Release Day Review: The Game Plan by Kristen Callihan

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Game Plan by Kristen Callihan
Series: Game On #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: November 1st 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

A beard-related dare and one hot-as-hell kiss changes everything.

NFL center Ethan Dexter’s focus has always been on playing football and little else. Except when it comes to one particular woman. The lovely Fiona Mackenzie might not care about his fame, but she’s also never looked at him as anything more than one of her brother-in-law’s best friends. That ends now.

Fi doesn’t know what to make of Dex. The bearded, tattooed, mountain of man-muscle looks more like a biker than a football player. Rumor has it he’s a virgin, but she finds that hard to believe. Because from the moment he decides to turn his quiet intensity on her she’s left weak at the knees and aching to see his famous control fully unleashed.

Fi ought to guard her heart and walk away; they live vastly different lives in separate cities. And Dex is looking for a forever girl. But Dex has upped his game and is using all his considerable charm to convince Fi he’s her forever man.

Game On

My god. I don’t know how Kristen Callihan does it, but each book in the Game On series (easily one of the best NA series I’ve ever read) gets better and better. I didn’t think I could love anyone as much as I loved Gray from The Friend Zone (my review here), but oh, how wrong I was. Dex is just… perfection. An absolute wonderful hero I’ve fallen so, so, sooooo hard for. AH, I can’t even fully describe how much I love him! And this series!!! This is truly one of the top NA series that I’d recommend to EVERYONE. The lovable, mature characters, the fantastic writing, the humor, the heartache… Kristen Callihan mixes all of these into a potent combination that will steal your heart and take your breath away.

I see Ethan Dexter; he shines for me. And I burn hotter than the sun when I’m in his orbit.

We previously met Dex and Fiona in The Friend Zone, and they were quite the opposites. Dex is quiet and reserved, the go-to guy when his teammates need advice. Fi is an out-going, feisty girl who doesn’t hold anything back. He’s a virgin and a football player; she’s open about her sexuality and hates dating football players. Fi doesn’t really notice Dex, but he’s had his eye on her since the moment they first meet. And for two years, Dex has kept to the shadows, always watching her from afar, but one dare and kiss changes everything, and this sexy lumbersexual is determined to fight for the one woman he wants.

“You’ve ruined me, Fiona. I’m not sure I know how to live without you anymore.”

I’m just a pile of melted goo now, after finishing this book. Dex makes my heart practically SING – he’s romantic, sweet, thoughtful, patient. He’s just the perfect man for Fi, and she’s the perfect woman for him. Fi gets Dex to open up and show his true self only to her, while Dex gives Fi an anchor, a foundation. God, I seriously loved this couple. The two of them truly bring out the best and most out of each other. You can’t read this book and NOT smile and clutch at your heart at seeing them interact with each other, at them being TOGETHER. Oh, and did I mention how freaking HOT this book is!? You will seriously need a fan because the chemistry between Dex and Fi is off. the. charts. And Dex’s dirty mouth… *flails* I loved it!

“Being with you. Loving you—You make me feel everything.”

I haven’t rated a book 5 stars in quite a while, but what better way to get me out of my book funk than with Dex and Fi!? The Game Plan is another brilliant, heart-wrenching, utterly romantic addition to this series that I will forever adore. Fi and Dex’s story isn’t perfect, as they have their ups and downs, but their story was written perfectly and I couldn’t imagine it better. I honestly never wanted this book to end. And, another plus, we get to see the other couples from the previous series, and the new NFL teammates! The banters, the bromances, and the camaraderie were all a joy to read. Gah, this book. Just thinking about it makes me smile. I loved it with my whole heart – I can’t recommend it enough!

“I love you. I don’t say that enough. Just know that whatever I do, wherever I am, it is a constant refrain in my heart. You color my world, Fi.”

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

Reading Order: Game On series

#1 ~ The Hook Up: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Friend Zone: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Game Plan: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

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5Oct2015

Release Day Review: Ms. Manwhore by Katy Evans

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Ms. Manwhore by Katy Evans
Series: Manwhore #2.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 5th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

What lies ahead for Chicago’s most envied couple, Malcolm Saint and Rachel Livingston?

Sparks flew between them in Manwhore. Separated by deception, they felt the intensity and heat of their attraction turn up in Manwhore +1.

Will Chicago’s wealthiest and most notorious player finally settle down, or will one woman never be enough? Find out in Ms. Manwhore, the ultimate conclusion to their electric, breathtaking story.

I want to cry – Malcolm and Rachel’s ending is absolute PERFECTION!!!!!! I’m so incredibly happy for this couple but I’m also so, so sad that this is the end for them. NO MORE SAINT – how can I possibly live without him!?

Ms. Manwhore is a novella and the final installment in Malcolm and Rachel’s story, though we can only hope that we will have more in the Manwhore series (Tahoe and Gina!?). It’s jam-packed with all the SWOONS – Malcolm Saint fans, you are going to DIE of happiness in this novella. I laughed, I smiled, I melted… I honestly can’t imagine a better ending for Rachel and Malcolm than what Katy Evans gives us!

Is love like this? Where you keep falling and falling, every day that you look into his eyes?

This novella picks up straight from the ending of Manwhore +1, after Malcolm has proposed to Rachel. These two are now finally getting their much deserved happily ever after, and they’re scrambling to get to the wedding. Wedding preparations, dress picking, bachelor(ette) parties – it’s going to be HUGE. Rachel doesn’t really need this big spectacle of a wedding, but only the best for Malcolm Saint’s soon-to-be wife, right?

“Do you realize this is something I never thought I’d want? I can’t think of anything else but making you my wife. My priority is merging your life with mine.”

Could Malcolm Saint BE any more perfect!? I thought he couldn’t after Manwhore +1, but Katy Evans proves me wrong… AGAIN. I loved everything about this book – Malcolm, Rachel, their wedding… My heart nearly couldn’t handle the pure happiness radiating from the pages.

“I can’t wait to make you my lady. Your smiles drive me crazy.”

It’s not necessary to read Ms. Manwhore, but if you loved the first two books, you absolutely DO NOT want to miss this! While I was reading it, I couldn’t stop smiling, and my heart was just bursting with happiness by the time I got to the end. It’s a bittersweet ending for sure, since I don’t want to let go of these characters, but I’m so thankful Katy Evans wrote this novella – I can say goodbye to Malcolm and Rachel with a smile on my face!

I have a future to look forward to.
I have a storm to catch.
A leap to make.
A man to love.
A Sin to take.
And I’ve never looked forward to something in my life like I look forward to
MALCOLM
KYLE
PRESTON
LOGAN
SAINT.

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

Reading Order: Manwhore series

#1 ~ Manwhore: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Manwhore +1: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Ms. Manwhore: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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23Sep2015

Early Review: Playing with Fire by Kate Meader

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Playing with Fire by Kate Meader
Series: Hot in Chicago #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 29th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

From popular romance author Kate Meader comes the second novel in Hot in Chicago, a brand-new, sizzling series that follows a group of firefighting foster siblings and their blazing hot love interests!

As the only female firefighter at Engine Co. 6, Alexandra Dempsey gets it from all sides: the male coworkers who think she can’t do the job, the wives and girlfriends who see her as a threat to their firefighter men, and her overprotective foster brothers who want to shelter their baby sister at all costs. So when she single-handedly saves the life of Eli Cooper, Chicago’s devastatingly handsome mayor, she assumes the respect she’s longed for will finally come her way. But it seems Mr. Mayor has other ideas…

Eli Cooper’s mayoral ratings are plummeting, his chances at reelection dead in the water. When a sexy, curvaceous firefighter gives him the kiss of life, she does more than bring him back to the land of the living—she also breathes vitality into his campaign. Riding the wave of their feel-good story might prop up Eli’s flagging political fortunes, but the sizzling attraction between them can go nowhere; he’s her boss, and there are rules that must be obeyed. But you know what they say about rules: they’re made to be broken…

I loved reading Playing with Fire! It’s a solid, entertaining read that is just SO good. It’s also seriously hot and sexy – I was totally not expecting the hero, the mayor of Chicago, to be as smokin’ as he was! Kate Meader has written a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance that I was seriously invested in.

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the fact that the heroine is a female firefighter. I don’t think I’ve ever read about one before, so I was super excited to read about Alex Dempsey. And I loved what I found in her – Alex is a tough, independent, strong woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone, least of all Mayor Eli Cooper. She does what she wants, but that’s not always a good thing… since she doesn’t always think about the consequences of her actions. So one anger-fueled incident lands her right in the lap of the man she loves to hate.

Oh, God, this sexy-hate thing between them was crazy. She felt an overwhelming urge to both punch him and hug him.

Eli Cooper is running for the second term of his mayorship (is that a word?) and he needs the backing of the firefighters, especially the Dempseys, to win the election. Eli is kind of a dick in the beginning of the book – he’s made sexist comments towards female firefighters (which is the first reason why Alex loves to hate him), and he blackmails Alex into pretending to date him for the media. But as I read more, I saw another, better side to Eli, one that’s not as cold and callous as he first seemed. And this change and redemption is all thanks to one fiery, passionate woman.

Eli has wanted Alex since he first saw her, but it seems that with every encounter, they only bring out the worst in each other. The banter, the sharp remarks, the glares – they all serve to light up the crazy-hot chemistry that’s been there from the start. I loved that Eli and Alex are such a perfect match for one another and that they’re able to go head-to-head with neither of them backing down. And oh. my. god. The sex between them is panty-melting H.O.T! Eli’s mouth is the dirtiest thing ever, and I loved it. I loved how alpha he is, how sensual and sexy and dominant he is in bed. You will seriously need a FAN when you read this book!

“I will fuck the ever-loving smart-assery out of you, Alexandra.” He got started on that, pumping in and out, in and out. Deeper, harder. “I’m going to fuck you so good the only word on your lips will be my name. The only answer to every question will be my name. Now say it.”

Eli also has to do some wooing to win the heart of the woman he’s fallen for, and I just about died at the way he goes about it. First he’s a dirty-talking alpha-male, and now he’s sweet and loving? My heart couldn’t handle it. I ended up falling so hard for his character. I loved Alex, but Eli was definitely my favorite character in this book.

“You’re a goddess and I’m not worthy to worship at your feet, but I’m happy to spend the rest of my life trying to be good enough for you.”

This review is littered with firefighter puns, but there’s no better way to describe Playing with Fire than a scorching hot romance you don’t want to miss. It’s a great, satisfying read with fantastic writing and a cast of characters I adore. I can’t wait for more from this series!

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

Reading Order: Hot in Chicago series

#1 ~ Flirting with Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Melting Point: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Playing with Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Sparking the Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Sept. 27, 2016)

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22Sep2015

Review: Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros
Series: Flight & Glory #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 10th 2014
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Three knocks can change everything…

“She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.”

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction.

Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.

“The fire you have within you is impossible to kill. The first breath you take when you’re free of all this, it will come roaring back. That’s what is so impossibly beautiful about you.”

WHY HAVE I NOT READ THIS BOOK SOONER!?

God, I loved this book. It’s been a while since I wholeheartedly LOVED a book as much as I loved Full Measures, but Rebecca Yarros has stunned me with this emotional, incredible, unforgettable read. I’m kind of mad at myself for not reading this when it first came out – but whatever, I’m now fully on the bandwagon that is the Flight & Glory series. And I have to say it: I LOVE JOSH WALKER!!!!

“It is the business of the living to keep on doing so. We are no exception. We are not the first family to lose a man to war, and I fear we will not be the last. But we will be resilient.”

Already in the first chapter, Rebecaa Yarros wrings out all the feels – three knocks on the front door shatters and changes Ember Howard’s life as she knows it. The death of her father, a doctor in the army, leaves Ember to have to pick up the broken pieces of her family. I had tears welling up at the pain and devastation Ember and her family were going through – the author truly has a talent at writing emotional scenes.

I liked Ember, I really did. I admired her inner strength, the continuous support for her mother and two younger siblings. She’s stubborn and a bit frustrating at times, but totally forgivable and understandable given her situation. But the true star of this book was Josh. Josh Walker, Ember’s crush back in high school, the bad boy senior to her freshman, who steps in to give Ember the love and support she never knew she needed.

“You’re so busy taking care of everyone else, you can’t see that someone needs to take care of you. So tell me what you need, and I’ll be that for you.”

Josh has changed a lot since high school. Now a mature, reliable man who’s a hockey coach to Ember’s brother, Josh is literally the perfect hero. Not in that too-perfect way, since he has his flaws and secrets, but in that remarkably sweet, loving, and swoonworthy way. I fell head-over-heels in love with Josh and his unwavering love and faith in Ember. He’s always there when she needs him, willing to do whatever it takes to make her live the happiest life. And I absolutely LOVED that Josh actually had a crush on Ember too back then – can he be any sweeter!?

“Just let me love you, December, because I can’t stop anyways. I’ve been at your mercy since I was eighteen.”

I enjoyed every minute of this book. I was hooked throughout the whole thing – my emotions were going crazy, wanting to cry one moment, then swooning the next. Equal parts heart-wrenching and sweet, Full Measures is undoubtedly an incredible read that fans of romances should not miss. And I’m so glad that I have the next two books in the series ready for me to read, because I just can’t get enough of the author’s writing and storytelling!

Reading Order: Flight & Glory series

#1 ~ Full Measures: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Eyes Turned Skyward: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Beyond What is Given: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Hallowed Ground: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

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21Sep2015

Audiobook Review: Breathless in Love by Bella Andre & Jennifer Skully

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Breathless in Love by Bella Andre & Jennifer Skully
Series: The Maverick Billionaires #1 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: August 25th 2015
Length: 9 hours and 48 minutes
Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Will Franconi has a dark past that he’s kept a closely guarded secret―very few people have ever heard his real story and he plans to keep it that way. After surviving a hellish childhood, he’s now living the dream life where everything he touches turns to gold. But something’s missing. He doesn’t quite know what until a simple letter from a teenage boy brings Harper Newman into his life. A woman who just might fill up the empty places inside him…if only he could ever be worthy of her love.

When a man has more money than he could possibly spend in five lifetimes, Harper has to ask herself what Will Franconi could possibly want from a woman like her? She’s learned the hard way that rich men always get what they want no matter the cost. If it was just herself she had to worry about, Harper would manage, but she’s guardian to her younger brother who depends on her for everything. After nearly losing his life in a car crash, she’s vowed never to let anyone hurt him ever again.

Still, sometimes Harper can’t help but long to change her story from one of an always-cautious woman to an adventurous tale of a heroine who’s wild and free…especially when Will’s kisses and caresses make her utterly breathless. And as he begins to reveal his story to her, she discovers that he’s so much more than just another wealthy, privileged man. He’s kind and giving, and he fills up all the spaces inside of her heart that have been empty for so long. Together, can they rewrite their stories into a happily-ever-after that neither of them had previously thought was possible?

After falling in love with a previous audiobook from Bella Andre, I couldn’t wait to listen to Breathless in Love! Eva Kaminsky is my favorite female narrator I’ve heard so far – her narration is fantastic to listen to, and I just love the way she voices the male dialogue. So I went into Breathless in Love with high expectations, which the authors and Eva Kaminsky all met. This was a sweet, brilliant romance between a strong heroine and a sweetheart billionaire hero that I highly recommend!

Will Franconi is the first of the Maverick group to get his story told, and what a story it was. Sweet, light-hearted, romantic, this audiobook had me smiling so much. I fell head-over-heels in love with Will – he may be a billionaire, but he has never once let the money get to his head. He’s also not that typical billionaire playboy, which I appreciated. When Will falls for a woman, he falls fast and hard, and won’t even look at any other. He’s charming, sincere, considerate – he’s really the perfect man. And he’s got a little obsession with cars – which is where the heroine comes in.

Harper Newman has been taking care of her teenage brother, Jeremy, ever since a car accident left him with the mental capacity of a seven year old. With both her parents gone, she’s had no one to rely on but herself. Harper loves her brother dearly, so when Jeremy wants to meet the billionaire who shares his obsession with cars, she agrees, but what she doesn’t expect is to be swept off her feet by the gorgeous, kindhearted man who wants to be a part of her and her brother’s little family – forever.

I loved Harper and Jeremy! Eva Kaminsky brought them to life with her narration. She also did a fantastic job with Jeremy’s voice, which was a bit slower and more emphasized to reflect his mental capacity. I admired Harper so much for the constant love and support she had for Jeremy – she’s a wonderful sister, a wonderful person, and it wasn’t hard to see how Will would fall for her.

Will has a dark past he’s constantly running from but can’t forget, but he learns to forgive himself because of what he’s found with Harper. I loved how Will wanted both Harper and Jeremy in his life – this man never ceases to amaze me with the lengths he’ll go to make sure they’re loved, safe, and protected. If you’re looking for a swoon-worthy hero, look no further than Will Franconi!

I absolutely can’t wait for more from the Maverick Billionaires. Bella Andre and Jennifer Skully have written a fantastic series-starter, and I have high hopes the other books in the series will be just as good. You should definitely give the audiobook of Breathless in Love a try – not only for Eva Kaminsky’s narration, but also for the gorgeous romance!

Reading Order: The Maverick Billionaires series

#1 ~ Breathless in Love: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Reckless in Love: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Fearless in Love: Goodreads (June 15, 2016)
#4 ~ Irresistible in Love: Goodreads (release date TBA)
#5 ~ Wild in Love: Goodreads (release date TBA)

Here’s an audio excerpt from Breathless in Love!

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