BOOK REVIEW: The Player by Claire Contreras

Title: The Player
Author: Claire Contreras
Genre: Contemporary Romace

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I'm naturally gifted on the field and between the sheets. With flashy cars and enough media attention to put the Royal Family to shame, I’m the definition of Most Eligible Bachelor. 

I've never met a man who doesn't want to be me or a woman who doesn't want to tame me. Until I meet Camila. 

From the moment I lay eyes on her, I know I have to have her.

She wants to keep me at arm's length.

I want her naked in my bed.

She thinks our worlds are too different.

All I want her to think about is screaming my name.

She says I’m bad news.

I have three weeks to prove her wrong.

There was never a Claire Contreras book that I hated and after reading The Player, she continuously proves that she is incapable of writing a bad book. This book has me in spades. Steamy, sensual, and exhilarating. Plus, there’s a very half-naked Warren Silva on the cover. I’m definitely sold! 

She wasn’t my New York Girl. She was my game changer.

Camila was comfortable within her own cocoon. So when the Belmontes posted a threat of demolishing her and her friends’ home, she knew she had to put up a fight. Only, she didn’t know that a greater threat in the guise of Warren Silva was part of the package. Camila was passion dressed as tenderness. Something in her was a huge spark of character and it only needs a little rekindling. There were times when she was held back by her pampered way of living as a child but her soul was a seat of liberty. I loved how she was unassuming and honest rather than a woman driven by insecurities. 

War Zone, a god on the field. I had a reputation for bedding different women in different cities.

Warren Silva reveled on his fame and success and he wanted to keep it that way. Football brought that to him. Football was his life. Well, until he found out a new way of living. Hot, determined, cocky, and confident would be a few words that could perfectly describe Warren Silva. And for the significant parts of this book, his playful, dominant streak was so so hot to read. However, the new Warren inspired by love and empathy was something that definitely caught my heart. 

"You’re the best person I’ve ever met, Camila, and I don’t deserve you, but I need you. Even in your absence, my love for you grows.”

As highly suggested by this book cover, the story was off-the-charts hot! But that’s the thing about a Claire Contreras book, there’s always smoking, steamy scenes but the heart of it resounds the greatest. What I loved about the player was it wasn’t just a book with sex all over the pages. Don’t get me wrong, the sex scenes are steamy as fuck. But what resounded more to me was it being a book about two very different people with very different visions changed by their love for each other. I’m freaking obsessed with this book. The brilliant way Miss Claire worked the equal parts of hotness and sweetness in this book owned me. 

ARC REVIEW: Written in the Scars by Adriana Locke

*ARC graciously given in exchanged for an honest review*


Title: Written in the Scars
Author: Adriana Locke
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 20, 2016

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Falling in love is easy.

Falling out of love is the hardest thing in the world.

And Elin and Ty Whitt are terrible at it.

The first time the local basketball star smiled at Elin, she was a goner. It was just so damn easy to fall for the dark-haired hometown hero with his charming smile and strong, athletic build.

Thousands of sleepy smiles, aimless drives down country roads, and squeaks of the backdoor after a swing shift later, reality hits. And it hits hard. Falling in love was definitely the easy part. Watching it break apart was impossible.

Through the tears, the second-guesses, the memories of a life built together, the world keeps spinning. With each turn comes clarity and hope—sometimes in the form of a pair of muddy boots by the back door or from the words of a wise friend.

When Ty shows back up with a new found determination to put his family back together, Elin's torn between the fights of the past and the possibility of a new start. This is the man that holds her heart, the man she loves beyond anything else. But this is also the one person in the world that can cause her the most pain.

Life’s not always easy. Love’s not for the faint of heart. But with life comes lessons and Ty and Elin have the scars to prove it. But it's their love written in those scars that will hold them together … or break them apart.

There are books that make you want to dream. 

There are books that rouse hope. 

There are books that make you all giddy and dream of the same kind of love. 

There are books that turn you on. 

And then there’s Written in the Scars by Adriana Locke. 

A book that makes you want to LIVE. 

Loving her is so damn easy. It’s as natural as breathing or the beating of a heart.

Elin Whitt knew enough about fairytales to realize that her current situation wasn’t a happily-ever-after. For one, his prince left her instead of rescuing her. The evil queen seemed to have disguised itself as pain, loneliness and sorrow. There weren’t fire-breathing dragons but something was definitely burning inside her. This is something I relish on every Adriana Locke book. The realness of her heroines; the spunk, the gut, and the imperfections. No pretensions, no dreamy imaginations. Elin wasn’t someone you wish you were, Elin might even be you. And that realness, rawness of her character made the transfer of emotions so easy, as if there wasn’t any boundary between the reader and the character.

"Scars stick around to prove you showed up for life. That you lived. That you fought. That you loved.”

Ty Whitt needed to save his wife, his marriage, and most importantly, himself. He knew the kind of person he was becoming and he needed to rid the love of his life with the impending poison caused by the self-loathing brewing inside of him. Leaving was the option he took. If only she knew it hurt him as much as it hurt her. Ty wasn’t a character built to tempt our fantasies, a form of perfection we can only find in myths. He was a man powered by love, integrity, and valor. He wasn’t just a face of a man but a man who’s faced the worst and came out stronger and more determined. That’s what made Ty’s character so dreamy; his realness, his scars, and his experiences. 

“If you take you away from me, you take everything."

There is no doubt about the romance aspect of this book. The sweet and the sexy scenes have kept me on my toes and filled my heart with the romance it needs. But seriously, Written in the Scars is not just a romance. This book was more than just a love story. It’s a life story about how real love could break and heal people. I cried from the first few pages until the end and up until now, my chest hurts. Not because it was a sad story. It’s because the message of the book hit home. Reading this hurt to the extent where my heart was going to explode and then it simmers down into steady beats reminding me of how life has so many BS but as long as that pulse is beating, you keep living. I am so attached to this book’s characters now. Every word and every page clawed deep and I’m holding on to what it taught me for a very long time. 

This isn’t a book that will bring you up on the clouds. 

It will put your feet on the ground and let you see what reality is. 

This book won’t give you a fantasy world you’ll dream about. 

It will show you that sometimes you can have your fantasies within your reality. 

This book won’t push you to find an admirable, courageous, man/woman. 

It will inspire you to become that courageous, admirable man/woman. 

Lastly, and most importantly, this book will make you want to hug every person you love and thank God for your life. 

This wasn’t a book that you’re likely to forget. 

Written in the Scars is now written in my heart. 

Bravo, Adriana Locke. 

BOOK REVIEW: Four Letter Word by J. Daniels

Title: Four Letter Word
Author: J. Daniels
Series: Dirty Deeds #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance

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Fate. Hate. Love. Lies.

Which four letter word will change their lives forever?

Sydney Paige was never so mortified to hear the words "wrong number" in her life. She meant to tell off the guy who broke her best friend's heart, but unleashed her anger on a perfect stranger instead. And now her world is turned upside down by the captivating man who wants to keep her on the line.

Brian Savage is living a life he's quickly come to hate-until Sydney's wild rant has him hooked and hungry for more. Soon the sexy woman on the phone becomes the lover in his bed. But Brian has secrets, and the closer he lets Syd get, the harder it is to shield her from the devastating mistakes of his past . . . 

“I’m going to give you Wild for the rest of your life and so much of it you won’t have room to feel anything else.”

J. Daniels has the magic power of deliciously satisfying every reader’s craving. If you think she already stole everything that you are in the Alabama Summer and Sweet Addiction Series, watch her steal more of you in this new sensually steamy series. 

She was fucking fantastic. Passionate in her defense. Silver-tongued and ball-busting.

Sydney wanted to escape her current life. With the sudden end of her marriage and a mother that kept piling her mistakes above her head, she just needed a breather…she needed herself back. What I really loved about Syd was the pure goodness of her heart. She was an intelligent woman whose passion and sensuality were simmered down by life. Reviving and boosting up that fervor was a beautiful streak in this story. 

My world was one miserable mistake-shaping second after another, except for the breaks in my misery that belonged to her.

Now Brian, was a freaking sight to behold in this book! I can’t express how obsessed I am with him. His sexiness, his wit and his sense of responsibility was something I’ve read before but there was something so uniquely poignant about how his character was made. He holds a certain personality that is just so…Brian. He owns his character like no other book hero I’ve ever read. 

“I just love you,” I said with a quiet voice, shrugging. “That’s all. Nothing new, it’s just, I’m feeling it on a deeper level right now. You’re hitting my soul. No ones ever hit that.”

Obsessed. Addicted. Completely enamored. Every page of this book was packed with sizzling hot brilliance and complete entertainment. The characters were rich and so refreshing. The chemistry was sizzling, exciting, and heartfelt. The plot was so engaging and might even scratch some feels in your heart. J. Daniels left so completely satisfied and yet still hungry for more. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Play by Karina Halle

SYNOPSIS

A troubled Scottish rugby player who doesn't play by the rules.

A vivacious man-eater who's given up on love.

When it comes to Lachlan and Kayla, opposites don't just attract - they explode.

Kayla Moore has always been comfortable with her feisty, maneating reputation. At least it was fine until she hit her thirties and saw her best friends Stephanie and Nicola settle down with Linden and Bram McGregor, leaving Kayla to be the odd one out. Tired of being the third wheel with nothing but one-night stands and dead-end dates in San Francisco, Kayla decides to take a vow of celibacy and put men on the backburner.

That is until she lays her eyes on Linden and Bram’s cousin, hot Scot Lachlan McGregor. Lachlan is her sexual fantasy come to life – tall, tatted, and built like a Mack truck. With a steely gaze and successful rugby career back in Edinburgh, he’s the kind of man that makes her want to throw her vow right out the window. But Lachlan’s quiet and intense demeanor makes him a hard man to get to know, let alone get close to.

It isn’t until the two of them are thrown together one long, unforgettable night that Kayla realizes there is so much more to this brooding macho man than what meets the eye. But even with sparks flying between the two, Lachlan can’t stay in America forever. Now, Kayla has to decide whether to uproot her whole life and chance it all on someone she barely knows or risk getting burned once again.

Sometimes love is a game that just needs to be played.

_________________________________________

MY REVIEW

5/5 STARS

A brilliant masterpiece! Karina Halle just totally blew my mind with this book. From the moment I read the first words, I was continually drugged and indefinitely addicted.

Lachlan McGregor is probably one of my most favorite heroes ever. He was broken but he fights and loves with all the pieces left. He was a beast but he possessed a unique and honest genuineness that carried this story into a whirlwind of feels. His character is different from Linden and Bram and I reveled on their differences. The magnificent mix of mysterious, angst, hope, love, passion, light, and darkness in Lach's character totally ate me whole. He is my brand if perfect imperfection.

Kayla Moore is a beautifully complex character. She was sophistication, sexiness, and strength rolled into one hot package. Although she claimed her heart was black, there were numerous moments when she proved her heart was screaming color of re. She possessed a strong and sexy heart that could perfectly unlock Lachlan Mcgregor.

I could talk nonstop on how much I loved this book. Karina Halle is a mind-effing, soul-stirring, hypnotic writer. Every page is alive and every scene slipped effortlessly inside me and grabbed my heart. This book is utterly addictive, consistently enchanting, and perfectly written! Karina Halle triggered all of my feelings out and scattered them all over the place. Now I'm just totally floored. Ruined. Absolutely satisfied. F book hangover. I think I'm in a book high. One of my top 5 books this 2015!

BOOK REVIEW: When I'm Gone (Rosemary Beach #11) by Abbi Glines

 TITLE: When I'm Gone

AUTHOR: Abbi Glines

SERIES: Rosemary Beach #11

DATE OF PUBLICATION: April 7, 2015

I had an urge to fix all her problems. Which was stupid. She was doing fine without me. But something about those big eyes…

Mase Colt-Manning has always preferred his humble life as a Texas rancher to his birthright as the son of a legendary rock star. In fact, he rarely visits his father’s rarefied world in Rosemary Beach, especially if it means bunking at his vile half-sister Nan’s house—until one visit leads to a chance encounter with a young, gorgeous house maid who awakens him with her off-key but spirited imitation of a country music star…

Reese Ellis finally has her freedom. After escaping a lifetime of abuse from her parents and classmates for an undiagnosed learning disorder, she seizes the opportunity to be a house maid to some of the richest families in Rosemary Beach. But her job is in jeopardy when she causes an accident at the home of her most important client, Nan Dillon. When a hot, half-naked stranger with a cowboy’s swagger comes to her rescue, she’s intrigued—then afraid once he shows his own interest. Reese has never met a trustworthy man in her life. Will Mase be any different?

 

I have a piece of advice to every one of you who will start reading When I’m Gone: pick a comfortable position because you won’t be leaving that spot until you finish this book, possibly even after a few minutes (or an hour) upon closing the book. It has a multi-bookgasmic effect where you just lay limp and unsure what to do with your life after it. 

 “I’m broken. You don’t have to settle for broken.”  

Reese Ellis will do all measures to keep her freedom. After successfully escaping a nightmare of a past, she finally found solace at Rosemary Beach. But things were not turning out the way she expected when she stumbled upon what appeared to be her life’s greatest distraction, clothed in nothing but bed sheets...

Reese was a heartbreaker. Her character was so poignant, beautiful, and so painfully real. But even if her past was a clawing tale, she never appeared to be a weak heroine. She was clothed with strength, determination, fortitude, and made more touching by her pure heart. Abbi Glines made a beautiful contrast with Reese’s character. For me, she had the perfect amount of strength and vulnerability.  

The little bit of my heart that I thought I still had possession of fled. Mase Manning now had it all.   

  

Mase Colt-Manning didn’t like complications. Especially if it involved women clinging to him for dear life. But when he went to Rosemary Beach for a visit and was awakened by the off-key voice of the cleaning woman, he was enthralled. He knew that instant that this woman was going to be a complication but what he didn’t know was that he was going to love every bit of it...and her.

Mase was a beautiful masterpiece. Every bit of him was sewn to make every kind of woman fall in love with him. He was all male but he possessed this gentleness that wasn’t forced but was innate and natural to his personality. And I loved it that Reese seems to inspire that further. Mase is probably one of the most beautifully constructed heroes that I’ve ever read about. Abbi Glines created the man every woman deserves. I mean you can never go wrong with a guy who gets pissed over his girl not wanting stitches after getting her hand sliced by broken mirrors. ;)

She was my one.  

From the beginning of the story, the connection between Mase and Reese was already so well-established. It was immediately felt that Mase was made for Reese and Reese was made for Mase. I loved it that there wasn’t even a phase of warming up, but instead, a completely romantic experience that made every scene more stirring and delightful.

As always, Abbi Glines' gripping writing prose made me forget everything except the continuous need to know what happens next. I devoured it in one sitting and each passing moment was a moment to remember. The storyline was flawless and the story progress was enthralling. The story isn't just romance but is rich with essential familial ties and life lessons that readers will surely relate to. Her characters are compelling, constant, and affective enough to embark themselves in every reader's mind. You can never go wrong with an Abbi Glines book. I can't wait for the other half of the story!