Review: The Real Thing (Melissa Foster)

The Real Thing
Series: Sweet Lake, #1
Author: Melissa Foster
Publication Date: September 5, 2017
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

This sassy, spirited baker is fine with heat—but is her fake fiancé too hot to handle?

Bakery owner Willow Dalton’s friendship with Zane Walker has always been a bit complicated. Now a scrumptiously hot A-list actor, Zane’s always had a reputation as player. He’s arrogant, and he’s definitely not boyfriend material. Sure, he did Willow a favor by agreeing to take her virginity before college, but is that reason enough to go along with a fake engagement a decade later—even if it comes with a real diamond ring?

Zane should have known better. Nothing involving Willow has ever been easy. Still, he knows her better than anyone, and becoming America’s hottest new leading man means cleaning up his reputation. An “engagement” to curvy, sass-mouthed Willow is the perfect PR move . . . provided no one gets hurt.

Now Zane and Willow’s little white lie has turned into an irresistible recipe for sweet temptation. And soon no one will be able to tell the difference between their fake engagement or the real thing—including them.


Willow has always longed for her older brother’s best friend, Zane. They had a night together back before Willow left for college, but their relationship went no further. It left Willow with feelings of anger and resentment toward Zane — especially when he became a womanizing famous actor. Now, Zane’s back in town and looking to change his image. He needs Willow to help him do that by pretending to be his fiancée. The arrangement is something Willow should know better than to say yes to, but she still can’t resist Zane.

The Real Thing was a fun fake fiancée romance. It’s been a long time since I read a book by Melissa Foster. I had forgotten how much I enjoy her writing. She’s an author who knows how to write third person point of view. A lot of the time, it takes me a while to be able to get into third person narration. It wasn’t that way with The Real Thing. I didn’t even notice it. Third person felt just as easy as reading first person in this book. I really appreciated that. I also appreciated that both Willow and Zane’s perspectives were included.

Willow and Zane were a cute couple. She was independent, loyal and fiery. He was overconfident, but deep down had a big heart. All of those things fit really well and complimented each other. I loved that they had been pining over each other since high school. It made their love story all the sweeter.

I do have to admit there was something that bugged me about this book that I couldn’t let go. Willow’s hatred and distrust of Zane didn’t make complete sense. I understand that she’s mad that he moved on, but she set things up that way. He truly didn’t do anything that set out to hurt her or break her heart. Plus, it had been like ten years, and she was still holding onto to her anger. It seemed weird since she had been in contact with him at least monthly and had seen him several times over the years. Maybe I was missing something. Maybe I needed more than just a snapshot of the aftermath of their teenage decision.

One of my favorite things about this book was the cast of secondary characters. Willow had an amazing family. Each was an individual with a strong personality. Meeting them made me very excited for what’s to come in this series. I hope they all get their own books. I’m really hoping to see more of Ben and Amelia!

Overall, The Real Thing was a sweet contemporary read, and an entertaining take of a celebrity fake relationship.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Hidden Gem Books in the NA Genre

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is  Ten Hidden Gem Books in X Genre. My choice for the week is Ten Hidden Gem Books in the NA Genre.

This is kind of a tough topic. New adult books have become more popular recently, and what I consider a hidden gem might not be anymore. I’m going to do my best to pick books that I don’t believe are read enough. Or at least I’m not seeing them reviewed very often. (That could be because they’ve been out for a while, too.)


1. Sincerely, Carter by Whitney G.

Just friends.
We’re just friends.
No, really. She’s just my best friend…

Arizona Turner has been my best friend since fourth grade, even when we “hated” each other. We’ve been there for one another through first kisses, first “times,” and we’ve been each other’s constant when good relationships turned bad. (We even went to colleges that were minutes away from each other…)

Throughout the years, and despite what anyone says, we’ve never crossed the line.

Never thought about it.
Never wanted to.

Until one night changed everything.
At least, it should’ve …

Just friends.
We’re just friends.
I’m only saying this until I figure out if she’s still “just” my best friend…


2. Where I Belong by J. Daniels

When Mia Corelli returns to Alabama for a summer of fun with her childhood best friend, Tessa, there’s only one thing keeping her on edge. One person that she’d do anything to avoid.

Benjamin Kelly. World’s biggest dickhead.

Mia hates him with a fury and has no desire to ever see him again. When she decides to start her summer off with a bang and finally give away her v-card, she unknowingly hands it over to the one guy that excelled at making her life miserable, learning a valuable lesson in the process.

Always get the name of the guy you’re going home with.

Ben can’t get the girl he spent one night with out of his head. When she leaves him the next morning, he thinks he’ll never see her again. Until he sees her lounging by the pool with his sister.

Mia is determined to hate Ben, even though she can’t forget him.

Ben is determined to prove he’s not the same guy he used to be.

What happens when the one person you wish never existed becomes the one person you can’t imagine being without?


3. Sacked by Jen Frederick

What he wants he gets…

Knox Masters is a quarterback’s worst nightmare. Warrior. Champion. And…virgin. Knox knows what he wants–and he gets it. All American Football player? Check. NFL pros scouting him? Check. Now, he’s set his sight on two things. The national title. And Ellie Campbell. Sure, she’s the sister of his fellow teammate, but that’s not going to stop him. Especially not when he’s convinced Ellie is the one.

…but he’s never met her before.

But Ellie isn’t as sure. She’s trying to start a new life and she’s not interested in a relationship…with anyone. Beside it’s not just her cardinal rule of never dating her brother’s teammates that keeps her away, but Ellie has a dark secret that would jeopardize everything Knox is pursuing.

Knox has no intention of losing. Ellie has no intention of giving in.


4. Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O’Roark
His father’s debt, a failing farm and a floundering track team. College coach Will Langstrom already has too many responsibilities, and the last thing he needs is Olivia, a beautiful new addition to his team with a bad attitude and a troubled past.
Abandoned and broken, Olivia trusts no one — especially not the cocky track coach the rest of the team adores. But when her past is revealed to Will, she discovers another side to him — one she could grow to love.  Forced together by a secret no one else can know – and breaking university rules to do it – Will and Olivia’s connection deepens. As does an attraction that could cost them everything.

5. Burning Moon by Jo Watson

There’s a very fine line between blushing bride and mascara-streaked sobbing mess. #beenthere

Lilly Swanson has been planning her perfect life since she was twelve years old: Meet Mr. Right, have the big white wedding, buy a house in the burbs, and raise 2.5 picture-perfect kids. However, when her fiancé bails, leaving Lilly alone at the altar to face five hundred gossipy guests, her dream turns into a nightmare. But then Lilly makes an impulsive decision—she ditches the dress, grabs her passport, and heads off to Thailand to spend her honeymoon alone.

Or so she thinks . . .

Because Lilly quickly learns that everything in Thailand is very hot: the weather, the merchandise, and especially Damien—the sexy, spontaneous man she meets before her feet even hit the sand. Now with no plan, and nothing holding her back, Lilly lets Damien lead her on a wild, unpredictable ride to the world’s most exclusive party, Burning Moon. But after a week of letting go, indulging her every impulse and desire, Lilly must go back to the girl she used to be. Or can Damien convince her that their party doesn’t have to end?


6. When it Rains by Lisa De Jong

One night changed my life forever.

Beau Bennett has been my best friend since I can remember. He was my first crush before everything came crashing down, and now he wants more, but it’s more than I can give him. Things are different now. I wish I could tell him why, but I can’t.

I haven’t told anyone.

I never knew how much I really needed him until the day he left for college, and I was completely alone.

Then one day, Asher Hunt rides into town with his dark, captivating eyes and cocky grin. He doesn’t care who I used to be, he’s simply breathing life into what’s left. People warn me to stay away from him, but he helps me forget the pain that has held me hostage for so long; something I thought was impossible before he walked into my life.

I’ve been hurt.

I’ve been saved.

And I’ve found hope.

I thought my story was written that night, but now I know it was only a new beginning. Until one secret turns my world upside down…

Again.


7. Left Drowning by Jessica Park

What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.


8. Only for You by Beverly Kendall

College freshman Olivia Montgomery is thrilled at the chance to start over, escape the rumors that plagued her in high school. And she can finally put her juvenile crush, Zachary Pearson, where he belongs–in her past. Then her unrequited love strolls into her French class, shattering Olivia’s newfound peace, and the feelings she’d thought buried for good come rushing back. Now she can’t shake her unwanted attraction to the one guy who can twist her stomach into knots with just a smile…but has never given her the time of day.

Zach’s good looks may have always gotten him his pick of girls, but it’s the star quarterback’s skill on the football field that gives him his pick of the Big Ten colleges. To escape the crushing demands of his win-at-all-costs father, Zach opts for a private university in upstate New York where…his present and past collide. And the one girl he’s always wanted but can’t have–and a class trip to Paris–turn out to be the ultimate game changer that has him breaking every one of his rules.


9. The Hurricane by R.J. Prescott

Emily McCarthy is living in fear of a dark and dangerous past. A gifted mathematician, she is little more than a hollow, broken shell, trying desperately to make ends meet long enough to finish her degree.

Through an unlikely friendship with the aging, cantankerous owner of an old boxing gym, Em is thrown into the path of the most dangerous man that she has ever met.

Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell is cut, tattooed and dangerous. He is a lethal weapon with no safety, and everyone is waiting for the misfire. He’s never been knocked out before, but when he meets Em he falls, HARD. Unlike any other girl he’s ever met, she doesn’t want anything from him, but just being around her makes him want to be a better person.

They are polar opposites who were never meant to find each other, but some things are just worth the fight.


10. There is No Light in Darkness by Claire Contreras

A past hidden in darkness. Her present cloaked in secrets. The future holds the only truth that cannot be escaped.

After the mysterious and violent death of her parents, Blake Brennan finds comfort with an unconventional family. As the dramatic loss of her parents continues to haunt her—and hinders her from reciprocating love that others give freely—Blake embarks on a harrowing journey in search for the truth.

Living in a constant state of fear and need for control, vivid nightmares reveal details that lead to perilous situations. The past begins to collide with the present, and Blake must decide if the truth is worth losing the ones she loves.

Can love conquer all as her past comes to light? Or will Blake realize that there is no light in darkness?


Have you read any of these? Do you want to?

Review: Arm Candy (Jessica Lemmon)

Arm Candy
Series: Real Love, #2
Author: Jessica Lemmon
Publication Date: September 5, 2017
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Last call! At the end of the night, a clean-cut hunk and a rebellious bartender act on their unlikely chemistry in this frisky standalone novel from the author of Eye Candy.

Davis: I’ve had my eye on Grace Buchanan for a while now. Unlike the bubbly blondes I usually date, the feisty, flame-haired bartender both intrigues and bewilders me. Something about Grace—the tattoos? the nose ring?—makes every part of me sit up and beg. There’s only one problem: She hates me. Trading insults and one-liners has become our M.O. But when Grace bets me that I can’t get a date with a non-blonde if my life depends on it, I’m determined to prove her wrong by landing the ultimate non-blonde: her.

Grace: I’m used to regulars hitting on me, and I’ve turned them all down, except for one: Davis Price. I like giving him a hard time, and he’s kind of cute in his suit and tie—if you’re into that kind of thing. Anyway, I don’t care how many blondes he takes home . . . until one of them sidles up to him in my bar. Nuh-uh. But after my little bet with Davis backfires, our first date lands us in the sack. So does the second. And the third. Neither of us wants more than the best sex of our lives. The trouble is, it’s not a question of what I want. It’s what I need. And what I need is Davis.


Okay. So I have to admit that I was a little worried going into Arm Candy. You see, Jessica Lemmon is one of my go-to contemporary romance authors, and the first book in the Real Love series was not my favorite. It was good, but not the great I have come to expect from Lemmon. I didn’t need to worry. Arm Candy was exactly what I’m expecting when I pick up one of her books.

In Eye Candy, we first met Davis and Grace. Davis was Vince’s best friend and Grace was their local bartender. Davis obviously had a thing for Grace, but there was something keeping him from acting on his attraction. Fast forward now to Arm Candy. Davis still isn’t ready to break the mold of petite blondes he dates, but Grace issues him a challenge. Soon Davis and Grace are going out on a date and surpassing the bickering banter they exchange at the bar.

This book totally surpassed my expectations for it. Arm Candy was classic Jessica Lemmon and I loved it. The humor and witty dialog woven into the story was fantastic. I couldn’t get enough of Davis and Grace’s conversations. They were both such great characters. Davis was a hard worker. He had been jilted by love in the past, but that didn’t stop him from giving his all to Grace. Grace was a little more hesitant and held her feelings closer to her chest. I loved that their feelings and relationship blossomed in a very realistic way.

Another person I adored was Davis’ grandmother. She was a hoot! Her presence in the story was perfect. I do wish she would have played an even bigger part in Arm Candy, though. I loved her so much!

The one thing I should point out is that there wasn’t as much drama in Arm Candy as I expected. Well, there was drama. It just didn’t feel like there was ever a gigantic moment of it. It felt like their should have been more of an explosion at the climax, but I actually appreciated that there wasn’t. The problem of the story felt just as real as the build up of Davis and Grace’s relationship.

I’m really happy I continued with the Real Love series. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on Davis and Grace’s story. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the series.

Review: Hate to Love You (Tijan)

HATETOLOVEYOUFINALCOVER2Hate to Love You
Author: Tijan
Publication Date: August 28, 2017
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

Rule #1: No hot guys.

It might sound ridiculous. I get it. It kind of is, but college was supposed to be my sanctuary. It was my place to start over. The rumors, the whispers, and the jealousy I endured through high school would all be gone.

No one would know me at college.

Rule #2: No drama.

I’d major in pre-law. I’d make a few loyal friends. Everything would be easy breezy. No one was going to use me or hurt me. I wouldn’t let them.

Rule #3: New year. New place. New me.

Right?

Wrong.

And all because of Shay Coleman.

Football captain and quarterback, he was the big guy on campus. The cocky guy in my political science class with a smirk. I hated him on sight . . .

. . . and he was about to break all my rules.


Tijan is an author I recently started reading. I love her books set in high school or college. There’s something in them I connect with and they take me back to that time in life. I’m not sure if it’s the drama of that time or the new relationships that are formed during it. It’s probably a little bit of both. Either way, I felt that connection when reading Hate to Love You.

Hate to Love You is college freshman Kennedy Clarke’s story. Kennedy is happy to be leaving high school and her hometown behind. She’s done with drama of mean girls and cocky guys. Kennedy’s goals this year are to study and avoid any unnecessary drama. It’s easily done until her first day of class when Shay Coleman walks in the door. The quarterback is everything Kennedy should avoid, but can’t. Shay’s determined to make Kennedy part of his inner circle — whether she hates him or not.

I’ve enjoyed several of Tijan’s previous books, but this might just be my new favorite. I loved Kennedy and her standoffish personality. She had good reasons behind everything she did, even if her actions seemed drastic and borderline nuts. I loved her hesitancy to get involved with Shay, and the way she proclaimed she “hated” him. I also loved that Shay could see the real Kennedy, and knew there was something more behind her hatred of him. He pushed her in a good way. There relationships was so sweet and supportive.

There were only a couple things that disappointed me during Hate to Love You. One, I missed not getting Shay’s point of view. While I enjoyed the story told in solely in Kennedy’s voice, it would have been nice to have Shay’s, too. It could have brought another great dimension to the story. Second, this book was a 5 star read until Phoebe happened. She made the drama feel a little too crazy and almost repetitive. She came out of nowhere and her storyline was pretty out there. I didn’t feel it was needed.

Hate to Love You was a very entertaining and humorous love story. The characters were so much fun, and many of the supporting characters deserve their own books. I hope Tijan will make this book into a series.

Review: Don’t Tempt Me (Lori Foster)

Don’t Tempt Me
Series: Guthrie Brothers, #1
Author: Lori Foster
Publication Date: August 1, 2016
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Love comes along when it’s least wanted 

Jason Guthrie has no time for entanglements—between helping out his widowed brother and teenage nephew and getting his hometown back on its feet, his days are spoken for. But his nights are another story… And when his lovely new neighbor, Honor Brown, reluctantly accepts his help in remodeling her house, Jason finds himself wishing his handyman skills could knock down the defenses she keeps building around herself.

Martial arts teacher Sullivan Dean knows real danger when he sees it—even when it takes the form of the gorgeous blonde helping her friend move in across the street. After putting his wayward past behind him to focus on teaching control to troubled kids, Sullivan has learned to avoid party girls like Lexie Perkins. But Sullivan can’t seem to keep his hands off the real woman behind that flirty charm—or keep his heart from landing at her feet…


I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Don’t Tempt Me is my first Lori Foster book. I’ve wanted to try one before, but I just never got around to it. I’m so happy that I won Don’t Tempt Me in a Goodreads giveaway to push myself to try one of her books. I had no idea what I had been missing. Well, that’s not exactly true. Debby @ Always Booking has been trying to get me to read a Lori Foster book for a while now — and for good reason!

Don’t Tempt Me was a great contemporary romance read. I enjoyed Lori Foster’s writing. In this book, she had two love stories going at once. Honor and Jason’s was the main focus, but there was enough of Lexie and Sullivan’s story to make it feel like a complete story. I did have one minor issue with the writing, though. Don’t Tempt Me was told in third person with points of view for Honor, Jason, Lexie and Sullivan. The narration would switch mid-chapter without warning beside **** and I would be thrown off because it would always take me a few sentences to figure out who was narrating now. It would have been helpful to have name headings to make the switch easier and more fluid. Other than that little issue, I loved the story.

Honor was a very strong person, but she was kind of a mess. I loved the support she found in Jason. He knew how to help Honor in ways she could accept. Whether it was helping with her house or being a shoulder to lean on, Jason was there for her. She also gave Jason something he never thought he’d find when she gave him her love. It was all so sweet.

Lexie and Sullivan’s relationship was also sweet. Lexie was a party girl always on the look out for a good time. Sullivan was down to party, but spending time with Lexi made him crave more. More was something neither of them wanted, but being with each other quickly changed that.

Some of my favorite characters weren’t even part of the love story. Colt and Hogan were amazing. They were Jason’s family, but they went above and beyond to become Honor’s too. I loved them so much and I can’t wait to read more about them as the series continues.

Overall, I adored Don’t Tempt Me. I liked it so much that I went ahead and requested the second book in the series from my library. I can’t wait to get my hands on it and experience more of the Guthrie brothers!

Review: Every Little Kiss (Marina Adair)

Every Little Kiss
Series: Sequoia Lake, #2
Author: Marina Adair
Publication Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

There’s nothing that single mom Liv Preston won’t do if it means making her six-year-old son smile again. After a heartbreaking two years, her little family is due for some fun in the sun. She just didn’t expect to find it in the big, rugged, Search and Rescue hero next door—who shows her just how exciting, and sexy, life’s adventures can be.

As head of Reno’s K-9 search division, Ford Jamison knows what it takes to make life-and-death decisions on the fly. He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t do regrets, and has never doubted his instincts—until he makes a promise that turns his world upside down. Desperate for redemption, he returns to Sequoia Lake, only to find himself face-to-face with his past…and the one woman he can’t have. Not when his secret would destroy her—and everything she holds dear.

For Liv, finding love once was a gift. Finding it twice seems impossible, until the moment Ford’s lips meet hers. Love doesn’t always come easy, but when it’s right, it’s worth fighting for…


Prior to winning Every Little Kiss, I hadn’t heard of Marina Adair before. I was excited to get to try out a new author. Every Little Kiss was a pleasant surprise.

In Every Little Kiss, Liv has been slowly moving on from her husband’s unexpected death. It’s been hard, especially with the way her son has dealt with the trauma. Liv’s finally reached the place where she thinks she’s ready to move on. She couldn’t pick a better man to do that with than Ford. He’s fun and flirty, but most of all he’s amazing with her son.

K-9 Search and Rescue pro Ford came to Sequoia Lake to work on his certification and a free himself of a secret he’s been keeping for the past two years. It’s time the recipient of that secret knows what he’s been doing. The problem is, Ford wasn’t planning on falling for her. Telling Liv his secret just got much more complicated.

Adair’s writing has the qualities I love in contemporary romance authors. The pace was quick, and the romance was slow burn perfection. I could see the relationship develop in a believable time frame. Liv and Ford’s characters felt unique and easy to fall in love with. The setting and supporting cast were a big and fun part of the story. I would love to read more about them.

There were only a couple of things that kept me from giving Every Little Kiss 5 stars. One, the plot was completely predictable. There weren’t really any surprises I didn’t see coming. Two, the big problem in the story didn’t take place until almost 90% in. That didn’t give much time for the characters to deal with it and make amends. It made the conclusion feel rushed and Ford forgiven almost instantaneously. I do have to say that I did like the grand gesture in the end. It was really fun.

Overall, I truly enjoyed reading Every Little Kiss. Ford, Liv, and Paxton will make a great family that I hope to see more of in books to come. I am looking forward to reading more of this series, and I really hope Ford’s boss is the next one to find someone special!

Review: Eye Candy (Tijan, Tara Sivex, J. Daniels, Helena Hunting & Bella Jewel)

Eye Candy
Authors: Tijan, Tara Sivec, J. Daniels, Helena Hunting, Bella Jewel
Publication Date: September 5, 2017
Publisher: Swerve
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Halloween
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ¼

Synopsis:

A frightfully good time! Dive into these Halloween novellas from bestselling authors Tijan, J. Daniels, Helena Hunting, Bella Jewel and Tara Sivec. Featuring stories set in the worlds of their popular series.

Tijan’s Fallen Crest crew are back for a weekend of mischief that takes a sinister turn; all four couples from J. Daniels’ Alabama Summer series gear up for Halloween in their own sexy ways, with a special surprise at the end; Helena Hunting’s characters from Shacking Up plan a Halloween gala that features a few ghouls and witches; Bella Jewel brings the chills and thrills in her suspenseful take on Halloween night; and Tara Sivec gathers the Holiday family together one last time as they try to make this ghostly holiday one to remember—or one they’d rather forget…

Cozy up with a mug of hot cider on a dark night and fall under the spell of this Halloween anthology!


Eye Candy is a compilation of stories from some of my favorite authors and their series. I specifically wanted to read it to find out what was next for the Fallen Crest, Alabama Summers, and Shacking Up peeps. I have written a quick mini review for each book below and rated them separately.

Fallen Crest Nightmare – ★ ★ ★ ★
This started out like any other Fallen Crest High book. I loved getting to know what all of my favorite characters were up to and having Sam as the narrator. Then, this book took a crazy Halloween filled trip. I liked it, but it was crazy! It left me wanting more of these characters! I didn’t realize how much I missed them!

So Much More – ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This was a super cute Halloween catch up with all of my favorite characters from Alabama Summers. Each chapter was dedicated to a different couple in the male’s point of view. I loved knowing where they were in life now. My favorite was little Noah’s, though. So stinking adorable!!! Now, I’m ready for the next full-length book!

Getting Down – ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I had forgotten what a kick I got out of Ruby and Bancroft. Those two are so funny together! What I really loved about this short story was getting Ruby’s best friend Amie’s perspective on her relationship with Armstrong. That guy is such a dork. I’m really hoping there’s a book coming about Amie and possibly a new suitor. Anyway. I loved this Halloween filled story based on Shacking Up characters.

Unsafe Haven – ★ ★ ★ 
This was a sweet but suspenseful Halloween tale. I loved shy Jade and Oliver. The were so perfect for each other. I loved them both of them worked at a business that was set up to help those in need. Their Halloween was a little terrifying, though! I wish I would have read books about these characters before because I didn’t feel as connected to them.

The Pumpkin Was Stuffed – ★ ★ ★ ★ 
This short story was over the top hilarious! I couldn’t believe the crazy characters in this it. I loved all the Halloween goodies throughout the story. If this was based on characters from a previous book, I need to read it!!! I loved Noel and Sam. I want to know how they began.

Overall, Eye Candy was an incredibly fun Halloween read, and a great way to catch up with some old book friends.

Review: The Better Man (Barbie Bohrman)

The Better Man
Series: Allen Brothers, #2
Author: Barbie Bohrman
Publication Date: August 22, 2017
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Meet Max Allen.

He’s ambitious, too smart for his own good, and very single.
Nicknamed “Max-A-Million” by society gossip types, he thinks he’s got it pretty damn good and he’s right…for the most part.

Meet Daphne Rodriguez.
She’s ambitious, too smart for her own good, and very single.
She works extra hard for everything she has and never complains about the crappy hand life has dealt her.

When Max is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime, it comes with the condition that he must work with the one person he despises most…and wants the most: his sworn enemy, Daphne.

However, Max has no plans of giving Daphne the satisfaction of ever letting her know how he feels about her. Instead, he vows to make her life miserable at every turn.

Which works out perfectly, since Daphne has no intention of making it easy for Max either.

When all hell breaks loose and they’re on a collision course with disaster, these two stubborn people will have to overcome their mutual hatred of each other long enough to work together and get the job done.

For better or worse, they will have to rely on each other to save themselves…and the people they love most.


I originally met Max Allen back in the first book in the Allen Brothers series, The Best Man. I was intrigued by his character. He was a guy who thought he was the top of the food chain due to his money and his success. I wondered what it would take for Max to give up his attitude of importance and put someone else first. I found out in The Better Man.

I have to admit that I hated Max the pretty much the entire book. His sense entitlement and over the top confidence were off-putting. He was just too full of himself for my taste. I couldn’t stand how mean he was to others, especially Daphne. I was shocked she was actually into him. Max was supposed to be gorgeous, but his attitude would have killed things for me.

Not Daphne. Their spark was too strong. Luckily, so was her personality. Daphne was able to give back to Max what he dished out. She was also able to take the high road when he couldn’t. I loved that about her. I also loved Daphne’s sense of family. Her relationships with her brother, grandmother and even her friend Derek were shining moments in the story.

Toward the end, there were moments of greatness for Max. When he finally surrendered to his feelings for Daphne was one of them. He became sweeter than I imagined. There were also amazing moments with his family, especially his twin nieces. What he was willing to do for them brought out another side of him. I liked Max in those moments.

I can’t review The Better Man without mentioning the shocking surprise Barbie Borhman included. It gutted me and brought me to tears. I won’t say what happened, but I wasn’t expecting to be so shattered. It made me very anxious to get the next book in the series, and it made The Better Man a better, more complex story.

Despite my initial dislike of Max, The Better Man was a great read. It had the push and pull I have come to expect from a great enemies to lovers story. I would recommend it and the rest of the Allen Brothers series to contemporary romance readers.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten YA Books Set in High School

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Back To School Freebie. My choice for the week is Ten YA Books Set to in High School. At first, that might seem weird because most YA books are about high schoolers, but not all of the books are set in high school. These are some of my favorite YA books that are actually set in school. You can click on the book name and author to be taken to the Goodreads series page.


1. The Hard Count by Ginger Scott

All of Ginger Scott’s books are amazing, but The Hard Count holds a special place in my heart. There is so much to learn from this book, especially in today’s social climate.

2. First & Then by Emma Mills

First & Then is a guilty pleasure type book. It brings back those feelings of being in high school (more years ago than I like to admit), and it was filled with so many fun characters.

3. Love and First Sight by John Sundquist

This book was so eye opening for me. I have thought before about what it might be like to be blind, but there were so many things I had no clue about. Love and First Sight really made me think about what it would be like to be blind and what getting your sight back might be like.

4. Paper Princess by Erin Watt

No one does high school quite like the Royals. Plus, it has one of the best cliffhanger endings ever. I would say this book is borderline NA, though, so for a more mature YA reader.

5. Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn

Not all YA books are fun and games. Delicate Monsters is a dark psychological thriller set in high school. It’s really good, but definitely disturbing.

6. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landou-Banks by E. Lockhart

This is my favorite book set in boarding school. Frankie is an amazing character, and she gets into all sorts of fun trouble.

7. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I loved the 80’s setting of Eleanor & Park. I also loved the way these two kids who were from such different walks of life found something so profound with each other.

8. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Another book that pays tribute to the 80’s, but in an entirely different way. Ready Player One is set in a futuristic video game high school. I loved all of the 80s’s references and the unique plot.

9. Adorkable by Cookie O’Gorman

I have no problem admitting I picked this book simply because it was so cute.

10. One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

I could not leave off my favorite debut author of the year so far. One of Us Is Lying was so cool. I loved how the mystery in it was set up and how everything was revealed. It was a great YA thriller.


What books set in high school are your favorite?

Review: Fallen Heir (Erin Watt)

Fallen Heir
Series: The Royals, #4
Author: Erin Watt
Publication Date: August 28, 2017
Publisher: Timeout LLC
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

These Royals will ruin you.

Easton Royal has it all: looks, money, intelligence. His goal in life is to have as much fun as possible. He never thinks about the consequences because he doesn’t have to.

Until Hartley Wright appears, shaking up his easy life. She’s the one girl who’s said no, despite being attracted to him. Easton can’t figure her out and that makes her all the more irresistible.

Hartley doesn’t want him. She says he needs to grow up.

She might be right.

Rivals. Rules. Regrets. For the first time in Easton’s life, wearing a Royal crown isn’t enough. He’s about to learn that the higher you start, the harder you fall.


“These Royals will ruin you.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Every single book about the Royals ruins me in some way. Fallen Heir did it more than once.

There was more to Easton Royal than I expected. I knew he would be a cocky young man with the world at his fingertips. What I didn’t know was the extent of his past and how it affected him. He was such a strength for Ella in the first three books. I was surprised that he was different in Fallen Heir. I didn’t quite love his character as much as I expected to based on that role. His truths were more and different from I imagined.

As for Hartley Wright, I still feel a little in the dark. I learned about Hartley through Easton’s eyes since she didn’t get her own point of view. I started to like her, but I really wanted to know her thoughts and motivations. It feels like Hartley is going to be a good influence on Easton. I’m hoping she gets to voice her own thoughts in book 5.

The thing that ruined me the most in Fallen Heir was that ending. If you’ve read the first three books in this series, you know that Erin Watt are the queens of the cliffhanger. They didn’t disappoint with the one at the end of Fallen Heir. It completely blew my mind. I could have never seen what happened coming, and now I’m frustrated that I have to wait until January to find out what’s next!!!

Fallen Heir was a great addition to The Royals series. It ruined me in the best ways. It took everything I thought I knew about Easton Royal, and both altered and built upon it. I’m really looking forward to seeing his character continue to grow in the next book. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t want to miss this book!