A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Jennifer Bonds and Giveaway

Jennifer Bonds writes sizzling contemporary romance with sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and a whole lot of mischief. When she's not writing or wrangling toddlers, she can be found curled up with a good book and a bottle of wine. Jennifer lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where her overactive imagination and weakness for reality TV keep life interesting. She's lucky enough to live with her own real life hero, two adorable children, and a pair of rambunctious dogs. Loves Buffy, Mexican food, the Winchester brothers, and all things zombie. Sings off-key.

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Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

I am so late to the party here when it comes to Hopeless by Colleen Hoover, but I am so glad that I read this book! My friend has been telling me to read this book for so long now, and I honestly just never got around to it. Now that I have read it though, I cannot believe how long it took me! This book is amazing, brilliant, and was so surprising. Colleen Hoover is a great writer, and I didn't expect this story to go the way it did at all. I know why so many people rave about this book now, and for anyone who hasn't read this one yet, you absolutely should!

Seventeen-year-old Sky is immediately drawn to Dean Holder, though she has no idea why. Their first meeting leaves her with more questions than answers, and he seems to have a well deserved reputation. Yet she also is unable to stay away from him, despite what she thinks she knows about him. But the more Sky and Holder get to know one another, the more Sky begins to realize that Holder isn't who she thinks he is at all. When the truth starts coming out and secrets are revealed, Sky soon realizes that her life will never be the same. 

I absolutely loved Holder! He is impossible not to fall for, and honestly I could go on and on about him. He is a great guy, caring and protective, patient and kind. This is the kind of guy that girls dream about having for a boyfriend, and oh how I wish he was real! He had moments where he struggled with anger and didn't handle himself the best, but I understood where he was coming from even if I didn't agree with how he acted. He was so great for Sky and I loved how he was with her. Sky was easy to like. She was different and complicated, and I loved that she was a bit odd. She was one of those characters that you just like right away. These two had such a strong connection, and it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. They had me swooning and I couldn't get enough of them. 

Overall, I really cannot say enough good things about this book and I feel as though I could just ramble on about these characters and the story forever but that the words would never do it justice. It was so good and honestly I won't ever forget this book. There were so many twists, and I didn't see any of them coming. This book was beautiful and heartbreaking, and completely unexpected. It was such an emotional read, and I found myself laughing out loud and crying on more than one occasion. This book is everything, and if you haven't read it yet, it is a must read. I might be late in reading this one, but I know that it will be one that I read many more times in the future. No one writes like Colleen Hoover, and I honestly can't wait to see what else she comes up with in the future.

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ARC Review: Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

I don't really know where to start with this review. Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn wasn't at all like I thought it was going to be and unfortunately this book did not work for me. There were too many things that I had issues with, and I just don't even really know exactly what to think. First, this book while it is stated to be young adult and is about that age group is not one that I would actually let anyone from that age group read. Second, the only reason I even finished this book was because it was like a bad train wreck that you can't look away from and I just had to see how it would all end. I will try to be as vague as possible, but beware there might be spoilers below as some things that bothered me need a bit more explanation. 

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes has an open door policy for virgins looking to get their first time out of the way. As long as they promise to give their girlfriends the best first time possible (the kind she didn't have), she views it as doing them and their girlfriends a favor. With her mother never around, her best friend having no idea what she does in her spare time, and her friend with benefits none the wiser, Mercedes has kept her secret through many guys. But when her best friend's boyfriend threatens to ruin everything if she doesn't hook up with him, Mercedes knows her secret is about to be found out. When everything is exposed, will she be able to salvage her friendships and her reputation? 

I could not stand Mercedes. Not only was she clueless, but she was completely delusional. She thought that by having sex with these guys that their girlfriends would be grateful for it. (of course that was on the assumption that they would never find out...yeah right) She really felt like she was doing all parties involved a service and that she was happy to hook-up with them as long as they "paid it forward", and what started out as only five virgins quickly turned into the teens. All of this for a seventeen-year-old. I am not a prude by any means, but since when is it okay for a seventeen-year-old to sleep around that much and her mother to joke about her one night stands? It was pretty disgusting and I felt like the whole thing was excused because her mom was hardly around, her dad up and left when she was a kid, and she had a bad incident at a young age. Seriously I had no compassion for Mercedes at all, and I found her beyond ridiculous. Her friend with benefits (although for most of the story she refused to even call him her friend) wanted more with her and went above and beyond, and I honestly felt so sorry for him! Zach deserved so much better and I really wanted him to just leave her like she deserved.

There was a situation with her best friend's boyfriend that I felt was left completely unresolved, and the fact that nothing seemed to happen was so unrealistic to me. I couldn't believe that nothing happened, considering the fact that it was widely known and several people (including adults/teachers) were aware of it and she was underage. How there weren't child pornography charges involved or the police I still don't understand. There were issues with rape and dubious consent. All of this for high school aged kids and nothing really happened. Mercedes and her friends took matters into their own hands and that was the only way that any of it was dealt with. It was just completely unbelievable and honestly I felt like the whole book was just an excuse for this girl to have sex with as many guys as possible and in the end it was just glossed over as if that is normal or okay. It was completely inappropriate, there was a ton of cheating as all the guys had girlfriends, and the one guy that was actually likable in the whole book ended up being treated horrible and still wound up with her in the end though he deserved far better. Firsts is Laurie Elizabeth Flynn's first book, and I honestly doubt that I will be reading anything from her in the future. This book should not be marketed to youth in my opinion, and I think it glorifies promiscuity and perpetuates so many things that are wrong with kids today. Kids have become so desensitized to sex these days, and it is books and movies like this that show them that there are little to no consequences for their actions and that it is alright to act like this and sleep with as many people as possible.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Nina Crespo and Giveaway

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions—the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Curiosity about people and places, including what’s beyond the stars, fuels her writer’s imagination.

Her Birthday Dare series novellas, TAKE ME IF YOU DARE and NAUGHTY LITTLE WISHES, are available from Entangled Publishing. Her fantasy series, THE SONG, is available through Kensington Publishing-Lyrical Press. Let Nina’s sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after. 

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ARC Review: Heir to the Duke by Jane Ashford

I wasn't very fond of Heir to the Duke by Jane Ashford. Boredom can't even begin to cover it. I also cannot say that this book was a romance. I never felt my heart beat fast or "swoon" over any occasion. The story felt more of a Chicklit with the female lead "coming out of her shell" being the main focus.

The book begins with Violet and Nathaniel's wedding. They'd been acquaintances and felt the match would be amiable. Shockingly for Nathaniel, Violet had been holding back from having fun because of her overbearing grandmother. Violet blooms so to speak with marriage and independence but soon finds herself in sticky situations she could have easily avoided.

I never got a true feel for Nathaniel's character. Violet's history and family secrets are the only things that drove me to finish the story. I was tempted to quit several times. I really don't know what compelled me to finish. Sadly, not a great sampling from this author, and I'll be shocked if I read another of her books.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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