Elizabeth's Review~ Separation~ Stylo Fantome~ Contemporary Dark Romance

~5 Doesn't Get Better Than This Stars.....~

"That someone who caused her so much pain, could bring her so much pleasure, just wasn't right. Wasn't fair. His lips were soft, almost gentle, and made to fit her own."-Tate

Separation is the second book in the Kane Trilogy. This book picks up immediately where Degradation left us hanging (Thank you Ms. Fantome!). Tate and Jameson have run their relationship straight off of a cliff. Does Jameson have the strength to pull Tate back in?

Through her relationship with Jameson, Tate has experienced joy, pain, pleasure, and even love. After the way things ended, I wondered if Tate would be able to find herself again. Tate is completely broken. She gathers the courage to tear Jameson away from her life and tries to start again.

Tate finds solace in Sanderson and Ang. She even works to repair her relationship with her sister. And yet, she is missing something. Through giving up Jameson, she has lost a huge piece of herself in the process. 

"Why can't I lead a nice, normal life?"-Tate

Jameson, feeling something that he can't quite identify, is willing to walk away from Tate. Or, is he?
  

"While he had been so busy trying to warn her away, he hadn't even noticed himself falling into her. Now Jameson couldn't tell where she began and he ended."-Jameson 

Through the help of Sanders, Jameson is able to coerce Tate into playing one more game. Can he truly win her back? If he does win her back, will he be able to keep her?

"His voice was like silk, smooth and strong. Flowing over her. Covering her. Strangling her. She had to get out of there. Tate couldn't look at him. It split her in half. Her brain knew one thing. Her heart recognized another. And good god, her body was completely mutinous."

Stylo Fantome has done it again. She has managed to craft a story with deeply intense characters, dysfunctional (functional for them) relationships, a driving plot, maximum steam, and all set center stage with a beautiful scenic backdrop. Her writing style is fluid and natural and stock full of witty banter. The intensity between Tate and Jameson balances between "what is norm" and what is considered "toxic" to the average observer. Despite controversial choices of our two main characters, I find them both to be utterly perfect. I enjoyed wallowing in the depths of despair and soaring high through the moments of triumph with them. This certainly is not your average romance and yet the "push and pull" between these two characters displays more tenderness than any romance novel I have read to date.  

"Tate couldn't get enough. She had always been an addict, and he was a drug. She wanted more. More than that, more than he was giving. All that he had to give."-Tate

Overall, this series is a creative genius. It is as if you are listening to an award winning orchestra. Through the painful moments the music crescendos into blazingly loud volumes and it decrescendos to a beautiful melody when Tate and Jameson find solace in one another.  

If you read the first book and enjoyed it, than I can guarantee you will enjoy this book even more. There is more Tate and Jameson fighting to find their way together. Enhanced with a cast of amazing supporting characters and you have another home run!  

"If necessary, he would probably kill for Jameson Kane. If asked, he would probably die for Tatum O'Shea. When the relationship between Jameson and Tatum."-Sanders

Can't chat anymore about this book because I am already on to the next one!  

~This book was read in conjunction with the Indie Star Chat on SHH!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

*This book was highly recommended by my SHH SISTA' CC!!!

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Elizabeth's Review-Degradation~Stylo Fantome~Contemporary Dark Romance

*4.5 LOVIN' JAMESON STARS* 

"He's going to turn me inside out."-Tate

In the beginning...
Tate is a highly intelligent young woman who is headed out to start her first year of college. She makes a trip to her sister's apartment and her sister's boyfriend is there. Tate has always been enamored by Jameson Kane.  

"...tall, dark hair, bright blue eyes, killer smile; what girl wouldn't fall head over heels in love with him at first sight? But it had never gone beyond that, she knew Jameson was so far out of her league, she wasn't even visible to him."-Tate

After a few drinks, one thing leads to another and Tate and Jameson share an erotic experience full of rough passionate sex. Something seems to unravel between the two and connection is formed.  

"Maybe I don't want to get away."-Tate

When Tate's sister enters the scene, the scandal is revealed. Tate's life is changed forever.

"Jameson had just blasted her into the stratosphere. She didn't think she'd ever come down."-Tate

Fast forward to the future....

"Jameson had awakened something in her, brought about her change, but she was responsible for her life. She had taken control. She had grown up. And he hadn't been there for that. He wasn't anything to her. Nothing at all."-Tate

Tate is no longer the ideal "preppy Ivy Leaguer". Instead, she is wild, happy, and comfortable in her own skin. She has variety of friends and lives life to the fullest. When she is called out on a temp job one night, she bumps into Jameson. Seven years have passed and yet, the sexual chemistry between the two is still very present. The passionate connection is resurrected like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

"Her sarcastic smile and smart mouth were a complete one-eighty from the girl he had known before; this woman was a new creature. And he wanted to find out exactly what kind."-Jameson

The passion between Tate and Jameson is electric. The interactions between the two are charged with seduction, violence, grit, and passion. There are moments of despair as we see Tate and Jameson challenge each other. They are continuously pushing and pulling the other to the point of no return. Tate likes to be "handled roughly" and Jameson is happy to dish it out. Jameson has a filthy mouth and Tate is hypnotized and energized by him. While the average woman would feel uncomfortable (and embarrassed) to be spoken to in such a manner, when Jameson talks to Tate it is as if he is performing a Shakespeare Sonnet. Not only does the man know how to talk, he is well versed on how to make Tate's body feel truly satisfied.

"When she was on top with him, he hit spots inside of her that might have actually been portals to other dimensions. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. Just gasped and pushed and pulled."-Tate

While the relationship between Tate and Jameson is unconventional, it seems to work perfectly for them. Not only is the central conflict full of intrigue, the secondary characters add depth to the plot as well. Tate is pulling further away from her best friend (former sex buddy) Ang and Jameson's PA Sanders is a true specimen of greatness. Add a bitchy ex-girlfirend to the mix, and you have a dynamite plot with enough tension to cause the hoover dam to burst.

Stylo Fantome has an addictive writing style. The dialogue flows smoothly through every sentence of every page. The characters are complex and well developed throughout. The emotional connections are strong and allow the reader to empathize with every character regardless of their questionable (and moral) behavior. I was so enraptured by the story, I was unable to put it down. As soon as I finished this read, I downloaded the second book immediately. Degradation ends in quite a cliffy. If you are sensitive to "rough play", then this is not the read for you. If you don't like a dirty talking hero, then this book is not for you. However, if you like a strong female leading lady and a counterpart hero that knows how to meet her at every challenge, you must read this book! If you like to experience a dark romance with a hint of "psychological mind play", then this is absolutely the book for you. It has been such a refreshing journey to have discovered Jameson and Tate. I am completely invested in these characters and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Fantome does next. Onward to the next book!  

~This read was read as part of INDIE STAR CHAT WEEK on SHH! Thank you STYLO for spending the week chatting with us!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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Elizabeth's Review~TYED~L.J.SHEN~Contemporary Fighter Romance

4.5 Tyed to TY stars

"You're wasting your time, Barbie. I'm not giving you up."-Ty

Tyed is a heart pumping riveting tale of an MMA fighter and America's Sweetheart. It is full of action, tension, passion, tenderness, and romance. The story of Ty and Blaire is not your conventional fighter story. The writing is quick and witty and the in-depth characterization will have you hooked from the first word on the first page.

Blaire is a good girl just trying to finish her college degree. She has spent her life in the shadow of her twin sister Izzy. Izzy is a supermodel and seems to do no wrong in the eyes of their parents. Blaire, on the other hand, hasn't been able to finish anything. She is currently stuck in a rut and unable to feel passionate about anything. She finds medial comfort in her best friend Shane but overall, she is just waiting for something. Although, she really doesn't know what that something is. 

"What am I doing with my life?"

"I want to feel as passionate about something as they do."

"I want to feel fulfilled and alive like them."-Blaire

When her journalism teacher gives her an unconventional assignment, that something will walk straight into her arms. All she has to do is interview some MMA fighters and write paper on her findings. No problem, right?

Ty is an MMA fighter. He is rough, tough, and full of tattoos. 

"Final verdict? Ugliest tattoo to ever be inked on human flesh, but Ty somehow pulls it off without looking like a serial killer. The guy as such an attraction to death that I'm surprised he is still alive."

"Figures. Sucks to be him, or anyone else with a dick in this room, for that matter. Talk about alpha-male dominance."-Blaire

When Blaire steps foot into his gym, their initial meeting includes some verbal head butting and then the sexual tension begins. Blaire begins to immerse herself in the MMA world. As a non-sports loving individual, Blaire has a lot to learn. For the sake of research, she begins to train with the athletes. It doesn't take Ty long to make his first move on Blaire.

Initially, Blaire is hesitant to spend time with Ty. She knows that he is bad news. However, in order to complete her paper she must get that one interview. Ty uses the interview as bait to get her to agree on one date with him.

"I'm positive that if I'd let my guard down, he will crush me. Just like he does in the ring."-Blaire

As Blaire and Ty begin to connect, it is evident that these two were made for each other. Ty is so tender with Blaire. Their connection was sweet, passionate, and so endearing. I truly enjoyed every moment of these two together! However, the road to romance is full of roadblocks. Ty is harboring secrets and Blaire is very self conscious of his previous attachment to woman. Additionally, Shane seems to be showing interest in Blaire OR is he just harboring feelings that he doesn't know how to control? When Izzy returns home from jet setting, the conflicts seem to be never-ending. Can Ty and Blaire make things work between them?

What is so refreshing about this read is the funny dialogue between the characters and Blaire's internal monologue! I couldn't stop smiling with all of the pop references and the imagery that the writing evoked. I was quite fond of all of the secondary characters as well. Blaire's grandmother was a show stopper with her unwavering support for her granddaughter.  

"Nanny Marty always tells me I'm a lot like her. Independent, stubborn and fundamentally bat shit crazy."

Additionally, I cannot fail to mention the interest that I have in exploring Ty's friends from the gym. Who doesn't like a good book about a hot athlete?  

At times, I got very frustrated with Blaire. There was a certain point in the story where I felt like she really made the wrong decision. It was annoying and quite frankly painful for me to read. However, I cannot allow that moment to tarnish my overall feelings of her character. It was a gentle reminder that we all make mistakes in life and especially with the people we love. In the end, it was the redemption that both Ty and Blaire needed that brought them back together.  

I simply cannot rave enough about this book. The writing style of Ms. Shen is fluid and the moments are carefully constructed to draw every emotion out of each scene. The action of the cage fighting was surreal and I felt like I was in the stands experiencing every punch, kick, and jab. Even though I felt frustration regarding some of the actions of some of the characters, I know it will only make the resolution down the road that much sweeter! I can only wait and look forward to more! I know that I have enjoyed a book when I feel all of the emotions come back when I go to write the review. I also know that there are a million books out there. If you love a rough tattooed fighting hero then you must add this to your TBR shelf right now. This is one amazing book.  

ARC received from author in exchange for honest review. Thank you L.J. Shen for sharing your work with me.

BR with my girls Loyda and Stacie. As always, it has been a pleasure sharing the joys of reading with my friends!

Elizabeth's Review~Breaking Clear~Full Hearts (Book 3)~Contemporary Romance

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4.5 Clearly Breaking Stars

"Life really can turn out beautifully."-Harper

When I opened this book, I truly didn't know what to expect. This is my first M.J. Summers read and I can honestly say it was amazing! I cannot wait to read more of her work. I was completely blown away by this beautiful tender romance!

When Harper returns to Boulder, she has a quick run in with an old high school friend named Evan. As it so happens, Harper had a crush on Evan all through high school.  

"He wasn't just a man. He was the man. And she knew without a doubt that she would be utterly unable to resist shamelessly throwing herself at him if he paid her even the slightest bit more interest."-Harper

Evan is a recently divorced man. The marriage ended badly and he has decided to stay away from any serious relationship. Both Harper and Evan are down for some fun. They decide to have a relationship knowing that Harper will be returning to the big bright lights of NYC as soon as her dad is on the mend.

"We can have this simple, beautiful, sexy relationship and then move on."-Evan

The character development with each character in this read is utter perfection. I had a good understanding of all of the family dynamics and the emotions each character was feeling. Told in dual POV Ms. Summers offers the complete picture for us to enjoy. Harper and Evan both had some good friends that were amazing supporting characters. There was a constant push and pull between Evan and Harper. They are constantly trying to ignore the inevitable (they are falling in love) and only trying to live in the moment. Both Harper and Evan were amazing characters. They were well matched and I simply couldn't put the book down. Towards the end of the read, both characters made some choices that were beyond frustrating. However considering the history of both of these individuals, I can see why they needed to time to work through their emotions.  

In addition to the central plot of the love story, we also see Harper's Dad dealing with depression as he begins to heal from his injury. We experience the love of two best friends (Harper and Megan). We see lives transformed by the circumstances life has thrown at them.  

Overall, Breaking Clear is a fantastic read. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in a tender romance, with a heavy dose of family connections, and a slice of angst. It is always such a delight when you find a read that takes you away. This is not only going on my favorites shelf but my favorites of the year. This is a tender romance with a lot of heart. Bravo Ms. Summers!

"She was his and he would let nothing stand in the way of this. She was worth the risk."-Evan

"ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for honest review"

Elizabeth's Review~The Insider~Olivia Cunning~Contemporary Rock Romance

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3.5 Rock-n-Roll Romance Stars

"I'm in love with a rockstar!"

The Insider is my first read by the amazing Olvia Cunning. Her writing skills are superb and the music seems to radiate right off of the pages.  

In the Insider, we have a young nerdy journalist named Toni who is given the task to follow the band Exodus End and report on the "ins and outs" of the band lifestyle in a best selling book. She hopes to capture the essence of the band and create a masterpiece that will launch her career and paint the band in a glowing light.  

"I'm here to write a book that shows all of you in the best possible light."-Toni

Before she has even had the chance to unpack her bag, she meets Logan. Logan is the bassist for Exodus End. Things between Toni and Logan develop very fast. They are together faster than the speed of light. They connect on a primal level and the "lust is in the air". I am normally not a fan of the curse of the "insta-lust" however, in this case, I felt like it worked. Logan and Toni are trapped on a tour bus and their feelings quickly develop past physical attraction and a deep emotional bond is formed.

"I'm not laughing at you, lamb. You make me feel happy."-Logan

"This is going to sound ridiculous and naive and probably a little desperate, but I need you to know that as long as I'm in your bed, I will not allow another man touch me. No man. Not even Dare Mills."-Toni

The Insider is full of smoking sex scenes, rock-n-roll, flawless writing, and great character development. What was slightly distracting for me in this read was the length of the story. Although the plot was well constructed, it felt like things were drawn out just a little too long. Additionally, I genuinely liked both of the main characters but couldn't seem to fully engage with either of them. I enjoyed the story but sometimes I found myself more interested in what was happening with the secondary characters of the band. Still, Toni and Logan were quite an endearing couple.

"I'm plenty quirky but mostly I 'm a slave to the happiness of those I love."-Toni

I will certainly read more of this series as I am quite certain the remaining band members will have quite the story to tell. I am quite pleased with the way that things ended with Toni and Logan. There were many moments of tenderness and individual growth for them both that in the end made the read worthwhile one! At the end of the day, who doesn't love a "rowdy rock star romance"? 

"With the man she loved at her side and a bright future before her, Toni no longer had to reach for her stars. They were right there beside her."-Toni

~ ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!!~

CAMI'S REVIEW~BORDEN by RJ Lewis

TITLE~ Borden

 AUTHOR~ RJ Lewis 

RATING~ 4.5 STARS!! 

POV~ Dual 

RELEASED~ Aug 1 2015 

What do you get when you add an alpha male who won't take no for an answer, a feisty heroine with no filter and the dark and ruthless world they live in? Another FANTASTIC book from RJ Lewis! Now, I normally steer away from comparisons but....If you loved Twitch from Raw you're going to LOVE Borden as well! 

WARNING! This review may contain mild spoilers......

Kate is a good girl intrigued by Marcus Borden, the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. What starts as a casual hook up, turns into a secret relationship. But just as soon as their relationship starts, Borden ends it and leaves town. Years later he returns only to find that Kate was kidnapped and killed because of his connections. His anger and guilt completely consume him and turn him into a devastated, lonely and revengeful man until he meets Emma. 

Emma Warne may not remember the night Borden saved her on the streets when she was fourteen, but he does. Growing up poor in a rough neighborhood, Emma has always been one to speak her mind. After a night out with friends brings her face to face with the most dangerous man in town she can't get him out of her head. Not just because he's gorgeous but also because he knows she witnessed his men in the alley taking care of business matters. Emma now finds herself caught up in Borden's world of danger with no way out. Attraction, desire and danger ensue. Exactly the things that could bring color back into Borden's colorless world if he can only stop the nightmares of his past. 

While I was a bit confused by the beginning of this book trying to figure out how this was NOT going to be a love triangle, by 20% my questions were answered and I was ALL IN! (Hence the spoiler above) wink emoticon The only reason I wavered from a five star rating was because of quite a few grammatical errors. Otherwise this was a fantastic storyline with great dialogue between characters! **Please note that this book DOES end on a cliffhanger but the second book is out next month!! 

This is an absolute MUST READ! ~ Cami 

HOLLYWOOD DIRT ~ SNEAK PEEK BY ALESSANDRA TORRE

Sneak Peek at my next novel!

Want to read the first pages of Hollywood Dirt? 

Click below to check out the book's launch page! 

You can read the Prologue and first chapter there! 

⭐ www.MeetColeMasten.com ⭐

Also, be sure to add Hollywood Dirt to your Goodreads list - it is coming out on September 7th! The cover will be revealed very, very soon!

Hollywood Dirt

Release Date: Sept 7th

Pricing: $2.99 on preorder, $3.99 on release, $4.99 on Sept 15th

Standalone: YES

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 100,000 words

Cole Masten. Married to Nadia Smith. One half of Hollywood’s golden couple. The press adored them, fans worshiped them, the box office was owned by them. Together, they could do no wrong.

Cole Masten. Abandoned by Nadia Smith. Hollywood’s Perfect Husband is now Hollywood’s Sexiest Bachelor: partying hard and screwing even harder. Move over Colin Farrell, there’s a new bad boy ruling Los Angeles.

Summer Jenkins. That’s me, a small town girl stuck in Quincy, Georgia. I cook some mean chicken and dumplins, can bluff a grown man out of his savings in poker, and was voted Most Friendly my senior year. Other than that… I don’t have too much going on.

We were from different worlds. Our lives shouldn’t have collided. But when Cole Masten’s jet landed in our country airport, we all sat up in our rocking chairs and watched. And when I got a front row ticket to the action, I jumped at the chance. I didn’t expect Cole Masten to be an ass, or to pursue me, or for everything to get tangled up around set riggings, camera cords and heartstrings.

Sometimes, opposites just aren’t meant to attract.

GOODREADS LINK:

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/8824930-sneak-peek-at-my-next-novel