Category: ♛ Reviews ♛

Synopsis:

I’m warned that Carter Hayes is heartless.

He’s part of the Screw Crew.
He’ll just use you and leave you.
He’s ruthless and always gets what he wants.

Just look for the trail of broken hearts and dreamy sighs and you’ll find him.

“Hot as sin, Carter.”

I don’t have time to fall head over heels for any guy. Besides, he’d never notice someone like me. I have a three step plan. Get through college. Get a job. Get my sister out of the hell hole I left her in. That’s all I have time for.

That’s until I hear of the betting pool the guys started. Whoever screws me first gets the money. The moment Carter looks at me, I know it’s only because of the bet.

I tell myself our first kiss is only for show.
I hate my heart for falling for his irresistible charm.

For one foolish moment, I actually want him to be my first earth-shattering love. All it takes for me to give in is a little attention, a cocky smile, and a fake promise of a happily-ever-after.

When I’m surrounded by crumpled sheets and the smell of sex, I realize I let him have me for four hundred dollars.

To save what little pride I have left, I pretend it didn’t mean anything, that he’s just one last screw before we all leave college.

I’ve spent the last four years lying to myself. When I’m ready to take the final step of my plan, and save my sister, guess who walks through my front door?

Review:

First of all, look at that cover. HotSizzles!
Secondly, that title though. Oh how I love my heroes a bit cold and heartless. Full on ALPHA.

❛ I’ve heard the rumours. I’m heartless. I’m a jerk. Fuck with me and I’ll destroy you. They’re not really rumours if they’re true. ❜ 

We meet Della Truman. She’s trying to get through college while holding a waitressing job at Rameses. All she wants to do is graduate, get a decent job and take care of her sister. When she hears the Screw Crew betting whoever gets her in bed first gets four hundred dollars, everything changes.

The Screw Crew: Logan, Jaxon, Marcus, Rhett and our main man, Carter Hayes. Carter is the heartless jerk in the group and he knows it. When he first lays eyes on Della he’s intrigues but after a big misunderstanding between the two of them, he joins in on the bet.

So when they have their first kiss, Della knows he’s only there because of the bet. But that does not stop her from falling for Carter. After one igniting night between them, she realises she’d just given herself to him, making him the winner of the bet. So she runs.

Now many years later, Carter has taken over his father’s business while Della is stuck in her old town, waitressing and taking care of her sister and her family. When Della and Carter meet again, old sparks fly and they realise the feelings are still there.

This book had everything I love. A hero who’s heartless and ruthless, but has a soft spot for those that are close to him. I absolutely loved how he went all alpha on Della and how he wanted everyone to know that she was his.

This is a must read for those who loves possessive alpha males! I absolutely loved this one and can’t wait for the next book in this enemies to lovers series!

Synopsis:

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
Bullshit.
Words destroyed me.
“I’m sorry. She didn’t make it.”
“Daddy, he can’t breathe!”
“There’s nothing more we can do for your son.”
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
Lies.
Those syllables and letters became my executioner. I told myself that, if I didn’t acknowledge the pain and the fear, they would have no power over me. But, as the years passed, the hate and the anger left behind began to control me.
Two words—that was all it took to plunge my life into darkness.
“He’s gone.”
In the end, it was four soft, silky words that gave me hope of another sunrise.
“Hi. I’m Charlotte Mills.”

Review:

❝ Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me… ❞ 

After finishing the first book, I jumped right into this one. I prepared myself for the heartache that was to come. And oh it did. And it was incredible.

This book is about reunion, trust, love and mending hearts. I can’t write this review without spoiling the first book so I’ll be short and vague.

“Charlotte quieted my storm. She extinguished the fire. And she soothed my demons.
Without her, I’d be lost in darkness. Alone.” 

Porter and Charlotte were such a beautiful and strong couple. I absolutely adored them. Both of them are emotionally damaged. I was crying from the first page, everything that happened, every word, all the feelings filled me. I felt everything. This book exceeded all expectations.

“Damn it, Charlotte, we will find a way to make this work. This is my life. This is your life. This is his life. And her life. This is our life and you know it. We’ll figure out the details later, but for now, all I need from you is a promise that we are going to do this. No matter what. We’re in this together.” 

I fell in love with Porter and his whole family in the first book. I loved how he loved his children how he shone bright through his darkness. Charlotte broke my heart in the first book, but I loved to see how she got even stronger and how she fought her demons.

“It’s always darkest before dawn … We just have to wait a little longer. The sun always rises, baby.” 

This book has it all, there were times I was laughing out loud, the next second I was bawling and then swooning. It is definitely a must read!

Synopsis:

I’m cursed.

At least when it comes to finding Mr. Right.

I’m tired of men that only want one night stands or blind dates that are nothing but awkward and uncomfortable. I’m tired of avoiding inappropriate text messages and the constant disappointment of always meeting Mr. Wrong.

After all these years of dates that lead nowhere, I can admit that it’s me. I’m the problem. I’m shy and picky and cursed. Definitely cursed.

So I’ve decided two things.

The first? I’m giving up dating and relationships and men in general. Maybe, possibly, forever.

The second? I’m going to have to try harder to avoid Ezra Baptiste.

If I couldn’t hack it in the kiddy pool of dating, I certainly can’t swim in his deep end. He’s too successful. Too intense. He’s all man when I’m used to nothing but boys pretending to be grownups. He’s everything I’m afraid to want and so far out of my league we might as well be different species entirely.

So he’ll need to find a different artist to paint his mural. And a different graphic designer to help him with his website. He’ll need to find someone else to glare at and flirt with and kiss.

It can’t be me.

We’re too different.

Review:

❝ Ezra Baptiste was one of the most intolerable men I had ever met. Arrogant, condescending, offensively good looking, he had all the qualities of a human I tried to avoid. ❞ 

This book was EVERYTHING! I absolutely loved it. This is one of those books you will not want to put down and at the same time you don’t want it to end.

After plenty of unfortunate dates and men, Molly Maverick has finally decided to to give up on dating. Now she’s focusing on her best friend getting married, her new projects and avoiding Ezra Baptiste. The man with angry, brown eyes. The man who had attacked her professional taste. Molly and Ezra are forced to interact because of their mutual friends.

Ezra Baptiste is a wealthy, handsome man. He owns three restaurants and is very successful. Now he wants Molly’s help with his website and he wants her to paint a mural in his restaurant. And he always gets what he wants.

❝ I don’t want to date myself. You make me smile when I’ve had the worst day. And you make me see the world in brighter colours and unique angles. You’ve opened my mind to my business, but also to my friends. I would be so boring without you. We are different, but in the best possible way. ❞ 

I loved their bickering, and there was a lot of it. What I loved most is how different they were and how that made them such a great couple.

Synopsis:

From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.

Review:

“Look, I like you. Didn’t think I would but I do, and because I like you, I feel the need to warn you that we Royals are pretty fucked up. We’re good in bed, but out of it? We’re like a stage four hurricane.” 

Wow! It’s true. These Royals will fucking ruin you…

Ella is a seventeen year old, now orphan, struggling with school and holding a job, stripping for money. But now a strange man has shown up. Callum Royal, who is Ella’s father’s friend, and he wants to take Ella with him. To live with him and his five sons.

“You want me to say it?” he whispers. “Fine, I’ll say it. I want you. I fucking want you.” 

Reed Royal is all kind of messed up. He’s rich, powerful and absolutely gorgeous. And he is not happy about his father bringing home Ella to live with them. So he makes it hard for her. And his brothers help. Only things don’t go as he thought and soon, he’s seeing Ella in a different way, with stronger feelings.

“No one wants to be ruined. We all want to be saved.” 

I did not expect to get as sucked in as I did. I had my doubts about this one but OH LORD was it good. I loved Ella’s strength and how she was her own person. There were times, plenty of times, I wanted to slap Reed, he could get too much sometimes but when his romantic and soft side came out I was swooning!

This is a must read and I recommend it a 100%.

“Reed Royal has broken me. I’ve fallen from the sky and I’m not sure I can get up. Not this time.”

 

Synopsis:

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
Whoever coined that phrase is a bald-faced liar. Words are often the sharpest weapon of all, triggering some of the most powerful emotions a human can experience.
“You’re pregnant.”
“It’s a boy.”
“Your son needs a heart transplant.”
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
Lies.
Syllables and letters may not be tangible, but they can still destroy your entire life faster than a bullet from a gun.
Two words—that was all it took to extinguish the sun from my sky.
“He’s gone.”
For ten years, the darkness consumed me.
In the end, it was four deep, gravelly words that gave me hope of another sunrise.
“Hi. I’m Porter Reese.”

 

Review:

❝ Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me… ❞ 

I knew the moment I read the synopsis I’ll love this book. This heart wrenching story consumed me. It had me tearing up and screaming from the first chapter.

Charlotte Mills is drowning in her own darkness. She’s lost her baby boy and is completely lost. Drowning herself in her work, she isolates herself. She doesn’t feel, she doesn’t let herself love. It’s been ten years since her boy disappeared and she’s living with the guilt of leaving him unattended until this day. She can’t stand to see children without Lucas popping into her head.

Porter Reese is dealing with his own darkness. Having a son who’s very sick, juggling life and trying to get Travis the treatment he needs, he tries to get in contact with the best doctor in town. Dr. Mills. But Dr. Mills doesn’t treat children. But he will do anything for his son to be able to live like a normal eleven year old. Only when he meets Dr. Mill, she’s completely different from anyone.

❝ But as I clung to him, trying to perform the impossible task of collecting myself, it hit me that the darkness was all we’d ever have. ❞ 

He sees her pain. It’s like his own.
He sees her emptiness. Her numbness. Just like his own.
They both are the lights in each others darkness.

I read this one in one sitting, on the edge of my seat needing answers when I was done. I absolutely loved Charlotte and Porter, they were so strong and real. I felt everything alongside them. Their pain. The small glimpse of happiness. It was absolutely amazing. I loved every minute of it and I can’t wait for the second book.

Synopsis:

Archer Dean taught me how it feels to be loved. Really loved. The happily ever after, fairy tale type love. But he also taught me what real heartbreak was. He ripped away my happiness, took it from me without a backward glance. He left me alone and broken with no idea how to rebuild. No fight left in me to want to.

Annabelle Edwards was a light in my world of darkness. She changed the way my heart beat, she let me believe in love. But the thing about darkness is that it’s suffocating and without warning, the light that you rely so heavily on, can be extinguished by the power of your own shadows.

Our story is about pain. About fighting through feelings that can sometimes be greater than love.

Fear.
Anger.
Hurt.
Sadness.

Our story is aching. It’s passionate. It’s consuming.

We’ve felt loss. Felt abandoned by one another. We’ve felt betrayed. Lost. But we fought. Against our love. For our love. Together. Apart. We’ve done it all. We’ve fought for our love to exist. For it to survive.

It’s been a broken road. Hopeless at times. Full and seamless at others.

We’ve been through hell and we have to trust that our love is strong enough to overcome anything

Review:

I’m torn. Broken. Ripped raw open.
I don’t know why I do this to myself. I always know stories like these will destroy me, still I jump in and later I scold myself for it.

I resent her. I despise her. I need her. I hate her. But fuck me, I love her. 

Cold, ruthless heroes has always kind of done it for me. Archer was a whole new level of asshole tough. I mean, at one point I wished I could just reach in and give his brain a little shake to put some fucking sense into him.

Annabelle Edwards lost both parents at a young age. Since then she’s been raised by her gran. More than often, she babysits Jake who is little brother of Archer Dean. She’s very close to their mother, Janie, and Jake and she loves them like family. She despises Archer for his attitude, and how he doesn’t put his family first makes. But after years, when Archer returns home, he’s different and kind towards her. She’s always found him attractive but he’s always seen her as his kid neighbour. Not anymore.

“What do you think will hurt less? Could you do it? Break your own heart? Or would you make me do it?” 

Archer Dean is damaged. He’s angry and mean. After a tragic loss, he leaves his family and home and joins the army. He returns to Carnation five years later, a little happier, a little lighter. That’s when he sees Annabelle again. Older and beautiful Annabelle who lightens his world with her sass and jokes.
When their relationship has grown from hate to love, it’s time for Archer to leave again. Only when he comes back he’s more damaged than ever. He’s drinking and starting fights, sleeping in a jail cell, hating on Annabelle.

I applaud Annabelle for her commitment to stand by Archer and for trying to help him. She was strong. Having to face the love of her life treat her like shit for years. This is a love story you will hate and love. At times I wanted to hit Archer with a chair just because of how he hurt Annabelle and his family.

Archer treats me no better than a doormat, hoping he’s break through whatever he’s dealing with. Wishing with everything, that even the smallest snippets of my Archer would return. 

This story was full of pain. So much pain it suffocated me. I got sucked in from the first page and I knew I was in for a angsty ride. I cried while reading their story. It was angry, beautiful, passionate and confusing but it was so real. I loved the minor characters and absolutely adored Jake and Annabelle’s friendship.

“I refuse to give up on what we have, Archer. I love you,” She finishes on a whisper. 

If you love your heroes distant and cold, this is certainly a story you will love. WARNING: Have tissues close ’cause you gonna need ’em, honey.

Synopsis:

Three estranged sisters inherit their late father’s failing hockey franchise and are forced to confront a man’s world, their family’s demons, and the battle-hardened ice warriors skating into their hearts.

Harper Chase has just become the most powerful woman in the NHL after the death of her father Clifford Chase, maverick owner of the Chicago Rebels. But the team is a hot mess—underfunded, overweight, and close to tapping out of the league. Hell-bent on turning the luckless franchise around, Harper won’t let anything stand in her way. Not her gender, not her sisters, and especially not a veteran player with an attitude problem and a smoldering gaze designed to melt her ice-compacted defenses.

Veteran center Remy “Jinx” DuPre is on the downside of a career that’s seen him win big sponsorships, fans’ hearts, and more than a few notches on his stick. Only one goal has eluded him: the Stanley Cup. Sure, he’s been labeled as the unluckiest guy in the league, but with his recent streak of good play, he knows this is his year. So why the hell is he being shunted off to a failing hockey franchise run by a ball-buster in heels? And is she seriously expecting him to lead her band of misfit losers to a coveted spot in the playoffs?
He’d have a better chance of leading Harper on a merry skate to his bed…

Review:

SEXY HOCKEY PLAYER? CHECK.
POSSESIVE ALPHA? CHECK.
STRONG HEROINE? CHECK.
CUTE, BUTTERFLIES IN THE STOMACH, NICKNAMES? CHECK.
SIZZLING CHEMISTRY? CHECK. CHECK. CHECK.

Those blue pools still wavered between her eyes and mouth. “I’m gonna kiss you now, minou.”
She might have nodded. She might have blinked. One for yes, two for hell yeah. 

I’ve read some of the books in the Hot in Chicago series but I can definitely say I loved this book more and can’t wait for Isobel and Vadim’s story. This one took me with surprise if I should be honest. I wasn’t expecting to get sucked in from the first page until the end. It was SO GOOD. I loved every second of it and I didn’t want it to end. But it did. And now I have to wait sooo loooong for the next book. WHY KATE MEADER?

After losing her father, Harper Chase and her two estranged sisters inherits the Chicago Rebels. A hockey team with weak, troubled members. Harper has always loved hockey, not playing the sport but she has always wanted to work with hockey players. Her father had never really thought Harper could handle it, now is her chance to prove them wrong.
To fix the team, Remy DuPre or Jinx, has been traded out of Boston and to the Chicago Rebels. And he is not happy about it. His goal is to win the Stanley Cup and he knows that won’t happen playing for the Rebels. Remy wants to make a deal with Harper, a deal that will mostly benefit himself but also do some good for the team, he will help the team but she’ll have to trade him. She agrees in desperation for her team and her career.

Harper is different from the usual girls Remy goes for but she also the one woman who makes him feel things he does not wish to feel. But she’s still his boss and whatever attraction they feel for each other cannot develop into something more. But after one ‘accidental’ kiss, things start to heat up between Remy and Harper, and they both have to fight whatever is happening between them for the sake of their careers. For Harper, it is everything to own the Chicago Rebels and for Remy, the cup is his dream and goal. So will they give in and risk it all and just do it on the ice? Or will they keep fighting it for the sake of their careers?

Harper and Remy’s relationship was absolutely awesome! I adored them. They made me laugh out loud and had me buzzing in my seat. Not only did I love the main characters, but I loved Harpers sisters, Isobel and Violet, and Remy’s teammates and cannot wait for the coming books in this series.
If you love hockey romances this one is for you!

Staring into Harper’s dancing green eyes, he spoke from the depths of the heart that belonged to this incredible woman. “But mostly, I skate for her.” 

Irresistible You (Chicago Rebels #1) By Kate Meader is expected to be published August 14th 2017.

 

 

Synopsis:

Josephine Clark is trapped. A harrowing past haunts her every time she looks in the mirror, and she can’t escape the violence of her everyday life. More and more, her thoughts turn to Evan Salinger, the boy she knew in high school. The boy they called a mental case. A loner. A freak. The boy who seemed to know things no one could know. For a few short weeks, Jo had found perfect solace in Evan’s company, sneaking every night to meet him at the local pool. In the cool of the water and the warmth of Evan’s arms around her, Jo had tasted something close to happiness.

Cruel circumstances tore them apart, and four years later, the sweet memory of their time together is dissolving under the punishing reality of Jo’s life now. Evan seems like a fading dream…until he reappears at the moment she needs him most. Guided by Evan’s strange intuition, they flee her small Louisiana town, and Jo begins to suspect there is something more to his sudden return than he admits.

Over twelve days across America’s heartland, deep secrets come to light, buried pasts are unearthed, and the line between dreams and reality is blurred as Evan and Jo fight to hold on to their soul-deep love, and discover that there is more than one way to save a life.

Review:

WOW. I had to take a few days, read some books before I could come back to write this review. Only where do I start? First of all, LOOK AT THAT COVER! BEAUTIFUL.
Secondly, this book broke me. Utterly. I’ve never read anything like this before. I had to put it down so many times only to catch my breath.

Josephine Clark has been through so much. After finding out Jo has been molested by her uncle, Josephine’s mother commits suicide. Now Jo is living with her mother’s cousin, Gerry, who is a trucker. They never stay at one place for more than six months. So now Jo is in a new town and starting a new high school. She has always been the freak with a scar that runs down her cheek, but when she starts Wilson high school in, she finds out that title belongs to Evan Salinger.

“Hey,” I said.
“Hi, Jo.”
What was it about my name in his voice? He was always saying my name. Even in my dreams. ” 

Evan Salinger is the freak of Planerville. A loner and a mental case. He was sent to a mental institution after he had an episode in the middle of math’s class. Being a foster kid, he gets bullied by his two stepbrothers, Shane and Merle.
Almost every night, Evan goes to the local pool where he jumps in the water and holds his breath and to try to break the world record. One night when he’s under water, Jo sees him and jumps in, thinking he is trying to kill himself. When Evan explains what he’s doing, Jo offers to time him. And this is how their story begins.

“Tell me, Jo,” Evan cried over the roar of the water. “If you love me, tell me you believe. Tell me, please,” he pleaded. “Please.” 

This story was completely different from what I usually read. It was dark and had some shades of paranormal which only made it so much more interesting.

The reason I gave this book 4 stars and not 5 is because I wished more for Evan. If I go into it more, I will end up spoiling details which I don’t want to do. So if you haven’t read this gem yet, get on it.

“I never told you
I would take your pain if I could
I would drink it down
And take my comfort
In making you ache a little less
For a little while
Did I?
I’ll never know because I never told you that I loved you”