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Saturday, April 5, 2014

Weekly Winners

Below is a list of all of the winners from the past week.

Barbara
Mad About You by Lori Wilde

Yadira
Box of Books (RFTC Monthly Giveaway)


**Replacement Winner**
Lori
Passionately Yours, Never Entice an Earl + What a Reckless Rogue Needs courtesy of Forever Romance


All winners have been notified via email. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and entered. =)

Review: Reasonable Doubt by Whitney Gracia Williams


OMG This book! Honestly I read the first sentence in the blurb and instantly added this to my TBR list. I counted the days until it was released and the moment it popped up on Amazon I one-clicked! I then proceeded to devour this story. I cannot even begin to tell you how great this was! This one is impossible to describe and hot and steamy don't even begin to cover it! I never expected the twist or the way it ended and I'll be honest I cannot wait to get my hands on more. It's not even a want, it's an absolute need. Andrew and Aubrey need to be on my Kindle now and I need to know what happens next.

Andrew doesn't do commitment. He does one night only, casual sex with no repeats and he definitely doesn't do liars. He meets his women online and he doesn't have the time for anyone who isn't honest and up-front with him. He is a successful lawyer and only has one friend. He met Alyssa on a lawyer chat website for lawyers to interact with one another. She is the only person that he considers to be a friend and he has never met her in person. They talk on the phone, text and email. He has been pushing to meet in person but she always finds a way to avoid it. Until one day when he is interviewing interns for his office and comes face to face with her. Only she isn't the 27 year old ugly red head that she told him she was. She is 22, blonde and he is instantly attracted to her because she is just his type. Well his type except that clearly she is a liar and is actually named Aubrey. When she gets the position at his firm, he wants nothing more to do with her. But the connection that they shared before is nothing compared to what it is like now that they are dealing with each other in person.

Andrew is completely hot! Seriously his dirty talking ways drew me right in and wow did he steam up my Kindle! He is sexy and confident and knows exactly what he wants. He is honest to a fault and isn't afraid to blurt out exactly what he is thinking. I loved how he interacted with Aubrey and I liked their friendship. They were so blunt and were able to be so real with each other despite the lies and secrets between them. I also really liked Aubrey. She was strong and sharp, and I instantly liked how she was able to take whatever Andrew gave her and dish it right back! These two had some of the hottest banter I have ever seen. I loved it and couldn't wait to see what would happen when they came face to face. Trust me it did not disappoint! These two were super hot and the chemistry was off the charts and unlike anything I have ever seen before!

I seriously have no idea why I have never read anything by Whitney Gracia Williams before, but after reading this story I will definitely be reading more from her in the future! This one was amazing and I loved every second of it. The ending was completely unexpected, and left me absolutely reeling. I need the next one now. Serials are always tough for me because I am not patient at all. But this one is so worth it, and I am really glad that I took that chance. I highly recommend this story if you like a lot of hot and steamy scenes and especially if you like a dirty talker! Andrew definitely just became one of my top book boyfriends, and I can't wait to get more of him! I really hope that we aren't left waiting for the next installment for long, because I am not sure if I can handle it! This one is a must read, and I can't wait to dive back in and read it all over again!

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |



My Favorite Book Couple with Elizabeth Essex


When not rereading Jane Austen, mucking about in her garden and simply messing about with boats, award-winning author Elizabeth Essex can be always be found with her laptop, making up stories about heroes and heroines who live far more exciting lives than she. It wasn’t always so. Long before she ever set pen to paper, Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classics, and then earned her MA in Nautical Archaeology from Texas A&M University. While she loved the life of an underwater archaeologist, she has found her true calling writing lush, lyrical historical romance full of passion, daring and adventure.

Elizabeth lives in Texas with her husband, the indispensable Mr. Essex, and her active and exuberant family in an old house filled to the brim with books.

Places to find Elizabeth:

ARC Review: Between the Devil and Ian Eversea by Julie Anne Long


First, I want to say that Ms. Long is a very popular and accomplished author. I have read other work by her before and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, that was not the case with “Between the Devil and Ian Eversea (Pennyroyal Green #9). The story began interestingly enough. Titania "Tansy" Danforth is an American heiress. She is orphaned and travels to England so that her guardian can find her a husband. Ok, so far… Then we meet and get to know the actual heroine. Apparently she is so beautiful men go insane at the sight of her. Helen of Troy has nothing on “Tansy”. Men just become so enamored with her that they take leave of their senses. This I took with an eye-roll… Ok, moving along… We meet our hero- Ian Eversea. Tansy is IMMEDIATELY captivated with Ian. She finds him physically attractive but he doesn’t seem to fall all over himself and become a bumbling idiot like ALL the other men she encounters. (At this point, I’m done with the eye rolls and now taking deep breaths is the hope that I can finish this story).

Because Ian is not interested in Tansy (or he is interested in her just not a blithering fool) She is even more captivated. How can he not fall for her graces? Every other man has…? At this point I start to laugh at the absurdity of these characters and laugh at the nonsensicalness of it ALL. The supporting characters were equally as superficial and just incomprehensible. Genevieve, Ian’s sister, another great beauty. She too could give Helen of Troy a run for her money. Genevieve is shadowed by Tansy. All the attention went to Tansy and not to HER beauty. So this part had me laughing. Genevieve is also a tremendous beauty but not as beautiful. (Apparently only beautiful people make an appearance in this book.) The ugly people just don’t exist.

Ian Eversea kept the story going. He was not the typical English gentleman. He has seen the horrors of war and isn’t the usual type of man. He works with his hands and breaks a sweat. Ian is supposed to be very scandalous, in fact, the most scandalous thing he does is he calls Tansy “Tit-sy”. (That was the extent of his scandal). I actually thought Ian was a great guy, he was just not shallow, which seemed to be the driving force behind many of the characters. Even Olivia and Genevieve are very catty and superficial. Olivia doesn’t like Tansy because… she is a woman? As the story progressed Ian and Tansy get to know each other better and put aside their perceptions about one another. Unfortunately, I never felt a big connection between Ian and Tansy, other than their attraction for each other. The story, overall, repeated itself. Ian doesn’t want to like Tansy, Tansy has a number of admirers, she can’t figure out why Ian isn’t one of them, she counts her success by the amount of flowers she receives. Overall, not my kind of story.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |




Friday, April 4, 2014

Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover


I have been told that I really needed to read a book by Colleen Hoover for quite awhile now. When I first heard about Maybe Someday, I knew it was the one I wanted to read first! I have been listening to the songs from the soundtrack by Griffin Peterson since they first started releasing to iTunes. I will admit that I grew even more curious with each new song. Then the book came out and I was finally able to experience them together. WOW I absolutely loved that this book had an actual soundtrack to go with it. It really gave me an entirely new experience when reading that was unlike anything I have ever come across before. This was such an ingenious idea that Colleen Hoover came up with. Trust me this is definitely one that you must read and listen to! Hoover's writing style was really enjoyable and I was sucked in right from the start.

Sydney has just found out that her best friend and boyfriend have been hooking up behind her back. Heartbroken and needing some place to stay while she figures things out, she ends up turning to the sexy musician from across the way. She has watched him playing guitar everyday and has been drawn to him since she first saw him. Ridge has been struggling with writer's block and when he sees Sydney singing along to his songs that he hasn't written lyrics for he is intrigued. So he gets her to send him her lyrics and it is better than he imagined. The solution seems simple, Sydney needs a place to stay and Ridge needs a muse. But with their growing closeness and everything standing between them, things get complicated really quickly.

I really liked Ridge. I thought that he was sweet and caring, he was a natural protector and was always looking out for others. I liked that he was such a good guy. He was honorable and loyal. He was in a really bad situation, and yet he tried to always handle things the best way he knew how. I liked how funny he was and I loved the honesty and open way that he and Sydney had with each other. They were never afraid to lay it all out there with each other. I loved Sydney. I thought that she was strong and sweet, but also funny and good-hearted. I felt so bad for her. She was constantly getting dealt one crappy thing after another, and she was in such an impossible situation. I loved how mature she was and what a good person she was through and through. It was what made her so likable. I thought that she and Ridge had such a natural chemistry and they just fit together. I thought that their personalities really came through and were the perfect compliment to one another.

I did have a few things that I didn't necessarily agree with and they left me with some mixed feelings. I can't really say much about them because they are spoilers, and this book has to be read without spoilers. Trust me you do not want anything ruined for you. But I felt like the situations were handled as well as they could be, and honestly there was no bad guy in this story. As much as I wanted there to be, there wasn't anyone that you could put the blame on. It was just likable characters that were in an impossible situation and at times it was absolutely heartbreaking. But I loved all the characters, including the supporting characters. Warren was one of my favorites, and I just loved him! I also really loved the way that Sydney and Ridge first start talking, it was really great! One of the best meet cutes I have ever read! What I really loved the most though is that Colleen Hoover gave us a story unlike anything I have ever read before and characters unlike any you have ever seen. This book was completely original, and I loved how unique and different everything was. This isn't the same tired story with a different spin or the same cookie cutter characters that we have seen over and over. I highly recommend this story and soundtrack and for me this is an absolute must read! I can't wait to read more from Colleen Hoover and I really look forward to seeing what else she has to offer.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |

Soundtrack: | Amazon | iTunes |



My Favorite Book Couple with Christine Bell


Christine Bell is one half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing fun and adventure-filled romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons.

Places to find Christine:

ARC Review: The Day He Kissed Her by Juliana Stone


Lily St. Clare and Mac Draper have intense chemistry. Lily shared a one night stand one New Year’s Eve with Mac. Although very uncharacteristic of her, she was very drawn to Mac. The next day she took off and gave Mac the wrong number. Mac never forgot about Lily and being the bad-boy that his is, he is usually the one that does the loving and leaving. As fate would have it, through mutual friends they meet again at Crystal Lake. When Lily sees Mac she is shocked and tries to make a getaway but that doesn’t work out like she hoped.

Mac is a very tortured soul. He had a very rough upbringing and he still holds on to many of his issues. He is constantly fighting to control his temper and loses himself in the bottle. He has a very strict philosophy about not getting attached and not putting too much of himself into anything. He doesn’t realize that Lily is carrying her own scars and she understands him better than anyone. She is also not easily hurt or pushed away when Mac lets his demons overtake him. Mac is fun, exciting and sexy. He knows that he wants to get to know Lily and that the summer he is spending in Crystal Lake promises to be an interesting one.

I really liked both characters. Lily and Mac carried a lot of baggage with them. They are very drawn to each other and they had great chemistry. I also liked the supporting characters and wished I had read the previous books in the series so I could know more about them. I especially liked Liam, Mac’s nephew. He really gave Mac a different perspective on life and family. There are many dark and serious issues that are a part of both Mac and Lily’s life’s. It was very sweet to see them fall in love. My only complaints are that Lily was flat. Many of her emotions are easily divided into uncertainty and lust. At times, she seemed a little flat and underdeveloped. But other than that this was a very enjoyable, fun and sexy story. I enjoyed seeing Mac and Lily finally get their happily-ever-after and especially with the bonus surprise at the end.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

Purchase:Amazon | Kindle | B&N |




Thursday, April 3, 2014

ARC Review: Passionately Yours by Cara Elliott


I was hesitant to start “Passionately Yours (Hellions of High Street # 3) because I was not ready to say good-bye to the Sloane sisters! I absolutely loved this series! I was worried about Passionately Yours not living up to the previous books, but it definitely did! This was a classic example of romance, adventure and fun! Only Cara Elliott could balance all these elements and keep them equally as interesting.

Caroline Sloane is such a fantastic character! I think that Cara Elliott did a great job of developing her character and having her come –into-her -own story. As the youngest of the Sloane sisters she had big shoes to fill but she did not disappoint. The young poet, Caro is fun, brave, strong, very sweet and vulnerable. Although she is a hit in her season in London, she is looking for love! The Scottish noble Alec McClellan was a perfect challenge for Caro and her for him! While Caro is brave and open Alec is shut off and not the most articulate when it comes to his feelings! Watching them fall in love was really a beautiful experience. Caro was so ready to fall in love and she didn’t lack the courage to be her own person. I loved Alex and Caro’s chemistry in the previous book, Sinfully Yours. While that took place in Scotland, this story was set in Bath. I loved that the author took a quiet and small town like Bath and she turned into a place where there was romance, mystery and treacherous activities.

Another fantastic part of this story were Isobel (Alec’s half-sister) and her chance at love. I loved Isobel and thought that she developed throughout the story. The theme of mystery starts from the beginning of the story as Isobel and Caro suffer an “accident”. Coincidently, this accident is paired with Alec’s visit to Bath and some of his old friends. In Sinfully Yours, we learned that Alec hates the English and that he is part of the movement for Scottish Independence. Many elements of Alec’s past filter into his present and he finds that the people he loves most are in danger because of him. All of these elements are easily explained in this story and Passionately Yours can be read without any of the previous stories and still be as enjoyable. My only complain about this book is that I have nothing to look forward to! I’m so happy for the Sloane sisters and loved them as characters! The hero’s weren’t too shabby either! So happy that Caro and Alec found their way to each other but I’m going to miss these characters!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |




My Favorite Book Couple with Avery Flynn


Avery Flynn loves a hockey-addicted husband, has three slightly wild children and is desperately wishing someone would invent the coffee IV drip. Find out more about her on her website (www.averyflynn.com), Twitter (@AveryFlynn) or Facebook (facebook.com/AveryFlynnAuthor). She posts all sorts of fashion, reading and hero inspiration pictures on Pinterest (pinterest.com.AveryFlynnBooks).

Places to find Avery:
| Site | Facebook | Twitter

ARC Review: Fix You, Bash and Olivia Book One by Christine Bell


Fix You is the first part of Bash and Olivia's story in Christine Bell's new McDaniels Brothers series. This is the first of three parts for Bash and Olivia, and I thought it was a great way to start the series. I am already looking forward to getting more of these characters and can't wait to see what happens next. I must admit that I am not a huge fan of these short stories and serials because I am always left wanting more and I hate waiting. That being said though, this story was definitely worth the read and I am really glad that I took a chance on this one. I will just have to try and be patient as I wait to find out what happens next.

At first glance, Olivia's life looks perfect. She is attending college at a good school, she comes from a well off family, and she is dating a boy she has known for years and was friends with before. But the truth is her family is struggling to make their mortgage payments and she knows that they are hiding something from her. Also, her boyfriend Andy has been drinking more and has been angry a lot lately. When she goes to a bar before spring break with Andy and her friend Echo, she ends up falling and is caught by a handsome bar employee. The attraction between them is instant and both of them feel drawn to each other. But Olivia's boyfriend Andy sees the whole thing and it sets him off. Sebastian (Bash) rushes in to save her from Andy's temper before he gives her a beating that he is on the verge of. When Olivia decides to stay home from the spring break trip to Cabo that Andy and Echo are going on, she goes to the bar to apologize to Bash. Both of them feel the connection, but with so many things standing in their way they know the best thing to do is to walk away. But when you feel a connection that strong it isn't always that simple.

I really liked Bash. He was such a great guy. Strong and protective, and willing to stand up for a girl he didn't know because it was the right thing to do. He knew that there would be consequences, and even when it ended up hurting him he still felt like he had done the right thing. He also continued to talk to Olivia and help her despite knowing that he should walk away for both of them. I liked that he was willing to help teach her how to protect herself and that he was always looking out for her. Olivia was smart and she was really kind. She felt so bad for how things had played out with Bash for his helping her and she tried to make things right. She also tried to see the best in Andy, and believed that because of their friendship she could try to get him the help he needed. I really liked her quirky awkwardness and the fact that she tended to ramble on while trying to talk to Bash. It was pretty funny and kind of adorable. I felt like she was so real and that I could relate to her because she seemed like just a cool girl that you would want to hang out with. I loved her and Bash together, and they had so much chemistry right from the start. You could really feel the tension between them and it was clear that it was only a matter of time before things exploded between them.

Overall, I thought that this was a really great way to start the series and I enjoyed reading it despite it's short length. I liked Bash and Olivia a lot and I also thought that Bash's brother Matty was great as well. I am really looking forward to getting to know him better also. I did think that there was a lot of obstacles stacked against these two and I really hope that Andy gets what he deserves. I couldn't stand his character right from the start and he ended up being even worse than I had imagined. I liked that this story gave us both Bash's and Olivia's POVs. It was nice to see how both of them were thinking and feeling and I think it really gave the story depth considering the length. I feel like we already know Bash and Olivia really well even though we have just scratched the surface with them. I can't wait to read more in this series, and I think that Christine Bell has done a great job with introducing these characters. I recommend checking this one out if you are a fan of NA reads and are looking for something different. Luckily, the next installment isn't too far off because I need to see where Bell will take the story next!

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase:Amazon | B&N |



Wednesday, April 2, 2014

ARC Review: Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran


After a few months of reading many good historical romances I was anxiously waiting for an exceptional one. How glad I am that I found Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran! I enjoyed this late Victorian story from cover to cover. Duran’s writing evokes that aching in the heart that only occurs when my emotions are completely engaged (is that what is meant by “pulling at the heartstrings”?). Delightful characters, witty dialogue, and clever situations make Fool Me Twice a winner.

Olivia Mather is a desperate woman. She must find some secrets from her past in order to free herself from the danger that is following her. All her heart desires is to live a peaceful life in her own home. Olivia uses a friend’s connection to help her land a job in the household of Alastair de Gray, Duke of Marwick where she plans to locate the information she needs. Olivia is surprised to find herself made the housekeeper of a household in chaos. The duke has holed himself in his room and will not leave due to the betrayal and death of his wife some months before. Olivia finds herself drawn into his crazy world as well as being drawn toward the sad duke himself. Both Olivia and Alastair have some very large baggage to confront before they can find their way to a longing relationship.

I absolutely loved Fool Me Twice. Meredith Duran is a superb writer, blending humor, sensitivity and depth of emotion in a way that pulls the reader completely in. Olivia and Alastair were opposites, but the type that is like two halves of a whole. Alastair is physically beautiful; Olivia’s looks are more ordinary. Alastair is wealthy and influential; Olivia is poor and powerless. But the real differences come in how they tackle their difficult situations. Alastair has allowed the betrayals in his life to totally undermine his confidence in his judgment and character. Olivia, on the other hand, has not been overwhelmed by her circumstances. She has an indomitable spirit and an intense will to achieve her goals. She inspires him and he, in turn, protects her. It’s just a lovely fit.

As I mentioned earlier Fool Me Twice is one of those books that grabs my emotions so deeply that I actually ache. The book manages to engage all of the emotions – humor, sympathy, exhilaration and more. I also was pleased that the villains were multi-dimensional with clear motives. The resolution for the central conflict issue was well done and believable. I really have nothing to criticize about any part of the book. It was beautifully written and extremely well executed. The best book I have read in quite a while.

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase:Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |




My Favorite Book Couple with Vanessa Kelly


Vanessa Kelly is an award-winning author who was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the "New Stars of Historical Romance." Her sensual, Regency-set historical romances have been nominated for awards in a number of contests, and her second book, Sex and The Single Earl, won the prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance. Vanessa's next series, The Renegade Royals, is due to hit the shelves on Nov. 26 with Lost in a Royal Kiss. Book one in the series, Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard, will release in January, 2014.

Find Vanessa at:

ARC Review: He Belongs With Me by Sarah Darlington


He Belongs With Me by Sarah Darlington was a really good book. I was originally drawn in by the cover and blurb, and I will admit the idea of twins both wanting the same guy was what really intrigued me. I loved the sound of them growing up with Leo and I am such a sucker for friends to lovers and even enemies to lovers. I will tell you that this book is a lot different than what I had gone in expecting, and even though I had a few criticisms with the story I really liked what happened. These characters wer all really interesting and I had to keep reading to figure out what would happen next. This was one that I didn't want to put down.

Maggie and Clara Ryder are twins. They grew up the daughters of a golfer who opened his own country club and golf course with a friend who owned a world famous hotel empire. They were basically raised with the heir to the hotel empire, Leo Maddox. The three of them might have grown up together but had very different relationships. Maggie and Clara are not close at all. In fact they barely speak to each other and can hardly tolerate the other. They are polar opposites in pretty much every way. Maggie and Leo are best friends. Maggie is the sweet one and her friendship with Leo has always just been platonic. Clara and Leo are constantly arguing and have always had issues being around each other. Clara is the wild child and will do just about anything to get a reaction. When Clara and Leo start getting closer and begin to think about dating, Maggie starts feeling more for Leo than friendship. Soon she believes that she is in love with Leo and is willing to fight for him. But with Leo and Clara's new relationship and growing feelings what does the future hold for the three of them? Is Clara meant to be with Leo or is it Maggie? And what happens when someone from their past reappears and changes everything?

I really liked Leo. He was so much deeper than you get at first glance. I loved getting to see not only how he was in the present, but things that had happened in the past. I liked his friendship with Maggie, but I felt like he had always had a stronger connection with Clara. They had some really great moments from when they were younger, and I really liked seeing the progression of their relationship. I liked Clara. She was strong and independent, and I liked that she as a bit of a rebel. She wasn't afraid to be who she was and yet she tended to show the world a facade while only letting in a few people. I really enjoyed seeing her drop her guard with Leo, and how he always saw the real her. Most people didn't see below the tough exterior with her, and I loved that Leo always did and she was never able to hide anything from him. Maggie was harder for me to connect with, and I felt like she was a bit too indecisive. She thought she was in love with Andrew and she thought she was in love with Leo, and then there was Dean. I felt like her feelings toward Leo were never anything more than friends. She was upset that Leo was interested in more with her sister Clara, and she didn't want to not be the important one in his life anymore. I didn't like that she was intent on getting in between them when they were first starting to have feelings for each other, but I liked how she backed off when she realized just how strongly Leo felt for Clara. I liked Clara and Leo together a lot and felt like they had a really great bond, and a ton of chemistry. They just seemed perfect for each other and like they were meant to be. I wish that we had seen a bit more of Maggie and Dean, or that they had been given their own separate book. I feel like we didn't really get a chance to get much of their story and they had a lot of history that I felt could have been explored more.

My main problem with this story was that there was a lot going on and at times (especially the beginning of the story) things got really confusing. It was interesting and I wanted to know what was going on, but it was a bit hard to get into initially. I almost wish that this would have been two books rather than one. I feel like a lot happened and a lot was going on. Because of that it seemed a little rushed to me, and I think we missed out on some things. By the time we got to the end it was like Leo and Clara were almost pushed to the side so that the focus was on Maggie instead, and I felt like Leo and Clara didn't really get the ending they deserved. It fell a bit flat because all of a sudden we were being given more of Maggie's story when the focus had pretty much been on Clara and Leo for the entire book. That was why I felt like this should have been two books. I think that if it would have been split we as readers wouldn't feel as though anything was missing and we would have been able to get the whole story for each of them and the characters would have been done justice. There wasn't a cliffhanger and things were wrapped up, but I just was looking for more. Maybe even an epilogue would have left things a bit more satisfying. I did like this book though, and I really enjoyed the characters. I thought that we really got to know Clara and Leo, while Maggie and Dean were still somewhat unknown. Dean was pretty much a mystery and didn't really have much of a presence throughout the story, and I would have liked to have known him better. I would recommend this book to New Adult fans, and I think that a lot of people will enjoy this story as I did. It was refreshing and different, and will appeal to readers looking for a standalone read with no cliffhanger. I look forward to reading more from Sarah Darlington in the future as I really enjoyed her writing style.

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |



Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Review: Tattoo Thief by Heidi Joy Tretheway


Tattoo Thief by Heidi Joy Tretheway was so much different than what I was expecting. It was so much more than just another rockstar story. I really enjoyed reading this, and I finished it in one sitting. It was a quick and easy read that kept me interested through every last word. Beryl and Gavin were really easy to like and become invested in. I am looking forward to reading more in this series and from Heidi Joy Tretheway.

When Beryl gets the chance to leave her small Oregon hometown, she jumps on the first plane to NYC. She is working for her father's best friend Dan, who sets her up as a house-sitter and assistant to the rich and famous. Her first job proves to be difficult as she enters the house of Gavin Slater, lead singer for the rock band Tattoo Thief. The place is absolutely trashed and whats more is that she finds out he has not only left a mess, but he also left a dog behind at a boarder. She decides to give him a piece of her mind, and the two begin corresponding back and forth. After suffering a terrible loss, Gavin has run to the other side of the world filling his time with traveling to out of the way places. But as he and Beryl talk more and begin to open up to each other, Gavin realizes that he needs to stop running and face everything he left behind. Can Beryl find her way in a world much different than what she is used to and figure out a way to bring Gavin home?

I liked Gavin. He was so much different than the first impression that you get of him. He was sweet and thoughtful, and I liked that he really payed attention to everything that Beryl told him. He wasn't just about grand gestures, but did little things too. He was so upset and vulnerable because of his guilt over the loss of Lulu, and yet he opened up to Beryl without too much of a fight. I thought that they had a strong connection right from the start, but it was really natural. It didn't feel forced or fake at all. It just worked. Beryl was smart and ambitious, and also really sweet. I liked that she was willing to leave everything she knew on a chance at a better future. She didn't let anything hold her back, and I liked how honest she was, even to the point of saying things that could have got her in trouble. I loved that she was able to see others as the best they could be and was always determined to help them see the same as well. She was just a great heroine, and I really liked reading her story. Gavin and Beryl had a lot of chemistry, but they shared so much more than that.

Overall, I thought that this book was really good. I didn't give it five stars, because even though we do get some interaction between them at the end it really felt like the majority of this book was about Beryl. Because they start of apart and are just emailing and chatting through the internet, it really sort of feels like this story is Beryl's for the most part and that their relationship sort of takes a back seat. I wish that Gavin would have showed up a bit sooner and that we would have got more of their time together. But I really did enjoy this story and that was really my only complaint. I liked getting to briefly meet the other guys in the band and look forward to getting to know them better. I am a bit apprehensive about Stella being the next heroine. I hated her actions at the end of the book, but if i'm being honest I didn't like her from the start. She was extremely selfish and wasn't a good friend at all. I really hope that she redeems herself though, as I think I am really going to like Tyler and I hope she is worthy of him. I really loved that this book was about a rockstar, but was completely different from any other story I have read before. I think that if you are looking for a story about a sexy rockstar that has more depth and emotion, that this is one that you should definitely give a shot. I am so glad that I read this one and can't wait to read more in this series.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |