Release Day Review: Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros
Series: Flight & Glory #4 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 25th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

There are some debts you can’t repay…

Josh Walker is loyal, reckless, and every girl’s dream. But he only has eyes for December Howard, the girl he has yearned for since his high school hockey days. Together they have survived grief, the military, distance, and time as they’ve fought for stolen weekends between his post at Ft. Rucker and her schooling at Vanderbilt. Now that Josh is a medevac pilot and Ember is headed toward graduation, they’re moving on—and in—together.

Ember never wanted the Army life, but loving Josh means accepting whatever the army dictates—even when that means saying goodbye as Josh heads to Afghanistan, a country that nearly killed him once before and that took her father. But filling their last days together with love, passion, and plans for their future doesn’t temper Ember’s fear, and if there’s one thing she’s learned from her father’s death, it’s that there are some obstacles even love can’t conquer.

Flight school is over.

This is war.

I had no idea it was possible to fall even more in love with Josh and Ember from Full Measures, but Rebecca Yarros proved me wrong. Full Measures was one of my favorite reads of last year – I fell so hard for Josh and Ember’s story! So when I heard they would be getting another book, I jumped at the chance to read it. I mean, how could I turn down more Josh Walker? And now, after reading Hallowed Ground, I love them even more than I did in Full Measures. Through the trials, the heartache, the deployments, a war, they’ve come out on top and stronger than ever. This book was incredibly emotional – I nearly cried about 3 times, and I rarely ever cry for books. There were so many ups and downs, but overall it was a beautiful, fantastic follow-up and conclusion to Josh and Ember’s story.

Here was my salvation.
December was my saving grace.

Hallowed Ground is book 4 in the Flight & Glory series, but you only need to read the first book, Full Measures, to first be introduced to Josh and Ember. Still, I highly recommend reading the series in order so you get the full effect of each of the characters’ appearances in Hallowed Ground. If you’re a fan of Ember and Josh, Paisley and Jagger, and Sam and Grayson, then you absolutely need to read this final book.

“You are my dream now, December Howard. You are everything to me. My heart beats for you, my soul is only whole when you’re near. You’re my home, my shelter, my wildest fantasy, and I cannot imagine a future where you’re not mine, because I’m yours in every sense of the word.”

I don’t want to give anything away in the book, because when you read it, you need to experience everything first-hand. Rebecca Yarros has a brilliant talent at writing and bringing emotion to life through her words, and after every book I read from her, I only become a bigger fan. Her words pack a punch, and hands down, Hallowed Ground was the most difficult to read. This book hurt – it very much ripped my heart with all the emotional, gut-wrenching scenes between Josh and Ember. You get frustrated, you laugh, you want to cry… you seriously feel a whole spectrum of emotions. But I promise, everything – all the heartache, the ups and downs – will be worth it in the end. The epilogue seriously left me with a smile on my face and I couldn’t be happier with the way things ended for Josh and Ember.

“You are a flesh-and-bone wet dream, and you owned me the first fucking moment my mouth touched yours.”

I am so, so happy I decided to read Full Measures last year. If I didn’t, I would’ve been missing out on one fantastic, beautifully-written series. Josh is still one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends, and I can only hope for many more from Rebecca Yarros. As sad as I am to see the Flight & Glory series end, I’m so excited to see what’s next from the author!

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

Reading Order: Flight & Glory series

#1 ~ Full Measures: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Eyes Turned Skyward: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Beyond What is Given: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Hallowed Ground: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ FACEBOOK • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Subscribe to Blog via Email

25Jan2016

Release Day Review: Boiling Point by Tessa Bailey

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Boiling Point by Tessa Bailey
Series: Crossing the Line #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 25th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Falling for a con man is the most dangerous game of all…

Con artist Austin Shaw’s been in disguise so long he’s not sure where his fake identities end and he begins. Now that he’s been strong-armed into working for a specialized undercover unit working with the Chicago police—criminals with unique “skills”—the last thing he needs is to risk his iron control. Especially when it comes to a certain stunningly sexy hacker who tempts him with every look of disdain.

Polly Banks will never, ever trust a con man. On the trail of a ruthless crook who destroyed the only family she’s ever known, Polly is unnerved by the shadow who follows her every move. The one who makes her pulse pound and breath short with lust. Austin. He’s infuriating, enigmatic, and pure sex appeal, and she’s determined to resist him.

But an untrustworthy man of disguise can become anyone he wants…including a man that Polly must trust if she’s to escape their dangerous game alive.

If you know me, then you know I love Tessa Bailey’s books, dirty-talking heroes and all. I love how each one of her men is completely besotted with his woman, how his alpha and protective instincts come alive around her. So of course I had high expectations for Boiling Point, especially since I loved the previous two books in the series, and Tessa didn’t disappoint! This read is another winner, full of steam, dirty talk, and suspense. I absolutely loved the way Austin and Polly were together – if you love books with fiery-hot chemistry between the main characters, you’ll want to pick this book up.

Goddammit, he’d never felt an ounce of possessiveness over another human being in his thirty-one years. But just then, he wanted more than anything to walk up behind Polly, wrap an arm around her hips, and drag her back against his lap. Look those tossers right in the eye as he licked up the side of her smooth neck. Mine, you pathetic drunks. You wouldn’t last a minute up against the brilliance of how she thinks. How she reasons and makes decisions. Piss. Right. Off.

While Boiling Point can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the series in order. Each book leads up to the next, and you get a fuller understanding of the backgrounds of the characters. We first meet Polly, a hacker, and Austin, a con man, at the end of Risking It All, get to know them a little better in Up in Smoke and now we finally get their story in Boiling Point. To avoid going to jail, Polly and Austin have been recruited by the Chicago police along with several other interesting individuals to use the skills they’ve illegally honed to catch criminals. They get off to a very antagonist start, in spite of the insanely hot chemistry between them, but when they become partners for a case Polly personally wants to lead, they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other.

I loved how… different Polly and Austin were. Though Polly is a computer hacker, she uses her skills in a very Robin Hood-esque way. She’s pretty aloof and cold towards Austin, angry that he evokes such passion from her, and she is very stubborn when it comes to not falling for his advances. Austin is the con man of the group but beneath the cocky exterior and various disguises and personalities hides a man desperate to be seen – by Polly. He is utterly taken with her from the start, and when she needs his help for a case, he jumps at the chance to help her… and win her heart.

“All yours. You’ve been its cruel keeper for months.” He tilted his hips, presenting himself to her in a way that should have been crude, but on Austin, it was all animal grace. “At any time at all, you could have demanded me. Sent me to my knees to lick you off with one word. Grabbed my cock through my pants in front of everyone and told them who it belonged to.” His eyelids drooped as if the scenario was an aphrodisiac. “Please yourself with me, Polly. My boy. My cock. Own it all.”

An interesting change to Tessa’s typical dirty-talking heroes is that, even while still completely alpha, Austin hands over the reins to Polly when it comes to sex between them. I loved this exchange in control that allows Polly to trust in Austin and deepen the connection between them. And holy hell, the dirty talk. I’ve read almost every single one of Tessa Bailey’s books, but even Austin’s filthy mouth stunned me (and totally turned me on).

I loved Boiling Point – maybe not as much as Risking It All (because Bowen will forever be my all-time favorite hero), but this is still a fantastic, sexy, entertaining read that fans of the author don’t want to miss. I loved getting to see the previous couples in the series, but there’s also an introduction of a new character who will be the hero of the next Crossing the Line book. We get a little background on him, and to say I’m excited for Henrik’s story is an understatement. I can’t wait to see what Tessa has in store for Raw Redemption!

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

Reading Order: Crossing the Line series

#0.5 ~ Riskier Business: Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ Risking it All: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Up in Smoke: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Boiling Point: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Raw Redemption: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ FACEBOOK • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Subscribe to Blog via Email

21Jan2016

ARC Review: Between Shadows by Chanel Cleeton

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Between Shadows by Chanel Cleeton
Series: Assassins #1
Publication Date: January 19th 2016
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

A sexy new thriller about love and revenge from the author of the Capital Confessions and International School series…

X lives by three rules: Show no weakness. Trust no one. Don’t get caught. She lives by the rules they gave her.

The Academy—set in London, shrouded in secrecy—it trains spies, computer experts, and assassins. Their mission? Dispensing justice and altering the course of world politics. Or so they think. In a world where secrets are weapons and some kills are impossible to forget, everything X thought she knew about her life is about to change.

They taught her to fight. To blend into the shadows like a ghost, to operate on the fringes of society, to change her identity with ease. They taught her to kill.

She’ll need every skill they taught her, to stay alive.

What a thrilling, heart-pounding read! I love books that take me to the edge of my seat, and Between Shadows did exactly that. It’s suspenseful, fast-paced, and filled with action. There’s also a swoon-worthy romance with a dreamy hero, so what’s not to love about this book?

X is an assassin for the Academy – she’s been trained since a young age to be a deadly weapon. The most important thing in her life is her sister Grace, but even her love for Grace can’t bring X out of her cold heart ever since she killed the one friend she had. But everything in her life is turned upside down when Luke is still very much alive and comes back into her life to handle a mission together to bring to light the truths that the Academy has been lying to them about.

We were always together, and then one day I looked at him and I couldn’t look away anymore.

As X and Luke travel around the world to find out the Academy’s secrets, they’re constantly looking behind their backs. Chanel Cleeton did a fantastic job writing the suspense – every moment of the book is a nail-biter, and I kept wondering about what would happen and whether X and Luke would survive. Between Shadows is definitely a page turner, so if you’re a fan of thrillers, you should definitely pick this book up.

X and Luke were both fantastic, well-written characters. X is fierce, brave, and badass, yet she still has vulnerabilities that make her likable and relatable. Luke was X’s first everything – but the years Luke was away have turned him harder, more dangerous, and infinitely more sexy. I loved the two of them together after they reconciled the past. Luke is so sweet and patient with X, and I seriously fell for the way he cares so much for her.

“There’s a lightness about you despite everything else going on. How do you keep that lightness with you?”
He’s silent for a long time.
“Because there’s something I love more than I hate myself.”
Every muscle in my body stills. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I feel like I’m having a strange out-of-body experience, one I have no idea how to handle. He can’t mean–
“I love you, X. Always.”

I thoroughly enjoyed Between Shadows. It’s well-written, unique, and action-packed. I would’ve loved a bit more romance, but I could appreciate the book being focused on X and Luke’s goal, rather than their relationship. This was a great first book to a new series, and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next!

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

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ FACEBOOK • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Subscribe to Blog via Email

20Jan2016

Blog Tour + Early Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: My American Duchess by Eloisa James

Posted in 5 hearts, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews by Lacey

Click the banner to follow the tour.

Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for My American Duchess by Eloisa James!

My American Duchess by Eloisa James
Publication Date: January 26th 2016
Publisher: Avon

The arrogant Duke of Trent intends to marry a well-bred Englishwoman. The last woman he would ever consider marrying is the adventuresome Merry Pelford — an American heiress who has infamously jilted two fiancés.

But after one provocative encounter with the captivating Merry, Trent desires her more than any woman he has ever met. He is determined to have her as his wife, no matter what it takes. And Trent is a man who always gets what he wants.

The problem is, Merry is already betrothed, and the former runaway bride has vowed to make it all the way to the altar. As honor clashes with irresistible passion, Trent realizes the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined. In his battle to save Merry and win her heart, one thing becomes clear:

All is fair in love and war.

Buy Links:
Amazon Ebook • Amazon Hardcover • Amazon Paperback • Audible
Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Kobo • Google Play

Oh my god!!! This is my first Eloisa James book and I. Loved. It. It was sweet, funny, heart-warming – everything, from the wonderful story, to the incredible writing, to the intelligent characters, was brilliant. I love reading a good historical romance every once in a while, and My American Duchess turned out to be the perfect book for me – I adored every single thing about it!

Merry Pelford, an American heiress, has broken off two engagements, but she’s sure third time’s the charm. As an American in London, even if she is an heiress, having two jilted fiancés doesn’t bode well for her marriage options, so she’s determined to follow through with her engagement and make it all the way to the altar, this time with Lord Cedric Allardyce.

She was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman, and nothing he’d ever thought to find in a lady.

After a balcony encounter filled with chemistry and wit, the sixth Duke of Trent has found the woman he wants to marry. The only problem is that the woman turns out to be Trent’s twin brother’s betrothed… Merry. As much as she fires up his blood, as much as he doesn’t like Cedric, Trent won’t betray his brother and steal his fiancé. But every time Trent sees Merry, he has to remind himself that he can’t want her. Then, when Cedric’s true colors make their appearance, Trent is finally free to have the woman he desires more than anything. But with his aversion to love, can a marriage between them last, or will he fall for his American duchess?

With him, she wasn’t American, or a duchess, or even Merry.
She was home.

I adored the romance between Merry and Trent. It’s sweet, beautifully-written, and a delight to read. The chemistry sizzles between them, especially in the beginning of the book when it’s forbidden for anything to happen between them with Merry’s engagement to Cedric. I also loved that this book doesn’t end at a HEA proposal. Instead, Eloisa James gives us insight to Trent and Merry’s marriage. Merry is the total opposite of what Trent expected to find in a wife. She speaks her mind, doesn’t follow society rules, has a few adorable quirks, and definitely isn’t a shy wallflower. She’s a fantastic heroine I absolutely loved to read about. Trent himself is a dark, sexy, lovable hero who’s so sweet to Merry. It’s clear that he’s fallen for Merry through every word and action, even though he doesn’t believe love is a real, lasting thing. He’s seductive, passionate, and worshipping to his new wife, but can he accept love in their marriage?

“You are my American duchess,” Trent said gruffly, his finger tracing the shape of her cheek. “You pour milk into tea at the wrong time, but you do everything else the right way. I love the way you speak. And I love what you say. I’ve never met another woman who is as fascinating.”

This book charmed me beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the witty banter between Merry and Trent and the steamy scenes between them set me on fire. If you love romance, you must read this book. I already know it’s going to go on my list of favorite books of the year!

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

Now here’s an excerpt from My American Duchess! ❤

“Happily, I am ignorant about boils,” he said. “Are American ladies typically knowledgeable about such matters?”

“I can’t help recalling facts,” she confessed. “It’s a sad trial to me because it’s hard to remember in time that they ought not to be shared.”

“Why not?”

The corners of the man’s stern mouth had tipped upward in a most beguiling fashion. In fact, she found herself starting to lean toward him before she caught herself.

“There are few acceptable topics of conversation in London. It is quite wearying to try to remember what one is allowed to discuss,” she said with some feeling.

“Bonnets, but not boils?”

He must be something of a rake, Merry decided. The way his eyes laughed was very alluring.

“Exactly,” she said, nodding. “British ladies are discriminating conversationalists.”

“Don’t tell me you have ambitions to master the art of saying nothing.”

Merry laughed. “I fear I shall never become an expert at fashionable bibble-babble. What I truly dislike,” she said, finding herself confiding in him for no reason other than the fact that he seemed genuinely interested, “is that —”

She stopped, realizing that the subject was leading her to insult his countrymen. She was still a guest in this country, at least until she married Cedric; she should keep unfavorable opinions to herself.

The expression in his eyes was intoxicating, if only because no one else she’d met was interested in the impressions that an American had of their country. She loved London, if only for its marvelous public gardens, but there were aspects of polite society that she found tiresome.

“It’s the way people speak to each other,” she explained, choosing her words carefully. “They are clever, but their cleverness so frequently seems to take the form of an insult.”

Merry felt her cheeks growing warm. He must think her a complete simpleton. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate a witticism. But so very many remarks come at someone’s expense.”

He frowned at that. “Such people talk nothing but nonsense, and you should ignore them,” he ordered.

“Indeed, I am learning both to modify my subjects of conversation and to control my temper.”

“Admirable goals. Though I believe I’d like to see you in a passion.”

“You may mock me if you like, sir, but I can tell you that it is perishingly difficult for an American to transform herself into the perfect English lady! You should try it.”

He had a very appealing dent in his cheek when he smiled. “I’m quite sure I would fail. For one thing, I wouldn’t look anywhere near as appealing in a gown as you do.”

A New York Times bestselling author, Eloisa James is a professor of English literature who lives with her family in New York, but who can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. (Her husband is an honest to goodness Italian knight!) Eloisa’s website offers short stories, extra chapters, and even a guide to shopping in Florence. Visit her at www.eloisajames.com.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

a $25 gift card to an e-book retailer of choice

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ FACEBOOK • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Subscribe to Blog via Email

19Jan2016

Audiobook Review: Numbers by Laurann Dohner

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Numbers by Laurann Dohner
Series: New Species #14-15 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: January 12th 2016
Length: 12 hours and 11 minutes
Narrated by: Vanessa Chambers
Links: Audible • Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

140

Dana is visiting Homeland when she meets a New Species who tugs at her heartstrings. As a widow, she knows firsthand the pain he’s suffering after losing his mate.

Mourn isn’t so certain that talking to a human female will help him heal but he desires her. It’s possible she could become his new reason for living.

927

Candi lost the male she loved, but never forgot him. New Species are her only hope to seek revenge for 927’s death.

A human female claiming to have been reared at Mercile has demanded entry to Homeland. Hero rushes to Medical and comes face-to-face with his past. One look at Candi and the life he’s built since gaining freedom comes crashing down around him.

Numbers is books 14 and 15 in the New Species series, which means we get two stories in one! I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook, which is narrated by Vanessa Chambers. Even though I had a few problems with one of the stories, I loved the way Vanessa Chambers narrated everything. Her voice is amazing to listen to, and her voices for the different characters are distinct and you can easily distinguish who’s saying what. If you’re looking to listen to a paranormal romance that’s sexy, emotional, with great narration, you should definitely give Numbers a try!

The first story in Numbers is about 140, also known as Mourn. Mourn has lost his mate, and now he feels like he has nothing to live for. Then Dana walks into his life and helps him through his grief, as she’s also lost her husband, a man she loved. Mourn and Dana’s story is my favorite of the two in Numbers – their story is heart-wrenching, emotional, and it was heart-warming to see them fall in love with each other. I liked the way these two supported one another before actually pursuing a relationship. Laurann Dohner really balanced out the sexy and sweet in this one.

The second story is 927’s, also known as Hero. This one I had a harder time enjoying because I didn’t like Hero much at the beginning of his story. When he finds out that the girl he cared about years ago, who died accidentally by his hand, is actually alive and comes back into his life, Hero has no idea what to do and pushes her away instead taking this as a second chance. It was frustrating to listen to Hero get mad at Candi doing something she had no control over. But once the two of them reconcile, I liked their story so much more. Their second chance romance is touching and Candi is a wonderful heroine I admired, with endless patience for Hero.

Both stories were about 6 hours long, and they were very well-written for novellas. Vanessa Chambers did an excellent job with her narration and I would definitely listen to another audiobook that she narrates.

Reading Order: New Species series

Here’s an audio excerpt from Moon, also narrated by Vanessa Chambers!

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ FACEBOOK • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

	Unlocking the Magic… on Review: A Promise of Fire by A…
	Lucas Middleton on Blog Tour // Review + Excerpt:…
	Van on Blog Tour + Release Day Review…
	Amber Elise @ Du Liv… on Audiobook Review: The Stand-In…
	daisyknox on Release Day Review: Tryst Six…

Booklovers For Life

Falling in love with romance one page at a time

Tag Archives: romance