tl;dr recommendation: oh, I’m sorry, I’m busy wiping tears from my chin. Sweet Christ. 4.5 stars.
Book Summary:
From the author of the Amazon #1 bestselling romance, Jake Undone, comes a friends-to-lovers story of longing, passion, betrayal and redemption……with a twist that will rip your heart out.
Skylar was my best friend, but I secretly pined for her. One thing after another kept us apart, and I’ve spent the last decade in fear of losing her forever.
First, it was the cancer, but she survived only to face the unthinkable at my hands. Because of me, she left town. For years, I thought I’d never see her again.
But now she’s back…and living with him.
I don’t deserve her after everything I’ve put her through, but I can’t live without her. This is my last chance, because she’s about to make the biggest mistake of her life. I can see it her eyes: she doesn’t love him. She still loves me…which is why I have to stop her before it’s too late.
My Skylar is a STANDALONE novel and a companion to Jake Undone.
**Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+
Longer Review:
4.5 stars.
The tears. good lord, the tears. How much heartbreak and loss can you handle? If you’re in the mood to ugly cry, grab a box of tissues, move away from people and get ready to let the feels take over.
I hate cheating books. I hate love triangles. I hate. I hate. I hate. They make me all angsty-faced and queasy and put me on edge in a bad-uncomfortable way and I usually avoid them like the plague. So, I was really unbelievably nervous about this book – I shouldn’t have been.
I hated what’s-his-face from the start. No really. He doesn’t get a name here. When we dive into the book, Skylar’s living with That Guy Who Makes Her Feel Safe and Mitch is sort of stalking her. We later find out why he’s channeling his inner Christian Grey and it’s not nearly as creepy as you’d think.
I am in awe of Mitch. I loved every single piece of him. I loved his stalkerish ways, his loyalty, his weeping orgasms, his backwards Yankee hat, and the way that he looks at Skylar. I loved it all. Skylar is one incredibly tough girl. However, as she ages she loses a bit of her strength and I hated that for her. It’s like the cancer sucked that sass and spark right out of her. I wanted her to fight for Mitch. I was heartbroken and devastated when she didn’t.
But not to worry, as I said before, Mitch is perfection. He’s dominant without being overbearing and sensitive without being weak. He suffers through so much and he never.ever.failed.me. If you haven’t yet noticed, I may love Mitch. My Skylar is a serious sexual simmer that rages into an inferno as soon as the plot allows it. OHMYGOD.
At the end I was a ball of mixed emotions, so turned on and yet crying wildly. I’ll just be over here wiping the tears from my chin. Loved this book!
tl;dr recommendation: This is a #MustRead series. It just is.
Book Summary:
Hardships and heartache brought them together… now it will tear them apart.
Layken and Will have proved their love can get them through anything; until someone from Will’s past re-emerges, leaving Layken questioning the very foundation on which their relationship was built. Will is forced to face the ultimate challenge…how to prove his love for a girl who refuses to stop ‘carving pumpkins.’
Longer Review:
This is a #MustRead series. It just is. I love Lake and Will immensely. I love their non-traditional family and their way of handling parenting problems and their fierce fierce love. I adored the introduction of new characters in this book – especially Kiersten. She’s the coolest butterflying eleven year old I have ever read about.
Written in Will’s POV, Colleen pulls out the little touches in this book that made all the difference. Julia’s presence is still very present, basagna makes another ill-timed appearance and that gnome with the red hat is brought back at just the right moment. The sarcasm is funny, the anger is real, and the angst is out of control. Point of Retreat is full of sexual tension, LOTS OF pumpkin carving, and yea….so much goddamn angst.
The angst got to me a bit. I think I was on such a high HIGH from Slammed, that when I slid into this one, I was surprised that there wasn’t as much poetry. Indeed, the points of conflict in Point of Retreat were pretty familiar: Lake took her anger too far, and Will was punished for crimes that he never committed. Of course, Lake’s young…and maybe I should cut her a fucking break because life dealt her a shit hand. *shakes Lake* BUT I DIGRESS.
Regardless, this book is beautifully written. The elegant words wrap around you, cocooning you in the story, letting you make it your own. The love between Lake and Will is gorgeous to watch, even when it’s falling apart. Will is one of my favorite characters, ever. Whether he’s acting as a father, a friend or a boyfriend, he’s completely genuine. His pain was my pain – I LOVED HIM.
This series is one that will stick with you and make you question all of your goals, wishes and desires. CoHo is an immediate one-click for me. always. 4.5 stars!
tl;dr recommendation: Be prepared to be forced to the floor with All The Feels. Five Stars!
Book Summary:
Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.
Longer Review:
Colleen’s books never fail to leave me in a cloud. I’m transported into another space in my head that I didn’t know existed, hadn’t even contemplated…and her words nudge that space until it’s forced open and I’m suddenly staring at a brightened room, shielding my eyes from the stark light that’s blinding me and cowering from the feelings that are bombarding me. This is what this book did to me. This is why I’m in mid-major book hangover. This is why I’m re-evaluating my life decisions and what I’ve put first, second or third. This is why her books are so motherfuckingly powerful. This is why I fucking read.
Should I give a brief summary of this book? I could, I suppose, but I’d rather not. Go into this blind, but with your heart open. Get ready to face real truths and harsh life. Be prepared to be forced to the floor with All The Feels.
I was actually shocked that I loved this book as much as I do, because the storyline is something that usually has me grimacing and blanching. But this didn’t make me do that. The writing was so easy that it made me feel like the would-be-uncomfortable parts were natural. Colleen writes emotion better than most and I can’t believe that this was her first ever novel (I also can’t believe it took me so long to read it, but whatevs).
This book is about being okay with what your heart says, living a life without regret, and loving with every piece of yourself even through grief. It’s funny when it’s sad, and sweet when it feels all wrong. I loved every word, every poem and every kiss. Will and Layken are perfectly developed characters whose connection is palpable and whose pain is unbearable.
Slammed is an exceptional heart-breaking and soul-warming novel. I’d say I loved it, but loved isn’t a strong enough word for my feelings right now, but I suppose it conveys they right emotion. So, I fucking loved it.
When handsome California surf god Lincoln Savage suddenly rolls into Ocean Beach like a rogue wave, shy beauty Simone Bianchi’s foundation is shaken. No longer under the thumb of her domineering father, she’s made a simple quiet life for herself and her fluffy fourteen pound Havanese pup running a surf shop in her hometown of OB. Long ago she gave up her dreams for a future with Linc.
But now the notorious lead singer of the Dirt Dogs has returned, and Simone is reluctant to admit that she’s still vulnerable to his killer dimpled smile and easy charm. She finds that although she’s stowed away the mementos, it hasn’t been as easy to erase the memories of their epic summer love.
It seems he hasn’t forgotten, either.
Is the recording contract he’s offering merely a pretense?
Or does he have something more in mind?
Does he really believe that they can just pick up where they left off, despite all the bad luck and heartache?
And is she willing to risk everything again for one last chance at love?
Review:
The love in this book is intense, taking you through soaring highs and crumbling lows.
You need to know that most of this story occurs in a flashback. I wasn’t totally prepared for that turn of events, so it took me a little offguard. Regardless, the story flows well and I really enjoyed the characters. Linc’s an up and coming surfer and seeming playboy, while Simone is a good kid who is really just trying to keep her head down and get through college without pissing off her dad.
From the moment that they first meet there’s a charge in the air. They’re pulled to one another like the current in the ocean – but will they get swept away or pulled under?
I could have killed Linc for about half of this book…and there was such an impending doom and dark cloud covering the flashback I had to read through my fingers. I felt that I couldn’t totally enjoy all of the really good moments because as the reader you know it’s going to turn to shit. Of course, the sky clears, letting you breathe deeply after what feels like eternity, leaving you feeling exhausted and complete. *swoon*
There’s a tinge of a love triangle, but not enough for me to really call it one, so we’re good there. I loved Adult Linc about twelve million times more than teenage Linc. He’s possessive and all alpha male, but ready to throw his heart and pride on the line (and anything else required) to get Simone back for good. YES YES YES. As Simone struggles with how to respond to Linc’s reinsertion into her life, I could totally feel her pain. Fifteen years is a long time to pine for a lost love, and she’s never truly dealt with the pain of losing him. The memories crash over her as she yearns to change the tide of her future…LOVED the ending!
Get ready for some sexy scenes, broken hearts, and kisses that will tilt your world. This is a beautiful second chance love story full of broken promises but a lot of love. 4.25 stars!
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
Excerpt:
“Dammit, Mona.” I leaned in closer inhaling her sweet scent and nearly brought to my knees with desire. I wanted to have her. Right here. Right now. I had to curl my fingers into fists to keep from reaching out, grabbing her and reminding her how it used to be between us. Her lids lowered and her breathing turned ragged. Was she remembering, too, or trying to forget?
“Go away, Linc.” Apparently the latter.
“Maybe I can’t,” I admitted my voice raspy with stripped down need. “Maybe I don’t want to.”
“Don’t.” She closed her eyes and her chin dropped. “Don’t do this to me.” She wet her lips. They visibly trembled. Even though I knew I had upset her I still wanted to kiss them. “I’m not one of your groupies easily flattered by your bullshit. The fact that you’re a big rock star doesn’t impress me. I know who you really are Lincoln Savage. I’ve seen you at your best and I’ve survived you at your worst. So don’t think you can come here and play games with me.”
Book Trailer
`My favorite inspirational surf youtube video with music that captures the tone and spirit of Outside perfectly`
The bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Romance with subtext.
Reimagining classic stories with sexy rock stars and thought provoking issues.
Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a BRUTAL STRENGTH centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock ‘n roll industry.
Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the TEMPEST series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.
Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the MAGIC series.
When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.
tl;dr recommendation: grab your tissues, this NA novel is an completely beautiful cryfest!
Book Summary:
My heart still beats despite its quietness. It dreams. It wonders. And most dangerous of all, it hopes.
~
Everly Brighton’s expected to die before her twenty-first birthday, at the hands of a rare medical condition. Under the watchful eye of her father more is being stolen from her than years. Everly longs for connection and freedom she has never been allowed due to her dad’s controlling routine. Time ticking away she begins to defy his rules and make up her own. One star-crossed meeting grants Everly her greatest desire when she befriends Callum Trovatto, a grief-stricken med student needful of his own blissful upswing in the wake of his mother’s death.
INFINITE DOLLS is a story of grief, faith, and how the power of deep-rooted love encourages living in the preciousness of Now.
Longer Review:
4 stars!
Well, this is a cryfest. There is nothing traditional or usual about this impassioned love story. Which makes sense as there is nothing usual about Everly Anne’s condition or Callum’s love for her. Callum’s a med student who, while following in his father’s medical footsteps, has no desire to follow in his father’s drunken footsteps. He’s trying to blaze his own path and isn’t focused on anything other than studying. However, when the new assignment is to interview Everly to attempt to diagnose her, all of his logic disappears with the first glance into her eyes.
There’s obviously something physically wrong with Everly, but even though Callum’s grade – and future – depends on finding out what that something is, he’d rather learn about Everly herself. The relationship between the two takes a completely circuitous route, but it’s beautiful, pure and so heartfelt that I was perfectly fine with taking the long road to get there.
The couple finds themselves up against so many obstacles – Everly’s father, her condition, Callum’s schooling – but neither of them can rid themselves of the intense connection that they feel for each other. It’s like their hearts were meant to collide to form a whole one – beating wildly everytime they’re together.
This story is emotionally gutting but sweetly beautiful. Callum’s love for Everly Anne never wavers and never fades. He tailors the love to her needs and in the process he pushes aside his own wants, needs and future. I felt honored to take the journey with them both and let my tears flow freely. This isn’t the typical happily-ever-after feel good romance, but it’s a real romance that shows heartbreak, loss and utter joy.
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
When tragedy strikes, Seth Stewart is forced to return home after the death of his beloved father. The unexpected detour forces him to oversee the family’s auto shop and restaurant business, and Seth must kiss the prestigious internship goodbye after his first year at Berkeley Business School. When he collides with his first crush after his arrival, Seth wonders what possibly could have happened to Josefina Anders.
Josefina has hidden many secrets she is too ashamed to share with anyone, especially Seth. When they cross paths again, the urge to relive their past lingers in her mind even though she knows he couldn’t accept her sketchy past. Things get even more complicated when her mother returns, as well as her overly possessive ex, who decides to crash into her fragile existence all over again.
Will Seth’s connection for Josefina be strong enough to see past her secrets, or will he realize he can’t rekindle an old flame?
Review
Ahhh Seth and Josie have quite a history. Once sixth grade sweethearts they now reconnect as adults, both now weighed down with some serious baggage. Seth’s kind heart is evident but Josie keeps secrets that cause lots of drama.
The reconnection between these characters was really fulfilling and the flashbacks to their youth were adorably romantic. Seth was a stellar character. He’s the perfect book boyfriend and wants to be the perfect real boyfriend to Josie. He’s going through the recent loss of his father (which honestly gave me flashbacks to My Clarity, but I digress) and dealing with the aftermath. He’s sensitive, sweet, way too kind, and incredibly loyal. I was swooning and smiling and batting my eyelashes through the book.
I struggled with Josie as a character. Many of her secrets didn’t feel like they should be secrets at all – and Seth gave her no reason whatsoever that she couldn’t trust him in her life. Basically, Josie annoyed me throughout the book and while I appreciated Seth’s love for her, I just didn’t connect with her character. There’s a ton of crazy that goes down at the end of the book that had me on high alert – danger & drama and just flat out CRAZY. All of which could have been avoided if Josie wasn’t such a secret hoarder.
Overall it’s a sweet story of a reclaimed love filled with a little bit of sex but a lot more drama. 3.25 stars!
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
Excerpt
“Are you nervous, Mr. Stewart?” She smirked. Her eyes were beaming playfully.
“No, not at all.” My pitch came off higher than I had expected, and I was upset with myself. I had to fix that. “I mean—” I cleared my throat. Two can play at this game, I thought. I squared my shoulders and sat up tall. “So, Josefina Anders, let me ask you some questions before I decide if I want to hire you.”
Her brows lifted, most likely wondering if I was being serious or joking. Dropping her crossed leg, she pulled the chair closer to the table. Josie pulled a piece of paper out of an envelope that I hadn’t seen a second ago, tucked away behind her back. She placed a resume on my desk. “Ask away.”
“How long have you been a waitress?”
“As long as I can remember. I got hired right after high school.” She pointed to her resume. “You can see that I’ve only worked at a few places, but I’m loyal and a good employee.”
“You’ve been a waitress for a long time, Ms. Anders. Do you think you’ll ever get sick of it?”
“Not if it means I get to see Mr. Stewart.” Her lips curled wickedly.
“Do you wear thongs or granny panties?”
Josie’s lips puckered, stopping herself from busting up. “Mostly thongs, but I’m not wearing anything under my skirt at the moment.”
Holy shit! I was trying to make her blush, but this was backfiring. Ignoring her last words, though it was extremely difficult to do, since all I could do was envision her with her skirt off, I continued, “Do you like to be on top or bottom?”
“I will be in whatever position pleases Mr. Stewart. I’m very flexible.”
Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book-No Bullies Allowed
tl;dr recommendation: This isn’t just a kissing book, it’s a book full of searing kisses.
Book Summary:
Ever had one of those days? Alina Lyons is having one. Everything keeps falling apart and going wrong. Just when she thinks it couldn’t get worse, it does. After a case of mistaken identity and a broken heart, she finds herself questioning the things she thought she knew. She wonders who she can turn to or trust anymore.
An unlikely bond with her former best friend’s ex, Ryan Wilcox, sends her life in a new direction. He offers her a place to stay while she gets her life back on track. His friendship is exactly what she’s been missing—what she’s been needing. Alina’s never felt this alive. As time goes by, the dynamic of their relationship becomes more than either of them expected. A few innocent kisses could lead them in a new direction, but are they prepared for what’s on the other side?
Only one way to find out.
*Unexpected is a standalone new adult novel*
Longer Review:
Ryan is passionate and adorable – and deserves so much better than his girlfriend, Victoria. It’s almost a damn good thing that she’s a conniving bitch. Victoria’s betrayal throws Ryan and Alina together as friends…or something more?
Of course, Alina’s luck isn’t much better – in fact she’s well on her way to having the worst day of her life. Or so she thinks. Her embarrassment in the shower is just the beginning. She then quickly becomes jobless, boyfriendless, bestfriendless and homeless in short order. Great fucking day. I’d be throwing my face into a pint of peanut butter chocolate ice cream right about then. Of course, Ryan swoops in to save the day. He’s just a good guy. He’s a good friend, brother, son and fuck…he’s just a decent person – those don’t come along every day, and Alina knows it.
Alina and Ryan are really sweet together – the book builds their relationship until you’re dying to see them get together. Ryan is an incredibly patient man and while he knows that he wants more, he needs for Alina to get on board as well. She’s terrified of opening her heart to her new best friend even though she knows that there’s more there. In fact, her feelings for him are hard to ignore. As time goes by, the passion increases until they both are ready to combust.
The stolen kisses and nighttime hugs had the corners of my lips curling upward and breaking into a full blown smile. This isn’t just a kissing book, it’s a book full of searing kisses. Unexpected is also full of first dates and blanket forts and forehead kisses. Sweet, passionate and endearing, I was more than happy to let Ryan be my book boyfriend for the evening. 4.25 stars!
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
tl;dr recommendation: Give me NA like this and I’ll read it forever. LOVE. 4.5 stars!!!
Book Summary:
For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn’t anything new. They’d been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the ‘man’ in man-whore. He’s never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn’t want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.
Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she’s perfect and she’s everything. But the feelings he has for her, he’s always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.
But when they’re stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor’easter, there’s nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.
Longer Review:
This is like NA crack. I could read this stuff for hours without ever blinking.
Unrequited love? Stalker on the loose? Manwhore redemption? Angsty and awkward moments? ALL THE FEELS? Yea, this book has everything. It also has some heart fluttering sex that made me want to get snowed in immediately.
Syd and Kyler have been best friends their entire lives. Syd has also been harboring feelings for Kyler ever since she knew that she liked boys. She’s now 21 and they’re about to graduate from college. Should she just woman up and find her lady balls and tell him how she feels? I WAS VOTING YES. Of course, Kyler hasn’t made it easy for her to admit her feelings, since he’s been fucking anything with two legs and a vagina for years.
Little does Syd know that he’s been doing that in order to try to get her out of his mind. He doesn’t think he’s good enough for her. Of course, he doesn’t think ANYONE is good enough for her and thus his impressive cock-blocking of Syd’s attempts to get laid.
When the two of them get snowed in together the anticipation of what was to come (and who was to come *eh HEM*) was palpable. I loved the progression of this story. There’s just enough angst to get the point across, but not too much that I wanted to throw my kindle. The build up between them was completely believable as they each attempt to enter this new world of ‘holy shit we might actually have sex with each other’ and those scenes were romantic yet still so sexy.
The mystery/danger storyline makes the love story even better. There’s nothing like a little danger to throw two people closer together. Give me NA like this and I’ll read it forever. LOVE. 4.5 stars!!!
tl;dr recommendation: This book is emotionally draining and beautifully written. 4.5 stars
Book Summary:
Dear Diary,
Leukemia’s been my life since I was eleven. Now, six years later, I want my life back. Only I’m not sure what that is. The test results came back today. 22,000. Which means I’m officially out of remission—again. I have three options:
1) Another round of chemo.
2) A super-new experimental drug.
3) Dump it all— forget the meds and treatments and enjoy the time I have left.
I think I know what I want. Then, in walks Damian, changing everything.
I mean, everything…
He’s got his own set of issues. It binds us together, you know? We understand what it’s like to lose what matters most in seconds. Still, the last thing I need is to have someone else to crush if I can’t fight hard enough. And the last thing he needs is someone else to grieve.
Never mind. I’m down to two options now.
Somehow I know that whichever one I choose, the result will be the same. With the sand in my hourglass seeping to the bottom, I hope there’s enough left to show Damian that life’s worth living.
Worth fighting for. Worth dying for.
Love Always,
Kate
Longer Review:
Instead of sleeping, I sprawled out in bed, read this book and tried not to hiccup cry. jesssssus. THIS BOOK.
King had a string tied straight to my tear ducts. She lightly tugged and my world blurred through the haze of large, wet, disgusting, ugly tears. I didn’t make it even to half-way through this book before I started the ugly crying. Unless you have a black soul of steel, I do not recommend reading this book in public.
It reminded me a bit of The Fault in Our Stars, but a more romantic and less caustically sarcastic version. I was totally ok with that, by the way.
Kate’s probably one of the most mature, strong characters I’ve ever read. I suppose knowing that you’re probably going to die soon may allow for sobering maturity to spark early – but I think she really just has an old soul. The way in which she handles her disease is beautiful and courageous, and her relationship with Damien grows from innocent to a deep and life-changing love.
Damien is less mature. Much Less. But for whatever reason, Kate finds her soulmate in him. She doesn’t allow his flaws to change their love and she accepts him – every chipped and rough piece of him. I was consumed by Damien’s journey to become the man that he wanted to be for Kate. I was gutted when his efforts were a few days shy of a enough. I was horrified at his quick reversion to his prior ways. I was uplifted as Kate’s spirits never waned and she gives Damien exactly what he needs, even though he doesn’t know what to do with it.
This book is emotionally draining and beautifully written. It’s a fantastic expression of strength, love, courage and commitment – no matter how long your lifespan may be. It doesn’t have a happy ending, but that just gives you a reason to read book 2 😉
Although this book is the second in the series, it’s been written to be read as a New Adult Stand Alone novel. You do not have to read book one, which is a young adult novel, to enjoy.
No one said love is ever easy. And for Jess, he would ride his Harley to heaven and back for an eternity with her arms wrapped around him. That makes leaving her that late summer day to head to separate colleges the hardest thing he has to do. Still, he thinks that they could beat the odds and prove everyone wrong, until one drunken night and one sober confession.
Through the jagged edges of a broken lens, he’s faced with the reality of his choices. And fixing the pieces of Jess’s broken heart may be impossible. Without her, he’s left with only a mother who hates him and marks him as a dead man walking. And that’s not the only truth that has the potential to destroy his life.
The upcoming trial will reveal the defendant’s motivations for the crimes committed against the people he cares about. But that guy’s not the only one who’s guilty of something. With a cloud of mistrust hovering around him, can he keep Jess safe from his past? Can she or anyone forgive him for his secrets? Will he win back the one girl he’s ever loved or will he lose her forever?
*WARNING* This book is rated a New Adult book, which means it can contain foul language and sexual situations. Please be warned in advance.
REVIEW:
3 STARS.
There’s a whole host of crazy going on in this book. From relationship whiplash, stalker insanity, mommy issues, potential murders, money issues, to alcohol abuse and pregnancy scares I think every possible situation may be shoved into this novel. If you thrive on angst (then I must first introduce you to my aunt) you’ll having fallen into your dream world…but perhaps it was TOO much for me.
We open with Ethan lacking a pair of balls – or perhaps the fact that he has a pair of balls is his downfall? – regardless, he’s a freshman on the football team, practically wins the game for the team and then allows himself to be peer pressured into going to a party. He’s fantasizing about seeing Jess and he’s about to leave to meet her when he accepts another drink, blacks out and wakes in a compromising position.
Well shit. Have I mentioned that I hate cheating books? On a positive note, Ethan’s actually a good guy. He has some slightly possessive tendencies, but he’s in love with Jess so I’ll give him a pass. He confesses. Jess blanches. We begin Operation Angst.
For the most part I enjoyed the writing style of the book and felt for the characters. If you love the push-pull relationship drama, Shannon does it well. I found the flashback style writing enjoyable and I easily picked back up with the characters in each time period. Reading from Ethan’s POV was a nice change from constantly being stuck in a female brain and it’s written well. I could feel the drama mounting and was trying to figure everything out….
But then the end of the book was very confusing. I was losing what was happening and had to keep re-reading sections to catch up. I was happy with the ending but not entirely satisfied with how it was presented to me. Regardless, there’s lots of fighting, lots of making up, lots more fighting and some sex mixed in with murder plots & finals. On the most part – a fun and crazy read.
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
Batting her hands away, I said, “I’m fine. You can go.”
Every word took effort, and I couldn’t be sure if she understood me. Every syllable was strung together like Christmas lights.
“Why are you doing this?” she cried, coming close again.
I tried to half crab walk and half drag myself across the floor in the opposite direction. Her presence was a curse with her being so close, and I couldn’t touch her. It had to be overkill on her part. I knew I’d gone too far when my head hit the wall with a resounding thwack. I could barely understand the pain that floated over me.
I laughed determined to speak the words before the stars I counted over my head faded to black.
“Why am I doing this? The only thing I had worth living is gone. I finally understand why my parents left me. It’s obvious I’m not worth anyone’s love.”
“Ethan,” she said again. I couldn’t be sure because my sight was failing me, but it appeared as though she may have been silently crying.
I blame the liquor coursing in my veins because I did something I hadn’t done in too many years to count. The floodgate opened. The damn I’d walled up since the day of my father’s death broke.
“He left me, Jess. He couldn’t be bothered to stay alive for me. And then Mom left too. She never loved me.”
“That’s not true.”
She was close. Soft hand warm hands found either side of my face. When my eyes opened, I was forced to look in her tear stained eyes.
I couldn’t be sure if she heard me or if I’d tumbled into a bizarre nightmare. I spoke through lips I couldn’t feel and a tongue that was as dry as stale bread.
“It is. She couldn’t stand to look at me and be reminded of all she gave up only to be left with the scar of my birth across her belly.”
She tried to silence me with a finger, but I wasn’t done. With noodle arms, I tried to push her away.
“And you. You’ll never forgive me. And how can I blame you.”
A warm pair of arms circled me as her body pressed next to mine.
“Ethan, you are worth everything.”
Shannon’s first love is reading, diving into other realities to explore and brave new worlds. To share her writing is the best experience of all. She writes books about teen romance whether paranormal or contemporary. She also has a steamy adult series. When Shannon isn’t writing she loves to shop and watch horror movies that make turning out the lights seem like a stupid idea.
You can explore more about her at her websitewww.shannondermott.com, on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.
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