Category Archives: 4 Stars

Review: Mixtape: A Love Song Anthology

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Amy-OUABB

What’s more romantic than a love song? A mixtape full of them.

Twelve bestselling and award-winning authors have curated an anthology of brand-new, standalone stories inspired by love songs, featuring a foreword written by NYT bestselling author Laurelin Paige. Press PLAY on this limited-edition collection that’s guaranteed to make you swoon.

***MIXTAPE PLAYLIST***

Elle Kennedy: “Always On My Mind” – Willie Nelson
KL Kreig: “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” – Andy Gibb
Leslie McAdam: “Think I’m in Love” – Beck
Lynda Aicher: “Kiss Me” – Ed Sheeran
Mara White: “All I Want To Do” – Heart
Marni Mann: “S+M” – Rihanna
Nikki Sloane: “Say It First” – Sam Smith
Rebecca Shea: “Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran
Saffron A. Kent: “Guys My Age” – Hey Violet
Sierra Simone: “Hallelujah” – Jeff Buckley
Veronica Larsen: “Say You Won’t Let Go” – James Arthur
Xio Axelrod: “Toothpaste Kisses” – The Maccabees

MY REVIEW

Wild Pitch by Rebecca Shea

“We needed to grow up. We needed to live our dreams without sacrificing them for one another.”

Wild Pitch is a fun little short story from author Rebecca Shea. I loved getting to know Mateo and Mia. They were friends who were destined to become more, but life had other plans for them. It would be four years before these two would be reunited again. There is some hurt that needs to be dealt with, but the sparks between these two still burn hotter than ever….So while Mateo and Mia’s story might be super short, it still gives you the sweet and sexy you know and love from this author. I for one would love to see more of these two in the future.

Your Everything by K.L. Kreig

“My small fry is here. It’s dangerous, this feeling rippling through me. It’s a catastrophe, sure as a category five hurricane gathering force in the Atlantic, about to make landfall. Maverick. My Achilles heel.”

“I want to capture this. I want to freeze time. I want to hold her and never let go. I want it all in this moment and I want nothing, save her.”

Your everything is a super quick and fun little tease. If you’re unfamiliar with the Black Swan Affair from author K.L. Kreig, then you are in for quite a treat. Your Everything might be a short story, but I promise it packs a punch. We get to meet Maverick, Killian and Kael. We get to learn their history and are given a small taste of what’s yet to come. This story is sexy and the intrigue will have you begging for more.

*I was provided an ARC copy of these two short stories in exchange for an honest review*

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Audible Original Release with Review: Repeat by Kylie Scott

Posted on January 23, 2019 by Amy-OUABB

Audible released a new original romance title from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott! Repeat is narrated by Andi Arndt, and is available exclusively from Audible, allowing listeners to enjoy the seductive new romance anytime, anywhere.

Repeat

From Audie Award winning, New York Times best-selling author Kylie Scott comes an irresistible new romance – available in audio first!

When a vicious attack leaves 25-year-old Clementine Johns with no memory, she’s forced to start over. Now she has to figure out who she was and why she made the choices she did – which includes leaving the supposed love of her life, tattoo artist Ed Larsen, only a month before.

Ed can hardly believe it when his ex shows up at his tattoo parlor with no memory of their past, asking about the breakup that nearly destroyed him. The last thing he needs is more heartache, but he can’t seem to let her go again.

Should they walk away for good, or does their love deserve a repeat performance?

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Coming to Kindle 4/9/19

MY REVIEW

Repeat is a refreshing and unique story from author Kylie Scott. This story is totally different from the books I’ve previously read from this author. Filled with suspense and hint of darkness, the plot pulled me in right away and had me asking a million questions. I couldn’t wait to find out more. I was really intrigued by Clementine and Ed’s relationship. You could tell that there was more to the story than Ed was telling, lots of pain and heartache and that just made want more. In the end, I really enjoyed watching the two of them put all the pieces of their story together. If you’re looking for something fresh and new from author Kylie Scott, I totally recommend giving Repeat a chance.

Big thanks to audible for this audio copy of this book to review!

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Release Blitz with Review: Ruthless King (Kings of Rittenhouse #3) by Maya Hughes

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Amy-OUABB

Title: Ruthless King

Author: Maya Hughes

Genre: New Adult Romance

Cover Design: Najla Qamber, Qamber Designs

Release Date: January 10, 2019

My dick never got me in half as much trouble as my heart…

We were high school sweethearts. I was head over heels for her and no one could tell me we weren’t going to last forever. College? Going pro? My family’s money? None of it mattered. She was all I needed.

Then she ripped my heart out. But I’m not going to let that happen again.

She’s back. Invading my life and acting like she was the wronged one. The pain is still there, but I can’t keep my eyes off her. I can’t stop thinking about her and how much was left unsaid between us. Being this close is making me question everything I thought I knew about her.

This time everything will be on my terms. Everything…

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MY REVIEW

“She’d stood over me with my beating heart in her hand and let me walk away. She’d left me gasping for air, shouting at the sky, and craving her touch. Avery Davis had dismantled me and left me as a shell. Even knowing the pain she caused, every night I closed my eyes, it was her I dreamed about.”

What a fabulous, fabulous read. Ruthless King is my first book by author Maya Hughes and it most certainly won’t be my last.

Told from dual points of view, Ruthless King follows the story of Emmett and Avery. Emmett and Avery had the kind of romance any young kid dreamed of. They were high school sweethearts and had the world at their feet. They thought nothing would ever tear them apart and that their love would be strong enough to survive anything…..But, when it comes to Emmett and Avery’s story, things aren’t as cut and dry as you would think. One moment will turn Avery’s life completely upside down and have her heading in a direction she never saw coming. That one moment will have Emmett asking questions and furious with what he thinks is happening. It will be years before these two are reunited and once they are all bets are off. Emmett is on a mission to forget Avery, but his need for her and the truth overpowers everything. The passion between these two is stronger than ever and so are the stakes. Will Avery finally open up and give Emmett the answers he so desperately seeks? Will Avery and Emmett be able to move on from the mistakes of the past? Will there be a happily ever after in line for these two?? There’s only one way to find out….

Ruthless King is just the book I was looking for. Emmett and Avery’s story hooked me from the very first page. I loved the chemistry and sparks between the two of them. It was like an intense fire that refused to go out no matter how much time, or pain got in the way. I loved watching these two together. Despite the pain and overwhelming tension between them, they still somehow gravitated towards each other. You could tell that they both still loved and cared for one another, but were afraid to take the leap. Avery had so much to lose by telling Emmett the truth. And Emmett thought he knew what had happened, but couldn’t have been more wrong. The push and pull and the angst left me hanging on each word, dying to see just how Emmett and Avery’s story would play out.

Ruthless King was a great read from beginning to end. The author’s writing style hooked me instantly and kept me glued to the pages. I really liked that while this is technically the third book in this series, it can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone the novel. I thought the characters were a lot of fun and enjoyed what each of them brought to the table. I loved the passion and tension. I loved the delicious angst that just pulled at my heartstrings. I needed to know what happened between Emmett and Avery. I enjoyed watching Emmett and Avery grow as characters and learn from their mistakes. It isn’t easy letting someone in and learning to trust them again; especially if they already broke your heart once before. My heart ached for both of them, yet I couldn’t help myself from rooting for these two to find their way and to just figure things out!

Overall, I really enjoyed Ruthless King. It hit all the marks I was looking for and kept me glued to the pages. A great read to spend your day getting lost in. Like I previously stated, this is my first book by this author and I can’t wait to discover more of her books.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

Author Bio

Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.

Author Links

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Review: The Highland Renegade by Amy Jarecki

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Amy-OUABB

She is the daughter of his sworn enemy.
Famed for his fierceness, Laird Robert Grant is above all a loyal Highland clan chief. But when redcoats capture his rival’s daughter, he sets aside their feud and races to her rescue. Aye, Janet Cameron is beautiful, cunning, and so very tempting, but a Cameron lass is the last woman he should ever desire.

He is her one hope of happiness.
Janet refuses to meekly surrender, not even when surrounded by foes. She takes every chance to escape, first from the English soldiers and then from the wickedly handsome Robert. Yet with each day they spend together, his unexpected gallantry chips away at her reserve little by little. As danger and treachery loom, can she trust him enough to choose love over vengeance?

MY REVIEW

As most of you know, Historical Romances are not my typical reads. I’m not going to lie to you, it did take me a little bit to really get into this one. However, once I did, I was totally hooked. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Robert and Janet. Their story captivated and intrigued me. I love a good forbidden romance, so I was excited to see the outcome of this story. You see, Janet is the daughter of Robert’s sworn enemy. When Janet gets captured, Robert puts aside their familiar differences and rushes to her rescue. Janet is everything that Robert wants in a woman, but can’t have…..Janet herself is a force to be reckoned with. She’s not just going to roll over and surrender. She tries to escape every chance she gets. It’s Robert that throws a wrench into her plans. She knows she should get far away from him, but the more time these two are together, the more she sees the good in Robert. With danger and betrayal afoot, will Janet be able to trust the one man she wants, but shouldn’t have? There’s only one way to find out..

Overall, I had a really great time reading this story. I loved the history, the language and getting to learn about the highlanders. This story was really well written and entertaining. You can tell that a lot of thought and research went into it. I loved that The Highlander Renegade was written in a way that you can easily follow without having to read the prior books first. And, as I previously stated, I enjoy a good forbidden romance and couldn’t get over just how perfectly matched Robert and Janet were. Those two definitely kept me on my toes.

At the end of the day, The Highland Renegade was just a fun book to get lost and swept away in. From great characters to action and romance. To steamy good times, danger and not knowing who to really trust; this book hit all the marks for me. I’m still pretty new to the historical romance genre, but I found this one to be a great one to dive into. Amy Jarecki is a totally new author to me and after reading this book, I’m excited to check out more of this author’s work.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via Forever Romance, in exchange for an honest review*

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Release Blitz with Review: Finding Alexei by Kendall Ryan

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Amy-OUABB

He’s bossy, moody, and overprotective.

He’s also a pro athlete who needs to focus on winning games and staying out of the headlines.

I’m fiercely independent and need a man like I need a second period each month.

So when our worlds collide, I never expected him to be the one to jump in and save me. Especially not when my roommate disappears, leaving me with her baby.

I’m clueless about babies—and it shows. Good thing Alexei isn’t. With six nieces and nephews and an apparent hero complex, the dude is both sexy and more than capable. It’s a combination that makes it easy to forget we’re just playing house.

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MY REVIEW

“Right now, in this moment, I feel comforted and content, all thanks to a man who cared enough to help me tonight.”

If you’re looking for a quick and easy read that is sure to leave you with all the feels, then look no further. Finding Alexei is just the story you’ve been waiting for.

In true Kendall Ryan fashion, this story grabs you from the first page and has you dying to find out more. Ryleigh’s life has been tougher than tough as of late. As if it wasn’t bad enough that her roommate took off a few months ago, when she finally does show up, she shows up with a baby in tow. Ryleigh has the biggest heart and offers her roommate a place to lay her head for the night. Only the next morning, her ex roommate is gone, but the baby is still there. Not knowing what else to do, Ryleigh suddenly finds herself as a single mom and is completely over her head. She hasn’t a clue what she’s doing, but luckily fate had other plans. When fate brought Alexei into Ryleigh’s life, it was the best thing that could have ever happened. Alexei could and does have it all, but there is just something about Ryleigh that he can’t resist. She brings out this protective side that he never knew existed, but that he would do anything for. These two are opposites in every possible way, but I gotta tell you, they just worked. Their connection while intense, was just so easy; so effortless. Not even a baby could mess up what these two had going on. And the way that Alexei was with Ella….ugh! Swoon city.

Finding Alexei is the kind of story that you just can’t help fall in love with. The characters are wonderful and easy to connect with. Their problems are real world ones and are easy for anyone to understand. Alexei had the biggest heart and had me falling head over heels for him. And I just loved how independent Ryleigh was and how she tried the best to deal with the cards life handed to her. Together these two were the perfect match and I just loved getting lost in the two of them.

Finding Alexei was such an easy and effortless love story. It can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel. I loved that there was low drama, but a lot of steam. And the emotional twist at the end, definitely tugged at this girl’s heartstrings. Overall, a really wonderful read.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

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Release Blitz with Review: The Secret to Dating Your Best Friend’s Sister by Meghan Quinn

Posted on January 3, 2019 by Amy-OUABB

How do you date your best friend’s sister? Easy.

Step one: Pretend you want her to set you up with someone else. That will bring the two of you closer.

Step two: Go on date with lots of random women, proceed to get stupid drunk and talk about your best friend’s sister, thus gaining the courage to finally make a move.

Step three: Randomly show up at her apartment and confess your love. Women love that, right?

It all seemed so simple. A fool-proof three step process that will guarantee the love of you life to fall madly in love with you.

At least–that’s what I thought was going to happen. But my attempts to win over Julia Westin backfired in more ways than I can count. The thing about Julia? She’s smart–really smart–and her wicked gaze cuts through all the charm I’ve tried slinging her way. She’s not interested in games, my gifts, or my stories. She might want me too; but she’s not giving in that easy…

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MY REVIEW

“He is an extremely attractive man. He’s the man you don’t believe exists until you actually meet him in real life and practically swallow your tongue the minute they make eye contact.”

“I can see the uncertainty in your eyes, the wariness. I don’t want you jumping into this with concerns about what we could be. So, I will wait. I’ve been waiting, what’s a little more time?” “This is far from over, Jules. Get out your pros and cons list, because you’re going to need it. I want us, Jules. Together. I’m not just talking one date. I. Want. Us. Go through your observations of my character, of my strengths, of my weaknessess, and tally them into columns if you need to. This time though, I won’t run with my tail between my legs. This time I’ll stay close, Jules. Because there is no one else I want to be with. It’s you.”

“Your beautiful head has prevented your heart from beating to its full potential. Let your heart beat…for me.”

The Secret to Dating Your Best Friend’s Sister is just the romantic comedy that the doctor has ordered. It’s smart. It’s funny. It’s well written and will have you laughing your butt off. This story hits all the marks and leave you in stitches from laughing so much!

The Secret to Dating Your Best Friend’s Sister is a total fun read. Bram & Julia couldn’t have been more opposite if they tried. While Bram may have grown up since his college frat days, he’s still a frat boy at heart. You can take the boy out of the frat, but you can’t take the frat out of the boy. He’s never been serious about girls, but that’s because the one he’s always wanted doesn’t look at him that way….That is until one lost bet throws these two opposites together. Bram has a plan to win the girl and will stop at nothing to win over Julia.

Julia and Bram were a lot of fun together. I loved their chemistry and the ease of how they were together. I loved their banter and I loved how despite Julia’s shyness, she dished it out just as good as she got it. And while Bram might seem like he’s still a frat boy player, there is so much more to him than meets the eye. I loved seeing the sweeter side of him. The side that will do anything to win over the forever girl and won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Together these two really shouldn’t have worked, but somehow they just made it work. Once Julia could look past what she thought she knew of Bram, all bets were off.

The Secret to Dating Your Best Friend’s Sister was a terrific romantic comedy. It was an easy and fun read. I loved spending my day getting to know Julia & Bram. Their story was sweet with just the right amount of funny. Add in some serious swoon and steamy good times and you’ve got yourself a truly entertaining read.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

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Review: A Charm Like You by Sharla Lovelace

Posted on December 25, 2018 by Amy-OUABB

Even in a quirky small town like Charmed, Texas, there’s always room for love to take you by surprise . . .

Gabi Graham might have hit the proverbial rock in rock-bottom. Hitting the single scene after ten years is hard enough. Finding out that her cheating ex-husband and his new barely-legal fiancée are expecting—that’s enough to drive Gabi over the edge and into a neighboring town’s divorce support group. It’s not really her thing to listen to anonymous strangers bash their exes, but at least there are cookies. And a sexy fellow newcomer who ignites her long-dormant libido. Spending a few lustful, post-meeting moments in Hot Guy’s truck can’t hurt. Unless, of course, Hot Guy turns out to be Thatcher Roman—her best friend’s brother and Gabi’s silent business partner.

Thatcher had no idea that the wildflower farm owner he’s been doing business with over email is the nameless woman who’s barreled into his life and his fantasies. He and Gabi have a new venture to run, a sister and best friend in the middle, and enough sparks between them to light up the entire town of Charmed. Given her past, it’s no wonder smart, gorgeous Gabi has trust issues. But maybe what they’ve found is more than just coincidence and chemistry. It might even be the beginning of one sweet, amazing second chance . . .

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My Review

“Comfortable can be dangerous.” “It can slap you upside the head when you aren’t looking.”

A Charm Like You is the second book in the Charmed Series, but can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. This is my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last.

From the moment I picked up this book, I fell in love with the characters. Gabi is down on her luck and just trying to make the best out of the cards she’s been dealt lately. The last thing she ever planned on was another chance at love. And when Thatcher enters the picture, all bets are off. He makes her want to take a chance and throw all her reservations out the window.

Overall, I thought this book was a really enjoyable read. Definitely one that you can finish in a single sitting. I enjoyed the story-line and had a great timing meeting and falling for the characters. I adored Gabi and Thatcher together. I enjoyed their banter and how they just got and understood one another. I loved how important their families and friends were to them and how they didn’t want to disappoint them. Sure these two made me a little crazy at times, but I honestly couldn’t get enough. I thought that Gabi & Thatcher had excellent chemistry and I loved watching the two of them try to figure things out.

A Charm Like You is a great book to spend the day getting lost in. It will make you crazy. It will make you laugh. It will make you swoon and most of all it will make you fall in love. I had a really great time getting to know Gabi & Thatcher and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

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