Review: Next to You by Claudia Y. Burgoa

Next to You is the second book in Claudia Y. Burgoa's Life series and is the continuation of Dan and Becca's story. I would definitely recommend reading these in order as I think you will be lost and miss out on so much if you don't start at the beginning. I have been looking forward to finding out what was next for Dan and Becca since I finished their first book, and I am so glad that these two were able to make so much progress in this story. It was frustrating at times and heartbreaking at others, but I knew that what they shared was special and I just had to have faith that they could find their way back to one another.

After Dan's fiance and best friend left his saying that she needed time to heal, he is left shattered and heart broken. He drowns his sorrows in alcohol while he goes about destroying any evidence of her from his life. Rebecca struggles to heal after the painful events of her past, and she knows that if she doesn't take the time to work on herself that there is no chance for a future with anyone else. While she never meant to hurt Dan, she knows that he is suffering from her absence just like she is. While they miss each other, there is also a lot of resentment and hurt feelings between them that need to be dealt with. The two begin to write to each other and finally begin to explain things to one another, being honest in a way that they never were before. Can these Dan and Rebecca find their way back to one another and the inseparable relationship that they once had? Or will the pain and hurt be too much for them to ever overcome?

I felt like Dan and Rebecca both made a lot of progress in this story. I have to say that Rebecca surprised me with how much growth she showed. She knew what needed to be done and finally stood on her own two feet to get it. It was hard and painful for her, and yet it didn't stop her. She knew that by leaving she might be losing Dan forever, but she also realized that if she didn't go she would end up losing him anyways. It was great to see her really put forth that effort and stick to it. I felt like she really showed her maturity in this story, and it was great to see her focusing on her health and well being. Dan continued to try to control things, and he went through a pretty destructive patch in this one. While I didn't agree with his actions or support a lot of his decisions, it was clear how hurt and frustrated he was. He didn't understand, and was left to feel the hurt and pain of Becca leaving. I was glad that he was able to come around eventually though and that he started to see that he needed to deal with some things as well.

Becca and Dan were such a different couple, and I really felt like what they shared was special. These two were great together and had always been there for one another, but they still had such a journey to take. While their journey as a couple was just beginning, it was really their separate paths that ultimately made a relationship between them possible. It was hard to see these two struggle and be apart with no hope at times, but it was clear from the start that what they went through was necessary for them both. I felt like my main issue from the first book was again the problem with this book. I thought that there were a ton of side characters that were unnecessary and left me confused and lost multiple times. I just had a hard time keeping track of all these different names and back stories, and frankly I just didn't think that they added much to the story and I couldn't really care about them. I think that Dan and Becca's story was still one worth reading and even though it was tough at times it was one that will stick with me. I would definitely recommend this series to those that are looking for something deep and real. This story wasn't always pretty or sweet, but it showed that true love sometimes require some work from the individuals to be able to work as a whole. I will look for more from Claudia Y. Burgoa in the future, and be interested to see what she writes next.

**Review Copy Provided by Xpresso Book Tours**

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Feature and Giveaway: Endless Affinity by Brooklyn Taylor

Grace Ingram made one mistake that sent her down a path that was full of heart break and misery. In a moment of hesitation her stubbornness left her filled with doubts in her mind that could cause her to sacrifice the love of her life.

Grace was a blue-collar, strong, independent Texas girl that had been with the same guy since high school. Now at the age of 26 she has been asked the one thing most women are waiting and wishing for, but not Grace. The last thing she wanted was to get married and start a family- especially with a guy that had never had to work for a living. She knew Kyle was the only one she had ever loved with all her heart, trusting and allowing a level of intimacy she would never allow with another. After all he was the only man that knew of the abuse she suffered as a high school teenager. The differences in their lifestyles were in such contrast, though, that it was hard for her to let her guard down. Grace had no idea the battle she would really be fighting once she realized she was losing Kyle for good.

Kyle Chandler was everything every woman wanted. He was rich, gorgeous and full of charm. He was a ladies’ man but the only girl he had eyes for was Grace, his high school sweetheart. He had the world handed to him on a silver platter. The one thing he couldn’t have and wanted deeply was to make Grace his, but he hadn’t been successful at accomplishing that. After years of reluctance he decides to take the risk and ask her to be his, only to be met with the answer he dreaded.

Now, the three girls are back together, trying to juggle their friendships and their busy lives. McKoy is beginning to take over her successful family Vineyard, and Ashlynn getting ready for the arrival of her baby with Cooper.

Will the people that come into their lives keep them apart? Or serve to make them realize the love that they really share?

Do you have to really lose the most important person in your life to realize how special they are? And how hard will you fight to regain that love?

Can Grace overcome her indecisiveness, confident in the love she and Kyle share, knowing they are meant to be together? And is love really enough?

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Kyle was taking control tonight and I was letting him. I was handing him the reins. It felt mind blowing. He pulled up my tank top and started to kiss up and down my breasts and neck. He bit lightly on my nipple as he tugged at them slightly ensuring a peak. His breath on my skin was getting me so excited, I wanted to scream- take me! Take me please! He made me hot as hell and making love on a car was another dream of mine. The thought of it happening with Kyle on a race car, had me so wet and ready I was getting frustrated with Kyle for not going fast enough. He had never forced me into anything and I knew that if I wanted to stop at this very moment, he would. I could feel him hard under his pants and I wanted tonight to be the night.

All my fears about Gary were all gone. I had my eyes open and I could see only Kyle. I could feel only Kyle and feel I could. I was ready.

I started to rub against him up and down his hardness. The jeans were in the way and I was getting frustrated with the determination of wanting to feel skin on skin. I started to pull on his button up jeans to get them off impatiently. He started laughing just a little through his hard breathing.

"You’re a little anxious, sassy pants?"

"Kyle, stop stalling. I’m ready."

I am a Texas girl, mother of 2 amazing kiddos and married to my gorgeous soulmate for almost 20 years. I have a full time job in the medical field but hope one day to strictly write. I love to spend my free time reading, being outside and playing with my family and 4 fur babies. I am blessed to have very supportive friends and family that make my life worth living! I started to write at the instinct of "hey maybe I can do that!" and here I am. I have enjoyed every step of the journey. Every single person I hear from about my stories touches me and confirms the reason why I ventured into this insane dream of mine.

Find Brooklyn at:

| Facebook | Goodreads |

Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 2 signed copy of Endless Affinity
• 3 eBook sets of Endless Affinity + Eternal Soulmate
• 1 $5 Amazon Gift Card

To Enter: 

• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

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Special thanks to Brooklyn Taylor & Book Plug Promotions sponsoring this tour-wide giveaway.

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Interview with Author Katie Rose and Giveaway

Meet Katie Rose, author of Bring On the Heat.

Award-winning historical author Katie Rose makes her contemporary debut with the Boys of Summer novels, Bring on the Heat and Too Hot to Handle, which combine Katie’s true loves: baseball and romance! When not watching baseball, Katie is at her lake house in New Jersey, hard at work on her next book.

Find Katie at:

| Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Feature and Giveaway: It's In His Kiss by Jill Shalvis

ONE KISS CAN LAST FOREVER

Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now's her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam's eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile.

Boatbuilder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can't resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca's heart?

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ARC Review: Trust Me by Lacey Black

Trust Me is the debut novel of Lacey Black, and those can always be sort of tricky. While the blurb sounded amazing, you never quite know what you are in for with a debut. I am so glad to say that Trust Me by Lacey Black was definitely worth the risk, and I really loved this book! I enjoyed the whole story and loved the characters. I couldn't put this book down and this book was so much more than I ever expected. I was originally interested because of the brother's best friend and little sister trope as well as the fact that this one is set in my home state (Yay Missouri!), but I was instantly drawn into the story and I thought that Lacey Black had a wonderful writing style that was so easy to get lost in.

Avery Stevens has a hard time trusting after being betrayed by men in her past. Now she is raising her three year old daughter Brooklyn at the age of twenty-two and relies on the help from her family and friends. Avery has always had a crush on her oldest brother Jake's best friend Maddox Jackson. Maddox has watched Avery grow into the beautiful woman she is now from the annoying little girl she used to be. He works as a cop with her older brother Jake and they have always been best friends. But Maddox has struggled with his attraction to Avery, and the many reasons that he shouldn't be having the feelings for her that he does. Not only is she off limits due to her brother, but there is also the large age difference and her little girl. Maddox has never done girlfriends or commitments, but for the first time he is starting to want more as long as it is with Avery. But can Avery trust Maddox after everything that she has been through, and can they get past all the obstacles that stand in their way?

I really loved Maddox. For all of his playboy ways and reputation, he was so sweet and dedicated to Avery. Once he had realized his feelings for her and decided to go after her, he was completely into just her. He was so sweet with her and Brooklyn, and I loved how he didn't seem to have any problems making that transition even if he knew that he was unfamiliar territory. I thought that he was so thoughtful and kind, and I loved that he was building something with not just Avery but also Brooklyn. You could tell that he was really falling for both of them, and it could not have been more adorable. Avery was great as well. She was such a strong and independent woman, and she had a great head on her shoulders for her age. She was a great mother and Brooklyn was always her priority. I really enjoyed seeing her let Maddox in though, and I loved watching as she opened up to him and started to fall for him. What really made their connection so strong was that they had known each other for so long and that they fit together on every level. They had great chemistry and were really attracted to one another, but they also had the emotional bond that made their relationship so real and believable.

Overall, this book was so good. I really loved every bit of it and I didn't want this one to end. It was sweet and cute, and I loved all the characters so much. I can't wait to get more of this series, and I am really excited that Avery's brother Jake's book is next. I can hardly wait to see what Lacey Black has in store for him and I can't wait to see him fall hard! I think that contemporary romance fans should definitely give this one a shot, and I think that readers will really enjoy this sweet story. I can't wait to see more from Lacey Black in the future.

**ARC Provided by Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews**

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