Stealing Our Hearts

“He’s become the sun.”

Perfection. Complete and utter, delicious, sensual perfection. I am obsessed with the way Julie Capulet takes the idea of love at first sight and creates these magical, enriching stories. So we’ve already met the McCabe brothers, and now we’re moving further into the family tree. Travis Tucker and his brothers are cousins to the McCabes. We are introduced to Travis in the last book, Arrogant Bastard. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure where Julie was going to take a story about a famous rockstar. He already had it all, what more could he want? Well, as it turns out, he wants Ruby. And Ruby he gets!

I fell in love with Travis from the first moment I met him. He’s genuine. He’s tired of the rockstar scene and just wants some piece and quiet. Ending a long tour back in his hometown of Nashville, Travis decides to buy a secluded property on the outskirts of the city so he can write and compose in peace. This property just so happens to have a curious, gorgeous, innocent neighbor living next door. Ruby Hayes has just graduated high school. A fresh faced eighteen year old with dreams of taking her music to Nashville and singing on stage. She was sent away to a boarding school/convent where the girls weren’t allowed access to any electronic devices, they never spoke to men, and were not updated on the most current events. When Ruby gets home, she’s never even used a cellphone before. Her innocence is absolutely captivating. She steals away time inside the abandoned house next door because there’s a large piano where she can write and compose her music. One day, while she’s playing and singing, she feels a someone behind her, watching her, and it’s Travis. One look at Ruby and he’s a goner. Obsessed from that moment on. This story is a journey of their love. How Travis is all in from the very beginning, but it takes a while for Ruby to truly trust him. It’s about Travis helping Ruby find her voice. It’s filled with passion and panty-melting love making. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, no one writes a love scene like Julie Capulet. Think you’ve seen/read it all? Think again. Her books always leave me fanning myself and needing a cool drink of water. 

Ruby and Travis are perfect together. His wisdom and her innocence…it’s a match made in heaven. I cannot explain how happy I am to be on Julie Capulet’s ARC team. Her stories always move me and leave me anxious for her next release. I cannot wait for the next book in this series. We have the rest of the Tucker’s to read about and I’m beyond thrilled. Gimme more!! 5 stars!

“You believe in God?” “Sometimes.” “When?” “When I look at you.”

Diving back into the Reckless Rockstar series by Samantha Christy was more painful than I thought it would be this time around. When we are first introduced into this world in book one, Crew takes us on a tearful journey through his past. He learns how to love again when Bria comes into his life. That book was a tough one, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going into book two. We all knew that Liam was suffering, but having his story told…man, there’s nothing like this pain.

How do you describe the feeling of reading something that makes you feel so sick and helpless at the same time? To say that Liam suffered in his life doesn’t even begin to cut it. This man is a survivor. He’s brave, strong, and smart. To go through the things he did and then come out on the other side still fighting for your life, absolutely incredible. If you have triggers associated with child abuse – do not read this book. Liam is a notorious playboy when we first meet him. He sleeps around, but never with the same woman twice. He basically pumps and dumps (super disgusting, I know). Ella is the opposite. Ella just got out of a serious relationship, she’s a children’s book illustrator, and she loves to run. She goes with her two best friends to a concert to watch Reckless Alibi play. She’s never heard of the band but her friends are crazy about them. After the show, they are waiting to get autographs and Ella falls headfirst onto the ground at Liam’s feet. He immediately picks her up and whisks her into his limo, taking her to the emergency room. He finds out that they have the same last name and throughout the entire rest of the novel he refers to them as being married, husband and wife. Their chemistry skyrockets. In the hospital, Liam suddenly hears music in his head. He is the composer for the band, but hasn’t been able to write any songs…until now. Ella is his muse. He asks her to come away to Florida with him and the band for a six week tour. Ella is fighting her own demons, specifically her ex boyfriend who cheated on her, so she says yes. Guys…this couple is an absolute dream come true. Ella is patient and kind and holds Liam’s hand as they walk through his trauma together. It’s the sweetest thing. 

I can’t imagine what the next book in this series will be like. I don’t know if I’m ready to experience more heartache!! I have to admit, I think the Reckless Rockstar series is my favorite series that Samantha Christy has written. I never knew I could be this into rockstars LOL. This is definitely a “tissues-required” book, but Liam gets his well-deserved happily ever after and it really is all okay in the end. I’m so in love with this world that Samantha has created. I’m also so thankful that she’s not writing epilogues at the ends of these books because there is more to come (YAS!). I cannot WAIT!! Brilliant, heartbreaking, and beautiful. 5 stars!

“I’ll always find you.”

“My schnecke. My little snail, do you know that’s what it means? It’s a term of affection in my country. My love. My snail.”

I saved the best for last. Was it on purpose? Not at all. But was it worth the wait? Hell yes it was. Everyone raves about this book. Readers are obsessed with Sal and Kulti. I never understood why until now. I’ve read every single one of Mariana Zapata’s books and I can say, without a doubt, that this is one of the best, in my opinion. I have a soft spot for Ivan and Dex though, so I can’t say that Kulti really takes the lead. It’s truly impossible to choose a favorite when reading Mariana’s books. Truthfully, my favorite is whichever book I’m reading. Every precious line in each book is gold. There is nothing to throw away. There are no parts that you could do without. The inner dialogue is purposeful and extremely important in the story telling. Guys. I cannot begin to explain or describe the way I feel as I’m writing this. I’m devastated. I’m crushed and heartbroken. I don’t want to open another book again until it’s written by Mariana. Nothing compares to her writing. She is my favorite author. Hands Down (wink wink).

“Destiny is a ladder, a series of steps that takes you where you’re supposed to go. I am the man that I am, and I have done the things that I’ve done, to get me to you.”

Hi, welcome to Rachel’s inner dialogue and commentary on Kulti by Mariana Zapata. Stop now if you haven’t read this book. This will be riddled with spoilers. You have been warned. Okay so. Let’s talk about Kulti first. Reiner Kulti. OH MY GOD. I never knew true love until I met him (or read him rather). So we have this man, almost forty years old, a soccer super star, who signs on to be an assistant coach for one of the women’s US soccer team called the Pipers. No one really understands why he’s come to coach for them when he could have been paid more to go almost anywhere else. Don’t worry, you find out later why he came to this team specifically. Get ready to have your heart MELT. Anyway, so Kulti is the strong, silent type. He doesn’t speak to anyone at first. Just watches, judges, and leaves. It isn’t until Sal throws some insults his way that he really comes around. Pretty quickly, Sal and Kulti form a strange bond. I don’t know if I would call it friendship at first, but it was something! That’s where everything came together for me. I wasn’t bothered by the age difference, or the way he treated Sal at the beginning, or even the fact that he was a jerk for most of the book. What got me was the moments in between. The looks that Sal never caught. (Yes she mentions multiple times in the book about looks that he gave her that she didn’t catch). The way he says I’m sorry, not with his words, but with his actions. Even the way he gets jealous…his fits of rage. There’s nothing like it. He’s just perfect. There’s no other way to explain it. And as time goes on and Sal realizes her feelings for him? The way she puts everything aside and treats him like the friend she believes he is. The way she can’t even accept that he admits his feelings for her because it seems to good to be true. How can it be that someone as incredible and amazing and Rey could love someone like Sal? WELL LET ME TELL YOU. Sal is perfect. Absolutely perfect in her own, imperfect way. She’s kind and genuine, she’s a smart ass and she stands her ground. She isn’t afraid to fight for the ones she loves. That’s apparent from the very beginning. These two are a match made in heaven. 

“This is what matters. You are my gift, my second chance, and I will cherish you and your dream. I will protect both of you.”

So our story continues and our couple grows closer and closer. Sal’s father is obsessed with Kulti. When Kulti invites himself to stay at Sal’s parent’s house one weekend, things becomes pretty clear. To the reader, it’s obvious that Kulti is in love with Sal. Why else would he want to go and stay with her at her parents house? Also, can we talk about “schnecke”…I can’t. I mean, I want to cry every time I read that word. I wanted to look up the word so badly as I was reading the book, but I didn’t. I’m so glad I waited. When Kulti finally reveals what it means, the world stops spinning. It’s perfect. Gah, everything about this story was perfect. I’m so in love with Zapata’s world. I need another book like yesterday!! I know that’s probably annoying to say, but I can only buy so much stuff off of Mariana’s website before I have everything. Don’t worry though, I’ve got a Kulti sweatshirt, a lazy baker blanket, and some Winnipeg stickers. I will take anything I can get. I’m forever a #1 fan. A million stars because 5 isn’t enough. 

“I’ve been waiting every day of my life for you.”

“But Shayla isn’t poison – she’s my cure, my unexpected serenity.”

Okay, wow. Hello Harlow James! This is the best thing she’s written to date. Hands down. No questions asked. I was swept away by this story and these characters. The complexity is what really did me in, though. There was just something MORE about this story. Something richer and deeper. Grab this one as soon as you can, ladies. 

Wes. Wes, Wes, Wes. Dear lord, Wes. I can’t even begin to describe how sexy and incredible this man is. AND he’s a billionaire. In case you missed that part, this is a billionaire romance. The first one that Harlow has written and it is DAMN good. So we’re introduced to our leading man, Wesley. He has a dark past filled with secrets and pain. He’s been slowly moving forward with his life but still holding himself back from truly living it. Until he meets Shayla. Talk about a strong woman! Shayla is an inspiration to all women everywhere. She does have her faults, yes, the biggest being her trust issues (in my opinion) but man is she brave. She is resilient and passionate. She knows what she wants and she has what it takes to get it. Wes and Shayla’s meet cute is broken up into 3 parts. They lust after each other for days following the first moment they see each other. The imagination and craftsmanship that went into writing such a complex meet cute was outstanding! You never read something like this. And throughout this novel there are even more moments like that. There are twists and turns that you never see coming. Nothing is predictable, and up until the very last second you’re kept guessing. Don’t even get me started on Waverly and Hayes. I don’t know if I’m capable of waiting patiently for their book to be released. I need it, like, yesterday!

Diving a little deeper into character development, it’s safe to say that every single one of Harlow’s characters are fleshed out in this novel. They are unique and special in their own way. All of the personalities and traits are clear-cut. There is purpose behind every scene and the characters that are present. It’s hard to find books that don’t have any “filler” scenes. I tend to skip through a lot of stories because I get bored or they are repetitive, but not this book! No way! This one is intentional with every sentence. Silas and Chloe and Waverly and Hayes…heck, even Chloe’s mother and Wes’s father are important. They are each instrumental in telling this story. SO FREAKING GOOD, LADIES. Also important to note that there is absolutely nothing lacking in the sex department with this one. Harlow always delivers for us, but this one had something even more special. Maybe it was because the characters felt more relatable, more real. I can’t pinpoint it exactly. All I can say is that those scenes were sensual and delicious. Wes and Shayla’s chemistry melted off the page. We were not left wanting. 

To reiterate the most important message in this rant: this is a MUST read. If you haven’t sampled Harlow’s work, this is a good place to start. I’ve said this in my previous reviews, but I think now is as good as time as any to bring it back around…this is a perfect example of what it means to grow as a writer. Harlow is an adaptive author, she listens to her readers. Witnessing this maturation in her writing has been an extraordinary experience. I’m not lying when I say that I can’t wait for her next release. This series has me hooked. Bravo, Harlow!! You rock!! 5 stars!

“It’s always going to be you, Wylder.” “Then get over here so I can love you back.”

I feel like someone ran me over with a truck. This story eviscerated my heart and left me for dead. What did I just read? I feel…I’m not even sure how I truly feel. Every once in a while I crave a book that will reach inside of me and yank my heart out. I long for that burn, that feeling of loss, that hopelessness. This book hit me square in the chest. It was exactly what I wanted. Everything about it from the mystery and romance to the action and gore had me at the edge of my seat. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book as quickly as I read this one. I know for a fact that I need this in paperback asap. This is a top 2020 read for me, for sure. 

Let’s start out talking about Wylder. I dare you to find a flaw in this man. I dare you to try and prove that any other man is a better book boyfriend than this guy. Read this book and you’ll understand what I mean by that. There is nothing more attractive than loyalty. Unflinching and unwavering. This guy has it in spades and it’s all pointed in the direction of his first and only love, Livy. Looking for a romance that will decimate your heart? Look no further. The fact that Wylder will risk it all for Livy isn’t even the best part, in my opinion. It’s the lengths he goes to prove that to her. It’s what happens after shit hits the fan and you don’t know who to trust anymore. Guys, this book is RAW. It’s unlike anything I’ve read this year (2020). It takes things to a whole other level. You really don’t know who is a good guy and who is a bad guy at times. Our author punts us off a cliff and lets us free-fall for a while before giving us a soft place to land. Because, yes, she does make up for it all in the end. We wouldn’t be here if this didn’t have a HEA. 

So our leading lady, Livy, goes off the college (after giving us a quick peak into her life growing up after her mom died) and she meets Slade Wylder. He’s mysterious, he lives in a haunted house and brings a dog with him everywhere he goes. BTW – Jericho (Jerry) is actually one of the best parts of this book. And thank GOD our author didn’t kill him off. I always fear, when I read about an animal in a book, that they are going to die at one point or another. You have nothing to fear here. So anyway, she finds this man intriguing and wants to get to know him, to figure him out. The more she pushes, the more he pulls away…until one day he doesn’t. She gets sucked into his world and eventually she falls in love with him. It’s a wild ride. I never thought the book would pan out the way that it did. That plot was absolute perfection. Every second of this story was thoughtfully planned and meticulously crafted. It’s a work of art. 

So if you’re ready for an emotional rollercoaster (that is worth every second of pain because there is nothing more perfect than that ending) jump on this train NOW!! You will thank me. I can not applaud Jewel E Ann enough for writing this story. I can’t wait to dive back into her other books! She has easily become a new go-to author for me. 5 stars!! 

“I loved the monster because I loved the man first.”

“Is she pretty?” I inquire innocently. “No, she’s not pretty.” He finally opens both eyes and blinds me with calm seas and clear horizons. “She’s so beautiful she’ll make a man forget why he was fighting so hard to push her away in the first place.”

Holy Sh*t. What did I just read? How about quite possibly the best mafia romance ever written? Yeah, that’s right, this book is EXCEPTIONAL. It’s a masterpiece, really and truly. If you’re looking for an action-packed, dark romance then this is the book for you!

Okay so this book is an arranged marriage, mafia romance. There is a LOT going on in the world of the mafia, but for the sake of this book, it’s safe to say that Aiden is a free agent. He’s a big player, has a lot of money, an army of men willing to take a bullet for him, and isn’t afraid to kill when necessary. He also has one ultimate goal – to find out who killed his parents and get revenge. His arranged marriage to Issa is put into place when her sister disappears ruining her family name and soiling Issa’s ability to marry into a high ranking mafia family. She doesn’t realizes she is going to marry Aiden Knight until after she’s already met him and they already hate each other. Aiden is told that if he marries Issa and is able to extract information from her about her sister’s whereabouts, he will receive the name of his parents killer. (There’s obviously a little more to the story, but you’ll have to read it to find out). Issa meets Aiden tit for tat. She’s just as defiant and bull-headed as him. She’s strong and vibrant and brings so much color into his black life. He doesn’t realize how much he needs her until she’s carved her way into his heart and he can’t lose her. 

This story is captivating and erotic. Issa and Aiden play hardball for the first half of the book, but when they finally give into their desires? Fireworks. These two have got it going on! It’s also important to note that not only is their chemistry on fire, but the actual story itself keeps you interested and captivated. I couldn’t put the book down. When I had to work this afternoon, all I could think about was this story. It hijacked my mind and had me imaging all sorts of endings. It’s deep and rich with imagery and gorgeous language. We get tastes of French and Russian and dialects like American and British throughout this story. There’s all sorts of culture and life in this tale. It’s beautiful and I can’t believe it took me so long to find it. I need more, I’m craving more from Catherine Wiltcher. She is definitely a special kind of talent. Take the time to read her novels, you won’t regret it. 5 stars!!

“You taste of color, Aiden Knight.” Clashing color.

“Love to me was honesty. Being real. Knowing someone’s best and worst. Love was a push that said someone believed in you when you didn’t.”

Lord give me strength. If that wasn’t the best Mariana Zapata book, then I need all the help I can get because I’m barely making it through these novels without wailing. I’m totally, completely obsessed with Mariana and every single thing she writes. I’ve told all of my friends about her and her books. I’m currently crying. 

Okay so Ivan and Jasmine are quite possibly the best Zapata couple, in my opinion. I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers romance and that is EXACTLY what this is. Both Ivan and Jasmine are professional figure skaters.  Ivan has gold medals from the Olympics and has won first place competitions around the world. Jasmine hasn’t placed since she was in the junior leagues. They do not get along. I wouldn’t go so far as to say they hate each other, but they are not nice or friendly in any way. Jasmine is close friends with Ivan’s sister, so they’ve known each other for years. They both do pairs skating and after Jasmine’s old partner left her high and dry, she hasn’t been able to compete in a few years. In a strange twist, Ivan’s coach asks Jasmine if she will be his new skating partner for the upcoming season. This novel tells the story of how two people who strongly dislike each other can learn to work together and become friends and eventually fall in love. GUYS, IT IS PURE MAGIC. 

Talk about an emotional journey. The bickering between these two never gets old. Jasmine dishes out insults left and right and Ivan gives just as good as he gets. My favorite is when she calls him Satan. He calls her Meatball. It’s amazing. They learn to trust each other and respect each other and appreciate what the other brings to the table. The falling in love part, though? That’s what really got me. These two are made for each other. From the very beginning you can tell that their chemistry is on point. They love getting under each other’s skin. They love messing around and they aren’t afraid to take it as far as possible. Obviously without physically hurting each other. What I loved the most was how easy it is to see Ivan giving into his feelings pretty early on. He admires Jasmine so much, even when he’s being a total jerk to her. It takes her a little longer to let her walls down, but once she lets him in…it doesn’t get any better than that. God this book is fantastic. Every single moment is precious. I cannot wait to go back and re-read!! 5 brilliant stars!!

“There will only ever be you.”

Meghan Quinn has done it again, folks. She totally WRECKED me with this story. I’m all about the slow burn and this book delivers. Lincoln and Indie are an absolute dream. What starts out as an enemies to lovers story quickly becomes friends to lovers. The friendship lasts years before these two finally admit their true feelings. I don’t think I’ve been this emotionally invested since Carson and Milly. There’s just something about these baseball boys that grabs at my heartstrings and doesn’t let up.

So, like I previously mentioned, these two *kind of* had an enemies to lovers thing at the beginning. Both of their moms had been trying to set them up with different people all summer long and as a last ditch effort, they stuck them together a few nights before school started again. Turns out they were both athletes at the same college, Brentwood. Indie played soccer and Lincoln played baseball. I wouldn’t say their connection was instant, there were definitely attracted to each other at the beginning, but were both dead set on not being in a relationship with anyone. The night progressed a little like their friendship ending up progressing, hesitantly at first, then filled with laughs and good times, and eventually ending with lust and unresolved feelings. Although their relationship takes years to fully blossom and flourish, it’s all worth it. Indie and Lincoln get their well-deserved happily ever after when you’ve almost given up hope as the reader. It’s scary when years go by and people grow and change. But the one solid thing that never changes is how much Lincoln and Indie love each other. Even if it does take them forever to realize it.

To say that this book was “good” or “well written” or “addicting” doesn’t quite fit the bill. It was MORE. I can’t finds words to describe how much I love the way Meghan Quinn writes her leading men, but they truly stand out to me. They are emotional, even if they are clueless. They are strong, but not only physically. They are genuine men. Each and every one of them is unique and special is his own way, but they are all absolutely perfect. Yes, even Jason. Now the women? WOWZA. These ladies are unstoppable. I would literally kill to be in their WAG circle. What a life. I mean, you’ve got the most badass women as friends. Every one of them is extremely special, whether it’s Milly with her baseball expertise (she’s my fav) or Natalie with her passion and brilliant mind (second fav because Cory deserves the world), every one of these ladies is a queen. I just can’t even begin to explain how much I love and adore this series. I own all the books in paperback and cannot wait until this one arrives on my doorstep!! 5 stars all around. 

“I am so in love with you, it’s painful. So fucking in love with you.”

“I always thought you looked like mine, but you sure do fucking feel like you’re mine too.”

Mariana Zapata is my favorite author in the entire world. I love anything and everything she writes and this book is no exception. I will say that this book made me cry more than any of her others, so far, but I still have a few left to read so we’ll see. 

Dallas. Where do I even begin. He starts out as a total asshole, but there’s reasoning behind it. He was burned by his wife (soon to be ex), and he’s wary of women. But oh my god, when he opens up his heart to Diana and Lou and Josh…it brought literal tears to my eyes. Diana’s brother passed away and she came into custody of his two boys, Louie and Josh. She moves them into a house after living in an apartment for the last two years. They are starting fresh. Josh plays baseball and Diana is a hairdresser. Everything is going fine until one night Diana hears a fight breaking out across the street. She runs over and saves a man from being jumped, only to find out that he is a total jerk. His name is Jackson and he is Dallas’ brother. That incident sparks a domino effect. Dallas ends up being Josh’s baseball coach and Diana falls in love with him. There is a plethora of special moments throughout this book that constantly had me crying. Specifically anything that Lou says. He’s such a sweet, innocent baby boy. I loved all of these characters equally. I don’t think I had a favorite which is rare for me. 

I can’t go into much more detail about this book, but I will give you some updates. It crosses over with The Wall of Winnipeg and Me and Under Locke, two books that I just recently read…so I’m totally freaking out. Guys, I can’t even begin to explain how I feel about this world that Mariana Zapata has created. I’m obsessed. I’m in love. I’m devoted. Give me more!! I need more books asap! This review was short and sweet, but this book was not. It was magnificent and intellectual and romantic. It made me burn hot, cry a ton, and wish it never ended. Dallas and Diana are my new favorite Zapata couple. Keep in mind that my favorite couple changes each time I read a new book of hers LOL. On to the next book! Wish me luck!! 5 stars!! 

“You’re too young. You’re too sweet. You’re too good for me. But I’m done standing around trying to suck up all the goodness you make me feel without you even knowing, Luna. You are my girl. Just you. Nobody else ever has or will be.”

Okay THIS is my favorite Mariana Zapata book. Well…I say that about every one of them, so don’t take my word for it. I’m obsessed. I seriously cannot function because all I want to do is keep reading her work. Guys, I cannot tell you how much these books mean to me. I cannot explain to you what her words do to me. They heal. She heals. Please read everything she’s ever written. I need more people on this train with me. 

Okay, so here we are. Luna is our heroine. She’s quirky and kind and so so incredibly giving. And she’s got a huge lady boner for her boss, Rip. Rip is a total dick. Most of the time. Luna can tell what mood Rip will be in by the color of shirt he wears each day. It’s awesome. Luna spends her days thinking positively about her life. Rip dwells on the negative and is pretty much always in a mood. Luna is the light in his life and she doesn’t even know it. Okay, so to be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of Rip for a while. Specifically over halfway through this book I still thought he was a total dirtbag. Luna was given a rough hand in life and she’s made the best of it. Rip is constantly tearing her down. It’s so upsetting. But then something shifts. We find out that Luna saved Rip in some way and he owes her a favor. She asks him to go to her grandmother’s funeral with her and so their romance begins. It’s a slow start, that’s for sure. There’s so much push and pull, you can’t ever really tell where Luna stands with Rip. But guys, that ending? HOLY CRAP. There is nothing better. There was no better way to end this book. I was in tears. On the floor. I’m so in love with this book and these characters. 

I know this review was probably the least helpful review of all time. It was basically just stream of consciousness after I finished my read through, but to me, it works. I hope you can feel how much this book meant to me. Rip and Luna are EVERYTHING. They just work. Even though it feels like they shouldn’t. I’m dying to start another one of Mariana’s books!! Eeeeeeeep!! So incredibly amazing! Bravo! 5 stars again!