Title: Sing Your Heart Out (Sinful Serenade #1)
Author: Crystal Kaswell
Publisher: (Fall 2015)
Genres: New Adult, Romance
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Good girls don’t date rockstars.

They certainly don’t take rock stars as fuck buddies.

Still a virgin at 21, Meg Smart walks a straight and narrow path. She aces her classes, excels at her part time job, and carefully avoids the black hole that is mourning her sister. There’s no room in her life for trouble–no drinks, no drugs, and especially no boyfriends.

Fine with Miles.

Rock star Miles Webb doesn’t do boyfriend. He doesn’t do intimacy, or love, or anything that isn’t effortless and casual. The only time the singer reveals himself is on stage. His gorgeous, tortured voice hints at the kind of unspeakable pain Meg understands all too well. Only the second he steps off stage he transforms into a cocky, know-it-all player.

Their chemistry is red-hot. He’s tattooed, tall, and totally irresistible. She can’t handle a one-night stand, and a relationship is totally out of the question.

That only leaves one option:

Friends with benefits.

Just sex. Just fun.

No secrets, no feelings, no falling in love.

Only neither one of them can quite abide by the terms.

Review: 3 Stars - Sing Your Heart Out is the first in the Sinful Serenade series from author Crystal Kaswell. The series itself follows band members from the band – Sinful Serenade and their lives as they navigate the limelight that comes with fame.

Since this is the beginning of the series, we’ve had a chance to meet each of the band members and learn a bit about them. Nothing too much to really know what makes them tick, but enough to know who they are and a bit of who they might be in the books to follow. And this time our two main characters are Miles, lead singer and Meg a college senior who’s looking to apply to medical school.

So, one of the main things I love about this book is that each of these characters are hurting. They have issues and secrets they are holding close and deep inside that make them both feel human and relatable. It’s because the issues they are facing are honest and some that many of us will be able to understand on a deeper level. I know I did.

Each of the characters had so much to give yet were hiding behind their pain and issues that they weren’t honest with each other, their friends and themselves. Again, this is something that makes them relatable since sometimes throughout or lives we aren’t honest with the things that happen to us. Mainly because we don’t want to face what’s happening or maybe it’s more we don’t know how to deal with things.

We have two characters that are looking for things in their lives and things they are so set against being ready for. So through the journey we watch like a fly on the wall as you feel for them, and it did without a doubt affect me. My heart broke for these two more than once and I hated the pain they were facing.

However, there are some parts of the story that could have used work. It was more that it felt flat and not as even as it could have been compared to other parts. I wish the story had been a bit more fluid and while I felt so much for these characters there times that this “off-ness” bled over into the characters making them feel like completely different people from who they were just pages prior. Not to be confused with character growth, which also happened, but what I’m mentioning is something completely different.

In the end I did enjoy it, a 3 star is still a good rating to me and tends to mean that if there’s a sequel I’m ready to read more, which is the case for me and this series. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next and having a chance to get update(s) on both Meg and Miles to see where they are down the road in their lives and relationship.

Fans of contemporary titles and characters that are in a band, you should give this a try. Not sure when the next in the series will be released but I know I’ll be on the look out to find out which band member we’ll be following and what will happen within Soulful Serenade next. This is without a doubt a “New Adult”/Adult title due to language, drinking, sexual situations and more, so please keep that in mind when purchasing and reading. Enjoy!

About the Author:

Crystal Kaswell writes steamy new adult and erotic romance books. She loves when flawed characters fall head over heels for each other. Especially if they fall into bed first. She loves police procedurals, tea, and The Hunger Games series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Find Crystal Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Title: This Is One Moment (Come Back to Me #2)
Author: Mila Gray
Publisher: Pan Macmillan, (September 10th, 2015)
From: e-book, 384 pages, September 10th 2015
Format: Review E-book from Net Galley
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Check out Jenny's Review of: Come Back To Me By: Mila Gray

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: A forbidden romance. A wounded Marine who thinks he’s beyond saving. A girl who’s determined to prove him wrong.

Didi Monroe’s waited her whole life for the type of romance you see in the movies, so when Hollywood heartthrob Zac Ridgemont sweeps her off her feet, Didi believes she might finally have met the one.

While Zac’s away filming for the summer, Didi begins her internship at a military hospital in California. There, she meets wounded Marine Noel Walker. Frustrated on the outside and broken on the inside, Walker’s a pain-in-the-ass patient who refuses all help. Yet Didi can’t help but be drawn to him, and though he’s strictly out of bounds it soon becomes impossible to ignore the sparks flying between them.

As the attraction simmers into dangerous territory, Didi finds herself falling hard for a man she knows is going to break her heart. Because Walker doesn’t believe in love or happy ever afters. So what possible future can there be? Then tragedy hits, shattering both their worlds, and Didi is forced to choose between fighting for love or merely falling for the illusion of it.

Review: 5 Stars - Review contains spoilers.

Mila Gray a.k.a. Sarah Alderson, once again writes a heart breaking, tear jerker of a romance novel.

Written in two person POV; This Is One Moment re-introduces us to Didi Monroe (who readers may have previously met in Come Back to Me) and new character Noel Walker.

I feel I should focus on Didi as she is the character Gray’s readers are already acquainted with, but I’m drawn to Walker. Noel Walker, is the youngest Lieutenant in the marines, he was engaged to be married to a beautiful woman when he was deployed to Afghanistan and that’s when his life changed.

When his team comes under ambush, Walker tries his best to save his men, but sadly only one survives. Walker’s torment is this book in heartbreaking, he blames himself for something that wasn’t his fault. He is suffering from PTSD, manifesting itself as nightmares and psychosomatic blindness. His fiancé left him after he came home injured, his parents don’t have much contact with him. He’s alone apart from the other soldiers at the centre.

Didi is interning for the summer at the Centre for Hope and Care. As the daughter of one of doctors at the centre, his reputation proceeds her, and she finds she has a lot to live up to. She wants to try and help the wounded marines but some prove to be more stubborn than others.

When Didi first meets Walker he throws her out of his room. She persists- she wants to help him, find out what’s really troubling him. Slowly building a friendship with Walker, Didi doesn’t treat him differently for being blind. She doesn’t constantly correct herself for using the wrong words, and she doesn’t try directly to get him to open up about what’s going on in his head like the other doctors do.

Didi finds she’s attracted to Walker; constantly thinking about him despite the fact she’s supposed to be dating a movie star. The question is will Didi follow the dream of a romance movie happy ending, or will she try to piece the jigsaw of a broken heart back together?

As with her previous book Come Back to Me, Gray is writing about something true to life and events numerous servicemen and women have dealt with. This book and the way the marines try to overcome their problems, opened my eyes to what horrors they might see when on the front line and it gives you a new sort of respect for them. Their war isn’t over once they leave the conflicted country.

There is a lot more to This Is One Moment than a love story, I think that’s why I loved so much and why it did affect me the way it did.

I love the characters; although at times I did find myself shouting at Didi because of who I wanted her to end up with. Walker, Sanchez and Dodds, all have a special place in my heart; Dodds probably more than the other two. Valentina and her cousin Angela make for light relief, and some of the exchanges between Sanchez and his wife had me laughing out loud.
.
A mix of romance and tragedy make This Is One Moment one of my favourite reads of 2015. Another brilliant read from Mila Gray, can’t wait for more books in the future.

If you’re a fan of Becky Wicks, Nicholas Sparks and Cecelia Ahern I think this book will appeal to you.

Excerpt:

I pick up the razor and start shaving him again.

‘Um... you know’, he says, it’s better if you shave downwards.’

‘What?’

His hand comes up and circles my wrist. He covers my hand with his own and then guides the razor downwards. ‘Like this.’

‘Oh,’ I say, swallowing hard.

He still hasn’t let go of my hand. I try it myself. ‘Like this?’

He lets go. ‘Yeah. Otherwise it causes razor burn.’

‘Oh, sorry,’ I say.

He shakes his head as if to say don’t apologize.

My heart has started beating triple-time and my hand shakes as I finish off shaving his neck. I need to get a grip. When I’m done, I stand aside and let him wash his face.

‘How do I look?’ he says turning to me. There’s a sardonic smile on his face.

‘Good,’ I say. Really good. ‘Wait’ I snatch the towel from his hand and dab at a fleck of shaving foam by his ear. ‘There,’ I say.

His hand come up to take the towel and our fingers touch and stay there for a beat too long. My breathing hitches, then speeds up. I resist the urge I have to stroke my other hand down his newly shaved cheek.

There’ s a look in his eye now – confusion overlaying the sadness. His head cocks slightly to one side. I pull my hand away and just then the bathroom door swings wide open.

‘Hello?... Oh.’

I spin around. My dad is standing in the doorway. He blinks a few times and frowns as he takes in the fact that I’m standing almost pressed up against a half-naked Walker.

‘Hey, Dad.’ I say turning bright red. ‘Um, I was just helping Walker, I mean Lieutenant Walker, shave. His beard’. Oh God.

‘I can see that,’ my dad says, raising his eyebrows and pursing his lips at me. ‘I just came looking for him because he missed his appointment time.’

‘Sorry,’ Walker says. ‘I didn’t know it was that late, Jose normally comes to get me’.

‘Um,’ I mumble. I’m going to go now. Bye,’ I say quickly to Walker, and then ease past my dad and rush out the door.

I know from the look on my dad’s face as he turns to watch me go that this won’t be the end of it.

About the Author:

Mila Gray is the pen name for young adult author Sarah Alderson.

Having spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and tutu-wearing daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home.

After almost a year spent wandering around India, Singapore, Australia and the US, they settled in Bali where Sarah now spends her days writing and trying to machete open coconuts without severing a limb. She finished her first novel Hunting Lila just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel, Losing Lila, on the beach in India, and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they reached Bali. Since then she has published a further four novels and several short stories.
The contemporary thriller The Sound, was published in the US in May 2014, while Out of Control, a thriller with a focus on human trafficking, was released in May ’14 in the UK and May ’15 in the US. Her first adult novel Come Back To Me was released in the summer 2014 by Pan Macmillan in the UK and became an instant bestseller. It will be released in the US in December 2015 by Simon & Schuster. Foreign rights have been sold to Brazil, Australia, US, Canada, Italy and Portugal.

Sarah is also a screenwriter. She adapted her first novel Hunting Lila for the screen (currently in pre-production) and is working on several other screenplays (multi-tasking is one of her favorite things).

Her first adult novel, Come Back To Me, was published in June 2014. The second, This One Moment, will be out in August 2015.

Sarah has co-written the Hunting Lila screenplay, which is currently in the early stages of production, and continues to blog about her life and travels.

Find Mila Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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1 prize of 1 x signed copy of This is One Moment
1 prize of 1 x signed copy of This is One Moment
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Check out the rest of the tour here:

This is a tour wide giveaway. The winner will be contacted by the tour host to receive their prize. 

Title: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Publisher: Bloomsbury, 305 pages (May 3rd 2010)
From: On loan from my sister
Format: Paperback
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar and always an enigma, has now become a mystery. She has disappeared. Q soon learns that there are clues in her disappearance ...and they are for him.

Review: 3.5 stars - I had heard about John Green ages ago but it’s only in the last 12 months I’ve started to read his books.

I have mentioned previously on the blog that I prefer to read fantasy/sci-fi and am only just getting to grips with reading contemporary fiction. Green’s work comes so highly recommended that you can’t help but want to read it.

My initial thought when I saw the cover of Paper Towns was I love it! I judged a book by its cover- how bad am I? I love this cover- probably because I love travelling and it’s a map with a pin marking somewhere.

Margo is an enigma, an uncontrollable, unpredictable force. She likes to break the rules, and live on the edge. She’s the cool kid at school that every girl wants to be and every guy wants to date.

Quentin is a quiet, well mannered average 18 year old who likes computer games and hanging out with his friends

When they were 9 years old Margo and Quentin found a dead man in the park. This has been one thing that always tied them together and yet, Margo’s reaction to the man was one of wonder and not of fright. Margo has always been different.

The evening after they found the man, Margo told Quentin to “shut his window” and has never spoken to him since, despite the fact that they were always close as kids.

9 years on and one night Margo knocks on Quentin’s window and tells him she needs his help completing 11 tasks before morning.

This was the most exciting part of the book for me, and I was wondering what would come next at the turn of each page.  They arrive home in the early hours of the morning, a successful evening and Quentin on a little high because he has done things that would normally be out of his comfort zone.

Quentin plans to talk to Margo at school about what happened the night before; only she’s not there. She’s not there the next day either.

Margo is a bit of a free spirit and doesn’t like to be held down by her parents or peers. It’s not the first time she’s run away, but this time Quentin thinks it could be different.  Slowly he happens upon clues that might not be obvious clues, unless you can think like Margo Roth Spiegelman. With the help of his group of friends Ben, Radar and Lacey, Quentin sets out to find Margo, no matter what it takes.

Paper Towns includes a cross country road trip, enough intrigue and clue finding to challenge a good detective novel and a story of true friendship and adventure.

Sadly for me, Paper Towns didn’t fully grab my attention from when Margo disappeared. This could be down to my enjoyment of the “task evening”. I did like trying to solve the clues she’d left and discovering about Paper Towns was interesting.

Another point I’d like to mention about Paper Towns is that Quentin lists his reasoning for things- it really bugged me. I know Green is probably trying to enforce the fact that this is who Quentin is and because his parents are therapists they’ve probably taught him to do that when thinking of things, but I just couldn’t read it and started skipping the numbers and just reading the words.

Having said all of the above; I can imagine reading it in the future and would recommend it to other readers. It’s helped me think outside the box and I’d like to have Margo’s bravery even if just for one day.

For fans of John Green’s other books, Elizabeth LaBan’s The Tragedy Paper and Rainbow Rowell.

It’s not a secret that I’ve LOVED Mighty Bright Book Lights. They’ve always been my go-to when it comes to book lights. And over the years they’ve continued to become better and better. So, when they contacted me asking if I’d like to give their newest light a try, there was no way I’d pass this opportunity up.

Their latest is rechargeable and so much smaller than all the previous lights I’ve owned and used from them. The clip being smaller is a huge plus as well.

And being rechargeable… yeah that scores HUGE plus points with me too.

Since its rechargeable this light comes with a cord for charging. There’s a handy indicator to let you know when the charging is complete, and it doesn’t take too long to get the full charge either.

Another thing that’s great with these books lights is there’s two brightness settings. I tend to read using the second setting, which isn’t as bright because at full brightness it’s somewhat harsh on my eyes, yet the second setting is just right and I find it helps with the rechargeable battery lasting so much longer.

The colors it comes in are fun, as you can see in the pictures. I love the green one, however mine is black and sleek.

In the end, Mighty Bright has yet again proven to me why I love their books lights. They continue to bring even better lights to readers with new features and smaller designs.

There’s no other book light I’ve found that I love as much as these and I’ll continue to be a fan of their products as long as they continue to make superior book lights.

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Title: Slow Burn (Driven #5)
Author: K. Bromberg
Publisher: Signet, 400 Pages (February 24th, 2015)
From: the Publisher
Format: Paperback
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Driven series.

One Night. That's all it was supposed to be.

Reeling from the sudden loss of her sister, Haddie Montgomery has sworn off relationships. All she wanted from Beckett Daniels was a sexy distraction to help her escape her pain for just a little while....There weren’t supposed to be any strings attached—so why can’t she shake the memory of that unforgettable night from her thoughts? Or the taste of his kiss from her lips?

No matter how hard Haddie tries to forget about him, Becks relentlessly tries to prove that she should start living for today. But she is determined to avoid romantic commitment, and she can always use her ex-boyfriend’s reappearance to help snuff out the slow burn within her that Becks has sparked....

Or will fate force her to realize that this kind of connection doesn’t come along very often and a chance at love is worth the risk?

Review: 4.5 Stars - Slow Burn is the fifth title in author K. Brombergs Driven series. This book is a spin off from the previous installments and follows two characters who we had a chance to meet and spend time with as secondary characters. Now, center with their own story readers have a chance to find out what makes these two characters tick.

So, Slow Burn is about Haddie, Rylee’s best friend and Beckett… Colton’s best friend. These two have had their fair share of time within Rylee and Coltons story so they are far from strangers for those of us who have read the four previous books. We have somewhat of an idea who they are, yet in this book they are center stage and their story wasn’t at all what I was expecting.

Haddie has reasons, deep rooted reasons to not want to let anyone else close to her. It’s these reasons that she wants a no string night with Beckett. And Beckett being that good guy that he is wants more. He wants the strings Haddie is so hell bent on keeping loose. So, when she wears him down and their night is beyond what either thought it’d be, it’s then that trouble finds these two and makes them question things they might not have.

The book is written mostly from Haddies point of view as she’s dealing with so much more than just the loss of her sister. She’s really struggling with how she lives her life yet knows she doesn’t want anyone to face what her sister’s husband did. She pushes people away yet Beckett makes her question all that.

These two have chemistry that could heat a small country! WOW! Bromberg has them burning (no pun intended) up the pages and with all the pushing and pulling they go through as they try to figure out each other and more what’s holding Haddie back.

There’s smaller things in the story that I loved. Like Becketts mom and pink flip-flops. And I loved having a chance to see how Rylee and Colton are doing. I also love that there are some pretty amazing one lines that I’ve come to love with this series and was happy to see they were included in this book too.

Also, without giving too much away, Haddie and Becketts story will without a doubt pull on your heartstrings because there’s such a bigger thing that’s going on… that if it doesn’t affect readers like it affected me, I’d be shocked.

I had tons of emotions hit me while reading and being scared for characters in the way that I was scared doesn’t happen often but I felt these feelings quite often throughout much of the book. It’s an emotional story with a strong undercurrent of love that you won’t miss because it’s there in huge ways.

In the end I was thrilled to hear we’d get a chance to spend more time in Brombergs “Driven” world and I look forward to the next book to have a chance to visit again. These characters have become a favorite of mine so news of another book was exciting to say the least. If you haven’t read the four previous books, it’s not really needed to pick this title up, however you’d be doing yourself a great injustice in missing out on some extremely memorable characters. Please note that this is an Adult title with adult themes that should be taken into thought for younger readers or readers who don’t care for sex, cursing and drinking in their stories. Otherwise, grab this one and dive right in. Hold on tight and have some tissues handy because it’s a tear jerker. Happy Reading!

Before I Go To Sleep

OSCAR® Winners Nicole Kidman* and Colin Firth** deliver riveting performances in this tense thriller based on the best-selling novel that features a shocking twist ending you will never see coming. Kidman plays Christine, a woman who wakes up every day remembering nothing, due to a mysterious accident in her past. But when she tries to piece together her former life, she uncovers terrifying secrets that leave her with no one she can trust, including her doctor (Mark Strong) and even her husband (Firth).

Order the DVD Online: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK

Review: 4 Stars - When I was asked to review this movie, I read the synopsis and was sold on three key words – tense, thriller and twist. Some of the best movies (and books) are filled with twists you don’t seen coming. Some of those also are rather tense and I mean being a thriller on top of it all is just the icing on the cake.

I do have to be honest that also when I read what this movie was about I wondered if it’d remind me anything of another movie that I love where the female lead wakes up not remembering anything from her past, even the day before. And it did happen… I did think of this other movie from time to time. It was only when Nicole Kidman’s character was waking up each morning without any memory otherwise there’s nothing else even remotely similar, which was something I was extremely thankful for.

One comment I did have while watching was that Colin Firth’s character was so unlike anything I’ve ever seen him play before. He really did a great job and added such a wonderful layer to this story that I again was remind just how much I love this actor.

There were a few parts in the story that I questioned and it’s this alone that I wouldn’t give the movie a higher rating.

Also, I should mention that I’m a bad reader as I haven’t read this book before watching the movie so I have no idea how closely they followed along with the authors originally story and plot. Yet the movie was very entertaining and did keep me somewhat on the edge of my seat from just about the first scene right through to almost the last.

Future viewers get ready for a crazy mind bending ride that’ll keep you guessing who’s who and what’s going on until the conclusion just like I did.

I recommend this movie to those who love to be kept guessing and like the tense twists and turns. I’ll be eager to give the authors next title a try to see what his writings like. Movie watchers go enjoy!

Before I Go To Sleep Blu-ray

Street Date: January 27, 2014
Prebook Date: December 17, 2014
Screen Format: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: EnglishDTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
U.S. Rating R
Total Run Time: 118 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Before I Go To Sleep DVD

Street Date: January 27, 2014
Prebook Date: December 17, 2014
Screen Format: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: EnglishDD 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
U.S. Rating R
Total Run Time: 118 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Special Features

• Character Illusions: Ben

• Character Illusions: Christine

• Character Illusions: Dr. Nasch

• Forget Me Not

• Theatrical Trailer

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the industry leading worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox produced, acquired and third party partner film and television programing. Each year TCFHE expands its award-winning global product portfolio with the introduction of new entertainment content through established and emerging formats including DVD, Blu-ray™ and Digital HD™. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.

Title: Before I Go to Sleep
Author: S.J. Watson
Publisher: Harper, 368 Pages (August 26th, 2014 Paperback tie in)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis:

The sensational New York Times bestseller—now a major motion picture starring Academy Award-winners Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth.

“As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I am still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me... ”

Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love—all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story.

Welcome to Christine’s life.

About the Author:

S J Watson was born in the UK, lives in London and worked in the NHS for a number of years.

In 2011 Watson's debut novel, Before I Go to Sleep, was released to critical acclaim. It has now been published in over 40 languages, and has become an international bestseller, winning numerous awards.

The movie of Before I Go To Sleep, starrring Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Mark Strong, is due for worldwide release in Autumn 2014. Watson's second book is out in Spring 2015.

Find S J Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Thank you to 20th Century Fox for providing the copy of this dvd for review. 

Title: Before He Was A Secret (Starstruck #3)
Author: Becky Wicks
Publisher: Becky Wicks Books, (March 9th 2015)
From: eBook from author
Format: ARC e-book 
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: “What if we can’t chooseEvery battle we win and loseWhat if we decided years before, to live this life, to fight these warsAnd all the dreams we ever thought were oursWere written in the stars”

Waiting tables isn't exactly what singer/songwriter Stephanie has in mind for her move to Nashville, but memories of the past and a case of writer’s block mean inspiration isn’t coming easy. When brooding pianist Conor Judge opens his mouth in a smoky bar he proves music can heal, and even help you re-write your story, but a history of his own means the one thing he starts to want most is always just out of reach. Stephanie. 

Enter Travis Flynn - an upcoming star who won’t take no for an answer, and a record label intent on helping Stephanie shine, without Conor. As fame comes knocking as hard as the ghosts of their pasts, it soon becomes clear that no matter how hard you might fall in love, having the perfect songs doesn’t always mean perfect harmony.

Review: 4.5 stars - New Adult book- not suitable for younger readers. 

After we met Stephanie Jackson in Before He Was Gone (Starstruck #2); she moved to Nashville to see if she can make it in the music industry and hopefully be able to make some money to send home to her Aunt and brothers.

Conor Judge has lived in Nashville all of his life. He works at his family’s music shop, writes songs and plays at local open mike nights. 

When the two meet they become instant friends through their mutual love of music. What follows could make them chart toppers or a complete flop depending on the input of other people who may or may not upset their happy balance.

This is a great story of friendship and young love. 
Both characters have history. Stephanie’s back story is one of sadness after a tragic accident which caused the death of her parents. Conor’s is one which I wasn’t expecting. He was raised by very religious parents, and his life has been controlled by this. Religion is one subject that a lot of author’s stay away from for fear of offending people. Wicks, covers the subject of religious communities briefly and well in my opinion. I felt sorry for Conor because he has always tried to please his father and do the right thing, but sometimes this has been at the expense of doing what he really wants to. Even his relationship with Stephanie must be kept a secret.

I love the characters in this book; even the background characters- Tal, Lou, E-beth, Indie Pete. We also see the return of Noah and Chloe from Before He Was Famous and also Denzel the demon manager- this guy makes my blood boil, but serious thanks to Becky Wicks for creating someone I can hate so much! 

Also thrown into the mix in Before He Was a Secret is Travis Flynn; the Winner of the Nashville Songwriter of the Year competition, drunk and general playboy. This guy is bound to cause trouble, although at times his intentions do seem genuine. You’ll have to read the book to see whether he really is a bad guy. 

The book is written in dual P.O.V. and this is really easy to follow. It’s nice to get an insight into what both characters are thinking. 

Although Before He Was a Secret is part of the Starstruck series, it can be read as a standalone. 

Before He Was a Secret is a must read for anyone who has read any of the other books in Wick’s Starstruck series and also for fans of Kylie Scott’s Stage Dive series.

To help celebrate the PAPERBACK Release for author Chelsea Fine's - Best Kind of Broken - I'm helping to take part in a "Flashback Tour"! Take a peek at my review that was originally part of the tour when the eBook was released. I LOVE this book and author and you should without a doubt grab a copy and give it a read!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below where Chelsea is offering up one heck of a great prize! Goodluck!

Title: Best Kind of Broken (Finding Fate #1)

Author: Chelsea Fine

Publisher: Forever, 336 Pages (March 4th, 2014)

From: the Author/Publisher

Format: eARC

Add to: Goodreads

Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN

Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can't. And the damage is done. She's hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there's a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more--until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he's right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she'd long buried . . .

Levi can't believe he's living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple "sorry" won't suffice--not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie's better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she's so close, Pixie's heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear--he can't live without her.

Review: 4 Stars - Best Kind of Broken, is the latest release from author Chelsea Fine. In this title, Chelsea takes readers on an emotional journey between two characters that are… broken.

 Pixie and Levi haven’t talked in awhile so when they run into each other at the last place they expect to see each other it’s an all out war. A war over shared space and hot water is just the start. The issues for these two unfold throughout the book. They grew up together and when a shared event from their past tears them apart it creates a very strained and awkward reunion to say the least.

The tension between Pixie and Levi is hot, hotter and downright blazing! And it’s not just in sexual tension either. With emotions running between these two while trying to fight them off it was bound to create some amazing and heartbreaking moments.

The story is heartbreaking and the characters extremely likeable which allows readers to become quickly absorbed in the book and before you know it you’ve devoured the entire book in one sitting! Also I should mention that this one will have readers running through a full range of emotions right along with the characters. One minute I was frustrated at how stubborn they were and then the next I wanted to hug them both. It without a doubt has its fair share of ups and downs, which only added to how wonderful this title is.

That’s one thing that I’ve always loved about Chelsea’s writing, story and characters. She writes emotion well which in turn makes it easy to get emotionally attached to her characters. I’ve loved her books in the past and I was excited to see her take on the “New Adult” category, and I think she did an excellent job with her first title in the Finding Fate series.

In the end this one is another winner from Chelsea. She has quickly and quite easily become one of my favorite authors who I’m always begging for more from. She knows this and puts up with it well. I highly recommend this title, heck ANY of her titles to fans who love great characters you’ll love, a well written story you’ll find yourself lost in. “New Adult” and contemporary fans don’t pass this one up! I’m sure it’ll be a hit to everyone who reads. Enjoy!

  

"By turns humorous and heartbreaking, Best Kind Of Broken has become one of my favorites!" --- CORA CARMACK, New York Times bestselling author of Losing It.

"You'll fall for Pixie and Levi, just like I did!" --- JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT (J. Lynn), #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait For You

"Tangled with friendship, history and heartbreak--not to mention a huge dose of humor--Chelsea Fine's New Adult novel is not to be missed! Beyond an incredibly HOT read, Pixie and Levi's longing for each other will have you rooting for them till the very end." --- JAY CROWNOVER, New York Times bestselling author of Rule

"This book destroyed me. Tore me into little tiny pieces. But somehow with lots of laughs and some very steamy times, Chelsea put me back together again! Chelsea Fine's style is witty, visceral and fresh. All I wanted to do was crawl inside this book and live with the characters. And now all I want is MORE." --- CHELSEA M. CAMERON, New York Times bestselling author of My Favorite Mistake

"Sandwiched between laugh out loud moments and some serious heat, Best Kind of Broken is an unforgettable story of loss and forgiveness that will leave your heart aching." --- LISA DESROCHERS, USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far

ABOUT CHELSEA FINE:

Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen. 

Find  Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | YouTube | Instagram

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Rogue (Real #4)
Author: Katy Evans
Publisher: Gallery Books, 288 Pages (July 29th 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, iBooks

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Greyson King…

My boyfriend. My friend. My protector. He’s the reason I wake up every morning with a smile on my face, and the reason I fall asleep limp, worn out, and aching for his warm arms around me. When we make love, he says my name like it means something. Like I mean something.

He
Lied.

His name is Greyson King, but his alias is Zero.

There’s zero trace of him, he has zero past, and now I know that with him, I will have zero future.

He may leave no trace of him anywhere, but his imprint is in me, in my very soul—and I hate that a mere look at him commands the beat of my heart. The temperature of my body.

I’ve looked for love my entire life. I’ve waited for the butterflies, the rainbows…

Instead I’m in a free fall of emotions and there’s no one to catch me but the one man I should be running away from. The one man I thought was my prince charming.

Except this prince charming went rogue.

Greyson will stop at nothing to make me be with him. He'll let no one stand in our way, will allow no one to threaten me, and maybe this is what scares me most of all...
What will my rogue do to keep me?

Review: 5 Stars - Rogue, the fourth title in author Katy Evan’s Real series follows Brooke’s best friend Melanie on her quest to find her “Real”.

We first met Melanie in Real as a secondary character. She was fun and feisty and was there for Brooke from the beginning. In this installment of the Real series we finally get a chance to spend some one on one time with Melanie as the main female lead in a her own story. She’s still the same character we’ve come to love yet we finally get a much broader look at her life and the world through her eyes.

One thing that I loved about this title was that it’s written in dual points of view between both Melanie and bad, bad boy Greyson. It’s not a secret that I love dual or multi points of view so having this one written from two amazing characters was icing on the cake.

Greyson is such a massive force for everyone he comes into contact with and Melanie didn’t stand a chance. He’s hiding some major secrets and the scars of his heart, mind and soul run deep. These scars have formed him into the man he is and it’ll take the perfect woman to make him see the world through much different, none icy cold eyes.

With secrets the two are holding close and some secrets that were never meant to be kept, these two characters embark on a journey filled with struggles alone and together. There’s passion in all things they take on, including each other. There’s trouble lurking around every turn and there’s redemption if they work through enough of their issues, if they look in the right person or place. They just have to find a way through… together or apart to make their dreams, hopes and wishes a reality.

I have loved Katy’s books from the beginning. Back when Real was self published I have been a huge fan and haven’t looked back since. She knows how to write a fantastic story with equally fantastic characters. Before you know it you’ll be branded with the marks the story and characters have left. I know I have and wouldn’t want it any other way.

Katy’s passion for writing and her characters is apparent from one book to the next and knowing I can always count on her to write such amazing titles has made her a go-to author. If you’re looking for alpha males, look no futher than this author because she’s found a way to make them into some of the biggest and baddest men with heart for the right girl around.

I think this is my new favorite of hers, which is saying something because I’ve loved everything Real in the past, yet there’s just something about these two and their story, along with Katy’s writing that pushed this, her latest to the tip top for me. And I know I’m excited that there’s more to look forward to within this fictional world she’s created. I can’t wait to see what makes Pandora tick. Why she’s the way she is and to also have a chance to check in with all the characters from past Real books.

If you are looking for an Alpha male, look no further. If you are looking for some seriously bad boys that’ll make you swoon… you’ve come to the right place. With amazing writing this author has it all. These titles are without a doubt for older readers due to extreme content such as language, drinking, violence and lots and lots of sexual content. I highly recommend Katy’s books now and on into the future. Go forth and read and find a new favorite book boy friend today! Enjoy!

About the Author: 

Katy Evans grew up with books and book-boyfriends until she found a real sexy boyfriend to love, married him, and now they are hard at work on their own happily ever after. Katy loves her family and friends, and she also loves reading, walking, baking, and being consumed by her characters until she reaches “The End.” Which is, hopefully, only the beginning...

Find Katy Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Title: Lock & Key
Author: Cat Porter
Publisher: (June 20th, 2014)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK, iTunes, Smashwords

NOTE: This is a Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Love not only stings when you lose it, when it’s ripped away, but when it first sinks its teeth into you, it can cut just as raw and sting just as deep.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten that.
I was allegedly South Dakota's most famous Old Lady.
Fifteen years ago I had survived my Old Man’s murder
and swore to myself never again.
Never again surrender my heart.
Never again sacrifice to the Club.
But that all changed in one night.

I came home and crashed into him,
and my past and present blew up in my face.
Both of us lonely, running on empty, and unwilling to admit it.
Until now.
I feel things I'd forgotten about, want things I had cut out of my insides.

Who holds the keys to betrayal? To suspicion? To trust?
To brotherhood? To family?
To a bleeding heart?
Right now, I just might.
I suppose some of us have to get really dirty before we can become truly clean.

Review: 3 Stars - Lock & Key is an adult title from author Cat Porter. The story centers on a Motorcycle Club and its members old and new. With flash backs to cover both past and present, Porter gives readers glimpses into where main characters Grace and Lock came from and what lead them to where they are today.

Grace hasn’t stopped running until she’s called to return home to help out her sister who’s sick. She’s been moving around for years and wants stay away from the hurt and trouble from her past. She’s not happy but does her best to keep her life on track. Now she has no choice but to return to the one place and a group of people – the One-Eyed Jacks MC – who she’s wanted nothing more than to keep out of her life.

One thing about this title that I wasn’t expecting was that this is set around characters that are older. Not that it’s a bad thing; it’s just not what I was expecting. I was thinking this was more of a “New Adult” title, which was more an assumption on my part than anything else. The flash backs did take on more of a “New Adult” feel so that was welcomed and did shed some light on Grace and the MC and I was thankful for having the story told in past and present.

Grace as a character has many secrets and she’s been dealing with some pretty crappy hands which don’t stop coming throughout her story. I hated some of the things she had to deal with and go through and without a doubt didn’t give Porters MC a fluffy feeling in the least. And then Lock, he’s the shining light to Grace’s story. He’s a rough and tough biker for sure, but he’s so much more than that. His character has layer upon layer that starts to peel away during the book. However I felt like the author didn’t even touch the surface for him and I wonder if we’ll learn more about Lock in any future titles?

The two characters work well together…. I mean when they are together. There’s a lot of ebbing and flowing throughout and without a doubt enough pushing and pulling to keep readers interested, but isn’t that what makes a book good? Or one of the things that makes a book good? So I bet you’re wondering why I gave it three stars. Well, I do have a few reasons. One being that it’s a good story but not the best, at least in my opinion. It has interesting characters but nothing new with what’s out there or what I’ve read before. I did enjoy it but nothing had my emotions running or had me holding my breath or giddy with excitement.

So, in the end it was okay. It did keep me entertained during the read but it lacked that something extra, something special that made it a great memorable read. Would I recommend this title? Sure. Readers are loving MC titles and this one I could see being a favorite to others or at least other readers enjoying it as I have. It’s without a doubt an adult title, so younger readers should be aware of this before purchasing. If you’re a fan of MC titles give this one a shot!

About the Author:

I'm Cat Porter. I daydream all the time, 'what if' way too much, and am an incurable romantic. And I don't want to be cured of any of those. Ever. I've always loved to read, and always needed to write. I like to explore what bonds a man and a woman together- the very small things and the sort of epic, the glory and the mess. Oh yeah, plenty of crazy mess. Don't you think?

Find Cat Online:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

GIVEAWAY!!!

(1) $20 Amazon Gift Card - International

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