ARC Review: Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

I don’t typically read a lot of F/F stories, but knowing it was Penelope Douglas and seeing this gorgeous cover I knew I had to give it a shot! I absolutely loved Clay and Liv’s story and I think this book will be one that a lot of readers enjoy. 

Liv and Clay on the surface have little in common except the school they attend. I really enjoyed getting to know each of them as individuals and as they circled one another. There was so much tension and attraction between them. I also really loved that this wasn’t your typical bully NA read. This one was unique and original in a way that only Penelope Douglas can deliver. Clay and Liv had their own insecurities and vulnerabilities, and seeing them grow and change over the course of this book kept me turning pages and unable to put this one down. 

I also fell in love with Liv’s brothers while reading! I loved how fierce and protective they were. The loyalty their family had to one another is something I couldn’t get enough of and I honestly hope that Penelope will give us their stories someday as well. 

If you are on the fence about this one, I highly recommend giving it a shot. It was good, fresh and original. While I know F/F isn’t everyone’s jam (typically not mine either!), the story here is worth the read and I think readers will love it like I did.

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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ARC Review: Our Unscripted Story by L.A. Fiore

I have loved everything I have read from L.A. Fiore, and Our Unscripted Story was no exception. Each book I read from her is one that I can’t put down, and I find myself thinking of her characters long after I have finished their stories. I think readers are going to love this one, and I highly recommend it along with anything that she has written. 

Alexis and Greyson met as teenagers and their connection was undeniable. But things didn’t go as planned and it was years before their paths crossed again. Now they might move in different circles, but they find that everything that was once between them hasn’t changed. With her career as a writer just beginning to take off and Greyson being a rising star, they both soon realize that life is unpredictable. 

I loved both Greyson and Alexis. They were great characters and I found myself invested in them from the start. I felt that their connection was genuine and I loved that it was never in question. It wasn’t a matter of these two caring about each other, but about circumstances and life. L.A. Fiore has a way with heartfelt and emotional stories that are driven by the romance and chemistry between her characters and that was definitely true here. I couldn’t get enough of Alexis and Greyson and didn’t want to put this book down.

Overall, another fantastic read from L.A. Fiore. I love her books and I think that they are ones that a lot of readers can relate to and find a connection with. If you are already a fan of hers, this book is a must read. If you are new to L.A. Fiore’s books though, this is one you will want to give a shot and I recommend checking out her other books as I have never been disappointed by anything I have read from her. She is one of my favorite authors, and I am already anxiously awaiting her next book.

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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ARC Review: Big Shot by Kim Karr

I could not wait for Big Shot by Kim Karr after getting to know Jace a little bit in Sexy Jerk. I knew that his story wouldn't be easy and that there was a lot in his past with Hannah just from the little glimpses we were given. Having lost his wife though and being a single dad, I knew that this was going to be an emotional story and it was. Kim Karr definitely delivered like only she can though, and I loved this book! 

Jace had no idea what his future looked like until he met Hannah Michaels. But as his best friend's girlfriend she was off limits, or so he thought. But then everything changed and suddenly Jace found himself alone and Hannah gone. He was able to move on and thought that things were fine, with a career he loved and a wife and daughter that made him happy until he once again found himself alone and heartbroken trying to pick up the pieces. So when Hannah comes crashing back into his life 10 years later and things get off to a rough start, both Hannah and Jace begin to wonder how they will ever survive in such close proximity to each other once again. But there is a fine line between love and hate, and both of them must face the fact that their feelings for one another have never died and they definitely didn't stay buried in the past. 

I loved these two. At first I was worried about liking Hannah. I felt so much for Jace and Hannah came off a bit hard to relate to or like at first. But that quickly changed and soon I found myself rooting for these two and wanting nothing more than for them to be together. They had both been through so much and it was clear that their connection was special. It had been there years before and more than they could fight, but after everything that had happened nothing had changed when it came to how they felt. I knew that they were great for one another, and the chemistry was so strong. 

Overall, this was a great story and I couldn't put it down. It was sexy and emotional, with a depth that I have come to know and love from Kim Karr. She is a fantastic writer and I have never been disappointed by her. I really love this world she has created, and I already can't wait to get the next book in the series. Kim Karr is one of my favorite authors, and I definitely recommend anything by her. Sexy Jerk and Big Shot are right at the top of my favorites from her though, and I think readers are going to love Jace and Hannah as much as I did.'

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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ARC Review: Fractured Love by Ella James

I have really enjoyed everything I have read from Ella James, but I was beyond excited for Fractured Love. Not only was this one a second chance romance, but it sounded like it was angsty and emotional and those are some of my guilty pleasures! This book was so good and I couldn't put it down. I loved it and I think readers will too! 

Evie was 16 years old when Landon Jones came to live with her family. They immediately realized that there was a connection between them, and while they tried to fight it, it was more than either of them were capable of. But when her parents found out, they threw Landon out of the house. Now 10 years later, they haven't seen or heard from one another since. But with Evie about to become a surgeon just like her parents, she is shocked to see that one of her new coworkers is none other than Landon, only now he is Dr. Jones. 

These two were impossible not to like and I felt connected to them right from the start. My heart when out to Landon and all that he had been through. But it was that much worse after he lost Evie. I was heartbroken for these two and I couldn't believe that they had been forced to face such heartache at such a young age. These two had such an intense and special relationship, and their connection was so genuine and rare. I just felt so much for both of them and they felt so real to me. Their chemistry was off the charts hot, but it was so much more than that, these two were made for one another. 

Overall, this book was so good and I can't stop thinking about it. I loved the characters and the story, even when it broke my heart. Not only did it have steam, but it was emotional and gave me all the feels. Ella James is an author that I have come to love and she is definitely an auto-buy for me at this point. Fractured Love just might be my favorite from her to date though, and I can't recommend it enough.

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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ARC Review: Elusive by L.A. Fiore

I am a huge fan of L.A. Fiore's after reading a few of her books. She is still pretty new to me, but with each new book I read from her I fall more in love with her writing style. I was so excited to see that she was writing a pirate love story, and this book was everything I had been hoping for from her.

Noah and Willow came from very different backgrounds, but from the moment they met there was a spark between them. Willow's family was in the treasure hunting business and she always blamed it for the reason her parents were around. But when she stumbled upon a journal with the promise of a shipwreck and lost treasure, the romantic in her knew she had to find it to get answers to what happened to the couple from the journal. Noah's life was about surviving, and that led to an unexpected life as a pirate. But when the journal brought them together, both of them knew that what they had could only be temporary as their goals were very different. Though neither of them planned on falling in love, they find themselves unable to fight the feelings between them and soon they both begin to wonder if a future together might be possible.

I loved these two together. I thought that they were sexy and the chemistry was there right from the start. It was easy to see the attraction between them and I couldn't get enough of how hot they were. But I loved that they both connected while still being so different from one another. Though they came from completely different upbringings, they both sought treasure and a family that loved them. Willow was smart and a true romantic at heart, I loved that she was passionate and that her motives were truly to tell the story that she had fell in love with. While Noah's motives might not have been on the up and up, he cared for Willow and it was easy to see that he would do anything for her. 

Overall, this was such a great story. I was captivated from the start and there were twists and turns here that I didn't expect. L.A. Fiore's writing is fantastic and I felt like I was right there with the characters living their hunt for treasure right along with them. This world that she has created is beautiful and yet dangerous and edgy, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what will happen next. I loved the characters here and I can't wait to get to know these sexy pirates better. While they had some bad to them and lived up to the word pirate, they were impossible not to root for and I am anxious for Snake's book next. If you are looking for something different and unique with some sexy alphas and unexpected turns, this is definitely one you will want to check out. My one minor criticism and the only reason this book wasn't a five star read for me was that I felt a bit detached at times from Noah, and I wish that we had been able to get a bit more of him and his POV. I felt like he kind of fell to the background a bit with Willow and the hunt for treasure sometimes taking over. The story was still great, but I wanted more of Noah and the connection between him and Willow.

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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ARC Review: Sexy Jerk by Kim Karr

Another fantastic book from Kim Karr! I absolutely love her books, and Sexy Jerk was no exception. If you are a fan of hers, Sexy Jerk is one you definitely won't want to miss out on. If you are new to her, Sexy Jerk is a standalone story and a great book to start with. I definitely recommend giving Sexy Jerk and all her other books a shot as she never disappoints. 

When her best friend finally decides to go on her honeymoon, Tess couldn't be more excited to babysit her godson and continue moving forward with her life after her breakup. But her best friend's husband isn't entirely convinced that she can handle Max on her own, so he arranges for his single friend Nick to help her out. But Nick and Tess haven't had the best interactions over the times that they have met previously. The more time they spend together though, the more Tess begins to realize that Nick isn't just a jerk and that there is more to him. But while she suddenly wants the sexy jerk, does he want her back? 

I really loved these two! Kim Karr knows how to write characters with depth that you can feel invested in and relate to, and that was absolutely true here. I loved Tess and Nick's interactions and the chemistry between them. They were sexy and sweet and watching them get to know each other was what made it impossible to put this book down. There was so much that they didn't know about one another, and they both had to realize that things with each other were different than what they had been through before. 

Overall, I really can't say enough good things about this book! I love Kim Karr's writing style, and she always manages to suck me in from the first page to the last. While this enemies-to-lovers has some material that might be a bit heavier, the book was light-hearted and easy to get lost in. Kim knows how to write hot stories that are filled with depth and emotion, and Sexy Jerk had everything I look for in a great story. I can't wait to read more from Kim Karr in the future.

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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ARC Review: The Boy Next Door by Ella James

I am really torn with how I feel about The Boy Next Door by Ella James. On the one hand, I couldn't put this book down. I read it in pretty much one sitting, only stopping because I had to go to bed so I could go to work the next day. I had to know how everything would play out for these two and I didn't want to stop reading. On the other hand though, there were some things that just didn't work for me and that is what kept me from being able to really love this one. 

Dash was Amelia's hero from the moment they met, when he saved her on one of the worst days of her life. She quickly became best friends with his sister and the three of them grew almost inseparable. One night everything changed between them though, and Amelia's world was once again turned upside down when he left and broke her heart. Now years later Amelia has landed an internship that could turn into her dream job at a film studio, but the lead animator on the project is none other than Dash. He is no longer the boy next door though, and his secrets could ruin them both.  

I felt the connection between Dash and Amelia right off. These two had a lot of chemistry and it was clear that they had very strong feelings for one another. The problem for me though was how weak both of them were. Amelia let Dash walk all over her, forgiving him with little to no remorse or consequences for the way he treated her. Dash was a bit depressing if I am honest, and spent the whole book being propped up by a character who was almost as weak as he was. Amelia let him get away with so much and was beyond understanding and gave him so many chances, yet he continued to be unable to let her in or even be honest with her. While they had chemistry and things were hot between them, I really felt like the chemistry and connection wasn't enough here. I just wanted more substance. I also really wanted to see more light hearted and sweet moments between these two. Things were so serious and depressing at times that the mood on this one was kind of a drag. I wanted to see some scenes that would have shown them growing close again in a sweet or fun way to sort of break up the super emotional stuff. 

The other big thing that kept me from loving this book was this huge secret that had been kept all book long. It didn't come out until the very end of the book, which felt far too little too late for my taste. Not only did I not really feel sorry for Dash like I feel I was supposed to (he was old enough to grasp what he was doing and his excuses were just that...excuses) but I also felt like because it came out so late it was basically just brushed aside as though all that had happened was no big deal. Of course Amelia just got over it super quick and everything was tied up in a neat little bow. It just didn't feel genuine and I found the entire thing to be a let down after so much build up. Like I said though, this book was one I didn't want to put down and Ella James is a great writer. She knows how to draw you in and keep you turning pages until you have devoured the entire book. That being said though, this wasn't my favorite book of hers.

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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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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ARC Review: Moonshot by Alessandra Torre

I am a huge fan of Alessandra Torre's! I have really enjoyed everything that I have read from her, and Moonshot was no different. One of the things that I love most about her books is that I never know what to expect except that I will enjoy the story, but she always keeps me on my toes and has me guessing the whole way through. Moonshot is honestly hard to describe without giving anything away, so let me just say that this is one that definitely just needs to be experienced. Don't go out looking for spoilers, trust me when I tell you to just dive in and enjoy!

Tyler Rollins grew up around baseball with her father being a legend with the Yankees. Her focus was always on the game, with her future fully set to join the organization that she loved. But then Chase arrived and he became a distraction. Not only did he love to play on the field, but off the field as well and Tyler knew that she needed to stay away from him. But the pull between them was too strong, and Chase and Tyler found themselves unable to fight what was between them. Then everything changed in an instant and soon the team was losing and girls started dying. 

I liked Tyler a lot. I loved that she was a strong heroine that wasn't afraid to be herself and go after what she wanted. She was a truly unique heroine, and as a huge sports fan myself, it is always great to see a girl that genuinely loves sports and doesn't just put up that appearance to win over a guy. Tyler truly loved baseball and the Yankees, and she was so passionate about them. Chase was sexy and impossible not to fall for, and he definitely had some of that bad boy appeal. But it was also great to see him change and evolve over the course of this book, and there was so much more to him than first appearances. Tyler and Chase both really grew and changed as this story progressed, and I found it so interesting to see where they had been and where they were headed. The chemistry between them was off the charts, and they had a great connection. But they also had a lot of obstacles thrown their way and they didn't always make the best decisions. 

While I really liked these characters and the story overall, I will say that there was one thing that I wasn't 100% okay with. I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil anything, but I wasn't entirely on board with some of the things that happened, but I did like how things played out. One thing I can say about Alessandra Torre's books is that she will keep you on the edge of your seat, and you will never know exactly what is going to happen next. Things are far from easy, and yet her stories always feel so real and genuine. While they are sometimes tough and emotional, I have learned that Alessandra Torre always does the characters justice and that I just need to have faith in her to get the characters where they need to go. That was definitely the case here, so while I did struggle a bit with part of the story and some things that were happening, in the end it was all worth it. I definitely recommend Moonshot, it was sexy and suspenseful, and at it's heart a story about love. I couldn't put it down and was absolutely captivated from the very first page. I really can't wait to see what she writes next, and I know that whatever it is, I will definitely be reading it. If you are new to Alessandra Torre, you are definitely missing out and need to check out her books. If you are already a fan, Moonshot is a must read and you definitely won't be disappointed!

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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