Tag Archives: indie

Review: Black Hearts by Karina Halle

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Black Hearts by Karina Halle
Series: Sins Duet #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 19th 2017
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

I wasn’t supposed to know about her. I never should have found her. And I sure as hell shouldn’t have taken her…

From a New York Times bestselling author comes a BRAND NEW smoldering romantic suspense that will get your pulse racing, your thighs clenching and the pages turning.

For Vicente Bernal, truth is all he’s known. The son of an infamous drug lord, Vicente was born to help run the family business, which means he’s been raised on a throne of sordid pasts and dirty laundry, violence and pride. But when Vicente stumbles across someone he’s not supposed to know about – a woman from his father’s checkered past – he sets out to California to find her behind his father’s back.

What Vicente doesn’t expect to find in San Francisco is Violet McQueen, the woman’s twenty-year old daughter. Beautiful and edgy with a vulnerability he can’t resist, Violet tempts Vicente from afar and though he promised himself he’d stay away from her, curiosity and lust are powerful forces. Besides, Vicente has always gotten everything he wants – why shouldn’t he have Violet too?

Soon his wants turn into a sexual obsession, one that sweeps Violet into his games as they fall madly, deeply in love with each other, the type of first love that can drive a person mad.

In a world of hot sex, raw love and damaging lies, these forbidden and star-crossed lovers are going to have to fight tooth and nail for their happy ending.

Our families would die before they ever let us be together.

I was SO excited when I heard that Karina Halle would be writing this series. I was a huge fan of the Artists Trilogy when it first came out, and though I still haven’t read the Dirty Angels series, it’s been on my tbr because of none other than Javier! Now we finally get Ellie and Camden’s, and Javier and Luisa’s children’s story. This is a star-crossed lovers romance like no other. Violet McQueen’s mother and Vicente Bernal’s father were lovers turned enemies, and now their children get the chance at a love that could have been.

Vicente Bernal has known his drug lord father to be the ruthless, dangerous, insane, almost-cruel man he’s been all his life. But when he finds letters written by his father from a time when he was actually sane and possibly with a heart, he’s determined to find the woman who brought out the man Javier Bernal used to be – Ellie Watt, now Ellie McQueen. When he arrives in America with a fake identity, Vicente isn’t sure of the path that will get him to Ellie, but when her daughter, Violet, appears in front of him, it seems as if fate was deciding which path he should take.

“You’re everything I’ve ever needed,” he says through a lustful groan. He bites his lip, the corded muscles of his neck straining. “I was famished, starved, for you. For this.”

Violet McQueen doesn’t know why, but she’s always felt like her family was just a little bit… off. Her parents are hiding something, and when she finds out about a grandfather who was supposed to be dead her whole life had died only recently, she sets out to uncover the lies told by her parents. Along the way she meets the gorgeous, mysterious Vicente – the passion and lust between them is fierce, and it isn’t long before she finds herself falling and trusting him. But what will happen when she finds out that another person she loves has been lying to her?

“You’re mine, Violet,” I murmur roughly against her mouth, my fingers pressing into her cheekbones. “I don’t care how that sounds, but it’s all truth. You belong to me.”

I had high expectations for Black Hearts, but it fell a little flatter than I expected. I never connected with either of the main characters – Violet was too naive and trusting and Vicente felt wishy washy and immature. I never really BELIEVED in the love that grew between them. It seemed like one minute they were in lust and the next minute they were in love. I get that they were in moments of action so it would be hard for them to have any down time, but I would’ve liked to see the romance bloom more genuinely. I actually started disliking the parents too, which was a disappointment because I loved them in their own books. Much of the book was just a little too boring and aggravating, and I just couldn’t find it in myself to care that much about all the problems going on in the book. However, these feelings could entirely be just me, so if you were a fan of either of the original series, please don’t let this review stop you from giving Black hearts and the Sins Duet a try! Hopefully you’ll enjoy it more than I did!


lacey

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

Reading Order: Sins Duet series

 

#1 ~ Black Hearts: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Dirty Souls: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads

The Sins Duet is a standalone spinoff series of The Artists Trilogy and the Dirty Angels series. Here are the reading orders for both series (which you don’t need to read before starting Black Hearts).

Reading Order: The Artists Trilogy

   

#0.5 ~ On Every Street: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#1 ~ Sins & Needles: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Shooting Scars: My Review •  Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Bold Tricks: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Reading Order: Dirty Angels series

Dirty Angels by Karina Halle Dirty Deeds by Karina Halle Dirty Promises by Karina Halle

#1 ~ Dirty Angels: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Dirty Deeds: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Dirty Promises: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

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Release Blitz + ARC Review & Giveaway: Checkmate: This is Reckless by Kennedy Fox

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Happy release day to Kennedy Fox – Checkmate: This is Reckless is live!

Checkmate: This is Reckless by Kennedy Fox
Series: Checkmate Duet #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 28th 2017
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Drew Fisher is the type of guy every girl wants.
Noble police officer by day, charming prince by night.
He has no idea the effect he has on women, especially me–his little sister’s best friend.
I’m the blonde Southern belle who lives up to the cliché, except I have my own quirks. I’m smart as a whip, can change my own oil, and recite The Pledge of Allegiance backward, but he doesn’t see that girl.

It’d be easier to forget him if he wasn’t my roommate and if the first thing I saw in the morning wasn’t his shirtless body covered in tattoos. I’ve crushed on him since the day we met, but he’s made it perfectly clear where we stand. Just friends.

I know I need to move on and accept that his feelings will never be mutual, but every day he smiles at me, I’m left dreaming of what if.
He has girl issues, and I’ve got a crush I can’t deny.
We’re friends, but I want more.

One drunken hookup leaves us with much more than a platonic friendship. Pretending it never happened proves to be more difficult than anticipated.

A crazy ex-girlfriend, a dangerous war of stolen glances, and passionate kisses leads to the most reckless battle yet. I won’t be a pawn in his game, but I’ll play by his rules if it will show him I’m the one worth breaking them for.

Checkmate, Prince Charming.

Buy Links:
Amazon • iTunes • Kobo

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It seems as if I love every single trope, but seriously, friends-to-lovers gets me every time. There’s always something so genuine and sweet about these kinds of romances! So Drew and Courtney’s story in this new Checkmate Duet was totally my thing – I definitely enjoyed it more than the previous duet about Viola and Travis. It was a lot less cheesy dramatic and thankfully we don’t have a manwhore hero this time… just an annoying, manipulating ex. Fans of Kennedy Fox will most likely enjoy Drewtney as much as Traviola, only instead of enemies-to-lovers, we have friends-to-lovers!

Courtney is Drew’s little sister’s best friend, they’re roommates, she has a tiny crush on him, he has a girlfriend who’s a major bitch… but it’s all good, right? For the past few years, Courtney has been totally fine with being one of Drew’s best friends. She wouldn’t mind if he ended his toxic relationship with his awful girlfriend, but for now she’s been waiting on the sidelines for her chance with him, which finally comes when Drew sees Mia exactly for the lying, cheating, manipulating person that she is.

“God, Court…where have you been all of my life?”
She pulls back and looks up at me. I run my fingers through her wet hair and rest my palm against her cheek. Moving in closer, she speaks against my lips before I can kiss her. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Drew and Courtney are fun and sweet together – Drew finally realizes how perfect they are once Mia is out of the picture. They’re flirty, have great chemistry, and fall fast and hard for each other. But what happens when Mia doesn’t stay out of the picture and is out to ruin Drew’s newfound love?

I loved Courtney. She’s my favorite kind of heroine – tough, feisty, able to hold her own, and unapologetic. She’s the perfect balance for Drew, who is more calm and steady. I enjoyed the way their relationship grew in this first part of their story – it gets cheesy and predictable, but the romance itself is still enjoyable. I’m not the biggest fan of Kennedy Fox’s writing in this series – it’s a little too simple and boring for my taste, but it’s nothing unbearable and I do feel like the author duo improved since their first book. This might not be the best friends-to-lovers romance I’ve ever read, but it’s an easy story to get sucked into. I’m excited to see what happens in Drewtney’s sequel – after that slightly predictable cliffhanger, I need more!

“I’ll never stop wanting you, Courtney. You’ve completely stolen my heart, and for the first time, I don’t want it back. It’s yours.”

3.5 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Checkmate Duet series

   

#1 ~ This is War: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ This is Love: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ This is Reckless: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ This is Effortless: Ebook • Goodreads (April 25, 2017)

about the author button

Kennedy Fox is a duo of bestselling authors who share a love of You’ve Got Mail and The Holiday. When they aren’t bonding over romantic comedies, they like to brainstorm new book ideas. One day, they decided to collaborate together under a pseudonym and have some fun creating new characters that’ll make your lady bits tingle and your heart melt. If you enjoy romance stories with sexy, tattooed alpha males and smart, independent women, then a Kennedy Fox book is for you!

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Newsletter

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$25 amazon gift card + signed paperback of Checkmate: This is Reckless

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Blog Tour + Review & Giveaway: The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

Posted in 4 hearts, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews by

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid!

The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
Series: Rugby #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 14th 2017
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Keeping a secret this big is going to take lots of balls. Specifically, rugby balls.

THE CAD
Bryan Leech is a cad.
Or, he *was* a cad.
No one is quite certain.

Once the quintessential playboy, Bryan claims he’s done with wild parties and weekend benders. No more one night stands leading to mornings he can’t remember; no more binges and blackouts; no more exploits plastered all over the tabloids and rag sheets. According to Bryan, he’s cleaning up his act.

The only problem is, no one believes him.

THE CO-ED
Eilish Cassidy never thought she’d be a mother at nineteen or still in college at twenty-four. Cut off from every member of her family except her favorite cousin, she’s finally managed put her life back together. Stronger and wiser, Eilish enters her last semester of university determined to stand on her own. Now she just needs to find an internship.

The only problem is, her best option—by far—places her directly in the path of her son’s father, and he doesn’t remember her at all.

THE PLAN
Bryan is determined to prove he’s changed. Eager to settle down with the right woman, he’s got his sights set on the gorgeous redhead who seems terribly familiar.

Eilish is determined to hide her secret. She’ll do anything to keep her child safe, even if that means ignoring her own wishes and desires.

But what happens when Bryan starts to remember? And what will it take for Bryan to convince the girl he forgot that she’s unforgettable?

Buy Links:
Amazon US • Amazon UK • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

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I love Penny Reid and L.H. Cosway – individually, they’re such unique authors, but together, they make magic! They write the most endearing, quirky characters that are easy to love. After the snippet of The Cad and the Co-Ed in the previous Rugby book, I was DYING to read Bryan and Eilish’s story. I wasn’t sure how the authors would redeem Bryan and the awful way he treated Eilish, but I trusted them. And thankfully, they didn’t disappoint! Eilish and Bryan, despite their rough start, had the sweetest romance ever. They’re so weirdly adorable, which made for such a fun reading experience. If you’re a fan of the series or either authors, I highly recommend The Cad and the Co-Ed!

If you’ve read The Player and the Pixie, then you’ll know that when Eilish Cassidy was a naive nineteen-year-old, she fell for Bryan’s charms and gave up her virginity to him. She had stars in her eyes and thought they would have a future… but it turns out Bryan Leech was a cad, through and through. He was drunk during their one-night-stand, couldn’t even remember her name the next morning, and promptly kicked her out. He leaves Eilish with a broken heart… and a baby he’s never known about.

Fast forward five years, and Bryan has been through rehab to fix his drinking and partying ways. He’s a changed man… or is he? When Eilish sees Bryan again for the first time in years, she realizes that he doesn’t even recognize her or their one night at all. She’s not sure that she can trust that Bryan is sober now and safe to be around their son, Patrick. Can Bryan show Eilish that he’s there to stay and win the heart of the woman he forgot? And what will happen when he finds out about their secret baby?

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, still touching me, shifting his weight from one foot to the next.
“What for?” The question was out before I could catch it.
“For so many things. … Mostly for ever making you think you are anything other than magnificent and unforgettable.”

I thought that The Cad and the Co-Ed would be an angsty read, but it turned out to be so much sweeter and funnier than I expected! Eilish is hilarious and adorable, a great mother and a strong heroine. She definitely makes Bryan work to win her trust and heart. I loved her! And another surprise was how easily Bryan won me over with his changed ways. He’s done a 180 from drinking and partying 24/7 to sipping tea in his robe and wanting his neighbors to keep quiet at 10 P.M. He’s such a riot, and the way Sean, his rugby teammate and Eilish’s cousin, rags on him is SO funny.

This book is too freaking sweet. L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid make such a fantastic writing duo. Only they would be able to redeem a huge jerk from the previous Rugby book and make me love him. Eilish and Bryan have a slow, swoony romance that I adored. I’m really hoping there will be more in this series (Will!!!) because I can’t get enough of it! And I definitely have plans to go back and finally read the first book in the series!

I’d never forget that look.
I’d never forget seeing her like this.
I’d never forget another moment with her for the rest of my life.

4 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Rugby series

The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid  

#1 ~ The Hooker and the Hermit: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Player and the Pixie: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Cad and the Co-ed: Ebook • Goodreads

about the authors button

L.H. CoswayL.H. Cosway 

L.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 favorite 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 • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest

Penny ReidPenny Reid

SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

Website • Goodreads • Facebook • Twitter • Newsletter

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Enter to win a signed paperback of Royal Marriage Market, Beg Tease Submit, Letters in White, Love Walks In, Hooker and the Hermit, Player and the Pixie, Wasted Words and Changing Course!

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Release Day Blitz + Review: Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews, Spotlight by

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Happy release day to R.S. Grey – Anything You Can Do is live!
Check out my review of the book below!

Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: February 2nd 2017
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Lucas Thatcher has always been my enemy.

It’s been a decade since I’ve seen him, but our years on opposite coasts were less of a lasting peace and more of a temporary cease-fire. Now that we’re both back in our small town, I know Lucas expects the same old war, but I’ve changed since high school—and from the looks of it, so has he.

The arrogant boy who was my teenage rival is now a chiseled doctor armed with intimidating good looks. He is Lucas Thatcher 2.0, the new and improved version I’ll be competing with in the workplace instead of the schoolyard.

I’m not worried; I’m a doctor now too, board-certified and sexy in a white coat. It almost feels like winning will be too easy—until Lucas unveils a tactic neither of us has ever used before: sexual warfare.

The day he pushes me up against the wall and presses his lips to mine, I can’t help but wonder if he’s filling me with passion or poison. Every fleeting touch is perfect torture. With every stolen kiss, my walls crumble a little more. After all this time, Lucas knows exactly how to strip me of my defenses, but I’m in no hurry to surrender.

Knowing thy enemy has never felt so good.

Buy Links:
Amazon US • Amazon UK • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

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For those of you who love romantic comedies that are over-the-top and dramatic, Anything You Can Do is perfect for you. It’s ridiculous and hilarious, and if you’re in the mood for a feel-good romance that will have you laughing, this will hit all the right buttons for you. It’s not quite my favorite R.S. Grey novel, but it’s very reminiscent of her previous rom-coms, so fans of her books will definitely enjoy this enemies-to-lovers romance!

In light of the sheer longevity of our rivalry, people always want to know what terrible even had transpired to precipitate it all. The truth is, we’ve always been this way. I am the Annie Oakley to his Frank Butler and I firmly believe that anything he can do, I can do better.

Daisy Bell and Lucas Thatcher have been competitors since the moment they were born (which coincidentally was on the same day). They are rivals, arch-nemeses, enemies, and every synonym in between. Their houses were next to each other, they competed against one another in high school, moved across the country away from each other for college, and now, post-medical school and at twenty-eight, Daisy and Lucas have returned home… to work at the same small-town family practice.

Both Lucas and Daisy hilariously try to sabotage the other and make the other look bad so that their boss, Dr. McCormick, will choose only one of them to take over the practice. They do some crazy, exasperating shenanigans as if they were high schoolers all over again. It’s entertaining to say the least, though it doesn’t exactly move the story forward. A majority of the book is spent fighting between Lucas and Daisy, and what I really wanted was for the romance to develop. It’s a fine line between love and hate, but love finally takes over once they get over their denial of it.

“I love you, which seems crazy because up until about four days ago, I really thought I hated you. But when you think about it, love and hate aren’t so very different, right? To love someone is to strive to be a better person for them, and isn’t that what our hateful little competition has been about the whole time?”

There’s nothing crazy deep or emotional in this book – which was exactly what I expected and wanted. It’s pure enjoyable rom-com, the kind of read that will easy take your mind off reality for a short while and give you plenty of laughs and giggles. If you’re a fan of humor and enemies-to-lovers romances, you definitely need to give this book a try.

3.5 hearts
lacey

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

Also by R.S. Grey

Scoring Wilder by R.S. Grey  
  
  The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey

Scoring Wilder: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Settling the Score: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Out of Bounds: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
With This Heart: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Chasing Spring: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
A Place in the Sun: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
The Allure of Julian Lefray: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
The Allure of Dean Harper: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
The Duet: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
The Design: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

about the author button

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things… everyday.

I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors are Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m a comedy geek and love all things “funny”. Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

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Blog Tour + ARC Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Failing Hours by Sara Ney

Posted in 5 hearts, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews by

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for The Failing Hours by Sara Ney!! I absolutely loved this book – check out my review below, as well as an excerpt and tour giveaway!

The Failing Hours by Sara Ney
Series: How to Date a Douchebag #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 31st 2017
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Zeke Daniels isn’t just a douchebag; he’s an asshole.

A total and complete jerk, Zeke keeps people at a distance. He has no interest in relationships–most assholes don’t.

Dating? Being part of a couple? Nope. Not for him.
He’s never given any thought to what he wants in a girlfriend, because he’s never had any intention of having one.Shit, he barely has a relationship with his family, and they’re related; his own friends don’t even like him.

So why does he keep thinking about Violet DeLuca?
Sweet, quiet Violet–his opposite in every sense of the word.
The light to his dark, even her damn name sounds like rays of sunshine and happiness and shit.

And that pisses him off, too.

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Kobo

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The Failing Hours took me by surprise in the BEST way possible. I’ll admit, going into this, I didn’t have high hopes for Zeke. He was the BIGGEST douchebag in the first book and such a misogynist – I was so sure he couldn’t be redeemed in his book. But I am so glad I turned out to be wrong about him. Yes, he’s a dick and nothing can excuse that, but there’s more to Zeke than just his meanness. You get to see a new side of Zeke, one that Violet brings out in him, and I fell head over heels for him by the end of the book. If you love the classic new adult college romances, you HAVE to give this book a try. I was in NA heaven reading this – my heart was so happy to be reading college romances again!

Then.
She smiles.
My eyes, goddamn them, go to those curved glossy lips and rest there as she tries not to grin at me. Brilliant white teeth wink. Big, virginal doe eyes crinkle at the corners.
She’s like a fairytale caricature. Like a pixie.
So endearing it almost makes me want to barf.

To say Zeke Daniels is a jerk would be the biggest understatement. This is the sort of guy who cares for nothing but himself and keeps everyone at a distance. He’s annoyed that he has to get a tutor so he doesn’t fail his class, and even more annoyed that his coach forced him to join a “Big Brothers” program where he has to mentor a kid. He is moody and rude – and his first meeting with his tutor, Violet, is not a good one. She couldn’t be more opposite him if she tried – she’s quiet, gentle, has a slight stutter. She’s everything good that he is not. And when circumstances keep pushing them together, he can’t seem to stop thinking about her… and reluctantly falling for her. Her strength, heart, and kindness make a huge impact on him and make him believe that there just might be more to life than just keeping everyone away.

After driving away from her last night, I realize I probably know her better than she realizes. I know she’s a damn bleeding heart. I know she’s selfless, but only to a point. Kindhearted. Quiet. Inexperienced.
Stronger than either of us realizes.
Too goddamn trusting.
Too goddamn sunny for my gloom and doom.
Too light for my dark.
Too good for my bad.
Too everything.

My biggest worry about this book, besides whether or not Zeke could be redeemed, was the portrayal of the heroine, Violet. I was less than impressed with the shallow way the heroine from the first book was portrayed and was hoping for more character development with Violet, and thankfully Sara Ney delivered. Violet is a sweetheart of a character – despite losing her parents at a young age and not having a stable family for most of her life, she sees the positive side in all situations. She’s tough on the inside and never gives up – and she’s also not a pushover when it comes to Zeke. She discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye and that he has just as painful a past as she does, but she doesn’t let that excuse his douchey-ness. She’s a fantastic heroine and I applaud this girl for being able to put up with the grump that is Zeke.

“The best part of me is you, Violet.”

I loved this book SO MUCH. It was the perfect opposites-attract romance – bad boy athlete jerk meets good girl tutor… honestly, it was new adult perfection. I try not to read books with the douche-y heroes because it usually doesn’t end up well, but I absolutely adored this one. It was freaking hilarious, had fantastic characters, and the romance had me so giddy and in love. I LOVED that Violet didn’t make it easy for Zeke to win her heart – this was a redemption story done right. It was my first 5 star read of 2017 and I’m really hoping there’ll be more books in this series, because I can’t get enough of it!

5 hearts
lacey

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

Now here’s an excerpt from The Failing Hours! ❤

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The clock on the wall counts the seconds, steady as the rhythm of my beating heart, which thumps wildly within my chest until the glass door to the library opens, propelled by a gust of wind.

Some new fallen leaves flutter in, the heavy doors slamming from the draft.

Along with them? Zeke Daniels.

He shuffles in, dark gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips, black Iowa Wrestling hoodie pulled up over his head, the university’s bright yellow mascot screen-printed across the chest. Backpack slung over one shoulder, black athletic flip-flops, and a pair of black sunglasses perched on the bridge of his strong nose complete the overall ensemble.

He is utterly…ridiculous.

Unapproachable.

Daunting.

His arrogance knows no bounds; I can see it in his loose gait, the exaggerated swagger, and the too-casual way he’s dragging his flip-flops across the cold, marble tile floor. It’s noisy, irritating, and completely uncalled for.

In the moment, my mind drifts to his personal life, and I theorize that he listens to heavy metal music to sooth his foul temperament, drinks his coffee black—as black as his soul—and his liquor straight up. I imagine once he’s had sex with someone, they’re never invited back. I go one step further and theorize that they’re never invited to spend the night at his place, either.

Zeke Daniels makes his way to a table at the far end of the room, near the periodicals, one out of the way with plenty of privacy.

Sets his bag down in one of the four wooden chairs. Flicks on the small study lamp. Plugs his laptop cord into the base and stands.

Turns.

Our eyes would have met then were it not for those ludicrous sunglasses. I choose the exact moment he lifts his gaze to look down at the ground. Busy myself with shuffling papers on the counter. Count to ten instead of chanting, Please don’t come over, please don’t come over, please don’t come over…

But luck isn’t on my side because he most decidedly does.

Makes his way over like a predator at a pace so deliberate, I’m convinced he’s doing it on purpose. As if he suspects I’m watching from under my long lashes, dreading his imminent arrival.

He basks in my discomfort.

The distance between us closes, his strides purposeful.

Twenty feet.

Fifteen.

Ten.

Eight.

Three.

His large hand reaches up, pushing down the hood of his sweatshirt, his fingertips pinching the earpiece of his sunglasses and pulling them off his face. My eyes follow the movements as he folds them closed, hanging them on the neckline of his hoodie.

His gaze lingers—those clear gray eyes famous around campus—and finds the shiny silver bellhop bell perched on the counter with the sign next to it that reads, Ring for help.

Ding.

The tip of his forefinger presses down on the small bell.

Ding.

He hits it again, despite me standing not three feet in front of him.

What an ass.

Reading Order: How to Date a Douchebag series

 

#1 ~ The Studying Hours: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Failing Hours: Ebook • Goodreads

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Purveyor of all things witty & romantic, I love: iced latte’s, traveling, and bright, bold colors. On any given day, you can find me in my office, lovingly gazing at my bookshelf or shuffling my Bic felt-tip pen collection. I love hand writing letters, and sarcasm.

I live in the midwest, but “Will Write for Travel,” and believe everyone should follow their dreams, no matter how big or small. My favorite authors include Cindy Miles, S Walden, Suzanne Enoch, Tessa Dare (to name a few). I am a glutton for Historical, RomCom, Sports and MC romance.

One husband. Two daughters. Plenty of chaos.

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