5 stars

Book Review: One More Chance by Abbi Glines @abbiglines @ AtriaBooks

ONE MORE CHANCE
by Abbi Glines


#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines continues the unforgettable story of Grant Carter, the irrestible playboy who first captured readers’ hearts in Fallen Too Far.

“Only Abbi Glines can pull off a heart-wrenching love story like this.”
– Tammara Webber, New York Times bestselling author

The second installment in a never before published New Adult duet by #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines, ONE MORECHANCE is the follow up to the smash hit TAKE A CHANCE, and concludes the story of Grant Carter, a fan favorite character, and Harlow.
She was it. His one. His only. Then he made the mistake of letting her go.
After fighting his way into Harlow Manning’s heart—and revealing a side of himself no one had ever seen before—Grant Carter destroyed his own heart by giving in to his greatest fears and doubts. Months later, he’s stuck in a miserable routine. Work relentlessly. Beg his best friend Rush for news about Harlow. Avoid all other friends. Leave nightly voicemails for Harlow, pleading with her to come back to Rosemary Beach. Fall asleep alone. Repeat.
Miles away, on her brother’s Texas ranch, Harlow can’t bring herself to listen to Grant’s voicemails. Though she wants to be with him, and knows he regrets letting her go, she doesn’t know if she can trust him. When he discovered the truth behind her sheltered upbringing, it shattered their relationship, but the secret she carries now has far greater consequences. Can she risk giving Grant one more chance, or will the gamble ultimately destroy her?
With her signature passionate characters and sizzling connections, Abbi Glines debuts another steamy, page-turning novel that will leave readers desperate for more.
Rating: ★★★★★

Wow! Just wow! I have to say that while I have enjoyed the Rosemary Beach Series I was becoming comfortable with the characters and stories. The end to Harlow and Grant’s story left me with a bucket of emotions and content was not one of them.
I was heartbroken when the car pulled away holding Harlow. Grant was devastated and even though I knew the thought process for both Grant and Harlow’s actions I did not want to accept them. Harlow ran and Grant was left lifeless. Working his mind, body, and soul to their limits, Grant finds his only hope in a three second voicemail greeting each night. Hoping that each call will be the last and that Harlow would shine light on his new found darkness. Harlow feels in her heart she is doing the right thing. She is blinded by her own reality. Apart in miles but not in heart, they slowly learn that life has its own plan. 
This is an ASAP read. Plan for tears…lots of tears! I devoured One More Chance in one sitting. You will be surprised at your emotions, the outcome, and you may look at certain characters in a different light. I have about a million and one thoughts on what will happen next. I am excited for the finial books in this series. Thank you Abbi for reigniting my Rosemary Beach fire.
ABBI GLINES is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted booklover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found on Facebook and at AbbiGlines.com. 

Abbi Glines is part of this awesome tour with Colleen Hoover and Jamie Mcguire.
For details, pls. visit http://www.fallinlovetour2014.com.

Book Review: Black Lies by Alessandra Torre @ReadAlessandra

Title:Black Lies

Author: Alessandra Torre
Add to Goodreads
Buy from Amazon | B&N

Brant: 
Became a tech billionaire by his twentieth birthday. Has been in a relationship with me for 3 years.
Has proposed 4 times. Been rejected 4 times.
Lee: 
Cuts grass when he’s not banging housewives. Good with his hands, his mouth, and his cock. Has been pursued relentlessly by me for almost 2 years, whether he knows it or not.
Go ahead. Judge me. You have no idea what my love entails.
If you think you’ve heard this story before, trust me – you haven’t.

Rating: ★★★★★

I have been a fan of Alessandra form the start. Her spin on hot and kinky yet exceptionally well crafted stories will leave you on the edge of your seat. 

“Love isn’t about being happy. Be single and be happy. Love is about putting him, his sanity, his happiness, first. If you aren’t willing to do that then you aren’t really in love.” 

Layana is not your normal girl and that goes for her love life as well. Brant and Lee. Two men. Two different worlds within Layana’s and even though she loves them both it impossible for her to make a choice. 

“I love you. Every dark and light piece of you.”

I have to say that Black Lies is one of my top reads this year. What you need to know is that every ounce of the hype is true. This book has flipped the conventional love story on its ass. Alessandra has created a world of complex relationships all while keeping you engaged and questioning everything you thought you knew about love stories. 

“I loved this man. With my whole heart. I needed him. He completed me.”

The story’s angst pulls at you and the love stories will rock you to the core. What lines are you willing to cross for love? To keep it? To hold on to your own happiness? Alessandra’s character and story development are incredible. All leading too, in my opinion, her best book yet.

Alessandra Torre is a new author who focuses on contemporary erotica. Her first book, Blindfolded Innocence, was published in July 2012, and was an Erotica #1 Bestseller for two weeks. Alessandra is currently working on the sequel to Blindfolded, which will be released in 2014. Alessandra lives in the Southern United States and is married, with one young child. She enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and playing with her dogs. Her favorite authors include Lisa Gardner, Gillian Flynn, and Jennifer Crusie.

Book Review: Lily Love by Maggi Myers

Title: Lily Love
Author: Maggi Myers
 Released: June 24th,2014
Add to Goodreads
Buy from Amazon | B&N
Rating: ★★★★★

Caroline used to have it all: she was madly in love with her husband, Peter, and they worshiped their beautiful baby girl. But as Lily grows into a toddler, Caroline notices that her daughter seems to live and act with a disconnect, and soon the perfect future Caroline had envisioned, along with her marriage, begin to crumble. Now she and Peter are no longer lovers, they’re plaintiffs in the throes of divorce while still struggling to care for Lily. After years of blame and overwhelming despair, Caroline’s chance encounter with a stranger at University Hospital opens her eyes to the prospect of accepting new support, new loves, and new dreams.
From the acclaimed author of The Final Piece comes a story of a family broken and unable to cope with a daughter’s disability. And a mother who finds that letting go of the life she imagined may be the only way to get to the life she was meant for.

Liiiiillllllyyyyy Love! Yes, I am singing that while I write. Beautiful on so many levels, Lily Love is a story for the caregivers. That forgotten person that stands strong daily. Suffers in private. Breaking down alone, controlled, and as quick as the tears come they are wiped away. Why? Because there is no crying when you are the one left holding all the pieces together.
We are taught that after the “I do” in order to complete the happily ever after, two become three. What happens with the third takes over everything you ever knew? Demanding time and attention. When Caroline fell in love with Peter she thought it was for better or worse. When worse become a never ending uphill battle it was Caroline left to stand strong, alone.
Reading Lily Love I was able to relate to the struggle even though I am not a parent. Caroline’s story, regardless of the players, sadly has become the norm for many. In a society where everything has become disposable, even relationships, someone is left to pick up the portion left behind. Lily becomes the secondary character, as Caroline finds a way to recycle her past while caring for the one person that holds her love, unconditionally.
Lily Love is an outstanding follow up to Maggi Myer’s first book, The Finial Piece, and a book that demands attention. This book is not only entertaining, it is a beacon of hope for all that have lost their way caring for others. Its ok to feel, its ok to be angry, and its ok live, because unless you are the best you can be you can never be the best for others.

Born in West Des Moines, IA and raised in Miami, FL, I have an appreciation for the heartland and really good cuban food.

I want to write stories that make people think. The things you thought you knew about other people and their lives? I want to twist those perceptions and make you question everything.

I am a big fan of the underdog. The one that everyone else has written off? That’s where my heart is and where my most inspired writing happens.

Book Review: Captured by Jasinda Wilder

Title: CAPTURED
Author: Jasinda Wilder
Release Date: August 12th, 2014
Add to Goodreads
Buy from Amazon 
Rating: ★★★★★

You go into combat, you fear death. It’s what keeps you careful, keeps you alive. I’ve faced death more times than I can count. I’ve taken bullets. I’ve taken lives. 
But nothing can prepare me for the soul-crushing terror of being captured. 
***
I married a Marine. I knew the risks. Every time my husband shipped out, I knew there was a chance he wouldn’t come back. But Thomas always did. Always. Then one day two officers in full dress uniform knocked on my door and shattered my world. 
How do you keep going when you lose what made life worth living?
***This is a full length, stand-alone contemporary romance, set in the world of WOUNDED**

“Eventually…you’ll find your way to okay.” 

Captured has captivated me mind, body, and soul. Jack and Jasinda complied words into emotions, crafting a painfully beautiful story worthy of the highest honor. War is ugly. War destroys. War demands attention. Sadly war is all too real for countless men, women, and children. Although every story is unique, at the core, everyone affected thrives to survive. Reagan and Derek’s story beautifully illustrates that once the parades have ended, and the heroes are long forgotten, only then does the real war begin. 

“Every time a woman sends her lover off to war, she’s sending out her heart. She lives, left alone there at home, with a hole in her chest. It’s a big, gaping, numb wound.” 

Reagan’s life has become foreign. Sending the love of your life away over and over again, she is living her life on repeat. Every goodbye harder than the last. 

“I’m rubbing at my face, trying to breathe, trying to stop, but now that I’ve opened the floodgates it’s all coming out, years and years worth of pent-up misery and sorrow.” 

Derek, fighting alongside his Marine brothers, holding onto words, promises, and prayers that he will return home. 

“Just…stay with me. Okay? I don’t mean just physically staying, as in not leaving, I mean…I mean you have to believe in yourself. In me. And in us.” 

Be prepared for a rush of emotions. All of the feelings. Every. Last. One. This is a roller-coaster ride. Jack and Jasinda are the power couple of words. Multiple layered stories create reading bliss. Captured is a stand-alone but is told alongside its predecessor, Wounded. Wounded was impressive, but Captured will captivate your heart. By far this is my top Wilder read. 

“I just see you.” I’m behind her, holding onto her arms. “You’re beautiful, Reagan. In the light, in the darkness. All the time.”

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. When she’s not writing, she’s probably shopping, baking, or reading. 
​Some of her favorite authors include Nora Roberts, JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Liliana Hart and Bella Andre. 
She loves to travel and some of her favorite vacations spots are Las Vegas, New York City and Toledo, Ohio. 
You can often find Jasinda drinking sweet red wine with frozen berries and eating a cupcake. 
Jasinda is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.

GR | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Book Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover



Ugly Love

Add to Goodreads
Buy from Amazon | B&N
Rating: ★★★★★ +++
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.
They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.
Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s devastating. It’s ugly. It’s over.”

Dual realities, the past and the present, painting a portrait of liquid perfection. Miles finds himself reliving the past. His memories live on constant repeat. His metaphorical iPod of emotions stuck on play, Miles throws himself into work and a mediocre social life. 

“I suppose if a man lived through the ugliest side of love, he might never want to experience it again.” 

Tate becomes the one constant that allows Miles to feel again, to live again, and even though he hides behind the rules – “Never ask about the past and don’t expect a future.” – Tate is chipping away the perfect imperfection which is Miles Archer.
When Miles attempts to school Tate on love and life…

“Love isn’t always pretty, Tate. Sometimes you spend all your time hoping it’ll eventually be something different. Something better. Then, before you know it, you’re back to square one, and you lost your heart somewhere along the way.” 

Tate confirms that you cannot createa solid without liquid…

“No, Miles. I follow. That’s how it is with us. You’re solid, I’m liquid. You part the waters, I’m your wake.”

I am eight books into my Colleen Hoover love affair and I am ready for eight more.Colleen’s talent for the written word demands to be noticed. Ugly Love has veered off form the prior seven novels adding a new level of word mastery. The balance of past and present lend to a painful love story with a powerful twist. While reading the final chapters I found myself at a loss for words as the pain drips from the page. Liquid, creating enjoyable misery. If love is ugly I am prepared for the fall.

“It’s all worth it. It’s the beautiful moments like these that make up for the ugly love.”

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Maybe Someday, Finding Cinderella, and Ugly Love. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

BOOK REVIEW: UGLY LOVE by COLLEEN HOOVER @ColleenHoover






Ugly Love

Add to Goodreads
Buy from Amazon | B&N
Rating: ★★★★★
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.
They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.
Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.
I was helluva excited about Ugly Love but I was a bit scared to actually read it because I loved Colleen’s previous works especially Maybe Someday. I kept thinking that while there is a good chance I’d really enjoy UL, I’m never going to feel the same way about it that I did with MS. It would be like the replacement goldfish that your parents try to convince you to take care of is just as great as the one you had to flush down the toilet. It’s not its fault but it’s just not the same as the first you really loved.
The verdict? Colleen Hoover has nailed it A.G.A.I.N.! 
I typically don’t make bold statements like this but I’m going to because I feel so strongly after reading UL. CoHo has been a go-to author for me since the day she wrote Slammed. Whenever there’s a new release, I beat down the doors to get it. If I were in my teen days, I’d probably be wearing shirts proclaiming the awesomeness that is Colleen Hoover and would probably be making posters hanging in my wall just like the one’s I did for my favorite boy bands back in the 90′s (true story).
Colleen Hoover is an auto-buy author for me for wonderfully written contemporary novels with swoon-worthy and unforgettable characters. She infuses so many unpredictable elements into her books and the little details are so wonderful. Ugly Love of course is no exception. From an awesome and very peculiar reference to Tate and Miles relationship down to the delicate choice of words. I just found myself smiling at the smallest details and it added so much to my overall enjoyment of the story. CoHo writes the perfect contemporary novel for me. It isn’t so distorted of a reality that it becomes too unbelievable but it has just enough drama that keeps you reading. Because, let’s be honest here, if novels were TOO realistic, we’d be bored and feel like we were reading about our own stories. She writes things I felt as a teen and still feel now at 33 <<–(secret).
All of her characters really felt alive and real to me. Its not very usual that I adore the heroine. Most of the times I want to slap them with their own book. But here in UL, I’d say I loved Tate more than I loved Miles. She’s different. She can be funny but when you get to know her a little deeper, you would know there is more to Tate than just those funny lines and sexy body. Even if she proclaims she doesn’t have time to have a serious relationship, she knew from the start how she really felt for Miles and that is more than just their arrangement for sex. I can honestly say that I felt like I was reading the character of Tate as a big sister. I was protective of her, I wanted to hug her during both crappy and awesome moments. 
And Miles? I know you want to know if the boy is as wonderful and remarkable and swoon-worthy as Will and Ridge. Oh YES ladies! Eat your heart out. Be prepared to be so thrilled about the book boyfriend that CoHo has handed to you on a silver platter. There are seriously not enough “nice guys” in Contemp lit. But Miles could lead the army against all those douchenozzles that seem to be in the “in” thing now. I want to see more guys that are super nice, but not pushovers, and actually have a personality. Miles is one. He’s polite, responsible, very committed to his work and honestly the type of guy I love and I truly felt as though he complemented Tate so well. He’s nice but not perfect. He’s got some unusual habits and interests and some stupid boy moments. He likes, oh scratch that! He needs Tate but not in a romantic way; not in the way she likes him. But he was very vocal about his needs and very upfront about it. No attachments. No Love. Just plain SEX. And the only way they could continue with this arrangement is if Tate follows 2 of his rules. 

“Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.”

It may look absurd, one-way and very UGLY. But Miles has his reasons. Something about his past that made him so apprehensive to start feeling it again. But love, no matter how ugly it could become, has its own instinct, finding the way to the heart. It has its own way to reach its own destiny. And once the destination is found, it follows its own path to blossom.
I don’t want to give away anything about this book, but I honestly loved the whole story, the romance, the tension that was present in different threads of the story, and the ending! Oh my goodness! I felt myself charmed by Tate and swept up in Mile’s life. He certainly went through a lot in the story and I really believed in his progress and the path that CoHo leads him on. Ugly Love was not overwrought with emotion and drama but perfectly captures the complicated nature of love and relationships. It also shows the joys that come with the pain and awkward moments. It shows the ugly side of love.
I know of some who had problems with things in the book. I may not know the technical details in plot diagram or anything like that but I knew that I was held captive by the story. I knew that crazy sensation of shaking yourself out of the pages of the book that you were so trapped in and finding yourself back in reality. I knew the feeling of wishing there could be more pages to appear because you just weren’t ready to be done with the last few ones because you devoured the book at an alarming pace. This is how I felt with Ugly Love. And I think these is all that matters. CoHo’s writing is undoubtedly beautiful and lush and worthy of being savored. But how could I? I needed to know what happened…badly!
Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Maybe Someday, Finding Cinderella, and Ugly Love. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Wife Number Seven by Melissa Brown @LissaLou77



Title WIFE NUMBER SEVEN
Author: MELISSA BROWN
Released: July 21st
Add to Goodreads
Buy from Amazon | B&N
Rating: ★★★★★ +++

Lipstick. Bright, red lipstick. Nothing but lipstick. Even though it’s against our faith to wear a color that screams of sexual promiscuity and deviant behavior, I’m not allowed to protest. But, I want to. So badly.
You see, there’s more to me than the braid that spills down my back. More to me than the layers of heavy fabric that maintain my modesty. And so much more than the oppressive wedding band that adorns my finger–the same band that each of my sister wives wear. So much more. To protest would be sinful. I must keep sweet, that is my duty.
So I’ll wear the lipstick. I’ll do as I’m told. And I’ll do my best to silence the resistance within me, to push him from my mind. If only my heart would do the same.

“I always knew I would share my husband…My existence is a lonely one. Lehi relieves that loneliness for the twenty-four hours when I pretend I’m the only one he lays with. And I do pretend. Every waking hour.”

Born into the polygamist life, Brinley is screaming to be heard. Surrounded by many but drowning in loneliness she is slowly learning that more love means less Brinley. 

“The voices in my head started as disjointed whispers, so unconnected that they didn’t make any sense. But, those whispers were coming together, becoming more cohesive, clearer and louder in my head than ever before. From a whisper to a scream… I was waiting for the scream.”

Everything happens for a reason and in a life that prides its self in God’s words, Brinley is looking for her place in this world. Performance, Brinley’s daily performance is done through masked eyes until that mask is pulled away. Porter. The boy who stole more than a backpack has transformed her less than perfect world into one of more. More life, more love, more acceptance and more independence. 
Porter sparked an already gas socked fire in Brinley. The key element on her path to self-discovery, Porter presented her with a world of possibilities. Teaching her that life on the opposite side of the wall, while not perfect, is worth the fight. 

“And you’re not damned. If anybody’s damned to fucking hell, it’s the one everyone calls the Prophet. He’s a sick fuck who plays with your lives for his own twisted purposes. He controls every single one of your lives. It’s disgusting.”

Porter finds the home he has been lacking, while she finds the woman who was locked away. The compound becoming a jail with less perks and now Brinley is shedding her forced identity and learning about the uniqueness she had all along. 

“I told you, you’re my heaven. If I burn when I die, that’s fine. I’m a selfish man and I want my heaven now.”

Melissa has proven that no matter the topic or genre you are promised no less than a well-crafted story with emotion, strong main characters and a cast of ancillary characters that scream, loudly, for their own story. Melissa has done her homework on this one. Diving deep into the polygamist lifestyle, she has presented an honest look into life in the compound. Wife Number Seven is a story of hope. The hope that one day you can find your own personal happiness. I am reminded of one of my favorite, non Melissa Brown quotes…

“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” -Glinda The Good Witch of the North

Brinley, like Dorothy went on a journey in search of more and learned that the power to change is within. Along the way you will be guided by loved ones but in the end the power is your own. Porter guided her with smarts, courage, and a heart of gold. Their story is not a one easy but a life worth living never is.

Melissa Brown was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She attended the University of Illinois and is the mother of two fantastic kids. She’s an avid reader who enjoys making handmade gifts for her family and friends, as well as baking and painting. She speaks fluent movie quotes from the 1980s and ’90s.Her romance titles include Bouquet Toss, Champagne Toast, Picturing Perfect and Unwanted Stars. She is currently developing a Young Adult series called Sorority of Three.

BOOK REVIEW: MAYBE MABY BY WILLOW ASTER




TITLE: MAYBE MABY
AUTHOR: WILLOW ASTER
RELEASED: JULY 13TH
Buy from Amazon | B&N
Rating: ★★★★★

Mabel Armstrong is on the verge of giving up. But just when things feel bleakest, there seems to be a shift in the universe. People come out of the woodwork. Her ex won’t leave her alone. An old friend finally tries to become more. Even the cute guy at the coffee shop starts paying extra attention.
Maybe Maby is a heartbreaking, and at times, hilarious story about coping with loss, finding love in New York, and learning to recognize hope in the middle of it all.

Pushed to her limit, Maby learns that the only way to rebuild is to breakdown. Dealing with the loss of her mother and her mental state, Maby fights daily for stability. 

“I shake my fist at the universe, careful to not anger God in the process. I’m pretty sure he knows I’m crazy, so it’s probably okay.”

Numbers. They are never wrong. One plus one will always equal two. For a damaged person the control in numbers equals power. Maby pulls herself into a world of controlled chaos but what she is lacking is a sense to belong. To love again when it was pulled from her, leaving her blindsided. 

“Sometimes the loneliness is so thick, it threatens to choke me.”

Old love clouds her loneliness, menacing an already unbalanced life. Work and the daily pressure to just survive allow Maby little to no time to live. It is only when she looks with clearer eyes that she finds Coen, everything she needs but is afraid to take. 

“I have enough fear for the both of us.”

In passing Coen has been part of Maby’s life for close to two years, offering a smile and a kind word. Now Maby has to believe that she is enough, worth the fight. 

“I can see why you’re so special,” I tell him. “You’ve been adored your whole life, but also challenged to do something with yourself…no time for being spoiled, except with love.”

Please do yourself a favor and read this book. Maybe Maby is a reading experience that you don’t want to miss. Seeing so much of me in a main character was hunting and a little scary. Willow allowed me to relate to Maby’s issues, transporting me into the story. I felt as if I was interacting with them. The raw pain of love, loss, confusion and fear brought Maby to life. Maby was inspiring. Struggling to find herself in spite of her issues and working through them even when they threated to overcome her. Life is about learning from our mistakes, taking that knowledge and applying it as we move forward. Maby’s journey isn’t easy but Willow made it feel effortless.

Willow Aster is the author of True Love Story, In the Fields, and Maybe Maby. She lives with her husband and two kids on a tropical beach in paradise. Well, at least part of that is true … the rest is Story Lala Land, where Willow spends most of her time.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie Mcguire @@AtriaBooks @JamieMcGuire



TITLE: BEAUTIFUL OBLIVION
AUTHOR: JAMIE MCGUIRE
RELEASE DATE: JULY 1ST, 2014
Rating: ★★★★★

The Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster phenomenon continues in the first heart-pounding new adult romance in The Maddox Brothers series.

Fiercely independent Camille “Cami” Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.
Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt. 
Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red. 
As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.
In the first installment of the Maddox Brothers books, readers can experience the rush of reading Beautiful Disaster for the first time, all over again.
Maddox lover for life! I will take them anyway I can. So far we have the fighter and now the tattooed

dream boat! Ok, dream boat sounds like something my mother would say but it’s totally legit. Jamie has pulled together a story that rivals Beautiful Disaster. OMG did I just say that?? Yep! Upon finish, I messaged a friend that also read Beautiful Oblivion and let’s just say that there may be some kind of underground tattoo/MMA fighter training camp that we A) run and B) hope to one day supply the world with a Mini Maddox Army. Perfect world right! Nothing beats a ball busting alpha male. 

Both Trenton and Cami lead a life of Beautiful Oblivion. Coasting through life, existing not living, accepting the norm. The persistent Trenton causes Cami to reexamine her present situation. In his one man journey Trenton is forced to deal with his own issues. 

“I was just thinking now was as good a time as any to acknowledge that you’re perfect and it wouldn’t suck if you fell madly in love with me anytime soon.” 

Cami can only fight for so long. As her walls come crumbling down some obstacles may prove to be too much. Will she find the happy ending every girl dreams of? 

“I’ve had a lifetime of wrong. You’re the only thing that’s right.”

Here is what you need to know…if you loved Beautiful Disaster you will love Beautiful Oblivion. As with Beautiful Disaster, this story has a little something for everyone. Love, angst, struggle, misunderstanding, and at the core beauty. Timed side by side with Travis and Abby’s story, Cami and Trenton offer a different view on already know events while spinning a new story that will keep you guessing till the end. Jamie has created solid characters, a touching story, and proof that when it comes to Maddox one is never enough. Grab a snack and snuggle up for this one because for the next five or so hours you will be booked.

Jamie McGuire is the New York Times bestselling author of Red Hill, Walking Disaster, Beautiful Disaster,and The Providence trilogy. She and her husband, Jeff, live with their children just outside Enid, Oklahoma, with three dogs, six horses, and a cat named Rooster. Please visit JamieMcGuire.com
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

CLICK THIS LINK TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAYS

Book Review and Giveaways: Come To Me Softly by A.L. Jackson

Title: Come To Me Softly
Author: A.L. Jackson
 Release Date: June 24, 2014
Genre: New Adult Romance
Add to Goodreads

From the New York Times bestselling author of Come to Me Quietly comesa scorching new adult romance in the Closer to You series.

A second chance at life…

A second chance at love…

Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed? To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.

“I always knew his destination would lead him back to me.”

I’m pretty sure if it were possible A.L. Jackson’s books would burst into flames if they could. They are that HOT! Like blush worthy to the infinity power and beyond. But the best part is underneath all the scorching bedroom scenes, she can craft a good story for both sides of the romance, too. I really loved what she did here; letting go of the past to create a new future. 
We have seen in book one, Come To Me Quietly how Aly and Jared fought for their love. Jared never had an easy life growing up. He made mistakes in the past that caused him to be the way he is now. Self-destruction. Self-denial. He feels that there is something fundamentally bad within his life, within his very soul, and that this part of his existence needs to be kept under strict control, hidden from everyday life at all costs. It just took all of that to come to a screeching halt, to get to the point of having nothing. 

“I’d lost the right to be loved.
Leaving me to rot.
I’d accepted it because that’s what I deserved.
My life as a penance.
A due.”

But Aly’s love for him is so powerful that she refused to give up on him. Constantly reminding him that he, too deserves to be happy, to be loved, to be needed. 

“Jared is a good man.
I’d always seen it.
Without him, our live would never be so full.
He was important.
Needed.”

And now that they are back in each other’s arms, their life will change in an exciting and surprising way, adjusting to new responsibilities and expectations as a couple, as future parents. 
Will Jared finally break his walls and let Aly in completely?
Will Aly have enough time to make Jared realize his true worth before he goes to his usual ways of self-damaging?

“This isn’t going to be easy.
Promise me you won’t run when it gets ugly, Jared. Because life always does, and I can’t bear the thought of living without you in mine.”

“Won’t ever let you go, Aly. I promise, I won’t ever let you go.”

I totally adore this story about the true meaning of love, and the ultimate message that it is for sure a cure to all emotional wounds and voids. Love is not a magic stick, but it is not anything less than that even. If you just let love wash over you, it will heal you, brings you genuine happiness and makes you whole again.
Everything about Jared and Aly’s transition from friendship to relationship felt natural. Jared needed a dose of Aly’s responsibility and, in turn, Aly benefited from Jared’s sense of adventure. But they both have a lot of work to do to accomplish their happy ending.
I truly admire A.L. Jackson, definitely as a person, but she constantly blows me away with her writing. I have read all of her books and each book I think, there’s no way she can meet or exceed the previous one. But each time, she does, and I think I need to stop wondering how she does it. I have certain authors that no matter what they write, I always enjoy their work and Amy is one of those authors. Her writing is sharp, I love her dialogue, and even the other situations she folds in fit in so naturally. Words are so beautifully written, so carefully chosen, I really had a hard time putting it down. 
Come To Me Softly is about a lot more than two people coming together…it’s about finding the strength in yourself to make appropriate and necessary changes in your life. Amy also does a great job of slipping in family issues and solid friendships; for such a compact book, I had a great grasp on Jared and Aly’s separate lives and each subplot was given an appropriate amount of attention and detail. I really appreciate that kind of attention in a romance novel. I haven’t found it super often and I love that Amy never fails to give me those. I was so invested I actually wouldn’t have minded if the story was a little longer, and certain situations were explored more deeply. It’s that addicting!
If you’re looking for a touching read that will tear at your heartstrings then you should give this book a go. It made me cry before putting a smile on my face but that’s the way I like it and I loved the confirmation of what I believe to be right as much as A.L. Jackson does in this story. 5 beautiful stars.

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Pulled, When We Collide, If Forever Comes, and Come to Me Quietly.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

Look for Come to Me Softly and When We Met: Behind Her Eyes coming soon. 


Other books in the series:

Come to Me Quietly  (Book #1)

Aleena Moore is content with her life. She has goals and dreams and an easy smile. She also has a secret she holds locked inside. Jared Holt believes he doesn’t deserve to love or be loved. He destroys everything he touches. Haunted by the mistake that shattered his life, he’s fled from the memory of that pain. Jared doesn’t know why he’s compelled to return, but finds himself drawn back to the place where it all began. The exact place where it ended. When he runs into his childhood best friend, Aleena’s older brother Christopher, he agrees to share Christopher and Aleena’s apartment while he looks for a place of his own. Aleena is no longer the little girl Jared remembers from his past and evokes feelings in him he never wanted to feel again. Terrified of destroying her, he fights to keep her away. But her touch is something he can’t resist—the touch that sealed his fate. Their pasts are intertwined and their futures uncertain. The only truths they know are the secrets they whisper in the night. 

Be sure to join us for the Come to Me Softly Read Along Party! 
We’re kicking off the celebration on June 24th with a ton of prizes, then the read along begins. 
Daily prizes all the way up to grand prize on July 2nd!
Grand Prize: Coach Bag stuff with A.L. Jackson Goodies!
Come to Me Softly Release Celebration Giveaway!
Grand Prize: Coach Bag, Kindle Paperwhite, and A.L. Jackson Swag
Second Prize: Come to Me Quietly Custom Charm Necklace

Third Prize: A.L. Jackson Swag Pack