Category Archives: 4 hearts

Blog Tour + Guest Post, ARC Review & Giveaway: Be Mine Forever by Kennedy Ryan

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Be Mine Forever! We have a guest post today from the author, Kennedy Ryan!

What is the best part of falling in love with your childhood friend?

I love this question. It is something I definitely considered while writing BE MINE FOREVER. Cam and Jo met when they were 12 years old, and for the next decade and a half, are thick as thieves. Because of all the hell Cam experienced before he met Jo and her cousin Walsh, the hero from WHEN YOU ARE MINE and LOVING YOU ALWAYS, Cam is very guarded. Even when you think you have all of him, you only have the small slices of himself he has decided to share. Jo knows she has more of Cam than anyone else, but doesn’t realize just how little that is until they explore their feelings for one another. She keeps bumping up against walls he has erected to protect himself and, he thinks, to protect her from him.

This brings me to the good part of falling in love with your best friend. There is this juxtaposition of the familiar and the undiscovered. Jo imagined her first kiss, her first date, her first time with Cam, and now she gets all those things, and the reality exceeds her daydreams.

At the same time there is all this new terrain, there is also a delicious familiarity. The way they can complete each other’s sentences because they know each other so well. Seeing each other over the years through highs and lows, hard and good times, being there for one another and celebrating together. There is all this history, spiked with all these new sensations and experiences like first dates and sexual intimacy. The romance adds dimension; deepens and enriches a connection they have been building for so many years.

I think this excerpt perfectly embodies both sides of this coin!

At thirteen years old, Jo had fantasized about her first kiss. In her mind, it would be with Cam. She had practiced on her pillow and French-kissed her hand. She had positioned herself just so during Spin the Bottle, but Cam’s bottle had never landed on her. He’d never even hinted that he’d wanted to kiss her, that he fantasized about her, too. So all she’d had were daydreams. And in those daydreams, Cam nibbled at her lips. Slipped his tongue into her mouth, shy as she was. He was gentle and careful.

This was not that kiss.

This kiss was made of sweet smoke and embers. It sizzled on her lips and seared her senses until she could only feel and taste and touch and see him. The whole universe whittled down to this man completely possessing her with a kiss. Sucking her tongue into his mouth. Pulling her lips between his teeth for tantalizing bites.

Cam walked them backward with slow, measured steps until he eased onto the bench, never leaving space between their mouths. He pulled her bare legs to either side of his hips, pressing against her back until her breasts were crushed against his chest. He lowered his head, nudging the straps of her camisole aside with his lips and sucking on her naked shoulder. Jo moaned, tipping her head back until her hair rained between her shoulder blades. Cam pushed the camisole down around her waist and pulled her breast into his greedy mouth. With every pull of his lips and tongue, she rolled her hips against him, a steady, sensual syncopation that shoved Jo over the edge. She took shelter against his chest, gripping his neck, huffing hot air into the collar of his shirt. Her thighs tightened around his hips, and her body released in shivers and whimpers and shudders.

She stilled little by little, falling against him, limp and pliant. Cam pushed her hair behind her shoulders, raining kisses over her collarbones and nipples until they peaked and begged for his mouth again. He suckled at her, sliding his hands inside her shorts, squeezing her butt and urging her against him.

“Cam, I just—”

“I know.” He looked up, anointing her nipples with his words. “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I want it again and again and again.”

Be Mine Forever by Kennedy Ryan

Be Mine Forever by Kennedy Ryan
Series: The Bennetts #3 (full reading order below)
Release Date: February 3rd 2015
Add to Goodreads

Can a secret crush . . .

Jo Walsh has loved Cameron Mitchell for as long as she can remember. Whether front and center in her life or on the periphery, the tall, brooding artist has made his presence seductively and irresistibly known. But whenever they start to get close, Cam pulls away. Jo’s tired of keeping her feelings in a box Cam is afraid to open. If he wants her, he’ll have to prove it. And if he doesn’t, Jo will need to know the real reason why . . .

. . . become the love of a lifetime?

How do you walk away from your soul mate? Cam wishes he knew. No matter how far he runs from Jo, he can’t resist looking back at the silver eyes that seem to see right through him. But as well as Jo thinks she understands Cam, the dark truth about his past is something she shouldn’t have to handle. Cam’s sure that setting Jo free is the right thing to do. Too bad his heart has other ideas . . .

Buy Links:
Amazon • B&N • Kobo • iTunes

review

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Cam by the end of Loving You Always, but I’d hoped that Kennedy Ryan would be able to change my mind about him, and she succeeded! I really enjoyed reading Cam and Jo’s story – I was a big fan of the writing and of how Kennedy Ryan was able to portray Cam in such a different light. And Cam and Jo are just scorching together!

“Finally, it’s you and me.”

I adore childhood friends to lovers books, and Be Mine Forever is a fantastic example of one. Jo and Cam have been best friends since they were children. They know each other inside and out… or do they? Jo has always been in love with Cam, but Cam has never reciprocated her feelings. What Jo doesn’t know is that Cam is a man with a tortured past, full of demons he hasn’t exorcised yet.

When Cam returns home from Paris, he finds a very hurt and angry Jo. They’re best friends, but he cut ties with her while he was in Paris. He’s tried to ignore his feelings for her for so long, but seeing her again brings them back full force. But he believes that being with Jo will only hurt her in the long-run, because of dirty, painful past. So he keeps pushing and pushing her away, until Jo finally pushes back.

I admired Jo. She’s a tough, independent woman, but also very feminine and sweet. She’s loved Cam for half her life, and I admired that she never gave up on Cam. She’s the only one who sees the goodness in him, who sees past his scars, but Cam thinks he’s not worthy of her. So when Jo gets fed up with Cam putting up his walls, she tears them down and makes him see how good they are together. And they are seriously HOT together! There’s no shortage of chemistry between them, and I was so happy when Cam and Jo finally got together!

The best part about Be Mine Forever was how Kennedy Ryan was able to characterize Cam in a more sympathetic way. I REALLY didn’t like him in the previous book, but in this book, his past comes to light, and my heart went out to him. He was always closed off in the previous books, but with Jo, he starts opening up. He’s truly changed for the better by the end of Be Mine Forever, and he truly does deserve to have his own HEA.

Be Mine Forever was a deep, heartfelt romance I enjoyed. The depth of the characters that made this book shine. I loved the character growth in both Cam and Jo, and I was wholehearted rooting for their HEA.

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: The Bennetts series

When You Are Mine by Kennedy Ryan Loving You Always by Kennedy Ryan Be Mine Forever by Kennedy Ryan

#1 ~ When You Are Mine: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Loving You Always: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Be Mine Forever: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author

Kennedy RyanKennedy Ryan writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She always give her characters their happily ever after, but loves to make them work for it! It’s a long road to love, so sit back and enjoy the ride.  In an alternative universe and under her government issue name, Tina Dula, she is a wife to the love of her life, mom to a special, beautiful son, and a friend to those living with autism through her foundation Myles-A-Part, serving Georgia families.

Her writings on Autism have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, and she has been featured on the Montel Williams Show, NPR, Headline News and others. She is donating a portion of her proceeds to her own foundation and to her charitable partner, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA).

Her interview series MOMMIES DO THE MOST AMAZING THINGS is featured each month in  Modern Mom.

Facebook • Twitter • YouTube Channel • Pinterest • Google + • Goodreads

giveaway

$25 Visa Gift Card
ebook copy of BE MINE FOREVER

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Release Day Review: The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

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The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: February 10th 2015
Purchase: Ebook • Hardcover
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand comes a gorgeous and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and letting go.

Since her brother, Tyler, committed suicide, Lex has been trying to keep her grief locked away, and to forget about what happened that night. But as she starts putting her life, her family, and her friendships back together, Lex is haunted by a secret she hasn’t told anyone—a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

In the tradition of Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why, Gayle Forman’s If I Stay, and Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a thoughtful and deeply affecting novel that will change the way you look at life and death.

There’s death all around us. Everywhere we look. 1.8 people kill themselves every second.
We just don’t pay attention. Until we do.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a heartfelt, thought-provoking, emotional read from Cynthia Hand. I knew once I finished this book that I wouldn’t be forgetting it any time soon. It’s the type of book that stays with you – I may not have necessarily LOVED it, but it’s a gut-wrenching read with a powerful story that should not be missed!

This is going to sound trite, I suppose, but you never know when it’s going to be the last time. That you hug someone. That you kiss. That you say goodbye.

Alexis Riggs is numb. Ever since her brother, Tyler, committed suicide, Lex has bottled up her emotions – especially her grief – and is going through the motions of her senior year of high school. She’s haunted by the night Ty committed suicide, questioning herself and feeling guilty about whether there was something she could have done to prevent it. Cynthia Hand portrayed her character fantastically – I could feel Lex’s heartache, how much she loved her brother, how much she misses him every day. I could also feel how angry Lex was at Ty for leaving her and her mother alone, leaving them to become shells of themselves.

Lex tries to keep her emotions bottled up, but she’s asked by her therapist to write in a journal. She’s reluctant and not at all impressed by this method of coping, but she does manage to write. She vents her feelings, some flashbacks of her and her brother, and anything else on her mind. Lex dreams of Ty almost every night, and each dream ends with Ty’s death. It’s through these dreams and the occasional flashback that we get to know the kind of person Ty was. He was the kind of person no one ever expected to kill himself – no one ever knew the pain he hid within himself. I loved how Cynthia Hand was able to create such presence in Ty’s character. Even though he’s no longer alive, he’s still very much a part of the story.

Lex struggles day to day, not knowing if the hole in her heart from Ty’s death will ever heal. Her friends are there for her, but she isolates herself. But when she becomes reacquainted with an old childhood friend, Sadie, and Lex finds a letter from her brother to his ex-girlfriend Ashley, things slowly start to change. Lex has a goal now, to find Ashley and give her the letter. And through this goal, Lex pieces together Ty’s life – the struggles he had – right before he passed. And Lex starts to forgive – herself and Ty – and accept that her brother is gone.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a story about loss, grief, and acceptance. At its heart, it’s a story of family and friends, about accepting help when it’s offered, and not having to go through grief alone. Lex is surrounded by people who care and comes to realize that even though the hole in her heart from Ty’s death will always be there, she doesn’t have to let it consume her life. I adored this novel, how heartbreaking yet eye-opening it was. It’s not an easy read, but a deeply emotional, stunning one that I highly recommend.

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Release Day Review: The Raven by Sylvain Reynard

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The Raven by Sylvain Reynard

The Raven by Sylvain Reynard
Series: The Florentine #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 3rd 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel series comes a dark, sensual tale of romance in a city shrouded in mystery . . .

Raven Wood spends her days at Florence’s Uffizi gallery restoring Renaissance art. But an innocent walk home after an evening with friends changes her life forever. When she intervenes in the senseless beating of a homeless man, his attackers turn on her, dragging her into an alley. Raven is only semiconscious when their assault is interrupted by a cacophony of growls followed by her attackers’ screams. Mercifully, she blacks out, but not before catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure who whispers to her . . .

Cassita vulneratus.

When Raven awakes, she is inexplicably changed. Upon returning to the Uffizi, no one recognizes her. More disturbingly, she discovers that she’s been absent an entire week. With no recollection of her disappearance, Raven learns that her absence coincides with one of the largest robberies in Uffizi history–the theft of a set of priceless Botticelli illustrations. When the police identify her as their prime suspect, Raven is desperate to clear her name. She seeks out one of Florence’s wealthiest and most elusive men in an attempt to uncover the truth. Their encounter leads Raven to a dark underworld whose inhabitants kill to keep their secrets . . .

“I am the darkness made visible.”

The Raven is the first full-length novel in Sylvain Reynard’s The Florence series, and it’s a book full of mystery and intrigue. I was a fan of SR’s Gabriel series and was highly anticipating this paranormal spinoff series. Although I didn’t connect with the main characters as much as I wanted, the writing had me hooked and the supernatural aspect of the story had me fully intrigued. Fans of the Gabriel series should definitely give The Florence series a try – SR gives a unique take on vampires that was highly enjoyable!

The Raven takes place two years after The Prince (which I highly recommend reading before going into The Raven). The Prince of Florence, who also goes by the name William York, has taken back his stolen art from the Uffizi, though he’s still planning on killing the Emersons. But one night, he encounters a woman on the brink of death, and instead of ignoring her, which would be the norm for him, he saves her life.

Raven Wood wakes up with no recollection of the past week, and when she returns to work at the Uffizi, she finds out that artwork has been stolen during the week she blacked out and she’s a prime suspect. While trying to clear her name, she comes across the name William York, but when she tries to find out who he is, Raven unknowingly puts herself deeper into the underworld of Florence and into danger.

William can’t get the woman he saved out of his mind, and even though he tries to stay away, he can’t. He continues to be Raven’s protector but keeps to the shadows until Raven falls into too much trouble and William has to come forward and save her life once again. As they spend more time together, Raven and William can’t help but feel drawn to one another.

I really enjoyed Raven’s character, even though I didn’t connect with her much. She’s the type of woman who doesn’t fit in with society’s views of beauty and she is typically ignored by men. Even though this could have made her a bitter woman, she’s strong and compassionate with a heart of gold. She’s unknowingly thrust into the supernatural world, but she faces it head on. William, on the other hand, took me a while to warm up to. He’s one of the most powerful vampires and he’s lived for a long time, so he’s done and seen things that have made him jaded. But bit by bit, as he grows to care for Raven, we uncover a passionate man who has more than a little humanity left in him. I was a much bigger fan of William towards the end of the novel.

I highly enjoyed the romance in The Raven. It was a slow burn kind of romance with tensions running high between William and Raven. And I loved that by being with each other, they open their eyes to the person they are underneath – William discovers that maybe he’s not the monster he makes himself out to be, and Raven realizes that beauty is so much more than just the surface of a person.

“You are the only ray of hope I’ve seen since 1274. You’re the only one who has caused my heart to beat again.”

SR flawlessly entwines Raven and William’s sensual but sweet romance with the gorgeous setting of Florence and the fascinating supernatural underworld. The Raven was an entirely satisfying read even though I wasn’t too keen on the characters, and that was mainly due to the writing. I found myself drawn into the dark underworld of Florence and couldn’t stop reading this book! If you’re a fan of SR’s writing, then I highly recommend reading this fascinating, romantic new series.

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: The Florentine series

The Prince by Sylvain Reynard The Raven by Sylvain Reynard The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard

#0.5 ~ The Prince: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ The Raven: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Shadow: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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ARC Review: Craved by an Alpha by Felicity Heaton

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Craved by an Alpha by Felicity Heaton

Craved by an Alpha by Felicity Heaton
Series: Eternal Mates #5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 27th 2015
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

Having turned his back on his snow leopard pride, Cavanaugh has been counting the days until he’s free of a role he never wanted—one that separated him from his fated female and stands between him and the future he craves with her.

Just days from the night he will finally be free to be with the low-ranking beauty who stole his heart, she walks back into his life and threatens to destroy everything he’s worked towards in the five long years they’ve been apart.

Eloise has travelled across continents searching for the male who was once her best friend and so much more to her, but was now her pride’s true alpha. Desperate to fulfil a promise to her kin to save them from the tyrant he left in charge, she convinces Cavanaugh to return to his pride, but as they journey to Bhutan, doubts bloom and old feelings resurface, tearing her between duty and her deepest desires and impossible dreams.

Will Eloise be able to resist the burning need that Cavanaugh reignites in her and remember her place in the pride? And can Cavanaugh find a way to save his kin and claim the future he craves with the woman he loves?

This was a short, sexy, and sweet book about Cavanaugh and his mate. I was very much looking forward to Cavanaugh’s story after having read the previous book in the Eternal Mates series. He’s a bartender with a mysterious past, and we finally get to see what demons Cavanaugh hides in Craved by an Alpha. Fans of the series won’t be disappointed with this latest installment from Felicity Heaton!

Cavanaugh was formerly in the running to be the next alpha of his snow leopard pride, but becoming the alpha would have ruined his chances of being with the woman he loved, his fate mate Eloise. So Cavanaugh left his pride, left Eloise, to stay away until he was no longer in the running to be alpha and he had the chance to win back and claim his mate.

Eight days were all that stood between him and claiming the mate he craved with all of his heart.
Those eight days suddenly felt like forever.

But Cavanaugh’s plans change when Eloise suddenly appears where he works. Seeing her again awakens his need to claim her, but Eloise comes bearing bad news. The current alpha of their pride is bad news, and she wants Cavanaugh to come back and reclaim his rightful place as alpha. And because he can’t resist her, Cavanaugh agrees to return, all the while fighting his impulses to claim his mate.

He had no interest in being the alpha. The one thing he had craved in his life wasn’t power or standing. It was her. She was the only thing that mattered to him.

Eloise has always loved Cavanaugh, but when he left the pride, he hurt her badly and left her and the pride in the hands of a tyrant. Seeing him again brings back the chemistry that was always between them, though she tries to fight it. Eloise doesn’t know that Cavanaugh left the pride to be with her, so they have a few bumps along the way on their journey before they can start on their happy ever after.

I adored Eloise and Cavanaugh’s romance! So heartbreaking yet romantic, my heart was swept away by the love between them. I do wish this book was longer – the plot went by really quickly, and the book ended before I even realized I had finished! Still, I highly enjoyed this book!

If you’re a fan of paranormal romances, you MUST read this series! It’s wonderfully written, the characters are memorable and endearing, and it’s hot and sexy. Felicity Heaton is definitely an author I’d recommend for PNR lovers.

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Eternal Mates series

Kissed by a Dark Prince by Felicity E. Heaton Claimed by a Demon King by Felicity Heaton Tempted by a Rogue Prince by Felicity Heaton
Hunted by a Jaguar by Felicity Heaton Craved by an Alpha by Felicity Heaton Bitten by a Hellcat by Felicity Heaton Taken by a Dragon by Felicity Heaton

#1 ~ Kissed by a Dark Prince: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Claimed by a Demon King: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Tempted by a Rogue Prince: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Hunted by a Jaguar: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Craved by an Alpha: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#6 ~ Bitten by a Hellcat: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#7 ~ Taken by a Dragon: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

ARC Review: Hunted by a Jaguar by Felicity Heaton

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Hunted by a Jaguar by Felicity Heaton

Hunted by a Jaguar by Felicity Heaton
Series: Eternal Mates #4 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 6th 2015
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

A jaguar shifter with a dark secret, Kyter has spent his entire life running from his demons. When a tragedy takes him back to his pride’s village, he is set on a path of vengeance that will see him collide with the terrible ghosts of his past and a beautiful vision of his future.

Iolanthe deals in finding artefacts for discerning clients, but this time her client is one of the deadliest men in Hell and her mission has the highest stakes imaginable. Failure is not an option when your life is on the line, but things take a dangerous turn when she crosses paths with a handsome and mysterious male on the hunt for the same artefact—a male who declares she is his eternal mate.

Can Iolanthe resist Kyter’s wicked allure and find the artefact before he does? Can Kyter face his demons and win the heart of his fated female? Or will this deadly game of cat and mouse claim both of their lives?

If there’s a go-to author for paranormal romances, for me, Felicity Heaton would be one of them! I am such a big fan of the world of her Eternal Mates series – if you’re a fan of PNRs, then you should definitely give this series a try. It’s got a fleshed-out, well-written world with fantastic characters and a whole bunch of sexiness.

Hunted by a Jaguar is the fourth installment in the Eternal Mates series, and although it’s not my favorite of the series, it was still a highly enjoyable read. We first met Kyter, as the bar owner in Kissed by a Dark Prince. He’s also a jaguar shifter who has been running from the demons of his past. His tribe shunned him because of his dark heritage – his demon father. But when his mother dies, he has to go back to the tribe he has no love for to exact revenge for his mother’s death. And in order to have his revenge, he must locate a key that will summon his mother’s murderer.

Iolanthe, an elf, has been tasked to also find the key, but if she fails, her life is forfeit. Inevitably, she and Kyter cross paths. At first sight, Kyter knows that Iolanthe is his eternal mate. But now he has to make a choice – find and take the key that will avenge his mother’s death, or give it all up for love.

It took me a while to get into this book for some reason. The beginning was fairly slow paced, but I was excited for Kyter to discover and win over his mate. Iolanthe is very resistant towards a mating between them – she doesn’t believe she and Kyter are mates, despite how much her body reacts to him. She’s an independent woman and never wanted a mate who would shackle her down. But Kyter is determined to make Iolanthe see that what they have is real. I adored how fiercely passionate and loyal Kyter is and how all of that was focused on making Iolanthe his.

For fans of PNR, the Eternal Mates series is a must read! Each book can be read as a standalone as each is about a different couple, but you get the full, better experience if you read them all in order. I’m definitely looking forward to the other books in this series!

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Eternal Mates series

Kissed by a Dark Prince by Felicity E. Heaton Claimed by a Demon King by Felicity Heaton Tempted by a Rogue Prince by Felicity Heaton
Hunted by a Jaguar by Felicity Heaton Craved by an Alpha by Felicity Heaton Bitten by a Hellcat by Felicity Heaton Taken by a Dragon by Felicity Heaton

#1 ~ Kissed by a Dark Prince: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Claimed by a Demon King: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Tempted by a Rogue Prince: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Hunted by a Jaguar: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Craved by an Alpha: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#6 ~ Bitten by a Hellcat: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#7 ~ Taken by a Dragon: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads