ARC Review: Slowly We Trust by Chelsea M. Cameron

Slowly We Trust is the third book in Chelsea M. Cameron's Rise and Fall series. This book can be read as a standalone, but does have interconnected characters. I had not read the previous two books in the series before reading this one and even though I didn't know the characters previously, I had no problem understanding this one. I am interested to go back and read the first two books though after having read about them in this story. I really liked Audrey and Will's group of friends, and I am interested to get to know them better and see how some of them ended up together. While I really enjoyed their group, this book did leave me with some mixed feelings. There were things that I really liked about this story, and then there were a few things that I didn't care for.

Audrey never intended to fall for Will, but once she got to know him there was no stopping it. Audrey has things in her past that she hasn't told anyone and because of that she thinks that she needs to push him away. But the more that she tries to stay away from him, the harder it gets. Will is heartbroken when Audrey says that they need to just be friends, but he would rather have her as a friend than nothing at all. The more that they continue to run into each other though, the harder it gets to stay apart. Will and Audrey both love each other, but there are still many things that stand in their way. Will is determined to be whatever Audrey needs as long as he gets to stay in her life. Audrey knows how Will feels and when things between them continue to get stronger she decides to give a relationship between them a chance. Will knows that there are things in Audrey's past that she hasn't told him, but he continues to tell her that it won't make a difference in how he feels about her. Audrey isn't so sure though, and she has a hard time trusting because of her past and family. Can Audrey really open up to Will and give their relationship a chance? Or will her past continue to affect her future?

I really liked Will. He was such a different hero, and I found him absolutely adorable. He was sweet and kind, patient and understanding. He was the most committed and loving hero that I have read about maybe ever. He never wavered in his devotion to Audrey, even when she was pushing him away. I honestly felt like her let her get away with too much sometimes though, and I really wanted him to stand his ground a bit more. He really did love her though and it was clear that she was the only one for him. I loved how he was such a lovable nerd though, and his Star Wars obsession was really cute. I will admit to being frustrated with Audrey several times in this book. I liked her and she was really smart and funny, but she definitely had issues. I really wanted to see her open up and trust Will more. Eventually she realized that she could talk to him, and she did start to open up to him. However she had said that she wasn't going to tell him everything, and she didn't until she was basically forced to. That bothered me, and I felt like she really never made that decision to be completely honest with him. I felt like Will deserved better than that, and it really made it hard for me to fully connect with Audrey because of that. I understand that she had been through a lot and had some issues because of her family, but Will never gave her any reason to doubt him and I really thought that she should have given him the whole truth by her choice. I did like that she was such a huge Harry Potter fan though, and I liked that she was a bit of a nerd also. I thought that her and Will really fit because they understood the other's quirks and really made it a point of supporting the other and their interests. Will and Audrey had great chemistry also, and you could tell just how much they were attracted to each other and couldn't keep their hands off the other.

I did think that this book was a rather slow though. I had a tough time getting through this one, and it didn't hold my interest like some of Chelsea's other books. I felt like the first third of the book was extremely slow and even though it picked up after that, it was mostly Audrey's journey or Audrey and Will having sex. Audrey did make a lot of progress from the beginning of the book to the end, but it was done in a way that I had to put the book down and walk away for awhile rather than keep flipping the pages to find out what was next. I also felt like Audrey was frustrating a lot of the times, but Will's sister Lottie was also really annoying at times as well. For the first third to half of the book Lottie was torn between her friend Audrey and her twin Will, and I couldn't tell half the time if she was trying to get them together or keep them apart. She was really annoying and frankly I thought she interfered far too much. I wanted her to go away, and honestly I didn't like her at all. She got better towards the end of the book though, and it was like she was a completely different character. I did like Audrey and Will's story despite my criticisms with the book, and I did think that they were good together. I will admit that I wasn't shocked by Audrey's big reveal though, I had it figured out early on and I am surprised that Will didn't figure it out. I think that this is a good read for NA fans that are looking for not only a love story, but also a story about personal growth and overcoming obstacles that life throws in the way sometimes. I think that a lot of NA readers will find these characters to be likable and easy to relate to. If you haven't read anything be Chelsea M. Cameron, I would recommend checking out her work. She always writes characters that are deep and complex, and are easy go get invested in. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

**ARC provided by Inkslinger PR**

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My Favorite Book Couple with Erin Kellison

Erin Kellison is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Shadow series and Shadow Kissed series, which share the same world, where dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. Delve into dreamscapes in her new Reveler series, releasing Summer 2014.

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ARC Review: Fiance by Fate by Jennifer Shirk

Fiance by Fate is the first book that I have read by Jennifer Shirk, but it definitely won't be my last. This book was a short and sweet read, and I really enjoyed reading it. I wasn't sure how much I was going to like this book not knowing the author and it being a trope that has been done many times before. But I thought that Jennifer Shirk did a really great job making this story unique and different. This was one of those books that I was able to just sit back and relax, and it was a great escape for a few hours.

Sabrina Cassidy believes in fate and signs. When her fiance decides they need a break, she believes that it is only temporary because there are too many signs that says they are fated to be together. While waiting for him to figure things out, she throws herself to work and everything is going fine until the owner's entitled son decides to move back home and ends up becoming her partner. Jack is looking to get a promotion but his womanizing reputation has made the board question whether or not he is ready for the job. Having heard about Sabrina's break-up he comes up with the perfect plan. She will pose as his girlfriend which will both make the board realize that he is capable of settling down and will help make her fiance jealous enough to realize what he is missing out on. At first Sabrina is reluctant, but soon she agrees after seeing her fiance out with another woman. Before long though, both Jack and Sabrina are starting to feel very real feelings that are anything but fake. Will Jack be able to leave behind his commitment phobic ways and settle down, and will Sabrina realize that maybe she misread all the signs when it comes to who she belongs with?

I liked Jack a lot. He was really honest and was always up-front about everything even if it wasn't what Sabrina wanted to hear. He also had a fun and playful side to him and was able to get her to loosen up. He was smart and dedicated to his job, and was more than just the playboy that he seems at first glance. I really admired that he might not have been the greatest bet for a boyfriend when we first met him, but he was determined to show Sabrina that she deserved more than her fiance. He always thought that she was better than that, and even if he wasn't right for her he was going to get her to see that she deserved more in her life. I also really loved that he never took credit for her ideas, even when it would have greatly benefited him. Sabrina took a little bit of time for me to warm up to. At first she was really judgmental and she was also really naive and blind when it came to her relationship with David her fiance. She didn't seem to realize that he was a jerk for stringing her along like he was and she believed every excuse that he gave her. But once she started getting to really know Jack, she not only came out of her shell but also started to realize that maybe her relationship with David wasn't as perfect as she had thought that it was. I really liked who she became when she was with Jack, and I thought that they were really good together. They made a great team when it came to work, but they were also a really great couple as well. They had a lot of chemistry and it was clear that they both were really attracted to each other.

Being a bliss book, this one was sweet and cute but didn't have much in the way of the physical aspects of their relationship. I think it could have used a little more of that side of their relationship, but it didn't change how real and believable their connection was. I just personally would have liked a little more of that side of them. I really enjoyed the wit and banter between the two of them, and I thought that they were really fun. These two kept me laughing and grinning throughout, and I was left feeling happy and satisfied after finishing this book. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet and light romance read. This book is clean and has mild cussing and little sexual content, but will appeal to all romance fans because of the connection and chemistry between Jack and Sabrina. I look forward to reading more from Jennifer Shirk in the future.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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My Favorite Book Couple with Laura Kaye

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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ARC Review: Once Upon a Billionaire by Jessica Clare

Griffin Verdi has to attend his cousin’s royal wedding. He’s forced to go, but making matters worse, his assistant has come down with the chickenpox. Griffin needs help now. His friends suggest Maylee Meriweather. A girl from fresh from Arkansas who sends money home to her family, she’s anxious to make good. She’s also a burn talker. Having no choice, he agrees to hire her, sight unseen. Griffin is arrogant and snobbish. He’s dismissive of her, while lusting after her. He treats her as a servant, as opposed to an employee. She’s pleasant in the face of his insults. She needs the job and he’s paying double. She ties his bow ties and helps his cousin when she’s burned by a curling iron. She impresses everyone with her kindness and generosity. A few photos in the local paper show Maylee where she stands in her relationship. A royal fling before Griffin finds a wife. Will he be able to win her back?

I don’t believe Griffin loves Maylee. He uses her as a royal would use a peasant girl. He doesn’t stand up for her to his family or friends. Many of his remarks are cruel. He definitely feels he is her superior in all things, even correcting her speech in front of others. The sex between them is more like his lust fulfilled. She proves herself to be invaluable, organized, and crucial to his being able to bear being around his family. Even his brother makes crude comments and Griffin dismisses them. Griffin supports his family. He’s in the perfect position to make them bow to her, but he doesn’t do anything. Even at the end, his recovered assistant is rude to her. Everyone looks down their noses at Maylee. His friends suggest her as a joke. His arrogance is overbearing and never subsides. He proves he can’t function without help. He gets lost on the way to his mother’s house and never carries cash. All are here to do his bidding.

Maylee is a sweet soul and deserves a better man than Griffin. Money and titles pale in comparison to respect and love. She should stay in Arkansas and send Griffin on his prideful way.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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