ARC Review: Mind Over Matter by Kaia Bennett

Mind Over Matter is the third and final novel in the Loose Ends series by Kaia Bennett. Mind Over Matter continues the story of Gabriel and Nicole, and it has to be read in order. I have loved this series from the beginning, and with the end of each book I couldn't wait to get more of these characters. So I knew going into this one that it was going to be bittersweet. While I have been wanting to see what happened, I just wasn't ready for it to be over. I think that Kaia Bennett did a great job giving a satisfying ending to their story, and I think fans will be really happy with this book.  

Gabriel and Nicole said they would try, but they learned that love wasn't enough. Now Nicole is realizing her dream by publishing her first book and getting ready to move in with her boyfriend Travis. Gabriel's career has taken off, and the band is more popular than ever. But with Jackie and Ian's wedding coming up, it was only a matter of time before Gabriel and Nicole would be face to face again as best man and maid of honor. When Nicole sets out to regain their friendship, they both find themselves falling back into their friendship with ease. But they also find old feelings returning that they never expected, and soon they are both beginning to rethink the path their lives are taking. Are they really over, or were they always meant to be together? 

I have loved Gabriel and Nicole from the beginning of this series, and these two have never had a shortage of love or steam between them. Their connection has always been strong and undeniable. They both were passionate about similar things, and they have always believed in one another and supported each other through everything. But there were so many things that got in their way, including themselves. These two have always had some communication issues, and I was glad to see that Gabriel was more honest and upfront here. That being said though, they still had problems communicating and I really wanted these two to be better than they were at times. The chemistry between them though was as hot as ever, and I don't know how these two could ever been in the same room together without spontaneously combusting from all the sparks flying between them. It was clear that it was only a matter of time before they would find themselves unable to fight what was between them any longer. 

I have to say that I did feel for Travis here though. Unfortunately for him, he was a good guy and would make the perfect man for someone it just wasn't Nicole in my opinion. Travis could have been absolutely perfect, yet for me Gabriel was always it for Nicole. So while I liked him as a person, I never found myself rooting for him. I think if Gabriel had never been in the picture that I might have felt differently, but since that wasn't the case I felt like Travis never really had a shot. I felt badly for all that he went through, and yet I couldn't help but want Gabriel and Nicole to find a way back to one another. Kaia Bennett is a great writer, and I have really enjoyed this series. It was sexy and emotional, and honestly with each book I just couldn't put them down. I wanted more of these characters, and I even loved the secondary characters as well. These characters felt so real and I was invested in their story right from the start. This journey wasn't always an easy one for them or for the reader, yet it was one that was so worth the read. There were some things in this book that I didn't necessary like or agree with, but I did feel as though they were true to the characters and their story. I think that Kaia gave them exactly the ending that was right for them, and I really can't wait to see what she writes next. While I will miss Gabriel and Nicole, I know that whatever Kaia Bennett writes next will be something I plan on reading.

**ARC Provided by IndieSage PR**

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ARC Review: Closer by Kaia Bennett

I have been dying to get my hands on Closer by Kaia Bennett since I finished #1 Crush. I needed more of Gabe and Nic, and couldn't wait to see what happened next for these two! If you haven't read #1 Crush, you are definitely going to need to start there since these aren't standalones. Closer picks up after where we were left with Gabe and Nic and continues their story. I will warn you that these books leave things up in the air as there are three books in this series. I am now waiting for the third book in this series, Mind Over Matter, which is tentatively scheduled for a July 2015 release. 

After spending a week exploring the passion between them, Gabe and Nic went their separate ways. Gabe was pursuing a career in music, and Nic had just graduated from college. Though the time they spent together was great, they knew they weren't in a place for anything serious with one another. But when Gabe and Nic are suddenly back in the same city, they quickly pick up where they left off. Gabe's career is starting to take off, and his band has just been signed. But with things heating up between him and Nic, he wants to give a relationship a chance. Nic agrees, and things are better than ever. But the band's popularity isn't the only new obstacle these two have to face, and suddenly Gabe's past is doing everything it can to wreck his future with Nic. 

I had loved Gabe and Nic in the first book, and that didn't change here. I will say these two frustrated me more in this one though, and there were a few times I wanted to shake both of them. I loved that these two had been able to be so open and honest about things between them. They knew they had a connection and chemistry, but they were also able to see that they weren't in a position for anything serious. While they might have been jealous that there were others, they understood and it didn't destroy their friendship. I was glad that they had remained close and didn't hold that against one another. I thought that their communication in this book was absolutely horrible though. Gabe was the worst when it came to this, and he held a ton back from Nic. I thought his reasons were flimsy at best, and I think that it was a lot of his fault for most of the problems that they encountered. That being said, towards the end of this book Nic really screwed up in my opinion. She acted really immature and handled things very poorly. Though part of the blame was on Gabe, I really felt that she was more to blame for their big blow-up. He should have talked to her, but she acted pretty ridiculous to me. 

These two still had great chemistry and I liked seeing their bond strengthen as their feelings for each other grew deeper. But I felt like they needed to learn to talk to each other. I think part of this was an age thing, but that only takes it so far. I think that they could have solved so much just by being honest. Gabe's ex Meredith was also a huge issue, and I absolutely hated her! She is such a manipulator, and you could tell that she gets off on it. I don't know why they let her have so much power over them, but a lot of that blame goes to Gabe for not talking to Nic about his past. I really hope that this is the last we see of her and that karma gets her. I am looking forward to the next book and need to know what happens next. I think that these two are made for each other, but the journey is far from over. I am a little bit scared if I am honest, having been given a preview of the third book at the end of Closer. I am trying to have faith that Kaia Bennett will get these two where they need to be, but it is going to be a long few months. I think that this series is great though, and these two have so much passion between them. If you are looking for a seriously sexy story, then you have to give this series a shot. I know I will be anxiously awaiting the next book from Kaia Bennett, and can't wait for more!

**ARC Provided by IndieSage PR**

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ARC Review: #1 Crush by Kaia Bennett

#1 Crush is the first book in the Loose Ends series by Kaia Bennett. She has said that each book will be a full length novel and there will be three books total. I loved the cover of this book and couldn't wait to read it from that alone, but the face that it was a best friend's little sister book just sealed the deal for me. This book was really great, and I honestly couldn't put it down. I am anxious for the next book and hope that Kaia Bennett doesn't make us wait too long for more of Nicole and Gabriel. 

Nicole has watched Gabriel from afar for years. She has only ever been looked at as the younger sister of his good friend and has had to watch him date other women. But when she is left alone at the apartment Gabriel shares with Nicole's sister Jackie and her boyfriend Ian, Nicole ends up doing a little exploring and gets caught in a compromising position by none other than Gabriel. Nicole is embarrassed, but Gabriel begins to view her completely different than he ever allowed himself to before. Soon they are engaging in a passionate affair that goes beyond just the physical. But with Nicole leaving soon and both of them not looking for a serious relationship, can they turn her crush into something real?

Let me just say that I loved Nicole and Gabriel. They might not have spent a ton of time together or really ever had anything beyond friendship, but it was clear that they have always connected with one another. They enjoy the same books and music, and never had any problems discussing things. Even if they didn't agree, they always had an easy way to their friendship. But as this book really got into the new side to their relationship, it was also clear that they had both been noticing each other from afar and it wasn't just Nicole that had feelings for Gabriel. These two were super steamy together, and I enjoyed seeing them explore their fantasies and physical connection as much as the friendship that they already had. They were downright hot, and I couldn't get enough of their sexy times.

Overall, I thought that this was a great first installment in this series. I loved seeing them discover each other's bodies and their physical connection, and couldn't wait for more of them. I did think that this one was a lot of sex and steam, but it didn't bother me at all. They already had the friendship and this was the start of something more for them. While we didn't get a lot of emotional development in this book, I did see that they were both developing real feelings for one another whether they were ready to admit that or not. They both knew that what was happening between them was more than what they had felt with others. I can't wait to see what the next book in this series has in store for these two. I will say that this book was one I couldn't put down, and it would have been a five star read for me if it wasn't for the fact that I felt the back and forth in time was a bit confusing. It would switch from present to an event or conversation in the past, and I found it a bit disorienting. Otherwise, this book was everything I could have asked for and more. If you are looking for a sexy read to dive into, I would definitely recommend giving this one a shot. The story will continue in the next book, but this one didn't end with a huge cliffhanger or anything like that. Kaia Bennett did a great job with this story, and she absolutely left me hungry for more.

**ARC Provided by IndieSage PR**

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