Romance Book Blog
MARCH 30
MARCH 31
Fisher,I guess this is it, huh? After fourteen years together, starting a life of our own on this island, five deployments and countless letters I’ve written you through it all, I finally go out to the mailbox and see something I’ve always dreamed of: an envelope with your handwriting on it. For one moment, I actually thought you’d changed your mind, that all the awful things you said to me were just your way of coping after everything you’d been through. I was still here, Fisher. I was still here, holding my breath, waiting for you to come back even though you told me you never would. You always said you’d find your way back to me. Out of all the lies you’ve told me, this one hurts the most.
Enclosed you will find the signed divorce papers, as requested.
I hope you find what you’re looking for. I’m sorry it wasn’t me.
Lucy
To get the ending they want, Lucy and Fisher will have to go back to the beginning. Through the good and the bad, they’ll be reminded of why they always made their way back to each other, and why this time, one way or another, it will be the last time.
I’m going to fix this. I have to fix this… I hate every moment that I’m away from her, but I will do whatever it takes to find the man she once loved and bring him back to her.”
When I first read that blurb, I knew that this was going to be one of those books for me. The soul crushing, gut wrenching, make you hurt so good just to put you back together kind of books. And you know what? I wasn’t even a tiny bit wrong. Just 5 percent into this story, I was completely captivated and totally enraptured in the story of Fisher and Lucy. I think the only thing I love more than an amazing second chance romance, is a tortured hero and this book gave me both.
Fisher’s Light is told in alternating first person POV and flips back and forth between past and present in the form of Fisher’s journal entries in past and alternating POVs in the present. It’s done in such an incredible way that it read like two sides of a coin. It gave you the dark, ugly parts of their relationship only to turn around and through Fisher’s journal to give you that light at the end of the tunnel. Where one part you’ll find yourself hating him and the way he treats Lucy, in the other part your heart will break for him and his internal struggle. These two sides were balances out so well, that the story was made that much better.
Fisher and Lucy are high school sweethearts. Their love for each other flows right off of the pages and deep into your soul. It’s one of those couples that will really stay with me for years to come. Fisher is the son of the founding family of Fisher’s Island. He’s the popular rich boy that every boy wants to be and every girl wants to be with. But the second Fisher first lays eyes on Lucy, no one else exists for him.
Fisher joins the Marines when he’s 18. Their marriage of 14 years survives 5 of his tours overseas. Every time he comes back, he comes back a little more broken, a little more haunted, and a little more tortured.
Suffering from debilitating PTSD, Fisher begins to slowly lose touch between his reality and his memories but Lucy stands by him through it all
But unfortunately, no matter how hard she fights for him, with each and every day that passes, Fisher slips further and further away from her. Until the one day where he breaks her so completely that there is absolutely no coming back from it.
This book hurt so good, I can’t even begin to describe to you the feels of it all. I was a slobbering, sniveling mess for a good chunk of it and I loved every tearful second of it. It was such a beautiful and emotional story.
Lucy is ones of those heroines that you will fall in love with from the very beginning. She’s strong but with insecurities, yet her love for Fisher is so fierce and unconditional. When he left her a year ago, she didn’t know if she could come back from it. But she picked up the scattered pieces of her life and she’s trying to move on.
Fisher never stopped loving Lucy. He knows that his actions hurt her immeasurably, but he’s determined to atone for his sins and get his wife back. There is no one else for him.
You are always the light in my darkness. You’re the reason I’m alive, you’re the reason I’m here and you’re the reason I breathe, every day.”
Lucy is no longer the insecure and meek little girl from their childhood or the quiet wife he left behind, and she definitely doesn’t make things easy for him. Watching him really work to get back into her life was one of my favorite parts of this book. Having only read Tara’s Chocolate Lovers series, I was honestly shocked at how she was able to flip from humorous and fluffy to something so emotional and poignant. It speaks volumes of her talent as an author.
“It’s always been you. It will ALWAYS, only be you.” I whisper as I shift my hips and slide in and out of her as fast as I can in the water.
I adored this book from beginning to finish. It ripped my heart to shreds and then melded it all back together with a romance that I’ll compare all others to. It was just THAT good.
I recommend this book for any romance readers. This is simply a must read and it’s going straight to the very top of my all time favorites.
(Derek & Melissa)“I lost myself in the darkness of trying to protect you…”
Some threats come at you as friendly fire.Some threats take away everything.Family won’t let you go down without a fight.
The Secret isn’t as secure as Derek’s team originally thought it was, and a person on the inside of Alexander-Knight is set on exposing him, breaking him, and taking away all he holds dear.
Refusing to let anyone suffer for his crimes, Derek takes matters into his own hands. He’s exposed, he’s defenseless, but his friends are determined to save him.A STAND-ALONE, ONE TO HOLD NOVEL. Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Inevitably, inexorably, as long as I lived on this planet, my future would lead to that moment in a small conference room in Baltimore when I got revenge.
One To Save is the continuation of Derek and Melissa’s story that we originally met in One to Hold. If you haven’t read that book yet, I’d really encourage you to do so along with One to Protect. You just wouldn’t have the same appreciation or understanding for these characters without having their entire back story. The author does bring the reader up to date about everything that happened with them without having it be redundant, but I’d still recommend reading it in order. Actually, I’d recommend reading the entire series in order because there is a story ARC between all the characters that continues throughout the series. While each book is technically a standalone, you would enjoy the stories so much more having read them in order. The characters from previous books always make an appearance, and it would help you to truly understand each individual character so much more. Slayde from One to Love makes an appearance here, and trust me when I tell you that you would have a much better understanding of what happens in this book having read his book, as well as Stuart from One to Leave. Read the series in order is basically what you should be taking away from this 😉
Derek is dealing with the fallout of a decision he made in protecting Melissa, his now fiance. Although he’d do it all over again if he had to, it still doesn’t stop him from thinking about the repercussions. Keeping it from her is also a decision that he is agonizing over.
Their relationship wasn’t one built on sunshine and promises. They first met when he was hired by Melissa’s abusive husband hired him to follow her. But when he learned the full truth of her story, things changed. They’ve been through their share of trouble and have come out of it stronger. But this just may be the one secret that may shatter everything that they are once and for all.
It’s not just the repercussions from the event that threaten Derek. There is also someone that is determined to make him pay and take away everything that he holds dear.
This was a definite page turner of a book. I’m not typically a fan of reading about the same couple for longer than two books simply because the drama begins to feel manufactured. That was not the case here at all. This really was a very natural progression of events. Considering everything that has already happened, you can see that it was all coming to a head. Sure it packs a good punch of angst and emotion, but it fit their story. You can see why it happened the way it did and why they needed this book to really bring closure to their relationship.
Derek is everything I love about my alphas; fiercely protective, dirty talking, loving but with that added edge. I loved him. Melissa is the perfect counterpart to his rough edges. I really enjoyed seeing them go through their ups and downs, and especially their ups.
You get a lot more on the fallout of Stuart and Nikki’s story here. As much as I hated Nikki in Stuart’s book, I have to say she really grew on me here. Tia definitely has me intrigued enough to really want a book for her. Though I can’t say I’m too disappointed about the upcoming book’s characters. That epilogue was smokin’ hawt. Tia definitely knows how to hook you in with the way her books end. While she gives you the perfect HEA for the couple, she reels you right in with a hell of a tease for the next one. A fantastic new edition to the series. I cannot freaking wait for the next one!
One to Leave (One to Hold Book 5)
This time, he’ll need to hit all the right notes to win the woman he’s always loved…
Wade Bennett is used to coming in second to his seemingly perfect older brother. In high school, Colt was a star linebacker while Wade was the punter, an important job without all of the glory. When Charlene Martinez—the only girl Wade ever truly wanted—fell for Colt, Wade decided to take his chances with music and went on the road. Leaving behind his family, his best friend, Rafe, and Charlene, who had feelings for Wade she never allowed herself to feel.
Years in Nashville quickly hardened the dreamy guy who just wanted to sing and hang out with his dog. His success has given him more than enough money, even if he knows he’ll never be able to compete with his hometown hero big brother. But after Coach Carr’s heart attack, Wade comes home to help the man who helped him make the decision to chase his dreams all those years ago.
Now Wade wants to chase a new dream in his old hometown, especially since Charlene is single again after divorcing Colt. And Wade is no longer a boy unwilling to fight for what—and who—he needs.
I love Cari Quinn’s books. Whenever I’m in the mood for a romance that has a great story and manages to pack in the feels right along smoking hot sex, she’s my go to. The woman does angsty and does it well. But her straight contemporary are just as great. I haven’t read a book by her I haven’t loved yet, and this was no exception. I was intrigued the second I read the blurb. Childhood friends, unrequited romance, wanting your brother’s ex wife; consider me sold.
The last place that Wade Bennett wants to come back to is the small town that he grew up in. Now a successful country star, he wasn’t always the star of the show. Growing up in the shadow of his older brother, he’s used to coming in second both on the football field and in love. When his brother started dating the girl that he fell in love with when he was just a small boy, he knew that he needed to leave. The fact that his brother later married her ensured that he also stayed away. But a call from his childhood best friend letting him know that their beloved high school football coach had a heart attack and needs them, he knows that he’s going to come back to help. He’s no longer the boy living in is brother’s shadow, and his childhood love is no longer married to his brother. If ever there was a time to make his move, this is it.
Charlene Martinez may have married the older Bennett brother, but unbeknownst to them both she’s always been in love with Wade. Unfortunately Wade had always placed her firmly in the friend zone. Any hope that she may have had after one stolen kiss back in high school, shattered the very next day when Wade moved away. But now Wade is back, and no matter how hard she tries to resist, if the boy was tempting to her, the man is downright irresistible.
In a small town where everyone knows each others business, can these two keep the heat between them under wraps? Can they finally make things between them work? Guess you’ll have to read to find out.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved that Charlene actually had an amicable divorce and was so friendly with her ex husband. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel guilty about being with Wade, but Cari handled this plot line very well. Charlene and Wade definitely burned up the pages together. This author knows how to write one steamy as hell scene. I love books with the small town element, so of course this one really fit the bill for me. Between all the secondary characters and the story I never once found myself bored. I also loved how she managed to work in a guest appearance by Gray and Jaz from Twisted. That was a huge highlight of the book for me.
As much as I enjoyed it, it was also just missing a certain something to bring it up to a solid 4 stars for me. I can’t really place my finger on exactly what it was, but there was just a missing oomph. I loved the story and the characters, but at the same time I had no problems setting the book down. I wasn’t ever bored, but it just failed to grip me as much as Cari’s other books have. Nonetheless it was still a fantastic read and one I’d recommend to any lovers of contemporary romance. A perfect afternoon read with just the right amount of steam and story.
Dare to Hold Preorder Contest:
First up – is to hit my first goal of 5,000 preorders (lofty I know!)
Once I hit that number I’ll be giving away a $25 gift card to Amazon and I’ll post the first three chapters of Dare to Hold on my site for everyone to enjoy!
But that’s not all – I’ve set “milestones” to happen along the way with some terrific prizes that include:
$50 Amazon Gift Card
And if we surpass my preorder goal, I have a super exciting grand prize that I’ll announce later.
How to enter? Share this post with your friends, like this post, comment on this post AND fill out the form at the bottom of this post.
Once I reach each goal, I’ll pull a winner from the list and share with everyone!
Mari Carr – One Daring Night
Joni’s had better birthdays. Catching her boyfriend at a fancy restaurant with some bimbo certainly wasn’t what she’d wished for when she blew out the candles. Newly unattached, she’s ready to embrace singlehood by going wild, being reckless, maybe even indulging in some meaningless sex.Depressed with his shallow love life, Eric Bryant is commiserating with his friend, Alex Dare, over a meal at his favorite restaurant. He vows to marry the next woman he sleeps with—just before a firecracker confronts her cheating boyfriend at the next table. Intrigued, Eric offers to buy her a beer. Joni agrees on two conditions: She wants tequila, and complete honesty. Eric promises nothing but the truth.
After one daring night, what happens when two people with such similar hungers want such different futures?
Sometimes there’s no escaping Destiny…When Miami Thunder star receiver Jax Elliot fell in love with Destiny Duncan, it felt right. He didn’t care that she was a trainer from the Thunder’s biggest rivals. Didn’t care about this boss or hers, didn’t care what the fans or the media thought. Destiny was the best thing to ever happen to him—until he started dropping the ball. Literally. And he was forced to make a choice. The woman he loved. Or the game he loved.
He chose poorly.Months later, in need of a trainer he can trust, Jax turns to the woman he still wants above all others. Things quickly turn physical—the sex between them more explosive than ever—and the physical quickly becomes emotional. One thing hasn’t changed: Jax and Des are still deeply in love. But something else remains the same as well. He still can’t catch a damn ball with Destiny in his head.
It’ll take a Dare—or three—to help Jax understand it’s not about catching every ball…it’s about knowing the woman he loves will always be there to catch him.
Sami Lee: Twice as Daring
Publicist Abby Lehman likes her job—until she finds herself working as a glorified babysitter for cocky-as-the-devil NFL star Sam Cormack. Sam is unpredictable, unruly, impossible—and also impossibly sexy. It has taken all Abby’s willpower to keep from throwing herself at him like one of his groupies. When her boss insists she accompany Sam to a black tie restaurant opening, things heat up even further. And when she finds out Sam has also been lusting after her she throws caution to the wind and indulges in a hot tryst with him that threatens her career as well as her heart.Sam knows he screwed up with Abby and curses his impulsive nature. Making love to her was something he’d wanted for a long time, but he should have taken things slower with her, made sure they got to know each other. Now she thinks he only wants her for sex, just when Sam’s realizing she’s the first woman to make him want the real deal in a long time.
Can he make her believe he’s ready to put his playboy days behind him and start something real with his Miss Right?
He’ll help her speed right past her limits…if she dares.Pop princess Peyton Pryor wants just one night to break out of the mold she’s been stuck in for way too long. Successful beyond her wildest dreams, she can’t help wanting more—to write her own music, to head into edgier territory, to have some fun. Particularly the naughty kind that doesn’t match her pristine, sanitized image.
An illicit joyride in a borrowed Porsche leads her straight to ex-Detective and current romantic suspense author Noah Keaton, who has been feeling itchy about his own mold lately. After turning his back on being a cop, he’s been on the straight and narrow for far too long. If Peyton’s hungry for experience, he’s just the man for the job. Because he’s hungry for her.
Maybe this time, one dare will become so much more…
There’s something familiar about the gorgeous woman across the crowded club. When he “accidentally” bumps into her, Alex Dean is shocked to discover what it is: The tall, leggy blonde is none other than Sadie Emerson, his college math tutor—and the subject of more fantasies than he could count. Years later, she’s looking better than ever. He has to have her. Tonight. Immediately.Does it really matter that she thinks she’s going home with his buddy, Alex Dare?
Apparently it does. Because she sneaks away the morning after. Twice. First, when she discovers her mistake, then when she decides her upcoming more to New York makes them a two-day stand at best. But the sex is off-the-charts combustible, and Alex is already seeing stars, hearing bells…envisioning houses and picket fences and other things he’d never considered.
Now all he has to do is convince Sadie his feelings are real. His shy wallflower might consider him a daring mistake—but Alex has never been more certain.
A blind date from hell turns into a dare that changes everything.Jewelry designer Presley Warren is sick of spending every single night alone. The crushing weight of running her family’s business leaves little time for the designing she loves. It’s no surprise that dating is last on her to-do list. In a moment of weakness she agrees to let her best friend set her up.In a funk, millionaire Vance O’Neal is dragged to the first home game of the season for the Miami Thunder. He literally runs into a gorgeous blond as soon as he walks into the stadium. She’s light and laughter and the first woman to pull at him in years. One problem—she’s already taken. In a twist of fate, he’s seated next to Presley at the game. Her date shows his true colors as a rude, self-involved jerk so Vance can’t help himself when the Halftime Kiss Cam pans onto them. He dares her to kiss him—in fact, he double dares her to take a chance on a stranger.
He’s convinced her to start with one night—now he wants a shot at forever.
I have been staring at her for three months. Watching her. Memorizing her.For ninety-two days, I’ve looked into those lifeless green eyes.
And for ninety-two days she has inspired me in ways I never knew possible. A muse, unbeknownst to her. Motivating me. Encouraging my darkest desires.
I’m a man who knows what he wants. And what I want is the beautiful and broken Holland Howard.
My name is Jensen Payne—photographer, autocrat, lecher, Scopophiliac. I am who I am and I will not—cannot—change.
*This is an Erotic Romance. Recommended for readers 18+ ONLY.
WARNING: This book contains possible emotional triggers.
If I wasn’t completely sold by the synopsis of this book, the prologue alone was enough to suck me in completely. I mean, talk about starting things off intense. That first chapter will grip you by the heart and hit you straight in the feels. Holy hell.
Hard is told in alternating POVs from Holland and Jensen. Jensen, having lost everything that meant anything to her is now an empty shell of the woman that she once was. She no longer cares…about everything. Having experienced one devastating loss after another, the final loss is just the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back. She picks up the meager belongings she cares about and moves away from everything she knows. She doesn’t want any connection or memory to her old life. But the one thing she does take with her is her grief.
Just five.
Then you’re fine. You move on. Live your life. Everything goes back to normal.
I must be doing something wrong because I seem to be repeating them over and over again. I’m on a wheel of misery, running as hard as I can and getting no closer to my end goal.
Jensen Payne is a photographer and Scopophiliac. A collector and appreciator or beautiful things. And if there’s one thing that he loves more than looking at beautiful things it’s capturing them on his camera. The recent object of his obsession is the beautiful but broken Holland, a waitress at a pub that he frequents. Unable to get her out of his mind or spend his lust with any other woman but her, he propositions her…and isn’t shocked when she simply accepts.
Jensen is definitely a man that likes his sex dirty. Now when this synopsis tells you that this is erotic, it really means EROTIC. Holy panty change, batman. A good 65% of this book is pure sex. There’s dirty fuckery, kinky fuckery, rough fuckery. Lots of fuckery is what I’m trying to tell you here.
I want to witness that.
I NEED to witness that.
I have to CAPTURE that.
If there’s one way that Jensen and Hollan connect, it’s on a physical level. Both of them have their dark secrets and neither is looking for anything other than a physical connection. But somewhere between panted breaths and sweat soaked sheets, something begins to form between them. Something…more.
While I like a hot sex scene as much as the next girl, at times it was almost overwhelming here. I could have done with a little less sex and a little more story. Shocking. I know. I’ll give you a moment to absorb that.
This book was unique in it’s own right because I can’t say I’ve ever read a book with Jensen’s particular affliction and I’ve never even heard of Scopophilia ever before so that was something new. Holland’s story was heartbreaking to read (Highlight to view spoiler)especially as a mother myself (End Spoiler), and sometimes I felt that the abundant amount of sex almost overshadowed the emotional story that the book also had. I did enjoy it quite a bit, and I absolutely loved the epilogue. I wish there was a little more time spent on the emotional connection between Holland and Jensen, beyond just the obvious physical one, but I can’t complain too much. It was still a unique, sexy and different read.
Cheryl McIntyre is the author of the bestselling Sometimes Never series, as well as the Dirty series, Infinitely, and Dark Calling.
She calls Ohio home, though she secretly dreams of living somewhere much warmer–preferably near a beach. She is a mother, author, and insomniac, as well as a reader, self-proclaimed movie critic, and incredibly bad singer. Her life revolves around four things: family, music, books, and really bad scary movies.
You can follow her author page on Facebook where she lives part time. On Goodreads—which is like crack for avid readers. On Twitter, though she has still not yet mastered the art of tweeting. On tsū. Or on her website.
Is it possible to expose Chicago’s hottest player—without getting played?
This is the story I’ve been waiting for all my life, and its name is Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint. Don’t be fooled by that last name though. There’s nothing holy about the man except the hell his parties raise. The hottest entrepreneur Chicago has ever known, he’s a man’s man with too much money to spend and too many women vying for his attention.
Mysterious. Privileged. Legendary. His entire life he’s been surrounded by the press as they dig for tidbits to see if his fairytale life is for real or all mirrors and social media lies. Since he hit the scene, his secrets have been his and his alone to keep. And that’s where I come in.
Assigned to investigate Saint and reveal his elusive personality, I’m determined to make him the story that will change my career.
But I never imagined he would change my life. Bit by bit, I start to wonder if I’m the one discovering him…or if he’s uncovering me.
What happens when the man they call Saint, makes you want to sin?
Now let’s be honest here, shall we? I didn’t even bother reading the blurb to this book before I decided I’d read it. Because that title alone? It had my name written all over it. So was it everything I had expected? Yes, and so much more. It wasn’t the typical rich playboy manwhore plot you’d expect to read. Surprisingly the characters and the story had so much more depth to them that I had ever expected.
Rachel just got the chance to write a story that can make her career and help the flailing magazine she writes for stay afloat. The subject? Only the man that seems to be on every news channel and magazine cover lately. An enigma that likes to do things in fours. Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint. He’s enigmatic, electric, consuming, and a mystery beneath the surface. No one knows what makes the man tick, or what makes him jump from one woman to the next within a blink of an eye. Luckily Rachel is single and seems to be just kiss type, and so she eagerly takes the assignment not knowing what she’s getting into or quite the effect that Saint will soon have one her.
Under the guise of interviewing him for his new social media venture that just may overtake Facebook, Rachel tries to scratch beneath the surface of the man that no one truly seems to know beyond his two best friends.
I appreciated the way that the author truly built the chemistry between Rachel and Saint and didn’t just toss them into bed together straight away. Rachel is a woman of her career and her struggle with writing her unbiased story while fighting her growing feelings for the man that she can’t seem to get off of her mind was very clear.
Saint was so much more than he seems to be. Of course he’s a man used to getting what he wants, so when he pursues Rachel and doesn’t get the result he usually does, he’s intrigued.
Saint was so much more than his good looks and abundance of money. His character had a surprising amount of depth to him. You get a few bits and pieces about the whys of it here, but it’s just enough to scrape the surface.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book immensely. The connection between Rachel and Saint practically crackles with electricity and the burn was oh so sweet. I loved that the author really stretched it out and made Saint work for it. Rachel was a fantastic heroine too. Although young, she doesn’t have that typical immature naivety to her. The star of the book truly was Saint though. Everything about him is just so…GAH. His intensity almost jumps through the pages at you.
I also really loved all the secondary characters like Rachel’s best friends and Saint’s. Hopefully they’ll be getting a book of their own soon, especially Tahoe and Gina, because that set up is already delicious sounding.
I did find the second half of the book a touch too dragged out for me, but not immensely so. It never did lose my interest and I was fully invested into the story from beginning to finish. The ending gives you just enough to keep you begging for more and I for one cannot wait how it all concludes with the next book. Did that sound PC? (Because honestly, the ending left me a bit of a hair pulling and screaming mess, borderline stalking the author for any tidbits of the next book LOL)
Two brothers.One woman.
One son.
One choice.
Lives ripped apart, shattered and rebuilt.
Evan and Nate Archer: Brothers, best friends, warriors and now enemies. Both in love with the same woman. Both determined to fight for what they want.
Nate Archer promised to protect Ryley Clarke in the event Evan didn’t make it back. It’s a promise between brothers since the early days of basic training. Nate never considered that his feelings, long buried since high school, would resurface and grow stronger.
Evan Archer wants answers. He wants someone to pay. After being gone for an unprecedented amount of time, nothing is making sense now that he’s home. Most of all, he can’t understand how his brother ended up engaged to his fiancée. Evan is determined to uncover the mystery, and win back his family.
The Archers are about to fight dirty.
Amazon ➙ http://amzn.to/1EpqoEC
Liam wasn’t supposed to be my happily ever after.He wasn’t even on my radar.
He was my husband’s best friend—forbidden.
But my husband is dead and I’m alone. I ache for him and I reach for Liam.
One night with Liam changed everything. Now I have to decide if I truly love him or if he’s just the consolation prize.
Corinne Michaels is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.
Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha Navy SEALs are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.
