Tag Archives: new adult

Early Review: Four Letter Word by J. Daniels

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by

Four Letter Word by J. Daniels
Series: Dirty Deeds #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 4th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Fate. Hate. Love. Lies.
Which four letter word will change their lives forever?

Sydney Paige was never so mortified to hear the words “wrong number” in her life. She meant to tell off the guy who broke her best friend’s heart, but unleashed her anger on a perfect stranger instead. And now her world is turned upside down by the captivating man who wants to keep her on the line.

Brian Savage is living a life he’s quickly come to hate-until Sydney’s wild rant has him hooked and hungry for more. Soon the sexy woman on the phone becomes the lover in his bed. But Brian has secrets, and the closer he lets Syd get, the harder it is to shield her from the devastating mistakes of his past . . .

Ho-lee god, I was not expecting Four Letter Word to be as hot and dirty as it turned out to be! WOW. If all of J. Daniels’ books are like this, I think I’m going to have to start reading them, because seriously, this book nearly had me on fire. I loved it! I loved Brian and Sydney and I’m so happy about how their story turned out. I was intrigued by the idea of two strangers accidentally meeting by phone, and the execution, while starting off slow, didn’t disappoint. I’m very impressed with this story, and I’m definitely looking forward to more of the series!

After getting basically dumped by her husband of seven years, Sydney needs a break from her life, so she hides away at her best friend’s place. Turns out her bff, Tori, also has a man who’s scum – so with all her pent-up anger thanks to her husband, Sydney goes to dial the man who broke her best friend’s heart and yell at him and chew him out. Except she misdialed and called the wrong man – who would turn out to become so much more than just a voice on the other end of the phone. An exchange of texts leads to phone calls, which leads to sharing things about each other that neither of them have ever shared before. Who knew an accidental phone call would change a person’s life?

“You’re the best mistake I’ve ever made.”

Brian Savage lives for Sydney’s texts and calls. He thinks about her 24/7 – but he knows that nothing will ever come out of it, much to his devastation. The situation he’s in, the job he has, everything conspires to prevent him from being with the one girl he knows is meant for him. I’ll admit, when I found out about Brian’s job, I was wary of his character as a hero, but I really shouldn’t have worried. This is a man completely obsessed and into his woman – there is no one and nothing but her for him. If you know me, then you’ll know I kinda love that in my heroes, so Brian won me over pretty quickly. And holy smokes, does this man have a mouth on him! He’s a dirty talking alpha like no other, and I loved it. He honestly reminded me of Kristen Ashley’s heroes, but dare I say it… even better?

Best two and a half weeks of my life came from a girl who was never meant to give me anything. And she was giving me everything.

This book did get off to a rough start for me. It was kind of dragging and I was basically just waiting for when the main characters would meet. But once the story picked up, I seriously couldn’t stop reading. I got HOOKED onto the story, the characters, and their explosive love. The ending gets a little OTT, but that was easily forgivable because I was enjoying Brian and Sydney so much. If you love insanely hot books with a hero who is 100% into the heroine, you will definitely want to pick this book up. It was a fabulously dirty read – and now I’m crazy for book two! I don’t particularly care for Jamie (Brian’s best friend) at this point, but I love enemies-to-lovers romances, and I know Jamie and Tori will have one epic story. I can’t wait to read it!

Love was a risk. It was wild and unpredictable. You could either hold on for the ride, not knowing how it would end, or you could let go and never know the amazing you could’ve had.

4 hearts
lacey

quote

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

Reading Order: Dirty Deeds series

 

#1 ~ Four Letter Word: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Hit the Spot: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Dec. 6, 2016)

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Release Day Review: The Goal by Elle Kennedy

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The Goal by Elle Kennedy
Series: Off-Campus #4 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 26th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

“I hate to tell you this, Sabrina. But you’ve made a big mistake.”
“What? Why?”
His fingers draw my thong tight, the fabric cutting into my swollen lips. “Because I’m going to ruin you for all future guys. I apologize in advance.”

I’ve been DYING to read this book after the epic reveal at the end of The Score. Tucker is going to be a father – and Sabrina is the mother! The anticipation for The Goal was killer, but the wait was totally worth it, because we get to experience the wonder that is John Tucker and his dirty, dirty mouth. Tucker might be my new favorite of the boys (sorry, Logan!) – he is literally the dream guy. Can you tell I loved him? He is what makes this book shine, and I promise, when you pick this book up, you will fall for him too.

Sabrina James has had her sights set on law school and getting a well-paying job right after since she was capable of dreaming. She won’t allow any deviation to her plans – though the occasional romp in the sack does well to relieve stress. And who better to do that with than hockey player John Tucker? Sabrina’s got a prejudice against hockey players (cough, Dean), and luckily (or not so luckily) when Sabrina rejects his advances, he knows a no means a no. But Tucker isn’t a man who can easily be forgotten or ignored.

I think you’re the most fascinating guy I’ve ever met.
I think you’re amazing in bed and I want to fuck you again.
I think if I was capable of having my heart broken, you’d have the power to break it.

Oh, Tucker. This glorious, incredible, beautiful man with his wicked mouth. He was not at all the kind of character I expected him to be, and this was the best kind of surprise. I adored how gentlemanly he was (he really does know what a no means) but that in no way affected how alpha he was. He’s completely confident in who he is, and when he’s got his sights on winning the woman of his dreams, he’ll go into that fight with his whole heart. Sabrina doesn’t make it easy, but Tucker is beyond patient (at least way more patient that I could ever be). He’s got a heart and soul of gold – I absolutely adored him!

You’re the only one for me.
My sun rises and sets on your smile.
My heart beats because yours does.

The Goal isn’t quite my favorite of the series, but it’s still another incredible installment to this fantastic new adult sports romance series. Fans of the series won’t want to miss this – The Goal has more of Elle Kennedy’s wonderful writing, witty humor, and cameos of all the characters in the previous books. AND, the best part about this book? Tucker’s filthy, glorious mouth! I honestly still can’t get over Tucker’s dirty talk – it was seriously divine. I had some problems with Sabrina, namely how long it took her to accept her love for Tucker and his love for her, but if you’re a patient reader, you should have no problem with his.

So yeah, The Goal is another win from Elle Kennedy. But I’m praying this won’t be the end of Off-Campus – I need more! So much more. Namely, Fitzy – I’m hoping we get his story eventually! Honestly, I’ll take anything as long as this isn’t the end of the series!

4 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Off-Campus series

The Deal by Elle Kennedy The Mistake by Elle Kennedy The Score by Elle Kennedy 

#1 ~ The Deal: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Mistake: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Score: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ The Goal: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Check out the new covers of the series!

   

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Audiobook Review: Marrow by Tarryn Fisher

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Marrow by Tarryn Fisher
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Length: 10 hours and 7 minutes
Narrated by: Audra Pagano
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

In the Bone there is a house. In the house there is a girl. In the girl there is a darkness.

Margo is not like other girls. She lives in a derelict neighborhood called the Bone, in a cursed house, with her cursed mother, who hasn’t spoken to her in over two years. She lives her days feeling invisible. It’s not until she develops a friendship with her wheelchair-bound neighbor, Judah Grant, that things begin to change.

When a neighborhood girl, seven-year-old Neveah Anthony, goes missing, Judah sets out to help Margo uncover what happened to her. What Margo finds changes her, and with a new perspective on life she’s determined to find evil and punish it – targeting rapists and child molesters one by one. But hunting evil is dangerous, and Margo risks losing everything, including her own soul.

I honestly don’t know what to make of Marrow. This was my first Tarryn Fisher book and, well, to say it’s a little weird would be an understatement. It’s dark, twisty, disturbing – Marrow is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re ready to dive into a psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, this audiobook is for you. And if you’re a fan of Tarryn Fisher’s, I’m sure you’re used to her disturbing stories, so Marrow probably won’t be a disappointment!

Margo has lived her whole life in the Bone. The Bone is where the poor, the addicts, the hopeless reside. Margo herself is one of the hopeless, waiting for her mother to acknowledge her and knowing she never will. But one day Margo strikes a conversation with her handicapped neighbor, Judah, and when they start to form a relationship, things start to look up for her… until a seven-year-old girl goes missing, and Margo is determined to find out the culprit. And when she does, let’s just say Margo has her own form of justice. She becomes a vigilante, dealing out justice against those who deserve it… or do they?

The fascinating thing about Marrow is that sometime during the second half of the story, you don’t really know what is reality and what is not. Things are kind of all over the place and you’re left feeling pretty confused. I’m still not sure what to make of the story, though I do applaud the author for this wild trip of a thriller. I didn’t LOVE the story, but it was intriguing enough to keep me listening and wanting to know more. The narrator has an awkward, young adult feel to her, which fit Margo’s voice perfectly. At first I wasn’t a fan of the narration, but as I listened on and got to know the heroine better, I realized it was a perfect match. So audiobook-wise, it was a great listen, but the story just wasn’t exactly for me.

MARROW is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2d1EUML

3 hearts
lacey

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Release Day Review: Furious Rush by S.C. Stephens

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Furious Rush by S.C. Stephens
Publication Date: August 23rd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Too fast, too furious-and way too hot to handle . . .

Mackenzie Cox has a lot to prove. Daughter of a racing legend, she is eager to show the world that she has inherited her father’s talent in the male-dominated sport of professional motorcycle racing. The last thing Kenzie needs is to be antagonized by her rival team’s newest rider, Hayden Hayes. Plucked from the world of illegal street racing, Hayden immediately gets under Kenzie’s skin. His insinuations that Kenzie is a spoiled princess who was handed her career fuels her desire to win, and much to her surprise, Kenzie soon learns she performs better when she’s racing against Hayden.

As Kenzie and Hayden push each other on the track, the electric energy between them off the track shifts into an intense–and strictly forbidden–attraction. The only rule between their two ultra-competitive teams is zero contact. Kenzie always does her best to play by the rules, but when her team slips into a financial crisis, she has no choice but to turn to Hayden for help. The tension simmers during their secret, late-night rendezvous, but Kenzie has too much to lose to give in to her desires. Especially when she begins to doubt that Hayden has completely left his street life behind…

“Race me or chase me, Kenzie.”

I love sports romances, but I don’t typically come across ones about motorcycle racing, so I was super intrigued when I read the blurb for Furious Rush (and saw that gorgeous cover!). S.C. Stephens’ books have been a hit-or-miss for me in the past, but this book was definitely somewhere in the middle. I enjoyed some parts, especially the racing, but some characters annoyed the crap out of me. I did think it was pretty cool that this book felt like Romeo and Juliet but with motorcycle racing (and no deaths). So if you’re looking for an exciting, unique sports romance with a steamy forbidden love, I’d say give this book a try – hopefully some of the things that bugged me won’t bug you too!

Mackenzie Cox is the daughter of a former racing legend, so she’s got big shoes to fill. But more than that, the fate of her father’s motorcycle racing company rests in her hands, because it’s in dire need of some money. If she can win her races, she’ll be able to keep the company afloat. She’s focused and her head is in the game… that is, until Hayden Hayes enters the equation and makes her lose her strict control.

“Racing gives me a high… but you make me feel alive.”

A former illegal street racer, Hayden’s just signed on to race for Kenzie’s opposing team, a team that she’s forbidden to fraternize with. But what happens when Hayden becomes the only one who’s able to push her harder than ever before and make her a better racer? As they secretly meet up on the track, the chemistry between them kicks up – but then feelings get involved, and soon enough, they’re falling head over heels for each other. But what happens when their secret is found out?

I loved the idea of Hayden and Kenzie being on opposing sides, of being ‘enemies’ in motorcycle racing and then falling for one another. Hayden is a huge jerk in the beginning – he’s totally sexist and a horndog – but he grew considerably better as the book went on. I loved that he didn’t even try to fight falling for Kenzie – he wanted to be with her and that was that. I was surprised by how freaking sweet he turned out to be and how devoted he was to Kenzie!

Kenzie, on the other hand, put up one hell of a fight, so much so that it grew tedious at times. But I didn’t hate her, and my main problem with Furious Rush were the secondary characters. Sometimes secondary characters can make or break a novel for me, and the ones in this book very nearly made me want to DNF. Kenzie has the worst friends ever – they make so many idiotic, rash decisions that I wanted to choke them. Her father is even worse, but since he’s supposed to be somewhat of an antagonistic characters, I won’t get too mad about that.

Kenzie and Hayden’s romance and their thrilling races were the highlights of the novel for me. It was almost exhilarating reading about them racing each other, because they give their all for every race. I really enjoyed the way their romance developed but I can’t say I’m excited for their sequel. The ending left me with a bad feeling… but I’m probably going to read the next book just to see how it’ll turn out. I’m really hoping the series only gets better!

3 hearts
lacey

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

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ARC Review: Ravage by Tillie Cole

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Ravage by Tillie Cole
Series: Scarred Souls #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 16th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Is finding one’s true love worth committing the greatest sacrifice of all?

Taken as a teen, prisoner 194 was stripped of his name and freewill, meticulously honed to be a ruthless machine. Even as he tries to fight his captors hold on him he knows that obedience is the only way to save his sister, who is the one person that keeps him from turning into a monster.

As a young girl Zoya Kostava barely escaped the brutal attack that killed her entire family. Now twenty five she lives in secrecy. That is until she hears her brother also survived and is living with their greatest enemy.

Zoya risks her safety and anonymity to find the brother she thought dead and is captured by a beautiful, brutal man. A man who both captivates and scares her, in him she sees a soul as lost as her own.

They both have so much to lose will they be able to save each other…and survive.

I LOVED the first two books in the Scarred Souls series, so I’m a bit bummed out that I didn’t quite love this third book as much. I enjoyed some parts, but as a whole it just didn’t live up to the previous books – I never really connected with the characters or romance, which was a shame because I was so excited about the main characters. Still, if you’ve been a fan of Tillie Cole’s dark romances like I have, Ravage is just as gritty, intense, and thrilling as you’d expect. The romance just wasn’t believable enough for me to truly love this book like I’d hoped to.

I was insanely excited when I heard Ravage would be about Zoya Kostava. Tillie Cole knows how to entice her readers, because that snippet at the end of book two had me salivating for more. Zoya’s family was murdered when she was a young girl, and she was assumed to be the only survivor until she finds out that one of her brothers is alive. But on her quest to reunite with Zaal, she becomes a pawn to a game bigger than she realizes, one with a target right on her brother. She is kidnapped by a ruthless killer… who turns out to be so much more than he seems.

“We are different. Me weak and you strong. Me a Georgian and you Russian, but our broken hearts are tired and old. Our spirits are low, though not broken. But our souls, though thoroughly tested and hardened through pain, are resilient.” Her lips twitched, and she added, “They are the same.”

Abducted and sold into underground slavery, Valentin and his younger sister were forced into horrifying conditions no child or person should ever go through. Valentin was pumped with drugs to become a mindless killer while his sister was forced into sexual slavery. But as mindless as Valentin became, he never forgot about his sister and only allowed the things to be done to him in order to keep her alive. His latest task given by his “Mistress” is to kill a man named Zaal, and his way in is through Zoya. But even as his captive and being psychologically tortured day after day, Zoya never gives up information on her brother, and her resilience astounds Valentin.

I had survived the massacre that took my family, but lying here, I realized that the years spent away in hiding I was simply existing.
And it took a monster to revive my heart. It took a killer to touch my soul.

I loved Ravage… up until the romance started to kick in. The main reason I wasn’t into the romance was because of how unbelievable it was. I never understood how or why Zoya and Valentin started to fall for each other. Their feelings developed too much too fast, especially after what Valentin makes Zoya go through. I started liking the romance better once Valentin became fully invest in Zoya, but I still couldn’t fully connect.

If you love the Scarred Souls series, chances are you’ll probably enjoy Ravage too. It’s another fast-paced, crazy intense, action-packed installment, just a little weak on the romance side. I’m still incredibly excited for more of the series – Valentin’s sister is the heroine of the next book, and I seriously can’t wait to read it!

3 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Scarred Souls series

Raze by Tillie Cole Reap by Tillie Cole
  

#1 ~ Raze: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Reap: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Ravage: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Riot: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1-2 ~ Scarred Souls: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

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