REVIEW: BE WITH ME by J. LYNN

Series: Wait For You #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 2/4/14
Format: Paperback
Pages: 387
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars


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Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

So many readers have reviewed Be With Me, and have done it well. At a certain point, similar thoughts on a book start to feel redundant. So instead of my usual review, I'm listing the reasons I adored Be With Me. Here we go!

Jase is a hottie! No surprise there, but I was honestly amused at Teresa's constant ogling.

Parched as I was, I took a sip of the sweet tea as I stared through the windshield, absolutely enthralled by all the baby-making potential on display before me. Not that I was in the way of making babies,but I could totally get behind some practice runs. Cam made a face. "Dude, that's his drink."


Teresa was abused by her former, long-time boyfriend. With a lot of introspection and time, she has worked to overcome her guilt and shame. She doesn't dwell or even consider herself a victim, but there will always be lingering effects.

I squeezed my eyes shut as the feelings of helplessness returned like an old, needy friend you couldn't get rid of. I wasn't that girl anymore. I wasn't a victim.

Cupcakes! We all remember Cam and his cookies, right? Well, Jase loves gourmet cupcakes, and shares the love with Teresa. 

 

  Smiling, I popped open the box and took a bite. I looked forward to the whole cupcake thing.   
  There was something simply exciting about not knowing what I was about to taste.
  One bite and I moaned. "Oh my God, is that Reese's Pieces in this thing?"
  He nodded. "Yep. That's good shit right there, huh?"

  "I want to marry it."

Be With Me has several important themes. One of my favorites was that of taking a chance and embracing what life brings you.
            

  "Things come along you don't expect all the time, Tess. Trust me. Things that change everything about your life--about what you thought you wanted, who you thought you were. Things that make you reevaluate everything and even if it doesn't sound like a good thing in the beginning?" He shrugged as he settle his gaze on Thunder. "Sometimes they turn out better than you could've ever imagined."

 

BIG SECRET. Be With Me has one! I had a teeny, tiny suspicion about that. I WAS RIGHT. I was also very pleasantly blown away.

 

 

Teresa's potty mouth. As a rather proficient swearer, I'm always impressed when a heroine can out-swear me. Seriously. Teresa's got it goin' on in that department.

 

 

J. Lynn doesn't drag our hearts along for the entire book! I assumed the entire story would be Jase playing hot-and-cold, pulling Teresa closer, then pushing her away while professing she's too good for him for nearly four hundred pages. That didn't happen! *fist pump*

 

   Jase rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. His warm breath danced over my lips. "I want to take you out on a date. I want to take you horseback riding. I want to tell your brother. I want to take you home to my parents and introduce you as my girlfriend. I want to prove this means more to me. I want to do this the right way."

After an injury sidelines Teresa's dreams of dancing, Jase shows her a new way to feel the freedom she misses. He's not only gorgeous and armed with cupcakes, Jase is sensitive, too!

           
   Tipping my head back against his chest, I closed my eyes and smiled as the wind glided over my cheeks.
   My grip loosened once more, and under my legs, Lightning's powerful muscles bunched as he picked up speed. A trickle of fear inked down my spine as we went faster, but another emotion rose, overshadowing the tendrils of panic. Muscles in my core tensed. Not of anxiety but in anticipation, like those precious moments I'd lost, the ones that came seconds after I stepped onstage.
  "I can feel it," I whispered.

Cam's reaction to his best friend and his little sister is PRICELESS, y'all.

  Jase's arm flexed around my waist, tugging me closer. He turned his head, nuzzling my neck.
  He yawned, a deep rousing sound that echoed through the room. "What's wrong, baby?"
  I was speechless.
  Every line in my brother's body tensed in a way that spelled big, mothertrucker kind of trouble.
  "Baby?"
  Jase stilled, but he didn't remove his arm as he pulled his face out of my neck. He looked toward the foot of the bed and exhaled slowly.
  There was a beat of silence and then Cam said, "What the fuck?"

Raphael and Michelangelo! The two most awesome turtles in NA are back. Well, not really back, but they are mentioned and it was so cute.
           
  "You have to babysit Michelangelo and Raphael this weekend."
  "The turtles?"
  She grinned as she nodded. "We're getting this one large habitat, so, you know, they can...I don't know, head bob at each other and Cam wanted to go to this movie, but I'm afraid they're going to kill each other."
  "So you want me to be like a turtle bouncer? Break them up if one of them gets out of hand?"
  Avery giggled. "Exactly."
 

 

The way Jase makes Teresa feel about herself is endearing and what every woman deserves.

 

Jase took a step back, his hands following to his sides. He opened and closed his fists. "Do you know how beautiful you are? How it affects me?" A pleasant haze invaded my system as my body and heart responded to his words. He slowly shook his head. "I don't think you really understand, because if you did, I don't think you could just stand there. God, Tess, there isn't a part of you that's not perfect in my eyes."

 

 

So many readers, myself included, crave New Adult books with substance. Be With Me, and the entire Wait For You series delivers on that substance. You get the prerequisite hot guy, the angst and the sexiness, but you also get remarkably strong heroines who may want the guy, but you know they will be okay without him too. There are strong themes that are relevant to the readers the books target and beyond. I love this series and recommend it with absolutely no reservations.

The Wait for You Series

    

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks

 

 

About the author

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website  |  Facebook |  Twitter  |  GoodReads

 

 

 

BLOG TOUR: NASH by JAY CROWNOVER

Series: Marked Men #4

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: 4/29/14
Format: eARC
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars

Will their past determine their future?

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down . . . and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?

After devouring the first three Marked Men novels, I was anxious to have more. My love for those books were such an unexpected surprise, setting me up with high expectations moving forward. I began Nash with a huge amount of anticipation.

There's a lot about Nash that I enjoyed. Nash is misunderstood non-bad boy who totally looks badass. He has tattoos everywhere, a ring through the bottom of his nose, multiple piercings elsewhere, and his head is shaved on the sides. All those might indicate to some he's trouble. I don't like that people think that way, have been personally treated that way myself, but there you have it. Beneath the badass facade is a guy who was treated horribly by his mom, was lied to about his father, and is held at arms length by the woman he wants.

In Saint, we get a heroine who is easy to identify with in that she doesn't have great self-esteem. Saint has a good job that she loves, but not a lot of friends. A past in which Nash badly hurt her feelings and other men have broken her trust has left her with huge trust issues. When Nash comes back into her life, those issues play a huge part in their story.  Though her reluctance was frustrating, I got her justification. As someone who doesn't easily give trust and openness in matters of the heart. I could relate to her a lot.

The two go through a large amount of push-and-pull, the "will they or won't they", not so much physically as emotionally. Surprisingly, it's not Nash who's reluctant, but Saint. Crownover does a great job of "selling" her couples. They all have individual issues, are put to the test, and come out strong. I had no problems buying Saint and Nash as a couple who could go the distance.

I loved getting more of the previous couples, especially Rule and Shaw. If you like those two, you'll love seeing them in Nash too. Rome and Cora also. I did like getting some Ayden, but Jet off being a star meant he wasn't really around and I missed him.

I'm not sure if I was just irritable or that I'm on point with this with particular tic, but...honestly? The talk of Nash's purple/lilac/indigo/periwinkle/Violet eyes in many, many scenes got a little old. I mean, I get that his eyes are spectacular and tell a lot about his moods, but I don't need it for every scene. Give me something else. I would also like one, just one, character with a common name. I mean, you don't have to go with "Roy" or "Debbie" (no offense to the Roys and Debbies out there!), but we can't all be Shaws and Aydens or Saint.

Okay.

Something about Nash didn't grab me quite as hard as the other installments, but I'm not quite sure what it is. It is a good story with a couple of great messages. This is a group of men who in some way, didn't fit in. With their parents, with "mainstream" society. In Marked, they found a place to belong. With Nash, we get the message of love. Deserving it, and accepting it. It was a beautiful message. I look forward to more of this great series.

Favorite Quote

  Nash Donovan was a beautiful, wicked, and hot flame that burned me when I got too close. He was just the first stop in a journey dotted by disappointment, but somewhere along the way I found my footing. My purpose. I just didn't know that as soon as I did, Nash would manage to turn my world upside down all over again, and only a fool gets burned twice by the same fire.

  "All I can see is you. Why can't you understand that? No one shines as bright as you in the sky I'm looking at. To me there is no sun, no moon, and no stars in the sky, just endless miles of storm clouds and pretty, pretty gray." 

The Marked Men Series

     

(covers lead to GoodReads)

Purchase Links

 Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Indie Bound

 Giveaway

About the author

I'm supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I'm an natural redhead even though I haven't seen my real hair color in years, I'm a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I've been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.

I love to write, love to read and all I'm interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads 

TEASER TUESDAY: NASH by JAY CROWNOVER

 

 Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

 

 

Series: Marked Men #4

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: 4/29/14

 

Will their past determine their future?

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down . . . and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?

 

 

 

My Teaser ~

  Nash Donovan was a beautiful, wicked, and hot flame that burned me when I got too close. He was just the first stop in a journey dotted by disappointment, but somewhere along the way I found my footing. My purpose. I just didn't know that as soon as I did, Nash would manage to turn my world upside down all over again, and only a fool gets burned twice by the same fire.

 

BLOG TOUR: ROME by JAY CROWNOVER ~ REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

(banner linked to tour schedule)

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Rome Blog Tour, hosted by Literati Author Services. My stop includes a review of Rome and tour-wide giveaway. You can also find my reviews (and giveaway) of the Marked Men series here.

Series: Marked Men #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 1/7/13
Format: ARC
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars

Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.

Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .

I have a book hangover, and I have no regrets. I set out to read the first half of Rome before bed, and every intention to follow through. The problem, this book was so great...so incredibly great....that I ended up "one-more-chaptering" and before I knew it, I had a finished book clutched to my chest and it was 3am. Sure, I was exhausted the next morning, all day, but when I have a book that will not let me go, a book that had me crying into my pillow as I read, white-knuckling the whole way through, it's best to not fight it. I was powerless against Rome and I am way okay with that.  

 

Rome surprised me, both the book and the man. Cora surprised me too. Their story surprised me in the very best way. I don't really feel that I had a particular path in mind for them, but I did in a way expect for a linear path for Rome and Cora. Well, I should have known better because their story was far from my presumptions, and I loved the windy and twisty path that led Rome and Cora to their happily ever after. It was sad. It was sweet. It was complicated. It was sexy and romantic.

 

Like the first two books in the series, Rome includes much page time with the entire Marked crew and their significant others. Rule and Shaw definitely played a huge part in Rome; Jet and Ayden were around a fair amount as well. All indications are good for Nash, Rowdy and Asa having wonderful stories to tell in the future, particularly Nash, since his book will be up next. With the lady who appears to have caught his eye and the bomb that's dropped near the end, Nash's book will clearly be heavy and spectacular. I can't even believe that Asa is now a part of the crew. I despised him so much in Jet, but sometimes the most infuriating and surprising characters have the best stories to tell.

 

Needless to say, I loved Rome. I love the Marked Men series. I can't wait to read the remaining books in the series. I am so so happy I gave the Marked Men a chance.

 

 

Favorite Quotes:

  "What did you call me?"
   "Captain No-Fun."
   He let out a chuckle that sounded rusty from lack of use and he shook his head at me."Staff Sergeant No-Fun is more accurate.
   I gaped a little in surprise that a sense of humor actually lurked somewhere under all that muscle and broodiness.
   "I call my dad 'Admiral Ass Hat, he doesn't really think it's funny."
  The scar on his forehead twitched again. "Your dad was in the navy?"
  "Oh yeah. He was totally Popeye."
  "Was he really an admiral?" There was a shade of respect in his tone.
  "Yep, so you can imagine how thrilled he was trying to rein me in when I was younger."
  He chuckled again and this time it didn't sound so much like it hurt him. His eyes glinted at me as he pulled the door open to follow Rule out into the Colorado sunshine.
  "I don't know, Half-Pint, something tells me reining you in is probably a pretty good time."


  "Because I'm freaked out that whatever I say might be the wrong thing. And right now, being with you is the one thing that feels solid and real... You're so full of color, so vibrant you never get lost in all the gray in my head. I don't want to lose that."

  Happiness wasn't something I remembered bright and clear, but this feeling, it was powerful enough that I understood why men went to war over it, fought to the death for it.
 

 

 

The Marked Men Series

 

   

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Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Indie Bound

GIVEAWAY 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

About the author

I'm supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I'm an natural redhead even though I haven't seen my real hair color in years, I'm a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I've been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.

I love to write, love to read and all I'm interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.

 

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads 

 

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: MARKED MEN SERIES by JAY CROWNOVER

Series: Marked Men #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 10/22/12
Format: Paperback
Pages: 339
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight-A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want—and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess—and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw—even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other. 

Boy, have I spent the last year missing out, or what? I bought Rule right after it released (due to a great review by my friend Rachel at Readers Den), but didn't get started right away because I'd heard that the writing needed some heavy editing. I just didn't want what could be a great story to be overshadowed by errors, ya know? Then, once Rule was picked up by a publisher, I heard that it had been cleaned up, and it rocked. At that point, though, I was on such an overload of NA romances featuring a good girl/bad boy that I didn't want what could be a great story to be overshadowed by my tiredness. The series kept going strong, I kept hearing good things. But then the publisher started sending me print copies of the series, and I decided to at least give this book that had been sitting quietly but not forgotten, on my to-read list, a chance.

Now I want to slap myself silly because I loved Rule. It took me very little time to realize that although the story seemed to hold the characteristics that have me wary of the sub-genre -- the tattooed bad boy, virgin heroine, the angst and drama of two opposites colliding -- and it did hold these characteristics, but something about Rule stands out. The story is not built on contrived trivialities and sex, drama and spinning in circles just to waste time. Rule is built on very, very strong characters with a complicated and tangled past. It is built on passion and pain. And it is built on a love worth fighting - and rooting- for.

I am so, so damn glad I finally gave this series a try. I highly recommend Rule for anyone who loves complicated, well-developed characters, and a strong story. I can see that Marked Men is going to be a new favorite series for me. Perfect for fans of Rock Me, by Cherie Lynn.




Favorite Quotes:

  I had the best sex of my life with a girl I had thought was way out of my league and in love with my dead brother. Yeah, Nash was probably right, if anybody could put up with all the crazy I was rocking I should probably lock her in quick because even I could see how seriously screwed up I am.


  I kissed her. I kissed her so that she could feely regret, my desire to do right, the way that she had a piece of me now and I wasn't letting go. I kissed her because I had to and kissing her made me feel better.


  "What if I ask you to give me everything, Shaw? What if I want it all? Won't that make me just like all the rest of them?"
  She made a noise in her throat and then broke into a smile that nearly killed me on the spot. She was just so lovely and pure. "No, because you don't have to ask for anything. All of it is already yours. You're the only one I've ever wanted to give it to."



Series: Marked Men #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 5/28/13
Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 stars

With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.

Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.

Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes?

And....my love affair/obsession with the Marked Men series has been continued with Jet. Let me rephrase, my love affair/obsession with the Marked Men series has grown by leaps and bounds with the second installment, Jet, and has turned me into a super happy camper.

This book had a lot of potential. Having already established Jet and Ayden in the first book, and knowing that a raging chemistry was ready to explode and consume both, it was no task at all to happily dive into this book. Jet and Ayden were even better than I anticipated. They both have pasts that contribute to the turmoil of their present, and even though they each seemed resigned to their "doom", I never felt as if they were defined by it. At times Jet and Ayden even seemed consumed by their fears, but it never felt contrived. Did they always do or say or feel like I wanted them to? Not a chance. But I always understood their motivations, even when I didn't like the outcome.

I'm not going to recap every little detail about Jet; I always think the story is better left for readers to discover on their own. But I want to briefly point out how much I love Jay Crownover's storytelling. Not only does she write a compelling story, but she creates truly dynamic characters. Her character development is outstanding, a true attribute. It's clear she lives and breathes her characters and their lives, and because she does that, we readers get that privilege as well.

Jet really gives the readers a chance to not only know Jet and Ayden better, but also Nash, Rowdy and Cora. I was also happy that we get more of Rule and Shaw and how their life is changing. It's no secret that the next book in the series, Rome, features Cora. Having gotten to know her more in Jet, I am so excited for this. Rome was a big part of Rule, and all indications are that he doesn't appear to be the same nice and supportive guy we met in that book. I have a feeling that Cora, in all her wicked sweet glory, will be the perfect match for Rome.


Favorite Quotes:

  There was Ayden Cross, nobody, from Woodward, Kentucky, and Ayden Cross, chemistry major, from Denver, Colorado. They were two parts of the whole and at times I thought one was going to smother the other and there would be nothing left but ash and bad memories.


  By the time my brain reengaged, he was starting to pull away, but now that seal had been broken there was no stopping the flood. Desire blazed first and foremost, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, keeping him right where he was. He tasted like whiskey and the sweetest type of sin there was.


  I wanted to turn around, wanted to put my arms around her, but letting her hold on to me, letting her put me back together was what I needed right now. So I just kept my eyes closed and stretched my hands out to brace myself against the wall. I couldn't see my mom's battered face anymore or feel my dad's face break under my hands. All that mattered was Ayden, and that she could make it right, make me right.


  "He makes me smile just by being in the same room. When he touches me, I forget to breathe and when he sings to me, oh my Lord, when he sings to me there are no words to describe what that does to me.
.... I might be in love with him, but I can't be, because I'm not willing to be the one who destroys him."


  "Jet Keller, I love you, and there is no future for me without you in it. I'm never going to bed with a man who isn't you again. I don't care if you're a rock star or a car salesman, I just want there to be a 'you and me' forever. "

 

Series: Marked Men #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 1/7/13
Format: ARC
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars

Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.

Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .

I have a book hangover, and I have no regrets. I set out to read the first half of Rome before bed, and every intention to follow through. The problem, this book was so great...so incredibly great....that I ended up "one-more-chaptering" and before I knew it, I had a finished book clutched to my chest and it was 3am. Sure, I was exhausted the next morning, all day, but when I have a book that will not let me go, a book that had me crying into my pillow as I read, white-knuckling the whole way through, it's best to not fight it. I was powerless against Rome and I am way okay with that.  

 

Rome surprised me, both the book and the man. Cora surprised me too. Their story surprised me in the very best way. I don't really feel that I had a particular path in mind for them, but I did in a way expect for a linear path for Rome and Cora. Well, I should have known better because their story was far from my presumptions, and I loved the windy and twisty path that led Rome and Cora to their happily ever after. It was sad. It was sweet. It was complicated. It was sexy and romantic.

 

Like the first two books in the series, Rome includes much page time with the entire Marked crew and their significant others. Rule and Shaw definitely played a huge part in Rome; Jet and Ayden were around a fair amount as well. All indications are good for Nash, Rowdy and Asa having wonderful stories to tell in the future, particularly Nash, since his book will be up next. With the lady who appears to have caught his eye and the bomb that's dropped near the end, Nash's book will clearly be heavy and spectacular. I can't even believe that Asa is now a part of the crew. I despised him so much in Jet, but sometimes the most infuriating and surprising characters have the best stories to tell.

 

Needless to say, I loved Rome. I love the Marked Men series. I can't wait to read the remaining books in the series. I am so so happy I gave the Marked Men a chance.

 

 

Favorite Quotes:

  "What did you call me?"
   "Captain No-Fun."
   He let out a chuckle that sounded rusty from lack of use and he shook his head at me."Staff Sergeant No-Fun is more accurate.
   I gaped a little in surprise that a sense of humor actually lurked somewhere under all that muscle and broodiness.
   "I call my dad 'Admiral Ass Hat, he doesn't really think it's funny."
  The scar on his forehead twitched again. "Your dad was in the navy?"
  "Oh yeah. He was totally Popeye."
  "Was he really an admiral?" There was a shade of respect in his tone.
  "Yep, so you can imagine how thrilled he was trying to rein me in when I was younger."
  He chuckled again and this time it didn't sound so much like it hurt him. His eyes glinted at me as he pulled the door open to follow Rule out into the Colorado sunshine.
  "I don't know, Half-Pint, something tells me reining you in is probably a pretty good time."


  "Because I'm freaked out that whatever I say might be the wrong thing. And right now, being with you is the one thing that feels solid and real... You're so full of color, so vibrant you never get lost in all the gray in my head. I don't want to lose that."

  Happiness wasn't something I remembered bright and clear, but this feeling, it was powerful enough that I understood why men went to war over it, fought to the death for it.
 

 

 

The Marked Men Series

 

   

(covers lead to GoodReads)

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

I have the entire Marked Men series to give away, courtesy of the publisher!
Open US only. Must be 18+ years of age to enter.

 

 

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About the author

I'm supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I'm an natural redhead even though I haven't seen my real hair color in years, I'm a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I've been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.

I love to write, love to read and all I'm interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.
 

 

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REVIEW: TRUST IN ME by J. LYNN

Series: Wait for You #1.5

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: 10/22/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 stars



It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it.Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story.

Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery's life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?

First Impression .... I'm not usually interested in alternate point-of-view stories. But I do love Cam....

The Story... Wait For You was Avery's story of courage, trust, and falling in love with a boy who gave her friendship, a turtle, and cookies. Trust in Me is the story through Cam's eyes. But, Trust in Me is not a simple rehash of the original story. Cam's book provides a lot of insights into why he was so willing to wait for Avery; how and why he wanted to earn her trust. 

The Characters ...As I mentioned, I loved Cam lots. Now I adore that super sweetheart even more. Nothing is sweeter than seeing a boy fall seriously in love. Cam also renewed my appreciation for the good guy. He was funny,  patient, and just such a good guy. As for Avery, I actually enjoyed her more in this book. Seeing her vulnerability through Cam's eyes endeared her more to me.

 Besides Avery and Cam, Trust in Me features Ollie and Jase quite a lot. These dudes were so much fun, and I always welcome an excellent Bromance.

The Writing .... As always, J. Lynn/Armentrout's writing is deliciously fun. I love, love the snark, the sarcasm, and the humor. I also enjoyed the pace of the story now, more than I find in Wait For You. When I read that book, I felt like the pace trudged along a fair amount. And maybe I would still think that if I re-read. But in the time since I read Wait For You, I have read many, many books in the same vein, books that rushed or brushed over the topic of sexual trauma. One thing I've learned is, I would rather an author take the time to handle this in the manner it deserves, than rush. Or indicate that the best healing is sexual healing. Blech. J. Lynn did Avery's story justice. I and many other readers appreciate this more than we can say.

Could I Put Trust in Me Down? .... I'm actually surprised at how much I did NOT want to put this story down. I'm not a big on re-reading books, or re-watching movies, except for my very favorites. And though I knew exactly where and how the story would end, getting there was a great ride.

In the End... I adored Trust In Me. I found it to be surprisingly fresh - considering the story- and completely charming. This story renewed my appreciation for this series, and has me very excited to continue.
 

Favorite Quotes:

  One look at Ollie's creased forehead told me he was racking his brain for what he did. I sighed. "You really need to lay off the pot."
  "If I've heard that once, I've heard that a million times, but Mary Jane loves me, and she's the only girl I love."  


  In that moment, I realized I was seeing a very different side of Avery. One I'd never seen before, where she was lively and carefree, and fucking perfect.
  "I'm going to marry that girl one day," I heard myself say.
  Jase chocked on his beer and bent over, dragging in deep breaths. "Holy shit."
  I grinned.

 

Wait For You Series

 

Purchase Trust in Me

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About the author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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COVER REVEAL AND GIVEAWAY: A LITTLE TOO HOT by LISA DESROCHERS

I am very excited to be participating in the cover reveal for A Little Too Hot, by Lisa Desrochers. I was unable to post with the big reveal yesterday, but better late than never, yeah?

 

Check it out...

 

 

 

Series: A Little Too Far #3

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: William Morrow/Harper Collins

Publication Date: 1/21/14

 

From USA Today bestselling author Lisa Desrochers, comes the third book in her sizzling New Adult series.

If you play with fire…

Tossed out of college and cut off by her parents, Samantha West is in pretty dire straits. So when her rocker best friend hooks her up with a job dancing at a gentlemen’s club, who is she to turn it down? Plus, there are rules to dancing at Benny’s: No touching, keep your clothes on at all times, and never get closer than three feet. Unfortunately for Sam, her first private client makes her want to break every single one of them.

Harrison Yates is scorching hot, but he’s got a past that involves being left at the altar not too long ago. Sam is determined to make him forget about his ex, but when she makes her move, it flings her life into a spiral of chaos she never saw coming.

Because Harrison Yates isn’t who he seems to be. And his secret will probably get her killed.

 

 

A Little Too Far Series 

 

  

 (cover leads to GoodReads)

 

 

My Review of A Little Too Far

 

My Review of A Little Too Much

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

Lisa Desrochers lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Look for her New Adult novel, A LITTLE TOO FAR , courtesy of HarperCollins Sept 2013, and the first companion, A LITTLE TOO MUCH , in Nov 2013. Also in stores is her YA PERSONAL DEMONS trilogy (Macmillan).

 

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