BOOK REVIEW: Rise by Dylan Allen

*ARC graciously given in exchange for an honest review*

Title: Rise

Author: Dylan Allen

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 15, 2017

As a little girl, I saw my father destroy the family he claimed to love. I watched my mother waste her life dreaming of a man who left her without a second glance. 

As a woman, I don’t dream, I work. I don’t fall in love, I focus. I would never let anything as frivolous as love distract me. 

Until I meet Simon. A gorgeous, brilliant young architect with dark eyes, a sweet smile, and a dirty, dirty mouth. He sets me on fire, and suddenly all I can do is dream…of his hands, his lips, his body. Of a heart good enough and a love strong enough to make me believe in happily ever after.

But Simon has secrets that are even deeper than mine. Will our pasts destroy everything we’ve worked for? Or will we find the courage to rise to the challenge and fight for the love we share?

I’d like to say that I’m Indie thirsty. I always look forward to reading the first work of new indie authors and be there as they progress in their next books. Dylan Allen, though, sounds nothing at all like a newbie. In Rise, her prose was sharp, smart, and sexy; the story compelling, deep, and fun all at the same time. 

I want to mark this woman and make sure she can’t forget me for a while.

Addie has worked hard to get to where she was now but only one mention of her past could make her crumble into pieces. Addie was as real as a heroine could be. She was smart, fierce, and wore confidence like a second skin. But beneath her intimidating aura was a woman of passion and compassion. I loved how unpretentious her character was. You would love her, you would hate her and then in the end, love her altogether. 

Even when I hate him, I want him. I ache for him.

Simon currently has a lot on his plate but he definitely has time for dessert. I loved Simon’s character so much! His past was a ghost of bad dreams but he was slowly carving their life into a fairytale. He was responsible, caring, and smart. I reveled on the fact that his allure as a hero didn’t come with status, looks (though he doesn’t lack it *wink*), and power. He earned it through his decisions, intentions, and the pureness of his heart. 

Dreams aren’t made of fairytales and romance, they are made of hard work and grit.

I loved the solidity of the plot of this book! I found some scenes mind boggling at first but I loved how Miss Dylan answered everything in the process of the story. The main characters’ chemistry simmered in every page; their differences drawing more passion than conflict. There was really so much in this book that I loved! All the characters were equally intriguing (Kyle is my favorite!) and unique in their own way and I found myself wanting to explore them.

Miss Dylan’s writing was consistently riveting and I can’t wait for what more she has in store for us!

BOOK REVIEW: Fake Fiancee by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Title: Fake Fiancee
Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills
Genre: Sports, Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 6, 2017

A new standalone romance from Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Ilsa Madden-Mills...

They say nothing compares to your first kiss,

But our first kiss was orchestrated for an audience.

Our second kiss…that one was REAL.

He cradled my face like he was terrified he’d f*ck it up.

He stared into my eyes until the air buzzed.

Soft and slow, full of sighs and little laughs,

He inhaled me like I was the finest Belgian chocolate,

And he'd never get another piece.

A nip of his teeth, his hand at my waist...

And I was lost.

I forgot he was paying me to be his fake fiancée.

I forgot we weren’t REAL.

Our kiss was pure magic, and before you laugh and say those kinds of kisses don’t exist…

Then you’ve never touched lips with Max Kent, the hottest quarterback in college history.

Get ready for breathtaking kisses, dreamy football players, a heroine who yearns for the guy she can't have, and a hero who will do anything for the girl he loves...

Fun, sweet, hot, romantic and written by Ilsa Madden-Mills. Need I say more? 

I sighed. God had been using his A game when he’d created my hero.

Max had one goal this season--own that highly coveted Heisman trophy. In order to do that, he had to have a clean slate. And his past records definitely weren’t. There’s just something about how Max carries cocky and sweet so attractively. He was confident but genuine, naughty but sweet, and he’s a complete swoony book boyfriend I’ll never tire of reading. This quarterback could barge through men in the field but it seems he was defenseless when it comes to a certain ray of sunshine with blond hair. 

“We could be the best damn Hallmark movie ever made, Sunny.”

Sunny was a perfect representation of her own name. She was a ray of light and a source of smiles in this book. That woman had spunk and guts that I really loved reading about. She was her own woman and she knew what she wanted. She knew when to say no until she found herself in a situation with a man she can’t seem to refuse. 

Boom. “Once I lick you, you’re mine.”

I love, love Sunny and Max' chemistry. The story was fast-paced but it wasn’t hurried. There was a brilliant play of emotions between the two characters that escalated the effect of every scene. They had a connection but it was built up wonderfully. So so fun and addictive! I couldn't put it down! Fake Fianceé is the kind of book that will light fires in your heart and body. Steamy, sweet, fun, with a spice of drama. Ilsa Madden-Mills never disappoints.

BOOK REVIEW: Say You Want Me by Corinne Michaels

   Title: Say You Want Me
   Author: Corinne Michaels
   Series: *Can be read as a Standalone but I highly suggest you read Say You'll Stay first*
   Genre: Contemporary Romance
   Release Date: October 31, 2016

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There’s no way I’ll fall for Wyatt Hennington.

He can keep his Southern drawl, irresistible smile, and those pick-up lines all to himself. I made the mistake of sleeping with him not once, but twice. I’m not stupid enough to give him round three, especially after he left me in the middle of the night so I could see myself out. I vow to return to Philadelphia and forget him.

It proves easier said than done.

When the doctor informs me I’m the winner of door prize number two, I put my life on hold and head back to Bell Buckle. Three months and if we can’t make this work, I’m gone.

The problem is—when the cards are stacked against us, and I can’t bring myself to leave him, I’ll finally know if he truly loves me or if all my fears were real . . . 

Ruined. Wyatt Hennington just ruined me for all men. After reading this book, my standard in men just reached a higher level and it can, apparently, only be reached by this Hennington. Get ready to swoon, sigh, cry, and have a good time. 

I need to possess her in the same way she possesses me.

Angie’s old flame with Wyatt Hennington was obviously still burning since no other man can put his fire off. And now that she's coming back to Tennesse, his flame might just combust her altogether. Angie might be the most vibrantly poignant heroine I’ve met. She’s a beautiful contradiction. The independence and determination built up by her strained and tragic experiences with her family empowered her feisty personality but it was also what made her vulnerable. Her realness and her spirit put an interesting touch in this book. 

My heart has only ever been one man’s—his.

Wyatt Hennington’s heart encompassed a fierce love for his family and eventually for a feisty blonde named Angie. This man’s heart was so pure and so compassionate. He puts everybody else first and sometimes everybody didn’t include himself. Wyatt’s character went straight to my heart and owned it. He was so responsible and so sincere, so honest, and man, does he know how to persuade a woman.But what really sold me to his character was his imperfections, his mistakes, and the strength he had to own them. He was raw and real and dreamy at the same time and I could not have enough of him. 

This isn’t a cease fire. This is a surrender.

There’s really something about how Corinne Michaels write that can get through every reader. Her books are easy to read and that enables a fluid, perfect transfer of emotions. The genuine way of how she drives her story always aims and scores the heart. Say You Want Me was a perfect example of it. No grandeur and faux fantasy, just straight-up heart-stealing emotions that every reader can relate to. The main characters’ chemistry was hot and titillating and all the other characters have sustained my interest to look forward to the next books. Plot-wise it was light with the right amount of drama; just enough to keep your heart pounding and your tears streaming. But you’ll definitely end it with a long sigh of satisfaction…and maybe a box of Kleenex. 

Or two.

BOOK REVIEW: The Fall by T. Gephart

Title: The Fall

Author: T. Gephart

Genre: Dark, Suspense, Romance

Salvation doesn’t exist.

It’s a lie people tell themselves in the dark, alone so their conscience might be eased. To give them hope that, in the end, we can all be forgiven.

Except we can’t.

And no amount of praying will change that.

For me there will be no redemption, and I will leave this world with the same black heart I entered it with.

The comfort in knowing who I am and what I am capable of keeps me warmer than any lie of having my soul saved.

Because I know the truth.

Because I know there is no Heaven.

And there is no Hell.

There is only the fall.

Michael has no one. No family. No Friends. And not a soul in the world cares about him, only a system that tried to break him.

With a strong dislike for establishments and conformity, he has lived his life as a rogue. A hired thug with no allegiances except to his own word.

Sofia has grown up in the shadow of her father—one of the most powerful drug lords in the city. She has vowed to bring him to justice, moving through the ranks of the Chicago PD in an effort to be as far removed from her father’s lifestyle as possible.

Two worlds collide when Michael shows up at her door, a gun in his hand and a look in his eyes that terrifies her. Suddenly, Sofia has a price on her head and Michael is the only one who can keep her out of the crossfire.

‘When I looked into his eyes, I saw him. I saw who he was, not who he thought he’d become, and I saw kindness.’

Miss T has kept up my interest with her sizzling hot humor on the Power Station series. But after reading The Fall, I am so, so interested on what more this author can give us. Angsty, emotional, suspenseful. I’m not quite sure how to get over this book. 

A man without a concrete identity is the hardest target. No family to pawn on, no feelings to play with. Michael lived his life killing people. Devoid of empathy and a stranger to love, he had no problem slitting someone’s throat and rinsing their blood off of his hands. Michael is the main attraction of this book! The angst and the depths of this man was riveting and poignant, the weaving of his past from start to end was brilliantly played. 

Enter Sofia. A daughter of a drug lord who devoted her life seeking justice for her father’s deeds. When she was forced to go under Michael’s wings, she will soon realize that the man she once doubted might be the only man she can trust. This character broke me. It’s up to you to find out why. 

There was a different form of grit in this book that I really loved. The relentless teasing and tension between Michael and Sofia spiced up this story. The suspense and the drama of this book’s plot gave me a unique experience. I just know this book will create an uproar of emotions in every reader that finishes this book. That is all. I am not spoiling. I am fine. Really.

BOOK REVIEW: Back to Yesteday by Whitney Barbetti

Title: Back to Yesterday
Author: Whitney Barbetti
Series: Bleeding Hearts #2
Release Date: October 20, 2016

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The distance from Colorado to Maine is not far enough to escape the memories.

The time I've been away is not long enough to heal the pain.

I left Colorado, determined to discover who I am outside of my grief, but I fell apart along the way.

I'm lost again.

When Jude follows me, I can't turn him away. But I can't let him in, either.

Not all the way.

I know when he finds out my secret, the one I keep hidden in the darkest part of my heart, he’ll leave me.

Alone.

Like I was before.

Whitney Barbetti is one of my literary goddesses and she continues to tell me why with Back to Yesterday. This woman doesn't just write, she invests. There's something so raw and real and personal in every book that she writes. Prepare your hearts for the raw emotions and the biting bits of heartbreaking twists this book will bring you. 

“If you can’t love yourself,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, “let me love you enough for the both of us.”

Trista was beginning to believe the universe hated her. She was a lost soul once. But when she finally felt she found the other piece of her soul in the arms of Jude, untold lies ripped her apart again. Now she was more lost than she was before. Trista slowly built her own backbone in this book and it was a heartbreaking yet empowering process. In an ideal world, her character wouldn’t be easily liked. But if you’re a woman who’s felt the sting of insecurities, then brace your heart, this character will scrape your heart out. 

Jude was a forever kind of guy. He wasn’t the guy you hooked up with on your quest for the last guy. He was the last guy. And in many ways, he was the first guy for me.

Jude dedicated his life reaching the world’s highest points. He reveled on the power and freedom brought by breathing at the peak. But he was introduced to his life’s lowest point when Trista left. And since then, he felt so low that even climbing felt like falling. I cannot even express how much I loved Jude. He was a consistent and patient man but he was tested in this book and I loved him more. 

“I want to keep growing with you. Let me love you, Trista, through all of our tomorrows.”

Back to Yesterday was emotionally-charged. There wasn’t a page in this book that didn’t pierced my heart. The writing was so real, focusing more on soul searching than pushing the romance. It played on raw emotions and rubbed on the shallow wounds created by the first book but God, I kept reading. The anticipation kept me up and reigniting Trista and Jude’s spark was an exhilarating experience. Whitney Barbetti certainly knows how to break a reader and building strength on being broken. She doesn’t sugarcoat, she is blunt and real. In this book, she shared a part of herself that made the emotions more in-sync with a reader’s heart. 

I do wish there was more romantic Jude x Trista moments, though.