Not Until You by Corinne Michaels

Not Until You by Corinne Michaels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a stand-alone BUT if you haven't read the first two books in the series, I suggest you stop and click them now. Again you don't HAVE to read them to enjoy this one, but you should...because Noah. Any who...I adore these girls. Their friendships, laughter, loyalty and sense of humor is a reminder how important girl tribes are. I connected with them all with each story and this one was no different.

In this one the "rules are made to be broken" plays out. Don't preach what you can't practice. After being SEVERELY burned by engaging in a relationship with a client so she created her rules to live and work by...enter Callum Huxley. Swoooooooooonnnnnn from the first eye ball lock they were SUNK. Add an accent and hot bod and I was like HELLLLLO I'll design your place. lol These two crazy kids were nuts for each other. Then we add some angst and BAM I am a happy damn camper. But lets be honest I love Corinne Michaels and all of her stories so it was a must read from the get go.

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Strong by Kylie Scott

I am not usually one that gravitates to novellas. They tend to leave me wanting more, or simply don't leave me sated...but when I saw this one, I SIGNED THE FUCK UP! I loved LICK like it was my job...I've read and loved the whole series but David and Ev...they were my favs. SO when I saw Martha was going to have her own story I was not only surprised but in full anticipation mode. I love it when an author takes a nemesis from another story and makes them everything in their own story. I loved watching her come into her own and finding love with the strapping man that has played in a role in every story. Because you knew the players and were already comfortable and connected this novella worked and I LOVED IT. I was so appreciative of this glimpse I quickly jumped into a re-read of Lick and all the other players. Thank you Ms. Scott for reminding me how much I love and missed the Stage Dive crew.

Guilty As Sin by Meghan March

Everything is starting to come to a head...I still have one hunch buried within the words of my kindle. But I’ll hold those cards close to my chest. As I was expecting the intrigue is growing and my wtf is going to happen is peaking! The back and forth from past to present was easier for me to follow and stay connected with...the family dynamics started making more sense and mattered more in this one, overall it started to win me over...Whitney is still a bit of road block for me, but Lincoln came forth guns-a-blazing for me in this edition. I am wondering how this will all play out. As I stated I have my theories that I will hold close, but will totally scream TOLD YOU SO...to no one in particular but it will still make me proud of well...me. lol I will wait by my kindle for the finale...

Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan

I saw you first

I had you first

I want you back

I came late to the Kennedy Ryan party, but I am now a life-long fan. Her words are powerful, explosive and fly off the pages and melt into the heart. They evoke every emotion you could possibly imagine and more. This one was not only an emotional tale, but struggles that a lot of women feel  and how they are viewed by not only themselves in a certain way but others. That even the strongest of women have their kryptonite, it can be a myriad of things but body image always seems to rise to the top.

Jared is also a bit clueless of what he really is and exudes. He feels like a heartless bastard, mainly due to the kindness he constantly feels around him. When you are allergic to people and stupid it can put a damper on the kindness ( I know this well y'all!!) but when he loves you...he is as loyal and pure as they come. He found his one truth early on and that NEVER wavered. His heart found it's match, and not even years or a false sense of hate could change that.

Banner was a true hero for me. Finding her worth beyond her career, beyond her family and finding that lines blur and even when a wrong decision is made a person can still be beautiful. Friendships, relationships and family will be tested but within the words of Ms. Ryan you are frozen with anticipation waiting for the angst bubble to burst and lives to change. I tried to explain to my husband the other day that there are books I read and enjoy and there are stories I experience and change the course...I LOVED THIS STORY...like all of her's before. Beauty, heartache, butterflies and want all wrapped into a love story that reminds us life is dirty but so worth the journey!

The Truth About Us by Aly Martinez

Truth or Lie? 

Truth. Aly Martinez can write the shit out of a duet. 

Lie. I wait until they are both out to start.

I can't wait. I have to read the words that Ms. Martinez writes as soon as they drop onto my kindle. I can't wait. It's a problem, an addiction, maybe? After reading the first in this duet, I was refreshing my kindle like a mad woman waiting to see where this twisted, harrowing tale was going to go...

Truth. I was more than invested. And I fucking loved it.

Lie. I knew where it was all going. 

The beauty of reading for me is getting completely immersed in another world, to lose myself within the pages and absolutely absorb the story that is playing out in front of me. And this one was exceptional in keeping me not only sated, but at the edge of my seat. Cheering for all the broken people to find their salvation, to become not only whole but a family. Such a dysfunctional family but a family all the same. Love and loyalty lives and breathes in this story. People who are willing to lie their lives on the lines for those they love, CHECK please. I love it. 

Truth. I'll be here waiting for Ms. Martinez to release whatever is next! 

Ravage by Jessica Prince

LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. And Mace and Lyla did not disappoint. Gah. I am going to miss this crew SO much. I feel like we will still hear about them with One Knight Stand being next...maybe? Doesn't matter because as I always say "Jessica Prince writes it...Dawn reads it!" So much angsty goodness in this story, intrigue, doubt, back-stabbing, drinks and so so much more. LOVE LOVE LOVE.  

Addiction is a hard subject to not only delve into but make work within a romance story. When the love you have always known chooses substance over everything else it can change the way you see the world. When people who are supposed to have your back, be "your" people turn into something else, it changes you. When a trust is so irrevocably shaken, it can make you stronger, it can change the course of where your life was headed. Lyla was a quiet strength that I was taken in by from the first background meeting. She had a love so strong she almost lost herself within it. Tragedy produced strength, and love was found amidst the darkness. I loved Mace and Lyla and I am SO sad to see them go...but I am ready for any words that Ms. Prince decides to write next. 

Redemption by Jessica Ruben

How do you say goodbye? Parting is such sweet sorrow, is that the saying? Book three finds us in turmoil (yes I say us) but it has Vincent working towards having his happily ever after, no matter who is left bloodied and bruised along the way! Questions answered, more asked, and love that never had it's chance may finally be..The finale left me wanting more yet completely sated, I believe this is because Ms. Ruben was so skilled at taking us on a complete journey. 

Every installment left you more invested and yet clinging to the hope that there will be more...I love the feelings that she evoked in every book. Angst, turmoil, love, hate, want, and above all hope. I can't wait for this author to spread her literary wings and take us to more incredible places.

Dirty Headlines by L.J. Shen

ALL THE DAMN STARS

I am running out of ways to say I LOVE THIS BOOK, when trying to write a review for the newest L.J. Shen story. Every time she delivers. She not only packs a punch with her words, she softens the blow, makes you laugh, tear up, the angsty butterfly feeling that I LIVE FOR, all of it. You get all of it, with every single book she writes. Is it weird that I want to say this is so different but so the same...it feels like I just read and lived through a movie. And loved it! Even when I think she can’t possibly make me fall in love with someone. Bam. I do. She simply wrangles your heart and soul and holds it hostage until you sadly come upon the words..the end. This story was so much more. Taking my already high expectations and exceeding them. Keep that shit up! 

 **Photo purchased Deposit Photo**

Célian and Jude have a chemistry that doesn't simply jump off the page, it slithers off and winds itself around your heart. They are explosive, challenging, and have a love/hate that keeps you absolutely connected to the story. Their passion for not only each other, but for those around them, whether it's bad or good, is mesmerizing and has you wanting to buy #1 Fan T-shirts for them both. Team Célian is equal to Team Jude and together they create a Team Awesome like no other pairing I have read to date. This book seriously has something for everyone. It surpasses the bar and creates a new one for Ms. Shen to reach with her next tale, and I for one can't wait to see what that may be.

One Last Wish by Aurora Rose Reynolds

One Last Wish is the third in the Shooting Stars series and I adored the first two, so jumping into this one was so easy for me. And like the stories before it, I quickly became connected to the characters portrayed and wanted for them immediately. This one starts out hard, but not as hard as it could be. The quickness of how things play out helps you keep the connection between "your" guy and girl. The sadness is like an extra in a movie, it's there but not overwhelming or taking up too much of your heart.

Timing is everything in this one, from saying what you feel when you feel it, or letting things play out and patiently waiting for it to be the right time. What did happen was between the time lapsed...you wanted for these two to be each other's everything. You want for them to leave the "what if's" and just fall into the "what now" category of loving each other. Taking someone for granted is so easily done, and when you think you are faced with losing that someone, it all crashes down on you. For better or worse. This is one of my favorite series from Ms. Reynolds, it is heartfelt, hard, and worth every page. A different kind of BOOM but solid just the same. Quick, easy, beautiful tale of loss, love and family.