Early Review: Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie
Series: Aerial Ethereal #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 31st 2017
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Some love is infinite

“Don’t have a best friend that’s a girl” — this was the advice from my older cousin. I didn’t take it. Because he followed with, “friends don’t f*ck friends. And you’ll want to f*ck her.”

It was terrible advice.

My cousin should’ve told me that being best friends with Baylee Wright — since she was twelve — would be the best and worst decision of my life.

He should have told me to protect her from what was coming.

He should have told me that when a darkness crawled towards us, there’d be no safety net.

Now I’ve signed back on to the same Vegas acrobatic show as Baylee, working together for the first time in years. And she tells me that she’s having trouble in a certain “area” of her life — because of our past.

“You can help me fix it,” she says.

And then she hands me a list.

“Circus is family.”
The love we carry for each other is the strongest and most vulnerable place in us all.

Oh my gosh, y’all!!!! Infini. Was. Incredible. Krista & Becca Ritchie never cease to amaze me with their talent at writing. Their characters come to life in every single book they’ve written, and even more so in Infini. If you thought you loved the Kotovas in Amour Amour, think again. They will burrow their way into your heart once you read this book, and you’ll honestly want an infinite number of books about them because you’ll never want to stop reading them! The Addicted series is my all-time fav, but Aerial Ethereal has my heart too. It’s New Adult done right. It’s the circus and all the wonder and magic that goes along with it. This circus is truly a family that you feel welcome to and a part of.

Do you still think about me?
Are you the same as you once were?
How much have we both changed?

Luka and Baylee were best friends over four years ago – but it’s been four and a half years since they’ve seen or spoken to each other. Their relationship was abruptly cut off years ago, and now they’ve been thrust together in the Infini show. They’re left floundering and don’t know what to do – but one thing they do know is that the love they had for each other never went away. Their love story is a little painful, a lot heartbreaking, and not without its struggles, but the happiness they bring each other is completely worth it. Luka and Baylee are just RIGHT for each other – you can’t imagine one without the other. And despite the struggles these two face (especially Luka, who broke my heart multiple times), every time they were together on the pages, I couldn’t stop smiling.

Love is strange and weird and unpredictable—and that’s probably why I’m drawn to it.
To her.

The best part about Infini, besides Luka and Baylee, is the fact that you get to know the Kotovas on a much deeper level. You get a different perspective on their family thanks to Luka. You see Nikolai differently, you get to see more of Timo, Katya, and even Dimitri. And just saying, I am head over heels in LOVE with Timo and his boyfriend, John. They might be my favorite AE couple and we don’t even have a book about them (yet)! Oh, and Dimitri totally stole my heart in Infini with his rude, crass, ridiculous, hilarious ways. I’m eyeing him with a certain someone that I hope will happen, but honestly, I just want more Kotovas! I love them ALL.

“I feel the safest in your arms, but in reality it’s the most dangerous place to be.”

Infini was everything I hoped it would be and more. It was MAGICAL. Intense. Exciting. By the end of reading the book, my heart was crying with happiness because it was just a beautiful story. The romance took my breath away and the family dynamics had my heart overflowing. I loved this book so, so much, and I’m praying this won’t be the end of Aerial Ethereal! (Although quite honestly, I’ll read anything and everything K&B write.)

5 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Aerial Ethereal series

Amour Amour by Krista & Becca Ritchie Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie

#1 ~ Amour Amour: EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Infini: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Jan. 31, 2017)


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Audiobook Review: Silver-Tongued Devil by Rosalind James

Silver-Tongued Devil by Rosalind James
Series: Portland Devils #1
Audiobook Publication Date: January 6th 2017
Length: 12 hours and 24 minutes
Narrated by: Tanya Eby
Links: Audible • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

No more wild rides. No more wild side.

Blake Orbison’s pro football career with the Portland Devils may have come crashing to an end, but not calling the signals anymore just gives him more time to devote to his business enterprises, including the latest and greatest: the opening of the Wild Horse Resort in scenic north Idaho. And that other one, too. Blake’s on the marriage track now, and he’s got a game plan. But when he runs into a trespasser leaping from his shoreline boulders into his lake, what’s a good ol’ boy to do but strip down and join her?

Dakota Savage is nobody’s temporary diversion, least of all the man responsible for her family’s semi-desperate circumstances. Some people may think she has a piercing too many, but she’s had more than enough of being called trash in this town. She’s come home to Wild Horse to run her stepfather’s painting business, and any extra time she has goes into creating her stained glass. An overpaid, entitled, infuriating NFL quarterback is no part of her life plan, no matter how sweet he talks. No matter how slow he smiles. No matter what.

This is my first time experiencing any book by Rosalind James and I have to admit, I liked it! The narrator was fantastic, and the romance was sweet and enjoyable. It’s a good start to a new series, one that I’ll probably continue with in audio, especially if Tanya Eby is narrating. If you’re a fan of well-narrated contemporary romances, I’d definitely recommend this audiobook!

Former NFL quarterback-turned millionaire businessman, Blake Orbison is in search of the perfect wife. The injury that caused him to quit football had him reevaluating life and what was most important: family. So he’s set off to create a family of his own, starting with a wife that has certain qualities he has in mind. But when he meets Dakota Savage, skinny dipping in his lake of all things, he finds that what he thought he wanted in a wife wasn’t really what he needed at all.

A stained glass artist, Dakota is the very opposite of what Blake wants in a wife – she’s wild, artistic, outspoken, just wonderfully more and complex with a difficult past. She wants to travel and never settle down. I loved the passion Dakota has inside her. She and Blake complemented each other really well, despite not expecting to find anything meaningful between each other. Their romance developed slowly and genuinely, and I really loved the way they were able to support, encourage, and lean on each other.

I wasn’t a big fan of the suspense regarding Blake’s resort – I more wanted this audiobook to focus more on the romance aspect. I did enjoy the dynamics of Dakota’s family and her relationship with her stepfather, which tugged a bit at my heartstrings. The beginning half of the this had me gripped to the story, but the second half kind of mellowed out a bit for me. I feel like it’s more of an “it’s me, not you” sort of thing, so I’d still recommend Silver Tongued Devil. It’s sweet, slow, if a little predictable, but if you’re in a mood for a feel-good contemporary romance, you should give this a try!

SILVER-TONGUED DEVIL is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2jeoxE9

3.5 hearts
lacey

Here’s an audio excerpt from Silver-Tongued Devil!


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Audiobook Review: Since I Fell for You by Bella Andre

Since I Fell for You by Bella Andre
Series: New York Sullivans #2; The Sullivans #16 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: January 10th 2017
Length: 8 hours and 48 minutes
Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky
Links: Audible • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Suzanne Sullivan doesn’t need a bodyguard. After all, she’s one of the most successful digital security specialists in the world―so she can most certainly take care of herself despite the problems she’s been running into lately. Unfortunately, her three brothers don’t agree. So when Mr. Way-Too-Handsome shows up bound and determined to protect her, whether she wants him there or not, sparks definitely start to fly. Because she has absolutely no intention of falling for the bodyguard she never wanted in the first place…

Roman Huson has vowed to do whatever it takes to protect Suzanne Sullivan from harm. And her brothers would kill him for so much as looking at her the wrong way. The only problem is that he’s never been hired to work for anyone so beautiful, or brilliant, before. Between trying to keep up with her―and working like hell to keep from kissing her breathless―he’s up against the most difficult challenge of his life. Especially when it turns out that the passion, and connection, between them is hotter than anything he’s ever known…

I seriously adore Bella Andre’s audiobooks!! Especially The Sullivans series, since they’re narrated by Eva Kaminsky. She’s honestly such an amazing narrator – I could listen to her for days, really. And add in the sweet, wonderful love stories from Bella Andre and you pretty much have the perfect romance audiobooks. If you’re ever in the mood for well-narrated, feel-good romances, you definitely have to check out Bella Andre!

Since I Fell for You is the second book in the New York Sullivans series, starring the sole female in this group of siblings, Suzanne Sullivan. Suzanne is a tech whiz and pretty much a geek of girl doing what she loves and making bank out of it. But being so successful leads to having a high profile, and recent incidents have lead her brothers to believe that she needs a bodyguard. But Suzanne wants nothing to do with having a man on her 24/7, no matter how good-looking he is and how strong the chemistry between them is…

Roman Huson never expected how difficult it would be to be Suzanne Sullivan’s bodyguard, but then again, he never expected to feel such intense attraction to someone he was hired to protect. He can’t let his feelings get in the way of his job, because that would put Suzanne’s life at risk, and he’ll do anything to prevent that. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and how can he resist the one woman who gets under his skin when she turns on the charm and makes him ache for more of her in his life?

If you’ve never experienced one of Bella Andre’s Sullivans books, the New York Sullivans is the perfect place to start, especially if you’re a little daunted by the number of books there currently are. Since I Fell for You can be read perfectly as a standalone, though I would recommend the previous book, Now That I’ve Found You, just because it was a pleasure to listen to. Suzanne and Roman were sweet and romantic, with the perfect hint of sexy to make this a well-rounded romance. If you love bodyguard romances, you should definitely check this one out!

SINCE I FELL FOR YOU is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2iGP1ZK

4 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: New York Sullivans series

 

#1 ~ Now That I’ve Found You: My Review • EbookPaperbackAudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Since I Fell for You: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Sweeter than Ever: EbookGoodreads (out April 5, 2017)

The New York Sullivans series is a spinoff of the Sullivans series, though its not necessary to read the parent series to understand the new series. Here is the complete reading order if you wanted to read the whole series!

Reading Order: The Sullivans series

The Look of Love by Bella Andre From This Moment On by Bella Andre Can't Help Falling in Love by Bella Andre I Only Have Eyes for You by Bella Andre
If You Were Mine by Bella Andre Let Me Be the One by Bella Andre Come a Little Closer by Bella Andre Always on My Mind by Bella Andre
The Way You Look Tonight by Bella Andre Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Bella Andre It Must Be Your Love by Bella Andre Just to Be With You by Bella Andre
I Love How You Love Me by Bella Andre All I Ever Need is You by Bella Andre  

#1 ~ The Look of Love: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ From This Moment On: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#3 ~ Can’t Help Falling in Love: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#4 ~ I Only Have Eyes for You: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#5 ~ If You Were Mine: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#6 ~ Let Me Be the One: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#7 ~ Come a Little Bit Closer: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#8 ~ Always on My Mind: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#9 ~ The Way You Look Tonight: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#10 ~ Kissing Under the Mistletoe: EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#11 ~ It Must Be Your Love: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#12 ~ Just to Be With You: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#13 ~ I Love How You Love Me: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#14 ~ All I Ever Need Is You: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#15 ~ Now That I’ve Found You: My Review • EbookPaperbackAudibleGoodreads
#16 ~ Since I Fell for You: Ebook • PaperbackAudible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Since I Fell for You!


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Release Day Review: Next to Never by Penelope Douglas

Next to Never by Penelope Douglas
Series: Fall Away #4.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 17th 2017
Links: EbookAudible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

New York Times bestseller Penelope Douglas introduces Quinn, younger sister to Jared, Madoc, and Jaxon, in the latest novella in the series that began with Jared and Tate in Bully….

Quinn Caruthers has several problems.

Her father, Jason, and her three older brothers, Jared, Madoc, and Jaxon.

Under the close watch of the men in her family, Quinn has found it nearly impossible to spread her wings—or even date—without them jumping in to hover. And when a family friend—several years older—from her childhood captures her heart, she knows they’re going to be a problem. Lucas Morrow is a man—experienced, sophisticated, and important. And knowing her brothers, he may as well be forbidden.

But Lucas left town years ago and shows no signs of returning. Quinn knows she shouldn’t wait for him anymore.

But then a package turns up on her doorstep with no return address and its contents reveal family secrets that threaten to turn Quinn’s world upside down. She’s never asked about the tumultuous path of her parents’ romantic history, but she soon learns their happy marriage had a very rocky and passionate start.

As she begins to see things around her with new eyes, Quinn will have to make tough choices about whether she’ll keep waiting…or finally go after what she really wants.

“A strong person realizes that the only love you truly need in this life is the love you have for yourself. If you have that, it’s like armor. No one can stop you. No one else matters.”

Ugh, I’ve missed the Fall Away characters SO MUCH!!! This novella was the perfect way to introduce the second generation of characters while still rewarding fans of the series with cameos of the original characters. Plus, we finally get Katherine and Jason’s full story! Next to Never was the perfect tease from Penelope Douglas – it left me desperate for more, but I loved it all the same.

Quinn – Jared, Jax, and Madoc’s little sister – is now a teenager, but her life is being overshadowed by everyone in her family. There’s Jared’s Dylan, Jax’s Hawke, and Madoc’s twins Hunter and Kade, who all have their own personalities and problems that seem to be bigger than they are. They have a presence that Quinn doesn’t believe she has, and she’s afraid to go after what she wants and to mess up the status quo. She’s stuck in her life, with no direction out – but when a book lands on her doorstep, its contents changes everything for her.

It turns out the book is actually a diary… the story of her parents’ relationship. I don’t want to say much about Jason and Katherine’s story because I feel like it’s best to go in blind, but the road to their now-HEA has not been an easy one. They had an addicting, intense, and ultimately toxic relationship that broke them both… but you’ll have to read this novella to find out how they healed themselves and each other.

Honestly, there’s so much to love about this novella. Seeing the original cast of characters was such a delight – you have no idea how giddy I got every time they appeared on the page. Reading about them here made me fall in love with the series all over again, honestly. But now that I’ve finished Next to Never, I’m dying for more, especially Quinn and Lucas’s actual book! The wait for them is killer, but I know Penelope Douglas won’t disappoint. If you love the Fall Away series, I don’t know why you wouldn’t read this novella (that didn’t feel as short as a novella at all, thankfully), because it’s everything you expect and more from PD and the series!

5 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Fall Away series

Bully by Penelope Douglas Until You by Penelope Douglas Rival by Penelope Douglas
Falling Away by Penelope Douglas Aflame by Penelope Douglas  

#1 ~ Bully: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Until You: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Rival: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Falling Away: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Aflame: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#4.5 ~ Next to Never: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads (Jan. 17, 2017)
#5 ~ The Next Flame: EbookPaperbackGoodreads (May 2, 2017)


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Release Day Review: Menace by J.M. Darhower

Menace by J.M. Darhower
Series: Scarlet Scars #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 16th 2017
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Once upon a time, there was a guy who got so fed up with life that he resorted to murder and mayhem just to feel alive.

Lorenzo Gambini is bored. So f*cking bored. Most people either annoy him or avoid him, afraid to face him. Figuratively. Literally. With his face partially disfigured, scarred, he looks every bit the monster the stories make him out to be: the notorious menace they call Scar. They say he’s a sociopath. Maybe he’s a psychopath. Whatever path he’s on, people tend to stay far away from it.

Until one day, a young woman bumps right into him–a woman just as fed up with life, but for much different reasons. With a Scarlet Letter inked on her wrist and secrets buried deep in her soul, Morgan Myers is running from something… or maybe somebody. Lorenzo isn’t quite sure.

You can bet your ass he’s going to figure it out, though.

J.M. Darhower is one of my top favorite mafia romance authors, and every time she has a new release (which recently usually comes as a surprise), I get SO excited and ready for it. Menace is the first in the Scarlet Scars duet, which is a spinoff of the Monster in His Eyes series. Admittedly, I’d completely forgotten who Lorenzo was so I had to do a little reread of the Monster in His Eyes series, which I couldn’t complain about – it’s only my favorite mafia romance series ever. But thankfully the reread got me prepared for Lorenzo’s story, which was an absolute fantastic experience to read. I loved it so much, even though it’s not a typical love story. You just need to read it to experience it!

Lorenzo Gambini is anti-hero personified. He’s not a good man – in fact, many are terrified of him and you could say that he’s a sociopath. He’s got issues from his past and a scar on his face, but that doesn’t stop him from being top dog in his underworld. Nobody crosses him without getting punished, so it’s a surprise to him when he bumps into a gorgeous woman… who ends up robbing him of his wallet. Rather than exacting his revenge though, Lorenzo ends up intrigued and captivated by this woman, who’s internal scars match the ones he holds inside him.

“I’d wreck you for any man that came along after me, put them all to shame, because I’d give you exactly what you wanted.”
“How could you possibly know what I want?”
“Because,” he says, grabbing a fistful of my hair and twisting my head, forcing me to turn away from him. “Looking at you is like looking in a mirror, Scarlet.”

Morgan Myers, aka Scarlet, is mystery personified. Who is she running from? How is she involved with the Russian mafia? What is she looking for? Morgan is very different from heroines that I’m used to, and her tenacity and frankness felt like a breath of fresh air to read about. She knows what it’s like to struggle, but she keeps getting up every time she’s pushed down, and I loved her for it. I especially enjoyed the way she never backed down from Lorenzo. They were the perfect match for each other. I do want to warn you, though, the romance between them is very slow to develop. I liked the pace that it went at, but I will say that I’m excited for it to move more forward in the next book.

I know he’s just a man. A man with flaws. A man with his own problems. And I know he can’t solve my problem. Not really. He can’t fix what’s wrong with me. Nobody can. They can’t even understand. But being around him, it makes me feel things, things I’ve missed just as much as the music and the laughter, things that make me feel alive again.
He’s excitement. He’s adrenaline.
He makes my heart do stupid shit.

Everything about this book, from the characters to the story, took me by surprise in the best way. To say it was unpredictable would be an understatement. I was so impressed with the way I never really saw things coming. And the twist at the end was KILLER!! The ending isn’t too bad, but you’ll definitely want to get the next book asap. Sadly it won’t be here until next month, but I’m waiting with baited breath! J.M. Darhower honestly never disappoints, so if you love her books, you’ll probably love this new series. It’s a little funnier than her other books too – Lorenzo’s POV is hilarious. It’s crude and blunt, sarcastic and a little sassy. Not what I was expecting from this crazy man, but I loved it anyway!

4.5 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Scarlet Scars series

#1 ~ Menace: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Grievous: Goodreads (out Feb. 2017)

The Scarlet Scars series is a spinoff of the Monster in His Eyes series, though you don’t have to read the previous series to understand the new one.

Reading Order: Monster in His Eyes series

Monster in His Eyes by J.M. Darhower Torture to Her Soul by J.M. Darhower Target on Our Backs by J.M. Darhower

#1 ~ Monster in His Eyes: My ReviewEbook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Torture to Her Soul: My Review • Ebook • PaperbackGoodreads
#3 ~ Target on Our Backs: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads


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