New Release: Maybe (Yearning Hearts #1) by Shane Morgan

This is my eleventh novel! Each story in this series can be read as a standalone.

Series: Yearning Hearts #1
Release date: November 4th 2019
Publisher: TSW
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Sydney Bell just transferred to an elite high school. Her plan: achieve one goal in her senior year. Not attract the attention of a rich boy with a reputation.

Sydney is sure about guys like Parker.
The wealthy and entitled ones.
Players.
This one hates the way she looks at him.

Parker Prescott is determined to prove her wrong.
He chases Sydney.
She pushes him away until she can no longer fight her feelings.
The ice starts to melt.
Her defenses lower the more she learns about him. He’s not just another player.
Like her, Parker has issues he’s dealing with.
But she’s still so afraid to let him in.
And Parker fears he may never truly win her heart.

Can Sydney accept her intense feelings and trust that Parker won’t hurt her, and will she be there for him when he needs her the most?

About the Author

Shane Morgan writes contemporary romance, suspense, and fantasy. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband. Aside from writing, Shane enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and traveling.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Review: Cruel Intentions (Rydeville High Elite #1) by Siobhan Davis

Series: Rydeville High Elite #1
Release date: June 10th 2019
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

In the power struggle between two elite groups, one feisty girl will bring them to their knees… 

Life is a cruel game where only the most ruthless survive. It’s a truth my mother rebelled against, and she paid for it with her life. Now, I play their game. Publicly accepting the destiny that lies in wait for me when I turn eighteen.

But, behind closed doors, I plot my escape. 

Trent, Charlie, and my twin, Drew, rule the hallways of Rydeville High with arrogance and an iron fist. I execute my role perfectly, hating every second, but they never let me forget my place in this world.

Everyone obeys the rules. They have for generations. Because our families have always been in control.

Until Cam, Sawyer, and Jackson show up. Throwing their new money around. Challenging the status quo. Setting hearts racing with their gorgeous faces, hot bodies, and bad boy attitudes.

Battle lines are drawn. Sides are taken. And I’m trapped in the middle, because I made a mistake one fateful night when I gave my V-card to a stranger in a blatant F you to my fiancé.

I thought it was the one thing I owned. A precious memory to carry me through each dark day.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Because the stranger was Camden Marshall, leader of the new elite and my perpetual tormentor. He hates me with a passion unrivaled, and he won’t be the only one. Fire will rain down if the truth is revealed, threatening alliances, and the power struggle will turn vicious.

My life will hang in the balance.

But I’ll be ready, and I’m not going down without a fight.

*Received an e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is truly dark and twisted. The behavior of these characters and the crazy things that happen throughout the story will have you clutching your pearls and constantly saying, "Oh my." 

It's my first time reading a novel by Siobhan Davis and I was intrigued from start to finish. She's an excellent writer; my interest never wavered. And while I don't often read these types of books, I'm inclined to pick up more of hers.

Actual thoughts? I connected to and sympathized with Abby the moment the story opened. This young girl had to endure so much horror. Her existence in her elite family is only to fulfill the desire of powerful men, and I honestly find her resilience admirable. I don't think I could have persevered the way she had, living in that household and dealing with those monsters. But throughout all the suffering, Abby held on to her dreams of escaping to a better life. Like the blurb says, she's a fighter, and Abby fought her way through, until her heart gets the best of her and she finds herself unable to resist her feelings toward Camden.

Camden added even more complications to Abby's life, and he aggravated me so much. But I was able to forgive him a little because worst things happened and I did find delight and relief in a few more vulnerable moments between the two characters.

However, I'm not particularly a fan of the ending of book one. Sadly, of all the things Cam did, it's hard for him to redeem himself after the last act. Not sure if I can root for him and Abby after that. Either way, I'm looking forward to continuing the story and see what happens next. I know I may not get what I want, but at least it will be entertaining.

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the True Calling, Saven, and Kennedy Boys series. 

Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management. 

She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

CAN'T WAIT TO READ: All the Good Things by Clare Fisher

Release date: June 1st 2017
Publisher: Penguin
Pre-order: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Twenty-one year old Beth is in prison. The thing she did is so bad she doesn't deserve to ever feel good again.

But her counsellor, Erika, won't give up on her. She asks Beth to make a list of all the good things in her life. So Beth starts to write down her story, from sharing silences with Foster Dad No. 1, to flirting in the Odeon on Orange Wednesdays, to the very first time she sniffed her baby's head.

But at the end of her story, Beth must confront the bad thing.

What is the truth hiding behind her crime? And does anyone-even a 100% bad person-deserve a chance to be good?

About the Author

Clare Sita Fisher was born in Tooting, south London in 1987. After accidentally getting obsessed with writing fiction when she should have been studying for a BA in History at the University of Oxford, Clare completed an MA in Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths College, University of London. 

An avid observer of the diverse area of south London in which she grew up, Clare's writing is inspired by her long-standing interest in social exclusion and the particular ways in which it affects vulnerable women and girls. All The Good Things is her first novel. She now lives, writes and works as a bookseller in Leeds.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

Review: Full Share by Eliza Freed

Series: Shore House #1
Release date: June 21st 2016
Publisher: Brunswick House
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Nora Hargrove’s post-grad life includes a horrific entry-level job, a cave of an apartment, and a strict avoidance of all interpersonal relationships. She knows only one thing about herself—she wants to be left alone.

Avoiding her mother’s forced family time, she seeks solitude on her own terms. In a poorly ventilated, overcrowded Dewey Beach rental, she discovers there’s no place to hide. Not from yourself, not from your life, and not from love. This is the story of Nora Hargrove’s full share.

I learned the healing power of a good bloody Mary and a dip in the Atlantic. I kayaked in the dead of night and witnessed the only shooting star I’ve ever seen. I fell in love on a bed made of pallets. I lived.

Life is deep. Dive in.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't expecting Full Share to leave a deep impact on me. I mean, initially I found the story to be humorous and interesting, but never anticipated it taking the tone it did, and in a way that made me like it more.

Nora wasn't the most lovable character, in my opinion. She was closed-off and for the majority of the story never said what was on her mind. Many might have a problem with her but I thought her personality made her more interesting. She wasn't perfect or came from a perfect family, and I liked how realistic that was. Nora had witnessed a terrible thing involving her mother and that played a part in the shield she went on to build around herself. She fought hard against letting anyone in, but that started to waver when she started spending her weekends at the beach rental and Tank, along with Jack, came into her life. 

The immediate attraction between Jack and Nora didn't bother me one bit. I found their interactions cute and silly, and the way Nora turned him down over and over was one to stir up laughter. Because it was obvious she wanted to be with him but kept on telling herself that she liked being alone. Not to mention she had an idiotic crush on a friend in the beginning. But I was happy that she got over that nonsense and accepted the truth, even if it took the loss of a friend to encourage her to reach a resolution. 

There was a lot going on with Nora and the housemates, but I think the most thought-provoking parts were scenes with Tank. He had a lot of insightful things to say and I truly loved his character. There were times he'd act strange or do things a lot of people wouldn't do, and I wondered about his mental state. My questions about him were answered in the end, and no matter how sad it turned out, I still smiled whenever I thought about Tank and the way he reached Nora.

In conclusion, Full Share was quite the mix. You'll find humor, serious issues, and of course some romance along the way. I liked the writing and how much the author got me thinking about life and how I feel about my current state. There's so much to take from the story, you'll just have to go in with an open mind and open heart. I noticed that this is a series and I look forward to seeing where the author goes next with these crazy characters. 

About the Author

Eliza Freed graduated from Rutgers University and returned to her hometown in rural South Jersey. Her mother encouraged her to take some time and find herself. After three months of searching, she began to bounce checks, her neighbors began to talk, and her mother told her to find a job. She settled into corporate America, learning systems and practices and the bureaucracy that slows them. Eliza quickly discovered her creativity and gift for storytelling as a corporate trainer and spent years perfecting her presentation skills and studying diversity. It was during this time she became an avid observer of the characters she met and the heartaches they endured. Her years of study taught her that laughter, even the completely inappropriate kind, was the key to survival.

Eliza currently lives in New Jersey with her family and a misbehaving beagle named Odin. As an avid swimmer, if Eliza is not with her family and friends, she'd rather be underwater. While she enjoys many genres, she is, and always has been, a sucker for a love story…the more screwed up the better.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

CAN'T WAIT TO READ: Moonshot by Alessandra Torre

Release date: July 4th 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Baseball isn’t supposed to be a game of life and death…

The summer that Chase Stern entered my life, I was seventeen. The daughter of a legend, the Yankees were my family, their stadium my home, their dugout my workplace. My focus was on the game. Chase... he started out as a distraction. A distraction with sex appeal poured into every inch of his six foot frame. A distraction who played like a god and partied like a devil. 

I tried to stay away. I couldn’t. 

Then, the team started losing.

Women started dying.

And everything in my world broke apart.

About the Author

A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written eleven novels, five of which have become #1 Erotic Bestsellers.

Her first book, Blindfolded Innocence, was a breakout hit, rising to the top of the ebook charts on Amazon where it attracted the interest of major publishing houses and garnered Torre her first print deal with Harlequin HQN. Less than twelve months later, Torre signed a second print deal, this time with Redhook (Hachette) for the Deanna Madden series, an erotic suspense series.

From her home on the Emerald Coast in Florida, she devotes several hours each day to various writing projects and interacting with her fans on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Happily married and with one son, she loves watching SEC football games, horseback riding, reading and watching movies.

www.alessandratorre.com | facebook.com/AlessandraTorre0

Review: Claire (Hard University #2) by Abigail Strom

Series: Hart University #2
Release date: April 26th 2016
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis via Goodeads:

It’s sophomore year, and Claire Stone has sworn off romance. She’s just gone through a breakup and she wants some time to find out who she is on her own. The only flaw in her plan is her friend (and hot quarterback) Will McKenna, who’s a walking temptation to forget all about her singlehood pledge.

Will has had a thing for Claire since freshman year. Now that they’re both single, he wants more from her than friendship. But Claire doesn’t want to be anyone’s girlfriend right now, and with football season underway, Will’s got issues of his own to deal with.

When an injury on the field changes everything, Will and Claire are driven apart. But when the two of them end up trapped together in a snowstorm, they’re forced to deal with each other again. Can they confront their feelings without ruining their friendship? Or will their friendship turn into something more?

*Author provided ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

In spite of my frustration with the two characters in the first book, I truly loved Rikki (see review) and was super elated when Abigail Strom gifted me a copy of the sequel. I don't remember Claire or Will from the previous book, but I did end up finding their story just as interesting if not as FRUSTRATING as well, and it felt like I was just introduced to their characters so I was able to develop a fresh understanding of who they were.

Again, Claire is as infuriating as Rikki, it's pretty much just another set of two complicated individuals denying their strong feelings and trying hard to convince themselves that they should lay off relationships and focus on their future. That's good and all, but when you feel that intensely for each other, there should be no reason to wait. No time is better than the present. 

In regards to how I feel about the characters, I did like them, but wasn't as connected as I was with Rikki and Sam. Claire came off as a headstrong girl and I liked that about her, but often times she'd contradict herself. Like how she came up with this silly idea about not dating when she knew very well she wanted to be with Will. And she even asked for something ridiculous as wanting to meet any girl he decided to date. Like why put yourself through that torture? Another thing that frustrated me about her was a slight bit of selfishness on her part. For instance, when Will went through a difficult situation, she was all concerned about him not talking to her above anyone else, when the guy was already having a rough time trying to figure out his next step. It was still nice of her to take it upon herself to give him an "intervention" when times got tough, but sometimes I just couldn't figure her out.

As for Will, I liked him. But in a way I wanted more from his character. It's almost like there wasn't enough of him whenever it was his POV, like I wanted to be in his head space more and try to connect deeper. Still, he was a good guy that had dealt a terrible blow and I'l love to see what happens with his future, should he make a reappearance in the third book. 

Overall, an enjoyable story with complex characters that in a sense reflect new adults in college. I can relate to some things, and I'm sure other readers will if they give this series a chance. Looking forward to the next book, Abigail!

About the Author

Abigail Strom started writing stories at the age of seven and has never been able to stop. On her way to becoming a full-time writer she earned a BA in English from Cornell University as well as an MFA in Dance from the University of Hawaii, and held a wide variety of jobs from dance teacher and choreographer to human resource manager.

Now she works in her pajamas and lives in New England with her family, who are incredibly supportive of the hours she spends hunched over her computer. When she needs a break from writing she watches episodes of Doctor Who, Sherlock, and Monty Python with her husband and son, and talks to her cats in a British accent.

www.abigailstrom.com | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Review: Until We Break by Jamie Howard

Release date: November 10th 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

When Sloane Avery stops to help a stranded driver, she finds more than a broken down car on the side of the road. Luke Evans is faster and sexier than her Maserati, but with her heart still on the mend, she’s not interested in taking him for a test drive. Despite their initial disdain for each other, emotion and passion simmer, complicating their fragile friendship. But when a tragic loss and devastating betrayal send them spiraling, their growing love isn’t enough to save them.

That was five years ago, practically a different lifetime and definitely a different Sloane. Before she’s been hardened by booze, sex, and as much distance as she could get from the past. Now, called home on a family emergency, she’s determined to hold onto her heart the next time she sees Luke.

Except Sloane’s not the only one who’s changed. Luke’s turned his life around. Only the reappearance of Sloane and the reminder of his biggest mistake can put a dent in his plans. Luke is set on fixing what he’s broken. But with her emotions boiling to the surface, Sloane needs to decide if falling in love is life’s greatest gift or its cruelest joke.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I started out really enjoying Until We Break. It was funny in the beginning, and I understood Sloane's problem with Luke and why she treated him that way. She'd experienced betrayal from a cheating boyfriend months before, so of course it would piss her off to see the way Luke was with girls and how he'd sleep around a lot. As for Luke, his family situation was sad and I wanted to smack his mom every time she came onto the scene, but I felt like nothing justified his behavior. No matter how messed up society is, it should never be a good thing when guys sleep around that much and turn their nose up at the girl when she does it. So I didn't warm up to Luke that much because he was using sex as a way to distract himself from his family issues. I mean come on, couldn't he handle his problems another way? Jeez. His little brother was a sweet character though. It's too bad what happened to him. Really too bad, and I definitely sympathized with Luke during that time.

Like I said, the story was alright in the beginning, but then I just couldn't take how Sloane and Luke would hide their true feelings and constantly misunderstood each other. They would draw their own conclusion and create even more tension. It was actually quite silly, and even when Sloane was asked by her sister to be clear about how she felt for Luke, she should have been honest. Still, her sister had no business doing what she did, and I blame Luke as well. What the hell? How could he do such a thing after what happened with Sloane? That just didn't make any sense at all to me. And Sloane's reaction was certainly understandable, but it shouldn't have sent her down a path where she started behaving like Luke. 

It's terrible that she had to deal with that family secret too, and on top of that, she struggled to face her feelings for Luke, but the whole situation was frustrating for me and after that transition to years later, my interest wavered a bit. I'm glad things worked out in the end, but I was hoping for more from this book. It did have the potential, but it fell a little short for me. Still not a bad read if you're into back and forth and a lot of frustration. 

About the Author

Jamie Howard is a legal and compliance specialist by day, author by night, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art. When she’s not tapping away at the keyboard or capturing the world through her trusty Canon, you can find her binge-watching TV shows, devouring books, and perfecting her gaming skills. She lives with her husband, son, and three dogs in New Jersey, and is almost always awake early enough to see the sun rise, even on the weekends.

www.jamiehowardauthor.com | twitter.com/JRHoward9

Review: Did I Mention I Need You by Estelle Maskame

Series: Did I Mention I Love You? #2
Release date: March 1st 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Love has no rules.

It's been a year since Eden Munro last saw Tyler Bruce: her stepbrother...and secret love. Although they swore to ignore their feelings and put their family first, Eden can't help but feel excited when Tyler invites her to join him in New York City for the summer.

But it's not like anything is going to happen. Eden is happy with her boyfriend Dean, and she knows gorgeous, green-eyed Tyler must have moved on as well. But as they spend the long, hot summer in the city that never sleeps, it becomes obvious that those old feelings are still there...simmering beneath the surface. Will Tyler and Eden be able to resist temptation?

Did I Mention I Need You? is book two in Wattpad sensation Estelle Maskame's DIMILY trilogy: three unforgettable summers of secrets, heartbreak and forbidden romance.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the first book and with the way it ended, I was beyond eager to read Did I Mention I Need You? Now while the love and intensity between Eden and Tyler still came through as believable between the pages, the story was mostly frustrating for me. I found some of Eden's behavior throughout rather naive and couldn't make sense of some of the things she'd say, and while I liked Tyler for the majority of the book, I hated what he did in the end because it came so abrupt and out of nowhere. 

Let's start with Eden. I totally understood her decision in the previous book to try and end what was going on between them because, well, the situation was sticky since they were in the same family. But I really didn't get why she went on to date someone else, specifically Tyler's friend, in hopes of trying to move on and get over her feelings for her stepbrother. I mean, she basically strung Dean along all that time when she truly loved someone else. And I never liked when people did that, you're not only being dishonest with them, you're also being unfair and selfish. Because while Eden was clearly in love with Tyler, Dean was a nice guy with great qualities and she wanted to hold on to him while pining for Tyler. So not cool. And I hated how she'd get all jealous when Tyler was around other girls when she was the one in a relationship with another guy. Like she expected him to still be strung up on her while she carried on with Dean. My gosh, she pissed me off a lot in this one. Even when Rachael and Tiffany showed up in New York, I wanted her to just come clean and stand up to Tyler's ex, but no, she was quick to give the psycho what she wanted and risk her relationship with Tyler. Not to mention she was all crawled up in bed with Dean while crying over another guy. Come on, Eden. 

I could go on and on about how irritating her actions were for me, but then I'd give too much away. I can say though that I'm glad they finally told the truth about their love for each other. I mean, keeping that kind of secret was just too exhausting. But then in the end Tyler did something I totally didn't see coming, but you know what, I kind of understand because he did have a lot of pent up anger he needed to deal with. And even though he explained to Eden that he needed that space and PROMISED to return, she was still caught up on what he was doing in that moment. Gosh. I'm not even sure I want to read the third and final book because after reading the blurb, I saw that she's going to start dating another guy again. Like why can't this girl learn? When you're not over someone, don't bring that mess into another relationship. How about stay single for a while, Eden? Work on yourself first? Just a suggestion. 

Aside from those annoying things, I did like that they were in New York, and that the setting came through very vivid as I read. Also, I liked Emily, but not so much Stephen (Snake). It would have been nice if the author brought Emily back in the third book. While I do want the main characters to be together, I wouldn't mind Tyler being with Emily if things just can't work out with Eden. Emily just seemed like such a nice person and I would have liked to know more about her character.

Anyway, like I said this one was way more frustrating from start to finish. Never a dull moment though, and I still liked it in the sense that Eden and Tyler's love felt so real and I always found myself rooting for them, no matter if they were stepsiblings. I just hope things will finally work out for these two and they can be together. 

About the Author
Estelle Maskame is a novelist from Peterhead in Scotland. After gaining universal acclaim online during her teenage years, she signed a print contract with the Edinburgh-based publisher Black & White Publishing at the age of seventeen. She left school and now writes full-time. Did I Mention I Love You? is her first novel.

www.estellemaskame.com

http://twitter.com/estellemaskame 

http://facebook.com/estellemaskameauthor

Review: The Secret to Letting Go by Katherine Fleet

Release date: February 1st 2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.

Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret to Letting Go was quite an interesting story. Initially, I thought Clover was from a cult and had escaped, with the way she was so naive, wasn't aware of certain things and didn't understand a lot. She also portrayed the behavior of someone who lived in fear of authority figures and seemed as if she was in hiding, so that was another sign, to me, that she had run away from captivity. Well, in a way she had. Her situation might not have been the same as those from cults, but she was restricted from living a more freer life and she had to endure emotional torment and witness physical abuse by people who were supposed to love and protect her. 

I liked that Clover finally left it behind in hopes of finding something better, but it frustrated me with how long it took for her to come clean about what happened and why she was like that. She was also a frustrating character in the sense that she was so needy and couldn't just be strong on her own, but in a way that's understandable because of what she'd been through and before Daniel, she had only one other person in her life that cared for her. So after losing that intense bond, she wanted to cling to the next person who made her feel that way.

Daniel had gone through his own emotional torment when he'd lost his girlfriend. He held a lot of guilt over her death and when Clover came into the picture, he couldn't help having the need to make sure she was okay and wouldn't end up in that same predicament. Their relationship quickly turned into something that seemed a tad unhealthy, because it was as if Daniel had to be around Clover for her to be alright, and she just couldn't stop clinging on to him. I liked Daniel and connected a lot with him during his narration. His thoughts were realistic and I understood everything he felt and had the same questions as he did. However, I didn't care for the romance part of the story and like Daniel, I also thought Clover only believed she loved him because she liked the idea of feeling so safe. So the best thing Daniel did was break things off before going to college. The separation was good for the two, but I wasn't a fan of the ending. 

In conclusion, the story was intriguing from start to finish. A little draggy on the mystery of Clover's character but I liked that it turned out to not be what I thought had happened in Virginia. The writing's good too; fast and fluid. And I loved the way the author pulled me into every scene. I could smell the salty sea and felt like I was in Florida. This is definitely a great debut and I look forward to reading more from Katherine.

About the Author

Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Katherine Fleet moved with her family to the Caribbean island of Curaçao in 2007. The slower pace of island life gave her time to pursue a long-time goal - becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her wonderful friends. She is a member of RWA™ and several of its chapters. She also loves NaNoWriMo and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel.

www.katherinefleet.com | facebook.com/AuthorKatherineFleet

Review: Falling for You by Caisey Quinn

Series: Second Chance #1.5
Release date: February 1st 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Fate Buchanan is about to marry her college sweetheart. That is until a last minute change of plans leads her straight into the arms of a sexy stranger. 

Sometimes the worst things that happen to us put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us. 

*This is the prequel novella to Falling for Fate and can be read as a stand alone. 

**New Adult romance contains mature adult language and sexual situations.

*Downloaded the kindle book for free on Amazon

Loved it!

I haven't read the first book in this series but I like that each release features a different couple, and it's great that from this novella I had the chance to experience all that Fate went through leading up to the full length 'Falling for Fate'. 

From start, it was obvious getting married wasn't something Fate should be doing, especially to a guy like Trevor. He was a moron. The king of all morons. And I can't believe her friend betrayed her like that. I knew Melissa wasn't for Fate going through with the wedding, but I had no idea there was something else going on. Anyway, happy that Fate found out just what those two were really like, even though it took that shocker for her to realize she shouldn't marry Trevor. I wish she had drawn conclusion from way before, when he kept pressuring her for sex. Like hello, warning bells!

I wouldn't have done what she did afterwards on the beach, but in seeing things from her perspective and understanding her life, how she didn't want to be a certain kind of woman, I guess I could understand why she'd choose to do that. And Dean does seem like a good guy. Hope he makes me melt in the continuation of their story, because I'll definitely be reading Falling for Fate to find out what happens next between the two. I'm also looking forward to how Fate sorts out her life. Great intro to what seems like a great love story!

About the Author
Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her daughter and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult and Contemporary Romance novels featuring southern girls finding love in unexpected places.

You can find her online at www.caiseyquinnwrites.com. 




She is represented by Kevan Lyon of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Review: Surviving Ice (Burying Water #4) by K.A. Tucker

Release date: October 27th 2015
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Ivy Lee, a talented tattoo artist who spent the early part of her twenties on the move, is looking for a place to call home. She thinks she might have finally found it working in her uncle’s tattoo shop in San Francisco. But all that changes when a robbery turns deadly, compelling her to pack up her things yet again.

When they need the best, they call him. That’s why Sebastian Riker is back in California, cleaning up the mess made after a tattoo shop owner with a penchant for blackmail got himself shot. But it’s impossible to get the answers he needs from a dead body, leaving him to look elsewhere. Namely, to the twenty-something-year-old niece who believes this was a random attack. Who needs to keep believing that until Sebastian finds what he’s searching for.

Ivy has one foot out of San Francisco when a chance encounter with a stranger stalls her departure. She’s always been drawn to intense men, so it’s no wonder that she now finds a reason to stay after all, quickly intoxicated by his dark smile, his intimidating strength, and his quiet control.

That is, until Ivy discovers that their encounter was no accident—and that their attraction could be her undoing.

*Received a physical ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED it! Surviving Ice is raw, intense, twisted, dangerously sexy when it should be, and very intriguing. It's just overall the right kind of mix for a great suspense novel. 

Ivy is imperfectly perfect. She's a tough woman who doesn't take crap from anybody and I love how confident and strong she is, and at the same time there is a sense of vulnerability about her character. While we got a bit of that in the previous book, Surviving Ice depicts that softer side of Ivy a little more, but without making her too soft or seem like she's lost her edge. And I'm glad that Tucker held on to that throughout the story. 

So the book opens up with Ivy at her uncle's tattoo shop. All seems well and we get the feeling that she's found somewhat of a place to call home and maybe will stick around longer than she normally does. But then something very tragic happens and Ivy is caught up in the mix. I can't even begin to imagine witnessing something like that. The realness of the scene was quite intense. I could visualize everything taking place so vividly in my head. Ivy's uncle seemed to be as tough as she was but he understood her personality and saw the best in her. So the pain of losing him was quite real, and if it were me I'd be just as intent on finding the people responsible, no matter the dangers of my search.

In comes Sebastian, a former Navy SEAL working for a security company called Alliance, that turned out to be behind the horrific event that took place at Ned's shop. Ned knew something he shouldn't, which led to his demise, but he also left some evidence behind that Alliance would like to retrieve discreetly. In Sebastian's mind, what he and his friend--the owner of Alliance--does is justifiable because it's in the best interest of the country. Bullcrap. Their methods of shutting people up made me want to barf and it's terrifying to know that this happens for real. But sadly, Sebastian isn't aware of some of the disgusting acts Alliance allows to continue, so it was a good thing he was called in to retrieve the evidence hidden by Ned because he wouldn't have discovered the truth about the company he believed in so strongly.

From the beginning, the situation was intense. Sebastian, like Ivy, was used to not staying in one place or getting attached. In the past he had, but have since dedicated himself to working for Alliance and staying away from anything else that required commitment. Basically he'd been through a lot and carried guilt around. And no matter how hard he tried to keep his feelings out of the mix and do his job, with Ivy he started to shatter that cold front, and along the way, he managed to shatter hers as well. 

It was interesting to see these two flawed characters learn to open up and develop feelings for each other. And amid the dangers lurking around them, I'm happy that there were some flirty moments and that they found romance in their way. One may not consider these moments very romantic but like I said, it was done in their way--rugged and raw--and it worked for them.

The overall plot is great. The writing, as usual, is superb. K.A. is a wonderful story-teller who knows how to keep things interesting, whether with the suspense or unraveling characters so we can see what's beneath the surface. And what I love about Ivy and Sebastian is how real they are, and in a way, their flaws make them that much more beautiful. Such a great story and wonderful conclusion to an awesome series. Surviving Ice would have to be my favorite. There's something about Ivy that had my attention from the very moment I came across her character, and for some reason she has resonated more with me than the other women in the series. I'm sure when you've read this one you'll understand what I'm saying, and may discover that she is indeed hard to forget. I highly recommend.   

About the Author

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. 

She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

www.katuckerbooks.com

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