Stealing Our Hearts

When I think of her, I want more. When I touch her, I hate to stop. When I look at her, I see mine. I need her to feel the same.

Guys…this story had everything I could have ever wanted. It was perfect. This was a tale of true love. An enemies-to-lovers, fake relationship trope with subtle hints of jealousy, betrayal, and seduction blended in. Demi and Nico are two peas in a pod before they even realize they are in love. They used to be close friends until one day Nico just up and stopped speaking to Demi. She never knew why, just chalked it up to him being a teenage boy. But…as it turns out…it’s because he was in love with her and didn’t want to lose her. Nico was in love with Demi for years before he finally made his move. He may have gone about it the wrong way, but it still ended happily.

The moment Demi and Nico start “fake” dating, it’s like all the pieces fall into place. They fit together perfectly, from the way they move together to the way they look at each other. It’s like they’ve been dating for years, even their friends make comments about their chemistry. We find out later that Nico is motivated by his arch-enemy, Alex. At the beginning of our tale, Demi has a HUGE crush on Alex and wants to be with him. Nico shows up with the brilliant idea of fake dating to make Alex jealous because “he always wants things that he can’t have”. Demi agrees but only because it proves to be true. Soon enough, though, her feelings for Nico become real and she can’t escape the notion that something might be off…that he’s not telling her the whole truth about why he wanted to do this. It’s a massive, dramatic mess of emotions but it’s perfect.

This book deserves all the 5 star reviews. It was sweet and sexy and a whole lot of fun. I couldn’t put it down for a second. Demi and Nico’s chemistry was off the charts and his jealous and possessive nature? YES PLEASE!!! Definitely take the time to read this one – you won’t regret it!

“Maybe I can be different.” “Maybe…you can be mine.”

“For the first time in my life, I’m not afraid of more time with a woman. More time with you is all I want. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever.”

Ollie Mills for the WIN, ladies. This is the fourth book in the Never Trust series by Sarah Darlington, and I thought I lost my heart in book one, but BOY was I wrong. Caleb Mills is pretty fantastic, but Ollie takes the cake. Sweet, anxious Ollie. He appears, from an outsiders perspective, a playboy asshole who is only ever looking out for himself. But, as we learn more about him during this story, we find out that it’s his anxiety that drives him to act that way. He has horrible social anxiety and doesn’t have healthy ways of handling it. As seen in book one, when he asks Emma to have sex with him in the bathroom and then, when she denies him, becomes a total jerk to her and leaves her crying…Ollie definitely has some issues.  But we can’t focus only on Ollie, Luce definitely has her own set of flaws. 

We meet Luce in book one as well, she is Emma’s Aunt. Luce is spunky, sassy, and hardheaded. She knows what she wants and she goes after it…unless it’s a man. She has abolsutely zero confidence when it comes to men because she’s heartbroken over a man that she is in love with who doesn’t return the feelings. Rhett and Luce slept together for a short time before she found out he was sleeping with other people…she broke it off and they became friends. Now, Rhett is getting married and Luce’s unrequited love affair is driving her mad. Ollie and Luce have become friends, so one day, when Luce confides in Ollie about her heartbreak, he invites her to spend the weekend of Rhett’s wedding with him on a boat in the Bahamas. Sounds like a great idea, right? Well it would’ve been if they hadn’t been thrown overboard and almost shot and killed. Ollie and Luce get stranded on an island in the Bahamas for six days. It’s one of the best plots I’ve ever read. They have to find food, make shelter and keep each other alive. It brings them together in ways you can’t even imagine. It’s pure brilliance. After they rescue themselves, they are bound to each other and so madly in love they can’t see straight. Those six days changed everything for them. It’s magic guys, I seriously think this might be Darlington’s best work yet. 

If you haven’t read this series, I hope this review convinces you to. These characters are so relatable and quirky and fun. They are personable and gorgeously flawed and altogether wonderful humans. I’ve fallen in love each time I pick up another book in the Never Trust series. I’m a huge fan of rockstar romances, but these are my all-time favorites. Take a second to pick up book one and give it a shot. You will not regret it!

“You make the world just a little brighter somehow.”

Kissing him is like I’ve spent a day in the sunshine, and when night comes, the stars only shine for me.

Knox and Ava. Ava and Knox. Two perfectly imperfect people falling in love. Ugh this story was everything. My heart is so happy right now. This was the ultimate enemies-to-lovers romance. I’ve got to admit, EtL is sometimes really hard for me to get into. Similarly to bully romances, if the hate between the two is taken too far, there’s no redemption at the end. It becomes brutal and painful for me to read. That’s the thing though, this story was painful in all the RIGHT ways. Knox hated Ava but only because he was so in love with her and was trying to fight it. Ava hated Knox but only because he was a jerk to her and she didn’t understand why. This story revolves around a sexual assault incident. Ava was raped one night after a party with a bunch of her classmates and she wakes up alone in the woods. She spends a great deal of this story trying to identify her rapist because she was drugged and can’t remember much from that night. It’s an awful, horrible thing to go through, but Knox is there with her, helping her, even when she doesn’t know he is. He is her guardian angel. It’s so beautiful.

Ava has a secret admirer. I mean, we all know who it is, but for arguments sake, let’s say we had no clue who wrote her the love letter. Some guy, who loves poetry and dreams of only her. Have you ever had a secret admirer? Part of me thinks it would be super romantic and sweet but another part thinks it could actually get really freaky, really fast. So Ava has a secret admirer that is sweet to her and writes her poetry and dreams about her. Meanwhile, Knox shows up for her everywhere. He has a large scar on the side of his face that he’s very self conscious about, so it is known that he won’t ever kiss girls on the lips. But…of course, he kisses Ava and it’s MAGIC. Knox is in love with Ava from the moment he saw her freshman year. He even admits it. He can’t live without her. It took Ava a failed relationship and some time, but she finally came around. Can we talk about that ending though…we need to discuss it, but I don’t want to ruin it for anyone. I started sobbing when the story fast forwarded almost two years. I was sure that something happened and Knox and Ava would never be together again. Boy, was I proven wrong. Ilsa Madden-Mills has this brilliant way with words that stops your heart and steals your breath. When our lovers find their way back to each other, it’s like you finally get to come up for air again. Well done, Ilsa. You are brilliant. This novel is cuurently in my cart, to purchase, on Amazon. 5 stars!

“Knox?” He puts his hand on the doorknob. “What?” “You’re not ugly. You’re beautiful.”

“It’s going to hurt like a motherfucker,” he warned. “Of course it will.” I smiled into our kiss, my lips still glued to his. “Everything with you does.”

How do I even begin to define what this book meant to me?  This story was everything. Everything and then some. I mean, everyone knows how talented LJ is but WOW she blew me away with this one. I know I’m a little late to the party, but good god she’s a magician of storytelling. Everything she writes is magic in its own, perfect way. Even this story, which, if I’m being perfectly honest, could have gone WAY wrong had someone else tried to write it, was truly captivating. I was addicted from the first page. I craved the connection I felt to Sparrow and her unwavering commitment to herself. She is truly a gladiator, strong and fearless. And Troy…where do I even begin? He is a beast and she was his beauty. She brought him to his knees when he thought he would never love again. He had hardened his heart to women until she clawed her way into his soul. 

This is a story of redemption, of forgiveness and retribution, of love and heartbreak. Seems like a lot to handle in one novel, but LJ does so, beautifully and flawlessly. Passion is a strong theme throughout our story. Troy is passionate about making the people who killed his father pay for their sins. Sparrow is passionate about standing up for herself, she’s passionate about cooking and running. But above all, these two are passionate about each other, whether it’s shown through hate or love, the passion is still there. 

“The last thing I wanted was to hurt you, Red. The first thing I needed was to keep you.”

This story reminds me a little bit of a modern version of Beauty and the Beast. A girl, paying for the sins of her parent, pays penance to a man, clouded by anger and hate. This man, the hateful, beast-like man, soon becomes the love of her life, as she helps him see the world differently. She becomes his REASON. Troy changes through this novel. First, in his thoughts and then in his actions. It’s incredible to watch him shift because of his love for Sparrow, his lovebird. He doesn’t even realize it at first, until it’s too late and he’s under her spell. This is a staple for your bookshelf, my friends. I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without reading it. This was a 10 star read. I’m so in love with it. READ IT!!!

“Is it possible to feel your heart breaking, even when you’re falling in love?”

“Someday, when I’m living my dreams, I’m going to think of all the things that broke my heart and I’m going to be thankful for them.”

If I could describe this book in two words, I would choose: unconditional love. Not fate, or lust, or ordinary love, no. This is the love of legends. This is the type of love you only hear about in fairytales. Unconditional love: to love someone unselfishly; affection without limitations. This story is both as simple and as complex as those two words, yet is it everything you could ever want. This story is one that speaks not only to your heart, but to your soul. To your very being. There is no simplicity in the trials and tribulations our two young lovers experience, but through it all, there is no doubt in your mind of the unwavering devotion between the two.

“Right here is where I fell in love with you.” I paused and her eyes widened. “I tried to figure it out, after you left. Where was it that I lost my heart? As if the moment…the place would matter somehow, would make it easier for me to get ahold of, to understand. And I did figure it out – it was here. Right here.”

Kyland, our hero, is just that: a hero. A true, solid, courageous man. Even as a young boy, he faced so much adversity on his own, and still came out the brave man he is at the end of our novel. Tenleigh, our heroine (her name is freaking sweeeeet, right?), is smart, strong, and brilliant. She fights for what she believes is right and has the most caring soul. She and Kylan cross paths and it’s like an electric current passes between them. It’s love at first sight on both accounts. I don’t think either would ever admit to that, but what they have is so explosive and real that there’s no need for admittance. It’s plainly obvious. Now, as many other reviewers have mentioned, it is important to acknowledge the elephant in the room. They both have major abandonment issues. And I’m talking MAJOR. Which is why, when both of their hearts get broken, it’s so volatile. Their reactions are both so abrupt. “Go to hell.” “I do. Every day. For you.” It’s interesting thinking back on these two because it could have been so easy for them to fall into a codependent relationship, but instead, because they were both such strong individuals, they hurt themselves in order to better the other. Their unconditional love out-shined everything, it saw through everything, and even after four years past, it stayed through it all.

This novel is not for the faint of heart. I will admit, it destroyed me. You get about sixty percent of the way through and then it jumps to four years later. FOUR YEARS. A song that kept calling out to me as I read Kyland’s sections of the book is The Reason by Hoobastank. It’s all I could think of when trying to imagine of a way to describe Kyland and his massive character shift. He is the epitome of that song. I know it seems cliche, but god, it’s so true and real and raw. I love him so much, the man he is as a high schooler and the man he becomes through loving Tenleigh. 

MIA SHERIDAN IS QUEEN. If you haven’t gotten that yet by reading this review, then I’m spelling it out for you now. She is brilliant and a mastermind. Her talent is exceptional and she is a staple author in the romance genre. I’m sure we all know that because everyone has read Archer’s Voice and knows how insanely talented she is, but I felt it necessary to say it again. I’m devoted to her and all her work now. I will read anything and everything she ever writes. I’m so in love. Ah, I can’t stop gushing. A million stars and awards and all my love. Thank you of writing this, Mia. You are the greatest.

“Because I loved you so desperately. I still do. Because I couldn’t leave you here.” 

“I tried to pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with you, but I couldn’t, because I think my heart knew you were the one the very first time our eyes met, but my soul…” He choked over the words; they would never be enough to express what he felt for her. “…my soul has always known it was you.”

“Let’s talk about sex, baby. Let’s talk about you and me…”

This is the dirtiest book I’ve ever read. It’s pretty much dictated porn. It’s sooooo good, like holy sh*t. I had to stop reading it so I could write down how I’m feeling right now because it’s too much. I need to step away. This book has me all kinds of conflicted. On the one side, we’ve got Kyan, our solid, supportive, sexy leading man, who is perfect for Linnea in every way. She hadn’t had so much as a first kiss before she met him. She was raised on verbal abuse, so any pleasurable experience she has usually comes with a boat load of negative self-talk in the voice of her hateful grandmother. Kyan has helped her through this and she feels comfortable with him, comfortable exploring herself with him by her side. NOT FREAKING KODIAK BLACK. GO AWAY YOU ARE NOT WANTED. I can’t with this guy. He’s obsessed with Linnea and believes he holds some sort of claim over her and then what does he do?? He drugs her and sleeps with her all of which she can’t remember in the morning because she was DRUGGED. I’m infuriated right now. Bad, evil, horrendous man. But who will she end up with…? I’m only half way through the book and I’m terrified. Either Kyan needs to pull through or there better be some sort of divine redemption for this Kodiak guy because right now he is not doing so hot. Okay…back to reading. See ya on the flip side. 

One hour later…

WOW this book is FUCKED UP. BUT IT IS SO FREAKING BRILLIANT. OH MY GOD. Maaaaannnn…I can’t say what happens because it’ll ruin it but geeeez I really wish I could discuss this with someone. I don’t know what to feel right now. I’m a huge mess of emotions and I can’t think straight. Kyan is quite possibly a perfect character. Will that be enough? What is going to happen in book two…am I going to be destroyed? Because I swear! I mean, you see? I’m just a blabbering mess right now. I can’t even form coherent sentences. Okay, number one: you get some delicious threesome action in this book. It’s gold. Our author is very descriptive, so if you’re into that, then check this one out for sure. Number two: are you craving an emotional rollercoaster ride? Do you want to be constantly curious about what the heroine is thinking feeling? Then this is the book for you! Linnea is a disaster. It’s impossible to really figure out what she wants because I honestly don’t think she even knows herself. She’s so broken by her past, and scared to make the wrong decisions, that she can’t slow down to come to terms with herself. Kyan walks her through everything. Good GOD, he is perfect. Dillon is too (he’s Kyan’s brother). Also, I still hate Kodiak, but I’ve started to understand his character a little more. There are still zero redeeming qualities, don’t get me wrong, but I also feel a little sorry for him. That’s all I will say about that…but I figured you guys might be interested since I felt so strongly about him an hour ago. 

This book was a delicious, passionate, sexy read. Definitely 5 stars because the writing (specifically the imagery) was OUTSTANDING. I’m already dying for book two. That epilogue at the end…oh man. I’m terrified of what is going to happen but I’m desperate for it. Bravo!!!

“Feel that? It beats for you.”

I am wrecked. A complete mess of a human right now. This series destroyed me. Mentally, emotionally, even physically at times. I couldn’t decide if I needed to cry or scream, throw my book across the room or put it down and never pick it up again. The best thing about Fiorina is how well she does pain. She actually rips your heart out of your chest. She bleeds you dry with her words. Her characters crush your very soul. But then…hiding underneath all that heartache, there’s a flicker of hope. That flame never dies. It might grow dimmer with time, especially in book two, but it comes back strong in this third installment. So there’s a lot going on in these books but most prevalent in book three is the idea of sacrifice. Giving of oneself for another. Ollie is all about his unconditional love for Mia (which is why we love him so much), and he’s willing to sacrifice everything for her. After everything they’ve been through together, to surrender himself to the darkness again…all for Mia. I couldn’t think of a more valiant thing he could have done to prove to her that he loved her so completely. 

Well guys. We finally got our HEA. I don’t know how you guys are feeling, but I’m so emotionally drained right now that I’m not exactly sure what to do with myself. I feel vacant, like everything has been taken from me, like I put every part of myself into this trilogy and now that’s it’s over I have to find myself again. These books were everything and more. They are NOT for the faint of heart, they are not for the weak-minded or soft-spoken. These book are raw, they are hard and painful and brilliant. Read at your own risk, but know this: it’s definitely worth it in the end.

“We’re Ollie and Mia. Not some bloody love story or fairytale. Those all have endings…real love never dies.”

“When you fall in love with someone, when your heart decides what it wants – you are powerless to resist.”

Jenna Hartley for the WIN!! This is the second book, written by Hartley, that I’ve had the pleasure of reading and her work is simply phenomenal. She writes taboo romances that suck you in from the moment you open the book. Her novels are addicting and delicious. This specific novel, Irresistible, was another reverse age-gap romance, similar to Unexpected. Our leading lady in this novel, Lauren, is a professional interior designer. She is incredibly talented and does very well for herself. Unfortunately, because her past trauma, she has some major trust and commitment issues. She sleeps around with whoever she wants, whenever she wants, and as soon as her current partner catches feelings, she dumps him and moves on to the next one.  Hunter, our leading man, is similar to Lauren. He doesn’t believe in love or settling down or ever committing to one woman. Until…he runs into a fascinating, brilliant woman in Target and he isn’t able to stop thinking about her. As it turns out, that woman is Lauren and they continue to run into each other until they can’t deny their attraction anymore.

Lauren and Hunter have unmatched chemistry, it’s palpable. Even when Lauren begins working as Hunter’s interior designer for his new house, they have a difficult time maintaining professional boundaries. They can’t help themselves! It’s like their souls are simply drawn to the other. This story was fascinating because it covered everything from conquering insecurities to learning how to set healthy boundaries…it really has it all.  It also doesn’t hurt that Hunter is super sexy and commanding in the bedroom! I’ve learned that I’m a big fan of Hartley’s work and I’m very excited to see what she’s got in store for us next. Another really great read to add to your bookshelf. 5 stars!

“Jesus Christ, is it always this goddamn painful?” I say on a whisper. “What?” She straightens in her seat, her eyes alert. “What hurts?” I cover my chest. “This. What I feel. This. Fucking. Hurts.”

The first time I read this, I was out of commission for 3 whole days. Talk about a mega book hangover! I was finally able to sit down and read this book again, for the second time, and felt okay enough to review it. I can safely admit that, out of all the indie romance books I’ve read up to this point, this is my favorite one. It is so impactful, I don’t even know how to describe what it does to your soul. How it effects you when you finish reading it. Here’s the thing about this book: it’s incredibly controversial…but that’s what makes it so fantastic. You can go on Amazon or Goodreads and find an array of reviews ranging from one star to five star (the five stars obviously outweigh the one stars because DUH THIS BOOK IS PHENOMENAL, but that’s just my opinion). 

The book is chalked full of infidelity. That’s where people start to get upset. The thing is, this book isn’t about a woman who runs away to another country and cheats on her husband with some rando. This is about a solider who gets captured and tortured alongside another solider and they find comfort and healing in each other. Yes, it’s unfortunate that she was married and had a kid, but that’s life? Sometimes things don’t go according to plan. We, as readers, can’t possibly understand what it’s like to be a POW unless we’ve been in that situation before. I know a lot of people might read this and see Katy as weak or selfish, but I simply saw her as imperfectly human. She tried so hard to be the best version of herself that she possibly could, and even in her worst moments she was still trying. She couldn’t face herself or her feelings so she buried them until it became too much. Briggs was on the flip side of that. He continuously told Katy how much he loved her and how he felt about her even though she destroyed his heart over and over again. 

“We are perfect, and we are impossible.”

I know I’ve said it before but here’s another book that will completely change your life if you read it. This is a love story about change. A tale about what transpires when life happens and things don’t go the way you always planned. Sometimes marriages don’t work out, but that doesn’t mean life is over. Sometimes bad things happen to good people and they can’t ever go back to the person they used to be. Please be warned – this book has a lot of trigger warnings. Terrible things happen to both Briggs and Scottie (Katy) that will have you weeping. I sat in my bed for a good twenty minutes after I finished reading, just sobbing my eyes out. I always recommend this book to people when they say they want a good cry because this one puts you through the ringer. If I could give this book a hundred star rating, I would. It’s so emotionally taxing and draining but it is beyond worth it in the end. This book takes you full circle and it’s simply brilliant. I’ve yet to read another book that rivals this one in mastery. Kate Stewart and Heather M. Orgeron really won me over and stole my heart. I will forever be indebted to them and am now a lifelong and devoted fan. Thank you for changing my life with this novel, ladies. You guys are the greatest.

“I don’t think this heart is ever going to let me quit you.”

“Being near Jax is like reading a book from my favorite author. I don’t know what happens next, but I know I’ll like it.”

That quote perfectly describes how I feel about Ava Harrison’s work. No matter what happens in her stories, I always love it. She takes such good care of her readers and we so appreciate it. Sometimes there are those stories that destroy your heart and end, leaving you empty and hopeless.  Harrison writes stories that tear into you emotionally, but she always gives her characters the HEA they deserve. This is why I love her so much. I read Entice a few months ago and absolutely adored it, I couldn’t wait to start this story. Now I’m addicted. I can’t get enough of Harrison and the worlds she creates. 

Conceal revolves around the youngest son in the Price family, Jaxson. He’s a total playboy who doesn’t follow the rules and does whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He’s also a brilliant hacker. He meets our heroine, Willow, at a gas station on his way to an inclusive poker game. She steals some money from him in hopes that she would never see him again. But, as it turns out, she is working as a waitress at that same poker game, and thus our love story begins. We find out that Willow is running from something, or better yet, someone. I won’t disclose the info to you guys because it’s kind of the big twist in the story. It definitely took me by surprise. But anyway, she’s scared out of her mind and finds an escape in New York, where she meets Jax. Jax is immediately taken with her, he finds her interesting…a challenge. His interest in her quickly becomes more romantic as they get to know each other over the course of multiple “hang outs”. Jaxson shows Willow all around New York, taking her to his favorite eateries and showing her the sights. It’s a blast watching them fall in love. It’s like getting to peak behind the curtain for a little while. 

The past soon catches up with Willow and things turn ugly pretty quickly. With Jaxson’s help, she is able to grow stronger both mentally and physically and it’s a beautiful transformation. Willow is one of the strongest female characters I’ve read. She is brave and brilliant and I adored her. As our story comes to a close, our lovers get their well-deserved HEA and everything works out as it should. Like I said before, our hearts are made whole again with the ending of this adventure. There is nothing more I could have wanted. 5 stars for this brilliant piece! 

“I would do and be anything she needs me to be.”