A Beautiful Wedding by Jamie McGuire

Synopsis
You know that Abby Abernathy unexpectedly became Mrs. Maddox. But what do you really know?

Why did Abby pop the question?
What secrets were shared before the ceremony?
Where did they spend their wedding night?
Who else knew about it . . . and didn’t tell?

Everything about Abby and Travis’s elopement was top-secret . . . until now. Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster will get all of their questions answered in this whirlwind tale of the wedding day (and night!)—and as with all good stories, this one will definitely have been worth the wait.

Review
Ahhhhhh!!!!! I've been waiting for this! Travis and Abby are seriously my absolute favorite book couple. Ever. Seriously. And while writing this, I realized I never wrote a review of Beautiful Disaster/Walking Disaster. Seriously, best books ever. So basically, if you haven't read any of this series, or read all of it for that matter, stop right now, go out and buy the books/download the ebook, whatever and read it immediately. Don't even read my review, just read it, the whole series. Now.








Wait, what are you still doing here? Go read the series NOW! Ok, well maybe you're still reading because you read BD/WD and actually want my opinion on A Beautiful Wedding. Well, I guess I'll write a review then.

Here it is. Go buy it. Go read it. No, really. It's THAT good. It's everything you ever wanted from the wedding story of Travis and Abby. It will throw you through all of your emotions. While I was reading it, I went through happiness, sadness, and joy. I was crying, laughing, smiling, everything. I never thought that was the reason why Abby proposed to Travis, I thought their wedding and wedding night was absolutely perfect, I thought their first year anniversary was even more perfect. I just think Travis and Abby are just perfect. And I think that everything Jamie McGuire does is absolutely perfect.

Again, go buy it and read it....immediately!

Purchase Links
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Wedding-Novella-Disaster-ebook/dp/B00FCAW93O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387329115&sr=1-1&keywords=a+beautiful+wedding+jamie+mcguire

Hardcover: http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Wedding-Novella-Disaster/dp/1476759545/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1387329115&sr=1-1

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Synopsis
An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling.
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 Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative--completely infuriating--creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules--or outright smash them--if it means he can have her. All over the office. 

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.

 
Originally only available online as The Office by tby789--and garnering over 2 million reads on fanfiction sites--Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

 

Review

Here is another book that I downloaded forever ago (the end of June) and just got around to reading. This book had continually been strategically placed next to the Fifty Shades books at the bookstore. The cover caught my eye immediately and it was immediately added to my to be read list. Until one day I had almost 4 hours to kill while my husband was at work, and I went to the bookstore. I decided to read the first chapter or two of a couple books on my TBR list to decided whether I actually wanted them to stay on that list....why buy them and then decide you hate it? I think I made it through a book or two before I picked up Beautiful Bastard in the store. I didn't touch another book that day. I think while I sat there I blew through the first 6 or 7 chapters. I wanted to buy it that day and just finish it right then, but money was tight at the time. Then, Beautiful Bastard was put on sale on Kindle and I downloaded it. Unfortunately, it was another case of other books taking precedence and I never got back to it. Until now. 

 

Oh my gosh. Why did I wait so long to read this book? And as I'm writing this, I'm working why I haven't downloaded the rest of this series yet. Regardless, I feel like where I stopped reading that day at the bookstore was where a flip happened in the book that made it take on a completely different feel. The beginning was one story that focused mainly on Bennett and Chloe's crazy affair, but where I stopped reading was about the place where the story started shifting towards more of a romance novel. 

 

I can't say that this book is one of the best books I've ever read, but it was refreshing and fun. It's definitely worth the time and money and you'll come to love Bennett and Chloe. You'll definitely find better romance or erotica books out there, but you'll enjoy every minute of this story and you'll wonder why you've waited so long to read it. 

Purchase Links

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Bastard-Christina-Lauren-ebook/dp/B009UVCYLS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387327569&sr=1-1&keywords=beautiful+bastard+christina+lauren

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Bastard-The-Series/dp/1476730091/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1387327569&sr=1-1

Up Next : A Beautiful Wedding by Jamie McGuire

Safe Word by Teresa Mummert

Synopsis

A chance meeting with a stranger can turn your entire world upside down. 

When Colton 'Colt' Bishop enters a bar in New York City, he has a plan. His job is to find an easy target and take her back to his place for a few days. He is working his way up the crime ladder doing a job he never wanted. 

Lily Hilton has it all, but is hiding from a troublesome past. When she enters a bar downtown, and runs into her old high school crush, her entire world is turned upside down. She is determined to make him notice her, but that plan may work better than she expects. Colton does not hesitate to take Lily home and use her as his new pawn, but their past begins to catch up with them as their secrets unravel and he must decide what is more important to him, protecting Lily or himself.

Review
I purchased this book at the end of May, and it's been sitting in my Kindle library since. I'm saddened that I never read it sooner. It seems like there are always books I download and that I have every intention of reading soon, but other books are released and I can't control myself and certain ones I know less about get pushed further and further back in my library.

This book is definitely one that I really wish I would have read sooner. It came recommended by a few other book blogs that I follow but I really knew nothing of Teresa Mummert's writing style or what this book was even about. I just went and downloaded it. When I first started I had a hard time getting into it because it was completely different than I was expecting. By the end of the the 2nd or 3rd chapter, I was sold. I loved that it was different than what I was expected. It's nice to occasionally read a book from the male perspective and being able to learn and feel his love for Lily was breathtaking.

This story isn't the traditional romance story, and that makes it fresh and new. It's something different yet still fulfills that need for a romance novel. The plot keeps you guessing throughout and you're never quite sure how it's going to end. I remember numerous times where I thought I knew where the plot was going and then went to the next chapter and I was completely proven wrong.

I highly recommended this book. It's a fresh, new take on the traditional romance story. I can't wait to dig into some other Teresa Mummert novels in the near future. She's definitely added to my list of "must read authors." You won't want to miss out on this stand-alone romance!

Purchase Links
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Word-Teresa-Mummert-ebook/dp/B00CS7XRV2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1387326363&sr=1-1&keywords=safe+word+teresa+mummert

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Word-Teresa-Mummert/dp/1484972090/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1387326363&sr=1-1

Up Next:
Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Eyes Wide Open by Raine Miller

Synopsis

The third part in The Blackstone Affair series: A love on the brink of being destroyed. The fight of a lifetime to keep it alive.Big surprises are on the horizon for Ethan and Brynne as they struggle to adjust to what life has thrown at them. Demons from the past are threatening to destroy the passionate bond they’ve forged despite their vow that nothing will ever keep them apart. A truly devastating loss coupled with the promise of a new hope opens their eyes to what is most important, but is it possible for the lovers to move on from the painful histories that continue to haunt them? A stalker is still lurking in the shadows, plotting evil amidst the distraction of the 2012 Olympic games in London. Brynne and Ethan are on the cusp of losing everything as the stakes rise. Will they yield to circumstances beyond their control or will they give every ounce of fight they have left to save each other and win the ultimate prize of a life together?

Eyes Wide Open is a passion-wrought story that shows us what pure love can achieve when tested and what the heart can accomplish despite danger and adversity.

 

Review

I was hoping that I would come around on this series, but I honestly can't bring myself to really enjoy it. This book really brought the whole thing to the realization to me that it was very much a knock-off of "Fifty Shades of Grey." A lot of the story line follows different plot twists that "Fifty Shades" did, but maybe in a little bit different timeline. I can say that the writing style is a bit better than "Fifty Shades," but I feel as though "Fifty Shades" was executed in a much more seamless fashion. 

 

I felt as though the plot twists in this final book were a little unbelievable in how they were executed. I never truly got invested in the characters to really feel their pain or love between themselves of other people. I remember a point where I looked at the progress bar of my Kindle and realized that I only had 20% of the book left and I couldn't understand how everything in the plot line was going to be tied up. Then I made it to the a point where all of a sudden everything sped up, the main plot of that book was tied up and then it spent the next chapter or two jumping around to clear up the rest of the open plot from the rest of the series. I felt like the last part of the book was really rushed, and it could have been less rushed if the every chapter sex scenes were cut down a bit. 

 

I honestly can't say that I loved the Crossfire series, but I think I would almost recommended it over The Blackstone series just because I feel like the character development is a hundred times better, so you feel a little more invested in the characters. It's not a horrible series, because I'm sure there are worse romance series out there (*cough cough* Megan Hart *cough cough*), but I also wouldn't say the Blackstone series is the best by any means. 

 

3 stars.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Wide-Open-Blackstone-Affair-ebook/dp/B00BEHGSEK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

 

Amazon (Paperback):  http://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Wide-Open-Blackstone-Affair/dp/1476735603/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

All In by Raine Miller

Synopsis
The second part in The Blackstone Affair series! Looming danger. A love worth fighting for. A man who’ll go all in.

Ethan Blackstone has a problem on his hands. He’s broken Brynne’s trust and she’s left him. He’s unwilling to live without her and isn’t giving up—he’s dead-set on getting his beautiful American girl back. The passion between them was explosive, but the secrets they hid from each other are dark and chilling and are powerful enough to destroy their shot at a life together. With political threats now directed at Brynne, Ethan is running out of time and he’ll need to gather all his strength and agility to protect her from the dangers that could take her away from him forever. Will Ethan be able to save Brynne from a past that keeps her locked in fear? Will he ever feel the warmth of her touch, the solidity of her trust again? This is a love-struck man who is willing to do whatever it takes to possess the heart of the woman he loves. He’ll go to any lengths to protect her. He’ll go all in.

Here is the fiery story of what happens when two people surrender to a love so great it can heal the scars of the past and give way to a life of pure, rapturous ecstasy.

Review
I can honestly say that I liked "All In" better than "Naked"....but I can still say that I'm still not sold on this series. I can't really pin-point what I disliked about this book, so it's very difficult for me to write this review right now.

I felt like the author continued to revert back to the same comments continually throughout the book. During any scene between Ethan and Brynne you had Ethan's comments about how much Brynne means to him. The benefit to this book over "Naked" was that it was from Ethan's perspective. You gained a little insight into why he was so protective over Brynne. But I still felt like something between their relationship was lacking. That might have stemmed from "Naked" where it was an "insta-love" story, but I just felt like there love for each other was never truly explained.

The end of "All In" ended differently than I thought it was going to, which actually left me a little disappointed and underwhelmed. Normally I'm really excited when a book takes a turn I don't expect, but again, with this book, I'm not sure why I feel so differently about it.

All in all, I think it's an ok book to read if you enjoyed series like Fifty Shades of Grey and The Crossfire series, but I wouldn't get too excited over it.

3 stars.

Purchase Links:
Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/All-Blackstone-Affair-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00AHE268I/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1384473057&sr=1-2&keywords=all+in+raine+miller

Amazon (Paperback): http://www.amazon.com/All-In-Blackstone-Affair-Book/dp/1476735271/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1384473057&sr=1-2

Up Next: "Eyes Wide Open" by Raine Miller

Naked by Raine Miller

Synopsis
Brynne Bennett has left scandal in her past and is living the good life. An American grad student at the University of London and part-time photographic model, she’s getting back on track with lots of hard work and focus on a career in art conservation. When successful and charismatic London businessman Ethan Blackstone buys her nude portrait, he wants to possess more than just her image. He wants Brynne in his bed, serving him in every way possible. He has no trouble voicing his desires, and he isn’t taking “no” for an answer.

At first, his dominant nature captivates her, but it isn’t clear if the force of his powerful desire will ultimately awaken or dispel the demons Brynne is carrying inside. There are secrets on both sides of this relationship—huge ones. Can Ethan erase the scars of Brynne’s past so that she can reveal her true self to him? Or will the shadows cast by Ethan’s own mysterious former life destroy their chance at happiness?

Naked is the sizzling, unforgettable story of what happens when a strong woman meets the one man powerful enough to strip away all her defenses, leaving her standing naked and perfect before him.

Review
I had heard mixed reviews about this book, in particular. The series as a whole I had heard rave reviews about, but this book I'd heard a little both direction. But because the series was so highly talked about, I decided that I just needed to bite the bullet and read the whole thing.

My first impression of this book was that I absolutely loved the Prologue. Seriously, the prologue made me want to just bust through this whole book in one sitting. Then going into the first chapter, I just had a hard time getting into it. I felt like the relationship between Brynne and Ethan was a little rushed. Usually I don't have an issue with "insta-love" but for some reason in this book, it put me off. I just couldn't understand the insta-love with this relationship. But the more I read it the more I got into it. By about the 75% mark I was sold on the book. It just was slow going at first for me.

But now that I've finished the book and I absolutely couldn't believe the ending, I couldn't wait to bust into "All In". I feel like "All In" will be more of what I was looking for in this series having it being written from Ethan's perspective.

I will say "Naked" was somewhat hard to get through, but so far it's seeming like the series as a whole is a definite must-read.

So far I'd rate Naked 3.5 stars, but considering what I've read of All In so far, I'd rate the series as a whole at a 4 stars at this point.

Purchase Links
Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Blackstone-Affair-Book-ebook/dp/B00AHE266U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383501001&sr=8-1&keywords=naked+raine+miller
Amazon (Paperback): http://www.amazon.com/Naked-The-Blackstone-Affair-Book/dp/1476735247/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1383501001&sr=8-1

Up Next: "All In" by Raine Miller

Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis
A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love comes with conditions: they agree it will only last one hour and it will only be make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them only seemed perfect because they were pretending it was perfect. Moments like that with girls like her don’t happen outside of fairytales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in insta-love is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Daniel soon realizes the way he pretended to feel about Cinderella and the way he really feels about Six may not be so different after all. Especially when the two loves of his life end up being one in the same.

Unfortunately for Daniel, finding Cinderella doesn’t guarantee their happily ever after…it only further threatens it.

Review
First off, no one has the excuse of not being able to read this book...it's free! Colleen Hoover wrote this novella that goes along with the Hopeless/Losing Hope series as a thank you to her fans. This story follows Holder's friend Daniel and Sky's friend Six.

This novella was everything I could have hoped for. Even though it was only around 120 pages, it hit everything we would have wanted with Daniel and Six. Right off the bat I was drawn into the story. When reading Hopeless/Losing Hope I always thought Daniel was hilarious and I knew that I would enjoy reading this novella either way, but Colleen Hoover surpassed my expectations. My husband constantly questioned what I was laughing about and I'd read him the section and he'd just respond, "Really? What is with this guy?" Which is why I love Daniel.

Even though it's a novella I still felt like the story hit on everything we would need to complete the story line. I would love to read more into their relationship, but I didn't feel like the story wasn't summed up by the end. Though Colleen Hoover is making it sound like she is going to do some more writing in the line of Daniel, Six, Holder and Sky in the coming year. We will just have to wait and see from her.

I will say that at the end of chapter 6 I just sat there staring at my Kindle. Seriously, I was reading right along and flipped to the next page and couldn't believe my eyes at that point. I didn't think that was where the story was going to go. I was just flabbergasted at that point and I couldn't bring myself to move on for quite a few minutes.

This novella is a must read for anyone that enjoyed the Hopeless/Losing Hope books and just want a little extra into the overall story. But you can read this story without reading Hopeless/Losing Hope and still understand what is going on for the most part. If you are not sure on spending the money on the other books and just want to try out Colleen Hoover's writing style with a free book, this is definitely a way to do it....but I will promise you that you'll fall in love with Colleen Hoover. And if you have been a Colleen Hoover fan, you'll fall in love with her all over again.

Purchase Link:
Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Cinderella-Novella-Colleen-Hoover-ebook/dp/B00FNWRSCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383498752&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+cinderella

Up Next: Naked by Raine Miller

Torn & Twisted by K.A. Robinson

I was originally planning on writing separate reviews for each of these books, but since I didn't have a chance to write the Torn review before I was finished with Twisted and they are a series, I figured I'd write the review together.

Torn Synopsis
Two people with battered souls are thrust together unexpectedly, leaving a profound impact on each other’s lives.

In K.A. Robinson’s USA Today bestselling debut novel, Torn, Chloe hasn’t had the easiest childhood. With a mother who was absent most of the time, she practically had to raise herself. Determined to start a new life and leave her demons behind, she heads to West Virginia University with her best friends Amber and Logan. On the first day of classes, she spots a student who takes her breath away. Drake is a pierced, tattooed bad boy, and no matter how hard she tries to fight it, he’s all she can think about.

Drake has never cared about anyone other than himself, but when Chloe takes the empty seat next to him in class, he is instantly drawn to her. Drake is left wondering whether this girl can take his cold, womanizing heart and alter him forever.

Falling for each other was never a part of their plan, and when it happens, things do anything but fall into place. Long-hidden feelings are revealed and friendships are tested to the brink as Chloe and Drake become helplessly entwined in each other’s love.

Twisted Synopsis

Love has the power to break through even the most twisted of circumstances.

In the second book in the bestselling Torn series by K.A. Robinson, Chloe and Drake have soldiered through a heartbreaking love triangle and are finally within reach of their happily ever after. Unfortunately, their demons have come out of the dark with a vengeance, looking to destroy them. Chloe’s abusive mother enters back into her life with an evil plot that sets off a chain of events no one could ever have anticipated. To add to their distress, a relentless, conniving ex reappears determined to tear the couple apart through any means necessary. The extra strain pushes Chloe and Drake to the brink, bringing out their greatest weaknesses and putting them up against old but powerful addictions.

The foundation on which their love was built is crumbling beneath them. What are they willing to give up in order to stay together?

Review
No joke, these books are amazing. A lot of the blogs I follow hadn't said much about these books, and some of my bookie friends had never even heard of K.A. Robinson prior to me reading these books. Seriously, for someone that no one I have talked to knew anything about, I was completely blown away. K.A. really knows and excels at the art of character development.

When I first started reading Torn I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it, but probably about 15-20% into Torn I was completely sold and couldn't put it down. Then I get into Twisted (which I couldn't wait to start because Torn had an amazing ending) that once I started reading it I finished in a couple days which is crazy for me with my now crazy schedule.

Twisted really broke my heart in parts. I just couldn't believe that was where the book was going, but in the end I was over-joyed and so extremely happy with how the overall story was tied up. Again, the ending was amazing! It left it open for a potential third book, but didn't leave it so open that you would be completely upset if a third book never came. I personally would love to see a third book, but whether or not that is in the cards for K.A., I'm not sure. Either way you slice it, I'm so glad that I found these books and found another amazing author to continue to follow and watch grow throughout her writing career!

A definite 5 stars for both books!

Purchase Links:
Torn Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Torn-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00CK6KF3Y/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=
Twisted Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Book-2-Torn-Series-ebook/dp/B00CK6KFA2/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Torn Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Torn-Book-1-Series/dp/1476752133/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

Up Next: Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover
Twisted Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Book-2-Torn-Series/dp/1476752168/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Torn by Kim Karr

Synopsis
Rock star River Wilde brought Dahlia London back from the brink of hopelessness with his unwavering love and devotion. But their entwined history is about to test the strength of that love…

Dahlia was certain she had found true love and met her ‘Once in a Lifetime’ when she reconnected with River. But Dahlia’s world comes crashing down when someone from her past resurfaces, and all of River’s carefully hidden secrets are exposed.

River wants to show Dahlia that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about dancing in the rain! But how many times can one broken heart be mended? Will River and Dahlia be able to face the turmoil together or will they be torn apart?

 Review
This book was extreme perfection. I can't even come up with the words to describe how incredibly amazing this book really is.

In this book, we watch Dahlia's life go through numerous highs and lows throughout. It's tough to read a lot of it, especially when Kim Karr has this amazing ability to make you feel so connected to the characters, but in the end, it all comes together and we all get the ending we would be hoping for.

I can't tell you how many times my heart literally ached because I felt the love between River and Dahlia. I seriously cannot say that has ever happened to me reading a book before. I've been able to sense the love and really connect with the love between two characters, but never before has my heart literally ached with the love overflowing.

For those who have loved and lost, this book gives you hope that you will make it through. For those who have lost a mother/sibling/child, this book will give you the hope that your life will still be as fulfilling. For those who are wishing they could reconnect with an old love, this book will give you the strength to know that someday it could happen, if it truly is meant to be. And for those who are currently in love with their soul mate, this book will give you the support to triumph through the hard times, because it's all about the good times.

Books like these are truly amazing, and are not written every day. I am one of the lucky ones that found their soul mate early on and was lucky enough to keep him in my life. This book gives me such great hope for the future and points out that you need to remember to always remember to smile and laugh with the people you love because there will be a day when you eventually end up losing that person. You need to cherish each moment, and never hold a grudge or stay angry with them.

I cannot wait to see what else Kim Karr has in store for us because it seems as though she just continues to hone her craft and put together something more spectacular than the last.

Purchase Links
Paperback (Releasing April 1, 2014): http://www.amazon.com/Torn-Connections-Kim-Karr/dp/0451468287/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381625217&sr=1-1&keywords=kim+karr

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Torn-The-Connections-Series-ebook/dp/B00DGZKTR0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1381624522&sr=1-1&keywords=kim+karr

Escaping Reality: The Secret Life of Amy Bensen by Lisa Renee Jones

This book has been on my "to-read" list for quite some time now and I've finally had the chance to dig into it. I knew very little of Lisa Renee Jones prior to reading this book, but knew that this novel came highly recommended by a lot of the book blogs I follow. I'll start out by just saying, WOW!

Synopsis

Recommended for 17+ due to mature themes and sexual content

Book 1 of THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN Series

ESCAPING REALITY

***

Infinite possibilities....
Infinite passion.....
Infinite danger....

His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn't trust him. I shouldn't tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.

At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loved to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she's finally dared to believe she is forgotten-even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets her guard down, the ghosts of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.

On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take "no" as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes?

Review
This story. Wow. I was drawn in right away. I will warn you that by the end of the book you'll still be saying "Ok, I still want to know what's going on with Amy" and generally this ticks me off if I'm still really clueless about a character. But Lisa Renee Jones has some super special talent where even though you don't know the full back-story on the character, you're still drawn in to care deeply for that character. I'm still uncertain about who to trust and not trust in the story, but that has kept it exciting for me. Liam and Amy do get into this little "insta-love" situation that some people find annoying. I find it intriguing...especially when executed properly. Escaping Reality was executed properly....let me tell you. I was captivated right from the start and it held my interest throughout.

I don't have much time to read here recently (which really irritates me as well) but I found myself opening my Kindle app any extra second I had to try and get a little reading done on this novel. There were multiple nights that I stayed awake way later than I should have, just to see what was going to happen. I haven't had this with a novel for a while now. I would have to say this hasn't happened to me since "Losing Hope" by Colleen Hoover....and that's saying something.

Lisa Renee Jones has a few other series out which I haven't had the opportunity to tackle yet, but they have definitely moved up significantly in my "to-read" list after catching this one. Plus, don't forget that there will be sequel to Escaping Reality coming out soon.

Purchase Links:
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Escaping-Reality-contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B00CSIXEF0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380153967&sr=1-1&keywords=lisa+renee+jones
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Escaping-Reality-Secret-Bensen-Volume/dp/0985817089/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380153967&sr=1-1

*And just so you know, the Kindle version is 99 cents, and definitely worth it 100 times over!

Up Next:
"Torn" by K.A. Robinson 

Real by Katy Evans

So, it's been forever since I finished reading this book and I just haven't had a chance to write the review for it. I'm halfway through my next book and decided I needed to take the moment to write up this review.

I'll start by saying that this book came highly recommended to me and it intrigued me that the male lead in this book, Remy, beat out my beloved Travis Maddox (Beautiful Disaster/Walking Disaster) in a contest of favorite bad boy male leads in books. Travis Maddox is my #1 bad boy, so knowing that majority of the female population likes Remy more really had me interested in checking out this book.

Synopsis
An indie phenomenon and New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller, the first in a heartwrenching New Adult series about a beautiful young sports rehab specialist who can't fight her attraction to a dangerously sexy underground fighter.

A fallen boxer.
A woman with a broken dream.
A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents...

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

Review
I must say that I was disappointed in this book. This may have been the fact that I had extremely high hopes and I was trying to compare the characters to Travis & Abby the whole time, but I just felt like something was missing...until probably the last 50 pages. That last 50 pages finally pulled me into the story. I hate to say that I was bored with the story most of the time, but I kept reading because I just wanted to see what everyone else was seeing in Remy. Yes, there were parts that had me swooning over Remy, but most of the time I was just down-right confused, as I know Brooke was in most of the book.

The book had way too much back story and the love story aspect developed way too slowly for me to really be pulled into the overall story and really feel a connection to the characters. Then at about the 50 page mark of the book, I got really upset with Brooke (I won't give away what happens, but when you get there, you'll understand). I almost felt like I didn't want to continue reading. But I pushed through and finished. With the ending, I'm still not happy with Brooke, but I like Remy a bit more.

How the story ended really drew me in and now I have to read the second book in the series, "Mine" that is being released in November.

I would have just liked to see this book develop into the relationship between Remy and Brooke and little sooner. It was also slightly bothersome to me that it would seem like the story gave all of the details about what was going on in the time frame, and then you'd get to a part which would flash back and you'd realize that you didn't actually get the whole story as it was happening. I'm sure I'm not describing this aspect of the book well, but you'll understand it when you get to it.

Overall, I think it was a good book and worth the read, just going into it not having as high of expectations as I did and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I absolutely loved Beautiful Disaster/Walking Disaster and I loved how that story and the characters were developed, so having the characters of that book compared to "Real" made me really hope I would be blown away, and I wasn't.

I would have to give "Real" about a 3 1/2 stars. I hate to do it, but it's just what I have to do considering feeling greatly let down. I'll still read the rest of the series and I'm hoping that I feel more connection the characters in the books yet to come.

Purchase Links:
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Real-ebook/dp/B00CRAMM02/ref=pd_sim_kstore_4
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Real-The-REAL-Katy-Evans/dp/1476755590/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Up Next: Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones

*And yes, I realize that I said I'd have a review of "City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare soon, but I've just been having a really hard time reading paperback books lately....but Kindle has just been too convenient. But I promise to still give a review on that one soon as well!

Keeping Her: A Losing It novella by Cora Carmack

Synopsis

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.

My Review
This novella corresponds with "Losing It," and doesn't have any connection to "Faking It" other than it being the same characters.

So this synopsis gives away the fact that Garrick and Bliss are now engaged.  Bliss and Garrick are traveling to London for Bliss to meet Garrick's family. Bliss is utterly terrified of this...but in true Bliss fashion, why wouldn't she be terrified? What she doesn't know is that Garrick is secretly terrified as well.

They get to London and again, in true Bliss fashion, there is mishap after mishap while they are there. Complete with a monster-in-law, London-based job offers, and pregnancy scares that all put Garrick and Bliss' relationship on the rocks.

I'm glad that Cora Carmack wrote this novella. After reading it I felt a greater connection to the relationship between Garrick and Bliss. I feel like "Losing It" had left a lot of irons in the fire that needed to cleaned up. Luckily, this novella took care of a lot of it for me. It was still left open for another possible book in the future, but things were really tied up by the end of it.

Plus, it's only 99 cents, so what's not to lose with it?

A word of warning though. If you a percent reader like me (you continually check to see how far you are in a book....this is one reason why I always loved paperbacks because you have the visual, but now I'm getting used to the percent completed on my Kindle), you'll think there is a ton more book left, and you flip the page and it's over. There is a snippet for the next full novel in the series, "Finding It," and a snippet from both "Losing It" and "Faking It."

If you liked "Losing It' even remotely, you'll enjoy learning a little bit more about Garrick and Bliss and the constant craziness that is their lives.

Purchase Link
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Her-LOSING-Novella-ebook/dp/B00CD36FHE/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2

Up Next: "Real" by Katy Evans


*PS - "Finding It" by Cora Carmack will be reviewed soon. This is another book in the "Losing It" series that follows Bliss' friend, Kelsey, on here travels all over the world. 

Faking It by Cora Carmack

Let me start by saying that I wasn't planning on reading this book at this time. I had started another novel and was planning on finishing that one first, but once I started reading "Faking It" I had to continue reading until the very end.

If you haven't read my review of "Losing It" yet, go and do that now:
http://www.katies-book-korner.blogspot.com/2013/07/losing-it-by-cora-carmack.html

After you read that review, you'll realize that I wasn't overly excited about continuing this series....but I'm one of those people that if I don't necessarily love the book, but you make it into a series and you have me intrigued, even slightly, I'll probably continue to buy your books to find out what happens and see if I end up eventually falling in love with the characters. Wow....I just gave away my biggest weak spot to authors....bad idea, Katie.

Anyway, but in this review I mentioned that I actually felt a bigger connection towards Cade's character than I did to Bliss and Garrick. I said that I would love to see Cade's story expanded upon because I felt really bad for him when his love for Bliss wasn't returned.

So then I pick up "Faking It" when I was bored one day and didn't have my other novel with me. Mistake #1. IT'S CADE'S STORY! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This was exactly what I was asking for!

Before I get too far, I'll post the synopsis for "Faking It" to give you an idea of where I'm going with this. 

Synopsis
Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

My Review
Seriously, this book was amazing. Pure and simple. The character development of Cade and Max is incredible. Max is really just looking for someone to love her for who she is, but she's absolutely terrified that she'll eventually screw it up like she has everything else in her past, and she really just wants the acceptance of her family. She meets Cade, who had a strong attraction to her right away. But Cade isn't so sure about Max, just because Max is the polar opposite of Bliss. But Cade cares for Max so deeply that he loves her unconditionally, and pushes her to come out of her shell with her family and become her true self with them, and in turn, help Max begin to trust herself with relationships. But Max isn't the only one being helped throughout the book. Max makes Cade a better person. Cade learns that he's lived too safe for too long in his strive to be perfect at everything. He learns that he needs to live a little, and in that growth learns that he never really loved Bliss like he thought he did....he only thought he loved her because he knew that he could have the perfect life with her that he'd been striving for. 

Throughout the book I found myself really rooting for Cade and Max to make it. I found that both the characters really brought out the best in each other and helped each other grow through their on problems to create a strong relationship between the two of them. 

I felt like this was exactly the book I was looking for in this series. I felt a strong connection to both characters and found that they were written perfectly to each other. Though they both had their issues, in the end they both loved each other unconditionally.

And for those of you who loved "Losing It," you get a little bit into the relationship of Garrick and Bliss and where that is headed.

I honestly would love to see Cora Carmack create a side series following Cade and Max. I would buy the crap out of that series for sure!


So in the end, I would give this book a solid 5 stars. Though I wasn't a huge fan of "Losing It," it would probably be easier to understand Cade's point of view on some things if you had read it, though I wouldn't say it's completely required. Definitely a must read though. 

Purchase Links
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Faking-It-Losing-ebook/dp/B00AV6HX6W/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-3&qid=1377567837

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Faking-It-Losing-Cora-Carmack/dp/0062273264/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1377567837&sr=8-3&keywords=cora+carmack 


Up Next: Keeping Her: A Losing It novella by Cora Carmack

Losing It by Cora Carmack

Losing It is the first book in a series by Cora Carmack. The second book, Faking It, is already released. A companion novella, Keeping Her, is due out August 13th and the third book in the series, Finding It, is due out October 1st. 

Warning: This review contains some slight spoilers.

Book Synopsis

The Runaway New York Times and USA Today Bestseller!
Virginity.
Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible—a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half a brain would ever believe.
And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theater professor.
She'd left him naked in her bed about eight hours earlier. . . .

My Review
Bliss is a theater major who is in her last year of college and still has her virginity. She can't think of anything worse than graduating while still being a virgin. Her biggest problem though, she's absolutely terrified of intimacy. Bliss meets Garrick in a bar one night and almost has a one night stand with him, until she chickens out and runs out of her own apartment naked. Come to find out, Garrick is her new theater professor.

The story continues to follow Bliss through her trials and tribulations of juggling an illegal relationship with her professor and dealing with her best friend, Cade, professing his love to her.

Cora Carmack sure knows how to write a hot and spicy book. Garrick is extremely loveable, and you just want him to leave Bliss and ask you out on a date. Bliss and Garrick's chemistry is amazing. They completely understand each other the entire step of the way, and are both willing to try and make the relationship work. Though with Cade being a genuine, good-hearted guy, you feel absolutely horrible for him being in love with someone who is in love with someone else. I felt that he had deeper feelings for Bliss than he let on, but when he told Bliss that he's loved her for years, and Bliss didn't reciprocate his feelings, I felt horrible for him.

After reading this book, you'll feel extremely connected to Bliss and Garrick's relationship and a strong hope for Cade to find someone to pull him out of his slump after his failed attempts of starting his own relationship with Bliss.

I can't wait to continue reading this series. Cora Carmack is a truly talented individual, and I look forward to more from her in the future.

Purchase Links
Losing It: http://www.amazon.com/Losing-It-ebook/dp/B00AHCRQPI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374713825&sr=1-1&keywords=losing+it

Faking It: http://www.amazon.com/Faking-It-Losing-ebook/dp/B00AV6HX6W/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Keeping It: http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Her-LOSING-Novella-ebook/dp/B00CD36FHE/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2

Finding It: http://www.amazon.com/Finding-It-ebook/dp/B00C4TK29E/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1


Up Next: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 

Connected by Kim Karr

I want to start out this review with a photo.

This is a photo of Josiah Hawley that was on The Voice 2013. The reason I'm posting this photo is because this is exactly how I picture River, the main character of this book. So if this photo alone doesn't make you want to read this book, you might want to read my review, but if this photo makes you excited by itself...don't even read this review, just go order it or download it and get reading it now! I suggest downloading it to your e-reader so you can get reading it within the next 30 seconds.

What are you waiting for? Get downloading now!!!!


Book Synopsis
What if a “Once in a Lifetime” could happen twice?

In Dahlia London’s world, happily ever after is a far cry from reality. Her soul has been left completely shattered by tragedy. But a surprising reunion with someone from her past is about to give her a reason to love again…

When rock star River Wilde comes back into Dahlia’s life, their super-charged connection runs deeper than either of them ever expected. The more time they spend together, the more intense their relationship becomes, and Dahlia believes at last she has found her soul mate.

But as old bonds fade and Dahlia’s grief begins to lift, her guilt and confusion remain. River desperately wants to be the one who mends what’s been broken—but with a past that refuses to stay buried, is it possible for their future to begin?

My Review
I will be honest with this review. This book was suggested by another book blog I follow. I enjoy most of what this blog suggests, so I went and downloaded this e-book one day but I really wasn't excited about it. I hadn't heard of the author what-so-ever and I knew absolutely nothing about the book. So it sat on my Kindle app for quite a while until I finally decided to breakdown and read it. After I started the book, I could not put it down.

The story follows Dahlia (or Dahl) around her relationships. The book starts out with a flashback talking about her relationship with her parents and how important music and love are to her. Then gives another flashback to a time when she was still in college and dating Ben (who then becomes her fiancee). In this flashback Dahl goes to a bar and has a strong connection with a guy at a bar, River. Dahl ends up leaving the bar and going back to Ben. The story then comes up to present day and continues through her story with her fiancee, Ben, until he is suddenly killed in a car jacking while Dahl was in the car with him. This affected Dahl's life significantly. She then ends up reconnecting with River from her past. The story continues through the relationship with River.

The the end of the story there is a HUGE twist that you don't see coming AT ALL! And it makes me not want to have to wait for Torn (Connections #2) to come out.

The story is so easy to connect to. Kim Karr has a true talent in writing character development and making you feel like you are right there with the characters through everything. The story gives you major hope for true love. It shows that love at first sight can really happen, and if you are meant to be with someone, you will end up being with the.

I will honestly say that I disliked Ben right from the start. Even in the flashback portion of the book, I was thinking the whole time that Dahl needed to get out of that relationship. And then River comes into the picture and I felt a major connection to him and I've continued to root for the final relationship between River and Dahl.

This book is a MUST READ! I guarantee that you will enjoy every minute of it!

Five star book for sure! Kim Karr did an amazing job with this book and I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the future. Torn (Connections #2) is scheduled to be released on October 1st, 2013 and I'm ecstatic!

Purchase Links:
Connected (Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Connected-The-Connections-Series-ebook/dp/B00COAFVBC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1373849852&sr=1-1&keywords=connected

Torn (Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Torn-The-Connections-Series-ebook/dp/B00DGZKTR0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1373850993&sr=1-1&keywords=torn+kim+karr


Next Up: Losing It by Cora Carmack
Torn 

Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

I was going to write a separate review for each of the Crossfire novels, but then I decided I would just do the first three together and then add to the review as new Crossfire novels are released. I felt like if I reviewed each book individually that I'd end up give a horrible review for most of this series, and this series doesn't deserve that.

The first book in the series is Bared To You. The story starts out following Eva, a fresh college grad that moved from San Diego to New York City to start a new life with her best friend, Cary. Eva and Cary both have very colorful pasts that they are trying to get away from. Eva ends up meeting the dark and dangerous mega-mogul Gideon Cross. The story builds based on their relationship that gets fired up very quickly. Gideon has a dark past of his own, and neither Eva or Gideon want to bring their pasts into their new relationship....but their past keeps coming back to haunt them.

The second book in the series is Reflected In You. Eva and Gideon's story continues building on their relationship and working through some of their past. Eva's past comes back to haunt her in a big way towards the end of the book, which is left in a major cliffhanger.

The third book, Entwined With You, picks up from that cliffhanger. And continues with the story of Eva and Gideon working through their issues and trying to strengthen their relationship together. There is a change in events in this book that focuses more on Gideon's dark past and less of Eva's.

Now to give a review on this series. It's difficult for me to review it. I read Bared because it came highly recommended for people who enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey. Most people had said they loved Gideon & Eva's story immensely more than Christian & Ana's story. So I rushed out and bought Bared To You. It took me forever to get through that book. I couldn't connect with the story, the characters or the timeline like I could with Fifty Shades. But, I felt like I needed to continue the series when Reflected In You came out. I felt like Sylvia Day deserved my continued effort in trying to enjoy something she probably spent a lot of time and effort on. So I bought Reflected In You. I can honestly say that I enjoyed that book more than Bared. I felt like the character development was a lot more complete in that novel. But I still felt like something was missing for me connecting to the characters.

Don't get me wrong, Sylvia Day has an amazing writing talent, but just something about the characters wasn't for me. It wasn't until Entwined With You that I truly fell in love with Gideon Cross. I liked being able to learn more about him and what his dark past was all about. You got to see that every moment that he was a huge (pardon my French) dick in the previous two books was all to protect Eva. Everything he did had Eva in mind and he never stopped thinking about her. Entwined really shows how much he really does love Eva, though he's not able to say it.

But then we get to the ending. For me, the whole time I'm reading Entwined I'm thinking, "This is the best book in the series." I felt like their relationship grew a lot and both characters came to terms with their pasts and are starting to look towards the future. But the ending just left me something to be desired. In the last chapter, Eva sees someone she thinks she recognizes from Gideon's past running off with Cary. It then ends with Cary not knowing who the woman was and Gideon, Eva and Cary all driving away in a limo to their apartment.

The ending was just a very blah ending for me. I needed some sort of major cliffhanger or more resolve in the book. Considering that Sylvia Day has signed for another 2 books in this series, I felt like she could have done something else with the ending to try and not leave you so put off by the ending going into the next book. I realize what she was doing. She wanted to try and bring something in as a little cliffhanger to try into some sort of drama to start the next book with....my issue with that is that is seemed like an after thought. It almost seemed like the book was written completely and then she signed for two more books in the series, so she added the last chapter to try and tie it in, but it was poorly executed.

Again, I don't want anyone to not get the wrong idea of Sylvia Day or the Crossfire series. I can't say that it is my favorite series I've ever read, but I'm sure it isn't the worst. There is something to be said for me continuing to read the series. If I would have absolutely hated it, I wouldn't continue to spend money on the books and continue spending my time reading the books. Also, my opinion is one of many. I know a lot people who read the Crossfire series after Fifty Shades and loved Crossfire a million times more. I guess I'm still just stuck in the boat of Christian being my man. Whatever the reason, I still recommend people taking the time to read the series and give it a shot. Sylvia Day is an amazing writer and she deserves your time to at least try it out. I'm excited to read the following books in the series, and maybe Sylvia will change my mind someday, but I still wish I wouldn't have read the last chapter of Entwined......

Purchase Links:
Bared To You (Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Bared-You-A-Crossfire-Novel/dp/0425263908/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373743906&sr=8-2&keywords=crossfire+series

Reflected In You (Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Reflected-You-A-Crossfire-Novel/dp/0425263916/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373743916&sr=8-3&keywords=crossfire+series

Entwined With You (Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Entwined-You-Crossfire-Book-3/dp/0425263924/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373743963&sr=8-1&keywords=crossfire+series


Up Next: "Connected" by Kim Karr

Hopeless & Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

First, I'm reviewing both of these books together because they are companion novels. Hopeless is the story from Sky's perspective that should be read first, Losing Hope is from Holder's perspective and should be read after Hopeless, especially while the events of Hopeless are still fresh in your mind.

Second, I want to mention that Colleen Hoover is an amazing gift from God in the writing world. Hopeless was the first Colleen Hoover book I read, and I fell in love immediately with it. She has an amazing talent of building characters so you feel so completely connected to them by the end of the book. Her writing style makes you feel like you never want to leave the story and you can't wait to see what happens to the characters.

Third, I want to post the synopsis from both books, just so you have an idea what I'm talking about and so I don't accidentally post a spoiler.

Hopeless synopsis
Would you rather know a truth that makes you feel hopeless, or keep believing the lies?

Beloved and bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with the spellbinding story of two young people with devastating pasts who embark on a passionate, intriguing journey to discover the lessons of life, love, trust—and above all, the healing power that only truth can bring.

Sky, a senior in high school, meets Dean Holder, a guy with a promiscuous reputation that rivals her own. From their very first encounter, he terrifies and captivates her. Something about him sparks memories of her deeply troubled past, a time she’s tried so hard to bury. Though Sky is determined to stay far away from him, his unwavering pursuit and enigmatic smile break down her defenses and the intensity of the bond between them grows. But the mysterious Holder has been keeping secrets of his own, and once they are revealed, Sky is changed forever and her ability to trust may be a casualty of the truth.

Only by courageously facing the stark revelations can Sky and Holder hope to heal their emotional scars and find a way to live and love without boundaries. Hopeless is a novel that will leave you breathless, entranced, and remembering your own first love.

Losing Hope synopsis
Sometimes in life, in order to move forward you must face the past…

#1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover held readers spellbound with her novel Hopeless, the story of what happened when a troubled girl named Sky encountered a long-lost childhood friend, Dean Holder. With Holder’s help, Sky uncovered shocking family secrets and came to terms with memories and emotions that had left deep scars.

Hopeless was Sky’s story. Now, in Losing Hope, we finally learn the truth about Dean Holder.

Haunted by the little girl he couldn’t save from imminent danger, Holder’s life has been overshadowed by feelings of guilt and remorse. He has never stopped searching for her, believing that finding her would bring him the peace he needs to move on. However, Holder could not have anticipated that he would be faced with even greater pain the moment they reconnect.

In Losing Hope, Holder reveals the way in which the events of Sky’s youth affected him and his family, leading him to seek his own redemption in the act of saving her. But it is only in loving Sky that he can finally begin to heal himself.


Now, for my review.
Starting with Hopeless, I was completely pulled right into the story. A story of a girl setting foot into a new school and having to deal with the hatred and bullying of today's school system. I completely sold. I love the relationship that forms between Sky and Breckin in the story. But then Holder steps in. I immediately love him. He's the type of guy every high school girl falls for. But Sky is so stubborn and guarded that she plays it off like she's not affected by him. As the story progresses, you fall more in love with the relationship with Sky and Holder. Colleen Hoover has a seriously amazing ability to make you feel every emotion the relationship is enduring. I cried, I laughed and I was devastated. I promise you, there is a huge twist in events towards the end of the book that will have you seriously crying and screaming "WHAT?!" And I'm not talking you will only do this once, it will happen at least twice at the end of the book. 

Then going into Losing Hope. The story is the same story as Hopeless by told from Holder's perspective. Sometimes when author's do this I get really guarded about the book. I feel like I'll be reading the same story all over again and it won't be any different. But Colleen Hoover seriously making Losing Hope a true companion novel. Losing Hope starts off giving a little back story about Holder and his life and then goes into his meeting of Sky. Then the story of Hopeless really comes in....but let me assure you, the story is not the same. You get so much more information from Holder's perspective that really helps you tie everything together so it completes the relationship. But because of this, you will feel a million times more emotion from Losing Hope. You already know what happens, but reading and feeling all of it from Holder's perspective, it's intense. You feel every emotion Holder is feeling.....and let me tell you, Holder is a very emotional person.

The end of Losing Hope is a slightly different ending that digs a little further into the relationship and story. Losing Hope really rounds out and completes the story....but again, you will be crying your eyes out at the end.....I know I was. You really don't want the story and the relationship between Sky and Holder to end.

Overall, both books are extremely amazing, and I definitely give both 5 stars. They are great books for people who love a love story with a twist. You'll learn a lot about how the people in your life may not always be the people you think or want them to be. You'll learn that sometimes love can conquer all. You'll learn that you can't ever lose faith in yourself. And you'll learn that those you think you know, you might not really know at all.

I can't wait to get into Colleen's "Slammed" series soon. I can't even imagine how wonderful that series will be.

To purchase Hopeless & Losing Hope, please see the links below.
Hopeless (Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Hopeless-Colleen-Hoover/dp/147674355X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373222805&sr=1-1&keywords=colleen+hoover

Losing Hope (Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Losing-Hope-Novel-Colleen-Hoover/dp/1476746559/ref=pd_sim_b_3
*Losing Hope will be released on Kindle at midnight tonight (7/7/13). 



 Up Next:
The next review will be of the first 3 books of the Crossfire series (Bared To You, Reflected In You and Entwined With You) by Sylvia Day.

Welcome

Welcome to Katie's Book Korner.

This blog has been something I've been wanting to start for some time now. It has been suggested to me by numerous people in my life because they are always coming to me looking for recommendations on a great book to sit down and read.

In the coming weeks I'll be putting together some reviews on some of my favorite books I've read recently. I'm still in college finishing my Bachelors at this point, and won't be finished with my courses until the end of July, so my leisure reading is limited. After July my hope is that my reading time, and thus my number of reviews, will increase significantly.

I read just about everything imaginable. My favorite genre would be contemporary romance and young adult novels, so a lot of my reviews will center around that. But I also have a liking of fiction, non-fiction, biography, paranormal romance, and just about everything else in between.

So follow this blog, follow me on Twitter at @katiebookkorner and like my page on Facebook (Katie's Book Korner) to keep up-to-date on all of my reviews and book release happenings. Enjoy, and read on!