Review: Hard Hitter by Sarina Bowen

Hard Hitter (Brooklyn Bruisers #2)
Author: Sarina Bowen
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Publisher: Berkley
Format: eARC / Mass Market Paperback
Source: NetGalley / Berkley
Review by: Jenn

He’s a fighter in the rink, but he’s about to learn that playing nice can help you score...

As team captain and enforcer, Patrick O'Doul puts the bruise in the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of hard hits, O'Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He conceals his pain from his coach and trainers, but when his chronic hip injury becomes too obvious to ignore, they send him for sessions with the team’s massage therapist.

After breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Ari Bettini is in need of peace of mind. For now, she’s decided to focus on her work: rehabilitating the Bruisers’ MVP. O'Doul is easy on the eyes, but his reaction to her touch is ice cold. Ari is determined to help O'Doul heal, but as the tension between them turns red hot, they both learn that a little TLC does the body good...

4 stars out 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I loved being back in the hockey world of the Brooklyn Bruisers. Sarina Bowen created a group of characters that I want to learn more about and hang out with at the same time. In this book, we got the prickly, and kind of anti-social captain of the Brooklyn Bruisers, Patrick O'Doul, whom we met back in Rookie Move and the team's massage therapist and yoga instructor, Ari Bettini.

I loved seeing these two come together and slowly learned about the other. I loved seeing how they got under each other skin as they realized how good they were together, even though Ari was trying to lie to herself about it. Ari and Patrick are two completely different people but they compliment each other so well and I'm glad that Ari was able to see that Patrick is the right guy for her.

I'm super excited about the next book in the series, Pipe Dreams, Lauren has scared me several times now so I'm curious to learn her story. I am sad though because I really wanted Becca' and Nate's story.

Blog Tour Review: On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton

On Broken Wings (Wild Aces #3)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Mass Market Paperback / eARC
Source: Berkley / NetGalley
Review by: Jenn

The author of Into the Blue and Fly with Me returns with the newest, hot and high-flying Wild Aces romance...

A year after losing her husband, Joker, the squadron commander of the Wild Aces, Dani Peterson gets an offer from his best friend, Alex “Easy” Rogers, to help fix up her house. Dani accepts, and their friendship grows—along with an undeniable attraction.

Racked by guilt for loving his best friend’s widow, Easy’s caught between what he wants and can’t have. Until one night everything changes, and the woman who’s always held his heart ends up in his arms. Yet as Easy leaves for his next deployment, he and Dani are torn between their feelings and their loyalty to Joker’s memory.

But when Dani discovers something that sends them both into a spin, the conflicted lovers must overcome the past to navigate a future together…

4 stars out of 5 stars
*I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I was SO excited when I got my hands on this book. I've been itching to get Easy's story ever since we learn of his love to Dani, one of his best friend's wife in Fly With Me. Knowing how broken these two would be since the death of Joker, especially Dani, I braced myself for tears and feels while I was to read this book. So when I read Dani's first chapter, I was a mess. Chanel Cleeton had me crying like a baby while my heart broke into tiny little pieces.

I was curious to see how Cleeton was going to handle Easy and Dani's story because of their connection but I just loved how it was dealt with. The grief and guilt and the acceptance that it's okay to move on, Cleeton handled that absolute care and in perfect characterization for these two. It definitely resonated true and real for me. Also, when these two are together, the familiarity that they share and how easy and relax they are around each other, I just loved it. It was so well written that it just oozes off the pages.

My biggest complaint against this book is something that I don't want to give away but considering it bothered so much to the point that I can't rate it any higher, is the subplot that happened after Easy is deployed. I honestly saw it happening a mile away and it bothered me so much because I felt like they could have come together without this plot point. In a way, it felt like a cop out for Dani in not being able to admit to her feelings without that added influence. I felt like that relationship they were brewing didn't need that to happen.

Aside from that, I enjoyed this book for all the emotions it managed to bring out in me. This love story had me sobbing and hoping for relief from the pain and I love books that are able to bring such emotions out in me. Chanel Cleeton wrote such a wonderful series that I'm sad to say goodbye to and managed to introduce me to a different military lifestyle I didn't have much knowledge on. I can't wait to see what else she writes but in the mean time, I might just go an reread some of my favorite parts of the Wild Aces trilogy.

About the author:

After years spent studying international politics in London and a stint in law school, Chanel Cleeton found her passion crafting smart and sexy contemporary romances and thrillers. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she's happiest curled up with a book, her three dogs lounging beside her. Chanel is a lover of big sunglasses, irresistible handbags, food covered in sprinkles, and pint-sized pups with larger-than-life personalities.

She is published by Harlequin and Penguin and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, Assassins, and Wild Aces series. Chanel also writes historical fiction as Chanel Dolz Cleeton. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Author Links: Website  / Facebook / Facebook Reader Group Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram / Newsletter / Tumblr / Pinterest

Check out the rest of the tour:

January 2nd-

Vanilla & Spice Books

I’m a Sweet and Sassy Book Whore

Logan Sports Book Section

Book Freak

Must Read Books or Die

A Bluestocking’s Place

January 3rd-

Eye in Bookland

Sweet and Spicy Reads

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Sammi’s Bookish Reality

The Lily Reader

Lush Book Reviews

Reviews from the Heart

January 4th-

Chelle’s Life in Books

The Bookishmedialite

An Asian Chick & Her Cat Walk Into a Book Blog

JoJo the Bookaholic

Red’s Romance Reviews

BFD Book Blog

Les Chroniques Aléatoires

January 5th-

Straight Shootin’ Book Reviews

Carlene Inspired

Read-Love-Blog

Typical Distractions

Ramblings of a Daydreamer

Sheila’s Book Corner

January 6th-

Four Chicks Flipping Pages

Tied Up in Romance

Dog-Eared Daydreams

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Boyfriends

Literati Literature Lovers

January 7th-

Bookworm221

Maine Book Momma

Reading Between the Wines Book Club

January 8th-

Ashley Book Blog

The Reading Belles

April’s Blog of Awesome

Smokin Hot Reads

Chatterbooks Book Blog

January 9th-

A Fortress in Books

Bookish Wanderlove

Books & Swoons

The Readdicts

Under the Cover and Between the Sheets

January 10th-

Relentless Romance

Once Upon a Book Blog

Oh My Growing TBR

Bibliojunkies

Renee Entress’s Blog

January 11th-

Read Your Writes

Smokin’ Hot Book Blog

Quesarasera Book Blog

The Reading Cafe

January 12th-

Ramblings from this Chick 

Quirky Debutante

Naomi’s Reading Palace

Bookgasms

January 13th-

Kimmy Loves to Read

Verna Loves Books

Unofficial Book Club

The Crafty Engineer’s Bookshelf

January 14th-

Margie’s Must Reads

The Book Voyagers

Joandisalovebooks

January 15th-

Wrapped Up In Reading

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions

Literary Misfit

Steamy Reads

Shooting Stars Magazine

Hot Books Hotter Book Boyfriends

Red Hot + Blue Reads

Reading Challenges Wrap Up

Morning Friends,

As the year get closer to its end, it's time to start wrapping up the year. So with that, I wanted to see how I did in the challenges I signed up for at the beginning of the year.

In the Goodreads Reading Challenge, I pledged myself to read 45 books. 

I actually read 68(!) books this year and I'm still counting. Whoo hoo!

In Falling For YA's NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge, I pledged to myself to read 10 books.

The details for this challenge can be seen here.

These are the levels:

Bronze - 10 Books <----

Silver - 25 Books

Gold - 50 Books

Platinum - 75 Books

Diamond - 100 Books

I did 12 books. Just slightly surpassed the Bronze.

Lastly, in Bookish Lifestyle's TBR Pile Reading Challenge, I pledged to myself to read between 11-20 books off my TBR pile.

The details for this challenge can be seen here. The levels are:

1-10 A Firm Handshake

11-20 A Friendly Hug <----

21-30 First Kiss

31-40 Sweet Summer Fling

41-50 Could This Be Love?

50+ Married with Children

I read 42 books from my TBR pile!

I am so proud of myself at how I did for this year challenges. I really tried to just read what I wanted and not let a reviewing schedule forced me into a rut. It also helped that I stopped requesting and downloading books from NetGalley and Edelweiss. Like, dramatically. I only request/download if I've read the author or it sounds AMAZING.

For the upcoming new year, I will probably only participate in the Goodreads challenge. I haven't seen any other challenges that really has captured my attention and I'm working on some stuff that I'll share with you guys later so I'll be a little busy. BUT, at least 2016 was a good reading year.

Did you participate in any (reading) challenges? How did you do?

Review: This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

This Adventure Ends
Author: Emma Mills
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Review by: Jenn

Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.

5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

I LOVED this book. I loved the relationships that Emma Mills explored, the witty banter, the drama, the characters themselves, EVERYTHING. I thoroughly enjoyed Emma Mills' First & Then but this book made her an author to look for. I need to see more people talking about this book!

• Sloane is super sarcastic, always has a smart retort in hand, loyal to a fault and I loved being in her head. I love her relationship with her family but more specifically with her father. I love how they seem to share this special bond and shared interests with the other and how easily she can depend on him. 
• The secondary characters! I love each and every one of them. Vera, Gabe, and Remy were some of the most interesting and awesome friends and I actually wanted more story time from them. I love their relationship with each other and how loyal they are to one another and to Sloane. 
• The actual story has this sort of slow, quiet feel to it but I think it works so well for Sloane and the characters. Since it kind of slow and tentative, the love story developed just like that as well. However, what I also loved about this book, it's that it is not just a love story, it's a story about friendships and family and how far you're willing to go for them. 

I can't wait to see what Emma Mills writes next because I have definitely become a fan of hers. I am going to go around recommending her books to everyone I know because, gosh, they're just so good! Go pick up This Adventure Ends already!

Mini Review: The Best Possible Answer by E. Katherine Kottaras

The Best Possible Answer
Author: E. Katherine Kottaras
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley/St. Martin's Griffin
Review by: Jenn

AP Exams – check

SAT test – check

College Application – check

Date the wrong guy and ruin everything you’ve spent your whole life working for– check Ultra-high-achiever Viviana Rabinovich-Lowe has always had a plan—and no room to be anything less than perfect. But her quest for perfection comes to a screeching halt when her boyfriend leaks racy pictures of her to the entire school. Making matters worse, her parents might be getting divorced and now her perfect family is falling apart. For the first time, Viviana feels like a complete and utter failure.

Then she gets a job working at the community pool, where she meets a new group of friends who know nothing about her past. That includes Evan, a gorgeous (and really nice!) guy who makes her want to do something she never thought she’d do again: trust. For the first time in her life, Viviana realizes she can finally be whoever she wants. But who is that? While she tries to figure it out, she learns something they never covered in her AP courses: that it’s okay to be less than perfect, because it’s our imperfections that make us who we are.

2.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

• I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this book, you guys. It started off strong and I found myself sucked into the story but then, I don't know. I started to not really care about Viv, I guess. Her back and forth nonsense with her best friend, Sammi, and their crush on Evan, it got irritating after a while. Also, there just seems to be a lot going on that after a while I didn't care about most of them. There was the dad issue, the eccentric professor, the nude picture, the college applications, and the trust issues. There was so much going on and I feel like it could have picked a few issues, like the dad and the nude pictures, and it would have made the book so much stronger. 
• What I did love about the book was Viv's relationship with Sammi, and her sister, Milla. 
• I will look into the author's other book. I did like how each chapter had a SAT prep questions in the beginning. Very cute but feels like a younger YA novel.

Review: A Little More Love by Kendra Leigh Castle

A Little More Love (Harvest Cove #5)
Author: Kendra Leigh Castle
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Format: eARC
Source: Berkley/NetGalley
Review by: Jenn

Kira Andersen’s professional instinct for a story has never led her wrong. So when she learns of a famous writer hiding in plain sight in a tiny New England town, she can’t resist following the trail. The only problem is everyone in Harvest Cove seems intent on keeping her from tracking down the elusive author—especially a handsome distraction who’s making it very hard to focus on the job…

Henry “Fitz” Fitzroy has no intention of letting a nosy reporter uncover his alter-ego as superstar writer Malcom Roy. Only Kira’s persistence is hard to deny—as is his own attraction to her. The more time he spends with her, the more he discovers he’d give almost anything to keep her in his life. But as work and play become inexorably entwined for Kira and Fitz, they realize that getting what they want for their careers might mean losing everything their hearts desire…

4 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher. However, my review is not influenced by that in any way.*

Kendra Leigh Castle is quickly becoming my go-to feel good romance author. A Little More Love was such a quick read for me. I enjoyed every page and I loved being back in the little town of Harvest Cove. Seeing some of my favorite characters from the previous books and learning what they were up was definitely fun.

In this book, Kira, twin sister of Seth from book two, Every Little Kiss, goes to Harvest Cove for two reasons: Seth's wedding, and to nab elusive fantasy author Malcolm Roy for an interview. Fitz wants nothing to do with the interview that Kira wants from his alter ego but he can't help but be attracted to her. He decides to get to know her as Fitz and then work out how to deal with the interview.

I loved these two together. They were both a little awkward with each other but I loved how they just came together, naturally and effortless. Kendra did an awesome job with making their sexual tension hot and real. And I cannot complain about the sexy times.

I'm not sure if the series will end here but if it is, I'm sad to see it end and if it not, I look forward to more from Harvest Cove. If Kendra continues to write more contemporary romance, I know I'll definitely be reading more from her.

Review: Into the Blue by Chanel Cleeton

Into the Blue (Wild Aces #2)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Format: eARC
Source: Berkley
Review by: Jenn

From the author of Fly with Me and the Capital Confessions Novels comes the newest in the sexy Wild Aces Romance series.

Eric Jansen—call sign Thor—loves nothing more than pushing his F-16 to the limit. Returning home to South Carolina after a tragic loss, he hopes to fix the mistake he made long ago, when he chose the Air Force over his fiancée.

Becca Madison isn’t quick to welcome Thor back. She can’t forget how he shattered her heart. But Thor won’t give up once he’s set his sights on what he wants—and he wants Becca.

Thor shows Becca that he’s no longer the impulsive boy he used to be, and Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But will Thor be able to walk away from his dream of flying the F-16 for their love or does his heart belong to the sky?

3.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher, however, it does not influence this review in any way.*

1- I totally enjoyed Into the Blue. Chanel Cleeton hooked me with this second chance love story and with our hero, Thor. I’m married to a law student so it was fun having a female heroine lawyer because I can understand the pains and concerns she has over her and Thor’s relationship and her commitment to her job.

2- I loved the relationship dynamics between Thor and Becca. I found it so interesting how they fought against each other but were honest and upfront about what they needed from each other. Both are older and know what they want and what they can and cannot live without. I loved how Cleeton showed how Thor grew up. How he came to realizing what his passion was and how to become a better man. And I liked how Becca learned and realized that Thor needed to leave to become a worthy man for her. Even if the decision hurt both of them, in the end, they managed to find themselves again.

3- I can't wait for book 3 of the series. I'm definitely curious to see what Easy gets himself into and how he will face his demons.

Review: Fly with Me by Chanel Cleeton

Fly with Me (Wild Aces #1)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Format: eARC/Mass Market Paperback
Source: Berkely
Review by: Jenn

From the author of the Capital Confessions Novels comes the first in the steamy Wild Aces Romance series.

U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Noah Miller—call sign Burn—loves nothing more than flying hard and fast. When he meets a gorgeous and sassy woman while partying in Las Vegas, he immediately locks on to her.

Jordan Callahan owns a thriving clothing boutique, but her love life is far less successful. Her luck changes when six feet, two inches of sexy swagger asks her to dance and turns her world upside down.

One scorching weekend becomes an undeniable chemistry that they can’t leave in Vegas. But the long distance relationship and their different lives threaten to ground their romance. And when the dangers of Noah’s job become all too real, Jordan learns being with a fighter pilot means risking it all for a shot at love…

3.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

1- Hot, steamy, and wild. I felt the chemistry between Noah and Jordan coming off the pages. Cleeton knows how to write sexual tension.

2- Interesting military field. Don't see fighter pilots in romance books as much as say Marines or Navy Seals.

3- I like how Cleeton showed how long distance relationships work. How both Jordan and Noah tried to make it work because they care enough about the other and in trying to make it work. Yes, I'm speaking from experience of having a long distance relationship for 2 years and only seeing that person once every other month.

4- I'm iffy with Jordan having to give up on her career and leave her family and friends and move to the other side of the world for Noah. I know Jordan was happy to do it but Noah wouldn't even think about retiring and leaving everything behind to be with her. It doesn't feel exactly fair when she built a career just like him and she's willing to leave it behind and he doesn't offer any other alternative from his end. If both had discussed leaving what they loved behind, I wouldn't feel as iffy with the situation.

5- I am SO looking forward to Thor's book. After that little preview at the end of Fly with Me, I’m hooked! He chose to be a fighter pilot rather than be with his fiancé? I'm SO there.