The absolute chokehold second chance age gap romances have on me. The way Cynthia A. Rodriguez wrote oFind this review and others over on bookstagram.
The absolute chokehold second chance age gap romances have on me. The way Cynthia A. Rodriguez wrote one that gave me the heat, the angst, the tears, and the hope all at once? Totally should've expected it, cause duh its Cynthia, but found myself surprised from page one. We're treated to a past and present telling of Sabrina's experience in falling for her professor, the famous Abraham, in finding new stable love, in creating her own family, in discovering that some loves never leave you. Sabrina is a relatable heroine, questioning her choices, her love, her life, the why, and haunted by a past she thought she left behind, but that consumes her thoughts. She's a mother, a businesswoman, and still her own woman. Abraham is a haunted, heavy man. Desired, but not known. Except by Sabrina, the woman he let get away.
I loved the format of how Rodriguez told us this story, with the chapters changing from past to present, weaving us a story about the Sabrina and Abraham's forbidden love, Sabrina and her now-husbands secure journey and dissolving, and the now, when the love Sabrina thought was in the past comes knocking. We see her grapple with her choices, how they could've changed, how fate still worked its way in. We also get a few add in chapters from Abraham, giving us a glimpse that Sabrina never had into the mind of the man that fell for her, despite never falling before. It's angsty, it's hot, it's relatable, and I loved every single page of it.
The youngest Bordeau sister has been plagued by her role and nickname of Baby Bordeau for tooFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
3.5 Stars
The youngest Bordeau sister has been plagued by her role and nickname of Baby Bordeau for too long, she's using this summer to face everything she left behind and stand up to her sisters. Christina Hart's Ruin Me follows poetry writer Kitty Bordeau as she faces old love, struggles through heartbreak, and fights against the secrets her sisters have kept in the name of love.
"This all feels too familiar. This searching for him. My heart is always searching for him."
A second chance novella in the Summer of Secrets collection, Ruin Me is a fast paced love story set in the heat of summer. With gorgeous, emotional poems kicking off each chapter, Christina Hart takes readers on an angsty journey with 19 year-old Kitty and her ex-beau, Joey. Kitty is such a relatable character, her creativity is her pride and her mental health battle is the driving force. She uses words to battle her demons, especially as her former flame re-enters her life and reignites the flame inside her. It's a summer of push and pull for the young couple, each trying to overcome a past of ugly secrets and lies, each chasing after a love that they don't want to give up.
"For a moment we slipped and said what we meant. The truth has a way of escaping the things we say when the earth falls away."
Ruin Me was a solid introduction to the Bordeau sisters, I loved that it started with Kitty and gave us her youthful perspective on the challenges she and her sisters have faced since the loss of their parents. I do wish it had been longer, the close of Kitty's story comes far too quickly and deserved more fanfare. This was my first Christina Hart read and I can already say, after reading Kitty's perspective and the gorgeous poetry, I will be reading more. The Summer of Secrets collection starts with an angsty bang and I am already turning the pages to start part two, Hate Me.
The youngest Bordeau sister has been plagued by her role and nickname of Baby Bordeau for too long, she's using this summer to face everything she left behind and stand up to her sisters. Christina Hart's Ruin Me follows poetry writer Kitty Bordeau as she faces old love, struggles through heartbreak, and fights against the secrets her sisters have kept in the name of love.
"This all feels too familiar. This searching for him. My heart is always searching for him."
A second chance novella in the Summer of Secrets collection, Ruin Me is a fast paced love story set in the heat of summer. With gorgeous, emotional poems kicking off each chapter, Christina Hart takes readers on an angsty journey with 19 year-old Kitty and her ex-beau, Joey. Kitty is such a relatable character, her creativity is her pride and her mental health battle is the driving force. She uses words to battle her demons, especially as her former flame re-enters her life and reignites the flame inside her. It's a summer of push and pull for the young couple, each trying to overcome a past of ugly secrets and lies, each chasing after a love that they don't want to give up.
"For a moment we slipped and said what we meant. The truth has a way of escaping the things we say when the earth falls away."
Ruin Me was a solid introduction to the Bordeau sisters, I loved that it started with Kitty and gave us her youthful perspective on the challenges she and her sisters have faced since the loss of their parents. I do wish it had been longer, the close of Kitty's story comes far too quickly and deserved more fanfare. This was my first Christina Hart read and I can already say, after reading Kitty's perspective and the gorgeous poetry, I will be reading more. The Summer of Secrets collection starts with an angsty bang and I am already turning the pages to start part two, Hate Me.
Deceit's plot line is exactly as the title suggest, a story about a relationship based on lies, the deFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
Deceit's plot line is exactly as the title suggest, a story about a relationship based on lies, the deceit of one character to another, all signs pointing at disaster. Only in this novel you want the deceit to be forgiven, Ava Harrison sees to that with compelling characters and the royal bloodline us readers are flocking to right now. It's the sort of novel that even deceives the reader, leaving you wondering if this romance has the ability to last or if it'll burn in flames. There's twists and turns and scenes that almost made me riot, and yet Ava Harrison had me hanging on to this fascinating story with everything in me.
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."
Addison, Addy, doesn't want to hold the fake smile on her face while she watches her ex say I do to the new woman of his dreams, even if it was her doing. Instead she chooses to use work as an excuse, setting off for the English countryside to view a plot of land with a confusing bit of history. Small countryside towns don't have a lot to offer though, with just a single bar and one handsome man willing to go scotch for scotch. Oliver, Olly, is back at his estate to help his mother, but he can't deny himself the fun of spending time with the gorgeous Addy. He only wants to help her live a little, no mess, no relationship, and so he keeps his true identity to himself. Like all no-strings attached relationships, what starts as a bit of fun and a lot of lust turns into something more. As they take off an adventures and explore their emotions Olly and Addy find that maybe living is the key to happiness, at least until the lies are uncovered and the deceit is revealed.
"The door slams. It closes on the lie. It closes on the deception. It closes on the deceit. It closes on us."
Deceit is angsty and romantic, an instant win for me. Plus I loved Oliver just as much as Addy does, even if he is the biggest womanizer in the royal family and has no idea how to apologize and win a woman back properly. I loved the journey I was taken on in Deceit. I'm not typically big on relationships built on lies and I admit I struggled a bit with Olly's natural inclination towards sex over words, but I found myself swayed to love the journey by the character growth, the lessons in the words, and the off-the-charts chemistry shared by the hero and heroine. Both Olly and Addy make some poor choices through out the novel, but it made Deceit feel more realistic and it made their relationship develop in a way that many romance novels gloss over. Ava Harrison is still a fairly new to me author, but she's slowly becoming a solid must-read for me, especially with this new release.
Deceit's plot line is exactly as the title suggest, a story about a relationship based on lies, the deceit of one character to another, all signs pointing at disaster. Only in this novel you want the deceit to be forgiven, Ava Harrison sees to that with compelling characters and the royal bloodline us readers are flocking to right now. It's the sort of novel that even deceives the reader, leaving you wondering if this romance has the ability to last or if it'll burn in flames. There's twists and turns and scenes that almost made me riot, and yet Ava Harrison had me hanging on to this fascinating story with everything in me.
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."
Addison, Addy, doesn't want to hold the fake smile on her face while she watches her ex say I do to the new woman of his dreams, even if it was her doing. Instead she chooses to use work as an excuse, setting off for the English countryside to view a plot of land with a confusing bit of history. Small countryside towns don't have a lot to offer though, with just a single bar and one handsome man willing to go scotch for scotch. Oliver, Olly, is back at his estate to help his mother, but he can't deny himself the fun of spending time with the gorgeous Addy. He only wants to help her live a little, no mess, no relationship, and so he keeps his true identity to himself. Like all no-strings attached relationships, what starts as a bit of fun and a lot of lust turns into something more. As they take off an adventures and explore their emotions Olly and Addy find that maybe living is the key to happiness, at least until the lies are uncovered and the deceit is revealed.
"The door slams. It closes on the lie. It closes on the deception. It closes on the deceit. It closes on us."
Deceit is angsty and romantic, an instant win for me. Plus I loved Oliver just as much as Addy does, even if he is the biggest womanizer in the royal family and has no idea how to apologize and win a woman back properly. I loved the journey I was taken on in Deceit. I'm not typically big on relationships built on lies and I admit I struggled a bit with Olly's natural inclination towards sex over words, but I found myself swayed to love the journey by the character growth, the lessons in the words, and the off-the-charts chemistry shared by the hero and heroine. Both Olly and Addy make some poor choices through out the novel, but it made Deceit feel more realistic and it made their relationship develop in a way that many romance novels gloss over. Ava Harrison is still a fairly new to me author, but she's slowly becoming a solid must-read for me, especially with this new release.
Iris and August. Star-crossed, the one that got awaFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired and on bookstagram. Buy the new cover now at: Amazon
Iris and August. Star-crossed, the one that got away, never really meant to be. That's what it feels like upon first meeting, when the two connect in a way neither has with another before, only to find there's something, or someone, in the way. Their worlds collide on the night of the Big Dance, but it's at the game that August discovers Iris chose his nemesis, Caleb, long before he'd stood a chance. They never forget the feeling, but each moves forward with the life they selected. August a star rookie for a new team and Iris, the partner to another star rookie. Unbeknownst to August, though, Iris wants to get away, because her basketball prince isn't a nice one, he's a tyrant.
August is the basketball star you dream about, with an ego and a heart. He's an alpha without the a-hole, a young man raised well with his dreams secured. Iris is a driven, stubborn women with huge sports dreams as well, but she's tied to a wealthy, controlling boy who only knows how to get his way. Long Shot is a story of basketball, dreams, and a wilting flower who finds a way to bloom in the darkness. It's about lust, love, heartache, and the way you hold onto your hopes with a long shot dream of them coming true. It's passionate and difficult, a story that will break you apart and put you back together. A story that, for some, will resonate in ways that they felt a book might never. For others, it will be an eye opener into the pain that many experience and the overwhelming joy and strength that comes from making it through. It's a lengthy book, but it needs to be to tell you the whole story, the true story for many, and to give you the ending readers, romance lovers, and people in general deserve to have.
If you didn't know I am a massive college basketball fan, now you know. Sometime in high school I just decided that was the sport and age group I was going to be a fan of and I went all in. March Madness is my time, I am Iris in front of the TV, so Long Shot, from the first time I read it to now, the second time, is relatable from a sports girl perspective. The extra time Ryan takes to get into the game, the feeling, some of the stats, is so important to paint the full picture and really, it's time well spent for readers like me.
Long Shot is the first in the Hoops series and it's an incredibly romantic, angsty read that I cannot recommend enough....more
Time has passed, but Kate's wounds are not healed. She's returning to Miami, to school, but Find this review, buy links, and more at Carlene Inspired.
Time has passed, but Kate's wounds are not healed. She's returning to Miami, to school, but the embarrassment, the fear, the judgement she knows is awaiting her makes the return difficult. Running would only last her so long though, so she's forcing herself to face what she left behind. Repairing the broken relationships she misses makes her realize she hasn't repaired things with herself and she must choose between healing or running again.
"I was a battleground of love and fear, of silence and rage."
I knew The Truths We Told was going to be heavy, but my word does E.K. Blair takes us through the ringer. Our once bright, confident, tom-boy Kate now holds her insecurities in front of her like a shield. She struggles to accept that her friends are not judging her and struggles even more with believing them when they say it wasn't her fault. I already loved Kate, but I loved her even more in this book. Facing your fears, overcoming something that has changed the course of your life is so difficult. I think E.K. Blair wrote Kate and her experience so incredibly well. Her healing is so powerful, especially as she learns to lean on her friends and family again, accepting that not everyone will judge her or hurt her. Of course, we get a romance and she so deserves one. It isn't an easy romance, Kate's healing comes first, but it is a profound and beautiful relationship. It's impossible to say much without giving it all away, but let's just say that this book features all the secondary characters you loved in the first.
"All her cracks and broken parts expose themselves, setting me on fire like a thousand suns, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for this girl."
Emotional, heart-wrenching, and written in such a personal way, The Truths We Told is an incredible final novel in the Secrets and Truths Duet. I highlighted so many passage; the setting, the characters, the dialogue ringing so true to real life. I love E.K. Blair for always being willing to write the realities of life, no matter how hard, and her characters aren't broken, but rather putting their pieces together in beautiful new ways. I loved this duet and I cannot wait to see what's next from E.K. Blair.
A catastrophe once again threatens the future of Dexter and Noa, but the Angel of Death is willing to Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
A catastrophe once again threatens the future of Dexter and Noa, but the Angel of Death is willing to keep giving them more chances if Dexter continues to not give up. He won't give him the answers, but he'll let him keep trying. Fear stands in their way though, when one is ready the other runs. When they're finally ready to run to one another life and fate has other plans.
"We loved each other so much, we hated each other."
Oh. My. Lanta. How do I even review this without giving anything away? Where We Fall finds us immediately after the events of When We Crash and crash we did. This time we get Noa's perspective, both in the present and in incredible glimpses into the past. Pieces of the puzzle we didn't know were missing are put in place and yet, even with the puzzle fitting together, Noa and Dexter can't seem to finish it. Filled with the same angst and heartbreak and love as the first part, Where We Fall is the dramatic conclusion I both needed and shied away from. I knew this story wouldn't be easy, nothing is ever easy where bargaining and death is involved, but my word does Cynthia A. Rodriguez put these characters through it. With incredible prose and no fear at all, Cynthia tells us a story of love, of fighting for every chance you're giving, for the wake up calls life gives us when we aren't paying attention.
"'No big deal,' I whispered. 'Just watching my soulmate walk away.'"
Raw, intense, and unexpected, Where We Fall is a stunning conclusion to The Souls Duet. If you can, read these two back to back, don't take a break in between. Embrace those tears, cozy up with your emotions, it has the most impact when read together. Complex and incredibly detailed, Where We Fall, really The Souls Duet in its entirety, is a magical story of hope and it's one I highly recommend.
Dexter is the anti-alpha, as a high school senior with a serious case of amnesia his only real goal isFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
Dexter is the anti-alpha, as a high school senior with a serious case of amnesia his only real goal is to find the woman he can't stop thinking of. He doesn't know her name, he doesn't know her voice, but he knows she's out there. He'll shed his previous, popular skin for a chance with her. Noa isn't looking for anyone and she doesn't want anyone to look for her, but she can't deny the changed Dexter. Their first touch lights a spark in both of them, but not even a love like that of soulmates can fix the history that makes up Noa. He knows she must be it, but she's a beautiful mess who hasn't yet learned to even love her own self. When We Crash is the story of two souls and the repeated chances they get through the course of time.
"I didn't know who she was anymore. But what I did know was that there was an ache in my chest where she'd been."
Cynthia A. Rodriguez gives us more than just an angsty romance, it is clear she has poured her own heart and emotions into this book and it is clear from this rambling review that I am completely enamored with this read. When We Crash is a story of heartbreak, loss, forgiveness, addiction, and time...more than anything, it's about time. Dexter and Noa are given time, time to find one another, but time doesn't always fix everything. Time brings distance, changes, new love, loss, death, and life. Though they've been given this chance it is up to them to take advantage and sometimes two souls crash together and even time can't stop the wreck. It's a raw story, completely unpredictable with the pages filled with love so intense, but no secure place for it to hold onto.
"Except...I love you. There it was. The voice that belonged to the person I'd loved in my last life."
I loved the youthful feel of the romance between Dexter and Noa, as well as the centuries old feeling of soulmates that spills from them. It's such a heartbreaking read, but somehow Cynthia still filled it with hope. There's the promise of soulmates, of love transcending time, but the truth is that finding your other half isn't all it takes, especially when one is so naive and insecure about their place in the world. My word does reading this book hurt, the what ifs these two explore are so painful and so powerful, and yet When We Crash is infused with magic. I cried, of course, I smiled a lot, and I fell in love with the souls inside of Dexter and Noa. I can't imagine what is to come in the next novel in this stunning debut, but here Cynthia, here's my heart do with it what you will.
Come Back for Me was just the swoony, angsty romance I needed! The first in a series of standalones, CFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
Come Back for Me was just the swoony, angsty romance I needed! The first in a series of standalones, Corrine Michaels' latest follows Connor Arrowood as he returns to his hometown of Sugarloaf, PA and the past he left behind. The trip for closure comes at a price though, with Connor's father once against exerting his power over he and his brothers even from the grave. Forced to stay in Sugarloaf, Connor begins his six month sentence, determined to fix up the farm and get out of town for good. Sugarloaf holds more secrets than just his family's past though, the woman next door just so happens to be the nameless woman from eight years ago that's never left his mind. So much time has passed, she's married and has a kid, but his feelings for her burn strong, especially as he watches her face her own horrifying secrets.
Holy heavy read. Come Back for Me is beautiful, it's a romance that requires the investment of your heart and emotions, but it also is painful and heart-wrenching. Connor's youth wasn't easy, Ellie's story certainly isn't rainbows and butterflies, their shared story isn't the one in fairy tales, but it's real and the beautiful part is their strength, perseverance, and the love that flows between them. Corinne Michaels hit it out of the park though. These characters are easy to love, the connection they share is palpable, and Ellie's sweet daughter is the literal cherry on top. She is the cutest thing ever and has some of the best dialogue. Together Connor and Ellie face their individual pasts, their desire for a future together, and a shared history that carries the heaviest secret of all. It's a story of forgiveness, of strength, of loving despite it all.
Come Back for Me was a unique read for this romance lover, it isn't what I would've usually reached for, but I'm so glad I did. The story feels real, the characters come alive on the pages, and the trials they face are very realistic. That gave it more impact for me, but it also made me struggle with the pacing. Connor and Ellie's feelings develop swiftly, I needed more development between them. I also needed more on the small town, an understanding of how four boys could leave it and the people they once cared for behind, though I suppose we'll get more on that as the series progresses. I also needed more on the siblings. There is more to them than we are given and while I don't want their individual stories given away, I wanted to understand how they worked more. While the story does tell the story of a family, I didn't feel connected to the Arrowood clan like I did Ellie, her daughter, and the secondary characters we met.
Come Back for Me was a stunning standalone and introduces readers to a family, a town, and a series they will want more of. I know I'm not the only reader who wants to get to know the brothers a little better, who wants to know just how many secrets one small town can hold. I'll be seeing this series through the end, that is for sure, especially with my love of a good angsty read.
A contemporary romance that'll have you falling hard for the hometown hero alongside the heroine, even as he breaks her heart. Everett and Ke4.5 Stars
A contemporary romance that'll have you falling hard for the hometown hero alongside the heroine, even as he breaks her heart. Everett and Kennedy were always more than just childhood friends, but their age difference and Everett's dreams of becoming a Marine have them putting their romantic desires on hold. The letters they send during his time away only serve to fuel the yearning between them, but one day Everett stops writing back and soon the town, and Kennedy, must accept that he'll never be returning home. It's a miracle when he one day does return, but he's not the Everett they all remember and the horrors of war leave him more than just scarred on the outside. Kennedy has moved on, so she thinks, but Everett's return and their encounters leave her wanting him more, even with his dark side.
Hometown Heartless is a novel about much younger aged characters than military themed romance readers are used to. Everett hadn't been gone long before he went missing and Kennedy is still finishing out her final high school year when he returns. The dynamics in this story are unlike any other military romance, a genre that is one of my favorite, so it is very unique. Some of the typical character interactions you'd expect aren't there, but Carrie Aarons still somehow is able to blend the horrors of war with the high school experience. It's a story about a boy leaving for war, returning a man, and yet no one is prepared for him to be the man he is.
There were certainly times the age of the characters impacted my reading. Kennedy is quite young and immature, she doesn't know how to handle more than her own high school drama, and Everett's experience, despite his age, is one that even adults with more life experience would struggle with. Additionally, some of Everett's experience is hard to picture, his decisions while away and the impact they left take some time to be explained in the novel, so I didn't connect to him right away. Of course, both of these factor in to the drama of the novel and ultimately make it a great read. Sure, I didn't always agree with Kennedy and rolled my eyes at her a lot, but her patience, the back and forth she puts up with from Everett, and the way they push one another really makes for an impactful coming-of-age romance.
Full of angst and packed with Carrie Aaron's well known emotional writing, Hometown Heartless is a love story you won't want to put down.
4.5 Stars Rhett Bennett and Ainsley Rose have a lifetime of memories together, with Ainsley's older brother BrodyFind more reviews at Carlene Inspired.
4.5 Stars Rhett Bennett and Ainsley Rose have a lifetime of memories together, with Ainsley's older brother Brody relying on him to help parent her after their parent's pass away. Along with Brody's girlfriend, the four of them have been inseparable since their youth, the only rule being that they always protect Ainsley and she's always treated as the little sister. Little sisters grow up though and even Rhett, the womanizer, can't deny that he wants to know where the spark they share could go. Romances aren't always just fun though, even Ainsley's fairy tale romance ideas can't save love.
"They always say when you're in love you glow, but no one ever talks about what you look like when you lose love, when it punches you in the gut."
I picked up Just Love, fell in love with the gorgeous cover, and immediately grabbed a pile of tissues and settled in for a cry fest. Prescott Lane is one of my favorite angsty romance writers, she always knows how to pull emotions right out of me. Told from dual perspectives, Just Love follows Ainsley (A. Rose) and Rhett as they tackle the past and present of their love story that never stood a chance. Ainsley is the believer in love, fairytales, and princes that sweep brides off their feet, meanwhile Rhett believes in beautiful women, fun times, and fast flings. The rule that you never go after your best friend's sibling should hold him back, but it doesn't and we see them connect in a beautiful way before everything goes up in flames. I had absolutely no idea about the journey we were going to go on with these two, Prescott Lane totally surprised me with the twists in this. Just Love tackles difficult topics relating to love, loss, hopes, dreams, futures, and the perseverance each of those require. It's a beautiful, epic, heart wrenching story that I'm thankful I made the time for.
I will say that the dual perspective and switching from past to present was very confusing at first and I found myself having to be extra careful to check the chapter headings prior to reading. For me this took away from the reading, especially when I realized a few chapters in that I was so lost in the story that I had to start over. Once you get into the swing of things though it moves along quite smoothly, so I only deducted half a star for that small bit of confusion.
"This is the exact way we started. Are we starting over?"
Just Love is a romance roller coaster ride, the kind you line up for again and again despite the feelings it pulls from you. Prescott Lane once again delivers a passionate, heartfelt romance that readers are sure to love.
Y'all, I love me a good, sexy, angsty book, but nothing beats a book with all of those qualities AND the added bonus of Find more at Carlene Inspired.
Y'all, I love me a good, sexy, angsty book, but nothing beats a book with all of those qualities AND the added bonus of being about a forbidden love affair. J.R. Rogue gives us this with The Rebound. Featuring Sean, the singer all girls are fans of, and Calliope, his Uncle's wife, we get to know about this couple that comes together in a time of loneliness, of grief, of anger, and of long buried feelings. Sean's girlfriend and his uncle have been having their own affair and in his shock Sean runs to the only family he has left, into Calliope's comforting arms in the Ozarks. It's meant to be for the summer, to be a secret, but all things come into the light at some point.
"She felt something then. When he touched her, when he hurt her. She felt. And she didn't want to let go."
I knew I was in for an age-gap romance, for a forbidden relationship with an "aunt", and of course I knew there'd be angst, but nothing prepared me for the feeling J.R. Rogue put me through. The Rebound tells of devastation, of coming-of-age, of the lengths a person will go to in order to survive. It tells of love and loss and fear and anger. It's about life and the quality of living that we dream about, but can't attain. It's a book that took me deep into my feelings, into those dark corners that authors rarely reach, while also making me see the strength in climbing from those depths to reach humanity and kindness and life. It isn't about The Rebound, it's about what the rebound revealed, about the secrets and lies that had been holding them all captive for far too long.
"People come into your lives in seasons. I will be a short one for her. One of those falls you barely feel, before winter grips you."
I devoured this book so quickly, I was in love with how J.R. Rogue paired her poetic prose with a gritty story that readers may shy away from. It's worth putting your usual rules for books away, it's worth taking a blind chance on. It's one of those books that's real, that can hit close to home, but it's done magnificently. In all the darkness there is a story of hope and love and the human experience. The Rebound will consume you, swallow you hole, and it will stay with you long after you read the last word on the final page. ...more
Stratford, Tennessee is known for its whiskey and in the town you're known by your last nameFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired. 4.25 Stars
Stratford, Tennessee is known for its whiskey and in the town you're known by your last name and your reputation. Noah Becker's is simple; he's wild, he's the handsomest barrel raiser around, and his last name no longer sits at the top with the Scooter's and the Barnett's. Ruby Grace Barnett, daughter of the mayor and engaged to a future president, is all legs, confidence, and wedded bliss. At least, that's what she wants people to see, for some reason Noah is able to see her drowning, able to see her desires and wishes, able to pull honesty from her mouth. What starts as a friendship gives way to something more, but the ring on Ruby Grace's finger keeps her in line, until a devastating revelation shakes her world to its core. Noah doesn't know how to be her friend when she's all he can think about, but Ruby Grace holds all the answers and power, she's the one who gets to choose what her forever looks like. Is she meant to be the politician's wife or is she meant to chase her dreams, the ones she's set aside for a future mapped for her?
"It was always in the cards for me. And it was all I ever wanted. At least, that's what I thought."
On the Rocks by Kandi Steiner is both classic Kandi-angst while also somehow being a totally unique story from her. Ruby Grace is a picture of, well her middle name, grace, while Noah is the country boy with dirty jeans and a taste for whiskey, Tennessee whiskey. They're on two different paths and yet in the heat of summer, under the pressure of wedding planning and questions of what's next, those paths cross. I loved these two, I loved how even with such a big age gap they feel so alike. Kandi Steiner perfectly captured that small town atmosphere, I know, I live in one now. Everyone knows everyone, gossip is hot off the press daily, and age doesn't mean a thing when you're out in the woods by the fire. These two just click, with Ruby Grace alighting something in Noah he'd started doubting he'd fine, and Noah making Ruby Grace realize her hopes and dreams are valid. Their friendship isn't easy, you might not believe me when I say these two throw insults at each other quite often, but the passion between them is. I don't mean lust passion either, though that's there, they both have a passion for life that is often a missing characteristic in book characters. These two come alive under the summer sun, under the night sky, in the lake and in the pool, as they take on adventures together unaware, or maybe unprepared to admit, where their friendship is heading.
"'No, you see me with your soul.' She swallowed, eyes flicking up to mine before they fell back to mouth. 'And I feel you with mine.'"
Okay, okay, I know so many of my reader fans are absolutely against all things OW/OM, but Kandi hit this out of the park. At its base, this is friendship and lust, and a coming-of-age moment that maybe could've been avoided had Ruby Grace's life not been flying at the speed of light towards collision with her unable to control the direction. This is youthfulness, recklessness, and above all, an all-consuming feeling of being out of place that drives the characters in this direction. This isn't the easy path, this isn't just one night, Kandi Steiner perfectly captures the dread, the fear, the angst that can drive two together when everything is falling apart. More than that, things don't come to a head until, in my opinion, things are irreparable anyway.
"His dark hair in my hands, my dark heart in his."
On the Rocks isn't your typical contemporary romance, no this one is filled to the top with angst, but it's the kind of angst that doesn't come just from falling in love. Kandi Steiner tackles family honor, expectations, and the fear of facing one's future so perfectly. It's a small town story with both romance and scandal and coming-of-age weaved into the pages. It's a book about owning one's truth and figuring out the rest along the way. I so enjoyed this book and am so excited to see what the other Becker brothers have in store for us.
I had to sit on my review for Written with You for a little bit, because I was so devastated Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired. 4.5 Stars
I had to sit on my review for Written with You for a little bit, because I was so devastated at the end of Written with Regret and once I read this novel I knew if I came in here and reviewed right away I'd give it all away. Aly Martinez has once again created a duet that you must devour the minute you get your hands on them. The Regret Duet are the sort of books you have to read like you have to breath air. The character's stories are heartbreaking and captivating, there is no way to just treat Caven and Hadley like they're book characters, because they come to life on the pages. Their history isn't neat and simple, nothing about these two is, but this angsty duet brings the two together on a journey to face their nightmares and create a new future.
"Because life isn’t lived as a whole. You aren’t given a hundred years all at once. Time is doled out one very manageable second at a time."
Written with You tackles everything you wondered about after that ginormous cliff we all jumped off of. It isn't necessarily a soft landing, it is Aly Martinez after all, but there is a backstory, that one we all needed, which softens the blow. The truth is revealed and alongside the characters we learn how to forgive, to move forward, to uncover the hopes and dreams piled under fears and worries. These characters are just so amazing, I still am so in love with little Rosie, and I am in awe of the hope that Aly Martinez put into the words in this book. She has perfectly captured that desperate desire to live, while also giving her characters realistic struggles. These characters tackle such difficult things, situations that readers from all walks can relate to, and even in the darkness, even in the trying times, this book has a light shining from it. I laughed, I cried, I thought I went into shock a time or two.
"Because love is an impossible game. Especially when only one person knows the rules."
Written with You, the final novel in The Regret Duet, is unpredictable, angsty, suspenseful, the kind of romance you didn't know you were looking for. The Regret Duet is the sort of read you don't forget about, the kind of books that will shock you with something new with each reread. Full of twists and profound words, The Regret Duet, is a must read from Aly Martinez.
Sweet, angsty, the kind of small town romance that sweeps your problems away for a little bit. Forgiven is the second chance romance that rea4.5 Stars
Sweet, angsty, the kind of small town romance that sweeps your problems away for a little bit. Forgiven is the second chance romance that readers will read and get that finally feeling. Ten years have passed since the accident, since Bowen walked away and Lily was left with a broken heart and no reason that she can find. Bowen Nash and Lily Grantham are meant to be, but there's secrets and heartache between them that neither are prepared to face. When Lily's best friend and Bowen's brother select the two to be their maid and man of honor, it's the push they both need to face one another. As Lily starts to question Bowen's hatred of her, Bowen realizes that maybe holding onto the past isn't worth losing the girl he never stopped loving.
I have to admit, I was prepared for a sweet romance and while we got that, Carrie Aarons gave me what I really wanted, a whole lot of angst. Second-chance romances just aren't right without the characters dealing with the hurt between them and I hate when issues are resolved easily. I honestly wasn't sure these two would find a way to work out, Lily has been beat down by it for so long and Bowen had turned quite surly, but they still fit together like puzzle pieces. Lily isn't the same girl she used to be in high school, her independence giving her the ability to pursue Bowen relentlessly. And Bowen, though successful in his own way, has really allowed the past and his self hatred to hold him back. Lily's pursuit shakes things up for Bowen, he either has to run or face the music, and that felt realistic to me as a reader. It isn't easy of course, her pursuit often makes her hurt more, but it also restarts the longing in Bowen's heart. It's a kind of push and pull, but as they give in and Bowen reveals the truth they finally realize the blame should've never lied on the two of them at all.
I docked half a star due to the situation that keeps the two apart. Looking at it from their youthful perspectives, it makes sense that it's what started it all, but as adults I had a hard time believing it was viewed as serious as it was. I think the time they spent apart was so long and though I'm glad they finally faced it, it made me sort of sad for the time they lost and the built up anger that Bowen had. I might have docked more had Carrie Aarons not made them tackle the issue over the entire length of the book, allowing them to restart their relationship and strengthen their bonds once more.
Forgiven is a story of love, loss, and forgiveness and it'll tick off all the boxes for the angst lovers out there. It is the second novel in the Nash Brothers series and so far my favorite. Carrie Aarons has created a small town series with all the drama, friendships, and relationships readers' hearts could desire, plus the brothers are handsome and the girls are fiercely independent. The entire series is the kind of romance readers root for.
Welcome to the land of the HotHoles, or their kids anyway. All Saints High, home of the wealthy, the efFind this review at others at Carlene Inspired.
Welcome to the land of the HotHoles, or their kids anyway. All Saints High, home of the wealthy, the effed up, the beautiful, and the bad. Daria Followhill, daughter of Defy's couple Jaime and Melody, has an ugly green monster inside of her, she's the worst kind of mean girl. She's felt unloved, unwanted, and so underwhelmed by life that she's forgotten the last time she was happy. Her beauty and popularity don't mean anything, not when her mom takes on every other kid as a pet project and the boy she hates is the only one she really wants. It's hard not to like this girl, even when I sometimes thought she was doing it to herself I wanted her to get the love and support she was clearly desperate for. Plus, she has so much sass. Penn, on the other hand, is the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. He's held onto a burning hatred for so long, only to find that time sometimes doesn't always heal all wounds or make you forget the burning heat between you and another. The line between these two, the one they said they'd never crossed, it's up in smoke now.
"I don't want to be mean to him even though, usually, I am. Especially to boys. Especially to boys with beautiful faces and honey voices."
Leave it to L.J. Shen to find a way to write an angsty romance with every bit of drama she can fit into it and still make it work. There's romance, there's familial drama, there's a weird student principal thing going on, there's fights (expected, it is ASH), there's football, and there's some crazy secrets being held onto. Pretty Reckless is a classic enemies to lovers new-adult romance, just with a dash of extra mixed in. Daria and Penn are on FIRE for one another, but there's so much life going on around them, to them and due to them, that any chance they truly have is burnt in the flames. It's intense, like how fire feels when it flickers too close your skin warning you away. It's the kind of book you get sucked into, where sometimes it's almost too much to take in, yet you can't stop. Everything is all wrong for Daria and Penn, yet they're drawn to one another despite the massive explosion it will cause. It's unavoidable.
"'I still don't like you.' Her whisper carresses my face. 'Me neither,' I say. About her. About me."
There was quite of bitchery in this book, enough so that it made me question my like of Daria, of Melody, of nearly every character in this story that claims friendship and family. The people in this novel are all out for themselves only, thankfully we have L.J. Shen to set them straight. As all the drama unfolds we get a story about love, forgiveness, life lessons, and the bravery it takes to set things right again. It was an all consuming read for me, one that ran me through the gamut of emotions, one that made me so impatiently excited for the rest of the series. I loved the HotHoles and I can't wait to fall in love with their snotty, bratty, handsome, beautiful, spoiled, and yet still thoughtful little kids.
For me, You Only Need One was like a contemporary version of a Lurlene McDaniel novel. Lauren ConnollyFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
For me, You Only Need One was like a contemporary version of a Lurlene McDaniel novel. Lauren Connolly tells the story of Holly, a sister fighting to find her brother a new kidney, and Ben, a young man dependent on dialysis as he waits for a donor match as well. A donor exchange program finds Holly as Ben's savior and, with any luck, Ben's cousin will be the perfect match for Holly's brother. The program allows them to spend time together and while each is determined to let their attraction lie low, flirtation and romance blossom between Holly and Ben. Holly knows the risks though, she's felt the pain of seeing her brother lose matches, she knows what it's like to not be the match. A relationship with Ben is a risk, the biggest kind, but saving him and loving him are starting to feel like one and the same.
A quick, feel good read, You Only Need One is a perfect New Adult Romance. The pacing, the slow burn romance, and the honest portrayal of relationships as a youth made me fall in love with this story. Holly is certainly "weird," as Ben likes to call her. She's an organized list maker who takes just about everything personally, but she's also courageous, smart, and incredibly caring. She works through some heavy stuff in the novel, but it made her feel more real. People and their lives aren't perfect and Holly is never portrayed as such. Ben is the handsome nerd who hasn't allowed his silver spoon life to ruin him. He's a hard worker, adventurous, and well on the way to discover his life calling while faced with death. Lauren Connolly works through the mortality of the character's lives uniquely, their relationships helping them along and developing them. I think it made the romance mature and the topic, while sensitive, readable and understandable.
Not a typical recycled storyline NA read, You Only Need One features compelling characters that sweep you into their story with Lauren Connolly's brilliant writing. This was definitely an excellent, quick read for me that I highly recommend to NA fans.
Messy, heartbreaking, painful. These aren't the words one wishes to use to describe their marriage, buFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
Messy, heartbreaking, painful. These aren't the words one wishes to use to describe their marriage, but they are the words that Imogen Walsh and her husband, Theo, are using. At a difficult time in their lives they should be turning to each other, but Imogen is searching for fulfillment at her family's company, contemplating turning her back on the Walsh name and embracing all the expectations that come from walking back into her family's fold. Theo is left feeling much like the sea, crashing and flowing, but never really reaching land. When a chance at the forever love they once wanted presents itself again, Theo and Imogen must choose to either embrace fear or risk losing true love for good.
I have never been married, I have never come from a wealthy family dynasty, and I've never faced the trials and tribulations that Imogen and Theo faced, but I feel like I have after reading Down We'll Come, Baby. Carrie Aarons weaves a heartbreaking tale of love, loss, and the powerful sense of duty one can feel. Imogen is a woman who made a choice for a love, a woman who is now reconsidering what love means for her in the face of pain and the offering of wealth and status. She's a difficult heroine to like, a villian more so than a hurting wife. She is at the center of this novel and while one could easily dislike her, it is also very apparent that she is grasping at straws as her life tumbles in on her. Theo, the handsome, rugged construction worker and husband to Imogen, is the best part of this novel. His love is unwavering, his heartbreak is palpable, and the steps he's willing to take to make things right, to have love, is just incredible. His love for Imogen can only be described as all consuming passion.
Down We'll Come, Baby is an unpredictable romance with so much angst your heart won't stop hurting until the very last page. It features realistic marriage hurdles and while I didn't always connect with the heroine, it has a couple that discovers just how much they're willing to fight for love. It is another well-developed novel from Carrie Aarons, an author whose character development and interactions I always love. It's painful, it's steamy, it's romantic, it's a book you must read if you love romance with a touch of reality.
First love is all consuming and for Liv and Adam it’s a chance to defy everything they’ve ever known oFind this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
First love is all consuming and for Liv and Adam it’s a chance to defy everything they’ve ever known or believed about their lives. Under the Stars Liv can be free, under the stars Adam can be someone else, together they can beat the odds. Beneath His Stars was a very sweet, angst-filled Young Adult romance and I find myself today, having finished the books a few days ago, still thinking of the star-crossed lovers and those trying to keep them apart. Unlike other good-girl meets bad-boy romances, Adam really isn't a bad guy, he's just from the wrong side of the bridge and embraces the thoughts people have of him as a way of protecting himself. Liv isn't rich and snotty either, and Amie Knight uses the story to show that neither is what people think of them and that their love story can be real. Circumstances though are difficult and there are outside forces that want their own future for the two and that's for them to not be together.
I wasn’t sure about Liv at first, her story so similar to those we’ve seen repeatedly that mimic Cinderella, but she grows on you. I pushed on when I wasn’t feeling connected to her and when we finally saw the real her, the girl under the stars with dreams, goals, and a great attitude to match I knew it was a story I had to finish. She’s a bit hardened and has the typical evil stepmother, but Amie Knight updated the prince and Cinderella’s story for sure. It isn’t all happily ever after, neither Liv nor Adam have the perfect life to save the other with, but they have love even when the world is against them. The ending is heart wrenching and just like other readers I’m desperate for the conclusion to this duet.
Gemma has season passes to the Bears and it seems like the perfect opportunity to break the Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
4.25 Stars
Gemma has season passes to the Bears and it seems like the perfect opportunity to break the funk her ex-husband left her in. What man doesn't love football and a girl who can cheer right alongside him? Plus, no strings attached is a pretty sweet deal and Gemma can control the outcome, at least she thinks she can. Zach hears Gemma and her best friend planning this while he serves their drinks and what better guy for the job than himself? He isn't much of a one-night stand guy anymore, but something about Gemma calls to him. What starts as a practice round during a pre-season game grows into a desperate desire to convince Gemma she deserves more than one night and that he's meant to be there for all the games.
"Obviously, we have chemistry. We could have a good time. I'll buy the pizza and beer."
Kandi Steiner is the queen of sweet romance, the kind that knocks you on your feet, makes you believe in fairytales, and somehow is still filled with the smut we love. It's got those over the top scenes we dream of and the angst we know comes with real life. In The Wrong Game Gemma has been taken through the wringer, her life feels like a farce and she's recreating herself, hardened to love and embracing her OCD tendencies. Zach is the opposite, he's a romantic at heart and everything about Gemma gets his heart racing. So, like he's in an eighties movie scene he pulls out all the stops to show her he's worth a chance, no matter the walls she's built up around her. It might be odd to say, but I could easily connect with both. Zach felt like my younger self, open to love and willing to do anything for it, while Gemma connects with the me today, aware of heartbreak and the comfort of controlling the outcome. Of course, Kandi Steiner knows life doesn't work like that and her characters both have to come to that conclusion on their own.
"A practice round... Yeah. This could be fun."
The Wrong Game had be laughing, swooning, and even tearing up a bit. The character interactions at the football games were so funny, while the personal moments they shared at home, in the bar, and out and about had me falling for Zach just as fast as Gemma. Trust, though, is a big topic in this book and learning to trust again when you don't know how to forgive the past is hard. Gemma's OCD is a bit intense, though it's been a part of her always it seems to have grown over the top with everything that happened with her ex-husband. Some of it is expected, some of it is worrisome, and all of it made for the perfect romance, with Zach showing more patience and understanding than one would expect. I love how they work it out, even if it takes some time to get through. I have to admit though, I wanted to know more about Carlo, because I felt Gemma deserved to know the whys and how it plays out in the book isn't my favorite. We get memories of their happiness, we see the devastation in the present, but the background to it still feels fuzzy for me. Thank goodness Zach didn't need as much information as I want though, because he just saw barriers to break down and a woman to love and he went for it.
"I wanted him. But I was absolutely petrified to fall any further than I already had."
The Wrong Game reads like a warm cozy blanket on a cold day, filled with the cliches we loved, characters you can connect with, and a romance that will make your heart grow two sizes. I really enjoyed this book, in fact, it was unputdownable. Sports Romance lovers, this one's for you!
Grace once loved New Harbor, it was a place of summer escape and lifelong friendship, until one visit Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
Grace once loved New Harbor, it was a place of summer escape and lifelong friendship, until one visit it isn't and she hasn't been back since. Now in the care of her Uncle Rusty after having just adjusted to life as an orphan she is back and the happy and painful times are mixing all together. Everything in New Harbor reminds her of her innocence, the one she has lost. She knows she has to find out the truth in order to heal, in order to trust again, but the truth may just hurt the very people she's missed having by her side.
Marci Lyn Curtis has created a cast of characters that you can't help but love and a story that is impossible to put down. In just one sitting I read The Leading Edge of Now cover to cover, desperate to uncover the truths Grace sets out to find, hoping she'd heal and find that life's circumstances only make her stronger. The losses in her life are difficult and heartbreaking, I too had no trust for the uncle that took so long to rescue her from orphanhood and brought her back to the one place she and her father had run from. But I also loved that the move back to New Harbor brought old friends back into her life, friends that despite the time and the hurt between them want so much for things to be good again. New Harbor brought the truth to light and though it changed Grace and those around her forever, it is used in the story to show the hope and the good that can come from fighting through the difficult.
"That the best and worst parts of my life are suddenly woven together as one. That this part-here, now-this is the one I want to pay attention to."
I don't often reach for books that are marked as having a trigger warning for rape, in this case the dazzling early reviews convinced me I needed to read on. Grace's story is incredibly similar to my own, her brain having blocked the painful details of a night that changed her forever. This story, however, is not a painful one, it's a beautiful story about growth, boundaries, and learning to fly. Grace is headstrong, hilarious, a little too forward sometimes, and coming into her own as a woman. She's relatable, realistic, and inspirational. Secondary characters Owen, Janna, and Rusty were also incredible, with each going through extensive growth as they began to walk alongside Grace in her hunt for answers.
I loved that Marci Lyn Curtis takes such a difficult topic, one that many have experienced, and doesn't take it on the stereotpyical route. She tackles the hard questions, she portrays things in a senstive manner, and didn't tie things up in a neat bow that makes the resolution seem easy to get to. Grace's journey, the steps she has to take, the reliving of her experiences, are not easy, and I like that they weren't glossed over. She questions her friends, her family, her own memory, and those things are very natural and real. The story is thoughtful, providing readers with a sympathetic viewpoint that readers with and without personal experience will be able to connect with.
"I don't need someone to yank me toward wellness. I need someone to walk beside me as I find it on my own."
I loved The Leading Edge of Now; I smiled and cried and ached for Grace, I felt those things for myself when I looked back on the things I had to overcome, and I think Marci Lyn Curtis did an incredible job telling a story that needs to be heard. It is relevant, it is impactful, and it is memorable. I highly recommend this book.
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