ARC Review: Down Deep by Virna DePaul

Down Deep is the first book in the Going Deep series by Virna DePaul. While I have enjoyed books by her in the past and this one looked to be everything that I love in a good romance story, I had quite a few issues that kept me from loving this story. I do think that some readers will really enjoy this story, but there were some things that just didn't work for me personally. 

Football star Heath was Camille's first crush until he embarrassed her at a football game in high school. While she got revenge, she also closed herself off in order to move forward with her life. Now years later, Camille is a single mom and photographer. When she runs into Heath again, she finds all the feelings she once felt come rushing back to her, and Heath is more irresistible than ever. But while the two begin to think that there might be a future for them, they also begin to realize that life may have other plans for them. 

I struggled a bit with these characters if I am honest. While I wanted to like them and feel invested in their relationship, I didn't ever feel their connection. Attraction and steam yes, but I didn't feel like we ever got the depth of emotion beyond a huge case of insta-love. Camille was a bit to wishy washy for me, saying one thing and doing another. Heath was a bit too much of the stereotypical jerk jock at times. I didn't feel connected to them and that coupled with the lack of genuine connection between them had me feeling indifferent to them.

My biggest problem here though was the fact that there were too many inconsistencies and problems with the actual story for me to every fully get behind it. While this was an early copy and some of this could have been changed, these were issues with the story itself and not simple grammar or spelling mistakes. I do understand that this is a work of fiction and that the author has to take some creative license in order to make a story work. But if you say one thing at one part of the story and then contradict that later with words or actions then the whole thing begins to unravel. While these things probably won't bother a lot of readers, I found it hard to get past those things as well as the fact that I didn't really care for the characters. This one just wasn't meant for me, despite the fact that it had the potential to have been a really great story. If it sounds like one you might like though, I recommend giving it a shot. It might just have been that it didn't work for me personally, and could end up being one that others love.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: An Untouchable Christmas by Cindy Skaggs

This holiday is one she will never forget. 

Sofia Capri survived life as a mob wife, but living with drop-dead gorgeous FBI agent Logan Stone has its own challenges. Step one? Host his family for Christmas dinner.

Rescuing Sofia from her former mob life and saving her kidnapped son was enough to earn Logan a place in her life, but a mysterious phone call before dinner threatens the security he'd give anything to provide.

When Sofia's son and Logan's nieces disappear from the festivities, the illusion of a normal Christmas shatters, hurling Sofia back into her nightmares.

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ARC Review: Sexy Lies and Rock & Roll by Sawyer Bennett

I confess that I'm a Sawyer fan.  I just read her Sugar Bowl series and I loved it.  I also read most of the Carolina Fury Ice Hockey romances and some of her earlier legal romance novels.  I'm saying all that to say that even though there were a few things (Emma) that unnerved me about this book, I probably wouldn't give Sawyer anything less than a positive rating.  I think that this author's writing is extremely well thought out and put together.  Her books are researched well and never strain credibility.  No matter how I may feel about plot choices, I always feel like I'm in the book and I always remember her stories.

This book starts out with intrigue- and by that I mean a murder and a mystery.  Evan is a rock star who finds himself at the center of a murder charge.  Evan is all the hot alpha sex appeal you expect from a rock star.  He's also a manwhore who offers women a nice parting gift as he kicks them out of his house (kidding about the parting gift but not about the kicking out part).  Emma is a plain, boring contracts lawyer.  Ok, I'm about to travel down a side road.  I'm actually a lawyer and stuff like this drives me CRAZY. First of all, baby contract lawyers don't just randomly jump into high profile cases with high profile clients. It makes me feel like the only reason Evan wanted Emma was because of her looks, which I didn't like.  Oh, wait, I don't have a second of all, that's it. But, whatever, suspend disbelief and go with it.

I actually really liked Evan in this book.  Evan is written in the typical fashion of Sawyer Bennett heroes.  He is extremely confident and pursues Emma even as she tries to put him off.  I love the chase and I love that Evan didn't give up on Emma. Emma and Evan share a tour bus and pretty soon they are sharing way more than that.  The only thing, other than the legal issues, that gave me pause in this book was Emma's reaction to the conflict in the story.  I won't tell you what happens but Emma's reaction left a bad taste in my mouth.  I felt like Evan more than earned Emma's trust.  I didn't get why Emma didn't just give him the benefit of the doubt. That didn't detract from my enjoyment in this book.  There was great chemistry between these characters, some hot sexy scenes and a really sweet romance.  I'm not really big on rock & roll romances but I recommend this book and I think you'll enjoy it.

**ARC provided by Author**

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ARC Review: Collecting the Pieces by L.A. Fiore

Collecting the Pieces is the second book that I have read from L.A. Fiore, and let me tell you that I am now a huge fan of hers. This book was so good, and I really love her writing style. Emotional and real, this story kept my up way past my bedtime because I could not put it down. 

Abandoned as a baby, Sidney didn't find any real family until she was put in a foster home at the age of ten. Though the foster parents were more interested in the money than her, Sidney found a brother and best friend in Connor. In high school, Sidney meets and falls for Jake. For the first time Sidney finally has a real family and love with Jake and his parents. But just as it appears that Sidney's life is set, everything falls apart. Years go by, and Sidney finds herself lost and clinging to the past. When her and her best friend relocate, Abel Madden changes everything for Sidney once again. 

I loved the characters here. I felt connected to them and each were so real and deep. Sidney was so strong, despite everything that she had been through. She was sweet and beautiful on the inside and out. I really felt for her and all she had lost, and I was so glad that she was able to find love again. Jake was so amazing! I loved him right away, and he and his family were everything that Sidney needed to really know what love was. Up until she met him, she didn't have that, so to see her get that from him and see what an amazing person he was was a truly hard act to follow. I wasn't sure right away that I would be able to move past him and accept Abel. If i'm honest, there were times that I was upset that we were put in that position that we had to. But then I found myself like Sidney, picking up the pieces and moving on and I loved Abel as well. He was also what Sidney needed at that time in her life, just as Jake had been before. 

I don't want to spoil the story or give anything away, so let me reassure those of you that might be a little apprehensive to read this one. This book is a great story that I believe is definitely worth the read, and it is not a love triangle and does not contain cheating. Beyond that though, this story needs to be experienced so I recommend going into this one as blind as possible. L.A. Fiore has a way with words, and her stories seem to be emotional which I absolutely love. She draws you in from the first word and doesn't let go, and with each book I have read from her I am left with a huge book hangover, finding it impossible to forget the beautiful story I have just read. Collecting the Pieces and His Light in the Dark are two of my favorite reads, and I am definitely becoming a huge fan of L.A. Fiore's. I can't wait to read more from her, and I think readers that are looking for something deep and emotional should give her books a shot.

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Forget Me Always by Sara Wolf

It’s been three years, twenty-five weeks, and five days since Isis Blake fell in love, and if she has it her way, it’ll stretch into infinity. Since then, she’s punched Jack Hunter—her nemesis-turned-maybe-something-more—in the face, survived a brutal attack by her mom’s abusive ex thanks to Jack’s heroics, and then promptly forgotten all about him.

The one bright spot for Isis is Sophia, the ephemeral girl who shares Isis’s hospital stay as well as a murky past with Jack. But as Isis’s memories return, she finds it harder and harder to resist what she felt for Jack, and Jack finds it impossible to stay away from the only girl who’s ever melted the ice around his heart.

As the dark secrets surrounding Sophia emerge, Isis realizes Jack isn’t who she thought he was. He’s dangerous. But when Isis starts receiving terrifying emails from an anonymous source, that danger might be the only thing protecting her from something far more threatening.

Her past.

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