Top Ten Tuesday: Books With My Favorite Color On the Cover (or In the Title)

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s is Books With My Favorite Color On the Cover (or In the Title). I don’t really have one favorite color, so I’ll go with turquoise or teal.


1. This Adventure Ends
by Emma Mills

2. The Learning Hours
by Sara Ney

3. The Other Brother
by Meghan Quinn

4. After
by Anna Todd

5. Eye Candy
by Jessica Lemmon

6. The Silent Waters
by Brittainy C. Cherry

7. The Boy Most Likely To
by Huntley Fitzpatrick

8. Lingus
by Mariana Zapata

9. The Real Thing
by Melissa Foster

10. Chasing Crazy
by Kelly Siskind

Review: Bad Boy Brody (Tijan)

Bad Boy Brody
Author: Tijan
Publication Date: May 6, 2018
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

One punch took him from Hollywood’s Golden Boy to Bad Boy Brody.

The media didn’t care he was grieving his brother’s death. They descended on him, but to change his reputation, his manager got him a deal.

Act in an indie film, one that already had Oscar buzz, and he’d get the movie roles he needed to secure his future.

He took the deal.

Yet he wasn’t prepared for the real-life people behind the script. He wasn’t prepared for the murder the movie was based on. And he really wasn’t prepared for her, the biggest secret of all.

She was wild. She was beautiful. She defied gravity.

But was she the leading role that would tame him?


Wow! I was really impressed by Bad Boy Brody! That’s not exactly surprising because I love Tijan’s books. This one was just different.

I loved pretty much everything about Bad Boy Brody. I was immediately sucked into the story. There was an air of mystery surrounding the death of Morgan’s mother it made me curious about the making of the movie. When Morgan popped into the story, I was even more enthralled by that mystery because Morgan herself was a mystery. I loved discovering her along with Brody. I am not a fan of horses, but I loved how they were used regarding to Morgan. I’m not sure I’ve read anything quite like that before. I really loved Morgan’s character and everything that went along with her.

Brody was a great character, but he wasn’t as important to me as Morgan was. His reasons for being a bad boy were understandable. Once he started dealing with his issues, his true colors shone. Brody was a good guy, and I loved how he supported Morgan. He truly understood her. That made their relationship sweeter than it would have been otherwise.

I did have a couple of things that weren’t my favorite about this book. One, Brody and Morgan’s relationship moved more quickly than I would have expected. Their attraction was instant, but I didn’t think Morgan would be okay with acting on it as quickly as she did. I guess I was wrong about that. Two, the title Bad Boy Brody didn’t fit the story for me. He had his bad boy moments, but for me the story was more about Morgan and her horses. That’s really just a small personal preference, though. Three, I wanted more of Matthew’s perspective. The book was mostly told from Brody and Morgan’s POVs, but Matthew had a few chapters and those were intriguing. I would have liked more insight into his character.

Bad Boy Brody was not what I was expecting. It felt different from any other book I’ve read by Tijan. The level of angst wasn’t nearly as high. It was an emotional story, but nearly as emotional for me as some of her other books. There was drama, but not nearly as much nor as salacious. Normally, when I’m beginning a Tijan novel I’m excited to experience those things. I love how her books make me feel. What I’m trying to get to is that I didn’t miss those things in Bad Boy Brody. It was an entirely new experience, and I really enjoyed that. I think others will too — especially readers who may like Tijan’s writing but are overwhelmed by the drama and angst.

Review: Perfect Love Story (Natasha Madison)

Perfect Love Story
Series: Love, #1
Author: Natasha Madison
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

When one man’s death exposes a complex web of lies, three couples discover the true meaning of love, loss and redemption.

Hailey
What do you do when you find out your whole life was a lie?

That your husband really wasn’t your husband but someone else’s.

That the vows you made to each other were simply empty promises.

You pick up and move to the country to start fresh.

When life hands you limes, you make sure you have tequila because your life is about to get stirred up.

Jensen
Married to my high school sweetheart, the best thing she gave me was my baby girl.

But we weren’t enough for her. I wasn’t enough for her.

The last thing I expected on my birthday was a Dear John letter, but that’s what I got when she upped and left.

Now, it’s just me and my girl against the world till the new girl moves in next door.

Is there such a thing as a perfect love story?


Perfect Love Story is the story of learning to love again and healing. When Hailey’s husband dies, she comes to find out she’s the other woman in a sister wives type of situation in the worst way. Hailey doesn’t know how she’ll ever recuperate from everything she’s learned. Her grandmother offers her the perfect opportunity to escape everything at the beach. At the beach, she meets Jensen. Jensen has emotional scars of his own. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, Jensen’s wife left them. Hailey and Jensen don’t immediately fall for each other. It takes a while in this slow burning romance for them to help each other heal from their wounds.

I was a little surprised by Perfect Love Story. It wasn’t what I expected from Natasha Madison. It had a little different feel to it. Normally, Madison’s books have a little sexier vibe to them. Perfect Love Story had more of sweet feel to it. That wasn’t worse or better than what I normally expect from Natasha Madison. It was just different. I really enjoyed Perfect Love story and all of the feelings it gave me.

I was enraged on both Hailey and Jensen’s behalf. Both had been betrayed in horrible ways. The scars they had were so deep. I wasn’t sure how they were going to be able to move past them. I loved that Hailey was able to heal at the beach surrounded by new and old friends. Jensen’s healing was a longer time coming but felt like it took more effort. He had to get past some of his hang ups built up over the years. Love was what really brought him back around. Hailey and Jensen’s relationship gave them the love they needed to completely move on, and it was really sweet.

There were a couple of things about this book that kind of threw me off. First, it seemed like everyone was related to each other. Hailey’s best friend / roommate was also her cousin. Jensen’s two best friend were his cousins. Everyone was someone’s cousin. That was a little too well-connected for me. Second, the whole thing with Jensen’s ex and her mom confused me. Norma and all the situations she was in felt crazy. She was almost stalker-ish. I didn’t get that because it was obvious her daughter left Jensen and had moved onto other things. I wasn’t sure for most of the book if her actions were because she knew something Jensen didn’t or not. It was all so weird.

Overall, Perfect Love Story was a cute read. I’m excited to read the next book in the series about Hailey and Gabe’s cousins. They had some seriously hot chemistry going on!

Review: Take Me Back (Meghan March)

Take Me Back
Author: Meghan March
Narrators: Andi Arndt, Zachary Webber
Publication Date: March 20, 2017
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

We fell in love on a beach, got married in paradise, and I carried her off into the sunset. It should have been perfect, but saying “I do” doesn’t guarantee a happily-ever-after.

Two years later, I barely recognize either of us behind the walls we’ve built.

It’s time to bring it full circle. Back to a tropical paradise. Back to find out if we can still make this work.

I’m not willing to give her up, but to save us, I have to risk everything.

Two damaged people.

Countless secrets.

The fight of our lives.

We might be broken, but we’re not done.


This winter I’ve been binge listening to Meghan March’s books. I love her writing style and the voices she gives her characters. I also love the narrators she uses for her audiobooks. Listening to them is such a joy.

That being said, most of the books I’ve read of March’s have been contemporary romances. Usually there is a little mystery involved, but it’s not one that’s super suspenseful. That’s one way Take Me Back differs from the previous books I’ve read. It had me on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book! I was surprised by how much I liked that. Normally, I’m not a big fan of romantic suspense plots, but it really worked in this book. I loved the entire plot!

Another way Take Me Back was different was the type of relationship featured. Cat and Dane were an established married couple. Their relationship had started to fall apart of the past year, and they were embarking on a vacation to try and salvage what was left of it. This was another good surprise. I liked how they each had things they needed to tell the other, and how they both wanted to make things work. It was refreshing to read about them both putting in the effort to make their marriage better.

These two differences made Take Me Back standout — not only among Meghan March’s many titles, but among contemporary romantic suspense novels. I loved listening to this book, and I think other will really enjoy it, too.

Mini Reviews: God-Shaped Hole, The Art of Running in Heels, & Beneath the Truth

God-Shaped Hole
Author: Tiffanie De Bartolo
Publication Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Huh… I’m not really sure what to say about God-Shaped Hole. I had a hard time deciding if I loved or hated it. I’m leaning heavily toward loved. It was so…odd. Well, not really. It just made me feel odd. The characters were kind of off-putting but somehow endearing. I can’t even explain it. It’s definitely one of those books that left me thinking after I finished it. I imagine I felt somewhat like Beatrice did in the end.

If you’re curious about this book and thinking of reading it, the writing is really good. It reminds me of a “lighter” Tarryn Fisher book. That’s high praise from me.

The Art of Running in Heels
Series: Chinooks Hockey Team
Author: Rachel Gibson
Publication Date: December 26, 2017
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

It’s been years since Rachel Gibson released a Chinooks Hockey Team novel, and I had forgotten just how much I loved this series! I was really impressed with how it moved into present day. It incorporated some of my favorite characters along with awesome new ones. I loved Lexi and Sean’s romance. The reality T.V. show and hockey aspects of this story were so much fun! I laughed so many times at all of the crazy things that happened. If you’re a fan of this series, you’ll love returning to it. If you haven’t read Rachel Gibson before, this wouldn’t be a bad place to start.

P.S. I feel like I need to point out that this book is written in third person. Normally, that’s not my favorite style of writing, but Rachel Gibson makes it work. I didn’t even notice it! That shows what a great writer she is.

Beneath the Truth
Series: Beneath, #7
Author: Meghan March
Narrators: Sebastian York, Andi Arndt
Publication Date: August 8, 2017
Publisher: Meghan March
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Beneath the Truth carried on the Beneath series tradition by keeping things a little suspenseful, a lot sexy, and wonderfully narrated. I liked getting to know Rhett Hennessy better. Ariel was the perfect match for him. I loved that she was his best friend’s younger sister. That was cute. The romantic suspense part of this book was done well, and parts of it shocked me. Overall, this was another fun addition and great ending to the series.

Review: Jock Row (Sara Ney)

Jock Row
Series: Jock Hard, #1
Author: Sara Ney

Publication Date: May 3, 2018
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Scarlett is always the sensible one: The sober driver. The planner. The one holding your hair back while you’re worshiping the porcelain gods.

Week-after-week, she visits Jock Row with her friends—the universities hottest party scene and breeding ground for student athletes. And if keeping her friends out of trouble, and guys out of their pants, was a sport, she’d be the star athlete.

Being a well known jock-blocker gets her noticed for all the wrong reasons; just like that, she’s banned from Jock Row. NO GUY WANTS A GIRL AROUND WHO KEEPS THEIR JOCK FRIENDS FROM GETTING LAID.

“Rowdy” Wade is the hot shot short-stop for the university’s baseball team—and the unlucky bastard who drew the short straw: keep little Miss Goody Two-Shoes out of the Baseball House.

But week-after-week Scarlett returns, determined to get inside.


Oh, my goodness! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I adored Jock Row! I was expecting it to have a similar vibe as the How to Date a Douchebag series. It was in the way of hot, cocky college athletes and smart women, but it was also different. Jock Row was more of a sweet, almost slow burn romance. Scarlett and Rowdy took their time getting to know each other, and the result was utterly swoon worthy.

Scarlett was this smart, feisty girl. She wasn’t into landing a sports star. She was all about keeping her friends safe. Rowdy may have been helping his teammates — no matter how stupid he thought they were being– but he wasn’t into girls who wanted nothing but his status and possible paycheck. He was a good guy with ambitions beyond hooking up. Both were good, strong characters who knew what they wanted in life.

That’s why Rowdy and Scarlett were so perfect for each other. Neither of them was actively looking for someone else. They were confident in their own skin. They had already figured themselves out, and that made it even more exciting to experience them figuring each other out. I loved how they got to know each other. I also loved how there wasn’t much drama to their relationship. That made this an incredibly fun read.  Scarlett and Rowdy were so stinking cute together. Seriously. They made me smile so dang much!

Another thing I adored about this book were the side characters. All of the baseball players I met were exactly what I expected (Rowdy excluded). They brought the feel I loved from the How to Date a Douchebag series. My favorite side characters, though, were Rowdy’s parents. His mom was especially cool. I could have read more of her interactions with Rowdy and Scarlett.

Jock Row was everything I didn’t know I wanted and needed in a college sports romance. It was sweet, a little sexy, and amusing. I couldn’t get enough of Scarlett and Rowdy. This is my new favorite Sara Ney book. I’m so sad I’m done reading it, but I am so excited to see what’s to come in the Jock Hard series.

Review: Love and Other Words (Christina Lauren)

Love and Other Words
Author: Christina Lauren
Narrator: Erin Mallon
Publication Date: April 10, 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

The heart may hide, but it never forgets.

The first women’s fiction novel from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Autoboyography, Dating You / Hating You).

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly teen friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco reading books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.


Love and Other Words is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. If I had to pick a favorite right at this moment, this book would be it. Hands down.

I cannot even begin to describe how good this book was. From the moment I started listening to it, I knew I was going to be in for an emotionally bumpy ride. Macy was filled with so much angst. I wanted to know so badly why she was the way she was. I couldn’t understand it. Elliot seemed so amazingly awesome. Knowing where Macy and Elliot were now in their lives made experiencing their past even more excruciating. They were so dang perfect for each other that it was hard to imagine where things got off track for them. I had my predictions, but I couldn’t have guessed how their falling apart went down. The path to those revolutions was so engrossing. I didn’t want to stop listening. I was frustrated that I didn’t have the time to listen to the audiobook straight through. When I finally learned the entire truth behind Macy and Elliot’s past, I was even more devastated for them than I had been before.

My heart ached for Macy and Elliot this entire book. It was such a bittersweet story, but it was so good. I loved the way Love and Other Words was written. The past and present were woven together perfectly. The right amount of information was given at the right time. It was utter perfection. I cannot express how beautiful this book was. Go read it for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’d Slay a Lion to Get Early

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is Books I’d Slay a Lion to Get Early. Pretty simple. Here we go!

1.Speakeasy (True North, #5)
by Sarina Bowen

2. Trick Play (Mavericks, #3)
by Max Monroe

3. 4th & Girl (Mavericks, #4)
by Max Monroe

4. The Chase (Briar Hockey, #1)
by Elle Kennedy
5. I Think I Love You (Oxford, #5)
by Lauren Layne

6. All Your Perfects
by Colleen Hoover

7. One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers, #3)
by Meghan Quinn
8. Listen to Your Heart
by Kasie West

9. Folsom (End of Men, #1)
by Tarryn Fisher & Willow Aster

10. All Closed Off (Rusk University, #4)
by Cora Cormack

Review: I Dare You (Ilsa Madden-Mills)

I Dare You
Series: Waylon University, #1
Author: Ilsa MaddenMills

Publication Date: April 28, 2018
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

Bad Ass Athlete: I dare you to…
Delaney Shaw: Who is this?

The late night text is random, but “Bad Ass Athlete” sure seems to know who she is…

Delaney Shaw.
Good girl.
Lover of fluffy kitties and Star Wars.
Curious.

His dare? Spend one night in his bed—a night he promises will be unforgettable—and she can solve the mystery of who he is.

She knows she shouldn’t, but what else is she going to do with her boring Valentine’s Day?

One sexy hook-up later, her mind is blown and the secret’s out.

Maverick Monroe.
Bad boy.
The most talented football player in the country.
Just ask him.

Too bad for him Delaney’s sworn off dating athletes forever after her last heartbreak.

But Maverick wants more than one night and refuses to give up on winning Delaney’s heart. She isn’t one to be fazed by a set of broad shoulders.

After the semester ends, will the bad boy land the nerd girl or will the secrets they keep from each other separate them forever?


Ilsa Madden-Mills pleasantly surprised me with this one! I was expecting one of her angsty, emotion filled NA books. What I got was more of a romantic comedy. Both styles of story suite her writing.

I Dare You was a fun read. Delaney was that awesome “nerdy” girl everyone loves. She had no clue how cool she actually was, and I liked that. That little bit of insecurity made her character feel more real. Maverick was the cocky, but almost secretly super nice guy. I loved the way he pursued Daleney. He wasn’t too over the top or alpha. I also adored his relationship with his sister. How much he cared about her was not only admirable but cute.

Daleney and Maverick’s relationship was filled with ups and down. I loved that because it felt like when two people are truly trying to figure out who they are together. There were doubts and insecurities, but there was the excitement of new love. One of my favorite things about I Dare You were the text exchanges between Delaney and her badass athlete. They set the pace for this flirty story. It was all so fun and cute.

Fun and cute. I keep using those two words because that’s exactly what I Dare You was. I enjoyed reading it, and I’m very excited to see where this series goes. I have a feeling Jensen’s roommate’s story is going to be just as entertaining as his character was.

2018 New Adult Reading Challenge Update #4

Hi, guys! This is my first update for the 2018 New Adult Reading Challenge. This challenge was created and is hosted by Cátia @ The Girl Who Read Too Much. This month I’ve read 38 NA books:

  1. We Were One by Elizabeth Reyes
  2. Midnight Blue by L.J. Shen
  3. Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
  4. Very Wicked Beginnings by Ilsa Madden-Mills
  5. Very Wicked Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
  6. Very Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
  7. Moonshot by Alessandra Torre
  8. The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
  9. The Vincent Brothers by Abbi Glines
  10. The Coaching Hours by Sara Ney
  11. Scoring Wilder by R.S. Grey
  12. From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
  13. Sweet Little Lies by Sierra Hill
  14. Amber by Elle Casey
  15. Emerald by Elle Casey
  16. The Weight of Life by Whitney Barbetti
  17. The Sounds of Secrets by Whitney Barbetti
  18. Penalty by Jacob Chance
  19. Drive by Jacob Chance
  20. Roomies by Christina Lauren
  21. All Lined Up by Cora Carmack
  22. All Broke Down by Cora Carmack
  23. All Played Out by Cora Carmack
  24. Alphas Like Us by Krista & Becca Ritchie
  25. Hot Stuff by Kim Karr
  26. Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
  27. Beneath This Mask by Meghan March
  28. Beneath This Ink by Meghan March
  29. Shooting for the Stars by Sarina Bowen
  30. For Crosby by J. Nathan
  31. Professor’s Pet by Alex Wolf
  32. Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
  33. Bad Judgment by Meghan March
  34. For Finlay by J. Nathan
  35. Bad Boy Brody by Tijan
  36. Six Feet Under by Whitney Barbetti
  37. I Dare You by Ilsa Madden-Mills
  38. Jock Row by Sara Ney

  1. finish a seriesVery Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
  2. first book by a favorite authorVery Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
  3. book with only a male POV
  4. forbidden romanceMoonshot by Alessandra Torre
  5. book you knew nothing about Sweet Little Lies by Sierra Hill
  6. friendship to love romance Jock Row by Sara Ney
  7. bottom of your TBR The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
  8. blue coverRoomies by Christina Lauren
  9. LGBTQ novel Alphas Like Us by Krista & Becca Ritchie
  10. fantasy novel
  11. book with a POC main character From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
  12. book set in winterShooting for the Stars by Sarina Bowen
  13. book about familyBad Boy Brody by Tijan
  14. book with music or artMidnight Blue by L.J. Shen
  15. new to you author All Lined Up by Cora Carmack
  16. book out of your comfort zoneScoring Wilder by R.S. Grey
  17. book with number in the titleWe Were One by Elizabeth Reyes
  18. 2018 release Bad Boy Brody by Tijan
  19. book written by a male authorPenalty by Jacob Chance
  20. first love
  21. enemies to lovers For Crosby by J. Nathan
  22. book that makes you cry
  23. book set in another countryRoyal Ruin by Jessica Peterson
  24. book with multiple POVsThe Coaching Hours by Sara Ney

I’m looking forward to participating in this challenge! If you’re up for joining in, you can sign up here. Be sure to watch for my monthly challenge updates.