Burning Up

(Bound Together #2)

Marie Coulson

Scorching heat...
Erotic pleasure...
Intense passion...
Layla Jennings thought she had it all figured out. The right time, the right place and the right guy.
After leaving behind her life and friends in Long Beach, Layla must now walk the path she has chosen, hand in hand with the man who holds her heart.
As the flame of love continues to burn brightly, she discovers more about herself and the man she loves every day. But what happens if the fire goes out? What happens when half of your heart is across an ocean?
With the other man in her life unwilling to give up his fight for her, and a danger she is too blind to see, Layla must battle between the safe and steady journey she has embarked on and the one that leads to destinations unknown.

 

My Review

 

4 Stars - Drove Me Crazy In A Great Way!

 

I had read Bound Together quite a while ago, long before I began regularly writing reviews. But from page 1, Burning Up, had me transported right back to the frustration, anger, and turmoil that was Bound Together.

First of all, this needs to be said, I am Team Ollie! Always have been and always will be!

Layla is young, and so spontaneous. She is still impetuous, leaping without thinking and being led around by her passions. Not to be confused with her heart. This female character is one of the most infuriating to read, because she just never does what you need her to. I believe that Layla is confusing obsession and addiction, for love. Obsession and Addiction is what fuels her decisions and ultimately leads down the wrong path.

Jared is just maddening. He is powerful, stubborn, controlling, obsessive, and stalker-ish. He is sexy, and rich, but he is beyond secretive, and he never learns from his mistakes, because in his mind, they are always justified. He is never wrong, and even when apologizing I could never take him seriously. I hated the power he exerted over Layla, to me it just felt icky.

We are left at the end of the last book, knowing that Layla has made her decision and is finally choosing. I was left angry and thinking, "Oh you are going to regret this..."



"Layla, I gave you an instruction. Are you still unable to do as you're told?"- Jared

 

Jared and Layla's relationship picks up pretty much right where they left off, with one exception. Layla is determined to remain abstinent while they get to know each other, on another level. She is desperate to fix their previous and still simmering issues. Problem is, Layla is never strong enough to resist Jared and his ways. Jared doesn't see that they have a problem. No matter how crazy, and raging she becomes at his controlling, suffocating ways, her resolve flits out the door as soon as he lays his hands on her. As a reader, I found this maddening. The icing on this maddening cake, Layla knows she still loves Ollie!

 

 

"Ollie. I felt instantly sick with guilt and I knew it was something I was going to have to grow accustomed to. I'd made my decision and I had to make him my past now." - Layla

 

 

"My mind wandered to the man I'd left behind. I couldn't help it and I knew that this feeling would not go away quickly. I loved Ollie..."

- Layla

 

Ollie is suffering, but we see and hear very little about him in the beginning. When we finally do, he breaks my heart all over again.

 

"I could never hate you. I wish I could. But the sad and painful fucking truth is that I still love you. I love you so much it's killing me every second that you're not here because I know where you are and whose arms you're in."

- Ollie

Yep, and this is why I am Team Ollie folks!

I never changed my mind once, throughout this entire read. I knew what I wanted and I never waivered. This book was maddening to read, but so incredibly engrossing and consuming, I couldn't bring myself to walk away. I realize the irony in this now, after finishing. Layla and I suffer from the same afflictions.

The author takes a very non-typical approach to this sequel. She is deliberately trying to drive the reader insane. The sex scenes are hot, everything we got in the first book and a little extra thrown in for good measure. I think the reason why I was so enamoured with these two books was simple, I loved the characters, that being said 75% of the time I loved to hate them too. Any book that makes you so enraged that you want to break our e-reader, is in my opinion a great read. It is hard to write this review, because I am trying to avoid spoilers. Rest assured if you enjoyed Bound Together you will enjoy Burning Up. However if you do not enjoy, stories with love triangles, infuriating characters, so much drama your head spins, beware, this one is chocked full of all of the above.

*WARNING* THIS BOOK ENDS, AND A THIRD IS ON THE WAY. THERE IS NO REAL CLIFFHANGER, HOWEVER THIS STORY IS NOT YET FULLY PLAYED OUT!

 

I cannot wait to read the next installment, even though this one made me want to start drinking at 9am in the morning. Congrats to the author, for making me temporarily insane!

 

Burning Up - Amazon.com

Burning Up - Amazon.ca

 

Bound Together (Book # 1)

SALE!!!!

Amazon.ca $1.03

Bound Together - Amazon.ca

Amazon.com $0.99

Bound Together - Amazon.com

 

 

 

Left Drowning - Jessica Park

Left Drowning, is haunting, heartbreaking, and emotionally charged. It will leave you reeling long after you have finished. It is a MUST READ!

Synopsis

 

What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.
**This book is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.**

Left Drowning Amazon.com
Left Drowning Amazon.ca
Left Drowning Amazon.uk

My Review

"I see perfection in things that are likely considered imperfections to others."

I am writing this review directly after finishing Left Drowning, in order to process. This book was a very emotional 5++ stars!
I created a new shelf on my Goodreads lists just for this book! 

"Reality is not necessarily my friend - then again, neither are dreams - but this moment, this reality, is beautiful. I am alone without being lonely, for once, staring across the water and watching the sun begin its climb into the clear blue sky."

A young woman suffers an incredible loss, while at the exact same time a young man escapes the fear and torture that has become his life. While two die, three escape with their lives.
Scarred, tormented, broken, but they survive. ..

"Death and grief make everyone around you vanish because death and grief are intolerable."

This book builds slowly, when I first met the characters Blythe, Sabin, Chris, James, Zach, Eric and Estelle, I was taken aback by how real they were. I mean truly real, in a non apologetic, honest, and realistic way. They are college students and they act like college students. The banter and conversations that take place, I could actually hear them in my mind. This book played out in in front of my eyes as clear as if I watching it on the big screen. It was heartbreaking, realistic, traumatic, unapologetic, honest and unwavering. The subject matter in this book is difficult to read in many places, as the memories of the abuse, the emotional and physical scars are so vivid, you are transported to their world. I was so engrossed in this book, everything just faded away, and when I finished I was just....   just....    breathe.

"And he thinks about the future and how this present hell is not forever. It's just pain."

Two people drawn together by events uncontrollable. Lives intertwined so completely you cannot see where one begins and the other ends. The characters in this book are family, in every sense of the word. Love unconditional, unyielding support, patience, undeniable chemistry, compassion, forgiveness, and healing, are what makes this book extraordinary.

"I am. It's a constant struggle to stay near the surface. I have just enough air to stop me from totally going under, but not enough to thrive."

The author breaks your heart over and over, throughout this book

"You are the great love of my life that I'm never going to have."

"She raises hers, too, and they reach out as though they are touching palm to palm. Her fingers fold as if they are falling between his, and Chris makes the same motion. She has become part of him, this girl, and he lowers his hands to rest over his heart. He will keep her there always."

I felt like I was on a roller coaster, throughout the entire read. That being said, what she shatters, she heals, and in the end, you are left, just sitting. Processing, smiling, crying, and sighing with relief and happiness. Happiness that love can heal, truly heal and help you move forward. Love can heal you, you can move past survival, it can let you live, freeing you from the past, allowing to look forward and finally accept and anticipate your future.

"I am overwhelmingly in love with you," Chris says as he matches my steps. "I've spent most of my life thinking that my father never gave me anything but pain. But that's not true. He did give me something. Someone. You. He gave me you."

Left Drowning, is haunting, heartbreaking, and emotionally charged. It will leave you reeling long after you have finished. It is a MUST READ!







 

Rock Chick - Kristen Ashley

 

Indy Savage, cop's daughter, rock chick and used bookstore owner, has been in love with Lee Nightingale, once bad boy, now the man behind Nightingale Investigations, since she was five years old. No matter what ingenious schemes Indy used to capture his attention, Lee never showed an interest and Indy finally gave up. Now Indy's employee, Rosie, has lost a bag of diamonds and bad guys are shooting at him. When Indy gets involved, Lee is forced to help. Complicating matters, Lee has decided he's interested, Indy's decided she's not. But she can't seem to keep Lee out of her life when she's repeatedly stun gunned, kidnapped and there are car bombs exploding (not to mention she's finding dead bodies).

Indy's best bet is to solve the mystery of the diamonds before Lee. Lee's challenge is to keep Indy alive and, at the same time, win back her heart.

My Review

5 Hilarious, Sexy Stars!

This was my first Kristen Ashley read, I know, I know where the hell have I been?? Well I picked it up, and couldn't put it down. I had no idea what to expect, but everyone raves about her work, so I decided to jump on the crazy train.
The Crazy Kristen Ashley Train.

When I say this book has it all, I truly mean, it has it all. Humour, Suspense, Sexy Times, and FANTASTIC, original quirky characters. We have the rock chicks, the sexy men, the drag queen neighbours, the cray cray "Grizzly Adams" look alike that kitty sits, the nosey, sweet, big mouth best friend's, mother, the corner store clerk, the stoners, the mafia, just to name a few. The cast of this book is so colourful that they make the book even better. The situations that Indy and Ally get themselves into are gut busting funny. I mean seriously a food fight in the middle of a Chinese food restaurant, complete with flying soup! Priceless!

The imagination that went into this book is astounding. The story is not rushed, as this is a full length read, so no cutting corners. This book has some of the best dialogue ever. Enjoy sexy, suspense with tons of humour and heart? This is your next read! I will be one-clicking the rest of this series, so I can see what those crazy characters get themselves into next! Great Read! 

Rock Chick-Kristen Ashley Amazon.com
Rock Chick-Kristen Ashley Amazon.ca
Rock Chick-Kristen Ashley Kobo

 



Safe With Me

(With Me in Seattle Book #5)

Bestselling Author-Kristen Proby

 

Keeping others safe is what Caleb Montgomery does. He’s never had a problem taking on an assignment, whether it was during his dangerous SEAL days or his most recent job of training war mercenaries. But being assigned to keep Brynna Vincent and her adorable daughters, Maddie and Josie, safe from an unknown threat has thrown Caleb off his axis. Hot for the tall brunette since she came back to town more than a year ago, being close to her day in and day out is cracking Caleb’s resolve to keep his hands off her gorgeous body and his head in the mission.

Brynna is sick and tired of being afraid. All she wants is a normal, quiet life for her and her precious girls. Just as she’s settling into her new home in Seattle and feeling safe again, Caleb shows up on her doorstep insisting the danger is as high as ever. But whether she needs to be sheltered from the threat in her past, or from the intense emotions she feels for the sexy, protective man sleeping in her home, remains to be seen. What will happen if Brynna and her girls fall in love with a man so broken he may not be able to protect them from the danger that threatens, much less himself?

SAFE WITH ME is the fifth book in the With Me In Seattle series, and continues to follow this tight-knit, loving family through life’s trials and tribulations with humor, passion and everlasting love

My Review

5 Brilliant Stars!

I love this series, the way it continues, without ever becoming stale. With every book of this series I fall even more in love with these characters. This book focuses on two newer characters to us Caleb and Brynna. This book really hit home for me because Caleb is a Navy Seal who suffering from PTSD. My husband is Canadian Forces and those who serve and protect their country rarely get the gratitude they deserve. Caleb's trauma, is heart wrenching. His doubt in in his own self worth and his guilt, made my heart break. Brynna is a newly widowed single parent to, two beautiful daughters, and she's on the run from very bad people. These two characters relationship evolves so naturally, it makes you warm all over. The relationship between Caleb and Brynna's daughters Josie and Maddie, is equally beautiful and touching. Combine all of these elements with some seriously sexy, scenes and you have an amazing addition to this FANTABULOUS series. Kristen Proby never fails to deliver AMAZING books. The pacing is fluid and the plot was enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. I was highlighting all over the place with this book, I had so many favorite parts, my e-book, looks like my four year got hold of it with a box of crayons. This book features the most beautiful dialogue and heartfelt confessions. It is a beautiful read, everything we have come to expect from a superb author, who never fails to deliver and exceed our expectations. Kristen Proby you are epically awesome!!!

"That American Dream that y'all fight for so hard for over there? The freedoms that you would die to protect? They're yours
too, you know."
-Kristen Proby, Safe With Me-

This book made me cry, I cannot wait for the next book. Kristen Proby please write faster....

 

 



Give Me Reason

Zoey Derrick

"He'll meet his true love
Answering her song
His wings he will grow
His heart will respond
Him she will follow
His wife she will be
Two joined making three"
Zoey Derrick

Vivienne Callahan has known only hardship. As if growing up with an alcoholic, drug addicted mother wasn’t traumatic enough, she’s escaped from her physically and verbally abusive boyfriend only to struggle every day to make ends meet as a waitress in a Minneapolis diner.
Along comes Mikah Blake, a handsome stranger who quickly takes an unexpected and persistent interest in her. On the surface, “Mr. Suit” seems to be Vivienne’s opposite: rich, well-fed, successful. As Vivienne will learn, Mikah is more than he seems, and for reasons unknown, he’s determined to be her knight in shining armor. But after having finally found her own two feet after years of abuse, it’s difficult for her to accept Mikah’s help.
Will her body’s unexpected response to Mikah’s touch be reason enough to overcome her pride and traumatic past and learn to love and trust? Or will her past, refusing to be left behind, come back to claim her?

My Review
Honored with an ARC from Author, will try to avoid spoilers!
5 Unique Stars!
I found myself intrigued by this one from page one. I have read this author's debut novel Finding Love's Wings and devoured it. I loved the writing style, the plot and the unique characters. Once I was aware of more upcoming works, I added all of them to my To Be Read List.
This one is different, and you are aware of this, by page 2. The plot is simple, yet complex the more you think about it, and the further you venture into the story, you have no hope of putting it down until you are finished. Vivienne Callahan has had a horrific childhood, from the glimpses we get here in this first installment. To make matters worse, life does not improve for Vivienne. She is floundering. She is hiding. As far a female heroines go in books, Vivienne is amazing. She is so incredibly strong, determined, self reliant, and resilient. When others would be rocking in the corner trying to find their happy place, this young woman, is living her life, and trying to make it completely on her own. Although not doing a great job at it, she is determined. Enter handsome, wealthy, CEO Mikah Blake. OH MY.... This is where the story is different, there is undeniable pull between these two characters, and I mean that quite literally. They have very strong physical reactions to each other, that neither one of them completely understand. Mikah doesn't have an ulterior motive, his interest in Vivienne comes from a very pure place. He wants to help, with no expectation of anything in return. Swoooon right ladies??? Make room for another BB!!!
 
This book will elicit a lot of emotional reactions while reading, you may want to buckle up, cause it's quite a ride. A ride that leaves you scatter brained, your heart aching, pounding, trying to catch your breath, and trying to figure out WTH is going to happen next???? The writing is brilliant and it flows wonderfully. There is an unexpected current running throughout the story, it simmers just below the surface. It will draw you in, and make you quirk an eyebrow.
I personally loved this book, cannot wait for the next. I am now a huge fan of this author's unique writing style. If you are looking for an, emotional, unique read, with a thrilling edge, this is a must read. Add it to your To Be Read Lists and enjoy.

Give Me Reason - Amazon.ca
Give Me Reason - Amazon.com
Give Me Reason - Kobo