Review: A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers
Series: A Little Too Far #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 17th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

Okay. Have you read that blurb? Have you? Because wow, what a blurb. It makes you want to read the book doesn’t it? Maybe juuust a little? Well, it certainly made me want to read the book A LOT. The heroine sleeps with her stepbrother, then goes off to Rome only meet a smokin’ hot soon-to-be priest? It’s intriguing and sounds hilarious and you know something terrible is bound to happen. How could the heroine possibly end up in this situation, torn between two off-limit guys? Well, you have to read it! A Little Too Far was so. good. I didn’t LOVE love it, but I had a hell of a time reading it. I still can’t get this book out of my mind, and I finished a couple days ago!

Alright, let’s start from the beginning. So the heroine is Lexie, and she has a step-brother named Trent, with whom she has a very close relationship. Not close as in intimate (yet… lol), but close as in they are best friends. Ever since their parents got married, they’ve been able to tell each other anything and everything. They have no secrets between them, and they always rely on each other. I loved the friendship aspect of their relationship, because I could feel their friendship and their closeness. They knew each other inside and out, and then one day… all their sexual tension builds until it explodes and they finally sleep with each other. It’s hot and it’s wild, but I never felt that ick-factor that came with them being step-siblings. They seemed right and perfect for each other. But afterwards, Lexie comes back to reality, and no matter how much she enjoyed being with Trent, she still felt guilty. She doesn’t want to break apart her family, which she figures will happen if their parents ever find out their children slept together. Lexie knows what she did was wrong, even when it felt right.

I just had totally mind-blowing sex with my step brother. And I’m leaving for Rome in two days. Which is a good thing because I just had totally mind-blowing sex with my step brother.

I loved Lexie. She’s hilarious! She’s cute, quirky, and so relatable, and the way she narrated had me laughing in stitches. She’s a great heroine, albeit very indecisive, but that just made the story all the more fun. Because what do you know when after she sleeps with her brother and then leaves for Rome, she starts falling a little for a reverend on his way toward becoming a priest. Like, how messed up can a girl’s life get?

Yep. The tingle in my groin is unmistakable. I’ve got the hots for the good reverend. I thought I was going to hell before, but this pretty much cements it.

Lexie has such a wild, crazy life in Rome. She realizes how much she loves Trent, but then there’s Alessandro, the to-be priest. I started falling more for Alessandro than for Trent, to be honest, mostly because Trent doesn’t get as many appearances. He’s all the way across the ocean, and while Trent’s always in Lexie’s thoughts, it’s Alessandro who’s there for Lexie in Rome. He shows her beautiful places in Rome, and they have an incredible time together. Lexie becomes so torn between the two-impossible-to-have men in her life. She just could not make a decision! Usually, I’d get pretty frustrated with a heroine like her, but in this case, I had to give her a little slack. If I were in her position, I’d have NO CLUE who to choose!

I never really felt that connected with either Trent or Alessandro. I didn’t know who Lexie should choose, because I honestly had no idea who’d be a better choice. I started liking Alessandro more, but I still wasn’t quite sure if he’d be the better choice. This was one of the few times where I loved the heroine a lot more than the main male characters! But rest assured, Lexie eventually does choose someone, and I’m actually really happy with who she chose.

But, the best part of the book was ROME! Rome has such a huge presence in the book, and I loved it. I’ve never been, but I SO want to, and this book only made me want to visit Rome even more! Lisa Desrochers does such an incredible job describing Rome and the different places Lexie visits. I wholeheartedly loved everything the author did to make me feel like I was there alongside Lexie, getting to see and discover the city.

Despite not really being into Trent or Alessandro, A Little Too Far was so much fun to read! It has a fantastic, hilarious heroine, and it’s set in a beautiful city. There’s never a dull moment, and you honestly have no idea what’s going to happen next. Lisa Desrochers wrote a great novel, and I’m so going to read more of her books. I’ve started already reading book 2 in the A Little Too Far series, A Little Too Much, and I’m loving it!

4 hearts!

Reading Order: A Little Too Far series

#1 ~ A Little Too Far: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ A Little Too Much: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ A Little Too Hot: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

7Nov2013

Review: Running from Forever by Ashley Wilcox

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Running from Forever by Ashley Wilcox
Series: The Forever Series #5 (but can be read as a standalone)
Publication Date: September 22nd 2013
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

***This book is a spin-off of Waiting on Forever with no prior books needed to be read before it***

Recent college graduate, Kayla Reynolds was ready to leave the university, sorority life behind. Leaving her boyfriend of over three years, she packed her bags and moved four hours south to the big city…New York City. Bright lights, streets that never sleep, and a business lifestyle that she yearned to have were all at her fingertips.

Kayla Reynolds was chasing her dream.

Determined and eager to make it in the corporate world, Kayla changed everything- her image, lifestyle, and outlook on life, putting her career first and her personal life second. That was until her first day, the first time she got a glimpse of Miles Blackwell. Corporate CEO and part owner of ETV, and not to mention, incredibly handsome, Miles Blackwell took Kayla by surprise, stealing her heart as he did.

But nothing had ever come that easy for Kayla. Life had always seemed to have a personal vendetta against her, stepping in when everything seemed too good to be true, reminding herself of whom she really was. It wasn’t until she met Merrick Drake that she realized when to stop; when running was no longer an option. For the first time in her life she had someone she could relate to; someone who wouldn’t judge- who saw the person she was inside. She and Merrick connected…on more levels than one.

When life was too much to handle, they ran.

But there was only one person that could make Kayla stop for good. Only one man that made her want to stay.

Would Kayla finally stop running or would it all be too much to handle?

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble

I went into Running from Forever not knowing it was part of a series, or that it was a spinoff of another book in the series, Waiting on Forever. So if you’re like me, rest assured that Running from Forever can be read as a standalone. It’s a great new adult, contemporary romance. If you love that genre, be sure to check Running from Forever out!

“How do you know when to stop?” she looked back up to me in question.
“Stop what?” I asked.
“Running? How do you know when to stop?” She took a break, pausing. “When is running no longer an option?”

Kayla is a runner. When things get complicated, she runs from her problems. And in the beginning of the book, her boyfriend of three years has just proposed to her, and she’s planning on running away. She doesn’t want to be married, and instead, wants to go after her dream job in New York. Kayla’s a pretty interesting heroine. She’s honest about herself, about what she wants, about what she doesn’t want, and she’s very headstrong. She goes after what she wants, in this case, her job, and she doesn’t let anything bring her down.

At her new job, Kayla meets the attractive and mysterious Miles Blackwell. He’s the CEO of the place where Kayla works, which basically means he’s her boss. But, when Kayla meets him, she doesn’t know who he is. He’s just a very attractive man, and what I loved was that even though it’s lust at first sight for Kayla, she doesn’t act on those feelings right away. To Kayla, Miles is just another wealthy, too good-looking man, and she doesn’t need complications that involve him now that she’s working her way towards her dream job. But Miles is intrigued by Kayla, and they get to know each other more and eventually want to have a relationship. The fact that they work in the same building isn’t really an issue though.

Running from Forever is told from three points of views. The first part is narrated by Kayla. We get the gist of her new life, and her tentative relationship with Miles. The second narrator is Merrick Drake, a bartender Kayla meets and eventually befriends. I wasn’t sure why he became important enough to have his own POV in the book, because he’s not very prominent in the first part of the book. But as I read more, I could see why the author included him. He and Kayla click. They’re similar people, in that they’re both runners. They become fast friends, but never more than that. This is not a love triangle. When Miles and Kayla run into problems and complications, Kayla turns to Merrick, but just as a friend. This was such a refreshing thing to read, because usually, there’s always that other guy the heroine turns to who ends up being a love interest. But nope, Merrick isn’t a love interest!

Finally, the last narrator is Miles. We see another side of Miles through his POV. He’s not always the cool, calm, and collected CEO of his company. He has his faults, and when he messes up, he tries to make things right. I’m not sure how I felt about Miles. I certainly liked him better through his POV than through Kayla’s, but I still never quite liked him as much as I wanted to.

Between Miles and Merrick, Kayla learns to believe in herself more. She realizes that she doesn’t always need to run away anymore. She has people who she can love and trust and fall back on, and she realizes that she wants that happily ever after she never thought she’d get.

“I’m done running,” she repeated softly. “You’re my forever. I’m done running from happiness.”

I really enjoyed reading this book. I didn’t love it, but I still had a nice time reading it. It has an intense, angsty romance, with interesting characters. By the way, I think the cover is gorgeous! Totally eye-catching, and made me want to read the book even more.

3 hearts!

Some may consider me a jack of all trades, but I consider myself well rounded. I’ve waitressed, styled hair, answered phones and, most recently, worked full time as mom to my two beautiful little boys.

Then there was this book…

Everyone and their brother started talking about this book series titled Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James. I didn’t really pay attention to the craze at first, since I wasn’t a big reader- okay, I didn’t read at all. But curiosity got the best of me, so I downloaded it to my kindle. I was immediately hooked. I read the whole series in three days. Yes, three books in three days.

I kept finding all these great books that I HAD to read (just ask my credit card!).

Then I started hearing voices. Voices that turned into stories; stories that were begging to get out of my head. I started writing them down on scraps of paper. Then I transferred them to my computer. Before I knew it, Planning on Forever was born.

The voices in my head are still talking, so I’m still writing.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon Page

27Oct2013

Review: Trust in Me by J. Lynn

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Trust in Me by J. Lynn
Series: Wait for You #1.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 22nd 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it. Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story.Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery’s life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?

I. LOVE. CAM. I absolutely adored him in Wait for You, and he’s even more perfect in Trust in Me. I mean, come on, a hot guy who bakes?? Be still, my heart. I really liked Wait for You, but I really really liked Trust in Me. It didn’t make me go fangirl crazy (although Cam certainly did), but it was still a heart-warming, entertaining read. I loved reading from Cam’s POV. He’s such a guy, and at the same time, so gosh darn SWEET. I fell even more in love with him after reading his book.

Trust in Me is Wait for You told in Cam’s POV. We get to read all of Cam and Avery’s interactions now from his POV, plus a little extra with Cam’s friends, his family, and more after the end of Wait for You. I didn’t expect to love Cam’s friends, Jase and Ollie, but I did! They added so much good humor to the story, and plus, they’ll be getting their own books soon too. 😉

Cam is such a sweetheart. And he calls Avery sweetheart too! *swoon* I’m pretty sure he’s the only main male character I’ve read who calls the heroine “sweetheart” and it’s just too cute. I swear, my heart melted every time Cam called Avery “sweetheart.” And apparently, ever since Avery came crashing–quite literally–into Cam’s life, he always refers to her as “Shortcake” in his head. GAH the amount of cuteness in this book is off the charts!

“I could stare at you for a lifetime. It would never grow old.”
“Even when I’m old?”
“Even then.”

Cam is a bit of a ladies man. Maybe not as bad as his friend Ollie, but he enjoys spending time with women. Then Avery comes into his life, and he can’t stop thinking about her. He goes out of his way to see her, he bakes her COOKIES, and he wants to know her, he wants her. He doesn’t want other women, and he can’t really explain why he’s so fixated on Avery. So he tries to ask her out. Repeatedly. Again and again, and he is shot down every time. It’s cute and sweet and funny how many times he asks Avery out, and he does it all in good humor. And along the way, Cam and Avery become friends, and they care for each other so much.

Cam can sense pain inside Avery, but she shuts him out. Gradually though, Cam works his way into her heart (and my heart too *sigh*). There’s so much heart in Cam, and when he loves, his heart just overflows. And he falls so hard for Avery. Reading his POV, I kept smiling and giggling, because Cam is just the best. When he falls in love, he gives it everything he’s got. He doesn’t fight what he feels for Avery, and when he finally gets to show her how he feels it’s just… *fans self* You’ll want to read this book, for sure.

“I’m going to marry that girl one day,” I heard myself say.

I could not stop reading Trust in Me. I read it straight through in one sitting. Cam captured and stole my heart–again–and for all I care, he can keep it. He’s protective, sweet, kind, and compassionate, a good guy through and through. Trust in Me was such a wonderful, heartwarming read. I honestly wish that Cam were real. But alas, this gorgeous boy who owns a pet turtle named Raphael is devastatingly not real. *cries* I want a beautiful boy who will bake me things and make me eggs!

4.5 hearts! Highly recommend!

Reading Order: Wait for You series

#1 ~ Wait for You: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Trust in Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Be with Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Stay with Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Fall with Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4.5 ~ Dream of You: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (June 23, 2015)
#5 ~ Forever with You: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Sept. 29, 2015)
#6 ~ Fire in You: Goodreads (2016)

25Oct2013

Early Review: Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams
Series: Forgiving Lies #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 29th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (William Morrow Paperbacks) in exchange for an honest review

A matter of secrets…

Undercover cop Logan “Kash” Ryan can’t afford a distraction like his new neighbor Rachel Masters, even if she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. To catch a serial killer, he needs to stay focused, yet all he can think about is the feisty, long-legged coed whose guarded nature intrigues him.

A matter of lies…

Deceived and hurt before, Rachel would rather be a single, crazy cat lady than trust another guy, especially a gorgeous, tattooed bad boy with a Harley, like Kash. But when his liquid-steel eyes meet hers, it takes all of Rachel’s will-power to stop herself from exploring his hot body with her own.

A matter of love…

As much as they try to keep it platonic, the friction between them sparks an irresistible heat that soon consumes them. Can Kash keep Rachel’s heart and her life safe even as he risks his own? Will she be able to forgive his lies … or will she run when she discovers the dangerous truth?

I really had no idea there was going to be so much action and suspense in this book! All I saw was that the hero is an undercover cop (men in uniform are divine) and some angsty love goes on between him and his neighbor. It seemed like my type of book, and I enjoyed it! This is the first book from Molly McAdams I’ve read (I’ve been meaning to read her other books as well), and although I didn’t love this book, I was fairly impressed with the suspense, story, and characters.

Forgiving Lies is the first book of Molly McAdams’ new series, and introduces us to Rachel and Kash. The story is told from both of their POVs, which was definitely a plus for me. I always enjoy books that are told in the hero and heroine’s POVs. I loved being inside Rachel’s head, reading what she was thinking of Kash, and then moving on to Kash’s head, and what he thought of Rachel. The beginning stages of their relationship are so adorable, as they learn about one another, get to know each other better. They have an intense attraction to one another, but they only become friends at first. They grow to care for another, and Kash totally melted my heart with how much he wanted to protect Rachel.

Rachel is a college girl who reluctantly started dating her best friend’s cousin, Blake, in college, but it turns out that Blake… is not a nice guy. I don’t want to include spoilers, but basically, Blake is a vile person, and Rachel becomes terrified of him. So she leaves Blake and tries to protect herself from the pain she went through. And in comes Kash, the hot, tattooed, and pierced bad boy neighbor.

Kash is an undercover cop, disguised as Logan “Kash” Hendricks rather than Logan “Kash” Ryan. He’s been assigned to catch a serial killer, and obviously, can’t let Rachel know who he is and what he really does for a living. Kash is drawn to Rachel, because she’s tough and stubborn and has a hard wall around her heart. He slowly gets to know Rachel better, and breaks down those walls bit by bit. Tensions are high, and their romance is sweet and slow and very realistic (even though Kash is an undercover cop ;)).

I had no idea I was in for such a treat with the amount of suspense that builds up throughout the book! While Kash and Rachel are falling in love, behind the scenes, there’s a serial killer on the loose. Blake is also back in Rachel’s life, and not for the better. Molly McAdams builds up the suspense incredibly well, so well that I didn’t know what was going to happen next. And the climax of all the suspense! SO exciting and crazy to read. It’s intense and gripping and heart-pounding, and it was honestly my favorite part of the book! Molly McAdams should definitely venture more into romantic suspense.

Overall, I really did like this book. There were some frustrations with Rachel where she just couldn’t tell people what happened to her. But my frustrations weren’t too bad, and Kash is such a sweetheart that he totally made Rachel less frustrating. If you like your romances with action and suspense, read this book! But I’m sure any romance lover can enjoy Forgiving Lies.

Reading Order: Forgiving Lies series

#1 ~ Forgiving Lies: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Deceiving Lies: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

21Oct2013

Early Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Crash into You Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: November 26th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback

Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) in exchange for an honest review

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane.

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that’s who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she’s just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can’t get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they’ll go to save each other.

OH GOD. OH GOD. Excuse me while I compose myself after reading THE MOST AMAZING BOOK EVER!!! AAHHH!!! I love you, Katie McGarry. Like, SO. MUCH. And I can’t even begin to explain how much I love this series. It’s probably my all-time favorite contemporary YA series. Ever! Basically, I’m obsessed with the series. I just can’t get enough of it. I always want more! I totally squealed when I received an advanced copy of Crash into You. Because I’ve been dying to read this book. It absolutely did not disappoint. And I was so happy when I found out there are going to be more books in the series after Crash into You! AH!

Okay, okay, calm down Lacey! *takes a deep breath* Wow. There are no words to describe how I’m feeling after reading Crash into You. Maybe insanely happy? Maybe just insane? Because I went crazy over this book. Crash into You is a beautifully written YA contemporary romance. It’s young adult at its finest. The characters are real, they pop out of the pages and make you feel for them. You experience all their emotions alongside them, and I bow down to Katie McGarry for being able to make me feel this way.

Crash into You is Isaiah’s story, the third and last person of the trio that includes him, Noah, and Beth. Oh man, this boy. This boy just gets to me. I had been waiting for the day he’d get his story ever since Pushing the Limits came out. And after reading Dare You To? I just could not wait. Because I knew with absolute certainty that I would love Isaiah and fall in love with his story too. And oh my goodness, I did!

Rachel and Isaiah meet at an illegal drag race. Exciting right? Well, it gets even better later on in the book. I absolutely loved reading about the drag racing aspect of the story. it’s just so illicit, so exciting, so exhilarating to read! If drag racing is a part of a book, I’m SO there. And Isaiah? Plus drag racing? *fans self* Too. sexy.

Rachel was a frustrating character to read. Well, it was more like her family situation was frustrating. I felt sorry for Rachel, because her entire family never took the time to know her. When they look at her, they see Colleen, the daughter and sister who died of cancer. They never see Rachel. I was angry and frustrated at her family for being so unfair, for putting so much pressure on her to be who she’s not. And Rachel has severe panic attacks. She can’t handle too much attention, but I never saw her as being weak. She’s strong in a different way, in that she puts those she loves first.

With his love of cars, I knew Isaiah had to fall in love with a girl who knows her cars. And yes! Rachel is as much a car fanatic as Isaiah is. I adored Rachel and Isaiah. I thought they were perfect together. Rachel is the rich, good girl who is pressured by her family to be who she isn’t, and Isaiah is the tough bad boy with the tattoos and earrings who only wants to get out of foster care. They are complete opposites, except for their love of cars, but they work. They balance each other out, and maybe I’m a sucker for the good girl-bad boy love story, but who cares? It was SO good. Their story made me smile, made me laugh, made me giggle, made me swoon, made me gasp, made my heart pound, and made me fall in love all over again with all of Katie McGarry’s characters. Yes, Noah and Echo, Beth and Ryan, and everyone else is in this book!

We also get introduced to Rachel’s older brothers. Four older brothers, to be exact. They’re all jerks, but lovable jerks. And they’ve got the older brother protectiveness in spades. Ethan is Rachel’s twin brother, West is less than a year older than them, and the oldest brothers are Jack and Gavin. I’m SO excited to read West’s book, Take Me On! I was really hoping the next book would be about Logan, the adrenaline junkie, but it doesn’t even matter because I’ll read anything Katie McGarry writes. I highly, highly recommend this series. The romance is perfect, the characters are incredibly written, and the boys are just so damn swoon-worthy!

Reading Order: Pushing the Limits series

#1 ~ Pushing the Limits: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#1.1 ~ Crossing the Line: Ebook • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Breaking the Rules: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Dare You To: My Review • Shirley’s Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Crash into You: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Take Me On: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

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