Stay (Wags #2) By: Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

     Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that her favorite client at Fetch - - an anonymous virtual assistant service - - is actually hockey star Matt Erikkson.
     Although it's against the rules for her to check his file, she's 95% sure she spends at least part of each day texting with her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still nursing a wounded heart thanks to her recent breakup, Hailey is perfectly content with some harmless online flirting...until she has to meet her client. Face to face. Cue: utter panic.
      Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He's still not over the destuction of his marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on the team who knows the truth - - that hockey and long-term relationships aree a toxic mix. He barley sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel insane. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won't show her pretty face.
      But it's nothing that a pair of fourth row hockey seats can't fix. Hailey can't resist the offer. Matt can't resist Hailey. Good thing he doesn't have to. Fire up the kiss cam!

     I loved reading Stay, it was such a good read.

Elijah Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers #1) By: Sandi Lynn

      When Elijah steps inside the courtroom, things happen. Opposing counsel cringes and the judges take in a deep breath because they know what they're in for. They have held Elijah in contempt more times than he could count, and he's never lost a case. They don't call him the "Wolfe" for nothing. He's decisive, aggressive and strong, both in the courtroom and in the bedroom. Elijah likes order and control, and everyone knows it. Everyone except for Aspen Michaelson, the new associate Elijah's mother hired to work at their firm. Her interview wasn't the first time Elijah laid eyes on her and her sexy body. The two shared one magical night together in Hawaii. They were two strangers who only knew each other's first names. She left in the middle of the night without a word. He never forgave her for that. He was the one who always left, not the other way around. Now that she worked for him, he would do everything in his power to make her pay for that night, to show her he was the boss both in the office and in the bedroom. But he found himself losing all control around her and her quirky ways and he didn't know how to stop it.
      After her father passed away, Aspen moved from Connecticut to New York City where her sister and his husband lived. Working at a prestigious law firm in New York had always been a dream of hers. Caitlin Wolfe made that dream come true when she hired Aspen to work at her top law firm. Little did she know, Elijah Wolfe, the man she had one amazing night with in Hawaii, was her son, senior partner, and future CEO of Wolfe & Associates. He looked just as sexy in New York as he did in Hawaii, but he was different. He was cold and calculating. Not the man who seduced Aspen and brought her back to his suite. He was her boss, and he was setting her up to fail. The one thing he didn't know about her was that she played the game just as good as he did, if not better. Aspen needed to stay in control of both her body and her mind, but he made it very difficult with his tailored designer suits and the cologne he wore that sent Aspen's pheromones into overdrive.
      Let the games begin...

      After reading some less than stellar books from Sandi Lynn Elijah Wood brought me back to why I loved reading Sandi Lynn's books. I could not put this book down and it will definitely be one that I will be reading again. Once again the only drawback for this whole thing is, the seemed to go by way too quickly. But other than that this book was great.

Enemies By: Tijan

     

     Stone Reeves was her neighbor, and Dusty has hated him since the sixth grade. Gorgeous and charismatic, he became the town's football god, while Dusty became the town's invisible girl. He went to a Division 1 school for football, while her father was fired by his father. His team won the National Championship, while her mother died the same day. He was a first round pick for the NFL...while Dusty had the worst decision of her life.
      Now Dusty's in Texas trying to pick up the pieces of her life. But Stone is here. Stone is everywhere.
      It doesn't matter that disaster has struck her life again. It doesn't matter that he's the one trying to console her. It doesn't matter that he's the nation's newest football obsession.
      Because for Dusty, he always has been and always will be her enemy.

      When I first started reading Enemies I wasn't really into it. The only reason I kept reading is because one of my favorites books of Tijan I actually didn't like at first. It wasn't until I had started making a dent in the book that I really started to enjoy it. So given that this has happened before I thought, why not keep reading. And while I did start to get into Enemies after a while it wasn't with the same interest as Tijan's other books. I did ultimately finish reading Enemies and in the end I found it to just be an okay read. Did I enjoy reading it? Kind of, sort of. Would I read it again? Probably not.

Needing Nevaeh (Rockers' Legacy) By: Terri Anne Browning

  

     Nevaeh doesn't realize Braxton will give up everything to be with her. When Braxton lost his leg, he had thought he lost everything. Then he met Nevaeh. She gave Braxton a reason to wake up in the morning, turned into his best firend, became the voice of sanity when the world was nothing but chaos. And now, with one annoucement at a party he didn't even want to attend, everything Braxton had planned for the two of them could be destroyed.
     A mistake Braxton made when he was too young to know better has come back to haunt him, and it could cost him the one person who matters most. Braxton will burn this place to the ground before he gives up the only good thing in his world.

     After having read Mia's story (the first book in this series) I knew I wanted to read more. And with the brief introduction we got of Nevaeh's and Braxton's chemistry in that book I knew I was going to like this book. And I was not wrong I could not put down Needing Nevaeh and I managed to finished it in one day. I am loving this series just as much as the series this spin-off is based on and I cannot wait to read more.

Friends With The Monsters By: Albany Walker

     Damiana has a secret. She has been seeing monsters for as long as she can remember. Late at night, while everyone is sleeping, dreaming of white knights and fairytales she's making friends with the monsters. The monsters that everyone else fears, she calls friends. But the biggest secret of them all, Damiana, is the scariest monster she knows. To Damiana she's the bad guy.

      It took some time but after a while I finally started getting into Friends With The Monsters. This book just seemed to have a slow start and it took some time for me to really figure out what the monsters were. I kept getting distracted trying to picture who the monsters were as we know them thus and that took away from the story as my mind kept going elsewhere.

    One of the other things I didn't like was how Friends With The Monsters ended. It kind of ends of a cliffhanger, and I mean kind of because this book could just be a standalone and end where it does with the reader finishing it with a lot of questions. At the same time more books could be coming but no where either at the beginning of this book or at the end does it mention more books being on the way and I just don't like not knowing. Either way I guess we'll just have to wait and see because I would definitely be up for more. 

Off-limits (Sons of the Underground #1) By: Terri Anne Browning

 

     Lyla was completely off limits.
     Howler's best friend's baby sister was the thing wet dreams were made of. Killer body, sexy personality, and the ability to win his daughter over with that disarming smile of hers. Howler has loved her since before she was legal, but there was always something in their way. Her brother would kill Howler if he touched her though. What Judge rules, everyone in the Underground obeyed. Including Howler.
      When he told her he wouldn't go against her brother, she walked away. Yet she always came back. Not for him, but for his daughter. Howler lived off those brief visits. Just listening to Josie giggle every time Lyla was in the same room with her fed his soul.
      Now, she was home for more than the random weekend, and he ached to make her his. The hell with her brother and the consequences. Josie and Howler needed Lyla, and they weren't letting her go this time.

     As soon as I finished reading Holding Mia I knew I wanted to read Lyla and Howler 's story after catching a glimpse of their dynamic together in that book. And I was right, I could not put Off-limits down. Terri has a way of when you really care about a relationship that you will not want to pick the book down. If you haven't read any of Terri Anne Brownings books then I suggest that you do.

Dirty Letters By: Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

     Luca never forgot him - a man she's yet to meet.
     Griffin Quinn was Luca's childhood pen pal, the British boy who couldn't have been more different from her. Over the years, through hundreds of letter, they became best friends, sharing their deepest, darkest secrets and forming a connection she never thought could break.
     Until one day it did.
     Then, out of the blue, a new letter arrived. A scathing one - one with eight years of pent-up anger. Luca had no choice but to finally come clean as to why she stopped writing.
     Griffin forgave her, and somehow they were able to rekindle their childhood connection. Only now they were adults, and that connection had grown to a spark, Their letters quickly went from fun to flirty to downright dirty, revealing their wildest fantasies. So it only made sense that they would take their relationship to the next level and see each other in person.
     Only Griffin didn't want to meet. He asked that Luca trust him and said it was for the best. But she wanted more, more Griffin, in the flesh - so she took a big chance and went looking for him. People have done crazier things for love. But what Luca found could change everything. 

     Dirty Letters is another book by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward that I wanted to enjoy reading. And while Dirty Letters did start out that way I can't say that it stayed that way. When I first started reading Dirty Letters I was into it but as I kept reading I slowly started to lose interests over time until finally I just got to point where I was done with it. And that is when I just had enough and skipped over to the ending so I could see how the story ended. Dirty Letter was another book that I really wanted to like and just didn't.

Indelible By: Bethany Lopez

     After a year of partying, Sam decides to buckle down and focus on college. Things are going great until a one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. Raising a child while going to school isn't easy, but Same is determined to be strong for her daughter. She doesn't have time for guys or relationships, but the pull she feels towards Judd is more than she can ignore.
      Judd doesn't fit the mold of a college ballplayer. His motorcycle and tattoos may fit the life he's created for himself, but baseball is the one thing he takes seriously. When he meets Sam, he's immediately drawn to her curves and refusal to put up with his crap.
      Sam yearns for the fire Judd fuels in her, but her child's needs have to come first.

     Going into Indelible I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not but I decided to give it a read.  And I didn't completely hate it. Don't get me wrong I wasn't completely in love with the book either but I would read it again. It was something that held my interests and something I wouldn't mind going back to.

Perfectly You By: Sandi Lynn

       Jake first saw Charlotte Foster on the sidewalk in Seattle when the contents of her purse were scattered on the cement. Bending down, he offered her help, and when she looked up, a bolt of lightning tore through him. She was sobbing and a complete mess, yet the most beautiful woman Jake had ever seen. That night, he saw her again at a bar. She was alone and very intoxicated. He helped her into a cab and made sure she got home safely. After putting her to bed, he left a note, walked out the door, and headed back home to Los Angeles. Imagine his surprise when she showed up for an interview at Jake's architect firm one month later. Her world had crumbled and she was searching for a fresh start. Jake wanted to be her fresh start and convincing her that they were meant for each other was going to be the toughest challenge of his life.
       Charlotte's perfect life was shattered by a simple phone call, and in a split second, her world came crashing down around her. After a night of heavy drinking and bar hopping, she awoke the next morning to a note from a man named Jake explaining how he made sure she got home safely. Little did Charlotte know that the man who helped her on the sidewalk that day and home from the bar that night, would be her new boss when she moved back to Los Angeles. Jake was oh so sexy and the nicest man she'd ever met. Falling for him was easy, but her fears and mistrust kept her in check. He saved Charlotte on more than one occasion, and being the hot mess she was, Charlotte needed to save him from her.

        I've just finished reading one Sandi Lynn story and immediately went into reading another. And while I did like the book I read this one is didn't do it for me. I liked this one even less than the last one. I don't know what it is but these book just aren't up to my usual expectations with Sandi Lynn.

The Escort By: Sandi Lynn

      Sometime life doesn't go as planned. Brielle's certainly didn't. One moment she was going off to NYU on a fully paid scholarship, and the next, she had become something she never thought she would be. Brielle learned quickly and the money she made allowed her to pay for her mother's chemo treatments. Once all of their debts were paid off, Brielle met a man and got out of the business. Then a string of events forced her back inside the world of escorting. But this time, things were different. Brielle built a business and became a high-end escort to the weathly of the wealthiest; to men who paid her well and allowed her to live a comfortable life. Then one night at an event, she met a man. A sexy, rich, single man who paid Brielle a ridiculoous amount of money to spend one night together. Brielle broke her number one rule: Never fall in love with a client.
       The moment Caden saw her, he had to have her. He knew what she was, and he didn't care. Caden would pay any amount of money for one night with her. After their night was over, he wanted more. He craved more. She was the perfect woman and he didn't have to worry about her wanting a relationship or falling in love. Caden made her an offer she couldn't refuse. He owned her. Everyone has a price. Then things become complicated, and the more time he spends with her, the more Caden's past haunted him. Feelings for her started to take over, but the demons inside Caden kept him in check, reminding him of what he'd done and making sure that he'd never make the same mistake again. 

       I've read a few books by Sandi Lynn so going into this one I already had a few expectations. And while I did enjoy reading The Escort it wasn't nearly as good as some of Sandi Lynn's other stories. It just didn't hold my attention as much as some of her other stories that I've read. That's not to say that The Escort wasn't a good read, but more like a one and done kind of read.

Immortal Born (Argeneau #30) By: Lynsay Sands

     A simple promise to protect her friend's infant son has turned Allie Chambers' existence upside down. Caring for - and feeding - an orphaned vampire baby has been tricky enough. But as little Liam grows, so does his appetite. He needs more blood than she can personnally supply. And when her attempts to steal from a blood bank go awry, Allie wakes up surrounded by doctors, cops...and the gorgeous, mesmerizing Magus, who she can neither trust nor resist.
     Magnus never expected to find his life mate breaking into a blood bank. Clearly, Allie is already entwined with his world - in deeper, more dangerous ways than she realizes. A band of vicious rogue immortals is in pursuit, and Magnus' first task is to keep her safe. His second: to awaken her to mind-blowing pleasure, and hope she'll accept the life, and the passion, that only he can offer.

     I absolutely loved reading Immortal Born, and could not put it down. With the Argeneau series, there's always a chance that these books could go either way. Either I love the book or I don't, there's no in between and this was a kove. If you haven't started reading the Argeneau series then I suggest giving it a try. Even though this series may be on book thirty you can start reading at any time. You don't need to start at book one and go all the way through you can start anywhere. I definietly did not start reading this series from the beginning or in order but I got into it with no issues. You may miss a few things that are referenced from one of the pervious books but even that's not really an issue. I still don't read these books in order even after all this time and I still don't mind it.

Bound By Secrets (Cauld Ane #3) By: Piper Davenport

      Brodie Gunnach has endured a horrific childhood, along with his brothers and sister within the Cauld Ane royal family. When he meets his mate, he is alarmed to learn she is only fourteen and they cannot be bound for another eleven years. He makes a heart-wrenching decision to leave in an effort to save them both from years of pain and frustration.
      Payton McFadden is infatuated with a young, handsome prince that she's met once. After speaking with him at a party for her father, he disappears, only to return five years later with a declaration and a demand.
      As the two are bombarded with secrets that could destroy not only their relationship, but their way of life, will they be able to sort out truth from fiction and overcome the obstacles before them?

      I don't know if it's because this is the third book in the Cauld Ana series and the first book that I'm reading or what. But there were more than a few times that I was reading this story where I was so confused. First off, it wasn't until I started reading for a bit that I realized this book was not taking place in the U.S. And while I have no issue with that, usually when you read books like this there's a least some type of note and this time there wasn't one. Also because this book wasn't taking place in the states there were several times that these characters said some things or mentioned something and I had no idea what they were taking about because the word wasn't in American English.
      Again, while I have no issue with this, it does make things difficult when reading sometimes because I would have no clue what they were referring to. It takes you out of the story when you are constantly wondering what a word is. One last issue I'll talk about was whenever a character was referring to the weather. Even after completing this story I'm still confused if the country this book takes place in used Fahrenheit or Celsius. Bound By Secrets kept switching between the two degrees making it very hard to figure out what the temperature was and that was something that was important to the characters.
      While none of these things are deal breakers or anything it did does sometimes take things out of the reading experience when you're like what is that, or where did that come from. Even with these issues this would still be a book I could recommend reading and one I will be reading again.

The Quarterback Alpha By: Emma Wolfe

     Cora and her mom just needed a place to start over. Somewhere to move on from the past that haunts us. Smoky Hills, Tennessee seemed to be exactly what they needed. Here, Cora could be invisible. That is, until quarterback Liam Bronson decides she's important. Even though there are plenty of girls who would love his attention, he doesn't seem to care. The way he stares at Cora is like she's the only one that matters, even in a room full of people. Like he chose her.
     Then Cora discovers her secret. The animal that lives inside of him. He tells her to leave. That it's not safe exactly for a human. If only her heart didn't pound when he was around. If only he wasn't so kind. If only he wasn't exactly what he needed in her life, Cora could honor his wish. Lucky for Cora, she's not part of his pack. She doesn't have to obey.

     I don't know if this would technically be a spoiler or not but if so spoiler alert. I waited the whole time while reading The Quarterback Alpha for something to happen between Cora and Liam and nothing ever did. Nothing really seemed to happen at all, it was like Emma Wolfe spent the whole time setting up the story and then the book was over. Now to find out what happens or what could happen next you have to read the next book in this series. One whose main focus isn't even on Cora and Liam but a different couple in the series. And yet, even then I want to continue on with this series and find out what happens next.

Stuck-Up Suit By: Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

     It started out like any other morning on the train - until Soraya became mesmerized by the guy sitting across the aisle. He was barking at someone on his phone like he ruled the world. Who did the stuck-up suit think he was...God?
     Actually, he looked like a god. That was about it.
     When his stop came, he got up suddenly and left. So suddenly, he dropped his phone on the way out. Soraya might have picked it up. She might have gone through all of his photos and called some of the numbers. She might have held on to the mystery man's phone for days, until she finally conjured up the courage to return it.
     When she traipsed her ass across town to his fancy comapny, he refused to see her. So, she left the phone on the empty desk outside the arrogant jerk's office. She might have also left behind a dirty picture on it first, though.
     She didn't expect him to text back.
     She didn't expect their exchanges to be hot as hell.
     She didn't expect to fall for him - all before they even met.

     I've read a few books by Vi Keeland before and enjoyed reading them. As for Penelope Ward that can sometimes be a toss up. So going into Stuck-Up Suit I knew that it could go either way.  I should have known how this was going to go when it took me forever to start reading once I read the sample. But because I'm me I wanted to read Stuck-Up Suit anyways. And I have to say I'm glad I waited. Stuck-Up Suit wasn't what I expected it to be at all and by the time I was halfway through with the story I was ready for the whole thing to be over.

Renegade (Moonshine Task Force #1) By:

  

     When you fall in love with the most unexpected person, at the most unexpected time...
     Ryan "Renegade" Kepler is the type of man who knows what he wants. He makes up his mind and stays in his lane, never veering off the course he sets for himself.
     Going into the military? Did it. Youngest member of the Moonshine Task Force? That's Renegade. Get his best friend's older sister in bed? It was his pleasure.
     Age means nothing to Renegade. He's seen and done things men twice his age never would. What He wants more than anything is someone to share his life with that person is his best friend's older sister, Whitney.
      Ryan is ten years Whitney's junior, but damn, being a cougar never felt as good as it did the night she spent with Renegade. Now Whitney's struggling with wanting things to either go back to the way they were or spend every night in his arm.
      Make her wedding planning company the best in the south? Did it. Ignore the way her body trembles when she sees Ryan? Epic fail. Freak out when she sees a positive pregnancy test staring back at her? Complete with mascara running down her face and clutching her pearls.
      Looks like things won't go back to the way they were. There's a man in her life that doesn't take no for an answer. He's the one who makes Whitney's blood run hot, cheeks turn red and heart beat wildly within her chest. His name is Renegade.

      Since I enjoyed reading both Stella and Nick's stories I knew I had to read their parents stories, even if that meant that I was reading everything out of order. And that's because the Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team series is a spin-off from this series, Moonshine Task Force. Again maybe its because I read Stella's story first but I have to say that one is still my favorite. Even still this was a good book to read and one I would recommend.

Anyone But Rich (Anyone But...#1) By: Penelope Bloom

     Seven years ago, Kira and her two best friends made a promise. No matter what, they would never date one of the King brothers. Even if they grew up to become megafamous, gorgeous, heart-stopping billionaires. Even if they crawled on their kneed and begged for forgiveness.
     But guess who just flew back into their lives in a private jet? And guess who just showed up to Kira's job on her first day? Richard. King. Fortunately, it takes two seconds for Richard to reveal he hasn't changed. Conceited. Cocky. Rude. Unfortunately, he's also the kind of gorgeous that 's borderline offensive - with a jawline to make statutes self-conscious and grin that short-circuits her brain. He's spent years taking what he wants. Kira doubt he's hungry for anything else - except her, apparently. There's no way she'll let him maneuver his way back into his life. Her friends would never forgive her. Kira would never forgive her, But did she mention his jawline?

     I'm not quite sure how I feel about Anyone But Rich. I mean I read the whole story and I want to read the next book in this series but I don't know. I think this might be a one and done book series. I read each book one time and then I'm done with it. I don't feel a need or want to read Anyone But Rich again. What started out as a reasonably good book didn't really stay that way.

Suppression (Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team #2) By: Laramie Briscoe

    If you don't love you can't get hurt....
    One thing Nick childhood taught him was never show his emotions. Don't make memories. Don't count on other people. Don't hope for the best. All that changed when he was adopted by Ryan and Whitney Kepler.
    Begrudgingly Nick let them into his life, along with a new sister and a best friend he would lay down his life for. But giving up his heart and accepting love in return from Kelsea Harrison? It's the hardest thing he's ever tried to do. And the truth is? Nick's not sure if he's that strong.
    From the very moment Kelsea met Nick Kepler she knew he would be the love of his life. Problem is she hasn't been able to convince him of that yet. When their best friends get married, Nick and Kelsea spend a drunken night letting their walls down and losing all their inhibitions. In one moment she's given everything she's ever wanted. Then, in the blink of an eye it's taken away from her.
     The question is, can Kelsea be strong for the both of them? The answer? She has to be.

    Because I read the first book in the Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team series and enjoyed reading it I knew I wanted to read the second book in this series. While I didn't enjoy reading Nick's story as much as Stella's story I did enjoy reading it.And because of that I do want to continue on with this series.

Filthy Rich By: Julie Kriss

     Aiden Winters, Gorgeous, brillant, ruthless, and filthy rich. He's known as the Man in Black, because New York's most sought-after bachelor is icy perfection in an all-black suit.
     As his executive assistant, Samantha know his suit size, the security code to his penthouse, and the number to his private line. The only thing she doesn't know is what would make him fall to his knees for a woman.
    And then, one night, Samantha discovers Aiden's sexy secret, And he discovers hers.
    Now Aidan and Samantha play a very dirty game. By day, they're all business. But by night...he't not Aidan and Samantha's not her.
    No emotions. No lies. Except for one.
    If you think this is a story about a girl who hates her boss, think again.

    I found Filthy Rich to be somewhat of an interesting read. There was some interesting moments and others that was just so-so.

Holding Mia (Rockers' Legacy #1) By: Terri Anne Browning

   

     They call her the rocker's princess, some even call her the dance prodigy, but none of them knows the real Mia Armstrong.
     Now that dancing is no longer her future, she doesn't know either.
     All Mia wants is the opportunity to find out, to have some time to try being just a little normal. To discover who this new girl is.
     Mia fought for the chance to go to college on her own. Without the guards overshadowing her shot at a real college experience, drawing unwanted attention and making it impossible to learn new things about myself. 
     Mia's goal was to get her degree and start her own dance school. Barrick wasn't part of the goal, but suddenly, he was everywhere - and Mia was so damn tempted. His arms felt so good wrapped around her, making Mia feel safer than she'd ever felt in her life.
     But Barrick had more secrets than she could ever hope to uncover.
     And one just might break her completely.

     Rockers' Legacy is a spin-off on the Rocker series. And just like I couldn't put down Emmy and Nick's story, I couldn't put down their daughter's Mia story. While I figured out pretty early on what the secret was that Barrik was keeping it didn't make me enjoy Holding Mia any less. If you were a fan of the Rockers series, then you will be a fan of Rockers' Legacy.

The Nanny Rules By: Melynda Price

     Don't touch the nanny. It's one rule Brody's most certainly going to break.
     Since becoming a single father, Brody has had two things that kept him sane-his daughter Lily and playing football for the NFL. But when Brody's meddling sister hires a nanny without his knowledge, Brody's not thrilled to come home and find the woman has taken over his house. Their instant attraction is one more complication Brody doesn't need in his life.
     But Bordy's daughter love Amelia, and he will do anything for that tiny muchkin. Even if it means walking around with blue balls most of the time. Why does the nanny have to be so sweet  and drop dead goregous? She's driving him crazy. Never in his life has Brody wanted a woman more. 
     Brody just needs to make it through this season, he can do that. Hands free, of course. But then there's that moment, and Brody knows she's thinking what he's thinking and, well, yeah. Screw the rules...

     I enjoyed reading The Nanny Rules. While it wasn't a book that I couldn't put down, it was defiantly one that kept my attention. And one book that I would read again.

Cougar (Heritage Bay #3) By: M.A. Foster

 

    At eighteen, Emerson met a man. A man who turned her world upside down and made her the center of his. He claimed the two of them meeting was fate. She agreed.
     Emerson was the damsel in distress and Marcus was her white knight. She became in princess, and he was her prince charming. He gave her the fairy tale. The dream. Until fate circled around and turned Emerson's dream into a living nightmare.
     Now, at forty, Emerson's a widowed single mother left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and her broken family.

    Going into Cougar I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to take this story. Jaybird, the first book in the Heritage Bay series wasn't necessarily my favorite. But for Mackenzie, the second book in the Heritage Bay series, that book I loved and reread all the time.
      I think Cougar is somewhere is between these two books. While I didn't fully love this book it was a lot better than Jaybird. There were times when I was fully into this book and then there were times I just wanted to skip over scenes. Overall I don't think that I would want to read Cougar but I would definitely want to continue on with this series.

Broken Beats (An Illusion Series Novel) By: D Kelly

 

Darren
     Single father. Widow. Retired.
     Three things he never thought he'd be by thity, yet all his daily reality. This is not the life Darren would have chosen, but it's the hand he's been dealt.
     Darren loves his daughter. He loved Belle. He's not interested in more heartache. Relationships are a thing of the past. Until he meets her -
     She's the awakening he desperately needs, but one Darren's not sure he deserves.

Haddie
     Everything happens for a reason. Time heals all wounds. You're too young to give up on love.
     They say that, but they're wrong. Haddie's world crumbled when her fiance died. Then she met him -
     He's flawed in the same ways. Broken in the same places. Scared of the same things. He looks at Haddie like she's his salvation. And she wants to be, but an open heart means risking a broken one.

    There are few people in this series whose story I wanted to read and Darren's story was on of them. I wanted to see how his life would turn out once the love of his love was gone. Now aftter reading this book I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. While I did enjoy reading Darren's story it was no where near as good as Mel and Sawyer's story. Maybe it's because they had more books, I don't know. Either way this still was a good read and one I would read again. I just didn't love this book as much as I thought I would. 

Refrain (Rockstar #16) By: Anne Mercier

      As a child, Ethan trusted no one. Then he found his best friends. They gave him a family and saved him from a life of abuse that still has Ethan messed up.
      Then one of those best friends captured Ethan's heart. Lincoln, tough yet tender, a walking contradiction. He loves Ethan too - flaws and all. He's the mose patient man on the earth and understands Ethan's PTSD.
       What Linc doesn't understand is why their being initmate makes Ethan feel "dirty." Linc's not one of the men who abused Ethan, and he'd never hurt him. Ethan knows this. He believes it. Still, the "dirty" creeps in even though Ethan knows what they do together is anything but.
        Linc's here now and he's going to stay. It's time for Ethan to talk to someone professionally. Ethan needs to shed his unhealthy past in order to have a healthy future with the man he loves. If Ethan doesn't, he just might lose the best thing that's ever happened to him - and there's not enough therapy in the world to get Ethan though that.

      I have been waiting to read Refrain for what seems like forever now. And the main reason for that being Anne Mercier was constantly pushing back the book's release date. I understand her reasons why she had to but still. In these situations it either makes you want to read the book more, hyping it up in your head. Or it makes you not want to read the book as much as when you first heard about the book and read its synopsis.
     Now that I have finished reading Refrain I'm not really sure how I feel about it. While I did like reading Ethan and Linc's story it wasn't exactly what I expected. I kind of thought it would have some simiarites to Xander and Tera's story given that they were childhood sweethearts as well. But Refrain just took place in the present, so you didn't see any of Ethan and Linc's early years. Also, there just didn't seem to be that much going on with this story. Although I did like the relationship and dynamic between Ethan and Linc this story just wasn't what I was expecting.

The Wrong Prince Charming By: Holly Renee

     Every little girl dreams of being swept off her feet by a charming Prince. But Maddison's life was no fairy tale.
    And in this kingdom called college, the rules went out the window.
    Maddison had known golden boy, Theo Hunt, was the one for her since they were kids. Her heart was his for the taking, but she had become nothing more than the MVP of the campus king's friend-zone.
     Easton Cole was a storm Maddison couldn't have predicted. He knocked Maddison off her feet and stole her heart. But he was off limits. Not only was he Theo's frat brother, but he was the teacher's assistant in English 101 and she was acing every test.
     Maddison's heart was torn, her feeling tangled. Because as soon as she noticed Easton, Theo finally noticed her.
     Maddison was in love with two guys, as different as night and day, but she could only have one. She only hoped she didn't choose The Wrong Prince Charming.

     I didn't mind reading The Wrong Prince Charming, while it wasn't an attention grabber it did hold my interests. I think one of the reasons it wasn't completly upthere might have had a bit to do with the fact that this book seemed to be a bit rushed. And while I wouldn't count on rereading this book anytimg soon I am glad that I read it.

Mr. July (Calendar Boys #7) By: Nicole S. Goodin

     Hudson Scott. Nicknamed 'The Horror.' Champion MMA fighter... And caught up in an off-limits woman.
     Ramsey Ashton. Queasy around blood. Pink haired beauty...And crushing on her brother's best friend.
     Hudson's head has always been firmly inside the cage, until he sets eyes on the woman he's sworn not to touch. Ramsey has never been interested in the fight scene, but when she meets Hudson, she finds herself inexplicably drawn into his world.
     Hudson wants what he can't have, Ramsey wants to protect her heart. With everything up against them, will this be one fight that Hudson isn't strong enough to win?

     Mr. July was another book that started out on high note but over time I slowly began to lose interest. I don't know what it is but lately most of the books I've been reading haven't been that good.

Luca Vitiello (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #0) By: Cora Reilly

     Luca Vitiello was born a monster. Cruelty ran in his veins like poison. It ran in the veins of every Vitiello man, passed on from father to son, an endless spiral of monstrosity. A born monster shaped into an even, worse monster by his fathers blade and fists and harsh words. Luca was raised to become Capo, to rule without mercy, to dish out brutality without a second thought. Raised to break others. When Aria was given to him in marriage, everyone waited with baited breath to see how fast Luca would break her like his brother broke his women. How Luca would crush her innocence and kindness with the force of his cruelty. Breaking her would have taken little effort. It came naturally to Luca. He was gladly the monster everyone feared. Until her. 

     Luca Vitiello takes on Luca's point of view of Bound By Honor the first book in the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles. I loved reading Bound by Honor so when I saw there was a Luca's verison of the story I knew I just had to read it. And just like the first book in this series I could not put Luca Vitiello down. It was great getting into the mindset of Luca and seeing just how much he cared for Aria, even though he was never supposed to.

The Locker Room By: Meghan Smith

    

     Have you heard the rumor around campus about the locker room?
     If you haven't, let me enlighten you: Legend has it if you bring a girl into the scared after-game domain of the baseball locker room, it will end with a walk down the aisle. One rowdy and naked encounter against the lockers with the girl of your dreams will make her your wife.
     Translation: baseball players are stupidly supersitious and believe the locker room has magical powers.
     But not all baseball players are superstitious, Knox included.
     So when the girl Knox has fallen for brushes him off, he starts to question if he needs to swtich his ways of thinking. Maybe it's time Knox finally handed out a coveted invitation to the locker room.
     The only question is, will she accept?

     When I first read the synopsis of The Locker Room I knew it was something that I wanted to read. And apparently this was one book I hyped up in my mind too much because before I was even halfway through The Locker Room I was already done with it. This just wasn't the book I thought it would be.

Depravity (King University #1) By: Jacob Chance

      When Sophie was asked to babysit for a single father, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Two months with Mr. tall, dark, and broody didn't seem like a bad trade-off for the money he would pay her.
       As the weeks go by, their attraction grows and Sophie realizes what a concerned and caring father Miles is. And he learns that not every woman is untrustworthy like his ex-wife.
      Miles and Sophie both agree to walk away from their fling when Sophie leaves for college at the end of the summer.
      And reluctantly, they do.
      Until her first day of classes when Miles crashes back into Sophie's world.
      "I'm Professor Decker. Welcome to King University."

       I really thought that I was going to like Depravity. It sounded like such an interesting story and it did start out that way. But by about halfway through the story I was just wondering when it was all going to end. It seemed to take forever for it to get to the point where they both find out that Miles was going to be Sophie's professor. At least to me it seemed that way.

Cherry Popper (Cherry #1) By: Victoria Quinn

 

   They call him the Cherry Popper. Because there's only one kind of woman Slate likes to screw.   Virgins.
      Slate pays top dollar for the experience. And sometimes women don't want him to pay at all. He gets off to their tightness, their tears. He gets off to the drops of blood on the sheets. All men have fantasies...Slate's just happens to be rich enough to fund his.
      When Monroe comes into Slate's life, she has a hefty stydent loan that she can never pay back. On top of that, she's responsible for paying for her mother's cancer treatment...even though she lost her anyway. Suffocating in debt, she doesn't have many options.
      Except one.
      To sell her virtue to the Cherry Popper.

     When I first read the sample of Cherry Popper I knew I wanted to read this book, what took so long was the price of the book. Since the price of the book was more than I use willing to spend at the time I moved onto reading other books that I was interested in first. But I never stopped wanting to read Cherry Popper. Then I finally got a chance to read Cherry Popper and it was well worth the wait. I couldn't not seem to put Cherry Popper down and cannot wait for the next book in this series.

The Initiation (Filthy Rich Americans #1) By: Nikki Sloane

      No one knows how new members are sselected to the board of Hale Banking and Holding. But there are rumors of a sordid rite of initiation. Whispers how one woman and nine men disappear into a boardroom.
     This time, that woman will be Marist.
     The Hale family owns everything - the eighth largest bank in the world, everyone in their town, even the mortgage on Marist's parent's mansion. And now Royce Hale wants to own Marist.
      He is charming. Seductive. Ruthless. But above all, he's the prince of lies. Marist body may tighten with white-hot desire under Royce's penetrating gaze, but Marist refuses to enjoy it.
      Marist will make a deal with the devil to save her family and sell herself to the Hales. But Royce will never own her heart.

     I could not put The Initiation down, this series name alone tells you exactly what to expect from this series. There are things that only crazy rich Americans would do and can do, and this book gets into it. In a world where the rules don't apply to the rich Marist begins to learn what some people will do to stay rich and what others will do to save their family. Given how the Initiation ended I cannot wait to read The Obsession, the next book in this series. 

Power Play (BTU Alumni #1) By: Alley Ciz

      Hockey players are off limits...especially if they're on your brothers' team. 
      The last time Jordan did that, it ended in disaster. It was easy to promise her brothers she'd never date another one of their teammates again. Until she meets Jake. The spark she feels when she spends time with him makes her promise harder and harder to keep. Surely her brothers would understand breaking this promise if it means following her heart. Wouldn't they?
      Never sleep with a teammate's sister.
      This is the universal rule of athletes everywhere. Until he meets Jordan. As soon as Jake sets eyes on her, he wants her. The goalie's job is to see missed shots and failed opportunities on the ice. This is one shot he's not going to miss, no matter what obstacles get in his way.

     Power Play started out on a good note but by the time I got halfway through the book I was ready for it to just be over. There just seemed to be so much going on, a lot more than what I thought was necessary. And while I did finished this whole book it wasn't without effort and not without skipping a few pages here and there. I think that Power Play could have been a good book there was just a lot going on that didn't need to be there.

A Really Bad Idea By: Jeannine Colette

        Everyone has a best friend. Meadow's just happens to be Dr. Christian Gallagher - the gorgeous, green-eyed heart surgeon who wants to have a baby with her.
       When Meadow's mother approached Meadow on her thirty-third birthday with a brochure for egg freezing, it was a glaring reminder that her biological clock is ticking toward its expiration date. Meadow has always dreamed of being a mom and had a plan - - one that was destroyed when she caught her professional hockey player husband in bed with another woman.
      Despite  Meadow's broken heart she still believes in love. She wants the happily ever after, but also wants a child desperately and won't settle in order to make it happen. That's why when Meadow decided to take her mother's advice, Christian came up with his own plan: Let's have a baby together.
      It's a bad idea. A really, really bad idea. And yet...Meadow can't stop thinking about how great it could be. There's just one condition. Before Christian and Meadow have sex (oh, yes, they're doing this the old fashioned way!) Christian is adamant the two go on three dates. Sounds easy, but it's not. Meadow thought sex would be the hard part, but the dates are only making her fall for the man she's known almost her entire life.

       When I started reading A Really Bad Idea I wasn't sure exactly what to expect and I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised when it came to this book. After not finishing the last few books I've tried reading it was nice to read something that I could get into again, something that I would want to read again. 

Game Changer By: Rachel Reid

     Pro hockey player Scott Hunter knows a good thing when he sees it. So, when a smoothie made by juice bar barista Kip Grady precedes Scott breaking his on-ice slump, he's desperate to recreate the magic...and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter.
     Kip knew there was more to Scott's frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never let himself imagine being invited back to Scott's penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon, never mind touched everywhere all at once. When it happens it's red-hot, incredible and frequent, but also only on Scott's terms and always behind his closed apartment doors.
     Scott needs Kip in his life, but with playoff season approaching, the spotlight on him is suddenly brighter than ever. He can't afford to do anything that might derail his career...like introducing the work to his boyfriend. Kip is ready to go all-in with Scott-but how much longer will he have to remain a secret?
     
     While Game Changer was a book I did enjoy reading I'm not sure if I'd want to read another book in this series. While Scott and Kip's story was one I wanted to read there wasn't anyone else who really popped for me in this book that would make me want to read their story.

Emphatic (Soul Serenade) By: Kaylee Ryan

      There comes a point in your life where you have to say enough is enough.
      Logan wasted her college years on a guy who played with her head, played with her heart. She was blinded by the fairytale, the one that didn't exist. The day she gave up on the idea of happily ever after, Logan's focus becomes her. Moving forward and establishing her career.
      Until one day....
       Logan didn't expect him. Her new boss, a six foot two, inked rock god. Logan believed she was working for the record label, she was wrong. It's impossible for Logan to keep her distance, she's tried. He's not who she expected him to be. He's so much more he's...Emphatic.

       I've read my fair share of romance books involving rock stars. And while I did enjoy reading Emphatic it wouldn't say that it was one of my favorites. I've had Emphatic in my to read pile for a while now and because it has been so long I made myself finally ready it even if there were others I wanted to read more just because it had been in my pile for so long. And after finally reading this book I have to say I have no regrets about waiting so long to read it. This book just wasn't for me.

The Mister By: E L James

      London, 2019. Life has been easy for Maxim Trevelyan. With his good looks, aristocratic connections, and money, he's never had to work and he's rarely slept alone. But all that changes when tragedy strikes and Maxim inherits his family's noble title, wealth, and estates, and all the responsibility that entails. It's a role he's not prepared for and one that he struggles to face.
      But his biggest challenge is fighting his desire for an unexpected, enigmatic young woman who's recently arrived in England, possessing little more than a dangerous and troublesome past. Reticent, beautiful, and musically gifted, she's an alluring mystery, and Maxim's longing for her deepens into a passion that he's never experienced and dares not name.

     Because I loved reading E. L. James' Fifty Shades series so much I couldn't wait to see what her next series had in store. I don't know what exactly I expected when I started reading The Mister but I can say that it wasn't nearly as addicting and compelling as the Fifty Shades series was and is. After what seems like forever I finally finished The Mister and can now safely say this wasn't nearly as good as James' last book. It took forever for me to read The Mister I just couldn't get into it. While the story did have it's moments, for the most part this wasn't really a book worth reading.

Ransom (Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team #1) By: Laramie Briscoe

       For years Ransom Thompson has wanted two things - to be a member of the Moonshine Task Force and to be the man Stella Kepler can't live without.
       One out of two isn't bad, or so he tells himself. Being the only K-9 handler for the MTF presents its own share of obstacles, but Ranson and Rambo? They make it work. Life is status quo, until Ranson's called in to help with what appears to be a hostage situation and Stella is right in the middle of it.
      This is Ransom's one chance, and he's not going to blow it.
      When Stella Kepler's stuck in an examination room holding a hurt woman and a man with a gun, she does the only thing she can. She sneaks out, calls 911 and hope help comes quickly. It does.
       In the form of Ransom Thompson.
       He and Stella have known each other since they were babies. Their mother's are friends, their dads work together and they've always been friends.
      Only, the last few months she's started to notice things. How mature he is, how alpha he can be, the chiseled six-pack, and the abundance of ink spreading across his body.
      When Stella offers to cook him dinner for saving her, neither one of them knows how that one moment will change the course of the rest of their lives.
     
      I could not get enough of Ransom. I was surprised with how much I actually enjoyed reading this book. So much so that I cannot wait to read not only the next book in this series but also the series that started this one off.

Needing Forever Vol 1 (Part of the Rocker Series Universe) By: Terri Anne Browning

     A collection of novella featuring some of reader's favorite characters in the Rocker series.
     The lead singer for Alchemy was Kenzie's first crush...and her first kiss. But when she overhears a phone call after that mind-blowing embrace, Kenzie knows she was just a game to him. It was time to get back to reality. But she never expected Bishop to show up at her job.
      All Linc's adult life, his parents' condemnation followed him, reminding Linc he's not worth loving. When Linc fell for Rhett Tomlinson, his parent's hateful vow that he would never find someone to love the real him only echoed louder. Time after time, Linc pushed Rhett out of his life, until Rhett finally gave up and walked away for good. Yet the pain Linc's parents' words once cause him was nothing compared to the agony of being without Rhett. Linc just prayed to all of Emmie's gods that he was willing to take one more chance on him.
     Dear Michelle, So I met a guy...But you probably already knew that. He saved my life, after all. You are my guardian angel, so I'm sure you've got my back. Because when I needed help the most, you dropped Kaden Carmichael straight into my world. But the real thing I want to tell you is...I think I love him. Only my heat isn't my own, so I can't give it to him. This is year heart that beats inside my chest, the one part of you that still remains now that you can't be beside me. Please, Michelle. Let me give it to him.
     Your eternal best friend, Mieke

     I first read the Rocker series years ago and have since then kept up with every new book released in this series. While there are some books I've read and enjoyed while others I've skipped after the sample, I did give each one a try. And because I didn't read every book in this series there was a bit of a confusion while reading these novella because of who some of the characters were but other than that I could not get enough of these novellas. And they brought back why I enjoyed reading this series in the first place. 

Like A Memory By: Abbi Glines

     One memory. One special summer.  The one thing Bliss had lost herself in when the fear and sickness were too much, moments never to be damaged by the harsh reality that followed...until now.
      Bliss York didn't love a normal teenage life. She didn't go to Friday night football games, walk the halls with her friends every day, go to her prom or even walk to receive her diploma. It had all been taken from her the fall that she was fifteen years old and she was given the diagnosis no one ever wants to hear.
      She had leukemia.
      Seven years after spending a summer with a girl who he knew would always be his first love and the one who got away, Nate Finlay returns to Sea Breeze to help his fiance open her new boutique clothing store. When the new employee walks in Nate is taken back seven years to the girl he thought he'd love forever. The one who never answered his calls or returned his texts. The one who shut him out completely with not even a goodbye and broke his heart.
      They've each become someone different. No longer the young teens with stars in their eyes. But does that matter when your heart still says that's the one.

      I first read Blaire and Rush's story a few years ago and have since read their stories multiple times since. And now it's time to read their son's story. It took some time but I am finally getting around to reading Nate's story. And I'm glad that I did eventually read Nate's story because it was a good read. My only criticism is that I wish there was more Blaire and Rush in this story, but that's only because of how much I loved their story.

Ranieri Andretti (The Five Syndicates Series #3) By: Parker S. Huntington

      They were best friends, then they were enemies.
      Loved. Protected. Cherished. There was a time when Ranieri Andretti made Carina feel those things. That was before his family came after hers. 
      Ranieri was supposed to forget Carina. They went their separate ways. It should have stayed like that. But now he's back in her life, and he's her new boss. 
      Carina wants to hate Ranieri. He's her ex-best friend. Her tormentor. The head of the Andretti family. But no matter how hard Carina tries...she can't stay away.

      I was really excited to read Ranieri Andretti after reading Asher Black. And since the previous book in this series I both could not put down and could not stop reading I was surprised with just how quickly I finished this book. And it wasn't because of how interested I was in this story but more along the lines of how much shorter Ranieri Andretti is than Asher Black. I actually didn't realize going into Ranieri Andretti much shorter it was and I just wish that it was longer and that there was more to Carina and Ranieri's story.

All Stars Fall (A Seaside Pictures/Big Sky Novella) By: Rachel Van Dyken

      She left. Two words Trevor can't really get out of his head. She left them. Three more words that make it that much worse. Three being another word he can't seem to wrap his mind around.
      Three kids under the age of six, and she left because she missed it. Because her dream has never been to have a family, no her dream has been to marry a rockstar and live the high life.
      Moving his recording studio to Seaside Oregon seemed like the best idea in the world right now especially since Seaside Oregon has turned into the place for celebrities to stay and raise families in between touring and producing. It would be lucrative to make the move, but Trevor's doing it for his kids because they need normal, they deserve normal. And him? Well, he just needs a break and help, that too. Trevor needs a sitter and fast. Someone who won't flip him off when he asks them to sign an Iron Clad NDA, someone who won't sell their pictures to the press, and most of all? Someone who looks absolutely nothing like his ex-wife.
      He's tall. That was Penelope's first instinct when she saw the notorious Trevor Wood, drummer for the rock band Adrenaline, in the local coffee shop. He ordered a tall black coffee which made Penelope smirk, and five minutes later she somehow agreed to interview for a nanny position. She couldn't help it, the smaller one had gum stuck in her hair while the eldest was standing on his feet and asking where babies come from. He looked so pathetic, so damn sexy and pathetic that rather than be star-struck, Penelope took pity. She knew though; knew the minute she signed the NDA, the minute their fingers brushed and her body became insanely aware of how close he was - she was in dangerous territory, she just didn't know how dangerous until it was too late. Until Penelope fell for the star and realized that no matter how high they are in the sky-they're still human and fall just as hard.
  
      All Stars Fall was a nice, quick enjoyable read. I haven't read any of the other books in the Seaside Pictures or Big Sky series, so going into this book I was a little unsure as to what to expect. But after reading the sample of All Stars Fall I really wanted to read more. And while I did enjoy reading All Stars Fall I don't think I want to start reading either series.

Asher Black (The Five Syndicates Series #1) By: Parker S Huntington

     It all started with her bladder. Lucy didn't mean to witness a shady deal in the restroom hallway. She didn't think twice when she called the cops. And she certainly didn't know who the club belonged to.
    Asher Black. Former mafia hitman. Billionaire CEO. New York's most eligible bachelor.
    When Asher shows up at Lucy's college, looking for the girl who called the cops on his business, Lucy knows she's as good as dead. What she doesn't expect is his offer - he'll pay for her tuition, set her up with a cushy job after she gradates, and all she has to do is...be his fake fiance.

      I'm going to be perfectly honest, when I first started reading Asher Black I honestly didn't think that I was going to enjoy reading this book. And I didn't for the first chapter or two in fact I barley read those chapters, but something told me to continue on with the story and I'm glad that I did. By the end of the first day I couldn't put Asher Black down, even when it was way past time when I should. Asher Black proves that while some books might not start off well they can definitely end on a high note.

Bottoms Up (The Rock Bottom Series #1) By: Holly Renee

      Guys like Tucker Moore didn't date girls like Kennedy. He had boring ol' washboard abs that looked like they were sculpted by the Gods, and Kennedy had more curves than a backroad in a country song.  He could charm the panties off anyone he wanted, but Kennedy preferred to interact with her latest literary best friends.
      He was her next-door neighbor, and the definition of a bad idea. She had no business thinking about him when she her hand up her own skirt to push the only buttons he had left untouched.
      The only sliding she should have been doing was straight into the friend-zone. Which she did, faster than he could say "just friends." It didn't matter that Tucker spend more than in Kennedy's apartment than his own or that he smiled at her in a way that made her stomach flip.
      That was just Tucker. And he was becoming Kennedy's best friend. Which made him completely off-limits. But a weekend away and a bag packed so full she couldn't fit her logic were their downfall.
      Tucker and Kennedy were going to screw everything up, and she would be the one left Bottoms Up.

    When I first read the synopsis of Bottoms Up I didn't think that I would actually enjoy this read. Turns out I was wrong. I found myself really enjoying Bottoms Up and while it wasn't one my favorites lately it defiantly was a surprise.