Thursday 25 February 2016

Review: Slip of the Tongue by Jessica Hawkins

*****5 Stars*****
 
 
For the last 7 years Sadie is loved unconditionally by her husband Nathan. Then one day it stops and he becomes cold as ice. Nathan avoids intimacy, he won't talk to Sadie unless he has to and he can't bear to be at home with her. Sadie can't work out why and is besides herself trying to work it out, she tries to talk to Nathan so many times and when he continues with the cold shoulder treatment she end up in her neighbour Finn's arms. At first Sadie just finds comfort in having another man to talk to and initially hides her marital differences but then ends up spilling all and craving Finn's touch. However there's a big but coming. Finn has secrets of his own and they aren't little secrets either although it doesn't stop the initial passion igniting. Can Sadie repair her marriage and find out why her husbands so distant or will her passion for Finn ignite and her marriage disintegrate. One Click and find out.
Well I don't know what can I say apart from I loved this book. I know a lot of people aren't a fan of triangles and cheating but this one is as close to a real life scenario as one could get and so I urge you to give it a try as it could happen to anyone. It has some twists and turns along the way where it's difficult to predict what to think will happen when it reveals something else entirely. The flow of the story is immaculate and keeps you reading on and on and pulling your mind and heart into the story itself. The way the author has written this it seems in a way too real for fiction as it explains deeply how the characters are thinking and feeling and doesn't have any out there over the top elements that some may throw into fiction. Jessica is an author I haven't ever read before but I will now be looking at more of her books.
 
Reviewed by Claire Lamb
 
 
Sadie Hunt isn’t perfect—but her husband is. Nathan Hunt has her coffee waiting every morning. He holds her hand until the last second. He worships the Manhattan sidewalk she walks on. Until one day, he just…stops. And Sadie finds herself in the last place she ever expected to be. Lonely in her marriage.

When rugged and sexy Finn Cohen moves into the apartment across the hall, he and Sadie share an immediate spark. Finn reveals dreams for a different life. Sadie wants to save her marriage. Their secrets should keep them apart, not ignite a blistering affair. But while Sadie’s marriage runs colder by the day, she and Finn burn hotter.
Her husband doesn’t want her anymore.
The man next door would give up everything to have her.
 
 
 
 


Review: The Letters (Carnage #4) by Lesley Jones

*****5 Stars*****
 
 
I loved this novella in the Carnage series and have to say it was so not what I was expecting from this story. We all know from the previous books that Georgia has the crate of Sean’s belongings including the letters he penned for Georgia and like most Carnage fans I both did and didn’t want to open the wounds by knowing what they contained but I wanted to hear Sean’s voice too.
I expected a full on sobfest but this book was so much more than that, it was cathartic and beautifully written and at times hilarious, and delivered in a way I never expected. And why I did shed a tear or two for Sean, I smiled more for the man Cameron is and how fierce his love for Georgia is. It was hard to read the impact on Georgia but it was lovely to see how it helped in moving on and how once again this crazy family pull together and see each other through. I love the children that Georgia and Cameron have raised and loved their input into this story.
Having always been Team Maca I have to admit after reading The Letters I am now also very much Team Cameron too, that man is swoon worthy. Such a fantastic addition to the brilliant Carnage series that I think is essential reading for Carnage fans to round off Georgia’s story.
I really don’t want to say goodbye to these characters and would love to see more from this series.
 
Reviewed by Vikki Ryan
 
 
It's just a box of letters, right?

Words that were written a long time ago.

From a boy to the girl that he missed. From a man to the woman he loved.

But what if those words carried more impact than anyone realised?

Will they finally give Georgia the closure she needs and lessen the guilt she battles every day?

Or will everything she thought she knew about the boy and man who wrote them and the life they shared be forever altered?

All will be revealed in The Letters.

A story about life, love, and acceptance.
 
 
 
 


Review: Finding North by Carmen Jenner

*****4.5 Stars*****
 
 
I am the biggest fan of the M/M genre and I loved this book! This was different than any other book in the genre that I have read thus far. In Finding North, you will personally witness a man struggling to come to terms with his sexual identity in a town that is non too quiet about their total animosity toward the gay community. Carmen Jenner sure knows how to evoke such strong emotions in the reader and she makes it impossible to not fall in love with her characters.
Will Tanner and North Underwood have been best friends since kindergarten. When they fell into bed with one another ten years ago, it changed everything. Will had always had a secret crush for his friend, but North had thought himself straight up to this point. They were inseparable, but people grow apart and hearts will break.
Ten years later and their attraction for one another is still just as strong but Will will never forget how North shattered his heart and threw all their years of friendship away. Alcohol and bad decisions lead these two down the exact same path that destroyed their friendship all those years ago. Will can't help but to fall in love with North all over again, but will things be different this time? Or will Will's life get shattered all over again?
I absolutely loved this heart wrenching emotional read and may have even shed a tear or two through the struggles these two men go through. The only problem I had was that this book alternates between past and present but the author doesn't clearly state how old the characters are. Throughout the whole book, I was confused as to when the events were happening. In one chapter the characters are in their teens and in the next they are at the bar drinking away their problems. It was just slightly confusing for me, but doesn't really take away from the bigger picture and what is going on. I really look forward to reading more from this author.
 
Reviewed by Ashley Ziegler
 
 
Red Maine’s blue-collared bad boy, North Underwood, has a dirty little secret—Will Tanner.

Friends since kindergarten, North had been the one to jump first, and his fall into Will’s bed ten years ago had been no exception. Will and North had been inseparable, but things change, people grow apart, and even a blazing flame can dwindle to a dying ember over time.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

After a run in with a bottle of Bundy rum, Will and North find themselves in a compromising and all too familiar position.

Blurred lines, bad decisions, and one wrong foot after another lead these two down a spiral of sarcasm, secrets, and sex, but when North’s hetero status is called into question he can’t figure up from down. And despite Will telling himself he wouldn’t fall again, he’s head over heels and wandering without a compass.

Love is love.

Love is truth.

Love … shouldn’t be this damn hard to figure out.
  
 
 
 
 


Review: 9 Letters by Blake Austin

****4 Stars****
 
 
This book was a great, emotionally heart wrenching read! I can't believe this was the author's debut novel. Blake Austin sure knows how to pull on your heart strings and make you fall in love with the characters. The blurb was what initially drew me in and then the cover made me even more excited about reading this.
9 Letters is an emotional read about the struggles one man goes through after losing the love of his life. We meet Luke Cawley almost exactly a year after he loses his wife and best friend, to cancer. He is completely broken still, trying to drown himself in alcohol but nothing works until he receives a set of letters in the mail from his late wife, Emily. I loved learning the backstory between Luke and Emily. They had the once in a lifetime kind of love that you can only dream about having one day. Even in death she is still putting him before herself.
Rae Goode is just getting out of a bad relationship, and looking for the real deal, when she meets Luke. They have an instant connection but Luke is still dealing with the pain of losing his wife. They are both looking to heal and just maybe they can help one another in the process. We really don't learn too much about Rae and there isn't that much of a relationship development between her and Luke. This book mainly deals with Luke and his journey to finally reaching the final stage of grief: acceptance. I feel like this could have really been a 5 star read if there was more character development for Rae and her relationship with Luke. That being said I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for us next.
 
Reviewed by Ashley Ziegler
 
 
Luke Cawley is a broken man. After his wife's tragic death, he lost everything that mattered in the world. Now, his life is filled with hard days, harder nights, and a steady stream of alcohol and the wrong kind of women. Nothing helps.

Until the letters arrive on Luke's doorstep.

Nine envelopes. Nine messages. Nine chances to find his way back.

Rae Goode is looking for the real thing. After fighting her way out of a string of bad relationships, she's ready for something different--something true.
She meets Luke while piecing her life together, and right away she can tell that he's different. Drawn together by fate and the desire to heal, Rae and Luke discover new ways to mend their broken hearts--one letter at a time.

Discover Blake Austin's debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love.
 
 
 
 


Wednesday 24 February 2016

Review: Sins, Lies & Spies (Black Brothers #2) by Lisa Cardiff

*****5 Stars*****
 
 
You know that feeling you used to get when you were a child and you were going really high on a swing? The way your stomach slowly flip-flops over and over? That slightly queasy feeling that you somehow still enjoyed? This book gave me that feeling.
There is so much deceit and so many lies that just when you get your hopes up, your stomach takes another dive.
By no means was this a "teary" book but I did have a lump in my throat.
This is book #2 in the Black Brothers series. I really loved book #1 and Archer Black was certainly yummy but even then, I was drawn to Knox and desperately wanted his story.
Knox is brooding and carefree all at once. He works hard and he plays just as hard, as long as there's no strings, no commitment and no whiney, needy women. Knox is happy with the life he's carved out for himself.
Along comes Trinity. She's been burned more than once and doesn't trust easily.
Thrust together when their paths cross, neither one trusts the other but they soon find that they need each other in order to accomplish their goals.
Can they get over their mistrust of each other or are they destined to second guess each move the other makes?
I read this book easily in a day. It's a great read that flows seamlessly and although not super intense, it has enough to keep you from putting it down. I look forward to book #3.
 
Reviewed by Vivienne Kauffer 
 
 
Knox Black is no stranger to secrets... As the head of a private military company, specializing in intelligence gathering, he's more than familiar with political corruption and secrets worth killing for. He has one objective on his current mission... Knox must uncover the mastermind orchestrating the blackmail scheme swaying votes in Congress. It was supposed to be easy. After all, nothing fazes him, until he faces off with Trinity Jones, a member of a rival company. Knox is determined to flip Trinity's loyalties and use her to his advantage, but there's one problem-he can't keep her out of his head, or his heart. As the tangled web of secrets behind the blackmail scheme unravel, Trinity is unwittingly thrust into the center of it. With her life on the line, Knox will to have to decide what is more important... His mission? Or the woman who stole his heart?  
 
 
 
 


Review: Love Like Blood (Royal Blood #4) by Amity Cross

****3.5 Stars****
 
 
I've loved every single book in this series so far and I even mentioned, in my review of the last book, how much I would have loved the story to continue.
Unfortunately, with this book, the characters haven't gone in a direction I hoped they would.
Every character was virtually unrecognisable from the ones I have become familiar with. Vaughn in particular was a shadow of the man I had come to love. In this book he gave me very little and I get his love for Lorelei is unconditional, but he just came across as weak in comparison to what he has been. Having said that, I did feel his devotion to Lorelei was incredible and it was hard not to love him for that.
As for Lorelei, well she just came across as a bit of a b1tch, if I'm honest. She never really gave away much vulnerability, even when she started to piece things together. Having gone through what she has, I would have expected more from her.
We were not only given the story of Vaughn and Lorelei, but also how X and Mercy are doing working for a Black Ops organisation within the British Government. It will be interesting to see how things will ultimately work out for them, because I really do believe they were at their best when they lived by their own rules.
This book to me felt like a filler for things to come in the next book and despite my misgivings about this one, I did enjoy it, just not to the level I did the others and I'm still hopeful that the series will return to what I know and love.
 
Reviewed by Louise Dale
 
 
The enemy of my enemy is not my friend.

Sebastian Vaughn is haunted by the ghost of his dead lover.
After coming face to face with everything he lost, he’s on the run with a deadly assassin who’s on the verge of insanity. What else are you meant to do when the biggest ghost from your past stares you right in the face? Go with the flow, or die trying.
Xavier Blood never thought he’d fall in love, let alone work for the good guys.
Mercy Reid held him together during the darkest time of his life and now she’s an agent alongside him. Working Black Ops for the British government means two things. No accountability and no association. Get caught and you’re dead.
Their first assignment puts them on the trail of Vaughn, the assassin who saved his life, and the last living man who took everything from him, Jaques Lafayette.
The stakes are high, trust is a hot commodity and someone’s going to die.
Only time will tell who’s blood will paint the world red.
  
 
 
 
 


Tuesday 23 February 2016

Review: Faithless: A Tainted Love Novel (Faithless #1-3) by K.B. Nelson

****4 Stars****
 
 
I don't know what it is about this authors writing style but I tend to feel all the emotions of the story that much deeper. The loneliness, the guilt, the grief, the regret, K.B. Nelson writes emotions so potent that when you put the book down to continue on with your everyday life you're left with this pit in your stomach and an ache in your chest, the feelings this story evoked in me haunted me even when I wasn't reading it. This book is beautifully written, so charismatic, K.B. Nelson is almost poetic in his story telling and his books always leave me with that sense that I'm going to remember these characters stories for a long while.
This book only loses a star due to my personal preference in the kind of books I prefer to read, I do generally prefer more romance in my books, and although this is a love story, it's more of a personal tale of healing for the main character who had lost her way in the world. However this book is so intelligently written and beautifully lyrical at times that whether or not it would be my usual preference I just could not put it down and in fact, devoured it in a few hours. I'm now left feeling slightly heart sore after what I went through with these characters but thankful that I got to witness their story. So if you're looking for a book that will grab you and pull on your heart strings then you should definitely give this book a go!
 
Reviewed by Steph Lewis
 
 
She’s a stripper. He’s a preacher. Her name is Faith and he’s been faithless since the day she went away.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know it’d end like this.
From the beginning, it could only go one way, and straight to hell it did.
My past reads like a film stuck on repeat; fall in in love, get heart broke, and then run. Just fucking run.

And run I did.
Straight back to that place I swore I’d never return.
Straight back to that place where my broken heart lies buried deep within one man's chest.

Noah Parker was my first love. He was my only love.
The only boy that could ever make me feel alive.
The only boy who ever truly broke my heart.
The only boy who could possibly save me from myself.
But Noah isn’t a boy anymore…
 
 
 
 


Review: Nobody's Princess (Willow Park #3) by Sarah Hegger

***3 Stars***
 
 
This, the third and final book of the series, was a case of struggling to connect with the characters, but had the potential to be so much more.
On one hand we have Tiffany, a pampered princess who at the same time has never been given the opportunity to think for herself. I had a real hard time warming to her because for much of it she came across as cowardly. Throughout the book we got glimpses of her kind heart and fighting spirit, but I'm afraid she never developed where it mattered for me.
Thomas Hunter, is the third and final Hunter brother to feature and I had such high hopes for him prior to reading this book. His absence from the previous books made him seem mysterious and moody, but Thomas turned out to be the complete opposite and unfortunately there wasn't a great deal I learned about him other than he really has just been working in Africa. Thomas is such a likeable character but I felt we needed more from him. Other than the initial moment he met Tiffany at the beginning, I don't think it helped that he didn't feature a lot in the first 20%
I always said that I loved the fact that these stories had no gimmicks and it was the simplicity of the love story that I felt was what made this such a great series. This book just fell too flat for me. It never really peaked and I've been left with a feeling that I'm not entirely sure what the future holds for Tiffany and Thomas.
 
Reviewed by Louise Dale
 
 
Sarah Hegger is back with another delightful Willow Park Romance, but this time the road to love might be a little bumpy…

Tiffany Desjardins has a plan. Well, she had a plan, until her past and all its complications came back to haunt her. Her not-quite-ex-husband, Luke, is missing, and suddenly everyone needs to find him--including Tiffany, if she wants to marry the true man of her dreams. Then there's Thomas Hunter, Luke's brawny friend, who won't take "no road trip" for an answer--and who won't stop showing up in her daydreams…

Thomas couldn't care less about Luke's personal life, but he needs to find him if he's going to make his fledgling minerals and metals company a reality. And if that means following Tiffany, who's taken off in Luke's rare Lamborghini Miura, he's more than willing--especially if there might be a chance to negotiate some of Tiffany's lovely curves. As Tiffany and Thomas speed along without a map, the only destination that seems certain is being together…
 
 
 
 


Review: Soulless (King #4) by T.M. Frazier

*****5 Stars*****
 
 
One word - ASTOUNDING !!!
Well I never thought in a million years anyone could knock any of the books of my top ten ever list but each and every book in this series has done just that. I am firmly put in my place each time I say surly the next won't be better than the last but this author just continues to blow me away with a firm boot up the backside saying told ya so. I can't rehash the story as it would give spoilers to anyone who hasn't read Lawless the first side of Bears story but I can promise you won't be disappointed. The characters just interconnect flawlessly, their back story is tragically perfect and the writing is immaculate and precise. Some may think the first half of the book is too slow but in all honesty I didn't think it took away anything as it was a much needed build up to take the story to the next angsty level. We also meet some new characters in this book and one who stood out for me was a certain little explosion called Rage, she's definitely one to watch for I think. This author knows where her story has to go in order to please her readers and she does everything to make that happen. There are the ample amount of twists to keep you guessing just to shock you on revealing you were wrong. Bear and Thia's story is simply just perfect and I seriously can't wait to see what's next. I do have a funny feeling where we are going but my lips are sealed. I want a do over with the whole series and so jealous of anyone who is reading this series for the first time.
 
Reviewed by Claire Lamb
 
 
The finale to Bear and Thia's epic love story.
 
 
 
 


Review: Balls (Ball Games #1) by Andie M. Long

****4 Stars****
 
 
This is the story of Camille and an old school bully Dylan. Camille hated Dylan for gaining her the name Camille Toe ( camel Toe ) back in her school days. Camille is now returning to her home town to open an indoor childrens play area. After Dylan tries to say sorry like a million times can Camille ever forgive the grown up sexy looking man especially after disaster strikes again.
This is a quick, fun and very witty read. There is quite a few laugh out loud moments where you think omg the British are mad in their slang talk. However don't despair it comes with a glossary at the front so you can decipher everything. Unfortunately I am not a fan of short mini novella series and will only usually ever read novellas within a series if they are a much needed part. However I don't think anyone will be disappointed in the laughing factor with this one.
 
Reviewed by Claire Lamb
 
 
 
Camille Turner has returned to her home town of Rotherham to open her new business, a childrens play centre. She said she left to pursue her education but in reality she was driven away by the antics of fellow pupil Dylan Ball, whose parting shot, a photo of Camille in tight shorts, earned her the nickname Camille Toe.
After swearing revenge as she left the school gates behind her, Camille is reunited with a now older and apologetic Dylan who wants to be friends. She’d tell him to go to Hell but he does genuinely seem sorry. Plus he’s also matured into one sexy male. It’s so unfair.
But does Dylan really want to be friends or is it all an act to embarrass her once again?

Includes a Yorkshire/British glossary to teach you some rude slang ;)
 
 
 
 


Monday 22 February 2016

99p/c Pre-Order Sale from Jessica Hawkins!

Slip Of The Tongue is on sale for the special pre-order price of only 99 pennies!
 
 
 
Sadie Hunt isn't perfect--but her husband is. Nathan Hunt has her coffee waiting every morning. He holds her hand until the last second. He worships the Manhattan sidewalk she walks on. Until one day, he just...stops. And Sadie finds herself in the last place she ever expected to be. Lonely in her marriage.

When rugged and sexy Finn Cohen moves into the apartment across the hall, he and Sadie share an immediate spark. Finn reveals dreams for a different life. Sadie wants to save her marriage. Their secrets should keep them apart, not ignite a blistering affair. But while Sadie's marriage runs colder by the day, she and Finn burn hotter.

Her husband doesn't want her anymore. The man next door would give up everything to have her.


Review: Set the Pace (The Detroit Love Duet #1) by Kim Karr

*****4.5 Stars*****
 
 
I'm not even joking when I say I'd sell my left kidney for book 2 right now. I can just hear the 'WTF's', the 'Nooooooooo's' and the 'You can't end a book like that's'.
The idea, of childhood best friends get separated at a young age only to meet up again in adulthood, is nothing new, but what this book does give us is one hell of a mystery. To me, nearly every single character was under suspicion which meant one heck of a gripping story.
The storyline is not something I can explain and certainly not one I would attempt to do for fear of giving anything away, however I will say that Jasper starts out as your typical fictional bad boy. He's a player and a hot one at that. The chemistry between him and Charlotte is there from the start. I loved that he was a bit of a jerk towards her and I loved Charlotte's vulnerability.
If I'm perfectly honest, something for me affected the flow towards the final 20% of the book. The story became a little difficult to follow at this stage, but what is clear is that I am absolutely dying to read the next book.
 
Reviewed by Louise Dale
 
 
Every city needs a hero, but Detroit’s white knight just might be a villain.
A rough childhood branded Jasper Storm trouble. A bad boy. Not worth a damn. His love of cars was the only thing that could battle his delinquency. With the need for speed in his blood, he overcame his wayward ways. Mostly. All grown up, the broken city of Detroit hails him their shining star. And the man behind a new cutting-edge automobile is ready to turn this bankrupt town around.

Everything he does in life is fast. He talks fast, f*cks fast, and drives fast. But when one reckless turn brings him face-to-face with the childhood he has tried very hard to forget, he finds himself on the edge of wondering if he shouldn’t slow down.

Charlotte Lane was the tomboy who lived next door. She was his best friend. He was her protector. Then tragedy struck and she disappeared, forever—or so he thought.

Jasper has many reasons to hate Charlotte and keep his distance, but she’s infiltrating his every thought and he can’t stay away. Back in town with an agenda of her own, she should push him aside. Make him turn around. Walk away herself. Yet she can't.

With the past lurking between them, they proceed with caution. That is until one sex-filled night leads to murder. When Detroit’s biggest ally suddenly becomes suspect number one, will Charlotte—the girl Jasper once kept safe—be the one to save him?
 
 
 
 


Review: The Hunted by H.J. Bellus

****3.5 Stars****
 
 
Basil Harper is a girl who wanted to try make an independent life for herself away from her hippy, pot smoking mum. Don't get me wrong she loves her mum dearly but craves a life for herself so she packs up and moves to the city. This is where she first spots her new neighbour Van in the run down neighbourhood they live in, he disappears at night and doesn't come home until dawn.
Bas is a virgin and her best friend Ivy has been trying to coax her into dating so she introduces her to Gannon. Bas is initially attracted to Gannon but can only picture Van when she's with him. Bas has been lying to Ivy and Gannon about where she works, she pretends she works in a late night cafe when she actually waitresses in a strip club and this is where she learns who Van is and this is where the magnetism starts between them when Ivy spots him screwing a stripper against the wall. He then walks in her front door covered in blood but why is the question? Is he really the serial killer behind the murders in the city?
Van is not long out of prison for being framed for a crime he didn't commit. His family hate him which has made him the dark broody man that he is. Van hides a few secrets from Bas and is initially determined not to give in to her although it doesn't last long and secrets are spilled.
Okay for me the storyline was good and it flowed well enough and there's just enough twist and turns to draw you in. However a couple of scenes were a little to fast paced for me and a bit unrealistic. The instalove was just a little to quick for me between Van and Bas and to be honest he didn't seem like the alpha big bad wolf I wanted him to be. Overall it was an enjoyable enough read that I am sure many others will love.
 
Reviewed by Claire Lamb
 
 
Revenge. Blood. Lies. Hate.

The good guy is the bad guy and the bad guy is the good guy.

Or is that what they want you to believe?

In a city where crime is at an all time high and new mutilated bodies are showing up every day, who do you trust?

He’s the silent neighbor who vanishes at night and reappears when the morning news is reporting on the latest victim.

How do you know this?

You watch him through the curtains as his silent stalker. Everything about him is twisted, but you can’t get past his stare. It’s hypnotizing and the hardest pull you’ve ever experienced...you know it’s all wrong.

Then he walks through your front door covered in blood.

Who will you trust?