Release Day Review: Dare to Take by Carly Phillips

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Dare to Take by Carly Phillips
Series: Dare to Love #6 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: May 3rd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

A one night stand.
A secret.
A mistake they tried to forget.

On leave from the army, Tyler Dare is just looking for a little fun, but his best friend’s sister is off limits. Yet unable to deny how sexy and alluring she is, he finds it all too easy to succumb to a night of passion and heat that ends the next morning in the worst way possible.

There are just some guys you don’t touch–even someone as innocent and inexperienced as Ella Shaw knows that. But when her brother’s best friend is up for grabs and willing, she can’t resist. After all, she’s wanted him for years…

Now, Ella is stranded on a tropical island with a hurricane bearing down, and only Tyler can save her. It’s his chance to make amends for the past and show the woman he’s never forgotten that he’s coming after her . . . in more ways than one.

I’d previously never read a Carly Phillips book before Dare to Take, but I wanted to read this one because I’m a sucker for the best friend’s older brother trope! I actually zipped through this book so fast – it’s a fun, quick-paced second chance romance that I’d definitely recommend for lovers of the trope!

Ella’s had a crush on her best friend’s brother, Tyler, for ages – but the one night they were together? He shot out of town without even saying goodbye. So to say Ella’s resentful is an understatement, which is why she doesn’t want to be stranded on a tropical island with the man who broke her heart. But the chemistry that existed all those years ago seems to never have died – can Ella resist Tyler when it seems like he’s trying to make amends… and maybe try a relationship again?

Former soldier Tyler Dare has never been able to forget the Ella and their night together, and the guilt he holds only builds as the years go by and he never apologizes. But now that he has the chance, he’s taking it – and taking Ella. Tyler may have a habit of running when things get tough, but he’s now realizing what a good thing he’d have with Ella. Plus, his protective instincts roar to life when they find out that someone’s out to steal something from Ella by any means necessary.

She was everything he’d never known he wanted or needed in his life.

Dare to Take can be read entirely as a standalone, which I was thankful for. After reading this, I’m intrigued now about the other Dare siblings, and I just might read the other books in the series. Carly Phillips wrote a seriously fun and sweet contemporary romance – it’s fairly predictable, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment. This is the perfect read to get your mind off of things and spend a few hours with a lovely romance.

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

Reading Order: Dare to Love series

#1 ~ Dare to Love: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Dare to Desire: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Dare to Touch: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Dare to Hold: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Dare to Rock: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Dare to Take: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

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3May2016

Release Day Review: Fly With Me by Chanel Cleeton

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Fly With Me by Chanel Cleeton
Series: Wild Aces #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: May 3rd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Noah Miller—call sign Burn—loves nothing more than flying hard and fast. When he meets a gorgeous and sassy woman while partying in Las Vegas, he immediately locks on to her.

Jordan Callahan owns a thriving clothing boutique, but her love life is far less successful. Her luck changes when six feet, two inches of sexy swagger asks her to dance and turns her world upside down.

One scorching weekend becomes an undeniable chemistry that they can’t leave in Vegas. But the long distance relationship and their different lives threaten to ground their romance. And when the dangers of Noah’s job become all too real, Jordan learns being with a fighter pilot means risking it all for a shot at love…

Y’all, I loved this book SO. MUCH. I’m actually surprised by how much I adored this. Military romances are usually a hit or miss for me, but Fly With Me is without a doubt a winner. I loved how honest Chanel Cleeton portrayed this military relationship – my heart was completely invested in Jordan and Noah’s romance. Gah, there were so many feels too! If you love military romances or romances that wring out all your emotions, I can’t recommend Fly With Me enough!

Noah and Jordan meet by chance at Vegas, and let me tell you, the chemistry between them SIZZLES. This book is off-the-charts HOT! But what starts as a fling turns into so much more as they get to know each other better and their connection deepens. But with the two of them leaving Vegas to separate parts of the country, and add in Noah’s job in the military, how can a relationship work between them?

“I don’t know what we’re doing here. Every time I have to say good-bye to you, it feels like I’m being sliced in half.” His expression darkened. “Loving you fucking hurts.”

I adored Jordan and Noah. I’ll admit, it took me a little while to warm up to them in the beginning of the book, but once they started getting serious about a relationship, I absolutely loved them. Jordan is a kickass heroine – she’s real, relatable, fun, honest. She’s the kind of girl I’d love to hang out with. As for the hero – I love me some men in uniform, and you can’t get any better than a sexy fighter pilot for the Air Force. Noah lives and breathes flying, but being with Jordan makes him realize that there might just be something he could love more than planes. He’s an alpha hero with an amazing heart – AND he’s not afraid to love! You don’t know how much I appreciated reading about a hero who wants to go all in in a relationship. Just… SWOON!

When it was love, capital letters, can’t-live-without-you love, there wasn’t much of a choice. We were forever, for however long forever lasted.

Jordan and Noah’s relationship is not easy, far from it. It’s the hardest thing they’ll ever do, but every separation and every deployment is worth it in the end when they can be together. They’ll learn to make sacrifices for each other, to compromise for their relationship, because the payoff – love – is something they can’t live without. Chanel Cleeton has written a beautiful love story in Fly With Me. It’s honest, raw, real… and I couldn’t have imagined a better ending for the main characters.

I loved this book! And I loved the secondary characters, Noah’s friends Thor and Easy. I’ve already read Thor’s book, and just saying, the series only gets better because I loved it even more than Fly With Me! I’m dying for Easy’s book now, but it won’t be out until 2017 *wipes tear*. The Wild Aces series is seriously a must-read – everyone needs to add it to their shelves!

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

Reading Order: Wild Aces series

#1 ~ Fly With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Into the Blue: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ On Broken Wings: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Jan. 3, 2017)

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3May2016

Release Day Review: The Trouble with Temptation by Shiloh Walker

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Trouble with Temptation by Shiloh Walker
Series: The McKays #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: May 3rd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Love is the greatest risk of all.

After seven days in a coma, Hannah Parker remembers nothing about the accident that landed her in the hospital—or how she ended up pregnant with Brannon’s baby, the man she’s loved since high school. Her body and heart have burned for him for years, and when she wakes up, he’s sleeping by her bedside, anxious to keep her safe at all costs. But as Hannah struggles with her amnesia, a threat looms closer—one that could have deadly consequences if she recovers her memories. She will have to trust Brannon completely if she is to keep what haunts her at bay…and their baby safe….

Brannon McKay spent the last ten years fantasizing about Hannah. In his mind, he’s explored every passionate scenario he can think of while, in real life, Brannon took their budding relationship and threw it away with both hands. Hannah doesn’t remember what happened but now that she is awake, Brannon would rather die than watch her walk away again. When Hannah and his unborn child’s lives are threatened, Brannon must stake claim to the woman who has held his heart captive for years…or risk disaster tearing them apart…

I have to admit that the main reason I wanted to read this book was because of the AMAZING blurb. Hello, angst alert! I was totally in the mood for an angsty read, and Shiloh Walker delivered perfectly with The Trouble with Temptation. I skipped the first book in the McKays series, but I read this one as a standalone with no problems. The Trouble with Temptation is a fabulous small-town romance – it’s heart-wrenching, suspenseful, and sexy. Just all-around an addicting, unputdownable read!

Brannon is experiencing the worst night of his life – the woman he cares about more than any other is lying in the hospital in the coma from an accident… and she’s pregnant with his baby. He’s desperate for her to wake up, to survive, but also scared she won’t give him the time of day if she does wake. Because only hours before, Brannon threw their relationship away, scared at the prospect of love. But now with the possibility of losing Hannah, Brannon realizes he effed up bad – and wants Hannah to wake so he can make things right between them. But when she does wake… it turns out she can’t remember anything or anyone.

Would she still love him if—no, when she remembered?
He didn’t know and the only thing he could think to do was make sure she understood that he wanted her, needed her. That he had messed up. He wanted her with him in so many ways, in all ways.

Hannah wakes up in the hospital with no memories, only to find out that she’s pregnant, and what’s worse, her accident might not have been an accident at all. The only thing that’s familiar to her is Brannon, so she leans on him to help her heal, unknowing of their past. Brannon tries to do whatever it takes to make Hannah fall in love with him again so she won’t run when she finds out the truth, but what happens when her memories come back?

I loved this book!!! I felt SO much while reading – Brannon’s regret over his mistake, his desperation to keep Hannah in his life, Hannah’s own confusion and doubts about their relationship as her memories slowly surface. Ahhh, the angst – I absolutely loved it! And the groveling from Brannon was perfect too – he messed up big time, but you can feel his regret and determination to win Hannah’s heart again.

“I love you,” he said again. “It could have happened yesterday. Maybe it happened a year ago—five years ago. It could have happened in the past five minutes. I don’t know. I just know I love you.”

The mystery aspect of the book wasn’t the best, but it was suspenseful, and the author had me curious about who caused Hannah’s accident. The romance was definitely the highlight of the book – it was seriously divine!! It’s not easy for me to find GOOD angsty reads, ones where the hero grovels sufficiently, but this one is perfect. I highly recommend it!

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

Reading Order: The McKays series

#1 ~ Headed for Trouble: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Trouble with Temptation: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Right Kind of Trouble: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

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2May2016

Early Review: Never Let Me Go by Monica Murphy

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Never Let Me Go by Monica Murphy
Series: Never Tear Us Apart #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: May 3rd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The second novel in this darkly sexy contemporary series from bestselling author Monica Murphy wraps up an emotionally powerful two-part tale of forbidden love.

The truth hurts, they say—and my pain cuts deep. While I was falling for Ethan, he was deceiving me the entire time. He held a huge secret, protected by his lies. When I discovered what he was hiding, the truth shook my world, threatening to ruin us forever. Ruin me. But I soon realized that what we share can’t be destroyed.

The connection between us is too strong. It always has been. I can’t deny him any longer. And I can’t deny my truth: I’m in love with Ethan.

I don’t want to let him go.

While we’re trying our best to make this relationship work, other forces are fighting against us. My family, who wants to keep me safe. The media obsessed with my tragic past. The public that feeds off of it. Even Ethan’s father—the man who nearly destroyed me all those years ago. He’s doing his best to finish the job.

Despite my love for Ethan, the doubts creep in, clouding my mind. Is he worth the pain? Will our love survive, or will we have no choice but to end it—end us—once and for all?

Never Let You Go was a highly anticipated release of mine – I was dying to read this book after the cliffhanger in Never Tear Us Apart!! Never Tear Us Apart (my review here) was a heart-pounding, intense, unique read, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the sequel. Unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as the first book. I liked seeing how Katie and Ethan ended up, but overall, Never Let You Go was just an okay read. Monica Murphy’s writing is wonderful as usual, but the story just didn’t grip me like the first book did.

Katie finally knows the truth of who Ethan is – and with this betrayal of trust, she wants nothing to do with him. Ethan, on the other hand, only wants Katie to be happy, and though he’d rather her be happy with him, he’s backed off to give her time to herself. There’s a lot of this back-and-forth for Katie – one moment, she needs him, the next she’s pushing him away. I was amazed at the patience in Ethan, but I did get a little frustrated at this because the story didn’t move forward fast enough. Still, whenever Ethan and Katie are together, they’re so sweet and wonderful. If this book had nothing but their romance, I would’ve loved it so much more!

Being with Katie makes me feel complete. Whole. Comfortable in my own skin, when I’ve moved through my life uncomfortable as hell with just about everything I’ve ever done.

Tragic events put these two characters together at a young age, but it seems like the present is trying to tear them apart. The media won’t stop hounding Katie and Ethan, and they’re even accusing Ethan of being a part of Katie’s kidnapping, rather than being her savior. This part of book was a little too dramatic for my taste. The media is overwhelming at times, and it seemed to overshadow the main characters and their relationship. I wanted a little less of it, but I understand how the author wanted to use the media in conjunction with Ethan and Katie overcoming their past.

Still, even with my annoyances with the book, I really did enjoy seeing how Katie and Ethan’s relationship turned out. I was rooting for them from the very first book, so I was happy with the events in this conclusion. If you liked Never Tear Us Apart, hopefully you’ll enjoy this sequel! The romance is slow and sweet, but everything else is just a little mediocre compared to the first book.

The boy of my past. The man of my future. The one I can never, ever let go.

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

Reading Order: Never Tear Us Apart series

#1 ~ Never Year Us Apart: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Never Let Me Go: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads (May 3, 2016)

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2May2016

Review: Ride Hard by Laura Kaye

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Ride Hard by Laura Kaye
Series: Raven Riders #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 26th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Brotherhood. Club. Family.
They live and ride by their own rules.
These are the Raven Riders…

Raven Riders Motorcycle Club President Dare Kenyon rides hard and values loyalty above all else. He’ll do anything to protect the brotherhood of bikers–the only family he’s got–as well as those who can’t defend themselves. So when mistrustful Haven Randall lands on the club’s doorstep scared that she’s being hunted, Dare takes her in, swears to keep her safe, and pushes to learn the secrets overshadowing her pretty smile.

Haven fled from years of abuse at the hands of her criminal father and is suspicious of any man’s promises, including those of the darkly sexy and overwhelmingly intense Ravens’ leader. But as the powerful attraction between them flares to life, Dare pushes her boundaries and tempts her to want things she never thought she could.

The past never dies without a fight, but Dare Kenyon’s never backed down before…

I don’t read MC romances that often, which is a shame because I enjoy them so much! There’s always something so gritty and addicting about MC reads, and that description can definitely apply to Laura Kaye’s Hard Ride. It’s the first book in a brand new series, featuring the Raven Riders MC, a club dedicated to helping those who can’t protect themselves. It’s a suspenseful, sexy read that gripped me – it’s a little slow at times, but otherwise, this is a solid first installment to the Raven Riders series.

After escaping from her father’s abusive control, Haven and her best friend Cora have taken shelter with the Raven Riders. Unfortunately, her father is still out to get her, posting a large bounty for finding Haven and bringing her back to him. Haven has lived a very sheltered life, so all these tough bikers, regardless of how they would never harm her, are a little intimidating. But one man makes her feel different and fires her up like no other. Dare makes her feel safe, protected, and wanted. She’s had very little experiences in life, but with Dare, she finds that she wants to experience all of life… with him.

Dare is the president of the Raven Riders, a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly. He’s vowed to make his club legitimate, but that doesn’t mean that he and his men aren’t deadly. He’s alpha, honorable, loyal, and intense, and he’ll do anything for those under his protection. Sweet and innocent Haven brings out his protective instincts even more, and even though he shouldn’t get involved with her, he can’t help but want her. And soon enough, as his feelings for her deepen, he’ll have to do whatever it takes to make sure her father never harms her again.

“Oh, Haven,” he said, “you have no idea what I’d be willing to do for you if you wanted me to.”

Ride Hard was surprisingly sweet, with all the tender moments between Dare and Haven. But even with all the sweet moments, this book is hot too, so if you love steamy romances, you should definitely check it out. I really enjoyed this one – I didn’t completely love it, since I didn’t connect that well with the main characters, and the story moved too slowly at times, but I still had so much fun reading this story. If you love slow burn, suspenseful MC romances, I recommend Ride Hard!

Reading Order: Raven Riders series

#1 ~ Ride Hard: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Ride Rough: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (April 25, 2017)

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