Early Review: Chaser by Staci Hart

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Chaser by Staci Hart
Series: Bad Habits #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 15th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

Everyone knows you should never say never.

Cooper Moore never saw Maggie Williams coming. She was just his best friend’s little sister, the curly-haired, freckle-faced girl from Mississippi who was absolutely off limits. And he never thought about her any other way — not until he saw her that night, broken and brave. From that moment on, he knew he’d do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant he had to stay away.

Maggie never expected to find her fiancé banging her maid of honor an hour before she was set to walk down the aisle, but life’s funny that way. The only option to save her sanity is to get the hell out of Jackson and move to New York where her brother lives. The only downside: Cooper is there too. And she just doesn’t know if she can stay away from him — the filthy rich, dead sexy playboy who’s allergic to commitment.

The second Maggie sees him again, she realizes he’ll be impossible to resist. Luckily, commitment is the last thing on her mind, and Cooper is the perfect escape. As long as she can keep her heart in check, everything will be just fine. Because she can never have feelings for him. Or at least that’s what she’ll keep telling herself.

I’d been eagerly awaiting Staci Hart’s Chaser after absolutely adoring With a Twist (a fantastic friends-to-lovers book – my review here), and I’m glad to say that it didn’t disappoint! It’s possible that I might love Chaser even MORE than With a Twist, all because of one gorgeous man named Cooper. Cooper Moore, and all his yummy, nerdy goodness, has stolen my heart, and I don’t ever want it back. I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to love him more than West from With a Twist but, well, I do. I so freaking do. Cooper and Maggie’s book is another stunning read from Staci Hart, full of warmth, humor, and heart. Those who love their romances well-written with an incredible cast of characters, this book – and series – is for you.

“I’ve been around the world, and I thought I’d seen everything it had to offer until that night, until I saw you. In all my life, I’ve never seen anything so beautiful, not standing in the Blue Mosque or the Taj Mahal. Not in the streets of rome or canals of Venice. Making you smile gives me life. Making you laugh gives me hope. Making you happy is all I want, other than to keep you.”

Maggie just recently moved to New York after finding her fiancé cheating on her the day of their wedding. NY is where her brother, West, is… and also his best friend, Cooper Moore. Cooper is the ultimate playboy – he’s hot, rich, famous, fun, so why shouldn’t Maggie have a no-strings attached sexual relationship with him to get her to forget her troubles? So for a few weeks, the two are involved in a secret relationship, with rules to keep feelings off the table. But in between the shared laughs, furtive glances, and fiery chemistry, Maggie and Cooper start to fall for each other. But with a relationship built on secrets, is it possible to make it work?

She had changed me on the molecular level, and she had no idea.

So I kind of hardcore adored this book. Okay, not kind of – I totally adored this gorgeous romance. It’s a little slow-paced in the first half of the book, but it picks up quickly after that. The writing is on-point, the characters feel so real, the romance is as sweet as it is passionate. Chaser almost read like a fairytale, it’s so dreamy and romantic. What surprised me though, was the amount of depth of Cooper and Maggie’s characters. Maggie is still lost after being betrayed by a man she loved for years, and Cooper is in this sort of stagnant state in his life. Staci Hart delves deep into their characters, making them face their wants and desires, not just for each other, but out of life. I LOVED that Maggie and Cooper are so multidimensional, because they become all the more real and relatable.

Purpose. A reason. A spark to light up my gray life, make me want more.
Was it her?
… And when I thought back over the past few weeks, I realized that she wasn’t a spark. She was a wildfire.

God, Cooper. When this man falls, he falls so. hard. I’m such a sucker for heroes who do a complete 180 from their playboy ways once they realize how in love with the heroine they are, and Cooper could not be more perfect. All his actions and words are so filled with love for Maggie… AH!!! My heart nearly couldn’t take the level of devotion Cooper has for Maggie.

“Maggie is a singular event in my life. I want her. Forever.”

Staci Hart is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. Her Bad Habits series is so well-developed, with great writing and a brilliant cast of characters. Reading about Maggie and Cooper, Lily and West, and Rose and Tricky truly feels like catching up with old friends. And ohmygod, Tricky!!!! Goddamn, I want this man’s book bad. I have a feeling Patrick and Rose’s book is going to be the best of the series.

Overall, Chaser was a joy to read. I was swept away by Maggie and Cooper’s stunning romance, and I honestly can’t wait for more from the series. I’m seriously addicted to these characters that Staci Hart has created, and I nearly wish that their stories would never end.

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

Reading Order: Bad Habits series

#1 ~ With a Twist: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Chaser: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Last Call: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • 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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30Sep2015

Early Review: Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne
Series: Oxford #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 6th 2015
Links: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Meet the men of Oxford magazine! In the first captivating spin-off of Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series, a not-so-friendly battle of the sexes turns into a scorching office romance.

Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.

Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real.

Lauren Layne has quickly become one of those authors for me that I won’t hesitate to read because I know she’ll give me a book I won’t be disappointed with. She does a fantastic job of infusing humor, wit, and lots of sexiness into her books, all of which I’m a fan of. Irresistibly Yours is no different in that it’s a wholeheartedly enjoyable read. This is the first book in the brand new Oxford seres, the spinoff of the Sex, Love, and Stiletto series.

What I love most about Irresistibly Yours is how it’s got a mix of romance elements incorporated into it. Office romance, sports themed, rivalry, opposites attract, friends-to-lovers – Lauren Layne manages to balance all of these so well to create an incredible book I adored so much!

Cole Sharpe is a freelancer for the Oxford magazine, but there’s the open spot of sports editor that’s calling his name. Unfortunately, even with his inside connection, he’s got competition for the position – competition in the form of a small, tomboyish, adorable-as-hell woman named Penelope Pope.

She was looking up at him, her expression unreadable, and he felt a sudden surge of tenderness for this woman he barely knew and yet somehow knew completely.

What starts off as a competition and rivalry soon turns into something friendlier and more charming – Cole and Penelope both feel some chemistry between them, but they put their feelings aside in order to work together at Oxford. Penelope has moved to New York for a fresh start, and Cole has become her very first friend, though he’s the sexiest man she’s ever met. Penelope knows the gorgeous playboy is totally out of her league, and puts herself firmly in the friendzone. Cole, however, is completely taken aback by this incredible woman who is his equal in every way. Never has a woman meant as much as Penelope does to him. They share an incredible love for sports, they’re around each other at the office every day, but before long, neither of them can fight the attraction they try to hide.

How had this happened? How was it that this sweet, feisty tomboy could turn him on just as easily as she turned him completely inside out every time she looked at him?

You’re really in for a treat when you pick up a book by Lauren Layne. Equal parts sexy, sweet, and hilarious, Irresistibly Yours is a fun-filled read you won’t be disappointed in. Cole and Penelope are wonderful, endearing characters, and I rooted for them right from the very start. And I absolutely loved their group of friends at Oxford, who had me laughing so hard. I haven’t read the Sex, Love, and Stiletto series, whose characters are also in Irresistibly Yours, but now I’m thinking I should – which means more Lauren Layne for me! I highly recommend any of this author’s books for those who love funny, light-hearted romances. You are missing out if you haven’t tried her books!

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

Reading Order: Oxford series

#1 ~ Irresistibly Yours: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ I Wish You Were Mine: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Someone Like You: Ebook • Goodreads (Dec. 13, 2016)

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28Sep2015

Release Day Review: Beyond What is Given by Rebecca Yarros

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Beyond What is Given by Rebecca Yarros
Series: Flight & Glory #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 28th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Lt. Grayson Masters is focused on graduating the Apache helicopter course, and the last thing he needs is his gorgeous new roommate Samantha Fitzgerald distracting him. While her smart mouth and free spirit are irresistibly irritating, he can’t deny their off-the-charts chemistry, no matter how hard he tries.

Having just been expelled from college, Sam has no business digging for Grayson’s secrets while she’s hiding her own, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to tear down his walls. Each barrier she busts through drops one of her own, though, and she’s not prepared for the truth: another woman laid claim to Grayson’s heart long ago.

Falling in love is something neither Grayson nor Sam can afford, and when that line is crossed and secrets are exposed, they’ll learn that sometimes it’s the answered prayers that will put you through hell.

I fell so in love with Rebecca Yarros after reading and ADORING the first book in the Flight & Glory series, Full Measures (JOSH!! *heart eyes*). Beyond What is Given is the third standalone in the series and is Grayson and Samantha’s story, who we’ve met in the previous books. I was super excited for them because I was so curious about their characters – and while I ended up liking this book, it just didn’t grip me the way the other two books in the series did.

“There are broken people in the world, Samantha. But you’re not one of them. Dinged-up maybe, but not broken, and definitely not beyond repair.”

After getting expelled from college, Samantha wants a fresh start. She finds herself moving across the country and in with three guys, two of whom are good friends. The third roommate, Grayson, is absolutely gorgeous, but he and Sam get off to a rough start. Nevertheless, she sees beneath his gruff, stoic exterior a man who puts loyalty and duty above all else. I loved Sam, I completely, wholeheartedly did. She’s sassy, awesome, funny, and overall just a fantastic, flawed heroine I loved reading about. She’s in a rough situation with college, but despite the hot mess that she herself is, she takes it upon herself to discover Grayson’s past and get him to open up. What she doesn’t expect is for the chemistry between them to turn into something sweet, something treasured, something more.

“This is not a temporary thing between us. There is no deadline. I. Am. Always. Yours.”
He kissed me softly, his tongue tracing my lower lip. “So go ahead and fall. I’ve gotten really good at catching you.”

Grayson’s past is tragic and guilt-laden, and no matter what he does, he can’t escape it. He’s always got one foot in his present life as an Apache pilot, and the other foot back home in North Carolina, the source of all his demons. The one thing that makes him forget is Sam, her lightness wearing away his darkness. But when his secrets come out from the past to haunt his present, will he be able to keep Sam in his life without letting her drown beside him?

Beyond What is Given is no less emotional than the other two books, but there was a spark that was missing that prevented me from fully loving the book. While I completely adored Sam, connected with her straight from the start, Grayson I took a long while to warm up to. His past consumes him, so much so that at times I wasn’t sure he’d be able to get out of it. There were also parts about this book that annoyed the hell out of me. Grayson’s family is… god-awful. It was mostly his sister Parker who got on my last nerves. I HATED Parker. I honestly hated her so much. She’s a petty, mean, bully of a girl who does nothing but force more guilt onto Grayson, keep him drowning in the past, and create rifts between him and Sam. I would’ve enjoyed the book so much more if Parker didn’t exist… but she did, and her character sometimes made me want to throw my kindle at the wall in frustration.

I still love Rebecca Yarros though – she knows how to write, how to pack a punch with her words… but this book was not what I was expecting it to be. While the romance isn’t particularly slow, it was the whole overlying plot that dragged too much for my taste. The twist in the middle I was able to predict too, sadly. STILL – Sam and Grayson’s romance is sweet and heart-wrenching, the highlight of the book. Rebecca Yarros can write swoony characters SO well, and even when I wasn’t 100% sold on Grayson, my heart fluttered at some of the things he said.

“I’m in love with you, Samantha. You own me, body, heart, mind, soul, what there is to give, it’s yours.”

If you’re a fan of the series, I would suggest reading Beyond What is Given. I feel like it’s an it’s-me-not-you kind of book. I really did like it, but compared to the previous two books, I can’t really say it was as captivating or compelling. I will still be eagerly awaiting any else Rebecca Yarros has in the works – her writing is absolutely amazing and definitely worth the read!

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

Reading Order: Flight & Glory series

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

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28Sep2015

Release Day Review: The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey
Series: The Allure #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 28th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

From: LilyNBlack@Gmail.com
To: JosephineKeller@VogueMagazine.com
Subject: You’re a flippin’ idiot

Good morning my dear, naive friend,

I hope you’re enjoying a breakfast of regret and sorrow.

Why?

Because you sent me to work for Dean Harper, aka a control freak in a tailor-made suit. Sure he owns the trendiest restaurants in NYC, but c’mon Jo, his ego makes Kanye West look like the Dalai Lama.

He’s the type of guy that only hears the word “no” when it’s followed by “don’t stop.”

Working for Dean Harper would be like selling my soul to the devil…and before you say anything, I don’t care if the devil has punch-you-in-the-gut brown eyes and an ass to match. My soul isn’t for sale.

Regretfully yours,
Lily

R.S. Grey writes the BEST rom-coms! I seriously adore her books so much. I totally enjoyed The Allure of Julian Lefray (my review), which meant that I was so, so, SO excited for The Allure of Dean Harper! And wow, what a fantastic, absolutely hilarious enemies-to-lovers romance!! It’s definitely new favorite from R.S. Grey. If you love your romances with endearing, witty characters, and tons of laugh-out-loud moments, then I highly recommend this book!

If only she and I could shut up for ten minutes, the sex would be the best of our lives. Angry. Hard. Fast. Not love. Not even close.
War.

When Lily and Dean first meet, it is full-on HATE between each other… and I loved it!! Dean is an ass, Lily is rude, and the scorching chemistry is hard to ignore. Lily has just moved to New York to follow her dreams of making something of herself in the food industry, and her best friend Josephine (from TAofJL) gets her a job at her friend Dean’s restaurant. Lily is making a killing at the restaurant’s bar, but when Dean comes in, he doesn’t like the way she’s taken over what belongs to him… and he doesn’t like the lustful feelings she sparks in him. So sparks fly, tensions run high, their game faces are on – Dean and Lily are two fantastic characters I adored reading about! You are really in for a treat when you pick up this book.

I’d been on the edge of the swim platform with Dean holding me up like a rag doll, and when I slipped, my face had hit his crotch with enough force to strip the paint off his bow, if you catch my drift. I was pretty sure I’d just broken Dean’s penis. Hello God? It’s me, Lily. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you have a shark jump out of the water and eat me? I’d really like to die a quick, painless death, preferably one that doesn’t involve my face colliding with Dean’s crotch any more.

Did I mention how freaking FUNNY this book is!? R.S. Grey has such a talent at writing fun-filled, hilarious stories that crack you up and you can’t help but enjoy. And in addition to the humor, there’s that sexy, electric TENSION between the main characters! This was a bit too light in terms of sexy-times for my taste, but that was forgivable, because I just loved the characters so much.

If I didn’t want to kill her, I wanted to possess her. I wanted to seduce her to the brink of madness so that for thirty minutes she could do nothing but moan in my arms, too lost in the moment to hate me.

I loved reading about these two, and I loved getting both their POVs. Lily and Dean are both head-strong, stubborn, and heavy on the attitude, so of course they can’t help but butt heads! Dean is tough on Lily, but she’s fierce and can handle going up against him, dishing out some of her own. It was the most entertaining thing to watch these two go head-to-head – if you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, you definitely don’t want to miss this book!

“There’s no one in the world better suited than the two of us. I can’t promise that we won’t fight–you know I’d be lying if I did–but I promise that no one will ever love you more than I do.”

I zipped through this book SO FAST – you know a book is good when you can’t put it down and it ends too quickly to your liking. And I have to say, I liked TAofDH even more than TAofJL! If you haven’t read R.S. Grey’s books, I wholeheartedly recommend you give them a try if you’re a fan of light-hearted reads with just the right amount of intensity to get your heart pumping.

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

Reading Order: The Allure series

#1 ~ The Allure of Julian Lefray: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Allure of Dean Harper: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

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