Saturday 30 November 2013

Long The Mile - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GW1TC8M/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GW1TC8M&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20
Long the Mile

by
Sometimes it takes losing everything to find what you really need.

When Judah went to prison for insider trading, he lost everything he thought was important: his business, his money, his power. But when he gets out, homelessness strips him of the one thing he has left: his self-respect. When another homeless man saves him from a beating, he begins to learn to rely on the goodness of those around him.

For Toby, life on the streets has become familiar. Comfortable. So comfortable he wonders if he’s given up on changing his life for the better. Then comes Judah. Formerly rich, newly homeless, all his pride and attitude gone along with his material possessions. Helping Judah feels good. Their unexpected connection—physical and beyond—feels even better.

Their shared situation nurtures a growing closeness that blossoms into something deeper. But when change comes knocking, it will take all their strength to keep fear and insecurity from tearing them apart.

20% of all proceeds from this title are donated to the Ali Forney Center in New York, whose mission “is to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) youth from the harm of homelessness, and to support them in becoming safe and independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood.” To learn more about this charity or to donate directly, please visit http://www.aliforneycenter.org/.



 
Source: eARC for Honest Review from Riptide Publishing via NetGalley
Genre: MM Contemporary

My Review...

So.... this book had so much potential but it fell flat for me.  The dialogue felt forced and unnatural.  As it picked up momentum it got better but it was hard to get into at first.

The idea of the story is beautiful and touching.  I'm a huge fan of stories about the underdog. I can't imagine losing everything and having to struggle just to find a decent meal.  Sometimes we take for granted things that come so easily for us.

For Judah he had to fight for everything that he had. Once he felt like he was on top of the world he made some bad choices that cost him everything.  Which left him with a chip on his shoulder.

For Toby reality kicked him in the ass and he lost everything and found himself on the street with no where to live and finding a way out seemed impossible.

After Judah's reality started to parallel Toby's the end up meeting and needing each other to survive on the street.  An unlikely friendship is made which blossoms into so much more until Toby gets a chance to prove himself and move forward in life.

For Judah he has to figure out to survive on his own and finally love himself until he is ready for the love that Toby can give.


The story idea was great but I didn't jive with the writing and connection of the main characters this time around. I have read other books of Ally Blue and this is the first time that I have ran into this issue. This is just a personal opinion and I'm sure others will disagree with me.

2.5 Touching Thumbs Up!
thumbs upthumbs up . 5 
Lauren

Friday 29 November 2013

Remy Blog Tour - #review & #giveaway

Book Title: Remy
Author: Katy Evans
Date of Publication: November 26, 2013
Publisher: Gallery Books
Blog Tour Hosted by: The SUBClub Books

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D0MZXE8/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00D0MZXE8&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20


Synopsis
Underground fighter Remington Tate is a mystery, even to himself. His mind is dark and light, complex and enlightening. At times his actions and moods are carefully measured, and at others, they spin out of control.

Through it all, there's been one constant: wanting, needing, loving, and protecting Brooke Dumas. This is his story; from the first moment he laid eyes on her and knew, without a doubt, she would be the realest thing he's ever had to fight for.








Rafflecopter Code

Buy Links


 About Katy Evans

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com
 
http://thesubclubbooks.com/


Source: eARC for Honest Review from Gallery Books via Netgalley
Genre: Adult Contemporary

My Review...

Finally we get to be inside Remy's brain.

Don't get me wrong I still think he is a bit of a loving neanderthal but you get to see his brokenness in a whole different light.  Your heart weeps for Remy and all his darkness.


With Brooke finally being the light to his darkness and she is someone who finally loves all of Remy. To find their happiness it was quite the journey.

Remy is so misunderstood and hasn't had the love and support of his family. All he knows is rejection but he dreams for bigger things.


Loved how it went back and forth from present to past so that way we get to see glimpses of Remy and Brooke without it being a complete repeat of Real and Mine.  As well we get to see the present progression of Brooke, Remy and Racer. *sigh*

A very sweet yet very sexually charged book from the eyes of one of the most broken yet loving men....Remy.

4 Manic Thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up
Lauren




Thursday 28 November 2013

Beneath This Man (This Man #2) - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DB7RDR2/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DB7RDR2&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20
Beneath This Man (This Man #2)

by
Book #2 of the erotic This Man trilogy

Jesse Ward drowned her with his intensity and blindsided her with his passion, but he kept her away from his dark secrets and broken soul. Leaving him was the only way Ava O'Shea could survive. She should have known that Jesse Ward is impossible to escape--and now he's back in her life, determined to remind her of the sensual pleasures they had shared. Ava is equally determined to get at the truth beneath this man's steely exterior. That means letting herself get close to the Lord of the Manor once more. And it's exactly where Jesse wants her--within touching distance...


ADD TO GOODREADS







Source: eARC for Honest Review from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley
Genre: Adult Contemporary

My Review...

Holy Shit! I was left on an emotional cliff after This Man and we start 5 days later after Ava is dealing with her heartache.

For Jesse you realize that he truly is a broken man and Ava is what is keeping him going.


For Ava she knows part of their consuming relationship is wrong but she can't let go of the man she loves.

Once back together they plot their way or should I say they fuck their way through to find their own HEA together.


I am so torn between being mad at Ava for always running but at the same time the way Jesse treats her is unhealthy in his obsessed possessive ways.


One thing I can say for sure is I totally HATE Sarah! and just want to kick her to the curb with her scheming ways.


Jodie had me hanging on biting my nails, screaming at Jesse in his stubborn double standard ways, loving the rawness of Jesse and Ava and keeping me enthralled from beginning to end.


Their relationship may be a bit fucked up but it is what drives them forward and together and for them it works even with all the bullshit thrown their way.
"I knew you were the one the second I laid eyes on you." "The one?" I try to lift, nut I'm pushed back into his neck.  He turns his face and begins nuzzling at my ear. "The one to bring me back to life," he says in that matter-of-fact tone, the one that basically means he's saying something only he understands.  I make it out of his embrace this time and find his gaze. "How did you know?" He rolls me onto my back, coating me completely, and looks me straight in the eyes. His greens are bursting with meaning. "Because my heart started beating again."
As much as we get our HEA I think it's temporary as Jesse's past needs to come out. You can only base a relationship of evasion for so long. Can't Wait for This Man Confessed.


Intense Roller Coaster of a book but worth the ride.

4.5 Intense Thumbs Up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up . 5
Lauren








Wednesday 27 November 2013

PLAYING THE PLAYBOY Tour - #giveaway & Series Spotlight


TOUR GIVEAWAY:
Noelle is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:

GRAND PRIZE:   $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N and a custom Heirs of Damon mouse pad.

RUNNERS-UP:  Three runners-up will receive an eBook of PLAYING THE PLAYBOY

SERIES SPOTLIGHT INFO:
Seducing the Enemy
Heirs of Damon, Book 1
Publisher:   Entangled Indulgence
Publication Date:  October 14, 2013

After being injured in a tragic accident as a child, Marietta Edwards has lived a sheltered life. Finally recovered, she wants to indulge in pleasures that are entirely new to her, so she begins by seducing a sexy, mysterious stranger. Only after their one-night stand does she learn their families have been embroiled in a fifteen-year legal battle and the man she’s given herself to is her worst enemy.

The heir to a vast fortune, Harrison Damon believes the unforgettable night he spent with Marietta in Monte Carlo is just a fling, an escape from his responsibilities. Then he discovers she is an Edwards—the family he despises most. He can’t quench his attraction for her, but he won’t let her use it against him. He won’t let her manipulate him to win money from his family. No matter how much he wants her, he won’t let her seduce him again.

AVAILABLE AT:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo


Playing the Playboy
Heirs of Damon, Book 2
Publication Date:  November 18, 2013

Laurel will do anything to save her Santorini inn from the powerful Damon family, and that includes manipulating Andrew Damon, the man they’ve sent to get her off the property.  Andrew might have a reputation for being irresistible to women, but she won’t have any problem resisting him. This is war, after all, and the Damons drew their weapons first.

Andrew has spent most of his life chasing women and wasting time, but he’s determined to do his duty by his family, even if that means ousting an infuriating (and gorgeous) widow from the inn that legally belongs to the Damons.  He doesn’t expect to fall for her. And he definitely doesn’t expect to discover that he’s been played.

AVAILABLE NOW:

BOOK TRAILER:

YouTube Link Click Here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.

Connect with Noelle:

11/18 - 12/08   Noelle Adams PLAYING THE PLAYBOY Tour
11/18  Book Nerd (Spotlight)

11/18  CS Maxwell ~ Where's My Muse? (Spotlight)

11/19  Book Monster Reviews (spotlight)

11/20  Charlene Blogs (spotlight)

11/21 Mythical Books (Guest Post)

11/22 So Many Reads (Spotlight)

11/25 Coffee Talk Writers (Spotlight)

11/26 For the Love of Bookends (Spotlight/Review)

11/26 Rumpled Sheets Blog (Spotlight/Review)

11/26 The Snarkology (Spotlight)

11/27  Babbling about Books and More (Guest Post)
kbgabbles.com

11/28 Fandom Fanatic (Spotlight)

11/28 TBQ's Book Palace (Spotlight)

11/28 Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess (Spotlight)

11/29 The Reading Café (Guest Post)

11/29 Why I Can’t Stop Reading (Interview)

11/30 Snarky Mom Reads... (Guest Post)

12/1  Manga Maniac Cafe (character interview)

12/02  Lily Element (Spotlight)

12/03  Inner Goddess (Guest Post)

12/05 Romance Junkies (Interview)

12/06  Melinda Dozier - Contemporary Romance Author (Interview)

12/07 Book Lovin' Mamas (Interview)

12/07 We Love Kink (Spotlight)

12/08 Books Books and More Books (Spotlight)

12/08 Jacqueline's Reads (Spotlight)

12/08 Night Owl Reviews (Guest Post)

12/08 Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads (Spotlight)

Holiday Games (Play by Play #6.5) -#review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1FG8X6/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B1FG8X6&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20
Holiday Games (Play by Play #6.5)

by
A Holiday Novella

A Riley wedding is in the works, a Riley Christmas means a house full of family, and baby making is on Liz Riley's mind. Chasing Gavin around and meeting in dark closets can be fun, but Liz is more than a little determined. Even with family in every corner of the house, Gavin is more than ready to do whatever Liz wants—especially when sex is involved. It's a Riley family Christmas.

ADD TO GOODREADS

BUY: AMAZON (Kindle) / B & N / KOBO / iTUNES (Canada) 









Source: eARC for Honest Review from Penguin Publishing
Genre: Adult Contemporary
 
My Review...

As much as I love the new entries into the Play by Play series I still love the Riley's the best so this little novella brings us back into the fold of the Riley's with Ty and Jenna's wedding and with Liz's determination to have Chase's baby.


What better way to have a baby then have sex everywhere and all the time.  Liz doesn't like to fail and she goes all out on this endeavor which causes elements of this book to be more sex than substance but you forget that when it comes to the Riley's and all their awesomeness.


Sweet spicy novella getting us back in touch with the back bone of this series.

4 Baby Making Thumbs up!
 thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up
Lauren

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Crash Into You (Pushing Limits #3) - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DPAN5H2/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DPAN5H2&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20

Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3)

by
From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.




Source: eARC for Honest Review from Harlequin Teen via NetGalley
Genre: YA Contemporary

My Review...

Oh Isaiah! Sweet, Sweet broken Isaiah!

From the beginning in Pushing Limits you knew Isaiah was something special and so deserving of something right in his life.

Finally we get to see what happened to Isaiah and see his heart shine.

For Isaiah he knows nothing but shit and abandonment with the exclusion of Noah, Echo and Abby. He has to fight for everything and the last thing he wants is to be in anyone's debt.

For Rachel she is the typical spoiled rich girl. Well, she is on the surface but underneath lies the truth of who she really is.  With her fragile family and protective brothers she is forced to be someone she isn't.

Finally given the chance to be free she meets Isaiah and their worlds change.

Now Isaiah is in debt not only to Rachel but because of her now Eric as well. Which is his worst nightmare.

With the help and support of his friends and social worker, Isaiah fights for his worth and realizes he deserves happiness which for him is Rachel.

This is such a sweet story about first loves and second chances.

Katie McGarry is such a beautiful writer with her ability to capture the angst of YA while getting to deep emotional angst of loss, family pressures, the social system and so much more.

I loved this story and my only complaint would be that the end of the story line with Eric felt a bit anti-climatic for all the angst getting there. Otherwise, I LOVED Isaiah and his sweet sweet heart and loving ways.

4.5 Isaiah Loving Thumbs Up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up. 5 
Lauren




Searching For Someday (Searching For #1) - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BSBVIDI/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BSBVIDI&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20
Searching for Someday (Searching For #1)

by
Kate has given up on love—at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people—a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success.

But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love...only to find herself falling for him along the way


ADD TO GOODREADS

 


Source: eARC for Honest Review from Simon and Schuster via Edelweiss
Genre: Adult Contemporary

My Review...

I was such a big fan of the Marriage to a Billionaire Series so that the fact that this is a off shoot series. I could barely contain myself.


At first when I started to read it, I was starting to think that this series might pale in comparison than BAM.  Jennifer hooked line and sinked me and I loved this story.


Jennifer Probst writing is a bit magical the way she hooks you in and you fall hard for her characters while rooting for them till the end.

For Kate and Slade from the moment they meet there is instant chemistry but because of fear they both use different logic to deny the connection.


Kate is the hopeless romantic believing in love. Where as Slade is the cynical divorce lawyer who believes in science and chemistry but not true love. What an unlikely pair.


However, eventually the chemistry wins until stubbornness and fear come back and make a mess of things but fate is a testy bitch sometimes and doesn't want to be denied.


This was a sweet story about becoming your true self, second chances, friendship, family and true love.  I can't wait to read more from this series.

4 Spellbinding Thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up
Lauren