Sunday, March 31, 2019

Review: "The Roommate Agreement by Emma Hart"

A brand new best-friends-to-lovers romcom from Emma Hart.

Let your homeless best friend stay with you, he said. Being roommates will be fun, he said. It's only temporary, he said.
He never said I'd fall for him.

You know what isn't 'temporary?' The endless stream of dirty socks in my bathroom and empty food packets under the sofa—and don't even get me started on the hot guys who take over my living room every Sunday to watch sports.
I can't take anymore. 
So I propose a roommate agreement. One that will bring peace and order back to my life, complete with rules that might just stop my newfound crush on my best friend in its tracks.
After all, there’s only so many times you can see your best friend naked before you start to lose your mind.

Rules. They're meant to be broken... Aren't they?


Advanced Readers Copy 

Title: The Roommate Agreement 
Author: Emma Hart
Publisher: Emma Hart
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 199
Genre: Romance, Contemporary 

Date Read: 28-03-2019

Favorite Quote: Introverts weren’t designed for this kind of human interaction. We were more of a mumble and hide in a blanket-fort kind of people.

Review:
I'm really grateful I received this book. Emma's books are always fun to read and this one is no exception. 
It's a fun and relatable book. For a second I thought this could have been Emma's own story but it wasn't. 

What is this book about:
This book is about Shelby and Jay. Both of them have been friends for a very long time. Their friends and family expected them to end up together at some point and they always laughed at that idea. 
After Jay was about to become homeless he moved in with Shelby. It was suppose to be temporary. They weren't suppose to be attracted at each other. Will they be brave enough to try and take their relationship to the next level or will their fear of losing each other keep them from taking the next step?

Rating:

Blog Tour: The Roommate Agreement by Emma Hart


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Let your homeless best friend stay with you, he said. Being roommates will be fun, he said. It's only temporary, he said.


He never said I'd fall for him.


The Roommate Agreement, all-new hilarious and romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart is available now!

ROOMMATEAGREEMENT-coverdraft1

You know what isn't 'temporary?' The endless stream of dirty socks in my bathroom and empty food packets under the sofa—and don't even get me started on the hot guys who take over my living room every Sunday to watch sports.

I can't take anymore.

So I propose a roommate agreement. One that will bring peace and order back to my life, complete with rules that might just stop my newfound crush on my best friend in its tracks.

After all, there’s only so many times you can see your best friend naked before you start to lose your mind.


Rules. They're meant to be broken... Aren't they?

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Download your copy today!

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2U6lAam


Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2H3qOyc


Excerpt:

Shelby shut the door with a click and peered over at me. “What are you writing? If it’s permission to use the feather duster as a sex toy, the answer is no. Unless you buy your own, but if you haven’t figured out where the laundry room is yet, I doubt you’ll find where to buy one.”

She was as funny as a car crash, this one.

“Hilarious,” I drawled. “No, I’m making amendments as I go. I added a new rule.”

“You added a new rule?” She raised one dark eyebrow and walked over, hovering over me. “All right, what is it?”

“Decent clothes must be worn. Do you know how many times I wake up early on a morning to open the gym and find you basically in your underwear in the kitchen?”

“Basically in my underwear? Who are you seeing in the kitchen? I wear shorts and a tank top at the very least.”

“Yes, but the shorts barely cover your ass, and you’re sure as hell not wearing a bra.”

She paused, eyes glittering as she said, “And why are you looking at my ass and my boobs?”

That was an excellent question.

“Because there’s nowhere else to look!” I rushed out before my stupid cock could get any ideas. “Look, waking up in the morning can be challenging for a guy.”

She stared at me.

“I don’t need to get up for a coffee with… you know.” I motioned to my groin. “And see you half-clothed.”

She flicked her hair over her shoulder and walked to the kitchen, turning her back to me. “Why does it matter? I’m your best friend. I hardly think your little friend is remotely interested in whether or not I’m wearing a bra.”

Yeah, well, he is.

“Fine. If I have to wake up and see your perky nipples prancing around the kitchen, I’m going to stroll around in my underwear so you can get a good view of my morning glory.”

She spun, lifting up a finger. Her cheeks were flushed, and she had to swallow before she could speak. “My nipples do not prance. They are not horses.”

I grinned.

“Also, I have no desire to have anything to do with your morning erection, much less get a good view of it, thank you very much.”

“Have I told you that you’re cute when you blush?”

“Have I told you that you’d be a cute dead guy?”

I laughed, leaning back on the sofa. “C’mon, Shelbs. We need to respect each other’s privacy. You don’t want to see my cock hard over your breakfast, and I don’t want to see your nipples standing to attention when I make a coffee.”

She sighed. “Why did I ever let you move in again?”

“Because I was going to be homeless and you’re the best friend ever?”

“Mm.”


About Emma Hart
Emma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels and has been translated into several different languages.
She is a mother, wife, lover of wine, Pink Goddess, and valiant rescuer of wild baby hedgehogs.
Emma prides herself on her realistic, snarky smut, with comebacks that would make a PMS-ing teenage girl proud.
Yes, really. She's that sarcastic.
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Connect with Emma

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Monday, March 25, 2019

Review "Music of the Heart by Katie Ashley"

For Abby Renard, the plan was supposed to be simple—join her brothers’ band on the last leg of their summer tour and decide if she’s finally ready for the limelight by becoming its fourth member. Of course, she never imagined stumbling onto the wrong tour bus at Rock Nation would accidentally land her in the bed of Jake Slater, the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train. When he mistakes her for one of his groupie’s, Abby quickly lets him know she sure as hell isn't in his bed on purpose.

Jake Slater never imagined the angel who fell into his bed would resist his charms by promptly kneeing him in the balls. Of course, the fact she seems like a prissy choir girl makes her anything but his type. So he is more than surprised when after betting Abby she wouldn’t last a week on their tour bus, she is more than willing to prove him wrong. But as Jake’s personal life begins to implode around him, he finds an unlikely ally in Abby. He’s never met a woman he can talk to, joke with, or most importantly make music with.

As the week comes to a close, neither Abby nor Jake is ready to let go. Can a sweetheart Country songstress and a bad boy of Rock N Roll actually have a future together?


Title: Music of the Heart (Runaway Train #1) 
Author: Katie Ashley
Publisher: Katie Ashley Productions 
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 369
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Music 

Date Read: 23-03-2019 - 24-03-2019

Favorite Quote: “Just remember that forgiveness is so much easier than regret.”

Review:
First thing that comes to mind when I think about this book is the word: unrealistic. It doesn't feel like it would fit the setting and the character. Their interactions where off. It's hard to explain it. For rockers they aren't really how they are described. They are described as womanizers, *ssholes etc but their actions say the complete opposite. Jake was a bit all over the place, as was abby. It's like the author is trying to make two opposite personalities fit withing one person and it's not really working. 
Jake and Abby fell in love way to fast. They really liked each other in 24 hours, in 48 they where falling for each other and within a bit over a week they where completely in love. 
I also felt like Abby didn't really accept all of Jake. She sometimes seemed like it but then was criticizing followed by running away. And Jake was almost always apologizing, even for things that I didn't think he needed to apologize over. 
I felt like Abby was glorified allot, to much actually, by all the characters in the book. Like she could do no wrong in the eyes of anyone and she didn't really do all that much to deserve that in my opinion. 
The sex scenes where a bit ruined by abby, not because she was a virgin or anything but how she reacted to several things. When Jake was complimenting her by saying something like how she felt so good, she got pissy and judgy, accusing him of using lines etc. I was like the h*ll girl, he is complimenting you. It might just be me though, I do like some dirty talk. 

I couldn't connect with the characters, it all felt a bit to over the top for me. Another word that comes to mind when I have to describe this book is boring. I really felt bored after the 50% mark, maybe even sooner. I started to skim more to just get to the end of it. 

Rating:
2 decent stars 

Review "Marking Time by April White"

Seventeen-year-old tagger Saira Elian can handle anything... a mother who mysteriously disappears, a stranger who stalks her around London, and even the noble English Grandmother who kicked Saira and her mother out of the family. But when an old graffiti tag in a tube station transports Saira to the 19th Century and she comes face-to-face with Jack the Ripper, she realizes she needs help after all.

Saira meets Archer, a charming student who helps her blend in as much as a tall, modern American teen can in Victorian England. He reveals the existence of the Immortals: Time, Nature, Fate, War and Death, and explains to Saira that it is possible to move between 
centuries – if you are a Descendant of Time. 

Saira finds unexpected friendships at a boarding school for Immortal Descendants and a complicated love with a young man from the past. But time is running out for her mother, and Saira must embrace her new identity as she hides from Archer a devastating secret about his future that may cost him his life.


Title: Marking Time (The Immortal Descendence #1) 
Author: April White
Publisher: Corazon Entertainment
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 438
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Date Read: 20-03-2019 - 23-03-2019

Favorite Quote: “A man chooses what he becomes, and he must accept responsibility for his choices.”

Review:
I find it very hard to write this review and rate this book. It wasn't a bad book. The writing wasn't the best but also not bad. The concept was great, but it was all a bit confusing. That could be due to the fact that time traveling is often confusing.

I love the side characters. Archer and Ringo are great. They are very loyal. So are Adam and Eva. Even mr. Shaw was great.
Seira not so much. She could have been great if she just stopped and think for one second. If she pushed her ego aside for a minute and listen to what others are saying. I got a bit tired of her always running and running and quite often over reacting.
It could have saved people allot of trouble and danger if she did.
I get why she doesn't trust and why she wants to run, its what she was taught but at some point she needed to learn.
I'm glad that by the end of the book she started to see that she was being careless and reckless. Thats the first step.
Now i hope she'll stop blaming others for things she did and stop acting like a victim when someone gets mad at her for things she did. And at the same time stop only focusing on her own guilt/feelings and ignoring the pain of others.
I think she can be great, she is smart and resorsefull but she needs to learn to listen and think things through for once.

The things I didn't like much do fit her age somewhat and the genre, young adult. It's why i'm not a huge fan of young adult. I hoped that I would love this book but sadly I didn't.

Rating:
2 1/2 it was oke stars
 

Review: Whiskey Lullaby by Stevie J. Cole"

We all have guilty pleasures.

Mine was the boy my father took in. The guy everyone said I was too good for. The one I knew would ruin me. 

But I couldn't help it. The way Noah Greyson's voice sounded when he sang whiskey lullabies to me in the dark; how perfect his arms felt wrapped around my stomach, his nose nuzzled in my hair- that's what made me fall. That intimacy was what made me so very weak. But now millions of women drift off to sleep while Noah sings the love story we wrote, and it was never meant for the world. 

The worst mistake I made wasn’t loving him, it was thinking he loved me, too.

At least, that’s what I thought until now…


Title: Whiskey Lullaby
Author Stevie J. Cole
Publisher: Stevie J. Cole
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 302
Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Date Read: 17-03-2019 - 18-03-2019

Favorite Quote: “As much as we want to pretend we’re in control of our lives, we aren’t. Control is a pretty façade we dance behind to make it through each day, because when you really accept that you aren’t in charge of your own fate, it makes you feel trapped.”

Review:
This was a cute story. I was a bit confused on the time line but that was my own fault, I missed the dates at the top of the chapter header.
I was expecting the story to go a bit differently than it did but it was still good.
I do got the feeling that the characters where younger than they actually where. Each time Hannah was talking about her job it was a reminder that she was 20 and not 15.
I do wish that Noah had to grovel a bit more before getting her back. It was over rather quickly. And Hannah dropped everything quite fast, but that could be just me.

Overall it was a cute story and a nice read.

Rating:
3 I enjoyed it stars
 

Review "Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley"

Night time is the right time...

Gwendolyn Kidd has met the man of her dreams. He's hot, he's sexy, and what started as a no-names-exchanged night of passion has blossomed into a year and a half-long pleasure fest. Sure, it's a little strange that he only appears in her bed at night, but Gwen is so sure he's the one, she just can't turn him away...

Hawk Delgado knows more about Gwen than she could ever imagine. She's gorgeous, headstrong, and skittish about relationships. But Hawk is facing his own demons, demons that keep him from connecting with anyone. Yet when Gwen is drawn into Denver's lethal underground scene, Hawk's protective nature comes out full force. The problem is, when Gwen gets a dose of Hawk's Alpha attitude in the daylight, she's not so sure he's the one anymore....
 





Title: Mystery Man (Dream Man #1)
Author: Kristen Ashley
Publisher: Forever
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 512
Genre: Adult, Romance

Date Read: 1st: 01-01-2016 2nd: 16-03-2019- 17-03-2019

Favorite Quote: “You live in your head too much, you curl up and shut shit out and spend so much time doing it, you forget to live your life. You can’t live your life in your head. That isn’t living.”

Review:
I remember liking this book, the first time I read it. I reread my previous review and I can't believe how much my thoughts have changed. 

What is this book about:
This book is about 33 year old Gwendolyn. She met this guy a year and a half ago at a bar and since then that guy comes into her house regularly at night, and they have crazy monkey sex. She doesn't know his name or anything about him. She never even saw him in daylight, until now. 
When her crazy sisters, crazy friend comes at her door and yells at her, Gwen goes to the last guy she knew who dated her sister, a biker guy. That put her on the radar of several bikers, something that her mystery man doesn't like. So the first time she 'meets' her mystery man is when he comes and tells her that she is his, and that he doens't like that she went to the bikers. And that sets of the beginning of their "official" relationship
Cabe "hawk" delgado, aka mystery man, knows he missed out the last year and a half and he isn't willing to let her go. 

What did I like about this book
Well the first time I read this book I liked the chemistry between Gwen and Hawk. I remember liking him. I do remember thinking that  he went a bit far and that I wouldnt be able to put up with it. I don't recall disliking it as much as I do now. 

I'm all for a hot alpha male, but Hawk takes it to far. A relationship is suppose to be a partnership, not an ownership. His way or no way is how it all seems to go. He pushes until Gwen caves and gives him what he wants but doesn't show much respect of her wants, especially when he doesn't agree with what she wants. He just tells her he'll ride this wave of attitude of her and it will work out. 
There are several things that really ticked me off. 
1. It's very much illegal to have someone followed without probable cause, a court order or consent. You do not acces their bank records, their personal records, their family's records etc. It's a violation of their privacy and their is no cause for it. 
2. You do not install security camera's around someone property without their consent, court order or probable cause.The same for placing them in someones house. 
3. You do not bug their car or phone without consent, court order, or probable cause.

4. You do not follow (basically stalk) someone or have them followed because you're sleeping with them. 
5. I hated that he imposed on her privacy as much as he did. He had no right to go to her parents or friends when she told him not to. 
6. I hated that he showed no respect for her wishes what so ever. He just waited till she caved and/or pushed until she caved. And when called out on it, he blames her for pushing him away and she ends up believing it and apologize for it. 
7. You do not kidnap your 'loved one' because she is somewhere you don't want her to be and keep her at your house till she caved and agree's to stay. I understand rescuing her when you think she needs it, and Gwen does need it at times, but if they they you they want to go, you can't keep them their for no good reason other than getting your way. 
8. You do not decide that someone needs protecting and take it upon yourself to be that protector and marking your territory even if that person does need protecting. You talk to them, reason with them, try to explain, but if they still refuse you do not force them to do what you want. ( I might not have been so ticked of about it if it wasn't for all the other items on my list) 
9. You do not blame that person for not giving themselves to you when you haven't showed any respect for their wishes and wants.  I get getting impatient over time but you have to talk to them. Not keep forcing your wants or emotionally manipulate them into caving. 
10. YOU DO NOT GET TO DECIDE THAT YOUR TRAUMA IS WORSE THAN SOMEONE ELSES AND YOU DO NOT USE YOUR TRAUMA TO EMOTIONALLY BLACKMAIL SOMEONE INTO FEELING BAD AND TAKING YOU BACK!!!! I do get feeling like your trauma might be worse compared to someone elses but you do not get to decide that for someone else. You do not tell them their feelings about their trauma are invalid because you had it worse and they should get over it. 
11. When someone ask you to leave, leave. When someone tries fighting you off when you try to have sex with them, stop. Don't keep going until she caves and agree's. 
12. During sex you don't 'allow' someone to ride you within a time frame until they run out of time. This wouldn't have bugged me if they didn't use the word 'allowed' and if he didn't tick me off so much before. 

The fact that Gabe's  mother went to Gwens house after he pushed her away, threw her away, and blames her for it and calls her basically a coward really ticked me off. She had no right. If she wanted to harass someone about it, she could have gone to her son and talk to him about it. She could have asked Gwen if she wanted to talk, explain etc. And not barge in their and accuse them of it. She had no right. 
I didn't like how her friends handled the situation. They shifted to not liking Gabe and protecting Gwen to blaming her and siding with him.  Even when Gwen explained how she felt. 

And Gwen stop saying UHM!! my god that got annoying. For a 33 year old she often really acted like a child. She was such a pushover. Grow some balls and stand your ground. But ofcourse he put the blame on her and she believed it. She continues to go back to him and blames herself. 
I didn't like that she went from one guy to the next when she and hawk had issues (she doesn't cheat or do anything with them but she does let them almost control her).  She ran away allot.  And while I get wanting to get away from it all, don't hide at other bikers houses and sleep in the same bed with him. Go home and if stand your ground. Make him feel like you mean it. Her being so wisy washy really didn't help her credibility. Call the police if he doesn't leave you alone. I would have done that when I found out about the camera's and the 'stalking''. 

I get why Hawk felt like Gwen needed protecting because she does. It doesn't seem like Gwen can really take care of herself.  I get why he did certain things but dude, boundaries. If someone says no, accept it and believe them. 
If he didn't cross so many lines from the start other things wouldn't have ticked me off a much. 
Allot of things would have been different if they sat down and talked about things. Had a conversation. 

I liked the concept, I like an alpha male as much as the next one but this is to much. He needed to dial it down, and she needed a spine and stand up for herself to even it out. A relationship should be a two way street, not push and almost force their views on someone else. 

Rating:
1 1/2 Didn't like it stars

Monday, March 18, 2019

Review "Under Fire by Scarlett Cole"


HE CAN TAKE THE HEAT.

Hot, hard-bodied Sixten Rapp is a former SEAL who’s raring to begin his brand-new civilian life. He and his Navy “brothers” start a security firm that offers the kind of services only a team of military-trained professionals can provide. But nothing prepared Six for his new client: an innocent woman on a mission to improve thousands of lives. . . unless someone takes hers first.

CAN SHE HANDLE THE FLAMES?

Dr. Louisa North knows time is against her as she tries to create a “miracle” medical treatment for a disease with no known cure, until she creates a sample so powerful that the wrong people want to use it as a chemical weapon. At first, Six is unwilling to accept Louisa as his client. But soon he realizes that the danger is real and that there’s much more to this plain-Jane scientist…including a burning passion between them that neither of them can resist. And now that an enemy is on Louisa’s trail, Six will do whatever it takes to protect her—or die trying.


Title: Under Fire (Love Over Duty #1)
Author: Scarlett Cole
Publisher: St. Martins Paperbacks
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 319
Genre: Military, Suspense, Romance, Contemporary

Date Read: 11-03-2019 - 15-03-2019

Favorite Quote: “I don’t know where I am going to end up when this is all over, but I hope it’s with you.”

Review:
I was looking forward to reading this book. I've been really into military books lately.
After I read Fractured Heart by the same author I dived straight into this one.

I could really connect to Louisa, I have social anxiety as well. Maybe not as severe as she does but I could relate to her, relate to what she was thinking and feeling.
I liked Six, he is a good guy. 

I do feel like the mystery part could be better. There was allot of build up but the end was wrapped up rather quickly.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book

Rating:

Review "Fractured Heart by Scarlett Cole"

All things, when placed under pressure, eventually break or leave a mark.
Tattoo artist Brody "Cujo" Matthews knows how to keep things simple. In life and in love. Abandoned as a child by a mother who refused to stick around to raise three boys she didn't want, he's intent on staying clear of complicated women. The only things complicated in Cujo’s life are the killer tattoos he designs and inks. That all changes when he’s asked to help organize his best friend Trent's engagement party, which means working with Trent's fiancée's best friend, Drea, the definition of high maintenance and sizzling curves. And the one woman he doesn’t want to walk away from.
Andrea "Drea" Caron is broke and tired. After years of caring for her ailing mom, she's at the end of her rope trying to manage the piling medical bills, two jobs, and a life placed on hold. She certainly doesn’t need the added frustration of a sexy playboy tattoo artist messing up her best friend’s engagement party or her carefully balanced life. But when Drea witnesses the abduction of a woman from the café she works at, she can’t help but turn to Cujo who’s determined to prove to Drea that he’s someone she can count on forever…but as they attempt to bring the truth to light, someone is working to bring that forever to a sudden, deadly halt.
Title: The Fractured Heart
Author: Scarlett Cole
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperback
Edition: Edition
Amount of Pages: 283
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Adult


Date Read: 10-03-2019


Favorite Quote: “I don’t want a fling, Drea … When it gets hard, I want to be there for you … But that means you have to be there for me when I get hard.”


Review:I really liked this book in the beginning. It started of great. It started off with a thrill, with some mystery and I was excited to see where it would go.
Sadly, for me, the mystery was a bit lack luster. There was allot of build up but it ended a bit quick and meh. Could be better.
I loved the chemistry between Brody, or Cujo as he goes by and Andrea or Drea. They had nice banter.
I really loved Cujo. He is a charming, nice guy.
Drea is admirable, she took care of her mother for years and it wasn't easy for her. She worked her ass of and I really feel for her. However she got a bit annoying at times. I get she used to making decisions for herself and her mother but she took some really stupid ones.
If the mystery part was wrapped up a bit better, was explored a bit better then it could have been an amazing book.


Rating: