Stealing Our Hearts

“With every tick of the clock that passed without him around, I started thinking more and more about what we were. Who we were. He’d treated me horribly in the past, but right now…he brought color into my life.”

You might not know this about me, but I’m a total grandma when it comes to my sleeping schedule.  I value sleep above all else. My normal bedtime is 9:30pm…tonight I stayed up until 2:30am so I could finish this book. That’s unheard of for me. This story was so addictive, I couldn’t put my kindle down. I had to keep reading. My eyes got tired, my neck started hurting, but I kept pushing through. Simply…wow.

This is the definition of the ultimate bully romance. If you aren’t into bully romances, you won’t like this book. I promise you. Vicious (Vic), our hero, is an entitled, rich, ruthless boy with a heartbreaking past that he doesn’t know how to process. His parents hire Emilia and her family as the “help” to cook, clean, and maintain their mansion.  Emilia (Millie) and her family live on Vic’s property in an on-suite apartment, so the kids attend the same school. We meet our two leads in the midst of Vic trying to destroy Millie’s life in high school. As the reader, you can see what’s going on. It’s obvious that Vic has never known love, his mother was taken from him when he was nine, and he was left with an absent father and an evil stepmother. Vic only knows intimidation and cruelty. So to show his affection…he is ruthless towards Emilia. Obviously…that’s not cool. Like at all. Emilia hates him. But also…can’t help her insane attraction to him. The constant internal fight of both our characters digs deep into your heart. You become attached; both to their individual outcome and how they might fall into eachother.

The story, the chemistry between Vic and Millie was completely and utterly captivating.  I couldn’t put the book down for a moment; right from the get-go I was obsessed. Our author, L.J. Shen, presents her readers with something new at every turn, there’s always something more for the characters to learn. Such an incredible introduction.  We start off at a million miles an hour, ten years prior, at the exact moment our lovers first meet. It’s Emilia’s description of the event. I loved the back and forth of Emilia’s and Vic’s internal monologues. You guys know I’m a sucker for a tortured man, and Vic is a perfect fit. Not a single other woman on the planet, except his dead mother, ever mattered more to Vic. Even in his revenge against his father, and his devotion to ruining his stepmother’s life, Emilia still mattered more to him. Having the opportunity to witness his realization of that was incredible. It takes so much strength for him to let down the walls around his heart and be vulnerable. Emilia accepts everything with an open heart. Every jab, every apology, every regarding pet name. What a story. Gah! So unique, so brilliant. Thank you, Shen. I haven’t stopped thinking about Vic and Millie, and I’m not sure I ever will.

P.S. no tears were shed during the duration of this novel!

“All beautiful things pass on.”

Placing my mouth to his neck, I whisper into his ear, “I know I’m not perfect, but maybe I’m willing to try and let myself be free. If it gets hard, you can always walk away, I don’t want to hold you down. All right?” “Oh pretty girl, that’s where you’re wrong. You hold me together.”

This story is the definition of a quick start – like literally we go from zero to sixty in a matter of pages. Everything happens so quickly because it has to. Our heroine, Claire, is losing her sight. Fast. Her life is changing rapidly. I was a fourth of the way through the book when both Claire and Jake, our leading man, realized that they loved each other. Both of our lovebirds KNEW the other was their other half. They even say so themselves. AH. That honesty is incredible at such an early place in a story. But, it felt right. It needed to be early on because, this isn’t just a romance novel. This journey is about so much more than that, it’s about learning to fall in love with yourself again. Learning to forgive yourself for the hurdles life throws at you that you have no control over.

You never really know what you take for granted in this life until it’s taken from you. This novel is the perfect depiction of exactly that. Claire loses her sight and has to learn to find beauty and love in the world through different means. I mean, it doesn’t hurt that she has Jake by her side to help her see. “I see you” is their way of saying “I love you” and god, if that isn’t the most beautiful thing. You don’t need your eyes to see the beauty in the world.  Beauty is found in the people you surround yourself with.

I whisper into the dark room, “I see you, Claire.” Knowing it has more meaning to us than a four letter word.

The men in Claire’s life are my favorite part of the creation of this novel. Jake is unbelievable. His father, too. Who are these perfect people and where did they come from? The support Jake gives Claire from the moment he meets her and then his father’s constant concern for the both of them in CRAZY. Crazy in a good way. Claire is a triplet (I guess that’s pretty important to mention). She has two twin brothers, Liam and Cole and boy! They are a HOOT! I can’t wait to read the next book and experience Cole’s story. Ah! I can’t forget about Liam and Lucy, Claire’s best friend. PLEASE GIVE ME A BOOK ABOUT THEM TOO! The support Claire receives from her loved ones far outshines anything I’ve ever read. The true dedication her brothers show for her…they tend to her needs. They can literally feel when she needs them; when she’s in pain. It’s the twin power thing and it’s strong in this novel. 

Last thing, I promise! I LOVE that our author, K. Dosal McLendon, has Claire break the fourth wall multiple times during the story. It makes her so much more relatable and lovable. She’s going through so much, but her humor keeps everything from sinking in too deep. She’s an extraordinary character, and I truly feel lucky to have experienced her story. Well done, McLendon!

What Do You See is an explosive, emotional journey that will fill your soul completely. McLendon pulls at your heartstrings and leaves it all on the page. The honesty and truthfulness of this story is reflected in every chapter; the consistency of our authors devotion to her characters is to be revered. You won’t meet another couple like Claire and Jake in anything else you read – a blatant representation of true love at its finest. This novel is an absolute must-read. Take it and run my friends, but be sure to grab some tissues while you’re at it!

“Sometimes our biggest fears can become our greatest strengths.”

“She’s a second look kind of girl. The first look at her is for simple appreciation for the stunner she is.  The second look is a realization of what an idiot you were for not looking longer the first time around.”

This story by Kate Stewart is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Simply a gem. A true, unique experience. I’m breathless.  This story is about the best kind of guy. The nice guy. The sweet, caring guy. He sometimes gets shoved to the side by his more “charismatic” friends, but he’s the real winner. He’s the guy that stands next to the sexy front runner that all the girls love. He’s the opposite of a fuckboy. Sometimes he might think he’s been “friend-zoned” (I’m not the biggest fan of that term), but when the right woman comes along, that’s a non-issue. I once knew a guy like this in high school. He was truly my best friend and someone I regret losing to this day. This novel hit me square in the chest. What a treasure.

Theo and Laney’s story is the definition of a friends-to-lovers romance. They meet at a college party.  Theo hears Laney first, dumping her current jerk of a boyfriend, and then meets her face to face while she’s vomiting her guts out at his feet. He holds her hair and sits and talks to her afterwards…without even knowing her name…you KNOW they are meant to be. Their relationship blossoms over a friendship filled with quirkiness and inside jokes.  They hit a breaking point (as most do), where they both realize their sexual attraction has reached its limit. They dive in head first. Laney embraces her feelings for the first time in her life, it’s the longest she’s ever committed to someone, and she realized it’s because she truly loves Theo.  Theo’s love grew faster, but he never confessed for fear that it would scare her away.

Theo’s insecurities are a huge factor in this novel. He’s never been the most athletic, or the most handsome. He lives with two football players and watches women circle threw the house. At the beginning of the story, we witness Theo lose his virginity while he’s blacked out, to a woman he doesn’t even know the name of (courtesy of one of his roommates, yikes).  He was badly betrayed by his ex girlfriend, who he was saving himself for.  His first real experience with intimacy is with Laney. It was beautiful to witness.  The passion and love they had for each other shines through during their love scenes. He knew it. She knew it. They just couldn’t admit it to the other person.

Obviously, there’s a tipping point where someone’s insecurity takes over and causes a rift. But DEAR GOD, the way these two make up is like the PERFECT ROMANTIC COMEDY MOVIE ENDING. I was crying. What a scene. This felt close to home for me, meeting and loving a music major.  They really are some of the best men.  So passionate and emotional. The 5 star Amazon rating was definitely accurate for this one. A story I’ll never forget.

“I waited for the wrong girl for years. I think I can handle waiting a few months for the right one.”

“The flow of a river. The beat of a heart. The draw of air into lungs. That’s what kissing Landon is like.”

I have to admit, when authors approach me to review their work, I always get a little nervous. I never want to give a bad review…I mean who does?  When K first approached me to review Feels Like Forever, I had that same gut-reaction; fear that I wouldn’t like the story, or that the writing might not be to my taste. And then when she warned me that there were some sensitive topics in the book, I held my breath.  Boy, was I blown away. K, if you’re reading this, thank you.

The thing is, it’s almost impossible to write about the repercussions of trauma unless you’ve experienced it yourself. So many before have attempted to reach down into my soul, to make me feel something for characters that have experienced abuse, but nothing has ever hit me as hard as this. There was so much truth in the way our author depicted the PTSD left behind in the wake of our heroine, Liv’s, trauma. I felt it in my core. 

I found myself going back to re-read parts of the book that I wanted ingrained in my memory. Cottrell is a natural talent – such detail and dedication went into this story. The writing is what truly blew me away.  Impeccably crafted words and meticulously placed specifics that leave you knowing this author spent time in Liv and Landon’s world. This isn’t another cookie-cutter love story.  There was no formula to this masterpiece, just pure, unaltered talent. Cottrell filled places in me I didn’t even know were empty. Liv’s niece (daughter), Rae, won me over from the moment I met her. She is the sweetest, most passionate and clever seven year old I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. She has such insight into the world; wise beyond her years, but still as innocent as ever. 

This is a genuine story about three amazing humans who learn how to live again through each other. The trauma in this book is off the charts, so please heed the warning. Liv experienced horrible things in her childhood and has real, lasting effects from it. What I couldn’t resist was our leading man, Landon, and his dedication to Liv’s recovery and Rae’s emotional needs. He is beyond amazing.  There aren’t words to describe how incredible of a man he is. During this journey, he is dealing with his own loss and still puts forth every effort to love and cherish this woman and child as his own. GOD I LOVE HIM.

I will comment on one thing: this novel is much longer than most of the other novels I’ve read in this genre. If you aren’t someone who wants to dedicate more than a few hours to a story, this probably isn’t the book for you. It’s a real journey. I mean that in every sense. But goodness is it worth it. I can’t say it enough. This deserves a 5 star review and then some. Take a chance on this author, friends. You won’t regret it.

“Sometimes the greatest things come from the darkest places.”

“The best I can say is that she reminds me of the first day of spring. Not the arbitrary date in March, but that first real day when the sun is out and the air is fresh and you close your eyes and you can almost feel yourself being reborn again.”

My Life in Shambles by Karina Halle left me well….in shambles. Literally. By now, I’m sure you’ve read enough of my posts to realize that I’m a total crier. I love stories that make me FEEL, and this one did just that. 

Our two leads, Valerie and Padraig, meet in Ireland (Padraig’s homeland) at a bar. Valerie has just lost her job, her home, and her fiancé, so her sisters invite her on a trip to Ireland to get away and find herself. Well she does. In more ways than one. It’s love at first sight, not that either of them admit to that, but it’s apparent. Throughout the novel, Padraig describes Val in beautiful metaphors (like the one above), and it’s magical to watch them slowly realize their feelings. A one night stand that turns into a forever love, takes Val and Padraig to his hometown of, you guessed it, Shambles. BRILLIANT, Halle.  There we meet Pad’s dying father, his nan, and a few other oddballs. You quickly fall in love with the quaint, simple life they all lead while waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

“Mo chuisle mo chroi. It’s Gaelic. It means, my pulse of my heart.” He reaches over and traces his fingers over my heart, his eyes burning with emotions I’m too afraid to read into because I know what I want to see and then I’ll see it everywhere.

Halle hints at disaster from the beginning of the novel, but you don’t quite get the picture until it’s sprung on you, leaving you empty and devastated.  Well, that’s how I felt. There are some very deep topics breached in this novel.  It’s definitely not something you want to read when you’re looking for a light afternoon sprawl. I was warned by the commenters and reviewers before me, and I’ll warn you now, bring tissues. I REPEAT, BRING TISSUES. This is not a drill. 

If you’re looking for a good cry, or you just need to feel something, put down the remote and pick this book up. If you’re anything like me, it’ll take you a couple of hours to get through, but you won’t be able to put it down. This awe-inspiring story is worth every tear. 

“Tell me you love me and I’ll tell you I love you more.”

“I felt her presence swell into my chest, filling me up in some way that I never would have realized before.  Because I didn’t know I was empty. Not until she poured into my life.”

AHHH. Well, I definitely found a new favorite book with this incredible story by Kandi Steiner. I had no clue what I was in for before I started this, I didn’t even read the synopsis, I just dove right now. WOW I feel lucky to have given this book a chance. 

“No, you see me with your soul.” She swallowed, eyes flicking up to mine before they fell back to my mouth. “And I feel you with mine.”

If you are easily triggered by cheating or situations involving emotional/physical infidelity – don’t read this. It’s pretty much a story about two people who fall in love while the girl is planning her wedding to another man.  Granted, that other man is a piece of shit, but there’s still a moral line there for some. I chose to view this as destiny. Noah and Ruby Grace were meant to be. There love was inevitable. 

Noah Becker is like delicious, panty-melting wet dream come true. Oh my god. New book boyfriend! I was blown away by Steiner’s perfectly crafted male lead. A bad boy turned good by the woman of his dreams. What more could a reader want? He’s smart, driven, and insanely family oriented. His father passed away in a mysterious fire (hopefully we get to learn more about that in Steiner’s coming books), so he is dedicated to taking care of his mother and watching over his brothers. A beautiful depiction of what I’ve always dreamed family to be. Unconditional love at it’s finest. Noah falls for Ruby Grace, who is ten years younger than him, when she comes to his workplace to order a barrel of whiskey for her fiancé. It’s 100% lust at first sight for Noah, but Ruby Grace experiences her fall slowly, and it’s remarkable to witness.

“If he was a dream, I would sleep, just so I could keep him a little longer.  I’d sleep, and maybe – just maybe – I’d wake on a day where I got to keep him forever.”

Ruby Grace, our stunning heroine, is described by our author as the perfect, classy southern belle, but we find out pretty early on that she isn’t all she appears to be. Noah sees through her facade immediately and craves to learn more about her; asking her questions about her choices and her life that no one has ever asked her before. Questions like: Are you happy? It was shocking to read Ruby’s thought process while Noah continuously challenged her. This continues on throughout the novel. No one gave Ruby a chance to admit what she really wanted out of life until she met Noah. He saw her for who she truly was. 

This book SLAYED me. I cried and I laughed out loud so many times I lost count. I fell in love with Noah countless times and cheered Ruby Grace on over and over again. This is another one for the bookshelf, that’s for sure. What a treasure. 5 stars!!!

“Anyone can live an ordinary life, child.” she’d said to me one lazy afternoon. “But the best adventures are reserved for the ones brave enough to be extraordinary.”

This one really threw me for a loop. Buckle up, my friends, this one was an emotional rollercoaster (in a good way, I promise).

Take Me by Lindsey Powell is an incredibly complex story about love, life, and the choices you make along the way.  And how those choices effect everything. 

Our heroine, Callie, makes a lot of really unexpected decisions during the entirety of this novel. She’s utterly human, flawed and all.  But that’s what keeps this story so interesting. She is incredibly selfless and giving. It’s remarkable.  It’s heartbreaking to watch her take responsibility for everyone around her.  She gives and gives until she has nothing left. She’s an empty shell of a person and STILL continues to put the people around her before herself. Her heart is so big and beautiful. Her choices frustrated me beyond belief, I will admit, but I always saw where she was coming from.  I found myself yelling at her (out loud) while I was reading! LIKE COME ON GIRL. 

Then we meet our leading man. OH MY LORD. Caine was unbelievable. Geez. His backstory is intense. He loved Callie from the second he met her…even if he didn’t know it himself (am I sensing a theme in all the books I read?). I can’t resist a male lead that knows what he wants.  Especially if he is fighting his feelings. It was marvelous to watch both Callie and Caine fight their inescapable love of one another and ultimately give in to fate. This was a true emotional journey for me. 

Please keep in mind that there are some VERY sensitive topics in this novel. Specifically suicide. If you are triggered by this, do not read this book. 

Powell built a marvelous story with some really incredible characters. A round of applause is overdue! A truly great read.

“Do you love him, Cal?” I look at him in shock, but I don’t even need to think about my answer, I already know it. “Yes.” “Then don’t give up. Life is too short to live with regrets.”

“From the moment I saw her, something called to me. I believe now that it was her soul calling mine. She’s my soulmate.  I love her because there’s no one else on this earth my soul longs to be with.”

I finished this book at work, in my cubicle, on Friday.  I couldn’t find the right words to emphasize how I felt in that moment.  A lady I work with, who also read this book, asked me what my favorite part was…I almost couldn’t answer her. There wasn’t any singular moment of this story that stuck out to me; shined above the rest. That’s both good and bad, I think. Good, because the story flowed together smoothly, no part feeling out of place or unnatural. But bad because, there wasn’t really anything special that happened. It effected me the way most do when I finish them.  I feel a rush of adrenaline at the knowledge of completion, I might cry, I might scream or smile, but I usually move on within an hour or so to the next book in my queue.  Although there wasn’t anything particularly exquisite about this book, I would still recommend to all my friends.  

A smart blend of Romeo and Juliet meets Forever My Girl, this star-crossed lover’s romance starts out STRONG. I’m a sucker for ill-fated romance. A fusion of adolescent innocence and southern charm. Our leading lady, Lila, is strong, clever, and resilient. It’s apparent in the way she lives her life…ten years apart from the man she loves because of one childhood mistake. A mistake that turns out to be the best decision she ever made.  Witnessing her bloom is remarkable.  When we are first introduced to Lila in 2009, we see a grieving child, with nowhere else to go. She is protective of herself and her heart, always on guard. Thayer, our main man, was swept away by Lila the moment her met her, and that devotion never left him.  He is larger than life.  His actions, the way he proves himself, his words…all over the top and insanely romantic.  He’s impossible not to love from the second you meet him.

“Forever is a promise. Love is a promise. Someday, too, is a promise.”

A great read with just enough drama to fill your afternoon with spice. I love a soft, easy novel like this. It doesn’t leave me wrecked or wanting. I finish with a smile and a warm heart. Bravo, Renshaw.

“It will never be too late for us.”

Where do I begin? I feel exhausted. I finished both novels in one day. There are no words to describe how incredible this journey was for me. Thank you, Jay McLean, for writing something so honest and real. 

I’m going to do a double review. Normally, I would have written a review after I finished Heartache and Hope, but I was physically incapable at the time. I was having an anxiety attack at my desk at work and a coworker had to take me outside and talk me through it.   Then I came home, laid in bed, and read the entirety of First and Forever. I didn’t even eat dinner (that’s pretty rare for me lol).  I guess what I really need to say is summed up perfectly in a quote from these books:

“When the world is at its darkest, that’s when the magic appears.”

I had to take a break before I could come back and finish my review because I was so emotionally exhausted. Don’t get me wrong, there wasn’t a moment of either one of these novels that left me wanting. I was completely engrossed and committed every second of Ava and Connor’s journey. And WOW what a journey it was. 

Heartache and Hope starts out STRONG. I mean, what an intro. In roughly two pages, you’re caught up in the whirlwind of Ava’s life. Everything she’s been through. Where she is now. You understand it all. We meet Ava in her darkest hours, she lives in this space for most of book one, but it doesn’t distract from the sanctity of the connection she shares with Connor from the moment their eyes meet. Reading about their first meeting felt like watching destiny in slow motion. I was hooked immediately. The build up of Connor and Ava’s romance is sensational. As the reader, you’re all in, you’re addicted to their love. It’s the romance all of us dreamed about in high school.

Connor: I can’t wait

Ava: For what?

Connor: Everything.

When the crash happens, as it always does in any good romance, my heart shattered. No, I’m not joking. I was actually sobbing in my cubicle at work (really embarrassing btw). I was so devoted to this relationship that I lost myself in their journey. From the outside, you see each of the breaking points. You watch as Connor breaks Ava’s heart and in turn, Ava breaks his. I wrote this blurb of word vomit during my hysterical episode at work:

I feel sick. Completely, utterly devastated. I’m sitting at my desk at work. I can’t breathe. It’s like my insides are burning. I know how Ava feels. I know what that desperate fear is behind her eyes. Everything MEANS something even if it means nothing. NOT OKAY. THIS IS NOT OKAY. YOU SHOULDN’T MAKE PROMISES YOU CAN’T KEEP.

I cut some things out of it, so I wouldn’t spoil the read, but you get the gist of how I felt. And that’s how Heartache and Hope ends. Yep. McLean leaves your heart ripped open, bleeding all over the floor. But then, she sews you back up again with First and Forever. 

“My heart beats for her.”

Connor and Ava’s story continues; difficult at first, but the healing happens. Obviously, no one is the same. Love grows and bends as people change, but true love never dies. I think you can kind of get the idea of where this is going. I can’t give away any details but, yes, it does end in a HEA (happily ever after). I told you guys those are what I read! 🙂 There’s nothing better.

First and Forever not only healed me, but brought back some of my hope. Hope is important. Connor proves to Ava that he never stopped hoping for her, his end game. Like he said above, his heart beats for her. He has magic in him; in his heart. Ava is such a selfless, courageous woman with nothing but the best intentions. It filled me to watch her finally get what she deserved in book two.  I cried more happy tears than I have in a long time. These two novels were worth every ache and discomfort. It can be hard to read about situations that are close to your heart, but you only grow when you allow yourself to be uncomfortable. I have taken so much away from Connor and Ava’s journey.  McLean lays it all out there, and it’s up to you to take it and run. 

I cannot recommend these two books enough. Five stars doesn’t do this author justice.  I know I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you take anything away from this review, read these books. Just do it. I promise it’s worth it. And as always:

“You’re my reason, Ava.”

“Have you ever been involved in a situation where you felt like the other person needed you so they could live?” I ask. “But you couldn’t stay there because they were taking the oxygen you needed to breathe?”

Friends, if I’m going to be honest here: this one had a rough start for me. I was about three chapters in and considered giving up and moving to another story, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had over 500 reviews with a 5 star rating on Amazon for a reason. And boy am I glad I listened to my gut. This was an explosion of emotion. Truthfully, I don’t think the story needed to end in a “happily ever after”. It was powerful enough to stand on its own, but I’m thankful nonetheless. 

Alright – gonna dive right in here and say that Charlie was not my favorite. She was overzealous and a little annoying at times, specifically at the very beginning of our story.  The author, Tijan, doesn’t let us in on Charlie’s baggage until a little later in her journey, so it was difficult to relate to her and empathize with her situation. All of that being said, once we were given more detail about what she had been through, and she started to loosen up, it’s like the current took her and she shined. This may have been the biggest 180 character shift I’ve ever experienced. I grew to love her more and more with each chapter. 

Charlie, our heroine, has hit rock bottom when she accepts a job as a camp worker on Echo Island. We learn that she worked there with a group of friends when she was in high school, and one of them is in charge of the camp now. She takes the job and off she goes! Oh, she’s also a basketball fanatic and obsessed with Seattle Thunder’s star player, Reese Forster. Enter: leading man. Reese and his team end up training at the Echo Island Camp while Charlie is working there and they form a unique friendship that (obviously) becomes more.

This story brings up an interesting point while discussing guilt. When is it okay to leave a relationship that has become toxic to you for reasons that others don’t understand? Charlie had to live a secret life for five years, cutting out everyone important to her, to satiate her fiancé. She suffers from caregiver’s guilt throughout most of her journey, but is only officially diagnosed towards the end of our story. It’s an interesting take-away. It is still simmering in my brain. Hm.

Reese has baggage of his own in the form of his brother, Roman, and his parents. He connects with Charlie on a level she’s never experience, and it creates an inseparable bond. This was a phenomenally tragic and beautiful story. I couldn’t put my Kindle down. Like I’m not joking I was hiding it under my desk at work, reading. The 5 star reviews are well deserved.

“It wasn’t right, or it shouldn’t have been, that just a memory could strip someone of everything.”