The Kiss Thief by L.J. Shen

6+ STARS

I love it when the alpha asshole finds his Achilles heel...when he allows softness and vulnerability to seep into the hard exterior. My heart literally squeezed in pain, joy, every emotion under the sun and Ms. Shen never let it go, instead held it in a vice grip with Wolfe...the tension is PALPABLE oozing off every page, with each single exchange of guarded banter. I can't explain the FEELINGS that are being magnified with every word. You will be epically let down, crushed, only to find your heart melting with affection just minutes later. You will cheer, boo, and absolutely lose yourself within the pages of this story. The fact that this hardened, bitter, assholeish man could see that this woman had a strength deep within that owned him and even when he thought it to be a weakness. Through the correct lens he could see it for what it was, strength, love and an undying need for her to protect those around her at every cost.

The subtleties and nuances of these characters and their need to protect, be loyal, fight and at the end of the day love; are so slight yet pack such a punch you literally feel your heart in your throat the entire story. The intricacy that Ms. Shen weaves in this nemesis versus villain tale is awe inspiring. Seriously. Y'all I can't wait for you to read this story. I wish I could convey through this review the absolute love I have for the words I have just read. It has everything and more. LJ Shen has once again obliberated the bar to which her stories have been held to and blew every favorite I may have had before it AWAY. This is my by far my favorite of her books and I have read and loved them all. Until my next favorite Ms. Shen. Bravo.

Raw: Rebirth by Belle Aurora

Here is how this went...I saw on Instagram (I think) a post by the author Ms. Aurora that was hinting of a new Twitch book and I went CRAZY...like total book nerd, fan-girl DOWN nuts.

That's when my stalking took over. I was seeing the chosen people reading it...loving it...and I was like PLEASE PLEASE let there be a sign up, when...

There it was. SIGN UPS for Raw: Rebirth. That's how this love story begins.

If you haven't read Raw it's a MUST read, not only to get to this book but for your reading soul. So having read Raw you know going in that this will be a second chance romance, and not your typical kiss to the forehead read that I usually gravitate to. It's a grit filled, fucked up fest of epic proportions that will have you hooked from the first page. I loved this triumphant return of the Raw world. I went into book two (three really but...) after reading some Raw reviews, including my own. But after finishing it went back and read (devoured) Raw and then read Rebirth again. Yes. Judge...but whatevs. Questions are answered, life moves on, and you are mesmerized by the weaving of it all.

You know when you're going through your everyday and things are good, normal, but than something amazing happens and you're like, "hmm how did I go exist without this?" feeling? That is how I felt being submerged back into a Ms. Aurora book. Like going back to a favorite place that you weren't even aware you missed as much as you did. Great return girl. Keep that shit up. Until next time.

A Place Without You by Jewel E. Ann

Every time I read a new JEA book at the end I stare down at my beating heart that has physically been removed from my body and now stares back at me saying, "really, did you not see this coming,,,AGAIN?" What can I say the heart knows, remembers, takes count of all of the missed beats, pauses, gasps, pulls, tugs, beautifully butterflied chest pains, and loves every damn minute. Reading a Ms. Ann book reminds of our working parts, the beauty of first loves, missed steps, heartbreak, and beautiful friendships that can stand the test of time. This story is proof of all of this. If you haven't taken the time to read this author I implore you to. She is a mastermind at playing your emotions like classically trained harpist and reminding us that even in a fictional world we can exist, love, connect and be. If I wasn't afraid of heights I would scream "READ THIS BOOK" from the rooftops, but alas that ain't happening, so from my big comfy chair I say, "read this book and all her others". You will not sorry you did. Thank you Ms. Ann for giving me another soul wrenching, beautifully written tribute to true love that I won't soon forget. Another favorite.