With Love by: Shawnte Borris

Her life was all set…she had everything she had ever dreamed of. Promises of forever…. But promises can be broken. Alyson Almon, or Ally as she is called, finds this out in a tragic way. The emotional scars on her heart are ones only she can feel. With a change of location and a makeover she tries to start her life anew. She is drawn to a beautiful wedding and snaps some photos, capturing the love between the bride and her father. Luke McDerment, brother of the bride, is a man who is dealing with his own loss. Their paths cross when he spies her gorgeous photos and the instant attraction is something neither of them can deny.

Luke, with the help of his family who also find themselves drawn to this haunted young woman, involve her in a project that throws her right in the middle of this loving, warm family. They have a Gala coming up and Ally is the perfect photographer to capture the moments. Ally is embraced by the family and finds that she needs the love and warmth this family gives so effortlessly. She also finds the attraction to Luke is something she can’t deny. Can they fight the electricity between them and just walk away or will they let fate hand them the happy ending they both desperately need?


4.5 Stars
Even though this is a novella, a lot of emotional ground is covered in a spectacular way.  You learn how families can either fall apart, or become stronger in the process of grieving. Shawnte Borris definitely leaned from the Molly McAdams of emotional warfare, lol. Making you fall in love with all the characters, and internalizing their struggles.   

The journey starts in a cab coming from who knows where. It feels like you are coming into the middle of something important, you just don't know what it is yet.  You know something is terribly wrong, but aren't quite sure what it is. While riding in the cab, you realize Ally is lost and is running away from something.  I was hooked to the story, for good or bad, at this point.  I felt Aly had let me come along on a journey full of pain, and she needed me to stay strong and hear it all out to the end.  I know I maybe a little too attached to my reading....but it hasn't served me wrong yet!

As the story developes and grows the character introduced become important to the story.  All of them have a history and pain that needs to be explored.  As this family takes her in, she is also, somehow, fixing them at the same time they fix her.  It is absolutly beautiful.

No review would be complete with the mention of Luke.  Ah...Luke.  Sucessful business man, caretaker of the family, devestatingly beautiful, damaged, and fully smitten with Ally from first sight. Watching them do a dance of flirting and pushing was fun.



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From Rags by Suzanne Wright

There has only been three people in Jaxxon Carter's life who truly mattered to her. Her mum, who committed suicide. Her sister, who she hasn’t seen since her teens. And Connor McKenzie, who disappeared from her life the same day he left their foster home. The hardest part of that was that he never completely left her life because she was forever seeing him on T.V. or in magazines as a Formula One Driver. But Jaxxon refuses to live a ‘woe is me’ life, even in spite of living alone in her one-roomed flat and being expected to survive on a ridiculously low income. Then one night she is offered a modelling job and before she knows it she has been catapulted to the peak of success, gaining fame, fortune and security. Oh and a stalker. 

Connor McKenzie is busy trying to shake off his crazy ex-girlfriend – another woman who thought she could get around his no marriage rule – when he sees Jaxxon on the cover of a magazine. Remembering how close they had once been, he’s shocked when she doesn’t respond to his attempts to contact her and then acts indifferently to him when they meet. But Connor can’t let it go. The only reason he had kept his hands off her ten years ago was that she had been younger than him. Now that they’re adults, he isn’t prepared to allow anything – not even Jaxxon – to stop him from having her. 

4 Glorious Stars!!

This book was written with a lot of British slang, so I had to break out the urban dictionary to figure out what they were calling each other.  I never knew so many innocuous sounding words could mean such vile things. I love it!  From Rags kept me on my toes.  Just when I thought I had the book figured out, the whole thing turned on it's head.  Total page turner.

Conner:  He is a formula 1 race car driver, womanizer, and childhood crush for Jaxxon.  In other words, sex on a stick!  One of my favorite scenes with Conner is when he is having an inner monologue about how he is going to call Jaxx, and she is going to fall all over herself, and agree to be his bed buddy once or twice a month.  Ha!!  She wouldn't even call him back.  Jaxx is awesome.

Jaxxon:  She is a kick-ass heroine....like for real, she beats people up.  Jaxx is not a 5'2", super skinny girl either, she is curvy!  I love a curvy leading lady, it makes all us normal girls feel better. She has a total potty mouth, and some serious inner demons.  She is also the only woman that Conner can't intimidate and boss around.  Some female leads can't pull off all rough edges persona, Wright writes her well and it works.  

My only issue with the book is the constant and random POV changes.  There were several times I was reading and had no idea who was talking/thinking.  I think she should have stuck to just the main characters POV to make it less confusing.

The Summer He Came Home by: Juliana Stone

3.5 Stars
Sleeping with the Enemy meets Sweet Home Alabama.

Cain is a reformed bad boy who has come back to his small town Michigan roots for the funeral of a close friend. Fresh from a tour with his band, and a divorce from his hussy, starlet wife. He is all kinds of rock star hot and broken, in need of a good woman to heal his wounds.
Maggie is a cute, spunky, red-headed southern belle that cleans houses for the locals.  She has a cute 7 year old son, and is obviously running from some kind of past.
There are even a few slutty townies and Snobby rich folks thrown in for good measure.
I enjoyed this one as my first read of 2013.  It wasn't a thought provoking piece of literature, it was a light and fluffy read to get you through a lonely New Year's Eve.  The characters had me drawn in from the beginning, and I can't wait for more Crystal Lake Bad Boys. There is definitely a story behind all the main characters, and I can't wait find out.

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful 

3.5 Stars
It was originally written as a Twi fan-fic titled "The Office".  I didn't read that version, so I can not comment on the differences.  
This book is the classic alpha male CEO, cute and snarky assistant story.  There were lots of sex in inappropriate place, and ripped expensive underwear. That being said, it was a really steamy read.  I would rate the sexual tension and witty banter at a solid 4 stars, but the other dialog and character development left a little to be desired.  

The good:

• The cover is what really drew me in.  I am a sucker for a good cover, I know it makes me superficial....but who cares.
• The tension between Chloe and Bennett was palpable.
• The sex scenes were melt your panties hot!

The not so good:

• The story line left a little to be desired, and the dialog between the characters was a little to predictable.
• I wanted it to be longer.

Easy by:Tammara Webber

This book is phenominal.  It takes a touchy subject for college age girls, date rape, and makes it an important character in a love story.  This book is not only an must read for any girl going off to college, but for any age woman.  I am sure you will enjoy it as well.  

The only reason I didn't read this all in one sitting was because 1. my ereader ran out of juice, and 2. My kids demanded food. Let's be honest, it was really because my nook ran out of juice. This book has just the right amount o tease to keep you interested, but enough steamy scenes to satisfy the avid romance reader. I am also amazed at how Webber is able to weave in a serious subject into the story without making the book too heavy. I can't wait to read the rest...updates to come.

I loved Jackie and Lucas, can't wait for more. 

Wanted by: Kelly Elliot

3.5 Stars

The main character Ellie is from a house with a drunk, and verbally abusive mother.  Despite all of this turmoil she manages to turn into a smart, and mostly adjusted, young lady.  She has good friends, a crappy boyfriend, and an amazing brother.  This story takes us through her journey of graduating from High School, falling in love, and coming to terms with what her life is all about.
This was a great first book from Kelly Elliot.  The characters made me laugh and think back to my high school days.  I enjoyed the different POV's that were given, and how they gave you two views of the same event without being redundant.  I can't wait to see more from this author in the future.

The draw backs keeping it from a solid 4 stars

It was a tad long.  If the story had been broken up into two books, one for Arianna and Jefferson, and one for Ellie and Gunner it would have flowed better

There were a few editing hickups and the sentences where a little choppy at times.  It wasn't enough to be distracting, just needs a little work and polishing.

Update:  The book as been re-edited and updated to get rid of a lot of the errors. There is also a second book in the works.