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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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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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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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.

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