Wild North by JB Salsbury Book Review!

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this beauty (in exchange for an honest review) and I am so freaking excited I was! 

I just finished Wild North and I can’t stop smiling! This book was everything I hoped it would be. It was addicting, intriguing, steamy, angsty and overall just so freaking good.

I LOVED the heroine in this story, Jordan. She was dealt some crappy cards as a child, but it hasn’t stopped her from striving for better in her adult life and always looking for the best, in a partner and in general, goals for herself. She is strong, independent and fierce. She belongs to no one but gives herself to those she cares about freely. She sees the good in people and people can’t help but to end up falling in love with her (looking at you, Hayes).

Speaking of strong, independent and fierce... let’s talk about Alexander, aka Grizzly. Alexander has gone through even more traumatic times in his past than Jordan. It’s amazing that he’s become the man that he has, but all he’s experienced has contributed to that. Alexander is one of the toughest, gruffest, roughest male characters I’ve read in a while. It took a long time for Jordan to even begin to start chiseling away at his icy exterior. What’s under that ice, though? Especially where Jordan is involved? So much good, even though he can’t see it himself. There are plenty of times in this book where you want to smack him for things he’s said or done, but there are also times that he makes you swoon more than you thought possible!

I don’t want to go into the details of this book because I want this to stay a spoiler free review. What I’ll finish up with is this...this story is about tragedy, near death experiences, care, compassion, a fight for what you want and overcoming the odds. There are mountains and cabins and big cities and high rises. There are family members you want to strangle and others you think are kinda cute. There are friends who aren’t friends and don’t deserve to even be mentioned. And there are two main characters you’re going to fall into...something more with. I hope you’ll take the chance on this book, it is so worth it!!

If you're interested, check out more about the book here:

Goodreads

Wild North releases May 18th! 

As always...

Happy reading! 

The Watcher Girl by Minka Kent Book Review!

 

I was lucky enough to snag a copy of this book through the April first reads program on Amazon Prime. The release date of this book is May 1, so if you don’t have prime or picked a different book for first reads, I encourage you to pick this one up in May. This was a good thriller read! I spent the entire book wondering how it would play out. It literally wasn’t until 90% into the book that I realized how it would end, and even then, there were still some things I was curious about!

The book started a little slowly for me, but it didn’t take long to get locked in. Grace sold me on this book. I felt bad for her and the trauma she experienced growing up as it has obviously made an impact on her as an adult and being able to have and keep healthy relationships. 

I think Rose, her adoptive sister, may be my favorite character in this story. She just seems hopeful and happy and loving and accepting, all the things you could want in a sister, especially one you’ve tried your darndest to keep at a distance. 

Sutton and Campbell kept me guessing until the near end, though I wasn’t 100% surprised by the end with how both of their characters played out. I was glad to see that Grace was able to make some peace with her adoptive mother and I feel like the story is left unfinished regarding Grace’s relationship with her adoptive father and Bliss.

 If you’ve read the book and are reading my review... please tell me you wonder the same thing I do about Bliss?!?! I’m not going to say it because I don’t want to write a review with spoilers but man... I am hoping there is another book with these characters so that I can get some answers answered I am hoping for!

Anyway, that’s about all I’m going to say for this one as I really don’t want to give anything away. I hope you’ll take the chance and give it a read!

As always, happy reading! 

Once Upon A Kiss by Carina Rose Book Review!

"You made me believe in love at first kiss." - Carina Rose, Once Upon A Kiss

Can we talk about this cover? I mean, who doesn't want to be the character on the cover of this book! Big beach hat, soft sand, clear blue water and a nice tan... ah, now that's what dreams are made of! Add in a handsome, loyal, loving man and you've got the fairy tale right there! 

Before saying too much more, I do want to say thank you to author Carina Rose and RRR Promotion as I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I enjoyed reading Once Upon A Kiss! I didn't realize this was Carina Rose's first book until after I'd completed the book and wanted to read a little more about this author. She is a skilled writer who's able to transport you to this tropical paradise with a dreamy man and clear blue ocean water at the drop of her pen/fingers on her keyboard. After reading Once Upon A Kiss, I am so tempted to find a resort and make a reservation for the dead of winter! What a nice relief that would be! 

This book starts off with Lacey going off on a solo vacation that was originally meant to be spent with her lying, cheating ex-boyfriend. 

With a push from her friends, Lacey decided to step out of her comfort zone and go on this trip on her own. She never expected to run into Kevin, the cheating ex she left at home. Not a full day into her tropical resort vacation and bam! She sees Kevin with the girl he cheated on her with, living it up at the resort, but Lacey also meets Drew. You know early on that Drew is a good guy with the way he was so willing to help Lacey in a tough situation. Not that he was really complaining, though ;)

During the course of the next few days, Drew gallantly offers to act as Lacey's boyfriend to keep Kevin away.  

One of my favorite scenes of the book is when Kevin approaches Lacey as he and his "girlfriend" are checking out of the hotel after a few days. He tells Lacey that she can drop the charade because he's leaving and she doesn't have to keep pretending with Drew. He also says a few more hurtful, snide comments to Lacey and Drew literally has to be pulled back from his friend Ethan before he decks Kevin in the face. I don't often condone violence, but Drew standing up for Lacey and threatening to hurt that lying, cheating, jerk made me have to fan my face a little! 

 Lacey has happily accepted Drew's willingness to be her fake boyfriend, but has a  hard time now deciphering if Drew is really acting or is truly interested in her. 

The longer time goes on, Drew and Lacey continue to spend their time inseparable at Spero (the resort). As the trip occurs in December, a little before Christmas, they are even able to be a part of a big Christmas party the resort does for kids in orphanages in the local village who wouldn't receive any presents without the donations of the resort owners and hotel guests. 

This was a really sweet part of the book. I loved that Lacey and Drew were on the same page with how they felt about these kids and wanting to help them have a great Christmas. I mean, how could you not fall in love with a man who selects 20 angels off of a paper angel tree and then happily goes shopping with you to buy all sorts of gifts for them? 

I loved that there was common theme, throughout the book, of giving and charity and helping others. I loved that they had that in common and just the hope and encouragement it shares. Maybe it'll even motivate readers to want to go and be a part of something to help others in their community! 

Anyway, the story continues on. 

The nagging question hangs over their heads about what happens when the trip is done. Will they go home after a fun vacation fling? Maybe a one night stand? Will they try something as difficult as a long distance relationship? I'm not going to answer this question for you because I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I do think you should check out the book and find out how it ends! Throughout the last half of the book, I was waffling myself on what I thought the final answer would be. Would Lacey be willing to let down all of her fears and insecurities to truly accept and be happy with a man like Drew? Is Drew as ready to settle down as he may think he is? 

If you're interested, below is the link for Once Upon A Time!

Once Upon A Time - Amazon

Once Upon A Time- Nook

Once Upon A Time- Apple Books

Happy reading, friends!!

The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan - Review

I am now an addict of Kristen Callihan's books! I one clicked this bad boy after another author kept going on and on about it. So I dove in and I loved every.single.second.I'm not usually into football type stories but this one just grabbed me and sucked me in for the entire ride.

Anna Jones is a college student who has issues with relationships, love and kissing on the lips! She likes her men as hook ups and nothing more. No attachments, no relationship drama and no worries of getting your heartbroken. Her whole world is turned upside down when she meets star Quarterback, Drew Baylor, who just so happens to be sitting right next to her in Lit class. I have to give it to Drew, the boy was persistent! Even after Anna told him she did not "date" he was totally okay with having her as a "booty call", which is what they refer to each other as.

I loved every word, every sentence, every paragraph of this book! Right when I thought I had everything figured out with Anna and Drew, a big old fat wrench is thrown into the mix just to stir shit up! The two of them are hot as hell together and God have mercy can Kristen Callihan write a sex scene! Call the fire department cause I'm on fire!!!!!!!!!

I laughed so many times in this book I honestly felt like when I was reading Anna's POV, I was in my head! Her thoughts and reactions to situations were exactly how I'd react. I think my favorite was:

         "Never mind the fact that we have virtually no examples of a utopian society thriving in a real
          world situation," I say. One of the girls who has been mooning over Baylor since the beginning
          of the semester raises her hand, as if she needs permission to speak, "What about Atlantis?"

          Oh, Jesus Christ in a peach tree.

I laughed so hard at that one simple sentence I had tears in my eyes! This is only one of many of Anna's quirky thoughts. I loved everything about Anna. Some reviews said she was naive and let her "daddy issues" get in the way but honestly, I felt like Anna reacted to things as most girls who have issues with relationships would.

 I loved her will to fight as well as her weakness to struggle with her emotions. By the end she fought for what she wanted and that was Drew, even when he tried his damndest to push her away after his injury, she stayed. The scene where they have their epic fight, after his injury, and they start throwing each others clothes outside, was so intense yet it kind of brought everything together. It's hard to explain so just red the damn book!