Release Day Review: Playing with Trouble by Chanel Cleeton

Playing with Trouble by Chanel Cleeton

Playing with Trouble by Chanel Cleeton
Series: Capital Confessions #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: July 21st 2015
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The author of Flirting with Scandal presents her second book in a sexy contemporary romance series about three sisters in a powerful political family, the scandals that threaten to destroy them, and the passion that drives them…

The daughter of one of the Senate’s most powerful figures, Blair Reynolds was ready to become the ultimate political wife—until she caught her fiancé cheating on her wedding day. Law school is a fresh start, her shot at putting the pieces of her life back together. That’s the plan, at least. Until trouble comes in the form of her Torts professor, the man whose arrogance infuriates her in class but haunts her private fantasies.

Graydon Canter had a fortune and a place on all the hottest “Thirty under Thirty” lists, until a series of personal missteps nearly destroyed his career. A year teaching at a D.C. law school is just the break he needs to get his life back in order, as long as nothing—and no one—trips him up.

When Blair and Gray are forced to work together, their explosive attraction becomes impossible to resist. But Gray’s demons have drawn him dangerously close to the edge, and Blair has spent her life playing by the rules. Will she break them for a shot at love?

This is the first book I’ve read from Chanel Cleeton and it certainly won’t be the last! I enjoyed Playing with Trouble SO much – it’s a deliciously sexy, forbidden romance between a law professor and his student. There’s TONS of hot chemistry between Blair and Gray, which I thought the author handled so well. This is definitely a must-read for fans of forbidden romances!

It was the cruelest irony that the man I despised, the man who tortured me from the front of the classroom three days a week, was the hottest fucking thing I’d ever seen.

After the mess her life became after catching her fiancé cheating on her with the best man, Blair Reynolds enrolls in law school to get her life back on track and to please her Senator father. Unfortunately, law school is kicking her ass, and it doesn’t help that her Torts professor, Graydon Canter, is serious sex-on-a-stick.

Gray notices Blair on the first day of class, but obviously, he can’t act on his growing lust for his student, even if she is only seven years younger than him. Gray is a deeply flawed man who’s haunted by the mistakes he made that ended up ruining his law career, but he’s on his way to straightening out his life. He hates teaching, but the one good thing to come out of it is Blair. When they’re unexpectedly thrust together for a project, tensions run high and it isn’t long before they can’t resist each other’s pull.

I really liked the dual POV between Blair and Gray, although sometimes it switched around too many times for my taste. I could feel the chemistry that Gray and Blair were both feeling – there’s a serious case of insta-lust, but I actually loved it in this book because the characters can’t DO anything about it, at least not for a while. As Gray and Blair continue meeting up for the project, the chemistry between them only grows hotter. But they also start getting to know one another on a deeper, personal level, and I loved the way their feelings grew naturally and believably. Gray and Blair grew up in different worlds, but the two of them just clicked together. I’m just really impressed with the way the author handled their forbidden romance.

“You tempt me. So fucking much. I want to think I can be better for you. That I can change. But what if I can’t? It’s one thing to hurt myself, what if I hurt you, too? What if I let you down? I break things. I don’t want to break you.”

There’s a lot of depth to Blair and Gray’s characters and lots to overcome before they can even think of reaching a HEA, but these were two characters I couldn’t help but root for. There are some frustrations, with Gray’s back-and-forth feelings, but it was nothing too annoying. I loved the sexy times, but I also really enjoyed the deeper, meaningful parts to Blair and Gray’s relationship. The forbidden aspect was expertly handled, I really enjoyed the writing, and overall, Playing with Trouble was worthwhile read. I’m thinking I should definitely read the first book, which I skipped, since I enjoyed this second book so much!

4 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Capital Confessions series

Flirting with Scandal by Chanel Cleeton Playing with Trouble by Chanel Cleeton Falling for Danger by Chanel Cleeton

#1 ~ Flirting with Scandal: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Playing with Trouble: Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Falling for Danger: My Review • EbookGoodreads

about the author button

Chanel CleetonOriginally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise and a fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure.

Law school made Chanel realize she’d rather spend her days writing sexy stories than in a courtroom, and she hasn’t looked back since. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she’s happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, her three pups, and her husband.

Chanel writes contemporary romances. She is published by Harlequin HQN, Penguin/InterMix, and Penguin/Berkley and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, and Wild Aces series.

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Blog Tour + ARC Review & Giveaway: King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway!

King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway

King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway
Series: Hearts #3 (full reading order below)
Release Date: July 16th 2015
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Welcome to the City, London’s most prestigious square mile, where finance reigns and Oliver King is a rising prince. 

I used to rule the world.

There might be wolves on Wall Street, but there were crocodiles in Canary Wharf. Some of us craved money. Some of us craved power.

I liked money, and power had its advantages, but what I really wanted was to excel, to surpass the men who came before me. I never cared much for love and romance until I met Alexis.

I could feel it the very moment she walked into the interview, with her outspoken charm and vivacious personality. She cast all the others in shadow, made me laugh when life held no humour. Our friendship should have remained professional, but it wasn’t long before the lines started to blur.

You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? Well, I never foresaw where my plans would lead, and only in my darkest hour did I finally see the light…

You can have all the money and prestige in the world and still be the poorest man alive. And love, well, I hate to use a tired old cliché, but love can be the thing that truly sets you free.

Buy Links:
Amazon • Amazon UK • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Smashwords

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“I never stopped loving you, not even in my darkest hour.”

Oh, how I adored King and Alexis’s story. I’d been so looking forward to it – from the moment I met Oliver King in Hearts of Fire, I needed to know how he became such a broken man who drinks away his pain. And L.H. Cosway absolutely doesn’t disappoint with King of Hearts. I was swept away by King and Alexis’s beautiful romance – I couldn’t put this book down!

King of Hearts is split into two parts – the before and the after. The before takes place six years prior to the start of Hearts of Fire, when Oliver King is a wealthy, successful businessman. He’s mysterious and intriguing, and his new assistant, Alexis Clark, finds herself fascinated by her new boss. But she places her feelings on hold so that she can do her job… even though the chemistry between them is incredibly hot and intense. I absolutely LOVED the banter between Alexis and King – Alexis herself is a feisty, funny woman, but the two of them together is like magic. The banter only ups the sexual tension between them, and soon enough, the lines become blurred, and King and Alexis can’t stay away from each other.

“I could lose the run of myself inside a woman like you, Alexis.” He paused before muttering under his breath, almost absently, “And I fear if I made you my queen, I could no longer be a king.”

I adored the way Alexis and King slowly fell for each other – they felt so real, and did I mention how HOT the chemistry is between them? They have a bit of a forbidden thing going on, since they are boss and assistant, but I was rooting for them from the start.

As much as I enjoyed the budding romance, I was also on the edge of my seat, waiting to get to the after. We find out how King tragically fell from grace, and my heart broke for both King and Alexis. Years pass, and Alexis manages to find her lost love, but he’s changed dramatically from the man she fell in love with all those years ago. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the fierce love they have that’s absolutely worth fighting for. I so admired Alexis’s strength and tenacity. King has always been IT for her, so of course she’ll fight for him, for them.

Even though it had taken years, finding him had been the easy part. Healing him would be the greatest challenge I’d ever faced.

King of Hearts was an absolute delight to read. I highly recommend this book, and series. Even though it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading Hearts of Fire first. Also? I just want to say that I’m SO GLAD that there’s going to be another book in the series! I can’t freaking wait for Hearts of Blue – I totally squealed when I saw who it’s going to be about!

4 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Hearts series

Six of Hearts by L.H. Cosway Hearts of Fire by L.H. Cosway King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway Hearts of Blue by L.H. Cosway

#1 ~ Six of Hearts: My Review • EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Hearts of Fire: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ King of Hearts: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Hearts of Blue: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Thief of Hearts: Goodreads (2016)
#6 ~ Hearts on Air: Goodreads (2016)

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L.H. CoswayL.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Amazon Page

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The author is giving away one prize pack open international which includes:
Signed King of Hearts paperback, King of Hearts tote bag, King of Hearts key ring and L.H. Cosway swag

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Audiobook Review: Throb by Vi Keeland

Throb by Vi Keeland

Throb by Vi Keeland
Series: Life on Stage #1 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: July 7th 2015
Length: 7 hours and 47 minutes
Narrated by: Sebastian York & Molly Glenmore
Links: Audible • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

The rules:

No dating.
No sex outside of the game.
No disclosing the terms of the contract.

Rules were made to be broken, right?

Eight weeks ago I signed a contract. One that seemed like a good idea at the time. A handsome bachelor, luxury accommodations, and a chance to win a prize my family desperately needed. There were some rules though. Lots of them actually. Follow the script, no dating, sex, or disclosing the terms of the deal. After my self-imposed moratorium on men the last year, it wouldn’t be hard to live up to my end of the bargain… so I thought. Until I realized the deal I’d made was with the devil… and I was in love with his dirty-talking brother.

Hurray, this is my first audiobook review on the blog!! I only recently started listening to audiobooks a couple months ago – I never thought I’d enjoy them very much, but I do! Although it might be because the first audiobook I ever listened to was Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren and Sebastian York’s delicious LOVELY voice was narrating it. He’s also one of the narrators in this audiobook, Throb, so I couldn’t not love listening to this because of him.

The heroine, Kate, is a contestant on a new reality TV show that’s similar to The Bachelor. She agrees to the terms of not being with any man other than the bachelor, Flynn, during the show in order to win the prize money and help out her family financially. She finds herself actually caring for Flynn, but… then she meets Cooper. Kate and Cooper have such a hot, intense chemistry that no man can compare with him, sadly for Flynn.

I’ve never read a book by Vi Keeland before, but I really enjoyed Throb. It had great characters, the story was unique and fun, and the audiobook itself was easy to follow. I adored the hero, Cooper. He’s sexy and alpha and domineering, but also sweet and tender to Kate. He falls for her deep and hard, so it’s hard not to love the way he loves Kate and takes care of her and her family. Kate was also a good heroine – she’s likable and cares so much for her family. They were two characters with hot chemistry and I was rooting for them from the beginning.

I LOVE Sebastian York, so of course his narration is my favorite part of the Throb audiobook. His voice is just so nice and dreamy to listen to! I really liked Molly Glenmore’s voice too, though it took me a bit in the beginning to warm up to it. I really liked how she narrated the male dialogue though. I’ve come to realize that I prefer both male and female narrators in the audiobooks I listen to, because I love getting both POVs and listening to the male POV. Throb definitely made me happy with its dual narrators.

If you’re a fan of The Bachelor, I highly recommend giving this book a try. I liked the sexy, forbidden aspect to the story, since Kate, as a contestant on the reality TV show, can’t be with anyone during that time, but Kate and Cooper make their way around that rule 😉

Throb overall is an enjoyable, sexy book with great narrators. It was so much fun to listen to – I’m hoping the sequel, Beat, will also be available as an audiobook!

4 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: Life on Stage series

Throb by Vi Keeland Beat by Vi Keeland

#1 ~ Throb: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Beat: Ebook • PaperbackGoodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Throb!


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ARC Review + Paperback Giveaway: Toxic by Kim Karr

Toxic by Kim Karr

Toxic by Kim Karr
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: July 7th 2015
Links: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling romance that takes you into the world of Manhattan’s elite. Meet Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, brooding entrepreneur who goes after what he wants, and Phoebe St. Claire, a socialite-turned-CEO who’s been drifting through life searching for something she thought she’d never find again–the right man to share her future.

Phoebe St. Claire has devoted herself to saving her family’s hotel empire–but her best efforts have not been good enough. With her whole world in turmoil, the tenacious go-getter turns to the once love of her life. Far from innocent, Jeremy McQueen was the guy from the wrong side of the tracks who her parents would never have approved of. Their years apart have only made the sexy bad boy more irresistible than ever–and their reunion is explosive.

When she asks Jeremy to help her salvage her family business, he agrees immediately, with only one condition–he wants her in his bed.

But soon surprising circumstances leave Phoebe reeling. Was this fairy tale romance just too good to be true? Will Jeremy’s secrets pull them apart all over again?

I adore second chance romances, so Toxic was right up my alley. I was expecting Toxic to be an angsty but sweet romance about two people reconnecting, but it was surprisingly so much more than that. Kim Karr tells an excellent story about both the highs and lows of a relationship, and yes, the toxic parts of it, too. Kim Karr really nails the second chance romance aspect of the story as well – I was rooting for Phoebe and Jeremy to get their much deserved HEA.

Through everything, all the heartache, the loneliness, the sadness and sorrow, the one thing I never regretted was meeting him.
Him.
Jeremy McQueen.
He wasn’t just any boy–he was “the boy.” The one I never should have met, and the one I’d never trade meeting for the world.

Five years ago, Phoebe and Jeremy were very much in love, despite being complete opposites. Phoebe was the rich, high society girl while Jeremy was the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Phoebe, however, keeps the fact that she comes from a wealthy family a secret from Jeremy so that he won’t turn away from her. In the flashback scenes, I could easily feel the connection Phoebe and Jeremy had all those years ago. They formed a sweet romance that unfortunately didn’t last after the lies and misunderstandings.

I’d loved him once, even though I never told him I did. And as I looked at him, everything I’d ever felt for him came rushing back.

Now, just as Phoebe is in the midst of saving her family’s hotel empire, Jeremy comes back into her life, but now this bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks is a successful, wealthy businessman. Phoebe never truly got over her lost love, and it seems like neither did Jeremy. The connection they had five years ago is still going strong, if not stronger once they reunite. I loved how passionate Phoebe and Jeremy are together – they want each other like no other and the chemistry between them is explosive. They bring out the best each other, but they also bring out the worst. They both have to deal with their jealousy, self-doubts, and past mistrusts before they can ever truly move on and be in a relationship again.

Normally, I wouldn’t have enjoyed a book like Toxic – there’s a whole mess of misunderstandings and miscommunications, which made for a toxic relationship. But somehow, it worked for Phoebe and Jeremy. The misunderstandings and miscommunications weren’t gratuitous – they were very real issues that both Jeremy and Phoebe have to overcome. These characters have a history of distrust and uncertainty in their relationship, and throughout the course of their reconnected love, they find a way to get past these issues to form a stronger relationship.

“You know things won’t be the same as they were. They can’t be. Too much has happened.”
He sighed what sounded like relief. “I know. They’ll be better this time.”
“What if they’re not?”
“It’s not possible.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do. I can feel it.”

There are lots of twists and turns in Toxic, which had me on the edge of my seat. I really couldn’t put this book down. The best part about this is the intense chemistry between Phoebe and Jeremy – their past relationship really heightens their connection and made me want them to get their HEA. The love between them comes so clearly off the pages, which did sometimes make me feel frustrated when the misunderstandings and miscommunications started up. These were two people who are clearly meant to be together, but the journey to their HEA is not an easy one. I definitely recommend this book to those who like sexy, angsty romances with a little twist to it.

4 hearts
lacey

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


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One paperback copy of Toxic by Kim Karr
Open US/CAN only

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Blog Tour + Release Day Review & Giveaway: Jesse’s Girl by Miranda Kenneally

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Jesse’s Girl by Miranda Kenneally!

Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally

Jesse’s Girl by Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks #6 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: July 7th 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
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Practice makes perfect.

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow the Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?

Purchase:
EbookHardcoverPaperback • B&N • BAM • IndieBound • iTunes

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It’s been a while since I’ve read a young adult book, but what better way to go back to the YA contemporary genre than by reading a Miranda Kenneally book? I really enjoyed Jesse’s Girl – it’s a super sweet, fun romance that fans of the series shouldn’t miss.

I loved that Jesse’s Girl is about Maya, Sam Henry’s little sister. We get to see a lot of Sam and Jordan (from Catching Jordan), which I was so happy about, because I adored that book. Maya is a high school senior who is passionate about music. She loves to play the guitar and sing (though she’s more talented at playing the guitar than singing), but when she gets dumped by her band and crush, she’s left feeling devastated. The one thing that makes her feel better is the fact that she’ll be ‘shadowing’ eighteen-year-old country star and heartthrob Jesse Scott, but things don’t go as well as Maya thought it would.

I was so excited about the opportunity to spend time with a famous musician, but Jesse Scott is a certified country-boy ass.

Jesse is rude to Maya, thinking that she’s just another ‘fan’ of his who only wants to use him. After being the in music industry for so long, he’s tired of all the fake people and wants to retire and focus on his family. So Maya is a refreshingly different to Jesse, though he’s still reluctant to mentor someone. He decides to change things up a bit and have a sort of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off kind of day with Maya. And the more time they spend together, the more they get to know each other, and know themselves as well.

The romance developed slowly – Maya and Jesse are both the wary kind of people, but they slowly break down each other’s walls. I liked reading about their adventures, their deep conversations, and how they slowly fell for each other. They both connect so well with music and they bond easily over it.

I felt like Jesse’s Girl was a bit too short – the pages flew by and when I got to the end, I was left wanting for just a little more. It’s a quick, easy read with not much drama, but it was still a lot of fun to read. It’s not my favorite of the Hundred Oaks series (that one would be Breathe, Annie, Breathe) but it was definitely a worthwhile, sweet read about chasing your dreams and falling in love. I highly recommend this for fans of the series!

4 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Hundred Oaks series

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally 

#1 ~ Catching Jordan: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Stealing Parker: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Things I Can’t Forget: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Racing Savannah: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Breathe, Annie, Breathe: My Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Jesse’s Girl: EbookHardcoverPaperback • Goodreads
#7 ~ Defending Taylor: Shirley’s Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author button

Miranda KenneallyGrowing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

Website • Goodreads • Facebook • Twitter

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