Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin

Genre:YA Paranormal Romance

Publication date: September 29th, 2015 (Originally published on November 2nd, 2013)

Pages: 415 (Kindle Edition)

Rating: 4/5 

Summary:

     The last thing sixteen-year-old Cassie Foster needs is trouble, but that doesn’t stop him from finding her. 

     Nine months after the tragic accident that killed her mother and sister, this high school junior just wants a fresh start. Settling down in the quiet town of New Haven, Maine, she’s found peace at last…until the new resident bad boy, Jackson Matthews, comes into the picture. Arrogant, sarcastic, and devastatingly sexy, he’s the very last thing Cassie wants to entertain. Romance was never part of the plan. But when terrifying circumstances drive these two together, she finds herself further in over her head than thought possible. As local girls begin disappearing, Cassie can’t help but wonder if it’s just a coincidence that everything started when this blue-eyed Casanova strolled into town. Will falling into Jackson’s arms mean she’ll be falling victim to a real lady-killer…or worse?

     The answer will open the door to a world she never thought possible.

My review:

     This is about a girl named Cassie who just moved into a new town to start a new life after her mother and sister's death. Not long after, a new boy named Jackson enrols in the same school as her and since his arrival, things in town starts to change as many girls disappear. 

     I read this not knowing too much about it. I read the summary once and the moment I started reading it, I already forgot what the book was about. I was amazed by the writing style of the author. It was easy to read and there weren't so many long descriptions. 

     For about the first hundred pages, nothing supernatural really happened, maybe there were a few mentions here and there, but I felt like I was just reading a YA contemporary romance book. I didn't mind though, I was entertained with Cassie's best friends and the arrival of Jackson. I've always loved love/hate relationships. There's enough romance in it, I was glad it wasn't cheesy because gosh, I'm just tired and annoyed of cheesy romance couples!

     I also loved Cassie's best friends Gwen and Ian. The author made those two seem like they're important characters and not just side characters that readers won't care about. I somewhat felt connected with those characters and learned to love the both of them. The author did a really good job on making the readers admire the characters in this book.

I always thought I knew what was going to happen next after each chapter, but I was wrong a couple of times. One of the great things about this book is that you never really know what to expect because of all the plot twists. I know most of the readers LOVE and ENJOY the book more when it surprises them and this book definitely has that aspect.

I'm not surprised this book has a high rating on GR. It truly deserves it and I recommend it to all the YA readers out there who enjoys paranormal romance. Trust me, you won't regret picking up this book. (;

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

About the author:
Melissa Parkin is a Chicagoland native who feels weird referring to herself in the third person. When she's not binge reading, taking photographs, breaking the first rule of Fight Club, or playing music too loud, she's writing young adult paranormal romances.

Descent (Kissed by Death #3) by Tara A. Fuller

Descent by Tara A. Fuller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was given to me by Entangled in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book of the Kissed by Death series. However, I haven't read the first two books. In the beginning, I was a little confused, but after a couple of chapters I couldn't stop reading. So, you can read this book as a stand alone.

This was a fast-paced book and that's one of the reasons why I really like it. I loved the characters and the love story. I really enjoyed reading about this new world and I'd like to know more about it in the other books of this series.

The author's writing style was amazing. I love how simple but rich her sentences were. Like I said, I love the world she created and the characters as well.

I recommend it to all the readers who love paranormal romance and fast-paced books.

View all my reviews

Review: Blurred Lines (The Line Between #1.5) by Tamsyn Bester

Genre: New Adult Romance
Publication date: February 24th, 2015
Publisher: Tamsyn Bester
Read: March 2015
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
Hot on the heels of the International Bestselling novel, The Line Between, comes the much-anticipated sequel, Blurred Lines. 

Jade Matthews and Reid Cole have been best friends all their lives. He was the boy who chased away the monsters from under her bed, and she was the girl he knew he was going to spend the rest of his life with. 

But even friendships aren’t always built to last. 

This is a story about two best friends who’s lives change after one night – a night that not even Fate could have stopped. In the aftermath, Reid and Jade lose their friendship, but soon come to find that they were destined to be so much more. 

**Due to language and sexual situations this book is intended for readers older than 18. Although it is about two supporting characters from The Line Between, it is not recommended as a standalone. If you don’t like somewhat clichéd stories, this book isn’t for you. HEA. No cliffy**

My review:

I enjoyed reading Jade and Reid's story. Not as much as Dane and Kennedy, but I still liked it. I'm happy that they had their own book because after reading The Line Between, I was really curious about these two. I wasn't a fan of  Jade and Reid's girlfriend Stella. I have to admit that it was predictable, but that's not really a problem. Stella was so cruel and annoying, but that's not it. The way Jade acted around her pissed me off too. Like she acted so jealous and I didn't even think she made any effort hiding it. Reid was trying to move on, because hello? Jade pushed him away. Stella had the right to be jealous, but Jade? She has no right to act jealous and hurt because she did that to herself. It's not Reid's fault that he wasn't talking to her or not going out with her. She literally just shoved him off.  In The Line Between, Jade was kick-ass, brave and I thought she was a girl who doesn't give a crap about anyone who hurts her, but I didn't see that Jade in this book. 

That was a negative review, but I'll explain why I gave it a 4/5 stars. There were a lot of parts where I was hoping things would happen and they did. I really liked Reid's character, not because he's hot, but he was someone I'd want to be friends with. What I loved about him is how committed he was in a friendship and relationship. Even if Jade wanted to erase him from her life, he was still there for her, he still cared. When Stella did  something bad, he didn't get mad at her right away after his friends told him what she really did. He didn't do judge or anything until he knew what really happened, except in a part that I won't mention because it's a spoiler. 

Book 1 of The Line Between Series ---> Click here

Review: The Innocent Assassins by Pema Donyo

Genre: Young Adult
Publication date: June 24th, 2014
Publisher: Astraea Press
Read: March 2015
Pages: 344
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
There are three rules to staying an assassin at the corporation of Covert Operatives: (1) your parents must be deceased, (2) your contracts must remain confidential, and (3) you must be under the age of eighteen.

After a murder mission goes awry a month before her eighteenth birthday, Covert Operatives assassin Jane Lu finds herself caught by the federal government and forced to spy for the CIA while remaining in Covert Operatives. Once her spying mission is over she will be allowed to live a civilian life without facing criminal consequences, a life she's only dreamed of having.

As Jane leaks information to the CIA, she uncovers secrets with enough power to both destroy Covert Operatives and her own boyfriend, Adrian King, who's next in line to be CEO of the company. When her identity as a double agent for the CIA is discovered within Covert Operatives, she must decide where her allegiance, and her heart, truly lies.

My review:

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked about this book is how courageous, determined and honest the main character Jane was, especially in the beginning. If you didn't know, I love brave characters. I also really like where the story was set, it was a very interesting kind of world and It'd be nice to learn more about it. 

There were some decisions the protagonist made that I wasn't necessarily happy about, but the good thing was that I didn't get really annoyed by her. I loved how right from the beginning we met her boyfriend. I enjoyed reading their arguments. In real life, arguments between couples are never fun, but in books, It's actually pretty entertaining. Who agrees? 

Normally, I hate love triangles. I don't know if this is a spoiler or not, if it is, I'm sorry for spoiling y'all. Anyway, there was a love triangle in this book and I can't say I hated it. It was actually pretty awesome, because I didn't like both of them and the ending was pretty satisfying. What I hate about love triangle is when I like both guys and in the end I know someone is going to be heart broken and it just pisses me off. 

The story was really good, although I didn't really connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. The author's writing is impressive knowing she's still in college. It gives me hope (fingers crossed) that It's not impossible for me to write a book. hehe. I recommend this to readers who loves fantasy/dystopian stories with romance in it. 

About the author:
Pema Donyo is the author of The Innocent Assassins and One Last Letter. She's also a coffee-fueled college student by day and a creative writer by night. As a sophomore at Claremont McKenna, she’s still working on mastering that delicate balance between finishing homework, meeting publisher deadlines, and… college. 

Black coffee, period dramas, spoken word poetry, faded book covers, and peanut butter continue to be the driving forces in her life. 

Find her online at http://pemadonyo.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter @https://twitter.com/PemaDonyo

Review: Frostfire (Kanin Chronicles #1) by Amanda Hocking

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ YA
Publication date: January 6th, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Read: February 2015
Pages: 321
Rating: 4/5

Summary:

Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process? 

My review:

I was thrilled when I found out Amanda Hocking was going to write another book series set in the Trylle world. If you didn't know, The Trylle Series was the reason why I'm now a bookworm. In that series I was actually torn. I wasn't a big fan of the love triangle because it was a little predictable who Wendy was going to end up with. However, I still loved that series because it made me get into reading. 

Frostfire was satisfying and I was happy with how this new series started. I did have a good feeling about it before reading the book. I adored the new characters and the old ones like Finn Holmes and Ember Holmes who appeared in the previous series. The main character Bryn was a pretty tough character and that's what I loved about her. Although, like Finn, she took her job very seriously and wouldn't do anything to distract her from her job such as Love.

"For you, I would lay down my life any day."

Ridley reminded me a little bit of Finn. Though, he's less mysterious. He's a little older than Bryn, but I felt like they were the same age. The romance in this book wasn't that big, like Switched (the first book in the Trylle Series). I didn't really mind because the story in general was interesting and a little bit of romance wasn't a problem for me.

Unlike the last series, I actually wanted a love triangle. haha. Konstantin Black was very mysterious and I was really curious about his character. Even though he was the enemy, I felt like there was something good in him that the others didn't know. I think he was just blackmailed by someone who was much more superior than him.

About the author:
Amanda Hocking is a lifelong Minnesotan obsessed with Batman and Jim Henson. In between watching cooking shows, taking care of her menagerie of pets, and drinking too much Red Bull Zero, she writes young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

Her New York Times best-selling series the Trylle Trilogy has been optioned for films. She has published fifteen novels, including the Hollows and the Watersong series. Frostfire - the first book in her newest trilogy, the Kanin Chronicles - is out now, and the second book - Ice Kissed - will be May 5, 2015.

For more info about her and her books, here are some other places to check out and ways to contact her:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandahockingfans

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/aehocking/

Wattpad: www.wattpad.com/AmandaHocking

Email: hockingbooks@hotmail.com

Tumblr: amandahocking.tumblr.com/

Website: www.worldofamandahocking.com 

Review: Entangle by Veronica Larsen (Hearts of Stone #1)

Genre: Romance
Publication date: December 1st, 2014
Read: February 2015
Pages: 248
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
It begins small.
His smoky blue eyes strike hers until the air between them flickers.
Her whispered suggestion blows the spark into a flame.
A guarded heart. A relentless pursuit.
An insatiable chemistry that yields to a torrid affair.

Alexis Stone 
I tried to do things the right way. I wore the big white dress and rode off with Prince Charming. Then Charming changed his mind. Now I'm left to face the truth. I haven't moved on, not because I'm not over my ex but because I've been closed off to anything new.
Enter Leo. A gorgeous, blue-eyed specimen of a man. Tenacious in a way that stirs my desires alive for the first time in years. He also happens to be my newest employee.
I have two choices, I can either edge around the intense chemistry between us or walk right through it. I've never been afraid to go after what I want, but nothing can prepare me for what's on the other side. 

[A standalone romantic drama. First book in a series of interconnected novels. Contains explicit content.]

My review:

“I guess the mind simply wants what it wants.”

Allow me to begin by stating that I truly loved this book. I was determined to finish Entangle because I had to post my review within three weeks. I was so happy because it was really easy to read and the story was very interesting.

“Because love makes you crazy. We become fools that think love, in and of itself, is enough to fix broken things, broken people.”

I loved Alexis, she was a strong, sassy and beautiful woman who was frightened of being heart broken again, that was why she didn't give in easily. I realized why she was like a bit cold and serious at times considering the fact that she was divorced and had a terrible childhood. I wasn't bothered with the way she acted before, during and after her time with Leo which was good because who would want an annoying main character right?

“Because our love will be worth baring our souls for.”

Leo was a genuinely good man. At the beginning I thought he was a player and there were going to suffer a deal of jealous ex-lady friends who will try to destroy the relationship between him and Alexis. But no. There was one, but that was it. Leo was such a patient and romantic person. He and Alexis had been perfect.

I’d like to experience more about Alexis' past. I wouldn't want flashbacks, but I’dd want to know more about what happened to her and her mother. I hope I'll know more about her family issues in the next book with her sister Emily.

Lastly, I really recommend this book to all readers who’s looking for a sexy and romantic story. This is the author's debut novel and is the first book of the Hearts of Stone series.

|| Goodreads ||

About the author:  

Website: http://veronicalarsenbooks.com/newsletter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/author_VLarsen

Review: Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

Genre: Contemporary Romance, YA
Publication date: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: Harper Collins
Read: February 2015
Pages: 336
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince.

Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.

When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

My review:

This book was a really quick read. The story was really cute and a little cheesy but not too much. It reminded me a lot of "Just One Day" by Gayle Forman which by the way is a really good book, you guys should check it out if you haven't read it yet. 

Nikolai was really sweet and I just loved him from the start. I don't have a lot of things to say about the main characters honestly. I just liked the both of them and didn't have any problem with their character. For the secondary characters, I really wished Alexis, Nikolai's sister, was more involved in the story. When she was mentioned, I really wanted to know more about her because she seemed like the type of girl who liked to have fun and it would've been awesome if she and Becca became good friends. 

I love stories that takes place all around Europe just because I really want to travel over there one day and maybe meet a prince trying to escape? hahaha so not happening xD 

Like "Just One Day", there's a lot of Europe history in this book. I liked learning about their History and read about a love story at the same time. It was pretty cool. 

I recommend this to anyone who loved Just One Day by Gayle Forman, anyone who wants to know more about the European History or people who likes traveling.

About the author:
Angie Stanton never planned on writing books, she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in a rural setting with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head she began to write them down and the rest is history.
She loves dipping french fries in chocolate shakes, all natural disaster movies and Broadway Musicals. Angie is a proud double finalist of the 2011 National Readers Choice Awards for Love 'em or Leave 'em, as well as a finalist for the Golden Quill Award.
When not writing, Angie is concocting ways to make more dreams come true, whether it be tickets to a Broadway show or convincing her family they should rent an RV and travel the country.
Please "Like" Angie on Facebook at facebook.com/AngieStantonAuthor.

Review: Hold On Tight (Sea Breeze #8) by Abbi Glines

Genre: NA/ Contemporary Romance
Publication date: June 3rd, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Read: December 2014
Pages: 288
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
Six years ago, Dewayne Falco's life changed. He lost someone he never expected to lose. Resigned to punish himself for something he felt he could have prevented, he goes through life without getting too close to anyone.

What he didn't expect was for the girl across the street to move back home and remind him of what they both lost: Dewayne's younger brother Dustin. However, when a miniature version of Dustin opens the door to greet him, Dewayne realizes he might not have lost everything after all.

Sienna Roy loved Dustin Falco most of her life. He was the boy next door, the high school basketball star and her best friend. But when his life was cut short, she realized he left a part of himself behind.

Now, she's back in Sea Breeze, thankful to have a home for her and Dustin's son, but not sure if she can ever forgive the people across the street who abandoned her when she needed them the most — The Falcos.

Betrayal, lies, and forbidden attraction might end Dewayne and Sienna's story before it's even begun.

My review:

I've been wanting to read this for such a longtime but I didn't have money to buy it at that time. These past few months were pretty damn stressful for me at school and work. When vacation started I pretty much read half of the unread books on my shelf. Then I received an itunes gift card for Christmas and used that to buy Hold On tight. 

Before I read this book, I read the sample a few weeks before and I regretted reading it because it just made me want to read the whole thing, but I couldn't because I didn't have money to buy it. Lesson learned. Never read the sample if you don't have money to buy the book. It drove me crazy. 

Because you healed  me. When no one else could.

I really adored Micah, Sienna's son, so damn much. He was so cute and smart I just wanted to play with him all day. I like how he said somethings he wasn't supposed to say. It was adorable. 

I was really looking forward in learning more about Dewayne because in the past few books, he was just a guy who liked to have fun, he was chill, funny and mysterious. But in this book, he was just different. Sure, there was some scenes where he sounded like the Dewayne we know but for the most part, he was just like the other guys. It wasn't a big problem though, I learned to ignore it and just continue on with the story. The thing I really liked about Dewayne is how he really loved his younger brother Dustin, it was really nice to read how he cared about him so much. 

Sienna, at first I really liked her character but as the story progressed, she got a little annoying because it felt like she wanted everyone to like her right away and if they didn't she didn't want them in her life. Like girl, give them some time. Gee.

The story was really good. There was a lot of scenes that made me laugh. However, was it my favorite of the series? No. I felt like everything was a rush. It was happening too fast and I wished there was more. But again, I always want more when it comes to Abbi's books. 

Review: AngelFall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan EE

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal...
Publication date: May 2011
Publisher: Feral Dream
Read: November 2014
Pages: 283
Rating: 4/5

Summary
It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

My review

"I want to stroke his face and tell him that it will be okay. That everything will be all right. And I wish so badly that it would be."

This book was on my "To buy" list for  a really long time and when I bought it, I had to read other books first and when I finally want to start reading it, I had so many exams that I had to study for, so I put the book down several times.

 It doesn't remove the fact that it was a really good book though. The writing was fantastic I loved it so much. I actually really like books about Angels. I read the Angel trilogy by L.A Weatherly and it's one of my favorite series of all time and I definitely recommend it. 

Anyways, what caught my attention in this book is the summary at the back cover. It was really intriguing and I just had to buy it. When I read some reviews and watch some booktubers who had mentioned this book, all of them said the book was amazing so I had no reason to not buy it.

Now let's talk about the story,  Penryn had to save her sister Paige who was kidnapped by Angels. In this book Angels are bad...like really bad. There was this angel though named Raffe who was attacked by a group of angels. They cut off his wings and nearly killed him. I didn't understand why angels tried to kill Raffe because he's an angel like them. Angels were destroying the world and killing humans, I didn't get why they were trying to murder Raffe, it was just messed up. But in general I understood the story  and ended up loving it.

Raffe stole my heart right from the start. I never expected him to be funny. I expected him to be the dark and mysterious kind of guy but he was hilarious. I liked his relationship with Penryn, I liked how she annoyed him and how she tried to wake him up so many times. I find that adorable and funny. 

About the author
Susan Ee is the bestselling author of the Penryn & the End of Days series which takes place in the San Francisco bay area. The first book, ANGELFALL, is being translated into 20 languages around the world. The second book, WORLD AFTER, was recently released in Nov. 2013 to international acclaim. The film rights to the series have been optioned by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Good Universe. Susan used to be a lawyer but loves being a writer because it allows her imagination to bust out and go feral.

Monday: Book recommendation!

Wake (Watersong #1) by Amanda Hocking

Genre:YA Paranormal romance 

Publication date: August 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: ~ 309 

Rating: ★★★★☆

Summary

Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets

Quick thoughts!!!

It was good. I really enjoyed reading it. I don't think it's the best book of the series but it's worth reading. There are four books in the series. Go read'em because the books are AWESOME!

Review: Moments in time by Dori Lavelle

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication date: 2014

Publisher: Createspace

Read: September 2014

Pages: 386

Rating: ★★★★☆

*I received this copy from the author Dori Lavelle, in exchange for an honest review.*

Summary:

Due to sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. 

˃ ENTANGLED MOMENTS

A deadly accident can take a life in more than one way.

Four years ago, Carlene Adams made a deadly mistake. A tragic accident derailed the future she'd hoped for, taking the life of the man she'd planned to spend forever with.As a self-imposed penance for her solitary sin, Carlene has given up on every dream she ever had. She has committed to spend every remaining moment trying to make up for that one instance when everything changed.Then she gets a second chance.When Carlene meets Nick Johnson, the single kiss they share awakens the desires she shoved aside for so long. Suddenly she wants more than what she believe she deserves. Will she ever see him again?A thing of fate.Leaving the life she built on regret, Carlene waits for fate to intervene. But just as she begins to believe in a fresh start, she's forced to realize a horrible truth—one with the power to send her second chance crashing before it even takes off.Nick isn't who she thought he was. She isn't the girl he believed her to be, either. Their lives were intertwined even before they met, and if Carlene tells him the truth, she’ll risk tearing them apart—for good.

˃ REKINDLED MOMENTS

The truth will always find a way out.

Carlene Adams' new life has been an illusion, her newfound joy just for rent. The life she craves can't really belong to a girl who is responsible for someone's death.Her greatest fear has been realized. Nick Johnson, her second chance at love, has discovered her true identity and disappeared from her life.She will need to find a way to move on without Nick. But the memories of their time together haunt her relentlessly. As Serendipity's Businessman of the Year, his face is everywhere—in magazines, on the television screen, and behind her eyelids. Soon, rumors about her past cause her life to spin out of control, and she finds herself even further from her dreams.But Carlene is good at hiding from the past. She's done it once before. She can do it again. She can leave her hometown and begin again somewhere new. But she can't move on without telling Nick the truth about the life he thinks she took, and everything that came before.

˃ BITTERSWEET MOMENTS

Can the embers of an old life ignite the flames of a new love?

Six years ago, Melisa Bergfeld’s husband died. As the grief of losing him tore into her, she lost his last gift to her—their unborn child—and her hopes and dreams turned to ashes.Left with a life she no longer wants, she seeks salvation in a homeless shelter. For a while, that’s more than enough.But when a fire breaks out, in walks the man who will try to save her life—if she’ll let him.Florian “Heat” Dane has left behind a trail of broken hearts in his wake, including pieces of his own. For all the girls he’s used to fill the hole in his heart, there has been just one he could never erase from his memories. But when Melisa married his best friend Scott Bergfeld, he knew she would never be his the way she’d been the one unforgettable night they spent together. Now that she’s back in his life, he will do anything to recapture her heart, even if it means giving away his own.Heat still has the power to ignite passion in Melisa, something she both desires and rejects.

My review:

                 "Sometimes in life you have to make things happen yourself."

Book 1 and Book 2 are about Nick and Carlene's love story. Honestly, from the beginning till the end I was intrigued. The story was so good but the problem was it was too short. Everything was happening so fast. There were parts where I wanted to read more about but it ended pretty quickly. However, I still learned a lot about Carlene that made like her character. It's funny because I didn't expect to relate to anyone's character but I did. As for Nick, I loved him from the start. I never really hate him for some particular reason. I never thought he was a bad guy or anything. I was a bit uncomfortable on how he acted with Carlene though. Their story was happening really fast. I don't think it was very realistic. But again, this is a fiction and anything can happen right?

"...Melisa's heart fell deeper into the sea of his love"

Book 3 is about Melisa and Heat. I didn't expect to like their story more than the first two books. But I can tell that after reading this book, I liked it as much as Nick and Carlene's story.  I wasn't a big fan of Melisa but in this book, I learned more about her and her past. It made me connect with her character. Afterwards, I pretty much understood what she was going through. I think she was a very strong woman because she was still living life after what happened with her husband and her baby. Like Nick, I loved Heat from the beginning. I don't know about the others who have read these books but the main male characters are so damn likable! 

I really recommend this series if you're looking for a quick read. It's a contemporary novel so if you want to just relax, these books are perfect for you. Also, check out other books by Dori Lavelle, she's an incredible author and she won't disappoint you. If you enjoyed Melisa and Heat's story, their story continues in Book 4 and it's called Defining Moments. 



About the author
Dori Lavelle, is a mother, wife, and a sucker for happy ever afters and mint chocolate. Give her a great romance novel and a mug of hot chocolate and she'd be one happy woman.
Growing up, Dori read a lot, and when she wasn't happy with a particular ending, she wrote a different one, just for herself. Before long, she was writing stories when she should have been doing homework. The time has come for her to share the stories she cooks up in her head.

You can visit her on her site http://www.dorilavelle.com/ and her blog http://dori-lavelle.blogspot.co.at/

The fourth book of the series is now available. Go visit the author's site for more information.

Betrayal. Lies. Secrets.

How much heartbreak can one heart take?

Melisa Dane has made it through the worst. Her heart was broken, but Florian Dane, better known as “Heat”—and the man of her dreams—returned to mend it. Now, with her family almost complete, Melisa is ready to sit back and enjoy life.

 But fate isn't done with her yet. The perpetual smile on her face freezes when the second man to steal her heart shows up in her life once again. Scott Bergfeld, the husband she buried and grieved for years ago, is not dead, and he comes back bearing secrets.

Heartbroken and confused, Melisa tries to find answers to questions she never thought she'd ask, but what she learns throws her life into turmoil. Soon, cracks start to form in her marriage with Heat. As her heart is torn into two halves—between the man she loved first and the man she married first—she comes dangerously close to having her whole life destroyed again. How many people will end up getting hurt? This time, does she have the strength to make it through?

Other books by Dori Lavelle

Pre-order To Live Again

Pre-order To Love Again

Review: Misbehaving (Sea Breeze #6) by Abbi Glines

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication date: December 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Read: September 2014

Pages: 316

Rating: ★★★★☆

Summary:

An unexpected affair leads to mind-blowing harmony in this Sea Breeze novel from New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines. 

Jason is sick of living in his rock star brother’s shadow. So when he ships off to Sea Breeze, Alabama, he’s looking for a much deserved escape and a chance to blow off some envious steam. Falling for the local bad girl was definitely not the plan. But as the new duo enjoys some naughty fun in the Alabama sun, Jason learns that even though Jax is the musician in the family, he’s not the only brother who can rock someone’s world.

My review:

When I heard about this book I was confused. Jason and Jess? I was so annoyed with Jess in the other books and her being with Jason was confusing as hell! But then...I was wrong about her.

"He was a fairy tale. And I didn't live in a storybook."

Story of my life. That quote just caught my attention and I just had to mention it in this review. I completely understood  Jess's feelings and I think that's why I really liked her character in this book. She wasn't perfect. She made mistakes but I knew about her life that nobody but Jason and Rock knew about. She was actually a good person looking for someone who would love and put her first. A man who would treat her right.

I actually find it really entertaining when Jess's mom compares real life relationships to the Gilmore Girls. At first I was confused like when Jason first heard about it. I find his reaction funny.

I love Dewayne. He's such a tease and I find him hilarious. He just makes things more interesting and fun. I'm really glad he's part of the story of everyone and I'm looking forward on reading the book about him and his story.

"When I thought about my future now, Jess was all that I could see, and that was all I needed. I couldn't ask for more."

I love love Jason! He's like a complete package. He's attractive and a GENTLEMAN! But what I like the most is that even if Jess had a bad reputation around town, it didn't stop him from seeing her. He didn't judge her. In fact, he wanted to get to know her and that was just incredible and it made me love him even more.

What I didn't like about this book is that there were parts where I wanted to read more about. Especially near the end. I was actually surprised wen I turned the page and realized it was the last page of the book. Although, overall I'm pleased with the story. 

About the author            

Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted booklover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

--->Sea Breeze novels by Abbi Glines