ARC Review: Never Tear Us Apart by Monica Murphy

I have been a fan of Monica Murphy's since I first read One Week Girlfriend. Since then I have read several of Monica's books and really enjoyed them, and Never Tear Us Apart is no exception. While I really enjoyed this book, I will say that this book is unlike anything she has written before. It won't be for everyone, and there is a letter from her at the beginning of the story letting readers know some of what to expect. If you have any trigger issues with rape, kidnapping and violence I strongly urge you to take her warning seriously and think about whether or not this book is one for you.

Eight years have gone by since Katie's life changed forever. Katie was kidnapped at 13 by a serial killer, only to escape with the help of that man's son Will. Now eight years later, she is trying to move forward with her life and part of that is telling the world her story. So when Ethan (having changed his name from Will) sees her on TV, he can't help but want to get close to her again and make sure that she is doing okay. But what starts out as him making sure she is safe turns into them reconnecting, he has no idea how to shatter her world again by telling her who he really is.

I loved both Katie and Ethan! I was so drawn to each of them and felt invested in their story right away. These two had been through more than anyone can even imagine, and they are definitely unlike any other hero or heroine I have ever read before. Ethan was so sweet and patient and protective of Katie, and I really believe that he only ever wanted to do right by her. He would have done anything for this girl, and it showed with everything he did. I did wish that he would have told her sooner about who he was, since we all know those things are bound to come out and it is always better to come early and straight from the source. But I do think that would be one of the toughest things ever to try and figure out how to tell someone, and I understand that it had to be tearing him up. Katie was going through the motions, and while she survived she wasn't truly living. Her happiness had been forever changed, and even with her doing better she was still dealing with so much. I loved seeing her come back to life with Ethan though, and it was clear that these two had a connection that absolutely nothing could change. 

Overall, I really can't wait to get the next installment in their story. Katie and Ethan's story is far from over, and this book does end with a cliffhanger. The next book, Never Let You Go, is due out in May 2016 and I honestly cannot wait for it. This book was captivating and unlike anything I have read before, and I couldn't put it down. The connection these two share is one that no one else could understand and I found it fascinating. Like I said before this book won't be for everyone and that is something each reader will have to decide. But I do think that this book is worth the read and definitely worth taking a chance on. Monica Murphy is a great writer, and I will be anxiously waiting for the next book in Katie and Ethan's story as well as whatever else she writes in the future.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The Truth About Him by M. O'Keefe

The Truth About Him is the follow-up to Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O'Keefe. This book is not a standalone and continues the story from the first book, so it needs to be read in order. I couldn't wait to start this book after the way the first one ended. I loved the cover on this one just as much as the first! They are so pretty, and I think that they instantly draw you in! I will say that I was a bit disappointed with this book though, and as much as I wanted to love it I had some things that kept me from enjoying it as much as the first. 

The Truth About Him picks up right where the first one leaves off. Dylan and Annie are no longer strangers that just speak on the phone, and their connection continues to grow. But faced with danger on more than one front, Dylan is determined to do whatever it takes to keep Annie safe. Though Dylan tries to put up walls, Annie is just as determined to tear them down and see all that Dylan has kept a secret from her. But will Dylan allow Annie in, or is he incapable of feeling the same way about her as she is about him? 

As much as I loved Dylan and Annie in the first book, I felt so disconnected from them here. Things seemed to go around in circles and not much happened between them. Besides the constant sex that they were having, there wasn't a lot of development when it came to their relationship. The majority of this book focused on other characters and everything that was going on around them. I was disappointed with how little we saw of these two who supposedly were building something unlike anything that either of them had before finding each other. There was just so much going on around them besides these two having sex and it left little page time for any kind of real emotional depth or growth. Though they might have felt love or said the words, I had a hard time really seeing it or believing it.

I also felt like this book was really slow. It wasn't holding my interest like the first, which is surprising. I felt like one of the biggest issues for Dylan and Annie was solved almost instantly, and the rest of the book could easily have been wrapped up faster than it was. Yet despite how fast things were wrapped up in one aspect, there were a ton of other things that were just dropped! I couldn't believe how many things were left hanging and unresolved, and I have no idea if there will be any more books in this series. This does end with an epilogue, but even that felt too brief and far too rushed. I just wasn't satisfied with how this story ended considering how much I had really enjoyed the first book. The way things went here it easily could have been resolved in one book. I really felt like this story needed two books after finishing the first, but this one changed my mind with how it was done. So while I really loved the first book, I ended up feeling as though this series was just okay and I was honestly disappointed with how it was concluded.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O'Keefe

I have to say that what first drew me to this story was the beautiful cover! I absolutely fell in love with it, and I couldn't wait to read the story inside! Molly O'Keefe is a great writer, so I knew it would be more than just pretty packaging and she absolutely proved me right here. Everything I Left Unsaid was so good, and I couldn't put it down.This book was captivating and sexy, and I was instantly invested. I will warn readers that it does end with a cliffhanger though, with the next book being set to release at the end of November 2015. 

Running from her past and looking for an escape, Annie settles in a trailer park in a small town where everyone is known to keep to themselves. But when she answers a cellphone found in her new home, she never expects her life to change. The sexy sounding stranger on the other end of the phone instantly becomes someone of intrigue to her and she finds herself unable to stop thinking of him. But Dylan has just as many secrets as Annie does, so despite how much they talk, there is so much more that is left unsaid. Annie and Dylan find themselves caught between the desire they feel for one another on their sexy phone conversations and the dangers of letting things between them go too far. But can they end things before they get themselves in more trouble than they are already in, or will they find a way to heal each other after everything that they have each been through?

I liked both Annie and Dylan, and I loved seeing their desire for one another. What started off with a single phone call quickly turned into so much more. Dylan had lived a wild life before everything happened to him, and it was clear that he no longer lived that lifestyle. He was very much a hermit at that point, only leaving his home when he had to. But with Annie, he was able to help bring out a side to her that she had never experienced before. He showed her that it was okay to follow her desires and to do things that might seem to be a bit outside the box. He challenged her and allowed her to live life to the fullest, all the while be a safe place for her to come back to. She was able to open up to him and let him see things that she had never even been allowed to really hope for, and it was great to see him be supportive and encouraging. I did think that their relationship was more physical than emotional though, and I would have liked to have seen more development when it came to their relationship. Things were super hot between them, with their chemistry off the charts explosive. I just wanted to see them getting to know one another better without so many secrets and lies between them. I do think that we will get more of that though in the next book, but I just wanted more here.

Overall, this was a great first installment. I really enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. We did get quite a few things answered at the end here before the cliffhanger, but it is clear there is so much more to the story. I think that Molly O'Keefe did a great job of setting this one up for more. Even though I really don't like cliffhangers, I really do think that this story needed to continue in another book in order to do it justice. Annie and Dylan's journey is only getting started, and I am anxious to see what their future holds. If you like your romance with some suspense and plenty of steam, you should definitely check this book out! Everything I Left Unsaid leaves you on the edge of your seat and hungry for more.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Taming Lily by Monica Murphy

Taming Lily is the third and final installment in the Fowler Sisters series by Monica Murphy. I have really enjoyed this series and couldn't wait to get to know Lily better. While each book is a standalone, these are best read in order to get full enjoyment. This book was really good, and I didn't want to put it down. 

Lily Fowler has always been known as the party girl heiress of the Fowler Cosmetics family. But this time when she finds herself in trouble, she heads to Hawaii looking to hide out. Lily goes out of her way to make herself as unrecognizable as possible, yet she still feels like someone is watching her. When she nearly drowns, she finds herself rescued by her watcher. Soon she finds herself getting close to Max, even though she knows that she should be careful. Max knows that he needs to keep his distance from Lily, but he can't help the way he feels about her. But when everything comes to a head, Lily finds herself not knowing who to trust. Can Lily trust Max, or is he the last person that she should turn to?

I liked these two together a lot. Lily and Max were super hot together, and I loved the dynamic between them. They are both used to control, and they don't like to give it up easily. But with each other, they found it impossible to act as they normally would. The pull between them was magnetic, and I couldn't get enough of them. Lily was so much more than her reputation, and I really enjoyed seeing a different side to her. She was very easy to like, and I found myself relating to her more than I expected. She wasn't my favorite character in the previous books, but I really liked her once I started to get to know her here. Max was sexy and mysterious, and I will admit that I didn't want to like him at first. I knew what he was up to and I figured that would be a huge strike against him. Yet he completely won me over, and I found myself loving him just like Lily did. 

I will say that there were a few things that kept me from rating this one at 5 stars. I thought that grandma Fowler was missing here, and it was pretty noticeable. I also felt like though we got some of Pilar and Forrest Fowler, that we never really got to see enough of them together. I didn't really feel like their parts of the story were given enough attention, considering they were a huge part of what happened with Lily's story. I was curious to get more of the two of them, and would have liked to have seen them together more. The other thing that I noticed is that even though each book was different, there was a really big common thread throughout each book. Each book features a man falling for one of the sisters that starts out without the best of intentions when it comes to them. While I do find it interesting to see a sort of enemies to lovers story with someone out to destroy the other's life and they end up falling for them, I felt like that was overdone with this series. It would have been okay if it hadn't been every book in this series. I still really enjoyed this series though, and I thought that they were well written and sexy. Each book was entertaining, and I would recommend this series especially if you are a Monica Murphy fan. This is definitely one of my favorites of Murphy's and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Sinful by Joan Johnston

Sinful is the 13th book in the Bitter Creek series by Joan Johnston. I was shocked that I never heard of this series and I have to admit the author as well. Although there were some things I loved there were some things I also had an issue with. Putting these issues aside I was interested in the characters and I wanted to know how the author would unfold the story.

Connor Flynn is a Delta sergeant and he recently lost his wife. Since he was enlisted in the military he had to leave his two children with their maternal grandparents. When Connor’s time is up he moves back home. He has a couple of things to deal with. One he is a widower. He lost his wife, who was also his high school sweetheart, in a car accident. Two his in-laws want to keep the children and have painted him as an unfit father. Although Connor passionately loves his children he really hasn’t had much time with them since he was serving in the army. He is trying to rebuild his life and needs a lot of help.

Eve Grayhawk was Molly (Connor’s wife’s) bestfriend. She has also loved Connor since they were in high school and has sat by as Connor married and had a family with her bestfriend- basically coveting her life.

So I LOVED both Connor and Eve. They were both so incredibly sweet and such great people. They also had great chemistry and I really wanted them to find their way together. I’m a sucker for unrequited loved that is finally fulfilled. I was interested in them as people, as a couple, and genuinely liked them and loved their chemistry.

Aside from the great hero and heroine I did have some issues with the story. First, everything was so dramatic. I mean it seemed everything happened to Connor. It was one thing after another. He is marrying Eve and because of old family revelries between their perspective families his father cuts off his trust fund. The social worker assigned to them is basically threatening him at every meeting, he suffers from PTSD(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). He has guilt because he feels responsible for his bestfriend’s death. I kept thinking, “give the guy a break…” So the supporting characters were also a positive and a negative for me. There are some old rivalries between his brothers and her sisters. I cannot wait to see those unfold, especially Leah’s story. But the dad’s were so ridiculous. Eve’s father cuts her and her sisters off and it is never 100% why. Yes, the dad wants his prodigal son, Matt, to come home but to give him the land where his family grew up and leave his daughters on the street? This was a hard one to swallow. My last pet-peeve was the inconsistencies. Eve finally agrees to marry Connor and she receives a message from National Geographic offering her a job out in Nevada-on the day of their wedding?? I mean come on… Ok, so putting this little issues aside I’m looking forward to the next book in the series “Shameless.” I can’t wait to see how she brings Pippa Grayhawk and Devon Flynn together! I’m hooked on this series and I want to see where the author takes the perspective siblings.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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ARC Review: Crushed by Lauren Layne

I can't even put into words how much I loved this book. Honestly I don't think there has ever been a book or more importantly a heroine that I've ever connected with like I did with Crushed. From beginning to end I couldn't seem to put my Kindle down. I wanted more and I just kept hitting next to see what would happen with Michael (Beefcake) and Chloe. This book just hit me and I feel like I'm on the verge of crying I loved it so much.

Chloe is my spirit animal. In all my years of reading I have NEVER connected with a heroine like I did with Chloe. Chloe was me and I was Chloe. Every feeling of doubt and the hurt she felt I've felt. I swear, in high school I was Chloe and the way that Lauren Layne portrayed Chloe and her feelings were so spot on. I felt that hurt and felt that pain deep inside. Chloe is real and honest. All her life she's felt like the chubby little sister that no one sees because everyone is looking at her perfect older sister. No one sees the pain that she tries to hid with sarcasm and jokes. That is until Michael comes along.

As for Michael, I mean who doesn't love it when a manwhore is brought to his knees. I haven't read the previous books in this series so I had no clue what happened or anything until Michael slowly began to reveal his past with Chloe and oh man is it a dozy. Michael has made some mistakes in the past and from those mistakes the life that he knew came crashing down all around him. In an effort to try to figure things out on his own he moves to Texas to deal with things and to confront his past. He's just trying to figure out what to do with his life and Chloe doesn't fit into those plans yet he can't seem to get push her away nor does he really want to.

I loved the chemistry between these two. Right off the back you can see that there is sparks between them and it was great to watch them both finally realize their feelings and then how they proceed with things. What I loved most is that they don't immediately jump into bed and they they have this connection. It's not really a friendship per se as Michael is so closed off but it's a slow build. One that that I really enjoyed is the way these two act with each other. Neither takes the others BS and both pretty much tell it like it is. And Chloe, OMG but that girl is hilarious especially when she's with Michael.

Honestly, I felt like reading Crushed was kind of cathartic for me. It reminded me of the despair I once felt and that I've now come out stronger and happier. Crushed is one of the best books that I've read this year and will definitely be topping my all-time favorite list. I just couldn't get enough and I honestly can't say enough good things about it. Believe me people, you WANT to read this book. It's just so damn good. Seriously, BUY THIS BOOK!!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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