

Honestly, this book was so long that I could go ON AND ON that I'll end up spoiling the whole thing. So I won't. BUT A WORD OF CAUTION: IT IS A CLIFFHANGER!!! I don't know if I'm going to read the second book but maybe I will. I just have plenty in my to-reads right now.

Minor Faults:

• A bit too long
• Tatiana became quite a pushover that it frustrated me. Although, she was still stubborn and tough.

MY RATING:

4 AND A HALF APPLES!!!!!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

About The Author:

Paullina Simons was born and raised in Leningrad and immigrated to the United States with her family in the 1970s. Growing up in Russia, Paullina dreamt of someday becoming a writer. Her dream was put on hold as she learned English and overcame the shock of new culture. After graduating from university and after various jobs including working as a financial journalist and as translator, Paullian wrote her first novel.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

[Review] Leo - Mia Sheridan

Released: April 17th, 2013

Evie and Leo met in foster care as children and formed a bond of friendship. As they grew, their bond turned to love, and they vowed to make a life together when they turned 18 and were no longer part of the system.

When Leo unexpectedly gets adopted as a teen and he moves to another city, he promises Evie that he will contact her as soon as he gets there and come back for her in a few short years. She never hears from him again.

Now eight years later, in spite of the odds, Evie has made a life for herself. She has a job. She has friends. She's content. Then a man shows up out of the blue, claiming that her long lost love, Leo, sent him to check up on her. The attraction between them is undeniable. But, should she trust this sexy stranger? Or is he keeping a secret about what his connection to Leo is really all about and why Leo disappeared all those years ago?

I realize now that there are a lot of paths in life. Some we choose and some are chosen for us.

This book was exactly what I expected it to be. I was hoping it would be filled with hot, steamy sex, plenty of cute, adorable romance scenes and also a slight tear-jerker. Well, I didn't cry honestly during the book but I guess that was what the author intended to happen.

But the book was pretty amazing. Since it's been getting so many good reviews, I decided to give it a try. Mia Sheridan's debut novel was absolutely lovely and somewhat intense. It showed the strong connection between Evie and Leo as children and how, even after Evie went through his "betrayal" or his detachment, she still loved him after all those years. It showed how a bond as strong as theirs just can't be broken with separation. 

Evie's character was fantastically captivating. She was wonderful. So damn lovely. Despite all the shit and horrible events of her past, she still managed to soldier on and go through life with a smile. There is not a single ounce of bitterness in her heart. She forgives but never forgets, so that she may learn the lessons. Even Jake, Leo's friend, agrees with this.

You've done a pretty remarkable job of not letting your past make you hard. There's not a harsh or bitter thing about you, not a single thing, not your attitude, not the way you hold yourself, not your eyes, not your smile, not the way you treat people, always taking care of the people who are lucky enough to have your love." - Jake

I was like, "Sweet Jesus, that man has a way with words." Jake was also a fantastic character. I loved how thoughtful he was. But I really hated how fast the relationship progressed. One minute they were just meeting, him telling her that he was connected to Leo in a way. And then BAM! They're suddenly together? A little bit too fast, don't you think?

But anyways. At first, I didn't really understand Leo and Evie's bond. Yes, they were friends but that seemed like that was it. When I got more and more into the book, I understood why they became close friends and then lovers. But I still didn't understand why their bond was so strong.

Then I realized. It was their real heart-to-heart connection and the fact that they came from the same roots. They were both two lonely kids in the same foster care. They knew what it was like. They understood each other. That's what made their bond so strong.

One of the early scenes was Leo saying goodbye to Evie and he was just so sweet and I'm just like alkwerjlwkejr. The pain in my chest is abnormal.

I'm going to kiss you now, Evie, and when I do, it's going to mean that you're mine. I don't care how far away from each other we are. You. Are. Mine. I'll wait for you. And I want you to wait for me. Promise me you won't let anyone else touch you. Promise me you'll save yourself for me." - Leo

AND GUESS WHAT?!?! She totally did. That's how awesome Evie is and how sucky Leo was.

And another repetition I like was:

Evie: "Why are you looking at me?"

Leo: "Because I like your face."

Well, this doesn't sound too cute when I put it this way but still. It's so damn adorable when you read it in the book.

As for Jake, ugh, I want to pack him up and take him home with me. He's just one of the sweetest guys ever. He's handsome, charming and not to mention Evie's "stalker". I like how he genuinely cares about her.

Anyways, the plot was awesome. Like, really good. The plot twist in the end was also great. The characters were AH-MAY-ZING. And the writing style? A++!

Minor Faults:

• A bit too fast-paced in the beginning

MY RATING:

4 GIMME-A-JAKE APPLES!!!!!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

About The Author:

Mia Sheridan lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband who is a police officer and her biggest fan (not necessarily in that order). They have four children here on earth and one in heaven. When she isn't writing or reading romance novels, she enjoys anything creative from building a patio, to sewing pillows. Leo is her debut novel.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

FF!: Lady Midnight (TDA #1) Fanmade Book Cover

And this week's Fanmade Friday! is...

The Dark Artifices Fan Art

I am so excited for the new Shadowhunter series Miss Cassandra Clare is planning! It's called The Dark Artifices and will take place a few years after The Mortal Instruments. I'm so freaking ecstatic for this and I'm hoping that the cover will be as gorgeous as this fanmade one.

Art Information:

Fandom: The Dark Artifices

Made by: nikola-nickart @ tumblr

Link to post

My Comments:

Look at that fabulous book cover. It looks like the other series yet it's fanmade. It's so beautiful. I really can't wait for this series! ;D

Tune in next time for another Fanmade Friday!

[Review] Beautiful Broken Rules - Kimberly Lauren

Released: July 9th, 2013

What happens when you create rules to keep others out?

One thing Emerson Moore has come to terms with is that she is the school slut. She knows her way around a frat house and how to get what she wants. She doesn't make excuses for her actions and she doesn't pretend to be anything different. She is who she is and with that she knows how to have a good time. She's made rules to keep her relationships at bay and avoid the demons of her past.

When her best friend, Cole has his two friends from back home move in with him she begins to think she has met her match with Jaxon Riley. Jax is the perfect mixture of tattooed muscle and sweet-talking mouth. With "hand" written notes, a voice that exudes sex and knowing just how to get under her skin, Jaxon learns how to break all the rules. But will he just end up breaking her heart anyway?

You're my heart. You don't walk away from your heart.

You know when I start a review with a gif means I'm gonna love it. This book turned me into such an emotional, sobbing mess. I was on the bus touring Europe while I read this and I was blubbering like a baby. It was that fucking good.

I kind of miss reading the normal romances. Lately, I've been reading books with way too complicated plots, even though they were awesome plot twists, but it's nice taking a more chill kind of book.

Beautiful Broken Rules surprised me. I really wasn't expecting that much. Honestly, the cover didn't look too convincing that it'd be a great book but I was proven wrong. Thank God. This book was hilarious, sweet, funny, exciting, saddening, depressing, angering, EVERYTHING!

It's kind of refreshing, not because I approve of it, but because for the first time ever, it's the girl protagonist that's the player. Em was the school slut. She slept around but she had three rules she always kept in mind.

1. Never sleep with someone that a friend has feelings for

2. Never sleep with someone who is in a known relationship

3. Never sleep with someone more than three times

I like how she knew exactly who she was. She wasn't weak, she's a tough chica who's been through hell and back. She admits that she enjoys sex and having fun. She doesn't try to cover up who she is. She's not the whiney girl, which is the type of girl I absofuckinglutely hate. 

But her incapability to commit initially caused problems for them both. After she slept with him, she was in denial; she kept refusing to believe that she was actually starting to have feelings for Jaxon. She didn't want to, of course. She's been hurt before and she didn't want to go back to having another void in her heart. And Jax gets so frustrated by this.

Damn it, Emerson, just stop! Stop pretending you don't care. Why won't you let me in? Why won't you let me care about you. Because for some maddening reason, I do!"

Holy shit or what?

I really really like how, instead of calling her Em like everybody else does,  he calls her Emerson. It's so freaking adorable.

But when they broke up?

I was praying the whole time, "Jesus, have mercy on this clusterfuck." I was bawling like crazy, hoping that they'd make up because if they broke up again? I would be like, FUCK FUCK FUCKETY FUCK. Excuse my cursing.

Okay, let's not go there. You can "enjoy" the breakup yourself.

JAXON RILEY. HOLY SHITTTTT. He is one of the most smoking, charming, hot-ass, hilarious, fucking amazing guy I've ever come across. I want a Jaxon Riley when I get a boyfriend. Yes, puh-lease. He's so freaking hot and he has a damn motorcycle!!! His "hand" written messages are so unbelievably adorable. He's adorable. And possessive ;)

Jaxon: "[slams fist] Cole you better call it."

Cole: "Alright, let's put the poor bastard out of his misery. Going once… going twice… Sold! To the very possessive Jaxon Riley."

Sweet Jesus. This man is so adorable when he's jealous that I just want to eat him up.

And when he first meets her, this is what he was thinking:

I've been calling you mine. Before I'd gotten to know you, I knew I had to make you mine. It only got worse the closer we got. When Cole carried you away from me that day, I realized you weren't mine at all. I. AM. YOURS." - Jaxon

I could talk about their relationship for a whole damn day so I won't do that. Instead, I'll talk about Cole, Quinn and Jace. Cole is the cutest cutie there is. I definitely want a guy best friend like Cole. He's so considerate, thoughtful and protective.

I'll make sure you never get within fifty feet of her if you hurt her again." - Cole

And then Quinn is the bestest girl friend Em could ever ask for

Jace: "He asked about you. If you were okay."

Quinn: "Yeah, and I told him to shove his concern up his ass. I'm not going to tell him anything about you."

AND JACE!!!

Why didn't you tell me there was a smoking hot carbon copy of you?" - Emerson

But Jace is just perfect okay. He's a guy best friend I'd love to have to.

Okay, I shouldn't spoil anything more. Here's one gif to sum it all up:

Minor Faults:

• There was this one scene when Jax seemed weak and it sounded unrealistic.

MY RATING:

6 SWEET-MAMA-GIMME-MORE APPLES!!!!!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

❤ READ MY REVIEW OF HER BOOKS ❤

Beautiful Broken Mess (Broken #2) ❊ 4 APPLES!!!

About The Author:

Kimberly Lauren is a wanderer, an adventurer, a traveler. Lately, if she's not traveling or chasing a toddler, she's writing. Which is weird because she hated writing in college. Writing for herself on the other hand is enjoyable and cathartic. When she was 19, she packed up and followed her high school sweetheart to California. 

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

BOOK BLITZ: Strawberry - Lena Fox

Strawberry

By Lena Fox

Paranormal Romance Erotica

Date to be Published: 7/31/2013

SYNOPSIS:

An out of work actress can find herself in some shady situations. For Kitty French, some raunchy role-playing gone wrong lands her in the clutches of an honest-to-god vampire who decides she’s the tastiest of them all. Being a bloodsucker’s ongoing meal plan is not high on her wish list, no matter how searingly sexy he is. Will she escape from his cold lips alive, and will she still want to?

A bite sized, steamy, paranormal romance, Strawberry is a novella of 33,000 words, about a third the length of a normal novel.

EXCERPT:

I was supine, pinned down, at the mercy of three vampires. It’s okay. They aren’t real. Just men playing a game. 

A tongue licked across the lowest point of my neck, right where my pulse beat. A frisson of desire ran through my body, startling me. 

They crowded around the table, crawling up onto it to get better access to me. A hot mouth sucked at the flesh of my right breast where the gown left it bare. I gasped at the sensation and then screamed. I wanted to strike the man off me but kept in character. This is what I was being paid for. I knew what I was in for. 

Then the first man bit me. 

They didn’t bite hard but they weren’t exactly gentle either. That’s going to leave a mark. I was sprawled on the table, teeth nipping at me in three places. Their plaything. I could feel arousal beginning and I could not believe it. It really had been a long time since I’d had any action. My nipples were hardening as the heated hands tangled into my hair and warm tongues slid across my skin. Fake fangs pulled at the bared flesh of my cleavage, arms and neck. Little shivers stole up and down my spine, making me whimper and a delicious ache built between my thighs. I had just about decided that I really needed to get laid when an icy finger ran up my thigh, yanking me out of the delectable stupor I had tumbled into. I felt a cold nose press against my neck and breathe deeply. I heard a small grunt of desire. 

“This one is mine.” 

My eyelids, gone heavy during the biting, slammed open to see my vampires falling back, their faces gone blank. It looked like someone had just reached in and erased them from within. 

A new man stood above me, silhouetted by the dim scarlet glow of the lamp behind him. 

The primal instinct to escape invaded me again and I tried to scramble back across the table, but the dead, cold hands dragged me back and up into his arms. 

Then teeth sunk deep into my neck.

About The Author

Lena Fox is addicted to treasure hunting in thrift shops, picking the twist in movie plots, and food. Lena writes romance because it’s So. Damn. Sexy. And a girl’s got to get her kicks somewhere.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Facebook | Blog

BUY STRAWBERRY HERE:

Amazon

This Blitz is brought to you by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, You can find the other blogs in this blitz Here.