BOOK REVIEW ❤ Storms Over Secrets by J.A. DeRouen

TITLE: Storms Over Secrets

SERIES: Over #3

AUTHOR: J.A. DeRouen

GENRE: Contemporary Romance  

SOURCE: Netgalley

PUBLISHED: September 12th 2015

Promises are lies dressed up for the party.

Secrets poison the fairest of fairy tales.

Lies stain the purest of loves.

I've paid the ultimate price for my choices. The tendrils of those sins bind me to my past. The remnants of my love hold me captive.

Then he walks into my life and makes me believe in second chances. He awakens feelings in my I know I shouldn't have. I yearn for a future without guilt. With him, I dream of a love untainted.

Regret is a far reaching emotion. It barrels through time like a blazing comet, and its path isn't always straight. No matter what I feel, I cannot bring myself to regret the time I've spent with Cain.

But it doesn't mean I can have him.

My name is Celia Lemaire, and this is my story of broken promises.

Storms Over Secrets is the third book of The Over Series, a group of interconnected stand alone novels. This book is a new adult romance. It is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

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Oh, I don’t know. I think we need a good storm every once in a while. Maybe the heavens aren’t weeping— maybe storms are the angels washing it all away.

Storms Over Secrets is the 3rd book in the Over series by J.A. DeRouen and my FAVORITE. It is a beautiful, emotional story about moving on from the past, letting go of guilt and finding the strength to forgive yourself. I have long wanted to know Celia’s story because her history has been a bit of the mystery in previous books, but this uniquely written novel cleared up everything. Storm Over Secrets sent me on a merry go round of feelings, leaving me emotionally drained but satisfied when it all ended.

JA DeRouen does a marvelous job telling Celia’s story. The writing is effortless, and the story flowed perfectly. Storm Over Secrets is told in dual points of views alternating between past and present. The first half of the book the present is told from Cain’s point of view and the past from Celia’s. This method of storytelling is a very original and I loved it. Considering Celia’s present is based profoundly on her past, the switch of time and point of views made for a very interesting yet touching read.

You let one mistake lead you down the wrong path. It’s time to belong to yourself again, dear girl, instead of everyone else...

The alternating point of views also creates character building. While learning Celia's past and Cain's present, we realize a few things about our main characters. Celia is loving, trustworthy and faithful. Cain is reliable, entertaining and a self-described country boy with two moms whom he loves dearly. We also have an incredible supporting cast in Caroline, Marlo, Adam, Sara, Alexandra and West. They are amazing friends to Celia and Cain helping them to navigate life and love.

Hope is a dangerous thing, but living without it is unthinkable. I will always hope for Cain and the storms he awakens.

Ultimately, Storms Over Secrets is a fabulous read with two lessons. One of the consequences of keeping secrets and the second on the impact of mental illness. As the story progresses, you recognize the parallels of Cain's life now and Celia's past, how mental illness in different forms affect them both. Although the diseases are different, the effects are still the same.  I loved how Ms. DeRouen displayed these two together. It is great writing at it's best. I would highly recommend reading Storms Over Secrets to any and everyone. It can be read as a standalone, but I think it's important to read the previous books in the series to see these two characters through the eyes of their friends.  The next story in the series is Marlo's and with a few of her secrets revealed, I'm excited to learn more about her.  

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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RELEASE BLITZ & GIVEAWAY ❤ Resentment by Nicole London

Title: Resentment

Author: Nicole London

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 Release Date: October 29, 2015

Blurb

Re•sent•ment (noun)

The act of hating – no, fucking loathing Dean Collins. (Yes, I’m well aware that’s not the actual definition, but it might as well be...)

It’s been ten years since we've seen each other and the feelings are still as strong.

I’m not going to bore you with all the details of how our love was once intoxicating, consuming, and perfect.

Because it was . . . until it wasn't.

I've been fine without him. I haven’t missed his cruelty, his coldness and his spite.

And after the ugliest breakup in the history of breakups, I forced myself to move on.

Year by year, the feelings I had for him slowly drifted away, but one encounter with him recently changed everything. One encounter made me realize how the heart doesn't forget shit, and how my mind is going to have to work overtime to make sure I never forget my definition of resentment.

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Excerpt

“Are you coming to the pep rally tonight?” he asks.

“Probably not.”

“Why?”

“School spirit isn’t really my thing. No offense, but…football isn’t either.”

He laughs, and I suddenly realize that the two of us have never talked about football during our sessions together. In fact, whenever I’ve brought it up, he’s changed the subject to something else.

“Well,” he says, letting my hand go. “You should come for me instead.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I mean, since you’re not into school spirit or football, but you’re clearly into me, you can make an exception and come tonight.”

“You’re getting quite presumptuous lately.” I put on my best poker face. “Do I need to help you with that definition?”

“Not when I know the true word you’re looking for is cognizant.” He grins, stepping back. “I hope to see you tonight.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’m sure you always do.” He gives me a look so sexy that I almost melt into the floor.

Goddamn, Dean Collins…

Author Bio

Nicole London is an aspiring author who is currently trapped in a terrible 9 to 5 and wishes Starbucks actually made decent drinks. She recently discovered her passion for writing after reading a ton of amazing indie books, and she plans to publish her first book, Resentment, October 29th.

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RELEASE BLITZ ❤ Darkest Before Dawn by Maya Banks

TITLE: Darkest Before Dawn

SERIES: KGI #10

AUTHOR: Maya Banks

GENRE: Romance > Mystery & Suspense

PUBLISHED: October 27th 2015 by Penguin Publishing Group

THE ALL-NEW KGI NOVEL from the “incredibly awesome" (Jaci Burton) #1 New York Times bestselling author of When Day Breaks.

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.

Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.

Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t...

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they've known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock's true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty.

But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he's been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She's the only woman who's ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he's spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

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Maya Banks is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 novels including the KGI series, Slow Burn series, and the Breathless and Surrender trilogies. A wife and mother of three, she lives in Texas. Visit her website at www.mayabanks.com.

RELEASE DAY BLITZ ❤ Marley: A Carnage Novel by Lesley Jones

TITLE: Marley: A Carnage Novel

SERIES:  Carnage #3

AUTHOR:  Lesley Jones

GENRE: New Adult Romance  

EXPECTED RELEASE: October 29th 2015

 

From the author of Carnage 1&2, comes this follow up novel. Marley tells the story of Carnage from Marley Layton’s POV. It will give you the missing years. Marley is a companion novel to Carnage 1&2 and both of those books should be read first.

Want to know what really happened in that hotel room in Paris?

Want to know if the rumours of Marley, Sean and their sexploits were true?

We got to watch Georgia fall apart but what was Sean going through in those four years they were separated?

Marley will give you the answers but he might just break your heart along the way.

"‘So, they want me to write a book? They want to know about my band, my life, my loves and my losses. But they have no idea what they’re asking for. If I give them what they want, they’ll get so much more than the sex and drugs and the rock and roll they’re expecting. They’ll get the secrets that I’ve kept for so long, they’ll get an insight into the person I really am, or at least was. They think they know my story, they know nothing.

If I do this, if I write honestly and give them the ugly truth, people will get hurt. People that I love, people that have already suffered in the worst possible ways.

Do I do this, or do I walk away? Taking my secrets to the grave."

Marley is an adult contemporary romance. It contains content suitable only for grownups with an open mind. There are scenes of group sex which include m/f/m a little bit of f/m/m and even some f/f/f/m/m/f/f/f. There is drinking and drug taking involved. A lot of swearing, some Essex slang and some very high emotion. Please don’t complain after reading this book that you weren't warned.

And yes, of course you’ll need tissues.

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Lesley was born and grew up in Essex, just outside of London, England but moved with her family to Australia in 2006 and now lives close to the city of Melbourne. As well as writing, Lesley is an avid reader and also enjoys watching a game of football- the round ball version- while sipping on a glass of wine, during her down time. Despite now living in Aus, she is still an Essex girl at heart and remains partial to her waxing, tinting, sculpting and shellac routines. Lesley is a huge fan of social media and can often be found chatting to her readers in her various groups. She is a sucker for a reality TV show, with TOWIE being her obvious favourite.

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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LesleyKJones  

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BOOK REVIEW ❤ Walk Through Fire by Kristen Ashley

TITLE: Walk Through Fire

SERIES: Chaos #4

AUTHOR:  Kristen Ashley

GENRE: Contemporary Romance  

SOURCE: Netgalley

PUBLISHED: October 27th 2015 by Forever

The flame never dies . . .

Millie Cross knows what it's like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn't be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie's chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can't ignore. And this time, she won't let him ride off . . . 

Bad boy Logan "High" Judd has seen his share of troubles with the law. Yet it was a beautiful woman who broke him. After ending a loveless marriage, High is shocked when his true love walks back into his life. Millie is still gorgeous, but she's just a ghost of her former self. High's intrigued at the change, but her betrayal cut him deep-and he doesn't want to get burned again. As High sinks into meting out vengeance for Millie's betrayal, he'll break all over again when he realizes just how Millie walked through fire for her man . . .

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 "You love a man, Millie, you believe in him, you take him as he is. You go on his journey with him no matter what happens, even if that means you have to walk through fire."

Have you ever read a book that when it ends you have no words to describe it? Your words have completely left you and you sit there like a babbling fool because you know you have the words, they just won’t follow the command to go to your brain then leave your mouth. I have this experience each time I pick up a Kristen Ashley novel. Even after a few days or weeks of digesting everything I’ve read I’m still in a deep book hangover. Walk Through Fire is an emotional story about sacrificing your happiness for the one you love. It’s Millie second chance at her first love.

KA stories grab you from the first sentence to the last word on the last page, never letting go and Walk Through Fire is no different. From that moment I realized Millie was going to sneak out of Chipotle unnoticed I wanted to why? What happened that caused her to avoid High? What had she done that made her the most hated woman in Chaos? While asking those questions we took a trip down Chaos history lane. With each page, I felt as I was right there in the scene with the characters. Feeling everything, going through their highs and lows. It played out in my mind like a movie and kept me entranced.  

Kristen Ashley does great character development. In flashes of the past and present, we get a sense of the old Chaos and who Millie and Logan were. I loved seeing Chaos through Millie’s eyes. Even with the changes that they went through it was still family and that never changed. Logan from 20 years ago wasn’t much different from present-day Logan. He’s a badass alpha male that is uber protective of those he loves. And Millie is ultimate KA heroine, passionate, feisty, strong but weak. These characters became my friends and I feel them in my heart.

This story was absolutely perfect. I walked through fire with Millie and Logan and we came out the other side whole. I want to say so much more about this book, but the words still won’t come to me. So I will just say this you will not go wrong reading this book or any other Kristen Ashley novel. Just make sure to have a full box of Kleenex on standby.

My Favorites

Scene: I have 2 favorite scenes. The night at the bar and the scene at the compound. Both were extremely emotional but necessary.

Character: I loved Millie’s circle that included her sister Dottie, and her two best friends Justine and Kellie

Quote: “I gave you up, walking through fire to do it but I did it. I did it in the end. I gave you everything.”

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY ❤ Absolution by LP Lovell & Stevie J. Cole

Title: Absolution

Authors: LP Lovell & Stevie J. Cole

Cover Design: SM Piper

 Release Date: January 11, 2016

Blurb

Evelyn 

I pray to be forgiven for my sins, but the prayers of someone like me won't dare breach the edge of heaven.

Sins. All sins are equal in the eyes of God, but I'm not God. Some sins are far more wretched than others. And those sinners should pay, Evelyn. One sinner made me his sin, and I can't let men like him live. They must face their judgement, Evelyn. I want to kill them. Every. Last. One.

Ezra James is no different, and I wanted to kill him, I needed to kill him, I'm was going to kill him...And then I found myself fascinated by him, obsessed and possessed in the most reverent of ways. I became his sinner, and he became my sin, but the wages of sin is death, so I must kill him.

Ezra

The son of a whore, raised by gangsters, moulded into a key player in a corrupt world ruled by money and completely without morals.

This world can break a person. I’ve seen it time and time again. I never gave a shit, until the night I watched a man drop dead at the feet of a woman so broken she made even me feel whole. My little killer called to my depravity and everything in me demanded that I take her, possess her, own her.

Some monsters hide behind the faces of angels, where others stand in plain sight.

Damned. Broken. Irredeemable.

Through blood, absolution shall be found.

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LP Lovell

Lauren Lovell is an indie author from England. She suffers from a total lack of brain to mouth filter and is the friend you have to explain before you introduce her to anyone, and apologise for afterwards.

She's a self-confessed shameless pervert, who may be suffering from slight peen envy.

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Stevie J. Cole

Stevie J. Cole is a secret rock star. Sex, drugs and, oh wait, no, just sex. She’s a whore for a British accent and has an unhealthy obsession with Russell Brand. She and LP plan to elope in Vegas and breed the world’s most epic child.

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