Hooking Up by Helena Hunting

Blurb: Amalie Whitfield is the picture of a blushing bride during her wedding reception–but for all the wrong reasons. Instead of proclaiming his undying love, her husband can be heard, by Amalie and their guests, getting off with someone else. She has every reason to freak out, and in a moment of insanity, she throws herself at the first hot-blooded male she sees. But he’s not interested in becoming her revenge screw.

Mortified and desperate to escape the post-wedding drama, Amalie decides to go on her honeymoon alone, only to find the man who rejected her also heading to the same tiny island for work. But this time he isn’t holding back. She should know better than to sleep with someone she knows, but she can’t seem to resist him.

They might agree that what happens on the island should stay on the island, but neither one can deny that their attraction is more than just physical.

4 stars

So the beginning of this book kinda threw me.  It’s very unlike the first one, even though you don’t need to read them in order as they are not really a series, I feel reading the first one would be beneficial. I totally get why Amalie did what she did after finding out the husband was unfaithful.  I would probably have found the closest male and tried to jump his bones too.  But I would not have felt guilt about it after.  🙂

I felt the beginning of this book moved too fast for me.  The cheating and then diving into a sexual relationship just doesn’t jive with me for some reason.  Everyone knows that the first sexual relationship you get int o after a break up is a rebound! Those are the rules!! LOL, okay I may be holding on to tight to that.

Armstrong’s methods for attempting to win her back were childish and a bit ridiculous.  Trying to scare her into getting back with him because of her families status?  That’s quite frankly laughable.  I guess that might work if you were super famous or rich.  But while they may have lived comfortably it was in no way inferred that they were either of those things.  So really, who cares what others think right? And it took forever for the divorce to happen.  I mean, if its contested it can take about 6 months but not like super long after that, I would have expected Amalie to be smarted that that and just pull the infidelity card from gate. But she isn’t your normal character.

Maybe I couldn’t get my head into a believable space for the little things in this book but lucky for me the sex and chemistry made up for it….in spades!  If you are looking for a emotionally charged sex fest, this is the book for you.

I received this book fro Netgalley for an honest/unbiased opinion.

Scored by Sloane Howell

Blurb: He’s a player. But she’s about to score.

Opposites really do attract* as a sassy salesgirl turns a pro athlete’s life upside down in this supercharged standalone novel of seduction from the author of Bossed.

Kelsey: My mom would tell you I’m quite the catch, but since my last boyfriend, I haven’t been dating much. Maybe it’s my rocker style or my lack of filter that intimidates the boys. So I’m pleasantly surprised when Matt Stallworth waltzes into the indie record store where I work and gives as good he gets. Turns out Matt is a professional baseball player, which should mean he’s out of my league. But if he wants to hook up with me, he’s going to have to follow my rules.

Matt: After winning my MVP award, I learned that a guy can get used to having beautiful women practically throw themselves at you everywhere you turn. But everything changes the first time I see Kelsey Martin, and something just clicks. She’s hot, snarky, and whip-smart. I’ve got to see her again. Only problem is, she sees right through all my best moves. And I’m going to have to step up my game to convince Kelsey that I’m playing for keeps.

5 stars

I really enjoyed this story.  It was everything I hoped it would be. A cute opposites attract read with some serious chemistry.  At first I was a little thrown off because there wasn’t much background on either MC but as there relationship progressed it didn’t bother me that much.

Classic case of opposites attract. I think I finished it a day.  The ending was so cute but I didn’t feel it was that much of a climax. And I didn’t understand why they waited so long to get to that point.  I felt that their communication could have a a bit better but ‘m almost positive it was a plot point so I understand why it wasn’t.  This is my first Sloane Howell book but it won’t be my last.

Kelsey didn’t really stand out to me that much as far as MC’s go.  She was a bit of a rebel and almost everything Matt wasn’t.  I didn’t think she was really that different than most girls and therefore I didn’t really become too attached to her.

Now Matt, oh he was one smooth character.  I really enjoyed his struggle with his baseball career and his relationship with Kelsey.  He was able to balance it all pretty well.  I also enjoyed their make out sessions!  Wooo!  There was some serious panty melting words going on in this book!

I received this book in exchange for an honest/unbiased review.

Her Book Boyfriend (The Awkward Duckling #1) by K.R. Grace

Blurb: She believes the secret to love is in the tropes of her favorite romance novels. He’s the best friend prepared to prove her wrong.

Then comes the bet.

If she can’t land a boyfriend for prom by recreating the ten popular tropes in her favorite romance author’s books, she has to go to the prom with her.

The glitch?

They’ve been close their entire lives. He’s the rock god and school legend, while she’s the brainy sidekick who does all his dirty breakups. Thus, finding a guy who doesn’t think they’re already an item is going to be a lot harder than she thinks.

Will she land the book boyfriend of her dreams? Or will she be forced to go to prom with her best friend?

The truth is in the pages.

5 stars

I loved this book!  Very entertaining.  It was a refreshing spin on the geek and jock romance.  Macey wasn’t meek and she wasn’t bullied.  She stood up for herself and didn’t take crap from her jock guy friend, Cam.  It seemed like a role reversal in the best way.

Cam was super sleazy when it came to girls.  A fact that was made pretty clear early on.  It didn’t bother me as much as I expected it would.  I don’t know why, maybe it was because he was such a good guy to Macey.  At any rate, I enjoyed their chemistry and easy dialogue.  Actually, I floved their dialogue.  It was fantastic.

Macey’s headstrong, smart and funny.  Cam is smart, horny and holds some things close to his chest which I realized early on.  It made him vulnerable and mysterious, two things I find attractive in a male MC.  You should really just go read the book.  I will be looking forward to more by this author.

I got this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest/unbiased opinion.

One True Pairing (Fandom Hearts #2) by Cathy Yardley

Blurb: They couldn’t be more opposite, the Hollywood actor and the hometown girl, but all they need is a little convention magic to become the perfect ship in Cathy Yardley’s One True Pairing.

Jake Reese needs a decoy girlfriend. Fast. The lead actor of the popular TV show, Mystics, is tired of losing his shirt to overeager fans. Literally. Which is why a chance meeting with gothabilly bookworm-slash-barista Hailey Frost seems almost too perfect to be true. Hailey is not impressed with his TV fame and is desperate to save her family’s bookstore. It’s a match made in Hollywood, but as the two pretend to date, fan fiction becomes reality. Can this OTP become canon?

 

 

4 stars

First off, I LOVE the covers of her books!  Level Up had a great cover too!

I really enjoyed this cute romcom with a nerdy twist.  I mean, how could you not?  We already met these characters in Level Up and the setting for the story takes place in a book store.  That sold me right there!

Hailey is a spitfire with a fierce loyal streak.  I loved her character immediately.  Her gothabilly style was appealing and described perfectly.  You could really tell her family was important to her and she was not too proud to ask for help.

Jake was super adorable.  His genuine love of the show was written beautifully and he was very down to earth despite his fortunate circumstances.  The pocket ripping incident shone a light on the fact that sexual harassment isn’t just aimed at females.  The chemistry was scorching hot and I loved how they both tried to ignore it but just couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.  Which made for some pretty heavy fanning as I read it!

And the setting was totally up my alley.   You know you are gonna meet some great characters in a bookstore.  Even better, a fandom bookstore! I’m totally jealous of Hailey for being able to live above it.  But I’m not bitter. 😉

Highly recommend reading all her books.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest/unbiased review.

Imperfectly Criminal (Imperfect #2) by Mary Frame

Blurb: Freya Morgan thought it was a great idea to hire the bad boy on campus to beat up her douchebag ex-boyfriend after he cheated and treated her like crap. Fast forward a few months, and nothing she’s done has helped her get over the scars left behind by her ex. Not the paid beating, not the string of sucky dates, nothing.
Dean Collins is in trouble, and it’s all Freya’s fault. After all, she started the trend of all the ladies on campus paying him to do their dirty work. But now, two of the boys he was hired to beat up are dead, and he’s the only connection.

When Freya agrees to help him find the real killer, she discovers that this bad boy isn’t so bad, after all. And getting involved with him means more than finding a killer, it means potentially losing her life…and her heart.

Favorite Quotes: 

“Don’t you know how these things work? When there’s a mystery to be solved, it’s always the person you least suspect, not the person you hope it is.” He laughs. “This isn’t an Agatha Christie novel.” “You’re right,” I sigh and sit down on the swing next to him. “If this was an Agatha Christie novel, the writing would be way better.”

“There are plenty of reasons to go around,” I answer. “Considering his status as the Duke of Douche.” I know you shouldn’t speak ill of the dead and all that, but I’ve never understood that philosophy. An asshole who dies is still a dead asshole.

4 stars

I liked this one better than the first one!

 First, her name, everyone wants a unique name in their story so they can stand out.  Well, MF nailed it with this one.  She is super sarcastic and kinda awkward in her own way. Now to the hard stuff.  This book deals with sexual assault.  I could identify with her feelings of confusion. It’s hard to explain really because everyone’s experience is different.  I really liked how it didn’t overshadow her life, how she clearly struggled but didn’t let it consume her.  And how MF was able to write it like that without it losing its potency was fucking awesome to me.  Freya acted exactly as I did.  And I loved her all the more for it.

Another thing I really liked was how Freya never came out and said the word.  I know that sounds weird but we don’t need to see it or hear it to know what it is and what she was referring to.  And while some people may think it’s a bit of a cop out to not address it by its name, I myself was comforted by that very fact.  I mean, yeah, obviously Freya is never going to forget it but it didn’t rule her life ya know? This may be coming out all wrong, it’s hard to really explain.  Okay, I’m just gonna move on cause I‘ll just keep going in circles if I don’t.

 I floved Dean!  He was so….awesome and caring and funny!  I loved how he took care of his family and didn’t make a big deal out of it.  I loved how he wasn’t too proud to do any of the dirty work himself.  But most of all, I loved how he responded to Freya.  He was hard and soft, vulnerable and strong.  It was the best of both worlds for me.

 And their chemistry! Hot Damn!

::raise hand:: I’ll take a helping of flirty banter with a side of sensual kissing scenes please?  Ding! *Order up*

 

Love Hacked (Knitting in the City #3) by Penny Reid

Blurb: There are three things you need to know about Sandra Fielding: 1) She makes all her first dates cry, 2) She hasn’t been kissed in over two years, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Sandra has difficulty removing her psychotherapist hat. Of her last 30 dates, 29 have ended the same way: the man sobbing uncontrollably. After one such disaster, Sandra–near desperation and maybe a little tipsy–gives in to a seemingly harmless encounter with her hot waiter, Alex. Argumentative, secretive, and hostile Alex may be the opposite of everything Sandra knows is right for her. But now, the girl who has spent all her life helping others change for the better, must find a way to cope with falling for someone who refuses to change at all.

 

 

Favorite Quotes:

It is the burden of the optimist to live a life not knowing why others can’t see the beautiful light within themselves.

“What would I do without you girls?” “Likely eat more ice cream.” Kat patted her hair. “I hate to admit this, but I feel so lost.” I didn’t tell her, because I didn’t think it would help, but all people are lost, to varying degrees. I suspected that it’s only when we love others—through purpose, friendship, romance, or any combination thereof—that we become found.

Desire was like a good soup; it needed simmering.

4 stars

I liked this one even though Alex was all kinds of wrong for my personal tastes. I just kept thinking that he was very creepy and his mannerisms quite frankly scared me. I would have ran in the opposite direction the very first night. But that’s the great thing about books, what seems crazy in real life is believable in a fictional world.

I love Sandra!  She was analytical just like me.  Well, she was a bit more than me but I loved the way she thought. And I totally identified with her friends view of her.  That she seemed like she had it all figured out and always had a plan.  That is so me!   And I love how held back she was with regards to starting a relationship with Alex. 

While Alex is not my cup of tea, I could appreciate his character all the same.  He had such passion that seemed to temper his possessive mannerisms.  Even though he was a bit selfish in some areas he clearly put Sandra’s welfare above his own personal wants.  Which in the end, made me like him.  Just…like…platonically.  🙂 

The love story was awesome but I gotta say I STILL have no idea what the plot was with regards to bitcoins.  WTF is a bitcoin? That was all a bit too abstract for me to interpret. The cool thing was that Sandra felt the same way so I didn’t feel like a complete idiot reading about it.  

A solid book in the series and exactly what I’d expect for PR.  

Shacking Up by Helena Hunting

Blurb:  Ruby Scott is months behind on rent and can’t seem to land a steady job. She has one chance to turn things around with a big audition. But instead of getting her big break, she gets sick as a dog and completely bombs it in the most humiliating fashion. All thanks to a mysterious, gorgeous guy who kissed—and then coughed on—her at a party the night before.

Luckily, her best friend might have found the perfect opportunity; a job staying at the lavish penthouse apartment of hotel magnate Bancroft Mills while he’s out of town, taking care of his exotic pets. But when the newly-evicted Ruby arrives to meet her new employer, it turns out Bane is the same guy who got her sick.

Seeing his role in Ruby’s dilemma, Bane offers her a permanent job as his live-in pet sitter until she can get back on her feet. Filled with hilariously awkward encounters and enough sexual tension to heat a New York City block, Shacking Up, from NYT and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting, is sure to keep you laughing and swooning all night long.

5 stars

I absolutely LOVED this book.  I was lucky enough to be offered to read this ARC through Netgalley.  I have actually never heard of this author before but the title, cover and blurb really drew me in. I hit the trifecta in the book world!

And now I find myself looking up all the other books by this author cause she writes my kind of romance.  It was witty. It was clumsy and full of humor.  It was a slow, simmering romance that also had some kinky sex scenes in it.  You see what I mean?

I really liked Rubys’ character. She had a stubbornness that I could identify with.  I totally get not wanting to rely on anyone to support myself.  But there is a difference in making it on your own with support and being fully supported.  And I think she was having a hard time figuring out which side she landed on at times. She had a great sense of humor rounding out her character. Along with a fierce sense of independence and penchant for looking for the silver lining of life. When life gives you lemons, you buy some fucking vodka to go with it, amIright?

And Bancroft!  Oh dear lord, this man is the epitome of sexy.  His alpha, millionaire manliness is physically attractive. But this man has layers, not just sexiness.  His sensitivity shines through with his care for his pets.  And his family values are clear as day with his willingness to compromise for them.

You know what? I think I’m gonna have to read this one again very soon.  Highly recommend to anyone who reads contemporary romantic comedy.

Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2) by Penny Reid

Blurb: There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she’s unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, “benefits” with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth’s plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love.

 

3 stars

I was let down by this one I’m afraid.  I found Elizabeth contradictory, stubborn, and emotionally stunted.  And not in a charming, witty, sarcastic way.  She claimed to be super honest but habitually lied to herself.  It was frustrating and I got tired of it real fast.

And the male MC! Not really my kind of love interest.  I wasn’t attracted to him in the slightest so I had a hard time taking him seriously.  His past as a bully to her kept coming up and for some reason I just could’t let that go.  He played to love card too early and it came off as creepy than endearing.  Like real creepy.

Everything after that was fruit of the poisonous tree.  There were some funny parts that had me laughing like the panty party and whenever they had their knitting night.  The little girl gave it a bit more even if it felt like a gimic.

The backstory could have been a book in its own right and I would have liked to have had some flashbacks to get a better feel for Nico.  I think that might have helped me to know him on a deeper level.  Other than that, I was underwhelmed.

Adapted for Film by Stacey Rourke

Blurb: Aubrey Evans is living every author’s dream; her sizzling romance novel is being turned into a blockbuster film. She would be celebrating this momentous event, if she wasn’t busy fighting over every tiny production detail with the maddeningly cavalier director, Kole Camden.

When news of their heated rivalry hits the gossip columns, drastic measures must be taken to save their sinking project. In an elaborate PR hoax, she is publicly linked to Greyson Meyers, the swoon-worthy star of her movie. A whirl-wind love affair is staged for the couple to mirror the steamy chapters of her own books.

Can the introverted author resist the charms of Hollywood’s sexiest leading man? Or will love find her in the City of Angels?

5 stars

I finished this book in damn near one sitting.  It was drenched in sarcasm.  And I loved it. I’ve had this book in my queue for a while now. I don’t recall how I got it but I needed a break from my series reads and the Sci-Fi book I had been reading. (H.G. Wells is hard to read for too long) I immediately loved it.  From beginning to end this book screams wit, snark and lots of humor!

I laughed so much during this book you guys.  I could not put the damn thing down.  The pretend romance was not what I would have expected so that was fun.  It was more realistic. I mean, I remember people in high school that wore sex appeal like a second skin, which is how Greyson came off.  But I do like the fact he wasn’t a douche, which is usually the case with the sexy ones.  I honestly liked him better than the actual love interest.

The main plot was pretty predictable but the WAY it was written was what hooked me.

The only thing I found a bit off was the Camden and Aubrey’s attraction.  We could see where it was headed but we never really see ‘the moment they fall’ ya know.  Then it just skips to them being in love.  Its hard to explain without spoiling the book but that’s the best I can do.

It didn’t have any impact of my likability of the story though.  It was a quick, funny read that I could see going back too when I need a break from life.

Imperfect Chemistry (Imperfect #1) by Mary Frame

Blurb: Lucy London puts the word genius to shame. Having obtained her PhD in microbiology by the age of twenty, she’s amassed a wealth of knowledge, but one subject still eludes her—people. The pendulum of passions experienced by those around her both confuses and intrigues her, so when she’s offered a grant to study emotion as a pathogen, she jumps on the opportunity.

When her attempts to come up with an actual experiment quickly drop from lackluster to nonexistent, she’s given a choice: figure out how to conduct a groundbreaking study on passion, or lose both the grant and her position at the university. Put on leave until she can crack the perfect proposal, she finds there’s only one way she can study emotions—by experiencing them herself.

Enter Jensen Walker, Lucy’s neighbor and the one person on the planet she finds strangely and maddeningly appealing. Jensen’s life is the stuff of campus legend, messy, emotional, complicated—in short, the perfect starting point for Lucy’s study. When her tenaciousness wears him down and he consents to help her, sparks fly. To her surprise, Lucy finds herself battling with her own emotions, as foreign as they are intense. With the clock ticking on her deadline, Lucy must decide what’s more important: analyzing her passions…or giving in to them?

 

Favorite Quotes:  

Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.

“You’re totally grabbing her ass,” Freya whispers loudly. “Is that weird? Groping your ex’s ex?”

“I dropped out of school,” he says. “I’m going to go back, when I can afford it or when I can figure out how the whole student loan thing works. Until then, I’m going to live off of my art, and if that doesn’t work, I’m going to get a job. But I’m never going to give up doing what I love.” “That’s good. I’m glad.” I really am. He deserves every bit of happiness, whether I’m part of that happiness or not. He looks down at the couch, and his fingers fiddle with a bit of fabric that’s come loose on the old piece of furniture. “The thing is,” he says quietly and then clears his throat. “The thing is,” he repeats it louder. “I don’t want to do any of that.” His eyes meet mine again. “Without you.”

5 stars

This ebook is free on Amazon!

I really liked this story.  Lucy was so fricking funny.  It almost seemed like she was deliberate in her responses but she just had no idea how to deal with people.  Her demeanor was crisp yet edgy.  She was completely obtuse when it came to her emotions, which made this book that much more awesome.  To see her thrive in academia but struggle with social settings.

I mean, emotions as a pathogen?  Think about it. A Pathogen.  Come on!  That’s funny, I don’t care who you are.

I think what really helped me to love this book was the fact that the side characters were just as deep and rich in their attitudes as the MC was.  Freya especially, was a favorite of mine.  She seemed the typical college student but she didn’t show disdain to Lucy (at least, not for long) for her lack of warmth and affection but instead realized that what she really needed was a friend.  And she was there for Lucy in a way that most people couldn’t or refused to be.  That says a lot about a persons character to commit to friendship when you really have no idea what they are saying half the time.  Haha.

Jensen was a very unexpected male lead for me. He’s creative and shy, attempting to squirm out from under his father’s thumb and expectations.  But my first impression of him came off as sexy and alpha, which he wasn’t at all!  I mean, he WAS sexy but not in that arrogant way.  It was more understated.  I loved that about him.  He had drive but lacked support and a bit of courage.  And I think that’s where Lucy helped him. They really helped each other. It was a true give and take relationship.

And the narration!  Rhiannon Engell nailed it.  Each character was easily discernible and had their own ‘voice’.  I found myself laughing at least once a chapter, her timing with the punchlines was perfect.  With the ebook being free and the audio only 1.99 to add, this book is a steal!  You should really go read it.  You’re welcome in advance!

I received a free audible code from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.