Category Archives: 3 hearts

Audiobook Review: Pretend by Riley Hart

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Pretend by Riley Hart
Series: Blackcreek #3 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: September 27th 2016
Length: 6 hours and 52 minutes
Narrated by: Luke Itzvic
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Mason Alexander thought all he wanted in life was something to call his own—something without the family name attached. He got that when he bought his bar in Blackcreek…but then a hard truth opens his eyes that he’s been lied to his whole life, and he’s tangled amid the family that loves him, a truth that haunts him, and torn between the life he wants for himself and the obligation he feels for his family.

Gavin Davis knows a thing or two about living a double life. Being a gay man with strict Christian parents who believe he’s going to Hell, has never been easy. Instead of dealing, Gavin lost himself in his career. Teaching music gives him solace. So when he loses his job at a private school for helping out a gay kid, he feels like he lost more than a job. He lost his identity.

Blackcreek is a new start for both of them, two men, loyal to a fault, who both feel obligated to people in their lives. What Mason and Gavin don’t expect to find in each other is the place where they can be real. They know they want each other, it’s the rest of it they can’t figure out. Caught between loyalty, obligation, fear, tragedy and family, Mason and Gavin’s lives threaten to pull them away from each other if they don’t get real, and stop playing pretend, for good.

Riley Hart’s Blackcreek series continues to be a hot, romantic M/M series that I’m enjoying listening to. I think the first book is still my favorite so far, but the rest of the series is still fun to listen to, especially with Luke Itzvic narrating all the books. Pretend features Gavin Davis, the ex-boyfriend of Braden, one of the main characters from book two of the Blackcreek series, and Mason Alexander, the new owner of Creekside bar. Both men are in Blackcreek to avoid family drama and their problems, while finding solace in each other.

Gavin has lost his position as a music teacher, so he’s in need of a job. What a coincidence that Mason needs help running his new bar, right? Plus, there’s the side perk of the two of them being wildly attracted to each other. They lose themselves in each other to avoid their current problems – Mason, not wanting to deal with his revelation of being adopted by his wealthy family, and Gavin, not wanting to deal with his religious family not accepting of his sexual orientation. The chemistry between them is fantastic – Gavin and Mason are insanely hot together! This might be the hottest of the series yet. And I loved how dominant Mason was even as a bottom (hello, power bottom!).

Riley Hart did a wonderful job balancing out the drama with the romance, though I do think the conflict dragged on for a bit too long. I didn’t feel as deep a connection with this story as the other two in the series, which is why I didn’t LOVE it, but I did adore the ending, which was perfect for the main characters. Luke Itzvic once again did an incredible job with narrating Gavin and Mason, and I’m really happy that he narrated the whole series. If you love audiobooks and M/M romances, I would definitely recommend you give this series a try!

PRETEND is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2eCcrPo

3 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Blackcreek series

   

#1 ~ Collide: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Stay: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Pretend: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3.5 ~ Return to Blackwater Creek: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Pretend!

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Audiobook Review: Stay by Riley Hart

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Stay by Riley Hart
Series: Blackcreek #2 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: September 27th 2016
Length: 7 hours and 14 minutes
Narrated by: Luke Itzvic
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Wes Jensen just lost the sister who raised him, and gained custody of his niece. The last thing he needs to add to his full plate is dealing with Braden Roth, the one-night-stand who continues to try to push his way into Wes’s life. He has a kid to raise now, and Wes isn’t great at getting close anyway.

Braden has never had a woman or a man sneak out on him the morning after. From the start, Wes intrigues him, and Braden isn’t one to deny himself something he wants. And he wants Wes. The more time he spends with Wes and the little girl who constantly keeps them on their toes, the more Braden realizes this isn’t just about getting the guy who walked away.

As their lives intertwine more and more, Wes discovers Braden isn’t as shallow as he thought. But after everything Wes lost in his life, he isn’t sure he can risk his heart, and truly want Braden to stay—and if he did, would Wes’s quiet life be enough for Braden?

I’d been excited for Wes and Braden’s story ever since listening to Collide! They were such an interesting couple – I couldn’t wait to see how the man raising his sister’s daughter and the consummate playboy would fall for each other and make a relationship work out. This book was surprisingly sweet, especially with the adorable Jessie. I didn’t fully connect with the story, but I appreciated that there was so much heart in the romance and characters. I enjoyed listening to Stay, but I do think I liked the first book a little more.

Wes Jensen lost his beloved sister, but gained her daughter instead. Getting custody of Jessie was never in his plans, but he’ll do anything to care for and protect his niece. She’s his number one priority at the moment, which means his personal – and romantic – life has to take a step back. But Braden, his one-night-stand, won’t stop trying to push himself into Wes’s life. Can Wes believe that Braden truly wants more with him, or will he keep his heart forever guarded against this man?

I adored Braden and how hard he tried to make Wes see that he genuinely wanted more with him. This playboy fell hard and fast, and it warmed my heart to see him act in such a caring way with Wes and Jessie. Wes’s struggles and his back and forth with Braden were understandable but frustrated me a little. Overall, this story was a pretty mellow listen with little drama, which I appreciated. Luke Itzvic once again did an incredible job with narrating the two male characters, and I would definitely listen to other audiobooks he narrates Even though I didn’t love Stay, I’m still looking forward to listening to the rest of the series!

STAY is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2eeCkGZ

3 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Blackcreek series

   

#1 ~ Collide: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Stay: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Pretend: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3.5 ~ Return to Blackwater Creek: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Stay!

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Release Day Review: Tonic by Staci Hart

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Tonic by Staci Hart
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: October 13th 2016
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

Joel Anderson doesn’t take anything seriously.

Not his relationships, which have been few and far between since his brutal divorce. Not the drama of working in a tattoo parlor, which seems to be around every corner. When things get him down, he smiles and cracks a joke. But he’s not the kind of man you cross, or you’ll find yourself at the wrong end of his fists.

Annika Belousov takes everything seriously.

Like her job as a reality television producer, given that she typically has something to prove. Or her love life, which is defined by a series of requirements — affluent, ambitious, accomplished, to name a few. Definitely her family, who worked their whole lives to afford her every opportunity, a sacrifice she doesn’t take lightly. When she’s tapped to produce a reality show at Joel’s shop, she doesn’t think twice, just goes in for the kill, as if there were any other way.

The second Annika walks into Joel’s shop, he makes it his mission to crack her open, but she’s not having it. He’s all wrong — too crass, too hairy, too un-serious. But it doesn’t take her long to find out there’s more to him than smirks and tattoos. And what she finds could put her career and his heart on the line.

Not that Joel cares. Because for the first time in a long time, he’s found his tonic.

I was excited for Tonic mainly because of Joel – he was so intriguing in Wasted Words, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his story. It wasn’t quite what I expected though – I didn’t love Tonic or hate it. It was very meh for me, to be honest, and I just wasn’t feeling the romance or story at all. The romance was too superficial and not fleshed out enough for me, and the story dragged too much. That being said, it’s not a bad book. I’d say if you’ve been a long-time fan of the author and her writing, then you’ll probably enjoy Tonic.

Joel and his brother are tattoo shop c0-owners, and they’ve just signed on with a TV producer to film a reality show based off their tattoo shop, Tonic. Joel is reluctant to have anything to do with being part of a reality show, so he’s not going to make it easy for the producers to film. But when he meets Annika Belousov, he might not like her job, but he’s definitely intrigued by her as a woman. He can’t stop thinking about her, taunting her… trying to get her into his bed.

Annika is the total opposite of Joel – while he’s laid-back and relaxed, she’s uptight and serious about everything she does. She has an incredible work ethic, though they don’t call her an ice queen for nothing. But what happens when Joel starts to melt the walls around her heart? Can she choose between the man she’s falling for or the career she’s worked so hard to achieve?

While I enjoyed Tonic on a surface level, there were things that prevented me from connecting with the book on a deeper level. Some parts felt too forced and a little awkward – the author tried to fit in too many references to pop culture that it got old fast. I really only cared about Joel and Annika, but these two took too long to sort their problems out and used sex as an avoidance tactic too often. Joel annoyed me in the second half of the novel – he doesn’t seem to know when to take responsibility and likes to blame other people for mistakes that he’s a part of. His character also didn’t feel like a 38-year-old man – he seemed a lot younger and immature, which was not a good thing.

Tonic wasn’t a bad book, but’s it’s definitely one of my least favorites from Staci Hart. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to connect with her future novels more – I still have hope that she’ll write another book as good, or even better than, Chaser!

3 hearts
lacey

Tonic is a standalone spinoff of Wasted Words. Joel first appears here in this book!

Wasted Words: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Tonic and Wasted Words are a standalone spinoffs of the Bad Habits series, a series of standalones with characters featured in the spinoffs!

Reading Order: Bad Habits series

With a Twist by Staci Hart Chaser by Staci Hart Last Call by Staci Hart

#1 ~ With a Twist: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Chaser: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Last Call: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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Audiobook Review: Marrow by Tarryn Fisher

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Marrow by Tarryn Fisher
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Length: 10 hours and 7 minutes
Narrated by: Audra Pagano
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

In the Bone there is a house. In the house there is a girl. In the girl there is a darkness.

Margo is not like other girls. She lives in a derelict neighborhood called the Bone, in a cursed house, with her cursed mother, who hasn’t spoken to her in over two years. She lives her days feeling invisible. It’s not until she develops a friendship with her wheelchair-bound neighbor, Judah Grant, that things begin to change.

When a neighborhood girl, seven-year-old Neveah Anthony, goes missing, Judah sets out to help Margo uncover what happened to her. What Margo finds changes her, and with a new perspective on life she’s determined to find evil and punish it – targeting rapists and child molesters one by one. But hunting evil is dangerous, and Margo risks losing everything, including her own soul.

I honestly don’t know what to make of Marrow. This was my first Tarryn Fisher book and, well, to say it’s a little weird would be an understatement. It’s dark, twisty, disturbing – Marrow is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re ready to dive into a psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, this audiobook is for you. And if you’re a fan of Tarryn Fisher’s, I’m sure you’re used to her disturbing stories, so Marrow probably won’t be a disappointment!

Margo has lived her whole life in the Bone. The Bone is where the poor, the addicts, the hopeless reside. Margo herself is one of the hopeless, waiting for her mother to acknowledge her and knowing she never will. But one day Margo strikes a conversation with her handicapped neighbor, Judah, and when they start to form a relationship, things start to look up for her… until a seven-year-old girl goes missing, and Margo is determined to find out the culprit. And when she does, let’s just say Margo has her own form of justice. She becomes a vigilante, dealing out justice against those who deserve it… or do they?

The fascinating thing about Marrow is that sometime during the second half of the story, you don’t really know what is reality and what is not. Things are kind of all over the place and you’re left feeling pretty confused. I’m still not sure what to make of the story, though I do applaud the author for this wild trip of a thriller. I didn’t LOVE the story, but it was intriguing enough to keep me listening and wanting to know more. The narrator has an awkward, young adult feel to her, which fit Margo’s voice perfectly. At first I wasn’t a fan of the narration, but as I listened on and got to know the heroine better, I realized it was a perfect match. So audiobook-wise, it was a great listen, but the story just wasn’t exactly for me.

MARROW is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2d1EUML

3 hearts
lacey

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ARC Review: The One Real Thing by Samantha Young

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The One Real Thing by Samantha Young
Series: Hart’s Boardwalk #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The New York Times bestselling author of On Dublin Street is back with the first in a sexy new romance series set in a small town on the Delaware coastline.

Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her.

Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for….

First, I have to talk about the gorgeous cover of The One Real Thing!! The colors look so, so pretty together. Sunsets are always stunning, and I love that it’s a theme with the covers of the series. As for the book itself, TORT is a good introduction to Hart’s Boardwalk, but I can’t say that I loved it or connected all that well with it. This book might not be for everyone, but I see the potential this series has, and I’m still very much looking forward to the upcoming books.

Small-town romances are usually a hit or miss for me, but TORT lies somewhere in the middle. While I adored the tight-knit community and all of the secondary characters, I just didn’t connect with the main characters at all. Jessica and Cooper didn’t feel unique, and though their romance was sweet, it was too slow and underwhelming. Nothing about them particularly sparked – that being said, it sounds like I hated them, but I truly didn’t. They were just OKAY, but they did grow on me near the end of the novel.

I struggled with a big chunk of the middle of the book – I’d find myself skimming because things just weren’t moving along fast enough for me. Of course, if you’re a fan of the author (her On Dublin Street series is amazing) and you have a lot of patience, I’d definitely recommend giving this book a try.

TORT is a great introduction to the series and its characters. I’m excited to read more about the rest of Hart’s Boardwalk’s quirky inhabitants – shy Emery, volatile Vaughn and Bailey, and even Cooper’s ex-best friend. I have high hopes that the series will continue to grow and get better. This is Samantha Young, after all!

3 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Hart’s Boardwalk series

 

#1 ~ The One Real Thing: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Every Little Thing: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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