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Selfish

Selfish - Shantel Tessier I was given a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

I want to say upfront that this was a slow starter for me. I went in completely blind, not knowing the author or the type of book at all - just reading the blurb, but I ended up pleasantly surprised. I also have the second book - [b:Myself|34761487|Myself (Selfish Series Book 2)|Shantel Tessier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491208726s/34761487.jpg|55961044] - to read and review, but since that's not a direct continuation of this story, I wanted to stop and write up my notes first.

*warning* This book ends on a cliffhanger! I know that's a deterrent for some people, so go in knowing that ahead of time please. Book two is about another couple, so Ryder & Ashlyn will have the rest of their story a bit later. Yes, this frustrates me a little, but the book was quite good, so I'll deal.

Both of the main characters were... challenging. Don't take that the wrong way. I ended up digging them both. They suited each other, and they had strong characters and moral codes. You might not think that after reading the early part of the book, but trust me - it's true.

Ashlyn is fiercely independent and loves Becca like a sister. Her family is everything to her. She has a male best friend that she "hooks up with," but they've been open about their BFWB relationship. She and Becca are about to start their adult lives in New York, and she couldn't be happier. Ash definitely knows what she wants out of life and she's not going to settle for less.

Ryder is Becca's big brother, but Ashlyn certainly doesn't know that when she meets him during their "last hurrah" vacation in Florida. He decided to pop down and surprise his sister. Little did he know that he'd be getting the bigger surprise - a roll in the sack with "Sasha," who turns out to be Becca's BFF. (I was very glad to see there was hardly any angst over this plot point btw, so *whew*)

There are a few stumbling blocks. The disparity between his social status and her perceived lack thereof, the way she closes herself off from him, and in turn - the way he pushes her. All in all though, the storyline is pretty believable, and not too incredibly trope-y.

I enjoyed this first installment, and can't wait to read the conclusion to their tale. It gets a solid 4-stars.

Selfish

Selfish - Shantel Tessier I was given a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

I want to say upfront that this was a slow starter for me. I went in completely blind, not knowing the author or the type of book at all - just reading the blurb, but I ended up pleasantly surprised. I also have the second book - [b:Myself|34761487|Myself (Selfish Series Book 2)|Shantel Tessier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491208726s/34761487.jpg|55961044] - to read and review, but since that's not a direct continuation of this story, I wanted to stop and write up my notes first.

*warning* This book ends on a cliffhanger! I know that's a deterrent for some people, so go in knowing that ahead of time please. Book two is about another couple, so Ryder & Ashlyn will have the rest of their story a bit later. Yes, this frustrates me a little, but the book was quite good, so I'll deal.

Both of the main characters were... challenging. Don't take that the wrong way. I ended up digging them both. They suited each other, and they had strong characters and moral codes. You might not think that after reading the early part of the book, but trust me - it's true.

Ashlyn is fiercely independent and loves Becca like a sister. Her family is everything to her. She has a male best friend that she "hooks up with," but they've been open about their BFWB relationship. She and Becca are about to start their adult lives in New York, and she couldn't be happier. Ash definitely knows what she wants out of life and she's not going to settle for less.

Ryder is Becca's big brother, but Ashlyn certainly doesn't know that when she meets him during their "last hurrah" vacation in Florida. He decided to pop down and surprise his sister. Little did he know that he'd be getting the bigger surprise - a roll in the sack with "Sasha," who turns out to be Becca's BFF. (I was very glad to see there was hardly any angst over this plot point btw, so *whew*)

There are a few stumbling blocks. The disparity between his social status and her perceived lack thereof, the way she closes herself off from him, and in turn - the way he pushes her. All in all though, the storyline is pretty believable, and not too incredibly trope-y.

I enjoyed this first installment, and can't wait to read the conclusion to their tale. It gets a solid 4-stars.

Myself

Myself - Shantel Tessier I was given a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

I loved [b:Selfish|31498729|Selfish|Shantel Tessier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479359599s/31498729.jpg|52188852], so I figured I'd love the follow-up as well. I was right. I'm still jonesing for the conclusion of Ryder & Ashlyn's story, but getting the background story between Becca and Jaycent was a lovely treat.

At several points in the story I wanted to yell at Becca - I thought she should've smartened up about the ol' ex long before she actually did. But I also saw why she hung on to the constancy since the man she truly loved wasn't attainable. That being said... DUDE! GO FOR IT ALREADY! amirite?

And Jaycent. Smart, gorgeous, all-knowing Jaycent. He's all of those things, and yet... dumber 'n a sack of wet hammers. He knew what he needed to do, he tried to convince Becca to do it, she didn't want to, but they SHOULD HAVE - so you totally should have. That's all I have to say about that. You'll know it when you read it.

These two are adorable and sweet, with a lot of spicy thrown in. And some interesting peeks at Ryder & Ashlyn from a new perspective along the way. Very cool. I can't wait for the next Selfish book! I give [b:Myself|34761487|Myself (Selfish Series Book 2)|Shantel Tessier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491208726s/34761487.jpg|55961044] 4 solid stars.

Have My Baby

Have My Baby - Taryn Quinn

I'm such an unabashed Taryn Quinn fangirl, it's just a dream come true to read and review their books. And this one was quite the treat. I. LOVED. THESE. CHARACTERS.

Ally (great name btw) is smart, funny, and a fantastic role model for Seth's daughter. (we'll get to them in a moment). She's been through good times and bad with him, and definitely has all the feels - but when he ever-so-nonchalantly asks her to have his baby - she's a bit gobsmacked.

Seth knows Ally would be a great mother to his daughter's sibling. She's already a surrogate to Laurie, and nothing like his ex, which is one of the best qualities EVER. They've known each other all their lives, and taking this step won't shake their firm foundation - right?

Laurie wants a sister. Bad. She loves her Daddy and her Mommy, and she definitely loves Ally. She likes it when Ally comes over and helps her with her bathtimes, because BOYS ARE NOT ALLOWED! She's started having sleepovers with Daddy, and she even saw them kissing once. Hopefully she'll talk to him about getting a sister.

“You can’t make a move like this based on the whims of a three-year-old. It’s not logical. She wants a puppy too. Is that next?”

I was engrossed from beginning to end, and it might be one of my favorite happy reads.

I give it five "empty bubble bath bottle" stars.

Just an Illusion - Unplugged

Just an Illusion - Unplugged - D. Kelly

I've been with this series since the beginning, and with each book, I love them more and more. I dig that Dee is continuing with the "book within a book" format. It works so well, and allows the conceit of fast forwarding and rewinding the story whenever necessary.

This is Sawyer's perspective on the events that occurred in the original trilogy. I'm gonna let you guys in on a secret... Sawyer is my favorite character, so Unplugged is a special treat for me.

Sawyer is adapting his journals into book form as a gift to his OTP, Mel. I use that abbreviation because there is truly nobody else for him but her. Their romance does not play out in this story though, here it is the telling of Sawyer's willingness to make his twin happy by allowing him to love Mel.

Don't get me wrong, it's not because Mel is not the right person for Noah. I truly believe that there's not just one person out there for each of us. Here, the tragedy is that Mel's soulmates happen to be brothers. In Unplugged, it's Noah she falls for, and Sawyer (for the most part) is happy when his brother is happy.

Now, here's the frustrating part. I should've seen this coming because DEE. It's got a cliffhanger. Although for the people that read the first three books already know the main story, we don't know it from Sawyer's perspective. I'm still gritting my teeth because I WANT IT NOW.

The storytelling vibe is amazing, the insights into Sawyer's character are fascinating, and seeing the love between him and everyone else in the JaI family is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I desperately want to see what's coming next, and I'm dreading it with the very next breath.

Dee, you always take me on a breathtaking journey, and you leave me wanting more.

I give Just an Illusion - Unplugged FIVE pop tart stealing stars!









The Queen

The Queen - Skye Warren

I read both books in the Masterpiece Duet at the same time, so there will be parts of both books mixed in to my review.

I really dug these books. I haven't read Avery & Gabriel's story yet, but I plan to do so - however, I don't feel like I was missing something starting with this series.

This Duet is about Penny and Damon. Penny is a girl from Tanglewood. Nothing good comes out of Tanglewood. But Penny is different. She should be going places, and people notice. Unfortunately, they're not the good guys. They want to use her talents, and leave her broken. In any other world, she'd go to college and have a bright future.

Presidents run for office. Dictators steal it. Kings are born, and that’s why it’s the perfect way to describe Damon Scott. He commands any room he enters. He owns the very ground he walks on. And he wears that invisible crown with both pride and resignation, because it’s a bittersweet birthright.


Damon sees what's coming at Penny like a freight train, and knows exactly what it will do to her. It's within his power to save the "baby genius," so he does. Once she realizes the sacrifice he's made for her, and why she was targeted, her life becomes a balancing act. She never shows her winning hands, instead becoming mediocre.

Their paths cross again when her father gives in to his addictions and Damon "saves" them yet again. They make a bargain that sends Penny away and leaves her father in Damon's care.

Fate intervenes to bring them back together when someone close to them goes missing, and the clue to their disappearance is a clue that only Penny can decode. The same forces that wanted Penny in her youth want her again, and Damon has his own reasons for a vendetta against them as well.

It suddenly seems like the worst kind of tragedy. Not even every scar on his body, as terrible as they are. It’s this, the way he can’t let himself feel pleasure. The way he can’t even undress in a room full of undulating bodies, the way he can’t let one of them touch him.


One of my must-haves is character development, and it is here in SPADES. We follow the main characters from childhood to maturity, and it's gratifying to see them grow and change through their experiences - both with and without each other.

Like I mentioned, as soon as I can, I'll be going back to read the earlier connected books. I can't wait to read Avery & Gabriel's backstory after seeing them as side characters in this duet.

I'm giving the Masterpiece Duet five "family reunion" stars.

Sweet Sacrifice

Sweet Sacrifice - L.D. Rose

I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm super picky about paranormal romance books. So much so that you'll hardly ever see them on my "read" stack. I'm not a snob, but I've read some really bad ones, so I tend to stay away. However, when L.D. Rose approached me a while ago with an opportunity to read and review Releasing the Demons, I took the chance - and it paid off. I loved it.

I didn't even hesitate to grab Sweet Sacrifice and again, she didn't disappoint. This time we're taken to the realm of demons vs. angels, heaven vs. purgatory, firm vs. firmament. And ultimately, the struggle of a man trying to balance fighting for mankind while still having his heart solidly in the waking world.

Sebastian (Bash) and Irene weren't done living their fairy tale when tragedy intervened and left both of them alone and separate from each other. But like two halves of a beating heart, they knew they'd never be whole without their missing piece. The pair were both making the best of it, moving forward, although never really moving on.



When I read a story about true soulmates, I can't help but get choked up, and I definitely did while reading Sweet Sacrifice. Just lovely, and it felt anchored in reality, while still being spiritual and fantastical. When I say spiritual, I don't mean religious - because this book is HAWT. Not erotica, but there are definitely some sheet burning scenes contained within.

I'm giving Sweet Sacrifice four "temporary tattoo" stars.




Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not - Willow Winters

I keep going over and over what I should say about this book, and it's just so hard to come up with a way to talk about it that would do it justice. And I don't just mean because it's good. I usually talk about how I like books to be grounded in reality, so I can at least relate to a piece of it. Here, I felt like it wasn't necessary.

It was poetic without being flowery. Dark and gritty without being dismal. Tragic with shreds of hope throughout. I have to say, I had my "a-ha" moment earlier than I thought I would, but it didn't make the book any less enjoyable.

If you want to read the "backstory" first, you should pick up [b:Something to Remember: Prequel to Forget Me Not|36125802|Something to Remember Prequel to Forget Me Not|Willow Winters|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1503724796s/36125802.jpg|57720878] - or you can just go to the back of Forget Me Not. Personally, it was simply extra, like an easter egg that went along with the rest of the book. Not integral to the main piece.

I would usually tell you more about the characters or plot here, but I just can't find it in my heart to do that. What I *will* do is tell you there are triggers here - and they shouldn't be ignored. I'll put them in spoiler tags since they're not given in the blurb, but if you care, you should take a look.

SPOILER: Triggers include: Suicide, mental illness, abduction, abuse, drug abuse, murder, and probably skates around some form of stockholm syndrome.



So I know my review sounds a little hinky, but I really did love the prose and feel of this book, and ultimately it was a beautifully written story. I actually found myself lost in the characters and the mood, and it was entertaining throughout. That's really all I can ask for.

I give it four "blade of grass whistle" stars.

Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not - Willow Winters

I keep going over and over what I should say about this book, and it's just so hard to come up with a way to talk about it that would do it justice. And I don't just mean because it's good. I usually talk about how I like books to be grounded in reality, so I can at least relate to a piece of it. Here, I felt like it wasn't necessary.

It was poetic without being flowery. Dark and gritty without being dismal. Tragic with shreds of hope throughout. I have to say, I had my "a-ha" moment earlier than I thought I would, but it didn't make the book any less enjoyable.

If you want to read the "backstory" first, you should pick up [b:Something to Remember: Prequel to Forget Me Not|36125802|Something to Remember Prequel to Forget Me Not|Willow Winters|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1503724796s/36125802.jpg|57720878] - or you can just go to the back of Forget Me Not. Personally, it was simply extra, like an easter egg that went along with the rest of the book. Not integral to the main piece.

I would usually tell you more about the characters or plot here, but I just can't find it in my heart to do that. What I *will* do is tell you there are triggers here - and they shouldn't be ignored. I'll put them in spoiler tags since they're not given in the blurb, but if you care, you should take a look.

SPOILER: Triggers include: Suicide, mental illness, abduction, abuse, drug abuse, murder, and probably skates around some form of stockholm syndrome.



So I know my review sounds a little hinky, but I really did love the prose and feel of this book, and ultimately it was a beautifully written story. I actually found myself lost in the characters and the mood, and it was entertaining throughout. That's really all I can ask for.

I give it four "blade of grass whistle" stars.

Wild for You

Wild for You - Daisy Prescott

Daisy Prescott's books are just delightful! I love a good romcom, and her books fit that bill perfectly. That's not to say there aren't some serious moments, but for the most part, they're a lovely detour from "real life," which I absolutely *relish*.

In the third book in the "Love with Altitude" series, all of the girls are back. This story features Zoe. She moved to Aspen with the dream of becoming an artist - although her boyfriend has just given up and moved back to Chicago. Like a lot of creatives, the people around her think her dreams are a waste of time, and want her to come back as well.

Zoe is definitely not having it. She's going to keep on keepin' on, and that means she's gonna bite the bullet and apply to a prestigious artist's colony close-by. Okay, she's had some setbacks... When the bf left, that meant she had to give up her place. Good thing Sage (from [b:Next to You|34683022|Next to You (Love with Altitude, #1)|Daisy Prescott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490490304s/34683022.jpg|50819294]) is off on her honeymoon and needs a house-slash-dog sitter.

With Zoe being newly-single, the girls are getting her to do some new things. Most of them are outside her comfort zone. One of the first activities is a trip to the Snowmass Rodeo. She doesn't think Cowboys will be her thing, until she gets there. Zoe becomes particularly fascinated by a hot bronc buster she nicknames "BB". After his black hat and his big... erm, buckle.

“Before rodeos, I never thought a man lasting eight seconds could ever be a good thing.”


Justin "Buzz" Garrison would like to say he doesn't do things halfway, but that seems to be his life at present. He's rides in the rodeo during the summers, and year-round he runs the Easy Z ranch in the Colorado mountains. It's a balance he's struck in order to keep things down-to-earth. The last thing he wants is to be part of the Garrison "legacy," and ranching is the best way to do that.



They both have incorrect preconceived notions about each other, but once the making out begins, those reservations go by the wayside. Well, okay... until Zoe decides she isn't sure about how "down-to-earth" she wants to be, and then things get mucked up. Oh yeah, and her ex shows up.

Cue the dramatic string music...

Aww c'mon, you know it's a HEA you're getting, right? But it's the journey that makes it all worthwhile.

Wild for you gets 4.5 chocolate cake stars.






Wild for You

Wild for You - Daisy Prescott

Daisy Prescott's books are just delightful! I love a good romcom, and her books fit that bill perfectly. That's not to say there aren't some serious moments, but for the most part, they're a lovely detour from "real life," which I absolutely *relish*.

In the third book in the "Love with Altitude" series, all of the girls are back. This story features Zoe. She moved to Aspen with the dream of becoming an artist - although her boyfriend has just given up and moved back to Chicago. Like a lot of creatives, the people around her think her dreams are a waste of time, and want her to come back as well.

Zoe is definitely not having it. She's going to keep on keepin' on, and that means she's gonna bite the bullet and apply to a prestigious artist's colony close-by. Okay, she's had some setbacks... When the bf left, that meant she had to give up her place. Good thing Sage (from [b:Next to You|34683022|Next to You (Love with Altitude, #1)|Daisy Prescott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490490304s/34683022.jpg|50819294]) is off on her honeymoon and needs a house-slash-dog sitter.

With Zoe being newly-single, the girls are getting her to do some new things. Most of them are outside her comfort zone. One of the first activities is a trip to the Snowmass Rodeo. She doesn't think Cowboys will be her thing, until she gets there. Zoe becomes particularly fascinated by a hot bronc buster she nicknames "BB". After his black hat and his big... erm, buckle.

“Before rodeos, I never thought a man lasting eight seconds could ever be a good thing.”


Justin "Buzz" Garrison would like to say he doesn't do things halfway, but that seems to be his life at present. He's rides in the rodeo during the summers, and year-round he runs the Easy Z ranch in the Colorado mountains. It's a balance he's struck in order to keep things down-to-earth. The last thing he wants is to be part of the Garrison "legacy," and ranching is the best way to do that.



They both have incorrect preconceived notions about each other, but once the making out begins, those reservations go by the wayside. Well, okay... until Zoe decides she isn't sure about how "down-to-earth" she wants to be, and then things get mucked up. Oh yeah, and her ex shows up.

Cue the dramatic string music...

Aww c'mon, you know it's a HEA you're getting, right? But it's the journey that makes it all worthwhile.

Wild for you gets 4.5 chocolate cake stars.






Beauty: The End

Beauty: The End - Mary Catherine Gebhard

Beauty picks up where [b:Beast|28095140|Beast (Hate Story, #1)|Mary Catherine Gebhard|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488301026s/28095140.jpg|48098243] left off, and it seems like forever that I've been waiting to read the conclusion to Anteros' and Frankie's story. This book has it all. Intrigue, backstabbing, stunning twists, even some GoT type losses... IT'S ALL HERE.

A new player is on the chess board, and it makes for more maneuvering between two warring factions. So much so that the waters become incredibly muddied, and some interesting offshoots happen. Threads that you may have thought were lost from the first book are back in Beauty. And they may even have more provenance to them than was first thought.

I know I'm being cagey, because you SO don't want me to tell you more. I was utterly engrossed from page 1 to the Acknowledgements. Knowing too much will do you a disservice.

“Fall with me,” Anteros whispered below my earlobe, closing the distance between us. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back to his chest, voice low, making my skin tingle. “Be my queen.”


Frankie isn't the same girl she was when she traded herself for her father, she learns about her family and what has been happening around her without her knowledge - and she's going to be making her own decisions starting now. If it means she can stay with Anteros, all the better, but she'll do what she has to do to survive.

Meanwhile, Anteros looks slightly weaker because of Frankie, and that leaves him open for a takeover. He's not to be underestimated though. He's stronger because of her, although Beast may have to do something drastic to stay in power. Maybe a lot of things to keep his kingdom from falling down around him.

The glint of knives, the howl of Wolves, Nightclubs, Catacombs, Pavonis, De Lucas, never - EVER knowing who to trust... And through it all, Frankie and Anteros.



Like the title, this duet was Beauty-ful (ugh, yeah, that was bad, sorry) and I don't regret a second of my time reading it.

I give Beauty five "loose floorboard" stars.

Beast: A Hate Story, The Beginning

Beast: A Hate Story, The Beginning - Mary Catherine Gebhard I received a copy of Beast in exchange for an unbiased review.

Mary Catherine Gebhard is a new author for me, but the description for this book was so intriguing I couldn't pass up the opportunity to grab an ARC of this book to read and review. I'm *so glad* I did.

I'm very picky about this genre (mafia/hitman/etc) of romance, so in order to impress me it had to be good. It doesn't fit the mold 100% because the "Hero" - Beast/Anteros - had a lot of layers. He was a complex and varied character, which is a big plus for me. I've said this in some of my previous reviews; character studies are a huge selling point in any medium. Beast was a great example of a man with many sides.

As far as our heroine goes, she was also quite complex, but not as much. That's not a bad thing - it's mostly because she wears her heart on her sleeve. Frankie is selfless and kind, and betrayed at every turn. She wants to see the best in everyone, and is shown the worst. Her life becomes a sea of nails and she can't walk without stepping on each and every one of them.

I usually get a little angry when I get to the end of a book and there's a cliffhanger, but not in this case. I'm anxious for the ending, but I think the book needs more in order to tell the entire story.

I love finding an author that makes me want to find more of their books, so thanks Mary, you've done your job.

I'm giving Beast 4.5 stars.

Most Valuable Playboy

Most Valuable Playboy - Lauren Blakely I wasn't given a copy of this book, this was my own personal copy, so I'm not obligated to give a review.

Lauren Blakely is one of my steady four-star authors. I can always count on her for a great read. I suppose I kinda take that for granted.

This time I wanted to take a minute to say that this one was stellar. She wrote MVP from the Male POV, and it was great! There are two books that stand out in the Male POV category for me, this one, and [b:Tangled|18297707|Tangled (Tangled, #1)|Emma Chase|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375808439s/18297707.jpg|21868234] by Emma Chase.

There were also little bits and pieces of Violet's story running throughout, which were a pretty standard romance trope, and that made the guys' story so much more interesting.

This is why I'm telling you that this book is SO great, so if the blurb is even halfway intriguing to you, PLEASE pick it up and read it. Lauren is one of my faves, so if I can get one more person into her, I'll have done my job.

Most Valuable Playboy

Most Valuable Playboy - Lauren Blakely I wasn't given a copy of this book, this was my own personal copy, so I'm not obligated to give a review.

Lauren Blakely is one of my steady four-star authors. I can always count on her for a great read. I suppose I kinda take that for granted.

This time I wanted to take a minute to say that this one was stellar. She wrote MVP from the Male POV, and it was great! There are two books that stand out in the Male POV category for me, this one, and [b:Tangled|18297707|Tangled (Tangled, #1)|Emma Chase|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375808439s/18297707.jpg|21868234] by Emma Chase.

There were also little bits and pieces of Violet's story running throughout, which were a pretty standard romance trope, and that made the guys' story so much more interesting.

This is why I'm telling you that this book is SO great, so if the blurb is even halfway intriguing to you, PLEASE pick it up and read it. Lauren is one of my faves, so if I can get one more person into her, I'll have done my job.

Crybaby

Crybaby - K.  Webster I didn't know I'd have such a visceral reaction to this book. I'm pretty angry, probably because I shattered my leg when I was 16, and I was told I'd never walk again. I lashed out at everyone, and if someone had come on to me during a rehab session...

DAMMIT.

Reprehensible. Just awful.

Crybaby? Cripple? Really? Should someone who has had a debilitating injury and possibly her life changed forever be demeaned like that? Just... wow.

Absolutely. No.
DNF.