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Audiobook Review: Wild and Free by Kristen Ashley

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by

Wild and Free by Kristen Ashley
Series: The Three #3 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: August 9th 2016
Length: 19 hours and 17 minutes
Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Abby Craden, Stella Bloom
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Abel Jin and Delilah Johnson have lived their lives with holes in their souls, yearning for something they don’t understand. Until one night Delilah is in mortal danger, and a man who’s otherworldly strong and supernaturally fast saves her. Delilah is then cast into a world where fiction comes to life in the form of Abel, her destined mate, a vampire/werewolf hybrid who claims her at first breath as his. But Abel knows the danger isn’t done. He’s dreamed for centuries that his mate will perish, and he will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

For Delilah, she’s coping not only with a fantasy come to life but also with a mingling of very different families. Not to mention she has on her hands a man who doesn’t understand his true nature and has lived his long life thinking he’s a monster. Abel and Delilah together fill the hole that has been clawing at them for decades. But, finally finding each other, it also tips their destinies as the last of The Three. They must unite with the other destined lovers, who, with Abel and Delilah, are fated to save the world. Or die trying.

Wild and Free is the final book in The Three series, and while it’s not my favorite of the series, it’s a good conclusion that fans of the series shouldn’t miss. I took a while to finish up this audiobook, first because I’ve been crazy busy this past week, and also because I didn’t LOVE the main characters. Wild and Free is pretty slow paced, but I did enjoy revisiting the past main characters and some new secondary characters as well. Erin Mallon is a great narrator (I’ve listened to her narrate the Addicted series) and she does an incredible job with voicing Delilah and Abel. If you’re a fan of audiobooks and KA, I’d say you should give this a try!

Abel Jin is the only known hybrid vampire and werewolf, and his time to join The Three is fast approaching now that he’s found the one mate meant for him. Delilah is unfortunately thrust into this new paranormal world she knew nothing about, but with Abel by her side, she’s ready to fight to save humanity and all paranormal creatures alongside her mate.

The thing I was most disappointed about was that there wasn’t much romance development between Abel and Delilah. It was pretty much instalove and that was it. What was able to save this story though, was the side-plot romance between Yuri and Aurora. Every time the scenes would switch to their POV, I would always find myself hooked and eager for more. They are definitely the highlight of this audiobook!

Wild and Free is certainly not KA’s best, but I think that long-time fans of series would enjoy finding out what happens to The Three and how they finally get their HEAs. There’s a pretty epic battle at the end too, if you’re into that thing 😉 And again, the narrator was perfect – and I loved that the past narrators of the series were brought in again too. I only wish the main romance could’ve been fleshed out more, because then I know I would’ve loved every bit of Wild and Free.

WILD AND FREE is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2bI44zW

3 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Three series

  

#1 ~ Until the Sun Falls from the Sky: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ With Everything I Am: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Wild and Free: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Wild and Free!

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ARC Review: Too Wild to Tame by Tessa Bailey

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by

Too Wild to Tame by Tessa Bailey
Series: Romancing the Clarksons #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Sometimes you just can’t resist playing with fire . . .

By day, Aaron Clarkson suits up, shakes hands, and acts the perfect gentleman. But at night, behind bedroom doors, the tie comes off and the real Aaron comes out to play. Mixing business with pleasure got him fired, so Aaron knows that if he wants to work for the country’s most powerful senator, he’ll have to keep his eye on the prize. That’s easier said than done when he meets the senator’s daughter, who’s wild, gorgeous, and 100 percent trouble.

Grace Pendleton is the black sheep of her conservative family. Yet while Aaron’s presence reminds her of a past she’d rather forget, something in his eyes keeps drawing her in. Maybe it’s the way his voice turns her molten. Or maybe it’s because deep down inside, the ultra-smooth, polished Aaron Clarkson might be more than even Grace can handle . . .

Has there been a Tessa Bailey book I haven’t enjoyed!? I think not. I’ve been loving the two Romancing the Clarksons books (but I have a feeling the next two will be the ones to SLAY ME) and already I want more! Rita Clarkson got her HEA in the previous book, and now it’s Aaron’s turn. But this man doesn’t fall for a well-mannered girl who would fit his politician persona – instead, Aaron falls head over heels for a hippie… and the daughter of a senator.

“Moments, Aaron. This is one of them. Come live in it with me.” She brushed some snow out of his hair, soft fingertips grazing his ear. “Please?”

Aaron is the classic politician – perfectly coifed, put together, and well, a little fake. His entire career, he’s been putting on a persona that he doesn’t even recognize anymore. And now that his career is in jeopardy, he’s got to do everything he can to salvage it, because if he’s not a politician anymore, who is he? But the one thing standing in his way of succeeding is the one girl who’s capable of turning him inside out, who happens to be the daughter of the man he’s working for.

Grace Pendleton is the black sheep of the family. She’s not the typical politician’s daughter – instead, she acts out for what she believes in, almost always making trouble for her senator father to cover up. Grace is free-spirited and full of life, but she’s also got scars from her past that she doesn’t let bring her down. I adored Grace. She was a heroine I totally felt for, and wished was real so I could know her in real life. Her free nature and wild spirit is a little inspiring, and it’s those exact things that drew Aaron to her. Their chemistry is just as wild as Grace is, and despite how much Aaron tries to resist, he can’t. But he’s still got walls around his heart that won’t let him be all in with the one he wants – so can Grace break them down or will he lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him?

“… I’m yours. Wherever I am, I’ll be yours, baby, hippie, Grace. My Grace. Your Aaron.”

Aaron and Grace brought out all the heartache and swoons in me. I was hooked onto their romance, and for once I wasn’t too frustrated with the back and forth and ups and downs between them. Their struggles felt honest and real to me, but what made it better was all the support they had from the rest of the Clarksons (and Sage, who I’d say is an honorary Clarkson anyway). I loved getting to know more about Peggy, Belmont, and Sage, and to say I need their stories ASAP would be an understatement. Tessa Bailey knows how to hype up her readers, because I’m DYING to get my hands on Peggy’s book now! April can’t get here soon enough.

4 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Romancing the Clarksons series

  

#1 ~ Too Hot to Handle: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Too Wild to Tame: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Too Hard to Forget: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (April 25, 2017)
#4 ~ Too Bonded to Break: Goodreads (Sept. 5, 2017)

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Release Day Review: Breaking Him by Sherilee Gray

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by

Breaking Him by Sherilee Gray
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: September 5th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Folks in town call him a monster—say he’s dangerous. But I know him simply as Elijah Hays, the quiet, gentle giant who works with the horses on my ranch. I can feel him watching me, that steady intense gaze making me crave things I don’t quite understand, burn in a way that frightens me. He’s always kept his distance…until that night.

I remember him coming to my rescue, me following him into the barn, giving him his first taste of a woman, and his inexperienced yet barely reined touch turning me to ash.

Now all I can think about is exposing the dark desire I see deep inside him—having him turn those dark desires on me. That low, gritty voice rasping orders in my ear. Those huge, rough hands holding me down when a storm blows in.

I want his surrender. His control. I want to break him…and have him break me…

Y’all, I haven’t read some good smut in ages, but Breaking Him pushed allll the right buttons for me. Lovely heroine I adored? Check. Alpha hero who’s the strong and silent type, a cowboy, a gentleman, and a VIRGIN? Check, check, check. Hot, dirty, sweaty, sexy smut where the hero basically worships the heroine and deals out some good dirty talk? CHECK! So basically, I loved this book – I had so much fun reading it, and if the author’s other books are anything like Breaking Him, I’m going to need to start them stat. You can never have too much smut in your life!

I wanted to break through, break him—so I could put him back together piece by piece and make him whole again.

After inheriting her father’s ranch, Abigail has barely been able to keep the ranch afloat. It doesn’t help that every day she’s insanely attracted to and distracted by her ranch hand, the big, brooding Elijah Hays. Thanks to the way he grew up, everyone in their small town thinks he’s a monster, but Abigail’s the only one who knows otherwise. She sees him for the good, kind, honest man he is – that she just happens to imagine him in her sexual fantasies doesn’t influence the way she sees him either. But when Eli accidentally walks in on her masturbation session, the chemistry that’s been brewing between them suddenly explodes, and these two can’t keep their hands off each other.

“You feel so good. So soft and warm and goddamn perfect.” He licked his lips. “Darlin’, you’re all over my hand.” I was gripping his biceps, and the muscles twitched. “I can smell you. Christ, I think I’m losing my mind, Abigail. Making you feel good, it’s all I want to do. I never want to stop.”

I love me some virgin heroes, and a cowboy one at that. Eli is my favorite kind of hero, too, one who’s protective, caring, and willing to do anything for his woman. Abigail is the only one for him, and he makes this so obvious I couldn’t help but swoon. I loved the way these two were together, how well they worked both on the ranch and in bed. And though Eli is a virgin, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what he’s doing – the smut in Breaking Him nearly reminds me of Tessa Bailey’s, and that’s high praise if you know me 😉 But of course, Abigail and Eli can’t stay on the ranch forever. The town’s judgment, the fate of the ranch, and all the outside forces seem to be against these two being together. But the love and dedication they have for one another isn’t so easy to break.

“You’re my salvation, Abigail,” he said, voice low and guttural, each word punctuated with an almost violent thrust of his hips. “Right here, inside you, I’m redeemed. I’m the man you need. I’m yours and you’re mine.”

This is erotic romance at its finest. If you enjoy that genre, you MUST give Breaking Him a try! I loved the characters and the smut. If anyone can tell me where I can find more virgin cowboy heroes, please tell me, because I am ALL about that now. Now I’m off to read more books by Sherilee Gray, because I need more of her smut in my life!

4.5 hearts
lacey

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

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Release Day Review: For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by

For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne

For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne
Series: The Wedding Belles #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 30th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Will a budding wedding planner and her bad boy neighbor stop banging heads and start hearing wedding bells in the sexy second novel in USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series that marries Sex and the City with The Wedding Planner?

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from assistant to actual wedding planner, she’s determined to make it as one of Manhattan’s elite Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her first client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in five months’ time. Heather’s days quickly become a flurry of cake tastings, dress-fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she’s really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor’s apartment all night.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was an up-and-comer on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there is more to life than the corner office. If only he could convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. As Heather lets down her guard, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon, it’s Heather’s turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love.

I am falling more and more in love with Lauren Layne’s The Wedding Belles series with every new release! If you like wedding romances or sweet contemporary romance, this series – and honestly, this author – is a must read. The characters are adorable, the romance is swoony, and the wedding planning backdrop is perfect for a light-hearted, summery read!

Heather Fowler is living her life-long dream – to be a wedding planner living in NYC. Well, she’s almost living out the dream, since she’s currently only an assistant wedding planner. But her next wedding will make or break her career, since she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime to plan celebrity Danica Robinson’s wedding. But with the bride completely hands-off the wedding, the pressure and stress to get everything right and perfect starts to get to Heather… and it doesn’t help that her late nights become even more late thanks to a rowdy neighbor blasting music at inconsiderate times. She goes to confront the guy in 4A, but what she gets is something more, something better than she could have imagined.

Once again, it was this snotty, mouthy woman who’d managed to shake him out of his funk.
It was becoming increasingly clear that his intriguing new neighbor might be exactly what he needed to make him feel alive.

Josh Tanner is a cancer survivor who knows how short life can be and is living his life to the fullest… or is he? He threw away a job doing what he loved, and now he’s in a band making music and not having any worries. When the girl in 4C comes over to confront him about his late-night playing, he finds himself intrigued by her, and the more he gets to know her, the more he wants her – but only in bed, and not for a relationship. I’ll admit, I’m a little tired of heroes who are adamantly against having anything to do with love, but Josh is something else. He’s an adorable, frustrating, lovable man, with many layers to him that make him feel real and genuine. And he’s seriously the SWEETEST – with the things he says and does, how could Heather NOT fall for him!?

He was good.
He was the best.
He was everything.

I love when the MCs bring out the best in each other, and Heather and Josh do exactly that. Josh makes Heather realize there are other things to appreciate in life than a high-pressure job, and Heather makes Josh notice how he’s not exactly living the full life he expected to after surviving cancer. The two of them make the most adorable couple – I had a smile on my face practically the whole time I was reading their story! Their banter, their sweet moments, their inside joke with banana bread… all of it made for a fun, worthwhile read. For Better or Worse is a feel-good, slow romance with touches of meaningful moments that warmed my heart. I would definitely recommend this to those who loved the first book. And can I just say how freaking excited I am about the final book of the series!? I need To Love and to Cherish ASAP.

4.5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Wedding Belles series

 To Have and to Hold by Lauren Layne For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne

#0.5 ~ From This Day Forward: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ To Have and to Hold: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ For Better or Worse: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ To Love and to Cherish: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Oct. 18, 2016)

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ARC Review: A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean

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A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean

A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean
Series: Scandal & Scoundrel #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 30th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Lonesome Lily turned Scandalous Siren

Miss Lillian Hargrove has lived much of her life alone in a gilded cage, longing for love and companionship. When an artist offers her pretty promises and begs her to pose for a scandalous portrait, Lily doesn’t hesitate . . . until the lying libertine leaves her in disgrace. With the painting now public, Lily has no choice but to turn to the one man who might save her from ruin.

Highland Devil turned Halfhearted Duke

The Duke of Warnick loathes all things English, none more so than the aristocracy. It does not matter that the imposing Scotsman has inherited one of the most venerable dukedoms in Britain—he wants nothing to do with it, especially when he discovers that the unwanted title comes with a troublesome ward, one who is far too old and far too beautiful to be his problem.

Tartan Comes to Town

Warnick arrives in London with a single goal: get the chit married and see her become someone else’s problem, then return to a normal, quiet life in Scotland. It’s the perfect plan, until Lily declares she’ll only marry for love . . . and the Scot finds that there is one thing in England he likes far too much . . .

Sarah MacLean is probably my favorite historical romance author. I fell in love with her Rules of Scoundrels series and have been enjoying her spinoff, the Scandal & Scoundrel series. A Scot in the Dark is the second in the spinoff series, featuring an England-hating Scottish Duke and his new, scandalized ward. Their story is an emotional, angst-filled romance with a hero who believes he doesn’t deserve to be with the woman he loves. If you loved The Rogue Not Taken, then you will definitely love A Scot in the Dark!

Lily Hargrove has been alone all her life and dreams of finding love and a place to belong. She thinks she’s found that with a rising artist, but he ends up using her and betraying her in the end. Her reputation on the bridge of ruin, she’s reminded of just why she wants to leave London and never look back, but she needs the help of the Duke responsible for her to do so. Except when said Duke finds out about his scandalized ward, he makes plans to marry her off and be done with her.

“You forget yourself,” he said. “As my ward, your things are my things.”
Her gaze flew to his. “You beast.”
His lips pressed into a long straight line. “And you, the most beautiful woman in London,” he said, as though being beautiful was the most ugly thing she could be. “We make a fine match, Lovely Lily.”

The Scottish Duke of Warnick, Alec Stuart hates everything about London and its aristocracy, the same aristocracy that looked down on his when he was younger and caters to him now that he’s a Duke. He’s especially annoyed to find out he has a ward and has to go into the dreaded city to fix her reputation. But Lily turns out to be so much different than he expected and he finds himself unable to resist being around her and growing feelings for her. But he knows that she’s in a different league in him, not just in looks, but that she also deserves someone who will love and cherish her like she deserves, because that man can’t be him.

More. He’d thought he’d known what wanting felt like. What longing meant. And then he’d met Lillian Hargrove, and he’d realized the truth—that everything for which he’d ever hungered was nothing compared to her. There was nothing he would not pay. Nothing he would not do for another taste of her.
And that he was unworthy of her.

I really enjoyed the banter between Lily and Alec! I have to say it might be my favorite part of this book. To say these two don’t get along would be an understatement, which makes for some entertaining conversations between them. Plus, the underlying chemistry they have made the banter all the more fun. What did annoy me, though, was the back-and-forth between Alec’s feelings for Lily. He kept saying he didn’t deserve her but would take her for his own anyway, would go hot and cold so often it was a little frustrating. This ended up making the romance a little slower than I would’ve liked, but I could definitely feel the angst and emotional upheaval the characters were feeling themselves.

“I am yours, my love, body and soul. When I am old, I do not wish to think of you. I wish to be with you. I wish to love you.”

Despite the annoyances, Lily and Alec’s story was touching, romantic, and their love was definitely hard-earned. It had similar vibes to The Rogue Not Taken, so if you enjoyed that story, you will most likely enjoy this one too! Right now, I’m dying for the next Scandal & Scoundrel book – I love a good second chance romance, and The Day of the Duchess seems like there will be plenty of groveling too. I’m really hoping Sarah MacLean doesn’t disappoint (not that she ever does)!


lacey

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

Reading Order: Scandal & Scoundrel series

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean

#1 ~ The Rogue Not Taken: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ A Scot in the Dark: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Day of the Duchess: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (June 27, 2017)

The Scandal & Scoundrel series is a spinoff of The Rules of Scoundrels series. You don’t have to read The Rules of Scoundrels prior to Scandal & Scoundrel, but I highly recommend the series! Here is the reading order if you’d like to start it:

Reading Order: The Rules of Scoundrels series

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean

#1 ~ A Rogue by Any Other Name: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ One Good Earl Deserves a Lover: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ No Good Duke Goes Unpunished: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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