Review: Can't Slow Down by Lizzie Hart Stevens

After reading and loving Fast Lane, the first book in the Consumed by Love series from Lizzie Hart Stevens, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second book! Can't Slow Down picks up where the cliffhanger of Fast Lane left off and is the continuation of Coen and Lexi's story. These should be read in order, so make sure to start with Fast Lane if you are new to the series. While I was really excited to get this book, I have to say that after reading I was a bit disappointed. I still liked Lexi and Coen a lot, but the story left a lot to be desired here. 

After the childhood he had, Coen Walker was unwilling to allow love into his life until he met Lexi Taylor. Right away he knew she was different, and for the first time ever he found himself wanting a relationship. But when Lexi's ex will stop at nothing to get her back, Coen and Lexi will have to survive the danger and fight for a chance at the future that they both want. 

I thought that Lexi and Coen had such a great connection and chemistry right from the start, and they definitely still had that here. But things progressed so quickly, that it was just completely unbelievable to me. While I do believe that they cared for one another and were well on their way to something special together, falling in love with a complete stranger that you really haven't spent any time with is something that is impossible for me to find genuine in a matter of days. (As in two-three days, well under a week's time) The fact that they were both suddenly so into it full-on after Lexi had just broken up with her ex upon meeting Coen and he was suddenly a changed man with little to no adjustment of being completely against love or commitment just didn't feel realistic to me and didn't work. 

I think that there was the potential for a really great story here, but these two installments were just too short to fully deliver. Everything felt so rushed and just didn't come off as realistic, no matter how perfect these two were together. They were great for one another, and I think with a longer story and more depth that this series could have been fantastic. Coen and Lexi had a ton of heat though, and I did enjoy these two novellas even if I didn't love them as much as I wanted to. I also think that this book could have used an editor. I found a lot of mistakes and it was distracting at times while I was reading. While this isn't a total deal breaker, it is frustrating for a reader, especially when there are so few pages to the story. That many errors in such a short book really stand out. While I was disappointed here, I do think that the potential was there and the parts I liked I really liked. I would read more from Lizzie Hart Stevens in the future, I just really hope that in the future her books aren't so short and rushed.

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ARC Review: Dirty by Kylie Scott

Dirty is my first book by Kylie Scott, and also the first book in her Dive Bar series. I have heard such great things about Kylie Scott's books that I couldn't wait to read this one! It was such a fun read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish! I can't wait for the next book in this series and to get more of all these amazing characters. 

It is bad enough finding out that the man you are supposed to be marrying is having an affair on your wedding day, but when Lydia Green finds out that it was with his best man she knows that she has to get away! Running away, she heads through the woods and finds herself at a cottage with an open window, but what she doesn't expect is for the cottage owner to be so sexy when he finds her looking like a mess. Vaughan Hewson didn't expect to find a mess of a bride in his bathtub, but he can't help but want to help the girl out. Soon these two realize that maybe the messes they are in could end with them finding something good with each other. Even if they are complete opposites and shouldn't work, they decide to enjoy the time they have together getting a little dirty. 

I really loved these two. They were so fantastic right from the start. Vaughan was sexy and I loved how he was with Lydia. He was exactly what she needed after her ex, and I loved that he not only showed her what she had been missing out on but that he also showed her how great she was. She had some insecurities and Vaughan helped her to get over them while living life instead of just going through the motions. Vaughan had been dealing with a lot on his own and had never really dealt with the loss of his parents, but Lydia helped him to see that sometimes dreams change and that it was alright to be vulnerable and open up to someone. Their chemistry was off the charts, and they were really hot together!

I loved how light-hearted and fun this story was. I found myself breezing through this one because it was such an easy story to get lost in. Kylie Scott grabbed my attention right away here, and I didn't want to put it down because I had to see what would happen for these two. I really liked the secondary characters here as well, and I already can't wait to get more in this series. I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for something quick and fun! After reading Dirty, I can definitely see why so many readers love Kylie's books, and I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future!

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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RFTC I've Got a Secret Event with Author Samanthe Beck

Wine lover, sleep fanatic, and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy contemporary romance novels, Samanthe Beck  lives in Malibu, California, with her husband and their turbo-son.

When not dreaming up fun, fan-your-cheeks sexy ways to get her characters to happily-ever-after, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with Ambien.

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Review: Bright Side by Kim Holden

I have been trying to figure out what to say about this book since I finished it. Bright Side by Kim Holden is one of the best books I have ever read and after I finished it a few days ago I was just speechless. This book was everything and I honestly haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I read it. I really believe that everyone should read this book at some point in their life. 

Kate Sedgwick's life has been anything but easy, but despite all she has been through she has always managed to remain optimistic and positive, earning her the nickname Bright Side from her best friend Gus. As positive as she is, she doesn't believe in love. Leaving California to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to meet someone that makes her start to believe in love. But the first time she meets Keller Banks, she knows that there is something special between them. Both Keller and Kate have secrets though, and those secrets are reasons for each of them to fight the connection they share. 

I absolutely loved Kate and Keller. These two had such amazing chemistry right from the start. I loved their interactions and the way they just clicked right away. Kate was so smart and witty, and I loved that Keller could keep up with her. He loved that she was different and you could really see how genuine his feelings for her were right away. Kate was the most positive person on the planet, and it was so real and believable. With anyone else being the way she was it might have come across as forced or fake, but that wasn't the case here at all. Kate was so real and I honestly believed absolutely everything she said and did was true to who she was. Kate is the kind of character that you can't help but instantly love. I loved her friendships just as much as the relationship with Keller. She was such a good person, and I adored the way she was with all those that meant something to her. 

This book brought out all the emotions, and I will admit that I definitely shed a lot of tears here. I won't get into the reasons, because this book should just be experienced without knowing anything ahead of time. Kim Holden is an amazing writer, and this story is one that will stick with me forever. I cannot recommend this book enough, and I really do believe that it is the type of book that regardless of genre is one that anyone can relate to. Bright Side is more than just a story though, this book truly makes you look at your life and want to live it to the fullest. I can't wait to read Gus, which features Bright Side's best friend. I loved him here, and I know that his book is going to be just as emotional as this one was and yet I know it is going to be just as fantastic. If you are looking for something truly moving and unlike anything you have read before, Bright Side is a must read.

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ARC Review: The One That Got Away by A.J. Pine

The One That Got Away by A.J. Pine is the first book in her new Kingston Ale House series. Each book is a standalone contemporary story with interconnected characters. I honestly couldn't wait to read this book after seeing the gorgeous cover and reading the blurb for this one, and it had some really great moments. There were a few things that I did have some issues with, but it was a good story and definitely won't be the last I read from Pine. 

Jamie Kingston and Brynn Chandler have been best friends since they were kids. They only crossed that line of friendship one time when they shared a kiss, and since Jamie pushed her away they have never gone there again. But now ten years later as they attend their reunion, old feelings are brought to the surface and both begin questioning the status of their friendship. But now that Jamie seems to have finally made up his mind to go after Brynn like he has always wanted to, Brynn seems to have set hers sights on an old crush. Jamie offers to take her on road trip in which he hopes to win her over once and for all. But will Brynn end up with the one waiting for her at the end of the trip, or the one that has always been there for her? 

I really liked Jamie and Brynn together. These two had such a solid foundation of friendship, and it was so easy to see just how natural they were with one another. They had a really strong connection, and it just felt right for them to be together. I will say that the chemistry for me was a bit harder to feel, though they had feelings for one another, I just wasn't getting a ton of sparks right away. One of my issues here was the fact that each of these characters acted a bit young for their ages. Both Brynn and Jamie came off as immature at times, and each had a lot of insecurities and fears. (Jamie's being the worst of the two) Each of them had feelings for one another, and yet they had so many misunderstandings and communication issues. Some of the things they did just didn't feel entirely believable for characters of their ages. I would have expected a lot of this from high school aged characters, but not from those approaching 30.

I also felt like there was a lot of push and pull here, and Jamie got on my nerves quite a bit here. As much as I wanted to love him, I really didn't like the fact that he kept pushing Brynn towards Spencer. He had so many opportunities to change things with Brynn (and she was willing on more than one occasion!) yet he for some reason kept on pushing her away. It just aggravating watching him be sullen and wish for more with Brynn, yet when he had the chance he tried to get her to be with someone else. It didn't make sense to me and frankly I just didn't really understand his motivation. I understood even if I didn't like it when they were younger, but in the present it just didn't make sense anymore. These two were great together though and I really liked seeing them spend more time together when they were actually exploring a relationship between them. Though the chemistry wasn't strong at first, when they did get together there was a ton of steam between them! I just wish that I had been able to see more of them together and less of Jamie pushing Brynn away. A.J. Pine has a great writing style though, and this was a light and fun read. I loved this world and the characters she has created, and I can't wait to see where this series goes. If you are looking for something fun and light, I think it is one worth giving a shot. I look forward to reading more from Pine in the future and seeing where this series goes.

**ARC Provided by Author**

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