A Millionaires Love by Sandi Lynn

“I'm not broken. I'm shattered. I'm a million tiny pieces that would take longer than forever to piece back together."~ Rory” 

“ I want you, Rory. I want you in a way that's different from the other women."-Ian”

Overall Rating: ♔♔♔♔♔(5)

Romance: ❤❤❤❤(4.5)

Humor: ✌✌✌✌ (4) Action: ➹➹➹➹ (4)

Rory Sinclair is by far one of my most favorite heroins of all time!!! Before reading these novels I checked the reviews on Goodreads.com and I was hesitant to begin because so many readers had negative reactions to both of the lead characters but I LOVED Rory from the very beginning and Ian Braxton redeemed himself fully by the end of the series. Now don't get me wrong at times I wanted to shake both characters and scream "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" but by the end of the series there are several revelations that make it all make sense.

This is not your normal love story. Both main characters are broken and have pasts that are affecting the decisions they are making in their relationship. Sandi Lynn balances this by adding in supporting characters that are strong and well adjusted in their lives. There is plenty of family turmoil, romance, and drama to keep you turning the pages! I loved loved loved this series and will definitely be recommending it to my fellow readers.

Fireproof by Eric Wilson

Overall Rating: ♔♔♔♔ (4)

Suspense Rating: ★★★ ★(4.5)

Action: ➹➹➹ (3.5)

Romance Rating: ❤ ❤❤ (3.5)

This book was written after the hit movie Fireproof. It had been several years since I had seen the movie and I saw this book pop up on my oyster recommendations so I started this book. This book is very different from my normal reads which was the whole purpose of me challenging myself to the A-Z challenge.

This book tells the story of a amazing firefighter who fell head over heels in love with someone got married and then quit trying in the relationship. He knows he is about to lose her and as fed up as he is with the way things are going he knows he does not want to go through a divorce. One day he calls his dad to get some advice and he challenges him to complete “The Love Dare” a  40 day challenge to help them get their marriage back on track. He begins the challenge but it only half way trying to do each daily tasks. You see the struggles that everyday relationships go through and the book is easy to relate to for people from all walks of life. I recommend this read to anyone who may currently be having relationship struggles or someone who is looking for a feel good read.

GoodRead Synopsis:  

INSIDE BURNING BUILDINGS, Captain Caleb Holt lives by the firefighter's adage: NEVER LEAVE YOUR PARTNER. Yet at home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules.

Growing up, his wife Catherine always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter . . . just like her father. Now, after seven years of marriage, she wonders when she stopped being "good enough." Countless arguments and anger have them wanting to move on to something with more sparks.

As they prepare for divorce, Caleb's father challenges him to commit to a 40-day experiment: "The Love Dare." Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb reluctantly agrees, not realizing how it will change his world forever.

Surprised by what he discovers about the meaning of love, Caleb begins to see his wife and marriage as worth fighting for. But is it too late? His job is to rescue others. Now Captain Holt must face his toughest job ever . . . rescuing his wife's heart.

Evidence of Trust by Stacey Joy Netzel

Overall Rating: ♔♔♔ (3)

Romance Rating: ❤❤❤ (3)

Suspense Rating: ★★★ (2.5)

Action: ‼‼‼ (3.5)

Although I did not give this book a very high crown review it was still a pleasant surprise. I chose this book as part of my reading challenge because it is different area of romance than my normal reads. The book, in my opinion, had very charismatic and realistic characters but the plot was very predictable. Although my suspicions were wrong as to who the culprit was his upcoming moves were very easy to predict.

This book starts out with Brittany Lucas camping in the Rocky Mountains where she meets Ranger Joel Morgan. He is worried about her being out on the mountain alone since there is a poacher on the loose he is trying to catch so he insists on sleeping in the tent with Brittany. The night ends uneventfully and that morning they part ways with nothing more than a kiss. Brittany does some things she isn’t proud of and hides her affiliation with the ranch. The story heats up from there with Brittany training a wild mustang mare, the poacher slaughtering more animals, lives being threatened and an undeniable romance between the two unlikely pair. But will they be able to change their lifestyles to accommodate each other? Will they start living for themselves and not trying to please everyone in time?

GoodRead Synopsis:

Trust makes all the difference when love and danger collide.

Having grown up under the excessive expectations of her CEO father, Brittany Lucas is as resistant to authority as the mustang she’s training for her boss. It’s a fault that lands her in more danger than she bargains for while camping in the back-country of the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Ranger Joel Morgan is used to having the upper hand in all his cases—until he runs into the headstrong blond while investigating disturbing incidents of poaching in the park. Brittany’s imprudent lie of omission awakens ghosts in his past, making the sizzling attraction between them unwelcome.

As he searches for evidence he can trust her, the monster mutilating wildlife turns his sights on Brittany, and Joel discovers he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her—even give his own life.

Tight - Alessandra Torre

Overall Rating: ♔♔♔♔♔(5)

Romance: ❤❤❤❤(4.5)

Action: ➹➹➹ (3)

Suspense Rating: ★★★★ (4.5)

The word “tight” has twenty-two definitions, but my favorite is Webster’s fifth - “a bond which cannot be broken.”

The book starts off with Riley on a trip the Caribbean with her closest girlfriends for a bachelorette party. She decides to head up to the room a little early due to her poor shoe decision but makes a pit stop when she notices some open benches. Thats where we meet Brett when he brings her some slippers to replace her shoes she has removed. From the beginning the attraction between these two is so intense and real it doesn’t take long before they end up in the bed together and that is where Alessandra Torre excels!!

The bedroom (using that term loosely because it happens everywhere) scenes in this book are amazingly steamy and plentiful but the plot twists will keep you on edge. Alessandra Torre has never written a boring book in her career and this one is no different. It is an emotional read. I do love how she always breeches important topics in her books (sex slavery, multiple personality disorder) and adds an element not found in many other erotica/romance novels.

GoodReads Synopsis:

I was happy in my small town. In my life as a single, thirty-two year old woman. I had a good job, wonderful friends, my independence.

I also hadn't got laid in three years. Hadn't been on a date in two. Had stopped counting calories and wearing makeup... a while ago.

Then Brett Jacobs waltzed in. Caressed my thigh, dug rough fingers into my hair, lowered his soft mouth to my skin, took sexual control of my mind and stirred it all around with what he packed in his pants. He flipped my quiet life upside down and crawled into a place in my heart I thought was dead.

The issue is his secret.

The issue is her.

The issue is that I don't even know she exists, and he thinks she's dead.

The issue is that shit is about to hit the fan and I can't hold on to him tight enough.

Dead to You by Lisa McMann

Overall Rating: ♔♔♔(3.5)

Romance Rating: ❤❤❤(3.5)

Action Rating: ➹➹➹ (3)

Drama Rating: ★★★★  (4.5)

This book was a 4.5-5 crown read up until the very last chapter. How do you leave a story so deep and complex with so many unanswered questions at the end? This novel captivated me from the very beginning and although I knew all what not as it seemed I did not anticipate the ending at all. Normally I would say that is good thing but not in this case, NOT AT ALL.

This book starts out with a family being reunited after nine years. You get to see the struggles Ethan has adapting to his new life and trying to remember his life prior to his abduction. At first his brother Blake is excited he is home but quickly Blake gets jealous of all the attention his brother is getting and shuts him out completely. Ethan is able to find friendship with his best friend before the abduction, Cami. Gracie, Ethan's little sister born after his abduction, is also able to form a bond with him but none of that is enough to make him feel comfortable in his new home. He has a constant uneasy feeling because no matter what he sees or how hard he tries he can not remember any of them or anything prior to his abduction. Why? Well just read so you can be as shocked and frustrated as I was!

Cheated by Patrick Jones

Overall Rating: ♔♔♔  (3.5)

Suspense Rating: ★★ (2.5)

Action: ➹➹  (2)

Drama: **** (4)

This is a story of about the repercussions of the bad decisions made by a few young men. The story is told from Mick's POV and he is troubled by the fact he caught his father cheating on his mother and has become obsessed with making sure not to hurt his mother like his father did. But he hides everything he does from her and it ends up backfiring when he makes a few too many wrong decisions. Mick is a good kid but he is overwhelmed with his need to impress others and his obsession with some of the girls in his classes. This leads him to cheat on his girlfriend, lose good friend and turn to alcohol. All of these seemingly innocent young mishaps turn out to make Mick look guilty of a crime that will ruin his entire adulthood.

  This book was a little too teen centered for my tastes but would make a great read for my teen boys if I had any! Patrick Jones did a great job stuffing loads of information into a short book while still keeping the reading enjoyable. I loved how at the end of each chapter there was a flashback or memory that allowed you to better understand Mick and his thought patterns. Overall I am giving this book a lower rating because of the ending. It to me seemed the last part of the book was very rushed and anticlimactic.

Beat of the Heart by Katie Ashley

    

Overall Rating: ♔♔♔♔ (4)

Romance: ❤❤❤❤(4)

Humor: ✌✌✌✌ (4)

Drama: ★★★ (3.5)

Goodreads Synopsis:

After years of bad relationships and a cheating ex-fiancé, twenty-eight-year-old Mia Martinelli prefers healing her patients’ hearts on the Cardiac Care floor rather than risking having her heart broken again. But that all comes to a screeching halt when caring for the head roadie for Runaway Train puts her into the orbit of drummer and Latin Lover, AJ Resendiz. After a scorching weekend of steamy passion, Mia’s intention of getting out with her heart unscathed is challenged by the stud with the wicked sense of humor, especially when he wants to continue seeing her. But when the harsh reality of AJ’s hoard of female admirers sends her insecurities into overdrive, Mia bails, leaving him handcuffed to his bathroom shower.

AJ never imagined that after two weeks of the best sex and female companionship he’d ever experienced, he would need rescued by his band mates from his shower prison. Although he tries to forget the sensual brunette whose curves made his mouth water, AJ can’t get her out of his mind…or his heart. Months later when he finally seeks Mia for answers as to why she left, nothing could prepare him for their life-altering reunion.

Can AJ prove to Mia that regardless of the women after his body, his heart belongs only to her?

My Review:

Mia is a cardiac care nurse born to a star athlete and surrounded by Italian men she has always been well taken care of except in her romantic relationships. Just recently she walked in on her fiance and her friend on the kitchen counter. She has sworn off men until one night on shift she meets AJ.

After an interesting first meeting AJ knows he has to get to know Mia one way or another but she puts of plenty of resistance. Once she gives in and agrees to a date the steaminess begins and let me tell you there is no lack of steam. Katie Ashley knows how to write amazingly hot sex scenes but she the characters she creates are so compassionate and realistic that the book has more depth than just those steamy sex scenes.

But that's not happy ever after for them. After a misunderstanding Mia leaves AJ handcuffed to the shower and refuses to speak to him for months. Will they each be able to overcome the past to look forward to a future together or will the both be to stubborn to admit what they have known all along.