Storms Over Secrets by J.A. DeRouen Review

Jena: 4.75 Stars

Sanzana: 

Promises are lies dressed up for the party.

Secrets poison the fairest of fairy tales.

Lies stain the purest of loves.

I’ve paid the ultimate price for my choices. The tendrils of those sins bind me to my past. The remnants of my love hold me captive.

Then he walks into my life, and makes me believe in second chances. He awakens feelings in me I know I shouldn’t have. I yearn for a future without guilt. With him, I dream of a love untainted.

Regret is a far-reaching emotion. It barrels through time like a blazing comet, and its path isn’t always straight. No matter what I feel, I cannot bring myself to regret the time I’ve spent with Cain.

But it doesn’t mean I can have him.

My name is Celia Lemaire and this is my story of broken promises.

Storms Over Secrets is the third book in The Over Series, a group of interconnected standalone novels.

Jena's Review: 

          "Promises will be the death of me; this is the one truth I know with complete and utter certainty. I drop my head to the table and touch my forehead to our clasped hands. “I promise,” I whisper."

     Here is another book from J.A. Derouen that will go down as an amazing read. She has this way of writing a book that you know you will love, but manages to throw in those twist and turns that keep pulling you in deep for more. I think the thing I loved most about this book was the constant guess of how it will end. How can it end in a way that doesn't destroy you. And isn't that the point of the book? Isn't that what J.A. is trying to portray with Celia? Well, mission accomplished. And I won't give anything away, so I'll stop there with that line of thought. Just know that this book delivers on what is promised. 

     Now, I was a little worried about reading this book because I LOVE Wings Over Poppies and West is my number one man .... and it's still my favorite ... but dear god, did I love Cain. Oh man ... if I love West for his dark and broody ways, I love Cain for his light and loving ways. I can't think of many male MC that I have read similar to Cain. He is unique in his resilience and downright stubbornness, mixed with his deep caring of everyone. I love that man. He is both extremely sexy and manages to make jokes in every situation without taking away from the sexiness. That was probably my favorite part of the whole book. Just watching the interacting of Celia and Cain; of reading about Cain. 

          "But there are moments that have marked my life—where an overwhelming sense of clarity washes over me, and a new sense of purpose arises. Like the click of a kaleidoscope bringing everything into focus, or veins of water running down a window to leave a clear pane of glass, these flashes make the pieces of my life fall firmly into place. This … right here and now … is one of those moments. “Remembering? Feeling loss? It’s a normal part of the human condition. I think grieving can be a way for us to stay connected to the ones we’ve lost. Do you know what else is part of the human condition?” A slight head tilt is the only answer she gives me. “Living, Celia. Even in the face of unimaginable loss, it’s okay to live.” - Cain 

   I love Celia also. I don't think i got a good feel for who she was in the other books and I was so excited to get to know her better in this book. She is so strong and just as sweet as Cain. I really just love the two of these characters together. This story was different in a way that was great. It wasn't typical and it just felt good. I'm rambling and I know I haven't told you much about the story, but I don't want to give anything away .. Just know that the characters are amazing and you will fall in love with them. And the story is awesome! 

          “There is nothing in this world I want more than to be buried deep inside you. Not. One. Thing. But when I take you, I want to know I’m all you see. No memories, no regrets, no one but you and me. I want you to be all mine, Celia, and when you can do that, that’s when you get all of me. Okay?” - Cain

    So why not a full five stars? The romance was a little lacking in the beginning. I felt their friendship grow, but I think that friendship was supposed to be more of a relationship. So when they got together, I will still stuck in a friendship thoughts and not mentally prepared for the depth of their relationship.  But that's okay because I got caught up really quick. One more quick thing about this book. I don't think I have ever... EVER ... read a book that made me FEEL the longing between two characters better than I did in this book. Good gawd! It was palpable and I loved the amount of emotion evoked from me as a reader. 

          "He’s not my type, like at all, but he’s got his own swagger, ya know? He’s all ‘Oh, I’m so tall. Look at my ginormous green bean,’” Marlo mimics in a deep, husky voice while grabbing her crotch." - Marlo

    Finally, I am dying for Marlo's story. I have been wanting her story since Hope Over Fear. I can't freaking wait! Don't miss out on all her other books and get caught up. J.A. Derouen writes in a way I love and keeps me hanging on for more. Enjoy!

Sanzana's Review:

Coming Soon!

More than Water by Renee Ericson Review

 5 Stars

It doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel wrong. It just...feels.

EJ Cunning, an art history major, dates musicians. Foster Blake, a chemical engineering major, can’t sing a tune. They’re not each other’s type. They’re coworkers.

Then, one night leads to sex—sex between friends—which leads to an agreement. It all seems so simple—but nothing ever is.

Many layers build a person’s facade.

Look into the depths for what’s hidden within.

It’s more than water. It’s a story—a living and breathing substance beyond the reflective surface.

We are a substance of our own design. We’re more than water. We’re more than fire. We’re a miracle, a living and breathing combination, with no formula to define

I love this book. I love this author and I have been dying for this book. I loved her last series, These Days. So when I heard about this book, I started a countdown. I have to admit I am a die hard fan of college romances, but the problem is that there are so many that it becomes hard to find the really good ones. This book is one of the best ones. Because as much as I love simple college romances with the bad boy, I LOVE the ones that have some depth to them as well. This book has a realism about it and characters with depth.

Foster is a bad boy .. in his own way. So he's not some bad boy that you would think. But it still satisfies that itch that only one girl can fix him type way. And he is a Chemistry major. I majored in Chemistry and Biology in college so this book hit all my good points with its geeky humor. His group of friends are perfect and I could picture every single one.

EJ is awesome. She is strong and bold and trying to find her way in the world to satisfy herself as well as those around her. I think we all struggle with what we want and what expectations we have upon us.

When both of our panting returns to a more measured rate, he collapses onto the bed next to me, where we lie side by side, staring at the stark ceiling above. Out of nowhere, he positions his palm about a foot away from my face. “What?” I ask, winded.

“High five?” 

Slapping my hand with his, I say, “That definitely deserves one.”

I think what I loved most about this book was the chemistry between these two. It had the most perfect humor and build up and ... and ... it was just perfect. I loved them. I really can't come up with words about everything I loved about their relationship. 

If you haven't read this book, then you need to NOW. If you haven't read this author then FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!! She was one of my top reads in 2014 and I have no doubt she will be again for 2015. I can't wait for whatever she comes up with next!!

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Behind Your Back by Chelsea M. Cameron Review

4 Stars

To get to him, I need to use her.
I’ll play her like a violin and have her falling in love with me before she even knows what’s happening.
It will be easy. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.
She’s just a girl.
A tool to get what I want.
When I’m done with her I won’t think twice about walking away.
At least, that was what I thought.
Until I met her

          With every step, little bits of my heart break off and drop behind me. I’m leaving a lot of pieces of me behind here. I don’t think I’m ever going to get them back.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so unassuming in how it sucked you in. I think what I loved most was that you think you have these assumptions about these characters; you think you know who they are and if they are a good or bad. Then as more and more of the story is unveiled it starts making you question what you know. I didn't love this book at the beginning, but as I read on, it built my curiosity more and more and by the end I was dying for Back to Back ... which wasn't out yet .. so here I am not having read it yet. I plan to remedy that. 

          “No, I don’t think I do. There’s a lot to you, Quinn. I can feel it. You’re like a pond where the surface appears calm, but you don’t know how deep it is until you dive in and start to let yourself drown.” I could say the same about her.

This review is pretty short. But I think above sums it up perfectly. Overall the side characters were great. I REALLY liked the build of and growth of the relationship between Quinn/Sylas and Saige. It was serious and deep and made me feel Quinn's loss at the end. Looking back at what I've highlighted while reading makes me that much more excited to read the conclusion! 

I recommend the book if you're looking for something a little bit different! Enjoy!

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Desertion by River Savage Review

4.5 Stars

 Honor.

Courage.

Commitment.

Three things Jesse Carter has lost. A former Marine, Jesse used to stand proud of his achievements and live by the code. But when circumstance made him question everything he believed in, those most basic values didn't feel so important after all.

Sex.

Lies.

Knights Rebels.

Three things Jesse Carter has found. Reborn into a brotherhood not so different from the one he left behind, Jesse finds it all too easy to block out his past and claim the role as Rebels' fun-loving player.

Until he meets Bell.

Shy, awkward, and with troubles of her own, Bell Johnson's no stranger to hiding her pain. When Jesse forces himself into her life, she's at risk of her defences crumbling.

Does Bell have the strength to survive Jesse and his demons or is she fated to become another casualty in the self-destruction of Jesse Carter?

           Out of everyone in my life, she was the one who brought me peace. She was the one who constantly tried to help me move past it.

   This book .... This book is a reminder for why I love reading books. More than just a way to pass the time or anything else. This book spoke to me at a time I needed some help. I went into this book expecting another great book by River Savage. I had some preconceived notions about Jessie and what his story would be, and it was there. But the book was phenomenal. And maybe it was because of where I was in my life in those moments I read this book, but no matter what I devoured this book looking for the answers at the end. 

   So Jessie .... I have been looking forward to his book and I loved it. I loved him. He was fun and we hear about his past with the military but really we see so much more to him and we see that the military experience was just the tip of the iceburg. I think the main them of this whole book was for Jessie to find peace, for Bell to find peace. It was a phenomenal message. 

          “You’re right but, son, you deserve peace. Forgiveness isn’t about the person asking to be forgiven; it’s about allowing yourself permission to stop hurting. Walking around with this much hatred in your life isn’t going to go away when he dies, Jesse. What he did to you, to me, to our family, it will always be with us, but you need to separate the ugliness growing inside of you before it takes over. Don’t you want peace for yourself?”

   This quote ... Jesus!! I just can't handle it. I desperately read to the end of this book to figure out how Jessie finds his peace and figures out what to do. I just came home from a place that asked me for forgiveness that I didn't feel like I could give. But all I want is peace. Isn't that what we all want. I almost broke down reading this book. It's so good and so perfect and so relateable.

   Gosh, I've barely covered all the other characters. I liked Bell. She was cute and a consistent character. I've read a lot of inconsistencies among characters lately ... so this was a nice change of events! I got really, really frustrated with her at the end, but understood also. I frankly just wanted her to give in and get it over with. It was fun to see all the characters and get caught up with them. It ran in line with Reclaimed. You don't HAVE to read books in order, but I highly suggest it. 

          Your worth is conditional on nothing.

So, I don't know what you're doing still reading this book... GO! Go buy it ... buy the whole series. It's one of my favorite MC books and I LOVE it! Enjoy!!

Amazon  ~ Goodreads

Dangerous Desire by Sebastian Ex Reivew

4 Stars

My name is Brandon Edwards. Men like me don’t come along often. I'm a gentleman, a lover, a protector, and a Dominant. I've never been the type who can – or even wants to – commit to a woman…until I met Penny a couple of years ago. Since then, we've been in a committed relationship. I adore and cherish her.

Penny has a darkness inside her, a yearning for extreme pain. But I don’t want that for her, nor can I give her what she’s so desperate for. Her craving has led her down risky paths, and it’s my job to keep her off those now.

There’s a dangerous desire lurking within all of us. But when does wanting more become too much?

“Strength comes from within. We aren’t shown it; we aren’t taught it. Some of us seek it, some of us need it, but all of us have it. And it’s times like this that make you dig deep for your own strength.”

This was another great book from Sebastian Ex. The first book was about Matthew and it really surprised me how much i loved that book by the end. This one was different all together, but that is because Brandon is different all together. I think the quote above covers who he is pretty well. He is the softer side to the duo. And while Matthew has his softer side, it took us a while to see it. Brandon was sweet right off the bat. 

At first I hadn't read the synopsis in a while so I started the book off not really knowing what was going on. It was a difference experience and one I enjoyed. Who was he going to be with? It made the progression between him and Penny so much more realistic. I really enjoyed watching their relationship. It was a steamy book, but also very tame. 

Penny was a great character I enjoyed. She was a strong woman who knew what she wanted out of life. I really enjoyed reading back about her past and her discovery of becoming a submissive. I love how she accepted who she was. I loved how Brandon did what he needed to to take care of her.  

Once again this book was written in a male POV and I liked hearing from Brandon. There was one off chapter from Penny's POV which threw me off, but not enouhg to really bother me. 

Overall, the book was a quick fun read with a good amount of tension. I'm really keeping my eye out for what Sebastian has coming out next! Enjoy!

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Light Me Up by Karla Sorensen Review

3.5 Stars

For Rachel Hennessy, it’s been an interesting six months. Boyfriend? Cheated on her. Job? She totally just got fired. Starting her own wedding planning business sounds exciting … in theory. In reality, it’s completely terrifying. And on top of all that, the freaking cherry right on top? She just had an ill-timed, alcohol-instigated one-night stand with her bff Casey’s brother, Tate. Yeah, that Tate. The one that she’s had a teensy, inconvenient crush on for years. 

But nothing about it is ill-timed or inconvenient for Tate Steadman. Because he finally feels free. Free of the oppressive relationship he’d been in for the past six years. Free to pursue Rachel, because one alcohol-fueled night was not even close to enough for him. He just wished she saw it that way. Because she makes him want more than he ever knew he was capable of. 

When their one night has unexpected consequences, Rachel has no clue how to trust that he’s not just trying to be ‘the good guy’ who wants to do ‘the right thing’. And even though the chemistry between them practically burns down an entire city block when they’re together, she doesn’t know how to let down the concrete wall she’s built up around herself. 

The ‘mistake’ of one evening can change the trajectory of two lives, but maybe a mistake is all they really need to push them right into true love.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Light Me Up is a 90k word humorous contemporary romance with a moderate heat level, and is second in a series of standalones.

          "The only time in my life that I have felt like I am being set on fire from the inside out is when I'm with you. And that is what I want, forever."

    This is my first book by Karla Sorensen and I'm not at all disappointed. It's book two in the Three Little Words series, but I haven't read one and I was still OK ... but I hear you should read one because it's so good, so I'm sure I will go back for it.

   I think I had the biggest love/hate with this book. In the best and worst way. I loved the characters. I REALLY loved Tate. I love his devotion and they way he wouldn't give up. But he wasn't unrealistic because he still lost his temper in an argument. At times I felt bad for him because it almost seemed impossible. But mostly I just wanted to jump his bones. LOL!!

   I also loved Rachel, she was ballsy and funny and brass and bold. She was a real character and I just enjoyed her. She made me laugh at loud more times than I can count. But HOT DAMN!!! She is stubborn. I wanted to slap her in the face more often than not. Here comes the love/hate. LOL. But the thing is, I think Karla wrote her that way because just when you are ready to give up on her, she admits her weaknesses and her stubbornness. She KNOWS what's going on. So it kind of makes it ok.

   However, there were times where I just forgot WHY she was so stubborn. She would get all worked up and say she couldn't be with him and ... I just couldn't remember why. I think I wish the reason was made to be a bigger deal than it was so it played a more prevalent role in the book and made Rachel's actions more acceptable.

   Otherwise, the book was good. It was an easy, quick read. The side characters were fun and made sense and I look forward to the next book. Hell, I look forward to the first one. I'm actually pretty excited about Casey. I think I connected with her on a personal level about shoes. Haha!! Don't miss out on these books!

Amazon: Light Me Up ~ Amazon: By Your Side

Heartfelt Lies by Kristy Love Review

3.5 Stars

Loving Cassie was effortless.
She was a thirst I couldn’t quench. 

She was everything I needed, but nothing I deserved.
I failed her more times than I could count.

I lied relentlessly.
And she always forgave me.

Until she couldn’t.

Maybe I deserved to be left behind.

* * * 

Jax swept me off my feet with his disheveled hair and his easy smile. 
I loved him fiercely. 
He made me believe in the fairytale. 

Then the walls crumbled around me.
The lies never ended.
I left him behind. I had no choice.
I mourned the loss of him.

But I moved on.
I created a new life,
Now, I was marrying someone else.

Where do we go now that he’s back?

"I hated all the lies and they were eating me alive. Guilt and lies seemed to be my currency." - Jax

     I struggled with what to rate this book because there are things I love about and there were things that just didn't flow with me. I was with this book for the first 50%. I loved it. I sat here on pins and needles waiting to see how everything would progress and I couldn't wait. And maybe that is where I went wrong. I built it up too high. Because overall, it wasn't bad. It was good. It was just quick. Moments I wanted to be stretched out happened so quickly. Tension I wanted to feel, didn't happen. A lot of the issues had quick resolution. 

   Also, it might be a personal thing, but I hate when a character goes back and forth on a decision. And Cassie just couldn't make up her mind with Jax. I started to feel bad for Jax because I just didn't know what the hell Cassie was doing stringing him along. I would rather have a big moment with a lot of tension that all this flip-flopping. But, I think the author, Kristy Love, did it on purpose. Because Cassie saw it happening. Jax saw it happening. Even Cassie's sister, Roxie, called her out on it. 

" I will not leave you fucking alone. I'm here to stage a stench intervention, Cassie. Your lazy ass is getting out of bed and getting a shower. The, you and I are going to get lunch and you are going to tell me why you are being such a fucking twat." - Roxie

   Let's just take a moment to talk about my love of Roxie. I did love all the characters of this book, but Roxie was hilarious and ballsy. She was an epic supporting character. And I did like all the characters. Cassie was a woman you could enjoy. She wasn't weak and she wasn't a pushover. I think that was why I was so disappointed in her lack of decision making. Then there was Jax. This was really his story. His struggle from his youth and his recovery as an adult. He was a great character and I liked reading his story. 

"There was no end to is. I was in a cycle of fucked up and I couldn't break free." - Jax

   Sometimes there are books that you are reading and you know it is going to change your outlook on how you view something. It is going to give you a better understanding of life in general. I can count on one hand how many books have done that for me. And this one is added to that list. I think to be able to read a book about someone's slow decent into a horrible time, it gives you a better understanding. And that is what we got from this book. We even got a better understanding of being a loved one trying to support someone. From both Jax's and Cassie's situations. It was such an enlightening book. 

   So I left my rating at 3.5 stars. I would still recommend this book to people and it was a book I happy to have read. It was a book I finished after a long line of DNFs, so that alone makes me happy. Make sure to grab your copy now. ENJOY!

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven Review

Jena: 4.75

 Sanzana: 4.5

How do you fix a love that’s been broken beyond repair?

For years, Cassie Taylor tried to forget about Ethan Holt. He was the one great love of her life, and when he failed to return her love, a part of her died forever. Or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he’s determined to win her back. Claiming to be a changed man, he’s finally able to say all the things she needed to hear years ago, but can she believe him? What makes this time different from all his other broken promises?

Ethan knows he can’t change their tumultuous past, but if he’s going to have any chance of being with the woman he loves, he’ll need to convince Cassie that her future belongs with him. 

Don’t miss this stunning conclusion to the unforgettable love story that captivated over two million fans online

Jena's Review

What do you do when you see someone you love unraveling? 

Do you try to stop it? 

Of course.

    Sexual Tension .... I really feel like I could write that as my review and that would be enough to explain this book. But I'm way too long winded for that! But seriously, this book had so much sexual tension. SOOOOOO Much!! And it was done perfectly and I loved every freaking second of it. 

   I feel like I had been waiting for Broken Juliet forever. Especially after that no so horrible cliffhanger in Bad Romeo. It was so good and I have been dying to figure out what the hell Ethan did to Cassie in the end. But reading through this story I really didn't care. There was so much story to be told for them. I don't think I've read too many books that have this important fact that is hinted at and makes me die to know, but at the same time not feeling so taunted by it that I want to skip the story to read it. I needed to devour every single morsel that Leisa Rayven had delivered to us in this story. 

   We get to see all the characters from the first book and we get to see the complete transformation of Cassie from pre-Ethan to the present time Cassie. I've not seen a better transition occur right before my eyes. I believe every single bit and reason as to why Cassie changed to a jaded, smoking, swearing woman. The transition from their earlier years to the present works great and flows seamlessly. I'm honestly not sure which story I enjoy more. I really just love it all. 

          He stops kissing and wraps around me, and I bury myself in him, my face in his neck. We just stand there for a while. Breathing each other in. Being. Still not fixed, but far less broken.

   Like I said, the sexual tension in this book is amazing. I could FEEEEL it. Even when the sex was happening in the past I could still FEEL the tension between them. I could feel it in the end too. And when those sexual encounters happened ... Whew!! ... They were hot, and explosive. God!! I could read this book again for the chemistry between Cassie and Ethan. 

          “Loving you,” he says, “is the stupidest, most selfish thing I’ve ever done, but I can’t stop. God knows, I’ve tried.”

   I really loved Ethan's transformation, too. We definitely get so see what happened to him and get a full explantion. And in the end we get this perfect couple who has met in the middle of new and old. I loved their story. Leisa did an amazing job of writing and at times it was just so freaking poetic! I don't think there are any other books that I highlighted more. I felt like I was highlighting the whole damn thing! The only negative is I wish I had a more thorough recap of the ending of Bad Romeo. I would get hints every now and then, but I feel like I would have had a better understanding of present Ethan and Cassie if I had a recap of the letter Ethan sent and where we left off. Other than, pure perfection!

   Don't miss out on this excited sequel and perfect ending to Bad Romeo. Now excuse me while I go die waiting for next story by Leisa!! Enjoy!!!

BONUS SNIPPET

     “You think I don’t love you?” he says as he steps away from the wall and draws up to his full height. “If I didn’t, do you think I’d be in hell right now? You think I like feeling like this? Like pushing you away isn’t ripping out parts of me? Fuck, Cassie, I know the right thing to do is to leave you alone. But when I think about doing that, it…” He grips his chest. “It fucking hurts. And I’m so sick of hurting. I thought you could make it better, but you only made it worse.” Everything he’s feeling is on his face. He can barely look me in the eyes, and it makes mine sting with tears. “You want me to say it? Yes, I love you. But you have no idea how many times I’ve wished I didn’t.”

Sanzana's Review

Hey, Jena. Remember when we were reading Bad Romeo and we got to the end of the book on our kindles, only we could swipe anymore since we had reached such an abrupt end? Yeah, I remember that. I remember how agonizing and frustrating it was.

Kind of like Broken Juliet. That. Fucking. Angst. Holy damn, the sexual tension is tooo much, too much I tell you for anyone to handle. That is the summary of this book. Angst and sexual tension mixed together to make a butt-load of emotions and two confused characters who are hurt, but are madly and deeply in love with each other. And no periods, or commas there, because it truly is a rush. A good rush, I guess.

Leisa, god, this woman just knows how to speak words and embed them in your head. She knows how to make your heart leap out, groan in frustration, and make your eyes flood with tears. Writers sorcery I tell you. Needless to say, I enjoyed this book, I want everyone I know to read it...well, those that can handle this book, that is. 

I remember a little chat I had with Leisa about her last book and I asked her if she really did type "I love you" 1000 times. Unlike Ethan, she didn't (universal computer shortcut...copy & paste). But that does not make her a bad person. Her books make up for it. ;)

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Bad Romeo Amazon ~ Bad Romeo Dual Review