ARC Review: After Loving You by Ashelyn Drake

Ashelyn Drake is a new to me author. I loved the sound of this book though, so I had to take the chance on it. While this wasn't a horrible book, it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. 

Mia and Jared broke up before college, but two years later they find themselves thinking of one another. Though each of them are seeing different people, they can't seem to let go of the past. But as they find themselves being drawn to each other once more, they also must figure out if they belong together, or if it is time to move on. 

I have to admit that a lot of what I struggled with here was the characters. They felt really immature for me, and that was hard for me to connect with. I expected quite a bit of angst, and there was plenty. But there was so much push and pull that it just got old at times. I can't really get into it much without spoiling anything, so I won't go into specifics, but I did really like one character here. They were the bright spot for me and honestly I thought that they deserved better. 

My biggest issue was that this book was so misleading. I felt like it was a story about one thing, when in actuality it was something else entirely. I could have been on board with that, had I known that ahead of time. But I don't appreciate being led to believe one thing and then get something else entirely. I think part of it was done for shock value and it didn't feel entirely genuine, especially considering a lot of what happened here. So while this story had promise, overall this wasn't entirely for me. I think that there are other readers out there that will really enjoy this one though, so if it sounds like something you might like I recommend giving it a shot.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with an emotionally powerful story of unconditional love, its challenges, its risks and most of all, its rewards.

At 32, Russell Green has it all: a stunning wife, a lovable six year-old daughter, a successful career as an advertising executive and an expansive home in Charlotte. He is living the dream, and his marriage to the bewitching Vivian is the center of that. But underneath the shiny surface of this perfect existence, fault lines are beginning to appear...and no one is more surprised than Russ when he finds every aspect of the life he took for granted turned upside down. In a matter of months, Russ finds himself without a job or wife, caring for his young daughter while struggling to adapt to a new and baffling reality. Throwing himself into the wilderness of single parenting, Russ embarks on a journey at once terrifying and rewarding-one that will test his abilities and his emotional resources beyond anything he ever imagined.

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ARC Review: A Fool For You by Katee Robert

I have to start by saying that Katee Robert is one of my favorite authors. She does a fantastic job of mixing contemporary romance with erotic elements. KR is also just a really good story telling and writer. All of those things are present in this book and for that reason, I recommend it. 

This is Hope and Daniel's story. I think this is the second book in a series but it is a standalone and you can read it without reading the first book. Hope and Daniel have history. They were a couple when Hope was 18 and Daniel was 21. Their relationship ended with a terrible car accident that claimed the life of Hope's older brother and Daniel's best friend. From that point on, human nature gets in the way and things get complex. Daniel blames himself for everything that happens so he isolates himself from Faith. To Faith, it feels like she has lost so much and her one true love ditches her. The two go on about their lives and reunite 13 years later. They have what they think is a one time wall bang but oh does fate have different plans. Hope gets pregnant and then the couple has to decide if they can heal their past hurts and move forward with their little family. 

So here's the thing for a reader like me, I hate when characters are unreasonable. In this book, both of the main characters are a little stuck on stupid. Daniel wants to keep blaming himself for the past. Hope won't give up her ideas about a future by herself miles away from Daniel, even though she is having his baby. I really love the parts of the book where the couple took time outs from their issues. Daniel is bossy, sexy and really loves the idea of a pregnant Hope. Hope is smart and really insightful about what Daniel needs to see about himself to heal. Hope and Daniel are good together but OMG, their issues constantly popping up is super annoying. Despite all the good chemistry and love between them, they keel revisiting the BS and driving me crazy. I was rooting for these two but I also wanted to slap them.

All things considered, this is a well written, fast paced, good story. Because I can't stand overly stubborn characters or heroines who try to keep babies from loving Dads, it gets 3 stars from me.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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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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Guest Post with Author Sharon Sala and Giveaway

Meet Sharon Sala author of Saving Jake.

Sharon Sala has over ninety-five books in print and has published in five different genres. She is a seventime RITA finalist, four-time Career Achievement winner from RT Book Reviews, and five-time winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award. Writing changed her life, her world, and her fate. She lives in Norman, Oklahoma.

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