Release Day Review: Grayson’s Vow by Mia Sheridan

Grayson's Vow by Mia Sheridan

Grayson’s Vow by Mia Sheridan
Series: A Sign of Love #8 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 10th 2015
Links: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

Kira Dallaire is desperate.

Some challenges in life seem too hard to overcome. With little money, and even fewer options, the quick-witted and vibrant twenty-two-year-old needs to reinvent herself. Known for her generous heart and impulsive personality, she devises a survival plan, possibly her most outrageous idea yet.

Grayson Hawthorn is losing hope.

Some obstacles in life seem too hard to overcome. Betrayal definitely being one of them. With limited capital, and dwindling resources, he is attempting to resurrect his failing family vineyard, a self-imposed vow seemingly destined to fail. That is until a young woman enters his office with an outlandish, unexpected proposition impossible to refuse.

What begins as a temporary business arrangement, soon evolves into more as vivacious, spirited Kira challenges detached, arrogant Grayson to want more from life. To want more for himself. But as their wills clash and fiery passion ignites, they’ll realize that sometimes the past creates walls too difficult to climb, and that lies and deception rarely precede a happily every after.

As Kira and Grayson race toward their destiny, they will discover that some vows are meant to be broken, and others are worth risking everything for . . . even your very own heart.

Mia Sheridan is an author whose books I will never hesitate to read. Her books – her words – pack such a powerful punch, it’s honestly exhilarating to read her stories. And her stories are so gorgeous and romantic. Her latest A Sign of Love novel, Grayson’s Vow, very much felt like a fairy-tale romance. I loved the setting of the vineyard and I loved how Mia Sheridan created two flawed, broken characters who find love and hope in each other. I wholehearted enjoyed Grayson’s Vow, and though it may not be my favorite of the series, THIS book is the only one that made me tear up.

“Love is not always smooth and easy. Love can be piercing. Love means exposing yourself–all of yourself, every tender part–to being hurt. Because true love is not only the flower, true love is also the thorns.”

Grayson Hawthorn is trying to restore the failing family vineyard his father left him, but with no money, no working equipment, and so few workers, he’s losing hope that he’ll be able to fulfill his final vow to his father. Then, like a godsend, Kira Dallaire comes into his life and makes him a deal – they get married and convince the public that their marriage is real, and Kira will give Grayson enough money to restore the vineyard. But Kira isn’t really making this deal out of the kindness of her heart – she’s desperate herself, broke, and in need of the money that she only has access to once she gets married. So theirs is an arrangement made out of desperation, but one that ends in hope.

Kira and Grayson may need each other, but it’s clear that from the very first moment they meet, they don’t like each other. Grayson is quite the ass to Kira, making quick judgements about her that aren’t necessarily true. Kira definitely doesn’t hold back against Grayson, and the two go head-to-head, fighting and provoking each other. Underneath it all, though, is an intense sexual tension that the two try to ignore, but can’t.

“Oh, I dare you,” she said, something fiery and thrilling in her eyes. “Show me that dragonish side. Do your worst.”
I stepped in immediately to the challenge. “Dragonish? Oh, my little wife, you haven’t even glimpsed dragonish yet.”

Grayson holds so much pain and hurt within him because of the lonely life he’s lived, that he lashes out against the people around him, especially Kira. This is why it was difficult to like him for pretty much the first half of the book. He’s just so… mean to Kira, so he had a lot of making up to do in my eyes. Kira, thankfully, stands up to Grayson, and she was the highlight of this book. I really enjoyed her warmth, her huge heart, and the way she views the world so optimistically, unlike Grayson. These two are very different characters, but they manage to balance each other out in the most perfect way. And the way they slowly fall in love… it’s breathtaking and beautiful and so heart-wrenching.

She was everything to me: my dreams, my weakness, and the person who made me want to be strong. She was the one woman who showed me I mattered, that I was wanted. That I was enough.

I liked this book, I really did, but I just didn’t LOVE it like I expected to. It was slow going for the first half of the book, but once the pace picked up, I couldn’t stop reading. I didn’t really connect emotionally for the majority of the book, though, since Grayson and Kira are at each other’s throats for so long. It took a little too long for me to become invested in these two characters, but when I finally did, the story swept me away. I even TEARED UP at some parts of the book, I was so swept up in the emotions this book brought out in me. I wholeheartedly suggest you don’t give up on this book if, like me, you feel the story dragging a bit, because the end will be so worth it (the epilogue is one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever read!). Grayson’s Vow isn’t quite as epic as Mia Sheridan’s previous incredible works (Becoming Calder/Finding Eden will forever be my favorites of the series), but with the author’s beautiful writing, I couldn’t not enjoy it. I still think this book is a fantastic love story, a very worthwhile read, and one fans of the series should not miss.

“True love is the greatest leap of faith there is.”

4 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: A Sign of Love series

Note: Each of the books in the A Sign of Love series can be read as complete standalones that have no connection with each other, with the exception of Leo’s Chance, which is the hero’s POV of Leo, and Becoming Calder and Finding Eden, a two-book story featuring the same cast of characters. None of the characters in the different Sign of Love books are connected.

Leo by Mia Sheridan Leo's Chance by Mia Sheridan Stinger by Mia Sheridan
Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan Becoming Calder by Mia Sheridan Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan
Kyland by Mia Sheridan Grayson's Vow by Mia Sheridan Midnight Lily by Mia Sheridan

#1 ~ Leo: EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Leo’s Chance: EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#3 ~ Stinger: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Archer’s Voice: EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#5 ~ Becoming Calder: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Finding Eden: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Kyland: My Review • EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#8 ~ Grayson’s Vow: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
#9 ~ Midnight Lily: Ebook • PaperbackAudible • Goodreads


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Early Review: Paper Hearts by Claire Contreras

Paper Hearts by Claire Contreras

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.”

4 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Hearts series

Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras Paper Hearts by Claire Contreras 

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


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Release Day Review: Sacked by Jen Frederick

Sacked by Jen Frederick

Sacked by Jen Frederick
Series: Gridiron #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 6th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

What he wants he gets…

Knox Masters is a quarterback’s worst nightmare. Warrior. Champion. And…virgin. Knox knows what he wants–and he gets it. All American Football player? Check. NFL pros scouting him? Check. Now, he’s set his sight on two things. The national title. And Ellie Campbell. Sure, she’s the sister of his fellow teammate, but that’s not going to stop him. Especially not when he’s convinced Ellie is the one.

…but he’s never met her before.

But Ellie isn’t as sure. She’s trying to start a new life and she’s not interested in a relationship…with anyone. Beside it’s not just her cardinal rule of never dating her brother’s teammates that keeps her away, but Ellie has a dark secret that would jeopardize everything Knox is pursuing.

Knox has no intention of losing. Ellie has no intention of giving in.

I seriously love sports romances – if there’s a book about football or hockey, I’m in. Sacked by Jen Frederick is a great read for sports romance fans who like their books sweet and funny. There’s also a little bonus in this book – the hero is a virgin! So rare in books, but also SO MUCH FUN to read about. I really liked Sacked – it’s not quite on the level of sports romances like The Deal or The Hook Up, but I honestly enjoyed what I read. If you were a fan of the previous books I mentioned, you should definitely give Sacked a try.

Knox Masters is the star player for the Western State Warriors – he has big plans ahead of him, but for now, he’s set on winning the national championship. He’s a fantastic player on the field, but off the field? Not so much. Knox is a virgin, and planning on staying that way until he meets the girl of his dreams. But when he does meet her, she seems to be the only girl not impressed with who he is. So now he has another goal to accomplish – win the heart of the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

“What are you thinking about?” I’m so screwed.
He doesn’t hesitate. “You. I’m thinking about you. I’m thinking about laying my tongue on your body for the first time. What you’d taste like. I’d want to lick you everywhere. I want to know what every inch of you tastes like.”

Ellie Campbell has just transferred to Western State with her brother, who also plays football for the team. She avoids football players because of a previous bad experience, but she never expected to meet someone like Knox – sweet, charming, funny-as-hell, and oh-so-sexy. Oh, and a virgin. Ellie tries her hardest to stay away from Knox, but he’s determined to win over the girl he knows is meant for him, so how can she resist him?

“I’m not experienced, but I know when a girl is into me, and you’re into me. You want to play it casual, then that’s how we play it… for now. But fair warning, I’m bringing everything I’ve got to tear down your resistance. My specialty is reading plays and then overcoming the barriers.”

I’m actually a big fan of insta-lust… when it’s done right. I like my heroes being over-the-top in love with the heroines, especially for the majority of the book, and Knox’s heart certainly belongs to Ellie from the get-go. Jen Frederick did a fantastic job writing their romance – Knox falls fast and hard for Ellie, and it was so. much. fun. reading about him trying to woo her and win her heart.

Sacked is a bit predictable, but its sweetness, humor, and charm made up for it. Knox and Ellie made the most adorable couple – and they get hot in the sheets too! Knox is definitely an eager virgin, willing to do whatever it takes to please Ellie. 😉 I loved getting to know Knox and his teammates, who are absolutely hilarious together. There are lots of great banter in this book, both between Ellie and Knox and Knox and his teammates. This book was just a pure, feel-good romance, with just the right amount of sweetness without making it sappy. I highly recommend it for those who love sweet, funny college romances.

“I started my life the day I met you. Everything before then was practice.”

4 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Gridiron series

Sacked by Jen Frederick Jockblocked by Jen Frederick

#1 ~ Sacked: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Jockblocked: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Downed: Goodreads (release date TBA)
#4 ~ Played: Goodreads (release date TBA)


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Early Review: Into My Arms by Lia Riley

Into My Arms by Lia Riley

Into My Arms by Lia Riley
Series: Off the Map #3.2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 8th 2015
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

“You’re here because I want to touch you.”

Beth Jacobs spends her days slogging away in a corporate “fish bowl,” as the hard-working assistant for one of North America’s youngest dot-com billionaires. Aleksander “Z” Zavtra is the definition of dark and dangerous with a sexy Eastern European snarl. He’s also ruthless. Curt. Exacting. An infuriating man she loves to hate. While Beth hardly sees him, it’s as if he’s always watching her . . .

Z doesn’t do romance. But he never expected to be captivated by a whip-smart, fiery assistant who just so happens to share an uncanny resemblance to the beautiful face that haunts his dreams. He craves Beth. He wants to stroke her skin, to feel her heat beneath him. And what Z wants, he gets. And for one weekend, the lines between employer and employee are blurred as Z and Beth give themselves completely to the dark pleasures they’ve both been dreaming about.

I LOVE office romances, so that’s why I was really looking forward to reading Into My Arms even though I haven’t had the chance to read the Off the Map series. Thankfully, this story can be read as a standalone. While I liked this novella, it just wasn’t fleshed out enough for me – I didn’t have enough time to become fully invested in Beth and Z’s story.

Beth is up to her eyeballs in debt thanks to her parents, and so she can’t quite leave her tiresome job as the assistant for slave driver Aleksander “Z” Zavtra, billionaire and CEO of Zavtra Tech. She’s never even met her boss, as he only communicates with her through email and phone, so it’s a huge surprise when Z invites her to his home one evening.

Z has always been intrigued by Beth since the second he saw her. He comes off as a cold and unfeeling man, but deep down, he has scars that prevent him from reaching out to Beth – until now. Now, he opens up his home and his secrets to her, hoping that she won’t turn away from him once she knows the darkness he carries inside him.

“You kiss me with your eyes every time you look at me.”

Z and Beth’s novella was… okay. I liked reading it, but it could’ve been better. I never got the chance to connect with either characters, and there was a lot of info dumping with Z and Beth’s backstories. What I really enjoyed was the hot chemistry between them, and the deep bond they form during that one weekend at Z’s home.

“Who knows when our chapters will end? None of us know how long our stories will last. All we can do is make sure the pages are filled with life.”
“And you think we can write a happy ending?”
“I don’t know, but I’d rather try than not.”

I’m sure if you’re a fan of the Off the Map series, you’ll want to read Z and Beth’s novella, but reading as someone new to the series and with no previous knowledge of who Z and Beth are, Into My Arms wasn’t quite what I’d hoped it would be. There wasn’t really any forbidden-ness or excitement in this novella that I expect there to be in an office romance. Still, the characters were intriguing enough to keep me reading. I highly enjoyed the writing, so I’m definitely open to reading Lia Riley’s other books.

3 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Off the Map series

Upside Down by Lia Riley Side Swiped by Lia Riley
Inside Out by Lia Riley Carry Me Home by Lia Riley Into My Arms by Lia Riley

#1 ~ Upside Down: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Sideswiped: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Inside Out: EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#3.1 ~ Carry Me Home: Ebook • Goodreads
#3.2 ~ Into My Arms: Ebook • Goodreads (Sept. 8, 2015)


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Early Review: Delayed Penalty by Sophia Henry

Delayed Penalty by Sophia Henry

Delayed Penalty by Sophia Henry
Series: Pilots Hockey #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 1st 2015
Links: EbookGoodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

She closed her heart long ago. He just wants to open her mind. For fans of Toni Aleo and Sawyer Bennett, the debut of Sophia Henry’s red-hot Detroit Pilots series introduces a hockey team full of complicated men who fight for love.

Auden Berezin is used to losing people: her father, her mother, her first love. Now, just when she believes those childhood wounds are finally healing, she loses something else: the soccer scholarship that was her ticket to college. Scrambling to earn tuition money, she’s relieved to find a gig translating for a Russian minor-league hockey player—until she realizes that he’s the same dangerously sexy jerk who propositioned her at the bar the night before.

Equal parts muscle and scar tissue, Aleksandr Varenkov knows about trauma. Maybe that’s what draws him to Auden. He also lost his family too young, and he channeled the pain into his passions: first hockey, then vodka and women. But all that seems to just melt away the instant he kisses Auden and feels a jolt of desire as sudden and surprising as a hard check on the ice.

After everything she’s been through, Auden can’t bring herself to trust any man, let alone a hot-headed puck jockey with a bad reputation. Aleksandr just hopes she’ll give him a chance—long enough to prove he’s finally met the one who makes him want to change.

I was intrigued by Delayed Penalty because I’m a sucker for sports romances AND I heard it has a hot Russian hockey player! While it wasn’t quite what I expected, Delayed Penalty was still a good debut with lots of potential. I didn’t quite manage to connect with the characters, but the story overall was fairly enjoyable.

Auden Berezin needs to find a way to earn tuition money after losing her soccer scholarship. Luckily, since she’s fluent in Russian, she gets a job as a translator for Russian hockey player Aleksandr Varenkov. Unfortunately, Aleksandr turns out to be the jerk she met the other night who did not make a good first impression. Now she’ll have to be around him all during season to help him communicate with the media. She doesn’t like Aleksandr, and even worse, she hates that she’s attracted to him.

Auden was an interesting character. She’s got a lot of internal scars, as a girl who’s used to losing people. She’s a bit judgmental towards Aleksandr, even when he tries to apologize for being a jerk. But once they move on and agree to be friendly, things start looking up between them. Auden and Aleksandr spend a lot of time together, and they open up to each other. Auden finds herself connecting with Aleksandr in a way she’s never connected with anyone else. They bond over lost parents, a love for sports, and all things Russian, and eventually start to fall for one another.

Could I let myself fall in love with Alexkandr Varenkoc when I knew falling caused injuries?
Scraped knees and palms would heal, but what about a lacerated heart?

I enjoyed this story, even though I felt like it was a bit all over the place. Too many things are going on at once, and it was difficult for me to connect with anyone or anything. I really didn’t like Aleksandr in the beginning, though he grew on me in the end. Auden and Aleksandr’s romance is a slow but sweet one, but I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them.

“Everything I do and everything I am is all for you, Audushka.”

All in all, Delayed Penalty was a good, but not great book. It had a lot of potential to be another fantastic sports romance, but things got a little hectic, plot-wise. I really hope the stories in the upcoming books of the series will be more fleshed out, because I’d definitely give this author another try.

3 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Pilots Hockey series

Delayed Penalty by Sophia Henry Power Play by Sophia Henry

#1 ~ Delayed Penalty: EbookGoodreads
#2 ~ Power Play: EbookGoodreads (Feb. 16, 2016)
#3 ~ Interference: EbookGoodreads (May 3, 2016)


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