Saturday, September 3, 2016

Bad Apple by Lani Lynn Vale

Title: Bad Apple
Series: The Uncertain Saints MC
Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: MC Romance
Release Date: September 1, 2016
Model: Alex Minsky
Photographer: FuriousFotog
The road to hell is paved with good intentions… Apple “Core” Drew needs The Uncertain Saints MC like he needs air. He is barely making it through the day, and each one that goes by takes him closer and closer to hell. Literally, not figuratively. He’s a half breath away from killing himself—maybe not by taking his own life, but he’s not against making someone else do it for him. Then he meets her. One of his club member’s sister, and his whole outlook on life changes. And not for the better. Just as surely as he ruined his life, he ruins her life, too. One lapse in judgement on his part, and his one night of happiness turns into the worst nine months of his life. Which he would’ve thought was damn near impossible with the things he’s done and seen. She never saw it coming… It was the beard. The beard made her do it. That is a good excuse for having sex with a man she barely knows, isn’t it? Yeah, who was she kidding? It wasn’t the beard. It was the way he looked so dejected and solemn. The sad look in his eyes pulls her in, and the way his rough hands touch her makes her stay. All she wants to do is take that look out of his eyes, but the consequences to her actions only make things worse, not better. One day is all she gets, and he’s not willing to give her more. Until she dies, that is. Then it’s too late.

My Thoughts...

Kitt and Apple are meant to be.    Ridley, Kitt’s brother, might say otherwise but they are meant to be together.    Apple Drew is definitely one of my most favorite Uncertain Saint.   He is tough, with a crazy rough history, and a HUGE heart.    I like that he knows that he has a rough history but doesn’t use it as an excuse for everything just for why he shouldn’t be with Kitt.    Kitt is one of the toughest women with ties to the club.    Her medical history keeps her on her toes but it does not define who she is.    She also holds Apple accountable.     She calls him out on his issues, keeps him in line, and doesn’t just forgive and forget.     Kitt makes Apple win her over and pushes him to be the man he deserves to be.
 
I really liked the issues that Lani Lynn Vale put in this book.    The medical problems and how they affect her pregnancy are realistic.    The history of Apple is not the typical bad upbringing history there is just so much more to it.   The brother/sister relationship was unique and expectedly over protective.     This book just seemed more in the now and how the real world lives than other MC books I have read.    I also liked that not everyone in the book was in trouble or having problems.   Some people were just people with “normal” lives.    

Bad Apple is my favorite book in this series by Lani Lynn Vale so far.    I recommend reading this entire series but you should start with this one.  

“Your brother’s gonna kick my ass you know,” I said.

“Why?” she asked.
I snorted.
“A, because he doesn’t like me. Two because he doesn’t like me,” I explained seriously.
“My brother’s suspicious,” she amended. “And he doesn’t hate you. If he hated you, you’d be treated like my brother.”
“And how’s that?” I asked in confusion, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Like a common criminal,” she expounded. “Ridley keeps him under surveillance, and he doesn’t get to come around me, him, or any of the club members.”
“Hmm,” I started walking faster. “Interesting.”
She nodded.
“He’s not here,” she informed me.
“Okay,” I said, my eyes following the movement of her finger as she brought one manicured finger up to her mouth and bit lightly on the nail.
“Do I have to spell it out for you?” She lifted her brows, her finger still rubbing lightly across her bottom lip.
I rebalanced my weight on both feet as I readied myself for whatever was going to come out of her mouth next.
I wasn’t disappointed. It was quite shocking, to say the least.
“I want you to fuck me,” she said.
She didn’t lead up to it or anything, just blurted that shit out there.
Which might’ve been why I couldn’t think of anything to say to that.
“I’m…” I hesitated.
“You’re a pussy,” she said, brows raised.
My eyebrows lowered.
“That’s certainly not what I was going to say,” I informed her. “Which you would’ve known had you not interrupted me.”
“Most people finish their sentences in a timely manner,” she said stiffly.
She was getting pissed.
Interesting.
“Desperate much?” I asked her. “You have to proposition guys that don’t want you in an attempt to get what you want?”
Her mouth dropped open in affront.
“You’re shitting me right now, aren’t you?” she asked, hurt evident in her voice.
“Yes,” I said, contrite. “But you surprised me is all. And I’m not a pussy.”
“Well, what are you?” she asked primly.
“Honestly?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“I’m trying to get into a club that my father thinks’ll be good for my PTSD and anger management,” I answered. “And to do that, I need to not piss off the members; for example, your brother.”
Her mouth thinned.
“My brother’s already let you know that he doesn’t like you. What’s sleeping with his sister going to change?” she challenged.
I paused, unsure how to answer that.
“Well…” on one hand she was correct. He wasn’t going to hate me any less if I slept with his sister.
And I did find her attractive.
Extremely attractive.
She was gorgeous.
And I’m not talking in a girl next door kind of way. I’m talking about a ‘keep her locked down in baggy pants and a sweat shirt’ kind of way and still beat the men off with a stick.
She’d be hell on the heart, that was for sure.
Her long, black curly hair came to about mid back, and her porcelain white skin seemed almost luminescent under the light of the moon.
She had long legs that looked fucking superb in those tight jeans she had on, not to mention the black Jack Daniel’s t-shirt she was wearing, cut up in that fashion that women seemed to like now-a-days, was only accentuating her curves.
And what little denial I tried to hang on to by the tips of my fingers slipped away, leaving only one thing in my mind.
I couldn’t pass this opportunity up.
Not after I’d been lusting after the woman for so long, even though she didn’t know that.
“You really want this?” I asked her, crowding her so close that she started backing up out of reaction.
She licked her lips, and then nodded.
“Yes,” she said surely. “Or I wouldn’t have brought it up.”

“You know who I am?” he asked. “You’re not intoxicated and asking for things that you shouldn’t be asking for in this condition.”

She laughed in my face.
“Oh, honey. Now you’re just trying to think up an excuse to back out, aren’t you?” she glared.

I’m a married mother of three. My kids are all under 5, so I can assure you that they are a handful. I’ve been with my paramedic husband now for ten years, and we’ve produced three offspring that are nothing like us. I live in the greatest state in the world, Texas.

 
HOSTED BY:

Friday, September 2, 2016

Second Thoughts (The Sententia #2) by Cara Bertrand

Book 2: Second Thoughts


second thoughtsThe continuing adventures of an ordinary teenage girl with extraordinary mental abilities, perfect for readers who love books and series such as Vampire Academy, Spellbound, and Sweet Peril. Secrets, lies, and looming deaths—all things Lainey Young deals with in a typical day of high school. In her senior year at Northbrook Academy—a New England boarding school where the majority of the students and nearly all the staff are members of the Sententia, a hidden society of the psychically gifted—Lainey has even more to worry about. Things like classes, college, her boyfriend, and, of course, the vision she glimpsed of her impending death. But to her surprise, Lainey finds one worry she can cross off her list, namely Senator Daniel Astor, the leader of the Sententia. After a shocking discovery when they finally meet, Lainey realizes maybe she was wrong to distrust the Senator. She relaxes even further when he seems to accept her refusal to work for him after graduation. But with her secrets mounting and the time to solve them running out, there’s a final enigma Lainey hasn’t yet encountered: Daniel Astor doesn’t take no for an answer. Ever.


My Thoughts…

Second Thoughts is the second book in the Sententia series and tells the story of Lainey’s senior year of high school.    Most girls would be excited for the future, for Lainey the future is unsure.    She can get into any college she wants, but it is her talents that worry her.   There are decisions to be made on what her future should be and they are not easy or welcome choices.  

I love Carter and Lainey’s relationship.   It is on point to the world of high school relationships.   The sneaked meetings, the breaking the rules, the falling hard and fast, and the turbulent feelings are all experiences that most high schoolers experience.    I liked that there were secrets, hurt feelings, and great conversations.    They understood each other and went out of their way to protect each other.   I look forward to seeing what happens between them and if they can overcome the future yet to come.  

This is a series that does need to be read in order and I can’t wait to read book three, Tangled Thoughts.


Book Links
Amazon   |   Goodreads

lost in thoughtBook 1: Lost in Thought Lainey Young has a secret: she’s going crazy. Everyone else thinks she has severe migraines from stress and exhaustion. What she really has are visions of how people died—or are going to die. Not that she tells anyone that. At age 16, she prefers keeping her crazy to herself. When doctors insist she needs a new and stable environment to recover, Lainey’s game to spend two years at a private New England boarding school. She doesn’t really think it will cure her problem, and she’s half right. There is no cure, but as she discovers, she’s not actually crazy. Almost everyone at Northbrook Academy has a secret too. Half the students and nearly all the staff are members of the Sententia, a hidden society of the psychically gifted. A vision of another student’s impending death confirms Lainey is one of them. She’d like to return the crappy gift of divining deaths with only a touch, but enjoys spending time with Carter Penrose—recent Academy graduate and resident school crush—while learning to control it. Lainey’s finally getting comfortable with her ability, and with Carter, when they uncover her true Sententia heritage. Now she has a real secret. Once it’s spilled, she’ll be forced to forget protecting secrets and start protecting herself.



Book 3: Tangled Thoughts

tangled thoughtsHigh school graduation is a time for goodbyes, new beginnings, and if you’re Lainey Young, narrowly escaping with your life. Forced to leave behind both Northbrook Academy and Carter Penrose, Lainey believes she’s earned her freedom—from the eyes of the Perceptum and Daniel Astor’s schemes. Meeting handsome and very persistent Teaching Assistant Jack Kensington the first week of college complicates everything, including her feelings. College and flirtations with Jack help Lainey put all things Sententia behind her. But when her aunt arrives for a visit, with an unexpected guest and even more unexpected news, Lainey’s tenuous control over her life snaps. Once again, she’s linked to everything she thought she left behind. And this time, there’s no escape. Growing up, Carter Penrose thought he knew a thing or two about heartbreak—namely that it sucks—but he never knew exactly how much until losing Lainey. His life moves in a totally unplanned direction and he finds himself with a new home, new job, and even a surprising new girlfriend, all thanks to Daniel Astor. But just when Carter feels settled in the DC world of politics, a visit home to Northbrook brings up unexpected questions—about what happened at graduation and everything he believed about his Uncle Dan. When tragedy brings Lainey and Carter face to face for the first time since summer, their lives have never felt more separate. Lies drove them apart. Will the truth bring them together?


Love the books and can’t wait for more? Did you know about these two extras? Click the book covers below to find out more!
afterhtoughtthougths yes                


About the Author

CB headshotCara is a former middle school literacy teacher who now lives in the woods outside Boston with: one awesome husband, two large dogs, one small daughter and lots of words. Lost in Thought is her first novel and was one of three finalists for the 2011 Amazon/Penguin Breakthrough Novel Award in the Young Adult category. Connect with Cara on her website and at Luminis Books.

Get all Cara’s books on Amazon by visiting her author page.

Always a Cowboy (The Carsons of Mustang Creek #2) by Linda Lael Miller

Paperback, 384 pages
Expected publication: August 30th 2016 by HQN Books
ISBN
0373789696 (ISBN13: 9780373789696)
Series
He's the middle of the three Carson brothers and is as stubborn as they come—and he won't thank a beautiful stranger for getting in his way! 

Drake Carson is the quintessential cowboy. In charge of the family ranch, he knows the realities of this life, its pleasures and heartbreaks. Lately, managing the wild stallions on his property is wearing him down. When an interfering so-called expert arrives and starts offering her opinion, Drake is wary, but he can't deny the longing—and the challenge—she stirs in him. 

Luce Hale is researching how wild horses interact with ranch animals—and with ranchers. The Carson matriarch invites her to stay with the family, which guarantees frequent encounters with Drake, her ruggedly handsome and decidedly unwelcoming son. Luce and Drake are at odds from the very beginning, especially when it comes to the rogue stallion who's stealing the ranch mares. But when Drake believes Luce is in danger, that changes everything—for both of them.

My Thoughts…

Linda Lael Miller has the corner on cowboys.     Drake is everything a cowboy should be and more.    His manners, his toughness, and his huge heart for all things alive make him a true good guy.      I loved that he stood for the ladies, opened doors for them, and was so incredibly respectful.   That is a dying breed.     While his care for his family is given, the care he shows both his animals and those who are wild and causing him problems made my heart fall for him even more.     His mother told it best when she described his as a you get what you see guy.   He speaks the truth, works hard, and loves with his whole body and soul.    I believe this describes Drake perfectly.  

The setting of Montana is just beautiful.  I could picture the farm house, the barn with the horses, the valleys, and the cliffs as Linda Lael Miller described them.    The beautiful green grass, the cold creek, and the magnificent mountains were pictures I could see as I continued reading Always a Cowboy.  

This is not my first Linda Lael Miller and definitely not my last.    She is a go-to author for me.   I am happy to recommend Always a Cowboy  to any romance reader.    

Book Links
Amazon   |   Goodreads   |  Barnes and Noble   

Meet Linda Lael Miller
The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, the self-confessed barn goddess pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a horse property outside Spokane. Linda traces the beginning of her writing career to the day a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold her first title to a publisher in 1983. Linda then successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, to concentrate on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. In 2016 Linda will receive a Lifetime Achievement award from RT Book Reviews. Currently the Hallmark Movie Channel is developing a series based on Linda’s Big Sky Country novels. For more information about Linda and her novels, please visit lindalaelmiller.com.


Thursday, September 1, 2016

First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

About First Star I See Tonight

First Star I See Tonight cover• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (August 23, 2016)

 A star quarterback and a feisty detective play for keeps in this sporty, sexy, sassy novel—a long-awaited new entry in the beloved, award-winning, New York Times bestselling author’s fan-favorite Chicago Stars football series. Piper Dove is a woman with a dream—to become the best detective in the city of Chicago. First job? Trail former Chicago Stars quarterback, Cooper Graham. Problem? Graham’s spotted her, and he’s not happy. Which is why a good detective needs to think on her feet. “The fact is . . . I’m your stalker. Not full-out barmy. Just . . . mildly unhinged.” Piper soon finds herself working for Graham himself, although not as the bodyguard he refuses to admit he so desperately needs. Instead, he’s hired her to keep an eye on the employees at his exclusive new nightclub. But Coop’s life might be in danger, and Piper’s determined to protect him, whether he wants it or not. (Hint: Not!) If only she weren’t also dealing with a bevy of Middle Eastern princesses, a Pakistani servant girl yearning for freedom, a teenager who just wants of fit in, and an elderly neighbor demanding Piper find her very dead husband. And then there’s Cooper Graham himself, a legendary sports hero who always gets what he wants—even if what he wants is a feisty detective hell bent on proving she’s as tough as he is. From the bustling streets of Chicago to a windswept lighthouse on Lake Superior to the glistening waters of Biscayne Bay, two people who can’t stand to lose will test themselves and each other to discover what matters most.

My Thoughts…

I picked up this book not having any idea of the history of this series.    I knew it was about the Chicago Stars Football team, I knew it involved a private investigator, and I knew it was set in Chicago.     I love sports, I love mysteries, and I love Chicago so I knew this would be a book I enjoyed.   What I didn’t expect was the comedy and humor.    There were so many interactions between Piper and Coop that I had to smile, laugh and shake my head.    The chemistry between them is not a wham, bam in your face kind of chemistry.   The relationship between them is mostly attraction at the beginning and then with the banter, the quirky conversations, and the arguments you can see that feelings start to grow.

The setting of Chicago is what I was most excited about when I offered to review First Star I See Tonight.   I live close to Chicago and always love a book with a setting that I can relate to.    I was sad that there were not more landmarks used within the story.     There was mention of a couple places but there would have been ways to mention so many more.   

While First Star I See Tonight is the 8th book in the Chicago Stars series, this is the first book I have read.   Susan Elizabeth Phillips did a great job of making the book a true standalone story.    I am sure that the other books in this series are equally wonderful this book was amazing!      

    Add to Goodreads badge

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


About Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Susan Elizabeth Phillips


Susan Elizabeth Phillips soared onto the New York Times bestseller list with Dream a Little Dream. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award. A resident of the Chicago suburbs, she is also a hiker, gardener, reader, wife, and mother of two grown sons. Visit Susan at her website, susanelizabethphillips.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.