Priest by Sierra Simone

There are many rules a priest can't break. 
A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God.

I've always been good at following rules. 
Until she came. 
My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I'm twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again. 
I am a priest and this is my confession.


I haven't reviewed books in MONTHS! I got so busy with work and I had to do a quite complicated project at work and it just about took all of my time--ohmygod, my overtime was doing overtime of their own. Thankfully, I still found time to read. It's just the reviewing and the blogging part that I found difficult to find time to do. But I was still reading and keeping up to date with the newly released stuff. Otherwise, I would've gone insane-o.

Soooooo...what better way to start the 're-birth' of Bookabulary than to review Priest? Consider this re-birth baptized! I've actually had this book for quite sometime. But being the Catholic that I am, despite not being devout, I couldn't bring myself to even start reading this. It was just sitting in my TBR pile, looking neglected but pretty (c'mon, that cover?!).

But now I'm extra glad that I finally gave in because no matter how many times I had to put it down and take a deep breath before going on reading it, it was really a good read. Aside from the fact that I always cringe everytime I remember how many times they did it at the altar (holy guacamole, of all places!) or any religious place, it cannot be denied that the chemistry between Poppy and Tyler was off the roof.

It was a romance that I usually don't come across very often because there's really very few options on how to resolve the big issue in the room. It was as simple as black and white. But I was really surprised at how the story ended. In the interest of not giving away anything to those who haven't read it, let me just say that whatever second thoughts you'd have at the beginning at the thought of reading something like this will be worth the all the time overcoming them. Stop the overthinking and the overanalyzing...and just enjoy this good book. It was human and grounded and proof that you can serve your God in more ways than one. This was definitely a good choice for a standalone.


Final verdict: 8/10. Good read.

New Year In Manhattan by Louise Bay

Anna and Ethan are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Their previous rules no longer apply.

In order to make things work, Anna needs to let go of her past and take a risk with Ethan. Ethan needs to learn how to deal with the ambiguity of a relationship.

Long-distance relationships are never easy and their situation is fragile. For how long can it survive under the pressure of separation? Are either of them prepared to give up what they have for the other?


But distance isn’t the only obstacle Anna and Ethan face. Ultimately they have to decide whether they want to share a future together.


This last book in this series just proved just how much I have fallen in love with LB's writing. I had sexy to funny to romantic to quirky to heartbreaking in a snap. This review may have been long time coming but I had the best time reading this series. 

Ethan and Anna always had the most amazing chemistry to read. That was never more so than in this book. If I had never said in my reviews for the other parts of this series how real this story was, then let me say it now. A love story doesn't have to have all the extreme scenarios and plots and conflicts for it to be memorable. Sometimes it's the little things that matter. And that was how LB made this series extra special--she wove simpler situations together into this series and came up with a story that anyone can easily relate to.

I may be biased because Anna was a girl that was after my heart--I myself don't want to get married, in general. But I know that in the back of my mind, when the right one comes along and makes me want to overcome the apprehensions I have regarding the institution, I will undoubtedly say yes.

And what can I say about Ethan? Seriously, I love this guy. Even when his heart was breaking, he put on a brave front and still tried his very best to make Anna happy. Do guys like him even exist in real life anymore? I hope so. I really hope so.


Final verdict: 10/10. Great unforgettable read.


Empire State Trilogy series reviews:
A Week In New York
Autumn In London

Beautiful Beloved by Christina Lauren

In Beautiful Stranger , finance whiz Sara Dillon met the irresistibly sexy Brit, Max Stella, at a New York City club. Through the series we’ve watched them learn to balance commitment with their less than private brand of playfulness. In Beautiful Beloved, Max and Sara take it to the next step. But the question is: Will they be able to find a balance between the wild sexcapades they aren’t ready to retire, and the demands of parenthood that come along with their new Beautiful bundle of joy? Parenthood: it’s not for the weak of heart.


I never new I needed another Max Stella read until I came across this novella. Then suddenly I was all giggles and butterflies-in-my-stomach.

This was what I just needed during a stressful week at work (and it's only even Tuesday!). The situation was a far cry from the Max and Sara that we were used to reading--both workaholics and not too shy about their PDAs...and beyond. It was so much fun reading about a couple that was new to the family set-up with their first baby. There was too much adorableness line after line after line. (I cannot imagine my feels when CL comes around to writing a new Will and Hanna book. I would just faint in happiness! I love me some Will, is all.)

So just about everything about being new parents you can read in this fast read. Whether it was about a couple getting back on to their sex life or even simply going on date nights or wanting to go back to work. This was just an all-around funny read (that picture "accident" with Will though) that ended too quickly for me. I just couldn't get enough. 

Also take note that we get introduced to Max's brother Niall here. Another character with a British accent. Seriously, how are we surviving this series again? Ahhh, I'm all melty waiting to read his book!


Final verdict: 9/10. Great funny read.


Beautiful Bastard series reviews:
Beautiful Bastard
Beautiful Bitch
Beautiful Stranger
Beautiful Bombshell
Beautiful Player
Beautiful Beginning

Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras

He was my older brother's best friend. 
He was never supposed to be mine. 
I thought we would get it out of our system and move on. 

One of us did. 
One of us left. 

Now he’s back, looking at me like he wants to devour me. And all those feelings I’d turned into anger are brewing into something else, something that terrifies me. 
He broke my heart last time. 
This time he'll obliterate it.


How do I review this book without going over-the-top gushy? Yes, from the blurb to that pretty, pretty, pretty cover to just an all-around great read, I just can't stop loving this book. The idea of the story alone already made me want to melt into a puddle.

This was a great read. This was an awesome read. I always love it when the main characters have a long history together and this was a great take on that angle. It was kind of tough reading about how they had to grow up before they could have their time, especially Elle. Oliver was sometimes not the best hero but he had his moments and those were the best ones.

This was my total feel-good of the week. I loved CC's trope--it wasn't hard to read and made for some really comfortable storytelling. I loved how the POV was put together--the main story was Elle's while the past was in Oliver's. It showed just what their story was all through the years, without any bias. The only reason why I am not giving this book a perfect ten was because of that one missing important part--what did Oliver, Elle's brother Victor, and her dad talk about after they were found out? I know later on in the book that Oliver mentioned that they managed to hash things out...but how?! I want to know everything. Tell meee. Hahaha!

To top it off, this book also had some interesting secondary characters. Victor, Elle's bestfriend Mia, and Victor and Oliver's friend Jenson made their mark as well. I know this is a standalone but it wouldn't hurt if those three also get books of their own.


Final verdict: 9/10. Great read.

Beautiful Burn by Adrian Leigh

I've broken him, bent him, and burned him, and each fevered moment was worth every ounce of pain. 

Auburn Lawrence has loved her English teacher, Reed West, since she was sixteen. Through brainstorming stories, reading classic literature, and plenty of fiery banter, they've forged a bond that neither of them expected. 

Propelled by a chance encounter after her graduation, they discover just how deep their connection runs, but love requires more than chemistry to flourish. They spend three electrifying summer months discovering each other under a veil of forbidden passion and desperate lust before they learn that the unattainable is often destined to remain exactly that.

By the time temperatures dip and snowflakes fly, their relationship will face a deep freeze that threatens to snap the bond they thought they shared, shattering their lives one secret at a time.


Notice that everytime someone tells you not to do something, you will almost always do the opposite things and do it anyway? That's basically how I came about reading this. I am not a fan of the teacher-student angle in romance. It just doesn't sit very well with. But I have to admit that I may have read a book or two on this subject. (Blame it on PLL's Aria and Ezra!)

So I gave in and decided to read this. Only to find out that I wasn't becoming a fan of the writing. It was too all over the place without any signs of cohesiveness in the plot. I couldn't put my finger on it only that I felt that the construction of the whole story lacked a solid core. I admit that I was cheering for the two character because, well, what was I reading it for, right? There were many an obstacle and I continually cheered on for both and their struggle to make their story right.

And then, boom! That ending. It totally felt like a slap, a b*tch-you-know-nothing slap. Why did I read this again? What a waste of time when that cover is so gorge. Sigh.


Final verdict: 2/10. Meh.

Forever With Me by Kristen Proby

Dominic Salvatore seemingly has everything a man could want. He’s found a new relationship with his father and the entire Montgomery family. His vineyard, Cuppa di Vita, is a success. There’s only one thing that eludes him: a certain driven, intelligent, and sexy as hell blonde named Alecia.

Alecia works tirelessly building her event planning business. It’s the most important part of her life. Despite the beautiful, lavish weddings she organizes, Alecia is convinced that the idea of true love is a myth. While Dominic is a sexy, intriguing man, welcoming the handsome Italian into her bed, and her life, is a risk she’s not so sure she’s willing to take.

However Dominic isn’t used to taking no for an answer, and it’s not long before these two are burning up the sheets and discovering a connection that neither can deny. But will it be strong enough to last forever?


It's so sad to finally see the end of this series but at the same time, I'm so glad to have had the chance to live with these characters somewhere in my TBR or read piles; and then looking forward to the next book from the series that was coming out. The wait was sometimes difficult but KB is always her usual self, making all those waiting definitely worth it. She is awesome like that!

Who would have thought that when I started this series, I was going to end up with these characters in the last book. I can still remember first reading about Dominic somewhere along the pages of the first few books and I was already looking forward to his story. (He's Italian, isn't he?) He was the Montgomery that wasn't and then eventually became a true member of the family. Alecia was a character that I honestly did not see getting a story of her own. So imagine my surprise when hints were popping out of nowhere in the previous book about these two.

The reason I am not giving this book a perfect score was because I really did not like it when Dom thought Alecia wasn't being faithful to him. I understand where his character was coming from and what his history was all about. Nevertheless, it still didn't win him any points from me. Good thing Alecia made up for everything by making him sweat and grovel and giving him a hard time. Atta girl, Alecia!

As I have mentioned, this is the last book in the series and it was awesome to read about the shenanigans of the entire gang again. It was so damn hard to say goodbye to these beautiful characters! I am already hoping to bump into some novellas in the future. (Please, please, please.) And that epilogue? Simply fantastic. Just...wow!


Final verdict: 9/10. Great read.


With Me In Seattle series reviews:
Come Away With Me
Under The Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me
Tied With Me
Breathe With Me

Autumn In London by Louise Bay

Anna Kirby went to New York to escape heartbreak and have some fun. She wasn't meant to meet someone...someone like Ethan. Now, back in London, she's having to get over a man who's three thousand miles away...

Ethan Scott broke every one of his rules during his week with Anna and now he can't seem to go back to life before her. A business trip to London gives him the opportunity to change his rules for good. Will he take it?


Aha, so we have come to Ethan and Anna's second novella. I don't have expectations except that I will have an effin' blast reading this because I just found out from reading the first part of this series that LB is an awesome writer. Yessum!

This novella picked up several weeks after the end of the previous one. Anna was trying to get her life back to normal after, not only her cheating ex, but also from her no-strings weekend with Ethan in New York. She was getting a semblance of normalcy only to find out that Ethan was in London--handling the takeover of his firm...of her own firm.

Let's just say I went all gooey and mushy inside because the chemistry between these two was just crazy sweet to read about. As expected, there was minimal drama except that they were technically two continents apart. I'm not talking about Europe and Asia; I'm talking about how there's the Atlantic Ocean between the two of them and their lives!

But still, they had three months to spend together and find out that they were not just having a fling anymore and the arrangement that they had was far from no-strings. There might not be huge drama in the story but shiznit, we get another airport goodbye at the end of this book. As if I don't hate goodbyes enough as it is but the airport ones are just hard to take.

It's a good thing I have the third book already. Otherwise, I would be a big mess than necessary if I had to wait for a few more weeks for it to come out. Bring it!


Final read: 9/10. Great read.


The Empire State series reviews:
A Week In New York

Cat Haus (The Complete Story) by Cat Johnson (writing as Carrie Lane)

Working in a cathouse always was interesting, but especially after he walked through the door. Then, everything changed...

I'm Cate. Two years ago I was an English major at UNLV. Today, I'm a legal prostitute in Nevada and I was happy with that, and then John arrived. He's a billionaire. I'm a hooker. Now, things are far from simple and I'm wrestling with how to mix business with pleasure. How is that going to work? You can read that for yourself. Cat Haus is our story.


Sometimes there are moments when I pick up a book that isn't my usual cup of tea just because...there was something intriguing to the blurb, maybe I have read a particular review that perked my interest, or (yes, oh, shallow me) I just have to read it because the cover is awesome! In this book's case, it was all three!

(And I was glad to have come across this book when it was all in one complete edition because I don't how I would have survived waiting for the next parts in the story since this was initially published in three separate parts.)

When I said that this wasn't my cup of tea, it's because I am not a huge fan of when the main character is a, uh, well, a lady of the night or, say, a male escort. I may sound judge-y but it's just that I couldn't take reading about the main characters doing the horizontal chacha with someone else other than the one. But when I decided to dive into this book, I braced myself for all of that.

***SPOILER*** And I'm glad that I did because there were lots of that in this read. More surprising than the fact that I didn't stop reading right then and there, was the fact that there was no sob story behind why Cate was doing what she did--because she wanted to do it. But there was something about her that sometimes made me forget that she gets paid to do sex--her character was more humanized and in-your-face realistic. I loved that she didn't moon about for a guy that she truly didn't know except for the few days they spend together every month. I liked how she was accepting that what she did for a living might affect the people that she cared about even if some of them were her clients.

This love story was different from what I am used to reading. John and Cate were well written characters that I'm glad to have come across. They tried to take the best out of their situations that would've been impossible for ordinary people to overcome. It was what they were given and they had to deal with it. The rest of the world could say all they want as long as they remain a team, then all was good. The only thing I didn't really like was...well, it ended too soon for me. An extended epilogue wouldn't have hurt.


Final verdict: 8/10. Good read.

Series Recommendation #16: Record by KA Linde

I cannot believe I haven't featured this trilogy yet in my series recommendation blog special. Because seriously I only have nothing but pure love, love, love for these books, its characters, and its author (of course!).

I came across the first book purely by chance and it was probably the best stumble-by-chance book I found last year. Well, there is no probably to that statement...because it really was. The wait for the next two books was excruciating. It was times like those when I really try to swear off recently started books that aren't standalones but I'm not a very patient person. But all the wait was worth it.

I fell in love with Brady and Liz in the first book and was hooked by the time I read the second book, I was pretty resigned to the fact that I will have a hard time letting go of these characters. Suffice it to say that I delayed reading the third book because I was becoming a mess at the thought of the trilogy ending.

Let me just say that this was a beautifully crafted story that was generously spread for a period of two years. That's a luxury that we don't get to have these days wherein stories almost always have hurried timelines. I really felt that I was able to see the characters grow over time and took that as a privilege.

So I guess I should stop now. I apologize but I get all fangirl-ly when talking about these books. It couldn't be helped!

(Click on the title links for my reviews.)

Off The Record

On The Record

For The Record

Mr Beautiful by RK Lilley

I’ve been remade four times in my life. 

It is a distinct feeling. Impossible to mistake. The very marked sensation of being unraveled and reknit into a new thing, a new person. It can be good or bad, helpful or harmful, but above all, it is unstoppable. 

I was remade when my parents died, went from a happy childhood, into navigating a very dark world, with endless responsibilities, surrounded by enemies, and despairingly alone. 

It happened again at the hands of a cowardly predator. I’d become angrier with that one, more cynical, and it undoubtedly turned me into the kinky f**k I was today. 

The third happened swiftly. One day I looked up into a pair of pale blue eyes and saw the other half of my soul. Checkmate. I went from a completely controlled existence, a life where I made every decision with cold calculation, to a man overcome with feelings and emotions that were foreign but somehow wonderful. 

And all too soon after that cataclysmic change was this fourth one, this one where I begged a God I’d never entertained to spare the life of a woman that I could not live without. 


I went on a high upon learning that this book was coming out because hello? Who doesn't want to read more of Mr James Cavendish? But then after all the dust have settled, I realized that the first three books in the series were really put together so well and I hated the possibility that the story was going to be stretched too much because a fourth book was coming out. 

After many weeks of delaying, I finally decided to have a go at this book...because I felt that Mr Cavendish wasn't very happy about being looked over everytime I pick something else to read from my TBR pile. And man oh man, I have never been so happy to be proven wrong about my thoughts about a book!

There were just so many things I loved about this book. I got into James' head--whether it was in the past when he first met Bianca or later on in their relationship when he almost lost her after an attack. My god, the tears! I was practically crying in most parts of this book. And there were also more of Stephan and his relationship with Javier. Their story was just beautiful to read. Yes, you guessed it right--there were more tears.

Another thing I loved about this book was that it covered several years into the lives of James, Bianca, and their many friends. So this not only served as an extended epilogue for the Up In The Air series but of the stories of other well-loved characters that RKL have penned. What can I say except there were so much to love. 


Final verdict: 10/10. Great, must-read...especially for those who have already read the Up In The Air series already.


Up In The Air series reviews:
In Flight
Mile High
Grounded

Beast (Part 3) by Ella James

Return to La Rosa Prison as Annabelle tries to save Beast from his grizzly fate. Her tongue and hands are doing most of the saving. 

Okay, not really. 


I know that I had mentioned that this series wasn't really doing it for me. But then again, I hate DNFing a book or a series that I have already started so here I am again. Although I admit that this could be blamed to my fascination with the show Prison break from years ago.

So here we are, at the third novella of this series. One again, I went through pages of dirty cops and the evil of money. Other than that, I don't know what else to think because the story just got ridiculous and was kind of all over the place. 

I wanted this story to really work because I had really loved all its possibilities when I came across the first novella. Thankfully there's only one more novella to go through. Let's see if that one would be this series' saving grace.


Final verdict: 5/10. Okay read.


Beast series reviews:
Beast (Part 1)
Beast (Part 2)

Status by JA Huss

MovieStar @VaughnAsher
@FilthyBlueBird #DirtyHeaven is mine tonight.

Grace @FilthyBlueBird
@VaughnAsher I own #DirtyHeaven, bitch. #VaughnAsherIsMyBitch

MovieStar @VaughnAsher
@FilthyBlueBird #FlashbackTime Get ready.

Grace @FilthyBlueBird
Come here and take off my lip gloss @VaughnAsher #OnMyKneesWaiting

MovieStar @VaughnAsher
@FilthyBlueBird #Flashback to last night. Oh, you weren’t wearing lip gloss. But you are now. #GetOnYourKneesAndWait

Grace @FilthyBlueBird
@VaughnAsher - Dabbing lips with a napkin. #ThatAllYouGot?

Finally... Grace sees me in a different light. The banter is flirty, the sex is fun, and the future looks fabulous.I just hope she feels the same way when she finds out what I did.


Ahhh, this series just keeps getting better. For me, it started out to be a love story bordering on cute-sy, for lack of a better word. Because why wouldn't I expect that with the social  media theme plus the Hollywood heartthrob hero thrown into the mix?

But then this story and its characters take on more depth by the part just to prove that the entire story was anything but cute-sy. This part alone in the series proved that there is more to the story than a simple romance between two people. The surprises just keep on coming by the page and I loved it. 

This novella saw a more serious relationship between Grace and Vaughn (I told you--twist, twists, twists) and story took on a darker turn (that I didn't see coming). The next one should be very interesting.


Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.


Social Media series reviews:
Follow
Like
Block

Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you. 

When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be. 

I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here. 
I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room. 
But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night. 

Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California. 

It had been years since I’d seen Elec. 

When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again. 

And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.

I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.


I was drawn to this book primarily because it felt like Our Secret Love all over again. But this time, all grown up. I never thought stepsibling stories to be taboo unless they really grew up together since they were tiny then things could get awkward fast. It may still not be taboo then...but maybe bordering on it.

In short, I did not find anything wrong in the "relationship" between Elec and Greta. They were two teenagers from two separate worlds that had to live together when his father married her mother. Greta fell in love with literally "the boy next door" while Elec lived with his father's abusive nature. Eventually, Elec left to live with his mother and didn't see Greta again until many years later, when his father died. And then the story of second chances began.

The best elements I loved about this book were: 1) there were two main parts in the story--the first time they got together when they were still in high school and then years later when they already had their own lives as adults; 2) this was told in first person POV (Greta's); and 3) and there was a little bit of Elec's POV in the form of excerpts of an autobiographical book that he was publishing.

The writing was unhurried without being dragging--this was really surprising in a good way. It did not get boring at all despite the story spanning years. I guess if PW can put together a plot like that enjoyably for the reader, then it's a given I will be reading her other books as well.


Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.

Series Recommendation #15: Call by Emma Hart

These books were my very first EH books and damned if I was not hooked! I just loved how well the storytelling was put together. The blurb may make you feel a tad apprehensive but then I was glad to have decided having a go at this gem of a series because then I wouldn't have met Dayton and Aaron.

It was a joy reading this love story. I read romance novels day in and day out and it's always a great feeling to read something that has something different--whether it be the unusual twist or the not-so-usual character stereotype. One of my more favorite plots is when characters have a history together well before the main story begins. It's almost always a win and this story definitely didn't disappoint in that department.

Without giving away anything, this series got my thumbs-up in so many things. It may not be perfect but it was great enough for me to keep on reading EH because, man, that writing is great. One thing is for sure, the next time I decide to read EH, there will be no more apprehensions after reading the blurb. Heck, forget the blurb. Let's just move on to the reading part already.

(Click on the title links for my reviews.)

Late Call

Final Call

His Call

Lowdown And Lush by Selena Laurence

Mike Owens is the devil. Sexy, snarky, and as lowdown as they come, he's one of the world's greatest guitarists and one of Portland's most notorious bad boys.

Jenny Turner is an angel. A preacher's daughter, she's a good girl with a great voice and a dream to hit it big in country music.

When these two opposites meet, the attraction is undeniable, but something's stopping the bad boy from pursuing what he desires most. Can this angel handle the truth behind her devil? Or will his secrets be too Lowdown and Lush?


I have been forever intrigued as to how Mike's story would go about. Although it was pretty clear from the many obvious teasers in the previous book of this series that Mike was going to be with Jenny, I was pretty excited at how their story would progress.

As soon as I finished reading this book, I realized that the previous book is still my most favorite book in the series...yet. (Because hello! Walsh.) The story here wasn't as gripping as the first two books in the series but nevertheless told in classic SL awesomeness. It was beautiful in its simplicity.

My take-aways from this book? The complexity of the family unit. SL was able to weave a romance that incorporated beautifully the family stories of both protagonists in a trope that remained romantic. I just melted at the way Mike took care of his father. And I loved reading at how Jenny slowly mended her relationship with her own father who disapproved of her becoming a musician. And there was the family that was the Lush band. Even if they had already disbanded, broken up, they still managed to get together and remained friends. This despite a difficult history that they had learned to live with and continue to improve from. Weaker characters would have crumbled but this lot aced it...and we are not even done with the series yet!

I am so, so, soooooo ready for the next book! I'm gonna be an ugly mess waiting for it. Ugh.


Final verdict: 9/10. Great read.


Lush series reviews:
A Lush Betrayal
For The Love Of A Lush

A Week In New York by Louise Bay

Anna Kirby is sick of dating. She's tired of heartbreak. Despite being smart, sexy, and funny, she's a magnet for men who don't deserve her.

A week's vacation in New York is the ultimate distraction from her most recent break-up, as well as a great place to meet a stranger and have some summer fun. But to protect her still-bruised heart, fun comes with rules. There will be no sharing stories, no swapping numbers, and no real names. Just one night of uncomplicated fun.

Super-successful serial seducer Ethan Scott has some rules of his own. He doesn't date, he doesn't stay the night, and he doesn't make any promises.

It should be a match made in heaven. But rules are made to be broken.


Ahhh, how to begin this review without you picturing me flailing and crying happy tears about how great this novella was? Like I-could-go-days-without-reading-anything-while-I-soak-in-the-awesomeness-of-this-book great.

The chemistry between Anna and Ethan was just amazing to read and, well, experience. It just felt real and I loved how unpretentious their supposed one night stand was. Just like the characters, the story was in-your-face fun and had lots of steamy sex. Yes! What more do you need? Knowing that there pseudo-relationship has an expiration date, reading the book felt like I had to be in there, in the story to make sure that the week they had was something they would never forget. All this despite their promise that it was all going to be about the sex, one hundred per cent no strings attached.

So I just found myself another author to fangirl for. (Yes, there are favorite authors and there are those you fangirl about because favoriting them is too casual.) OMG, I loved LB's writing style. It was smooth, easy, and comfortable reading all through out for me. Don't get me wrong though. I still got euphoric at the highs in this book, still felt butterflies in my stomach in all those romantic scenes, and that ending? To put it mildly, it did a whammy on my heart. That's effortless effective writing.

Must.Get. More. Louise Bay. Books.

PS How friggin' sexy is that cover?! Le sigh.


Final verdict: 10/10. Awesome must-read.

Block by JA Huss

Grace @FilthyBlueBird

@VaughnAsher #YouAreCaredFor So the movie star says. But his idea of cared for isn't the same as mine. Obviously a #Douche.

MovieStar @VaughnAsher

@FilthyBlueBird #BehindTheScenesIsMyScene The Blue Bird has trust issues. And tantrum issues. And commitment issues.

Grace @FilthyBlueBird

@VaughnAsher #SaidTheKettleToThePot

MovieStar @VaughnAsher

@FilthyBlueBird #YouAreMine and I won't let you forget it.

Grace @FilthyBlueBird

@VaughnAsher #YouMustShitUnicorns that's how delusional your fairy tale is. #GetAGripOnReality I'm outtie.

MovieStar @VaughnAsher

@FilthyBlueBird You're an #Innie #Sweetheart :) My tongue licked all your #CuteLittleButtons.

#ForTheLoveOfFilth

Why is he so damn sexy? How will I ever get out from under Asher's thumb if I can't stop thinking about his tongue on my buttons? #HottiesNeedToPlayFair

So this is the part in the serial when things start to get serious. If the first two books were full of sexy fun, this novella screamed complications.

Vaughn Asher, being the Hollywood heartthrob he was, was hit with the scandal that he was going to be a father--with a fomer 'girlfriend.' This added more tension to the already-complicated almost-relationship that he had with Grace. But I loved how Graced continued to live her life despite everything that she was having (or not) with Vaughn. So she continued to be the busy career woman that she was. And then her work brought her to Las Vegas...where things get more complicated that they already were. Lemme just say that this had Hangover written all over it. Love, love, love.

With the new angles that were being introduced into the story, this story had now become bigger than just being about Asher and Grace. It was like it was finally taking on a life of its own. It was a good surprise. But most of all, we were given two cliffhangers to deal with at the end of this read. Because apparently one wasn't enough.

Shiznit, what did Vaughn do now?! Gimme part 4 now, please!

Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.

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The Club by Lauren Rowe

When playboy businessman Jonas Faraday receives a private note from the anonymous intake agent assigned to process his online application to an exclusive club, he becomes obsessed with finding her and giving her the satisfaction she claims has always eluded her, in order to fulfill his own desperate need for redemption.

Sarah: "When I read Jonas Faraday’s brutally honest personal message on his application to The Club—I practically climaxed at my desk. I’m an idiot to risk losing my job but I couldn’t resist contacting him. I knew my confession would be like dangling an irresistible carrot in front of his nose—but never in a million years did I think he’d actually hunt me down."

Jonas: "I was shocked to get my intake agent’s email—I’d attached that note to my application on a whim, never expecting a reply from an actual person, let alone a reply as mind blowing as that. Her message was so alluring, so irresistible, I’ve been spiraling into a full-blown obsession ever since I got it. What’s her name? What does she look like? Finding her is my top priority."

In The Club, what starts out as an innocent exploration of attraction quickly spirals into a steamy story of unbridled passion, obsession, heartbreak, and, ultimately, redemption.


I thought it was kinda cute that a few hours after I finished this book, I learned that January 9th was Play God Day (according to @daysoftheyear). How was that coincidence? Because Jonas Faraday just did that!

I am now so glad I stumbled on this book and decided not to wait in reading it. This turned out to be a great read, an instant favorite. Who would've thought that when this was my first book by LR? And wow. This was gooooood. Just wow. *blubbering*

I was sucked into the story right off the bat because who wouldn't? The fact that this was told in dual POV made it even more enjoyable. I loved how Jonas and Sarah's relationship started, when they started just by communicating through email. (HELLO! In case no one had noticed, words are sexy!) I liked how Sarah went with her guts in personally contacting Jonas even if he was her 'job.' And Jonas? God, Jonas. How sexy could this guy get? The way he singlemindedly pursued Sarah despite not knowing how she looked like was just panty-dropping hot because don't they say that guys fall in love with faces and ladies with words? There goes that line. And the chemistry between this two? Whew!

I felt that the story may have slowed down a bit after 'the chase' but I thought the writing was still great. It continued to be an easy read all throughout. I cannot wait to read the next book because things are going to get messy...in a bad way. I'm just here impatiently waiting for the next one. Sigh.


Final verdict: 10/10. Great must-read.

For The Record by KA Linde

With Congressman Brady Maxwell up for reelection and journalist Liz Dougherty about to graduate into a promising career, the ambitious couple’s future is brighter than ever. They share a passion for their work...and for each other. But when Brady holds a press conference to officially introduce Liz as his girlfriend, reporters hungry for a scandal bombard her. Now, her every move is under a vicious magnifying glass, and her life feels like it’s falling apart.

On the road to reelection, the passionate bond between the congressman and the journalist gets tested at every stop. Threatened by shameless media sensationalism and jealous exes, Brady and Liz now have to learn to trust each other despite what they read in the papers.

In the finale to USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s sexy Record trilogy, Liz and Brady may be setting off fireworks along the campaign trail, but can their love transcend politics as usual?


So we have finally come to the last book in Brady and Liz's story. And what a way to end a series!

Brady and Liz may finally be together and telling the world that they were but that didn't mean that everything was smooth-sailing from there. They still had to deal with the people's reactions to their relationship and their judgments, and people that were set on destroying them. Brady had to stand by what his relationship with Liz meant to his political career and how it could also be affected. Liz had to strive to make a name for herself despite being with someone that was a public personality and a very succesful one at that.

This trilogy deserved this wonderful ending. The characters were so well-written with enough depth and dimension that I had began to think they were real. The unhurried plot that spanned two years--a novelty that is hard to find in today's many romances--that showed how two people can grow with each other and into a relationship that can weather storms that other couples can only think of. And that epilogue? Wow, wow, wow! 

Ahhh, I cannot gush enough about this book!!! (Obviously!) THANK YOU, KAL, for coming up with this series and for deciding to share it to the world. I'm a lucky, lucky lady to have read each everything. I will forever recommend this to anyone.


Final verdict: 12/10. Great, awesome must-read.


Record series reviews: 
Off The Record
On The Record

One Night Stand by JS Cooper and Helen Cooper

It was only supposed to be one night! 

We met at a wedding. He was hot. And I’d been in a year’s drought. 

He smiled. We got drunk.We flirted. We hooked up. I left early the next morning without saying goodbye. It was only meant to be a one night stand. I didn’t want the awkward morning after moment. Not at all. 

Then I went home for the weekend. And he was there. Sitting on the couch chatting to my dad. Turns out he was more than just a stranger. Turns out that my one night stand was about to cause a whole heap of trouble. Turns out that it never just stops with one night. 


So I finished this quick read last night and wow. What happened? The blurb promised for this story to be sooo much more but then right after I read it? I didn't know what hit me really.

The first few chapters were great--steamy, sexy, and fun. These were the things I was expecting when I decided to read this book. But the going was so good that when the true identities of our protagonists were revealed, it felt like one giant ball of disappointment. And just went down a downward spiral from there.

I trudged on through because I was hoping that it would take a better turn. But it didn't. What a waste of that hot, hot, hot cover.


Final verdict: 3/10. Ugh.