Stealing Our Hearts

“That was the best fucking sex of my life. So, if you think I’m going to let you walk away from me, you can think again.”

Odette Stone really knows how to keep a girl interested. She is ingenious at crafting gorgeous storylines that hold your attention and keep you turning the pages. I seriously could not put this book down. This is the third book I’ve read of Stone’s work and every single time, I’m completely blown away. 

Hockey. You either love it or you hate it. Personally, I’m not a huge fan in of it in real life. It’s gross and bloody and hardly ever interesting, in my opinion. But the way Stone writes about the game? OMG, I feel like I could live for this game and these men. Especially when she writes men like Max. Max is a pensive, massive, handsome man. He has a rough past, so when he is brought onto the Vancouver Wolves team, no one really likes him. He’s completely alone. Our leading lady, Rory, is the GM’s daughter. Her father owns the Vancouver Wolves and she was forced, by her dad, to take on the role of assistant GM in exchange for allowing her to go away to college for four years. Rory and Max meet each other BEFORE either one of them knows who the other is. They meet on a plane, flying to Vancouver. And then the plane crashes. YEAH. I’m telling you guys, Odette Stone knows how to keep you entranced by her novels. Max and Rory go through this horrible, terrifying experience together, and come out of it sharing something special. 

This novel has a lot of frustrating characters (Katrina, Baxter, even Lolita) and they all seem to get in the way of Max and Rory’s happiness. It’s like everything is against them up until the very end. It’s stressful and frustrating and unfair. But when these two get their HEA, it makes it all worth it. And what a magnificent HEA it is. Max is truly a remarkable man, so sweet and gentle (when he wants to be). I absolutely adored this novel, just like I have with all of Odette Stone’s books. This series, The Vancouver Wolves Hockey Series, should be a staple on every romance lovers bookshelf. 5 stars for this beauty. Can’t wait to start on the next book!! High Risk Rookie, here I come! 

P.S. This quote isn’t a romance quote, but in the context of the story, I got literal goosebumps as I read this. It’s worth quoting because Rory is such a brilliantly written character. She’s strong and witty and knows what she wants. She’s got such a strong head on her shoulders and at that point in the novel, she is standing up for what she knows is right and it pays off. Give this book a read. It’s worth it.

“Thirteen minutes,” I shook my head. “What?” “That’s how long it took this crowd to realize that they needed him.”

“This is my heart,” he whispers into my ear as he places the necklace around my neck. “I want you to wear it to remind yourself that it belongs to you now.”

If you’ve been following me and my reviews, you may remember how, when I first started, I didn’t like to read books with children in them.  I always felt like the children took away from the romance and caused issues and sometimes they were just plain annoying. BUT, as time went on and I began reading more and more books with children in them, I started getting used to the idea and…dare I say…I started liking them. Well, it’s official, I love children. Especially book children. Summer and Lucky solidified that for me in this novel. These two children are the epitome of sweet innocence and it rounded out our story perfectly. I finished this novel with a smile on my face and a heart full of love.

This is a fairytale. For real, I’m not joking. This is a novel where the girl, who crushed on the famous actor, ends us with said actor and lives happily ever after. I mean, it’s literally every girls dream. Who wouldn’t want to end up with their celebrity crush? Willa is a perfumer. She is obsessed with smells and recreating memories through scent. And she’s brilliant at it. Shane is an actor. He’s been an actor since he was a child, performing on the Disney Channel, with Willa’s brother, Nico. Shane and Nico became best friends and have stayed close since those good old days. Willa was in love with Shane from the moment she first saw him on the screen as a young child, and then when she met him as a twelve year old, it only solidified the crush. Now, almost fifteen years later, they meet again. Willa is in need of a job and Shane is in need of a nanny for his twins. It’s the absolute perfect set up. Their chemistry is undeniable from the moment they see each other as adults. Shane doesn’t recognize Willa at first and as he admires her from afar in the grocery store. It completely takes him off guard with Nico introduces Willa as his sister. This can’t be the same little spunky girl he met fifteen years prior! Then, as he gets to know her and her quirks, he starts falling. Almost immediately it’s apparent that he’s falling in love with her. He breathes better with her around. It’s magic.

I guess I should probably touch on the title of this book. Shane has insomnia. Like baaaaad. He sleeps maybe an hour every night, sometimes less. He sees a doctor and has a sleep journal and everything. He has tried everything he can think of, but nothing works…until he meets Willa. When she’s around, he can finally sleep. Like I said before, magic. This book was definitely one of the top books I’ve read this month. I think it should be rated a full 5 stars on Amazon because of how great it is. Give it a shot! It’s unique and fun and gives you all the warm fuzzy feelings. Loved it!!!

“People don’t stop loving each other just because they aren’t around all the time.”

“My heart,” he murmurs, “it beats for you, Thalia. Now and always. I love you. Te amo. And this love burns like the sun.”

This is the second book I’ve read by Karina Halle. The first was, My Life in Shambles, which I thoroughly enjoyed and gave a five star review of. This novel was on a whole other level. When you see the five star rating on Amazon, there’s a reason, and it’s simply because this novel is absolute perfection. It takes a taboo romance, throws it into a real life situation, and creates a beautiful, unforgettable tale of true love. This novel starts out strong, but the ending? Now THAT was a true, raw, gorgeous finale. This novel deserves every five star review it is gifted. It completely amazed me.

One of the strongest attributes of this inspiring story was the character development. Alejo, our leading man, is a twenty four year old football (or American soccer) star on Real Madrid’s team. He’s a hotshot, cocky and charming. He knows that he is the most talented player on the team and he’s got an ego to match.  Our leading lady, Thalia, is a sports trainer. At the beginning of our novel she has just left her ex husband’s team, Manchester United, and is hired by Real Madrid. Her first patient, as a trainer, is Alejo, when his knee gets injured during a game. She is VERY good at what she does, she’s also forty years old. The chemistry from the very beginning, between these two, is unmatched. It’s tangible. You can feel it as you read, like the words are melting off the page. They fall in love, hard and fast. Thalia is a little more cautious because of her age, but boy, is it hard for her to resist Alejo. He is passionate and so young, he wears his heart on his sleeve. The age difference doesn’t bother him, but it does effect Thalia a bit, at first. She can’t imagine why he would ever want someone as old as her when he has his pick of women. The age difference is so apparent as you dive deeper into the story. Alejo is a bit of a wild card, he hasn’t been weighed down by the trials of life.  His view of love, and what he shares with Thalia, is very narrow-minded. He can’t see the bigger picture, he’s too afraid of losing her. Thalia, on the other hand, has been so burned, that even when she gives her heart to Alejo, she still sees the world for what it is. She still realizes that sometimes you have to make hard decisions in life. But, you can’t always help who you fall in love with, can you?

“The bigger the love, the greater the risk. But love, real, true, can’t-live-without-you love? That’s worth everything in the universe.”

The most beautiful part about this novel is the ending. There were times, when I knew the climax was coming, and I put the book down because I didn’t want to lose my heart. I didn’t want to face the pain of this story. I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be in the end. It’s so easy for this novel to have gone in a million different directions, and I think that’s what makes it so phenomenal. It isn’t a cookie cutter story with a predictable plot. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s painful. But, it’s also magnificent. I sat in my bed, sobbing, after the climax, when everything goes to shit. I couldn’t take it. My heart broke for Alejo and my soul screamed for Thalia. But, like I said before, this ending is even stronger than the beginning. It’s worth it, it makes the entire journey, and the heartache, worth it in the end. Take the time to read this book. Your soul will benefit. A hundred stars. 

“Life isn’t something that happens to you, it’s something that happens for you.”

It turns out, our scarred hearts beat in the same rhythm. And without a word being exchanged, we both sighed – because we knew that now, they’d never beat alone.

I just finished this novel and I’m speechless. This was the perfect ending to an even more fantastic series. The Becker Brothers have changed my life. You know, I’m going to be completely honest with you guys, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Jordan. We barely catch glimpses of him in the previous books and he’s so quiet and reserved. I wasn’t sure if we would mesh well, if he would be a likable character. Boy, was I wrong. Move over Logan, your brother has taken the number one spot in my heart. Holy crap. Jordan is everything. He’s passionate, kind, respectful, and an incredible leader. We see him shine as a high school football coach, but his ability to command an audience and demand respect from the young boys is what makes him really special. I loved how Steiner described him in the book…how he doesn’t speak much, but when he does, he’s worth listening to.  That description is kind of how I feel about Kandi herself.  She writes stories worth reading. Everything she puts on paper has a purpose, there isn’t a bunch of meaningless fluff in her novels. She’s a special type of talent. She has something to say and delivers it with excellence and grace. Gah, I could go on all day.

Let’s talk about Sydney, our heroine. This fierce, strong, brilliant woman, who got herself out of an abusive marriage and is raising her daughter basically on her own. Who just got back into the workforce, but still holds her head up and does the very best she can. Can I get a round of applause for this QUEEN?! She’s quite possibly the most determined, complex, outstanding character I’ve ever read. I’ve never been more impressed. She is Jordan’s equal in every way. Where he shows us compassion, she shows us strength. Where he shows us determination, she shows us vulnerability. They are two perfectly imperfect characters that fit together like they were always meant to be. And to top off this perfect pair, we get to meet Paige, Sydney’s daughter. She’s just as passionate and insane about football as Jordan is. If you’ve seen Remember The Titans, she reminds me of Hayden Panettiere’s character, Sheryl. Paige dreams of becoming a football player and is as determined as ever. Jordan volunteers to help her train (she’s only nine LOL) and it brings them together in a sweet sort of father/daughter-bonding-experience way. Watching Paige and Jordan grow together only makes Sydney fall for him that much more. This complex, beautiful story is filled with so much love and passion, it’s impossible to put the book down.

If I had her, I could face anything. That much, at least, I was sure of.

Although the Becker Brothers books can be read as standalone, I would recommend reading them in order because of the overarching story about their father. This book ties up the loose ends on the questions surrounding their father’s death and gives the family much needed closure. It’s a big weight off your shoulders once it all comes to fruition, but the journey is just as important as the destination. If you’re anything like me, closure is MEGA important, and this book does us a solid in that department.  The ending was everything I could have ever dreamed of. Kandi Steiner is a brilliant mastermind and I love her so much. I’m so grateful to have experienced each of these brothers in their own unique way. Each left me with something special and I’m forever thankful to have this series in my heart and on my bookshelf. 5 stars!!

“I don’t know how to not treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”

That day, I cried for all the years I hadn’t cried. Buckets of tears. They were salty and sad and desperate. They all tasted weird. They all tasted like him.

Sinners of Saint…where do I even begin with these four hotholes?  Dean is and will forever be my favorite of the boys, but wow, Jamie really took my breath away. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the whole student teacher relationship but in truth…it really didn’t bother me at all. I mean, Jaime was eighteen already and Mel was only twenty six, so it didn’t really feel “weird”. If you know what I mean. God, Jamie is so primal and filthy, it’s amazing!!! This was a novella, so it’s really short and sweet and to the point, which is why this review is so short! Mel teaches English at the high school and literally has all four hotholes in her class. She is NOT a fan of Vicious which is hilarious after reading Vicious and getting to know him better. Especially because of the way he feels about Emilia. Mel loves Emilia, thinks she’s brilliant and bright and so capable. I loved the overlap of those two stories. So anyway, Jamie’s mother is the principal of the school and absolutely loathes Mel for reasons unknown to her (and to us). She even knows about Jamie and Mel and doesn’t say anything until she decides to blackmail Mel. It doesn’t work though…because Mel and Jamie’s love is STRONGER! Ugh it’s such a great read, guys. I know I’m a little late to the game, but LJ Shen is such a breath of fresh air. A beautiful and brilliant author. 5 stars all around!! 🙂

“Dancing was my life. But Jamie? Jamie is my life, I realized.”

“Damn…I’m playing with fire and I know deep in my gut – this can’t end well.”

Here we are again, friends. Book number six written by Harlow James and, dare I say it, her best work yet. I am amazed by her uncanny ability to tell thought-provoking, heart-warming stories that leave her readers satisfied and anxious for her next release. This novel was no different. She takes two beautifully flawed humans and paints a brilliant story of true love and perseverance.

Our story begins with a traumatic event. There is a trigger warning graciously given to us by Harlow, which I would advise you heed warning of if you’re likely to be triggered by rape/attempted rape scenes. Yes, Clara is almost raped at the beginning of this novel and it’s a slow downhill ride for her. She’s a substantially flawed character, but I think that’s why she’s my favorite part of this novel. She’s my favorite character, her dialogue was brilliant, the choices she made were so perfectly human, everything about her was so relatable. Bravo, Harlow, for writing such a complex character. Clara struggles…a lot…and for a long time. She hides her pain from her friends and drowns her fears in alcohol. It’s through her many trips home from the bar, where she is drinking away her fears, that she becomes close with Cooper, our leading man. Cooper is the younger brother of Olivia, from the first book in the Emerson Falls series, Tangled. Cooper is a police officer and was the man who saved Clara from her attacker; he is also the one constantly called to pick her up from the bar and take her home after she’s had too much to drink. There’s a strong bond between these two. Cooper feels so much for Clara, but also sees how much she’s suffering under her exterior. He sees and understands her pain. Clara has a very difficult time admitting that she is suffering from PTSD, but with Cooper’s help, she’s able to come to terms with her insecurities and face her past. 

Cooper and Clara fight their attraction towards each other at the beginning. It’s more difficult for Cooper because anytime Clara drinks, she throws herself at him and then doesn’t remember it the next day. Sober Clara fights her attraction to Cooper because of her fear of ruining her friendship with her best friend, Olivia, Cooper’s older sister, and because she’ insecure. Clara has always been independent and self-assured, she’s not used to relying on someone, so she’s constantly fighting Cooper any chance she gets. Cooper is up front and honest about his feelings as things become more serious between the two, but Clara’s insecurities get in the way of their HEA. When it all comes crashing down, it’s hard to blame either one of our lovers. They struggle so much with their feelings for one another, that even when everything turns for the worst, you’re rooting for them no matter what. These two characters are fighters and it’s beautiful to watch them finally get all that they deserve. This was an epic love story, one for the books. These two remind us that we’re never alone in our battles and that it’s always okay to ask for help. We’re stronger together and made better with love in our lives. Thank you for letting me beta read this gorgeous novel for you, Harlow. I am so honored and humbled. I’m so freaking ready for your next book! Bring it on!! 

“That’s all I want, Clara – to be a team with you, face life together, protect each other.”

What we share feels monumental, it spans years and continents. I know, deep in my heart, I’ll never find that with someone else.

Dear Author Carrie Aarons, 

Why did it take me this long to read a book written by you? I feel like I’ve wasted so much time missing out on your brilliance. This novel fed my SOUL and it’s all because of you. Thank you a million times over. Hometown Heartless was everything I didn’t realize I needed. I’d been in a horrible slump, stuck trying to read through books that simply didn’t speak to me. I happened upon your book on accident and decided to download it purely based on the blurb on Amazon. Boy, am I glad that I did. Your words heal. Thank you.

“Yes, you’re inside me forever.” My voice takes on a note of wistfulness. “And you in me,” he says, his deep voice switching from teasing to loving.

I feel like I tell you guys to read a lot of books and some of you might think I’m too nice in my reviews, but I truly do enjoy a large variety of romance novels. This was another 5 star read that blew me away. So, I will say with vigor: read this. You will not regret it. Aarons’ tale reminds me a bit of the way LJ Shen writes, there’s purpose and underlying meaning and so much angst. It’s delicious and painful, but in the end, it’s worth it all. This novel puts your heart through the ringer, I will admit to that, it’s not an easy read. This is gut-wrenching, heart-breaking literature. It left me with tears streaming down my face at my cubicle, in the middle of the work day. The things Aarons is able to accomplish with her writing are magical. She evokes so much empathy from her readers, so much passion. Yes, this is a book about a veteran, as assumed by the title. But it’s so much more than that. Everett, our hero, comes home after being held as a prisoner of war for a year. He was tortured and left to die, but he managed to escape. Sadly, he’s not the same man that he once was. He’s vacant and angry. But what little emotional ties he has left from his old life all revolve around one girl, Kennedy. He’s in love with her but he doesn’t know how to love her. That’s basically the struggle of the entire book. He’s so drawn to her, and obsessed with her, and longs to be attached to her, but he doesn’t know how to show her. Kennedy and Everett wrote letters to each other when he was overseas before he got captured. Those letters were filled with the things they longed to do together when he came back to her. Now he’s back, but he’s not the same.  He can’t fulfill his promises to her, for fear that he will hurt her. 

The story is crafted so eloquently that even though you know it’s going to be a rollercoaster, you still hold out hope each time something good happens. You cross your fingers that things will stay happy and hopeful for the couple. Until everything comes crashing down again, over and over. This story will drain you and leave you empty and hopeless at times, but, just when you’re about to lose all faith in Kennedy and Everett, somethings turns around and gives you back that hope. I would 100% recommend this to anyone even remotely interested in romance. It’s a perfect read and there isn’t a bad thing to say about it. I was hooked the whole way through and I wish it would have never ended. I’m forever grateful for this novel. 5 stars. 

“This feeling, the one I have with him, I would wait forever to have it. It seems like I did.”

“You’ve stolen my way to breathe, angel.”

So I won this book in an Instagram giveaway last Thanksgiving. I had never even heard of Kimberly Knight before then, but the blurb on the back of this book was so intriguing I decided to give it a shot. I am so glad I did. Wow. This book was phenomenal. It drew you in from the first chapter and kept you drooling for more with all the sexual tension. And let me tell ya, there was a LOT of it. 

To preface this review: if cheating bothers you, then you won’t like this book. Our leading lady, Autumn, is in a loveless marriage with an abusive husband. After four terrifying years, she decides it’s time to do something about it. She tells her best friend about the abuse and they make a plan for her to leave her husband.  That very same day, a mysterious, green-eyed stranger bumps into Autumn at Starbucks and her life is never the same. She can’t stop thinking about this man, she’s drawn to him. Well, as it turns out, he’s drawn to her too. His name is Gabe and he’s an ex-military man turned male escort. He recently moved to town with his best friend (they are both male escorts). The moment he bumps into her, his life shifts. The last woman he loved died in his arms on the battlefield and he thought he’d never love again…and then he met Autumn. She’s like a breath of fresh air and he wants her, has to have her, regardless of her marital status. It only helps his case that she’s decided to leave her husband. He realizes that he wants to help her as much as he can as his feelings get stronger every time they meet. Though, they have to do it secretly, because Autumn’s psycho husband has her followed. Eventually, Autumn and Gabe give into their desire and it’s magical. They are both so in love with the other, even when they don’t realize it. There’s drama and betrayal and paranoia. It all leads up to a gorgeous HEA that gives the reader everything they wanted.

What a GREAT read, I really enjoyed myself. I can’t wait to read more of Kimberly Knight’s work. Bravo and 4 stars! 

“Contrary to general belief, stars don’t twinkle. There is only one star that sparkles that scientists can agree on.  It twinkles so bright, sometimes people mistake it for a UFO. It’s not big, but it stands out. That’s Sirius, and it’s also you. You shine, Baby LeBlanc. So fucking bright sometimes you’re the only thing I see.“

This story is legendary and might just be my favorite of the HotHoles. I thought that nothing could outshine my love for Vicious, but Dean took my breath away. I’m beyond impressed by and in awe of him. I don’t know why there isn’t more noise around this story….I’m so committed to Rosie and Dean, it’s unreal. 

“Hey Sirius?” “Yes, Earth?” “Why do you shine so fucking bright?”

Rosie is a SPITFIRE and so much stronger than she appears. She is not her disease and that is made apparent in the first few chapters of this book.  I think that’s part of what makes her so alluring. She’s a warrior, an idol. Someone that all women and girls alike should look up to. And then there’s sweet, sad, broken Dean. His son is so much like him. It’s actually depressing that I read Broken Knight first before reading about how his parents met and fell in love.  Rosie and Dean strengthen each other, they make each other better. My heart is simultaneously so incredibly sad because I know what the future holds, but so very happy because I can’t let go of what I just read.  Right now, Rosie and Dean are perfect and happy and as healthy as they can be. Both of them.  After everything, they still managed to make it through to each other. Dean always knew Rosie was “it” for him, and Rosie always dreamed she would own Dean’s heart, but never thought it would really happen.  The strength she has…oh my. The strength of ALL the women who go up against the HotHoles…these ladies are goddesses. They are phoenixes, rising from the ashes of lust and hate and promised forevers. 

“Love felt like dipping each other in gasoline and burning together. Love felt like dancing with madness in the dark, watching all of its bright lights. Love felt like gasping for air when your lungs were already full.”

We need to talk about the “Jacob and Rachel” Bible reference. Guys. I was straight up WAILING when Shen alluded to this story. This is my favorite story in the Bible. Not only because my name is Rachel, but because it shows you that love conquers all, that no matter what, you fight for what you want. Eventually, if you want it badly enough, you’ll get what you deserve. Rosie and Dean DESERVE each other. They are both broken in their own ways. Rosie, because of her illness and Dean because of his past. But the thing about being broken? You can be put back together again. Sometimes it just takes the right person. 

If I could give this novel a million stars, I would, but for now, I’ll have to settle on a gloriously, well-deserved 5 star review. There was nothing I would change about this perfect story. Every minuscule detail radiates perfection. Shen is queen and I am a devout follower. This book is everything you could ever want and more. Read it.  

“I live for you. I breathe for you. I will die for you. It. Has. Always. Been. You. Ever since I saw your sorry ass for the first time on that threshold and you fucking poked me in the chest like I was a toy. We’ve been apart for ten years, Rose LeBlanc, and not even one day has passed without me thinking of you.”

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Natalie and Shane were an interesting pair and this was a very interesting book…what to say, what to say…hmm. So this book starts out really strong. You get a solid female lead, Natalie, who just lost her father and has to move back to her hometown for a short period of time and take care of his affairs. Then shit gets real. Apparently Natalie’s father was basically a murderer. He was at fault for the loss of lives of seventeen men in the community, all of which worked at his coal mine. He neglected to make the necessary safety changes which resulted in the deaths. Natalie doesn’t know ANY of this, so when she shows back up, people keep giving her weird looks and making her uncomfortable. She decides she’d tired of being lonely in her dead father’s house, so she picks up the phone and calls her old friend. WELP. Turns out her old friend is also dead…but her old friend’s brother is very much alive and fueled with anger about Natalie’s return. Yes, my friends, this is enemies to lovers at it’s finest. Shane hates Natalie and treats her terribly because her father was the reason that his father and sister died. Eventually things get hot and heavy between the two and the hatred turns to passion. These two go off like dynamite (literally, if you read the end of this book). According to this book, Shane falls in love with Natalie. It’s kind of hard to believe because he still hates her even when he has feelings for her. Then the ending happens…I mean, Natalie is literally kidnapped by Shane’s two old friends and taken down into the mine and almost raped. But Shane comes and saves the day and they ride off into the sunset together. Blah. Not a huge fan of how the story ended…definitely think it could have gone in a much different direction and been way more interesting. Anyway, I’ve gotta give this one 3 stars. Until next time!