I just spent the last 9 nights in bed with Colleen Hoover, and it was the best.

Posted in All The Mumbo Jumbo, Books I love, Review Post by mkcooke

2496 pages. 2 whole tissues. 5 unique couples. Countless extraordinary supporting characters.

8 books. 9 unforgettable nights.

I have spent the last nine nights in bed with Colleen Hoover, and it was unforgettable. It was sensational. It was phenomenal in every way. She doesn’t disappoint.

I have loved these nights. I will always remember these nights…

Now when I say I spent the last nine nights with Colleen Hoover I think I may have painted a slightly inaccurate picture for you.

Did Colleen Hoover herself sit in bed with me? Well, no. Unless she was hiding behind my pillows, which could be possible because who knows, maybe she likes to do that.

Did Colleen Hoover herself offer me a total of 2 Kleenex’s to dry my baby tears as I cried reading her books? Well that’s a no again too. Though I totally think she’d offer me some Kleenex if she could. She seems like a giver.

Did Colleen Hoover herself help push my jaw back into place after it repeatedly fell to the ground after reading each and every single one of her utterly magnificent books, as I became more and more blown away? Yeah that one’s a no too. (And if anybody wants to help me, I think my jaw is still on the floor from reading these books. I could use some help with that.)

No, Colleen Hoover didn’t really do any of those things these past 9 nights that I spent fully encapsulated by her books. But I like to think that she was here in spirit through her books, her words, her pictures and the magic that I literally felt flow out of these pages. I think I’m in full on love mode.

(Okay, so there weren’t actually pictures in any of her books, but I’m fully convinced that if there were, I would be sold on those too.)

I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, I’ve smirked, I’ve smiled, I’ve grimaced. I’ve cared. I’ve felt more than I ever felt possible while reading. I’ve loved. And that all happened about 3 pages into each book. Don’t even get me started on what happened after page 3. I don’t think I’ll ever fully hop off that hamster wheel of awesomeness.

I’ve gone through approximately 2 tissues which is 2 more tissues than I usually use while reading, since as we all know, I have the emotional range of a piece of paper when it comes to crying while reading.

My beautiful stack of books by Colleen Hoover. Finding Cinderella is there in spirit.

I wasn’t prepared for what reading these books would allow me to experience. I wasn’t prepared to whole heartedly fall in love with multiple sets of characters over 8 seriously wonderful books. I didn’t expect to feel like the biggest idiot on the planet for waiting so long to discover said books. (But I’ll say it. I am an idiot for waiting so long to read them!)

I didn’t realize that by reading these books, I would discover an author that has now permanently cemented herself, her books, her characters, and her writing as some of my all-time favorites. I didn’t know. But now I do, and I couldn’t be more freaking over the butterflying moon about that.

Now I should note that before this 9 day binge read, I had read Ugly Love, Collen Hoover’s most recent release. I read this book because a book group I belonged to at the time was doing a group read of the book. I read the synopsis, and couldn’t wait to read it. I thought I would read the book, get to talk about it a bit, and that would be the end of the day. Nothing more, nothing less.

Boy was I effing wrong.

Ugly Love made me breakdown in tears in the middle of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I wasn’t prepared for the magnitude of emotion that was Ugly Love. I wasn’t prepared to fall head first into it, and I sure as hell didn’t expect for it to make me cry like a baby while waiting in a monstrous line in the “happiest place on earth.”

Yeah, I was that girl crying over a book while surrounded by hundreds of strangers at a theme park. Though I do think the 2 guys behind might have gotten a kick out of it.

Ugly Love is what started it all, and a few weeks later when I found myself at a book store “killing time” (which is a very expensive equation for me, since I can’t just look at books without buying them) I suddenly found myself with 6 new Colleen Hoover books. And 1 free e-book of Finding Cinderella.

Because binge reading is for winners or for people who are really slow on the uptake of books they should have already read by now…

Thus began my nightly time with Colleen Hoover and her books.

9 nights, 2496 pages, 2 whole tissues, 5 unique couples, countless extraordinary supporting characters, and 8 books later I was done. I was sold.

(And yes, I counted.)

After those 9 nights, I was completely sold on anything Collen Hoover had written, and I feel safe saying I’m am pretty much sold on anything else she may write in the future. 9 nights of reading left me as an emotional wreck, but I honestly couldn’t have been happier about that.

I will never forget those nights. Ever. I will never forget all that Colleen Hoover’s beyond magnificent writing created for me in those nights. The stories, the characters, the emotions, the smirks, the magic. Everything. Everything she created blew me away, and the more and more I read, the more and more I fell in love with it all.

I wish I could go back and experience all of that again because it was fabulous, and breathtaking, and utterly wonderful. It was everything.

So if you haven’t already, you should definitely hop on the Collen Hoover train. Like yesterday. Sometimes that train is a bit crazy, and it will sure as hell make you feel everything, but through it all you’ll just love the ride, and its freaking beyond phenomenal conductor Colleen Hoover. Because believe me:

It’s one unforgettable mother effing ride. With one bad ass conductor.

And that folks, is pure reading magic.

Find Out More….

Be sure to check out my reviews for all the books. Click the title of the book to 1-click, and be sure to check out my review by clicking the link that says “Read my review….”

Oh, and enjoy more horrendous and all too brief synopsis’ of each book. You’re welcome.

Slammed:

Will & Lake. They’ve got a serious connection, only they’ve got a problem. And I ain’t telling you what that is, so read the damn book. But just know, Will and Lake are kind of the best. And I heart those two something fierce.

Read my review of Slammed

Point of Retreat:

This is about Will & Lake. And that’s all I’m saying. Also, don’t read the synopsis of this book until you FINISH Slammed. (You’re welcome for that tidbit, by the way.)

Read my review of Point of Retreat

This Girl:

You shouldn’t even be reading the synopsis for this book if you haven’t read Slammed or Point of Retreat yet. Seriously.

Read my review of This Girl

Hopeless:

How do I even begin to describe this book? You will FEEL this book. You will BREATHE this book. You will envelope Sky and Holder into your arms and your heart and you won’t want to let them go. EVER. You will LOVE this book. It has it all.

Read my review of Hopeless

Losing Hope:

You know how I said Hopeless has it all? Well, Losing Hope has it all and more. It’s a one-on-one date lasting 321 pages with one and only Dean Holder, and let me tell you, he does not disappoint. Not. One. Little. Bit.

Read my review of Losing Hope

Finding Cinderella:

For those two characters in Hopeless and Losing Hope that you couldn’t get out of your mind, this one gives you their story. And your cheeks will be hurting because of how much you’re smiling while reading it. (And it’s FREE!)

Read my review of Finding Cinderella

Maybe Someday:

Passion. Friendship. Laughs. Love. Hate. Betrayal. Healing. More love. Less love. All kinds of love. Music. Music. MUSIC! (This describes page 1. Buy the book to really experience the all that is Sydney and Ridge. Oh, and the awesomeness that is Griffin Peterson.)

Read my review of Maybe Someday

Ugly Love:

This book made me cry in Disney World. Tate and Miles, made me cry in Disney World. Their story, made me cry in Disney World. I LOVED the fact that this book made me cry in Disney World. This book is brilliant. Tate and Miles are brilliant. Ugly Love is beyond brilliant. Did I also mention that it made me cry in Disney World?

Read my review of Ugly Love

Meet the author, aka the bad ass conductor, Colleen Hoover:

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10Sep2014

Releasing Now: The Lover’s Game

Posted in Books I love, Releasing Now Book Addicts, Review Post by mkcooke

The Lover’s Game

by: J.C. Reed

Genre: New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance

Recommended for ages 18 and up.

270pp

When love is a game…

After having her heart broken, Brooke tries to rebuild her life and closes herself off from the one man she loved deeply. When she meets Grayson, a photographer, she has no idea that her new boss will offer her more than she bargained for. The pay is great, her new friends more than welcoming and everything seems to be running well…until everyone insists she find herself a new suitor during a night out.

Jett knows how to play games. He is used to getting attention from everyone except the beautiful dark haired woman who doesn’t like to be fooled with and doesn’t trust him as far as she can spit. He wants Brooke but, more than that, he wants to own her, and the only way to get her is to make her owe him…against her will.

And what Jett owns, Jett keeps forever.

4 1/2 Wonderful Stars

The Lover’s Game by J.C. Reed was another fantastic addition to the No Exceptions Series. This book picks up right where The Lover’s Secret left off, and I could not get enough of this book from the moment I picked it up!

The events of this book added so much to Brooke and Jett’s story that I have come to love over the books in this series and the Surrender Series by J.C. Reed. (The No Exceptions Series is a standalone series from the Surrender Series, but they do connect, so for the best reading experience I suggest reading all of the books!) The more I read this series, the more I get hooked in, and I am just dying to know what is going to happen next with these fantastic characters and their exciting story.

What I just loved about The Lover’s Game:

Brooke’s pain and vulnerability. You can feel everything Brooke is feeling throughout the story, but you especially feel all the pain, emotion, and vulnerability she experiences with the events in this book. You feel this right from the beginning, and it makes you want to comfort her and just fight for her. You just want to make her better, and feeling all of this through Brooke’s perspective is very powerful.
The determination and fight. Brooke is determined as hell in this book to make everything alright, even when she is in a true tailspin after what happened in The Lover’s Secret. I loved that Brooke was determined as hell to figure everything out and make it all work. She faces a crap ton, and through it all she is feisty. Even though this is probably the worst time in her life, she is fighting like hell, and I freaking loved that!
The mystery. This book has many different mysteries weaving their way through the story. You’ve got everything that’s going on with Jett, then you’ve also got Brooke’s paranoia over the possibility of harm coming her way. There are just so many mysteries and questions you want to solve and answer. While reading this book you will be trying to put it all together, and that just made this book highly engaging.
The female friendship. The interactions in this book between Brooke and her best friend Sylvie were just wonderful. These two are truly there for one another. In this book you also meet some new females who add another wonderful layer and connection with Brooke. Gina and Thalia are carefree and fun, and bring true liveliness to the story. The female friendship aspect of this book is wholly authentic, and you will feel the connections and friendships developing over the course of the story.
The questions coming up. This book brings up a lot of questions that make you really think about the story you are reading. You will question Brooke’s actions and feelings, the other people and what they’re up to, and so many more things. These questions bring this story to life and it really makes you wonder how it’ll all come together.
The darkness. I really liked that there is a lot of darkness that goes along with The Lover’s Game. That darkness comes out in so many varied and unique ways, and makes this books very different from other’s I’ve read. It made it stand out in such a good way. This darkness also made the story seem so much more real because of what that darkness was stirring up with Brooke and Jett and everyone else.
The pacing. From the moment I began this series with The Lover’s Secret until the end of this book, I hit the ground running and have yet to stop. I absolutely love that. This book picks you up, and takes you on one hell of a ride. The events and characters of this book series come to life and I dare you to try and not be engaged as all get out reading this book.
The writing. J.C. Reed’s books are written beautifully. The writing that is so thoughtfully crafted brings the story to life, and makes it very easy to slip into the world that’s created. It also makes it very easy to connect to the characters. It is just so easy to imagine and experience this story because of the writing.
The twists. This book is full of some major twists and turns. I won’t reveal what those are, but just know that they will blow your mind. There were a few specific ones that had me SHOCKED. These twists and turns take the story on a path that I can’t wait to read more of, because I have to know where this path is heading.

The Lover’s Game was another magnificent addition to the No Exceptions Series. The characters you’ve fallen in love with are back, and are thrown into some pretty interesting and memorable situations. This book just had me falling more and more in love with Brooke and Jett’s exciting story, and I cannot wait to see how it continues in the next book in the series.

I’m sure that one will be another unforgettable story.

Available On:

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1x Signed paperback copy of THE LOVER’S GAME

1x sterling silver custom book pendant necklace $200 value

$100 Amazon Gift Card

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J.C. Reed is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of SURRENDER YOUR LOVE series. She writes steamy contemporary fiction with a touch of mystery. When she’s not typing away on her keyboard, forgetting the world around her, she dreams of returning to the beautiful mountains of Wyoming. You can also find her chatting on Facebook with her readers or spending time with her two children.

Connect with Author

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Other Books: in the No Exceptions series:

The Lover’s Secret (Book 1) is available now: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes~Goodreads

The Lover’s Game (Book 2) is available now: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo

Worldwide, print and ebook

4Sep2014

Releasing Now: Shelter Me

Posted in Books I love, Releasing Now Book Addicts, Review Post by mkcooke

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Debut novel Shelter Me by Author Kathy Coopmans

Releasing: September 7th

At the young age of nineteen, Shayne Andrews thought she had it all. She had the love of her life, her high school sweetheart, and a bright future ahead of her. That is, until one day he just disappeared, leaving a note as his only goodbye. With her heart shattered and broken, Shayne did the only thing she could. She left her small town on the shores of Lake Michigan to start her life over, needing to distance herself from the memories she and Luke had made. At that time, she vowed to herself that she would never return to her hometown again. Seven years later, Shayne realizes that fate is not on her side as she returns home for her aunt’s funeral, bringing back the one secret she swore to protect.

Luke Schavone has regretted every day that he had to leave Shayne behind. Though he didn’t have a choice, his heart still bore the scars from the impact. After five years, Luke returned only to find that Shayne was gone. His best friend was the only lifeline he had to finding her, but Adam wasn’t talking. When the one thing Luke has wanted everyday for the past seven years runs right into him one night, he becomes determined to make sure he doesn’t lose her again.

At first, Shayne is hesitant. She wouldn’t be able to survive losing him again, but the pull toward him is so fierce, she can’t deny herself the chance. With the decision to start over, Luke and Shayne must admit truths and come to terms with the events that forced them apart in the first place. When secrets are revealed and old threats come to pass, will Luke be able to shelter Shayne from the destruction, or will she become lost to him forever?

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22402718-shelter-me-book?ac=1

Release Party:

https://www.facebook.com/events/442099499265354/

4.5 Wonderful Stars

Shelter Me was a truly wonderful debut novel by Kathy Coopmans. This book had so many aspects to it that I just loved, and the story itself was one that I just fell in love with instantly. Shelter Me is about getting a second chance for something utterly beautiful.

This book is about what happens when those second chances come along, and how light and happiness can be found in even the darkest and hardest of times.

What I absolutely adored about Shelter Me:

You hit the ground running. I loved that this book hit the ground running with everything its got. It’s extremely well-paced and you are thrust right into the story. That just works. It also makes it easy to sink right in with what is going on with the fantastic characters.
The immediate and deep connection of Luke and Shayne. From the moment these two are on the page together, you feel the instant connection and the true depth of feeling between Luke and Shayne. You feel the pain and anguish they’re feeling at seeing each other again, and you feel the hope and desire thrumming from both of them. You will be captivated by the connection between these two, I promise.
Shayne is one tough cookie. Shayne is one strong female character who was extremely relatable. She goes through a lot in the events of this book, and she definitely is put to the test with all the things she experiences. But through all of this she holds her own, and never gives up. She fights and that is utterly fantastic to read, and it really made me love and admire her character for the toughness she had through everything.
Luke is a protective gem of a man. Luke was a magnificent male character to read. He is fiercely protective and majorly passionate about many things, but especially Shayne. The way he looks at her, talks to her, and opens up to her exemplifies every wonderful thing about his character. I am telling you he will just warm your heart with how amazing he is. (He also uses a seriously heart melting term of endearment for Shayne, and that was just the best.)
The mystery and questions. There are some mysteries and questions that come up with the story being told, especially surrounding Luke and the past as well as motives behind what is happening in the present of these characters. Those mysteries come to the page in a truly thoughtful way, and they really piqued my interest. It makes it so you are dying to know what’s going to happen, and certainly makes the book engaging as all get out.
The heat between Luke and Shayne. These two have got it going on. You will feel every single thing these characters feel for one another, and that is hot. The chemistry and desire between them is palpable and continues to throb throughout their entire story.
The feel of family. I absolutely loved that this book had such a feel of coming home and family to it. All the different characters in this book come together to make a crazy kind of family. The feeling of family and home weaves together with the story beautifully, and makes every event in this book that more extraordinary to read. It also truly resonates with what is going on with Luke and Shayne.
Second chances. This is a true second chance at love, and books like this are why I adore these kinds of stories. These magnificent characters are getting a new chapter together, and though they have much to go through, this second chance brings out the best in them. The second chances in this book are hard fought and well deserved, and this book exemplifies what it means to get a second chance at it all.
The fight for the happy. Shelter Me makes Shayne, Luke, and many of the other characters fight for the happy they are seeking. Both Shayne and Luke are fighting for their second chance together. That fight has its ups and downs and puts them to the serious test, but that fight is so worthwhile and enthralling to read.
Bringing it all together. I loved how this book brought the past, present, and futures of both Shayne and Luke, along with everybody else, together. The meshing of these 3 mediums made me love Shayne and Luke more, and it made me invested with them. The author does such a fabulous job of this that you will want to fight for them too with all you’ve got.

Shelter Me was a highly engaging book that explores what happens when two people are given a second chance at the happiness they are both seeking. The connection and power between the two main characters it just utterly wonderful, and will have you in love with their story the minute you meet them.

This book truly exemplifies what it means to take that leap of faith even when you can’t exactly see what’ll happen next. The story within this books page is filled with fantastic characters that will truly captivate you in every way, and in the end the overpowering sense of love, family, and home in the book will just melt your little heart.

“Baby, I never thought I would get to taste those sweet, sexy, seriously fuckable lips again.”

“Fuckable? I ask, “What happened to us starting over?”

Luke brings his mouth to my ear. “I said I wanted us to start over, and I meant it. Doesn’t mean I don’t remember everything that happened between us, my beautiful girl. Especially involving those fuckable lips.,” he whispers, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

“Oh, is all I can get my mouth to say.”

“What’s the matter baby? Did I kiss you senseless?” Luke asks as he pulls me up to a standing position.

“You wish, big boy.”

Trailer:

Playlist:

Full Playlist: Shelter Me by Kathy Coopmans

Rob Thomas – Ever The Same

P!nk – F**kin’ Perfect

Sheryl Crow – The First Cut Is The Deepest

Evanescence – My Immortal

Faith Hill – Breathe

Daughtry – Home

Sara Bareilles – I Choose You

Bob Carlisle – Butterfly Kisses

Train – Marry Me

OneRepublic – Good Life

Drake – Take Care

Aerosmith – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing

kathy teaser3.jpg

Amazon

Kathy is a Michigan native where she lives with her husband Tony. They have two son’s Aaron and Shane.

She is a sports nut. Her favorite sports include NASCAR, Baseball and Football.

By day she is a hairstylist and loves her job.

She has always been an avid reader and at the young age of 50 decided she wanted to write. She claims she can do several things at once and still stay on
task. Her favorite quote is “I got this.”

Email: coopmans@chartermi.net

Facebook Goodreads Amazon Page

Just a little tease…

kathy teaser.jpg

kathy teaser2.jpg

26Aug2014

Releasing Now: Rules of Protection

Posted in Books I love, Releasing Now Book Addicts, Review Post by mkcooke

Rules of Protection

By: Alison Bliss

Release Date: August 26, 2014 (That is TODAY!)

It’s rule breaker Emily Foster’s birthday, and like everyone at The Jungle Room, she just wants to get some action. Unfortunately, she stumbles on the wrong kind, witnessing a mob hit. To protect her, she’s entered into the Witness Protection Program with by-the-book Special Agent Jake Ward as her chaperone.

When the location of their safe house is compromised, Jake stashes Emily deep in the Texas backwoods. The city-girl might be safe from the Mafia, but she has to contend with a psychotic rooster, a narcoleptic dog, crazy cowboys, and the danger of losing her heart to the one man she can’t have.

Jake’s as hot as he is infuriating, and she can’t help but push all his buttons to loosen him up. Their mutual, sizzling sexual attraction poses a dilemma: Jake’s determined to keep her safe and out of the wrong hands; she’s determined to get into the right ones—his.

5 Amazing and Phenomenal Stars

Let me begin this review by saying that if I could give this book all the stars in the world, I would. It blew me away with its magnificently developed characters possessing some pretty distinctive personalities, its upbeat and highly engaging story, and the fact that it had more southern charm than you can shake a stick at.

Rules of Protection had everything that makes a book exceptional, and Alison Bliss hit it out of the park with her debut novel. I couldn’t get enough of it, and even after finishing it, I can’t get the story or its seriously charming, authentic, and hysterical characters out of my head.

Something tells me they’re going to stick around with me for a while too! And I LOVE that because they’re all out of this world awesome.

What made this book exceptional:

Emily is a snarky little spitfire. Emily is as snarky and sassy as they come. She puts the out in outspoken, and I freaking loved that I never knew what would come out of her mouth! That girl likes to ruffle some feathers, and she definitely has a pretty tough defense mechanism when it comes to her “word vomit”, but I heart that girl something fierce! I especially loved that no matter what situation Emily was in, she was still her. It didn’t matter if she was in a moment of pure pain or pure passion, she was still her tried and true spitfire self all the way.
Jake is my kind of male character. Jake had buckets of personality, and I loved that about him. He was charming and he could be stubborn as all get out, yet he was definitely a true southern gentleman with a little bit of a twist. He’s also just a seriously good guy who just melted my heart. There were time when his character had such a rough exterior, and he could be one helluva hard ass about things, but when he felt, he felt hard. There isn’t one thing I didn’t like about him. Did I also mention he’s good looking as all get out, and knows how to woo your pants off? Literally.
Jake & Emily’s relationship. I couldn’t get enough of reading how these two attempt to come together. They face a crap ton of obstacles between their pasts and presents, and they are both stubborn as all get out, but reading the building of their relationship was just extraordinary. The doubts they had, the hesitancy that happened every time they got close to one another, and the emotional pushing and pulling they both did in the building of their relationship was utterly authentic and so enthralling to read. Reading these two get close to that edge over and over again made me love them more, and their banter was fanfreakingtastic.
The vivacious supporting characters that glued themselves to my heart. I absolutely freaking adored every single supporting character. I want to read a book about each one of their distinctive and remarkable little selves. I want to know the story behind Ox, Judd, Junior, Bobbie Jo, Gina, Dale, Hank, Floss, and most of all, COWBOY! They were all utterly fantastic, and so well developed. I felt like I knew each and every one of them personally, and I connected with them in such a way that made them all seem so real to me. All of these glorious characters make up one helluva family that I just adored spending time with.
The humor that had me laughing out loud! Rules of Protection had me laughing and smirking more times than I could count. The humor and banter was right up my alley, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the hysterical things these characters were saying and doing. The one liners in this book were simply the best, and I don’t think I’ve laughed this much while reading in a very long time. I especially loved the unique humor each character had, as it added a distinct piece of wit to the already fun filled story.
The southern charm. This book is bursting with southern charm, and I ate up every single bit of it. The country living, the sayings, the twang, the lovely animals, and everything else in between had me loving all of the southern aspects. It brought a smile to my face, and the world of this book to life from the page. I felt like I was there and could wholly imagine and feel the characters and southern setting so well, and that was just remarkable and so enjoyable to experience.
You can cut the sexual tension with a knife. The sexual tension and chemistry between Jake and Emily sparks off the page, and builds and builds until it explodes. If you thought fireworks were fantastic, you haven’t read this book and felt that connection and tension between Emily and Jake. (Oh, and I’ve never been jealous of a deer stand until I read this book…)
The pasts of the characters. I really enjoyed getting to read about both Emily and Jake’s respective pasts, as it enlightened so much about both of them. Their pasts show how they came to be where they are together in their current situation, and honestly explained so much about them. I also enjoyed getting to see the glimpses into some of the other characters pasts, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that I get more on those little gems someday soon!
All the feels. This book will make you feel every emotion under the sun. You will feel the love, the passion, the pain, the emotion, the vulnerability, the sass, and everything else these characters and story feel. You feel it all, and even when it sometimes sucks because the characters are going through so much, you will love it because you will feel and understand everything they feel.
The moments that speed your heart up. There were so many instances that sped my heart up. Some were from the love going on or the action and suspense I was reading or just from the lovable craziness, but I loved it all. That excitement and vivaciousness just thrilled me and engaged me fully within this story. It also had me dying to know how it would all come together.

Bottom line: this book will just blow you away with how outstanding it is.

It has everything going for it. The main characters are absolutely wonderful in every way, the family that makes up the supporting characters will have you feeling the love, humor, and the southern awesomeness, and the story itself will hook you in from the first word to the very last. It’s also magnificently balanced with the love story and suspense, and you’ll want to fight for Emily and Jake and what they have together throughout the entirety of the book.

I honestly couldn’t recommend this book to you more if I tried. It was exceptional in every way, and every aspect of this phenomenal book made me love it whole heartedly more. Alison Bliss wrote an outstanding book, and her thoughtfully crafted and beautiful writing will make you a fan of hers for life.

Rules of Protection will suck you in in the best possible way, and it won’t let you go until long after you’ve finished. That doesn’t happen every time you read a book, so relish in that because that’s rarer than you think.

And when in doubt, just think of what Cowboy would do, because that gem of a man will never steer you wrong. 🙂

Just a little tease….

Amazon B&N iTunes KOBO

As the youngest of five girls, Alison Bliss has never turned down a challenge…or been called by the right name. Her writing career may have started out as a dare by one of her sisters, but Alison hasn’t put her pen down since.

She grew up on a small island off the Texas Gulf Coast, where most of her childhood vacations consisted of camping or hunting trips to the deer lease. Although she’ll always be a Texan at heart, Alison currently resides in the Midwest with her Iowa farm-boy husband and their two sons. With so much testosterone in her home, it’s no wonder she writes “girl books.”

She’s an animal lover, a closet video game enthusiast, and believes the best way to know if someone is your soul mate is by canoeing with them because if you both make it back alive, it’s obviously meant to be. Alison’s an avid romance reader who enjoys penning the type of books she loves to read most: fun, steamy love stories with heart, heat, laughter, and usually a cowboy or two. As she calls it, “Romance…with a sense of humor.

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Be sure to check out the AMAZING book trailer for Rules of Protection too!

I cannot recommend this book to you more! It was utterly fantastic and you are seriously missing out if you pass this one up! So do yourself a favor and check it out TODAY!

23Aug2014

The Lover’s Secret

Posted in Books I love, Releasing Now Book Addicts, Review Post by mkcooke

The Lover’s Secret

By: J.C. Reed

Genre: Mature New Adult/ Adult Contemporary Romance

Recommended for ages 18 and up.

Full Length Novel

When a sexy encounter comes like a dream…
Brooke Stewart thinks she’s finally safe and can move on from her past. But after one night at the Trio Hotel and meeting the sexy stranger with the green eyes that can steal one’s soul, her life is changed forever. Passions run deep. The fun is supposed to be for one night with no strings attached.
Sexy millionaire Jett Mayfield can have any woman he wants, but the night he sees Brooke, he knows what he has to do. Brooke has something Jett desperately wants, something he can’t admit to the woman he tries to get to surrender. He has a secret so deep it would upend her life if she found out too soon. He’s almost reached his goal, and then she gets a letter she was not meant to read. Suddenly, secrets get a completely new meaning.

When two hearts collide, at least one is bound to shatter.
A man who takes what he wants A woman who’s ready to give him one night One bet that turns into a game of seduction But Mr. Sexy drives in the fast lane. And he has a secret that could destroy her.

4 1/2 Hot Hot Stars

This was the first book I had ever read by J.C. Reed, and I have to say that I really enjoyed reading The Lover’s Secret. It had so many aspects to it that I just loved, and I was immediately taken in with the story and its characters, Brooke and Jett.

J.C. Reed’s writing is well done, and the book hooked me in from the first page. It also made me want more of these fabulous characters, and I am dying to see where their story goes after this book.

What I loved about The Lover’s Secret:

The unpredictability. I loved that this book was unpredictable with what was going on in the story and with the actions of the characters. I never knew where the next plot twist or turn would lead. I loved that, and that kept the entire book seriously engaging.
The passion and connection. You can feel the passion and instantaneous connection between these two characters right away. It’s raw and visceral and really powerful altogether. It also lights the pages of this book on fire, and you will definitely be feeling the heat from these two.
The mystery. There is a true sense of mystery that weaves its way through this book. When you read this book you will feel that mystery working its way through the story with the secrets coming out in little pieces that will leave you dying to figure it all out. These little mysteries and secrets left me wanting to know all the answers the questions they brought up, and that completely captivated me to the story.
Brooke’s past. You can definitely tell that Brooke has a past filled with some pretty heavy things, and that those events are heavily influencing the way she’s acting, feeling, and thinking in the present. I loved reading that because it just made so much sense and it made me really feel for her character. It allowed me the chance to understand exactly why she felt the way she did. It just helped me “get” her.
The beautiful writing. The writing in this book was fantastic. I could picture everything so well, and I could easily feel every single thing the characters were feeling because of how wonderful the writing was. The writing just made this book, and it really made the characters and story come to life off the page.
What in the world is Jett up to? Throughout this book I was heavily intrigued with trying to figure Jett out. There is a lot of mystery surrounding him, and I loved that. He also is hot as all get out, and I was loving how I had to try to decipher what in the world was going on with him. There’s clearly a lot more at play him with this story, and I cannot wait to find out what that is in the coming books in this series.
The supporting characters. These characters really help bring the story together, and they each add something to the story, whether it’s more mystery or secrets or just some good old social interaction. I love the instances where I got to see those other characters and what they added to the story, and overall they helped round out the book well.
Wham bam thank you ma’am. This book is fast paced and highly charged. It was thrilling and exciting, and it kept me hooked in the entire time. Its hits the ground running and didn’t let you go until the book was over, and that just works.
The trust thing. I really liked the fact that this book explores the trust that Brooke has with herself, her feelings, and with Jett himself. Her past which slowly and thoughtfully comes to the page makes it easy to understand why it’s hard for her to trust. Reading how she tries to figure out what and who she can trust within herself and others is just utterly fabulous, and it made her character truly authentic.
The great anticipation of more. This book has a surprise around every corner and will leave you highly anticipating what will happen next in the coming books. I am dying to know how this will all turn out, and I can’t wait to read this books follow up. That anticipation will have you feeling the same way. I guarantee it.

The Lover’s Secret overall was just a fantastic book to read. It had a ton of aspects that I just loved, and I want truly captivated by the story being told. Brooke and Jett were characters that I truly enjoyed reading, and their story is one that will take you on one hell of a ride.

Book Note:

**This book is a standalone book as part of a new series, but the characters in these books are also the two main characters from her Surrender Series. This book is a new twist to their story, and twisty it was! You don’t have to read those books to understand these characters or this book, though I did go on to read that entire series AFTER reading The Lover’s Secret. And I will have you know that I loved reading it in that order.

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21Aug2014

Drops of Rain

Posted in Books I love, Releasing Now Book Addicts, Review Post by mkcooke

Drops of Rain

By: Kathryn Andrews

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Ali Rain
Sometimes I think to myself, “How did I get here?” Then the pain hits and I remember…it’s because she’s gone. I now live in a new town, go to a new school, and I’m supposed to be moving on with my new life. Only, I no longer know who I am anymore. Dancing is all I have left and every day I feel completely alone. Silence has become the theme song to my life. She said to find some joy and light, but I don’t know how. Mostly, I feel surrounded in darkness…that is until I meet him.

Drew Hale
I have only one goal, in 298 days I’m going to drive away from this small beach town and never return. People are always watching me closely, too close, and I’m tired of wearing a mask. I need to be free. Swimming is my ticket out of here and I remind myself daily to fly under the radar, stick to my routine, and under no circumstances let anything distract me. I’m not as perfect as they think, most days I am drowning in guilt. I’m not sure I will ever be able to escape the feelings of shame, worthlessness, and just being unwanted…that is until I meet her.

**This book is for anyone who loves a good romance and it is intended for those who are 16 years of age and older.**

Reading Drops of Rain by Kathryn Andrews was by far one of the best reading experiences I’ve had in a long time. This book was just so much more. I honestly don’t think I have enough positive adjectives to describe how out of this world phenomenal it was.

I could probably use every positive adjective I know, and it still wouldn’t do this book as much justice as it deserves.

Let me begin this review by telling you that this book took me through the serious emotional wringer. (And this is from someone who watches Grey’s Anatomy on the regular, and sits through hours of Shonda Rhimes toying with my emotions.)

This book was brimming with varied, well developed, and thoughtfully crafted emotions, each one more powerful than the last. Each event, character, and instance brought on a new feeling. Sometimes it was painful as hell, sometimes it even broke my heart to read, and then other times those instances brought on so much elation, healing, and love that it took my breath away from its sheer beauty.

This book was powerful and passionate as hell, and it truly had every single aspect that makes a book an exceptional read.

What was out of this world about Drops of Rain:

Seeing both Ali and Drew’s POV’s. Drops of Rain is from both Ali and Drew’s alternating perspectives, which illuminated so much about them both as individual characters, but especially so with how they felt about one another. Their individual P.O.V. enlighten everything about them, their pasts, and their presents while managing to capture them in such a truly enthralling and believable way.
The emotional wringer. Like I said, this book takes you through a full on emotional wringer, but this aspect is why I loved it immensely. The anguish, pain, and desolateness that both Ali and Drew experience in their individual lives will just make your heart hurt. You’ll want to reach in and offer comfort, and just make it better for them. In the end though, that emotional wringer will make the story that comes off the page that much more memorable, and seriously worthwhile because of every emotion you experience. Music also plays an essential role with that emotional wringer, and that music just enhances everything you’re reading tenfold.
Ali. Ali’s character was beautifully inspiring, and that girl had some serious sass to her that just drew me to her. Ali is the type of girl who is determined and focused, and stops for nothing. She could also care less what other’s think of her, and that was truly refreshing. Through everything she experiences with her loss and with Drew, her character shines and emanates through. You will feel for Ali, you will love her, and you’ll want to protect her with everything you’ve got. The connection I had to her character was outstandingly powerful.
Drew. Drew is by far one of my favorite male characters I’ve EVER read. The time spent in his head explains what shaped him to become the man he is, and the man he is becoming when he meets Ali. Drew is severely driven and fiercely protective because of circumstances no one should ever have to experience. His character is one that’ll take root in your heart, and your love for him will continually grow with every single word. What Drew experiences will exemplify the strength he has, and will show you just how good of a person he is.
The depth of Ali and Drew’s relationship. Because of what both characters go through individually, the depth of their feelings in their relationship become deeper and more powerful. Their relationship is beautifully developed, and even when they have their heads up their butts with stubbornness about one another, you will adore them. The magnificently crafted words on the page will make you believe that a love built on so much passion, strength, and tenacity like theirs can heal, take you to a better place, and make you a better in every single way.
The build to be each other’s “person”. The build in Ali and Drew’s relationship exemplifies everything it takes for them to be together. Their hesitancy, doubts, emotional pushes and pulls, and steps forward and backward throughout that building of their relationship epitomizes all they are putting into it. You get to read how their connection flourishes and grows, and how they become each other’s “person” in every single way, and that’s absolutely brilliant.
The hope with the pain. With every instance that pulled at my heart and brought tears to my eyes, there was an instance that healed and transformed it all. (And yes I really did cry!! I know, that’s shocking for me!) The transformative healing that takes place for many characters really balances in such a wonderful way with the pain they’re all experiencing, and it makes the story that more fantastic as a whole.
You will feel it all. The way all of the emotions come across will literally have you feeling and experiencing every single thing Ali, Drew, and everyone else are. The author creates a world where you see every little and significant thing through their eyes’ fully in every facet. This aspect will make these characters wholly authentic and real to you. You’ll feel them, you’ll connect with them, and you’ll love them every damn step of the way.
Fighting for the happy and peace. Both of these characters have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Ali is feeling utterly alone, and Drew is pulling away from everyone. They’re both at war with so many emotions and people, but when they come together, they fight for that happiness they both so totally deserve. The fight both of these remarkable characters go through for that happiness will just make you want to fight for them too. Their tenacity in the face of so much sadness, pain, and utter anguish will blow you away.
Supporting characters for the win! Every single supporting character won me over in an instant (Even Cassidy and her horribly conniving self.), and I loved them all for their range of sparkling personalities that just made me consistently smile. There is also an instant comradery between all of these characters themselves and with Ali & Drew that is felt exceedingly real and authentic for characters of their age. Beau and Leila especially stood out because of every incredible line and moment they added with Ali and Drew and the rest of the story. (I cannot wait to read more Beau! He just melted my heart!)
The dragonfly symbolism. The symbolism with the dragonfly with Ali and her mother that weaves its way effortlessly through the book is very poignant and beautiful. It was also powerful as hell, and served such an immense and magical purpose to Ali’s story.
Channeling the passion. Ali is a dancer, and Drew is a swimmer. They take and put everything they feel into both of those passions, and that exemplifies so much about them both. It shows their tenacity, while also showing how both of those passions are an escape from the harsh realities they both face.

I know that this review was long, even for me, but I hope you really enjoyed it because I enjoyed Drops of Rain profoundly. It was a highly enthralling book that provided me with such a beautiful, captivating, and emotional reading experience that I won’t ever forget.

Drops of Rain is writing and storytelling at its best. The characters are thoughtfully crafted and developed, the story is one you’ll connect with instantly, the level of emotion will blow you out of the water, and in the end you’ll be glad as hell you read this book.

Kathryn Andrews blew me away with this book, and I sincerely hope you take a leap of faith with my HIGHEST recommendation & review, and give Drops of Rain a read so that you can experience its breathtaking magnificence.

Take the leap of faith people….You’d do well to remember that.

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I seriously cannot recommend this book more to each and every one of you. It is by far one of the best books I have ever read. I loved every single part of it, and I know you will too, so be sure to 1-click this book as soon as humanly possible!

16Aug2014

For Nicky

Posted in Books I love, Review Post by mkcooke

For Nicky

By: A.D. Ellis

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Elizabeth Decker views herself as shy, totally average, and pretty much insignificant. She’s nothing special, at least not compared to her little sister, Audrey. Elizabeth is content with her plain and lonely future; she’s too insecure to contemplate a relationship thanks to her sister. Audrey is a bombshell and uses this to get what she wants. She’s a girl who will stop at nothing to control anyone and everything around her. She craves power and doesn’t care if she has to hurt Elizabeth to get it.

Nathaniel Morgan has spent his whole life fighting for his twin brother, Nicholas. Somewhere along the way, he lost himself. Now he’s just getting by. He’s devoted to his family, but emotionally detached from the women he burns through like wildfire. He has no plans of getting into something as complicated and committed as a “relationship”.

Nicholas Morgan has placed the new librarian, Miss Elizabeth, on a pedestal and is begging her to meet his twin brother, Nathaniel. Elizabeth and Nathaniel agree to meet, for Nicky. Both are caught off-guard when unexpected sparks fly between them. This was not in their plans. Will Nathaniel and Elizabeth be able to escape a past that still plagues them? Or, will the past, suspicions, and insecurities come between them one too many times?

**This is a contemporary new adult romance. It should only be read by ages 18+ due to adult themes and situations. This is a stand alone book.

5 Heartwarming Stars

Let me begin by saying that For Nicky was probably one of the sweetest and most heartwarming stories that I have ever read. It definitely had its ups and downs, and not all of this book is all sunshine and roses, but overall it was just as sweet as can be.

I didn’t know I needed that when I began this book, but judging on how I felt after reading, I definitely needed everything this book gave me!

For Nicky tells the story of Elizabeth and Nate who find themselves drawn to one another after they give it all chance thanks to Nicky, Nate’s twin brother. What happens when these two connect is nothing short of beautiful, and their story is one that I just ate up.

What I simply adored about For Nicky:

The sweetness. Like I said this book was just sweet, and truly beautiful. The love story itself was sweet, but it was everything else that was sweet too. Nicky for instance made this story and its sweetness, and all of the positive and light interactions between these characters just added more.
Elizabeth comes into her own. Elizabeth’s character really comes into her own over the course of this story. In the beginning she is meek and held back, and by the end she is anything but that. She finds some true inner strength within herself and in the end she knew exactly who she wanted to be inside and out. Reading that transformation was awesome, and her growth over the book feels so real world and is utterly relatable.
Nate is a downright good guy. Nate was just good. He had a heart of gold, and he made my heart melt many times over the course of this book. He had his moments where he had to think about the things he did that were not so great. And there were a few moments where his head was up his ass, but through it all he was still that good guy I loved. Score one for the good guys!
Nicky. Nicky’s character was one that I loved the instant I met him. I freaking adored him, and loved him to pieces. I loved getting to read the brief glimpses into his head throughout this book. I also loved getting to read his relationships with those around him. Getting to know more about Nicky made this book exceptional, and he is truly a character I won’t soon forget.
The ups and downs. This book puts Nate and Elizabeth through a helluva lot on their road to being together. They go through so much individually and together as a couple. I liked that though because it was extremely authentic and real world. It was also believable as hell. Both of these characters have things to work on and work on they do. All of that work shows how much they go through to be together and to get to where they want to be. So I gladly enjoyed all those glorious ups and downs.
The emotions. This book has a lot of emotions that come across in a pretty remarkable way. You feel every single emotion each of these characters feel. You get 4 perspectives in this book, and 4 different sets of magnificently crafted emotions. All that emotion makes it simply easy to connect with all of these characters. (And yes I’m including Audrey in that one! Read the book and you’ll see what I mean!)
Audrey, Audrey, Audrey. Audrey was definitely a memorable character. In the beginning I absolutely loathed her. With all the downright horrible things she does and says, that’s not too hard to understand. But when everything was said and done, I completely changed my tune. I felt like I got to understand her in a whole new way, and she ended up being one of my favorites. I honestly can’t wait to read her story and figure out what in the world was going on in her head to make her do the things she did.
The build of the relationship. I felt that A.D. Ellis did a phenomenal job of creating a book that had a natural build to a relationship. It wasn’t too fast. It was realistic. It felt really real, and it was what I would think would happen in a relationship that involved the feelings, questions, doubts, and excitement that Elizabeth and Nate’s had. Right down to those butterflies in the stomach, this author captures that build exceptionally.
The theme of acceptance. Accepting yourself and others for who they are is a prominent theme in this book. What honestly sets it apart is that within the love story being told, you feel the theme of acceptance weave its way through. That theme is vital to the story, and it makes the story and characters shine. It also made this book hit very close to home for me. (I mold tiny human’s minds, and specifically seeing how Nicky was accepted and just loved brought me so much joy while reading!)
The real world issues. This book tackles some very real world topics with bullying and name calling. That made this book for me because of how that connected to my own life and profession. It also just strikes a chord, and will truly make you think, which is always fantastic while reading.

For Nicky was just a beautiful book. Its characters were well developed, the story flowed, and it all just worked. This book was engaging from the very first word to the last, and its multiple perspectives give so much insight into every aspect of this book.

This book truly was as sweet as can be, so be sure to check it out today!

A.D Ellis was born and raised in a small farming town in southern Indiana. An avid reader from the time she learned to read, A.D. could often be found curled up somewhere with her nose in a book. Most of her friends were not such book enthusiasts which earned her a few snickers when she was constantly reading.
A.D. had always dreamed of being a teacher. She earned her degree in Elementary Education from Indiana State University in 1999 and her Master’s Degree from Indiana Wesleyan in 2003. A.D. has been teaching in the inner city of Indianapolis for 15 years. While she’s taught several different grades, fourth grade is her favorite. They are learning independence by 4th grade, but most haven’t learned the attitude yet. A.D. loves teaching fractions, variables, probability, and graphing in Math. She loves almost all aspects of English Language Arts. Figurative language, theme, making predictions, drawing conclusions, inference, context clues, making writing come to life, A.D. loves it all! Her students may not be in agreement with that excitement.
A.D. met her husband in college in 1996 and they married in June of 2000. A.D. lives in a south side suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband and two school-aged children. When she’s not reading or writing with music blaring, she can be found shopping at thrift stores, reading to her children, and running.
A.D. had always pondered the idea of writing a book, but until recently it was a far off dream. In today’s age of independently published authors, A.D. decided to take a chance and try her hand at writing. She has learned so much during this journey and is having a world of fun with it.

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For Nicky was a truly heartwarming story that I Just absolutely loved. It is sweet, and passionate, and it will just make you fall instantly in love with its characters and story, so be sure to check it and A.D. Ellis out today!

15Aug2014

Frostbitten by Heather Beck

Posted in Books I love, Review Post by mkcooke

Frostbitten

By: Heather Beck

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Great beauty hides dark secrets…

Seventeen-year-old Anastasia Lockhart has never led an easy life, but when she starts getting into serious trouble, she’s sent to live with her grandparents in Cedar Falls. The small, picturesque town hasn’t changed since she visited four years ago, with one exception – the presence of a handsome, mysterious boy named Frost. Despite warnings from her grandparents and friends to stay away from Frost, Anastasia can’t deny their attraction, and the more time they spend together, the deeper in love they fall. Unfortunately, Frost has a secret that is beyond Anastasia’s wildest imagination, and she soon finds herself in the midst of a supernatural legend that has haunted Cedar Falls for years.

Can Anastasia and Frost’s love really overcome anything, or are their fates much darker?

4 1/2 Wonderful Stars

I must admit that while I do definitely enjoy reading young adult books, I am sometimes hesitant to read paranormal books within the genre. It’s not that I haven’t read these types of books, or that I haven’t immensely enjoyed these books, it’s just that I naturally don’t lean towards them.

After reading Frostbitten by Heather Beck, I’m thinking I should change that inclination.

Frostbitten is a paranormal young adult novel that focuses in on Anastasia Lockhart as she goes to live with her grandparents in the quaint little town of Cedar Falls. But soon Anastasia finds that not everything is as quaint as it appears in this sleepy little town. There are some dark mysteries running rampant through this town, and Anastasia soon finds herself immersed in them.

Wonderfully balanced with the mystery surrounding the town of Cedar Falls is the development of Anastasia’s relationship with a mysterious boy named Frost. These two have an instant bond and connection, and their bonds only grow throughout this story. Frostbitten follows Anastasia as she begins to fall into all of her feelings for Frost, while trying to discover the answers to the many questions surrounding the supernatural events taking place in Cedar Falls.

What I absolutely adored about this book:

The writing. Heather Beck does a phenomenal job of crafting a story that just flows from the page. Her writing is beautiful, and the level of description you read in this book will have you picturing every single glorious detail in your head.
The mythology. The mythology that comes into this story in such a remarkable way that is very easy to understand, and it blends wonderfully with every other aspect of the book. It also adds a seriously engaging and exciting factor to this book that sets the story itself apart from other YA books.
Frost. Frost is kind of an enigma that you continue to try to figure out throughout. While reading you slowly chip away at his hard exterior find out who he truly is. His character was just magnificent to read, and with each new piece of the puzzle that I discovered about him, I fell more in love with his character. He’s also terribly sweet, which just melted my heart.
Anastasia’s strength. Anastasia is a very strong female character, which I immediately grasped and adored. She is thrown a lot of wrenches in a lot of ways, but through it all she keeps standing up and pushing through. Even when you expect her to give in, she doesn’t. She’s extremely resilient, and that was something that was truly fresh to read.
The excitement. This book is paced very well, and the events make it a true page turner. The events add flames to the fire that is this book, and will keep you engaged from beginning to end. That excitement also just makes it fun to read.
The love story. The love story of Frost and Anastasia is fantastic, and it has a serious build over the book. It feels very natural from beginning to end, and flows very well over the page. It also balanced extremely well with the other events taking place in the book. You could focus in on it, but also enjoy all the other aspects of the book that in turn affected their love story. It just worked.
The young adultness. I loved that this was a YA book. I love YA books. The young characters created in this book are all extremely authentic in the emotions and feelings they have. Even the actions they take are wholly real. Heather Beck does a wonderful job of capturing these characters and making them come alive on the page.
The level of suspense. The level of suspense just builds and builds in this book. I was constantly wondering where in the world the story would go, and what would happen next, which made this book all the more engaging. That suspense builds in so many ways that you will have to know how this all works out. (It also does a fabulous job of setting up future stories….)
The different relationships. I loved getting to read the different and complicated relationships in this book. You have Frost and Anastasia, Anastasia and her grandparents, and even Anastasia and her classmates. These dynamic relationships add more to this story, and add an easily relatable factor to what you’re reading.

Frostbitten was a truly fantastic book to read. It had so many aspects that I truly enjoy and thrive on when I read. It was engaging as hell. It had well and thoughtfully developed characters with some spunk. It had a storyline that was fresh to read, and that just continued to get better as I read. It also had that something extra that just made it a truly enjoyable book.

While I may not be the most well versed in books with paranormal and supernatural elements, I have to say that I think this one hit it out the park in that respect.

So I hope you’ll all take a minute to check out the book and its author. Give it chance, just like I did. I think you’ll be extremely happy you did. I know I am.

Take that leap of faith in reading. You’d do well to remember that.

Heather Beck is a Canadian Author and Screenwriter who began writing professionally at the age of sixteen. Since then she has written eleven well-reviewed books, including the bestselling series, The Horror Diaries, which has sold in six continents.

Heather received an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree from university where she specialized in English and studied an array of disciplines. Currently, she is working on the Frostbitten series and has two anthologies slated for publication. As a screenwriter, Heather has multiple television shows and movies in development. Her short films include: Young Eyes, The Rarity, Too Sensible For Love, Circular, and the forthcoming Witch’s Brew.

Besides writing, Heather’s greatest passion is the outdoors. She is an award-winning fisherwoman and a regular hiker. Her hobbies include swimming, playing badminton and volunteering with non-profit organizations.

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Frostbitten truly was a wonderful book, and I am so glad I had the chance to read it. The writing is beautiful and the story is great, so be sure to check out this book and Heather Beck today!

14Aug2014

Among the Echoes

Posted in Books I love, Releasing Now Book Addicts, Review Post by mkcooke

Among the Echoes

By: Aly Martinez

Genre: Erotic Suspense

My name was Dr. Erica Hill. I was a victim, then a witness, and then I ceased to exist altogether.

I may still be breathing, but stripped of my identity, I have long since stopped living. I am invisible, and my life depends on my ability to stay in the shadows.

But he sees me.

Slate Andrews is the embodiment of everything I have been taught to avoid. He’s rich and famous, and one image of him with a woman would earn millions for any paparazzi lucky enough to snap it. He has vowed to protect me with his life, yet he exposes me with his every breath. I should be stronger and walk away. I should disappear. But I’m terrified he would come after me.

I’m on the run, determined not to take him down with me but absolutely unable to let him go.

My name is Riley Peterson…at least for today.

*Among The Echoes is a stand alone novel which contains material that may be offensive to some readers. Including sexual abuse, graphic language, and adult situations. Intended for readers 18+.*

5 Seriously Deserved Stars

Among the Echoes was the first book I’ve read by Aly Martinez, but it will certainly not be the last. This book was phenomenal in every way. The writing was beautiful, the characters were thoughtfully developed and brought to the page in a way that made me love them whole heartedly, and the story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

I will preface the rest of my review by letting you know that this book opens up with a pretty brutal and dark scene involving the main character Erica. As dark and rough as that scene is, it sets the tones for the book, and makes you immediately care for and connect with Erica. It serves a purpose, and I wouldn’t have this book any other way than how it was.

Everything about this book was just spot on from the first page to very last.

What I f-ing loved about Among the Echoes:

Erica’s Pain. While reading you will feel Erica’s pain to the core because of how magnificently it’s conveyed. It is painful as hell to read at times and sometimes it just hurt my heart for Erica, but it makes you understand her so much more. It also helps you understand every little and major thing she is feeling from her pain, to vulnerability, to her anxiety and erraticness at times. All of that is remarkably written, and it’ll make you feel for Erica from the get go.
Slate Saves the Day. I absolutely loved how Slate was there for Erica in every way from the very beginning, even before either of them started having feelings for the other. Slate was just a good guy, through and through. Slate sees something in Erica, and knows that he can help her. He promises to do just that, and he never once wavers on that promise. Ever. He’s protective, charming as hell, and just the right amount of “sweet as can be” and “give it to me harder” all wrapped into one deliciously ripped package. (Can you tell I heart me some Slate?)
Leo & Erica’s Friendship. Their friendship was one of a kind, and built upon some not so shiny events, but it was magnificently developed, and it made me love each of them more because of their friendship. It was rough at times because they had both been through so much together, but through all that hardship they were there for each other always. There each other’s rocks, and that just works.
The Theme of Overcoming it All. This book is filled with a lot of darkness and pain at times because of the story being so breathtakingly told, but at the end of the day it’s all about overcoming all of that. It’s about coming back and overcoming the negative things that happen in life. This book exemplifies that all that pain and darkness is surmountable, and it doesn’t have to define you if you don’t let it. (Makes me think of a certain quote: “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
The Action & Suspense. The action kept this book extremely well paced and had me dying to know what would happen. I needed to know if Erica would be safe, or if she would be found. I HAD to know what would happen with her and Slate. I had to know it all. The level of suspense and action kept it all going, and through it all I never knew how it was all going to turn out. That made the guessing game throughout that more enthralling and exciting to read and experience.
Opening Up. The way that Erica and Slate open up to one another is magnificent. It takes a lot for both of them to open up because of their past circumstances. At the end of the day though, they’re both trying to protect themselves from each other and when they finally break down those walls and open up to one another, it’s a truly transformative. That opening up also exemplifies the depth of feeling these two have for one another. It’s a real moment of healing that was just beautiful to read.
The Real Erica. This book is all about seeing. Part of that seeing is seeing the ‘real’ Erica, and when that real Erica comes across on the page, it’s truly fantastic to read. Aly Martinez does an outstanding job of showing the broken Erica while giving glimpses to the Erica she used to be. Throughout the story more and more the real Erica comes to the page, and she is just a force to be reckoned with when she’s there.
The Crime. I am a huge sucker for crime shows, and I loved how Among the Echoes brought in the crime and drama. The hidden identities, witness protection, suspense, high octane action, and all the people after one another engaged me fully in the book. It also added another fabulous layer to the already incredible story being told.
The Fight. I love a story that gives me a good fight for that happy. And boy did Among the Echoes deliver on that. Slate and Erica are fighting for their lives, literally, to find that happy that they both deserve. That fight defines and exemplifies their characters, and ultimately makes this book out of this world wonderful.

Among the Echoes was just an all-around fantastic book. It has everything that makes a book stand out: magnificently developed characters, tons of spice, a whole lot of feeling and emotion, seriously wonderful writing, and a story that just won’t quit.

This book has it all, and I couldn’t recommend it to you more. It really will blow you away, and after reading it you’ll surely be an Aly Martinez fan for life.

Trust me, I’m there.

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in Chicago, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Don’t forget to check out Aly’s Wrecked and Ruined series

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N

I seriously cannot recommend this book to you all enough. It just hit it out of the park with the level of action & suspense, passion & love, pain & vulnerability, and the overall level of emotion. So do yourself a favor and check out this gem of a book today. You won’t be sorry.

11Aug2014

Releasing Now: Incandescent

Posted in Books I love, Releasing Now Book Addicts, Review Post by mkcooke

Incandescent Knights

Rebels MC #1

By: River Savage

Release Date:August 11,2014

Phoenix ‘Nix’ Knight thought
pulling his club out of the illegal shit his Pops got them into was
difficult.

Until he meets Kadence.

Kadence Turner has no business
lusting over a student’s father, especially the president of the Knights Rebels
MC. Nix is crass, obnoxious and dangerously sexy and for some reason, Kadence
can’t seem to hate him for it. The bossy biker breaks down her defenses, but
unlike the old Kadence, the woman she is today won’t give in without a
fight.

The tension is undeniable, the attraction fierce. A man that wants what he wants
and a woman that will fight him every step of the way.

ADD TO GOODREADS

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5 Amazingly Hot Stars

Let me start off by saying that this book just hit it out of the damn park for me. It had everything I absolutely thrive on when reading: the characters were out of this world dynamic and had personality out the yin yang, the story was extremely well paced and hooked me in from the first word until the very last, and the overall book reminded me of what truly phenomenal books are made of.

Incandescent was an out of this world book that I wish I could give more than 5 stars too. It had it all, and you can bet your butt that I’m a River Savage fan for life after reading this book.

What was off the charts about Incandescent:

Nix. Nix is so many things, and I couldn’t love his character more if I wanted to. He is crass and possessive and he has the dirtiest mouth I’ve ever read on a character, but all of that just made me fall in love with him more. He also had so many layers. There was the MC President layer, then the layer of the caring and devoted father, and then the layer you see with Kaydence. All that layering just made him an utterly magnificent character. Did I also mention he has one hell of a mouth on him?
Kaydence has sass. Kaydence is a sassy and snarky character, and I adored her to pieces. She has been to hell and back before this story even begins, and she goes through just as much through the events of this book. Through it all though she’s still there facing it with her smart and sassy mouth. She has some pretty low moments, and I felt her pain and anguish often while reading, but when those high moments came for her, boy were they spectacular to read. She’s a fighter, and that was pretty darn refreshing to read.
The relationship between Nix and Kaydence. What can I say about their relationship to do it justice? These two characters have a chemistry that pole vaults off the page. It’s filled with heat, passion, desire, and plenty of dirty talking fun. It’s scorching hot, and just exudes the shear depth of what these two feel for one another. It also has a natural and freaking exciting build to it, and their relationship is one you’ll be fighting for as you read. I guarantee it.
The MC factor. This is only my 2^nd MC book, and this one made me want a hell of a lot more MC books. I loved getting to see the inner workings of The Knights Rebels MC, and seeing how all of the characters in the club meshed with the rest of the story. It was also seriously hot and engaging to read a bunch of guys riding around on motorcycles, cussing up a storm, and fighting for their club and relationships. The grit, the action, and the delicious tension with the MC factor makes the story that more enthralling.
Down with the dirty. I think I’ve mentioned it about 5 times already by now, but the dirty, crass, and raw talking going on in this book was seriously heated, and will send you looking for fan ASAP. It’s sizzling, and it’ll have you relishing every time you get to read that dirty talk on the page.
The gangs all here. The supporting characters were outstanding, and just added to the magnificence of this book. They are all fully developed with interesting personalities to say the least, and each one is highly memorable. Each of them adds their own little flavor, and they fit in seamlessly with Kaydence and Nix’s story. Sy, Holly, Z, Beau, Brooks, Jesse, and all the other characters just make this book more extraordinary, and I can’t wait to read more of them.
The fast paced events. The events of this book will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time you’re reading. They fit in authentically with what is happening in the story, and the story just continues to build and build until the very end. This book also balances the drama, excitement, passion, and love aspects tremendously well with the events taking place.
The vulnerable and emotional moments. There are multiple truly emotional moments of vulnerability, pain, and love in this book. Some moments are so beautifully captured that they will leave your heart hurting with the pain and anguish the characters are experiencing, while others will put your heart back together with the level of healing that takes place in those instances of vulnerability. This book is chalk full of these moments of vulnerability, and they really will take make you feel so many things that you’re just going to love experiencing.
The end. I clearly ain’t going to tell you how it all ends, but just know the ending was spectacular. It made sense, and it left me ready and waiting for the next installment to this series.

Incandescent was an utterly phenomenal book that I seriously enjoyed from beginning to end. This book had it all and more. It was highly engaging, and it is a book I won’t soon be forgetting. From the spectacularly fitting names of the characters, to the OMFG moments that’ll speed your heart rate up, to the moments of pure love and heat you’ll want to bask in, this book will be an unbelievable reading experience for you. Just be prepared for one helluva book hangover from this one.

I also cannot wait to read more from this series and author. (And I’m hoping that next book comes out sooner rather than later! Fingers Crossed!)

Resting the cold beer between my legs to soothe the ache, the boys give me shit for striking out. I feel the same way: the woman is a tough nut to crack.

“You ready for round two, Prez?” Beau smirks behind his beer. Turning my head, I watch as Kadence storms over. I groan as my broken dick comes to life, apparently not caught up with the news that she doesn’t like him. She stands at the end of the table, arms crossed over her chest, unaware that her position puts her sexy tits up on display.

Fuck, this woman is a tease.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I say before taking a sip of my beer.

“Don’t sweetheart me. What did you say to my date?” she snaps, anger clear on her face, and I’ve never seen a more beautiful look on her. Her eyes blaze with fire and the need to push her more fills me. I can’t wait to have her under me.

“Oh, the stiff?” I ask nonchalantly. “Just told him to run along; he didn’t have what it takes to play with the big boys,” I say as some of the brothers laugh into their drinks.

I’ve never pushed a woman this far before; chasing her and teasing her feels so damn good. Something about her pushes my buttons and leaves me wanting more. Most women fall at my feet begging to get in, but Kadence? No, this woman makes me want to do the begging. I’ve never wanted to fuck a woman so hard while spanking her ass at the same time. The way she reacts to me makes my dick hard and God help me, getting her riled up is a sight to see. I can see it in her eyes; she’s fighting it. She wants me and I intend to give the lady what she wants.

“What do you want, Phoenix?” she demands, uncrossing her arms and assuming a relaxed position, but I’m not stupid. The woman is crazy mad and I’ve got a throbbing dick to prove it.

“What do I want?” I repeat her question, pausing to take another pull on my beer. “Well, after your little stunt in the bathroom, I wanna pull you down on this table and spank your ass,” I tell her calmly. Even though my balls are aching, my cock is pulsing.

“You disgust me,” she hisses and turns to walk away. I grab onto her hand, turning her my way. She tries to pull out of my grasp, but my hold on her is strong.

“You don’t mean that. I’ve seen the way your eyes flash. You would love for me to spank that sexy ass right here for everyone to see. Wouldn’t you?” Embarrassment floods her cheeks, and for a beat, I think I might have pushed her too far.

River Savage is the author of the soon to be released, Knights Rebels MC Series. The first book Incandescent, will be released on August 11,2014.

An avid reader of romance and erotic novels, her love for books and reading fueled her passion for writing. Reading no longer sated her addiction, so she started writing in secret. She never imagined that her dream of publishing a novel would ever be achievable.

With a soft spot for an alpha male and a snarky sassy woman, Kadence and Nix were born.

River would love to hear from you. You can contact her via email at riversavageauthor@gmail.com or follow her via the links below.

AUTHOR LINKS:

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Meet the author, aka the bad ass conductor, Colleen Hoover:

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The Lover’s Game

by: J.C. Reed

Genre: New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance

Recommended for ages 18 and up.

270pp

****4 1/2 Wonderful Stars****

Available On:

Find The Lover’s Game on Goodreads…

Click the link below to enter the giveaway!!

Connect with Author

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Other Books: in the No Exceptions series:

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Debut novel Shelter Me by Author Kathy Coopmans

Releasing: September 7th

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****4.5 Wonderful Stars****

Trailer:

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Rules of Protection

By: Alison Bliss

Release Date: August 26, 2014 (That is TODAY!)

*****5 Amazing and Phenomenal Stars*****

Just a little tease….

Be sure to check out the AMAZING book trailer for Rules of Protection too!

I cannot recommend this book to you more! It was utterly fantastic and you are seriously missing out if you pass this one up! So do yourself a favor and check it out TODAY!

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The Lover’s Secret

By: J.C. Reed

Genre: Mature New Adult/ Adult Contemporary Romance

Recommended for ages 18 and up.

Full Length Novel

****4 1/2 Hot Hot Stars****

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Drops of Rain

By: Kathryn Andrews

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

I seriously cannot recommend this book more to each and every one of you. It is by far one of the best books I have ever read. I loved every single part of it, and I know you will too, so be sure to 1-click this book as soon as humanly possible!

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For Nicky

By: A.D. Ellis

Genre: Contemporary Romance

*****5 Heartwarming Stars*****

For Nicky was a truly heartwarming story that I Just absolutely loved. It is sweet, and passionate, and it will just make you fall instantly in love with its characters and story, so be sure to check it and A.D. Ellis out today!

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Frostbitten

By: Heather Beck

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

****4 1/2 Wonderful Stars****

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Frostbitten truly was a wonderful book, and I am so glad I had the chance to read it. The writing is beautiful and the story is great, so be sure to check out this book and Heather Beck today!

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Among the Echoes

By: Aly Martinez

Genre: Erotic Suspense

*****5 Seriously Deserved Stars*****

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Don’t forget to check out Aly’s Wrecked and Ruined series

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N

I seriously cannot recommend this book to you all enough. It just hit it out of the park with the level of action & suspense, passion & love, pain & vulnerability, and the overall level of emotion. So do yourself a favor and check out this gem of a book today. You won’t be sorry.

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Incandescent Knights

Rebels MC #1

By: River Savage

Release Date:August 11,2014

*****5 Amazingly Hot Stars*****

River would love to hear from you. You can contact her via email at riversavageauthor@gmail.com or follow her via the links below.

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4 1/2 Wonderful Stars

4.5 Wonderful Stars

5 Amazing and Phenomenal Stars

4 1/2 Hot Hot Stars

5 Heartwarming Stars

4 1/2 Wonderful Stars

5 Seriously Deserved Stars

5 Amazingly Hot Stars