Stealing Our Hearts

I’m not usually the biggest fan of single parent romances. I feel like children can easily make or break a novel. A lot of times authors write books with children that are annoying or not unique enough to make them interesting. Those books usually end up on my DNF list, sadly. I’m just really picky about kids! This book did NOT disappoint in that department. Penny was absolutely adorable and totally likable. Although she is definitely still a child, she has a sweet maturity about her that doesn’t interrupt the flow of the romance. I finished this book and immediately downloaded all of the other books in this series!

This is a small town meets single dad romance and it DELIVERS. The chemistry between Gavin and Sutton is so hot it melts off the page. I love that we get to experience the multiple sides of Gavin as we get to know him throughout this novel. We see him as the sweet and loving father, the hardworking cowboy, and the sexy romantic. He has so much to offer the world, it’s heartbreaking to see him denying himself so much when our story first begins. Gavin’s ex-wife left him and his infant child five years prior to our story. He was devastated by the betrayal and has kept his heart locked down since then. He does his work on the farm and takes care of his daughter. Until Sutton makes an appearance in his life. She sets his world on fire and ignites something inside of him that has been dormant for so long. She makes him want to open up his heart and start living again. This story is about the growth of their relationship and overcoming the obstacles of life. Sutton is on her way to becoming a famous country music singer. She has a fanbase and is already going on tours. When she makes the decision to pursue things with Gavin, she knows all that she’s asking of him. Will their love be enough? Read this book to find out!

Fabiola Francisco reached out to me about reading and reviewing this book for her and of course I said yes! I had heard about her through the grapevine and was thrilled that she reached out to me. This novel had me laughing and crying and left me with a happy heart. What a great story!! I cannot wait to dive into the other books in this series! 4 stars!! 

**I wrote this review in late June which explains the first sentence**

I do not want to wait until August for the next book in this series. Holy crap this story was EVERYTHING. I loved the concept of our leading man, Noah, not being super attractive. He was self conscious about his face and because of that, he never dated. He would do random hookups but they were very rare and only when he absolutely needed it. Noah is gentle and kind and awkward. He’s everything I wanted him to be. He’s perfect for Miranda in every way. She brings color back into his life. She doesn’t see his face as ugly or unattractive, she sees his heart and falls for that. 

Noah and Miranda meet virtually when she is selling her grandfather’s old baseball cards so that she can start her own business. Noah is a collector but he’s also a famous baseball player. So, instead of going to pick up the cards from her and pay her himself, he sends his friend but doesn’t tell her that it’s not him. His friend, Wallace, is a total player. He’s confident and cocky and very handsome. He hits on Miranda when they are doing the card trade and she is completely put off. Eventually, Noah has to face his fears and admit that he initially lied to her about who he was. Miranda isn’t upset, she’s mostly just confused. She doesn’t understand why he would hide himself. It isn’t until an incident happens that brings everything to the forefront, that she realizes the true extent of Noah’s insecurities. 

Miranda is spunky and brave and a bit of a wild card, but that’s what makes her so unique and entertaining.  She’s the perfect match for Noah. She helps him see the strength within himself, she helps him discover things about himself, and she brings out the best in him. The chapters from his POV are the best, in my opinion. He’s a man of few words, so it’s vital that we get a glimpse inside his head every once in a while. At the end of our story, when we get to read about how much he loves Miranda, it brought tears to my eyes. Noah’s character arc is exceptional. Absolutely incredible. 

I cannot explain to you guys how much this story drew me in and kept me flipping through pages as fast as I could. It was completely and utterly addicting.  I’m so ready for the next book in this series. This was my first book by Sara Ney and I am about to go read everything she’s ever written, because if it’s even half as incredible as this book, it will be worth it. 5 stars and a huge round of applause for Noah and Miranda. LOVE THEM! 

WHY AREN’T THERE MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES *SOBBING* I’m not kidding, I love this book and Prisoner so much, I would do just about anything for another book. I understand that the story basically ends with Stone and Brooke, but I just can’t get over it. My heart doesn’t want to let these men go. 

When I say I love dark romance, this is a perfect example of everything I need in a story. Stone is dirty and raw and cruel, but he can also be gentle and overprotective. His love for Brooke is so real it brought me to tears. When he realizes just how much he loves her (when you read it, you’ll understand the exact moment I mean) it’s like this warm calm surrounded me. The love grows on you, as the reader. At first it seems like infatuation or lust and that was a little uncomfortable, seeing as Brooke was sixteen when they first meet, but as time goes on…the love burns brightly. This story happens over the course of a few years. We jump months at a time in between when Stone and Brooke see each other. I won’t comment much on that part, for fear of ruining anything. The only thing I will say is that nothing happens when she’s underage. I was a little concerned when I first started reading, but my fears were quickly doused. 

Brooke, as young as she is when we first meet her, is also very wise beyond her years. She’s strong and smart, but she doesn’t feel seen or heard in the life she lives. She’s had a very proper upbringing. Her family is very wealthy, but silently struggling financially. It puts pressure on her to be the perfect daughter, and it’s catastrophic to her mental well-being.  When Brooke first meets Stone, she’s afraid of him but she also feels a weird sort of comfort. Like coming home. They belong together from the moment they meet, it’s apparent. Their chemistry is off the charts and when they finally get physical for the first time? HOLY MOLY GUACAMOLE. Stone cannot resist Brooke, it’s like his first breath after being underwater for years. He sees the world in a new light. It’s pure magic. I love these two so much.

Now we have to speak about the triggering part of this book: Stone’s past. If you’ve read Prisoner then you know what these boys went through when they were younger. If you haven’t read it, then I’m about to spoil some things for you. These men were abducted as young boys and prostituted out from a basement. They were physically and mentally abused for many years, when they finally banded together and busted themselves out. Because they grew up the way they did, they aren’t accustomed to the way the world works. They didn’t have the schooling that everyone gets, and they don’t really understand social queues. They are angry and out of vengeance against the men who did this to them. Stone is the leader of the pack. It’s only when Grayson finds Abby, in Prisoner, that Stone realizes it’s possible to fall in love. His realization and discovery of that with Brooke is ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.

I cannot rant and rave enough about how much I love this book and this series. Though, I suppose it might not even count as a series since it’s only two books. SKYE AND ANNIKA – PLEASE WRITE MORE! Take the time to read these if you’re into dark romance. If not, these might not be your cup of tea. Stone has my heart forever. 5 stars!!

I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for this book forever when, in actuality, it’s only been about a month. Nicole Dykes reached out to me about reading and reviewing for her about a month ago and, having seen her work reviewed by other bookstagramers, I immediately said yes. There is NOTHING like this world she’s created with the Sterlings. This family is absolutely incredible. Every single one of them is special and unique in their own way and the way that they love? It burns so bright. I will admit, I was scared to start this one.  When it first showed up on my kindle I didn’t know when/if I wanted start it. My heart was still hurt from where we left off with Asher and Vivienne in the last book. I’m so glad I gave in and didn’t sit on this. It mended my shattered heart and gave me so much hope. I love the Sterlings!!!

We meet Vivienne in the first book, Regrets, where she shows up with a child, claiming she slept with Colt Sterling and they made this baby together. She’s a little bit of a villain in that story because Colt has died and everyone is trying to find their footing again. Then we get her story, Restrictions, where we see just how truly incredible she is and how much she loves being Baz’s mother. She falls in love with Asher, Colt’s brother, but it ends on a cliffhanger. I was devastated after reading Restrictions. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle the possibility of a love triangle because that’s a trigger for me. Nicole Dykes even warns us at the end of that book that there is more pain to come. She was right. In this book, “Asher and Viv part two” as I like to call it, our couple has now relocated to California. Vivienne is living with Asher’s sister Lola and Asher shows up and moves into the house too. There is so much hatred at the beginning of this book. It tears your heart in half. Asher is so broken and lost. He loves Baz with all his heart and Viv took him away at the end of the first book. Asher finds purpose in being a father figure to Baz, part of me thinks it’s because he looked up to Colt so much. Asher is determined to not let Colt’s memory fade. He’s so caught up in that idea that doesn’t realize the pain he’s inflicting on himself and others.

So this book is all about Asher growing up. Asher learning how to forgive himself. Asher realizing that he loves Vivienne and cannot live without her. That process is oh-so painful. He’s stubborn and a bit of an ass. Vivienne puts up with A LOT, but it’s all worth it in the end. The way these two grow together, the push and the pull…Gah! Every bit of this book was wonderful and addicting. I applaud Nicole Dykes for her bravery in writing such a complex and compelling story. Writing a duet is tough. A lot of readers don’t make it to the second book. I usually don’t, honestly. But with this one? I was diving head first into book two. Bravo!! I cannot wait to read what Nicole has in store for us next. 5 stars!

“I want you more than I want to breathe.”

WARNING: SPOILERS

Book two in Samantha Whiskey’s Raleigh Raptors series and I’m so deeply invested, there’s no turning back. From my previous review of Nixon, you may have caught on that I had a hard time with Liberty, the heroine. I’m not going to get back into why (read my other review if you’re interested in my rant), but let me just say this: SHE SHOWED UP IN THIS BOOK. Liberty came back around and really made up for everything in this book. She was a great friend and confidant to our heroine in this novel. Nixon was the perfect friend for Roman. Overall, this book was incredible and I loved every single character (except Rick, obvi).

In this novel we’ve got some big issues to tackle. The biggest: abuse. If that’s a trigger for you, then please don’t read this novel. Teagan and Roman have been best friends since they were in diapers. They grew up together and stayed by each other’s side through everything. Roman has been in love with Teagan since he was like twelve (I can’t remember the exact age he gives us, but he’s young). So anyway, Roman loves her from afar. He doesn’t want to ruin their friendship. Now, when our novel starts, Teagan has been dating Roman’s teammate, Rick, for three years. How on earth Roman handled that, I have no clue. Rick is abusive, both physically and mentally. He constantly tears Teagan down until one night she can’t take it anymore and she escapes, running to Roman for protection. She stays with him, sleeping in his bed every night, sharing meals with him, wearing his clothes…I mean they are basically married for 4 months. There’s a lot that happens in the middle that I won’t go into detail about. Really, truly, their friendship blossoms. Teagan finally admits the feelings she’s had for Roman and he about loses his mind. He has loved her for so long, it’s almost unbelievable to him. These two have the most delicious chemistry. They melt off the page. And those sexy scenes?? Yes please!! Absolutely marvelous. These two beat out Nixon and Liberty by a long shot, for me. Friends to lovers is one of my least favorite tropes, but Samantha Whiskey completely blew me away with this story.

Now this is where I had my only issue. Roman can’t have kids and Teagan wants a family more than life itself. Spoiler Alert: When everything comes crashing down, Teagan feels that she needs to protect Roman from Rick and the only way to do that is to break up with Roman. So she literally uses his one, most personal and self conscious thing, to hurt him. She tells him that she doesn’t want to be with him because he can’t have kids. I mean talk about the worst possible thing you could say to him. And then…he just takes her back. Without so much as a backward glance. He forgives her instantly for using his weakness against him. OMG IT HURT SO BAD. I was a wreck. Uncontrollably sobbing while I read his reaction to her saying that to him. 

Other than that, I loved the book immensely. 5 stars doesn’t do Samantha justice, as per usual. And holy crap I cannot WAIT for Hendrix’s book. That story is going to be explosive. I don’t want to wait for it, I want it now!! LOVE LOVE LOVE Samantha!

“My love isn’t going to waver.”

“You make me feel amazing just by being you, Bauer.”

At the very end of the book, Karla has a note to the readers about her writing process for this story. She comments first on the fact that she tried really hard to make the hero of this novel, Finn. I have to admit, at the beginning of this story, I wanted it to be Finn too. I had really high hopes for him and I could totally see this being a sister’s best friend romance. But once I got into the meat of the story? There was no one but Bauer. 

He is everything that Claire needs. The way they first meet and the way their relationship builds? It’s all chemistry. Every single moment is built off of this insane chemistry that they have. They crave each other, being near each other calms them. It’s something people only dream of. Chemistry as potent and strong as that. This story is a little complex but the root of it is simply this: Claire has a massive crush on her twin sister’s best friend, Finn, but ends up falling for his brother in the end. Their entire romance happens over 5 days. It’s short but boy is it passion-filled. I find that it can be really difficult to write believable romances when the timeline is shortened, but Karla Sorenson did a fantastic job. She wrote a rich, complex story about two people who found each other by accident and fell in love on purpose. It could have been so easy for Bauer to close his heart off to Claire, but because she was so pure and so good, he couldn’t. He wanted to be better for her. He loved her for exactly who she is, someone so different from her twin sister, Lia.

A huge part of this novel is Claire finding her own identity. At the beginning of this story, she is pretending to be her sister Lia (read the book and you’ll understand why). But as she gets more comfortable around Bauer, she lets her guard down. Crazily enough, Bauer knew from the moment he saw Claire that she was pretending to be Lia and it wasn’t actually Lia he was with. Bauer finds Claire mysterious and complex. He wants to dive deeper into who she is and get to know her on intimate levels. When a snow storm forces them to spend a few days alone together, things heat up pretty quickly. It’s delicious and fun and, at times, heartbreaking. When the climax hits, it’s awful. Completely and utterly devastating. Bauer and Claire are ripped apart by outside circumstances, things from the past, and, in my opinion, nosy family members. But that ending? THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT. The way our couple makes up and ends up together is absolutely perfect. What a wonderful story. 

Karla Sorensen gets me every single time with her stories. I always forget how insanely talented she is until I pick up her next book. So here’s what I’m going to do – I’m going to buy all her books in paperback so I never forget 🙂 Smart, right? Then I will always have them on hand and know that I love them endlessly! 5 stars for this brilliant love story. I cannot WAIT for Lia’s book!! I hope it gets released soon!

“Love is always a risk, Claire. Always. Every day, even when you’re together, because the day you stop choosing your partner is the day you risk losing them.”

*I wrote this review before I read The Set Up, so please keep that in mind*

Best Meghan Quinn book EVER!!! Wow, I am completely blown away by the beauty of this story. It was so painful and raw…just all around perfection. Definitely my favorite in this series, and that’s saying something because no one has been able to take that title away from Carson until now. 

This book is the definition of friends to lovers at its finest. Maddox and Kinsley are absolutely made for each other and it’s pretty apparent from the first time we read about them talking on the phone. They’ve been best friends since they were five years old. They grew up together, although the had very different upbringings. You’ll read more about that as the story goes on, I don’t want to spoil anything. Anyway, so Maddox is the pitcher for the Bobbies (and I’ve literally been waiting for his story since we met him). He’s insanely talented but a bit of a hothead. We see the rough and tough side of him in The Trade when Cory Potter is traded to the Bobbies and has to learn to fit in with the team. Maddox is known for fighting, which is kind of crazy to me since this is baseball and not hockey, but whatever. So fighting, yes. Maddox throws down, but he’s a big softie…with Kinsley. She sees the real him under his rough exterior. He’s tattooed from head and toe (well not literally but he does have a  neck tattoo and full sleeves and he’s got a reverse Prince Albert *swoon*). He’s the definition of a bad boy. He lives up to his name except for when he can be himself with Kinsely. 

Kinsley is a whole different story. She’s vegan, she’s obsessed with animal welfare and taking care of the environment, and she’s a total free spirit. She never wears bras, she talks openly about her sex life, and she is madly in love with Maddox. From pretty early on in our story both Maddox and Kinsley have fallen in love. Kinsley moves into Maddox’s apartment, after he offers to let her stay when she gets her dream job, and everything kind of happens from there. It’s magical. Maddox gets advice from Cory about how to proceed with his sexual advances, and it is the most adorable thing ever. I don’t know if that sort of thing happens in real life, but I really wish that it would. Do guys actually ask each other for advice on women? LOL. Anyway, so everything is pretty incredible until about 75 percent of the way through. I will admit, the climax was predictable. I knew it was coming. But that downfall? That heartbreak and the painful aftermath? That was catastrophic. I was NOT ready for that. I was quite literally sobbing my eyes out for the remainder of the novel. It left you aching. The ending though? Nothing better than that. That comeback was everything I wanted and needed. And holy crap don’t even get me started on the epilogues. I was speechless. Completely and utterly captivated. I downloaded the extended epilogue because I wasn’t ready to let these two go, and I never read extended epilogues. This was perfect in every way and I freaking LOVE Meghan Quinn!! 5 stars.

P.S. As you can see, I was so overcome with love for this tale that I didn’t even take down any quotes. I was bewitched by this book and these gloriously flawed characters. This story will stay with me forever. 

“It’s hard to shine when you’re surrounded by stars, baby. I don’t get noticed much. They just take what I write.” “Then don’t be a star, Talon. Be the moon. Shine above them all.”

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve written a book review and that’s strange for me. You see, I couldn’t find anything that truly inspired me. I read probably about ten books before this one and not a single one of them had that sparkle about it. Until this story. This is the Carian Cole that I know and love. I read both Storm and Vandal before this, but neither one of them was truly special to me. The stories were sweet and sexy, but there wasn’t enough substance. But holy. freaking. crap. This story is everything. Of all of Carian Cole’s books, this is the one that I need to own a paperback copy of. This is the end-all be-all. This is true, miraculous talent. I laughed, I cried, and I finished this tale feeling truly and completely whole. It took me on an insane emotional rollercoaster ride, but I swear, I wish it never ended. And then we get the true story of Talon and Asia at the end? SLAY ME. I was crying up until the final word.

How to even describe this book? Obviously, rockstar romance. But it’s got a bit of enemies to lovers, second chance, and could maybe even be considered a bit dark. From the moment we meet Talon in chapter one, you know he’s going to be different than any of the other characters in this series. He’s such an emotional man. He craves emotional connection more than any of his brother’s, cousins, and friends. He’s the youngest boy in his family, so he’s got a bit of a “mama’s boy” vibe to him. All he truly desires is to be loved. He wants what his brother, Storm, has with his girl, Evie. A connection unlike anything else. What romance books are written about. Asia, on the other hand, has an absolutely devastating story. Talon is a famous rockstar and Asia lives in the literal ghetto. She comes from nothing. Both her father and brother are in prison and her mother left her at seventeen. She has known nothing but abandonment and loss. This is the pinnacle of this story. Asia’s constant fear of not being enough for Talon. 

I’ve never read a story quite so captivating. There was something inherently enigmatic about Talon and fascinating about Asia. They were so different, but complimented each other so well. If you’ve read the blurb, you know that their story begins when they both agree to a marriage experiment. They go through a series of tests and are matched with a person who is believed to fit them perfectly. The experiment is to see if you can fall in love AFTER marriage. Well spoiler: they do. Deeply and passionately. I have to admit, when I first read the blurb, I wasn’t sure that I would like the story. The premise of how they met didn’t really fit into my usual trope and I was pretty skeptical. But then I saw how highly rated it was on Amazon and I couldn’t resist. I had to know what all the fuss was about. I can’t believe I almost passed this one by. It’s safe to say that this is a hidden treasure. It’s the fourth book in the Ashes and Embers series, and a lot of readers might not make it this far. DO IT. You can skip the other ones if you’re not interested, but this book cannot be ignored. 

Let me reiterate: READ THIS BOOK. It’s raw and real and painful. It’s about as true to what life is as experience itself. There’s so much to unpack, so much that demands discussion. I cannot begin to explain how much this beautiful story means to me. Take a chance on it, you will not regret it. A HUNDRED STARS!!!!

“I’m always with you.”

“There’s only a few sights equal to the rose in full bloom, but you Catherine are far better than all the roses in the world.”

This was my first Logan Chance book and wow, I was totally impressed. I loved everything about Booker and Catherine’s relationship. From the hot sex to the intimate, personal moments, these two had the most incredible chemistry. This review won’t be very long because the book itself is quite short, but it still touched my heart!

I want to start from the ending and work my way back. There was a lot about Booker that I loved, but he is a bit of a mystery for most of the novel. It’s not until the very end that you’re let in on why he is the way he is. It’s a huge bomb that kind of comes out of nowhere, but BOY does it make it that much more interesting. It humanizes Booker in a way we hadn’t seen throughout the story. Suddenly he becomes a character we can empathize with, someone we feel things for. He becomes so much more than just a sexual being. He touches Catherine in a new way too. She’s already in love with him by this point, but she feels for him on a different level. It’s probably one of the most interesting character choices I’ve read, but IT WORKS. It really spoke to me as a reader. Brilliant job, Logan Chance!

This is the story of a single mother getting a second chance at love with a playboy writer. Catherine learns that she is allowed to let herself feel. Love is okay. She is allowed to be a little selfish sometimes, even though she’s a mother. On the flip side, Booker learns that he is actually able to truly find love regardless of his past. Booker writes about love and relationships for a living, he helps men score the women they want for a living, but he’s never been in love! What?? He finally takes the plunge himself and it is such a joy to witness. These two are a dynamite couple. The way they are written gives you ALL THE FEELS. I can’t believe I waited this long to jump into Logan Chance’s work. I cannot wait to see what other books this author has written. 4 stars! 

“Catherine, I’ve never needed anybody so much in my life.”

“How do you know yellow is my favorite?” “You always wear it, and even if you can’t see it, I can always feel you sunshine.”

Where do I even begin with this book? I was not prepared for what I read. The blurb didn’t do this story justice and it also doesn’t really prepare you for how taboo this story is. And BOY is it taboo. SPOILERS BELOW.

This is the story of an eighteen year old girl who survived a school shooting. Barely. She was shot and left almost paralyzed. She had to re-learn how to walk again and now she suffers from pain and numbness in her legs which results in a limp. Dandelion Meadows is unlike any female character I’ve ever read. She is incredibly strong, so strong that she’s almost invincible in my mind. Her mother died the day of the school shooting, she worked at the school. Her father died many years prior, of cancer. All that is left is her older brother Sage who lives in Utah, so she moves there to complete her senior year and to try to begin healing. Every day, she is required to meet with the school counselor. His name is Mr. Lachlan Taylor. And there it is, ladies and gents, the calling card. 

I wish I could go into more detail for you, but alas, I don’t want to risk giving anything away. I must keep this review as brief as I can because I don’t want too much of my opinion to come out. I will say this: this novel almost left me devastated. ALMOST. It’s long, a lot longer than most books in this genre. It sucks you in and keeps you in a comfortable place for so long that you don’t realize the rug has been ripped out from under you until it’s too late. And then it’s the waiting game, and it’s painful. You wonder when the pain might end, there are a couple of false positives along the way, those are the scariest. But then…the ending. The last ten percent of the book completely changed my mind about how I felt about the entire thing. The issue is, you really have no idea what’s going to happen until you get there. This story could have gone in so many different directions, but I’m so thankful it went the way I needed it to go. 

I do wish it had been written in dual POVs. I needed to know what Lachlan was feeling and why he made the choices he did. It was difficult, not being allowed inside of his head, at times it was infuriating. There is so much mystery surrounding him and why he is who he is. Why is he so drawn to Dandelion, his student? He obviously knows what he feels is wrong, but he’s helpless to stop it. It’s fascinating. Definitely take some time to read this book, if you get the chance. The cover is what originally drew me to it and now I’m so grateful that I gave it a shot. 4 stars.

“Pinky promise.”