Unfaded Glory (Home to Glory, #2) by Sara Arden

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Reviewed by Kim

 

Ok, there are just no words to say how much I LOVED this book. 

I've read all of this series and really can't say how much this series means to me. Even though each book contains different characters, there are touches with previous characters but they don't override the new characters.  This is really hard to accomplish, and just shows how incredibly talented Sara Arden truly is. 

Both of the main characters in the story are so damaged by their past that it's a miracle they've made it this far. You don't often hear the struggles of the soldiers that survive, especially not in romances. By including this in the story, it brings the character to life more vividly than you can find in other books. Sara Arden has not only captured the romance of the characters in this series, but she's also captured the reality that is faced by the returning soldiers, the voices they hear, the guilt they have to find a way to live with each and every day. This is so much more than a love story or romance. This is a story about survival, redemption, and pain. I am looking forward to the next book to see what other miracles Glory, Kansas has to offer. 

 If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Sara, please head over to her website.

http://sarannadewylde.com/sara-arden/

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Bare for You (Outback Skies, #3) by Lexxie Couper

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Oh Lexxie, you did it again.

All I can tell you guys is that this book was hella good. It was so good, in fact, that I couldn’t put it down and yelled at my husband to go away until I was finished reading. I’m not even joking, but then again he’s used to this by now. lol

Bare for You was without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. No it isn’t just because I love Lexxie’s writing, although that is entirely true, but it is because she not only gave us a sizzling hot story with a deliciously sexy Outback cowboy, but she paired him with an equally sexy politician who looks like Ryan Gosling. Yeah, I’m totally swooning over here just imagining it, and he even had glasses!

So these two do give complicated a whole new definition, but not so much so that I ever saw their relationship as being impossible. It was just going to take a lot of work and compromise on both their parts. They do have sort of an insta-lust/love thing going on, but I think they were both at a point in their lives where they were ready for more. Ryan because he is lonely, and Jeremy because he is tired of living a lie just to meet an end goal he’d set for himself while denying who he was inside. The undeniable chemistry and sexual tension in this story is true to Lex’s style, but she bumped it up a notch…or really twenty. These two get one incredible night together, but they had two days of intense build up leading into it. I loved that Ryan has a quick wit and a commanding personality you just can’t help but fall in love with. And as for Jeremy, well, I loved him in Getting Played when he first appeared and I knew he deserved someone special after that book. I’ve gotta say that Lex delivered for him in a BIG way with Ryan. From the moment these two meet, you can feel the intense heat and the connection between them coming off the pages. And believe me when I say it only gets more intense as the story goes on. Once you reach the end, I can guarantee you are going to need a cold shower. Trust me.

I think the Outback Skies series is fantastic, although it does always leaves me craving more, but this has been my favorite so far. I’m always eager to read what Lex comes up with next, but I seriously think one of these days she is going to melt or make my e-reader spontaneously combust. No joke.

*I received a review copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Lexxie, please head over to her website.

 

http://www.lexxiecouper.com

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Kneel, Mr. President by Lauren Gallagher

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Kneel, Mr. President was an emotional but sizzling hot read that kept me thoroughly entertained from page one. I actually didn’t want to put it down, but sadly I needed sleep. Of course, I didn’t hesitate to wake up early just to finish it though. lol 

As I read, I found the dynamics between the three characters, Kent, Carlene, and James, truly fascinating. Kent and James have a bond that has stood the test of time, but despite how they feel about one another they have kept themselves apart on an intimate level and moved on with their lives even though they work in close proximity to one another.  Unfortunately the pressures of James’s position are driving him into an early grave, and his wife isn’t about to stand by and allow that to happen. Carlene seeks out Kent’s assistance to help save her husband in the only way she knows how…to give James what he cries out for in his sleep.

I have to say that this book was really quite good despite a few inconsistencies in the timeline that I noticed. (There were only 3 that I saw and not huge issues.)  What I was really impressed with in this story, is that so much of the book centered on the emotions boiling between the three characters and less was focused outside of the relationship. Of course it had a plot to it that it extended beyond the bedroom, but I was happy to see that we didn’t have some discovery and attempted exposure of the relationship. That would have made it predictable, and this book was anything but predictable.  The book really focuses on the emotional upheaval of all of the characters, and how they find their way to make things work for them. Kneel, Mr. President packed a wallop in the emotion department, but whew was it steamy hot too! So hot in fact, I guarantee you will get more than a little hot and bothered while reading it.  Overall, this book definitely gets my seal of approval. The only thing I had issue were those three inconsistencies in timeline, but other than that it was a fantastic read and I highly recommend.

*I received a review copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I also purchased a copy upon release.*

If you'd like to check out more about this or other books by Lauren, please head over to her website.

   

http://www.loriawitt.com/

 

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Let It Ride (Thompson & Sons #3) by Vivian Arend

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

I’ve always loved a good friends to lover’s story, and Let it Ride was definitely a bittersweet one. Clay and Maggie have been friends for years, but family obligations have kept Clay from finding his own happiness until it was too late and Maggie got away. Fortunately she found a great guy in Cam, but tragedy strikes and Clay finds himself not only without his friend, but now having to take care of Maggie as well.

What I truly loved about this story was Maggie. She is a strong, independent heroine but she isn’t too afraid to ask for help either. She leans on Clay in her time of need, but also is willing to move on far faster than I think I would have ever been able to. She faced each day one day at a time, and tried her hardest to stay connected to her life despite her deep loss.

On the other hand, I think the conflict in the story was predictable and felt a tad bit forced. I can see why the father would have an issue, but the way he treated Clay after all that he has done for the family was terrible. He isn’t a very likeable character, and his turn around was far too quick for how vehement was about not accepting the relationship.

Overall, the book was sad but had some uplifting parts. You can definitely feel the heat and chemistry between Maggie and Clay, so I doubt you are going to feel like their relationship happens too fast. It was a sweet book with two sweet characters I promise you are going to love.

*I received a review copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Vivian, please head over to her website.

http://vivianarend.com/ 

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Simply Irresistible by Kate Pearce

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

So I apparently missed reading the second book in this series, Simply Sinful, but I still think I’d feel exactly the same way after reading Simply Irresistible. In my humble opinion, Peter deserved better than Abigail plain and simple. Abigail is prepared to martyr herself because she feels that their circumstances are beyond what they can fix, but of course Peter isn’t about to let her get away with that and neither are their close friends. I just didn’t like the way she wanted to solve the issues surrounding them by sacrificing their happiness.  Now I will say that I was a bit surprised that this one was light on the erotic romance compared to what I’ve read in past books from this series.  I think that is exactly where I felt the disconnect with these two characters.   I think should they had had more personal intimate time, that I would have believed their relationship was worth saving and that Abigail was worthy of Peter. I kind of have a soft spot for the guy from the previous books I’ve read.  Overall, I wasn’t completely dissatisfied with this book in all honesty, I just felt that Peter deserved so much after all he had gone through.  I’m excited to continue on reading this series though, and I definitely suggest it to those of you who like your regency romances a bit on the spicy side. *winks*

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

 For more information about this series or Kate's books, please check out her website.

http://www.katepearce.com/

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The Unleashing (Call of Crows #1) by Shelly Laurenston

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

If you asked me who my favorite PNR author was, I would hands down tell you that it is Shelly Laurenston. I love how her writing is not only packed with steamy romance, but that it is also genuinely funny with exceedingly engaging plots as well. Now The Unleashing is the first in a new series for her even though she did do a book with crows previously. We have a lot of setup going on in this book, and so many characters being introduced that my head was kind of spinning at one point. I normally don't mind jumping from pov to pov the way Laurenston does, but I found myself wanting more of the focus in the book to be on the two main characters than there was. That stuff aside though, I think that the Unleashing is classic Laurenston. I was sad to have her shifter series come to an end, but I do have to admit to being a tad bit excited meeting a whole new cast of characters too. Overall, I think this is a great start to what I hope will be an awesome series just like Laurenston's other ones, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

*I received a review copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

For more information about this series or Shelly's books, please check out her website.

http://www.shellylaurenston.com/

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Holding Strong (Ultimate #2) by Lori Foster

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

So is it just me, or does it feel like this new series is lacking on the suspense front? I feel like the "bad guys" in these books are contrived and it all seems rather forced to me. Sadly, Holding Strong was a glaring example of this issue. Cherry and Denver have been circling one another since they first met, but Denver finally grudgingly gives into the demands of his body despite his head saying otherwise. I wanted to like Denver. He's an all around good guy who just wants to protect his girl and keep her all to himself. His negative attributes within the book did tend to overshadow this though, because he can be kind of a jealous prick as well. Cherry, on the other hand, is the typical type of heroine that I always love when I read Foster's books. She is headstrong and wants to be independent, but eventually she gives in just a little to compromise with Denver. Now this book wasn't a very steamy, but the romantic elements were exactly what I'd expected for these characters. 

My biggest issue with this book, and the reason behind the 3 stars, is that the rest of this book I could have done entirely without. The conflict was entirely too stupid in my honest opinion. It felt like a forced after thought of Foster's where she just didn't know what to do with the rest of the story. I've always loved her complicated plots, it's why I read every single one of her books, but this series is seriously lacking for me right now. I do have high hopes for Armie's story though, so I sincerely wish that she would get back to what she is good at again that always leaves me craving more. :)

*I recieved a review copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.* 

For more information about this series or Lori's books, please check out her website.

http://www.lorifoster.com/

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