Weekly Winners

Below is a list of all of the winners from the last week.

Melanie
Release by Elizabeth Dunk

Barbara
Anita
Trapped at the Altar by Jane Feather

Stephanie
Book of Choice from Robin Bielman

Lori
The Longest Night by Kara Braden

Danielle
Jasmyn
Swag Pack (RFTC Monthly Giveway)

Katherine
Karen
Two Books (RFTC Monthly Giveaway)


**Replacement Winner**
Mary
Personal Assets by Kelsey Browning

All winners have been notified via email. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and entered. =)

ARC Review: Trapped At the Altar by Jane Feather

Jane Feather is an accomplished author. That was one of the main reasons that I wanted to read this book. The other was the plot. I liked the idea of a heroine forced into a marriage and I was curious to see how the story would play itself out.

Ariadne “Ari” Carfax is a woman ahead of her time (another reason I wanted to read this story). Ari does as she pleases. She is very angry that she is forced into a marriage that was arranged by her grandfather when she was a child. The marriage was agreed upon to restore the family name in the eyes of the king. Ari is promised to be married to her childhood friend Ivor Chalfont. She and Ivor have known each other all their lives and they are best friends. So why is she not happy about the marriage? Ari is in love with Gabriel. Gabriel is a regular guy, a poet, but he’s not titled and they cannot marry.

So far the plot seemed to work…but… the heroine and the plot fell flat for me. I can honestly say that I made and effort to like this book and thought, until the last page, that I would come to a point where I enjoyed it.

What didn’t work? First Ari. She is a deviant character, which is good. However she was deviant for all the things that did not make sense. First she decides that even though she is promised to be married to her childhood best friend she decides that she will take Gabriel as her lover. She is determined to continue her relationship with him even after they are married. So this concept would have worked if it weren’t for their friendship. She and Ivor supposedly know each other in and out but she has no problem deceiving him. I would like to say that this was her only deception… but it’s not… After she begins to see Ivor in a different light and develop feelings for him she continues to lie to him about different things in their relationship. Although she is honest with him and tells him that she will only come to care for him as friend when she does develop feelings for him she lies and is deceitful.

Ok, so far I’m still holding on to the hope that the story will get better… The first half of the book is about Ivor and Ari’s life in a simple cottage in the country. During this time they are still trying to get to know each other as husband and wife. So, I got that but what I didn’t get was the awkwardness that they shared. Ivor asks, often, what kind of wife she will be. Shouldn’t he know? According to the plot, they know each other in and out… Ok, so the first part is about them as a newly married couple. Usually people fall in love after they get to know each other. That was not the case with Ivor and Ari. Although she knew him all her life she only begins to fall in love with him once they share in husband and wife activities.

So now that Ari feels guilty about enjoying her “relationship” with Ivor, she starts to feel guilty because of Gabriel. However, when they begin their trip to London and she discovers Gabriel will be there she continues to send him secret messages. It seems that Ari is only considered about her feelings, what she wants and she could care less about anyone else.

Besides the very frustrating heroine, I wanted more from Ivor. He was so sweet and understanding but there were times when I wanted him to really tell Ari off. I really did! He basically accepted all her deceitfulness and lies and even after they are confirmed (because he knows he cannot trust her) he just simply sends Gabriel away. He goes home and confesses him undying love to his wife. What??? I could not believe this!

The plot also fell short. The reason that Ivor and Ari were promised to each other in marriage was to establish the family name. Life at court was such a short part of the story. I thought that this fell flat. Also, her uncle. The author mentions what a tyrant he is and that he basically calls the shots but he also fell short. Even the end felt rushed. For the first half nothing happens and then when Ivor finds out Ari is corresponding with Gabriel there is no climax. I plan to read more books by Jane Feather, and hopefully I will enjoy them, but this one fell very short.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Guest Post with Author Catherine Mann and Giveaway

Meet Catherine Mann, author of Shelter Me.

USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann and RITA Award winner, Catherine writes contemporary romance for Berkley, Harlequin, and Sourcebooks, With over two million books in print in more than twenty countries, she has also celebrated five RITA finals, three Maggie Award of Excellence finals and a Bookseller’s Best win. A former theater school director and university instructor, she holds a Master’s degree in Theater from UNC-Greensboro and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts:Theater (with minors in both English and Education) from the College of Charleston. Catherine and her flyboy husband live on the Florida coast where they brought up their 4 children – and still have 5 four-legged, furry “children” (aka pets). Catherine is an active volunteer with her local Humane Society, serving on their Board of Directors and fostering puppies and special needs dogs (she stopped counting at a hundred). She recently checked off a major item on her “bucket list” by completing the hands-on training for the Florida State Animal Rescue Coalition. Catherine enjoys hearing from her readers and can be found online daily.

Find Catherine at:

| Site | Facebook | Twitter |

Feature and Giveaway: Tempted by His Touch: A LIMITED EDITION BOXED SET of Dukes, Rogues, & Alpha Heroes Historical Romance Novels

A boxed set with ten sizzling historical romances from ten bestselling historical romance authors. Fall in love with fabulous tales of intrigue, suspense, wit, and passion featuring dukes, rogues, alpha heroes…and the women who can’t resist them. JUST 99 CENTS from July 27 - Sept. 21---then it disappears FOREVER!

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords | All Romance |

Feature and Giveaway: Darkness Possessed by Stephanie Rowe

A fatal mistake stripped Zach Roderick of the powers that define him, leaving him a tormented shadow of the warrior he once was. Now, his teammate's life depends on Zach resurrecting the fire that once burned within him. As he undertakes a battle he has no way to win, he is derailed by a tempestuous beauty that awakens in him the dark desires that destroyed him once before.

The scars etched on Rhiannon Diaz's soul are so deep that she will never again be free. The once-powerful guardian is facing her last and greatest battle, and failure means a return to a sexual enslavement that is far worse than death. Her intense and passionate need for the powerful warrior who has vowed to protect her threatens the very foundation of her survival, but his refusal to abandon her drags them both into a world where wild, untamed passion rages, and surrender is their only chance.

All books in the Order of the Blade series are intended to be standalones that can be read in any order. The chronological reading order, however, is as follows: DARKNESS AWAKENED, DARKNESS SEDUCED, DARKNESS SURRENDERED, FOREVER IN DARKNESS, DARKNESS REBORN, DARKNESS ARISEN, DARKNESS UNLEASHED, INFERNO OF DARKNESS, DARKNESS POSSESSED (Available July 2014).

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Rented by Barbara Morgenroth

I am not even really sure where to begin with this review, except to say that Rented is the first book that I have read by Barbara Morgenroth. This was not the book that I expected from the cover or the blurb, and I am honestly really confused by what I just read. I really hate to be negative, especially when the author is kind enough to give a complimentary copy for review. But I honestly was really disappointed with this book and had been hoping for more.

Cressida "Cress" Avery lost her mother and her father, and now only has her stepmother and her best friend. She helps her step-mom run the family realty business that her father left to them. She is tired of "the weekenders" who come into her small town buying up property and destroying the old and historic homes just to build new modern and boring white buildings. Then they return to the city when the weekend is over. When her step-mom asks her to show a historic home to someone, Cressida fears that Garrison Light is just another weekender. But when Garrison sees the house and what Cressida thinks, he buys the house and begins to renovate it to return the house to its former glory. The more that Cressida learns about Garrison the more she begins to wonder if he is just another weekender or if perhaps she was wrong about him. But when Garrison has a party at the house, his ex shows up and threatens all the progress that he has made with Cressida.

I liked Garrison. He was a good guy and he seemed to genuinely be interested in Cress. He took her input and ideas and cared what she thought. He also did his best to open up to her and let her see the real him rather than what she assumed he was like. I personally thought that he put more effort into trying to please her than he should have. She continued to make assumptions and be judgmental regardless of how many times he proved he was different. I just didn't see the draw after awhile, and wasn't buying that he could already feel that strongly about her in order to keep trying so hard. Cress really irritated me. She was judgmental and close minded. She was so rude at times, and always assumed the worst. I felt like she never gave Garrison a real shot and she thought that she knew it all. I personally did not understand what her problem was. Every time that they would make some progress, Cressida would just end up reverting back and I got tired of the constant hot and cold with her.

I also felt like this story was kind of all over the place. The dialogue between the characters was strange at times, and seemed extremely formal. Cressida and Garrison seemed to flip flop and everything was happening really quickly. The biggest problem was that things just happened out of the blue and the reader was left to wonder what was going on. I have never felt like I said what the hell just happened so many times as I did while reading this book. Things were just bizarre at times and I didn't understand what I had missed. I would go back and realize that I hadn't missed anything but that the author just decided to randomly throw things into the story. Then there was the absolute bomb of an ending and we are left scrambling to try and figure out once again what happened. The author did recently listen to readers that were asking for more and has added an additional two chapters to the book since this will be a standalone and the story will not continue beyond this book. I was expecting to feel better after reading the extra chapters, but honestly they left me feeling as though the story was still unfinished. While things are left in a better place after the new chapters, I wasn't satisfied with the ending and it just made me wonder what I had just read. I feel like all the questions were not answered, and I just didn't believe that Cressida and Garrison's relationship was believable. I was hoping for more, but I just didn't feel like this was where their story was finished. I wish that I knew what happened beyond this point for them, and I wish that I could believe that things wouldn't immediately run cold between them again. This story just wasn't for me is what I have come to realize and I am not sure what it would have taken to get me there.

**ARC Provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon |

ARC Review: Forbidden Kiss by Shannon Leigh

This is the first contemporary romance I have read from Shannon Leigh and I was drawn in from the blurb instantly. Covet Publishing puts a spin on contemporary romance by throwing in some form of paranormal intrigue, and the concept behind this story was definitely unique. It is a modern day spin off of Romeo and Juliet; only the characters are named Rom Montgomery and Jule Casale. Rom is a reclusive, almost nomadic male, whom is famous for his expertise of ancient weapons. He appears to be cold, observant, and calculating in the beginning of this story but turns out to be poetic, protective, and righteous by the ending. I was drawn to the mysterious and guarded nature of Rom from the beginning. I liked that he assessed every piece of information and that he went from seeming suspicious of everything to being trusting and kind later.

Jule, on the other hand, was very surprising. I liked her tenacity and courage nearing the end of the book, but she was also very flaky. I am happy she grew throughout the book, because I would not have liked her if she hadn’t. After all, we want our heroine to find a way to win whatever battle she is fighting, and end up with the man of her dreams right? Well, until about three-fifths of the way through the book I was unsure if she would take the rockier, but indeed, wiser path. Despite the fact that our Rom had been through a hell of a lot more than her, he was better at accepting facts than she was. With that said, I liked how Shannon developed Jules’ character.

It was interesting to see Jule begin as an art historian looking for her big break by discovering the artist behind an unidentified painting and turning to Rom to help her identify the paintings origins. I liked being brought back into the world of Verona and the setting. Jule really began to blossom as a character once she was back in the old country where she belonged. The villain, Jule’s Uncle Pio Mascaro (whom her father sells her to…ahem…yes, quite disturbing) is our modern day Paris; the man Juliet was forced to be with despite her love for Romeo. Yes, Shannon managed to weave and entirely new tale concerning Romeo and Juliet while still keeping the general conflict very similar; impressive. For the record, I despised Pio; he made me want to vomit. I think the author did a great job at painting him as an evil, desperate, and vengeful male. With Jule’s family selling her out, her “Uncle Pio” forcing himself on her, and a need to find independence, it is no wonder she needed a hero.

Therefore, I believe the romance brewed perfectly between our hero and heroine. At first, they were both stand-offish and timid; sizing each other up and testing one another. Jule is driven, determined, and a little eccentric which made Rom that much more curious. The two of them worked well together and trusted each other. Part of what made them work is that neither character over-shadowed the other. Yes, Rom was protective, but he trusted Jule to use her intellect and instinct to help herself. It is refreshing when the female is not shown as a complete damsel in distress, even when it would not be surprising for her to be in such situations.

Additionally, I liked how Shannon utilized the idea of immortality in the book; leading us to believe that Shakespeare’s story was completely incorrect. I did not expect to read that Romeo actually lived on, while Juliet passed on. Not to mention, I certainly did not see reincarnation as a plot point either, which is why I was drawn to keep reading from the beginning. Ultimately, I admit that despite my misgivings of the book somehow being a reconstruction of Romeo and Juliet (because I do love the classics), that I truly enjoyed it by the time I was finished. I would definitely consider reading more of Shannon’s work.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: The Hexed by Heather Graham

I haven’t read anything by Heather Graham in long time. I use to read anything she wrote. After I started The Hexed I realized what I had been missing. The Hexed is actually the 13th book in the Krewe of Hunters series. But it works great as a stand-alone novel. However I now want to go back and read all the other novels in the series. I was that drawn into the book and this group of people.

The story focuses on the investigation of murders taking place in the present time (and one 13 years earlier). But along with the investigation is the fact that the story takes place in the towns that surround and make up the Salem, Massachusetts area. Local lore and The Salem Witch Trials play a prominent role. The book focuses on three groups who surround the main characters, Rocky and Devin. The first group is the teenagers/now adults who found the body of their friend 13 years earlier, one of which is Rocky. The second group is Devin and her friends, all but one she knew in high school. The third group is the Krewe of Hunters. They are a special division of the FBI which Rocky has just joined. They use their paranormal abilities to help solve cases that are difficult to solve. Rocky specifically joins the group when a second murder happens that mimics his friend’s death. Since Rocky can see and talk to ghosts he is a perfect fit for the Krewe. Both Rocky and Devin have just recently returned the Salem area where they both grew up (in different towns).

After a Prologue and some information to set the stage, the story begins as Devin runs into Rocky’s path one night (literally) after finding a murder victim near her home. It steamrolls from there, going down the path of the investigation and the start of a budding romance and keeps going until threading history in with the investigation until finally everything comes to light. I would say this is suspense with romantic elements. Some books balance it, and some lean more one way or the other, this leans heavier towards suspense, but it is all woven together so well I think most everyone who loves romantic suspense will love this one.

I loved getting to know the all the characters, but Rocky and Devin especially. He’s a FBI agent which was his goal in life especially after the murder of his close friend. He’s pragmatic, he’s a stellar FBI agent, he’s caring and he sees ghosts which makes him a very interesting character. Devin is a children’s book author who has returned to the Salem area as well to live in her Aunt’s house. Devin is practical as well. She cares for her friends and seems to care for people in general as well. I love Devin and Rocky together, they have a truly believable attraction. Together they are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to solving the crime spree around the Salem area and all while developing an promising romance. Devin’s deceased Aunt Mina who appears to Devin in ghost form also a captivating character. She is fun, loving and a great addition to all the other characters in the book. The Krewe members that come to town were interesting and I can’t wait to go back and read some of their stories or read them in the future. Devin and Rocky’s friends from the area who were involved every step of the way led to a great camaraderie feel in the book.

I loved the setting. Salem is a fascinating spot with a lot of history and I loved learning more about the Salem Witch Trials through this book. I thought the plot was well done and it kept me engaged through the whole book. It also kept me guessing the whole time. I did not know who the killer was until that person was revealed. The plotting was perfect. Between the relationship developing between Devin and Rocky, the inner workings of an investigation, the history of the Salem area, the paranormal aspect of seeing and talking to ghosts, and getting to know the other characters in the book, I was enthralled.

There is a lot going on in The Hexed but not too much to make it hard to follow. I fell right into reading this at a time I was in a reading slump. I fell in love with all of the characters, they were interesting and each one was a great addition to the story. I fell in love with the setting of the Salem area. I was mesmerized by the suspense plot. With the addition of the paranormal element, it was an amazing book for me. Heather Graham can write an fascinating story that will stay with you and leave you thinking.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Interview with Author Kay Thomas and Giveaway

Meet Kay Thomas, author of Personal Target.

Award-winning author Kay Thomas didn’t grow up burning to be a writer. Until fourth grade she wasn’t even much of a reader. That’s when her sister read THE BLACK STALLION aloud to her. For hours Kay was enthralled—shipwrecked and riding an untamed horse across desert sand. Then tragedy struck. Her sister lost her voice. But Kay couldn’t wait to hear what happened in the story—so she picked up that book, finished reading it herself, and went in search of more adventures at the local library. Today she lives in Dallas with her husband, their two children, and a shockingly spoiled Boston terrier. Her national best-selling "bulletproof" novels have been translated into multiple languages. In November 2013, HARD TARGET: Elite Ops-Book 1 was published in her new series from Avon Impulse. Look for PERSONAL TARGET in July 2014. Visit her website at www.KayThomas.net.

Find Kay at:

| Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Interview with Author Mary Wine and Giveaway

Meet Mary Wine, author of The Highlanders Bride Trouble.

Acclaimed author Mary Wine has written over 30 works of erotic fantasy, romantic suspense, and historical romance. An avid history-buff and historical costumer, she and her family enjoy participating in historical reenactments. Mary lives with her husband and two sons in Yorba Linda, California.

Find Mary at:

| Site | Facebook | Goodreads |

Feature and Giveaway: Forbidden Kiss by Shannon Leigh

Jule Casale is the perfect daughter. Obedient. Trustworthy. Loyal. With her high profile Italian family, her public image must be impeccable. And now to gain the respect and position she’s desired in the academic world, she hopes to discover the unknown artist behind a masterpiece of Renaissance art.

Rom Montgomery seeks the unobtainable: forgiveness. Those who could grant him relief are dead. Instead, he wanders across continents and through time searching for salvation and the means to right an ancient wrong. But when Jule comes knocking on his door, it’s the closest he’s ever come to finally finding redemption.

The closer Rom draws to correcting his past mistakes, the more his secrets threaten to destroy the woman who might hold the key to his future.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

Monthly Giveaway - August

Want to win some goodies?

Each month here at Ramblings From This Chick we will be giving away various prizes to followers of the blog with a there being a new prize(s) available every month.

Here's a peek at this months prize.

5 lucky people will win a Book from the RFTC Stash!

Review: Scarred by Love by C.A. Harms

Scarred by Love is the first book that I have read by C.A. Harms, and it is also the first book in her Scarred by Love series. I was really drawn to this one by the blurb and the cover, and couldn't wait to read Riley and Zander's story. I did have some things about this story that didn't work for me, but yet I also had a lot that I really liked as well. I am pretty torn on how to rate this one, which is why I ended up in the middle with 3 stars. I think that a lot of people will really enjoy this story, but I also think that there are others that will have the same problems that I did with the book. I am curious to read more from Harms though, and I am interested to see where she takes this series after this book.

Riley is just getting out of an abusive relationship and has been withdrawn from living her life when her friend convinces her to get out again. Riley has been strong all her life growing up with four brothers, and refuses to let her ex continue to keep her from enjoying herself any more. Riley meets a sexy guy at the party her friend drags her to, but she is instantly convinced that he is giving her cheesy pick-up lines. When she sees him dancing with another girl she thinks that he is also a cheater and wants nothing to do with him. She moves forward and shortly after meets a nice and preppy guy who is far from her typical type of bad boys. Even though Grant is nice and everything she thinks she wants now, she doesn't feel the same chemistry with him as she did with Zander at the party. Soon Riley realizes that appearances can be deceiving though, and she decides to give Zander a chance after finding out that the girl he was with was actually his best friend. Things are going great between Zander and Riley until mistake after mistake is made and Riley ends up feeling as though she is an outsider to Zander's life. Can Zander convince Riley that she is the only one he wants and that he is willing to fight for her before it is too late?

I liked Zander a lot. He was sweet and caring, and wasn't afraid to admit his feelings. He was probably the most forthcoming guy I can remember reading about in a long time. But he did struggle with constantly finding a way to screw things up, and frankly he missed a lot of things that were going on right under his nose. As much as he claimed to love and want Riley, he continued to let his best friend Beth put his relationship with Riley in jeopardy. I felt like he should have been more on Riley's side and seen where she was coming from because she was never unreasonable. I liked Riley a lot. She was strong and not girly at all. I loved that she could dress up and look great, but that she could kick some ass at paintball and video games as well. She was comfortable being herself and having grown up with four brothers made her a cool chick that could go with the flow. But I did feel as though she let Zander get away with a lot and that she gave him way too many chances. She was so forgiving and ended up coming across as a doormat that he could walk all over. I kept waiting for her to just say enough, and it was frustrating that she just let him get away with things so easily. I thought that Zander and Riley had a lot of chemistry together and were building a strong relationship. I thought that their feelings were real and genuine, but I just thought that things kept running hot and cold and after awhile I started to get irritated with them both.

I also have to say that I absolutely hated Zander's friend Beth. She was a complete bitch and interfered far too much in their relationship. The fact that Zander didn't have a clue what was going on and continuously blamed Riley rather than Beth really pissed me off. I felt like Riley deserved more and Beth was really blatant about it. She would do it right in front of Zander and he just didn't really ever seem to get it or do anything about it. I wanted him to man up and drop her despite their history, but it just continued. Then when Riley decided to be the bigger person and fix everything between Zander and Beth after everything that had happened, I really just wanted to shake her. Beth screwed up so bad and honestly didn't even do anything to redeem herself or prove that she was worthy of the effort. I never came around on her character, and honestly it made me think less of both Zander and Riley because of how everything was handled. I am interested to see more of Riley's brother Carson and her best friend Kate though. I think their relationship is intriguing and I would love to get to know both of them better. I do think that Riley and Zander were great together when they were actually together, but I think that outside forces influenced their relationship way too much and far too easily. I hope that in the next book we see them on solid footing and that they have figured out everything between them. I will definitely read the next one to see more of all the characters, and I look forward to seeing what C.A. Harms has in store next.

**Review Copy Provided by Book Enthusiast Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |

ARC Review: Hideaway Cove by Anna Sullivan

As book 2 in the Windfall series Hideaway Cove it follows right after Temptation Bay, just a week later. Not having read the first book in the series I did find myself a little lost, not knowing what was already going on. It is explained but it still seemed like I was missing something, and I was the introduction of the two main characters. Jessica and Holden had an instant attraction and unless you read the first book you won’t know that until half way through the book. I think because I missed out on the first book it prevented me from really getting into the story. I liked the romance and really liked the characters I just couldn’t get in to the overall story.

Eighty years or so ago a baby went missing. Eugenia Stanhope reportedly went down with the ship off the coast of Maine, but now it seems that she was taken to a family on Windfall Island and raised as their own only nobody knows which family on the island it was. Rose Stanhope is determined to find out who it is and she hired Dexter Keegan to find out who the descendent is so they can have their share of the Stanhope fortune. Dex and Maggie had their story in Temptation Bay where they find that Maggie is not the descendent, but now they have to worry about whoever is is in danger.

Jessi and Holden have been dancing a fine dance. Jessi keeps moving away and Hold just keeps following. Jessi is a single mother whose life revolves around her son has no room in her life for romance, but Hold makes her feel things she hasn’t felt in eight years. Hold has trust issues as well and keeps his true identity from Jessi. Hold works his way into the hearts of Jessi and her son Benji. The sudden appearance of Lance, Benji’s father, is suspicious especially when it coincides with the discovery of Eugenia’s baby blanket in Jessi’s attic and the break in of her home and the office. Jessi finally opens herself to Hold but can the truth about who he is break her trust in him and her heart? It was a good book I just didn’t get emotionally invested in it.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Where You Are by Alla Kar

Where You Are is the first book in Alla Kar's NA Together series. I had never read anything by her before starting this book, so I really didn't know what to expect from her. While there were parts of this story that I liked, there were other parts that I didn't. I think that this story had potential, but ended up falling flat because of the character and the cliches.

When Laney and her roommate Heather's friend Bethany gets treated poorly by the campus player, Heather and Bethany convince Laney to seduce him and break his heart. Laney is known for being the go to girl for boy advice and has helped Heather to have a lasting relationship with her boyfriend Todd. Laney sets out to break Aiden's heart, but vows to keep her real personal life simple. After suffering her own heartbreak back in high school, she has no interest in involving her heart again. But when she ends up running into her ex Lachlan again, things quickly get complicated. Lachlan and Laney both still have feelings for one another, and Lachlan is determined to show Laney that things can work between them. Laney is convinced that she doesn't deserve to be happy with anyone, but especially Lachlan. Can Laney figure things out with Lachlan while also helping her friends with Aiden?

I liked Lachlan. I thought that he was sweet and sexy, and I really liked that he never gave up on Laney. I did however dislike that he was leading another girl on in order to try and make Laney jealous. He kind of acted like it was a big sacrifice and that the ends justified the means, but I just didn't care for that. I thought that he was a good guy and I know he was trying to win Laney back but it didn't feel right the way he was doing it. He should have just been honest with her from the beginning like he was later on in the story. Laney drove me nuts at times. She didn't want to be doing what she was with Aiden and yet she wouldn't stop. She let her friends talk her into doing so many things and then wouldn't back off when they threatened to tell Aiden the truth. She then told him anyways making the whole thing seem like a total waste. I couldn't believe that she would be friends with them after everything. I also felt like while I understood that she was hurt and felt a lot of guilt over what had happened in the past, that she let it affect her for far too long. Lachlan was trying to show her that he had forgiven her and that she should forgive herself, and yet she just continued to break down. She was a little too weak for my taste. I thought that Lachlan and Laney had chemistry between them and that they had a connection and history. They were great for each other and you could see the feelings between them. I just wish that all the other drama wouldn't have continued as long as it did.

I also felt like this book felt a bit disjointed and tended to kind of jump around. Then the story basically wraps itself up very quickly and is over. It was a bit abrupt and felt rushed. I wish that things would have started transitioning earlier and then maybe the ending would have felt different. I also felt that the big secret that Laney was keeping about her relationship ending with Lachlan was carried on for too long. I knew what it was from the beginning and it only became that much more apparent as the story continued. By the time it was revealed it just felt anticlimactic. I think that if you are looking for a quick NA read and are a fan of John Tucker Must Die, that you might enjoy this one and give it a shot. For me, this one just wasn't what I had been expecting or hoping for.

**ARC Provided by YA Bound Book Tours**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

Feature and Giveaway: Hideaway Cove by Anna Sullivan

SOME PASSIONS CAN'T BE DENIED . . .

Jessi Randal walked away from her last relationship with a baby and a broken heart. Now, years later, the last thing this single mom wants is to give Windfall Island-and all its nosy residents-anything more to gossip about. But the moment she lays eyes on the tall, sexy stranger with the slow Southern drawl, she knows she's in delicious trouble . . .

Holden Abbot is on the island to find the missing heir to the Stanhope family fortune. It's his job to charm as many secrets out of the town as possible. And if he can charm Jessi into his bed, even better. When all evidence points to her as the heir, a dangerous enemy sets his sights on Jessi and her son. Now Holden will have to risk everything to protect the family he's come to love.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

Feature and Giveaway: Only with You by Lauren Layne

Love is the Biggest Gamble of All . . .

Cocktail waitress Sophie Dalton doesn't exactly have a life plan. She's perfectly happy being everyone's favorite party girl. But when a Las Vegas bachelorette party goes awry and an uptight businessman mistakes Sophie for a prostitute . . . well, Sophie wonders if it's time to reevaluate her priorities. Swearing off her thigh-high boots for good, Sophie slinks back home with damaged pride-and a jackpot of a hangover.

Yet what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there. On a trip to Seattle to open a new office, Grayson Wyatt meets his latest employee-who turns out to be the same woman he recently called a hooker. Wealthy and gorgeous, Gray is a man used to getting what he wants. And it doesn't take long to figure out that smart, sassy, sexy Sophie is everything he's been looking for. As their late nights at the office turn into hot morning-afters, they realize their Vegas misunderstanding may lead to the real thing . . .

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ARC Review: His Reverie by Monica Murphy

I'll be honest, I am completely irritated after just having finished His Reverie by Monica Murphy. Not only did I have some issues with the book, but I think that it is the author's responsibility to let the reader know ahead of time if a book will be a standalone or if it is part of a series. This book's blurb gave no indication that it was anything other than a standalone, but yet ended with a cliffhanger and a note from the author that the story would continue in the next book. While she does say that the next book comes out in about a month, I felt like I had been completely duped and I am not happy about it. I wish I would have known before starting this book what I was in for.

Nick has just been released from jail after they finally realize that he was accused of a crime he did not commit. Withing two months of being released from jail, his mom dies of cancer. Needing to find a way to support himself on his own, Nick takes a job working for Reverend Hale. Things start off strange when he is forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to work there. While Nick adjusts to his new life and working for the Hales, he meets Reverend Hale's daughter Reverie. They are both drawn together, but there are many reasons for them to stay apart. Reverie is sweet and innocent, and has no idea what Nick's past is like. Nick tries to stay away from her, but the draw between them is too strong. Nick and Reverie begin to secretly see each other and things quickly change between them. While Nick and Reverie both try to figure out where the relationship is going, Nick's ex will stop at nothing to get him back. But when everything suddenly changes after a shocking turn of events, will Nick and Reverie be able to make it out together?

I liked Nick at times, and at others I didn't. He was kind of wishy washy and didn't really seem to stand on his own. He was struggling with the life he had been dealt, but I also felt like he wasn't doing much about it either. He let Krista get away with too much and I didn't understand why he would even consider doing anything with her after everything that she had done to him. It made me really dislike him at times. Reverie was better, but I felt like she was extremely naive and sheltered. She had been raised that way, but she also never stood up for what she wanted or expressed herself to her parents. She complained about her situation, but just went along with it rather than stand up for herself like her brother Evan did. I just struggled a lot with these characters, and I found them hard to relate to or root for. While Nick and Reverie were attracted to one another, I felt like their relationship was lacking as well. They hardly had any interactions where they really were able to get to know each other, and most of their exchanges were very brief with few words exchanged. Beyond the attraction and the physical aspects to their relationship, I really just felt like things were too rushed and too insta-love for my taste. I just didn't find the love they claimed to be real or believable.

While I really liked the fact that this story was mostly told from Nick's POV, I did feel like it would have been nice to see more of Reverie's as well. I thought that the idea to use journal entries of Reverie's for her POV was really interesting, but I did feel as though the way it was done wasn't the best. Reverie came off much younger and way more immature than her actions showed. I felt like it almost made her character lose the positive attributes from the rest of the story. It didn't feel true to her character at all unless I misread her maturity level from other parts of the story. I think if we had been given her thoughts and feelings the reader would have seen Reverie in a completely different light and would have been able to identify with her character much easier. I also felt like the whole storyline with the blackmail and ex-girlfriend was just unnecessary. There was enough drama and problems between them from their circumstances and Reverie's family and their employees without adding that in as well. It just felt like too much. I am honestly really torn after finishing this story, because although I want to know what happens and I hate leaving things unfinished I am just not sure that this is one that I will be very excited for. I am sure that I will end up reading the next book, but honestly this whole thing of not knowing about the cliffhanger and series just left a bad taste in my mouth. If you do decide to give this one a shot, just be prepared for the cliffhanger and abrupt ending.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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