Stealing Our Hearts

This book didn’t end in a HEA. It ended with something much much worse. The bane of my existence…a cliffhanger. But not the usual cliffhanger, where the two lovers finally reconnect and everything is going great and then BAM something happens and the book ends. Nooo, this ended with the climax. The worst part of the book. The big fallout. And then it’s just over. Here’s the thing, I can usually handle a solid cliffhanger if the book stands on its own, but unfortunately, this one did not. Our leading lady was childish and immature throughout the entire novel. The second something went wrong, she went running into the arms of another. There is no real connection between our two lovers; simply that they are professor and student. It’s taboo, but that doesn’t make it good. Our lovers struggle with each other and then without each other through the entire novel and then…cliffhanger. Like, who would even want to read the next book when you end with the worst possible event EVER? There’s no hope left. I don’t have many good things to say about this. Mostly, I think I’m just disappointed…I feel cheated. There is no arc for either character. They are both just as complicated and, quite frankly, annoying, as they were at the beginning of the book. This one is a 3 star review for me. I finished the book but only because I’d already put so much time and effort into it before I realized that the story wasn’t going anywhere. Night ya’ll.

Shifting closer to him, I mumbled, “Why couldn’t you see me before?” He frowned slightly. “All these years we’ve known each other but you never saw me.” “That’s because I had my eyes fixed in the wrong direction.” Gently, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “But I won’t ever take my eyes away from you. I’ve found my north star.”

There’s a lot going on in this book, but the chaos is what makes it so beautiful. Each of our characters has a huge fatal flaw. Ezra is a drug trafficker and money launderer and Christina is bulimic. It’s interesting because I thought Christina’s bulimia was going to be the main focal point of this story, but it ended up being Ezra’s mix up with the cartel. 

Insecurity and body image played a huge role in creating who Christina is as a human. She’s flawed yet beautiful and brilliant. She is scorned and damaged by society’s idea of a “perfect” body. She fears being overweight, yet she can’t help that she finds so much comfort in food. Ezra is the first person to see through her facade. He sees that she is struggling and is throwing up after every meal. He asks her to stop and she is able to comply for a little while. The thing about bulimia though…it’s not something you can easily quit. It usually requires therapy and help and stability. You have to change the way you see yourself, food, and the world. I can’t comment on how difficult that is because I’ve never experienced an eating disorder but here’s a quote from Christina on why she does it:

“Bulimia was the weapon I used for defense, to enhance my chances of survival in a world hell-bent on the thinness of women.”

Although drug trafficking and money laundering also play a huge role in this story, I’d rather focus this last bit on the idea: looking vs. seeing. The first time Ezra and Christina meet, she sees him. The real him. And she is immediately drawn to him, she wants him, she knows that she could love him. But on the flip side, Ezra only looks at Christina for a moment before his focus is solely back on the woman he loved at the time, Melissa. Ezra didn’t really see Christina until he got to know her. He immediately fell for her. When he took the time to see her for who she really was, it was like flipping a switch. It was gorgeous to watch these two come together, to witness Christina comfortable in her own skin around Ezra. To let him really see her. This was a great 5 star read. Wonderful job, Lym!!

“If you could see yourself through my eyes then you’d understand just how beautiful you are.”

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF BOOK ONE, NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR. DO NOT CONTINUE UNLESS YOU HAVE READ IT.

I was pretty sure this man might just be everything I never knew I always wanted.

Book three in the NEVER TRUST series and man if I wasn’t even more impressed than last time. These books are addictive. I love the way Darlington writes her characters, so unapologetically themselves. It’s so beautifully human. Let’s talk about Rebecca, our heroine, for a second though because she was basically the villain in Never Trust a Rockstar (book one).  In book one, she shows up with a child claiming that it belongs to Caleb and basically ruining his chances with Emma. It isn’t until the novel is almost over that we find out that the baby isn’t Caleb’s!! It’s his brother, Luke’s! Which, at the time, is the best news ever and makes for a very happily ever after for Caleb and Emma. But what we don’t consider is Rebecca’s side of the story. Rebecca used to date Caleb, back when their band first started, and she left him one night without saying goodbye. Just wrote a letter, packed up, and left. We find out later that she slept with Luke that night and then ran. Well, as it turns out, Luke was very much in love with Rebecca…and four years later, even though he’s miserable and angry, he still loves her. So when they take the paternity test and it turns out that the baby belongs to him…he doesn’t know what to feel aside from overjoyed. 

Rebecca named the child Caleb Junior because of how badly she wanted it to be Caleb’s kid. You can imagine how much that hurts Luke…but he is able to move past it in time. I think the most profound and impactful part of this book is CJ (Caleb Jr). He has autism and our author takes the time to explain and breakdown everything for her readers when it comes to this topic. We learn and grow right alongside Luke as he’s experiencing parenthood for the first time with an autistic child. CJ was my favorite part of the novel, not because of anything extreme, but simply because he was a perfect little boy. He was sweet and kind and so very easy to love. He is what brought Luke and Rebecca together in the end. He is what made it all worth it, all the pain and heartbreak. 

At this very moment, I am on amazon buying this and the other two books in this series in paperback because of how much I simply adore everything about this series. Sarah Darlington has blown me away with these stories and I’m so in love. I can’t wait to read Ollie’s story next, I know it will be unforgettable. 5 stars!! 

“I’d be lost without you.”

Dolly says love is like a butterfly, soft and gentle as a sigh, but from what I’ve seen of love, I think it’s more like a tornado, shocking and violent and so powerful it can rip your soul out of your mouth…

What do you say about a book that means so much to you, it speaks to your very soul. How do you convey your emotions when you can’t find the words to describe how perfectly haunting the story is. This story, one about true love, is, as of right now, my favorite book of 2020. I’ve never felt so connected to a book. From the very first line I was enamored with this tale of two beautiful, young, naive teenagers who fell in love one summer. These sweet humans, who never wanted their time together to end, but, as fate would have it, were torn apart by pain and suffering…only to find each other again seven years later. 

What does it mean to “wait” for someone? What does that entail? I don’t think you can ever really know unless you’ve been there. The empty, painful nights of restlessness and need. The waking hours when your mind won’t shut off and let you take a break from the constant anxiety. As humans, we aren’t a very patient breed. This novel is all about patience and understanding. The empathy you feel, as the reader, for both Taron and Noel is unimaginable. Both of them go through so much, after that one summer that changed it all. It’s funny how it can only take a moment for your life to change. It’s not really mentioned in the novel itself, but it’s clear that it’s love at first sight between Taron and Noel. Their chemistry is undeniable and they both speak about waiting their entire lives to find what they’ve found with each other. It’s the forever kind of love. 

“You kiss me, and I forget everything.”

After that summer (or more accurately, those few weeks) spent together Taron is shipped off to the Marines. Noel promises to wait for him. Well…life happens and things change. Not for the better, either. It’s heartbreaking to see what these two lovers have to endure while they’re apart. They don’t see each other for seven years. Then, when he feels that it’s finally time, Taron goes back to that little orchard that he spent a life changing summer at once upon time, and his life turns completely upside down. It’s incredible. The way these two fall back together, it’s almost like they were never apart. I think it’s because their souls never left each other. They have always belonged together and neither time nor space could change that fact.

This novel was truly special. What a masterpiece. I am beyond impressed by Tia Louise’s talent. This is my first book by this author, but I know now that I will read whatever she writes. It’s that fantastic. If you feel like crying and want to give something new a go, jump into the world of this book. You won’t regret it. 10 stars!

“The darkest hour is just before dawn.”

“Sometimes I wish I were just an ordinary Joe.” I snuggle into him and squeeze him gently. “The world would miss you.”

Oh man, I have the biggest smile on my face right now. I’m basking in the warm glow of post-novel bliss. This is the best kind of book hangover…where you can’t stop thinking about how truly remarkable a book is, but there are only happy thoughts. Only joy. That is how this novel left me, completely and utterly elated.

This story was everything. It was perfect in every way and exactly what I needed after a string of rough reads. Our leading lady, Kiki, is spunky and hilarious and an absolutely perfect match for Tatum, our rockstar hero. I don’t think these characters could have been written any better. I loooooove when rockstar romances use tour buses to bring lovers together. It’s so stinkin’ cute and gah! so sexy. As many of you know, rockstar romance is one of my favorite subtropes, and this hit the nail on the head. A perfect blend of witty banter and sexy stolen moments. Tatum is a country star on the rise. He’s up for Entertainer of the Year and really has it all. That is, until he meets Kiki. She is down on her luck, but with her brother’s help, she scores a gig as an assistant to the wardrobe designer for Tatum’s tour. The first moment they meet, sparks fly and Tatum can’t stop thinking about her. We get to watch as their relationship grows and love blossoms. It’s spectacular and such a joy. Then the big profession of love…YES PLEASE!!

You get everything in this book. Including a few of my favorite things: cats, for one. Because who doesn’t love cats. I mean, seriously. Kiki has a maine coon (heart eyes) named Oreo that she adores and who ends up on tour with her. There’s even a point in the novel when Tatum decides to donate to animal rescue charities, all because Kiki told him that she wished she could “save them all”. It is totally adorable. There’s insta-lust, forbidden love, and so much more. All I can say is that you have got to read this book. It’s so fun and lighthearted and it will leave you in the best mood ever. Seriously. 5 stars for our brilliant author, Sophie Sinclair. I can’t thank you enough for asking me to read and review this gem. Bravo!

He smiles and kisses my lips softly. “Mackenzie Forbes, I think I’m falling in love with you.” He swallows, looking incredibly vulnerable. “Want to fall with me?”

“Knowing when to rely on others is a strength, not a weakness.”

This is going to be a shorter review because I don’t have too much that I want/need to say about this one. I both loved it and hated it, and I think that’s what made it so fantastic. I loved the dynamic between our two lovers, how Selena leaned on Keanu when she needed him and how he was the only person who could get through to her when she was having panic attacks. I hated the sex trafficking bit. I think it’s because it scares me so much and it’s such an awful world that we live in, but I also can’t stop myself from reading books with that topic in them! I mean, it’s like a car crash to me. I’m addicted to these types of books even though they leave me feeling raw and broken, sometimes hopeless.

I was so glad to see Selena get the HEA that she deserved with Keanu. That really made up for the tough topics that we had to get through in the book. This book definitely needs trigger warnings, if not just for the flashbacks then for the descriptions that Selena gives us of the experiences she went through. To give some slight background: Selena was abducted when she was ten and sold into sex slavery. She remained there for three years before we was sold to a native Texan and brought back to the United States where she escaped. She underwent intense therapy (she is still seeing her therapist when our novel begins) but she has major issues with being touched. Understandable. Except…by Keanu. Selena found comfort in Keanu’s touch and after she was adopted and began her modeling career, Keanu and her modeled together exclusively. She eventually ended her relationship with Keanu because she needed to learn to grow and become her own person; she believed she was relying on him too much. Now, two years later, our story begins. They are soulmates, destined for each other. Circumstances bring them back together and voila! We’re off to the races.

I would give this novel 4 stars. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and the chemistry was off the charts, but it was missing that “it” factor. Excellent writing and eloquent dialogue. Overall, I really enjoyed myself and would highly recommend this book.

“Her inner strength shines the brightest when she’s with you.”

“Home is not a place where you live. It’s a feeling.” His hand nudges my own. An invitation. I twine my fingers with his and he squeezes them lightly. “Whether it’s where you are, like the football field, or who you’re with.” Brody turns his head, looking at me when he says that. It’s comforting because it unites us somehow, like it’s slowly becoming us against the world. “You can be anywhere, Jordan. Home will follow you if you follow your heart.”

This was a tough story to read. Our lovers would come together and live happily for a short period of time before a bomb dropped. It kept happening, one after the next after the next. First it was Brody’s dyslexia, then it was the grades, then it was the pills, and so on. It just got worse and worse with nothing positive to tether us to the ground. It was heartbreaking and tragic. Regardless of how painful it was, there was still so much good. Our lovers got married and had babies and ended up living happily ever after, as they should. It just took a while to get there.

Let’s talk for a second about Brody’s addiction. That’s a tough topic and our author did a beautiful job of writing about it. It wasn’t offensive or filled with bias. It simply WAS. “This is what happened to Brody and this is why he ended up the way he did”. Brody abused drugs while simultaneously being physically and verbally abused by his father. God, it tore my heart open to read the abusive scenes between him and his father. The hatred bled from the pages of the novel. As horrible as this sounds, it almost makes since that Brody turned to drugs. He made the conscious choice, but I don’t think it was his fault. Okay, enough about that. Let’s talk about the chemistry between our two lovebirds because HOLY GUACAMOLE it was hhhootttttt. Like burning up the pages hot, like I needed a fan and a cold drink of water hot. These two have made it to the top of my list of sexy couples because you don’t come across this kind of chemistry every day. Read this book and you’ll see what I mean. 

Overall, this book was a solid 4 star read for me. Some parts of it were just a tad slow, but all in all I really enjoyed myself. It was written very well and flowed beautifully. I loved the Australian slang that was added in for Jordan as she stuck out like a beautiful bright star in a cloudy sky. I also loved that our novel was set in Austin, TX. I live here and I grew up here and it’s always special to me when I come across stories based here. Wonderful job, Kate! Bravo!

“I love you. You’re my home, and I’m yours.”

“Open your eyes and look at the stars. They’re shining for you. And every time you look at them from now on, you’ll think of me, won’t you?”

Legend is defined as many things, but most well-known as a story from the past that has been shared through generations but has not been confirmed to be true. Many fairytales can also be seen as legends; a love so strong it could break an evil curse, or wake one from a deep sleep. Kal and Remi’s love is the stuff of legends. It’s indescribable and unexplainable to anyone who isn’t them. It’s always been there, this unrelenting love. With it’s beautifully heartbreaking timing.

Timing is everything, as they always say. So why is it that Timing is always out to get Love? Timing is special and important guy but I think sometimes he gets too big of a head about how important he really is. Love is just trying to make everyone happy, she wants peace and contentment. The thing that neither of them realizes is, it’s okay if you don’t get it right the first time around. Remi and Kal sure didn’t. It was disastrous and painful to witness, but it happened. Kal and Remi never got to say goodbye the first time. The second time, timing still wasn’t on their side. Love desperately wanted them to be together and tried so hard to make it work, but outside circumstances got the best of them. But, as we all know, third times a charm, right? Indeed it was for our lovers. A third chance and finally timing and love were on their side. It was so wonderful. It left me a blubbering mess.

Kal and Remi have undeniable chemistry throughout the entire story and oh my gosh is it hot tamales! It is delicious and sexy and oh-so-good. But above that, they are partners. They complete each other. They make sense even when they aren’t “together”, it’s like a pull between them that cannot be broken. I think that’s what makes this novel so enjoyable. You know they will end up together because there’s literally no one else that so perfectly completes the other. Two puzzle pieces fit together. Gah, this was a MAGICAL book. 5 stars!!

“I love you. Like my life depends on it. With no limits.”

“Kiss me,” I said softly. His eyes came back to mine before he tugged me to my feet. “Kiss me and don’t let go,” I breathed.

Okay I’m going to break this brilliant novel down into three categories:

1. First Love
2. Trauma
3. Grief                                                                                                                     

This gorgeous novel touches on all three of these topics in some special way or another. But I want to cover first love…well, first. Because it’s most important to me. Love is what gets me out of bed every day, it’s what drives me to work, it’s what cooks dinner and folds the laundry on Sunday nights. It’s everything. Sadly, I wouldn’t know it without having first experienced the loss of it. What is it about that first love that holds onto you and doesn’t let go? I’ll bet every one of you remembers who your first love was. Can you feel that? Yes, that’s the grief. The loss of that love. Fortunately, for some of you, maybe you never lost it. Maybe you married your first love and lived happily ever after. Wouldn’t that be something? But, for the majority of us, we had to experience that loss. That’s where this novel comes in. Jasper and Khloe were best friends growing up. Inseparable. But, as often happens, they fell in love but never told the other. When tragedy strikes Jay’s family and he must move away, Khloe not only loses her best friend but her first love. Years later Jay shows back up in their small town. Khloe is a widow and not looking to forgive Jay any time soon for leaving and never looking back when they were younger. But they were the lucky ones. Even years later, their love, a first love, was meant to be and they get their HEA.

Trauma is another important topic in this novel. Trauma and grief kind of go hand in hand here. Jasper was a marine for 4 years and came home with severe PTSD. He has a sweet support dog, Piper, who helps him through his episodes. Khloe suffers from emotional trauma after her late husband dropped dead outside of their home one morning as he was going for a run. She is trying to heal in her own way from that grief when Jasper shows up and throws a wrench in her plans. She is forced to face the feelings for Jasper that never died, and he has to face the fact that Khloe grew and changed without him. They both suffer in their own ways, but are able to help each other through it. 

This is a really important and precious read. It meant so much to me and now holds a very special place in my heart. I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read romance. It’s that good. 5 stars all around!

“Come back to me,” I said. I held my arms out for him, and he rushed toward me. “I’ll always come back to you, Khloe.”

“Maybe there was a reason I was still breathing. Maybe she was the reason; the chance for redemption. Maybe we were supposed to save each other.”

This was a gorgeous, painful tale of heartbreak and healing. Codependency is a huge overarching theme in this novel. Our heroine, Nadia, is running from her past when we first meet her. She was grossly abused by her ex-boyfriend. She goes home to London to live with her brother and his fiancé while they get ready for their wedding. That’s where she meets Thomas, her brother’s best friend and business partner. Thomas is a well-known man-whore and playboy who prefers tall, skinny, blondes. But for some reason, this short, curvy brunette catches his eye and he can’t stop himself from wanting her. Turns out, he is her own personal form of Xanax. When he’s around, she is able to feel calm and relaxed. Because of the abuse, she doesn’t like to be touched, but Thomas can touch her and it doesn’t cause her pain. It’s incredibly beautiful and poetic.

Thomas has his own demons, which is why he’s known for sleeping around so much. Nadia calms him and reigns him in. They use each other and in turn, both come out better people on the other side. What started out as a friends with benefits situation quickly turned into love. I fear a lot of people might read this book and see Nadia as weak and broken. But I think her therapist was right when he told her that she was just lost and working on finding her way back. Thomas is like a light in her darkness. Nadia is strong and brave, there are so many times when she could have given up, but she didn’t. Not even her choice at the end of this book should be seen as giving up. Yes, I think she made the wrong choice, as most of you probably will too, but she still did it out of courage. She is selfless and passionate, giving and brave. Someone that all of us should look up to. Her strength is what makes her so lovable and inspiring. 

Fair warning, friends: this ends in a f***ing cliffhanger. I haaaaate cliffhangers. I desperately need book two. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep. Luckily, our wonderful author gave us a peak into book two at the end of this one. It will help with the hangover. Give this one a read. It is undoubtedly worth your time and emotional energy. 5 stars.

“You make me whole again, Thomas.”