Where Good Girls Go To Die by Holly Renee
It was a bad idea from the beginning.
He was my brother's best friend and the definition of unavailable.
But I didn't care.
I had loved him for as long as I could remember.
He was worth the risk. He was worth everything.
But then he broke my heart as easily as I fell for him. He watched me fall, spiraling out of control, and as I reached for him, he wasn't there to catch me.
So I ran.
Four years later, I never expected to see him again.
He was still my brother's best friend, and he was more unavailable than ever.
He looked every bit the bad boy I knew he was, covered in tattoos and a crooked smile.
Guarding my heart from him was top priority because Parker James was where good girls go to die.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn't a good girl anymore.
ellie's $0.02:
This is everything I love in a book.
Chapter 1, I was hooked, snagged, snared, trapped and not moving from my seat until this motherfucking book was read and I had some answers.
You put a hot tattooed alpha in front of me, I'ma going to eat that shit up and devour it. So enter Parker. Equals hot tattooed alpha that is devourable. And devour I shalled. (Don't worry, if you're new to my reviews you get used to my words that are coming soon to a dictionary near you.). ANYWAY.
So we have Parker. And we have tattoos. We have super hot male. We have Livy who is in shambles. But not for long. Because DUH. WE HAVE PARKER.
Long review short because that's the way I work. Childhood friends to lovers and don't forget the older brother is the best friend part. Tons of steamy sex. Tons of sweet love. And tons of banter and one-liners that is another weak spot of mine. Holly tapped-tapped my spots using Parker as the weapon and some goddamn good writing and story-telling. I like story time with Holly.
This was my first Holly Renee read. Shalt not be my last. (Did I say that right or was that two double negatives? I don't review my reviews.)
Okay. Now I'm ready for my grand gesture.
Hot Mess by Emily Goodwin
My life is a hot mess.
Single, working, and raising two daughters, it’s a miracle I get us up, dressed, and fed every morning. Forget about dating—nobody’s got time for that. Even if love hadn’t left me jaded, I’m not settling for anything less than perfect this time around.
Lucky for me, the perfect man just happens to work in my office. But there’s just one small problem: he’s my boss, and is totally off limits. But hey, if it’s meant to be, it’ll find a way, right?
Then a night out with friends turns into a night in with the walking-talking bad boy cliche of a bartender. It’s just one night. No harm, no foul, right?
Except when the hot bartender turns out to be my boss’s trouble-making brother, who wants more than just one night with me. The more I resist the spark between us, the more I find myself wanting him too. Which puts me in the middle of what could be the biggest sibling rivalry of the century.
Life is messy.
And love?
Well, love is even messier.
ellie's $0.02:
Normally I don't get into the whole single-mom-divorcee-getting-back-into-the-dating-sex-scene books.... but this one struck me. Struck me in a good way. This was also my first Emily Goodwin book. So I really had no idea what to expect and was praying to God it didn't suck. That would be awkward.
So the first thing that attracted me was the main character was an editor. Hey. Cool. I'm an editor. Hopefully Goodwin gives the career field a good name in this book. She did. Not that I don't think authors and readers get how busy an editor's life can be.. but DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? Woe is me. Goodwin nailed it. So basically it was kinda fun to see what an author thinks an editor goes through.
Now that just means I need to meet a hot sexy bartender/firefighter.
At any rate. Enough about my dream life as a glorified editor. I liked the way the characters clicked. I liked the maliciousness encompassing one of the characters (can't give it which one). I like enough drama to give me a jolt, but not keep me sweating bullets the whole book letting me have time to enjoy the chemistry with Luke and Lexi. I like that's messy but sweet.
Goodwin's storytelling is entertaining and fun. And I felt the stress of the characters and the emotions through the pages and words.
She raises an eyebrow. “What if you want to take me home and kill me?”
“I want to do a lot of things to you, but killing isn’t one of them. Well, not in the literal sense at least.”
“How would you do it?”
“Do what?” I ask.
“Kill me. I need to know. Is it going to be slow and painful? Or fast and quick? I’d think if you’re wooing me then taking me home, you’d have some sort of Silence of the Lambs thing going on, right? Why else would you take the time to talk to me and liquor me up?”
I laugh. “You liquored yourself up. And you’re right. But it would be more Dexter style and I’d never get caught.”
Plus One by Missy Blake
No feelings.
No lies of calling the next day, and no empty promises of not banging anyone’s mother.
If I could act like I’ve never met a set of twins I screwed on the same night, thinking they were the same person, then I could do this.
It was the perfect set up for a fake relationship and it was simple.
We faked our smiles, we faked our laughs; hell, we even faked our love. It wasn’t real.
But that kiss was anything but fake, and the orgasm was anything but pretend.
Somehow my plus one had become more, and now I’m standing here with my underwear around my ankles wondering what in the hell to do next.
ellie's $0.02:
Author M.N. Forgy is breaking into romantic comedy under pen name Missy Blake with this debut novel, Plus One. And this one is a plus for me.
This is a fun, light, entertaining read with some broken hearts, some repaired hearts, some weddings, a hot dude, and a happily ever after with Beethoven. It was uncharacteristically "fun" read for me. Yeah, that I even enjoyed. But don't tell anyone I actually do like lighthearted stories. Would ruin my reputation.
Forgy/Blake managed to hit a great, fun stride with this one. While dealing with an angsty topic - I'm assuming being left at the altar is devastating - it's spun into a humorous, romantic comedy. It's pure entertainment that shoves us right along without a break to get bored. I like that. And we get our HEA after a few bumps in the road - did I mention GETTING LEFT AT THE ALTAR?
When you need that light, Sunday afternoon, giggly read, this is the one for you. I giggled - okay, I smiled.
No feelings my ass. There are feelings. Wait, but not in my ass.
Crossing Swords by Mixie Edwards
Christopher Rush is not gay.
But after a breakup with his longtime girlfriend, he finds himself crossing swords with his best friend Jeremy Pratt. Who’s also not … gay.
It was a one-time thing.
It didn’t mean anything.
They like girls.
At least, that’s what these boys of summer tell themselves as they pretend it wasn’t more than experimentation. With only four weeks left before they leave town for college, Christopher and Jeremy awkwardly navigate their way through a series of unfortunate (or very fortunate) events. Often leaving them breathless, conflicted, and dressed in nothing but a pair of socks.
Because socks are less gay.
As their time together comes to an end, will Christopher and Jeremy accept that love doesn’t discriminate, or will they put their swords up for good?
ellie's $0.02:
What a kickass debut from a debut author. This novel is about two best friends that are totally not-gay but maybe gay. Yes. No. Maybe. So you could say it was a debut for this duo of non-gay friends that just cross swords. On a regular basis. But not gay. Don't worry. The book makes way more sense than I just did.
Mixie handles the book and the topic and the story telling like a champ. It's hilarious and while we may all try to deny it, it's real. THIS is teenagers experimenting and wondering if they are gay or not. They don't know how to communicate. They know how to fuck and feel good and beat the shit outta of each other when they don't know how to talk Yes, terms like fag, faggot, and queer are thrown around like any 18-year-old boy would and does - gay or not.
The writing style is simple, clean, fun, and funny. It's told from the hip. Or heart. Or sword. It's hot. It's entertaining. It's emotional. It's funny. Twitch.
The story even hits the technicalities of well... first time sex for M/M. Even that was done with style and humor with their arguing on who gets to top, doing it wrong (ow... always remember stretching), lube flavor, and of course - declaring they still aren't gay in the middle of the act.
While you may want to think too much about this and analyze the fuck out of it. It is just a fun, coming of age - but not coming out - M/M story. Don't overthink. Enjoy it for what it is. A humorous, dirty talking, epic amounts of sex, entertaining book on what could be a sensitive topic. Don't make it sensitive and just enjoy it. Much like Christopher and Jeremy did.
Mom steps a little closer to Jeremy and me. She looks around to make sure no one is looking and asks, “So, who gives and who takes?”
“Mom!” I’m back to yelling.
“What? I’m just curious. Don’t be such a drag, Christopher. I mean, you could be worse things. You could be in a gang,” she says, and I have to just walk away.
This is a book I was super bummed when it ended. It was one of those books. That book. Twitch. Jeremy and Christopher are still in my heart and mind and I can't get rid of them.
I vote for a sequel.
Twitch.
One (Love by Numbers #5) by E.S. Carter
One click.
One perfect frame.
That's all it takes to capture an eternal moment; although most people let them pass by without acknowledgement.
I don't waste any.
Not a single one.
If I see something of beauty, I want to experience it, feel it and immortalise it.
If I see someone of beauty, I want to taste them, worship them and memorise them.
I don't have a type, if I like you, I like you.
I don't have a preference.
My bisexuality is a gift, not a defect.
It's the freedom to see beyond gender.
One blink.
One touch.
One night.
Life is filled with so many ones.
One chance to get things right.
One life to live as you choose.
One decision that gives you acceptance.
One person to fill the emptiness.
Just one?
Nah, like I said, life is full of ones.
My camera lets me focus on the good times; I develop from life's negatives and if things don't work out, I just take another shot.
Who needs just one?
Book #5 in the 'Love by Numbers' series.
Can be read as a standalone.
ellie's $0.02:
This was a new series and new author to me. Yeah, yeah... it is Book 5 and I haven't read the first four. Shoot me. Zing... pun intended.... Get it... look at the cover... "SHOOT" me. Okay. Moving on.
At any rate. New author. New series. New to me. I was super super super psyched I stumbled on this one. This is a motha fucking winning find. And winning author. This one is a M/M read, but it's not about the M/M aspect so much as just a really fucking well told love story. I just about fell over I was so impressed with this one. I may have fallen over, but don't tell anyone that.
This is a pure love story between two public figures, top in their fields. A famous, fabulous, in-demand photographer and an equally famous, sexy, hot fitness model (cue in a tortured soul trait right here). The story is pure, emotional, and so fucking real it nearly tore me apart. Nearly. This concept, the plot, the story telling was all new to me and I'm in sheer bliss having found this book. I have literally fallen in love with these two main characters. And the author. Never forget the author.
Magnificently written story and cannot wait to go back and read the first four now.
BUY IT NOW ON AMAZON:
Fractures In Ink
Synopsis:
Sometimes the things we shouldn’t want become exactly what we need . . .
Waitressing at a seedy strip club isn’t ideal, but it pays Sarah Adamson’s tuition. Her goal is to finish her master’s program and get a job that doesn’t involve tight skirts and groping hands. She doesn’t need distractions. Especially not the one that comes in the form of a hot-as-sin tattoo artist who works across the street from her apartment.
Kicked out at sixteen, and a high school dropout, Chris Zelter is familiar with wanting things he can’t have. His fractured life has never been easy. As the product of someone else’s bad decisions, he knows exactly what happens when the wrong person controls your marionette strings. Now an accomplished tattoo artist in a renowned studio in Chicago, Chris has it together.
Mostly.
Apart from his infatuation with Sarah. She’s way out of his league, and Chris knows it.
But he’s willing to be her bad decision. At least for now.
ellie's $0.02:
The Clipped Wings series is one of the best written series I have ever read. This is a stand alone in the series, so it can be read alone. Or you can stand alone reading it. I don't care which. But this series really showcases the amazing talent this author has.
I struggled for days writing this review. Not because the book sucks, but quite the opposite. There is so much depth and emotion in this book that is impossible to describe. Chris and Sarah are two of the most simple, complex characters I've ever read. And two of my favorite.
And ultimately Chris is one of the sexiest, unalpha dudes I've ever read.
Hunting has outdone herself with this series with outstanding authoring. Yes. Authoring. Unreal. Magical. Talented. Engrossing from start to finish with zero stale spots or gaps. The pain, emotion, and love is so well told and described, I physically felt this story and characters.
And smelled them.
I want to smell safe.
The fact this author can write a book with so much depth and feels but at the same time write hysterical books (I.e., the Pucked series) puts this author in my all time top 5 fave authors. Standing ovation Hunting.
Standing. Ovation.
Add to Goodreads
Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2fLQnkW
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2b68yzb
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bH1ugY
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2biix82
iBooks: http://apple.co/1swWcJ0
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2b8TKSg
Nook: http://bit.ly/2bsjqLD
About the Author:
NYT and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
Connect with Helena:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/helenahunting Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenaHunting
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/Zt1xm5
Facebook Fan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/385795934890523/
Website: http://www.helenahunting.com/
Never miss an update! Subscribe to Helena's mailing list:
https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f4p1t7