Thirty Day Boyfriend By: Whitney G

     Emily Johnson should have never agreed to the arrangement...

     Thirty days ago, her boss- Mr. Wolf of Wall Street, came to Emily with an offer she couldn't refuse: Sign her name on the dotted line and pretend to be his fiancee for one month. If she agreed, he would let Emily out of her employment contract with a "very generous" severance package. 

     The rules were pretty simple: No intimate kissing, no actual sex. Just pretend to love each other for the press, even though Emily has secretly wanted to knock that sexy smirk off his face since the first day they met. 

     Emily definitely didn't need to think twice about this. She signed her name and started counting down the seconds to when she would never have to deal with his special brand of ass-holery again.

    Emily only made it to one minute...

    They argued the entire four-hour flight to Nicholas' hometown, failed to make a convincing impression with the welcoming press, and right when she was about to knock that arrogant look off his face in real life. He purposely dropped his bath towel in front of Emily, distracting her with his nine-inch cock to "show Emily who the bigger person was" in their relationship. Then he gave Emily his trademark smirk once again and asked if she wanted to consummate their marriage. 

    Tragically, this is only day one. Emily and Nicholas still have 29 more days to go. 

    Thirty Day Boyfriend is yet another book that I've had on my to read list for a while now and am only just recently getting around to reading. And yet again, this was another book that I'm glad I held off on reading only because I couldn't get into it as much as I thought I would. 

Melting The Ice (A Play-By-Play Novel #7) By: Jaci Burton

      Everything's coming together for budding fashion designed Carolina Preston. Only months away from having her own line, she could use some publicity. That's when her brother suggests his best friend as a model - hockey player Drew Hogan. 

      Carolina and Drew already have a history - a hot one, back in college. Unforgettable for Carolina, but for Drew, just another slap shot. This time, though, it's different. His perfect body would be for professional use only. This time, she could use him.

      Drew is all for it. He's looking forward to the exposure. Plus, it would give him a chance to prove to Carolina that he's changed. If only he could thaw her emotions, convince her to let down her guard and let him in just one more time. 

      I mentioned before that I wasn't planning on reading the Play-By-Play series in its entirety. But I thought I would at least be reading the books I wanted to read in this series in order, that obviously didn't happen as I only realized after the fact that I read book 8 before book 7. Either way it worked out as there wasn't much cross between the two books. And I did end up liking this story enough to read once but not enough to want to read more than once. 

Straddling The Line (A Play-By-Play Novel #8) By: Jaci Burton

                                               

      Trevor Shay has it all - a successful football and baseball career, and any women he wants. But when he finds out his college mentor's daughter is in trouble, he drops everything to come to her aid. 

      Haven Briscoe has finally landed a dream job as a sportscasters for a major network. But she hasn't been able to move past the recent death of her beloved father, and it's affecting her career. A plum assignment following the daily life of sports superstar Trevor Shay might be just the inspiration she needs...

     Trevor will do anything to spark life into Haven, including letting her into every aspect of his world. The chemistry between them flames higher than one of Trevor's home runs and faster than his dashes to the end zone. But as they grow closer, Haven stumbles onto Trevor's closely guarded secret, one he's hidden his entire life. And despite his protests, now it's Haven's turn to put everything on hold to help Trevor. 

     Like with the last book I read from this series, I found Straddling the Line to be a good one and done kind of read. I say this because while it was a good read, not enough happened drama wise compared to other books that I am used to reading. Straddling the Line was still a good book and while I do want to continue on with this series, I feel as though once I'm done with the books I'm done and there's no need to go back read them again. 

The Not-Outcast By: Tijan

     Cutler Ryder was everything Cheyenne wasn't. He was the hockey star. She was the outcast. He was best friends with her stepbrother, that same stepbrother who hated her. His two parents loved him. Her mom was a junkie. Her dad barley knew her. 

     Years passed. Cheyenne got her life together. Cut went onto NHL stardom. 

     Then there was a text. She was drinking. There was a party. Cut was there...

     Cheyenne loved Cutler Ryder since the first moment she saw him. The only problem? He never knew she existed. 

    

      Every time a new book by Tijan is announced I know that more than likely I am going to be reading said book especially if it's a standalone. That being said, for some reason I just could not get into The Not-Outcast. I don't know what it is about Tijan's sports standalone books but all of the ones that I've read I just could not get into. I know it's not a standalone thing as I've read several other Tijan standalone books and enjoyed them immensely. But for some reason it's the books that involve sports that I could do without. I really think that's just a me thing because this book has a lot of good reviews I just wasn't one of them. Even with saying all that this doesn't defer me from wanting to read more of Tijan's books, I cannot wait to see what comes next. 

Inappropriate By: Vi Keeland

 

      Terminated for inappropriate behavior. Ireland couldn't believe the letter in her hands. Nine years. Nine damn years Ireland's worked her butt off for one of the largest companies in America, and she was fired with a form letter when she returned home from a week in Aruba. All because of a video taken when Ireland was on vacation with her friends - a private video made on her private time. Or so Ireland thought...

      Pissed off, Ireland cracked open a bottle of wine and wrote her own letter to the gazillionaire CEO telling him what she thought of his company and its practice. Ireland didn't think he'd actually respond. She certainly never thought she'd suddenly become pen pals with the rich jerk. Eventually, he realized Ireland had been wronged and made sure she got her job back. Only...it wasn't the only thing Grant Lexington wanted to do for Ireland. But there was no way she was getting involved with her boss's boss's boss. Even if he was ridiculously gorgeous, confident and charming, 

      It would be completely wrong, inappropriate even. Sort of like the video that got Ireland into trouble to begin with. Two wrongs don't make a right. But sometimes it's twice as fun.  

      When I first started reading Inappropriate I thought it was going to go one way and it ended going somewhere different. I had been waiting for months to read Inappropriate and I'm just now finally getting around to reading it. After having read it, I'm fine with having waited for so long. I didn't end of enjoying Inappropriate as much I thought I would.  

Man In Charge (Man In Charge Duet #1) By: Laurelin Paige

      The Sebastians own this city. Hell, they own the whole world. All Tess wants is one little piece of it, a corner that she can call her own. 

       So when her boss runs away to "find herself", Tess seizes the opportunity and dives head first into the Sebastian's glamorous universe. It's everything she's ever wanted--fast paced and high stakes--and, even though Tess doesn't fit in, she's excellent at faking it. 

      Until she came face to face with the man in charge, Scott Sebastian, the arrogant, playboy heir with the mind of a devil and the body of a god and a mouth Tess couldn't stop thinking about. 

He's infuriating. He's a distraction. He's the man who wants Tess in his bed as much as she wants to be there. 

      And, if she gets too close he'll be the one person who could expose Tess for what she really is - a fraud. 

       I've read a few other series written by Laurelin Paige, so going into this new series I had high hopes. And I am happy to say that I enjoyed reading Man In Charge and cannot wait for the next book in this duet especially when you consider that ending.

Happily Letter After BY: Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

 

       Sadie's love story all started with a letter. Only it wasn't from the man she'd eventually fall in love with. It was from his daughter. A sweet little girl named Birdie Maxwell who'd written to the magazine that Sadie worked for. You see, once a year Sadie's employer fulfilled a few wishes for readers. Only the column didn't start up again for months. So Sadie fulfilled some of her wishes herself. It was harmless...or so Sadie thought. Until one day she took things too far.

       While anonymously granting yet another of Birdie's wishes, Sadie got a look at her father. Her devastatingly handsome, single dad father. 

       Sadie should have stopped playing fairy godmother then. She should have left well enough alone. But she just couldn't help herself. She had a connection to this girl. One that had Sadie acting irrationally. 

      Like when she showed up on their doorstep.  

     I've read a few books by both Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward separately, so I knew going into this book that there was a good chance I would enjoy this story. Now having read Happily Letter After, I wouldn't say that it's the best book I've read by either author but it is also not the worst. I like to think this of this as a one and done kind of read. While it was a good read it's not one that I would read again.

Needing Arella (Rockers' Legacy #6) By: Terri Anne Browning

      Arella has a stalker. Nothing new about that. She's the latest it girl in Hollywood. Stalkers come with the territory. But this one is...different. This one is braver - and unpredictable. 

      Arella's sister is married to a security expert. One phone call and she could have one of the world's best-trained bodyguards watching over her twenty-four seven. But if she does, her parents will find out, and her dad will stress. What if he gets sick again because he's worried about her? No! Arella refuses to let that happen. Which leaves her with just one choice. She'll have to call the only other person she can trust. Jordan Moreitti. 

     I was actually pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed reading Needing Arella, mostly because with all the previous books in the series you didn't see much of the dynamic between Arella and Jordan.  Since I had stated previously that some of the books didn't hold a candle to one in particular I am glad to say that with Needing Arella everything is going up. If you haven't read the Rockers' Legacy series or its predecessor the Rockers' series then I do suggest giving these books a read. 

Taking A Shot (A Play-By-Play Novel #3) By: Jaci Burton

 

      The last thing Jenna Riley needs is more sports in her life. While her brothers are off being athletic superstars, she's stuck running the family's sports bar, whether she likes it or not. Then in walks pro hockey stud Tyler Anderson. As much as Jenna would like to go to the boards with him, she's vowed to never fall for a jock-even one as hot as Ty. 

     Ty, intrigued by the beautiful bar owner, becomes a regular. He senses that Jenna wants to do something more with her life. And as he gains her trust, the passion between them grows, as does Ty's insistence that Jenna should start living for herself. With his encouragement, Jenna starts to believe it, too...

     But first, Jenna has to figure out what she wants, what she needs, who she loves, and if she has the passion and pride to take a shot at having it all-including Ty...

     I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Taking A Shot, I had thought about reading the Play-By-Play series before but for one reason or another never did. So when I finally decided to give this series a try I skipped over to the third book in the series as this was the first book that seemed interesting enough to give a read. As someone who didn't start reading from the beginning of this series I don't feel as though I missed anything too important that makes it hard to follow along with the story. I appears as though each book is a standalone with only referencing the couples from the previous books. As for the story itself it was a decent read, there wasn't too much drama or craziness going on with the story but I enjoyed it enough to want to continue on with this series. 

Mangled Minds (The Harkwright Trilogy #2) By: B C Morgan

      Luna's second year at the prestigious Harkwright Academy is about to begin. Within those walls Luna has faced many challenges and she can't help but wonder: can she survive this, and still be the same girl she was when she began?

     This year Luna has even more trails to face; from attending the retreat after being claimed by Aeron, to seeing the infamous Harkwright Prince, with no more disguises in place. 

     The cards may not seem stacked against Luna right now, but can she stay in the Harkwrights good graces without losing herself? Will Luna continue to see this place as nothing more than a means to an end, or will it offer her the things she never even knew she wanted? 

     One thing's certain, it's gonna take more than a batch of baked goods to get Luna through this!

    I enjoyed reading Mangled Minds just as much as the first book in this series. I just could not get enough of it and managed to complete this book in no time at all. I cannot wait to read the third and final book to this trilogy when it comes out next year. But at the same time I am kind of sad that this series is almost over.

Hollow Hearts (The Harkwright Trilogy #1) By: B C Morgan

     Harkwright Academy, the place where dreams can come true. A three year stay will award you with an education that will rival any college and enough money to aid you in whatever career you choose to take. 

     Luna is applying to give her mom the life she deserves, to fund her sister's medical bills and so she can be sure to have the only thing she truly wants. 

     For her family Luna will give them her time, her soul and her body, but she will never give them her heart. This place is going to test Luna and the guys very well could break her, but they won't keep her down forever. 

     Hollow Hearts was a quick late night decision read. I had just finished reading a hell of a book and needed a break before moving onto something else. I had read the sample for Hollow Hearts and it was late at night so I thought why not? Since Hollow Hearts was a chance reading I didn't have much expectation once I started reading. To say I was pleasantly surprised with just how much I enjoyed reading this book would be an understatement. I actually enjoyed reading Hollow Hearts so much that I went ahead and downloaded the next book in this series as well as added the third to my wish list to read once it comes out. 

Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point #3) By: Mary Catherine Gebhard

      Story only had one rule: don't fall in love with the cruel prince. She broke it. When the clock struck twelve, she went back to being a servant. He promised to let her go with her heart in pieces...but Grayson Crowne always was king at breaking promises. 

      Story refuses to let Grayson lock her in a tower. She has no choice but to take the only out offered her - another cruel prince. Refuge in a man she loathes. Rescued from the man she loves. 

      Story wanted to forget Grayson, forget Crowne Hall, and hide, however fate has other plans. But if Grayson and Story are fated, then their fate is forbidden. Their happily ever after will only end one way...in a heartbreak. 

       I have been waiting to read Forbidden Fate since I finished reading the previously book in this series, Stolen Soulmate, the beginning of Grayson and Story's story. I remember not being able to put the previous book down and I thought that would be the same with Forbidden Fate but that was not the case. I just could not seem to get an into Forbidden Fate at all. 

      One issue I have with Forbidden Fate is that I went into this book thinking it was the conclusion to Grayson and Story's story but apparently that was not the case and there is yet another book that will be coming out. One major pet peeve I have with stories like these is when an author says a series will have a certain number of books in it, whether its supposed to be a standalone or a duet, and then the author changes it. It's always a change with more books not less and its times like this when I really think the author sees a series is popular and wants to capitalize on it. More times than not this does not work in the authors favor as the story loses something when they try to drag it along and adds information that does not necessarily have to be included. And that's exactly what happened here, there was not nearly enough happening in Forbidden Fate to have made it worth adding another book to this series. I could barley get through this book because it was all just useless information. 

      With that being said, do I want to continue on with this series and find out what happens next for Grayson and Story? I don't know and a one of the reasons is the price, the price was not worth paying for this book let alone paying the same price for this next book that I am already indecisive about.

      Another reason being, nowhere does it state that this next book is the last one for Grayson and Story. What happens if I go into this one, not like it and then find out there's one more book to this series?

      Overall would I recommend this series, no because as much as I enjoyed the first book I didn't enjoyed this second one at all. And again I don't think the price was worth this reading especially when you consider how hard it was for me to get through. It's weird for as many positive reviews I have seen regarding Forbidden Fate I have to agree with the few negative reviews I seen. 

Arrogant Boss By: Olivia Hayle

     Julian Hunt is a legend. A tech billionaire and a playboy philanthropist. He's not someone you meet, not without a six-month wait. Except Emily did - and not in that sweet, meet-cute kind of way. She wishes. No, she managed to run head-first into Julian Hunt in a nightclub. It's the spill-my-drink-over-his-suit kind of headfirst, the break-my-heel kind. But the arrogant bastard doesn't leave. No, he carries Emily to her car. He implies that she fell on purpose to catch his attention - how dare he - and after she's chewed him out, he asks for her number. She doesn't expect to see him again. After all, lightning doesn't strike twice. Except it does, when Julian's involved. Because when Emily walks into a business negotiation the next day, who's sitting on the other side? Julian Hunt. 

     He's wearing a smirk and a perfectly tailored suit, and he's not there to play. He dominates. Emily walks out of the negotiation having - somehow - been offered her dream job. It's an offer far too sweet to refuse. But if there's one thing more intimidating than Julian Hunt at a nightclub, it's Julian Hunt as a boss. A persistent, dominant, sexy-as-hell boss. He might have decided that they'd be perfect together, but Emily won't be tempted by his broad shoulders and wicked tongue. 

     Julian might be a hunter. But Emily refuses to become prey.

     I found Arrogant Boss to be a decent read.  It was a book that while I enjoyed reading it was a once is enough kind of read. 

Heartbreak Lover (Broken Hearts Academy #2) By: C.R. Jane

     No one wants to believe in monsters, but Everly has seen firsthand that they existed. She said goodbye to Jackson Parker, desperate to save herself once and for all, but old habits die hard. When a monster from the past comes back, Everly will have no choice but to reveal their secrets. 

     Everly needs Jackson to be her hero, but he has his own scars. Can the two conquer the past once and for all? Heartbreak Prince or Lover...there's a fine line that separates the two. 

     I had gone into Heartbreak Lover with little expectations as I wasn't a fan of the first book in this series. And yet I continued to read onto the next book in this series, why because the first one ended in such a way that I wanted to continue on anyways knowing that there was a chance that I wasn't going to enjoy it. And I would be correct in that assumption, I didn't enjoy reading Heartbreak Lover in fact I mostly just skimmed it. So why if that's the case did I read the book at all or continue to the end? I don't know, but what I do know is that this author must be doing something right, getting me to read a book and series that I wasn't that into to begin with. 

Some Kind Of Monster (Friends With The Monsters #2) By: Albany Walker

     Naughty girls need love too. A beautiful monster, that's what Damiana is. Her packaging is just a little nicer than the creatures you hear about dwelling in your closet. With three baddies as mates, things are definitely getting interesting. Damiana thinks she has even convinced them not to kill each other. But Damiana has a new purpose, someone is hurting their kind. Stealing Charmed magic in arcane rituals that leave her friends drained and dead, and she won't allow it. It's time for them to find out why even the Monsters fear her. Damiana is the bad guy. 

     I have been wanting to read Some Kind of Monsters since I read the first book in this series and found out another book would be coming. Just like with the first book in this series once I got into it I could not put it down. Since I've read Friends with the Monsters a few times now it was easier to follow along with the monsters when reading this sequel. Although I do wish that the author reiterated what some of the monsters were, as the monsters were only referred to by name there were a few times that I would like to know who is 'so and so' and what monster they were.

     Even with the slight confusion I still enjoyed reading Some Kind of Monsters and will be reading it again. 

Cavalier (A Crimson Elite #1) By: T. L. Smith

     Welcome to Crimson Elite, the most exclusive sex club in the world. Enter at your own risk, and always remember their number one rule - You must never speak of Crimson Elite - the punishment is severe.
     Creed 'Too Hot for Words' Christoper, if God created the perfect man he would closely resemble Creed, on the outside that is. He's as cavalier as they come, Unconcerned. Cold. Dismissive. Elicea wonders if he has any feelings at all. And when his lips touch hers, everything goes blank. He takes Elicea into his world, and it's the most magical thing she has ever experienced. And he's sucked in time and time again. Like a moth to the flame, Elicea is ready to be set alight.
     Elicea 'F*cks with My Head' Beckham, Elicea is a firecracker. She has piqued Creed's interest, and no one piques his interest anymore. Beautiful women are what Creed does - it's his work. Not one of them has managed to get their claws into Creed the way she does. It's as if she's seeing his icy heart and trying to melt it, set it alight with each touch of her sinful lips. But that can't work, it won't work. Not in Creed's world.

     When I first started reading Cavalier I did enjoy the story and I thought I would continue to enjoy reading it. But as the story went on I began to get less and less interested in it. I didn't even finish the story because I was just so over it. 

Wanting Shaw (Rockers' Legacy #5) By: Terri Anne Browning

     Just the sight of Shaw is enough to make Jagger's mind go blank. Shaw Cage doesn't know the power she has over him, and he can never let her find out. Shaw is Jagger's best friend's sister. And Shaw's brother and Jagger made a pact - their sisters were off-limits. As much as Jagger wants Shaw, he could never have her.
     Until Jagger realized Cannon, Jagger's best friend and Shaw's brother, was unworthy of Jagger's loyalty. Only realizing his mistake came too late. Jagger had already let Shaw down too many times. But he is Emmie Armstrong's son. He won't let anything stand in his way of getting what he wants most.

     While I did enjoy reading Wanting Shaw, it didn't hold a candle to the previous book in this series, Loving Violet. But I think that had more to do with anticipating that story before this spin-off series even began. Having said that, had I not anticipated the previous book so much I think I would have enjoyed this book more. Even so I will definitely be continuing on with this series and would recommend giving this series a read.

Until July (Until Her #1) By: Aurora Rose Reynolds

     Wes Silver wasn't looking for love, but when July Mayson literally knocks him on his ass during their first encounter, his world is turned upside down by the quirky blonde, and every moment with her makes him more determined to protect her.
     July Mayson doesn't understand the pull she feels toward the bad boy biker Wes Silver, but she knows being with him is like nothing she's ever felt before. Now all she has to do is tell her overprotective father, Asher Mayson, that she's found her boom.

     I was first interested in reading July's story after first reading her parents' (November and Asher) story in Until November. It was because I was so interested in their story that I wanted to read more. Until July was the first synopsis I read that interested me enough to want to continue reading. When I started reading Until July I was very much into but as the story went on I began to lose interest. While Until July by itself it a good book, having read Until November first it just didn't live up to it.

Heartthrob (Hollywood Hearts #1) By: Belinda Williams

     Ally Valenti doesn't belong in Hollywood. She definitely wouldn't be stupid enough to fall for a movie star. Particularly not a Hollywood heartthrob like Jacob Swan. It doesn't help that there's a lot more to Jacob than his on-screen good guy, all-American persona. But Ally is in LA with a job to do. She's in town to pursue her dreams of fashion design and create some gowns for the awards season for her friend and actress, Lena Lyons - not get distracted by Lena's co-star.
     Of course the media has other ideas. When Ally is spotted in public with Jacob, threats aimed at destroying her fashion career go too far. Someone obviously doesn't like all the attention she's getting and Ally becomes convinced she's living in crazy town.
     The sensible thing would be to retreat home before it all ends in spectacular fashion. But will Ally be leaving more than her dreams behind if she says goodbye in Hollywood?

     Heartthrob took some time to start getting interested in but once I got there I could not put it down. Heartthrob is one of those books that takes a while to get into but once you get there there's no stopping until you're done.

Heart Breaker (Ray #1) By: E.L Todd

     The first thing Rae noticed about Ryker? Sooo Hawt. Tall, muscular, deep blue eyes, cheekbones so sharp they could cut through glass...But what did she notice a moment later? Heartbreaker. Player. Badboy. This guy was bad news. Did that stop Rae from sleeping with him? Heeellll noooooo. Did that stop her from falling in love with him. YES. Come on, she's not stupid. After their blissful night, Rae thought she would never see him again. But when she goes to work the next day, he's the new CEO in charge. And apparently, he's friends with her brother...who lives with her. Now Rae can't get rid of him...and he certainly doesn't want to get rid of her.

     Heart Breaker was yet another E.L Todd story that I did not realize was a multi book series until after I had downloaded the story and got ready to read. I actually only looked into seeing if this book was a standalone or multi book deal after having read the beginning of a different series by the same author. As with Todd's last book I read, I could not get into this book and because I already knew that I would have to continue on with this series if I wanted to know what happened next I stopped reading around the fifty percent mark. The reason I didn't finish reading was because I knew by that point that I was done with the story and also that this was not a series that I would want to continue reading.

The Doctor (Doctor #1) By: E.L. Todd

     Pepper's husband left her. After five years together, he realized he was gay. Once the anger had faded away, there was nothing but love behind. This man is still her best friend and Pepper wants him in her life. So she moved across the hall so they can still be as close as they always have.
     Then his brother moves in for a couple of weeks, a man Pepper has never met. He relocated to Seattle to work as an ER doctor at the local hospital. And he's NOTHING like his brother. The strong and silent type, he looks at Pepper with a gaze so fierce it's like he hates her. Every time they're alone in a room together, the chemistry is so suffocating Pepper can barley breathe. The guy never wears a shirt around the apartment so that makes it a million times worse...or better depending on how you look at it.
     But this man is off limits. He's the only man in the world Pepper can't have. And he can't have her either. So they'll have to keep pretending there's nothing there, even though there is.

     I have had The Doctor in my to-read pile for a while now and when I had originally got this book I wasn't aware that each book in the series went together. I thought by the titles that each book was a standalone now having finished reading The Doctor I'm not sure that I want to continue on with this series. While The Doctor was a decent enough read it wasn't good enough for me to want to continue on with this series. I wasn't engrossed enough with the characters to make me want to invest more of my time into finding out what happens next.

Until November By: Aurora Rose Reynolds

     November is looking forward to getting to know her father and the safety of a small town. After leaving the big apple and her bad memories for Tennessee, November starts working for her dad at his strip club doing the books. The one time she's allowed there during club hours she runs to Asher Mayson. He's perfect until he opens his mouth and makes assumptions. November wants nothing to do with Asher but too bad for November fate has other plans. Asher Mayson has never had a problem getting a woman that is until November. Now all he can think about is making November his and keeping her safe.

     I have had Until November in my to-read pile for months now and just never got around to reading it. It was a book I had purchased for free and there were others books that had interested me more. Now that I have read Until November I cannot believe that it took me so long to read. I could not put it down and absolutely loved this book.

Royal Gentleman By: Christy Pastore

     Crown Prince of Sardones, Ander Nicholas Gabriel Camran was Kerris' childhood best friend. Until he wasn't.
     Nicholas was the boy who played hide-and-seek with her inside the palace walls. The pre-teen who taught her how to play the piano. The teen who snuck Kerris into the kitchen at midnight for ice cream sundaes. Nicholas was her first crush. Her first kiss.
     Ten years later, she has the opportunity of a lifetime. To photograph and chronicle the Royal Family of Sardones' reinstallation. To capture history. And now, he's about to become king. But the monarchy has rules. Traditions. Nicholas is determined to break them all. For his country. For himself. For Kerris to become his queen.

     Royal Gentleman was a good read I loved the chemistry between Nicholas and Kerris. The only issue that I really had with this was, there wasn't as much drama as I thought there would be. Not to say that that necessarily a bad thing because it's not. I'm just used to reading book where more often that not there's some conflict between the two lovers at some point in the story so this was a change for me.

The Alpha's Unknown Son By: Skylar Thomas

     As Rose struggles to escape her past, she realizes she can never do so with her son as the ultimate reminder of the rejection and pain she tries to forget. As she tried to lead a life for both of them, she is suddenly forced to face Nick Rollins again, the handsome and fierce alpha that crushed her innocent heart. Rose doesn't trust him, but as danger lurks, he's the only one who can keep them safe. Is the mate bond enough to save them or will pride cause them to face their biggest fears yet?

     From just the initial sample reading that I got with The Alpha's Unknown Son I knew that I was going to enjoy this read. Then once I started reading the book in its entirely I could not stop. This is definitely a book that I will want to read again.

The Matchmaker's Playbook (Wingmen Inc. #1) By: Rachel Van Dyken

     Wingman rule number one: don't fall for a client.
     After a career-ending accident, former NFL recruit Ian Hunter is back on campus-and he's ready to get his new game on. As one of the masterminds behind Wingmen, Inc., a successful and secretive word-of-mouth dating service, he's putting his extensive skills with women to work for the lovelorn. But when Blake Olson requests the service of Wingmen, Inc., Ian may have landed his most hopeless client yet.
      From her frumpy athletic gear to her unfortunate choice of footwear, Blake is going to need a miracle if she wants to land her crush. At least with a professional matchmaker by her side she has a fighting chance. Ian knows that his advice and a makeover can turn Blake into another successful match. But as Blake begins the transformation from hot mess to smokin' hot, Ian realizes he's in danger of breaking his cardinal rule....

      I first got interested in The Matchmaker's Playbook from the movie and not the book itself. I saw the book as a recommendation and read the synopsis but was never interested in reading, at least not until after I watched the movie. I figured since I enjoyed watching the movie so much I thought I should give the book a read.
     I stick by something I had mentioned before, for movies based off of books depending on which you do first that's the one you are more biased to. Since I watched the movie first that is where my bias goes. That's not to say that the book was bad, after reading it I can safely say that the movie really stuck to it. It was more like the movie held my attention more than the book, making this a one and done read.

Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins: Next Generation) By: Toni Aleo

     Shelli Adler has known what she wanted since she was eleven years old. Aiden Brooks.
     But Aiden has always had other ideas. After spending the early years of his life without his dad, hockey legend Lucas Brooks, Aiden is determined not to settle for anything less than true love. When's he ready. Now he's living the fast life of an NHL bachelor. He won't give his heart to any one girl, but they can have his body-all night long.
     The party to celebrate the start of the second half of the season was supposed to be no different from any other party. And when a stunning stranger approaches Aiden, he can't seem to keep his hands off her.
     The next morning, she's gone, and he's been traded to his dad's former team, the Nashville Assassins. All of his professional dreams are coming true, but he can't shake the memory of the girl from the last party. He wants to see her again. Though, after moving across the country-and without knowing her name-the dream seems like a puck destined to miss the net.
     For Shelli, her night with Aiden was everything she's ever imagined it could be, and she's sure it is all about to change for them. But for that to happen...he would have to know who she was.
     The Dump was only the beginning. The Chase is worth waiting a lifetime for.

     I could not put Dump and Chase down. I highly recommend this book. I read the sample to Dump and Chase a while back and kept circling around to it because I knew I had to read it. Now, that I have finished reading I can safely say that the sample held up to the rest of the book and is a book I glad I've read.

Rich Prick By: Tijan

    Blaise Devore walked into school on his first day and owned it. For Aspen Monson, its a guess that's what happens when you're a prick, rich, and you're best friends with the ruling school's king. It also doesn't hurt that Blaise is drop dead gorgeous.
    That's all fine. Aspen has nothing to do with them. She is a loner, invisible, and that's how she wanted it to be. She was even proud of it, until she wasn't.
    Until she saw a girl kneel before Blaise. Until she couldn't look away. Until he caught her watching.
    Blaise only knew how to get, command, and demand attention. Aspen knew how to do everything but that.

    I finished reading Rich Prick a bit ago and I think this might be a one and done kind of book for me. It's not that I didn't like Rich Prick, it's more like I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as some of Tijan's other stories that I have read. I think I have read about 10 books by Tijan by now and for the most part I've like them all but there were a few where I was just a little bored when reading. That's not to say that you shouldn't give Rich Prick a read, it more just that I was not into this.

Love, Lust & Liam (Wyatt Brothers #2) By: Sandi Lynn

     Liam Wyatt and his brother Oliver are founders and owners of Wyatt Enterprises. Oliver found love and Liam was still trying. After dating a countless number of women throughout the years, Liam was ready to have a real relationship with the possibility of settling down. Liam could have any woman he wanted. So what's the problem you ask? Liam didn't want just any woman. He wanted the one. Unfortunately, he still hadn't found her until Avery Lewis walked into his life and turned Liam's world upside down. She was everything Liam wanted in a woman all wrapped up in a beautiful and breathtaking package. The problem was she didn't want a relationship. She had built up a wall around her and Liam was going to do everything he could to break through that wall and make her a permanent part of her life.
     Avery Lewis moved to New York when she landed a job at Finn, Muir & Abernathy, one of the most influential law firms in the country. Avery moved from Danbury, Connecticut when an office romance went bad and she wanted to start her life over, focusing on her career and her career only. Men were off limits. A girl could only take so much heartbreak in a lifetime. Then Liam Wyatt walked into her life and turned Avery's world upside down. He was a man who could have any woman in the world, but yet he wanted her. Sexy, smart, and genuinely a nice guy wasn't enough for Avery to let her half glass/half stone wall she built around her down. The problem was that Avery was falling for him on such a deep level that it scared her.
     Between Avery's past and her daddy issues, the poor guy didn't stand a chance. He was determined to make Avery a part of his live and was she determined to run.

     Love, Lust & Liam is the second book in the Wyatt brother series. I should have figured ahead of time that I wasn't going to like this but I didn't know for sure until I started reading. My first clue that I wasn't going to like this as much was how long it took to actually start reading. I have had Love, Lust & Liam in my to-read pile for a while now (like months) and am only just now getting to it. So I finally gave it a read and continued reading even when I didn't like it. I think one of the main reason I wasn't into this book was just because of how much I enjoyed the first book in this series and this second story just couldn't hold a candle to the first one.

Nathan Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers #2) By: Sandi Lynn

      Nathan Wolfe had the perfect life, jetting around the world doing a job he loved and meeting a variety of beautiful women. Women who would do anything for one night with him. He had a gift. The gift of charm and good looks. Nathan could charm the panties off women just by staring into their eyes. He always gets what he wants with no effort. He wasn't a committed type of man with women. The word didn't exist in Nathan's vocabulary. He had the world at his fingertips, and he was flying high. Until Nathan met a woman who took his breath away. The moment he saw her, he wanted her. Not a problem, right? Wrong. Not only was she off limits because she worked for his brother, Elijah, she wasn't interested, and she made it very clear. But that didn't stop Nathan from pursuing her. She was a wounded little bird, and something inside him wanted to fix her. Even if it was for her own selfish reasons. The one thing he didn't count on was her turning his entire life and world upside down, making Nathan question everything he thought he believed in.
      Alison Price moved back to New York from Chicago after her husband suddenly passed away. They were high school sweethearts and he was the love of her life. Alison needed a fresh start for her and her daughter, and they needed to build a life without him. She wasn't interested in any other man and she didn't think she ever would be again. Then she met Nathan Wolfe. He was sexy, confident, and charming. But he also possessed some qualities she hated in a man. They connected on a level she didn't think was possible and it paralyzed her with fear. Alison was stuck in reverse and she didn't know how to move forward.

     Nathan Wolfe is the second book in the Wolfe Brothers series. Since I enjoyed reading the first book in this series so much I knew I wanted read this one. I don't know if it was because I enjoyed the first one so much but I just could not do it with Nathan Wolfe. I couldn't get into it or want to keep reading.

Bending The Rules (The Rules Duet #1) By: Mariah Doetz

     It started with a crush. The best stories do.
     Raegan and Lincoln's story sounds predictable. Short-lived. Destined for failure.
     Lincoln Beckett is the star wide receiver of Brighton University - smart, funny, and like many would guess, heartbreak shines in his dark brown eyes and is etched across his steel jaw. He's popular, a guaranteed draft pick, and worst of all; Reagan's brother's best friend.
     It's a tale of unrequited love. Raegan tried not to like him. She has an entire list of reasons. Reasons that have become her rules for dating.
    Rules that he keeps bending.

     I have been seeing Bending the Rules as a recommendation read for a while now and since the I enjoyed reading the last highly recommended book I thought that I would give this book a read as well. And sadly, this was a recommended book that probably should not have been recommended to me. I could barley make it through this story, I just did not care. I finally had to give up a little more than halfway through the story because I just could not get interested enough to continue on.

Loving Violet (Rocker's Legacy #4) By: Terri Anne Browning

      I have been wanting to read Luca and Violet's story since the Rockers' series when we just got a glimpse of the two of them together and what their relationship could one day be. Then when Lyric's (Luca's twin) story came out my anticipation only increased because I just had to find out how Luca and Violet went from being so close to not even speaking to one another.
      Now after finishing Loving Violet I can certainly say that this book made all the waiting well worth it. Going into Loving Violet I already knew that at some point something was going to happen and this would cause Luca and Violet to break apart. And whatever that cause was it would be an emotional journey.
      When I say it was an emotional journey I mean it. I laughed, cried and even got angry at some points. When I say I cried, I cried. There are only a handful of books that get me to cry and Loving Violet is one of those books. Terri had me not only tearing up at some points but also had me really crying at others. I mean where I had to take a tissue to my eyes in order to keep reading. I had already read the spoilers and knew what was coming and yet Terri still had my crying. And that's why I enjoy reading this series and Terri's writing so much. Because even when you know what's coming you still get sucked into the journey of it all.

Looking to Score By: Carrie Gray and Coralee June

     He's, like, literally the worst. Oakley Davis is the star running back at their university - and the reason Amanda has broken her vow to avoid the college party scene. Thanks to a mix-up with her advisor, she's now serving her Public Relations internship as a glorified babysitter to the party-hard football players. 

     Specifically, Oakley. 

     He's impossible to manage. His Instagram is full of pictures of him half-naked and drunk, and he'd rather attend parties than practice. Oakley's brand needs some serious work, and when he's not driving Amanda insane, he's sleeping his way through the entire female population. 

     But Amanda's determined. She has plans to graduate a semester early, and nothing or no one will get in her way. She's a Virgo, after all. Oakley Davis might be a privileged, cocky football star, but she's Amanda Matthews, and she'll do whatever it takes to get her A.   

    She just has to make sure she doesn't end up falling in love with the idiot, first. 

     Looking to Score was a book that was both recommended to me and one I saw that I kept seeing come up in my feed because it was just released. And I'm really glad that I did give this book a try, I could not put Looking to Score down. I just couldn't get enough of the love-hate dynamic between Oakley and Amanda.

Home Game (A Vancouver Wolves Hockey Romance #2) By: Odette Stone

     Ryan's a professional hockey player trying to survive on his new team. He's just trying to survive.
     Zoe's down to her last dollar. She lives day-to-day in a world that doesn't care. Despite her bad luck, she's a fighter. Zoe never gives up. She never stops trying.
     Ryan Parker's wealth and generosity, sets him apart from anyone Zoe knows. Yet, she doesn't trust him. It's nothing personal. She trusts no one. But when her bad luck takes a turn for the worse, one person shows up. Ryan Parker.
     She cannot understand why Ryan bothered because the guy has enough of his own issues to deal with. But I don't have a choice. She needs him. It's a matter of survival.
     His friendship changed everything. It changed her. Zoe started to believe in herself. She allowed herself to trust. And for the first time, in a long time, Zoe felt her heart beat from again.
     In the game of love, winning is harder than it looks. She doesn't know the rules. She doesn't know how to win. But she'll play her heart out until the whistle blows.
   
     When I first started reading Home Game I wasn't sure what to expect. But it wasn't long before I was found myself completely into this story. I just could not seem to want to put it down. Home Game is definitely a book that I would read again.

Dustan (Caveman Instinct #5) By: Hazel Gower

     Dustan is a Silverman, whose family centuries ago was gifted by gypsies to know who their soulmate was - he knew it was only a matter of time before he found his soulmate. He f*cked up. Dustan met his one true love and called her names a woman should never hear. He hurt her. The second time he met her wasn't any better and the third time he made promises he never really intended to keep. Awaking from a coma to an angelic splendor that is Cassandra Towensted changes everything. Dustan has to start from scratch. He doesn't know what happened before or after the accident, but Dustan knows that he's done something to hurt his woman. He needs to recover, but all he wants is to make Cassandra happy.
     Cassie's nerdy teenage life was boring before her best friend Jade dated a Silverman. The family crashed into their lives and boring was something she never experienced again. Cassie was happy to be the third wheel, and as she watched others find their mates her expectations for a Silverman of her own rose.
     When Cassie first met Dustan, he didn't act like any Silverman she knew. Cassie was hurt that even after claiming she was his soulmate, he could be so self-centered and selfish. Tragedy brings about a second chance with Dustan becoming a changed man.

     I liked reading Dustan much more than I did Mason. And yet I still think Stephan, the first book in this series was the best. While Dustan managed to hold my interest much more than Mason did it still was not without effort. Even with all that I will say this, this series at least the books that I have already read are ones that I would read again.

Mason (Caveman Instinct #4) By: Hazel Gower

     Mason's family was given gifts for helping a group of gypsies. One of them was the ability to know your soulmate instantly. From what Mason has seen, it can be more than a curse, as once you find your mate, you turn into a possessive caveman. Mason has found his soulmate, beaten, battered, and bruised. As he nurses her back to health she clings to his side. His family thinks this is why the bad part of the gypsy gift hasn't affected him. Mason is just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
    Alexa didn't realize how good she had it until she lost it all. Mason found her when she needed him the most. From the moment she saw him, he has been her knight in shining armor. He takes the time to get to know her, to let Alexa be herself again. Settling into her new life, Mason tells her she's his soulmate and the only one meant for him. Alexa wants to keep living the dream she has built with him, but she'll have to fight her demons eventually and she doesn't want to drag Mason along.

     Its been awhile since the first time I've read the first book in the Caveman Instinct series. Since then I have read that book repeatedly and thought that I would give the rest of the book in this series a read. Mason was the first book in the series that appealed to me enough to keep reading after the sample read. And while it was an okay read and one that I would read again it didn't hold a candle to the first book in this series.

The Deception (Filthy Rich Americans #3) By: Nikki Sloane

     Marist has been through hell to get to this place. to wear the prefect white dress and stand beside Royce Hale, the liar she tried desperately not to fall in love with and failed. 
      Or maybe she's still trapped in hell because the devil is there too. He lurks at Marist's side, plotting terrible ways to make her his. 
      It's win at all costs in this family, and Marist knows now just how far the Hales will go to get what they want. 
      But you can't survive in a house full of lies without learning the art of deception, and once Marist becomes a Hale, she'll show them exactly what she's mastered. 

     The final chapter in the Filthy Rich American series and it was well worth the wait. I could not put The Deception down. I wanted Royce and Marist to come out on top but that ending though, that ending was not one that I could have ever predicted. And that's exactly what you want with the end of a book/series that you really enjoy. You want an ending that you don't see coming, one that's not predicted to happen before you are even halfway through the story. 

Breaking His Rules By: R.C. Matthews

     When Samantha landed the best bartending job in downtown Chicago, the rules were as clear as the Grey Goose martini she mixed for him. Don't sleep with the patrons. She had no problem with that. Money didn't impress her. But Damon Baxter's eyes did. Midnight blue, just like the name of his nightclub. The way they undressed her made Sam consider risking the most sought after job in the service industry. Nailing the position had been hard. Obeying the rules? Even harder.
     Good thing she liked it hard. Samantha was never one for following orders. For one night with him, she would have sold her soul to the devil. And that's exactly what she did. She offered him a single night of pleasure but when Damon demanded another in that deep and sexy whisper, what could she say? Damon is her boss and Samantha always aimed to please...when it pleased her.

     Breaking His Rules was definitely a book I enjoyed reading. What starts off as a one night stand between two strangers so turns into something more. Something that they both seemed to be need without ever realizing it was what they were looking for.

Heartbreak Prince (Broken Hearts Academy #1) By: C.R. Jane

     Soulmate. Everly believed in them. She was lucky enough to have two of them at once. The only problem. Her soulmates happened to be twin brothers.
     Caiden was the light to Jackson's dark. And after all that Everly has been through, the light was what she thought she needed.
     When she chose Caiden, she lost Jackson.
      Feeling like half a person after Jackson left, Everly barley survived when tragedy struck and she lost Caiden too. It took Everly years to admit it to herself that she had chosen wrong from the beginning. She's ready to admit it to Jackson...only problem, he hates her.
    Everly's ready to fight for her happily ever after. But there's a reason they call him the Heartbreak Prince.

     For some reason as much as I did not enjoy this read there was something that just made me unable to put Heartbreak Prince down. Even with me skipping around some of the pages I still kept reading. And now even after reading and saying all this I still want to continue on with this series and find out what happens next. So I guess that means C.R. Jane is doing something right.

Surviving HIs Scars (Angels Halo MC Next Gen #4) By: Terri Anne Browning

     Monroe has a secret. One that will get the man she's been crushing on for years killed if her father ever finds out. Her sister says he's a stalker - how else could he know exactly when Monroe's in trouble and come to rescue her? She doesn't care. He has saved Monroe over and over again, so she knows he doesn't want to harm her. And every time she gets so much as a glimpse of him, her heart becomes even more his.
     Everyone who hears his name instantly thinks of Gian as a monster. They don't know the real him. The one who hated the men who tried to make him just as evil as them. All Gian wanted was to burn their empire to the ground. Until he saw her. His precious one. Her family thinks he wanted to hurt her when all he wants is to protect her.
      The scars of Gian's past aren't pretty. They shroud him like a dark cloak, making him feel like the devil he's been cast as. It would taint her sweetness if he let them touch her. But when Monroe disappears on him, Gian can't hold back any longer.  

     I was excited to read Gian and Monroe's story after getting a glimpse of their relationship in Lyric and Mila's (Monroe's twin) story, Savoring Mila. Just like with her twin's story I was unable to put Surviving His Scars down. I managed to read the whole thing in one sitting and I have nothing bad to say about this story, other than the price. But that's mostly because I personally don’t like having to ever pay more than $3.99 for an ebook especially if the number of pages don't reflect the cost.

King of Campus (Barnet Bulldogs #1) By: Jennifer Sucevic

     Roan King.
     The uncrowned king of Barnet University. He's like a freaking celebrity around the University. It's totally ridiculous. People, by which grown women, actually stalk him on the internet. And around campus. Apparently he's god's gift to both football and the ladies. All he has to do is smile and girls just fall right onto their backs before spreading their legs nice and wide. Word is he's already plowed his way through half the female population at Barnet. He's sure to work his way through the second half before he gets drafted to the NFL later this year.
     Ivy doesn't plan to be one of them. Ivy sees Roan as nothing more than a conceited player. You know the type - a steroid infused meathead jock coasting through college on his football prowess.
     Ivy has three words for that - avoid, avoid, avoid.
     Then she had the misfortune of running into Roan on campus. Literally. As in - Ivy literally slammed into him before spilling her iced coffee drink all over that wide rippling chest. And what did she learn from this experience that Roan King is one hell of a cocky son of a -
     She also learned that he has the most specular chest...and don't get her started on those abs...she could probably cut diamonds on them.
     Unfortunately for Ivy, Operation Avoid Roan King isn't going so well. Everywhere she goes, there he is. If he wasn't so ridiculously hot, he would be a hell of a lot easier to forget. With his dark hair, shocking turquoise colored eyes and buff body, he's easily the most gorgeous guy Ivy has ever laid eyes on.
      As much as she wants to avoid Roan, she can't.

     When I first started reading King of Campus I was really into it but before I was even halfway through that opinion changed. I kept looking down to see how far into the story I was and I was nowhere near finished even when I wanted to be. But for some reason I went through with the whole story even when I wanted it to just be done.

Stolen Soul Mate (Crowne Point #2) By: Mary Catherine Gebhard

                                                  
     There's a rule in Crowne Hall: never look a Crowne in the eye.
     It separates the 'us' (servants) and 'them' (Crowne family).
     Story broke it once, the night Grayson Crowne mistook her for his true love and stole her first kiss. She's regretted it ever since.
      He hates her. Her torments her. He won't let her go, because that night he whispered a secret against Story's lips not meant for her. Grayson Crowne, heir to the Crowne empire and notorious playboy prince is...a virgin.
      Story signed a contract in her heart's blood as much as ink: help him get back his love, repair what she broke. Give Grayson her body, her mind, let him use all of her, so when the time comes to marry his love, he won't need Story.
     Story shouldn't need him. But he's her stolen soulmate, and she's at his mercy.

     The dynamite between Story and Grayson was something else and yet I could not get enough of it. In Stolen Soul Mate Gebhard really brings home the point that the grass isn't always greener on the other side but also that you can't judge a book by its cover. Grayson on the outside seems like the ultimate player when the truth couldn't be anything further. I loved reading Stolen Soul Mate and I cannot wait to read the conclusion to their story.

The Obsession (Filthy Rich Americans #2) By: Nikki Sloane

     The Hale family is obsession with status, power, and control. No problem is too big their money can't solve.
      Royce Hale manipulated Marist into giving him everything. Her virginity. Her hand in marriage. Her heart. And as soon as he got what he wanted, he callously sold Marist off for a cool ten million.
     In the boardroom and the twisted game his family plays, he says the only rule is to win at all costs.
     Yesterday she learned a painful lesson not to trust the prince of Cape Hill. Today she'll destroy his carefully laid plans and show him just how badly he's already lost.
     All the money in the world won't be able to stop him.

     After having The Obsession in my to read pile for quite some time I am finally getting around to reading the second book in the Filthy Rich Americans series. And while it may have taken me forever to get around to reading The Obsession, once I started I couldn't put it down. And now I cannot wait to read the conclusion of Royce and Marist's story.

The Sinful King By: Claire Contreras

     If you had any ties to Marbella, it was impossible for you not to have heard the stories about Prince Elias and his debauchery. 
     Every summer he arrived with his security detail and friends in tow and rented out a row of cottages near the water. Cottages that belonged to Adeline's family. 
     Each of those summers Adeline's parents sent her away - summer camp and later, boarding school. Anything to keep Adeline away from the royals and their partying. 
     Adeline hasn't been home in years, but when she finally comes back for the summer, she can see that not much has changed. Like all the summers she'd been gone. Price Elias is back, but this time with an incognito security detail and no friends. This time, there is no partying, no noise, no crowds. No reason at all to even think he was there. 
     She's given strict orders not to talk to him, not to even look in his direction, but he makes this an impossible task. Adeline may be doing everything in her power to stay away from him, but there is no one in the world who can say no to the future King of France. 


     When I first started reading The Sinful King I wasn't really sure what to expect. I read the sample and I thought, ok this could go either way but kept reading anyways. And slowly but surely once I really started reading I could not stop and managed to finish in one day. This was not only a story that I enjoyed reading but one that I would definitely read again.