Early Review: Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O’Keefe

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O’Keefe
Series: Everything I Left Unsaid #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 13th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Fans of Jodi Ellen Malpas, K. Bromberg, and Joanna Wylde will be unable to resist this sexy, deeply intimate tale of a woman running from her past, and the darkly mysterious man who sets her free.

I didn’t think answering someone else’s cellphone would change my life. But the stranger with the low, deep voice on the other end of the line tempted me, awakened my body, set me on fire. He was looking for someone else. Instead he found me.

And I found a hot, secret world where I felt alive for the first time.

His name was Dylan, and, strangely, he made me feel safe. Desired. Compelled. Every dark thing he asked me to do, I did. Without question. I longed to meet him, but we were both keeping secrets. And mine were dangerous. If I took the first step, if I got closer to Dylan—emotionally, physically—then I wouldn’t be hiding anymore. I would be exposed, with nothing left to surrender but the truth. And my truth could hurt us both.

What a fantastic, compelling read! I was up until 3 am trying to finish this book – I really couldn’t put it down. I was first intrigued by this book because of the blurb and the lovely cover, and I’m so glad that I wasn’t let down. Everything I Left Unsaid is a suspenseful, sexy, mysterious read that I highly enjoyed. It’s the first book in a duet, and yes, it does end in a cliffhanger! Luckily, the second book releases a month after the first.

Annie has just moved into the Flowered Manor Trailer Park, on the run from her abusive husband. The trailer park is in the middle of nowhere, so for the most part, she’s safe. She plans to keep her head down and keep to herself for as long as she can, doing some manual labor to make some money, until a mysterious man named Dylan calls a cellphone left in her trailer. Her life changes even more thanks to this stranger, who she feels an undeniable connection with. From the moment they start talking to each other on the phone, they’re fascinated with each other. Some flirting begins, and then things turn raw and sensual…

“Let me … let me tell you what to do.”
“Are you … going to laugh at me?”
“Laugh? I’m the fucking luckiest man on the planet tonight. The only thing I’m going to do is help you come.”

I myself was fascinated with Annie and Dylan. Annie is a wonderfully complex character, so tough yet innocent at the same time. She had a difficult life growing up, a life which turned dark and dangerous once her abusive husband entered the picture. She’s free now, but realizing that she’s missed out on a lot in life. With Dylan’s help, Annie breaks out of her shell, growing into herself, discovering the person she’s meant to be. And all the while, she wants Dylan desperately, their daily phone communication solidifying their relationship into something wonderful and treasured.

In the end it wasn’t a decision. Dylan was an instinct. An urge, like a tide in my blood.

Dylan is no less complex or intriguing than Annie. He’s a mysterious man – even though we get his POV (in the 3rd person), we still don’t know very much about him. I loved the way the author kept me on my toes about Dylan. He’s got both a good and bad side of him (he even refers to himself as a beast), and it was fascinating to see his secrets unravel. What we do know for sure is how much Annie consumes him – nothing in his life is the same after talking to her for the first time.

Truthfully, he would break every rule he had, every promise he’d ever made, and go to all the trouble in the world for this girl and she had no idea. None.

M. O’Keefe has written a wonderfully fascinating, entertaining book that I couldn’t put down. The writing in this is absolutely fantastic – it’s the kind of writing that keeps me reading, even when the story slows down. The characters are compelling, unique, and very likable. I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading Everything I Left Unsaid, and am very much looking forward to reading the sequel!

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

Reading Order: Everything I Left Unsaid series

#1 ~ Everything I Left Unsaid: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Truth About Him: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Burn Down the Night: Ebook • Goodreads (Aug. 2, 2016)

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6Oct2015

Release Day Review: Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh
Series: Rock Kiss #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 6th 2015
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

From New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh comes the next contemporary romance in the Rock Kiss series…

Kit Devigny could have loved rock guitarist Noah St. John. Their friendship burned with the promise of intense passion and searing tenderness…until the night Noah deliberately shattered her heart.

Noah knows he destroyed something precious the night he chose to betray Kit, but he’d rather she hate him than learn his darkest secret. All he has left is his music. It’s his saving grace, but it doesn’t silence the voices that keep him up at night. Chasing oblivion through endless one-night-stands, he earns a few hours’ sleep and his bad boy reputation.

When a media error sees Noah and Kit dubbed the new “it” couple, Kit discovers her chance at the role of a lifetime hinges on riding the media wave. Wanting–needing–to give Kit this, even if he can’t give her everything, Noah agrees to play the adoring boyfriend. Only the illusion is suddenly too real, too painful, too beautiful…and it may be too late for the redemption of Noah St. John.

I struggled a bit with Rock Redemption. I had high hopes for Noah and Kit’s story, after getting to know a little about them in the previous Rock Kiss books, but their story played out differently than I expected. I adore Nalini Singh and love her writing, but I have to admit that the actual romance in this book disappointed me. Not to say I didn’t like the book, because I enjoyed it overall, but I just wanted more.

He adored her, and because he did, he would never touch her. The instant he did, he’d ruin her, ruin everything. He didn’t want their relationship tainted by sex–if they even had any kind of a relationship.

Rock star Noah St. John and actress Kit Devigny were close friends, and almost became something more, until Noah did something awful and broke Kit’s trust and heart. Because of his painful past, Noah doesn’t believe he’s capable of being in love, so he hurts Kit to keep her at arms length and away from himself and the demons of his past. I wouldn’t say that what he did was unforgivable, because they weren’t even together, but I did want to know why he did what he did, and I certainly wanted to know how he was going to make up for the hurt. What I didn’t expect was for Noah to earn his forgiveness by repairing his and Kit’s friendship. A romantic relationship is not in the cards for them until much later, which I was disappointed with. I mean, they’re both so IN LOVE with each other, I just couldn’t understand Noah’s need for friendship only.

“Be with me,” he whispered, knowing it was the most selfish thing he’d ever asked of anyone in his entire life. “Be with me.”
Kit froze against him, a flesh and blood statue.
“I can’t be what you need,” he whispered against the side of her head. “But be with me anyway.”

To help Kit and her blooming acting career, Noah and Kit pretend to be a couple, but being around each other 24/7 only further entangles their emotions for one another. The romance is slow, but when they finally, FINALLY try to make it work, there are a ton of obstacles in the way of their relationship. With trust issues, a heartbreaking past, even a stalker, Kit and Noah have to work and fight for their love and coveted HEA.

God, she loved him.
There, she’d said it, even if it was only in her head. She loved him. Damaged and beautiful and talented, he was the only man she’d ever loved, no matter if he’d stomped on her heart.

Nalini Singh’s writing is flawless as usual. It was certainly the best part about this book – the gorgeous writing was mainly what kept me reading. Rock Redemption was actually quite easy to read – even though the romance was slow, I never really wanted to put this book down. What also kept me reading were the other members of Schoolboy Choir! I loved that we get to see Fox and Molly, David and Thea, and even Abe and his ex-wife Sarah. I’ve noticed that Nalini Singh does an incredible job of setting up the next couple for each book in this series, and even though Noah and Kit’s didn’t quite pan out the way I expected, I still have high hopes for Abe and Sarah’s.

I love Nalini Singh, but this latest book in the Rock Kiss series didn’t impress me very much. I liked it, but I didn’t really FEEL the connection between the main characters. And when I finally got excited about the romance, there just wasn’t enough of it to fully satisfy me by the end. But still, if you’re a fan of the series, you might end up loving this book. Nalini Singh has a wonderful talent at writing and storytelling, so even as I struggled with Rock Redemption, I could still appreciate how well-written it was.

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

Reading Order: Rock Kiss series

#1 ~ Rock Addiction: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Rock Courtship: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Rock Hard: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Rock Redemption: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Rock Wedding: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (July 19, 2016)

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5Oct2015

Early Review: Chaser by Staci Hart

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Chaser by Staci Hart
Series: Bad Habits #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 15th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

Everyone knows you should never say never.

Cooper Moore never saw Maggie Williams coming. She was just his best friend’s little sister, the curly-haired, freckle-faced girl from Mississippi who was absolutely off limits. And he never thought about her any other way — not until he saw her that night, broken and brave. From that moment on, he knew he’d do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant he had to stay away.

Maggie never expected to find her fiancé banging her maid of honor an hour before she was set to walk down the aisle, but life’s funny that way. The only option to save her sanity is to get the hell out of Jackson and move to New York where her brother lives. The only downside: Cooper is there too. And she just doesn’t know if she can stay away from him — the filthy rich, dead sexy playboy who’s allergic to commitment.

The second Maggie sees him again, she realizes he’ll be impossible to resist. Luckily, commitment is the last thing on her mind, and Cooper is the perfect escape. As long as she can keep her heart in check, everything will be just fine. Because she can never have feelings for him. Or at least that’s what she’ll keep telling herself.

I’d been eagerly awaiting Staci Hart’s Chaser after absolutely adoring With a Twist (a fantastic friends-to-lovers book – my review here), and I’m glad to say that it didn’t disappoint! It’s possible that I might love Chaser even MORE than With a Twist, all because of one gorgeous man named Cooper. Cooper Moore, and all his yummy, nerdy goodness, has stolen my heart, and I don’t ever want it back. I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to love him more than West from With a Twist but, well, I do. I so freaking do. Cooper and Maggie’s book is another stunning read from Staci Hart, full of warmth, humor, and heart. Those who love their romances well-written with an incredible cast of characters, this book – and series – is for you.

“I’ve been around the world, and I thought I’d seen everything it had to offer until that night, until I saw you. In all my life, I’ve never seen anything so beautiful, not standing in the Blue Mosque or the Taj Mahal. Not in the streets of rome or canals of Venice. Making you smile gives me life. Making you laugh gives me hope. Making you happy is all I want, other than to keep you.”

Maggie just recently moved to New York after finding her fiancé cheating on her the day of their wedding. NY is where her brother, West, is… and also his best friend, Cooper Moore. Cooper is the ultimate playboy – he’s hot, rich, famous, fun, so why shouldn’t Maggie have a no-strings attached sexual relationship with him to get her to forget her troubles? So for a few weeks, the two are involved in a secret relationship, with rules to keep feelings off the table. But in between the shared laughs, furtive glances, and fiery chemistry, Maggie and Cooper start to fall for each other. But with a relationship built on secrets, is it possible to make it work?

She had changed me on the molecular level, and she had no idea.

So I kind of hardcore adored this book. Okay, not kind of – I totally adored this gorgeous romance. It’s a little slow-paced in the first half of the book, but it picks up quickly after that. The writing is on-point, the characters feel so real, the romance is as sweet as it is passionate. Chaser almost read like a fairytale, it’s so dreamy and romantic. What surprised me though, was the amount of depth of Cooper and Maggie’s characters. Maggie is still lost after being betrayed by a man she loved for years, and Cooper is in this sort of stagnant state in his life. Staci Hart delves deep into their characters, making them face their wants and desires, not just for each other, but out of life. I LOVED that Maggie and Cooper are so multidimensional, because they become all the more real and relatable.

Purpose. A reason. A spark to light up my gray life, make me want more.
Was it her?
… And when I thought back over the past few weeks, I realized that she wasn’t a spark. She was a wildfire.

God, Cooper. When this man falls, he falls so. hard. I’m such a sucker for heroes who do a complete 180 from their playboy ways once they realize how in love with the heroine they are, and Cooper could not be more perfect. All his actions and words are so filled with love for Maggie… AH!!! My heart nearly couldn’t take the level of devotion Cooper has for Maggie.

“Maggie is a singular event in my life. I want her. Forever.”

Staci Hart is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. Her Bad Habits series is so well-developed, with great writing and a brilliant cast of characters. Reading about Maggie and Cooper, Lily and West, and Rose and Tricky truly feels like catching up with old friends. And ohmygod, Tricky!!!! Goddamn, I want this man’s book bad. I have a feeling Patrick and Rose’s book is going to be the best of the series.

Overall, Chaser was a joy to read. I was swept away by Maggie and Cooper’s stunning romance, and I honestly can’t wait for more from the series. I’m seriously addicted to these characters that Staci Hart has created, and I nearly wish that their stories would never end.

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

Reading Order: Bad Habits series

#1 ~ With a Twist: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Chaser: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Last Call: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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5Oct2015

Release Day Review: Ms. Manwhore by Katy Evans

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Ms. Manwhore by Katy Evans
Series: Manwhore #2.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 5th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

What lies ahead for Chicago’s most envied couple, Malcolm Saint and Rachel Livingston?

Sparks flew between them in Manwhore. Separated by deception, they felt the intensity and heat of their attraction turn up in Manwhore +1.

Will Chicago’s wealthiest and most notorious player finally settle down, or will one woman never be enough? Find out in Ms. Manwhore, the ultimate conclusion to their electric, breathtaking story.

I want to cry – Malcolm and Rachel’s ending is absolute PERFECTION!!!!!! I’m so incredibly happy for this couple but I’m also so, so sad that this is the end for them. NO MORE SAINT – how can I possibly live without him!?

Ms. Manwhore is a novella and the final installment in Malcolm and Rachel’s story, though we can only hope that we will have more in the Manwhore series (Tahoe and Gina!?). It’s jam-packed with all the SWOONS – Malcolm Saint fans, you are going to DIE of happiness in this novella. I laughed, I smiled, I melted… I honestly can’t imagine a better ending for Rachel and Malcolm than what Katy Evans gives us!

Is love like this? Where you keep falling and falling, every day that you look into his eyes?

This novella picks up straight from the ending of Manwhore +1, after Malcolm has proposed to Rachel. These two are now finally getting their much deserved happily ever after, and they’re scrambling to get to the wedding. Wedding preparations, dress picking, bachelor(ette) parties – it’s going to be HUGE. Rachel doesn’t really need this big spectacle of a wedding, but only the best for Malcolm Saint’s soon-to-be wife, right?

“Do you realize this is something I never thought I’d want? I can’t think of anything else but making you my wife. My priority is merging your life with mine.”

Could Malcolm Saint BE any more perfect!? I thought he couldn’t after Manwhore +1, but Katy Evans proves me wrong… AGAIN. I loved everything about this book – Malcolm, Rachel, their wedding… My heart nearly couldn’t handle the pure happiness radiating from the pages.

“I can’t wait to make you my lady. Your smiles drive me crazy.”

It’s not necessary to read Ms. Manwhore, but if you loved the first two books, you absolutely DO NOT want to miss this! While I was reading it, I couldn’t stop smiling, and my heart was just bursting with happiness by the time I got to the end. It’s a bittersweet ending for sure, since I don’t want to let go of these characters, but I’m so thankful Katy Evans wrote this novella – I can say goodbye to Malcolm and Rachel with a smile on my face!

I have a future to look forward to.
I have a storm to catch.
A leap to make.
A man to love.
A Sin to take.
And I’ve never looked forward to something in my life like I look forward to
MALCOLM
KYLE
PRESTON
LOGAN
SAINT.

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

Reading Order: Manwhore series

#1 ~ Manwhore: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Manwhore +1: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Ms. Manwhore: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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30Sep2015

Early Review: Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne
Series: Oxford #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 6th 2015
Links: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Meet the men of Oxford magazine! In the first captivating spin-off of Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series, a not-so-friendly battle of the sexes turns into a scorching office romance.

Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.

Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real.

Lauren Layne has quickly become one of those authors for me that I won’t hesitate to read because I know she’ll give me a book I won’t be disappointed with. She does a fantastic job of infusing humor, wit, and lots of sexiness into her books, all of which I’m a fan of. Irresistibly Yours is no different in that it’s a wholeheartedly enjoyable read. This is the first book in the brand new Oxford seres, the spinoff of the Sex, Love, and Stiletto series.

What I love most about Irresistibly Yours is how it’s got a mix of romance elements incorporated into it. Office romance, sports themed, rivalry, opposites attract, friends-to-lovers – Lauren Layne manages to balance all of these so well to create an incredible book I adored so much!

Cole Sharpe is a freelancer for the Oxford magazine, but there’s the open spot of sports editor that’s calling his name. Unfortunately, even with his inside connection, he’s got competition for the position – competition in the form of a small, tomboyish, adorable-as-hell woman named Penelope Pope.

She was looking up at him, her expression unreadable, and he felt a sudden surge of tenderness for this woman he barely knew and yet somehow knew completely.

What starts off as a competition and rivalry soon turns into something friendlier and more charming – Cole and Penelope both feel some chemistry between them, but they put their feelings aside in order to work together at Oxford. Penelope has moved to New York for a fresh start, and Cole has become her very first friend, though he’s the sexiest man she’s ever met. Penelope knows the gorgeous playboy is totally out of her league, and puts herself firmly in the friendzone. Cole, however, is completely taken aback by this incredible woman who is his equal in every way. Never has a woman meant as much as Penelope does to him. They share an incredible love for sports, they’re around each other at the office every day, but before long, neither of them can fight the attraction they try to hide.

How had this happened? How was it that this sweet, feisty tomboy could turn him on just as easily as she turned him completely inside out every time she looked at him?

You’re really in for a treat when you pick up a book by Lauren Layne. Equal parts sexy, sweet, and hilarious, Irresistibly Yours is a fun-filled read you won’t be disappointed in. Cole and Penelope are wonderful, endearing characters, and I rooted for them right from the very start. And I absolutely loved their group of friends at Oxford, who had me laughing so hard. I haven’t read the Sex, Love, and Stiletto series, whose characters are also in Irresistibly Yours, but now I’m thinking I should – which means more Lauren Layne for me! I highly recommend any of this author’s books for those who love funny, light-hearted romances. You are missing out if you haven’t tried her books!

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

Reading Order: Oxford series

#1 ~ Irresistibly Yours: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ I Wish You Were Mine: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Someone Like You: Ebook • Goodreads (Dec. 13, 2016)

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Early Review: Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O’Keefe

Reading Order: Everything I Left Unsaid series

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