Review: Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1) by Lisa Reene Jones

Title: Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1)
Author: Lisa Reene Jones
Release Date: 22nd July
Rating: 5 stars


Description:

nfinite 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 loves 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 down her guard, the ghost’s 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:

*** ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley. ***



"Fear and a secret are two different things"

Escaping Reality is amazing and mind-blowing surprise that kept me up all night! I’m really excited to tell that I had spectacular opportunity to read stunning beginning of a series that totally captivated me. Everything in this book is new, refreshing and capturing. I’m addicted to Amy Bensen and her secret and I’m starting to count days for sequel. The blurb make Escaping Reality sounds intriguing but the truth is this novel is not intriguing, it’s mesmerizing and just… beautiful. I’m wowed!

Amy Bensen’s life is a lie. Everything she’s doing is just a way to survive. She hides from the past that hunts her and makes her flee to another city, leaving a pieces of normality she started to collect in New York after her first escape. But the danger is still present and will not let her forget. So when she gets another letter from her handler, that says she has to change her name and leave NYC behind, she crumbles again. After few minutes of panic she’s again right on track. With only one luggage in hand and plane ticket to Denver, Amy escapes.

Amy is not naïve character, she’s strong, smart and gorgeous, which made me like her even more. After everything she went through she still has a power to take care of herself and just live. It was nice to see her fighting for survive.

Thanks to weird twist of fate, Amy’s in first class airplane with alluring, demanding and sexy as hell billionaire architect Liam Stone.

"He is money, power, and sex, and while I cannot make out the color of his eyes, I don't need to. All that matters is that he is one hundred percent focused on me, and me on him."

I know lot of people will say that rich alpha male is a trend that starts to be a little bit boring, but in this case, Lisa Renee Jones created character that while still being in the same category as wealthy dominant male we know from Fifty Shades, This Man or Cross is refreshing and not so over the edge, which is really nice. I instantly adored Liam and his flirty attitude as well as fragrance of pure male that is around him. Another plus is the fact that relationship between Amy and Liam is not focused on sex, because it’s not erotica novel. Yes, there is hot sex involved, but it’s not overwhelming, it’s only addition that makes Escaping Reality pleasurable read.

I loved every word that Liam has said. His words were brilliantly smart and clever, comforting and sexy as hell! Almost every quote I loved is from his mouth!

“ His finger slides under my chin, tilts it up, forcing my eyes back to his. “Don’t hide what you feel. See, baby, that’s the thing about fucking properly, it’s raw and honest. There’s no time limit, or embarrassment, or nerves, which should exist. It’s just us fucking. Us feeling. Us being us together. We leave everything else at the door.” He smiles a sexy, easy smile and his hands slide up my back, his forehead resting against mine.”





“Maybe that’s the appeal for both of us. We are different, dark and light. Right and wrong. Now don’t move or I’ll show you just how not an angel I am”



“Sharks only have the power you give them, baby. Own them. Don't ever let them own you. And they'll have to fight me to get to you anyway."





 

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Hidden (Hiding From Love #1) by Selena Laurence

Title: Hidden (Hiding From Love #1)
Author: Selena Laurence

Release Date: 17th July

Rating: 4 stars

Description:


Nick Carlisle comes to Hawaii to hide—from what happened during his service in Afghanistan, from relationships, from his future. Lyndsey Anderson came to Hawaii to hide too—from the man who abused her, from the sacrifices she made, from her dark past. But when Nick meets Lyndsey, Hawaii gets a whole lot hotter, and they find they can’t hide their hearts. As Nick fights to come to terms with what he’s done, Lyndsey struggles to forgive herself for the choices she’s made. But when the dangerous past threatens the beautiful present, can they survive to learn how to love? And who will finally reveal what’s hidden?
 
Review:

Hidden is delightful summer read, that will take you on a sweet journey to Hawaii and warm your heart with charming romance. So if you are looking for pleasant beach read Hidden has your name on it!



Reading Hidden moved me from my green walled bedroom to romantic Hawaiian beach. In a matter of seconds I totally forgot about the fact that it’s raining outside and that I probably won’t see real sea in a long time. I was so captivated by this spectacular setting that everything else didn’t matter as long as I was reading Nick and Lynsdey story.



Main characters moved to Hawaii to escape. Both of them have serious problems and issues that make them isolated and scared of life.

Nick came back from Afghanistan, a terrible place which had changed him forever. Now, he’s trying to pick up the shattered pieces of his heart and mind as well as find a place to live.

Lynsdey is running from her past and struggles with choices she has made. Working as a waitress and going to college is her way to escape. She alienates herself from people and is avoiding commitment.

But when the two of them meets everything changes. Hawaii only gets hotter.





Overall, Hidden is highly recommend for fans of light summer reads with enjoyable plot, funny characters and steamy scenes.

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Review: Who He Is by S. Q Williams

Title: Who He Is (FireNine Trilogy #1)
Author: Shanora Williams
Release Date: 18th July
Rating: 4 stars

Description: 

Eliza Smith has never been the one to seek a relationship. She’s never dated a guy in her life, never even hugged a man (outside of her father/manager of the hot and popular rock band, FireNine) but when she decides to spend her summer on tour with FireNine, it all changes. Eliza really gets to meet Gage Grendel - her former crush from high school and the lead singer of FireNine - and witness sides to him to which she’ll begin to truly despise.
She’ll ignore him, she’ll dislike his ways, she’ll do anything to try and stay away from him until Gage finally gets her to slip up and give in. She agrees on a casual fling with Gage, but soon they’ll both see how the fling will blur into something they can’t control and when it’s finally time for Eliza to go and accomplish her own dreams, she’ll know there’s more she took from Gage than she ever thought possible.



Review: 




Who he is by S. Williams is another swoon worthy rock star romance that will turn us girls (and maybe few guys also) into reckless FireNine groupies with wicked case of wet panties. For me, all it took was the blurb to coax me into loving this sexy book. I was hooked from the first chapter and turn on almost instantly after my first encounter with Gage Grendel.

“You can’t stop this, Eliza,” he said, kissing my thigh. “I need it.”



Eliza Smith is twenty one year old with terrible and abusive childhood, now suffering from PTSD she hides in her bedroom, behind painting and reading. When her father, manager of FireNine forces her into going on tour with the band Eliza knows it won’t end well. Especially because the lead singer is her old high school crush.Eliza knows very well relationship with man slut is out of grabs. She despise everything about Gage’s way and there is no way that she’ll lose her mind for him, right?

Can she, shy and cautions handle two months in bus with rock stars, groupies, after parties, alcohol and sex? Probably not.






Gage Grendel, sexy and sensual lead singer of FireNine is the boy Eliza has secretly crushed in high school. Cocky, confident and charming he makes hearts beat faster. Around him girls mysteriously lose their bras and panties as well as their minds, and unfortunately innocent Eliza is no exception…



S. Williams tells exciting story of innocent and virginal Ellie and her journey into world of rock and roll. Her novel is filled with great, amusing characters, spectacular band and her members, as well as romance and sexual tension so thick it’s hard to focus on anything else. Reading about Gage and Eliza’s encounters makes girlie parts tingle in the happy way.

“Do you want me?” he asked.
I nodded, pressing my hand against his chest and squirming to get him as close to me as possible.
“You’re sure? You want me?”
I nodded eagerly, moaning as his lips barely brushed mine.
“How much?” he asked.
“I want all of you, Gage,” I whispered.
“All of me?” Before I could nod, he shoved his cock deep inside me. I sucked in a breath through my teeth as he hissed. “That’s all of me, Eliza. Want me to go slow on you? Want me to make love to you?”


Author also found a great way to mix enjoyable part of the book with deeper and darker part. I enjoyed almost every part of Williams’ novel. I had a blast meeting every band member of FireNine and I wish I would take a lick of every one of them. Especially Roy. Great characters make this book a lot of better.

In nutshell, Who He Is is deliciously passionate and steamy read. I highly recommend this book for Rock Stars fans who aren’t bored with bad boy meets good girl scheme as well as for those who enjoy sexual tension and steaminess.

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Review: Fear of Falling by SL Jennings

Title: Fear of Falling
Author: SL Jennings
Release Date: 18th July
Rating 5 stars

Description:

Author Disclaimer: Abuse is real- verbal, emotional, physical and sexual. It takes place all around us; it doesn’t discriminate against race or gender, wealth or poverty. It affects us all- those of us who’ve had to live through it, or watch it happen, even those of us who’ve only heard about it. We are all affected. We are all forever changed.

This is not a story for the faint of heart; this is the story of one woman’s very real struggle through a world against her, the people who hurt her, her real life demons and the people who showed her that every gray sky, no matter how dark, has a sun waiting to break through.


I can’t remember the last time I felt completely safe. Security seemed more like a luxury to me, reserved for those who were fortunate enough to have picture perfect childhoods. For those who didn’t bear the ugly scars that keep me bound in constant, debilitating fear. I’ve run from that fear my entire life. But when I met him, for once, I couldn’t run anymore.

He scared the hell out of me in a way that excited every fiber of my being. It wasn’t the tattoos or the piercings. It wasn’t the warmth that seemed to radiate from his frame and blanket me whenever he was near. It was just…him. The scary beautiful man that threatened to alter 23 years of routine and rituals, and make me face my crippling fear.

My name is Kami and I am constantly afraid. And the thing that scares me the most is the very thing I want.

“Don’t worry,” he smiled, pulling me into the hard warmth of his chest. “I’ve got you. I’ll always catch you when you fall.”

And just like that, Blaine had staked his claim on the untouched part of me that no living soul had ever moved. He had captured every fear, every reservation, and crushed them in the palm of his inked hand.

***Inspired by true events***


Review

I got you, baby. I got you, and I’m not letting go. You’re safe. I’m never letting you go, Kami.”

Fear of Falling is enchanting, seat gripping novel that is unquestionably stunning and heart breaking. Once again I was blown away by SL Jennings and her undeniably fierce style of writing and outstanding story that is like no other I have ever read. I feel like every piece of my heart was torn from my breast and stumped on only to be sewn together afterwards. It’s like the last long gone puzzle who finds it right place.

There is nothing better in reading that being enchanted and mesmerized by a story which becomes so close to you and your heart that you feel it pulsating in your veins. Loving equally the idea, characters and writing is a miracle and the best gift reader can ever receive. I can honestly say that I was honored to read and review fabulous, spectacular novel that will captivate hearts of Goodreads users and will rock their world.

Fear of Falling is story about broken woman who’s trying to survive. Long ago she gave up on wishing and wanting normal life filled with love and happiness, now she only tries to put one foot in the front of the other and not to crumble. She’s scared of everything. For her hope is gone and love is the greatest enemy.

This. Is. Me. My situation isn’t fucked up. I’m fucked up. Completely, irrevocably, fucked up to my core”.

But what Kami doesn’t know is the fact that despite her efforts to avoid commitment love will always find her. Now fighting with her gruesome past and instant attraction to hot as fuck bartender she’s spiraling down the road she did not want to go.

Blaine Jacobs is tattooed and pierced man who attempts to get his shit together and live. But when he shares a sensual body shot with Kami he can’t stop thinking about that sexy woman who have alternated him in a strange way. Now he has a new aim – he wants to make her his.

“I never give up on things I want. This… you and me… it’s inevitable. There’s no use in fighting, Kami. It’s going to happen. And when you are madly in love with me, the only thing you’ll regert is not falling for me sooner.”



I loved how Kami and Blaine’s relationship progressed. It is raw, painful and full of distrust, but with time is slowly alternating in something beautiful but still very fragile. Sexual tension between the two of them is always present and mind blowing. I adored every steamy scene.



This novel opened up me in new ways. I enjoyed it immensely. This romance story spell bounded me like no other ever has. Fear of Falling is pure perfection which blends nicely sensual eroticism, heartbreaking love story with psychological portrait of damaged and abused young woman.

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Bittersweet Junction Blog Blitz

Bittersweet Junction by Ivy Sinclair
Publication date: July 2013
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Best friends once, lovers never, yet an attraction that can’t be ignored.

Five years ago, Julia Bell walked away from her life the moment her high school diploma was in her hand. She left her family and friends behind to start over and escape the chokehold of small town life in Benton Hill. But an urgent call from her little sister brings Julia back to her hometown wholly unprepared for what awaits her.

Ben Miller was always the nice guy. Just before high school graduation, he stepped out of that role hoping to capture the heart of the woman he loved. Instead, in quick succession he lost the girl, and the future he worked so hard to achieve.

Even though Julia and Ben are drawn to each other, echoes of the past block them at every turn. Secrets are exposed, and reality needs to be dealt with if they can ever hope to move past the bittersweet junction that ripped them apart.

 

Read an excerpt 

I lived in a small town until I was twelve years old. My sixth grade class had thirteen students, twelve girls and one boy. Needless to say, my odds were practically non-existent for young love. Not only did I spend those formidable years in a small town attending a small school, but my family lived five miles outside of town “in the country”. Standing in my front yard, I saw nothing but open fields and gravels roads.

With nothing else to do, I escaped to new places through books. I had a few friends, but the friends that I really cared about existed within the pages of my favorite stories. It didn’t seem that strange to me at the time. It was just my life.

I didn’t realize how small my small town life was until I moved to another state into an actual city between sixth and seventh grade. To say I experienced a tremendous culture shock would be an understatement. It forced me out of my shell.  Although still a voracious reader, I made a larger circle of friends, and started doing things with people outside of my head. Eventually I grew to love living in a city.

I only went back to that small town a few times throughout junior high and high school to visit family. By the time I was in my early 20s, the shift in my perception between small town and city was noticeably evident. When I would go back for a visit, even though I had been gone for a decade, I still ran into a lot of people who acted like they knew me even though I had no idea who they were. “Oh- you’re Jerry and Nancy’s daughter. How have you been?”

It was odd to me how interested these strangers were in the specific details of my life. What was even more uncomfortable was hearing stories about my parents’ adventures when they lived in town, which occurred more than twenty years ago. People had long memories, and not all of those stories were especially flattering, but there were sweet and funny stories too.

Those are the experiences that I drew on when I wrote about Julia, the main character of Bittersweet Junction, coming back to her hometown of Benton Hill. She’s been gone for five years, but when she returns, people expect her that she’s the same person, even though she’s not.

Benton Hill itself is one of the main characters throughout the book, and I believe that anyone who has lived in a small town will be able to related to that. Ben, who used to be Julia’s best friend and is now her love interest, never left Benton Hill. He finds the scrutiny of living under the microscope of small town eyes frustrating and heavy with expectations. This causes several complications for Julia and Ben.

I’ve reached a stage in my life where I can appreciate the benefits of living in a small town. The pace of life is slower, and friendships can easily span a lifetime. Yet I find that I am now a city girl at heart. Between my childhood in a small town, and adult life in the city, I think I’ve had the best of both words.

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Thanks to awesome author you can win 2 ebook copies of Bittersweet Junction. Just post a comment with your e mail address and recommend me good New Adult novel. You have time to 14th August. Prize will be send after 15th August.

AUTHOR BIO

Ivy Sinclair cut her romance teeth on classics like Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, and Sabrina. She is a firm believer in true love, a happily ever after ending, and the medicinal use of chocolate to cure any ailment of the heart. Ivy’s guilty pleasures include sushi, endless Starbucks lattes, and wine. Readers of Ivy’s stories can expect smoldering sweet stories of romance that tug at the heartstrings.


Author Links:

Website / Goodreads

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Oficial Frigid Trailer Reveal

Title: Frigid
Author: J. Lynn
Release Date: 15th July



Description:


For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Buy Frigid: 
Amazon  
 B&N

  # 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.






Jennifer is doing amazing giveaway on her blog to enter click here.

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Review: Say When by Tara West

Title:Say When (A Something More Novel #1)
Author: Tara West
Release Date: July 2013
Rating: 3 stars

Description:

He told me to say when, but I can’t. Not with Andrés. It’s so hard to say anything when he’s trailing feather soft kisses down my neck, or when his touch sends hot currents of lust rippling across my skin.

Then there’s the way he smiles and offers soft words of encouragement when I’m creating art, almost like he believes I have talent.

He’s not like any guy I’ve ever met. Not like my ex-fiancée. Not like my father. He’s got me thinking that maybe we can have something more. More than just lust, degradation, and abuse.

And now I’m scared, because that means I’ll have to trust him with more than just my body, but with my heart, too.

Christina Duval
  


Review:

 
Another summer read for those who enjoy simple romance stories filled with steaminess. Say When is short, nice and sweet story about instant attraction and blossoming relationship. Tara West done a good job in creating pleasant read for those who don’t need a lot of drama or have big expectations.

Say When is a great and pleasurable way to spend boring evening, unfortunately NA addicts who know the drill in this genre can be a little bit disappointed by simple plot or quick progress.


Christina Duval:



Christina is Jack fiancée. His rich, spoiled and dumb. But being a daughter of woman who wants Jack’s money, Christina feel forced into relationship, that has no future. The day of her twenty-first birthday is a disaster. She breaks up with Jack and has a fight with her best friend, who’s a druggie and slut. So when she meets Andres, she only wants to forget about everything and have wonderful night filled with orgasms and passion. Something her relationship with Jack lacked of.

Fantastic One night stand with Latin stud quickly changes into something more.

Andres



But Andres has his own demons, that make him alienated and recluse.
Together they want to alternated their life and for the first time just fight for happiness.





Overall, nice but ordinary story, that has plot holes and is a little bit predictable. For my taste Say When is a little bit sugared up and has boring moments. I could use some humor or amusing characters. Let’s hope the story will nicely progress in the future.

Say When is a book for fans of pleasant, summer romances, especially if a reader is fantasying about hot Latin men with nice six pack and chocolate eyes.

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Cover Reveal Courage (Mark of Nexus #2) by Carie Butler

Title: COURAGE
Series: Mark of Nexus - Book 2
Author: Carrie Butler
Category: New Adult (NA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR)
Release: October 15, 2013
Formats: E-Book; Paperback

                                                                          

Description: Rena Collins never thought she’d long for the past—back when affection from Wallace, her freakishly strong boyfriend, was the most dangerous aspect of her life. But now that the human-altering organization known as ERA has gone on the offensive, nothing is safe. Her bloodline is exposed, her relationships torn apart, and just when it seems like things can’t get any worse, ERA ups the ante. To save mankind from forced evolution, Rena will have to mend her broken ties and form a resistance... hand-in-hand with the one she hurt most.

And here is it! Amazing Mark of Nexus's cover!

Ta dam!

 

 

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