Holding Aces by Nikki Groom

I was sent this awesome book by the author and I had absolutely no expectations.  And I was totally blown away.  The author is a former blogger turned author, and this is her first book, and I fell in love.

  

Synopsis:

They say that time heals all wounds.
But mine are set in so deeply, they’ve taken on a life of their own, lurking in the shadows at every turn and haunting my thoughts.
The girl I once was has been replaced by a stranger. 

I don’t even know who I am anymore.
I run.
And I hide.
Pretending to be someone I’m not…
Until I meet Denham King.
My burst of color in an otherwise grey world.
And for the first time in my life, I find myself running towards someone instead of running away.
But fate can be cruel,
and I can’t escape my past.
Can I? 

We meet Natalie and we know that she is not who she is pretending to be, but it takes awhile to figure out who she is, and why she is running.  I really loved this story.  I liked that we didn't know much at the beginning and that I had to keep reading to figure out what was going on with Natalie.  Natalie, who actually turns out to be Arianna is a loveable, strong character that I immediately rooted for.  She has made some bad decisions, and she has chosen the wrong men.  And then we meet Denham.....sigh!!!!!!  

Denham is a fantastic knight in shining armor.  I fell in love with him right away.  He was sweet, sexy, and just the right amount of alpha male.  He wants to protect her, but he also wants to stand by her side.  He is a good combination of sexy, caring, and gentle.  He was amazing, he is definitely made it to the top of my book boyfriend list (yes, it's a list) 

  

I loved this book, but I must warn you, it is a crazy cliffhanger!  I cannot wait till the next book comes out.  This is a must read, it is fast paced, sexy, and keeps you guessing all the way until the end.  Definitely 5 stars!!  The second book, High Stakes is due out in October, 2014. 

Holding Aces Purchase Link 

Addicted by Tracy Wolff 

(An Ethan Frost Novel)

Synopsis:
As Chloe Girard discovers, there’s love . . . and then there’s addiction.

Ethan Frost is everything a woman could want in a man. He’s rich, gorgeous, powerful, one of the most eligible bachelors in the world.

But that’s not why I’m with him.

I love Ethan for all the things no one else gets to see: his innate kindness, his reckless spontaneity, his unwavering determination to use his brilliance for good. I love the way he looks at me, the way he touches me. The way he makes me forget the wreckage of my past and the twisted fear that still lives inside me.

But sometimes it terrifies me how much I crave him, how much I need him just to breathe. I always thought it would be my past that ruined us, but there’s a darkness in Ethan I never dreamed existed. Can we survive as his secrets surface—threatening to unravel us both?

Addicted is the followup to Ruined.  I have been anxiously waiting for this book because the end of Ruined was quite the cliffhanger.  I loved Ethan in Ruined, but we had a lot of unanswered questions.  And I was hoping to get more of them answered in this book.'

Chloe frustrated me, she kept running, and then she ended up coming back every time.  Ethan also frustrated me, he had so many secrets, and instead of just telling Chloe everything, she kept finding out things as she went, and it ended up making things so much harder.  The relationship between Chloe and Ethan is very intense and sexy.  And despite all the drama, I was rooting for them to work it out.  Every time I thought they were past all the trauma, something else would happen and I would think how can they possibly overcome this?  It did keep me guessing, and I wasn't sure for a good part of the book where it was going!  

I did feel like this book tied up a lot of loose ends for Ethan and Chloe, but I was left at the end wanting a little more.  I felt like it was a little rushed.  I loved Ethan and Chloe though, even though occasionally I wanted to scream at both of them.  Both books in this series are available now and I highly recommend them if you are looking for a sexy intense read!

Ruined Purchase Link

Addicted Purchase Link 

More Than Forever, by Jay McClean (book 4)

I discovered this series last Summer and I instantly fell in love with all the characters.  I had been anxiously awaiting Cam and Lucy's book, and it did not disappoint.  We meet Cam and Lucy in the first book and I immediately fell in love with Lucy.  She is hilarious and I can totally relate to her.  She reads a ton and when she's drinking, she says some of the funniest stuff I have ever heard.  For example, "I'm not calling you a slut, but if cocks had wings, you'd be a fucking airport!"  That's just funny!!  I loved Cam and Lucy's book because it spanned years and we got to see the beginning of the relationship, and how they became the characters we met in the earlier books.

Synopsis:

-LUCY-
There is a love so fierce it cannot be measured.
A heart so strong it will never slow.
There is a promise so sure it can never lie.
He promised me that love forever.
Even when it wasn't enough.

-CAMERON-
Forever. Everlasting. Eternal.
There is no measure of time.
No sounds of the ticking of a clock.
Just the rising and falling of the sun.
And our own sense of forever.

But our forever isn't always.

I really enjoyed getting to know Cam and Lucy.  I loved the way Cam was with Lucy, she described it as "Fierce" and that was an incredible description.  He was protective, and has a huge heart.  Of course, there was a time during the book that I wanted to punch Cam in the face, but at the same time I wanted to hug him!  I also loved Lucy, even more than before.  The beginning of the relationship they were so young, and she was going through a heartbreaking time.  But they grew up together.  The middle of the book was stressful and heartbreaking, but this author has an incredible way of bringing it all together!  Cameron may be my favorite guy from this series, and that's saying a lot!!  I have an ongoing love affair with Logan since More Than This! 

This book is my favorite of the series for sure.  Cam and Lucy and sweet and funny, and protective of the relationship and each other, and I loved them.  It made me cry, laugh, and swoon a little!  All the books in this series are available now, and I will post links!

More Than This Purchase Link 

More Than Her Purchase Link 

More Than Him Purchase Link 

More Than Forever Purchase Link 

  

Falling Sky (Blue Phoenix #2), by Lisa Swallow

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

This is the follow up to Summer Sky, which I read earlier this year and absolutely loved.  It had quite a cliffhanger, so I was anxious to get my hands on Falling Sky.  

Synopsis:

Sky's world turned upside down when she met rock star Dylan Morgan, and exploded when she discovered his hidden past.
Four months after Sky learns Dylan's devastating secret, she's trying to piece her life back together. Without an explanation from Dylan, Sky has no choice but to try and forget him.
Dragged back into the life he ran from, Dylan continues to spiral downwards as he copes with his fame the only way he knows how. Shattered by the revelation Sky knows his darker past, he forces himself to return to England and explain.
Sky and Dylan reconnect, attempting to build on the shaky foundations of their summer. But the outside world continues to conspire against them.
Taking place in the epicentre of the Blue Phoenix world, Sky and Dylan's story continues amongst the chaos surrounding the band and its members. 

I loved Dylan and Sky, even though on occasion I wanted to scream at them to get there shit together.  Dylan was hiding from his past, and wouldn't just have a conversation with Sky.  And Sky was obviously in love with Dylan but wouldn't give in because she was scared.  I had to respect Sky for not just giving into the hot rock star!  I am not sure I would have been able to hold out as long as she did!!   

I thought this was a great extension of Dylan and Sky's story.  We got a ton of insight into Dylan and why he is the way he is.  And also a little more about Sky.  The other fun part of this book was the insight into the rest of Blue Phoenix.  They were really background characters in Summer Sky, so it was interesting to get some more insight into that dynamic.  

Summer Sky and Falling Sky is a great love story, between a Rock Star and a normal girl.  This is not your typical rock star story and that's one of the reasons that I loved it.  I love that Sky is a normal girl who doesn't immediately fall for the sexy rock star.  It is a sexy, funny, sarcastic, and sometimes heart breaking read.  I highly recommend it!!  If you are looking for a sexy, fun, Summer read, these are your books!  Both are available now!

We will be getting more books about the other members of Blue Phoenix in the Fall of this year and I am super excited!!

 

Purchase Link for Summer Sky 

Purchase Link for Falling Sky

 

Pretty Instinct by SE Hall

Synopsis

There’s no easy road traveled to such an intense sentiment, one I never dreamt I’d feel…
But I also never planned on Cannon Blackwell climbing aboard my tour bus.

Liz Carmichael is strong, independent , and fiercely protective of those she loves.  She is also hurt and angry, so she is incredibly guarded.  You learn throughout the book her full story, and you get some insight into her, but I am going to keep this spoiler free.  I loved her from the start, she is sassy, and funny, and amazingly protective of her friends and family. 

Cannon Blackwell steps on her bus and immediately her walls start to crumble.  He is a hot musician, and I fell in love with him immediately.  He is absolutely amazing!! 

SE Hall is an incredible author, and she can write good guys like no one else.  In this story we got 4!!  Jarret, Rhett, and Conner are all amazing in completely different ways, and they are Liz's family.  And then Cannon comes along and I just swooned.  She also writes incredible females that are strong and hilarious. 

This is a story about facing demons and moving past them.  This is a story about finding love, and realizing that you can have it.  This story made me laugh, made me ugly cry, made me dreamy sigh!!  I absolutely loved it!!

 

Such a great book!!  And look how pretty he is

Purchase Link for Pretty Instinct 

 

Cover Reveal for Bittersweet Catastrophe

by Maureen Mayer

 

Bittersweet Catastrophe is the next book in the second chances series.  I loved the first 2 books and I am super excited for this new addition.  Look How pretty the new cover is!!

 

  

 

This is the continuation of Shane and Liberty's story, who we meet in the first book, Relinquishing Liberty.  They were HOT in the first book, and I am expecting nothing less in this one!!

 

 

Here are the purchase links for the first two books in the series, if you haven't read them yet, you definitely should.  They are sexy, and a little angsty, and very sweet!!

 

Puchase Link for Relinquishing Liberty

 

Purchase Link for Unforeseen Heartbeat 

 

 

 

 

 

Shattered by Tracy Wolff

 

** ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

 

Shattered is the followup to Shredded, a book about a group of snowboarders.  I learned a ton about snowboarding reading these books, I had to google a lot of terms.

Synopsis

Ash Lewis has poured every last ounce of his blood, sweat, and tears into reaching the very top of the professional snowboarding world—until the unthinkable happens. After the biggest competition win of his career, Ash’s mother and father are killed in a tragic accident. Unable to handle the idea of going back out on the snow to pursue the dream his parents shared with him, Ash feels that he has no choice but to walk away from snowboarding forever. Then he meets Tansy Hampton.
Wild, fun, and impulsive, Tansy has a different look and a new passion every week. As a cancer survivor who spent the past several years waiting to die, Tansy has a fresh perspective on life—even if she doesn’t have a clue about what she actually wants to do with it. But she’s determined to find out, and that means making the most of her time while she still can.
From the very beginning, their chemistry is intense. But while Ash can’t stop chasing the ghosts of what can never be, Tansy stays firmly focused on the possibilities the world holds for her—and for them. She’s already picked up the pieces of one shattered life. Now she’s determined to help Ash do the same.

 

The book starts 6 months after the accident that kills Ash's parents, and Ash is trying to pick up the pieces.  He is the primary caregiver for his younger brother who was paralyzed in the accident.  Ash has quit snowboarding because he thinks he has to take care of hi brother, and he feel guilty constantly.  Tansy shows up to try and convince him to grant a wish for a child who is dying of cancer, and the only thing he wants is to watch Ash snowboard.  

Ash is heartbroken and just trying to keep his head above water, and after surviving cancer, Tansy is determined to live for the first time in her life.  I loved Ash and Tansy, my heart broke for Ash, and I loved Tansy's love for life, and her quirkiness.  This is a great story about heartache and loss, and coming out on the other side.  I really liked it, it was definitely a 4.5 star read for me.   This book releases on 5/20, but is available for pre order now!!  

 

Shattered Puchase Link