James has finally pushed Karina beyond her limit--not her limit for kinky sex play, but for his extreme secrecy. She has had enough and breaks things off. But James won't give up on Karina and will do whatever it takes to get her back. He's ready to share his deepest, darkest secrets, but is Karina ready to hear them?
James offers Karina not only the truth but a place at his side... onstage. He wants Karina to star in his final musical production and enter his life and his world fully and completely. As the two work together, they rekindle the trust and love they'd lost. But James's world is full of deceit. When he is blackmailed by an unscrupulous music industry executive, James must give in to unreasonable demands or risk exposure of his and Karina's secret sex life.
Will Karina and James's love be strong enough to withstand the many obstacles being thrown their way?
This story was just too far-fetched for me to get behind. I never bought their relationship from day one because of how Karina went along with the commands of a complete stranger no questions asked. From that point on it was downhill for me. with that being said I just skimmed the remainder of the book one and completely skipped book two altogether.
The book seemed as though it was going to be a good read, but Karina's complete lack of self preservation turned me off from the beginning. It never seemed to come back from that for me. Book three was a complete did-not-finish for me.
In Carnal, Colorado, Faye Goodknight is the town's quiet, shy librarian. She may also be Carnal's last remaining virgin. For years, Faye has had a crush on Chace Keaton, but the gorgeous cop has always been unattainable. She's resigned to live contentedly with only her books for company-until Faye suddenly meets Chace alone in the woods...
Chace doesn't think he's the good guy everyone believes him to be. He's made a lot of choices he regrets, including denying his feelings for Faye. Through his choices, he's come to believe the pretty librarian is too good for him, but after their time in the woods, Chace realizes that she may be his last chance for redemption. Soon, their long simmering desires grow to a burning passion. Yet always casting a shadow over their happiness is Chace's dark past...
I was a bit unsure if I was going to like Chace because of the way he was behaving toward Faye in the first couple of chapters. I wasn't sure how they were going to make it as a couple with him referring to her by calling her "fat ass" in not in the Kim K kind of way. Chace couldn't possible do worse than that to her, right? Wrong. She truly stuck it out for him, because it steadily got worse before it got better.
I never really developed a true connection with either of Faye or Chace. Plus, there didn't really seem to be a connection between them either. Their story just seemed to drag on entirely too long, with nothing truly happening. I did like Faye's family; they were a delightful treat.
Yet again I found myself re-reading sentences in an effort to make heads or tails of them. I just don't understand why it seems so difficult to structure a sentence. I just gave up on the last third of the book or so. It was just too long-winded with very little plot.
About the author:
Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Publish Date:April 19, 2014
Trade Paperback {p.255} Genre: New Adult Series:The Bet #1 Source: Public Library
Kacey, Travis Titus
"I have a proposition for you." Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. It's been years since Kacey's seen her childhood friend Jake, but the minute Jake mentions his ill grandmother, Kacey is ready to do anything for the sweet old woman. And if that means pretending they're engaged for her sake-so be it.
But Kacey wasn't counting on Jake's older brother Travis still being there. She calls him "Satan" for a reason: she's never forgotten the way he teased and taunted her. Yet when they meet again, Travis's gorgeous smile is a direct hit to her heart . . . and Kacey's more confused than ever. As the days pass, only one thing starts to become alarmingly clear-she never should have accepted Jake's deal...
This was an entertaining read for me. I started laughing from page one and never stopped.
I truly enjoyed both Travis and Kacey. I loved how they interacted with each other. Their chemistry was amazing. I just ate up all their scenes together. Not only did I love these two, but Travis and Jake's grandmother. What a hoot. She sure kept everyone on their toes.
As far as characters I did not like, that would go to Jake, the other Titus brother. Which is disappointing because his book is next in the series, but I have no desire whatsoever to read more of him. He was a complete a**hole throughout the book and come to find out he was one as a child as well. I personally don't feel that there are any redeeming qualities for Jake.
Overall I loved this book, minus Jake. I want to keep going with the series because I loved Kacey, Travis and Grandma Nadine. If they don't have to be read in order to grasp the story, I may just skip to book three in the series.
Publish Date:July 29, 2014
Mass Market Paperback {p.528} Genre: Contemporary Romance Series:Colorado Mountain #3 Source: Publisher
Lexie Berry, Ty Walker
Ty Walker was wrongly imprisoned and for the five years he was inside, he honed his plan so when he gets out, he has nothing but vengeance on his mind.
But then he walks straight to stylish, leggy, beautiful, goofy Lexie Berry and he suddenly has something else to think about. He knows within seconds he wants her and within days he can love her but with the filth that was flung at him clinging; he also knows he can’t have her.
Since birth, Lexie Berry has been Lady Luck’s favorite toy and because of that, Lexie is cautious. But within a day, she senses Ty is something special. With her luck, however, she can’t trust it. Then she finds out what was done to Ty and she’s willing to do anything to make it right.
Even what Ty will never forgive her for doing.
Ty clings to vengeance and Lexie goes all out to give him back the time he lost. But Ty is battling demons within and they’re up against dirty cops and criminals who will stop at nothing to sway Lady Luck against them. All Ty and Lexie have is hope Lady Luck will finally swing their way.
Overall this was a great read, but it was not without its flaws. The story-line kept me engaged because I wanted to know how it was all going to turn out. This small town in Colorado seemed to have a hate on for people with "color in them."
The constant vulgar way in which the male lead, Ty, and his friends referred to women grated on my nerves. I never understood why the female lead, Lexie, never seemed bother by this. Never once did she bat an eye at the terminology he continued to use whenever speaking about a woman.
The slang and run-on sentences tended to be a bit confusing. More than once I had to stop and slowly reread sentences out loud in an effort to make heads or tails of them. I know a lot of the horrible grammar was supposed to reflect how their usage of slang, but after a point it begins to be a bit too much. For the life of me, I cannot think of one person who talks like they did. It moved past the point of them using slang to the point of them appearing uneducated.
Other than that, I liked the characters. I became invested in their lives and the community. It's a series I hope to continue, but it does take some getting used to in regards to trying to muddle through all the slang.
Publish Date:July 30, 2013
Trade Paperback {p.375} Genre: New Adult Series: The Coincidence #2 Source: Personal Library
Callie Lawrence, Kayden Owens
The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is out. Worse, he's facing charges for battery. The only way he stands a chance against the charges is if Callie speaks up, something he'll never ask her to do.
Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But saving him means admitting her secrets aloud. Callie and Kayden are stronger than they think, especially when they're together. Together they move forward, face their demons, and finally start to heal from their traumatic pasts.
I didn't enjoy The Redemption as much as I enjoyed The Coincidence. For one, The Redemption seemed to drag on and on about nothing until the last four to five chapters where it was rushed to wrap it all up. I just kept wanting the author to get to the secret reveal, and when she did, it fell kind of flat for me. I did suspect that her dad would be the one she would go to about it because her mother and brother were both too far up the enemy's a** in this book and the previous one.
Also, I didn't like Seth so much in this one. In The Coincidence he was among my favorites of the supporting characters, but this time he just seemed way too pushy for me. Luke was still his strange self, but he grew on me more in this installment.
Kayden started to irritate me a bit with the back forth he was doing with Callie. One minute he was all over her and the next he just wanted them to be friends. I just wanted him to pick a side and stick.
I just started losing interest in them and their situations. Nothing was being resolved and no one was paying for their acts. Nothing just stood out and made this a fantastic read for me. I will most likely continue forward with Luke's story at some point, but I'm in no big rush to do so.
Publish Date:December 13, 2012
Trade Paperback {p.353} Genre: New Adult Series: The Coincidence #1 Source: Personal Library
Callie Lawrence, Kayden Owens
For Kayden, suffering in silence was the only way to survive. If he was lucky, he could keep his head down, do as he was told, and make it through the day. But one night it seemed like his luck-and his life-might finally end... until an angel named Callie appeared just in time to rescue him.
Callie has never believed in luck. Not since her twelfth birthday when everything was taken from her. After the worst was over, she locked up her feelings and vowed never to tell anyone what happened. Now, six years later, she continues to struggle with the painful secret that threatens to consume her.
When fate lands Kayden and Callie at the same college, Kayden is determined to get to know the beautiful girl who changed his destiny. Quiet and reserved, Callie still fears letting anyone else into her world. But Kayden is certain that Callie has come back into his life for a reason. And the more he tries to be a part of her life, the more he realizes that, this time, it's Callie who needs to be saved...
Callie's dark secret was something that I quickly figured out and the cause of it. I spent a lot of the book upset with her family, but mostly her mother and brother. And when Kayden enters the picture, of course his secret is also immediately made aware during the circumstance in which they truly meet.
Both of them are well written, dark characters. At times there were some scenes of Callie alone that were pretty tough to handle, that I found myself wanting to skip them. I so wanted her to overcome this aspect of her secret.
The supporting characters, Seth and Luke, were great as well. Although I spent most of the book feeling as though Seth was the only one without major issues. But reading the story, you know that he does indeed have his own problems but I guess he was the most together of all of them. Or he was hiding his very well.
Kayden I absolutely adored. He too had issues I hoped he'd overcome. I just wanted him to stand up for himself and take his life back. Callie seemed to give him reason to just that.
This was not my typical read in the fact that it was more dark than I'm used to. With that said, I do want to continue with the next installment to see becomes of these two. I want both Callie and Kayden's dark secrets to be exposed in an effort to provide them with healing. I want Callie's mom to pull her head out of the sand and realize that bad things happen and by not watching the nightly news doesn't change that fact. And for her brother to stop blaming Callie for her behavior and her mother's ways of handling Callie's behavior.
Publish Date:July 2, 2013
Kindle {p.384} Genre: Romantic Suspense Series: Sin Brothers #1 Source: Personal Library
Josie Dean, Shane Dean
His Secrets Can Destroy Her
From the moment Josie laid eyes on sexy, mysterious Shane Dean, she was in love. Their desire ignited a passionate affair, and within weeks, Shane had slipped a ring on her finger. It seemed her every fantasy was coming true . . . until her new husband disappeared without a trace. Now, two years and one broken heart later, Josie is shocked by the hospital calls: Shane has been found . . . at a crime scene with no memory of how he got there.
Her Love Can Save Him
Shane can't remember the blue-eyed angel at his bedside—or who he even is—but he knows something isn't right. His hearing is razor sharp, his physical strength incredible, and the urge to protect Josie overwhelming. For powerful enemies are hunting him, and Josie is the key to discovering why. As Shane struggles to unravel his past, dangerous new truths come to light. Can he protect the only woman he's ever loved? And can Josie trust a man she thought she knew—one who carries such a deadly secret?
The premise of this book is what drew me to it. Once I got started with it, I guess it fell a bit short of what I expected.
I found myself getting irritated with Josie a lot throughout the book. She kept professing how she could take care of herself and didn't need anyone, but a lot of the messes both she and Shane were in, was because of her. Most of the sticky situations could have been avoided had she just listened. Those reasons along made the story less enjoyable for me.
On the other hand, I loved Shane and his brothers, Nate and Matt. I will more than likely continue the series at some point, just to check in with the brothers. Hopefully, their female counterparts will be more likeable than Josie.
Publish Date: April 2, 2013
Kindle {p. 416} Genre: Young Adult Source: Publisher
Ellie O'Neill, Graham Larkin
If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?
I was immediately drawn into this story. Graham was a hit for me throughout. I felt bad for him, even though he was a big-time movie star, he seemed to lead a very solitary life.
At first I was a bit confused as to why they continued to emailing each other. Only because I found myself wondering what teenagers still use email as a form of communication when things like text and IM exist. Sure, adults emailing is believable but teenagers, not likely. But once I set that aside, I truly enjoyed their email exchange.
At times I would get annoyed with Ellie and her behavior, but then at others I felt bad for her as well. The secret that her mother was making her keep was entirely wrong on her mother's part. That is such a heavy burden to lay on a child at an early age.
I did feel that the ending was a letdown. It provided no closure and was rather abrupt. I would have liked to see some of the loose ends tied up, not only with Ellie and Graham's relationship, but the relationship of Ellie and her dad. But other than that, it was a great, light read.
A Midsummer's Nightmare Kody Keplinger Publisher:Poppy Publish Date: June 5, 2012
Hardcover {p.291} Source: Publisher Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Whitley Johnson Challenge: 100+ Buy the Book:Amazon
Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorce dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancee and her kids. The fiancee's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.
Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.
Filled with authenticity and raw emotion, Whitley is Kody Keplinger's most compelling character to date: a cynical Holden Caulfield-esque girl you will wholly care about.
Whitley has a bit of a reputation for being an easy party girl, and it doesn't seem to bother her. After a night of too much drinking she wakes up to a one-night stand she hopes to never see again, and he hopes becomes more than the one night. Only they find out they are to be future step-siblings.
Whitley was a bit difficult to warm up to at first because I was put off by her "loose" behavior. But looking past that, I did like her the majority of the time. The only time I truly did not like her was when she took her 13 year old soon-to-be stepsister to a house party and got her wasted.
Her relationship with her parents is a whole other story. Both parents were pretty selfish and hardly ever knew Whitley existed. Her mother just complains to her about her father, and her father completely ignores her when he's not using her as a drinking buddy. Plus her brother was always too busy with his new family to really have anything to do with her either. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, I felt at first that her stepmother was trying too hard by always checking up on her. As I got more into it, it became clear that her stepmother was the only real adult/parent in the book.
Nathan, her one-night stand stepbrother, was a great influence on Whitley. I feel he played a large part, along with his mother and sister, in Whitley getting her act together. It felt like those three plus her new BFF Harrison were the only people who truly cared about her.
This book will have you feeling a wide range of emotions throughout. It has it all and if you loved The DUFF, then you won't be disappointed. Plus there's an appearance from Wesley and Bianca.
With This Kiss Bella Riley Series: Emerald Lake #2 Publisher:Grand Central Publishing Publish Date: March 1, 2012
Kindle {p.243} Source: Publisher/Net Galley Genre: Contemporary
Rebecca Campbell, Sean Murphy Challenge: 100+ Buy the Book:Amazon
Love can find you when you least expect it...
Fireworks. That's what innkeeper Rebecca Campbell wants. And no matter how close their friendship, she and her former fianc never shared that. Now, with a broken engagement behind her and a promise she's vowed to keep, Rebecca is determined to make a new life for herself in Emerald Lake. She just never expected sparks to fly this quickly...
Coming home and falling for his little brother's girl wasn't Sean Murphy's plan. Rebecca's sweet smile and kind heart make Sean feel at home-something he's never felt before. But a secret lingers between them, and no matter how powerful their attraction, Sean can't give his heart to a woman he can't trust. Or can he? As the days pass, Rebecca and Sean find it harder and harder to deny their desire. And they are in beautiful Emerald Lake, the perfect place for falling in love ...
Rebecca at times came across as a little too good to be true, and that made it difficult to relate to her. She was constantly saying whatever came to mind without any thought, and keeping secrets for her friends caused her great pains.
These things about her made it pretty difficult for me to connect with her or care about the outcome of her relationships. The conflict between her and Sean was easily spotted. With his issues with trusting women, due to a secret he's been keeping since childhood, and Rebecca inability to keep a secret, you just knew there would be problems. So of course when Sean finally opens up and learns to trust Rebecca, she spills his secret. I didn't understand why he thought it was a wise idea to trust her with it in the first place.
Of course they managed to work it all out in the end.
How much of your actual life gets written into your fictional stories?
SC: My emotions are echoed in my writing, and the things I really care about. I have often drawn on personal situations without realizing what I was doing until reading the material later. This can be humorous because I always have an "aha" moment!
Do you ever find that it's emotionally difficult to write some scenes or characters?
SC: Scenes where children may suffer are close to impossible for me. I've tossed few books (that I was reading) in my memory but two of them involved violence toward children and I couldn't deal with. Can't reproduce cruelty to animals, either.
I wrote a scene in which a young mother died shortly after giving birth and I could hardly see my screen for the tears.
What is a day in the life of Stella Cameron like when you're not writing?
SC: Um:) A bit aimless but I do tend to write for part of each day anyway. Up at 5 or 6, drink tea and more tea while I catch up on the bad news of the day. Clean (I love to clean) read, spend time in the garden . . . this is painful topic to examine because I don't do well when I'm not writing. I take a computer everywhere. Sometimes I tell myself I'll leave my computer behind when I take a trip but it never happens. I've done my best here so please forgive me.
WHEN NIGHT FALLS
After her husband's tragic death, Leigh Kelly arrives on Whidbey Island determined to start over. Yet the tiny town of Chimney Rock is not as peaceful as it seems. Women have been disappearing, and Leigh can't shake the feeling that she's being watched . . . especially at night. Soon, she's experiencing visions she can't explain and fighting her attraction to a handsome stranger who seems to know her most intimate desires.
PASSION TRANSFORMS THEM
As the leader of the Team, a pack of werehounds forced to hide their very existence, former special ops soldier Niles Latimer is desperate to prove a man's heart beats beneath his predator's body. And Leigh-the mysterious beauty possessing powers she doesn't yet understand-may be the one woman who can help him. But Niles isn't the only one who recognizes Leigh's true identity. Something evil is waiting in the woods-and the hunt has begun . . .
Do you ever use real people as inspiration for your characters?
CG: No. Oh, I use actors/models, etc. for the physical inspiration, but I don’t use real people as the personalities of the characters. Though I have been tempted a couple of times to use real folks as villains. LOL I haven’t succumbed to that temptation yet, though.
Do you ever find that it’s emotionally difficult to write some scenes or characters?
CG: Not really. Maybe I’m just not that deep?
What is a day in the life of Cynthia Garner like when you’re not writing?
CG: I actually try to write a little bit every day. I have a full-time day job, so my writing time (which I also do full-time) is squeezed in in the evenings and weekends. I do enjoy a few TV shows (Castle, Being Human, Lost Girl, White Collar, Leverage, The Voice, The Sing-Off, and Face Off)… Okay, well, I guess that’s “several” instead of a “few”. LOL I’m trying to do better with exercise, too, but I am inherently lazy, so it’s a real struggle. Really, the life of Cynthia Garner is sadly rather boring.
Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world—or send it spiraling into chaos.
Half-demon, half-human, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she's more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world's mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist . . .
Called in to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn't interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.
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Pure Julianna Baggott Series: Pure #1 Publisher:Grand Central Publishing Publish Date: February 8, 2012
Hardcover {p.448} Source: Publisher Genre: Young Adult
Pressia Challenge: Young Adult Buy the Book:Amazon
We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.
Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.
When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.
The novel was very descriptive in the detail of the world after detonation. (For that I give it two stars.) Even the characters were very descriptive. They were a bit odd in their body parts and objects they seemed to be fused with. This was the main thing I couldn't seem to get past to finish the novel.
Pure was a bit of a slow go getting into. Pressia seemed interesting enough, but Partridge I didn’t really understand his need to leave the dome. I know he thought there was a chance his mother may have been out there, but I never understood why he thought that. I guess I must have missed that part.
A character I did enjoy however was Bradwell. I liked him from the first meeting he held underground that Pressia attended. Although I did enjoy him, it wasn’t enough to keep me going forward with this novel. It was overall a tad too dark and a bit too strange of a read for me.
Silver Girl
Elin Hilderbrand Publisher:Reagan Arthur Publish Date: June 21, 2011
Audio Book {14 hrs 28 min} Source: Public Library Genre: Women's Fiction
Meredith Martin Delinn Challenge: 100+ Buy the Book:Amazon
Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.
Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.
Set against the backdrop of a Nantucket summer, Elin Hilderbrand delivers a suspenseful story of the power of friendship, the pull of love, and the beauty of forgiveness.
At times I just wanted to shake Meredith and scream at her to grow a backbone throughout the bulk of this book. She was just so whiny and wimpy throughout. I especially wanted her to stand up for herself with Amy in the salon, but no she just limped off like a kicked puppy.
But on the other hand, she was outright rude at times to Connie, the only person who would have anything to do with her after her fall from grace. If not for Connie, I don't know if I would have enjoyed this book as much. She was definitely the saving grace because Meredith was a complete let down as an overall character.
The surrounding characters all added to the overall believability of the story, because Meredith at times was hard to feel any sympathy for.
The use of two female narrators was a new experience for me. There wasn't a noticeable difference in the two, so you wouldn't know it was two different people if you didn't go into the book already knowing that. Both managed to bring something different to each of the characters.
The Queen of Kentucky Alecia Whitaker Publisher:Poppy Publish Date: January 2, 2012
Hardcover {p.375} Source: Publisher Genre: Young Adult
Ericka Jo Winstead Challenge: 50 States ~ Kentucky Buy the Book:Amazon
Fourteen-year-old Kentucky girl Ricki Jo Winstead, who would prefer to be called Ericka, thank you very much, is eager to shed her farmer's daughter roots and become part of the popular crowd at her small town high school. She trades her Bible for Seventeen magazine, buys new "sophisticated" clothes and somehow manages to secure a tenuous spot at the cool kids table. She's on top of the world, even though her best friend and the boy next door Luke says he misses "plain old Ricki Jo."
Caught between being a country girl and wannabe country club girl, Ricki Jo begins to forget who she truly is: someone who doesn't care what people think and who wouldn't let a good-looking guy walk all over her. It takes a serious incident out on Luke's farm for Ricki Jo to realize that being a true friend is more important than being popular.
Ricki Jo is starting her freshman year at a new school as a new person. No longer wanting to be referred to as Ricki Jo, but now as Erika. She meets some popular girls in her homeroom and desperately tries to fit in with them. So much so that she’s letting them copy her homework and now drinking. In the process of all these new “improvements” she’s making, she’s losing her one true friend.
Ricki Jo’s struggle to fit in is very well written and very realistic. She’s crushing on the hottest freshman and her treats her like crap. So like typical teenage girls, Ricki Jo and her BFF Mackenzie fight over him. I don’t think he really cared about either one of them, but were using them to get at his rival who happened to be Mackenzie’s brother who seemed to have a thing for Ricki Jo.
Some points throughout this novel I was waiting for Ricki Jo to wise up and realize that these girls were not her friends. And to see her true best friend, Luke, as more than a friend.
I loved this debut novel! I laughed, became frustrated, and everything else right along with the characters. I truly loved Luke! I so wanted him to have a better, happier life. He is one of those characters you hope to see again in future novels.
Alecia Whitaker will be added to my automatic buy list!
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.
What drew me to this book was the fact that it was set over a 24-hour time frame. I was intrigued to see how the characters could possibly form a connection in such a short amount of time. Not to mention how the reader would connect to them. But I enjoyed their story from the start.
Both Hadley and Oliver are great, well-written characters. I felt like I knew them both better than some characters in novels that are set over the span of years.
Hadley’s struggle with her parents’ divorce was extremely real. She not only felt that her father abandoned her mother when he chose to remain in London, but abandoned her as well.
As for Oliver, his struggle with his own father and the childhood he had, helped Hadley put her relationship with her father in perspective. Oliver was a great guy who genuinely cared about Hadley from the start.
I truly loved this book; I only wish it didn’t end. I would have loved to see what became of Hadley and Oliver when they returned to the states. Or if her mother ever remarried. Or if her relationship with her father truly mended. That is how invested in their story I became.
But even with all that, I still loved every second of it. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Don't Mess With Texas Christie Craig Series: Hotter in Texas #1 Publisher:Forever Publish Date: September 1, 2011
Kindle {p.297} Source: Publisher/Net Galley Genre: Contemporary
Nikki Hunt, Dallas O'Connor Challenge: 100+ Buy the Book:Amazon
Nikki Hunt thought her night couldn't get worse when her no-good, cheating ex ditched her at dinner, sticking her with the bill. Then she found his body stuffed in the trunk of her car and lost her two-hundred-dollar meal all over his three-thousand-dollar suit. Now not only is Nikki nearly broke, she's a murder suspect.
Former cop turned PI, Dallas O'Connor knows what it's like to be unjustly accused. But one look at the sexy-though skittish-suspect tells him she couldn't hurt anyone. The lead detective, Dallas's own brother, has the wrong woman and Dallas hopes a little late-night "undercover" work will help him prove it...
I always get a lot of laughs when I read a Christie Craig novel and this one was no exception. The entire cast of characters was great. There wasn’t any filler or unnecessary characters in this novel.
Dallas and Nikki both have issues when it comes to trust, for very understandable reasons. These two had great chemistry together, both in and out of the bedroom.
The secondary story of Tony, Dallas’ brother, and his wife LeAnn really pulls at your heartstrings. I loved both of these characters and was totally engrossed in the seeing their happily ever after play out. I would have loved to see a lot more of these two.
Nikki’s grandmother and her Ol’ Timers were another great source of entertainment. And I was so happy to see Dallas’ father join up with them. I look forward to continuing this series. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.
Heartstrings and Diamond Rings Jane Graves Publisher: Forever Published: October 1, 2011
Kindle {p.448} Source: Publisher/Net Galley Genre: Contemporary
Alison Carter, Brandon Scott Challenge: 100+ Buy the Book:Amazon
HE'S THE MAN OF HER DREAMS . . .
In a world full of frogs, Alison Carter is determined to find her prince. Maybe her dating past is more Titanic than Love Boat, but she's seen enough happy marriages to know that true love is possible. No matter what, she won't give up on happily-ever-after. If she can't find Mr. Right, she'll simply hire someone who can.
SHE JUST DOESN'T KNOW IT YET
When Brandon Scott inherits a successful matchmaking business, he thinks his prayers have been answered. Set up a few lonely ladies, collect the fee, how hard can it be? No one needs to know he's not really a professional matchmaker-especially not his first client, the beautiful, spirited Alison. Soon he's falling for her-and her dreams of kids and carpools. But Alison is getting close to figuring out his secret, and if she learns he's deceived her too, she'll walk right out the door, taking Brandon's heart with her.
Alison has had a lot of bad luck when it comes to dating. Since she’s getting older and wants to eventually get married and have children, she turns to a professional matchmaker. Only he’s no professional.
I found this book to offer a lot of good laughs and a cute love match between Alison and Brandon. All the men Alison was matched with offered a great deal of entertainment. I even loved the secondary romance of Alison’s father.
Both Alison and Brandon were likable characters, but the romance between them was a very slow starter. Their romance took place really late in the book. Even though, that does not stop you from becoming engaged in their story and the outcome of Alison’s hunt for a husband.
Publish Date: August 26, 2014
