Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Asa by Jay Crownover

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Asa by Jay Crownover. I am so honored to take a part and so excited to share my review with you.

~Synopsis~

Jay Crownover’s New York Times and USA Today bestsellingMarked Men series continues with the much anticipated story of southern charmer and certified criminal Asa Cross.

Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

~Review~

Jay Crownover is a masterful new adult writer and she has created a beloved series that follows a bunch of tattoo artists in Denver and the women who's hearts they steal. Asa is the final Marked Men book in the series and I am sad to say goodbye. If anyone could close it out with a bang though, it would be Royal and Asa.

Asa is a former con-artist who is somewhat reformed. Asa knows who he is and he doesn't bullshit. He's done some pretty shady things and mixed himself up in a lot of bad shit. Shit that almost got him killed. His near death experience has somewhat reformed him and he wants to prove to his sister, Ayden, that he can do right. Asa knows he owes that much to her.

Royal is a beautiful girl with a past that she has overcome. She could have gone a lot of directions but she kept it straight and now she's a police officer; and a damn good one at that. After a shootout that left one officer dead and her best friend and partner, Dominic, in the hospital, Royal is struggling. She blames herself and she's headed down a path that could cause her to lose it all.

Asa and Royal run in the same circle so they know each other but she's a cop and he's a con so both of them see no future there. However, there is definitely an attraction and Royal starts throwing herself at Asa to numb some of her pain. Normally Asa would be all about that but he likes Royal and he doesn't want to be any part of her self destruction. However, he only has so much control.

I loved the way Asa and Royal come together. They are two opposites who definitely attract. More important though, is that they are two opposites who fall in love. Asa helps Royal find herself again and realize that she is worth everything. Royal shows Asa that your past doesn't define you and that he can rise above his. There are a lot of obstacles in their path but they both fight them like champs.

Falling in love isn't easy; it's damn hard. Dropping your defenses to let somebody in is near impossible. When Asa and Royal finally make it through all that, they prove that it's all worth it.

Once again, Jay is a master of new adult. She brings in unique characters and a great storyline to tie it all together. Of course there's sex but the sex doesn't overshadow the true theme of this story; overcoming life's obstacles. I can't wait to see what Jay does next!

BUY LINKS:

 Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound ** Other

About Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series. She will also be introducing the dark and sexy world of The Point in a new series this summer starting with Better When He’s Bad. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

Links:

Website ** Blog ** Facebook ** Twitter

** Jay Crownover Goodreads

And don’t miss the previous books in The Marked Men Series!

RULE

JET

ROME

NASH

ROWDY

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"Will Goods may very well have been the best man to walk the planet..." ~Review: Damaged Goods by Nicole Williams

Author: Nicole Williams

Publication Date: September 9, 2014

Genre: New Adult

Source: Purchased via Amazon

~Synopsis~

When Liv Bennett said good-bye to her sinkhole of a hometown, she planned to leave that chapter of her life behind forever. But forever turned out to only be three years.

After her addict of a mother up and disappears, Liv returns to what she considers her own personal hell smack in the middle of nowhere Nevada to take care of her two younger sisters, and she promptly reinstitutes the golden rule that got her through her first nineteen years of life without getting knocked up, roughed up, or messed up: don’t date the local boys and, god forbid, don’t fall in love with one of them.

It isn’t long before that golden rule is put to the test.

Will Goods grew up in the next trailer over, but the wild, careless boy who used to tear up the town with his three brothers has morphed into someone else so completely, he’s almost unrecognizable. The quiet, contemplative man who works on cars every night and takes care of his mentally ill mother every day is nothing like the local boys Liv grew up avoiding.

But when Liv considers suspending her golden rule just this once, she finds out something about Will that will change everything.

Will Goods isn’t who he used to be—he’s not even the man Liv thinks she’s gotten to know over the summer. He’s become someone else entirely.

He’s become . . .

Damaged Goods.

~Review~

I am a huge fan of Nicole Williams. She's probably one of my favorite new adult authors. New adult is a genre I've been reading for about 2 years now, and it's been getting a little old. However, I find myself constantly enjoying Nicole's books despite my boredom with the genre itself. I think it may be a combination of her writing and the seemingly unique characters she creates. Will Goods is one of those characters. While I have many book boyfriends, the moment I met Will, I gained tunnel vision.

Liv Bennett is finally starting to build the life she always wanted. She's living in LA, getting her degree and working hard to save her money. She's put that podunk hometown in Nevada and the useless mother she had behind her. When her mom disappears and leaves her teenage sisters behind by themselves, Liv is forced to go back and pick up the pieces. She has one rule; never get involved with a local boy. Enter Will Goods.

Will has lived in the trailer near Liv Bennett his whole life but never really knew her. When Liv shows up at his garage after coming back to town, he can't resist her or fight the feelings she invokes. Will left home and made a life for himself in the army but after being injured and discharged, he comes home to take care of his mother, whose mental health is fading. 

While I liked Liv well enough, it drove me a little crazy how much she judged Will simply because he was back living in their hometown. She couldn't see beyond that to what an amazing man he was and all he had done with his life. He came home for his mom, unlike any of his brothers. He has incredible character, he's smart, he's hard working and he's incredibly handsome. However, I did like how she took care of her sisters. She didn't have to give up everything and come home to do that. She did things she didn't want to solely to take care of them. 

Will Goods is a man that sticks with you. He has incredible character and isn't the typical bad boy reformed for a woman. He's a genuine good guy and the way he looks out for Liv and her sisters without really knowing them is enough to make me fall in love. He's been through a lot and he deserves a good woman who will make him happy. I'll gladly take the job if Liv doesn't want it. He will melt your heart.

The writing was fantastic and the character development was really well done. Will will make you swoon and your heart will break for him. I really enjoyed the plot and loved that it wasn't all about the romance between Will and Liv. There are a lot of great moments between Liv and her sisters. Reese and Paige will make you laugh and the book really showcases the importance of family and sibling bonds.

Also, tomorrow is my stop on the 25 Days of Book Boyfriends Tour where I'm featuring Will Goods so come on back and learn more about him!

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES  & NOBLE

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Letting Go by Molly McAdams

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Letting Go by Molly McAdams, hosted by bookslapped. Check out my review below and enter the giveaway!

~Synopsis~

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author returns with a sizzling novel of love, loss, guilt, and forgiveness.

Grey and Ben fell in love at thirteen and believed they’d be together forever. But three days before their wedding, the twenty-year-old groom-to-be suddenly died from an unknown heart condition, destroying his would-be-bride’s world. If it hadn’t been for their best friend, Jagger, Grey never would have made it through those last two years to graduation. He’s the only one who understands her pain, the only one who knows what it’s like to force yourself to keep moving when your dreams are shattered. Jagger swears he’ll always be there for her, but no one has ever been able to hold on to him. He’s not the kind of guy to settle down.

It’s true that no one has ever been able to keep Jagger—because he’s only ever belonged to Grey. While everyone else worries over Grey’s fragility, he’s the only one who sees her strength. Yet as much as he wants Grey, he knows her heart will always be with Ben. Still they can’t deny the heat that is growing between them—a passion that soon becomes too hot to handle. But admitting their feelings for each other means they’ve got to face the past. Is being together what Ben would have wanted . . . or a betrayal of his memory that will eventually destroy them both?

~Review~

Letting Go was a powerful story of loss, love and moving forward. Grey and Ben have been together since they were 13 and 2 days before their wedding, Ben dies unexpectedly. Grey and Ben's best friend Jagger are left behind to pick up the pieces and grieve their loss. Jagger is the only person that really understands what Grey is going through and he is the only person that doesn't treat her like she's breakable. 

I really love Jagger. He is sweet, kind, charming and so protective of Grey. He has been in love with her since they were kids and always hoped she would see him differently. Ben swooped in and took Grey before Jagger ever had a chance to tell her how he felt. I think he was so noble because he stood back and let them be happy. He never tried to come between them or tell them how he felt. He was a true friend to both Grey and Jagger. 

Grey is really struggling to move on after Ben dies. She doesn't know how and when she finally finds out how Jagger feels about her and realizes she feels the same, she definitely harbors some guilt. I totally understand why because she feels wrong for moving. However, all of her friends and family tell her it's okay to move on and Ben would want her to be happy. I was really glad to see that she took that to heart and realized they were right. 

I really loved the development of Grey and Jagger's relationship. Someone is trying to sabotage them and using Grey's vulnerability from Ben to do it. I liked that Jagger continued to support her even when he felt like he was losing her. He helped her get through a really tough time in her life and showed her that it's okay to be happy and love again. 

Overall, I felt that this book was really well written. Molly really made me feel the emotions that Grey and Jagger felt. The plot was relate-able and definitely realistic. Jagger is a man any woman would want and I definitely fell in love.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON

About the Author:

Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry daughter. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach, which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. When she's not at work, she can be found hiding out in her bedroom surrounded by her laptop, cell, Kindle and fighting over the TV remote. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm...or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.

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Review: One More Chance by Abbi Glines

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: September 2, 2014

Genre: New Adult

Source: Purchase via Amazon

~Synopsis~

Grant Carter did everything in his power to convince Harlow Manning that he was a good guy. More than a smooth-talker and someone she could trust. He had to overcome his reputation as a playboy, and his history with Harlow's half-sister, Nan, a woman with a reputation of her own.

Harlow had taken the chance, falling hard and fast for the guy who thrilled her with his all-consuming desire. After a lifetime of avoiding bad boys like Grant, she had opened herself to the possibilities of love...

But a life-changing secret has torn them apart, and now Grant and Harlow must decide if they have enough fight to make it work - or if the pain of betrayal has permanently destroyed their future.

~Review~

While Take A Chance didn't end on a cliff hanger, it definitely left me wanting more. Grant and Harlow are at a turning point in their relationship and they both must decide what they want. Do they fight for each other or do they let go?

Grant is obviously regretful for the choices he made and I liked the way each chapter in his POV opened with a heartfelt voice mail to Harlow. He is clearly in pain and heartbroken. He knows he pushed her away and he is ashamed of the way he reacted to her confession. Harlow loves Grant but she understands his fears and anxieties and she has some of her own.

Grant and Harlow had a lot of obstacles to overcome and I liked the support that Grant showed her. He really steps up and matures a lot. I think that is definitely Harlow's influence and I like it. I was glad to see the way he stood up to her father and Nan. He really proved his love to Harlow and I really felt how serious he was about making things work.

Overall, I really enjoyed the conclusion to Grant and Harlow's story. I love the intermingled storylines with characters of the past and those who will be getting their own book soon (Jacy and Tripp). I also liked that Nan wasn't the worst person on the planet in this book and while she is still self-centered and nasty, she proved that their may be a real heart in her after all, even if it is tiny.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Review: In Her Wake by K.A. Tucker

If you haven't read Ten Tiny Breaths and don't want it to be spoiled, then please don't read this review or the synopsis!

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: September 1, 2014

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary

Source: eARC via NetGalley

~Synopsis~

Before you knew him as Trent in Ten Tiny Breaths, he was Cole Reynolds—and he had it all. Until one night when he makes a fatal, wrong decision…and loses everything.

When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he’d be able to lean on his best friends—the ones who have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they’re gone. Worse, there’s the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys.

Everyone assures him that they know it wasn’t intentional, and yet he can’t ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. Nor can he shake the all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won’t so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip on what once was important—college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It’s not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness.

And there’s only one person who can give that to him…

~Review~

 I try not to put any spoilers in my reviews but this is a difficult one to write without possibly giving something away. I'll do my best but just in case, you've been warned.

This series is one of my favorites and I loved that K.A. went back to the beginning and gave us Trent's backstory and how he ended up in Kacie's life in Ten Tiny Breaths. I found this book to be so beautifully written and heartbreaking at the same time. Trent and Kacie have both been through so much pain and turmoil in their lives and finding each other is what helped them heal.

We know a little about what Trent has been through from Ten Tiny Breaths but K.A. really digs into the details with this book and gives us a better understanding of the decisions he's made and what brought him to Kacie. He is very troubled and it takes him a long time and a lot of work to claw his way out of the hole he put himself in. He really struggles in the beginning to deal with the events that irrevocably changed his life and set him on his future path.

I really liked seeing the relationship that Trent has with his parents as well. They are clearly loving and supporting and seeing Trent go through a tough time was hard on them as well. They didn't know how to handle his sudden change in attitude and demeanor and they fought a lot about it. They wanted their son back and they did everything in their power to help him through. In the end, forcing him to get help was what brought him back to a somewhat normal state and helped him try to begin healing.

While Trent's motivations seem a bit crazy to those on the outside, In Her Wake allows us to see where his head and heart were at so we can get a different perspective on his actions. I adored Trent before but now I find him even more spectacular because I know what he truly went through and what led him to be the man he is now.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Sugar on the Edge by Sawyer Bennett

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Sugar on the Edge by Sawyer Bennett, hosted by ATOMR. Check out my review and enter the giveaway.

~Synopsis~

He’s utterly alone…

Tortured and existing in a dark spiral of despair, bestselling British author, Gavin Cooke, has come to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to escape the seedy lifestyle he had been living in London and in a desperate attempt to regain his writing focus. He’s twisted, bitter and angry at the world. He’s a loner… needing not a single thing other than his Scotch and a laptop upon which he can bang out his next erotic, dark thriller.

She’s running in place and getting nowhere…

Savannah Shepherd’s life is falling apart. Her dream of being a wildlife photographer seems a distant memory and she’s barely able to make ends meet. Driving herself forward with no clear goals apparent, she’s about ready to pack up her bags and head home with her tail between her legs.

Two unlikely lovers…

He’s raw, forceful and a dirty talker. She’s a flowers and romance type of girl. Yet within each other, they find a mutual craving that can only be satisfied by giving in to their desires for one another.
Lust turns into something more… something they were not looking for but tentatively accept. Will it be enough to push them past the obstacles of Gavin’s bitter past?

*SUGAR ON THE EDGE can be read as a stand-alone*

~Review~

I absolutely love the Last Call series and I think Sawyer has created a really great set of characters and built a very strong story line. While Brody and Alyssa are still my favorites, I really enjoyed Gavin and Savannah. They are both stubborn and headstrong but they compliment each other so well. 

Gavin comes off as a real asshole at first and I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to like him but once I got to know him and his past, I really felt for Gavin. Being a drunk asshole meant that he didn't have to feel, he didn't have to live with the pain that consumed him. While Savannah is stubborn like Gavin, she is the opposite in personality. She is sweet, kind and generous. She wants to make it on her own and she works hard to do it. She puts up with so much and I really admired her tenacity.

I really enjoyed the build up of Savannah and Gavin's relationship and the way she broke down his walls. Gavin is such a dirty and dominant guy and he really opens Savannah up and brings her out of her shell a bit. While this book was very sexy, there were also some very heart wrenching moments and things I definitely didn't expect. I love the way Sawyer surprises me and gives me the unexpected. The writing is superb and the story held me captivated until the end. 

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Check out the rest of the tour HERE

Blog Tour Review + Playlist: Teaching Roman by Gennifer Albin

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Teaching Roman by Gennifer Albin, hosted by Inkslinger PR. I am excited to share my review and a playlist for the book with you. 

~Synopsis~

Jessica Stone has her life in perfect order until her perfectly boring boyfriend Brett puts things in perspective. So when she receives a call to action from her heartbroken best friend Cassie, she ditches her plans for Winter Break in gloomy Olympic Falls and sets off to Mexico for some fun in the sun.

Determined to use her oceanview to prep for her MCATS, she doesn't plan to run into anyone from Olympic State, least of all the cute communications prof she's been crushing on for a year. When he unexpectedly saves the day, the two are thrown together in a distinctly extracurricular activity.

Roman Markson doesn’t expect to run into anyone he knows from Olympic Falls while visiting his family in Puerto Vallarta, especially not a former student. Although Jess Stone has a way of catching men’s attention, a relationship with her is strictly off-limits. However, the rules feel less strict in Mexico, so they agree to a plan: one week in paradise and nothing more.

But avoiding each other back on campus is harder than they anticipated, especially when they can’t stay away from one another. Neither is sure what they have to learn—and lose—before life teaches them a lesson they’ll never forget.

~Review~

I really enjoy the Good Girls Don't series and I absolutely loved Catching Liam. We meet Jessica and Roman in the first book so I was excited to see that they would be getting their own. I kind of like the forbidden romance theme so I'm glad that  Gennifer took it that way.

Jessica is not a risk taker. She plans to go to medical school and she's worked very hard to get there. Everything seems to be going as planned until her perfectly acceptable but boring boyfriend springs something unexpected on her. She flees to Mexico with her heartbroken best friend, Cassie for the winter break where she runs into grad student and professor, Roman Markson. Jessica and Roman have always been attracted to each other but she was his student and he was her teacher. However, they aren't in school anymore and neither of them can fight the attraction anymore.

I like Jessica. She reminds me a lot of myself. I'm not much of a risk taker or a rule breaker and sometimes I feel kind of boring. I liked that she opened herself up and finally went after what she really wanted. She knows there may be consequences but she has never felt the way she does with Roman and I was glad that she risked it for him. I also think that she is a really good friend and I like the way she supports Jillian and Cassie. She is always the rock in the friendship so it was nice to see her be able to lean on them for a change.

Jessica and Roman have incredible chemistry. While I felt like they moved a little fast in the relationship and their feelings, I really felt the sparks between them. They definitely brought out the best in each other and I liked the way Roman really opened Jessica up to life. He helped her see that there is more to it then just school and classes and grades. Before him, she was just going through the motions but after they met, she felt alive. Their relationship didn't come without it's problems though and I was a little disappointed by Jessica's reaction to some of the situations but I felt like she bounced back quickly and with the help of her freinds, always made the right decision and we didn't have to wait long for it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I found the writing to be well done, the plot paced nicely and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. I really connected with Jessica. While I was a bit disenchanted with the pace of the relationship, being that I felt like it was a bit of insta-love, it was easy to overlook because I don't feel like it was over done. If you haven't jumped on the Good Girls Don't bandwagon, I highly recommend you do.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

~Playlist~

Author Information

  

 Website:  http://www.genniferalbin.com/

Facebook Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/genniferalbinbooks

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/GenniferAlbin

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4906436.Gennifer_Albin