Release Day Review: Searching for Perfect by Jennifer Probst

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Searching for Perfect by Jennifer Probst
Series: Searching For #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 29th 2013
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Gallery Books) in exchange for an honest review

The up-and-coming matchmaking agency Kinnections is the hottest thing to hit Verily, New York—just like Kennedy Ashe, social director for the service she owns with her two best girlfriends. A coach, consultant, and cheerleader rolled into one super-sizzling package, Kennedy creates dream dates, encourages singles to shine, and never refuses a challenge—not even Nate Ellison Raymond Dunkle, rocket scientist, nerd extraordinaire, and Kennedy’s newest client.

Kennedy vows to work her magic and transform this hot mess in a lab coat with a disastrous relationship track record into the most wanted man on the Verily dating scene. If only she could turn the wand on herself . . .

Though she radiates confidence and sex appeal, Kennedy harbors deep-seated insecurities from a tormented past and lifelong struggle with weight issues. When she realizes she and Nate are cut from the same cloth and might be perfect together, can Kennedy learn to let her heart lead the way? Or will her fears sentence her to the sidelines as Nate finds love—with someone else?

SEXY DORKY MEN ARE THE BEST!!!!!

Ahem. Okay.

So I became a huge fan of Jennifer Probst’s recently after reading Searching for Someday (my review here!), and I had high expectations for Searching for Perfect, and Jennifer Probst delivers!! Spectacularly, if I do say so myself. I’d fallen in love with the premise of the Searching For series–the heroines are the founders of Kinnections, a matchmaking agency, and I was so, so excited for Kennedy to have her story told. She’s the one who gets the clients to socialize, to get them more comfortable with themselves, and I fell in love with her from the get-go. She’s awesome, hilarious, feisty, and all-around just the kind of person you could easily be BFFs with.

But Kennedy she doesn’t to long-term, steady relationships.

Until…

Enter Ned. Ned, who is a rocket scientist–sorry, an aerospace engineer, and hires Kinnections to find a wife. He’s really… really nerdy. Like, seriously nerdy. He has no fashion sense, he has a unibrow(!), he’s terrible at social interactions, he LOVES golf, and he’s so unprepared to interact with the opposite sex, despite the numerous Cosmo magazines he’s read.

“What’s your full name?”
“Nathan Ellison Raymond Dunkle.”
Fascinating. This just kept getting better and better. “You got stuck with a real doozy, Ned.”
His face remained deadly serious. “I know. If my mother was still around we’d sit down and have a conversation regarding her original intentions.”
“You know if you put the R in, you come up with NERD.”

Ned is a new, big challenge for Kennedy. She’s got to whip him in shape, figuratively and literally, but the first thing to go is the name. So… Nate it is. And oh my gosh, here ensues the wonderfully hilarious transformation of Nate (My Fair Lady, anyone?), from dorky nerd to dorky hottie extraordinaire.

It’s not only the looks that have changed for Nate though. Kennedy works on his social interactions, giving him practice with the opposite sex to prepare him for meeting his potential wife. It’s here that Kennedy and Nate form a deeper connection, one that Kennedy is terrified of. But Nate is relentless in his pursuit of Kennedy, despite the numerous women she throws at him.

“Ken?”
“Huh?”
“I want to kiss you.”
“Don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Agreed.” He lowered his head so his breath struck her mouth. “Don’t care.”

Honestly, Nate had me giggling and smiling like a little girl. He has truly become one sexy, enticing man, and Kennedy can’t resist him. There’s just something about his dorkiness that makes him so appealing. He’s sweet and adorable, yet seductive, and who even knew he could be as charming as he is? And he seriously charms Kennedy (and me… *sigh*) with his humor, wit, determination, and intelligence. He’s such a unique character, and I slowly fell in love with Nate.

But Kennedy’s painful past rears its head again and again, driving a wedge between the two of them and prevent a relationship that’s meant to be from forming.

“This isn’t about me, baby. It’s about you. I can chase you forever, promise you the world, but until you take the leap with me, I can’t win. I don’t just love your body. I love your incredible mind, and your sweet soul, and you inner strength. I love the life you built for yourself with your friends and your career. I love every part of you–good and bad–dark and light–and I want to share it all. But you have to let me in.”

Kennedy and Nate are so freaking perfect together, but Kennedy is stubborn. She has an internal battle to face, and I was so impressed with her character. She discovers so much about herself because of Nate and his never-ending support. I loved seeing the two interact with each other, fall in love with each other. There’s the perfect amount of sweet, charming romance to go with the hot, sexy romance, and let me tell you, Nate is a pure sex god in bed. I was blushing so much! *fans self* Nate sure as hell knows what he’s doing in bed.

Searching for Perfect is such a heartwarming story (I awwed so many times!). We have two incredible, headstrong characters falling in love, and my heart burst and broke for them over and over. I loved reading Searching for Perfect–it’s fun, sexy, funny, and oh so sweet. The story and the characters are unique, and I was hooked from the very beginning.

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

Reading Order: Searching For series

#1 ~ Searching for Someday: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Searching for Perfect: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Searching for You: Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Searching for Beautiful: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Searching for Always: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4.5 ~ Searching for Mine: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4.6 ~ Searching for Disaster: Ebook • Goodreads (Oct. 10, 2016)

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28Apr2014

Release Day Review: Monster in His Eyes by J.M. Darhower

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Monster in His Eyes by J.M. Darhower
Series: Monster in His Eyes #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 28th 2014
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

Ignazio Vitale is not a good man.

I suspect it, the first time I see him, sense the air of danger that surrounds the man. He has a way of commanding attention, of taking control, of knowing what I’m thinking before I even do.

It’s alarming and alluring. It’s dark and deadly. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted but the last thing I truly need. Obsession.

It doesn’t take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it’s too late. He has secrets, secrets I can’t fathom, secrets that make it so I can’t walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that’s both terrifying and thrilling. He’s a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.

I want to hate him.

Sometimes, I do.

But it doesn’t stop me from loving him, too.

This book blew. MY. MIND!!!!! I still can’t wrap my head around Monster in His Eyes–it was nothing like I ever expected, and I LOVED it! It’s intense, raw, suspenseful, gorgeously written, and so freaking goooood!!!

We have our heroine, Karissa, an 18-year-old freshman at NYU who’s just a normal girl trying to distance herself from her overbearing mom. She’s getting through her first year of college–she’s normal, relatable, and I easily connected with her as the heroine. J.M. Darhower portrays her perfectly as a college girl, but the story really only picks up when Karissa meets Ignazio “Naz” Vitale. Ignazio Vitale, who is 36, intense, and holds so much raw confidence and power in himself that Karissa never stood a chance against him.

Karissa is wary of Naz, and rightly so. Here’s a guy who’s gorgeous, rich, and twice her age, and he’s pursuing her? But there’s something so tempting, so invigorating, so thrilling about Naz that Karissa can’t stay away. Naz even warns Karissa to stay away from him but…

“I thought I could play with you a bit, and let you go, but once I had you, Karissa, I had to keep you. I couldn’t walk away.”

As Karissa starts falling for this man, a man she really knows nothing about, it’s all very romantic, but I could never get that feeling–the chills-up-your-spine kind of feeling–out of my mind. There was always something more to Naz, something dark and dangerous, and I never forgot it, and neither does Karissa. I honestly didn’t know what to think about Naz. Did I think he was too old for Karissa? Yes, but I could deal with that. Did I fall for him? Maybe a liiitle bit–he’s insanely sensual and passionate, but I just couldn’t ignore the warning bells ringing in my head. Because there’s no doubt that Naz is very dark and very, very dangerous.

And when his eyes cut my way, and I see the darkness on the surface, I’m reminded that this man hangs out with monsters.
And one might even exist inside of him.

Ignazio Vitale is one very intriguing man, and J.M. Darhower has written him so very, very perfectly. I swooned and I gasped, and I felt an incredibly wide range of emotions because of him. He’s such a thrilling character to read about, especially from Karissa’s POV. The author’s writing is brilliant, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more fascinated in and intrigued with a character than I am about Naz.

He lives in his own little world, where he’s the king, and I’m more than happy to be his minion… although, when he looks at me, flashing that dimple, I feel like nothing less than his queen.

Naz is addictive and powerful, sweeping Karissa off her feet and carrying her into his world, but it’s not exactly a HEA for them. There are dark twists and turns in this book, things that were jaw-dropping and had me reeling. Fans of suspense will not be disappointed.

I honestly couldn’t get enough of Karissa and Naz’s story. I never wanted it to end, and now I’m pretty much dying for book 2, Torture in Her Soul!! Monster in His Eyes is a fascinating, fantastic book that had me hooked from the start. So go READ IT!!

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

Reading Order: Monster in His Eyes series

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

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22Apr2014

Release Day Review: Phenomenal X by Michelle A. Valentine

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Phenomenal X is LIVE!! I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this book, and I had a fabulous time reading it!

Phenomenal X by Michelle A. Valentine
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Book #1 in the Hard Knocks Series

Good Girl. Notorious Bad-Boy. One Phenomenal Love.

From the mean streets of Detroit rises the newest superstar of professional wrestling, Xavier Cold, better known as Phenomenal X. His muscular physique makes men cower before him and woman lose their minds with desire.

Anna Cortez is fresh out of college and naive to the harsh realities of the real world. Tired of living under the thumb of her conservative family, she defies them when she accepts a job as the assistant to wrestling’s most notorious bad-boy. Phenomenal X has an animalistic nature that even good girl Anna finds hard to resist. One night forced to share a bed in a sold-out hotel, lines blur between them and they quickly learn that one lustful night changes everything and neither one of them will ever be the same.

Buy Links:
Amazon US • Amazon UK • Kobo

This is my first time reading a book by Michelle A. Valentine, and I have to say, I enjoyed Phenomenal X immensely! It had the perfect amount of intrigue, angst, sexiness, and intensity to make for a fast, fun read.

Anna is a girl who only wants to be free. She wants to be free from her oppressive family, and free to be whoever she wants to be. She is very much the good girl, and while she wants to break out from shell, it’s hard. She’s innocent, but not naive. It’s not until she meets Xavier Cold, otherwise known as Phenomenal X, that she starts to discover exactly who she’s meant to be.

We’re playing with fire, and one of us is bound to get burned.

Anna and Xavier have a very intense connection right from the very start. The bad boy and the good girl definitely have some fantastic chemistry together, but Anna refuses to be another conquest of Xavier’s. And so they settle for becoming friends, even though it’s hard to ignore the spark between them.

Xavier is so, so sweet to Anna. He may be known as a bad boy, because of the wresting and his mysterious past, but I felt he was just a man with a good heart but harsh exterior. Because of his past, Xavier believes he doesn’t deserve anything good in life, least of all Anna, but he does whatever he can to keep her in his life. It’s so sweet to see this bad boy falling in love, to see him be protective and possessive of Anna. And we can’t forget how sexy this man can be too! Even as Anna and Xavier are friends, Xavier can’t hold back his sensual self.

But eventually, they can’t remain friends. Xavier slowly breaks down those walls around Anna’s heart, and the two are explosive together.

“If we smash these fucking friendship rules there’s no going back. Once I have you–that’s it, you’re mine. I won’t allow another man to take what’s mine. Do you understand?”

Of course, Anna and Xavier don’t have an easy road ahead of them. Xavier must reconcile with his painful past, and Anna needs to be there for him as the deal with his past and his present–which involves trouble with his wrestling. Xavier is alpha-male all the way, and yet I found the story to be refreshing–the main characters don’t instantly fall into bed with each other and instead, they grow to learn about each other. The wrestling aspect is one I’ve never read before, so it was new and intriguing. Overall, Phenomenal X had me hooked and Michelle A. Valentine did a wonderful job bringing to life this story and these characters. Now I’m soooo excited for the sequel!

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

Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of erotic and New Adult romance. Her love of hard-rock music, tattoos, and sexy musicians inspired her erotic BLACK FALCON series.

Blog • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

15Apr2014

Release Day Review: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 15th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Hardcover
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) in exchange for an honest review

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

I had no doubts that Julie Kagawa would give me an unforgettable last book of this trilogy–and what a fantastic ending it was. Everything in this book is touched upon, leaving nothing open. It was an altogether incredibly satisfying end to this series and these characters that I’ve grown so fond of.

Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a rocky start at the beginning. Allie is mourning Zeke’s death and is spiraling downward into madness. She is pitiful and very nearly loses herself to the darkness of her vampire, and has to internally battle her way back to humanity. Thankfully, she’s not alone in her battle–she has her sire Kanin and her vampire brother Jackal alongside her. I have to admit, I liked this part the least in The Forever Song, but I trusted Julie Kagawa to take me in a direction I wouldn’t be disappointed with.

Note to self: Never doubt the amazing Julie Kagawa!

The three of them are on the search for Sarren, and there’s no shortage of blood and guts and gore. The action is riveting–I’m always in awe of how detailed and gripping Julie Kagawa writes these action scenes. I love them! They’re never just the same fight, kill, die thing over and over. Julie Kagawa manages to keep you on your toes, and nothing is ever expected.

The best part of this book is the amount of depth Kanin and Jackal have. These two have been on the journey with Allie for a long time, and their relationships only manage to get stronger. Kanin is my absolute favorite character of this series–he is the father figure to Allie, providing her with his own wisdom and advice, but as the series progresses, they become near equals. Kanin is such a fascinating character. Despite how long he’s been a vampire, he manages to retain his humanity, and he teaches and guides Allie to do the same.

Jackal, on the other hand, is as self-centered and rude as usual, but there’s no doubt that there’s a fondness between him and Allie. These two have been through tons together, so it’s only a matter of time before they truly become like brother and sister. And every word out of this vampire’s mouth is freaking hilarious! He lightens up so many tense scenes, but there’s also a seriousness to him that we never truly see until now.

The Forever Song is everything I expected from Julie Kagawa. It had a strong, satisfying conclusion, and yet I knew I’d miss all the characters when it was over. This series is seriously one of the best vampire books, one of the best post-apocalyptic books, I’ve ever read. It’s well written, well developed, and you come to care for the characters more and more as the series progresses. I’m sad this series is over, but I have to admit that it concluded perfectly!

Series Order: Blood of Eden series

#1 ~ The Immortal Rules: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Eternity Cure: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Forever Song: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

25Mar2014

Release Day Review: Twisted by Emma Chase

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Twisted by Emma Chase
Series: Tangled #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: March 25th 2014
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Gallery Books) in exchange for an honest review

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is hard. In this heart-pounding follow-up to Tangled by New York Times bestseller Emma Chase, Kate reveals that there is trouble in paradise, when unexpected circumstances force her and Drew to “renegotiate” their relationship.

There are two kinds of people in the world. The ones who look first, and the ones who leap. I’ve always been more of a looker. Cautious. A planner. That changed after I met Drew Evans. He was so persistent. So sure of himself—and of me.

But not all love stories end happily ever after. Did you think Drew and I were going to ride off into the sunset? Join the club. Now I have to make a choice; the most important of my life. Drew already made his—in fact, he tried to decide for the both of us. But you know that’s just not my style. So I came back to Greenville, Ohio, alone. Well, sort of alone…

What I’ve come to realize is that old habits die hard, and sometimes you have to go back to where you began before you can move ahead.

I loved love looooved Tangled, so of course I was ecstatic to read more of Drew and Kate! And I was excited that their second book would be in Kate’s POV (even though I really missed Drew’s POV). But even though I didn’t love Twisted as much as I loved Tangled, Twisted was still a fun, angsty read that fans of Tangled would enjoy. Kate is just as hilarious as Drew, and I loved reading from her POV!

Kate and Drew have been together for two years. They are blissfully in love… or are they?

Did you think Drew and I were going to ride off into the sunset? Live happily ever after? Join the club. Apparently happily ever after only lasts two years.

Cue the gasps!! Imagine my shock and horror when my beloved couple ever fall apart. They were practically MADE for each other! But that’s what happens when misunderstandings and miscommunication occurs in a relationship. Both parties get hurt, and in this case, Drew and Kate… break up. But wait! Drew and Kate fans, don’t despair. Not all hope is lost! I don’t want to spoil the reason for their breakup, but if you’re scared about going into this book, don’t be. I had complete confidence in Emma Chase that she wouldn’t let me down about her characters, and I was right.

When Drew and Kate break up, Kate is understandably devastated. She packs up and goes home, back to Greenville, Ohio. There, she has the comfort of her family and best friend, but even with them, nothing can replace Drew. She loves him, but he hurt her terribly. I wanted to hug her–but mostly I wanted to smack Kate and Drew so badly! Their breakup could’ve been avoided so easily, but one freaking miscommunication leads to so much pain for the both of them.

Twisted has a completely different feel than Tangled–don’t get me wrong, there’s still the laugh-out-loud humor Emma Chase is so great at, but that’s mostly thanks to Dee, Kate’s best friend, and Billy, Dee’s cousin and Kate’s ex-boyfriend, and not thanks to Drew. I was a little disappointed that Drew is absent from a large part of the story, but I was willing to see where Emma Chase would take the story, so I sucked it up and kept reading. And I’m glad I did.

Emma Chase takes us on a completely different direction than I expected after reading Tangled. I wouldn’t say I wholeheartedly loved the different direction, but by the end, I was proud of how Drew and Kate ended up handling things. This book was slightly predictable, but I’m totally willing to forgive that because of the Kate’s fabulous narrative and Dee and Billy’s hilarious banter. Oh, and Drew’s sweet words…

“I love you, Kate. Everything that’s good in my life, anything that really matters, is only there because of you. If we hadn’t met? I’d be fucking miserable–and probably too clueless to even realize it.”

So for fans of Tangled, Twisted might not live up to the first book, but it’s still well worth the read. It’ll make you ache–both from laughing so much and from Kate and Drew’s heartbreaking breakup.

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

Reading Order: Tangled series

#1 ~ Tangled: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Holy Frigging Matrimony: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Twisted: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Tamed: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Tied: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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