Soaring (Magdalene, #2) by Kristen Ashley @KristenAshley68

5 Soaring Stars ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review Soaring was an amazingly fantastic, ridiculously sexy, feel good read that proved once again why Kristen Ashley will forever remain my literary queen of romance. This love story embodied everything KA spoils me with - a unique and descriptive writing style, brilliant dialogue, an incredibly strong heroine, super hot dominant Alpha, a cast of secondary characters that stole my heart and passionate moments that set my kindle ablaze.  But words sometime fail me when trying to put together my review because it’s so difficult to fully describe what I experience and how truly touching her romances are. Once stepping into Amelia and Mickey’s world, I became totally overwhelmed and consumed. My emotions were constantly ebbing and flowing as their joys thrilled me, their fears filled me with worry, and their despairs flooded my heart with sorrow. And in the end, I hated leaving this couple, their friends and family behind. I needed to savor this story over and over again before gathering my thoughts. Amelia (Amy) is a woman who has all the money in the world, yet missing everything she needs for a happy life. A bitter divorce set her life on a downward, negative spiral - leaving her shattered, miserable, lacking self-confidence and losing custody of her children. In an effort to regain their love and respect, she decides to reinvent herself and begin a new life in Magdalene, Maine. Her character wrecked me - I ached for all her pains and cried tears over all her sorrows. Seeing her lonely life and dealing with the children’s indifference, sliced right through the very heart of me. Starting over at the age of 47 takes courage and BALLS – I just love how brave she was. Amelia’s endless struggle to find fathomless inner strength and discovering her self worth left me awestruck. She is my new all-time favorite kick-ass heroine. Fortunately for Amelia, along with her new life comes a very handsome neighbor. A knight in shining armor of sorts…Michael Patrick Donovan. The mere mention of his name makes me quiver in all the all the right places. Oh, Mickey you’re so fine…and you REALLY blew my mind... I’m in love with you! He’s the sinfully sexy, outrageously macho construction worker/volunteer fire-fighter/boxer that had my head spinning. One minute I adored his sweet and tender ways; a single dad who melted me seeing the way he loves his children. In the next, I wanted to strangle him for all his stubbornness! My feelings for Mickey yo-yoed throughout most of this read as he found difficulties dealing with Amy’s wealth. Fighting off his attraction brought out a callous side to Mickey, and boy did this couple really go toe-to-toe. The more he battled his feelings, the more sexual tensions escalated, until it deliciously exploded in some of the most sizzling sex scenes ever. It frayed my nerves to no end, but I loved every lust filled moment of it. For me, the more ‘jerk-like’ the KA hero, the deeper I fall in love with them as they struggle to find their way to redemption. It’s crazy, but absolutely true, and Mickey fights hard to win Amy’s (and my) love and trust. Mickey has a noble heart and feels deeply for his woman. He was an emotionally driven, compelling character whose gentle and protective side had me soaring, feeling all gushy inside. I now have a new Alpha-hero to obsess and drool over.   Amy and Mickey’s romance was inspiring as well as beautiful. Soaring was a powerful love story of passion, hope, mending broken hearts, bringing together of families and self-discovery. Kristen Ashley never ceases to wow me with her flawless story telling talents, which always leaves me hungry and wanting more from her imagination. Each one of her tales claims a little piece of my soul. I love that this series focuses on main characters that are more mature in age. It’s a rarity to find steamy romances evolving around older main characters that not only I can relate to, but readers of all ages can also appreciate. Ashley has that magical touch bringing such characters to life. Soaring easily became another ‘must reread’ favorite of mine.

The 27 Club by Kim Karr @authorkimkarr

ARC received from author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 4 Stars I am a HUGE Kim Karr fan and was thrilled when first hearing about her new suspense filled romance standalone. I love when authors take risks and gift their fans new and exciting stories. I had feeling it would be nail bitingly edgy and I needed to get my hands on it ASAP. The 27 Club is a drama filled read with countless mysteries and several plot twists. It is a departure from her norm, but no less attention grabbing. Without giving too much away, this is a story about destiny and self-discovery. Zoey Flowers (the heroine) believes she is fated to die at the young age of 27.  These fears are not unfounded, since recently losing her brother Zach, as well as other family members, at that age. Turing 27 herself, Zoey’s obsession with death is all consuming as she still grieves his loss. During her temporary stay in Miami to collect Zack’s belongings, she soon discovers her brother led a mysterious life. Thus begins the quest to piece together his secrets and the circumstances involving his accidental death…she needs answers soon, before she become the club’s next member.  I liked Zoey, but found she lived a little too much inside her head, shrouding her existence in so much darkness. It was sad to see her outlook on life was poisoned by the thoughts of a family curse. Here enters Nate Hanson, her brother’s best friend and a bit of an enigma himself. There’s an instant attraction and Zoey makes it clear she wants him desperately. He’s handsome, sexy and controlling; the perfect man for a quick and steamy fling, since she isn’t looking for a long-term relationship. There’s some sexual tension, which I always savor, as Nate battles their connection. But when they finally succumb to the passion, these two sizzle. This couple had chemistry, and Nate was oh-so dominating and hot. I adored the way Nate took gentle care of Zoey in her time of need. She began to blossom as the bonds of their relationship grew stronger. Under Nate’s wing, Zoey reassesses her outlook and slowly begins to live and thrive. In her determination to unravel her brother’s and Nate’s secrets, she discovers herself and is opening her heart to love. “Let me help you live wild and free.” Her road to self-discovery was inspiring. For me, this story reinforces an important message; enjoy the gifts life has to offer despite hardships. We may not have control over destiny, but like Zoey, open our hearts to love, joy and happiness. The 27 Club was a fascinating read and quite the roller coaster ride. Buckle up for Zoey and Nate’s journey - Kim Karr is known for her deliciously descriptive and detailed writing style, which I absolutely enjoy. If you are a lover of suspense with a sexy twist, give this read a go because it had all the makings of an interesting novel…mystery, intrigue, tension, passion and an engaging cast of characters.

The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by L.B. Simmons

Received from author in exchange for an honest review  5 Sunshine filled stars After reading the synopsis, I needed to get my hands on this book immediately. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller was my introduction to LB Simmons’ work and now I am kicking myself for not discovering this author sooner. To say this was a poignant read is an understatement. It was a paradox – causing me to wonder how this author created such magic that was both devastatingly soul shattering, yet extraordinarily heart warming. Page after page, I felt as if I was thrown head first into a tumultuous cyclone, as I fluctuated between feeling gut wrenching despair and absolute elation. It was a wondrously profound story of friendship, grief, self-discovery and the healing power of love. Meet Aubrey (Bree) Miller. I'm dark, dreary, morbid. I hate the person I've become. A child surrounded by death whose life is consumed by guilt and grief. A scarred little girl left only to survive losing her entire family by locking up all memories of her past and reinventing herself. Aubrey is lost as ‘Raven’ emerges, her self-loathing emo-goth-like alter ego. The girl she once was has been masked, hiding behind crazy makeup, hair, contacts and body piercings. She purposefully becomes unrecognizable, disallowing all from seeing her pain or tempting to breach impenetrable walls surrounding her heart. I am death.  And I bring it to all who love me. Her tragedies struck me, and I was truly saddened when seeing how Raven emotionally guards herself through her physical transformation. Her ruse works well for her up until she is off to college and encounters two loveable characters – Quinn and Kaeleb. Each burdened with sorrows, but systematically work together to dismantle tough girl Raven’s defenses in hopes to reveal the sunshine bury deep beneath her gloomy façade. This story addresses some pretty serious issues and by no means a flowery sugar coated cutesy friends-turned-lovers romance. This trio of friends faced grim circumstances (Bree’s being the most extreme), which were so powerful and so intense, it moved me. I was totally gutted the way this author painted Bree’s pain, through childhood flashbacks and current heartaches she continues to endure, as they are slowly peeled away to reveal her inner turmoil. All the while, my emotions were stirred to the point of which I felt an overwhelming connection to her sorrows. I cried ugly tears for all those she lost, frustrated with her stubbornness, and desperately hoped for her healing. Bree was a compelling character whose journey to self-discovery touched my heart. I can go on and on gushing over Kaeleb McMadden, Bree’s once childhood pal and adorably sexy boyfriend. He is the perfectly flawed romantic hero. Sincere, loyal, patient and most importantly…passionate, Kaeleb is the driving force fighting to bring back his Bree from the darkness that is Raven. He captured my heart with his unwavering determination. Loved how despite his own problems he selflessly puts her welfare before all else. Seeing them fall in love was deliciously heartwarming. I so adored all things Kaeleb. And then there’s Quinn, the stunning yet broken beauty queen who pushes her way into Bree’s life. Her character added a bit of levity and hilarity into this otherwise sober read with her perky personality and crazy antics. She was the perfect compliment to Raven’s stark persona. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller was truly a touching read for me. I enjoyed every laughable, sizzling and tearful moment. There were times I found the story was too emotionally difficult for me to handle, especially during Bree’s childhood flashbacks. It was during those times that I literally felt her character’s anguish. Nevertheless, the more dynamic the story, the more I tend to savor every word. It was an exquisitely written tale, whose characters and experiences will stay with me for a very long time.  TRIPLES with EMMA

Throb by Vi Keeland @ViKeeland

Arc received from author in exchange for an honest review Throb left me Throbbing… Clenching… Pulsating… With great excitement thanks to Vi Keeland’s latest leading heartthrob, Cooper Montgomery. This read was a pleasant surprise. So glad I jumped right in blind, without a single clue as to what this story was about. And what I found was a refreshing plot filled with passion, a cast of characters I come to adore and some I absolutely loathed. Once starting, I was immediately hooked, smitten with the deliciously bossy Cooper.  It was easy to fall in love with his filthy mouth and titillating ways. Always dominating in the bedroom; Cooper is a take-charge kind of guy – rich, powerful and all business. But, life becomes intensely uneasy when circumstances involving his relationship with Kate were not in his control. He is determined to claim her, regardless of the fact that she was unavailable. Pure Alpha-hotness. Poor Kate. Her timing truly sucked when meeting Cooper. Stuck with making a heart wrenching decision – fall for the perfect guy or following through on her reality show contract. Following her heart will lead her into a blissful romance. Listening to her mind will allow her the chance to help her family out of a dire financial situation. I was sent into a whirlwind as Kate's future was at risk, cursing the rules that bound her… -       no dating outside the program -       no sex outside the game -       do not break any rules -    to win the prize, she must make another man fall for her charms Kate and Cooper’s life is spinning out of control, as his bastard of a brother, Miles, is the ruthless master of the game. Regardless, they manage to turn on the heat and bend the rules with stolen moments of sizzling passion which I savored. But all the while, I was on the edge of my seat, as the drama level was kicked up to high. Kate forced to make a decision that will change her life, and Cooper finds himself backed into a corner with nowhere to turn. This story was intense. All in all, Throb was a great read for me and I highly recommend giving it a try. Vi Keeland’s writing style is the perfect blend of serious sexiness laced with humor. Although part of a series involving different couples, this read is considered a standalone with no cliffhanger ending. There are some that feel this is a love triangle of sorts, but in my opinion, it is not in any way. And now my wait begins for the next installment – a definite must read. TRIPLES with EMMA

Kyland (A Sign of Love) by Mia Sheridan

Arc received from author in exchange for an honest review I should have seen this coming. This isn’t my first time diving into one of Mia Sheridan’s novels and I should have prepared myself for how amazing it would be. I barely survived the other “Sign of Love” romances emotionally unscathed. Kyland wrecked me. I was totally consumed and once starting the journey, there was no tearing myself away. Sheer brilliance. I loved every heart wrenching, passionate, and humorous moment. Like a puppet on a string, Sheridan owned me as her words gripped my heart and touched the depths of my soul. Kyland was so riveting and powerful, a flood of emotions coursed through me. As always, Sheridan proved she is one of the great mistresses of romance. In Kyland, the social issues involving poverty are brought to the forefront as we see the worst of humanity. How the poor are neglected, barely surviving within society. The only glimmer of hope our main characters, Kyland and Tenleigh, have is to win a college scholarship which would deliver them from the dismal coal mining town in Kentucky, to a brighter future. The competition is tight, as only one winner will be offered this once in a lifetime opportunity. Both have dreams… Both hunger to succeed… And both are so desperately lonely yet, fight tooth and nail against their magnetic attraction.   Regardless of their circumstances, Kyland and Tenleigh mange to comfort each other and beautiful relationship blossoms.  During the worst of times, the best emerges from these characters, leaving me awestruck. I fell deeply in love with this couple and revered their fortitude and determination. Their love story was truly compelling and shall forever remain in my heart. In a word, Kyland is beautiful. When first introduced to his character, I immediately sensed something troubling buried beneath his aloof persona. He was withdrawn, forcing himself to remain unattached to anyone. His goal was to graduate and leave his unhappy life behind, never looking back. No one, especially Tenleigh, will stand in his way.   As Kyland began to reveal himself, the deeper I feel in love. He was one of the kindest, most sincere heroes I have ever encountered. There was no limit to his love, his compassion, his sense of devotion and self-sacrifice. But once I saw the depths of his pain, what he endured for years…I was devastated. I just wanted to jump into the story, wrap my arms around him and absorb all his heartache. Alas, an impossibility, so I was left crying ugly tears and my only salvation was witnessing Kyland’s strength. I did have moments of frustration when he basically turned both the storyline and Tenleigh’s world upside down, but I savored all the angst. His agony may have dragged me through hell, but sent me soaring into the heavens when seeing the man he had become…all in the name of true love. I adored sweet, innocent Tenleigh. I love seeing the world through her optimistic eyes. The way she struggled to win Kyland’s affections, adding light to his gloomy world, tore me to shreds. She was unselfish and so loving, I was absolutely CRUSHED when her heart was shattered. Tenleigh, however, was resilient. And I was overjoyed seeing her gentle, forgiving nature battle against the odds in trying to heal Kyland. True to form, Sheridan penned another spectacularly sizzling read. She built such an intense level of sexual frustration, the anticipation frayed my nerves to no end. Sitting at the edge of my seat, waiting…craving for the moment their passion erupts. Then BAM, an explosion so fiery (and beautiful) it was scrumptious. Kyland, regardless of his character’s young age, was all Alpha-male insanely hot. There’s just so much I experience when reading Mia Sheridan’s novels. Her flawless detailed writing style, the way she develops her characters, intriguing plots and the passion she evokes - stirs my emotions each and every time. But beyond the love stories, I believe, there is message being conveyed. A common theme laced throughout her novels, and to me, that message is HOPE. All of her characters struggle greatly, but never loose sight of their faith whether conquering obstacles such as abuse, judgment, a disability, oppression, or poverty. And there lies the beauty. This author addresses serious social issues, magically spins a web and gives birth to some of the most beautiful love stories. Each one a gift, and I look forward to visiting more wondrous worlds created from the imagination of Mia Sheridan.   Kyland                TRIPLES with EMMA