Being a Jett Girl by Meghan Quinn

Being a Jett Girl by Meghan Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Yep, that was pretty much my reaction when I got to the end of Being a Jett Girl and for so many reasons (and I won’t even tell you what those reasons are because most of them are spoilers). But I’m getting ahead of myself here. Goldie is back as a full-fledged Jett Girl and she’s just as sassy and mouthy as she was in Becoming a Jett Girl. I thought the opening scene was hilarious and Goldie wasn’t the only one left wondering if she’d peed herself. What a way to start off a book.

I really liked that Ms. Quinn has kept Goldie’s character consistent from book one to book two. The woman has a unique way with words and the stuff that comes out of her mouth had me laughing out loud multiple times … “bitch-a-corns” anyone? And it is Goldie’s unpredictable mouth that keeps Jett on his toes, constantly breaking through his cool exterior. She gave him no choice but to fall for her and Jett finally admits it to himself in Being a Jett Girl. If it can be believed, the sex is even hotter this time around. It’s a good thing my Kindle is magenta, otherwise its blushing would have been very noticeable. But of course, all is NOT smooth sailing for this couple as Jett is still dealing with his father and the Lot 17 bid.

As new characters are introduced, the danger increases, and the plot thickens, I found myself devouring Being a Jett Girl in one sitting – a very long sitting, but a single sitting none the less. I just have to say that I loved how Diego’s flirty banter kept rendering Goldie speechless – she’s getting a glimpse into how she often leaves Jett feeling during a conversation, whether she knows it or not. Ms. Quinn has continued to bring her “A” game to this series and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I can only hope that she is writing furiously because I am dying to read the smack down that Goldie gives Keylee because I just know that’s coming. As Jett says “You could take the girl off Bourbon Street but you can’t take the Bourbon Street out of the girl.”



Check out the Being a Jett Girl by Meghan Quinn Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews

Withering Hope by Layla Hagen

Withering Hope by Layla Hagen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Damn you Layla Hagen. I just finished reading Withering Hope and my eyes hurt and my nose is stuffed up from crying. The last book that left me feeling this way upon its conclusion was Always by Kindle Alexander. I found myself so invested in Aimee and Tristan that I felt their guilt, their pain, their happiness, their fear, their love, and their loss on a soul deep level. This is one of those books that will stick with me for a very long time; one that I might never read again, but don’t regret one single tear shed over it.

As the blurb indicates, the majority of the story takes place while Aimee and Tristan are stranded when their plane crashes in the Amazon rainforest. Ms. Hagen wastes no time in getting straight to the action. While there is no buildup of the characters and their backstory, Aimee’s memories and flashbacks provided enough history that I was drawn in almost immediately. Like Tristan, I underestimated Aimee’s resolve and expected her to break down several times throughout the ordeal. Her strength was awe-inspiring and those rare times when she finally did break down, I couldn’t fault her for it. While most of the book is told from Aimee’s point of view, we do get a few chapters from Tristan’s POV and while short, they reveal a lot about Tristan and his feelings toward Aimee. He was drawn to Aimee long before the crash, but the gratitude he had for Chris, Aimee’s fiancé, and the respect he had for both Chris and Aimee made him keep his distance. After the crash, he continues to do so while doing everything that he can to insure her safety. When Aimee inadvertently soothes Tristan’s inner turmoil, he admits to himself that he cannot give up the peace she brings him. Even though Tristan realizes that his feelings toward Aimee have changed, she resists self-examination of her feelings because she loves Chris and has since they were children. But when the jungle seems intent on testing their mortality, Aimee is forced to admit that the love she feels for Chris does not compare with what she has come to feel for Tristan. Rather than being smothered by guilt, Aimee finds that this admission actually frees her and she becomes determined to live happily with Tristan for as long as the rainforest will let them because nature’s threats are getting closer and more dangerous.

Withering Hope is a romance that is full of drama, action, danger, and love. Unlike many of the angst-fueled books I read (and enjoy), the drama within is not manufactured by the characters but rather, it is due to their surroundings and their circumstances. Being faced with life and death situations cause both Aimee and Tristan to examine their lives, their feelings, and their expectations. I have a tendency to enjoy books in which the characters engage in serious self-examination and Withering Hope is no exception. While I can’t say that Aimee and Tristan’s story is a happy one, I can say that they find happiness in the time they have together. So when you’re ready for a story of true love and you don’t mind shedding the tears that go with it, grab your hanky, find a quiet place to read in private (because no one in real life is pretty crier), and settle in for a read that will break your heart while mending it at the same time. Beautifully done Ms. Hagen.



Check out the Withering Hope by Layla Hagen blog post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews

Angel in Armani by Melanie Scott

Angel in Armani by Melanie Scott

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Ms. Scott brings us another enjoyable story involving the new owners of the New York Saints in Angel in Armani. This time up at bat is Lucas Angelo, Dr. Lucas Angelo that is. Not only is Lucas one of the new owners of the Saints, but he’s also an orthopedic surgeon. Despite his busy surgery schedule, he’s on point for overseeing the Saint’s spring training camp as the team has to recruit new talent to replace the players that left after the change in management or whose contracts weren’t renewed. As Lucas’s practice is in New York and the baseball camp is in Florida, this requires a lot of air travel and Lucas does NOT like to fly. Fortunately a previous scheduling issue with his normal helicopter pilot led him to Sara Charles and he’s utilized her services ever since then because she makes him feel safer in the air than any pilot ever has before. But when they get stranded while returning from the Hamptons, adrenaline and hormones take over and they spend one heck of a night … yowser! But a freak accident causes Sara to strand Lucas and serves to nip any romantic relationship in the bud … or does it?

Much like his friend Alex, Lucas is unexpectedly down-to-earth – unexpectedly because he comes from money and his career as a surgeon guarantees that he won’t be hurting for money either (not that it sounds like he really needs to work). Not once in the course of the book did Lucas come off as rich or entitled. The few scenes in which he seemed detached or cold were due to fear (when flying) or anger (with his mother) and were never directed toward Sara. In fact, the chemistry between him and Sara is so far from cold that they were lucky they weren’t setting things on fire around them. As for Sara, I loved her and the fact that she knew not a lick about baseball was a constant source of amusement. As a former Army helo pilot, she has an amazing strength of character and determination that encompasses most parts of her life. The exception being her relationship with Lucas; not because she doesn’t want him but because she’s afraid it won’t last and she’s not sure that’s a breakup she can handle. Fortunately for Sara (and the reader), Lucas has his own source of determination and he is set on making Sara his, willing to do what it takes to make it happen. Angel in Armani is a wonderful addition to the New York Saints series and Ms. Scott has definitely hit another home run with it. I’m looking forward to Mal’s story in Lawless in Leather and can only hope that the author will take advantage of the slew of players for future books to continue the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Angel in Armani by Melanie Scott blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Running Wild by S.E. Jakes

Running Wild by S.E. Jakes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I loved the beginning of this book – actually, I loved the whole book, but the beginning struck me as the perfect blend of Mystery Man and Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley, but with an M/M twist. It’s like Ms. Jakes took the best of Hawk and Tack and made him bi-sexual. And by no means am I remotely suggesting that Ms. Jakes is ripping off KA, but rather it’s like she read the books and asked herself what the love-child of Hawk and Tack would be like and created Ryker. So as a huge KA fan, I freaking loved Ryker. And my impression of Ryker is where the similarities between Ms. Jakes and KA ends.

Now what made Running Wild so much fun to read was that Ms. Jakes gives us not one, but two bad boys. Sean might not be a biker, but he is a bad boy in his own right. Due to his time in the service and his propensity for grand theft auto, he is most definitely a tortured bad boy at that. Both are alpha male bad boys and they should not work, but they do … oh boy, do they. Ryker and Sean take man-on-man to a-whole-nother level. While Ryker can do sweet, it is the hard and rough balls-to-wall encounters that left me chewing a hole in my lip. And the passing conversation about a threesome … good grief Ms. Jakes, are you trying to incinerate my Kindle?

Bikers, car thieves, and alpha male bad boys in abundance. Running Wild is an action-packed, testosterone-filled, thrill ride that held my attention from page one to the end. I am so freaking glad that this is going to be a series as I cannot wait to read more about the Havoc MC. This might have been my first novel by S.E. Jakes, but it most definitely won’t be my last.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Running Wild Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Shuttered Affections by Rene Folsom

Shuttered Affections by Rene Folsom

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

I REALLY liked this book! I have read several romance books about teacher/student or young woman/older wealthy man relationships that they sometimes blend together. Yet I found Shuttered Affections to be refreshing.

While Julia is younger than Aiden, she isn't portrayed as a naive young woman overwhelmed by the attentions of an older man. Yes, she is overwhelmed by Aiden, but it is because of her intense physical reaction to him - something she never expected to feel for anyone again due to the actions of her previous boyfriend. Julia definitely has her moments of vulnerability and the self-esteem issues so many women face at some point in their lives, but she is an otherwise strong independent woman working hard to achieve her goals.

Aiden. What can I say about Aiden? Of course, he's hot, intense, and wealthy - which you don't get an understanding of until the end of the book. He also has a sensitive side that I haven't seen in many of the rich alpha male characters. His insecurities around Julia are refreshing. Now for the icing on the cake, he's a twin! Yes ladies, there are 2 of these gorgeous hunks!

I think what I enjoyed most about Shuttered Affections is that while there is a lot going on in a short time frame, the relationship between Julia and Aiden is a slow seduction. They don't actually have sex until about 80% into the book, but the moments of intimacy before that are HOT! I felt seduced by Aiden and loved the anticipation that built as I read the book.

What I did not like about the book was the abrupt ending. It was not a cliffhanger ... it just stopped. Fortunately, I have the second book and can begin it immediately. Otherwise, the ending would have really pissed me off. I understand books in sequels are supposed to leave you hanging, but this one did not. It just stopped with no warning and if it weren't for the fact that it said "The end of book one" I would have thought there was something wrong with my download. Leave me hanging, don't slam the door in my face.

Ms. Folsom has written a wonderfully seductive book and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.





View all my reviews

Rasputin's Kiss by L.M. Somerton

Rasputin's Kiss by L.M. Somerton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In Rasputin’s Kiss we meet Detective Inspector Alex Courtney and Detective Conor Trethuan as they work together to catch a serial killer. Despite the gravity of the subject, I found Alex’s recruitment process that eventually led him to Conor quite amusing. The scene serves to set the mood of the book and strikes a great balance between humor and seriousness and the author does an excellent job of tempering the starkness of the investigation with humor.

While the relationship between Alex and Conor progressed quickly, somehow it worked in this case. The emotional connection was forged so early in their relationship that it bordered on insta-love yet the author managed to keep it from feeling rushed or forced, thus avoiding the insta-love feel. I believe that the D/s aspect of their assignment may have hastened their bond due to the level of trust involved, but again the speed of development felt right. In fact, when Alex asserted his dominance over Conor during sex, the chemistry between the two men increased and this made for some unbelievable sex scenes.

The romantic suspense angle was well written and the reader is not privy to information that allows them to figure out who the responsible party is. Actually the book seems to be written in such a way as to insure that the suspense is experienced while withholding info that would allow the reader to figure out "who done it?" However, for me this resulted in there not being quite as much suspense throughout the book as I would have expected for a police thriller, but the police standoff at the end more than made up for it. Rasputin’s Kiss was a terrific read and I’m looking forward to starting Evil’s Embrace next.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Investigating Love Series Spotlight! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Simply Pleasure by Kate Pearce

Simply Pleasure by Kate Pearce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Simply Pleasure is a quick m/m regency romance that gives the reader a brief look into the lives of Val and Peter after they’ve been liberated from a Turkish brothel and returned to England. Having spent ten years in sexual slavery, being prostituted out to both men and women, it is not surprising that they both have difficulty adjusting to their new lives – but for distinctly different reasons. Val expects his father to reject him and while the reader doesn’t witness all that he does over the course of three years, it appears that Val goes out of his way to give his father every reason to do so. Despite his best efforts to force a self-fulfilling prophecy, Val’s father refuses to turn his back on him and accepts his unsavory behavior because he wants his son’s presence in his life. On the other hand, Peter’s difficulty adjusting is because Val won’t claim him, nor will he let him go. It seems that every time Peter attempts to leave to make his own way in life, Val guilts him into staying with him and offers just enough physical interactions to keep him there. Being so close to the man he loves while Val refuses him most of the time is more than Peter can deal with emotionally, so he begins using opium again to the point that he becomes extremely addicted. When faced with the extent of Peter’s addiction Val takes it upon himself to get Peter off of the drug and make one of the most difficult decisions he’s had to make – to let Peter choose to live his life apart from him or to finally offer Peter the relationship that Peter wants.

As Simply Pleasure is a novella, we are not privy to the forging of the relationship the Val and Peter developed over their ten years together in the brothel. Despite this, Ms. Pearce presents bits and pieces of their past through their dialogues and memories that makes the depth of the bond between the men very apparent (as do the steamy sex scenes). Within the book’s first few scenes, their behaviors are such that it is easy to see the dynamic of their relationship and to understand that Val is both selfish and manipulative, but not necessarily in a bad way. He clearly cares for Peter, but the horrors he has experienced at the brothel prevent him from loving Peter, but he can’t let go of him either. Because Peter loves Val he remains with him after they return to England but his despair at the situation with Peter leads him back to opium in an attempt to numb the pain of living with Val without being with Val. Or at least that is my take on the story as Ms. Pearce writes it in such a way that the reader is left to infer certain things and draw conclusions about their behaviors and motives based on the conversations between the various characters. I really enjoyed the author’s writing and style of presentation as it left me feeling as though I read a full-length novel as opposed to a novella. Simply Pleasure was a great read and I look forward to checking out more of Ms. Pearce’s writing.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Simply Pleasure by Kate Pearce blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Warrior by Cara Bristol

Warrior by Cara Bristol

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Anika cared for her “partner” Jergan and while she mourns his death, she also relishes the freedom she has had in not having to answer to a man other than her brother Marlix. Needless to say she is NOT happy when Marlix announces that she will become the breeder to Commander Ilian. Unlike Jergan, who was a beta, Commander Ilian is an alpha and she knows he will be far more controlling than Jergan was. Much to Marlix and Urazi’s dismay, Anika steals away in the night to avoid being sent to the Commander the next day. Marlix’s dismay is due to his disbelief that his sister would disobey him. Urazi is dismayed because he and Anika had been engaging in beta sex (anal sex to prevent betas from procreating) and he thought they had grown close enough that she would have come to him about the issue. Against his Alpha’s orders, Urazi sets off to find Anika and bring her back – better him not be able to see her because she is with Ilian than because she is dead. What follows is an action-packed adventure as Anika attempts to maintain her freedom while avoiding being caught by Marlix’s men and enemies.

I loved Anika’s strength and determination. Clearly she underestimated the dangers the a warring Parseon presented to her, but her ability to adapt to the situation demonstrates her intelligence and shows Urazi that he really shouldn’t underestimate women in general and her in particular. As they spend time together under extremely stressful conditions (you’ll have to read the book to find out because they’re too spoilerish to reveal), Urazi’s commitment to his Alpha and Parseon protocol weaken until he initiates non-beta sex with Anika. While many of their interactions are rushed due to the situation, it does not diminish their steaminess or thoroughness. As is usually the case in war, things get worse for the couple before they get better and things definitely get WAY worse – bad enough that I questioned whether or not Ms. Bristol was going to give Anika and Urazi the happy ending they deserved.

Although Warrior is the third book in the Breeder series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. That said, I suspect that I would have enjoyed a slightly richer reading experience had I read Breeder and Terran first as characters from both books either appeared or are mentioned in Warrior; however, I never felt at a loss of what was going on in their world. I do intend to go back and read books one and two to learn Marlix’s and Dak’s stories and I hope that Ms. Bristol is working on a fourth book in the series as there seem to be a lot of changes on the horizon for Parseon.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Breeder Series Spotlight! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Becoming a Jett Girl by Meghan Quinn

Becoming a Jett Girl by Meghan Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Can two damaged souls heal one another? They may have a pretty good shot at it if they’re in the Lafayette Club. Jett Colby established the Lafayette Club to help rescue girls who have hit rock bottom and found themselves on the ugly side of the beautiful city of New Orleans. The girls are trained in the art of burlesque, given a safe place to live and earn an honest living, fed, clothed, and given an education so that when they choose to leave they are able to support themselves. Each girl is handpicked by Jett and he always gets what he wants … until Goldie.

I loved Goldie’s character – she’s sassy, feisty, funny, and feels deeply. She’s had a tough life and makes no excuses for what she does. She might not be proud of the path her life has taken, but she’s doing the best she can. Despite how badly she wants to make a change, she’s a firm believer that “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is” and thus ignores the first and second invites to become a Jett Girl. After the third invite, she’s convinced that she made the right decision because the stalker behavior is creeping her out (those were some amusing monologues and dialogues). But when Goldie finds out that her life really could get worse, she gives in and agrees to embark upon Becoming a Jett Girl.

Among the many things I enjoyed about this book were the numerous relationships that Goldie developed with the other inhabitants of the Lafayette Club. Despite the fact that she was not the only Jett Girl having sex with Jett, the relationships with the other girls were warm and supportive; I really expected a conflict between her and Pepper and was pleasantly surprised when Ms. Quinn didn’t go there. While there was some sexual tension between her and Kace, I liked the way in which their relationship changed over the course of the novel. But, as expected, it is her relationship with Jett that made the book. In a word, their relationship is passionate. They can push one another’s buttons so thoroughly that I didn’t always know who to root for. Their relationship had moments that were so sweet, moments that were unbelievably hot, and moments that were thoroughly devastating. As if all that were not enough to make this a great read, Ms. Quinn adds a bit intrigue and a whole lotta conflict between Jett and his father that is just getting started. Becoming a Jett Girl has the Bourbon series off to an excellent start and I am thrilled that I get to find out how life at the Lafayette Club continues to play out in Being a Jett Girl.



Check out the Being a Jett Girl by Meghan Quinn Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews

Heart Grow Fonder by Cristy Rey

Heart Grow Fonder by Cristy Rey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Heart Grow Fonder is a beautifully and sensitively written love story. Jessie suffers from chronic depression and I was impressed by the way that Ms. Rey was able to portray Jessie’s character realistically – keeping her human while showing how her depression affected her life and the lives of those close to her. It seems to me that Ms. Rey has either suffered depression herself or is very close to someone who has as it is the little details about Jessie’s behaviors that demonstrate her intimate knowledge and understanding of the disorder. I have a close relative who suffers from chronic depression and I myself have endured a depressive episode (grief related), so I saw myself and my family member reflected in so many of Jessie’s behaviors (i.e., sitting in front of the television for days, not showering, exhaustion, avoiding people) and her thoughts (knowing that something is wrong with you, even knowing that you are depressed but not caring enough to do something about it). The manner in which I connected to Jessie’s character on a personal level took Heart Grow Fonder from a good read to a great read.

Beyond my personal connection to Jessie, I adored the relationship she had with Tyler. They were more than just friends, they were family to one another and the most important person in each other’s life. It is not an easy bond to forge, but we learn that theirs was forged in blood in high school and they’ve had each other’s back for well over a decade. And understanding the depth of their relationship, I found myself devastated for Tyler when Jessie disappeared and cut off contact with him. While I understood her motives and reasoning, I also understood his pain. I was not surprised by his reaction to her when she initiated contact after months of radio silence and I was glad that he made her aware of just how much her actions hurt him.

Equally as fascinating was her relationship with Boyd. Both were kind of star struck by the other (for different reasons) and this made their initial interactions quite entertaining. I liked that Boyd was drawn to her and got to know Jessie when he “babysat” her for Tyler; this served to deepen their relationship rather than the author going for an insta-love connection. Yes, Boyd was “taken” with her when he first saw her, but he didn’t pretend it was love at first sight. He did acknowledge that he needed her to be part of his life and set out to befriend her with the hope for more eventually but I don’t consider that an unrealistic reaction – an instant connection is not the same as insta-love. Because of this, I was almost as devastated for him as I was for Tyler when Jessie took off. I liked that he emailed her daily even when she didn’t respond, thus giving Jessie a chance to get to know Boyd the person, not Boyd the actor and fall for him. And while Jessie’s depression and his ever increasing fame meant that any chance of a relationship was going to be a hard fought battle on his part, I loved the ultimate resolution that Ms. Rey gave them.

Even when the subject matter is difficult to read, I find books like this – ones in which I am able to relate to the main character on a personal level – to be even more powerful of a read. Typically a book receives a 5-star rating from me when I loved the story so much that I can easily see myself reading it again; however, there are a few cases where a book affects me so deeply that it gets a 5-star rating even if I know it’s unlikely that I will read it again. Heart Grow Fonder falls into this latter category. I may never read it again but I will certainly be reading more of Ms. Rey’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Heart Grow Fonder Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Wild and Free by Kristen Ashley

Wild and Free by Kristen Ashley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



When I first started this book, I did so without rereading the previous two books in the series. While I remembered much of what occurred in Until the Sun Falls from the Sky and With Everything I Am, it was the details regarding the series’ Immortal War storyline that escaped my memory. So with much aggrievement (yeah, because it’s such a hardship to read a KA book…LMAO), I went back and reread books one and two and am so glad I did – and not just because it’s been a few months since I treated myself to her writing, but because there was so much that occurred that I had forgotten.

As with all of her books, Ms. Ashley writes characters that feel real to me regardless of the genre of the book. Like the previous books in The Three series, Wild and Free features a paranormal hero, Abel, and a human heroine, Delilah. Despite it being a paranormal romance, she manages to give their tale a decidedly contemporary feel such that I suspect non-paranormal romance readers would find themselves swept up into the story. Taking all of that into consideration, KA managed to take Wild and Free one step further with both the paranormal AND the contemporary genres by making Abel a vampire werewolf hybrid and Delilah a biker bitch. And just like the previous couples, Delilah is the perfect mate for Abel because her being raised in the life meant that she accepted him as he was and had an innate understanding of Abel’s alpha male tendencies. This is not to say that her understanding and acceptance of Abel’s nature meant that everything was smooth sailing in their relationship. Not at all. Like all KA heroines, Delilah is sassy, independent, and not scared of her man so she has no problem going toe-to-toe with him when she needs to. And she does. This translates into some serious chemistry (above and beyond that which comes with paranormal beings) and some freaking hot sex scenes. But most importantly, a beautiful love story.

Wild and Free is an excellent conclusion to The Three series. I really enjoyed the way in which Ms. Ashley expanded the conflict between the Immortals, adding other Immortals to the series to demonstrate the breadth of the conflict but doing it in such a way that it didn’t feel contrived or forced, but rather enriched the story. Due to the conflict, fans of the series are reunited with Lucien and Leah, Callum and Sonia, and other characters from the previous books and this made for a grand reunion in spite of the circumstances. Even knowing that the couple in all of KA’s books get their happily ever after didn’t keep me from crying when things looked bleak – as I did several times during this book. For me, a KA book is a cathartic read because her stories make me laugh and cry, they break my heart and make me fall in love, and they always leave me feeling like I’ve spent hours with friends. As I expected, I absolutely loved Wild and Free and have added it to my reread list.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Wild and Free Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Dom Up by Alaska Angelini

Dom Up by Alaska Angelini

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Devlin Black is a player, an alpha, a sadist, and a Dom. He loves women; loves dominating them; loves bringing them pleasure while finding his own. And Victoria is his kryptonite. Devlin was quite happy with his relationship-free lifestyle until the night Victoria was led to his table by mistake. As an erotica reader, that particular scene was quite funny; however, I would imagine that in real life, that scene could have been very unsettling. Although we aren’t privy to the actual events of that night, we do learn bits and pieces of it as their paths cross once again two years later in Dom Up.

Devlin is no longer happy with his life and truly hasn’t been since that night two years ago. When Victoria disappeared without a trace, he spiraled out of control and has just recently come to realize how much he wants a family. Do you hear that? That’s the sound of Devlin’s biological clock ticking. At his best friend’s advice (ill-advised in my opinion, considering his wealth), he “advertises” for a wife. Unfortunately for Dev, he encounters Victoria again after the play has been set into motion and realizes that his draw to her was not embellished in his memory and is still just as strong as it was that night. But she refuses to have anything to do with him and when Victoria’s secret (no pun intended, seriously) is revealed to the reader, her refusal makes sense. Honestly, what mother wants her child to associate with such a terrible example of the male species? Even if that man is her father. Scratch that … especially when he is her father. Upon learning that Devlin didn’t blow her off when she tried to contact him after that night and that he is looking for a wife to settle down and start a family with, she still finds herself unable to tell him about Ava because she doesn’t trust that he’s truly changed his behavior. When Victoria is finally convinced that Devlin has actually changed, she makes arrangements to meet with him to talk, but Fate has other plans and Ms. Angelini is cahoots to dropkick Victoria and me off the edge of a freaking cliff. UGHHHHHH!!!!

Dom Up is quite an intense read as it sets the stage for the Devlin Black series. The connection between Dev and Victoria was instantaneous and palpable. I’m not talking insta-love here either. I’m referring to the straight-up physical and visceral connection – Dev’s Dom persona pushed sub buttons Victoria didn’t know she had. And that connection went both ways because her natural submissive responses awoke parts of his Dom nature he didn’t realize hadn’t been tapped into before. These connections make for a freaking hot sex scene and I cannot wait to start Dom Fever to see what’s in store for these two next.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Devlin Black Spotlight! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Normal by Danielle Pearl

Normal by Danielle Pearl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Before you start this book you should have your Kleenex near and be prepared to have your heart broken repeatedly, to be terrified for another, to get pissed off, to be horrified by a parent's actions, and to fall in love. Ms. Pearl has penned a book that made me feel all of that and more through the telling of Rory's story as she struggles to recover from a series of tragedies and tries to find her Normal.

*****WARNING & POTENTIAL SPOILERS*****

If you are sensitive to the subject of rape, you may want to avoid this book. While the author does an excellent job of portraying Rory's abuse at her ex's hand, she does so in such a way that I felt Rory's fear and helplessness. The scenes are detailed without being inappropriately graphic. I realize that's an odd statement, so I'll try to clarify it. I read dark erotica involving dubious consent, books in which the "victim" gets off on being "forced" because they're not actually being raped but rather acting out a kink. The sex scenes in such books are graphic because they're meant to be sexually stimulating for the reader. In Normal, Rory is raped several times and a couple of those times the rape is extremely brutal. Ms. Pearl has written the scenes in such a way that while the violence is graphic, there is no doubt that there was no consent and are not sexually stimulating. And because a huge part of the book deals with Rory learning to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and an enormous number of triggers, Normal could prove problematic for people who are sensitive to rape.

*****END OF SPOILERS*****

All that said, Normal is a well-written book that allows the reader to accompany Rory on her journey as she tries to start life over in a new school, in a new town, in a new state. Due to the above mentioned trauma, this is not an easy journey with a quick fix happy ending nor is this an easy book to read because of the subject matter. But Rory is a complex character who is so well-written that her hopes and fears barreled right off the page at me. Ms. Pearl does an amazing job of shifting from past to present – not only in clearly indicating it in the book, but also in the timing of the scene shifts so that I learned about Rory’s past at the same time Sam did (or shortly before) and this made it easy to understand his frustration and fears even though the story was told solely from Rory’s point of view. My only complaint about Normal is that when I started it I had no idea that it was the first book of a series; needless to say I was quite shocked when I arrived at the cliff. Ms. Pearl, please write quickly because my fingers can hold on to only so many cliffs and I really need to know what happens next.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Normal by Danielle Pearl blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Straight from the Heart by Kimberly Gardner

Straight from the Heart by Kimberly Gardner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



While this is the third book in the series and characters from the previous two books do appear, Straight from the Heart can be read as a stand-alone book without issue. In this installment in the Exception to the Rule series we meet Kyle and Dave. Kyle is an out and proud dance student who needs to learn more about football so that he can land the position of team mascot and get a full scholarship to finish paying for school. Dave is the big man on campus, straight as an arrow quarterback whose coach just suggested he take ballet lessons to improve his game. After a brief conversation, the two learn that they can help each other out and agree to share their knowledge with the other.

One of the things I really liked about this book was that Dave wasn’t embarrassed to be seen with Kyle. Quite frequently in novels with this kind of storyline, the straight jock is too worried to be labeled gay by association to be seen in public with the other guy. However, Dave wasn’t worried about it and not only met Kyle in public, he also took him to the football field to demonstrate different plays and invited Kyle as his plus one to a mutual friend’s wedding. I was also surprised by the adolescent experience Dave related to Kyle prior to their first encounter – not at its occurrence, but rather that Dave shared it. I enjoyed the way in which Ms. Gardner developed Dave and Kyle’s characters and their relationship in a gradual manner which added to the realism of the book. Their sexual encounters were hot, with the first one being even more intense when Dave admitted to Kyle that he really didn’t know what he was doing. That admission showed Dave’s vulnerability because he could have just as easily pretended to know what he was doing and hurt Kyle in the process, and that he did this just endeared his character to me even more. But even that paled in comparison to Dave’s grand gesture at the end because he understood that he needed to be a man of action and knew that words alone would not help him to achieve his goal … Kyle.

Straight from the Heart was a great read. I have read other books by Ms. Gardner and found her writing in this one to be just as enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of her work and plan to read the previous books in the Exception to the Rule series as I liked “meeting” their characters in this book and would like to read their stories as well – especially Josie’s story.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Straight from the Heart by Kimberly Gardner blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Beautiful Outlaw by Emily Minton

Beautiful Outlaw by Emily Minton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I cannot believe that I haven’t read any of Ms. Minton’s books before now. Beautiful Outlaw was a great read that combined the grittiness of a hardcore one-percenter MC club with the suspense of Sleeping with the Enemy. I found the Prologue to be devastatingly effective at sucking me into Laura/Shay’s story. When I got to chapter one and found that we had jumped ahead by 10 years I was at first jarred by the time shift because even though I didn’t want to know what Laura endured at her husband’s hands, I had to know – kind of like a car accident, you don’t want to see it, but you can’t look away. Yet Ms. Minton’s writing style is such that she disseminates information on a need to know basis in an extremely effective way that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. While I seriously doubt that I could personally put up with the way Bowie would talk to Shay, especially at the clubhouse, it worked for them. Their relationship was quite entertaining to watch develop because as Shay was learning how to be herself, Bowie had to learn how to love. As the inevitable sparks flew, Bowie and Shay proved to be quite explosive in bed. Yowser! But in the end, despite all his alpha male bluster, Bowie protected Shay because he loved her and not because she was his “property.”

My biggest issue and main complaint about Beautiful Outlaw is the ending of the Bonus Epilogue. When the Epilogue ended I had a “NOOOOOOO” reaction because I felt myself grasping for the cliff. If for some inexplicable reason I wasn’t already looking forward to book two in hopes that it’s going to be Tin Man’s story, the ending of the Epilogue sealed the deal. Then I flipped the page and saw the Bonus Epilogue and got all giddy because I love getting a look at how the main characters are faring as time has passed. While there was some disturbing yet not surprising foreshadowing for future books regarding Jeremy and Tag, I powered through as I read what was going on in everyone’s lives. And then I got to the end. I am sure that there will be readers who love that twist, but for me it was unnecessary and served to shove me far away from the cliff. It was as if the author forgot that she had already set up a cliffhanger ending with the Epilogue – or wasn’t happy with it – and felt she had to do something unexpected to draw readers back to the series. It felt overly contrived and completely out of place, especially as it was five years later. I fully enjoyed Ms. Minton’s writing and the tale she weaved in Beautiful Outlaw, which is probably why I was so disappointed with the unnecessary way she chose to end the book. Fortunately my interest in Tin Man’s story far overpowers the ending and I will definitely be back for more of the Savage Outlaws MC series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Beautiful Outlaw Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

The Glass Knot by Lily Harlem

The Glass Knot by Lily Harlem

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



As expected, I loved The Glass Knot. Ms. Harlem has a gift for crafting ménage romances that balance romance and sex between all three parties beautifully and this book is no exception. Unlike the previous ménage romances of hers that I have read, there was far more of an antagonistic relationship between Nick and Laura than I recall encountering. This actually enhanced the story far more than I anticipated when Nick’s resentment first appeared.

Josh and Nick are on vacation celebrating their ten year anniversary. While there, Josh meets Laura and finds himself drawn to her. With Josh quite possibly being the most attractive man she has ever encountered, Laura is quite disappointed to learn that he is not only married, but that he is married to a man. But Josh has a one-time pass from Nick to have sex with a woman and Laura is who he wants to lose his virginity to. Fortunately once Josh gets past his initial anxiety he proves to be quite the dedicated student and the sex between the two is hot. As with all vacations, time in paradise ends and Laura must return to her life finding it even drearier than before. This changes when she goes to Barn View to take photos of Josh to give to Nick for his birthday. One thing leads to another and Josh and Laura have another round of hot sex. Of course this is a problem because Nick’s fears regarding Laura being a threat prove to be founded and MAJOR drama ensues – as well as seriously hot angry sex between the two men. Laura feels horrendous for causing problems between the two men and flees back to London cutting all ties. But when a near fatal accident occurs and Nick comes to realize what’s important he seeks out Laura to help him with Josh’s recovery. From there the three embark upon a dual relationship between Laura & Josh and Josh & Nick. Living in such close quarters and seeing their shared love for Josh, Nick and Laura forge a bond that eventually explodes and paves the way for the ménage relationship, which is accompanied by the full gamut of freaking hot sex – MM, MF, MMF and MFM – and Ms. Harlem is a master of writing squirm-inducing sex scenes.

I really enjoyed that while the main part of the story was told from Laura’s perspective, the Prologue was told from Josh’s POV and the Epilogue was told from Nick’s POV. This gives the reader the opportunity to get a feel for Josh in the beginning of the book and confirms Nick’s happiness with the ménage relationship at the end of the book – at least it did for me. The Epilogue also gave a nice look into how their relationship had progressed over the two years – in their family structure, their emotional connection to one another, and that their physical attraction remains as strong as ever after 2 and 12 years together. The Glass Knot is a beautiful love story between three people who learned that love truly knows no bounds. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Harlem’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Glass Knot by Lily Harlem blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Lone Wolf by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt

Lone Wolf by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I have been looking forward to reading Hunter Easton’s story since first encountering his character in Starstruck. Mr. Voinov and Ms. Witt did not disappoint in the telling of his story and the introduction of Kevin Hussain to the Wolf’s Landing franchise. Lone Wolf is an excellent installment in the Bluewater Bay series and proved to be just as enjoyable as previous contributions to the series, and quite possibly even more humorous.

Hunter Easton is the author of the book series on which Wolf’s Landing is based. Unfortunately, he’s suffering a bit of writer’s block and hasn’t been able to complete the latest book in the series. This is a problem because it’s overdue. Long overdue. And an anonymous online friendship has delivered him a piece of fan fiction that contains a plot twist that solves all of his creative problems. Even though Hunter’s contract specifically prohibits him from reading fan fiction, he sees this as a prime opportunity to meet its author – someone he has developed an online relationship with over the past two years. While Kevin is freaking out when he learns that his online friend is his idol, Hunter Easton, Hunter is just as excited when he meets Kevin because Kevin is more than he hoped for – he’s intelligent, witty and sexy. Once Hunter approaches his agent about having Kevin’s book adopted by the publisher as the eighth book in the series, she does her wheeling and dealing and gets the publisher to agree to it as a co-authored book. The two men find themselves swept up into a collaborative writing relationship while an intimate one also emerges – a very hot intimate relationship. As the news of the collaboration is revealed, Kevin finds himself overwhelmed by his overnight success and has to decide whether it’s worth it and if he can commit to a relationship with Hunter knowing that he’ll still be exposed to all the trappings of success whether they continue to collaborating or not.

I loved the chemistry between Hunter and Kevin. They had so much in common and communicated on the same wavelength that I completely forgot about the age difference. While they had a similar sense of humor that resulted in laughs for both them and me, they never felt like the same character. They each had distinctively different voices. Despite them both being authors, it was their failure to communicate effectively with one another that was the biggest obstacle they had to overcome. That coupled with Kevin’s being overwhelmed by his own success had me seriously worried that there wasn’t going to be a happy ending. Fortunately Lone Wolf delivered the happy ending that the guys deserved. I’m looking forward to the next installment in the Bluewater Bay series, The Burnt Toast B&B.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Lone Wolf by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities by Lyn Gala

Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities by Lyn Gala

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



No surprise here – I absolutely LOVED Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities. As it was a full-length novel, I got to spend even more time with Ondry and Liam this time around. Not only was I treated to a front-row seat at the furthering strengthening and deepening of their palteia and chilta relationship, but I got to explore even more of Rownt along with Liam. As such, I am in awe of Ms. Gala’s ability to create such an interesting world – one which I agree with Liam on: the Rownt make far more sense than humans.

I found the action and intrigue that accompanied the introduction of Captain Diallo fascinating. It not only increased the excitement factor in this installment, but it also provided the reader the opportunity to learn exactly why the Rownt are considered predators. Had Liam possessed any lingering doubt regarding Ondry’s commitment to his position as Liam’s chilta, it would have been annihilated when Ondry killed the kawt. As the book progresses we also learn that Diallo’s introduction also lays the foundation for a sequel – a thought which makes me giddy with anticipation.

As much as I enjoyed the action and intrigue, it is actually Liam and Ondry’s relationship that I love most about this book. Under Ondry’s care and attention, Liam has flourished as a man and in his role as a palteia. The most telling example of this was when Ondry was mounted and mated by a Grandmother (that term has a different connotation in the series). The Rownt mating process is rather aggressive and from a human perspective, it looks a lot like rape – something that Liam was the victim of. Yet his time spent with Ondry had healed him to the point that he could easily detect the difference between his non-consensual experiences and Ondry’s completely consensual mating and rather than being horrified by the act as he would have been when he first arrived on the planet, he took pride in the fact that Ondry was chosen by a Grandmother and said what Ondry needed to hear in order to go through with the mating. Of course, the mating is strictly for procreation, so it has nothing on Liam and Ondry’s seriously erotic sexual interactions. Ms. Gala has again produced a well-written and highly enjoyable m/m sci-fi romance that I look forward to reading Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities again as I hope that there will indeed be a book three in the series posthaste.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities by Lyn Gala blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Domming the Heiress by Talon p.s.

Domming the Heiress by Talon p.s.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Even though it has been well over two years since last I read Becoming His Slave, I had no problem remembering Amelia and her problems finding a Dom. While Domming the Heiress takes place during part of book one, it is not a replay of events from that book but rather a separate story that focuses on Amelia and her journey of self-discovery once she finally asks Dominus Trenton Leos for his assistance in finding a suitable Dom for her.

Fans of the series are well-acquainted with Amelia and her tactics of topping from the bottom. Knowing that her standing as an heiress and head of an international company puts her in a delicate position, Trenton is up for the challenge in connecting Amelia with her perfect Dom; in fact, he already knows the man he believes will be able to take her in hand and whose own reputation and familial background will insure that Amelia is safe from potential gold diggers. But Trenton knows that the biggest obstacle that stands in the man’s way is a number – eleven. Amelia has a hang-up regarding younger men and the fact that Trenton’s chosen Dom is eleven years her junior will be the biggest obstacle he must overcome. The solution. A blindfold and a 36 hour contract in which Amelia agrees to submit and the Head-Master has the opportunity to show her what true submission is. As expected, the chemistry between Amelia and the Head-Master is intense and this makes for some really erotic scenes. Equally as enjoyable is the week of foreplay she receives after the first weekend as she prepares to meet him again for the second contracted weekend. Amelia finds herself falling for a man she does not know, while at the same time lusting for a man she cannot allow herself to have. The ultimate question is what will Amelia do when she learns that they are one and the same?

I really enjoyed reading Domming the Heiress and returning to the world these characters live in. I now have an overwhelming desire to reread the series and immerse myself within the Dominion of Brothers. Talon and Princess have created such a wonderful cast of characters and I’m so glad that they were finally able to give fans of the series Amelia’s happy ending – kind of, as the book only covers a couple of weeks of her life. I’m looking forward to the release of the next book in the series and can only hope that the authors continue to give us glimpses into Amelia and the other characters’ lives with each installment in the series.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Domming the Heiress by Talon P.S. blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Life Next Door by J.D. Hollyfield

Life Next Door by J.D. Hollyfield

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Straight out … I loved it. It’s the second closest I’ve come to recreating that feeling I get when I finish a KA book – Nicola Claire being the first. To sum it up, Priscilla Westcott is Murphy’s bitch, Murphy’s Law that is – if it can go wrong, it will … spectacularly. I spent a good part of the book outright laughing at the situations Priscilla found herself in because I could so easily relate; case in point, the fence jumping scene is eerily similar to something I’ve experienced myself. Sadly though, I cannot claim to have gotten cozy with the sexy neighbor next door.

I adored Priscilla. Every time life tried to knock her down, she’d get right back up and keep moving forward. That’s not to say that she handled the stumbles gracefully or in the most mature manners, and that’s actually what made her so much fun. Priscilla did what so many of us would love to do, but don’t and her obsession with egging is a perfect example of that. So of course I was tickled pink for her when Trent stepped up his Alpha male ways and pursued her relentlessly. Trent was so freaking sexy that Priscilla wasn’t the only one engaging in some thigh clenching. Again, a man who is skilled at wall sex always gets extra points in my book. Not that Trent needed any extra points because the man wasn’t just alpha hot, he could be unbelievably sweet when Priscilla needed it. Even though I saw the flashing “Danger” sign before either of them, I was still devastated for Priscilla when she and Trent broke up.

Life Next Door is a great example of why I love reading romances. Knowing that the couple is going to get their happy ending is a good thing, but it is the journey they must take to get there that truly makes the read for me. And Ms. Hollyfield had done a wonderful job with the journey she has created for Priscilla and Trent. I loved Priscilla. I loved Trent. What I loved most was Priscilla and Trent as a couple. Life Next Door was an easy read and I am so glad that it was a stand-alone book because I didn’t have time to read book one first, but I will be going back to read Life in a Rut, Love Not Included because I definitely enjoyed the author’s writing and look forward to reading more of her work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Life Next Door Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Love, In the Fast Lane by Rie Warren

Love, In the Fast Lane by Rie Warren

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Having met Nicky Love in Stone, At Your Service, I was looking forward to reading his story. Fortunately Ms. Warren did not disappoint and this time around fans of the series get to watch Nicky as he falls in love, gets his heart broken, learns to forgive, deals with rabid fans, and falls in love again in Love, In the Fast Lane.

While I really liked Nicky’s character in book one, I came to love him thoroughly in Love, In the Fast Lane. Nicky has a LOT of baggage and it often gets in the way of him finding happiness. Much like Josh, Nicky isn’t looking for love so it’s not surprising that it must walk into his life and slap him across the face (literally) before he realizes what he really wants. That love walks into his life in the form of the ultra bada$$ Catarina Steele just makes their ride even wilder because she’s not looking for a relationship due to the matching set of baggage she carries abound with her. Fortunately Nicky is persistent and refuses to let Cat drive him away – especially with how much the sparks fly between the two. Yikes! There are some seriously hot sex scenes. Between their personal baggage and the interference that their friends and family cause, it’s amazing that they actually work together. They have so many strikes against them that I’m surprised that they were even willing to give it a go. Yet they do and Ms. Warren takes the reader on yet another wild ride in the courtship between Nicky and Cat.

As the second book in the Carolina Bad Boys series, Love, In the Fast Lane is an excellent addition to the series. While you can read it as a stand-alone book, you will lose out on quite a bit of context, so I would strongly recommend reading book one first. If you have already read Stone, At Your Service, you will be pleased to know that Ms. Warren not only gives you the chance to catch up with Stone and Leelee, they actually have a significant amount of story time in the book. Considering that Stone and Nick are like brothers, I wasn’t surprised that the couple made an appearance in the book but I was ecstatic with just how much we got to see of them as their relationship continued to progress alongside that of Nick and Cat’s. Love, In the Fast Lane was a great book and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Warren’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Love, In the Fast Lane by Rie Warren blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

The Truth About Air & Water by Katherine Owen

The Truth About Air & Water by Katherine Owen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



The Truth About Air & Water is an excellent read. I had intended to read This Much Is True first but wasn’t able to work it into my schedule and I’m kind of glad. I don’t know that I would have survived the book hangover had I read both books back-to-back. I was so emotionally drained after finishing this book that I had to sleep on it before I could write my review. The Truth About Air & Water is a rollercoaster ride of epic proportions.

*****ALERT – POTENTIAL SPOILER AHEAD*****

Not having read the first book, I wasn’t privy to all of the obstacles that Tally and Lincoln dealt with in their journey together and apparently there were a lot of them. Because of the POTENTIAL SPOILER I am about to mention, Ms. Owen sets up the storyline of the second book in such a way that you don’t have to know them all because we get to learn them as we accompany Lincoln during his path to recovery. The beginning of the book gives those new to a series a glimpse into Lincoln and Tally’s relationship and a few of the pitfalls they encountered via an interview with a sports reporter. I was sucked into their story immediately and devoured the book. This is a couple that has endured a LOT, yet apparently not enough for the universe because while pitching a televised game, Lincoln is hit with a baseball and suffers a major head injury. As Tally was watching at the time, she and her friends and family waste no time in getting to the hospital. Unbeknownst to their friends and family, Lincoln had convinced Tally to elope with him later that day and that he maintained consciousness long enough to inform medical staff was the only reason they informed her of his health status. Despite a positive prognosis, Lincoln takes a turn for the worst and is in a coma for almost two weeks. When he finally emerges from it, he has lost the past six years’ worth of memories, including who Tally is and the existence of his daughter Cara. Without a doubt, this is devastating for Tally and gives Lincoln’s father, Davis, the opportunity he needs to excise Tally from his son’s life. Although Tally suspected that Davis didn’t like her, she never expected him to do what he did. I was devastated for her on so many fronts. But the hits just keep on coming for Tally as she has to deal with Davis’s accusations, Lincoln’s memory loss, being a single mother, maintaining her career as a ballerina, and everything else that life sees fit to throw at her that I cannot mention because I’ve used up my one spoiler pass. Theirs is a story full of love, hate, betrayal, heartbreak, pain, pleasure, devastation, hope and happiness.

*****END OF SPOILERS*****

Lincoln and Tally are a fascinating and addictive couple – addictive to one another and to me. I devoured this book. As I learned about their past during Lincoln’s recovery it was clear why they kept moving forward despite the numerous times life threw them a curve ball. Their chemistry is so intense and it’s easy to understand why Lincoln considers Tally his water and she considers him her air. They are it for one another – soul mates. I do plan to go back and read This Much Is True because I am addicted to this couple and now need to know the full depth of their past and their journey. Of course I will have to wait until I know I have time to recover from it, because I have no doubt that it will indeed be a book hangover like I’ve never experienced before when I read these two books together. Ms. Owen has found a new fan and I can only hope that her muses inspire her to give us another book in this series as I would love to see what else life has in store for Lincoln and Tally.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Truth About Air & Water Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews