Audiobook Review: The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry

The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry
Series: Elements #1 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: April 5th 2016
Length: 8 hours and 27 minutes
Narrated by: Brian Pallino & Erin Mallon
Links: Audible • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I was warned about Tristan Cole.

“Stay away from him,” people said.
“He’s cruel.”
“He’s cold.”
“He’s damaged.”

It’s easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster.

But I couldn’t do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him because it also lived inside of me.

We were both empty.
We were both looking for something else. Something more.
We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays.

Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe.

The Air He Breathes had been on my TBR ever since it released, with all the high praise and reviews (and that cover!). It’s actually my first book from Brittainy C. Cherry, and I have to say, I highly enjoyed listening to the audiobook! I’ve listened to both Brian Pallino and Erin Mallon before, and they did another fantastic job narrating Tristan and Elizabeth’s story. This audiobook has it all – heartache, chemistry, drama, romance. You go through a ton of emotions and there’s pretty much never a dull moment with The Air He Breathes. I’d definitely recommend this audiobook for those who want to listen to something engaging and intensely emotional!

Tristan Cole is living in hell. He had the perfect wife and son, until they were both taken from him in a tragic accident. Elizabeth Bailey is also living in despair from losing her husband, but she’s had her daughter to keep her will to survive. These two have experienced something tragic and gut-wrenching that ripped apart their lives, and they never expect to ever find love again – until they become next-door neighbors and slowly help each other heal and let go of the past.

This audiobook is heavy with tension and angst. The healing and letting go is not easy or even pretty for Tristan or Elizabeth, and I loved and hated how difficult it was especially for Tristan. He’s not exactly the most lovable character – he’s a huge jerk in the beginning and even a little at the end – but I definitely felt for him and his brokenness. Elizabeth is perfect for him, strong but vulnerable, independent yet needing love. Her daughter Emma is the sweetest thing, and I really wished there were most scenes of Tristan with Emma, because my heart melted every time they were together.

The Air He Breathes tells the tumultuous tale of losing loved ones but finding the strength to live again – and possibly finding love again. It wasn’t perfect – it gets a little cheesy sometimes, Tristan is a huge jerk, the drama that wrapped up the book was a little over-the-top, but the romance is absolutely wonderful and my heart was fully invested in Elizabeth and Tristan falling in love. I LOVE dual narrator audiobooks, so Brian Pallino and Erin Mallon were perfect for me. The narration is spot on, and made this even more enjoyable to listen to. I’m very much hoping they’ll narrate the next book in the Elements series!

4 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: Elements series

 

#1 ~ The Air He Breathes: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Fire Between High & Lo: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from The Air He Breathes!


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Shower of Books Giveaway Hop

showers of books hop

Welcome to the Shower of Books Giveaway Hop, hosted by BookHounds!

For my stop, I’m giving away a $10 gift card (for Amazon or B&N, open INTERNATIONALLY)!

Here are some of my April highlights:
(Click the covers to purchase)

 One with You by Sylvia Day The Beast by J.R. Ward 
The Player by Kresley Cole   Ladies Man by Katy Evans
   

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$10 GC (Amazon or B&N – open INTL)

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April New Release Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the April New Release Giveaway Hop, hosted by It Starts at Midnight!

For my stop, one winner will receive their choice of ANY April release under $20 (to be sent from Amazon or The Book Depository – so this giveaway is open internationally!)

Here are some of my April highlights:
(Click the covers to purchase)

 One with You by Sylvia Day The Beast by J.R. Ward 
The Player by Kresley Cole   Ladies Man by Katy Evans
   

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Any April release from Amazon or The Book Depository under $20 (open INTL)

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Review: Crow by A. Zavarelli

Crow by A. Zavarelli
Series: Boston Underworld #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 10th 2016
Links: Ebook • PaperbackGoodreads
Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

An Irish mobster. A missing friend. Two loyalties, ripping me apart.

I had a plan.

Get in, get my information, and get out. Easy, right?

Turns out, infiltrating the Irish mafia isn’t exactly what I thought it would be. I just wanted a soldier. Someone I could flirt with to get me in the door.

That’s when Lachlan Crow noticed me. Problem was, he wasn’t a soldier. No, he was next in line for the throne of the Irish underworld. And he was determined to hate me from the outset. My sob story about needing a job? Yeah, he wasn’t buying that either.

Too bad for him, I won’t let anyone get in the way of my mission.

Who cares if we have some kind of crazy chemistry? He’s the worst kind of wrong- and I would never in a million years be with a guy like him.

Because they took her from me, and I’m going to make them pay.

I love mafia books!! I should really read more of them. It’d been a good while since the last time I read one, so when I was offered the chance to read Crow, I jumped at the chance. And I’m so glad I did – Crow is a sexy, thrilling, fun mafia romance with a strong heroine and a fantastic alpha hero. It’s not as dark as I’m used to with mafia books, so if you’re looking for a light but still intense mafia read, I highly recommend this one!

“I thought I told you I don’t play by the rules,” I argue.
“Ye’re mistaken,” he says. “Ye just walked into my world unbidden. So you will play by the rules, butterfly. You’ll be playing by all my rules.”

Mackenzie Wilder wants to know what happened to cause the disappearance of her best friend, Talia, and since the police aren’t helping her, she’s taking matters into her own hands. As the daughter of one of the most successful MMA fighters, and a fighter herself, Mack just might have what it takes to go undercover into the Irish and Russian mafia syndicates – but what happens when she starts to fall for an up-and-coming leader of one? Will she still be able to go through with her mission?

Lachlan Crow is next in line to become the leader of the Irish mafia, and he’s not about to let anyone threaten his chance to become king. He’s dangerous, seductive, and doesn’t trust easily. So even though there’s an instant and intense attraction between him and Mack, he’s not about to just let her into the underworld where he reigns. But soon enough, Mack breaks down the walls around his heart, and he wants to protect her and claim her for himself. He’s definitely an alpha hero, and he even has an Irish accent to boot. I’m not entirely sure how accurate all the Irish-related things in the book are, but nothing seemed too over the top, and I kind of adored the accent once I got used to reading it! Especially when Lachlan says some sweet things to Mack with that accent.

“I know ye’ve had to be tough all your life, sweetheart,” he says. “But ye don’t have to do that with me. I’ll protect ye, and on occasion boast because ye’re mine. That’s just the way it goes.”

We don’t get into too much detail about the Irish mafia, sadly. I would’ve loved more chapters in Lachlan’s POV so that aspect of the book could be fleshed out a little more, and I totally wouldn’t have minded reading more about his feelings for Mack. Crow is told mainly in Mack’s POV, so I was a little bummed out that the dual POV wasn’t as even as I expected, but since I really enjoyed Mack’s narrative, I didn’t mind too much. All in all, I really couldn’t put this book down. It’s full of action and chemistry, and the romance was sweet as it was sexy. The ending was adorably sweet and satisfying. I’m super excited for the next book now because of the couple starring in it!

4 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: Boston Underworld series

 

#1 ~ Crow: Ebook • PaperbackGoodreads
#2 ~ Reaper: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads


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Release Day Review: The Player by Kresley Cole

The Player by Kresley Cole

The Player by Kresley Cole
Series: The Game Maker #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 12th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole brings readers the third book of the erotic Game Maker Series, a searing tale of a man racked with dark desires and the beautiful young woman who could sate him at last.

A madman with a shadowed past . . .
In Las Vegas, Sin City, Dmitri Sevastyan finds her, Victoria Valentine—sexy, vulnerable, and in need of a protector. Obsession takes root deep inside him. Despite a history tainted with violation and betrayal, he will stop at nothing to possess her.

A grifter with nothing to lose . . .
Descended from a long line of con artists, twenty-four-year-old Victoria, a.k.a. Vice, needs the score of a lifetime to keep her loved ones safe. She sets her sights on gorgeous and rich Dmitri Sevastyan. Even as the irresistible Russian toys with her body and mind, he tempts her heart.

Love is the ultimate wild card.
When Vice and her associates maneuver Dmitri into a hasty Vegas wedding, he refuses to protect himself with a prenup, trusting her with all that he has. But can she trust him? As secrets unfold, the newlyweds share days of doubts and nights of the wickedest pleasures. Yet once Vice discovers her husband’s past, will she stay to fight for her marriage or cut her losses and run?

AHHHH!!!! I absolutely, whole-heartedly LOVED The Player!!! It’s already one of my favorite books that I’ve read so far this year. It’s sexy, it’s addicting, it’s romantic – if you were a fan of the previous Game Maker novel, you NEED to get your hands on this third and final book!

I have to admit, going into this, I wasn’t sure it would live up to The Master, which is one of my all-time favorite books ever. But I’d been dying for Dmitri’s book ever since meeting him in The Master, so I prayed to the book gods that The Player wouldn’t disappoint – instead, Kresley Cole blew. me. away. I honestly can’t choose between Maksim and Dmitri now – these two hot AF, powerful Russian men are my kryptonite. So, just saying, if you loved Maksim in The Master, you’re going to loooove Dmitri, because he’s basically his brother but twice the alpha-ness/possessiveness/obsessiveness. *grins*

“You know what? You’re not going to bench me. Because I’m gonna run game on the juiciest mark of them all—Dmitri Sevastyan.”

Victoria Valentine comes from a family of con artists – but a scam gone wrong has them all in debt and threatened with death if they don’t pay up. The Valentines have stepped up their con game, but it’s not easy to earn millions of dollars in such a short amount of time. So Victoria sets her sights on the gorgeous, intelligent, elusive billionaire Dmitri Sevastyan – but she has no idea what’s in store for her. He fires her up like no other, leaves her breathless and wanting more. But what happens when she actually starts to fall for her mark?

“Imagine a pitch-black room with a single candle lit in the center,” he said, his voice gone low. “The room is the world. You are the candle.”
A shaky breath escaped my lips. “How can you be so sure about me?”
He leveled his spellbinding gaze on my face. “When you’ve been in the dark as long as I have, moy ángel, there is no mistaking the light.”

Dmitri has his eyes on the prize as he sweeps Victoria off her feet in a whirlwind romance and some hot, dirty, kinky sex. He doesn’t just want her body – he wants her mind and soul too, and he’ll do anything to have it all. If you don’t like heroes who are utterly obsessed with their heroines, this book might not be for you. But if you DO like obsessed alpha heroes – Dmitri. is. your. man. He’s completely taken and captivated by Victoria from the moment he sees her, and he will honestly do anything for her. *Sigh* I adore Dmitri. The way he’s so possessive of and head over heels for Victoria melts my heart – and of the three Sevastyan brothers, I honestly think he’s the most obsessive, crazy, AND romantic of them all, and that’s saying something.

He pressed a kiss to my head, and inhaled the scent of my hair. “I believe when a man finds the one woman meant to be his, he associates her scent with happiness. In the deepest recesses of his brain, he thinks, This woman is where all happiness lies. She is my home. Every time he catches her scent, that link is reinforced.” Another kiss. “My happiness lies with you, Victoria. You are my home. It is because I’ve never experienced these feelings that I recognize them.”

If you loved The Master, The Player is a must-read! There’s a twist in this book I did NOT see coming, and I applaud Kresley Cole for taking me by surprise and for making me love the book even more because of it. If you’re worried about Victoria taking advantage of Dmitri, don’t be. I promise, by the end of the novel, you’ll have no complaints about anything having to do with the con. I also loved seeing the couples from the previous books in the series, especially Maksim and Lucía – it’s just so freaking amazing to see these three powerful Russian brothers completely whipped, in love, and happy with their women. KC did an incredible job with Dmitri and Victoria’s story – the romance was addictive, the sex was raw and intense, and the world of conning was intriguing and unlike anything I’d ever read. The Player was perfection – I loved everything about this book!

5 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: The Game Maker series

The Professional by Kresley Cole The Master by Kresley Cole The Player by Kresley Cole

#1 ~ The Professional: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible (Part One, Two, Three) • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Master: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#3 ~ The Player: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads


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