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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23Sep2015

Early Review: Playing with Fire by Kate Meader

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Playing with Fire by Kate Meader
Series: Hot in Chicago #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 29th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

From popular romance author Kate Meader comes the second novel in Hot in Chicago, a brand-new, sizzling series that follows a group of firefighting foster siblings and their blazing hot love interests!

As the only female firefighter at Engine Co. 6, Alexandra Dempsey gets it from all sides: the male coworkers who think she can’t do the job, the wives and girlfriends who see her as a threat to their firefighter men, and her overprotective foster brothers who want to shelter their baby sister at all costs. So when she single-handedly saves the life of Eli Cooper, Chicago’s devastatingly handsome mayor, she assumes the respect she’s longed for will finally come her way. But it seems Mr. Mayor has other ideas…

Eli Cooper’s mayoral ratings are plummeting, his chances at reelection dead in the water. When a sexy, curvaceous firefighter gives him the kiss of life, she does more than bring him back to the land of the living—she also breathes vitality into his campaign. Riding the wave of their feel-good story might prop up Eli’s flagging political fortunes, but the sizzling attraction between them can go nowhere; he’s her boss, and there are rules that must be obeyed. But you know what they say about rules: they’re made to be broken…

I loved reading Playing with Fire! It’s a solid, entertaining read that is just SO good. It’s also seriously hot and sexy – I was totally not expecting the hero, the mayor of Chicago, to be as smokin’ as he was! Kate Meader has written a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance that I was seriously invested in.

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the fact that the heroine is a female firefighter. I don’t think I’ve ever read about one before, so I was super excited to read about Alex Dempsey. And I loved what I found in her – Alex is a tough, independent, strong woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone, least of all Mayor Eli Cooper. She does what she wants, but that’s not always a good thing… since she doesn’t always think about the consequences of her actions. So one anger-fueled incident lands her right in the lap of the man she loves to hate.

Oh, God, this sexy-hate thing between them was crazy. She felt an overwhelming urge to both punch him and hug him.

Eli Cooper is running for the second term of his mayorship (is that a word?) and he needs the backing of the firefighters, especially the Dempseys, to win the election. Eli is kind of a dick in the beginning of the book – he’s made sexist comments towards female firefighters (which is the first reason why Alex loves to hate him), and he blackmails Alex into pretending to date him for the media. But as I read more, I saw another, better side to Eli, one that’s not as cold and callous as he first seemed. And this change and redemption is all thanks to one fiery, passionate woman.

Eli has wanted Alex since he first saw her, but it seems that with every encounter, they only bring out the worst in each other. The banter, the sharp remarks, the glares – they all serve to light up the crazy-hot chemistry that’s been there from the start. I loved that Eli and Alex are such a perfect match for one another and that they’re able to go head-to-head with neither of them backing down. And oh. my. god. The sex between them is panty-melting H.O.T! Eli’s mouth is the dirtiest thing ever, and I loved it. I loved how alpha he is, how sensual and sexy and dominant he is in bed. You will seriously need a FAN when you read this book!

“I will fuck the ever-loving smart-assery out of you, Alexandra.” He got started on that, pumping in and out, in and out. Deeper, harder. “I’m going to fuck you so good the only word on your lips will be my name. The only answer to every question will be my name. Now say it.”

Eli also has to do some wooing to win the heart of the woman he’s fallen for, and I just about died at the way he goes about it. First he’s a dirty-talking alpha-male, and now he’s sweet and loving? My heart couldn’t handle it. I ended up falling so hard for his character. I loved Alex, but Eli was definitely my favorite character in this book.

“You’re a goddess and I’m not worthy to worship at your feet, but I’m happy to spend the rest of my life trying to be good enough for you.”

This review is littered with firefighter puns, but there’s no better way to describe Playing with Fire than a scorching hot romance you don’t want to miss. It’s a great, satisfying read with fantastic writing and a cast of characters I adore. I can’t wait for more from this series!

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

Reading Order: Hot in Chicago series

#1 ~ Flirting with Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Melting Point: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Playing with Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Sparking the Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Sept. 27, 2016)

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14Sep2015

Early Review: Falling for Danger by Chanel Cleeton

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Falling for Danger by Chanel Cleeton
Series: Capital Confessions #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 15th 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 third 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…

Kate Reynolds has just graduated from college and is determined to make it on her own. Her job as a junior political analyst at the CIA is a dream come true and the perfect opportunity to find answers about the night that’s plagued her for four years—the night she lost her fiancé, Matt, on a Special Forces mission in Afghanistan. Kate’s consumed with uncovering the truth and avenging the man she loved and lost, even if it means risking her own life to prove that his death wasn’t an accident.

When she gets too close to discovering what happened that fateful night and danger arrives on her doorstep, Kate’s stunned by the man who comes to her rescue. Together, they begin to dig for the truth, fighting to stay alive as they’re dragged down into a world of secrets and lies. But when the threat hits close to home, Kate must choose between vengeance and a future with the man who’s ignited a fire inside her that she thought died long ago.

I was really looking forward to reading Falling for Danger after reading the snippet at the end of Playing with Trouble. The heroine’s supposedly dead fiancé turns out to be alive! And he’s back in her life! How could I NOT read it after finding that out? But the romance didn’t quite pan out the way I expected it to. While I enjoyed Falling for Danger, it wasn’t quite the epic conclusion to the series I was hoping for.

He’d promised me that he’d love me forever. Where did forever go?

Kate Reynolds is on a mission to take her father down. She’s determined to expose her father for the fraud that he is, and to uncover the link between him and the reason why her fiancé, Matt, was suspiciously killed while in Afghanistan. In the four years since Matt’s death, her life has become about avenging her lost love, and there’s nothing that will stand in her way. But one night, someone breaks into her home, and she comes face-to-face with last person on earth she expected: her dead fiancé.

I really liked how determined Kate was. I could feel for her and the pain she went through with losing Matt. She’s a girl hell-bent on revenge, and I couldn’t help but admire that. She’s also never stopped loving Matt, so when he appears, she’s struck by all the feelings that come rushing back in. But four years took their toll on Matt, and he’s not the same boy she knew and loved.

She was the one constant in this never-ending purgatory where I was stuck somewhere between life and death, a walking ghost.

Matt has changed a lot over the years, no longer the carefree boy in love with his best friend. His time in Afghanistan was rough and heartbreaking, but he survived, only to hide away from the people he loved the most. Matt is pretty gruff, dark, and intense… but I struggled to like him. He’s the main reason why I didn’t love this book like I wanted to. I guess I just never really understood why he had to stay away from Kate, if he loved her so much. We never really get an explanation – or rather, Matt never gives Kate an explanation for why he faked his death and what he did over the last four years. Kate was hurt and devastated over his ‘death’, and it would’ve been nice if Matt tried to make up for the hurt. And while it was obvious that Kate still loved Matt, I didn’t feel the love Matt still had for Kate. I needed more from Matt, I really did.

The suspense in Falling for Danger was pretty mellow. It was slow in the middle and then rushed at the end, so I didn’t really become invested in the mystery/suspense. The ending wasn’t as dramatic as I’d hoped, but it was still a good end for all the characters.

I wish I could’ve loved this book more. I had such high hopes based on the premise, but since I didn’t like the hero, I couldn’t fully enjoy the story. If you’re a fan of the series, I’d recommend you read this if you want to know how the series plot-line involving the Kate’s father turns out. Hopefully you’ll love more than I did! Not to say Falling for Danger is a bad book – it just wasn’t as good as I hoped.

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

Reading Order: Capital Confessions series

#1 ~ Flirting with Scandal: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Playing with Trouble: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Falling for Danger: Ebook • Goodreads (Sept. 15, 2015)

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14Sep2015

Early Review: Bad Romance by Jen McLaughlin

Posted in 2 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Bad Romance by Jen McLaughlin
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: September 15th 2015
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

In this explosive novel from bestselling author Jen McLaughlin, a good girl falls for the ultimate bad boy: her stepbrother. Perfect for fans of Sabrina Paige, Caitlin Daire, and Krista Lakes, Bad Romance proves that passion can be so wrong it’s right.

Seven years in the army will change a guy. But after a shoulder wound ends his career as a sniper, Jackson Worthington finds himself back home, fighting a battle that’s all too familiar: keeping his hands off Lily Hastings. She’s still her rich daddy’s little angel, innocent, impossibly lovely, as squeaky-clean as Jackson is dirty. And she’s still his stepsister—forbidden but not forgotten, not after the soul-melting kiss that got him kicked out of the house at eighteen. He couldn’t resist her then. How the hell can he resist her now?

Lily is about to marry a man she doesn’t love, and commit to a high-stress job she hates, all to please the father who controls every waking moment of her life. On top of everything, her teenage crush is back, with a sleek, chiseled body and a trace of the rebellious boy whose lips sealed her fate. Jackson’s timing couldn’t be worse . . . or better. Because Lily’s all grown up, too. She’s aching for another taste. And for the first time, she’s ready to be a bad girl.

I was really looking forward to Bad Romance, since I’m a sucker for forbidden love stories, and this one’s a stepbrother romance at that! But unfortunately, this book wasn’t what I’d hoped it would be. I didn’t like the characters at all, and found myself skimming parts of the story. I really wish I could’ve liked this more, because I did enjoy the writing, but it was the characters that ruined the book for me.

Jackson Worthington is back from the army after seven years, back to the home and family that turned him away. Well, everyone turned him away except for Lilly Hastings, his stepsister. The sweet stepsister sent him letters throughout his time in the army, keeping him sane, but not once did he write to her back. He felt like a clean break between them, after that kiss they had when she was fifteen and he was eighteen, was the best thing for her.

Lilly Hastings has had a crush on Jackson ever since he came into her life, but unfortunately as her stepbrother. She held out hope for him until she left for college, but now that he’s back, she’s going to go after what she’s always wanted – Jackson.

While I liked the premise of Bad Romance, the execution of the story played out poorly. The forbidden love aspect of the story was a disappointment – I felt no chemistry between the main characters, and I didn’t feel like there anything nothing forbidden or taboo about their relationship. They met at 15 and 18, he left right away and stayed away for seven years, neither of them like their parents – what exactly was holding them back from being together?

I didn’t like either Jackson or Lilly, and I didn’t like how repetitive their back-and-forth was. Jackson keeps going on and on about how ‘innocent’ and ‘pure’ Lilly is, and how he doesn’t want to ruin her life. I hated how assuming he is about the kind of person Lilly is without really getting to know her after not seeing her for seven years. And Lilly has her own little problem of being forced to marry someone to save her father’s company. Really? I absolutely didn’t believe she no choice but to marry someone just to save a company she’s not even involved in. Everyone keeps guilting her, telling her how she’ll make thousands of people lose their jobs, and she doesn’t do anything to fight all the people hounding her. She is quite the doormat around everyone but Jackson, but even her times with Jackson wasn’t enough to make me like her.

I didn’t hate this book, but it was a disappointing read. The only saving point to the book was the writing, but sadly everything else was a bust. I really hoped for something exciting and taboo, but I got neither of those.

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8Sep2015

Early Review: Paper Hearts by Claire Contreras

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Paper Hearts by Claire Contreras
Series: Hearts #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 9th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

I lost her.
No, I didn’t lose her. I threw her away.
She was my best friend.

I was never supposed to fall in love with her.
I was careless.
She was heartbroken.

I thought I was doing fine. But here she is, years later, forced to work with me, reminding me why I fell in love with her in the first place.
And this time I’m going to do everything in my power to never let her go.

“Real love stories never end.”

Second chance romances are probably my favorite kinds of romances to read. The angst, the heartbreak, the reunion, the rekindled love… everything about the trope just appeals to me. So I had high expectations for Paper Hearts – ever since I read Kaleidoscope Hearts (my review here) and Torn Hearts (the free prequel novella to Paper Hearts), Mia and Jensen’s story was a highly anticipated read of mine. And I’m so glad to say that Claire Contreras didn’t let me down – Paper Hearts is a fantastic, heart-wrenching second chance romance that I wholeheartedly enjoyed. It’s the kind of book that will tug on your heartstrings, make your heart pound, and leave you breathless.

It’s been said that we’re only given one chance at things in life. I’d love to prove that wrong.

Normally, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to read this book – but I felt like I just HAD to know Mia and Jensen’s story. In the prequel (which is also in the beginning of Paper Hearts), we learn that Jensen and Mia were the inseparable, totally-in-love kind of couple. But when Jensen goes off to college, their relationship takes a break… and then Jensen does something that changes the course of their lives forever. My heart broke for the two of them – they went from being best friends who were in love to being shattered beyond repair. I honestly didn’t know if I’d be able to forgive Jensen for what he did. But reading Paper Hearts has put everything in perspective, and now I’m just so glad to have experienced Mia and Jensen’s love story.

My heart felt like it wanted to leap out and settle inside of his. Not again, I told myself. I knew if it did, I’d never get it back.

Mia and Jensen have rarely seen each other in the years since they’ve broken apart, but now Mia is moving to New York City to work as a photographer at the same place Jensen writes his column. In the same city and in the same workplace, it’s inevitable that they’ll see each other again. And when they do, it’s obvious that the love between them has never waned, as much as Mia wishes it would. But with Jensen determined to win back the love of his life, can Mia find it in herself to forgive him and move on… with him?

Mia is a wonderful, well-rounded character. My heart was completely invested in this girl, who’s been through so much heartbreak because of Jensen. She’s smart and tough, and though she’s not without faults – she was partly to blame for her and Jensen’s bad breakup, though the majority of the blame definitely belongs to him – I really enjoyed her character. And I was all ready to be totally pissed at Jensen on her behalf, but Jensen surprised me, in the best way. Through the little snippets of his column, written in his POV, we see how much he regrets hurting Mia, how devastated at their breakup he was, and how much he still wants another chance. I could literally FEEL how much Jensen still loves Mia, which was something I definitely needed in this book. I also was expecting a lot of groveling, and the columns were basically that. Claire Contreras did a fantastic job with Jensen’s character, showing his flaws, his motivations, and most of all, his complete devotion to Mia.

Maybe our souls really are scattered in the things we love, and we are all completely lost, but from the moment she looked at me, I felt like I’d been found.

I was expecting a lot of angst in Paper Hearts, but I’d say the angst was more sweet than anything. Both the main characters have grown up and matured over the years, which I appreciated. The pace of the book was spot-on – there are a lot of obstacles that Jensen and Mia need to overcome before they can finally have that HEA, and everything played out at the perfect pace. Even though I may not have completely loved Paper Hearts, it’s still a brilliant read that fans of second chance romances should not miss. It’s a GREAT read, one I recommend – if you’re into intense love stories that will make you will feel so much, you should definitely give this book a try. You won’t regret it!

“I love you, and there’s no negotiating with what I feel in my heart.”

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

Reading Order: Hearts series

#1 ~ Kaleidoscope Hearts: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Paper Hearts: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Elastic Hearts: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

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