Beautifully Damaged by L.A. Fiore

Ember Walsh was always the quiet one, enjoying a book and a glass of wine over the noise and crowds of a club, but when her best friend asks her to come out and meet the boy she likes Ember's world is turned upside down. He appears like a mythical avenging angel, inked, gorgeous and completely out of her league but one look and Ember no longer wants the quiet, she wants him.

Trace Montgomery has buried his damaged past with women and fighting until one day he meets an angel and suddenly he wants more, he wants her. For her, he's determined to overcome his demons but will the dark secret that links their pasts bring them closer or will it tear them apart.

Thessa's Review

Four Stars

“I couldn’t imagine loving someone with that kind of intensity, and knowing that the one you’re with is the only one you’ll ever want.”
I realized that I was rambling so I stopped talking as Trace just looked at me. His expression was completely unreadable. He wrapped his hands around my face as he looked deeply into my eyes before he whispered, “I can…” 

This story was…surprising. I kept going back and forth on how I wanted to rate this because my emotions were all over the place. This book was actually divided into two parts. The first part left me frustrated, pissed off and just an emotional wreck. I wasn’t sure if I could’ve gone on, but the masochist in me wanted to see how the story will pan out. Boy, am I really happy I decided to continue on because the second part was a doozey. The revelations were both surprising and heartbreaking. There were so many twists and turns that took my mind a moment or two to gather exactly what was going on. But what really mattered to me the most was that all those revelations just made Trace & Ember’s relationship stronger. 

The real Trace Montgomery was far more complicated and I feared that underneath his seemingly put together and beautiful outer package existed a damaged soul. 

To say Trace Montgomery has issues is putting it mildly. The man has demons that he’s dealt with his whole life, alone. He’s never let anyone close, ever. All he has in his world is his sister, his best friend, Rafe, and the hordes of nameless women that frequent in and out of his bed. But no one, no one, knew the extent of his burdens. He feels like he’s too damaged to be worthy of love. That’s why when he meets and falls for Ember, he knows he’s living on borrowed time. There’s no way a woman like her would ever stay with someone like him, especially if and when she ever learnt the truth about his past. His eyes never left mine when he said, “I want you but I don’t want to want you.” 

He was gorgeous but more, he equally beautiful on the inside and all he saw was the damaged man he believed himself to be. 

I give Ember some credit. To deal with Trace’s Jekyll and Hyde moments takes A LOT of patience. I was proud of her. Don’t get me wrong, there were several times she acted like a doormat, but when she finally stuck up for herself; those moments are when she shined the most. It was pretty tiring in the beginning when she kept telling herself that Trace was out of her league. Trace’s horde of women consisted of exotic beauties, not shy, big brown eyed brunettes like her. But for some reason, her and Trace are constantly running into each other. The next thing you know, they become friends…sort of. Trace keeps hinting he wants more, but something is holding him back. Ember is determined to find out what makes Trace tick. Trace does everything he can to push her away, but like I said, Ember never gives up on him. She knows there’s something going on between her and Trace and that their relationship is worth fighting for. She’ll do anything to prove to Trace that he is indeed worthy of love. 

That’s what I wanted: Someone who knew me better than I knew myself, someone who knew all the worst of parts of me yet still loved me. 

This story is a rollercoaster of emotions. For me the first part of the book was extremely frustrating. Trace’s decisions and how he acts upon pushing Ember away pissed me off. I was angry at him. I understand his need to remain closed off and why he felt the need to push her away, but why he couldn’t unburden himself to Ember was perplexing. The second part of the book was both happy and sad. We finally got a chance to get to know Trace. Once he shared his past, things started to make sense. I knew it was going to be heartbreaking hearing what happened to him, but when he actually said the words…oh, my God. How a father could do what he did was beyond disgusting and disturbing. But there was more. We find out more about his past connections to Ember and her family. I couldn’t believe the amount of drama in the second half. Whew!! Okay, if you’re in the mood for an angsty drama with a touch of suspense and mystery, then pick this up. It’s one crazy ass ride. 

Oh Wait!! Two minor things I need to mention before I shut up:
One. Lucian is a secondary character in this story that desperately needs his own story. He’s just so sweet and wonderful (oh and extremely sexy). I would LOVE to read his own story. 
Two. This story is in desperate need of some editing. There are several of instances of run on sentences. (I know this because, trust me, I’m guilty of this, too). I wish the author took the time to insert some pauses or something to know the scene changes. It’s not bad or anything, but just an annoyance. 

Funny Funny,Har Har

Teddy Bears...........

 

 A man meets a gorgeous woman in a bar. They talk, they connect, they end up leaving together.

 

 They get back to her place, and as she shows him around her apartment, he notices that her bedroom is completely packed with teddy bears. Hundreds of small bears on a shelf all the way along the floor, medium sized ones on a shelf a little higher, and huge bears on the top shelf along the wall. The man is kind of surprised that this woman would have a collection of teddy bears, especially one that's so extensive, but he decides not to mention this to her. 

 

He turns to her... they kiss... and then they rip each others clothes off and make love. After an intense night of passion, as they are lying there together in the afterglow, the man rolls over and asks, smiling, "Well, how was it?" The woman says, "You can have any prize from the bottom shelf." 

 

source: http://www.jokes4us.com/moreadultjokes/teddybearsjoke.html

Wanted (Wanted #1) by Kelly Elliott

Verbally abused by her mother for years, 18 year old Ellie Johnson always believed she would never be loved or wanted by anyone. She focused all of her attention on her grades and getting into the University of Texas to start a new life away from her mother.
The last thing Ellie expected was to fall in love with Gunner Mathews, a starting linebacker for the University of Texas football team and not to mention, her brothers best friend. 
Gunner only had two passions in life, football and his grandfather’s ranch, until he falls for his best friends little sister. He will stop at nothing to show Ellie how much he wants her, even if it means he has to move faster than she would like. 
Gunner knows they are meant to be together forever, but Ellie keeps denying her feelings out of fear of being hurt again. Every time he gets close to winning her love, something pushes her away again. Will Ellie ever be able to let go of the past and let him into her heart and will Gunner be patient enough to wait for her?
What will it take for them to realize they are all each other have ever WANTED?

Thessa's Review

3.75-4 Stars

THE WANTED CAST

Found this on the Author's FB Page :)

“I want to be the person who gives you all of your firsts. I want to experience them with you so I can see that beautiful smile of yours light up every time you do something new. I want to make all your dreams come true.” ~ Gunner 

OH. MY. GOD. **SWOON!!** I’m completely in love with Gunner. He totally made the story worth while. He’s one hot, sweet, sexy, tattooed Southern gentleman. Just fucking gorgeous! Oh yea, he definitely made it to my all time favorite book boyfriends. 

The story is fairly simple and highly predictable. In a nutshell, it’s a story about a young woman, who was raised by her beloved older brother and an alcoholic mother. Ellie has been on the receiving end of a lot of verbal abuse from her mother. She always kept telling Ellie that no one will ever want her. If it wasn’t for her hard working older brother, Jefferson, she would be lost. Her previous two relationships have ended in utter disaster. Both times, her two good for nothing boyfriends were cheating on her because she wasn’t ready to give up her elusive V-card, yet. When she caught her latest boyfriend in the midst with another woman in the school theatre, she broke down and called her big brother to come and get her. When her brother shows up to defend her and kick her latest boyfriend’s ass, he shows up with his best friend, Gunner. It was love at first sight for both Ellie and Gunner. Oh the joys of instant love. 

If you don’t like being treated like a doormat then get the fuck off the floor 

Drew “Gunner” Mathews has had his fair share of women. He and Jefferson are star football players for the University of Texas. He has never been in a long term relationship and really wasn't looking for one. But once he sets his eyes on Ellie, he was a goner. And as much as Ellie felt the same way, she was more guarded. With all the negative things her mom was feeding her, coupled with the cheating exes, Ellie was not about to be fooled again by another man. Gunner had his work cut out for him, but he was determined to convince her to give him a chance. 

“Drew….it’s another first.”
He looked at me confused. “What is baby?”
“This…this feeling…it’s a first for me.”
“Tell me Ellie.”
“I have never in my life…ever felt so completely loved and…wanted.” 

I was debating back and forth on what to rate this. For the most part, I really liked the story, and I just LOVE Gunner. Going into this story, I thought this was considered Mature YA/New Adult, but I think it teetered more on the adult side. There was a considerable amount steam, not that they were explicit or anything, but more than your typical Mature YA story would have. It also had a whole lot of cursing, which was fucking fine by me. lol. What I got annoyed with were the constant uses of the phrases: “Pesh,” “Gesh,” “Hells Bells,” “Gosh,” and “Jesus, Mary and Joseph.”  They were all over the place! Every time I came across them, I was like, “What the fuck?” The author constantly cusses, but is reluctant to use “God.” I don’t know. It got way annoying. 

Another thing that bothered me was the heroine Ellie. Not only did she constantly use the above phrases, but she sometimes acted like a fourteen year old girl. The way she spoke wasn’t very…I don’t know…grown up? Plus, she often jumped to conclusions and immediately got angry at Gunner. Talk to your boyfriend first before dumping him, okay Ellie? Gesh! lol. 

Lastly, another negative of the story was its length. It was way too long. There came a point where it I just didn’t care anymore. There were so many things that could’ve been cut out. I just wanted it to end so I can move on. Plus the story could've seriously used an editor to clean up the shitload of punctuation errors. 

Anyway, before I stop jabbering, I have to mention Jefferson and Ellie's BFF, Ari. She was just awesome. The shit that came out of her mouth…oh, my God, pure sailor mouth. LOVED her. As for Jefferson, totally swoon-worthy! To be honest, I was more interested in Jefferson and Ari’s story. I can’t wait for their book to come out. 

Okay, I’m done. Sorry for my jibber jabber. If you’re looking for a long, simple read and don’t mind the constant cussing and other overly used childish phrases, then I think you will enjoy this. 

Vice, Virtue & Video by Bianca Giovanni

Lola Caraway is an intelligent but inexperienced college grad living two doors down from her long-time best friend, porn superstar James Laird, in California. Though their worlds are different, the two lead normal lives until a sadistic producer sets her sights on Lola and James learns the difference between kinky fun and real danger before he's forced to face his true feelings for his best friend

Thessa's Review

4.5 Stars

I've never needed love before in my life, just a good time, but I need her to love me because I'm so fuckin' crazy in love with her. 

This was such a impromptu read. I was surfing Smashwords, looking for some good freebies to feed my Kindle when I come across this series. Before reading this, you must read the three previous short stories first. I downloaded all three, plus this one, for free and I'm so happy I did. The short stories, though enjoyable and very fast reads, was nothing compared to this. I felt like I got to know the characters first and was able to connect with them better. By the time I got to this full novel, I was primed and ready for these two to finally hook up. 

My whole persona is being stripped away and I feel totally raw and exposed standing here in front of her and praying that she really does love me. 

James is a famous porn actor and his best friend, Lola, is as innocent as they come. They've been best friends since they were little, but never pursued anything more at risk of ruining their friendship. Nothing was ever going to come in between them, not even after some of their lustful moments. James was always a ladies' man, while at the same time, always threatened any guy who came after Lola. He’s very protective of her and feels like no man will ever deserve her, least of all himself. His career never bothered him or Lola; after all they’re just friends and have been supportive of one another from day one. Their friendship means everything to them, but they've been denying their true feelings for a long time. How much longer can they resist? 

"I've never been in love before and I have no idea what you're supposed to do and how you're supposed to handle things. This emotion has been a really weird one for me because I'm used to getting physical, but I'm not used to anything real - anything that feels all intimate and deep like this. I need you so bad, Lo. Not having you around, not being able to see your face...it's been like torture for me. You're like the air in my lungs and I need you to survive." ~ James 

I really enjoyed this story. It was so sweet. I loved reading about their long term friendship blooming into more. They tip-toed around and experimented enough with each other to know they had chemistry and when they finally got together…the world seemed so much better :) I still can’t believe this was free read. I love that feeling of picking up a new and unknown book and find something totally awesome. I really hope the author decides to write more about these two. 

Falling Stars By Sadie Gruber

A falling, or shooting, star, is the common name for the visible path of a meteoroid if it survives impact with the Earth's surface.'

Christopher Mason, the infamous lead singer of The Forgotten, has a reputation for being 'difficult'. Harboring dark memories and the burden of a painful secret, he struggles with a past he desperately wants to destroy. Amidst this star's battle with the pull of his demons, he risks losing everything he’s built as a musician.

Enter Mia Ryder, the head strong yet laid back, lead singer of Hushed Mentality. As the opening act for The Forgotten, Mia and her all girl rock band are sure to gain the publicity needed to sky rocket to the next level in their dream career.

Mia's laidback personality is challenged by Chris’s plotting for their demise and removal of the 'girlie band' from 'his' tour. But even Chris's best laid plans aren't prepared for Mia.

As the demons pull this shining star down, is the one person he wants to eliminate the only person who can save him from the collision course he is on?

Holly's Review:

I really enjoyed this book! I'm not even sure what caused me to pick this one other than it was a story about hot rock stars, total no brainer and I wasn't disappointed!

This starts out as the story of the famous rock band The Forgotten getting a new opening act, an all girl band called Hushed Mentality. Of course our lead singers, Christopher Mason(The Forgotten) and Mia Ryder(HM)cannot get along to save their lives! To be fair, Chis is a complete and total A-HOLE to Mia and we all know what that means.....He wants her! Well it doesn't start out that way, he just wants what he refers to as this ridiculous girl band off of their tour and pulls all sorts of stunts to make that happen. But, Chris has met his match in Mia and when he discovers that Mia's presence is the only thing that quiets his horrible nightmares he has to find away to pull her in instead of push her away.

Amazingly, we all see them falling in love, but as usual our hero an heroine are blind as bats when it comes to their love. This was a wonderfully, emotionally charged story and I really, really enjoyed it. I highly recommend this little gem and I am going to leave you with what I think is the essence of the story...

"Falling stars aren't always meant to be caught you know?" Laney said. "A falling star is actually on fire as it enters the atmosphere, so if I were to try to catch one, I'm pretty sure there would be some pain involved. Though, I suppose some pain would be worth it to find something so rare."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Mia, you're trying to catch a falling star."

 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

Thessa's Review

FIVE BUTTERFLYINGLY BEAUTIFUL STARS!!! 

“I want to tell you exactly how I feel but there isn’t a single goddamned word in the entire dictionary that can describe this point between liking you and lovingyou, but I need that word. I need it because I need you to hear me say it.” …
“Live. If you mix the letters up in the words like and love, you get live. You can use that word.”
He laughs again, but this time it’s a laugh of relief. He wraps his arms around me and he kisses me with nothing but a hell of a lot of relief. “I live you, Sky,” he says against my lips. “I live you so much.” 

I have a huge freaking grin on my face. 
Like. 
HUGE.

Colleen Hoover is a writing genius. I don’t know how she does it. Time and time again, she has the ability to weave an unbelievable story. I was blown away with Slammed and Point of Return, but this newest creation she has written has left me just speechless. I’m in utter awe at her talent for writing a beautiful story. Oh. My. God. I just don’t know what to say. This story was just butterflyingly beautiful. I smiled, I cried and I just loved. This made my exclusive crack-book shelf and for that, I will be adding the paperback to my “real life” bookshelf when it becomes available. Just effing amazing!

“We won’t go any further than this, I promise. But please don’t ask me to stop where we already are. I need to watch you and I need to hear you because the fact that I know you’re actually feeling this right now is so fucking amazing. You feel incredible and this feels incredible and please. Just…please.” 

Sky’s life thus far is comprised of her BFF, Six, and her mother, Karen. She’ll be starting her Senior year in High School soon, but this time it’ll be different. She's been home schooled for all of her life and Karen prohibits anything electronic in the house: TVs, cell phones, internet, etc. When it comes to boys, she hasn’t really had any emotional connection to any of them. All the guys she’s been with, she feels absolutely nothing towards them, both physically and emotionally. Sky is damaged. She’s not the type to feel…anything. She doesn’t truly understand why, but the numbness she experiences time and time again isn’t anything new. She’s felt this way for a very long time, but there has to be a reason why she feels like this, right? It’s not until she runs into Dean Holder at the grocery store, she starts to feelbutterflies. What is this foreign feeling? What makes this guy sodifferent?

He reacts the way he does because there’s only one side to Dean Holder.
Passionate

There are parts of him I love, parts of him I hate, parts that terrify me and parts that amaze me. 

Holder didn’t plan on going back to school. He’s been gone for a year, dealing with his sister, Lesslie’s, suicide. He’s damaged, too. His Hopeless tattoo reminds him of those who he let down in his life. He doesn’t want to feel anything toward this girl he just met, but there’s just something oddly familiar about her. When he notices her at the store, he practically demands her name. Unfortunately she is not who he thinks she is, but it doesn’t stop him from finding out whatever he can about her. The more time the two spend with each other, the more intense things become. The little things they start to learn about each other begin to add up to an even bigger picture. These two are connected in a way that neither of them ever imagined. When their secrets are revealed, both their lives are changed forever. 

“When you become mine, it’ll be a forever thing. I’ve told you before that the only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers, and I mean that.” ~ Holder 

Holder is AMAZING. I just fell in love with him. He's so passionate and intense. When he realizes his feelings for Sky, it blows my mind at how caring and supportive he is to her. He never gives up on her. Ever. I LOVE HIM! For me, he made the story what it is: Beautiful and highly emotional. You can’t help but be enamored by him and by the story. There were so many things I highlighted and re-read just because it made me feels all kinds of tingly goodness. Like I said, Colleen Hoover has such a knack for writing and storytelling. Just do me a favor and read this gorgeous story. Oh! Before I go, just one more quote for the road:

He could kiss me for the first time, or the twentieth time, or the millionth time and I wouldn’t care if it was a first or not, because I’m pretty sure we just broke the record for the best first kiss in the history of first kisses – without even kissing. 

SWOON. JUST. SWOON.

The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden (#1) by Jessica Sorensen

There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.

(New Adult Contemporary)*Mature Content** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

Thessa's Review

4.5-4.75 Stars

In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one. 

I was so looking forward to reading this book. The book I was reading prior to this tore me up and when I was looking for my next read, I wanted something I could swoon over and make me feel all ooey-gooey. Does that make sense? lol. When I saw that this had come out, I was all over it thinking, “yes! this is exactly what I was looking for!” **Fist pump!** I mean look at all the potential this book just oozed: The cover is gorgeous. The storyline sounded like something right up my alley; it’s rated as Mature YA, which I just love. So when I picked this up, I was not disappointed whatsoever. I was absolutely absorbed in Callie and Kayden’s story. I could not put this down. 

There is something about someone trusting you enough with their secrets that makes it easier to trust them. It’s like they’re opening their heart and in return yours should open up to them, too. 

Callie and Kayden. Where do I begin to describe this story? Both characters are severely traumatized. Callie projected her hurt outwardly with her shyness, her chopped hair, dark baggy clothes and dark eyeliner. She was considered a freak in high school. She wasn’t always like this, but what happened to her when she was only twelve, dramatically changed her. She was never the same. 

From the outside, Kayden’s life seemed perfect. He’s handsome, star football player and was very popular. But what others didn’t see was that he came from a very abusive household. No one knew that his father was beating him and his brothers. Because he and brothers were encouraged to play sports, the bruises and broken bones were easy to hide. To cope, Kayden has a tendency to self inflict pain; he has the cuts and scars to prove the hurt. On the night of his graduation party, Kayden was on the receiving end of his father’s anger. What he didn’t expect was for someone to intervene the beating. 

“That’s you, Callie, you’re the only person that’s ever made me feel happy about anything. That night you saved me, you changed something in me – you made me want to live.” 

Ever since the night Callie intervened, Kayden wanted to thank her and ask her a million questions. He never had the chance until he literally ran into her in college, although he didn’t recognize her at first. She changed. Callie and her BFF, Seth (who I ADORE by the way), have made a list of things to do in order to make their lives better. Outwardly, Callie is slowly changing; her hair, her clothes…she was trying to move on from her past. College was fresh start. However, inside she was still struggling to let people get close to her, even touching made her uncomfortable. Kayden wanted to get to know her. Why is she so skittish? Why did she save him that day? Why is he so drawn to her? 

I want nothing more than to be with her and protect her, like no one ever did for me. I want to make sure nothing bad happens to her. 

**Possible spoilers below**

**SIGH** So here I am, cruising through this beautiful story. I am loving Every. Single. Moment. these two share. I’m in pure utter bliss. Seriously. Then all of a sudden…BAM! The ending came and I was left with my heart thudding, and my mouth agape. Are. You. Fucking. Kidding. Me. With. This. Shit. Seriously. What the fuck just happened!?!? **Bangs head on wall** I kinda knew this was coming, but I was hoping my intuition was wrong. Nope. I was right all along. Fuck. My. Life. All I have to say is that cliffhangers suck major ass. Well there’s no denying I really liked this story, just hated the abrupt ending. Luckily for me, there is a sequel and it’s due out at the end of February. Thank GOD! Now I can breathe a little better.

Funny Funny,Har Har

Pearly Gates.

 

 Three guys died and when they got to the pearly gates, St. Peter met them there. St. Peter said, "I know that you guys are forgiven because you're here. Before I let you into Heaven, I have to ask you something. You have to have a car in Heaven because Heaven is so big, what kind of car you get will depend on your answer." 

 

The first guy walks up and Peter asks the first guy, "How long were you married?" The first guy says, "24 years." "Did you ever cheat on your wife?", Peter asked. The guy said, "Yeah, 7 times...but you said I was forgiven." Peter said, "yeah, but that's not too good. Here's a Pinto to drive." 

 

 The second guy walks up and gets the same question from Peter. The second guy said, "I was married for 41 years and cheated on her once, but that was our first year and we really worked it out good." Peter said, "I'm pleased to hear that, here's a Lincoln." 

 

 The 3rd guy walked up and said, "Peter, I know what you're going to ask. I was married for 63 years and didn't even look at another woman! I treated my wife like a queen!" Peter said, "That's what I like to hear. Here's a Jaguar!" 

 

A few days later, the 2 guys with the Lincoln and the Pinto saw the guy with the Jaguar crying on the golden sidewalk. When they asked the guy with the Jaguar what was wrong, he said, "I just saw my wife, she was on a skateboard!" By Steve C

source: http://www.jokes4us.com/moreadultjokes/pearlygatesjoke.html

Hereafter (Hauntings at Inner Harbor #1) by Joya Fields

When by-the-numbers accountant Rob Morrison, a skeptic of all things paranormal, moves into a new apartment and discovers it is haunted by the corporeal ghost of a beautiful woman, he must hastily reconsider his beliefs and revisit his painful past.

With no memory of her time on earth, Angie Barsotti doesn’t understand why she’s compelled to visit the same apartment every night as a ghost caught between two worlds. If she’s to have a chance to move on, she needs to find the missing pieces of her life and death through the man who lives there…if only he’d believe in her.

Together they struggle to find the truth about her death and stumble upon a very pleasurable way to time travel, hopeful they can prevent her death. But someone doesn’t want them to discover the truth. And if she’s human again, will she have any memories of her time as a ghost…and more importantly, will she remember the man who helped her find her way?

Grace's Review

4 Stars

So Fascinating!

I was completely fascinated by the world created in Hereafter. The summary already says a lot, so I won't delve too much into the plot of this short story. It starts off with a simple man trying to live a simple life, or should I say trying to get on with his life after a bad break-up. Moving into this particular apartment totally changes everything he believes in when he encounters a beautiful ghost.

Suddenly, he becomes entangled in solving a mystery that ultimately spins his life in a different direction.

Now, with Rob being a tax accountant, you might think he's a boring person, but he's not. As his story unfolds and his tragic past comes to play, I truly felt the pain he held inside coming off the pages. What kept me reading was the mystery surrounding Angie. She's a ghost caught between two worlds, and her sadness and need for someone to just believe tugged at my heart.

With a story combining endearing romance, mystery, life lessons, and the sexiest way to time-travel, I found Hereafter to be a truly enjoyable read. It will make you believe that anything is possible.

The Edge Of Never By J.A Redmerski

Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?


Due to sexual content and language, this book is recommended for 17+ – Adult Contemporary Women’s – New Adult Fiction 

  

Holly's Review:

 OH. MY. GOD!! This book was....I don't know, to say fucking amazingly beautiful doesn't seem to be doing it justice!

This story is a journey of two people looking to step out of their ordinary lives for awhile and LIVE! When Andrew and Camryn meet as strangers on a bus across country they are intrigued and wary of each other. Both feeling the connection but neither wanting the attachment of an involvement! As you can imagine that doesn't work out like they want.

Camryn just decided to board a bus and escape her life for a bit, literally on a bus to nowhere and Andrew is taking the bus to see his father one last time, since he is dying of a brain tumor. One thing leads to another and this becomes a beautiful road trip of self discovery and eventually pure unadulterated love.

Although they both have secrets and baggage, Andrew and Camryn are perfect for each other and apparently just what the other needs. When the big secret in this story is revealed, I promise you, you will cry a damn river!! I did! But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am thrilled to have spent a small part of my life with these two wonderful people who want nothing more than to buck the 'normal' of life and get out there and live a little! We could all take a page out of their book and remember that life is about living in the moment and enjoying every day like there is no tomorrow!  

 

Rock The Heart (Black Falcon #1) by Michelle Valentine

For the last four years, good girl Lane has regretted breaking up with Noel Falcon. She thought she was sensible when she told him his dreams of being a rock star would get him nowhere, but now that he's a rock god and her career is stagnant, she realizes just how wrong she was. When Noel hires the marketing company where Lane is an intern, she’s forced to see him again. If she wants to land her dream job as executive within the company, she has to win him over and secure his account. Too bad Noel is still pissed at her for breaking his heart.

When Lane’s company flies her to a Black Falcon concert to gain Noel’s attention, emotions run high the moment she sees him and realizes she’s far from over him. But Noel’s countless trysts with groupies and his cocky attitude make Lane believe he isn’t the same guy she once loved—now he seems to only want her body. Then after Lane discloses she needs him to procure a job, Noel proves he’s a changed man by forcing her to go on the road with him in order to get it.

After Lane reluctantly takes Noel up on his offer, she becomes willing to do whatever it takes to keep him satisfied, even if it means succumbing to his seductive ways. Lane soon finds deception is a dangerous game and she’s not the only one playing.

Thessa's Review

Four Stars

“I’ll do anything you want to make this happen between us, including give you time because I can’t lose you again. It hurts too fucking much.” ~ Noel 

Son of a bitch! Curse you, Rockgods! You know you’re one of my weaknesses; my kryptonite. I couldn’t help but pick this book up. I seriously have issues. I can’t say no to these hot and sexy tattooed gods. The only thing that would totally make me combust is if he was a British rockstar. Alas, he is not, but that’s okay. Noel Falcon is still one hot male specimen. 

“This next song goes out to the girl who shredded my heart without hesitation back in high school. It’s called Ball Busting Bitch, and Lanie, this one’s for you.” 

Oh, yea Noel has some resentment towards his former high school love, Lanie. According to Lanie, I knew I broke his heart when I said I could never be with a dreamer because dreams don’t pay the bills. Fast forward four years and now he’s famous. She, however, is still trying to make it in the marketing business. She works as an intern at one of New York’s top marketing companies. Because no one else at the firm volunteers, she reluctantly agrees to wine and dine Noel to obtain information in marketing his charity. This is the kind of break she needed to get hired permanently, but how will she react to seeing Noel? Better yet, how will he react seeing her again?

“All I want to do is be with you. Now that I have you back I can’t see my life without you. When I think about my future, I think about you.” 

The love of his life is back. Now that he’s famous, Noel can have anyone he wants. But when Lanie shows up, all he wants her; a second chance. He will do whatever it takes to win her back, including convincing the CEO of her Marketing company to allow her to tour with him and his band while she “researches.” She is not thrilled at this idea and really does not want to subject herself to this. This. Is. Not. Happening. Unfortunately, her career is on the line and she has no choice. Two weeks with Noel. A lot can happen in two weeks.

“I tried to get over you. I really did, but you were always there. Every woman I kissed was you.” 

Second chance love….God, I LOVE stories like this, I’m a sucker for it actually. This story was pretty predictable, but it was still worth the read. Sometimes you need something like this to take you away and live the dream of catching the eye of a super sexy rock star. **sigh** I will always love these type of stories and will always return to them like a moth to a flame. I cannot wait to read book two in the series: Riff and Aubrey’s story. He’s such a man whore and I totally loved Aubrey. I’m also hoping she’ll write one for each twin in the band, too. Tyke and Trip…yumm!! Oh wait! New image is forming in my head: Tyke, Trip and me…**Faints**

Harbour Falls by S.R. Grey

Best-selling author Maddy Fitch, researching material for a new novel, returns to her hometown of Harbour Falls to investigate a disappearance that has haunted the tiny Maine coastal town for the past four years. Maddy soon discovers that the case has gone cold, but the prime suspect, Adam Ward, is hotter than ever. Now living on an isolated island, Maddy takes up residence near the sexy Mr. Ward's home. As she begins to seek out answers, the mystery deepens, putting Maddy in jeopardy. 
Lies, secrets, deceptions. Nothing is ever what it seems in Harbour Falls. 

A steamy novel that immerses the reader in an intricate storyline that will keep them glued till the very last page.

Grace's Review:

“So much had changed since I'd left Harbour Falls. Everyone was so different, their lives so full of complications.”

When crime/mystery novelist Maddy Fitch returns to her hometown in Maine to do research for her next novel, she takes on the cold case that has become the town's biggest mystery. It all surrounds the disappearance of someone she once knew. What exactly happened to Chelsea Hannigan the night before her wedding? The night she was supposed to marry Adam?

“He was tall and had an amazing body, gorgeous jet-black hair, and stunning blue eyes.”

Ahhh...Adam Ward...he's a computer software genius, ultra rich, handsome, and happens to be Maddy's high school crush. Renting a cottage next to his home on Fade Island was no coincidence. Maddy had every intention to get close to him to find answers, but can she really trust him? After all, he is the prime suspect in this unresolved case.

Oh, I love a good mystery that keeps me guessing and guessing until the very end and with S.R. Grey's self-published debut novel I got just that and more! I really loved the setting of the story. Fade Island was described so beautifully. The fog shrouding the island and the thunderstorms truly did enhance the ambiance as the mystery unfolded. A fantastic cast of characters, many of them suspects, kept my interest alive as Maddy tried to put the pieces together. The blossoming relationship between Maddy and Adam is just delicious. Adam, although slightly stalker-ish and mercurial when it comes to Maddy, is one helluva sexy guy! After numerous short-lived steamy encounters, after all the interruptions and time apart, when the stars finally aligned for this couple, it was well worth the wait!

My only minor complaint is that I felt the story was really slow in the beginning. It took a while for the mystery to unravel. However, once the plot got going, it was really exciting all the way to the end! Maddy digging around lands her in a heap of a mess that I didn't see coming! At this point, I was all...what the frickin' eff happened!? Then things just go from bad to worse for the curious heroine. I was truly scared for her as I reached the end, and the author got me good...real good! In my wildest dreams, I didn't think it would end that way. Now, the mystery does get resolved, but we also get left with a little something to expect for the next book, Willow Point, which is expected to be released in spring 2013.

So, if you're in a mood for a solid mystery-romance with twists aplenty, give Harbour Falls a try, and see if you can figure out whodunit before reaching the end.