Reviews of books I've read and books I hope to read. "I was always able to lose myself in reading. Books were a necessary escape I always gladly jumped into headfirst."
Title: The Secrets Between Us
Author: Jennifer Ann; Narrator: Troy Duran, Keira Stevens
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by: Shakera
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Jennifer Ann
Date of Release: August 21, 2017, March 29, 2019
Pages: 268 (6 hours and 47 minutes)
Format: Audio Book (Audiobook Obsession)
How far would you go to get revenge? What would you do to keep the love of your life in your life? Quinn and Lincoln will have the battle of their lives and the secrets revealed are bombshells.
Quinn and Linc were high school sweethearts and found out the hard way one decision came change a lot of lives. Sacrificing himself to do what he thinks is right and will protect Quinn, Linc is arrested and sets in motion everything he was trying to prevent. After being in the military and away from home for 7 years, Lincoln is back to hopefully reclaim his love, but man have things changed! Quinn has changed and her secrets are doozies! Quinn was strong and independent, but there were times I questioned her thought process. Will they get a second chance at love, or will their secrets be too much to overcome?
It felt like there was a secret revealed on every page! This book will keep you hooked until the very end. The narration was great, but I wasn’t expecting the deep, richness of Troy Duran! That was pleasantly unexpected and the personality Keira injected into Quinn was perfect. This was the first book I’ve read by Jennifer Ann, I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve added her to my list of authors to look out for!
Title: Promise Me
Author: Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by: Shakera
Genre: NA, Romance
Publisher: Entangled: Embrace
Date of Release: April 15, 2019
Pages: 278
Format: Kindle (NetGalley)
As Kendall tries to escape memories of her past, she decides to house sit for her aunt in sunny California. Her first night there, she meets Vaughn and saves his life… not knowing her life will not be the same. She’s struggling with the decision of becoming a lawyer like her father or following her dreams of being an actress. Can Vaughn teach her to live in the moment?
Told from a dual point of view, you see the demons both Kendall and Vaughn are facing. This looks as though it’s set up to become a series, I think is great. You meet Kendall’s two step sisters and Vaughn’s two roommates. In the beginning, I wasn’t fond of her two sisters due to their treatment of Kendall, but as the three sisters grow close, you grow to like them. I thought was absolutely adorable. He was understanding and patient… sometimes too patient, but I appreciated that about him. Kendall was trying at moments, but given her circumstances, I understood.
This was my introduction to Samanthe Beck and Robin Bielman and it was absolutely wonderful! I hope this becomes a series because I can’t wait to see where this goes!
Title: Blood and Roses
Author: Lylah James
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Date of Release: February 27, 2018
Pages: 331
¸¸.•¨•★ FREE! ★•¨•.¸¸
Maria
I was trapped. There was nothing left of me.
Then he came and wanted to make me his.
He saved me. He gave me a home, a family.
He made sweet love to me.
I was his Angel. He was my everything.
I thought we would live happily ever after, but there are no happy endings in the mafia life.
I found this out the hard way, as the blood flowed, red as roses…
Lyov
Angel. The word meant nothing until I saw her.
I found her in a place worse than hell. She calls me her savior.
But I didn’t save her. I captured the pretty angel and made her mine.
Life was perfect. I had everything I wanted.
I was her salvation. She was my redemption.
Until I lost her.
Angels deserve happy endings, but monsters like me don’t.
My darkness became hers, and our happily-ever-after became tainted.
Title: The Heartbreaker Series (Books 1-3)
Author: Evan Grace
Genre: Sports Romance
Date of Release: October 11, 2016
Pages: 486
¸¸.•¨•★ FREE! ★•¨•.¸¸
GABE – BOOK #1
Jasmine Nichols is a control freak. When she graduates from college as valedictorian with a degree in social services, her friend and mentor Jill Swanson offers her a job, but with one condition. She has to take two weeks off and just have fun. Taking the instructions to heart, Jasmine goes to a club called Debauchery and has a sizzling encounter with a sexy stranger.
Ex-pro football player Gabriel Johnson is done playing the field. Gabe is tired of meaningless relationships, but when he meets a mysterious, beautiful, blue-eyed blonde at Debauchery and the chemistry is undeniable, he knows he’s finally found the one. What he didn’t expect was for her to freak out and run off.
Jasmine thought she made a clean getaway, so needless to say, she’s shocked when she finds herself face to face with the hot guy from the club once again.
He’s Jill’s. Half. Brother.
Gabe wants to pick up right where they left off and doesn’t waste any time convincing her. Jasmine’s blown away by the intensity of their relationship. How can she control something that makes her feel so wild and uninhibited?
But Jasmine can’t handle the pressure.
First, she’s confronted with old insecurities. Then suddenly, her brother has a secret he’ll only share with Gabe, the father who abandoned her shows up—at Gabe’s instigation—and a professional tragedy is the last straw.
What happens when it all falls apart?
Is being with Gabe more than she can handle?
NICO – BOOK #2
Jill Swanson has loved Nico Bianchi since she was eighteen, but how much heartbreak can one woman take before she’s utterly broken?
After a tough year and a half, Jill’s main focus is on raising her infant daughter and doing the best that she can with her situation. When a call from Nico’s mother sends Jill and her daughter to Perugia, Umbria, Jill’s faced with the one man that shattered her heart and left her a changed woman.
Nico Bianchi spent ten years sabotaging his own happiness out of fear that history would have a way of repeating itself…
Now sober and healthier than ever he’s ready to fight for his family. But just when he’s finally gotten through to Jill, ghosts from the past reappear and test his sobriety, threatening to ruin his new life. If he sabotages things again he knows, he will lose his family for good this time.
Are soul-mates destined to be together?
Jill wants more than anything to believe that she and her daughter are finally going to get their happily ever after. But with Nico’s past coming back to haunt him, she comes face to face with the reality that no matter how strong her love is for him, it might not be strong enough…and she may just lose him forever.
Will Nico finally rid himself of the demons that haunt him once and for all?
Or will Jill have to walk away to protect herself…and their child?
MILA – BOOK #3
Mila Bianchi has always played it safe…
After her father betrayed her mother with her brother’s wife, Mila decided to stick with boys and men who could never break her heart. She saw what being destroyed by the ones you loved could do, and it was never going to happen to her.
Brian Burns had a rough start in life…
Orphaned at age six, he grew up in the system until he turned eleven and met the people who would become his parents. Now an adult, Brian wants to help other vulnerable children, so he’s devoted his life to being a social worker and helping them find their temporary or permanent homes.
The moment he laid eyes on Mila, he knew there was something there, but she pulled the friend card with him. He bided his time, but whenever they seem to get closer, something would hold her back.
Can Mila open her heart enough to share a painful secret with him?
Or will they both walk away damaged and heartbroken?
Title: Enraptured by You (The Consumed Series, Book 2)
Author: Alicia Marino
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Date of Release: December 11, 2018
Pages: 207
¸¸.•¨•★ FREE! ★•¨•.¸¸
We both tried to fight it. But in the end, we had no choice but to give in to the temptation that threatened to incinerate us both.
Now I’m no longer infatuated with my boss. I’m head over heels for him.
Benjamin Scott managed to dig his way into my heart so easily. He consumes me, leaving no part of me untouched. With every kiss, he demands all of me, and I give it to him willingly. There’s no use fighting fate.
Like wildfire, my desire for this man keeps on growing stronger, brighter. But as the demons of my past start to resurface I’m afraid that soon the flame will burn out and leave nothing but ashes in its wake.
Nothing that burns this bright can last forever…can it?
(Book 1: Consumed By You is free with Kindle Unlimited)
*Check price before purchase. Subject to change! Each book is free with Kindle Unlimited!
Title: Life Goes On (Epic Love Story, Book 3)
Author: Kelly Moore, Narrator: Sarah Puckett
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by: Shakera
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Kelly Moore
Date of Release: January 8, 2019, March 19, 2019
Pages: 155 (3 Hours, 53 Minutes)
Format: Audio Book (Audiobook Obsession)
I was warned to be prepared for this story and how I would need a box of tissues. While I had considered myself warned, I still wasn’t emotionally prepared for what this story would do to me. This is a beautiful story of Olivia and Silas, who were the epitome of love. When Silas unexpected to passes away, Olivia is devastated but learns via Silas that her life must go on. How do you go on when the only person you’ve ever loved is no longer there? Sarah Puckett’s narration truly brought this story to life and I found myself sitting at my desk wiping tears off my face. I remember thinking halfway through the story “I’m not okay.” This story was beautiful, tragic, beautifully tragic. Do have tissues available because you will need it.
Title: Blinded (Elkridge Series, Book 1)
Author: Lyz Kelley
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by: Shakera
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Belvitri Services, LLC
Date of Release: February 6, 2017; February 12, 2019
Pages: 324; 9hr, 30 minutes
Format: Kindle (Amazon); Audio (Audiobook Obsession)
What initially drew me into this story was the murder mystery and I have to admit, Mara being blind. I was interested to see how that storyline would be navigated. It’s easy to ruin a story, but this Blinded was tastefully done. Joey is one of my favorite main characters, and he was absolutely perfect for Mara. This was well written and tender.
This was my introduction to Lyz Kelley and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was nice to get the perspective of both Joey and Mara. The pace of the story was nice and even, flowed very well. Meghan Kelly’s narration was spot on! What initially drew me to this story was Meghan Kelly (OMG!) and the synopsis was great and drew me in. The characters of Joey and Mara were great and worked very well together. Second chance romances are slowly becoming one of my favorite tropes and Lyz Kelley has done a spectacular job.
Title: Breaking His Rules
Author: Aliza Mann
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by: Shakera
Genre: Romance
Publisher: LoveSwept
Date of Release: April 2, 2019
Pages: 241
Format: Kindle (NetGalley)
Ashton lived his dating life by a set of rules: 1.) Never date the prettiest girl in the room. 2.) No dates on Friday or Saturday night. 3.) No discussing family history… you get the gist. His mind is completely blown when he meets Terra, who makes him challenge every one of those rules. Terra has her own set of drama, in the name of an ex-husband. As they get to know each other a little better, the drama unfolds. Can Ashton get past her walls? Can Terra make him forget all of his rules?
I initially wanted to read this because I love interracial romance, and it had a great synopsis. LoveSwept hasn’t produced a book I didn’t like. Upon reading it I will say I was a bit nervous. Could this be the first book that doesn’t live up to my expectation? I have to say, it did live up to my expectations. I did have to get past a chapter or two, but it was totally worth it. While it does start off a bit slow, getting to know the characters, watching them interact with each other, watching the development… it gave the story so much depth and kept me enthralled. I am new to Aliza Mann’s work, but I would enjoy reading more of her work.
Title: Layla’s Chance
Author: Mika Jolie
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by: Shakera
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Mika Jolie
Date of Release: April 11, 2019
Pages: 130 (approximately)
Format: Kindle (Author)
When you feel lost, the best thing you can do for yourself is to take some time and find yourself. That’s exactly what Layla does. Past up for partner at the law firm she’s been busting her behind for, in favor of someone younger, Layla takes a trip to Martha’s Vineyard to get to know herself and what she really wants to do with her life. With a little intervention from fate, she falls head over heels for Chance Santos, quite literally. Can Layla figure out what she wants in life before the opportunity of a lifetime passes her by? Can Chance get Layla to loosen up and live in the moment, and out of her own head before it’s too late?
Layla is a 40-year-old lawyer is sweet and completely relatable. She’s stuck in a rut and has no idea how to get out of it, or if she CAN get out of it. She did what most people don’t do or would do, and that was taking time for herself, her mental health. Chance is a 27-year-old world-famous musician who completely lives in the moment. He has an interesting family dynamic and outlook on life. When he loves, he loves hard. Layla and Chance balance each other perfectly.
While this is a novella, there was so much depth and meat to this story. The character development was perfect. It was nice to watch Layla, a 40-year-old woman who doesn’t completely have her life together be okay with the fact that she really wasn’t okay, but was getting there. I loved everything about Chance. It took him some effort to get her past the age difference, but he didn’t push her. He was quite perfect for her and Layla was everything he needed. If I had any complaints, it would be that I wished this was longer. I enjoyed reading Layla’s and Chance’s story. I would love a “Where Are They Now?” story for them!
