#Review, #Giveaway & #Excerpt : BUILT by Jay Crownover .@JayCrownover .@InkSlingerPR

Book Title: Built (Saints of Denver Book 1)
Author:  Jay Crownover |Website| Twitter| Facebook| BUILT Goodreads | Jay Crownover Goodreads

Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 1
Format: ebook, and Trade Paperback

Cost: $14.99

Pages: 400

Purchase: Amazon US | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Publication Date: Jan 5, 2016

Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes an electrifying new spin-off series, Saints of Denver, featuring all the characters fans have been dying to read about.

Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk, he’s all denim and flannel. Zeb’s wanted the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her. It doesn't matter how many smooth moves he makes, the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest—either that or she doesn't return it. Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior. But just as things start to heat up, Zeb is blindsided by a life altering moment from his past. He needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. He can’t risk what’s at stake just because his attraction to Sayer feels all consuming. But as these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, battling together to save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide can no longer be ignored.

And don’t miss this sneak peek of BUILT! Check out the excerpt here! 

I dug my fingers into his wrists and scowled right back at him as his pulse kicked into my touch. “I don’t think you’re an asshole or a player at all, Zeb, but I also have no experience with men like you.”

                “Men like me? What does that mean? What kind of man am I?” He was getting angry and frustrated and I couldn’t blame him. It was hard for me to explain why he was everything I wanted but everything I could never have. We were on two different levels when it came to our personalities and I knew there was no way someone as passionate and expressive as he was would ever be interested in someone as reserved and closed off as I was. Where I was the frozen tundra when it came to emotional availability, he was the blazing heat of the desert. I could see the fire of his annoyance in his gaze as he waited for my shaky explanation.

                “You’re a man who is sure of himself and confidant. You’re a man who is used to having women fall at his feet. You’re a man who is exiting and interesting.” I lifted an eyebrow at him. “You’re a man who is tattooed and drives a cool vintage truck around, you’re a man who doesn’t mind getting dirty and can create things for a living. All of that is the total opposite of everything I’ve ever known, Zeb.”

                His eyebrows went from the deep frown over his nose to shooting up on his forehead and disappeared under the dark fall of hair that rested there. A grin that could only be described as wicked slashed through his beard and his hands tightened where they were still holding on to my face.

                “I thought you were going to say a man with a past. A man that has been to jail. I thought you were going to say a man with my history is the kind of man you have no experience with. You surprised me.”

                If I was a different type of woman, I might have smacked him for that kind of ignorance. “Where you have been doesn’t define who you are, Zeb. I told you when we first met that I understand that people make mistakes.”

                He grunted and moved his face closer to mine. “And here I am on your doorstep with another one. You want me to teach you about a man like me, Sayer? I’m pretty simple to figure out.”

                I didn’t believe that for a single second, so I opened my mouth to tell him. There was never anything simple about passion. I didn’t get a chance to utter a sound because before I got a word out I suddenly knew exactly what it felt like to be kissed by a guy with a beard because he dipped his head and devoured my mouth with his.

                It felt phenomenal.

Pre-Order Links

If you can't tell I have kind of taken a bit of a hiatus, it wasn't expected and it certainly wasn't planned, my life kinda needed a little more attention than the books did the last few weeks, and let me tell you I missed both the books and sharing with y'all all about the books. Then this popped up in my mailbox and I couldn't not read it. I snuck time at work, I read when I was supposed to be working on projects for my family, I snuck reading when I was supposed to be sleeping, heck I certainly gave up on sleep so I could finish this, and then I regretted finishing it, because well, there is no more Jay books until like March. Ugh Jay write faster!!!

 Y'all know I'm a Crownover Fangirl already, I show her and all her boys so much love on the blog because she writes amazing characters that feel like people I know, people I like and people I want to get to know and I get so sucked into the story as it goes on that I'm most often not even aware that time is flying. This story is no different, we already knew the outcome was going to be Zeb & Sawyer getting together, but the journey is what I read the books for and man what a journey. It had great highlight and laughing moments, and moments that stopped your breath, I loved reading Zeb and Sawyer's journey reading as each learned to embrace the jagged edges of themselves, and learned how those pieces would fit together and make them a great couple.

Sawyer doesn't come from the most loving of backgrounds, although she is privileged in her upbringing compared to the rest of the crew, what they created as a family she lacked. Having taken her father's last will and testament and run with it, she's made the first moves to getting out from under his thumb what was meant to be his last "eff you" to her became her greatest triumphs because it gave her the family she has always wanted. Sawyer is a reserved woman because she doesn't know how to handle emotions and being a part of a family the way the others have learnt by being there for each other, but she is very much the kid with her face moshed against the glass looking out at the world and dying to be apart of it but scared she's not enough to really be included.  She has these ideas about herself that she's been feed since she was a child, and yet she doesn't notice that she has already embraced change and the drastic differences between the woman she thought she was and the woman she actually is.  I love that her home is a sanctuary not just for herself but also for Salem's sister, and it becomes a bit of a sanctuary later on for someone else as well and I loved those moments of her learning to stretch herself beyond what she thought she knew.  One of my favorite lines is the discussion of her love for color, and how she hides it on her toes and yet in her home she has this rare red wall in her kitchen.  I just love it.

Zeb is a man with a past, his temper put him a place that led to him serving time, and now that he's out, he's honest about his past and figures he'll let the chips fall how they want.  Having become good friends with Rowdy, he's even more fascinated by his sister, & jumps at the chance to help her create her dream home by renovating her Victorian. Zeb's the total opposite of Sawyer and yet, she's the piece of the puzzle that adds the most to his picture.  Coming from a loving family background, and not knowing all there is to know about Sawyer, Zeb does make some mistakes, but I absolutely loved that in this one he was the most sure about the relationship, about being the one who was determined to bring her out of her shell.  I loved the Zeb saw Sawyer way better than she did and he understood her quirks a bit better than she did at times and he was totally willing to work with whatever she was willing to share.

There are so many great moments between them, especially as Sawyer begins to come out of her shell, but my favorites are when they are interacting later in the book, when Sawyer is trying to find her footing not just as a friend, or as a sister, but as a woman who Zeb is interested in.  It's so much fun to watch her try to embrace all he's trying to give her while still trying to remain braced for the pain of failure.  And when Zeb gets a powerhouse in his corner it's so much fun to watch her embrace that while running from Zeb.  I loved their interactions, I loved the few times we get to see the Marked Men, especially when Rome goes all Daddy crazy over his daughter.

I absolutely loved reading this books and especially seeing the upcoming couple I can't wait to see how that unfolds.  Jay has once again captured the journey of love in a way that makes it fun, and sweet, and not too heartbreaking.  And now I want to go re-read it again.

★★★★1/2☆

Happy Reading my loves and just know that Zeb and Sawyer together are awesome, the journey to getting there?? Is so worth the read.

And now time for a giveaway  Goog Luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

16 Most Anticipated Books of 2016

Hi my loves,

Welcome to 2016. Isn't it crazy?? It's a whole other year.  I can't wait to see what is in store for us and what good reads the world will be sharing with us.  Here are a few of the books I'm looking forward to reading.

Dark Carousel by Christine Feehan  08/02/16
Don't laugh it wasn't until I was loading up this image that I noticed that their is a man's face on the cover.  I can't wait to read this, it's going to be awesome because I am finally caught up on this series.

Elite Mercedes Lackey 09/06/16
Book two on the series and I can't wait. Mercedes has always been my favorite author's from childhood.  I can't wait until I can get into this one.

Nailed by Opal Carew  08/23/16
It's an Opal book, girl I had to add it to the list.
-

Honor by Jay Crownover 10/18/16
It's a Jay book, y'all knew this one was coming sooooo no surprises.

Dark Crime by Christine Feehan  12/13/16
I've already read this one, I just want it on my shelves to complete my collection. I've already caught up on the series and I can't wait to add to this one.  And then get the other one that is coming out this year.

Stealing Home by Nicole Williams  07/05/16
Nicole's work is always a good read and I can't wait t get into it.    This one sounds pretty good as well, I can't wait to dive in and get the goods on this story.

The Score (Off Campus 3) by Elle Kennedy  01/11/16
This is the next installment in the series, and from now there will be only one more before the series ends.

The Goal (Off Campus 4) by Elle Kennedy  09/26/16
Book 4 in the Off Campus series that follows the hockey team and I can't wait to dive right in and enjoy.  It's also the final book in the series, I'm not sure how I'm going handle letting these guys and their girls go.

Apprentice in Death by JD Robb  09/06/16
I've gotta catch up on this one and I can't wait until I do. I'm 7, count them seven books behind and I can't wait until I do catch up.  It's on this year's reading goal.

Fire In You by J Lynn 11/28/16
I'm so excited for this one.  It's awesome it's Jennifer and I can't wait to disappear into this one.

With Every Breathe by Maya Banks  08/23/16
Maya added on another book to this series and I can't wait until I can get this in my hands. I'm hoping this one is one of the men in the series I've been dying to read about *book shimmy*

Wax by Gina D'amico 09/13/16
I'm so excited about this. Gina's writing is amazing and I'm sure she's going to be doing some fun stuff in this one.

Brotherhood in Death (Book 42) by JD Robb 02/02/16
I'm so behind on this series and need to catch up so badly.  Like so badly need to catch up.

The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter 11/22/16
I'm so excited to start this series and because I've kinda been reading it out of order I want this one, while I go back to the beginning and read from there as well.

Darkest Journey by Heather Graham 09/27/16
Another Krewe of Hunter's book and this series doesn't stop. I seem to always be behind. but still going to add it to the list.

Flawless by Heather Graham  03/29/16
This is book two in her newest series and I can't wait to enjoy this new one.  Heather writes so damn fast and so many different series.  This is going to be soooo good.


These are some of the books I'm looking forward to.  What are you looking forward to?? Share down below and I can't wait to see what you are looking forward to as well.

Book #Review: Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

Book Title: Not If I See You First
Author:  Eric Lindstrom |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Poppy/ Little Brown
Genre: Realistic Fiction (YA)
Series/Standalone: Stand Alone
Format: Hardcover

Cost: $18.00

Pages: 320

How I got it: BEA (Book Expo America) 2015

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

The Rules: 

Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public.
Don't help me unless I ask. Otherwise you're just getting in my way or bothering me.

Don't be weird. Seriously, other than having my eyes closed all the time, I'm just like you only smarter.

Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart. When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.

I absolutely loved this book. I cried, I laughed, I was enlightened by this book.  I mentioned before that I have Keratoconus and how it affects my reading and my life (See here if you haven't seen the post yet).  As I read this book I realized how much more of my life will change if I do go blind, I never realized how much of conversations take place with just our facial features and out emotions being read by others.  It's been a while since I have read a book with a female character who is blind.  These books always hit me harder than others and reading this one was so good and so emotional. I highly recommend it because she is such a wonderful character to read, And she had great character relationships and she grows so well and has awesome well rounded friends and even makes more friends as the story progresses.

I totally loved the lead character, she was brash, funny, witty, ballsy and oh so real.  She grieved and she was so raw with what she was feeling and thinking.  I loved that this book had a love interest but it wasn't about falling in love, it was about finding your way in the world when you realize that no matter how independent you think you are, you still rely on the world and it's common decency when you have a disability.  I loved as the character went through the year she realized that her being blind physically was also causing her to be blind emotionally as well as figuratively.  Because she couldn't see the looks others gave her, she just busted into lives with or meaning to or understanding how her words were taken.  She never saw the reactions, she only heard those that were loud and made for her to hear, but the hurt expressions those she never saw, and you understand how she's also excluded by those who want to carry on without her knowing everything as well.  

I loved that she was shown that her rules while they may protect her, they also imprisoned her as well.  I loved the progression of growth for her, her new friendships, the old friendships rekindled, the adults in her life that she has to train to treat her right and her own personal understanding as she realized that she was missing out on so much because she wasn't willing to change a little.  I learned so much about how the blind navigate the world and how different it can be for each person.  I loved the talk about the special Olympics, especially because she is a runner which I was in high school and this made me love her even more.  The scenes where she is running and you realize so much of who we are is tied to sight, and how much we need others to not be there to harm us, especially when she was running in the small park by herself. When the teacher approached her just like her the hair stood up on the back of my neck, because in that moment we realized just how vulnerable she truly was.  And this is when she begins to understand her world wasn't how she knew it.

This story was extremely emotional and yet so good, no crazy high school drama, just the regular student body stuff and yet, it was written in a way that made you feel as if you were their and apart of the student body.   I loved that she had so many great friends, and wasn't just a 'loser' nor the 'special butterfly'.  She was just real and I loved it so much.  I couldn't put it down.

I highly recommend, not just because the characters are diverse, but because they are well written and the story is engaging adn because we finally get to have a character who is and isn't special.  And when you read it you will understand what I mean by that.  I would have totally loved to have been her firend in high school or college, she is pretty kick ass.

 ★★★★★

This is going on my top favorites of 2015 list, I hope you will read it and enjoy as much as I did, if you've read it why not share your reaction down below, and as always my loves, 
Happy Reading

Book #Review: Darkest Before Dawn by Maya Banks

Book Title: Darkest Before Dawn  ( KGI #10)
Author: Maya Banks |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series/Standalone: Series Book 10
Format: Mass Market Paperback

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 378

How I got it: Published  

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they’ve known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock’s true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty. But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he’s been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She’s the only woman who’s ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he’s spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

I came into this series blind, I actually haven't read all the other books that come with the KGI books, and the two I have read are in the random order so I went into this one kind of blind and missing key information. Not the best way, since this is kind of written as if you have read the other stories and know who all the other people are and why this mission is so important.  It is easy to pick up on the information because several times within the story the characters go back over information and share with you how and why it's relevant.

Sadly this story echoes so much of what is going on right now and especially after what happened in the past week in Beirut, Nigeria and Paris, this group echoes way too closely with that dreaded group in real life, so this took me a little longer to read because i kept thinking how close to real life this was.

I liked the story and the build up, however I have a few questions as to why Hancock didn't see any other alternatives, even as his team tired to point out to him that saving a few doesn't save them as much as delaying the inevitable because there is always someone willing to be evil and be scary for a dollar.  Hancock had tunnel vision when it came to taking down the big bad and scary and he used whatever was necessary to get the mission done.  This is why this book hurts, because the mission was king and that meant way too many were hurt in the process of making the mission come to fruition.

Honor at times was an awesome character and then she would say something that makes you want to shove her out the car, why tell the people who are risking their lives to save yours that as soon as you are safe you're going right back into the fray??? Not even in say a place you aren't a wanted and hunted woman, but like right back where you are trying to leave?? If it was me I would stop the car, take a picture of you have you call your family then leave you behind because eventually you're going to die so why risk my team and countless others??  She really cant be that naive can she??  NOBODY is that selfless, it's against human nature, if we all acted like that we would all be dead already, it's one thing to want to help it's another to put others at risk so you can feel like you have a place in the world.

The story was a bit slow and repetitive at first and then the action kicked in and it flew by.  So many things happened that I both understood, and didn't especially when it came down to the team,  I think if I had read all the books in order I would have understood even more what each character means to the story arc and they wouldn't just be names on a page to me.  I did like the way the story was building and how we got to where we were, even if at times I wanted to look at some of the characters and be like Really?? You think now is the time for this?? And how unrealistic is this??  Especially Honor at times, like really girl? I need some answer.

In the end of the book when Honor is talking to her brother Brad, I kind of felt like that was a jab at women who when faced with the same problem but make a different choice than she did. I commend any woman who can make Honor's choice, however Honor has the option because she knows that even though in the end it sucked, her condition came about as part of her choice whereas for many other it isn't a choice they made so why should they suffer???  I understand what Honor was saying but it still felt like a judgement on those who don't follow her thinking.

Overall if you are a huge fan of the series you might find it a great read, however having not read the entire series, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.  I wasn't a fan of the characters in the end because they didn't seem to know who or what they wanted to be, so if you can't decide then how am I supposed to know??  It was a great action packed read, and then it focused once again on the romance closer to the end.

I kinda felt like this was missing the signature Maya Banks writing, I didnt feel as connected to the characters as I used to when reading her books and so this wasn't a great read for me, it was unfortunately kind of meh.

 ★★★☆☆

Happy Reading

Book #Review: Tame Me (Stark International ) by J Kenner @.juliekenner

Book Title: Tame Me (Stark International 3.15)
Author:  J Kenner  |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts
Genre: Contemporay Erotic Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook

Cost: $0.99

Pages: 80

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon  | KOBO| Nook
Publication Date: March 2014
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

Aspiring actress Jamie Archer is on the run. From herself. From her wild child ways. From the screwed up life that she left behind in Los Angeles. And, most of all, from Ryan Hunter—the first man who has the potential to break through her defenses to see the dark fears and secrets she hides. Stark International Security Chief Ryan Hunter knows only one thing for sure—he wants Jamie. Wants to hold her, make love to her, possess her, and claim her. Wants to do whatever it takes to make her his. But after one night of bliss, Jamie bolts. And now it’s up to Ryan to not only bring her back, but to convince her that she’s running away from the best thing that ever happened to her--him.

I really enjoyed this one. It was a great gap closer for the Stark trilogy, and gave us Jamie's story as well.  From the stark trilogy we got to see Jamie grow and make mistakes, here we see her fight to claim a life free from mistakes.  With that idea in mind Jamie make THE PLAN (yes the caps are necessary).

THE PLAN is a way for her to reset her life and not hinge her dreams on a man or chasing men, so she's got a couple of steps, and one of the major ones is going home to Texas.  But first she's going to have one last chance at the man she wants and knows wants her.  However that plan doesn't go quite the way she wants, and when given the opportunity to make a move on the plan she takes it, who care if it looks like running.

I really enjoyed seeing Jaime again and watching the sparks fly between her and Hunter was pretty awesome. Hunter is pretty witty when it comes to Jamie and isn't at all afraid to let her know he's not here to play any games.  And boy does he make the pages singe.  I loved reading them together, their exploration of their desires (holy heck that was hot) and I loved that Jaime was so open and honest with her desires, well not all of them but at least the physical ones.

I really enjoyed the whole reading experience and was kinda hoping there will be more from them throughout the books.

Well now onto the next one!!

 ★★★★☆

Would recommend for those looking for a quick sexy erotic read.  And as always my loves, Happy Reading

Book #Review: The Kouvaris Marriage by Diana Hamilton

Book Title: The Kouvaris Marriage
Author:  Diana Hamilton |Website| 

Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Romance
Series/Standalone: Wedlocked Series 
Format: paperback

Cost: $5.25

Pages: 192

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: March 2007
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

Wanted--to have his baby! Madeleine never dreamed she would marry a Greek billionaire--especially one as attractive as Dimitri Kouvaris. But after a whirlwind courtship and three passionate months of marriage, Maddie is devastated to learn that Dimitri only married her in order to conceive a child. Desperate to escape the humiliating charade of her marriage, Maddie asks for a divorce. But Dimitri is determined to keep Maddie at his side--and in his bed--until she bears the Kouvaris heir.

There are days I wonder why I read these books, this book is the reason I wonder. Seriously WTF did I just read?!!!  Sometimes I love books where the miscommunication is the cause of the rife between the lovers, and eventually they realize they just aren't on the same frequency, then there are these books where it's written in a way I just can't get behind and I want to demand my time back. Ugh...

I ended up giving this just one star because there were just too many things that didn't make sense and I couldn't get behind them at all. Starting with how dumb is the main character, how is home girl so naive that she never considers the source of the information that makes her flee her husband.  Why isn't she asking herself what they gain\?? And how blind and slow does he have to be to only now be coming to the conclusion that his Aunt doesn't like the bride he's chosen?? I mean she's had a bride picked for him for years, and he had the nerve to not take her choice, so why wouldn't she be upset?? Really how dumb does he have to be??

Also why is her 'self' confidence contingent on him loving her?? Last time I check "self esteem" isn't something I can give you, only you can give that you dummy that's why it's called Self esteem. UGHHUGUGUGHGHGHGHGH Another question for you, why all the hate on women??  How exactly does it make you better?? I'm a bit of a tomboy and I wear makeup and can dress whatever part I need to. It's called being an adult biotch.   Hating on the other women who like makeup and dressing up doesn't make you a better woman, it makes you a person who sucks at those things.  And hating on others doesn't increase your sense of self so go suck a bog of sour lemons and stop judging those who have a sense of fashion.

At the end of the day I just didn't like the female character enough to care, anything about her at all. I didn't care if it worked out or not. And I totally blame this book for part of my slump.

 ★☆☆☆☆

Meh, not much there to enjoy, but I hope you have a fun reading a good book anyway. 
Happy Reading

Stacking The Shelves (38) : October Haul 1

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

I did pretty poorly this month, both in books read and books purchased.  Or even borrowed from the library or anything, here are the three books that I got in this month. Yep you read that right only three for the month. *sob*

This was on my 2015 most anticipated books list, and I borrowed it from the library to read and never got to it, so I was excited to see this on the Bookoutlet website.  

First Frost (Waverley Family #2) by Sarah Addison Allen

Ten Tiny Breaths by K. A. Tucker.  I have always of the books in this series, but this one, so I snagged it as soon as I found it on Bookoutlet.

He Said, She Said by Kwame Alexander.  I've had this on my list for a few years, and everytime I went to get it, its gone, or I don't remember it, I totally snagged this as soon as I saw this.

And that's it my loves, that's all I got in October.  What's you get?? Share in the comments down below.

Happy Reading

Book #Review: Heartsong Cottage (Eternity Cottage # 10) by Emily March .@emilymarchbooks

Book Title: Heartsong Cottage  (Eternity Springs #10)
Author:  Emily March |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook, Mass Market

Cost: $5.99

Pages: 320

How I got it: Publisher

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: November 3, 2015
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

Two weary strangers are about to rest their burdens in Eternity Springs, where there's hope for every broken heart. Haunted by the loss of his wife and son, Daniel Garrett left the police force to devote his life to finding missing children. But he still hasn't found a way to mend the wounds of his past-until he attends a wedding in the small mountain town of Eternity Springs...and meets a beautiful, intriguing woman who offers a glimpse of something Daniel thought he'd never have again. Sometimes life gives us a second chance at love. Shannon O'Toole isn't looking for romance. Ever since her fiancé's death, she created a quiet life for herself restoring Victorian cottages. Still, she can't deny her attraction to the handsome, broad-shouldered stranger. Daniel makes her feel things she's hasn't felt in years-including the desire to share her secrets. But can Shannon trust a detective when doing so could bring danger to her cottage door? In Eternity Springs, anything-and everything-is possible...

I really enjoyed this story. I hadn't realized this was a part of a series, so I was a little lost when some names and stories were referenced, but now I want to read the rest of the series.  I have created a playlist for this and I really enjoyed that the book had such a strong love for music.  Also for those looking for a clean romance novel, this is it, I really enjoyed that as well.

The two caracters each also had a strong love and affinity for music and I really enjoyed the way it helped to be their meet cue and gave them a basis for their connection.  Daniel has had a brutal blow dealt to his life and he has taken the damage it has left and tried to help those currently dealing with it.   I loved that he was able to make his experience something worthwhile, because so many would have just gone down with the grief.  Shannon O'Toole is living a life she never thought she would be living, and even though it's not the life she envisioned, she's still having one hell of a life, she owns a bar, she's renovating an older home and she's surrounded by friends that she loves.

When a friends gets married and she runs into Daniel, she does something totally out of character for her and now she has to decide where to go from here.  Daniel will bring change and challenge her ideas of what her life will be like, and they will have to decide if they are ok with the changes. I loved how Daniel was so not down for anything and then as the story progressed he came to some serious conclusions well before Shannon did. I loved the friendships we got to see, not just between Daniel and Shannon but the frienshships they had with people in eternity springs.  I almost belive that the lady on the Gold Wings, is actually an angel.  I really loved this story, I loved how it unfolded and how they were as they grew as friends.  I loved that they had music in common, and that Daniel was a singer.

I loved the scene in the tavern,  I loved that Daniel such a strong character and that he was amazing with Shannon.  Shannon was an awesome character to read, she really had a good life that she was living, even if it was limited by her fear.  When we get her full story I'm so heartbroken for her, and I totally understand why she is the way she is. I mean that trip to Florida proved her right didn't it.

I really enjoyed this story, and the growth for both characters, even when I wanted to knee Daniel for being an idiot.  I love how the story comes together and I so totally need the other books in my life.  I loved that it's a Christmas story as well, and second chances are amazing to read.

I highly recommend it. I totally read this in one day and I can't wait to get into the others. Have you read Emily's work before??  What did you think ? I'm loving this new town.

The only cons I had which brought it down to a four instead of a five star read was the use of the word "Gypsy" now while Daniel was the one who used it describing himself and his family history it should be noted that the Romani don't call themselves that, it's a derogatory word very much a racial slur, because it comes with it's own associations of criminal activity or someone with loose morals and many other stereotypes.  My other reason was her description of a person of color who is from the Caribbean, his accent is described, his hair but he isn't given a name, even the damn kid who causes an accident but has nothing else to add to the story, has a name. Also Rastafarian is a religion, it isn't a hair type, they can have locs, locks, dreads, however you want to call it, but to be Rasta is to be of the faith, that's like saying you're Jewish, because your hair is curly, nah that's not how it works. So I docked points for those, other than that I loved the story.  

 ★★★★☆

Are you excited about the Yule/Christmas books that are coming out?? Im so excited about the season.  Happy Reading

Monthly To Be Read (TBR) Pile: November 2015 | Bewitching Bibliophile

My goal this year is 200 books, if I break that down it comes out to 19 books per month , and  4/5 books a week. Totally doable in my books, so as the proverb says, you can eat an elephant one bite at a time, so here's my first few bites:

Read So Far this Year 99
TBR Pile :200
TBR Balance:  101

This Month has a theme, since I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I'm going to go right ahead and skip that holiday and instead move on to YuleTide reading.  Here are the Yule/Christmas themed books on my shelf (I'm sure there are more, however these are the most "Christmassy" since they have "Christmas" in their titles. Now onto to the list:

• Carolyn Brown's Cowboy Books For Christmas (Cowboy not Included)
• Jingle Bell Rock by Jannel Dennison and Friends
• The Magical Christmas Cat by Lora Leigh and Friends
• Holiday Fantasy by Donna Hill and Friends
• Naughty or Nice by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Friends
• A SEAl Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear
• A Bride For Christmas by Heather Graham and Friends
• This Christmas by Jane Green and Friends
• Under The Mistletoe by Linda Howard and Stephanie Bond
• The Secret Life of Mrs. Claus by Carly Alexander
• Christmas on Mimosa Lane by Anna DeStefano
• Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
• Three Days on Mimosa Lane Anna DeStefano
• An Enchanted Season by Maggie Shayne and Friends
• @Home For The Holidays by Meredith Efken

ARCs That I Need To Read:

• The Keepers Christmas In Salem Heather Graham 
• Christmas Brides by Suzanne Enoch and Friends
• A Last Chance Christmas by Vicki Lewis Thompson
• A Christmas To Remember by Jill Shalvis and Friends

I'm sure I have a ton more in ebook form that I need to get to, my kindle has a bunch that I know of and Goddess only knows about the others I haven't added to a collection yet.

I also pulled an alternate list just in case and that is the letter "S"

• Safe in His Arms ~Renee Rose
• Spotlight on Love LJ Young
• Salt and Storm Kendal Kulper
• So that others may live
• Solid gold seduction
• Since you've been gone
• Simple Pleasure
• Sheikh's scandal
• Shattered bonds
• Shadow Scale
• Shadow heart
• Shadow fall
• Sentinels
• Seeker
• Seduced by the playboy
• Secret surrender
• Secret sister
• Second star
• Season of the witch
• Searching for perfect
• Say my name
• Save the date
• Sworn to raise
• Sweet revenge
• Supermarket magic
• Sugarbaby
• Suffer the children
• Succulent Sexcraft
• Stranded with the rancher
• Stolen kisses from a prince
• Stealing rose
• Stay with me

What's on your Christmas To Be Read List?? Share down in the comments down below and be sure to check out the YT channel and my personal channel for all the fun stuff leading up to and after Yule. 

Happy Reading and Happy Holidays whatever you may Celebrate in this wonderful fall to Winter season.