I have moved!!

I will no longer be using this blog for reviews and other such tom foolery. You can follow me at my new blog over at:

www.fictionmusings.com

This will be a more up-to-date, consistent blog filled with reviews, character and author interviews, updates on my own writing, and many other things.

It will take me a little bit to get adjusted to the site and things organized, but I am really excited for this change!

This is Falling Review

This is Falling

By Ginger Scott

This is a perfect game, grand slam, All-Star Team all wrapped up in one magnificent novel.

I'm not entirely sure how it happens, but Ginger Scott manages to create a story I want to read over and over again.
This is Falling is no exception.

Rowe Stanton and Nate Preeter have made my favorite characters list and they stand out from many others.

Synopsis:

First, I had to remember how to breathe. Then, I had to learn how to survive. Two years, three months and sixteen days had passed since I was the Rowe Stanton from before, since tragedy stole my youth and my heart went along with it.

When I left for college, I put a thousand miles between my future and my past. I’d made a choice—I was going to cross back to the other side, tolive with the living. I just didn’t know how.

And then I met Nate Preeter.

An All-American baseball player, Nate wasn’t supposed to notice a ghost-of-a-girl like me. But he did. He shouldn’t want to know my name. But he did. And when he learned my secret and saw the scars it left behind, he was supposed to run. But he didn’t.

My heart was dead, and I was never supposed to belong to anyone. But Nate Preeter had me feeling, and he made me want to be his. He showed me everything I was missing.

And then he showed me how to fall.


Most females like the idea of being the reason the bad boy, play boy, the multiple-woman man changes. No, scratch that, we LOVE it! We want to be that special to someone, but just because they aren't a big a-- ...ah, Jerk, doesn't mean you'd be any less special.

Nate is far from the bad boy. He is a genuinely good guy with a soft-heart. But that doesn't mean he doesn't find himself in sticky situations. Sometimes his best intentions are directed at the wrong people.

Rowe is a girl trying to get back to living instead of being stuck in the horror of her past. Since her chance encounter with Nate, she can't help but want to move on, but the guilt still manages to hold her heart back.

I cried for Rowe, I cried for Nate.

Nate melted my heart and I'm not sure it will ever be the same again. Rowe captivated me and I admire her for everything she went through that I couldn't even begin to imagine.

Even though the story is Nate and Rowe's, Ms. Scott does a fabulous job with the other characters of Ty and Cass. We get so much of them, you can't help but want more of them. And Thank God we do! Ty and Cass' story comes later this year.

But my other favorite part? Baseball

Baseball is the sport this book revolves around and if that just doesn't tug at my heart, I don't know what does. And maybe the subtle mention of Tulo (Troy Tulowitzki, short stop for the CO Rockies) had me giving a little victory fist pump since the Rox are my team.

This is Falling releases August 29th and you can bet I will have direct links up as soon as they are available. I can't wait for the world to meet Nate and Rowe. Heaven knows they've changed mine.

For now, Add it to your To-Read list!!

Goodreads

How We Deal With Gravity

How We Deal With Gravity by Ginger Scott

Meet Avery, Mason and Max. These three on their own are incredibly dynamic, but put them together and they create a force to be reckoned with. 

Avery is a single mother struggling to provide for Max, her autistic son, in every way he needs. She has never known such love and heartache all at once. Max is her everything and she fights for him at every turn.

Mason has been gone for 5 years getting into trouble, drugs and women while being the front man for his band. When the record label drops his contract, he has nowhere else to go except for home. To Avery's home.

Avery's life is already a daily struggle with Max and attempting to complete her degree a few classes at a time, she is now faced with dealing with her first love from high school; the one that broke her heart.

Avery and Mason have changed drastically from 5 years ago and now that they are under the same roof, can their differences and current struggles bring them together? Or will it tear them apart even more?

I was sucked in right from the get-go. As a mother, the prologue really hit home, but not in the sense that my child has autism, but that kids will be kids and people don't seem to understand that or accept it.

As the story goes on, I find myself admiring Avery and everything she has gone through for her son and still having the strength to be herself.

Mason was trouble from the start, but you can't help but adore him, especially when he does accept Max for who he is and how he begins to see Avery.

Max. Oh Max. It broke my heart to go through their daily struggles, but he is so genuine and smart, I wanted to be a warrior for him right alongside Avery.

Ms Scott's writing and portrayal of Avery and Max and their lives being changed by autism was incredibly real and gives readers an insight into what some families go through every single day. 

Another fantastic novel by Ginger Scott and I can't wait to read the next :D

How We Deal With Gravity book trailer!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dL_0ELQDyYM&autoplay=1

*ARC provided by the author via NetGalley for my honest review*

 

This is Falling Cover Reveal

It's a Ginger Scott kind of day for me!

First up and incredibly exciting is the cover reveal for her next book, This is Falling.

Meet Rowe and Nate

First, I had to remember how to breathe. Then, I had to learn how to survive. Two years, three months and sixteen days had passed since I was the Rowe Stanton from before, since tragedy stole my youth and my heart went along with it.

When I left for college, I put a thousand miles between my future and my past. I’d made a choice—I was going to cross back to the other side, to live with the living. I just didn’t know how.

And then I met Nate Preeter.

An All-American baseball player, Nate wasn’t supposed to notice a ghost-of-a-girl like me. But he did. He shouldn’t want to know my name. But he did. And when he learned my secret and saw the scars it left behind, he was supposed to run. But he didn’t.

My heart was dead, and I was never supposed to belong to anyone. But Nate Preeter had me feeling, and he made me want to be his. He showed me everything I was missing.

And then he showed me how to fall.

I have had the pleasure of being able to read and review all of Ms Scott's books before they are released. Her books have a wide range of characters and personalities that I have fallen in love with and I highly, highly, highly recommend all of her books to any and everyone (just ask my friends and family). However, I think I am most excited about This is Falling because baseball is at the center of my heart. Baseball and books fight for my time and attention and in this case, they both win!

Thanks to Ginger Scott, I am starting this book today!!

*And I did say that was first so there must be a second which is my review for Ginger Scott's How We Deal With Gravity, but these both deserve their own pages :) 

http://www.caretocommentanne.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-we-deal-with-gravity.html

July 8th is getting closer!

Recently finished this latest novel by Ms. Scott and I can't wait to share it with you all (review coming soon!) and for Avery and Mason's story to be at your fingertips!

Fall with Me

Fall with Me

Julie Particka

4.5 Sweet Revenge Stars!

Jenna has the heart of gold that every girl envies, wants to say they have, but could never bring themselves to actually be that saintly. At least, that's how it is for me. If my fiance dumped me through a text to go be with my best friend AND MARRY HER, I wouldn't be trying to save my once best friend from making the mistake of her life.
But I also probably wouldn't have the dreamy hunk, the best friend's brother, Sutton, trying to convince me to be the better person. That might help turn my heart more toward good.

Jenna thought she had her life planned out with Adam, but then he smashes all of those fantasies with one simple text; he loves her, but not enough. Then Lacey follows that up with an apology. Yes, like this whole incident can be cured with an apologize text and all is forgiven. Nope. Not happening.
Jenna has to return home from college to work for her father and along side Sutton. Little does she know, what she thought was the end of the world is actually the beginning of a life-altering revenge scheme.
Sutton always loved Jenna, but the mistakes from his past have her not reciprocating the way he wants her to. Sutton being a past playboy with everyone except for Jenna when they were in high school. She doesn't believe that he finds her attractive and he must find a way to prove that otherwise.
Lacey is making a huge mistake in agreeing to marry Adam and Sutton makes it his mission to break up their engagement in order to save his sister, but his plan involves putting Jenna back in the realm of Adam and his conniving ways.
Can Sutton go through with their plan of revenge on Adam and salvation of Lacey? Does Jenna have enough in her heart to be close to Adam again for the sake of Lacey? Will Sutton and Jenna survive or will Sutton pick his sister over the love of his life?

I truly enjoyed the sass and spunk of Jenna as well as her good-nature and desire for Sutton. You don't usually see the playboy no longer the playboy before the girl comes back into the picture, but it was refreshing to see that Sutton had made the change on his own and just needed to prove it.
Well written with twists I never saw coming. This book deserves to be read again!

Go Get It!

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

*I received an ARC from the publisher for my review and this is my honest-to-goodness, straight from the heart review!*

How We Lived

How We Lived

Erin Butler

4 death-defying stars!

I am a sucker for a bad boy with secrets. And Chase is no exception. His and Kelsey's story of loss, love and survival is outstanding.
Chase was always the boy next door to Kelsey, the boy she was close to and loved from afar, but one night changed that all; the night Chase killed her brother.
Kelsey was close with her brother and his absence haunts her. Her parents have fallen into a dark place, hating each other and pretending as if their only child died. Chase keeps his distance from the family, doing his part for society and the death of his best friend, Kyle.
But Kyle's funeral comes and he can't seem to stay away. Kyle's death may be on his hands, but Chase's love for his best friend and his sister, Kelsey, pull him to the last place he should be. Chase finds Kelsey sitting under a tree watching the funeral from a distance; her parents wouldn't let her go to the funeral in jeans in a t-shirt.
Kelsey hadn't spoken with Chase in months, blaming him for Kyle's death, but she still loves him. Kelsey's problems at home, her need to reconnect with Kyle on some level, yet try to escape his memory sends her to continually seek out Chase.
Life keeps pushing them together and pulling them apart at a heartbreaking pace that drags you in and drowns you in their emotions and entanglements.
Chase's secrets threaten to tear them apart, but can Kelsey forgive him for keeping them from her once they come barreling at her head-on? Can Chase and Kelsey survive the ultimate test of love; trust?

The story of Chase, Kelsey and Kyle is wonderfully written. I found myself falling in love with all the characters and the struggles they went through after Kyle's death and the secrets that came to the surface (and boy did I not see ANY of that coming). It is a book I have added to my "Must Read Again!" shelf.

Get It Here!!

Amazon / B&N /Kobo

*I received an ARC from the publisher for my review and this is my honest-to-goodness, straight from the heart review!!!*

Blindness

Blindness

By Ginger Scott

5 Trick-Turning Stars!!

I finished Blindness awhile ago, but I've been struggling to write the review. Not because it was terrible. Oh no. Quite the opposite. This book was fantastic and I want to do it justice.

Ginger Scott's other two books, Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long are among my favorites, especially the couple, Nolan and Reed. When I heard about Blindness, I was excited for another Ginger Scott novel, but also anxious because Nolan and Reed's story is a hard one to follow up.

But what can I say other than Ms. Scott has done it.

The story of Cody, Charlie and Trevor is a compelling, heart-wrenching, edge-of-your-seat, book clenching one.

Charlie, no wait, Charolette, has a less than stellar upbringing with a drug-addict mother who dropped her off on her father's doorstep as a pre-teen without a glance back. Mac had no idea he was a father until Charlie showed up. He didn't know how to be a dad, but they made it work and Charlie had someone to rely on and who loved her. Until one day that was taken away too soon and Charlie was left with a need she didn't know how to fill.

Trevor was her saving grace, or so she thought. Sweet, caring, highly respected Trevor loves Charolette, takes care of her and has their whole future mapped out. When Charolette is all of a sudden out of a place to live, he doesn't hesitate to have her move in with him at his parent's posh mansion. This is what Charolette wants; she wants a secure life with a man who loves her, wouldn't leave her and she doesn't have to think about her past of the tragedy that struck her life.

But at what cost? Living with Trevor puts Charolette in the realm of ex-motocross star, Cody. Cody is the opposite of Trevor. He does what he wants, says and acts on what he feels without thought, his life isn't stable, he has no money and going to lose even more. But he's real. Cody makes Charolette see that Charlie is really who she is and she will never be completely happy as Charolette.

Charlie begins to crave the nearness of Cody and the person she is with him. But Trevor is a good guy that can take care of her forever. Cody's volatile personality finally reaches its breaking point and Charlie needs to make a decision.

But what happens when she goes back on her decision? When everyone could lose everything?

I couldn't even begin to tell you how much I loved and hated (with passion) the angst and desire these characters went through. When I thought I had decided on what I would like to have happen, Ginger would throw in a new twist, a new mess, a new obstacle, and I wouldn't know anymore. 

Anyone can see Ginger's passion for her stories and her characters through her writing and I truly enjoy every novel she has presented to the world.

I am begging you, Ms. Scott, Keep them coming!!!

Go Get It Now!!

Amazon / B&N 

Phenomenal X

4 Ringside Stars!!

Synopsis:

Good Girl. Notorious Bad-Boy. One Phenomenal Love.

From the mean streets of Detroit rises the newest superstar of professional wrestling, Xavier Cold, better known as Phenomenal X. His muscular physique makes men cower before him and woman lose their minds with desire.

Anna Cortez is fresh out of college and naive to the harsh realities of the real world. Tired of living under the thumb of her conservative family, she defies them when she accepts a job as the assistant to wrestling’s most notorious bad-boy. Phenomenal X has an animalistic nature that even good girl Anna finds hard to resist. One night forced to share a bed in a sold-out hotel, lines blur between them and they quickly learn that one lustful night changes everything and neither one of them will ever be the same.

My Review

Xavier Cold and Anna Cortez are a match-up that is hard to contend with. They are both stubborn, lost souls just trying to fit in their own skin.
Xavier is full of self-loathing, a trait he acquired from his abusive childhood and struggling teenage years. He believes through and through that he is black inside; undeserving of kindness and happiness in any form. The only thing good in his life is his career. He is one of the most popular pro-wrestlers in the nation and he is at the top of his game.
Enter, via airplane, Anna. She is in search of finding herself and what makes her happy after living her entire life by her father's wishes and controlling hand. Anna hasn't experienced the real world and the dangers that lie within. Upon meeting Xavier, Anna can't seem to ignore the stirrings he creates inside. Xaviers is too selfish to keep Anna out of harms way by continuing to be around her.
Relentless pursuits, a friendship that is bound to fail, a career and sanity on the line, will these two be able to heal the other from their pasts? Or will their relationship be the ultimate devastation they will ever experience?
As soon as I began reading Phenomenal X, I had a hard time rationalizing with myself that I still had to take care of my life responsibilities. I just wanted to stay with Xavier and Anna.
Not only are X and Anna exceptional characters, Michelle has written a whole cast of dynamic characters that immensely add to the story line.
And then, the story line just suddenly stopped and came to an end!!! Well, not the end end, but the end of the book. I was left clutching my iPad, jaw-dropped, heart-pounding and cursing silently (in a good way, of course) because I want more and my questions answered.
I cannot wait for the second installment in the Hard Knock Series! I need more Xavier and Anna in my life.

Just a little taste that will have you wanting more

His lips pull into a tight line, and I fully expect him to release me, but he doesn’t. Xavier’s fingers stay in place, burning into my skin. “It’s fine if you don’t want to say what’s on your mind. I get that. But no more frowning for the rest of this trip, or I might be forced to find other ways to make you smile just to piss your boyfriend the fuck off.”

His finger traces down my neck and across my collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

My mouth drops open and I can’t stop myself from asking, “What kind of ways?”

Damn my stupid curious brain. That just set him up for all kinds of dirty talk.

He tries to fight back a smile, but it doesn’t work. It comes at me in full, glorious force. “More ways than that sweet brain of yours could ever imagine.”

He leans into me, and I can’t do anything more than tense because his hand slides up the side of my neck in a very intimate gesture. He’s close enough that, if I pushed forward a couple of inches, our lips would meet in what I imagine would be an earth-altering kiss.

“I could do things to your body that most women only dream about while reading their dirty romance novels, and I promise you’d fucking enjoy it.”

I stare up at him speechless. Wow.

Just…wow.

I can’t believe he just said that to me.

Xavier licks his plump lips. “No strings attached, and your boyfriend would never have to know.” He leans in and whispers in my ear, “I just want a little taste.”

So....What are you waiting for?!?! GO GET IT!!

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

Author Info

Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of erotic and New Adult romance. Her love of hard-rock music, tattoos, and sexy musicians inspired her erotic BLACK FALCON series.

Media Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Instagram

Hello LAlaland Review

Hello LAlaland

By Madi Merek

We all know my love-hate relationship with novellas. I still love the characters and their story and I hate how little time I get to spend with them.
I am always wanting more! Yes, I get that would defeat the purpose of a novella.
That was, until Ms. Merek entered the scene and gave us a novella that I only love! (No hate associated in this relationship)

Hello LAlaland is the story of Winifred Chapman-Jensen (dang how she hates the reference to her married name) recently divorced, mother to little Walt and fashion designer extraordinaire attending her ten year class reunion.
Back in the city she despises, she happens to run into her high school crush, Anthony Ricci, at the airport, giving him no indication that she knows who he is. Tony (he goes by that now?) is interested and she walks away promising to call him for the "tour", swiftly followed by a vixen wink.

The dreaded trip to LA has now turned into a sick twist of fate.

A wonderful, delicious, intoxicating connection between Winn and Tony leads to something neither expected, both desired and one completely runs from.
What will happen if Winn gives into what Tony longs for? What if she latches on to her own control and determination and doesn't give in?

Madi's writing is phenomenal and she has been able to give me everything I desire in novellas; a more in-depth, personal connection to the characters. A back story, the present and the future.
Not only that, but she has pulled on the heart strings of the teenage girl inside. I mean, who doesn't have that crush that you only dream about snatching up?! Hello LAlaland was like the answer to my teenage girl dreams.

No other words left except for

GO GET IT!!

Amazon / B&N/ Kobo

Hello LAlaland Release Day!!!

 

Hello LAlaland release day has ar-rived!

Hello LAlaland

  Paparazzi, vodka cocktails, and sex. Welcome to LAlaland. Winifred Chapman isn’t thrilled with the idea of her ten year reunion; especially not the idea of returning to LAlaland. Even in the midst of her thrilling career, she’s managed to avoid LA as often as possible, which is saying a lot for a world-renowned fashion designer. She has a life which women everywhere would envy, and has everything she needs . . . or so she thinks. Anthony Ricci was the most popular guy at Westlake High, and the one Winifred thought would never look twice at her. A former professional athlete, he now runs a successful Italian restau-rant in New York City. When they run into each other at the reunion and give in to a widely pas-sionate night, Anthony decides he may want more than Winifred is willing to give. Hating being known by the men she’s dated or slept with, Winifred has learned to take what she needs from them without investing emotionally. When she discovers Anthony’s old desire for her and disappears after their night together, he refuses to give her up. Will he be able to show her that love doesn’t have to be a battle, or will LAlaland prove to be enough to destroy her carefully constructed walls? Hating being known by the men she’s dated or slept with, Winifred has learned to take what she needs from men without investing emotionally. When she discovers Anthony’s old desire for her and disappears after their night together, he refuses to give her up. Will he be able to show her that love doesn’t have to be a battle, or will LAlaland prove to be enough to destroy her carefully constructed walls?   Get a quick glimpse at Tony: [youtube=http://youtu.be/J5tVkrDAJtw]   Check out what Winifred is all about: [youtube=http://youtu.be/ieI6oIjjIAA]  

Get the book from Kobo, TWCS Publishing House, amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble.

Madi also has some paperback copies available. If you'd like a signed one, please contact her through her website, www.authormadimerek.com, or below.

Follow Madi on Twitter and like her Facebook Au-thor Page!

      Rave Review for Hello LAlaland: "...deserves ten damn stars, not five." - Cecily's Book Review   ... You are an awesome writer and this book freaking kicks ass. I am now officially in love with Tony and his sexy ass.Again thank you so very much!! I loved this book. I couldn't put this book down I had to finish it right away. The writing was amazing. The story line is brilliant, sexy, romantic, wonderful, and amazing. I loved all the char-acters. Winifred is a strong, amazing, successful woman. She is head strong and knows exactly what she needs and doesn't need in her life. I admire this character very much. She will not let any man break her heart or it come close to breaking her. Anthony is so...ummmm yummy! I could read about him all day long. He is strong, sexy, hot, manly, and successful too. He wears his heart on his sleeve for the woman that he loves. Tony is my new book boyfriend. The history that the two of them have is crazy, sad, and makes me want to shake them both. Then I want to smile like a kid eating an ice cream cone for the first time. Yes this story is that damn good. I honestly could read this book over and over again. I love how I got sucked into this story. I am so digging the ending of this book and I can't wait for book 2. Congrats on writing this freaking amazing story!!!! All I can say is that I am so glad that I got the chance to read this book and I am looking forward to reading so much more.  

Teaser from Marked Script

Okay, so a lot of this has been sitting around, not getting read because I have moved way past this point, therefore it hasn't gotten much love recently, so I thought I would throw out a little snippet from my book here (and a synopsis since most don't know what it is about) and see what you all think.

Enjoy :D

Synopsis:

My world changed the day before my 16th birthday when my mom took her own life. It didn't change in a good or bad way, it just changed. Things were never the same, but I survived.

Three years later, trying to start a new path of life for myself, my world completely changed again; I met the Evans brothers.

Caspian and Mason Evans.

Both devastatingly handsome and hiding a secret; one that I discovered. One angel gone bad, one angel determined to change him.

The day I figured out they were celestial beings sent to Earth to interact with humans and decide if we were worth the effort to care about, was the day I realized I was in love with both of them. Both tragic, strong, yet lost angels had captured my heart, until the day I discovered the darkest secret of all. The one involving my mother and the day she died. The day she didn't have to die.

Teaser:

            As I walk into the library (thank God for twenty-four hour campus libraries), I revel in the silence and make my way to an empty table along a wall with windows. I begin setting out all my things, deciding what to work on first when my spine begins to tingle.

            “A little early on the weekend to be studying, wouldn’t you say, Evangeline?”

            There is only one person I am aware of that continues to call me by my full name. I turn around in my chair to find Caspian lounging a few tables down; chair tilted back, feet crossed on top of the table, book resting across his chest which is covered with a tight blue t-shirt, hands laced together on top of his book, hair artfully bed-wrangled, eyes shining, but no smile.

            I hold my breath while I sweep over his impressive frame and finally realize my shot at forgetting things to study isn’t going to happen. My thoughts have apparently materialized in the last place I would have ever imagined.

            “Hi Caspian,” I reply, giving a small smile. I’m not sure what to say and he seems angry. Caspian just raises an eyebrow and continues to stare at me. This has suddenly gone from nervous to awkward to uncomfortable in a matter of seconds. I let out a low sigh, wishing I were rude enough to just turn around and try to study.

Why is he here anyways? It’s incredibly early, I know the party he was at last night. I figured he would still be sleeping it off in bed with Meghan. Jealousy instantly consumes me. Why did I have to go and think about those two together? Apparently, she doesn’t have a problem talking to him.

            Buck up, Evie. Just say something.

            “Did you have fun at the party last night?”

            Caspian looks surprised for a fleeting moment before his eyes narrow. “Which part?” He asks. He is angry. “The drinking part, the Meghan part, or the part where I had to deal with a rapist?”

            Now I’m surprised. And angry. God, he can be such an asshole.

            “Yes, clearly I am talking about the rapist moment. I had a feeling that was your idea of fun.” At this point I do turn around and start gathering up my things. There is no way I am staying here any longer and continuing this conversation.

            Caspian has other things in mind. He is suddenly behind me, slamming his hand down on the book I was about to put away.

            “Evie, is that what you really think of me? I would gladly deal with anyone like that, but it is not my idea of fun. As I recall, I was helping you. I’d say a thank you is in order instead of a sarcastic comment.”

            His close proximity causes my mind to draw a blank and my body to slowly drift in his direction. I know he has said something I should be angry with, but I just can’t muster enough rational thought to care.

Forever Loved

Just a little warning if you haven’t read the first of this series, Forever Innocent, READ that one first! It is incredible. My review for it is here.

Okay so now for my review of Deanna Roy’s Forever Loved. I was sucked into the continuing story of Corabelle and Gavin. I had so much hope and expectations for them during their first book, but when all of the secrets came out in the end and Corabelle decided she wanted the ocean to swallow her and not give her back (literally), I was shattered and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. But I had to wait… 3 MONTHS! But it was worth the wait.

4 Heart-Twisting Stars!

Synopsis:

“How do I tell the woman I love that I fathered a son with a prostitute?”

After four long years of separation, Gavin has finally reunited with his childhood love Corabelle. She’s forgiven him for leaving her during the funeral of their seven-day-old baby, and also for where he ended up — in Mexico to get a vasectomy.

A message from Rosa, a prostitute he met the day of his surgery, brings his life to a crashing halt. She claims Gavin has fathered a son, now three years old and living with her cousin in Ensenada. He doesn’t know if he can trust Rosa, who never mentioned the boy before, or if his delicate reconciliation with Corabelle can withstand the shock if it is true.

Corabelle believes their future together is the right thing despite their past. But when she learns of this other child, the one thing she lost long ago and might never have again with Gavin, Corabelle’s faith that her life will ever follow her old dream is shattered. To make things right for Gavin and his son, she just might have to let go of the only person she always believed would be her forever love.

Corabelle kind of got on my nerves here and there when she wouldn’t speak her mind or swing to the other side of spectrum and overreact, but I’m sure I would be the same way if I was stuck in the hospital with my boyfriend and parents constantly arguing. I tended to overlook these things when Corabelle started making decisions about her actions (and reactions) that were tough on her, but made her stronger. I could see she was growing as a person and no longer numb to life.

Gavin continued to stay in my good graces and on my I’m-rooting-for-you list even though some of his actions throughout the book would suggest he was just bailing on Corabelle again. He was growing up, making difficult decisions, fighting for his love and what he believed to be right.

Enter Rosa and Manuelito. The prostitute and the son. Gavin had to make a life altering decision when he got the call that he was a father to a three-year old boy. Why did it have to be a boy? Gavin had a son and Corabelle didn’t. Life seemed to putting them through the ringer.

Life is never easy, life will always be throwing curve balls, but it is how we deal with them that define our strengths and our weaknesses.

Corabelle and Gavin’s strengths powered through more than most and I fell more in love with them, their relationship and their missing piece; Finn.

Deanna’s phenomenal writing in the first book carries to this one, keeping the characters true to their personalities while changing them right before your eyes.

Get It Now!

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

(I received an ARC via the author for my review and this is my honest-to-goodness, straight from the heart review!)

By Referral Only

5 Referrals-Included Stars!

By Referral Only is the second in the Whitman University series by Lyla Payne (first being Broken at Love) and I loved this one just as much as the first.

Ruby is a junior at Whitman University, she excels at theatre, dreams of New York with Broadway twinkling in her eyes. She is stunning in beauty, brains, and loyalty, social chair for her sorority, can easily attain any guy she deems worthy of a fling, but she isn’t perfect. At least to herself and the families of those at Whitman.

Ruby comes from new money and does not have the appropriate upbringing to be a lady of class and high stature.

Ruby hides behind a wall that she erected years ago, seemingly uncaring of what others think of her, keeping others at bay by not allowing them close, not getting attached, and just enjoying the pleasures of another’s company.

Too bad for her, Cole Stuart walks into her life and he refuses to leave.

Too bad for Cole, Ruby has started a referral website rating guys on their sexual prowess and he is bottom of the barrel. Too bad for Ruby her body and heart don’t seem to care.

Cole is the hottie Scottish Royalty of campus, built like a god, on the swim team, multiple non-profit boards, cares for children, and knows his Shakespeare; Ruby doesn’t even stand a chance from the first time his green eyes capture her blue ones.

As Cole slowly makes his way into her life, seeing past her façade, Ruby is helpless and feels out of control and ultimately unworthy. As things heat up, their lives continue to collide, secrets from their pasts, secrets of heartbreak and betrayal surface, reminding each other why they have always closed themselves off. Will their walls go back up or will they forever crumble?

Ruby is sassy, quick-lipped, and doesn’t take crap from anyone. She is a strong individual who doesn’t find herself worthy of her peers. I adore Ruby.

Cole is one of the ultimate book boyfriends I have been in need of! Fighting demons on his own, his first thought and instinct is to be there for Ruby, take care of her and get her to see herself how he sees her.

These two have an explosive chemistry that most people only dream about and they truly deserve to be envied.

I am ready for the next Whitman University novel J

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