Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Book review: Listen Pitch by Lani Lynn Vale

Rhys Rivera has been through a lot. His father was killed. His sister was attacked. Oh, and his "uncle" wants to kill him. Just another day in the life of the son of a crime boss. Rhys gets tired of it and runs away. By the time his "uncle" finds him, Rhys is a sought after baseball star. There's no way his "uncle" will continue to attempt to kill him.
Before Rhys knows it, eight years have past. He is the star short stop for the Longview Lumberjacks, one of the highest paid players on the team. He doesn't live in an elaborate or elite part of town. Instead, he donates large portions --all but a few million dollars of his salary to charities. He lives in a middle class neighborhood in a duplex. Everything appears to be fine until his gets into a motorcycle accident that lands him in ICU for months--four months to be exact. Each day during those four months, his neighbor sat and spoke to him while he was in a medically induced coma.
Henley isn't a fan of her neighbor. She recently moved in with her sister to help take care of her niece. The idiot next door is having a party and blaring music. She is furious and scared that the music will wake up her sick niece who hasn't been sleeping. In the process, some jerk knocks off her implant and steps on it. That's how she meets the neighbor. He tries to help her after his bodyguard broke her implant. An implant that helps her hear just like his sister has. Rhys knows how expensive those are.
ListenPitch_teaser2
Henley hates her job at the local post office, her boss is handsy, she works long hours, and everything about it sucks. But she has no idea what she would like to do. She wanted to be a nurse or a doctor--she loves helping people. One small problem, she passes out at the sight of blood. But she still volunteers three times a week at the hospital her sister works at. She rocks babies in NICU and talks to coma patients in ICU. She was shocked when her neighbor is the man in ICU. No wonder she hasn't seen him for the last few days. Sadly, she's been watching for him. She tells herself it's to tell him thank you for a new implant.
Rhys has a deal for Henley. He doesn't want to be cooped up in a hospital. He wants to recover at home. He can't do that alone. He wants Henley to help him heal. He pays her to take care of him and help him. She is able to quit her job. No more creeper boss. Until Henley starts to fall for Rhys. She knows she shouldn't, but he's sweet and kind.
Rhys knows he shouldn't pull Henley into his drama filled life. He can't help his attraction to her. He never wants her to leave--not even to go next door at the end of the night. He wants her in his bed. He wants to wake up to her. He worries that he won't be enough--he doesn't do love. His father did that and his mother made him a love sick fool. He will not be repeating those mistakes. Can he protect Henley from his "uncle?"

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Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Ryan by Giulia Logomarsino

The final installment in this series completely wrecked me. It took me awhile to come to grips with the ending. I'm not going to give any spoilers, but it doesn't have a happily ever after ending that most romance novels have.
Ryan has been craving what his circle of friends have--a committed relationship. Ryan has been chasing Cassandra for almost two years. He knows that she has feelings for him, but she never acts on them or even accepts his dates except group dates with his friends. He finally finds out why she refused to date him--she has a son.
Cassandra must protect her son even from his own father, Michael-the man who has has nothing to do with him since birth. Now, he not only wants to see Max but also wants joint custody! After she has struggled for the past ten years to raise him. Ryan joked that they should get married so it will show the courts a more stable environment. Why not Ryan is incredibly sexy and gorgeous. It has taken every once of will power to turn down his requests for dates. He has a solution for all her custody troubles.
The first few days start out incredibly rough, Ryan and Max begin to bond over reading Harry Potter. Ryan takes Max to school every day, does things with her boy. This arrangement was only supposed to be until the custody battle was over, but Cassie is falling for Ryan.
Tragedy befalls the family....how can they survive?

Sean by Giulia Logomarsino

Sean has been with Vira for over a year and a half, yet he cannot get her to commit to him. What guy wouldn't want Vira--she's incredible in bed and a little spitfire. Sean can barely get her to talk to him. The only think he knows about her job is that she hates it. He can't get her to open up to him. He finally walks away from her. Only she keeps coming back--he keeps letting her in.
Sean meets the quiet librarian looking high school English teacher during an investigation at the school. He continues to run into her. She completely intrigues him. Lillian drives him insane with constantly correcting his grammar, and her prim, proper exterior. He knows that there's a wildcat hidden underneath all those proper clothes. Does she even own any jeans? Lillian is the exact opposite of Vira in every way.
Lillian hates Sean from the moment she lays eyes on him. He is arrogant, cocky, and a womanizer. Why can't she say no to him? Why is she incredibly attracted to him? She has to decide if he's worth it since Vira keeps coming back. Vira gives him something that Lillian refuses to.
Vira usually plays the field--different guy each night. For the past year and half, Sean is the only one warming her up. Sean wants something that she can't give him. Yet, this new gal can. To top it all off, their circle of friends have completely embraced this new girl. If she wants to keep Sean she will have to give him what he wants--needs. Will it cost her?

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Book review: Sebastian by Giulia Logomariso

Sebastian Reed is the owner of Reed Securities. His current assignment takes back to the field and away from his desk. Sebastian has been working 12-16 hours a day at his office to run his security business, but he rarely leaves his desk. He thinks that due to having limited eye sight in his left eye, he shouldn't be in the field. Sebastian has no choice. All of his employees are already on assignment. Sebastian needs to take the meeting at a Pittsburgh newspaper for protection detail of a reporter--Maggie.
Maggie is a headstrong, stubborn strawberry redhead that has a knack for finding trouble. She is an incredible reporter. Her current story is investigating the corrupt mayor. Before she could find enough evidence, she was shot at and her home was ransacked. Her editor hires Reed Securities to keep her safe...or so she thinks. The more Maggie digs into the mayor the more she finds out about those within the mayor's circle and those the mayor is blackmailing. The more danger she gets in. She is shot at multiple times. Sebastian saves her life and helps her find the money trail. But while in the safe house, sparks fly between the two.
How can Sebastian keep her safe when all he wants to do is tear her clothes off? How can she be with Sebastian when his business is in a small town an hour away from Pittsburgh?

Every Tear You Cry J.E. Parker

I cried, laughed, was angered, and disgusted--disgusted by the actions of the characters. Ok, two characters in particular. I do think that I would have had a better understanding of the characters had I read the previous four books--which are now in my Amazon list. 

Some of the content was a bit difficult to read--the details from Clara's abusive marriage and the things her husband did to her. But these horrific events shaped Clara into the strong and independent woman that she is. I did have to walk away from the book a few times when some of those scenes were particularly graphic or when children are involved. It was gratifying to see how much Clara changed and became a stronger woman. In the end, she stood up for herself and the children. Something that not every abuse victim is able to do. 


Clara is a woman trapped. For years she was trapped in an abusive marriage to Colin with her two little boys. She did everything to protect her angelic boys from their father. She made sure that she took all of Colin's anger. Finally, she was able to leave and live into a battered women's shelter. The shelter saved her life. Saved her boys.
Three years later, she has finally gotten herself together. She has a shabby apartment (an apartment that she is able to pay for herself), a job at the shelter, and friends. Too bad her creepy landlord keeps asking for his rent in forms other than money and most of her appliances are broken. Oh, and she barely has any food for their little family. Money is extremely tight lately since her hours were cut at the shelter.  It takes everything to accept help from her best friend Hope and her fiance, Evan. Evan even threatens to call his twin brother if Clara doesn't accept his help. Evan's brother is everything Clara can't have. He's a successful lawyer with an adorable little girl, Bella. Brantley is too gorgeous for her. Too nice....too everything. He makes her stupid whenever he's around. Lucky for her that Brantley lives in Memphis. She lives in Georgia.
Brantley decided that he wanted to move closer to family especially his twin brother Evan. Evan's fiancee just gave birth to his nephew a few months ago. Brantley wants his daughter Bella to know her cousin and be around his brother's new family. What better way than to buy the house across the street from Evan and Hope. Brantley isn't sure what he's more excited about--seeing his family or being closer to Clara and her boys. He met Clara through Evan and their circle of friends. Every time Clara is more gorgeous. Even better, she treats his daughter like her own. Every interaction he has with her makes his heart melt. He will do what ever it takes to make her his.
Clara doesn't know what to think about Brantley opening a law firm and hiring her to manage it. Or the fact that she's Bella's part time nanny. Now, she can afford to move out of that dump. Away from Icky Dickie. But the couple have a few issues to resolve beginning with Brantley's crazy gold digging ex-wife. A woman who calls Bella names and neglects the sweet little girl. A little girl who only wants her mother to pay attention to her--act like a mother. Something that Clara has been doing from the moment she met Bella. Clara's boys already treat Bella like a little sister. But after Brantley refuses to give his ex more money things go down hill for the couple. His ex comes to town with the sole purpose of hurting Clara and getting more money.
Will his ex tear them apart? Or will Clara's nightmares and insecurities break their relationship? Can Brantley heal the broken pieces of Clara? Can he give her boys the security they need?

book Review: Vows on the Ice by S.R. Grey

I loved Brent and Audrey in Book 1. I was looking forward to reading this latest installment from the series. Of course with the reappearance of Area 51 at the most inopportune moments--meeting Brent's super conservative aunt with young twins! Audrey's dress is lost in the mail...oh and Brent hurts himself simply skating at his childhood home. How can we forget the bachelorette party that Lainey planned which didn't end until after 6 am the next day.
I am grateful that I read the previous books. If not, I would have struggled a bit with each couple's dynamics and their back stories. This book focused mainly on Brent and Audrey with Lainey and Nolan as well as Eliza and Benny.
My only disappointment comes from the actual wedding ceremony was described in less than two paragraphs. I was hoping for more details since the build up of the entire book was to the wedding ceremony.
I still laugh my butt off at all the antics the three girls got themselves into. How the guys handle not only the girls but the various situations presented. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Drew Giulia Lagomarsino

Drew has been mourning his wife's death for over six years. She was his entire life. They had dreams and were beginning to attain them. One of many was start a family. But during her routine check-up, the doctor found a lump. Sadly, the breast cancer was fast spreading and the love of his life was gone from his life less than six months later. Now, Drew works for his buddies at their construction company. He bought a plot of land, he is still haunted by her ghost. He relishes every night with her.The warm breeze is Iris holding him at sunset. He just wants to hold her a bit longer every night. My new neighbor interrupted by night with Iris. Everything about my neighbor pisses me off...I have no idea why or how she gets under my skin so much. 

Sarah's life was perfect. She loves her job and brownstone in Brooklyn. The one thing that she has wanted is finally coming true...she's pregnant. Her husband, Todd takes her out to celebrate, but their night of celebration turns to tragedy and changes everything about her life. 

Sarah lives in the middle of nowhere, small po-dunk town--next to the grouchiest and most attractive man she has laid eyes on. He is always mad at her. Yet, he's always there to help her with her car, paint the interior of her house, and even build an addition to her house. No matter how close she becomes to Drew, she can't tell him about her past. If she does, WitSec will relocate them and she will never see Drew or his friends again. Friends that taking her in and becoming her friends too. She is comfortable with them. But Sarah hasn't properly mourned Todd's death. She needs to deal with that and make plans on how to properly take care of her babies. She can't deny there is an overwhelming attraction to Drew. The feelings she has for Drew are almost deeper than how she has ever felt with Todd. But Sarah is confused about that too. She knows that she needs to focus on her mental and emotional well-being before entering a relationship with Drew. 
Will Drew be willing to wait for her? How long is he willing to wait?