review :: Hothouse Flower by Krista and Becca Ritchie

AMAZON :: GOODREADS

 Ryke Meadows, meet Daisy Calloway... she's all grown up...

YOU GUYS!!! I am so addicted, all over again! Binge read (is that even a thing?!) the entire series again this weekend, because Krista and Becca Ritchie did it again!! I sincerely doubt this amazing duo can do any wrong, to be honest. They’ve rocked my literary world in such a way that no matter how many New Adult books I read from this point forward, they’ll always lack majorly when compared to the Addicted series. Yep, it’s THAT FREAKING GOOD!! In a few words, this book is intense, riveting, fulfilling, exhilarating... fucking A. Good. Freaking. BYE!

These books are so intelligent. So, so intelligent! They make me actually want to think instead of just immersing myself in the book and “zombily” read up on characters. They’re so refreshing, so indescribably good that not reading them is practically a crime against humanity. I swear!! I sincerely wish I could grab some bits and bobs off Rose’s personality, Lily’s personality and Daisy’s personality, mix them up on a huge stirring pot and magically transfer them into my own. They’re so likeable; such a breath of fresh air on the writing scene… just thinking about it makes me want to set myself on fire. No friggin’ joke, LOL But let’s start the review.

"She’s beautiful because she can make the saddest person in the world grin. And she can make the loneliest guy feel something more. She’s youthful and wild. Primal and really fucking innocent. She’s all these things that scream big fucking risk."

Daisy and Ryke’s story began way back in Ricochet, I believe, hence why you should never read Hothouse Flower (or Kiss the Sky, for that matter) as a standalone novel. DON’T. You need to read the series as a whole because I promise you that you’ll feel as if you’re a part of this big old dysfunctional family!! I love every single one of the 6 main characters of the book and I’m equally fascinated by all of them, and while Lily and Lo are still my main couple in the series, I’ve always been super eager to really delve into Daisy and Ryke’s forbidden love story, especially because of all the teasing and built up anticipation. But why is it forbidden, you ask? The age gap, frowned upon especially by Loren. But let's meet the characters.

“Hyperactive, fearless, crazy, and probably the happiest unhappy girl I’ve ever met.”

Now this describes Daisy to a T! So much that I even tweeted the authors this exact quote since it resonated so much with who she is. See what I mean with K&B being such smart writers? I can’t even. Anyway, Daisy is the daredevil of the group. While Rose is uptight and Lily is shy, Daisy is the forever young spirit we read about. She’s literally the most refreshing character out of all of them, with absolutely no inhibitions or shame (on the surface…). She’s the kind of girl that will impulsively throw herself off a cliff and into the ocean. Yep, she’s a badass bitch! Wooo-hoooo!! She’s such an intriguing character and one of the reasons why I was so immensely pumped for Hothouse Flower. Also, can we a take a moment to cry tears of liquid glitter because of Daisy’s answering machine? Because it’s amazeballs!

“Hi, it’s Daisy. Not Duck and not Duke. Definitely not Buchanan. I’m a Calloway. If you haven’t misdialed then leave your name after the beep, and I’ll call you when I return from the moon. Don’t wait around. It may take a while.” BEEP.

Sigh… she’s made of pure win, that girl. BUT! What about Ryke, you ask? Oh, Ryke… *fans self, throws panties out the window* Ryke is, like they say, a jackass. But you know what people also say about jackasses… Sometimes not everything is as it seems. Jackasses can also be the most caring and protecting people simply hiding beneath a layer of hard stone. That’s Ryke, my friends. A total tactless prick at times. He’s such a walking contradiction, because while he’s hard as nails, brooding, a total potty mouth and super rough around the edges like Lo, he’s also the glue that holds the group together. He’s a freaking awesome guy and I love him to death. I’m not too proud to admit I cried right here…

“Ryke…” He [Connor] shakes his head and rubs his lips. He drops his hand. “You ran with her in your arms for over three miles. Your brother’s existence caused your parent’s divorce, and yet, you gave up most of your time and energy to help him through his sobriety. How can you possibly think you’re a pain in their life? What you’ve done for them, it’s nothing short of heroic, and if you can’t see that, then you’re blind, my friend.”

A hot tear rolls down my cheek.

Did you hear that cracking sound? That was my heart breaking!! *sobs* I love you, Ryke!! So… yep, they’re amazing apart, super unique and super interesting, simply a joy to read about. But, you guys… this is no match for when they’re together. The sexual tension! The anticipation! The fun (read: sometimes torturous) initial parts of the book was Daisy teasing Ryke evilly and both of them skating on very thin ice, crossing and uncrossing the line between friendly banter and sexual flirtation… Phew! It was steamy as fudge.

Answer me this, do you believe in soul mates? I truly, madly, deeply do. I believe that our hearts are separated at birth and we spend all our lives waiting to find our other halves (Connor might actually kill me for this super irrational chatter… oh, bite me, Mr. Cobalt!) The Addicted series only solidified my belief in this, to be honest. Lily and Lo aren’t Lily and Lo unless they’re together. Rose and Connor are each other’s match in every single way. And Daisy and Ryke…

“Soft to his hard. Sweet to his rough. Wild to his stone. (…) We chose this because nothing else felt right. Nothing else felt as good. Our greatest happiness has always been with each other.”

HELP!! I’m a disintegrated mess, a liquid puddle of feelings on the floor!! Literally reduced to a pile of mush, y’all. These couples are my favorites, gosh. I live for these 6 beautifully flawed people in a way I can’t even explain. This story lived up to every single one of my expectations and then some. It even created and fulfilled new expectations I didn’t have. It’s so complex, even being about Daisy and Ryke it manages to throw the spotlight into Connor and Rose’s relationship, Lily and Lo’s relationship… it’s every. Single. Thing. And. You’re. An. Epic. Idiot. If. You. Don’t. Buy. These. Books. YESTERDAY!! I’m screaming like a banshee in your ear and I’ll personally haunt your dreams if you don’t read this series. I can be dangerous. Beware!

A blissful moment before something that could be the end. The rush before the fear. He whispers, “I fucking love you.”

I smile, my lips tingling. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“I love you more than chocolate cake.”

Ummm… my dying wishes, you ask? (I know you didn’t ask and I don’t know why you would ask such a thing but roll with it). Firstly, I wanna have a relationship like Lily and Lo, because…

“The minute she sees him, her whole body lifts, and my brother—he wears a smile that’s rare in anyone else’s presence but hers. I’ve never really seen love until I saw them together, truly.”

Right? Secondly, I wanna have the banter and intelligence that Rose and Connor possess and taunt the rest of us mere mortals with, because Connor is seriously the bomb of the universe on so many levels and I’m 50% Rose so…

And lastly I want to have Ryke in my life, in all his caring broodiness and brazen attitude. Also, I want to be Daisy because I also happen to want to dye my hair like a rainbow. I mean, why not, right?!?!

"She has bigger pink highlights, a couple green ones, and a few purple scattered around her head. Still mostly blonde, but the color reflects her erratic personality. I know she’ll love it when she sees it, which is why I begin to smile."

Up next are my loves Lily and Lo, my favorites, so we’re going back to where it all began… Yay! Yay! Yay! I cannot contain my excitement!! I love, love, love, LOVE you Krista and Becca Ritchie!! You guys give me life with the Addicted series – please, with all my heart, I beg that y’all don’t ever stop. You guys have a once in a lifetime gift of storytelling. It’s so beautiful! Thank you.

Signed,

Francisca Cobalt Meadows Calloway Hale

P.S. – Yes, I’m nuts.

P.P.S. – No, I regret nothing.

P.P.P.S. – In case it wasn’t totally clear, I need Thrive. Like, yesterday.

~

{ RATING :: 5+ stars

SEX SCENES :: Very steamy

GENRE :: Contemporary romance, new adult, series

AUDIENCES :: 18

LENGTH :: 441 pages

HAPPY ENDING :: Yes

SEQUEL :: Series continuation, different characters }

review :: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

AMAZON :: GOODREADS

Wow. Just… wow. It’s not often that I’m rendered speechless by a book, but that happened while reading this masterpiece by Colleen Hoover. This book was so good that a 5 star rating simply isn’t enough. So, let me tell y’all, Maybe Someday is clearly on a league of its own with a 5+ star rating that I’ve only given to Beautiful Disaster, Fifty Shades of Grey, Crossfire, possibly Remy and some of Kristen Ashley’s novels. This book is not only the best book I’ve read in 2014, it’s also one of the (very few) best books I’ve read in my life. LIFE. By this, y’all should know I mean business!! LOL

There’s soooo much I want to say, but the words are running over themselves in my brain because they all want to come out at once. Gosh, you guys, it was such an amazing, touching, life changing surprise seeing as I went into this book absolutely blind, no blurb or any spoilers whatsoever. Can I erase my memory and start all over?! Sigh. ‘Kay, let’s start this.

I think I should start by saying I’d heard about this book some months before, but it wasn’t even on my radar. I wasn’t minimally interested in reading this because the books that made Colleen über famous – Slammed, Hopeless, etc… – fell short with me. Everyone and their mommas raved about them, but I just didn’t connect with the books at all. I even gave them a 2 star rating over at Goodreads, I believe. Yeah, there’s something about Colleen’s writing that is so special, but maybe I just couldn’t bond with the characters or whatever. However, everyone was raving, once again, about her new release, so I decided to give Colleen another chance. God bless the minute I did so!

“I keep my hand clutched tightly to my chest without reading it. I refuse to accept that whatever words are written on my palm will obliterate what little hope I had for our maybe someday.”

I normally quote the hell out a book I loved, but I want you guys to go into the story as I did. Trust me, you have to. There are so many (so, so, so, so many!!!) twists and turns, and right off the bat there’s something about the book that just pulls the rug right off your feet. It’s life changing. It really is. This book is so emotional, you guys. It awakens your soul in such a deep, terrific level that you just want the story to go on and on and on... It’s a standalone novel (sobs!) but I’ve never wished harder for a sequel in my life.

“I never realized how powerful desire could be. It consumes every part of you, enhancing your senses by a million. When you’re in the moment… all you can do is focus on the person in front of you.”

Let me ask you this… Do you believe in soul mates? Because I do. And Colleen wrote my idealization of soul mates so perfectly, it was hard not to cry. I don’t know what kind of magic Colleen managed to weave with this book, but I connected to Sydney and Ridge’s story in such a profound level. I was Sydney. Ridge was “him”. It just was… us! Me, him and Warren, too. And Maggie. How?! It baffled me. I gasped, buried my head in my pillow at 2 a.m., and cried tears of joy and heartbreak. It was every single thing and beyond. I never cry reading a book. I can’t even deal. Literally, you guys, I can’t. Through Sydney’s eyes, I fell in love with Ridge.

“I also know that my soul is compatible with Sydney’s, but it’s also so much more than that. Our souls aren’t just compatible—they’re perfectly attuned. I feel everything she feels. I understand things she never even has to say. I know that what she needs is exactly what I could give her, and what she’s wishing she could give me is something I never even knew I needed.”

What can I promise you? You’ll fall head over heels with Ridge. By a clear mile, the sweetest hero I’ve ever read, experienced, had the utter privilege of meeting. You’ll become Sydney. You’ll live every single minute of this story as if you transcended the pages and landed right there in Texas with them. The musical side of this story will heighten your experience to a level you never thought possible. Your senses will go into overdrive and you’ll feel every bit of this story in your skin. In your soul. In your heart! This I can promise you. Scout’s honor! *wink* Seriously, read this. Please. It’ll literally stay with you forever. What do you say? Too soon to reread this book? Because I really want to… heh!

“Beat, beat, pause.

Contract, expand.

Inhale, exhale.”

~

{ RATING :: 5+ stars

SEX SCENES :: Mild

GENRE :: Contemporary romance, new adult, music

AUDIENCES :: 17

LENGTH :: 299 pages

HAPPY ENDING :: Yes

SEQUEL :: No }

review :: Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick

AMAZON :: GOODREADS

Sometimes you come across an author that writes books which are just... different. These books are amazing, breathtaking, daring, ballsy. Real books about real topics everyone else is seemingly too scared to address, but which Jane gladly takes on and brings home in the most beautiful, unique and heartfelt way. 

I fell head over heels in love with her books "The Education of Sebastian" and "The Education of Caroline", both of which are about a relationship between a married woman in her 30's and a boy in his late teens - namely 17 years old. I'm all about these "taboo" reads because they bring that "omph" you crave in a book every once in a while, you know what I'm saying? Not only because they're shocking and all, but because they bring such real emotion out of you, in that "so wrong it's right" kind of way. It reminds you that life's not black and white, but rather black and white and grey and yellow and pink and neon. And that's what Lifers is all about!

In a nutshell, Jordan Kane was labeled the ex-con for a mistake he made when he was too young to know any better. He paid his dues in prison for eight years, but still, everyone in town hated his guts with such fiery passion, I was floored. Literally. My heart squeezed inside my chest in pity for Jordan a million times during this book. Whenever we switched to his POV - which was aaaah-mazing! -, I wanted to cuddle him, run my hands through his hair and softly whisper 'everything will be okay' in his ear. It was THAT sad. 

“Go on now! You skedaddle!” snapped Hector. “The preacher-lady has done gotten her good deed for the day and I don’t want you on my property no more.”
I nodded, expecting nothing less.
“Murderer!” he yelled after me, as I drove away.
I expected that, too.

Sigh... Can you imagine living like this? I think what slayed me the most wasn't the outspoken hatred he got from everyone in town. I think he could attempt to brush it off his shoulder if he had a good support system at home. But, alas, he didn't. And that's what punched me in the stomach that much harder.

“I don’t think you do!” she said, her voice shaking with fury. “Every time I look at you it sickens me! All I can see is your brother’s cold, dead body rottin’ in that grave, and you’re walkin’ around wearin’ his clothes, breathin’ God’s good air. It’s not fair. It’s just plain wrong!”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” I yelled back. “Don’t you think I wish a thousand times a day that it had been me and not him?”
Momma’s eyes snapped to mine. “I wish that, too.”

On the other side of the spectrum, Torrey Delaney is the daughter of a preacher lady... but is the most rebellious kid in town. You guys, you have NOT seen a firecracker until you meet Torrey. Guaranteed, 150% true, lay down my life to prove this. She is the BOMB.COM. Yes, ma'am, I said that. And yes, ma'am, Jordan did call Torrey ma'am like a gazillion times at first. It was hilarious.

We sat there in comfortable silence for several minutes. Well, I think she was comfortable—my dick was so hard, looking at those long legs of hers stretched out in front—comfortable was the last thing I was.
She seemed to be staring into the distance, but I guess she must have noticed my condition after all, because she said in a conversational tone, “If you want to use the bathroom to jack off, better do it now because I’m going to take a shower in a minute.”

And she's stuck living with her momma, the preacher lady. Her mom left them when Torrey was 13, to "pursue her true calling". Ever since that day, Torrey has resented her to hell and back...so imagine living together, with Torrey being a spitfire and Reverend a preacher lady. Yep!!

“Fine. You busted me eye-fucking the hot handyman. So sue me.”
“I don’t want you talking like that, Torrey!”
“Oh, jeez, Mom! I didn’t hump him on the porch!”
“There’s no need to be so crude!”

Aha! Funny, no? But yes, Jordan a.k.a. the introvert and Torrey a.k.a. the fearless spitfire... boooooy, what a match. What. A. Match!!! My brain was telling me to brace myself for this tough ride, and so I did. But not nearly as well as I should have.

“Well? How do I look?”
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Sexy. Off limits.
“Um, fine,” I managed to squeeze out.
She raised her eyebrows. “You smooth talking stud. I can see that I’m going to have to watch myself with you.”

It was truly a treat to see Torrey and Jordan's relationship blossom slowly, it made everything that much more gratifying. Jordan was genuinely one of the sweetest heroes I've ever come across in my lifetime, and seeing him struggle so harshly with his own demons while attempting not to think about suicide at times was the most heartbreaking thing I've had to read in a while. I will let you read on to find out what happened that lead him to prison for eight years but I'd honestly advise you to buckle up before you start this emotional ride... because there's a ton of bumps along the way! But rest assured, it's all worth it in the end.

Jane's books give you a chance to look at things from a different perspective, and to see the world in a million other shades other than simply black and white. You will laugh, you will cry and you will most definitely swoon and fall in love with the MC's!

He took a shuddering breath. “I love you, Torrey Delaney. You don’t have to say it back to me, but I love you. I didn’t believe life was worth living ‘til I met you. I’m so, so happy I was wrong.”

♥♥♥

{ RATING :: 5 stars

SEX SCENES :: Steamy

GENRE :: Contemporary romance, drama, dark

AUDIENCES :: 18+

LENGTH :: 382 pages

HAPPY ENDING :: Yes

SEQUEL :: No }

may's most anticipated books of 2014 :: pt. I

Oh hi, February!! Fancy seeing you here, you little nugget! I'm sooo excited to be rid of January, even though it was full of amazing books. Now we're onto the ever so lovely Springtime, where everything is better and clean and fresh and a great prologue to Summer. Plus, there's a TON of delicious books waiting to be released from here on out... Squeeeee!!!

HOTHOUSE FLOWER by KRISTA AND BECCA RITCHIE

release date :: march 2014

Ryke Meadows, meet Daisy Calloway...she's all grown up.

Oh my sweet baby Jesus!!! I think the title of this series is so apt to everything I feel whenever I read these books... I am nothing short of absolutely, hopelessly, ridiculously addicted! It's kind of embarrassing, really, but who cares? Certainly not me! Who needs dignity anyways? Crawling pathetically and begging Krista and Becca for a new book or even a little bone or a teaser to quench my urges is the way to go, my friends! You'll understand once you read this series, believe me.

Oh. What's that? Huh? You've never read this series?! Ummm... OK. First, WHAT!??! Second, you need to reevaluate your life choices...majorly. Third, BUY THESE BOOKS. And finally, I suppose I could try to crack this for you real quick, but you really must buy these books. Like, legit have to. You'll be doing yourselves a favor, peeps. No joke. But anyway... In a nutshell, Daisy Calloway and Ryke Meadows were never meant to happen, or so everyone thought... She's 18 and a sweet girl living a life way beyond her years. He's 25 and a hothead with a potty mouth and a rough exterior that would scare everyone away. Not her, though, not our little daredevil. There's so much more than what meets the eye between Daisy and Ryke... and you know what they say, the forbidden fruit always tastes the best. Or something. You get my drift. Anyway... Expect an unhealthy dose of explosive chemistry and a nice little dose of some harsh reality that you'll never want to escape. Can I wake up tomorrow and see that it's March? Please? Oh come on, I'm doing puppy eyes here! -- See the book on Goodreads right here.

CRASHED by K. BROMBERG

release date :: march 3, 2014

When life crashes down around us, how hard are we willing to fight for the one thing we can't live without: each other?

Yep! Holy mother of (cruel) cliffhangers!! If you've read the two previous books, Driven and Fueled, you'll be familiar with Colton Donavan, a sexy as all hell racecar driver who makes women swoon and panties drop everywhere on the globe; and Rylee Thomas, a sweet, feisty girl whose dreams include helping troubled kids overcome their deepest, darkest problems. Colton and Rylee have faced their fair share of drama in the previous 2 books (that Tawny beeee-otch, ugh) and were finally on the right track when... boom! Tragedy strikes again. Seriously, these cliffhangers drive me stinkin' mad! Especially when book 2 was released on August 25th, 2013!!! YES!!! Aaaaaahhhh!!! If I didn't love Colton and Rylee so much... sigh! Now we have a one month wait until the final installment of the Driven trilogy and I can't wait! Buuuuh-ring it! -- See the book on Goodreads right here and my Driven review right here. Spiderman. Batman. Superman. Ironman. Yeeep...

CAPTIVATED BY YOU by SYLVIA DAY

release date :: TBA (seriously, though? gaaah!)

We faced a terrible choice: the familiar safety of the lives we'd had before each other or the fight for a future that suddenly seemed an impossible and hopeless dream...

Squeee!! Yes, Sylvia, I am beyond captivated by you! You and this series. Y'all know what I'm talking about. Crossfire is just the bomb diggity. It is, no one can argue that. Gideon Cross and Eva Tramell are just on a league of their own, I'm afraid. If you're unfamiliar with this series - which I sincerely doubt, but you never know -, this is the FOURTH book of the Crossfire series bonanza. Yep, the sequel to Bared to You (#1), Reflected in You (#2) and Entwined with You (#3) - which, by the way, was released on June 4th. If things go on this way, it'll have been a YEAR when the new book is released. We don't even have a cover yet, nor do we have a release date (!!!!) At first I'd heard some murmurs about it being in May, but now I'm unsure. Still, despite all these anti-climatic dealings, I am still panting for this book like a friggin' dog in heat. I am, no denying. Embarrassing, but it is what it is. Personally speaking, I'd be content with 3 books, but I'm not gonna turn away from 2 more... *wink* I'll never have enough of Gideon and Eva, to be honest. The last book was so intense (airplane scene, anyone?!) and no one can write like Sylvia can. It's just impossible. So, yep, here I am, pathetically begging for a release date or a cover (or the book itself, hey! If you want to give it to me, who am I to say no?!?). Pleaaaaase, Sylvia? Pleasepleasepleaseplease? -- See the book on Goodreads right here.

RUSH TOO FAR by ABBI GLINES

release date :: may 6, 2014

Fall all over again...

Have I, by any chance, mentioned how much I LIVE for a guy's POV from books I fell in love with? No? Well, allow me: I LOVE A GUY'S POV FROM BOOKS I FELL IN LOVE WITH! Yes!!! Case in point: Walking Disaster, from my favorite book ever Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Ooooh, Travis. Next? Hmm... Remy, from one of my absolute favorite alpha males books ever to exist - Real by Katy Evans. Ooooh, Remington Tate. Until You, from one of the books that I still can't shake off to this day - Bully by Penelope Douglas. Love you, Jared! Need I go on? I could, but I'll just tell you that Rush Finlay is one hell of a sexy mother phuckaaaah. Yep, he is! He and Blaire Wynn are one of the sweetest couples I've read to this day, and his love for her can withstand anything (whoa, Nannette! One of the most hateful characters I have ever read, hands down!). This is a book I cannot wait for, and it basically tells the story we've seen on Fallen Too Far through Rush's eyes. Dying for it?! I know!!! I am too!!! Only downside is having to wait until May... sigh. But I still love you bunches for doing this, sweet Abbi! Thank you, love! BRB, peeing my pants in the meantime! Oopsie! -- See the book on Goodreads right here and my major freak out over hearing the news here. 3 months to go! Start the countdown! Eeeeek!

THOUGHTFUL by S.C. STEPHENS

release date :: TBA

Ladies, meet Kellan Kyle, the world's hottest D-Bag! And then meet me, the proudest D-Baguette!!! Bahaha, how crazy does this sound?! Continuing the major freak out that happened up there about guys' POV's, here we have none other than THE sexiest musician, Kellan Kyle! Mr. Kellan "Delicious" Kyle here was at the center of one of the most anguished, craziest, hottest, most sinful love triangles in recent times -- the Thoughtless trilogy, anyone?! Yep, thought that might ring a bell with y'all! The absolutely amazeballs S.C. Stephens is giving us the mother of all treats... a book in Kellan's POV! Yaaaaay!!!! Squeee squeee squeeeee!!!! Let me hug you real tight, S.C.! Sigh, the Thoughtless trilogy literally took my heart out of my chest, went on to grind it into hamburger meat and then served it to me on a silver platter. I might've had a small heart attack or two, mind you. We had Kiera Allen's version of events, now it's our chance to get inside Kellan's head! I just had to wipe a fat drop of drool off my chin, you guys. I'm serious. While we don't have a cover or a release date as of yet, we've been given small teasers by the author, and my appetite is certainly awoken! Gimme, gimme, gimme! -- See the book on Goodreads here. 

---

That's part I for you! Holy mama, I did have a lot to say, didn't I? Oops... Part II to come real soon! Which books are you most excited for? Leave me a comment below! ♥

review :: Heights of Desire by Mara White

AMAZON :: GOODREADS

Oh, mamacita... This book, you guys!!! This. Book! I felt like I was one bad mamma jamma playing with fire and I loved it! So sinful, so delicious, so naughty yet nice. It had the perfect mix of fear and recklessness, the right blend of heart and steam. My mouth waters just thinking about the follow up... You can't leave me like this, Mara! I NEED!!! 

First of all, how delicious is this cover?! I LOVE! So scorching hot without being tacky; it got me pumped up to read the book immediately, pushing it straight to the top of my (loooong) TBR list! If you give me an older woman meets younger man premise with a steam factor of 10000+, you can be darn sure I'm gonna jump on it faster than Jaylee jumped on Kate... *wink*

Truthfully, it took me a while to get into the story at first because it felt kind of rushed to me, like they met one second and were shoving their tongues down each other's mouths the next. I didn't feel like I "knew" them well enough to be invested in their story yet. BUT... Boy, I was in for a shock because I did not even remotely imagine what laid ahead! I really didn't really know what to expect other than knowing the book portrayed the story of Kate Champion, a married 42 year old mother of 2 precious girls and Jaylee Inoa, a 23 year old latino who meet by chance and can't deny the inexplicable pull that draws them together almost right off the bat. Crazy, right!? Can you imagine?! Fanning myself!

It does occur to me that it’s absolutely ridiculous that I’m holding his hand. I have no idea what I’d say if my husband walked around the corner or even a friend for that matter. What would I do, introduce him? I don’t even know him. Oh this is the kid from the thug-ground that I’ve been thinking about incessantly for a week. I can’t stop because I think he’s invaded every cell in my body. And now, I’m holding his hand – why you ask? Well, because I’m fucking crazy.

I quickly shook off this uneasy feeling and became more and more invested in the story without realizing it. Faster than I could blink, 11 p.m. came around, then midnight... then 1 a.m... 2 a.m... I simply couldn't put it down! Isn't that what you want from a book?! To be so swallowed into the story that you need the next page like your next breath? LOL, dramatic but true, right?! That's what Kate and Jaylee's story awoke in me. Like a typical affair, the lies start to stumble out of Kate's mouth and she's stuck in this web that keeps growing bigger and bigger.

“Jaylee babysits, Carmen. He’s a friend of Stephani’s. She recommended him for days that she has classes and can’t watch the girls,” I stumble through yet another lie.

I loved Jaylee's naivety behind his rough exterior. This is a man who is in love for the first time with a woman twice his age, who lives on the wrong side of town with his grandma, mama and sister, basically supporting them all, who associates with the wrong crowd but still thinks a good life for him, Kate and her two daughters is possible. He believes in it so hard that you find yourself believing in it and praying for it to happen just as much as he does! He's a sweetie and has no inhibitions to introduce Kate to his family for who she is, frosty reception from mama Janet and sister Janinie be damned!

“Kate, qué gusto. Jaylee nos ha contado mucho de tí,” she gushes.
What could he possibly have told them? My age? That I’m married with children? Oh, God I feel sick. I’m a bad person.
“Bella y profesional,” she says and squeezes my hands in hers.

I love that they spoke in Spanish and that I understood it all, being Portuguese and a bit "latina" myself, hehe. His grandma is so nice and Jaylee is so proud to introduce the woman he loves to his family! Swoooon! I love this small but cozy and loving family vibe, away from all the cold glitz glam and money Kate is used to.

I reach out and squeeze Jaylee’s thigh. I’m honored that he’s brought me here, that he has enough confidence in our relationship to make it public to the people that matter most. He puts his hand on top of mine and drinks me in with his golden eyes. My heart surges in response.

Just one more sweet and sugar tidbit for you guys... Mamá Gladys and Jaylee are so sweet together, sigh. He has a heart so big and warm that instantly made me root for him and Kate extra hard.

“Mamá, no te dijé que era la mujer más bella?” he says. It’s Gladys that he calls Mamá. (...) “No te creas, Mamá, esa se va a quedar conmigo pa’ siempre, ya tu verás.”

"Didn't I tell you she was the most beautiful woman? She's gonna stay with me forever"... Sigh!!! Jaylee, you have my heart! BUT YOU GUYS! Hello! Can I have your attention, please?! The sex in this book is caliente!!! Muy, muy caliente! Well, yeah, so I DO enjoy this "forbidden fruit" kinda thing, shoot me! *wink* But to be fair, I really needed the book to be more than just "oh, we're not supposed to be together but we can't resist each other and we're gonna hump like bunnies until her husband finds out". I needed more emotional depth than that, and Mara sure stepped up and delivered! The way Jaylee looks at Kate like she holds all the power and gorgeousness in the world...

“Jaylee, open your eyes.”
His eyes pop open and he looks deeply into me with a devotion that is humbling. I pull him to me again and gently guide him inside of me. He closes his eyes and moans. He rocks his hips softly and pushes himself deeper. His mouth goes to my neck, my breasts.

But then...

But no matter how hard I try to pretend otherwise, the mood has definitely changed. My arousal is heightened by the other man’s presence. I feel slutty and lascivious and the performer inside me, whom I never knew existed, is more than obliging to put on a show. (...) I assume Jaylee will come in my mouth but when he stiffens again, he withdraws himself completely and I quickly realize that he’s aiming for something more dramatic due to our newfound audience. Jaylee wants a money shot.

And THAT is just a small teaser! Phew, it is hot in here or what?! I need several cold showers! Teehee! While this book is heavy on the steam and the love, it's also heavy on the drama and suspense. I found myself hanging by a small thread at times, fearing what blow Mara was gonna deliver next. I'm not much of a mystery/drama/thriller kinda girl at all, but I loved the twists in this book. You just know that someone like Jaylee won't have things delivered to him on a silver platter, and it's heartwarming to see what great lengths and heights Kate is willing to go to just to be with Jaylee. Oh, and that twist plus Robert's malicious ways... That sneaky, vile snake! But not to end this review on a bad note...

Instead, I wrap my spent body around his and whisper, “I belong to you” into his ear. He holds me tightly, ferociously, and remains inside me long after he’s softened and his desire has abated.

Deep sigh... This book is so exceptional in its own unique little way and Ms. White genuinely did so good! It started a little shakily for me but when it picked up, dang, it picked up! One of my favorite reads of 2014 without a doubt and I'll be pining for the next book like a drop of water in the desert! Don't leave me hanging, Mara... *pouty face*!

♥♥♥

{ RATING :: 4.5 stars

SEX SCENES :: Very steamy

GENRE :: Contemporary romance, dark, erotica

AUDIENCES :: 18+

LENGTH :: 280 pages

HAPPY ENDING :: To be continued...

SEQUEL :: Yes }

review :: Pieces of You and Me by Pamela Ann

AMAZON :: GOODREADS

Another sinful, sexy and delicious read by Pamela Ann! Can she do any wrong?! I die for her books and her swoon worthy alpha males! 

Pamela, Pamela, Pamela... How I love thee! I wish I could put into words what makes Pamela Ann's books so special to me, but it's like lightning in a bottle. Her books get to me every time because it's like she knows what I'm craving in my heroes: supreme alpha males with OTT possessive tendencies that make my panties combust... and Mr. Greyson was no exception. Holy freaking cow, can I get a sexy fireman up in here?!?! One that looks like Greyson, by any chance? Teehee!

Like I have previously stated in some of my Goodreads reviews, Pamela's writing is one of my favorite kinds of writing. She writes real, raw, intense, gripping and passionate stories that hit the spot every single time. Pun intended, mind you! Her books always deliver on the delicious and toe-curling steam, over the charts drama and angst (which I live and breathe for!) and super sexy, holy-freaking-cow-get-naked-with-me-now heroes. Bass Cole? Carter Mason? Greyson Edwards? Wait... Wait. Oh my. You don't know who I'm talking about? WHAT?! *gasp* omg, go read the Torn series and Pieces of You & Me like, right NOW! Good grief, women! What's wrong with y'all? LOL

As I was saying... Pamela struck gold with me with this book also because I've been on a real "hero and heroine seemingly hate each other BUT secretly love each other and can't wait to get into each other's pants" kinda kick. Ya feel me? It's such a great setup for a fab romance, is it not? And let me tell you, Pamela more than delivered on the sexual tension and angst. Boy, did she ever! But here's the deal: Olivia Taylor and Greyson Edwards were each other's first love, first kiss... Swoon! Aren't third grade Liv and Grey the cutest, most precious babies? Sigh!

“You’re mine now, Olivia Taylor.”

And he was mine.

Glancing down at my lucky charm bracelet that I’d made last week, I pulled it off my wrist and handed it to him. “Here, keep it safe. I’ll always come back to you.”

"Are we forever, Liv?"

"Forever, Grey," I promised.

Until, one day, they weren't. And thus, they hated each other's guts fervently.  

Olivia Taylor…

Had been…

My first crush.

My first kiss.

My first love.

My first heartbreak.

Things fell apart during fourth grade and it hadn’t stopped since.  

Yep! Olivia can't stand Grey, and Grey can't stand Olivia. On the outside, that is. Because we know better, don't we girls? Teehee! So, what happened? I'll let you figure that out by yourselves. But do know one thing: the sexual tension in this book is off the charts! Phew! Miss Pamela Ann makes us wait long and good before some sexy time ensues, mainly because I neglected to mention one thing... Olivia has a boyfriend. Oops? His name is Liam and he lives in Australia, where Olivia plans to relocate to real soon. Oh, and also? Liv is forced to live in the same house as Grey. Gosh! This love triangle is soooo up my alley it's ridiculous! Did I mention that Pamela just knows what I crave in a book?! Squeeeee!!!

“So, how was Australia? I heard that you slept your way around all summer long. I’m curious; do you prefer American or Aussie dicks? Or are they all the same? A dick is a dick, right?” I heard him snort, which angered me even more.

“Yes, they’re all juicy, Grey.”

“Mine is oozing, Liv. Keep that in mind, will ya? Might come handy to you if you need to get a workout done.”

Aaaaaah, dead! I love this banter between them! I live for these kind of books, you guys, you don't even know. The sexual innuendos, the flirting between those two who are supposed to hate each other... Stick a fork in me, I'm done! It doesn't help that Greyson has an available posse of women at his beck and call, which drives Olivia mad. I wonder why... *wink* A self proclaimed ladies man and a feisty woman with balls of steel screams the perfect combination, if you ask me! Especially when Grey's not too pleased to see Olivia gather some interest from his friends... 

My eyes flashed back, not backing down. “You’re breaking codes here, bro. You know better than to fuck with me.”

Gavin stood up, pulling his sleeves up. “Who gives a fuck about what happened in third grade! We’ve all moved on! If you want to take this out somewhere, I’ll be more than happy to take you there.”

Oh, and let's not forget Liv...

Eyes wide as saucers, I watched as they both kissed while Grey kept his eyes glued to me, taking in my reaction. When their kiss deepened, I snapped out of my trance and immediately ran upstairs to my bedroom. My body shook with rage. With anger that wanted to cause pain. With endless loathing. And with jealousy… Grey meant nothing to me and yet, for some strange reason, I was jealous. Maybe it was just all the tension and stress from it all that I might be imagining it… yeah, that was probably it.

Oh, honey, you really are clueless... But Liv does love Liam, just not as much as (I know) she loves Greyson. It's hard being in a long distance relationship and I know that firsthand, so I could relate to Olivia. That doesn't mean she didn't get on my nerves a hell of a lot! She could very well be one of the most indecisive and irritating heroines of Pamela's, but that didn't deter me from enjoying the book unlike some people. I tolerate her and I do love her and Greyson together. And when they do get together... oh, man, it's explosive! But Liv is so scared, it broke my heart at times.

“I don’t know,” he sighed before lifting his head to the sky as if the stars held the answers. “This thing I feel for you…” He shook his head, not finishing his sentence.

This thing he felt for me… no. No. Just fucking no. Don’t even go there. We couldn’t. Fuck no. “Tell me you hate me,” I demanded, gazing at his face, begging. Desperate because my body would be volunteering any day now.

With his face still directed to the Heavens, he whispered to it, “I hate you… so much.”

Tempted to read this rollercoaster ride? You better be! This is the perfect book for you if you love crazy, sexy, make-no-apologies-for-who-I-am alpha males, a semi love triangle, a ton of thick sexual tension, blurred lines (did you just sing the song? I know you did!) mixing love and hate, mouthwatering steamy scenes and an awesome story that only Pamela Ann can weave so perfectly. The only reason I'm giving this 4.5 stars instead of 5 is the ending... I feel it happened only so it could provide some sort of cliffhanger and the book could've been a standalone, only longer. But that's it! Go buy this book immediately! And while you're at it, make sure to check out the Torn series if you haven't already! Deeeelish!

♥♥♥

{ RATING :: 4.5 stars

SEX SCENES :: Steamy

GENRE :: Contemporary romance, erotica

AUDIENCES :: 18+

LENGTH :: 211 pages

HAPPY ENDING :: To be continued...

SEQUEL :: Yes }

review :: Kiss the Sky by Krista and Becca Ritchie

AMAZON :: GOODREADS

Move over, every single author on the planet! Krista and Becca Ritchie have latched onto my defenseless, unprepared, battered but content heart and these uber talented ladies are here to stay! "Kiss the Sky" was absolutely breathtaking, emotional, bullshit free, refreshing, honest, beautiful, endearing and, most of all, PERFECT! Seriously, I don't wanna throw this word around so it loses its meaning, but this book is sheer perfection. I kid you not.

But anyway... Let's get down to business. You absolutely must read the first 3 books of the series (2 full books and a novella, to be precise) about Loren and Lily who, by the way, are so amazing in this book!!!! You can just feel the love and adoration and absolute passion emanating from these two. It's totally swoon worthy and sickeningly sweet in the best possible way. The only way I can accurately describe their relationship is by saying they're the most dysfunctional but functional couple I have ever met. Doesn't make any sense? I know. Lily and Lo are, without a doubt, up at the top of my favorite book couples, ever. Their love is on a league of its own. Just a recap: Lily is a sex addict and Loren is an alcoholic. Both in recovery in this book, btw. Help yourselves to my review here.

“You do realize that Lily loves Loren more than anyone else on the planet? If they were both given the ultimatum of oxygen or each other, I’m fairly certain they’d choose to suffocate.”

DYING!!!! But anyway. This book is about characters we meet in the first 3 books, actually, and it's told in dual POV's: Lily's sister slash "ice queen", tougher than nails, smarter than anyone ever, sophisticated lady and owner of Calloway Couture, Ms. Rose Calloway and the ever sassy, smartass, inhibited, brutally honest, careless but careful, Mr. Connor Cobalt. I've gotta be honest with y'all, I wasn't feeling this book at first. I even put it down once yesterday before picking it back up today, which rarely happens unless I give up on a book. Don't get me wrong, I love Rose and Connor, but I wasn't all that excited about reading this book in the first place because I'm not a fan of series about different characters. I just wanted Lily and Loren's story to continue forever, ya know? But of course, Krista and Becca had different plans for me and they gave me a story so deep, so fulfilling, so enthralling that it felt like this book was a slap to my face to punish me for my stupidity and preconceived notions. Thank you, ladies! *wink*

So, here are the kicks: Calloway Couture is under fire because the scandal broke that Lily is a sex addict. Suddenly, in the middle of it, the sisters are proposed with their own reality show, "Princesses of Philly", in order to attempt to clear the Calloway name. The show features Rose, Lily, Daisy, Ryke, Loren, Connor... and Scott, the producer and Rose's ex-boyfriend. Can you scream awkward?! 'Cause I can. Holy mother friggin' cow, I say. There is sooooo much going on in this book. The focus shifts between Lily and Loren, Rose and Connor (and Scott, ew), Daisy and Ryke... it makes my head spin, you guys. But in a good way! Also? Rose is a virgin. Also? Connor absolutely doesn't believe in love. Yep. A good more than half of the book revolves around the struggle between Connor and Rose, each other's demons and it is so amazing. So, so amazing. This creates drama because Scott, being the producer, twists everything around to make himself look good (the disgusting, vile snake!). Connor feels as if he's slowly losing Rose because of what burdens him, and it slays me. Rose's steely and unshakable confidence cracks under the thought Connor will never feel love for her. Heartbreaking, you guys.

“I’m not asking you to love me,” I tell her. “I think we’re both smart enough to choose oxygen.” I don’t see how love could benefit me.

Her eyes fall and her lips downturn. After a full minute of silence, she says, “I’d choose to die if it meant my sisters could live. You think it’s stupid, but sometimes love is worth every foolish choice you make.” She hops off the counter.

There's a scene in the bathroom (read it and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about) that solidifies what I love about these anticipation novels. They're so deep and so much more real than others, in a way. Your senses are in overdrive and you feel everything, every single word and every single action. Right? This scene in particular touched me, mainly because of Rose's naivety and Connor's "no bullshit" attitude. It's just so refreshing. But the insecurities are never far behind. Sigh.

“You’re not a pit stop. You’re my finish line. There’s no one after you.” I kiss her powerfully, my tongue parting her lips, and she responds. But not as much as I hoped. So I break apart and add, “I want you for eternity, not for a brief moment in time.”

I don’t understand why every time I speak it sounds like an empty pickup line.

The desperation is palpable, especially in a guy who is always so confident and cocky that nothing ever gets to him (at the surface, at least). But trust me, you guys. Connor simply does not believe in love or his worthiness of being loved. Kinda reminds me of a certain Mr. Grey, does it not?

“I never worry,” he says. “I do believe in love. When I was a child I thought it wasn’t real, but I’ve come to see that it does exist for some people. Just not me.” 

Right. He can’t love anyone. He’s too analytical, I suppose. I’ve come to accept it, but there’s a part of me that wants so badly to be his first love the way he’s mine.

But, fear not, because even if he doesn't admit he loves her, we all know he does. Deeply so. Am I right, ladies?! Sweet, rational, beautiful Connor...

“It wasn’t fair to the other people I was with, but you’ve been the most fascinating person to me. And no one could really compare in my mind.”

You guys, no word of a lie, I wanna give you every single line of this book. It's so fresh and unique and so awesome to be inside Connor and Rose's mind, so very stimulating too. I'm in love with this book!!!! Good grief, I'm pathetic, LOL. This book literally blindsided me because I genuinely didn't expect to fall so deeply in love with both Rose and Connor, in addition to Lily and Loren! This is such a fantastic book that everyone has to read. Yep, people, I ain't giving y'all a choice here, so read this now!

“One day,” he breathes, “we’re going to look back and recount all that we’ve done together. And we’re going to think, goddamn we were only twenty-four.”

My eyes well. “We’re the responsible pair.”

“The ones who clean everyone’s messes.”

“The ones everyone turns to,” I add.

Do you ever just find yourself reading a book and, somewhere along the way, totally out of the freaking blue, you get this overwhelming feeling of "Whoa, man. Wait a second. I have never ever read anything quite like this before! What is happening? What sort of spell did the author cast on me?! Help!" No? Is it just me? If you've never felt anything like this before, I genuinely pity you and I hope the literary Gods solve this problem immediately, because gosh darn, this feeling is glorious. I feel like I'm a part of this big dysfunctional family. I feel like I'm BFF's with Lo, Lily, Rose, Connor, Daisy, Ryke... Gosh! This is me, deep sighing and feeling my eyes roll back in utter delight and contentment. In a literary world where every book seems to blend into one and every story you read seems to be an exact replica of the previous one, it's so amazing to find that book which is the equivalent one person dressed in a neon yellow top and pink wellies in between tons of people wearing black. Do you feel me?! Aaaaah!

“Kiss the sky with me,” Connor whispers, a beautiful smile pulling his lips, “and don’t ever comedown.”

Thank you sooo much, girls. You guys are writing these series that fulfill a craving so deep within me which had been unknown to me until now. It fills my heart with such joy and hope to find someone who loves me as deeply as Loren loves Lily and Connor worships Rose. That's what life's all about in the end, isn't it? I can't wait for the next books, namely Daisy and Ryke's book "Hothouse Flower" in March 2014 and my loves Lily and Loren's next two books, "Thrive" and "Addicted After All" due Spring 2014... Squeeeee!!!! I'm so, so, so, so excited! *sobbing* Ta-ta, people! If y'all need me I'll be rereading a bit of the first Addicted books. Yep!

♥♥♥

{ RATING :: 5 stars

SEX SCENES :: Steamy

GENRE :: Contemporary romance, erotica, drama

AUDIENCES :: 18+

LENGTH :: 407 pages

HAPPY ENDING :: Yes

SEQUEL :: Series Continuation }