ARC Review: The Player by Claire Contreras

I haven't read a book by Claire Contreras that I didn't love, but I have to admit that between the cover and the fact that The Player is a sports romance, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. It was a great story and I really enjoyed reading it! Sexy and sweet, this book is one that I highly recommend. 

Being as talented as he is on the field and between the sheets, Warren has never wanted for much. But when he meets Camila, he quickly realizes that she is different from anyone he has met before. Immediately he knows that he must have her, but Camila is determined to stay away knowing that they are just too different. Can Warren convince Camila to give them a shot despite the fact that they come from different worlds?

I really liked these two! They were sexy and fun, and I loved their interactions. Camila wasn't a pushover, and I loved her character. She was exactly what Warren needed and I liked that she was so different from what he was used to. She was the kind of heroine that you want to be friends with, and I really enjoyed getting to know her. Warren was sexy and I couldn't get enough of him. He was charming and sweet, though I will admit that he did frustrate me a bit at first with his attitude towards Camila. These two had so much chemistry though that you just knew things were going to explode with how many sparks were flying.

The one thing I will say though is that I did feel like when it came to one thing (I won't say so as not to spoil anything!) I felt like Warren should have been honest, but I also felt like Camila overreacted a bit. Besides that though, this book was one that I had a great time reading and was everything that I have come to love from Claire Contreras. If you are a fan of hers, this is one you are definitely going to want to pick up. If you are new to her, this is a great place to start and I highly recommend checking out her other books as well, especially her Hearts series which is a personal favorite. I just love her books, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

**ARC Provided by Author**

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ARC Review: Paper Hearts by Claire Contreras

Paper Hearts is the second book in the Hearts series by Claire Contreras. This is a standalone story, though the characters are interconnected. Kaleidoscope Hearts is the first book and there is a short novella in between KH and PH called Torn Hearts. This isn't necessary to understand Paper Hearts, but I would highly recommend readers read that before Paper Hearts as it does center around the characters in this book and it explains so much of what happened in the past. For those of you familiar with this series, you may have noticed that this was available for free from Claire Contreras but has since been pulled. It is now included as a part of Paper Hearts, so those purchasing Paper Hearts will be able to read Torn Hearts first.

Mia and Jensen were best friends that turned into more, until something unexpected tore them apart. Though Mia tried to move on, she was left broken hearted and nothing was the same. Now years later her life is once again changing as she prepares to move to NY from California in order to follow her dreams of being a successful photographer. But she also knows that with her being a photographer for the magazine Jensen writes for, it is only a matter of time before she is forced to face him again. Jensen is determined to prove to her that they belong together though despite everything that happened. After letting Mia go once, he will do whatever it takes to hold onto her this time for good. 

I wanted to hate Jensen after what he had done. In Torn Hearts, he absolutely ripped my heart out right along with Mia's. I really wondered if I would be able to move past what he had done, because I didn't understand it at all. Why he would even put himself in the position he did when Mia and him were supposed to end up together. They had taken a break, but they both knew where they would end up because they belonged together. But Jensen slowly began to win me over here in Paper Hearts, and I found myself forgiving him and falling in love with him just like Mia was. I loved Mia, and my heart really went out to her. She had been absolutely blindsided by Jensen, and her heart was broken in the worst way. She had so much strength though, and I loved that she didn't immediately give in to him. I think that he needed to work for it after all he had done, and I really admired her for taking her time with him and getting to know who he was after everything. I will say that she is a much better person than me, as I am not sure that I would have been able to handle the situation that was his life. Things were completely different than what they had planned, and yet she didn't let that hold her back when they started talking again. These two had such a strong connection, that it was clear to me that they should have always been together. That and their chemistry was what made it hurt so bad when it came to what Jensen had done. These two were perfect and I loved them together, but their relationship would never be the same even with them being able heal. 

Overall, I really loved this book. It was heartfelt and emotional, and I was captivated right from the start. I read Torn Hearts and immediately started Paper Hearts after, as I couldn't wait to get more of these two. Their story wasn't always easy, but I was so invested in their journey and I just couldn't stop reading. I really enjoyed Kaleidoscope Hearts, but I have to say that as much as I loved that book, I loved Paper Hearts even more! Mia and Jensen were just impossible not to root for and fall in love with, and I felt so connected to them. I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance as well as new adult fans, or really anyone just looking for a solid love story. These two were proof that true love never ends, even when the world might try to get in the way.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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Review: Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras

Kaleidoscope Hearts is my first book by Claire Contreras, but it won't be my last. I liked this brother's best friend romance, and I thought that it was a really good story. I will admit there were a few things that kept this one from being a five star read for me, but I enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down. 

Estelle (Elle) had fallen in love with a guy when she was a teenager, but things never went the way she wanted them to. Oliver broke her heart and left, leaving her to try and pick up the pieces. Now he is back, and wants her more than ever. But Elle has experienced even more pain is afraid that losing him again would destroy her. But Oliver is determined to show her that things are different this time and that they belong together. 

I liked both Elle and Oliver. I enjoyed seeing their past and present as they got to know one another. These two had a connection, and it was easy to see that they were able to open up to one another in ways that they couldn't with others. But because of how Elle's brother acted, I could see why Oliver would have been afraid to pursue anything with her. I am not saying it was right, but I do understand. I think that Oliver made some really bad choices though, and he really hurt Elle on more than one occasion. His hot and cold act was the hardest thing for me to get over in this book. I felt like it happened far more than was needed, and I kept waiting for it to stop. Elle had her moments with me as well, but I kept thinking about how much she had been through and I could see how that would affect someone. She had a big heart, and I loved how she used her creativity to help others where she could. I felt the chemistry between Elle and Oliver right away, and I liked seeing them figure things out. 

My other big complaint with this one was that things seemed to be a bit drawn out at times, and that would cause the book to drag a bit. I think part of that was Oliver's whiplash behavior. I wish that these two had started to figure things out a bit sooner, and I think it would have been easier for me to put up with some of that had I seen more progress for these two. But I did like them together, and was glad to see how things worked out. Kaleidoscope Hearts is a standalone, but there are more stories in this series that will center around interconnected characters. I am really looking forward to reading those and seeing more of all these characters.

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