Mini Reviews Monday

I hired her to fix my company, to bring Marks Lingerie back to life. I didn’t expect her to become my friend. I didn’t expect to fall in love with her.

The first rule of business is to never touch your employees. I think there is another rule about not falling for your best friend—a rule against imagining the curves of her body, or the way her breathing would change if I pulled down her panties and unzipped my pants.

Now, I can’t wait any longer. I’m tossing out the rules.

Damn the company.
Damn our friendship.
Damn my fears.

4.5 stars!

I've had this author on my TBR for well over a year, and I finally got around to trying her out with this recent release. I was very pleasantly surprised!

It's a slow burn (emphasis on slow!) romance, and spans a good chunk of time. We get to see the characters' relationship evolve right from the start, and it gave a lovely and deep emotional connection.

I enjoyed both hero and heroine, and liked how everything was pretty much solely focused on the couple. It gave it an introspective feel and put me in the characters' shoes.

The first in the new SAINTS OF DENVER series from NYT bestselling author of the MARKED MEN series, Jay Crownover

Sometimes you have to tear everything down to build something new…

Sayer Cole is frozen inside. At least, that’s what it’s felt like for as long as she can remember. She’s yet to let anyone past her icy exterior – and the one guy she thinks might melt her heart couldn’t possibly be interested in someone so uptight.

Rough, hard and hot-as-hell, Zeb Fuller has rebuilt his life and his construction business since protecting his family sent him to jail all those years ago. His elegant client, Sayer, makes him feel like a Neanderthal in denim, but despite the many hints that he’s been dropping to get to know her better, she seems oblivious to his charms.

Just as things finally start to heat up, Zeb’s past comes back to haunt him and he needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. As these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, fire and ice collide in an unstoppable explosion of steam…

4 stars!

I'm a big Crownover fan, and overall enjoyed this book. The hero was to die for, the relationship with his surprise son tugged at my heart strings, and I really enjoyed the side characters. Since this book is interconnected with with her other books, I enjoyed checking up on old characters, and was intrigued by the ones I hadn't yet read.

Two things took away from this story for me. One was that it was a little too wordy; I wanted more dialogue and interaction.

The second was the heroine. She got on my nerves and made me tired of her when she had too much page time. It wasn't because she didn't jump right into a relationship (good for her!), but she just..I dunno, didn't work for me. She had some issues, but I felt like she was too wrapped up in them and too intent on making those issues known. The other characters had issues too, especially the hero, but it didn't consume them the way they did her.

If anyone ever said being an adult was easy, they hadn't been one long enough.

Diana Casillas can admit it: she doesn't know what the hell she's doing half the time. How she's made it through the last two years of her life without killing anyone is nothing short of a miracle. Being a grown-up wasn’t supposed to be so hard.

With a new house, two little boys she inherited the most painful possible way, a giant dog, a job she usually loves, more than enough family, and friends, she has almost everything she could ever ask for.

Except for a boyfriend.

Or a husband.

But who needs either one of those? 

5 stars!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The heroine was spectacular, and has become one of my most favorite contemporary heroines to date. Her voice was honest, kind, genuine and really relatable.

I love romances with kids in them, and this one was so well done. Finally, a book where the kids have personalities and also act age appropriately! Both the boys in Wait For It brought so much for the story, made me laugh, and pulled at my feels.

Don't even get me started on the hero. *swoon*

It's very long, at almost 700 pages, but it really didn't feel like it. Everything flowed smoothly and easily, and it just...worked. So well. Loved it!

The new series is set in Vermont. True North is populated by the tough, outdoorsy mountain men that populate the Green Mountain State. They raise cows and they grow apples. They chop a lot of wood, especially when they need to blow off steam. (Beards are optional but encouraged.)

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some. 

4 stars!

This book made me hungry. And gave me a strong desire to move to Vermont and find a cider making farmer. 

Loved the family dynamic, loved the gorgeous setting, loved the farm to table ideas, adored the hero, and the heroine was okay, but not great. Overall a solid start to this series!

From USA Today Bestselling Author, Renée Carlino, comes a totally unique love story that is sure to make you question what’s out there . . . or who. 

“My guardian angel is a drunk.”

Evelyn Casey's life is at a standstill. She's in her mid-twenties, struggling with the dating scene in San Francisco. Nothing seems to be working out, and she’s starting to think that she’ll live out her days in her crummy apartment with her overbearing roommate, Brooklyn. It's absurd, but sometimes Evey longs for a guardian angel to show up and save the day.

And then he does. Seriously. His name is Lucian and he's a guardian angel, been on the job for two thousand years. His sudden presence in her life is both good—he's brilliant, witty, and warm—and bad—he's brilliant, witty, warm, and hot as ----. But as perfect as Lucian seems, he’s got problems of his own. He’s taken up drinking and he’s brazenly inserted himself into Evey’s life, going against the greatest cosmic law ever created.

For Evey, the rules are simple: You are not allowed to hook up with your guardian angel. But sometimes fulfilling your destiny requires a leap of faith, a confrontation with God. 

Yes, God as in God.

1.5 stars!

This...oy. Where do I even start here?

I'm not a big Renee Carlino fan. I've read a few of her books and didn't care for them past 3.5 stars, but I always respected her writing and found her to be a solid author, just one that wasn't for me. 

This book didn't even feel like she wrote it. It truly read like bad fan fiction; it was full of plot holes, had no character development, the pacing was so choppy, and overall it was a massive disappointment. 

Mini Reviews Monday

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews launches a brand new Hidden Legacy series, in which one woman must place her trust in a seductive, dangerous man who sets off an even more dangerous desire…

Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.

Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.

Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.

4.5 stars!

This was such an enjoyable book! It was one of those urban fantasy that's not so over the top and confusing that it's not enjoyable; it was firmly based in the real world and it made it easy to fall in to. The characters had great chemistry, the tension was fantastic, and the action spot on. The narration was incredible too. 

My childhood was perfect.

I’ve led a charmed life, and I’m not going to blow it now by picking the wrong guy.

I’ve got my sights set on my brother’s best friend.

He’s known my family for years. He’s reliable and kind and handsome.

Sure, he’s been avoiding me since I was six.

I’m a bit aggressive for him, maybe.

But he’s the one… right?

2.5 stars!

Eh...? It was just okay. The thing with two out of these 3.5 books is that it feels like it's trying too hard. Trying too hard to be funny, relatable, sexy...just trying too hard. The heroine was incredibly immature and ground against my nerves, and hero was a douche when the conflict happened. 

To most people, princes, princesses, counts and dukes are found only in the pages of the most famous of fairytales. Crowns, priceless jewels and gilded thrones belong only in childhood dreams.
But for some, these frivolous fancies are truth.
For some, they are real life.
On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, people have always treated me as someone special. All because of my ancestral name and legacy. All because of a connection I share to our home country’s most important family of all.
I am Caresa Acardi, the Duchessa di Parma. A blue blood of Italy. I was born to marry well. And now the marriage date is set.
I am to marry into House Savona. The family that would have been the royals had Italy not abolished the monarchy in 1946. But to the aristocrats of my home, the abolition means nothing at all.
The Savonas still hold power where it counts most.
In our tight-knit world of money, status and masked balls, they are everything and more.
And I am soon to become one of them.
I am soon to become Prince Zeno Savona’s wife…
… or at least I was, until I met Achille.
And everything changed. 

3 stars!

The Italian setting was absolutely gorgeous, and made me want to hop on the next flight to Italy and spend my days exploring grape vines, stuffing my face with delicious food, and then burning off those calories with horseback riding and sex. ;)

That said, I struggled to connect with the story. Neither protagonist really worked for me, and I felt like the writing was far too flowery, taking away from the story and the characters.

What happens when your life goes to crap the week of Christmas? You invite a hot Marine you met in an airport bar to come home with you for the holidays, to distract your crazy family from the truth. 

With a handsy aunt, a meddling mother and a father concerned for the wellbeing of his daughter's eggnog, there's no chance Sam and Noel will have time to fall in love...or will they?

The Stocking Was Hung is a standalone, Christmas story that will make you laugh, make you HOT and maybe even make you say, "Awwwww" a few times.

3 stars!

This was funny, sexy and a quick read. Parts were a tad over the top, even for Tara Sivec, and the romance was quick, but it still worked for the story and I had a fun time. Plus, that title!

{Book Review} Big Rock by Lauren Blakely

From Goodreads

It's not just the motion of the ocean, ladies. It's definitely the SIZE of the boat too. 

And I've got both firing on all cylinders. In fact, I have ALL the right assets. Looks, brains, my own money, and a big c*&k.

You might think I'm an a*&hole. I sound like one, don’t I? I'm hot as sin, rich as heaven, smart as hell and hung like a horse.

Guess what? You haven't heard my story before. Sure, I might be a playboy, like the NY gossip rags call me. But I’m the playboy who’s actually a great guy. Which makes me one of a kind. 

The only trouble is, my dad needs me to cool it for a bit. With conservative investors in town wanting to buy his flagship Fifth Avenue jewelry store, he needs me not only to zip it up, but to look the part of the committed guy. Fine. I can do this for Dad. After all, I’ve got him to thank for the family jewels. So I ask my best friend and business partner to be my fiancée for the next week. Charlotte’s up for it. She has her own reasons for saying yes to wearing this big rock.

And pretty soon all this playing pretend in public leads to no pretending whatsoever in the bedroom, because she just can’t fake the kind of toe-curling, window-shattering orgasmic cries she makes as I take her to new heights between the sheets.

But I can’t seem to fake that I might be feeling something real for her.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into with this…big rock?

BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV by NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…

My Thoughts 

4.5 "Sinfully Sexy and Sweet" Stars

I tell myself not to panic prematurely. This is what friends do for each other. They pretend they're going to marry you when you need them to. Right?

I bought this book because I thought it said "big cock" at first glance, and that, combined with the cover hunk, set my inner pervert all aflutter. 

Okay, and the ratings for it were really highly. But mostly for the first thing.

I've been in the mood for light, funny, sexy times lately, and this book was exactly what I wanted. It was the perfect mix of hilarity, smut, and plenty of sizzling chemistry. I was giggling throughout the whole story, and fanning myself during the epic sex scenes. 

"How do you get yourself into these situations?"

"I like to think it's my wit and charm, but in this case, it might have been my big mouth.

The all guy POV was something I haven't read in quite a while, and it was very well executed! Our protagonist, Spencer, was a refreshing take on the typical hero: rather than a brooding, using manslut, he's a happy and gentlemanly (sort of...he's still a delightfully dirty bastard ;)) manslut. 

Much to my happy surprise, his whorish ways are really only mentioned in passing and as backstory, and we don't see any of his slutty ways aside from a few of his comments. That was a pleasant change!

This is the end to my Saturday night. My cat has watched me whack off to a vision of my best friend. 

"Don't say a word," I hiss.

He looks away, lifting his chin haughtily. But he'll keep my secret.

I'll keep his too, the fucking little voyeur. 

The chemistry between Spencer and Charlotte was off the charts. I'm a sucker for a good friends to lovers story, and Big Rock is pulled it off flawlessly. There's history and familiarity between the two, with the sort of easy back and forth banter that kept me smiling and rooting for them over the course of the story. 

The sex is smokin' hot. The story was fun and funny, but the sex was the icing on the cake!

I burn up all over as I watch her. I am comprised of nothing but heat. Her lips. Her eyes. Everything. She is my fucking everything. 

The book is a bit predictable and straightforward, but it worked for it. These kinds of rom-coms don't really need an intricate plot with tons of twists and world building; it's dessert, not a nutritional meal. I want to just sink into fun, sexy times, and that's exactly what happened!

I've broken the biggest ground rule of all. I've fallen in love with my best friend. 

Big Rock moves along at a good clip and primarily spans a week's time. I was eager to get back to it when I was forced away, and it was a very quick and enjoyable read.

Overall, Big Rock is a delightfully fun and romantic story with a charming hero, a funny and relatable heroine, plenty of sex and banter, and zero angst. Highly recommend!

Add to Goodreads

*My own copy

- The Bibliophile Babe

{Book Review} The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?

Overall: 4 "Live Life For You" Stars

Ending: 5 "All The Fuckin' Feels!" Stars

Total: 4.5 stars

If you love stories about road trips, throwing caution to the winds, finding yourself, and a challenging yourself, this is the book for you. If you love a dirty talking hero with a heart of gold and an affinity for classic rock, this is the book for you. If you want your heart to be mangled and then healed, this is definitely the book for you.

I've broken every rule. Every. Single. One. 

Ever since I found this book on Goodreads, I've been dying to read it. Nearly everyone gives it a 5+ star rating, and cites it as a truly unforgettable read. When I saw the audiobook on sale, I eagerly snatched it up and dove right in. 

The writing has an easy, absorbing flow to it, and stays at a nice solid pace throughout the story. It felt so realistic, each emotion potent and sharp. Dealing with grief and personal growth are featured in the story, enough to leave an impact but not enough to drown you. I appreciate that - you aren't smother in angst for the most part!

I enjoyed both protagonists in this dual POV novel, though I connected a bit more with Andrew than Camryn. Camryn was a little too timid and passive for me, though she balanced Andrew's hot head out. They had great chemistry right off the bat, and some seriously funny banter. Such as:

"Babe, did you find the yeast infection stuff? I mean, are you even sure that's what's causing the itch?"

"Yes, baby, I found it. Did you see if they have any extra-small sized condoms?"

The couple's greatest fear is having a monotonous, every day life. Going to college for a degree you don't want, working for decades at a job you hate, every day the same thing. Their passion for living a different life, a life for themselves, was beautiful. Screw what everyone thinks: it's their lives, and they're going to live them. 

I could connect with that one on so, so many levels! It's one of my greatest fears, and is why I did not pursue college. My life is going in a direction I want, and at a very young age. It's not something often chosen for books (NA especially!), and I loved getting to have that. 

"What compels any of us to do the things we do when deep down, a part of us just wants to break free from it all?"

I never thought I'd say this, but I didn't care for most of the sex scenes! Maybe it was just the narrator, but they felt forced, awkward, and vaguely porno-like. The first one results in a truly cringeworthy and hilarious attempt at dirty talking for Camryn, and it just didn't work well for the story. That was really my only complaint!

More and more chapters would go by, and while I was thoroughly enjoying myself, I wasn't seeing what made everyone else give those 5+ star ratings...and then I came to the last few chapters.

Holy.

Fucking.

Hell.

I primality listen to books while I'm on walks/runs, and that's what I was doing as the book wrapped up. I was sweaty and walking at a good clip, and was clutching my phone for dear life as things started happening. I remember muttering "you better give me a happy ending, YOU BETTER GIVE ME A HAPPY ENDING!", and then just flat out crying. The last chapter closed, and I nearly tossed my phone in a fit of broken hearted rage. The epilogue came, and saved my bookish soul just in the nick of time. It was a little unrealistic and a bit cheesy, but I needed that! It's been a while since I've read a book with such a satisfying ending. 

I didn't guess what Andrew's secret was, at all. Looking back it was obvious, but that was one scenario I didn't consider while reading. I was thinking the author would "pull a K.A. Tucker" (if you've read Ten Tiny Breaths, you can guess what I mean), but that's not what happened at all. 

I liked the narrator for the most part, especially for Camryn. However, the novel is written in dual perspective, and she (the narrator) does both parts. Not only was that odd and a little flat to read Andrew's perspective from a woman's voice, the attempt at gruffness for him that was used was a bit stilted. 

There is a sequel to this book called The Edge of Always, but I'm not sure I picked it up. The book wrapped up so nicely that I don't feel overly compelled to read it and disturb where the characters left off. 

Overall, this book was highly enjoyable, with an insanely satisfying ending and a great message about living for yourself, and not what society deems you should do. It was a perfect romantic read. I loved it, and recommend!

"I think that if past lives are real, then we have been lovers in every single one of them."

STATS:

Rating: 4 overall, 5 ending - 4.5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary romance

Series: The Edge of Never, #1

POV: 1st person, dual perspective

Steam/sexual content: Steamy, several fairly explicit scenes 

Cliffhanger: No

Length: 426/13 hours, 12 minutes

Source/format: My own copy, audiobook

Goodreads

- The Bibliophile Babe

{Book Review} Hearts of Blue by L.H. Cosway

 She upholds the law. He breaks it. 

Two blue hearts, both alike in bravery
In not-so-fair London, where we lay our scene
From gun crime to petty theft
Where family is blood and survival makes hands unclean
In this place, we find two hearts who should be foes
And yet, amidst the turmoil their love still grows
Misadventure abounds and the divide will bring them strife
But with luck, death doesn’t always mean an end to life.

Hearts of Blue is a standalone contemporary romance that tells the story of star-crossed lovers Karla Sheehan and Lee Cross, a police constable and the thief who steals her heart. 

She upholds the law.....

Karla Sheehan is a straight-laced constable for the London police force. After growing up in a cold, loveless home, Karla made it her mission in life to help people. She loves her job on the force, despite having to struggle for respect in a very male-dominated environment. She has an unshakable view on the law and what it means to be a good person. 

Until she meets Lee Cross.

He breaks it.

Lee Cross is a thief. He's been involved in one illegal activity or another since his early teens, doing whatever he can to feed and care for his brothers after their mother deserted them. Now in his mid-twenties, he's in too deep to get out of the business. He admittedly loves the thrill of it all, and doesn't think much about going legit. 

Until he meets Karla Sheehan.

Their attraction to each other is undeniable, but with such different backgrounds and so many risks surrounding them, is love worth the risk?

Hearts of Blue is the fourth book in L.H. Cosway's Hearts series, with the reading order being Six of Hearts (5 stars), Hearts of Fire (4 stars),  King of Hearts (5 stars), and Hearts of Blue (4.5 stars). They can be read as standalones, but I highly suggest reading them in order, especially if you're planning to read King of Hearts. 

This is one of my favorite series of all time, and I'm thrilled to have gotten an ARC of this gorgeous story. On to the review!

4.5 Thieving Stars!

Hearts of Blue was a beautiful, unique forbidden love story, with plenty of steam and humor and a dash of moral conflict. It's the lightest book in the Hearts series so far, and was a wonderfully fast paced read! I breezed through it in a day, and was anxious to get to back into the world of Lee and Karla whenever I was forced to adult to, engage in real life to stop reading. 

This was going to end in disaster. We lived in two different worlds.
And yet....

I've never read a book where the woman is in law enforcement, and the man is the criminal, so I was quite curious to see how things would pan out. L.H. Cosway made it a fascinating concept! Karla and Lee are complete opposites on every level, and it somehow worked all the better for them. There was plenty of action to go along with the romance and humor, too! 

As an American, I found it quite interesting to see inside a London police force. Between the officers not being outfitted with deadly weapons and the sheer size of such a city, it was neat to see. 

"I love that about you,"
"What?"
"How you act all tough, but as soon as I touch you, you melt and go all shy. It's gorgeous."

Karla was an interesting heroine, one I wasn't quite sure how to take a first. She was ridged in her ideas of right and wrong, and it was intriguing to see how her feelings shifted over the course of the story. I'm a bit of an anarchist, yet Karla made me think of things from the other side, and brought some compelling ideas to the table. 

Her voice was easy to sink into, and her dry humor kept me giggling. She was a genuinely good person, and I admired her relentless dedication to her job. She was funny, honest, caring, and very smart.

There were a few times I wanted to shake her for refusing to see things from someone else's perspective right off the bat, and I didn't connect to her as much as other Hearts heroines, but she grew on me, and by the end of the story I throughly enjoyed her. I think the disconnect had more to deal with my...flexible views on the law than it her character, I think.



"Sometimes the innocent ones are guilty only because the world didn't give them a chance to stay innocent."

Lee...oh, Lee! The connection that was lacking with Karla was more than made up for with Lee. I loved everything about that man! He was so charismatic, one of those characters that just comes to life before your eyes. He was a badass with a conscience, a generous and attentive lover, a fiercely loyal and protective brother, and an all around good guy, despite his...extracurricular activities. ;)

The icing on the cake with this man is that he's an amazing cook. Be still my beating heart, there is nothing I love more than a hot guy who can cook. Mmmm.

Karla and Lee had great chemistry, with smoking hot sex scenes and plenty of flirty, hilarious banter. I really enjoyed seeing them together!

The side characters were one of my favorite parts of the story. It fleshed out some of the missing information from King Of Hearts, giving us a new peek into Alexis' life and giving more depth to a truly wonderful character. Lee's brothers were a hilarious and intriguing bunch of fellows, and I'm eagerly awaiting their stories!

My favorite thing about Cosway's writing is she never kills us with angst. All of her stories have the potential to turn into serious angst-fests, but it never happens. Real life isn't usually like those stories, and it's so refreshing to pick up a book by her and read something realistic and relatable. The hard parts of the characters' lives are mentioned and acknowledged (and there is some real heartbreak), but not wallowed in. I love it. 

The world isn't blue, isn't lonely anymore, and though I was supposed to be the thief, she was the one who stole my heart. 

Overall, Hearts of Blue is a great forbidden romance, and a lovely addition to the Hearts series. If you like sexy bad boys, humor, romance, action, and some seriously dirty sex, I highly recommend it!

Stats:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: Adult/new adult, contemporary romance

Series: Hearts, #4

POV: 1st person, primarily single perspective

Steam/sexual content: So steamy, graphic sex

Warnings: Some violence

HEA: Yes

Cliffhanger: No

Format: eBook

ARC for review. Thank you, L.H. Cosway!

Hearts of Blue Buy Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1RNV8Yq
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1LfMFuE

Excerpt 

Tony was about to throw some barb back at him when his radio went off with a call from dispatch. He stepped away so that he could talk to the person on the other end, thus leaving me alone with Lee, who leaned against the doorjamb and gave me a heated little look. “I have to say, I like you in uniform.”

“Oh, shut it.” I rolled my eyes. There was nothing attractive about my uniform. It was basically men’s clothing on a woman.

“I’m not lying. How’s about you come up to my room for a bit and I’ll show you how much I like it?” He paused, eyes flicking to the top of my head as he winked. “You can even leave your hat on.”Completely against my own will, I snickered a laugh, folding my arms across my chest. “No thanks, Tom Jones.”

“I think you’ll find it was Randy Newman who penned the tune. Tom Jones did the cover,” Lee quipped.

I made a concerted effort to regain my professionalism and throw a bucket of cold water over his flirty banter. “When you see your brother, tell him to get himself down the nick to see me.”

“Fucking hell, Snap, you really are Ross Sheehan’s daughter. Growing up must have been shit for you.”

The empathy in his voice caught me off guard. I swallowed but didn’t say anything. Our gazes locked and held, something thick and unspoken passing between us. He took a step outside, past the threshold of his doorway and onto the street. I glanced down at the toes of my boots and back up again, a strand of hair falling from behind my ear. Lee’s hand reached out, as though he were about to tuck it back in, but then he froze before he could touch me. Touching a constable could technically be considered assault. And technically, I could arrest him for that. Maybe that’s why he stopped. Or maybe it was something else.

His eyes softened when he whispered, “If that cranky string of piss weren’t with you right now, it’d be a whole other ball game.”

I looked to Tony, who had just finished with his call. Lee turned and casually went back inside his house, closing the door softly behind him.

About the Author

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/l.h.cosway/

As a special treat, the author will write a bonus scene after the tour ends. There will be a poll on her FB page – please direct readers there to vote for the scene in which they would like to see in the male POV – winning scene will be announced at the end of the tour

https://www.facebook.com/LHCosway

Tour Poll for Male Pov Scene:

Which scene from Hearts of Blue would you most like to read from Lee’s perspective?

1. The football riot scene.
2. The warehouse rave scene.
3. Karla & Lee’s ‘first time’ at the night club.

Giveaway

Competition prizes:

1st prize:

Signed paperback copies of the entire ‘Hearts’ series.

L.H. Cosway swag.

$25 Amazon gift card.

2nd prize:

Signed copy of Hearts of Blue.

L.H. Cosway swag.

$10 Amazon gift card.

L.H. Cosway Hearts of Blue Release Week Giveaway

Book Review: The Fall Up by Aly Martinez

From Goodreads

I wanted to jump.
He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up. 

My Review

4.5 Falling... Stars!

My career was soaring while, personally, I was plummeting. Every single day felt like a terrifying free fall in no particular direction. I was stuck in the middle with no way up - or down. 

Levee Williams is a world famous pop star that has it all... at first glance. She's constantly in the spotlight, and between spending all her possible free time in the pediatric cancer ward brining smiles to sick kids' faces, grieving for the sister she lost to the same disease as a child, and pasting on a smile for the world to see, she's run herself into the ground. 

Every night for the past several days, she's found herself on a San Francisco bridge...contemplating. 

Enter Sam Waters.  Gorgeous, tattooed, and chain smoking, he's on that bridge to remember. When he catches a glimpse at the beautiful woman hiding behind oversized glasses and a wig, clinging to the railing, those memories are dredged up. Hoping to step in and prevent what he couldn't before, he starts talking to her, drawing her attention away from the water below. 

With that simple act, a bond starts to form between the raw characters that was so beautiful it made me tear up on more than one occasion. The couple has a long journey ahead of them, and we get a front row seat to everything between them.

I had absolutely no business trying to pursue something with her. We came from different worlds - and only part of that had anything to do with her being famous. Hell, that was the easy part. We were both so filled with pain. Only she was determined to escape it, while I physically ached to stop her. We'd be a fucking train wreck together. 

I adored this one! Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors, and I was thrilled to get an ARC of one of my most anticipated releases of the year. The woman can do no wrong in my eyes! Her stories are captivating, emotional, hilarious, fresh, and gorgeously romantic. The Fall Up was no exception! 

This story was gorgeous. Completely, utterly gorgeous. I was pleasantly shocked at how the subject of running yourself so ragged and becoming depressed was handled! It wasn't overly dramatic. It wasn't selfish. It wasn't an angst-fest. It was funny, romantic, honest, swoon-worthy, and so realistic! 

The characters were so vivid! Each and every one, from Sam and Levee to the side characters, felt like tangible people that would come alive from the pages. This is Martinez's specialty, and I love it.

I was falling fast for that man, and I could only hope I was taking him with me. 

Levee was such an enjoyable heroine! She was so down to earth, funny, and just a genuinely good person. She wasn't the vapid pop princess you'd expect from that line of work, which I really appreciated. I was surprised at how much I could empathize with what she was going through; Martinez did a fantastic job of showcasing what happens when you help others without helping yourself. The circumstance as it was written felt like it could happen to anything, and it made Levee even more relatable.

"I'm not perfect, and I'd like to pretend you aren't, either."

Sam....!!! God, I loved him. He was the perfect hero in that he wasn't perfect, and he didn't think he was. He was so sweet, funny, humble, and honest. He, like Levee, was such a good person, with an enormous heart. The level of love and tenderness he had for Levee was gorgeous, of course, but he cared for everyone in his life with such dedication. He was an admirable character, and a fresh take on heroes that completely bypassed the asshole alpha trend. The world needs more men like Sam Waters. 

"That bitch!"
"She's nice enough, just -"
"Nice enough? I'm gonna put a hit out on her!"
"Okay, hold on there, Tony Soprano. No one's putting a hit on anyone." I paused. "Just to be clear, you don't have those kind of connections, do you?"
"No, but I have money! I'm sure I can buy some connections."

The chemistry and connection between Sam and Levee blew me away! They were broken, fragmented people that somehow still fit together perfectly. In any other story by any other author, their connection would have been insta-love. Not here, though. The way the met was so intense and so raw that it was no wonder they formed such a connection from it.

"From the moment I first met you, you made the world lighter. You didn't even know you were doing it at first. But just knowing you would be on that bridge every night soothed the madness that was ricocheting around inside my head. You made me laugh, and you made me feel special. The relief I felt in your arms made the craziness manageable. You were never a distraction to me, Sam. You were always my reprieve."

Their sex scenes were smoldering, and I laughed out loud on more than one occasion at their banter! They were hilarious together, and once again, so real.

"Your dick's pierced." 

"I...fuck...ugh. Is it? I thought they all looked like that."

The story was told in alternating perspectives, and it was so fun to see both their points of view. They had distinctive voices I could differentiate just on tone, without having to even read which was talking. 

The secondary characters were just as funny and enjoyable as Sam and Levee! I really hope Sam and Levee's best friends get their own novels. 

"Just make sure she keeps her mouth shut, yeah? Levee and I aren't telling people we're together yet."

"No problem. I had her sign a nondisclosure agreement."

"Who the fuck are you? Christian Grey?"

"Who the fuck are you? A post-menopausal woman? Why do you know anything about Christian Grey?"

There wasn't any sort of big reveal or anything, which I enjoyed. It was their story, no lies and no pretenses. So refreshing!

There was a point around 80% where I had expected the story to end on an all too prefect happily ever after, but it didn't. It went on to show that life isn't that easy or that perfect, and I was so thrilled to see that. We did get a very adorable, very happily ever after, but only after some very hard work from both of them. It was such a satisfying ending, too!

Levee and I were in love - there was no doubt about that. But we were still getting to know each other on so many levels. 

Not our bodies, though. They were sexual soul mates. 

Despite the very heavy subject matter, this was a beautiful, hilarious romance that perfectly balanced the happy and light with the serious. I loved it, and it resides on my all time favorites shelf!

"At the end of the day, you have to be the one to want to live. All I can do is be at your side while you do it."

Overall, The Fall Up was a beautiful, swoon worthy romance between relatable people. It sucked me in from page one, and I finished it in a day and a half. It was one of those books that just leaves you with a smile and a content feeling. Highly recommend! If you're new to the author, this is a great place to start.

Stats:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary romance 

Series: Standalone

POV: 1st person, dual perspective

Steam/sexual content: Deliciously steamy, explicit sex

Warnings: Sex, swearing

Cliffhanger: No

HEA: YES!

On My Goodreads Shelves: 2015 releases, 4.5 Stars, ARCs, A Slut For Smut, Book Boyfriends, Enjoyed, Favorites, Forget Boyfriend I'd Marry Him, I Ship Them So Hard, Steamy, Sweet Romance

Length: 260 pages

Published: October 26th, 2015

ARC to Review

Goodreads

- The Bibliophile Babe