Alice Clayton has been one of my all-time most favorite authors. I have had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times at *****FIVE +++++ STARS*****
Alice Clayton has been one of my all-time most favorite authors. I have had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times at past signings and she is such a lovely person. I have been missing her words for what seemed like an eternity to me, but I knew that she would eventually write again.
"ONE MORE ROUND" was perfect! Alice Clayton is back! 6 years of waiting was a small price to pay. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next. ...more
*****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I reach up, swipe my thumbs across her cheeks, expose my flesh to her liquid agony. My eyes sea*****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I reach up, swipe my thumbs across her cheeks, expose my flesh to her liquid agony. My eyes search hers, and I wish I could sink in her tears until there was nothing but her pain in my lungs. I would drown in her heartache.
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If you’ve read any of Jay McLean’s previous books, then you know your heart and mind are about to be put through so much gut-wrenching torment but her stories are beyond phenomenal and so you just keep coming back for more torture. None of her characters ever have a straight and easy path to their happily ever after, and that certainly wasn’t the case for Leo and Mia. Their love story will be filled with about a decade's worth of heartbreak and unbearable angst. I loved every minute of reading this one. Leo surprised me. Who knew the quiet Preston brother would become the biggest swoon-worthy Hero?!
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Leo has always been the quiet and introverted Preston sibling, but you learn in his story that he does not waste words. When he does speak, the most beautiful heart-wrenching words come out of his mouth. When Leo gives his heart to a girl…it’s the forever kind of love. The moment he laid eyes on Mia at the tender age of thirteen, Leo was a goner. It takes him a full year to get the courage to even speak to her and when he does, the two form a fast friendship and create sweet memories that will carry them through some dark times.
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Mia is a shy and insecure young girl. Both of her parents abandoned her and she’s only ever known what it feels to be loved by her grandfather and her childhood best friend. She’s been ridiculed for years over her looks and her weight. When gorgeous Leo Preston starts spending time with her and makes his feelings for her known, she can hardly believe that this is really happening to her. Just when it looks like her life is taking the turn for the better, it all falls apart, and it’s Leo’s silence that speaks volumes in Mia’s mind. His silence will cause him to lose the girl.
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Years go by and somehow fate has brought these two back together, but Mia hasn’t forgotten what happened in the past and she’s not so eager to give Leo another chance to rip her heart apart. So much heartbreaking angst transpires between these two. Ultimately a secret that Mia’s been keeping will have the power to tear these two apart forever or will destroy the Preston family.
This was a truly epic story and Leo is now my favorite Preston brother!
Here are my overall ratings: Hero: 5 Heroine: 4.5 Plot: 5 Angst: 5 Steam: 4.5 Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
*****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
She’s my person. My everything. My heart and soul. And I will do just about anything to keep h*****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
She’s my person. My everything. My heart and soul. And I will do just about anything to keep her as mine…anything.
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Maddox Paige is the notorious bad boy pitcher of the Chicago Rebels. We only started to get a glimpse into this tender soul in the previous book, ”The Trade”. Maddox grew up in a toxic environment, thanks to his abusive alcoholic father. Having endured his father’s rage for so many years has left an imprint on him. It’s why Maddox has such a short fuse and is often the first to be throwing fists during a brawl on the playing field. He keeps his personal life private and only a few people know that a true artist and gentle soul lay hidden beneath the rough & tatted exterior. One of those people, is his best friend from childhood, Kinsley. She has been there for him through thick and thin. Has always provided a safe haven for Maddox when he needed an escape from his tyrannical father. It’s been years since he left their hometown and made a name for himself in the major leagues, but through it all, they’ve managed to hold on to their strong connection.
Maddox invites Kinsley to move in with him when she lands her dream job working for an animal shelter in Chicago. He never knew that having Kinsley in his home would flip his world on its axis. She’s an unstoppable force of nature, but Maddox, while utterly clueless to his emotions, is completely enamored with her, and would do anything to make her happy. It seems these best-friends are both unaware of how the other feels, but they also fear the possibility of losing their friendship if they attempt to reveal what’s really in their hearts.
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Maddox and Kinsley will eventually give in to their attraction and these two have the spiciest sexy scenes out of all the couples in this series. I loved their easy connection and found the angsty moments completely unbearable. Who knew Maddox would end up being a true swoon-worthy Hero??!!
Here are my overall ratings: Hero: 4.5 Heroine: 5 Plot: 5 Angst: 4.5 Steam: 5++++ Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5++++
*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
”She specifically told me to crawl into my own scrotum and drown in my sperm. I’m pretty posi*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
”She specifically told me to crawl into my own scrotum and drown in my sperm. I’m pretty positive when a girl wants my unborn children to kill me, she’s not going to want to talk to me again.”
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”THE MODERN GENTLEMAN” was another extremely hilarious romantic comedy written by the Queen of RomComs – Meghan Quinn. I lost count of the number of times I found myself in a fit of belly-aching laughter. I was a goner for Wes Waldorf aka ”The Modern Gentleman” after we first meet him drowning his sorrows in a girly drink called the ’Mang-o-Rita”. A Hero who doesn’t care about being caught wallowing in a pity party for one, drinking a girly drink, wearing his woman’s scarf around his head, and listening to a sad Joni Mitchell song, is a book boyfriend that I know is going to steal reader’s hearts.
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Wes has always been confident in his ability to attract the opposite sex. That’s why his relationship advice column is the breadwinner for the internet-based publication he works for. His boss has given him an ultimatum to change things up and write a series of articles on his real-life experiences in trying to win the heart of a woman he just met. At the time he’s not dating anyone and is only given three days to find a woman to woo. This amps up his anxiety levels because the alternative that he is faced with is being set up with the boss’s daughter.
Wes meets June Lacy, a quirky aspiring Broadway actress. June is like no other woman he’s ever dated and she is not easily wooed. She keeps Wes on his toes and has him acting like an inexperienced teenager. Wes’ game is shot. He suffers numerous embarrassing but supremely hilarious blunders. The entire time you get inside this character’s head and realize he is one truly amazing guy with a heart of gold. He’s falling for the girl but has kept his assignment for the magazine a secret. Can you see what lays ahead for Wes and June? It’s predictable and yet wildly entertaining. You’ll never guess all the ways in which Wes fails at trying to impress the girl spectacularly, but boy, will you find yourself in the midst of side-splitting laughter!! This is another book I’m adding to my long list of favorites by this amazing author.
*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
No one had ever touched me the way Hunter Fitzpatrick did—like the world was ending and we had t*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
No one had ever touched me the way Hunter Fitzpatrick did—like the world was ending and we had to cram all our passion into one defined moment.
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I am convinced that no one is better at writing romances with bad boy alphas as good as L.J. Shen. Every time I read one of her books, I start off thinking the Hero is an irredeemable villain who only has wealth and looks going for him, but by the end of her stories my original opinion is usually reversed and I've fallen for the character and his flaws. It always takes a Heroine who seems to be his polar opposite to help the Hero reach his full potential.
”THE HUNTER”, is a spin-off of the ”All Saints High” series and one of her earlier books ”Sparrow”. Hunter Fitzpatrick is one of the popular boys who ruled Todos Santos along with Vaughn Spencer and Knight Cole. At nineteen, Hunter is driven by pure hedonistic pleasures. He winds up being wrapped up in an embarrassing sex scandal, which has his father dragging him back home to Boston. Hunter is given an ultimatum to stay sober and to curb all sexual escapades for the next six months or he will lose his inheritance and his future position as a high ranking executive in his family’s company. His dad has arranged for Hunter to have a roommate who is tasked with ensuring that he doesn’t go back to his old self-destructive ways.
Sailor is the daughter of one of Boston’s infamous hitmen, Troy Brennan, and world-famous chef, Sparrow Brennan. It would appear that history is about to repeat itself for Troy and Sparrow’s spirited daughter. She is forced to be in an ”arranged” relationship with Hunter, in return her campaign to win a spot in the upcoming Olympics as an archer is funded by the Fitzpatricks.
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These two are like oil and water from the word go, but slowly they come to realize that they are kindred spirits. We find out there’s more to the sexually promiscuous playboy than his good looks and the tiny red-headed spitfire has done the unthinkable—she’s taken residence in Hunter’s heart. Will he be ready to be in a committed relationship by the time the six months are up? Or will Hunter go back to his old bad boy ways, leaving Sailor’s heart torn up in pieces?
Here are my overall ratings: Hero: 4.5 Heroine: 5 Plot: 4 Angst: 4 Steam: 5 Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
*****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Authors}
I could feel the rapid beat of his heart through my chest…or maybe it was my heartbeat raging *****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Authors}
I could feel the rapid beat of his heart through my chest…or maybe it was my heartbeat raging out of control against his. I couldn’t be sure because in this moment, there was no him and no me—there was only us.
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Fans of this amazing writing duo are in for another fun and steamy good time with ”MY FAVORITE SOUVENIR”. In an overly saturated genre, I sometimes feel like I am reading the same story, just with different characters, but that was not the case with this book. I fell in love instantly with the plot and the Hero & Heroine. Their willingness to throw caution to the wind and live a couple of weeks being utterly spontaneous made this a thoroughly entertaining read for me. Milo and Maddie’s insanely hot chemistry made the slow burn almost unbearably painful but it ended up being well worth the wait. I had the storyline clearly laid out in my mind before I got to the halfway mark and truly never expected the twist that the authors threw in. It turned a 4.5 star read into a five star one instead.
Here are my overall ratings: Hero: 5 Heroine: 5 Plot: 5 Angst: 4.5 Steam: 4.5 Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
”MY FAVORITE SOUVENIR” releases on April 27th. It’s stories like these that help to make self-quarantining less of a hardship.
I’ve been a huge fan of the writing duo of Christina Lauren for years and there are so many of their books that I’*****THREE STARS***** {NETGALLEY ARC}
I’ve been a huge fan of the writing duo of Christina Lauren for years and there are so many of their books that I’ve loved something fierce. It’s probably unrealistic to expect every single book they write to be a hit. ”THE HONEY DON’T LIST” just may be the one book that didn't work for me. The story moves at an incredibly slow pace and the fact that most of the emphasis was placed on the rocky marriage of the secondary characters didn’t help matters. There was this little spark of chemistry between the main characters, James and Carey, but not enough time was spent on developing that connection which is why the romance felt artificial.
I’m sad that I couldn’t feel more for these characters and the plot, but nevertheless I will always gravitate towards anything these two write because they have written way too many hits for me to just write them off over one mediocre book.
*****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I had no idea we were coming to San Diego so this woman could stitch up every single one of my *****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I had no idea we were coming to San Diego so this woman could stitch up every single one of my wounds, kiss every scar, and remind my heart that it has an infinite capacity to love.
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FINALLY, we get a happy ending for one of Jewel E. Ann’s most beloved Heroes—Nathaniel Hunt. If you've read the first two books in the ”Transcend” series then you know and love this beautiful character. If you haven’t read them, now is a good time to get to this EPIC story. I have deep love and admiration for Jewel’s writing and am not exaggerating when I say that I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve when she releases a new book. ”FORTUITY” was a book that HAD to be written! Nate has suffered more than his share of devastating loss. In this last installment of the series we learn that it’s never too late to find true love.
I love it when authors take a chance and write about romances between characters over the age of forty. Nate and Gracelyn’s journey is a slow burn. I was beginning to think that their story would be angst-free and a steady road to an HEA but get ready to have your hearts and minds put through the wringer through the last 35-40 % of the story. They’re in what seems to be an impossible situation that has no room for compromises. It’s torture but when you get to the end, you’ll hopefully love this book as much as I do.
Here are my overall ratings: Hero: 5 Heroine: 5 Plot: 5 Angst: 4.5 Steam: 4.5 Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I love the way he feels beneath me, like an unbreakable stone. I love the way he holds on to me,*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I love the way he feels beneath me, like an unbreakable stone. I love the way he holds on to me, as if he needs me to be connected to him. And I love the way he makes me feel, like I’m whole again. Beautiful. Precious. Wanted.
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Every single book in this series has been an absolute pleasure to read. Meghan Quinn doesn’t seem to have it in her to write anything less than fabulous. ”THE TRADE” had the kind of slow burn that I love. The time it took for things to heat up between Cory and Natalie was a bit of sweet torture with never a dull moment. When they finally come together it was completely worth the wait. This is the one book in the series that didn’t drag out the angst. So for those of you who avoid angsty reads at all costs, I think you’ll find that you can handle the short amount of torment in this one.
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There also wasn't a ton of laugh out loud moments, but the storyline and chemistry between Cory and Natalie were what made this one a winner! I hope that we get at least one or two more installments before we have to say goodbye to this series.
*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Butterflies fluttered in Rose’s belly at the thought of seeing Fionn again. Who knew it was poss*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Butterflies fluttered in Rose’s belly at the thought of seeing Fionn again. Who knew it was possible to have such conflicting feelings for someone? Rose was still unbearably attracted to him, still felt protective toward him, and yet she was a furious, churning volcano of bitterness and resentment too. Rose had sacrificed herself to save Fionn’s life…and he wouldn’t even consider giving up his revenge for her.
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Samantha Young’s newest series brings us into a paranormal world filled with Fae, Werewolves, Vampires, and Witches & Warlocks. She’s proven that her storytelling capabilities are not tied down to one specific genre. In ”KISS OF VENGEANCE” we dive deeper into the Fae world and are caught up in the slow burn romance between Fionn Mor and Rose Kelly. In the previous book, we were given a teaser to the story of the once human King of Ireland, and Aine, the Queen of the Fae. Aine was obsessed with Fionn and when he continuously rejected her, she turned him into the one thing he despised most of all—a Fae. Fionn is determined to open the gates to the Fae kingdom and exact his revenge on Aine. He needs the blood of a Fae to do so and is on a mission to find one of the three still in existence on earth.
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Fionn stumbles across Rose by accident while on the hunt for the psychic Fae, Niamh. Up until their paths crossed, Rose did not know that supernatural beings truly existed nor that she was, in fact, one of the most powerful of them all. A blow to the head undoes a binding spell and slowly starts to unleash Rose’s powers. Fionn and Rose share an instant attraction – something so powerful neither of them has felt before. Rose has no idea that Fionn, who is helping to train her control her new-found abilities, has plans to end her life to finally get the vengeance he’s been waiting centuries for. He uses all of his self-control to keep his desires tamped down, while Rose grows increasingly impatient with his constant rejection. This back and forth between the two goes on for more than the entire first half of the book. The author took the slow burn to another level. Once things start to heat up between Fionn and Rose, the story becomes increasingly angsty, steamy and laced with fast-paced action! Best of all, we are reunited with Thea and Conall during the thrilling finale.
The next book, which centers around Kiyo and Niamh, promises to be another page-turner!
*****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
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”DEAD PRETTY” is a steamy & suspenseful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your *****FIVE STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
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”DEAD PRETTY” is a steamy & suspenseful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seats. This is a break from Samantha Towle’s other book of work and she has proven she can’t be tied down to one genre. I was instantly intrigued by Audrey and there isn’t a doubt in my mind that readers are going to swoon hard over Jack Canti. You’ll be trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together in order to solve the big mystery, but don’t be fooled into thinking you have all the answers. That’s what I thought and I was completely floored! This was an incredible read and a true page-turner!
Here are my overall ratings: Hero: 5 Heroine: 4 Plot: 5 Angst: 4.5 Steam: 5++++ Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
My heart was already in so deep it was breaking. It didn’t matter if Caleb was physically inside*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
My heart was already in so deep it was breaking. It didn’t matter if Caleb was physically inside of me. He was already inside my heart and soul.
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There’s not much that I didn’t love about ”JUST ONE YEAR” by Penelope Ward. The Hero is a gorgeous, charismatic exchange student from England. The Heroine is a beautiful introvert that has never had her heart wrapped up in a guy until she meets Caleb Yates—the foreign exchange student who has moved into her family's home. Caleb and Teagan’s first encounter is extremely embarrassing but was still a ”meet cute”. Their awkward beginning quickly turns into a close friendship that eventually sparks into a powerful attraction that Caleb is fiercely opposed to pursuing because he’d never willingly break Teagan’s heart. His life is in London and hers is in Boston. A long-distance relationship would never work, but Teagan has never felt so strongly about anyone until Caleb came into her life. She’s willing to risk certain heartbreak for the chance to be with the only man she’s ever fallen in love with.
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Their story is heart-achingly angsty and it was pure torture waiting for Caleb and Teagan to finally let the pent up attraction take over. This is yet another book to add to my long list of favorites by this incredible author!
*****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
’Shhhh’His index finger comes up to his mouth and shushes me. It’s sexy as hell, even as a *****4.5 STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
’Shhhh’His index finger comes up to his mouth and shushes me. It’s sexy as hell, even as a warning, but I still ignore it.
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Get ready to have your heart stolen by another “over the top”, sinfully sexy and charismatic alpha hero created by the incomparable Jodi Ellen Malpas! Becker Hunt is a modern-day cross between Indiana Jones and JEM’s most unforgettable heroes, Jesse Ward & Miller Hart. It isn’t a surprise that she wrote “Artful Lies” right after she had written the ”This Man” and ”One Night” series. There isn’t much that I didn’t love about this book. The cover is gorgeous. The plot grabbed and held on to my attention from beginning to end. But most of all, I've fallen head over heels in love with Becker Hunt! Who would have thought a simple ’shhhh’ and eating an apple could be so freaking HOT?!!!
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The push and pull, cat & mouse, combustible chemistry between Becker and Eleanor was addictive. I couldn’t get enough of their banter and steamy rendezvous! Their story is passionate, adventurous, and angst-filled. I have only one complaint, and it’s a HUGE one! How can JEM possibly expect us to wait until NOVEMBER to get our hands on ”WICKED TRUTHS”?!! This is cruel and unusual punishment.
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Here are my overall ratings: Hero: 5 Heroine: 4 Plot: 4.5 Angst: 4.5 Steam: 5 Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
I didn’t understand what pulled us together. I didn’t know what made Jane Doe the only woman who satisfied*****FOUR STARS***** {ARC Provided by Author}
I didn’t understand what pulled us together. I didn’t know what made Jane Doe the only woman who satisfied my heart, body, and soul. I didn’t need to know.
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BLACK TANGLED HEART is an angst-filled, wildly steamy "second-chance/in-love-with-the-best friend’s older brother", contemporary romance. The pace of the plot progression was steady. It held my attention throughout. There is a secondary character that proves to be a consistent villain, it was easy to predict that she would cause a major rift between the Hero and Heroine. Jamie McKenna had the potential to be a super swoon-worthy Hero during the first half of the book when he and Jane were teenagers, but tragic life events, deception, and lies turn the once loving and kind-hearted boy into a cold, cruel and bitter man. His inability to see that Jane was still the same girl he fell in love with all those years ago left me feeling a little disappointed in that character. Jane was a very relatable and endearing Heroine. She experienced true loss and overcame many adversities. She became a woman with a fulfilling career and great friendships, but never forgot the people who were there for her when she was a young girl. She remained loyal to them and strived to right the wrongs that were inflicted upon those she loved.
Towards the end, certain characters find themselves in precarious situations that ramps up the action and is sure to induce some accelerated heart rates! The suspense will have you hanging on by a thread.
Here are my overall ratings: Hero: 4 Heroine: 4.5 Plot: 4 Angst: 4 Steam: 5 Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4.5
*****FOUR STARS***** {ARC Generously Providded by Author}
A small part of me will always think of him as unattainable. A man I’ve had a crush on for yea*****FOUR STARS***** {ARC Generously Providded by Author}
A small part of me will always think of him as unattainable. A man I’ve had a crush on for years. A man I’ve watched and wanted from afar. A man who’s friends with my older brother and therefore, inherently off-limits.
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Natalie and Connor are doctors at the same hospital. Connor has also been Natalie’s supervisor in the past, but now she’s finished her fifth year of residency and she is starting as an attending in the BICU. This is not their only tie to each other. Connor is her brother’s best friend and has been the secret object of her affections for many years. Little does she know that Connor has been crushing on her as well. Now the two are going to be roommates for the next few months, while her brother is away for work and Connor’s townhome is under renovations. Connor is no longer able to bury his feelings for Nathalie and he’s making it known that he’s in pursuit of her. Usually, with this trope, the couple deals with hiding their relationship from the older sibling, and while that was one of the minor obstacles in their way, the biggest issue was Natalie’s inability to read the situation. Connor all but spelled out what his intentions were towards her but Natalie blindly stuck to her insecurities that seemed to have no basis. She's spent most of her life focusing on her career and closing herself off to personal relationships that it has become somewhat of a handicap for her. She's unable to pick up on very blatant social queues.
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I’d have liked it if the angst had stemmed from different circumstances but overall, I thought the book was entertaining.
*****FIVE++++++ STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I rush toward him, but hesitate when I get there—part of me wants to throw myself at him,*****FIVE++++++ STARS***** {ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I rush toward him, but hesitate when I get there—part of me wants to throw myself at him, the other part is terrified that he’ll hold me at arm’s length, that’ it’s too late, that the slope we fell down yesterday was too steep, the climb up too slippery.
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”Wild” is by far my favorite K.A. Tucker series! ”WILD AT HEART” reunites us with Calla and Jonah. They are about to embark on their new life together as a couple in the rural town of “Trapper’s Crossing” in Alaska. Calla has left her family, friends and the life of a city girl behind to follow the rugged pilot who captured her heart when she spent a few months in Alaska getting to know her estranged father who was dying from cancer. The first book was magical. I went into book two with high expectations and the author did not let me down one bit. She takes us on another journey with the sheltered city girl who somehow finds herself in the same cold and isolating locale that ended up destroying her parents’ marriage.
Calla and Jonah buy a home that sits on 100 acres of land. Jonah's trying to get his new business going and Calla is putting all of her energy into making their new house a home. Promises made are soon broken and Calla is starting to experience many lonely nights while Jonah takes on jobs that keep him away from home for days on end. She makes friends with some of the eccentric townsfolk who end up helping her in ways she never could have imagined. It is the bonds that she makes with these people which tugs on the heartstrings and gives this story so much depth and increased my enjoyment one hundred times over!! My hope is that our journey is not over with these amazing group of characters!
Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog
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