ARC Review: Touching Down by Nicole Williams

Touching Down is my first Nicole Williams book. I am such a sucker for sports romance stories, and this one sounded like something that I would absolutely love. I have to admit that at times I really struggled here though and ultimately was left with mixed feelings on the story. 

Grant and Ryan loved each other, but just when it looked like their happy ending was in reach, Ryan disappeared. Heartbroken and alone, Grant threw himself into the game and became a name everyone knew. Just as he thinks that he has finally been able to move on, Ryan reappears and changes everything for him once again. 

I really loved Grant! He was amazing and I really felt for him. I did have some problems with Ryan though. I hated some of the decisions that she made, and the worst was the fact that she wasn't honest with him. So much could have been different, and while I understand some of what her reasons were I don't agree with them. I also felt like Grant forgave her too easily, and I really wanted him to make her work for it. They had chemistry and a connection, but I just didn't really feel fully invested in their relationship. Things didn't really start to progress for me until late in the story and at that point it was kind of a too little too late sort of situation for me.

Overall, I think that this book had a ton of potential and just didn't quite live up to it. There was so much promise for where this book could have gone and unfortunately it just didn't get there for me. I do think that this book had some good moments and there were things that I enjoyed. I am glad I read it, I just wish that a few things would have been a bit different and I could have felt more of the romance earlier on for me. There were a few unrealistic things as well, and those kept me from loving this book. I would read more from Nicole Williams though, and I think that this is worth taking the chance on if it sounds like something you might like.

**ARC Provided by Ardent PRose**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes | 

Feature: Searching for Disaster by Jennifer Probst

The next highly anticipated novella in the Searching For series, a romantic spin-off of the Marriage to a Billionaire series from New York Times bestselling sensation Jennifer Probst.

When Isabella MacKenzie tries to move on from her disastrous past, Officer William Devine is determined to show her that love is the only way to heal. This sexy enovella, the final installment in Jennifer Probst’s heartwarming Searching For series, follows the high-powered women of the popular matchmaking agency Kinnections, located in the small, picturesque town of Verily, NY.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes |

ARC Review: To Love and To Cherish by Lauren Layne

This was bitter sweet for me, I absolutely adore this series and I was sad to see it end but it ended well. You finally get to see another side of Alexis rather than her usual calm and collective self, you see frazzled Alexis, sad Alexis, drunk Alexis (that one’s fun), and jealous Alexis. This one can be read as a standalone it reveals more about Alexis and Logan than in any of the other stories. Layne’s style is as usual spot on, she’s witty and the characters are so loveable even if at times you want to strangle them, and the angst of the story isn’t so bad that it’s depressing; the humor and the angst balance each other out perfectly.

Poor Logan he has spent the last eight years waiting for Alexis to finally see him and realize what’s going on. Alexis is oblivious, she has closed herself off from feeling any type of emotion for Logan other than friend because she is scared that she’ll lose him. She feels that no man would want her because how career orientated she is, she assumes that all men want the opposite of what she is. Ten years ago Alexis fell in love only to have that person fall in love with her younger sister. Now she’s faced with the fact that her sister and once boyfriend are getting married and having a baby. Alexis despite what people think wants to have a family, she wants kids and faced with the hurt she once endured a decade ago she decided to join the dating pool. 

Logan is dealing with his own problems, he’s been putting of going back to London and taking over his father’s business because of Alexis. But his parents just announced that they are retiring and they need him back home to take over. He asks for one month before he decides that gives him just enough to get Alexis to fall madly in love with him. The problem is that Alexis doesn’t want to acknowledge him as anything other than friend. He kisses her and she pushes him away. She gets drunk and throws herself at him and he pushes her away. Logan follows her to Florida to “pretend” to be Alexis’ boyfriend and show her just how much he does want her. Alexis is confused and while she wants Logan she’s scared he would fall out of love with her. Alexis needs to decide what she wants from Logan before he leaves for good.

Overall, aside from the times where I really wanted to hit Alexis, I really enjoyed this one. This whole series in general was so good. I just have one question, what about Jessie??    

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

ARC Review: Going Down Fast by Carly Phillips

I love a good second chance love story and Carly Phillips never disappoints, so when the two are combined I knew I had to read it! Going Down Fast is the second book in the Billionaire Bad Boys series, but each book is a standalone story and you do not need to read these in order to understand anything. This book was everything I had been hoping for, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Lucas Monroe and Maxie Sullivan were childhood best friends that were also in love with each other. But Maxie has always been off limits to Lucas and while he was off at college and then becoming wildly successful in the tech world, Maxie moved on with her life. But now Maxie finds herself desperate for help, knowing that the only one she can turn to is Lucas. With their pasts being as complicated as they are though, do they possibly stand a chance of having a future together?

I loved these two! Lucas was fantastic and Maxie was easy to like. Lucas had everything he could ever want, yet he had always wanted Maxie. I loved how he never gave up, yet he didn't push her into anything she couldn't handle. Maxie had been through a lot, and Lucas was patient with her. Maxie grew and became stronger because of Lucas, and I really felt like these two were at their best together. The chemistry between them was beyond hot, and I couldn't get enough of them together. 

Overall, I really loved this book and I definitely plan to read more in this series. This was my first in this particular series from Carly Phillips, but I have really enjoyed everything I have read from her over the years. Carly has a way with words, and she has never disappointed me with her stories. Carly Phillips continues to write sexy and captivating stories that just seem to get better with each new book. If you are a fan of contemporary romance, Carly Phillips is one author you shouldn't miss! I highly recommend Going Down Fast, and I look forward to more from Carly Phillips in the future.

**ARC Provided by RockStarLit PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

Guest Post with Author Julie Cross and Giveaway

Meet Julie Cross author of Chasing Truth.

Julie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin’s Press).

She’s also the author of the Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more to come!

Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA.

She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres.

Outside of her reading and writing cred, Julie Cross is a committed–but not talented–long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.

| Site | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads |