"I'll love you forever. Even when I can't"~ Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

Author: Colleen Hoover

Publication Date: March 10, 2015

Publisher: Atria Books

Source: Purchased via Amazon

~Synopsis~

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn't expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

~Review~

I was mesmerized by this book. It brought out all of the feels. All of the feels that only Colleen Hoover can evoke with her writing. This book was hauntingly beautiful and the writing once again reached down and touched my soul. Owen and Auburn had a connection that touched my heart.

While I didn't always agree with some of the decisions that Auburn or Owen made, I recognize that this is what makes them human and it was easy for me to relate. Auburn has been through so much in her young life and my heart broke for her. I mean it was shattered in the very beginning. I had tears streaming down my face before the prologue was even finished. I could feel her despair coming of the pages. Colleen does such an amazing job invoking feelings. I felt like my heart ache when Auburn or Owen's. I felt relieved when Auburn and Owen did. I felt excited and nervous when Auburn and Owen did.

Another thing that I absolutely loved about this book was Colleen's collaboration with the artist to create the paintings that Owen did so we could see what brought out Auburn's emotions and reaction. Owen's inspiration for the paintings was unique and creative. Owen is connected to Auburn, he knows who she is and she has no idea. I loved the way Colleen played that because I was intrigued, wanting to know how he knew her. Colleen knows how to keep me guessing and continuously surprising me. She keeps her secrets locked tight away and I never see the revelations before I'm hit with the surprise. 

Once again, Colleen Hoover has created a masterpiece so real, I feel like I'm a bystander in these character's lives. I also love when I am able to read a book and put together a soundtrack full of songs that really resonate with my while I read. I can relate the songs to scenes in the book and I love that. 

Confess Playlist

"Breathe Me" by Sia

"Broken" by Lifehouse

"Daylight" by Maroon Five

"Let Her Go" by Passenger

"Stay" by Rihanna

"Near to You" by A Fine Frenzy

"Chandelier" by Sia

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: The Charlotte Chronicles by Jen Frederick

Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Charlotte Chronicles, by Jen Frederick, hosted by TRSOR Promotions. I loved this book and am excited to share my review below.

Follow the rest of the tour HERE.

~Synopsis~

Charlotte and Nathan were supposed to be forever. They grew up together. Their families were intertwined. Charlotte was Nathan's first love. Nathan was Charlotte's first everything.

Until they weren't.

How do you hold on to the person you know in your heart you are supposed to be with when everything and everyone in the universe is telling you it's over?

How many times does a heart break?

When is enough…..enough?

How long is forever?

~Review~

I am a huge Jen Frederick fan! I love all her books, especially the Woodlands series and The Charlotte Chronicles are fantastic. This book started out as a weekly chapter in her newsletter and the moment I read chapter 1, I was hooked.

One of my favorite things about this book is watching Nate and Charlotte fall in love and grow up together. They have known each other their whole lives and as they grew up, their feelings slowly grew into something more. Nathan was made for Charlotte. Charlotte was made for Nathan.

Charlotte and Nathan hit a major obstacle and watching them overcome it for their love was really beautiful. There were moments when I wasn't sure they would make it. There were moments when I wanted to kick Nathan in the balls. There were moments when I wanted to cry for Charlotte. 

Part of the book that I really liked was the letters that Charlotte wrote to Nathan. There is a huge time gap in this book and I loved that Jen used those letters to kind of fill it. It worked really well and helped the book flow nicely. 

I also really liked the side characters, including Nate's brother, Nick and Charlotte's best friend, Laney. There is a story between those 2 and I am really looking forward to it. I also loved that some of Nate's SEAL brothers are included and we get to know them a little bit too. 

Overall, this book really blew me away and stole my heart. Jen knows how to create incredible characters and build storylines that keep you hooked. She is also incredible at writing steamy scenes and this book wasn't short on those.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1uimKrz  

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1wvPsfa

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1AbzqEg

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1GaD4lI

~Excerpt~

But when I close my eyes, I can see him—and me. I can see me pressed up against the mirror in the bathroom, my hands making starfish prints as I brace myself against his thrusts. I can hear his harsh breathing, his commands to come, come now, Charlotte. There was that passage of time that felt endless when he was between my legs, licking me softly and leisurely as if there wasn’t anything in this world that gave him more pleasure than helping me find my own. I touch myself, but it’s useless. My body wants one thing: Nathan Jackson.

I’m on fire and the ache of want is so acute it’s like a knife in my chest. I’ve had multiple surgeries, chemo treatments, radiation but that’s nothing compared to what I feel now.

Time and distance had dulled my pain and that my desire and love for Nathan had actually started to ease only to be stoked into high, hot flames by his reappearance in my life.

He is the poison and the antidote.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog.  She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

Website: http://jenfrederick.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenFrederick

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jensfred

Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/p3ptasx

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"Save me and I'll save you..."~ Review: Nocte by Courtney Cole

Author: Courtney Cole

Publisher: Lakehouse Press, Inc.

Publication Date: November 3, 2014

Genre: Mystery

Source: Purchased via Amazon

~Synopsis~

Save me and I'll save you...

My name is Calla Price. I’m eighteen years old, and I’m one half of a whole. 
My other half-- my twin brother, my Finn-- is crazy. 

I love him. More than life, more than anything. And even though I’m terrified he’ll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me.

I’m doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but I’m drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline. 

Dare DuBray. 

He’s my savior and my anti-Christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where I’m afraid, where I belong, where I’m lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me. 

He has the power to destroy me. 

Maybe that’s ok. Because I can’t seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt. 

Why? Because of a secret. 

A secret I’m so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming. 

You won’t either.

~Review~

Holy crap! This book blew me out of the water. I love Courtney Cole; she is a talented writer who has proved to me that she can cross any genre and slay it. Nocte was so much different than anything I have read from her and I was enchanted. I couldn't put this book down; I couldn't stop until I hit the very end. I have been awakened, brought out of my new adult/romance hole and enlightened to how much I truly enjoy a good thriller/mystery.

Calla and Finn are twins. They have that connection that only twins can understand and they do anything and everything together. But Finn suffers. Finn fights the voices in his head. Finn needs Calla. In the wake of a tragedy, Calla struggles with guilt and fear. She knows Finn is slipping and she isn't sure how to save him. When Calla meets Dare, she is instantly drawn to him. She knows he is drawn to her too but he fights it. He is hiding something, something that clearly has to do with her. However, for the first time in her life, she feels free; she feels like her own person. Finn loves Calla and he doesn't want to hold her back but he also feels jealousy. He needs her and Dare will take her away. The louder the voices get, the more secrets are revealed. Finn's hiding something and when Calla finds out, it changes everything.

This book is a total mind twist. It is unpredictable and full of mystery. I wanted to keep reading simply to find out what the hell everyone is hiding. Dare has secrets. Finn has secrets and I want to know them all. I felt Calla's desperation and Finn's loss of control as if they were my own. Courtney Cole pulls you into the story, makes you the characters and drives you mad until the very end. The writing was incredible, the plot was thick and well developed. There is a cliff hanger and while I hate them, I can't be mad at Courtney for it because this is a mystery series and she has to keep us on our toes. Verum comes out in 62 days (yes, I'm counting) and I'm impatiently waiting.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Hard Knox by Nicole Williams

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Hard Knox by Nicole Williams, hosted by ATOMR. I love Nicole's work and this book was no exception. Check out my review and the giveaway below!

~Synopsis~

Knox Jagger. The name inspires resent in every male at Sinclair University, want in every female, and contempt in Charlie Chase.

Charlie can be summed up in three words: independent, independent, and independent. To Charlie, Knox epitomizes everything that’s wrong with college males: prolific one-night stands, drunken senseless fights, and a body that hints at prioritizing gym time over study time.

As an up-and-coming writer for Sinclair University’s newspaper, Charlie’s tasked with getting to the bottom of who’s been dropping little white pills into girls’ drinks at parties. In an ocean of All-American boys sporting polo shirts and innocent smiles, Knox is the obvious suspect. As evidence piles up against the bad boy of Sinclair, Charlie becomes more and more certain it isn’t Knox. But when her drink is dosed at a party and she wakes up on Knox’s couch the next morning, Charlie’s left with more questions than answers when it comes to Knox Jagger.

How can Charlie ever hope to uncover the truth behind a guy so closed off he’s become . . .

Hard Knox

~Review~

I love Nicole Williams and Hard Knox is another hit for her. I absolutely enjoyed the writing, the characters, the plot and quite frankly, the book in general. Not only did it have romance but it had an intriguing plot and it kept me coming back for more. Charlie and Knox are quite the pair and their chemistry lit up the pages.

I really liked Charlie. She has her beliefs and she doesn't care what people think and she doesn't back down or conform. She is a hard hitting journalist and I love the way she handles herself. However, I think sometimes she can be a little judgmental and  sarcastic. I feel like she uses this as a shield because she doesn't want to get hurt or let many people in. Despite what she throws out there, though, she does have feelings and I did like the way she gave Knox the benefit of doubt and the way she tried to protect him.

Knox is your typical bad boy. He comes from a tough back ground, he fights constantly and he is rumored to have been with every girl on campus and then some. He's gorgeous yet mysterious but that really is a front for the hurt he has experienced in his life. He's felt real loss and pain and he covers that with his hard exterior. I liked the way he instantly took to Charlie though and the way he cared and protected her. She isn't like any girl he's ever met and that gets to him. I think he wants to keep his walls up with her but every once and a while he shows his vulnerable side and I loved that.

Charlie is in some serious trouble and Knox is determined to help protect her. As they work together to figure out who is after her, they build this really amazing friendship and can't help but fall for each other. Knox would do anything to keep Charlie safe and Charlie would do anything to protect Knox from the people who want to destroy him. She sees the side that no one else does and despite what people think, Knox really is a good guy. He just uses the bad boy image to protect himself and Charlie is able to see through that as they spend more time together. I felt like, in the end, she saved him from himself and showed him that he can be loved and be some one good.

As I connected with Charlie and Knox, I was also super intrigued by the mystery surrounding the date rape issue on campus and Nicole constantly kept me on my toes wondering who could be responsible. I felt like this book was a bit of a romantic mystery and I really liked that. It catapulted me out of the new adult slump I felt myself falling into because of the monotony of the genre. 

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

About the Author

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that’s one tiny way I can make it so. I’m one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

~Giveaway~

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Williams/215156715173890?sk=app_228910107186452&ref=page_internal

  

To follow the rest of the tour, click HERE.

Review: Take a Chance by Abbi Glines

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: February 25, 2014

Genre: New Adult

Source: Purchased via Amazon

~Synopsis~

When Harlow Manning's rocker father goes on tour, he sends her to Rosemary Beach, Florida, to live with her half-sister, Nan. The problem: Nan despises her. Harlow has to keep her head down if she wants to get through the next nine months, which seems easy enough. Until gorgeous Grant Carter walks out of Nan's room in nothing but his boxer briefs.

Grant made a huge mistake getting involved with a girl with venom in her veins. He'd known about Nan's reputation, but still he couldn't resist her. Nothing makes him regret the fling more than meeting Harlow, who sends his pulse racing. Yet Harlow wants nothing to do with a guy who could fall for her wicked half-sister even if there are no strings between Grant and Nan. Grant is desperate to redeem himself in Harlow's eyes, but did he ruin his chances before he even met her?

~Review~

Before I talk about this book, I have to get this out. I HATE Nan with all the fiery passion in my heart. I don't care what kind of crap she's been through with her mom and her whole father situation. No one should be that evil and she is quite possibly the worst person in the fictional world. Okay, now that I've got that out, we can move on.

I love Abbi Glines and I have read every one of her new adult books and loved them all. Rosemary Beach is a series that I am seriously in love with and Grant and Harlow's story is a great addition to the collection. There is definitely chemistry between the two and I love how sweet and genuine Harlow is. Grant needs to be tamed a little and she does just that.

Harlow has an innocence that immediately draws Grant in. He is so used to his volatile and dysfunctional relationship with Nan, that he doesn't know how to handle his feelings for Harlow. She is the exact opposite of Nan and that is one of her most appealing qualities. I really like Harlow and I like the way she handles Grant. While she is sweet and maybe a little naive, she is also strong willed and she knows how she deserves to be treated. She puts Grant in his place and I think that makes him fall even harder for her. I also really like the way she finally stands up for herself to Nan.

I've always liked Grant but he makes poor decisions, Nan being one of them. I feel like he really opened his eyes a bit to the mistakes he's made when he met Harlow, especially after seeing her again. I liked that Grant worked really hard to win Harlow's trust again and to build something solid with her. I was a little shocked by Harlow's secret and I understand why Grant was so devastated. However, I definitely think he could have reacted better to the situation and he has a lot of making up to do.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Chelsea & Jessica Get Brazen! Falling for the Marine by Samanthe Beck

Hey guys! So happy it's time to get Brazen again! This week we read Falling For the Marine by Samanthe Beck!

Pretending to be in love has never felt so sexy.

USMC helicopter pilot Michael McCade has two goals: Get his damn back into alignment and keep his nose clean until his commanding officer clears him to fly again. The doctor-recommended massage therapy seems like a necessary step toward returning to the cockpit, but when his too-hot-to-handle neighbor, Chloe Kincaid, turns out to be his masseuse, he strays from the straight and narrow in a major way.

Chloe Kincaid is looking for a simple, no strings attached, ego-boosting hook up. But when her positively panty-melting neighbor, USMC Major Michael McCade, (aka Major Hottie), shows up on her massage table, she lets desire get the better of professionalism. Now theyre pretending to be engaged to avoid a whole lot of unanticipated consequences of a momentary lapse in judgment. But can a girl who avoids attachments at all costs fake an engagement to a straight-arrow soldier without falling hard?

**************************************

Our heroine finds herself in a very awkward position at the beginning of the novel- what is the most awkward thing that's happened to you in front of the opposite sex?

Jessica: Oh, wow. This is a hard question. Why can't I think of anything? I'm sure I have had some, but I've probably repressed them! All I can recall is Military Ball freshmen year. I had the biggest crush on a sophomore in my Spanish class, but we never really talked all that much. I went with a friend to the dance and some friends knew I was crushing on him, so they got him to ask me to dance, and we danced for like 2 seconds and he was like who are you here with? I told him and he led me over to him and was like, so you should be dancing with him. OMG. I was horrified. And so so embarrassed. The bright spot of the evening was a guy in my ROTC class and I danced and confessed he was too afraid to ask me to go and I was like, I wanted you to ask me! Sadly, we never started dating, but it was validating to know there was a guy who actually wanted to go with me, but was too chicken shit to ask.

Chelsea: That is such a cute story Jess! I had a hard time thinking of one myself though I'm sure there are tons of them. Coincidentally, today I was playing in a softball game and while running into home plate, I tripped over my feet and ate dirt hard. Everyone thought I was sliding but it looked so ungraceful. There were plenty of men at the game to witness my embarrassing plunge to the ground!

What is your favorite sexy scene in this one?

Chelsea:  I'm gonna have to go with the scene at the massage parlor. Not only was that super HOT but I was biting my nails with nerves waiting to see if they would get caught.

Jessica: The car scene! I do love a good car scene and the one at the bluffs overlooking the ocean? Holy hotness!

Jess- you've met all 3 McCade Brothers. Which one is your favorite?

Jessica: That is so hard! I do love them all. I think I'd have to say Trevor though. I just loved his and Kylie's story and his protectiveness of her is really sweet.

Chelsea- out of Trevor and Michael, which one do you prefer?

Chelsea:  I did love Trevor but I think I'm gonna have to go with Michael. I loved his playfulness and the way he stole Chloe's heart 

If you could have a traveling job of sorts, what would it be?

Jessica: Landscape photographer! I love taking photos, so that would definitely take me to all parts of the globe!

 Chelsea: Ooh, that's a good one! I think I'd want to be food journalist. I would love to travel the world, sampling food from different cultures and talking about it. 

Chloe & Michael have a very sexy moment at her work place. Do you think you'd ever be able to have workplace sex?

Chelsea: I'm not gonna lie, I think it would be kind of hot to push all the papers off my desk and get a little naughty in my office. Of course, I am super paranoid and would probably be too worried about getting caught to actually do it but it's fun to think about!

Jessica: *cringe* That gives a whole new meaning to Hot For Teacher, doesn't it? I don't think I could. If I worked in an office, maybe. But my classroom? That would just be weird. And entirely too dangerous! I'm not adventurous, I know.

What did you think about the "fake dating" in the plot?

Chelsea:  Fake relationships are one of my favorite types of plots so I really liked it. It is always fun to see 2 characters build something real out of something that started out to be pretend.

Jessica: I liked it! I think it's always such a fun twist because I love seeing them struggle with their feelings and trying to figure out what's real and what's pretend!

It's been a while since Jess and I have been able to sit down and read a Brazen together but when we finally got a chance, we knew we needed to meet another McKade brother. I'm so glad we did! This book was incredible and I was hooked from beginning to end. I seriously did not want to put this one down. It was a quick read but it also had a well developed plot and some very intriguing characters. Oh, and it was STEAMY!!

Chloe has been through a tough heartbreak which has left her jaded on relationships. She always wanted the white picket fences but when it all falls apart, she decides freedom is the only way to go. As a traveling masseuse, she's just moved into her new assignment when she finds herself in a little predicament. Lucky for her, the sexy marine next door comes to her rescue. I liked Chloe. She is funny, smart and full of spunk. She is insanely attracted to Michael but she is also scared. She tried the relationship thing once and it was an epic fail.

Michael is an injured Marine and right now he wants nothing more than to get back to duty. That is until he meets his sexy neighbor, Chloe. He is definitely intrigued by her and certainly attracted. He offers to help Chloe out when she's in a bind and they end up fake engaged. I really liked Michael a lot. He is sexy, masculine and a real gentleman. He is so sweet with Chloe and I liked the way he helped her out and treated her.

This book was fun, sexy, heartwarming and an incredible read. The chemistry between Chloe and Michael was smokin' hot and I love a good fake relationship plot. Of course they are physically attracted to each other but as they get to know each other, they develop so much stronger feelings. Michael wants to develop these but Chloe is scared. I loved seeing Michael try to break down her walls and convince her how good they could be together. Chloe was a tough nut to crack and sometimes I wanted to strangle her for not seeing what was right in front of her. However, considering her past, understand her reservations and I was glad to see her finally open her heart to him.

I just adore Samanthe Beck! She is definitely one of my favorite Brazen authors and she NEVER disappoints! Her books are always so good and SO sexy! Not only does she create a sexy, steamy book, she also develops characters that you will really love and enjoy!

I absolutely LOVE how Michael and Chloe meet. It is so awkwardly hilarious! All I'll tell you is that it involved some handcuffs, a bed, and no key. Hah! The two are neighbors and Michael helps Chloe out after a failed seduction attempt on her part. They are both definitely attracted to one another, and end up meeting again, as she is a massage therapist and Michael has really messed up his back. Attraction runs rampant with these two and they find they can't keep their hands off one another.... no matter WHERE they might be. This obviously causes problems for Chloe, and Michael, being one of the most honorable men I've read about, offers to let her stay with him. The one tiny string that comes with this offer? They must pretend they are engaged, as his CO really looks down on cohabitation. Now, Michael and Chloe find themselves caught in a charade that is escalating rather quickly. What feels like an act starts to feel like a hell of a lot more....

Chloe is a pretty strong-willed character. Having been tied down to a husband that cheated on her, she now wants nothing more than to be a free spirit. No strings, no attachments... She hasn't been with anyone else since the divorce and now fate would bring Major Hottie Michael McCade to her doorstep. She always said she would never date a military man because of how her father always put the Corps first and never his family. Staying away from Michael proves to be quite the undertaking... he is patient, kind, encouraging and he is looking for more stability in his life. He wants a home, a family.... He's never been in that all-consuming love before, but he wants it and I love that he isn't afraid to admit it.

Getting to know each other becomes so much more than just a game. Chloe finds herself falling hard for Michael and is desperate to get away. She is afraid of what being in love again will mean and she can't handle Michael growing bored and cheating on her like her ex-husband did. She thinks running away will keep her heart intact, but little does she know she's already lost it....

You're in for a fun, sweet, sexy ride with Falling For the Marine! There are a few scenes I couldn't help but laugh out loud and there were others I felt myself get a bit misty-eyed. I definitely recommend this to my fellow romance lovers!