Scorched by Jennifer Armentrout

Sometimes life leaves a mark…

Most days, Andrea doesn’t know whether she wants to kiss Tanner or punch him in the gut. He is seriously hot, with legit bedroom eyes and that firefighter body of his, but he’s a major player, and they can’t get along for more than a handful of minutes. Until now.

Tanner knows he and Andrea have had an epic love/hate relationship for as long as he can remember, but he wants more love than hate from her. He wants her. Now. Tomorrow. But the more he gets to know her, the more it becomes obvious that Andrea has a problem. She’s teetering on the edge and every time he tries to catch her, she slips through his fingers.

Andrea’s life is spiraling out of control, and it doesn’t matter that Tanner wants to save her, because when everything falls apart and she’s speeding toward rock bottom, only she can save herself.

Sometimes life makes you work for that happily ever after… 

Review

I have yet to read a book from Jennifer that I didn’t like. I have said it many times and I will say it again this woman is a book writing genius

What is this book about

This book is about Andrea (Andy) and Tanner. In this book you’ll also find the characters from Frigid, Kyler and Sydney.  Andrea is a trust fund baby, but that doesn’t mean she acts like a spoiled brat. She volunteers at a suicide hotline and at the mental ward in a hospital. Both her parents are successful plastic surgeons and her brother is also studying to become a surgeon. Andrea was studying to become a surgeon but changed her major to teaching. Andrea likes to party and drink, and boy can she drink allot.

Tanner is working at the fire station and he’s going to the cop academy soon. He always wanted to help people and be a better man and cop than his father. Ever since he met Andrea he was interested. Who couldn’t be interested in a curvy read head with the pretty hazel eyes. 

Andrea and Tanner are good at one thing bickering and fighting. Their banter can go on for a long time, sometimes crossing the line of insulting each other.

It still bugs Andrea that Tanner doesn’t remember her from the two classes they shared in there freshmen year, and that he slept with her roommate. She had a serious crush on the guy. She loved his cropped on the sides- short on the top, hair, his stormy blue eyes and his rock hard abs. I mean what is not to like, and on top of that he is a funny, charming and good guy.

What did I like about this book.

This book covers mental illness very well ( I won’t spoil who has a problem and what it is) I could really relate to that since I have been struggling with some personal problems as well. This book showed me that It’s okey to be  “messed up in the head” and that that doesn’t mean that nobody will love you. People will help you, want to help you if you let them. That it doesn’t mean you’re unworthy or that nobody will fall for you. Again you just have to let them.  This book also showed me that you don’t have to have a size 2 to be attractive.

I really loved Tanner. He is a very sweet, charming, sexy, caring and funny guy.  He really cares for Andrea and he really is what she needs.

Quotes from the book

I needed to learn to recognize when I was feeling depressed and what those quiet moments signified. I needed to develop better coping mechanisms, and that’s what dave and the staff helped me with. When I started to become restless, it was time to pick up a book, go watch a movie or take a walk, call a friend or visit family. I learned that I needed to open myself up. I had an amazing support system right at my fingertips. I just needed to allow myself to use them.

“I mean, I knew my head- my thoughts sometimes just didn’t make sense. Like it always went to the worst-case scenario and I .. I don’t think I’m good enough or worthy enough and those quiet moments, God there killer. That’s what’s really going on with me so- please don’t say anything that you really don’t mean". He didn’t say anything for a moment and then “First of, you are fucking good enough and you are worthy. Okey? Yeah you make a shit choice, but that’s not going to define who you are from this point. You know why?"  “ why? “ “Because you learned from your shit choice. You are still learning. You are doing everything to not make a shit choice like that again. And secondly? You have depression. So do how many million other people? I’m not trying to downplay it. I know it’s serious shit, but do you thing that makes me think any less of you? Depression isn’t the villain in this, the way you were trying to cope with is was. Depression isn’t the bad guy and neither are you.. And finally? I love you , Andrea”

Elude by Rachel van Dyken

Twenty-Four hours before we were to be married--I offered to shoot her.
Ten hours before our wedding--I made a mockery of her dying wish.
Five hours before we were going to say our vows--I promised I'd never love her.
One hour before I said I do--I vowed I'd never shed a tear over her death.
But the minute we were pronounced man and wife--I knew.
I'd only use my gun to protect her.
I'd give my life for hers.
I'd cry.
And I would, most definitely, lose my heart, to a dying girl---a girl who by all accounts should have never been mine in the first place.
I always believed the mafia would be my end game--where I'd lose my heart, while it claimed my soul. I could have never imagined. It would be my redemption.
Or the beginning of something beautiful.
The beginning of her.
The end of us. 

Review

I didn’t think much of this book in the beginning  because I never really liked Sergio. But I was curious and I hoped to read more about Phoenix and Bee.  In this book there already married. I’m sad that we didn’t get to read about their wedding but I’m glad to see there doing fine.

But after reading this book I loved it. I love Andie and her look on life. I loved that even though she was dying she was living with such passion and full of life.

So what is this book all about.

This book focuses on Andie and Sergio. Andie is marrying into the abbanato family for protection from her Russian mob father. On top of that she has chronic leukemia so she doesn’t have much longer to live.

Sergio makes it very clear that he won’t get feelings for Andie and that he’ll only protect her and nothing more. He treats her less than a dog sometimes. Andie on the other hand doesn’t let her illness get the best of her and she is very bad ass. She is a Russian  trained killer after all. She even manages to hand Sergio’s ass to him and get the better of Tex.

For Sergio his marriage started out as a punishment but in the end he was her salvation. Andie said to Sergio that even though she was dying, he was the one that was already dead. And that was true. In the short time they were together, Andie manages to save Sergio and make him feel alive again.

What did I like about this book

I loved Andie. She was such an amazing character. She was very funny and bad ass. She was just great, I would love to have her as my friend. I also loved how Sergio changed in this book. I like him more now.

After hearing about how everybody cried on the RRR facebook page, I thought meh I don’t cry over books that easily. How wrong I was. I cried so hard, I was so emotional. I really can’t wait for the next book. I can’t imagine how that would turn out. I don’t want to spoil anything but danm poor Sergio.

SPOILER: I thought it was so weird that Nixon knew Trace was pregnant because she didn’t have her period for six weeks and she didn’t even notice it. It could be possible but it’s very unusual. But hej I’m happy for them.  This is how she found out

“Holy Crap” I jumped out of my chair and covered my mouth with my hands. “Trace!”She frowned, reaching a fist into the popcorn and stuffing it into her mouth. I shook my head “you’re pregnant”. She paled. Tex burst out laughing. “Nixon you dirty dog””Huh?”Nixon walked into the kitchen, a gun in hand. Seriously, did the guy ever turn it off? Or put it away? Probably why Trace was preggers. I smirked at my own joke. “Why am I dirty?” “Trace!”Mo pointed an accusing finger in Trace’s face. “You got your wife pregnant. Well done, evil twin. Well done”. Nixons face broke into a smile “oh..”He winked at Tex “That..” Popcorn fell out of Trace’s hand as she started counting on her fingers. “Six weeks” Nixon said, looking bored. Trace’s eyes widened. Nixon shrugged “What? I know your cycle better than you do. You’re about six weeks along. I was waiting for you to say something, thought maybe you didn’t know” His grin was shameless. “Apparently, someone’s been distracted” Trace launched herself at Nixon, wrapped her arms around her neck “Why didn’t you tell me? “ Nixon kissed her across the mouth “I honestly thought you were just waiting to tell me until you were further along – until you knew. Don’t girls do that. “No..”Phoenix stumbled into the room, his eyes tired. “They tell you right away and then cause you to freak out at the exact same time they find out, making you lose sleep and wonder if your child is going to inherit the same awful tendencies to stay up ALL THE NIGHT LONG!

“Just me?  Tex frowned. “Or did Phoenix just say “all the night long? Like he was born in the eighteen hundreds.     SPOILER

Quotes from the book

“Chill, you’re both pretty. Now adjust your balls, scratch your ass, and burp so we can get back to dresses and champagne”

In those brief moments, Sergio had given me all I’d ever wanted- but had never been brave enough to admit. Freedom from the thoughts of sickness. Freedom from the thoughts of death. Freedom from my physical body reminding me that is was soon.

 “Holy Shit” Chase burst out laughing. “Really, dude? You realize there’s four dead bodies surrounding your little love nest?”Sergio started stalking toward him. I grabbed his arm and jerked him back. Did he not realize he was still naked? Nixon followed, his eyes scanning the mess of blood and bodies before turning to us “Nice work” “Amazing, leave it to Nixon to comment on the dead bodies rather than the naked ones”

“Damn it, I’m not your bitch. You can’t make me cook every night!” – Chase

I also decided to make some collages of the other characters and the women in the book. 

Ember by Rachel van Dyken

I am a Killer. A Rapist. A Monster.
I know only pain and survival. 
That is until the Cappo's sister walked into my life. 
And changed everything.

She's a light who makes my darkness darker, her smile makes my heart turn to ice, and I can't escape the fear her seductive looks instill--knowing it's only a matter of time before I fail--again, and take her for myself.
This is the story of my redemption. 
But it's not pretty...I died, and now I'm alive, but not living, breathing but not surviving. I am Phoenix De Lange, son to a murdered mob boss, estranged brother, horrible friend, monster in the making, newest leader to one of the most powerful families in the Cosa Nostra.
And I will have my vengeance.
Or die trying.
I am Phoenix De Lange. 
Death is all I know. 
Until she offers me a piece of life--I can't resist taking

I was very excited to read Phoenix story. I have a thing for broken men I guess. I really believe Phoenix is worthy of love. He just needed someone to see him for who he really is, to mend his broken pieces back together, to fight for him and most of all to make him want to live again. And I thing Bianka, sister of the capo, also called Bee, is the perfect woman for the Job.

I’m finally starting to understand the family tree, and how the families work but it’s still confusing at times.

Review

What is this book about.

This book continues where elicit and bang bang ended. It now focuses on Phoenix and Bee. Phoenix now is the head of the nicolasi family and all the secrets Luca knew are now passed on to him. Phoenix believes he isn’t worthy of anything  and in bee’s eyes he’s worth everything. Bee is the sister the capo. She had a rough live and her father was horrible to her. Phoenix saved and protected her from her father. We don’t get to know much about her past, which is a shame, I would like to find out more. Anyhow, even though she had a rough childhood she is still a funny, energetic, smart, sassy person. I think she is one of my favorites in this series. She and Chase are seriously the funny ones. Bee’s relentless in her pursuit after phoenix, she pushes his buttons like no other, teases him, forces him to eat, tricks him and she sees the good in him when nobody does, but she’s also very insecure. Phoenix on the other hand is trying very hard to push her away, to keep her from his cursed self but even he has his limits.

What do I love about this book.

I Just love phoenix. I really feel for him and I really believe he is much more than he thinks he is. I’m happy to see he found love and forgiveness is in his life. I think that the person he was, was created out of the horrible circumstances he grew up in.  I really loved there story and I hope to see more of them in Elude. I’m curious about Sergio and Andi’s story, because andi seems like an very interesting person. Oh Andi is from a Russian mob family, she worked for Luca.

This story changed, it’s really maturing. It still has the bad ass mafia business going on but you can tell that the characters aged and things are getting more serious.

Quotes from the book:

But want didn’t really belong in my vocabulary anymore – Phoenix

Who died and made you my grandpa – Bee

"Didn’t I tell you to make friends?" " Found a squirrel in the parking lot. Does that count?" "That depends. Did it talk to you? Offer you his nuts?" - Bee and Phoenix

"This is your Everest. We all have them. We all struggle.?But that doesn’t make you any less intelligent. It makes you different. Don’t let the thing that terrifies you overcome you so much that you can’t even take a bite. So we start slow. We start at the beginning. And eventually, you’ll be able to eat the whole plate, or in your case, finish every problem. You helped me with lasagna, I’ll help you with this".  “because I fed you? “ No, Because you where the only one who even recognized I was hungry” - Bee and Phoenix

“Bee he growled. “if you aren’t here in five seconds I’m going to –“ “Spank me? Mud wrestle until I say uncle?” - Bee and Phoenix

"The prince doesn’t turn into a prince, and the beast doesn’t turn back human, Bee. That’s not how life really works".  “I don’t mind frogs, beast are kind of scary… but can be tamed too” “Is that your way of saying you can tame me?” Aw you need a safe word. It can be bird you know, because of your name and all”  - Bee and Phoenix

It broke my heart, absolutely shattered every part of me, that the only time I’d seen him truly at peace was in the moment when he was asking for his own death

"I believe in you. I just.. I want you to know that despite everything… I believe in you. That’s all" - Bee

“Taking advantage of you with my eyes .What does it look like I’m doing?” - Bee

First time phoenix and bee spoke. 

Phoenix (Phoenix: Blue Eyes, multi colored/brown hair cut short, lean muscled body, dimples)

Bee: Curvy, sexy, energetic, auburn hair, deep blue eyes, beautiful

Echo by e.k blair

It's been said the longest echo ever measured lasted 75 seconds, but I can assure you, this will last much longer. The bang deafened the world around me, muting everything into nullity, allowing the reflection of its destruction to live far beyond its intended life. 

It will follow me forever, destroying me—destroying you.

You want answers? 

So do I.







Review.

It is so hard to write a review for this book because I don’t want to spoil too much and this book has so much going on.  It is a very complex story with great debt and real characters. The way E.K. tells a story is magnificent. She manage to write about a gruesome and trilling subject and manage too make you fall in love with it. It teaches you that life isn’t fair, that bad and horrible things happen to people and that no matter how hard you try or how sorry you are, bad things will happen. But that doesn’t mean it can turn around, that there won’t be good things in life to. That people can (try too) forgive. It also teaches you that without hate there isn’t love and that there is a very very fine line between the two. That even though you can hate someone that doesn’t mean you can’t love them and vice versa.

I’ll try not to spoil anything but I won’t make any promises. So if you really don’t want to know anything about this book, I recommend you not reading my review.

So what is this book about

This book starts of where Bang ended. So you’ll understand that I was very frantic to read it.  Elizabeth is more broken than she already was. Not only did she lose her baby, her brother but also her lover. She feels like she has nothing left. She doesn’t know how to deal with her feeling and there’s no pike to take it all way.  Since there is nothing left for her, she decides to go to Scotland to see the place Declan begged her to move to with him. By doing so she hopes to feel closer to Declan.

Before she left matt called her, wanting to talk to her. Matt knows she killed Pike and he cleaned up the mess. That leaves Elizabeth in his favor. Not knowing what and when Matt will call in his favor Elizabeth leaves the country anyway.

In Scotland Elizabeth finds out that her little con is nothing compared to the web of crimes she finds herself in. Nothing is what is seems and Elizabeth is stuck in the middle of money washing, gun trafficking, human trafficking, prostitution and what not. She finds out things about her family she might not want to know. But in her sadness, grieve, and pain she finds love again. That doesn’t mean it’s the kind of love she had or was looking for.  After all it takes time to forgive someone after a massive betrayal and even then it’s not a certainty you will be trusted again.

What did I love about this book

I loved every second of it.  There aren’t many things in books that shock me (yes it turns out I have a very twisted mind haha) but E.K manages to shock me at some point. When you think poor Elizabeth has had the worst, EK proves you wrong.  This book has everything in it and it’s so well written and planned. It has love, forgiveness, hate, betrayal, horror, mental breakdowns, real reactions to events, emotions, so much emotions, pain, happiness, and hope.

E.K wouldn’t be E.K if she didn’t leave us hanging and guessing at the end of this book. In my opinion it isn’t as bad as the cliffhanger in the first book but it’s a big cliffhanger none the less.

Quotes from the book

This was the moment I discovered my new drugs. It no longer came in the comfort of Pike or Declan. No. It came from the devil’s hand,-my hand- and in that moment, I felt a sense of power in my ability to state off the misery with a blissful brutality that births an endorphined high

“Because I do hate you. More than anything on this earth. I hate you with every pump of blood my heart proffers. I want to punish you in the worst ways, make you suffer and hurt. But god help me…. I love you."

“I never claimed to be right-minded. I know I’m screwed up. I know I’m so far beyond damaged I’m irreparable. But I also know that you want find the same amount of satisfaction in punishing anyone but me." “Why do it then? Is it to make yourself better for what you did?” “Partly” “And the other part?” “Because I love you? “ “ You shouldn’t” "But I do. I never thought anyone could have the power to make me feel as safe and clean as you do. You have the power to make me feel worthy of living. That somewhere out there, life just might have a purpose for me” “ Then why did you leave me? Why didn’t you stay and call the medics? Why did you leave me to die?"

“I don’t know if I’m going to get over this- if I’m ever going to get to the point where I don’t want to punish you for what you’ve done. But I need you to understand something: I need you to know that even though you may feel pain, I will never hurt you. I will do everything to give you what was taken from you. I’m going to make you feel safe, I promise you that. No one will ever lay a hand on you again”

“I’ll never forget how beautiful she looked at the grand opening of Lotus, standing across the room along, midnight-blue gown. She was confident, snarky, and so sure of herself, and in this very moment, I vow to give all those qualities back to her.”

Bang Bang by Rachel van Dyken

He was my best friend.
Until he became my enemy.
All within the span of one night.
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang.
The rapid fire of gunshots became the soundtrack to my life.
This is the Mafia. Lines are blurred. Choices are never black and white. And the life you thought you knew is... one giant lie.
He was dead.
And I didn't want his life to be in vain, so I tried to make something of myself. I tried and failed.
Now he's back. Alive. And he wants something...
Me.
Nobody ever said the mafia played fair.
Welcome to The Family.





Review

For some reason I haven’t read Bang Bang before and I now that I have I must say I liked it. It’s a sweet short story that contains the badass mafia action.  I also liked to see more of Bee and Phoenix. I really makes you want to read more about their story.

So what is this book about

This story is a side story in the Eagle Elite series It can be read as a standalone but I don’t recommend it. I recommend you reading it after elicit or it might spoil some things for you. This story is about Axton aka ax and Amy. Ax is the younger brother of Sergio and therefore the cousin of Nixon.  Amy is a de lange and she’s Phoenix cousin.

                Amy and Ax are best friends. Ax is the person Amy goes to after her father hits her again or when he and her mother are fighting. In the beginning of the books things go horrible wrong and amy and ax are separated. Amy’s mother is dead, her father gone MIA and she believes Ax is dead. Amy is put in foster care and they don’t treat her much better than her father did. Five years after the event Ax comes out of hiding, like Sergio and starts working for the family again. He doesn’t want to be he gets an offer he can’t refuse, amy. Since amy left Chicago after she graduated he lost track of her.

                This book wouldn’t be a mafia book if there weren’t some shooting, killing, plotting and weddings involved.

What did I like about this story

I liked that it gave us some insight in sergio’s family and it was a nice set up for Phoenix’s story. I liked how ax was willing to do anything for Amy and how Amy was devoted to Ax. I’m glad to see they got there happy ending. And I can’t wait to read Phoenix’s story. 

Bang by E.K. Blair

They say when you take revenge against another you lose a part of your innocence.

But I’m not innocent. 
I haven’t been for a very long time. 
My innocence was stolen from me. Taken was the life I was supposed to have. The soul I was born with. The ruby heart embedded in a life full of hopes and dreams.

Gone.
Vanished.

I never even had a choice. 
I mourn that life. Mourn the what-ifs. 
Until now. 
I’m ready to take back what was always meant to be mine.

But every plan has a fatal flaw. Sometimes it’s the heart.

Review

I've read this book after there romance author and reading event last year and till now I just wasn't able to write a review. A week ago, the second book came out so I decided (after reading Echo, the black lotus series part 2) to do a re-read and write both review. Warning this book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. It also covers some pretty dark stuff and some things are pretty disturbing so if you can't take or aren't interested in that sort of things, this book might not be for you. And by the way when I say dark I mean dark.  So that might tell you something about my brain because I loved it. I just had to put the book down a view times, but never for to long. I really had to take in what was happening at some points during the book. It wasn't a boring flight home, I'll tell you that. 

What is this book about
I  don't even know where to begin. There is so much depth to this story .  I just won't be able to do it justice.
The story is about  Nina, she is the wife of Bennett Vanderwall, who is a very wealthy  business men. The first thing you have to know about this book. That's nothing is what it seems.  When you first see the married couple they look very happy but like I said nothing is what it seems. Nina's real name is Elizabeth. When she was 8 years old she got ripped away from her father and was put in several foster homes. In the last foster home she met her brother Pike. Pike and Elizabeth share a very strong and unusual bond. They say mutual trauma creates a strong bond between people. And the trauma they both went to is just horrible.   The story really takes a very dark and twisted turn. 
    And then there's Declan. He is a strong, dominating, alpha, very sexy Scottish business man. He get's what he wants and he isn't ashamed to go for it. He is unapologetic in his pursuit after Nina, and It's not for the reason you think it is.  Nina isn't planning to fall in love with declan, she has other plans for him, but plans aren't always going according to plan. 

What did I love about this book.
I love the thrill and the excitement of it. This book really kept me on my toes and It really kept me interested. But sometimes I had to take a step back and take it all in.  This book doesn't go in the way you might things it will go. There are many twist and turns. And the debt, story building and character development are amazing. 
There are some pretty desturbing things going on in this but, that made me question why I liked it. Not all of it but most of it I do.  If you like a dark romance themed book, this one is the one for you. And if you're not sure, pick it up and try. Oh and be warned, ek blair really ends her books with a bang. 

Declan and Nina 

"you've heard of Newton's first law of motion right? The one that states that an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. It's a science that can't be negated, and with the game in full speed, I'm about to learn the catastrophic consequences of that law"

COVER REVEAL!!!!! The Power by Jennifer Armentrout.

Before I show you the georgous cover of the Power, I'm gonna spread some love and atention of the first book in the Titan series by Jennifer Armentrout. For those of you that don't know, the Titan series is a spin of from the Covenant Series. You don't have to read that series first to read this one but I do recommend reading that series before this one. 
I loved the covenant series and I love the Return. I've written a review about the Return a while ago. It's also on my blog. 

THE RETURN Synopsis

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off... 

It's been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they've given him have been violent and bloody--which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He's got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet. 
Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy's deal might be, but it's a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her. 

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all. 

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

So without teasing you anymore, I'll give you what you wanted to see. Here is the cover of the return!!!:

THE POWER 

Synopsis:

Official Description To Come…

“You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

Isn't it gorgeous??!?!?! I really like it. It's very mysterious and sexy. So for those of you that don't know Jennifer Armentrout. Shame on you, go read some of her books!! hahaha just kidding. Here is some info about her and links to her pages. 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4476934.Jennifer_L_Armentrout

THE POWER Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25056628-the-power?ac=1

THE RETURN Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18809475-the-return?ac=1

I want to say thanks to Spencer Hill Press (@SpencerHillP ) ,ink Slinger Blogger (@InkSlingerPR)  and Jennifer Armentrout for letting me be a part of the cover reveal.  I really appreciate it :D!!!