Playing for Keeps by Emma Hart

Playing for Keeps by Emma Hart

(The Game Series #2)

Book Synopsis:  From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Emma Hart, comes the second book in The Game series, and the story everyone wanted after The Love Game…

She's in love with him.
He's trying not to love her.
One night changes everything.

Aston Banks never meant to get close to Megan Harper – not even for that one night. Haunted by a childhood he refuses to face, he knew she could break through every wall he’d ever built and tear them down without even realizing she was doing it.

Betraying Braden by starting a relationship with Aston wasn’t on Megan’s to-do list, but the second she sees a glimpse of someone other than the arrogant ass she’s come to know, she can’t walk away.

Aston’s childhood is worse than Megan ever guessed, but as he tries and fails to push her away, it’s clear her love is stronger than the demons that cling to him every day. And now, because of it, he finally has to deal with what he’s buried deep down.

What he doesn’t want to face. What he’s fought against for so long.

And they have to do it all without Braden finding out.

Keeping a relationship secret has never been harder.

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My review:  4 stars!!

If you haven't read the first book in this series, I recommend you go back and read it first.  It's called The Love Game (Amazon link).  You learn about the characters in this first book.  Then they carry over into the second book. 

This book was so cute!!  It was a great story about overcoming your past and looking into your future.  Now, if you've read the first book (and it's been a while since I have, however), I just don't understand the relationship between Braden and Megan.  I know they are best friends and knew each other growing up and they are like family, but it's just weird to me.  A big portion, well, the whole book, is about keeping the relationship a secret ... from Braden.  I know he is like a big brother and I don't have one, so maybe I don't understand.  Anyways, that relationship was just kinda weird to me.

I liked the each banter between Megan and Aston.  She's quick with the comebacks and gives him as much as he gives her.  It's cute to see a couple of that kind of relationship, they are cute and cuddly but give each other a run for their money!!

I really enjoyed this book.  I hope you will too.  On to the next one!

Happy reading!

The Secret Life of Trystan Scott series by H.M. Ward

 

 

Collide by H.M. Ward

(Book #1 - The Secret Life of Trystan Scott)

 

Book Synopsis:  When Mari accidentally overhears that Trystan is in love, she can't believe it. He's pining over some girl that doesn't know he's alive. The confident swagger and endless stream of girls is a facade. It conceals his loneliness and hides how messed up he's really become trying to flee from a life that's battered him to his core.

Trystan tries to figure out how to make it clear how much he loves Mari, but every insincere kiss and every broken promise haunts him, because she knows them all. Now, Trystan has to prove to the one girl he's actually fallen in love with that she's not just another conquest.

Mari has no idea who Trystan loves, but she can tell that whoever it is has captured his heart entirely. Soon Mari sees the man behind the mask, the guy that Trystan tries so hard to hide. Everything about him is appealing, and too hard to resist.

In a moment of desperation, Trystan uploads a love song he wrote for Mari, but before he can show it to her, the video goes viral. Everyone wants to know who he is, and the only thing shielding him is an anonymous account name and some thick shadows hiding his face. Tyrstan realizes that the consequences of revealing his identity will be disastrous. Everything he's tried so hard to hide will be exposed. It's a secret that is impossible to keep and the only girl who he wanted to hear it will never believe him.

The Secret Life of Trystan Scott is an addicting romance with lots of tension and steamy kisses. The story is told in 20,000 word segments. Each book is another episode, building on the previous. The books in the TRYSTAN SCOTT series will get hotter as it progresses and cross from YA into New Adult by the end of the series.

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Backdraft

(Book #2 - The Secret Life of Trystan Scott)

 

Book Synopsis:  When Mari realizes that Trystan is the internet megastar, Day Jones, she can’t speak. Every time she listens to his song, it leaves her feeling so much. That song is bewitching. Everyone she knows heard it. As soon as it appeared on YouTube, it went viral, and then the guy who wrote it disappeared. Despite agents and record labels trying to lure Day5705 out, he remains anonymous. No one knows who Day Jones really is—except Mari.

To Trystan’s relief, Mari agrees to keep his secret. Part of him regrets uploading the song, but when he sings to Mari the song that once brought him solace, it fills him joy. In a life like his, joy is fleeting and Trystan plans on grabbing hold whenever a shot at happiness appears. To his surprise, Mari doesn’t realize the song is about her. When Trystan tries to push her to see, he jeopardizes losing her entirely.

One misplaced kiss topples the fragile relationship, leaving Trystan reeling, trying to assemble the pieces and convincing Mari that she’s not just another conquest, even though everything he did—everything he said—makes it seem like she is. It isn’t until Mari decides that being the good girl isn’t working that things steam up. Trystan knows she wants to hook up with someone, and he doesn’t know if he should stop her. Every attempt he makes to win her over goes bad and pushes her further away.

As the world gets one day closer to tracking down Day Jones, Trystan is one day closer to graduation and leaving this life forever. If Mari doesn’t realize he loves her by then, she never will.
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Riptide

(Book #3 - The Secret Life of Trystan Scott)

 

Book Synopsis:  A random hook-up isn't enough for Trystan, not anymore.

After everything Trystan went through to tell Mari that he loves her, there is no way that he's letting her walk away without knowing how he really feels. Every mask is stripped away making Trystan completely vulnerable. Mari's the one girl he wants, that he knew he'd never have. But, the look on Mari's face--the way she kissed him--makes Trystan think that confessing his feelings was worth the risk.

Shocked, Mari stands there staring at Trystan. As if it weren't enough that Trystan is internet super star, Day Jones, but the song he wrote was about her. That was her name on the music. It was her name etched into his heart. Trystan Scott loves her.

Everything Mari wants is within reach. She just has to have enough guts to reach out and take it.

Book 3 in the Secret Life of Trystan Scott.

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Shattered

(Book #4 - The Secret Life of Trystan Scott)

 

Book Synopsis:  After Mari's attempt to help Trystan goes horribly wrong they are both forced to deal with the consequences.

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Revealed

(Book #5 - The Secret Life of Trystan Scott)

 

Book Synopsis:  Fame has a price and Trystan doesn't want to pay it. Everything he worked so hard to hide is about to be revealed. Nothing he can do will stop it. Within a few short hours everyone will know about his father and the sordid details of his past. Brie is by his side, sputtering things that she shouldn't know. Did Mari stab him in the back? After everything they've been through, he can't believe it, but where is she?
There are four words Trystan's father said that haunt him—four words that he ignored—never fall in love.
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My review:  4 stars!!

I am a HUGE fan of H.M. Ward, and have read almost every book she has written.  I originally placed this series in my "to read" section because I have so many books on my Kindle, and I could not possibly read all of them.  So, I decided I would read this series at some point, and only because it was an H.M. Ward series.  However, she wrote somewhere (maybe Facebook), that Trystan Scott would appear in the third Ferro brother book, Stripped.  So, I had to read the backstory of Trystan before I found out what happened to him in Stripped.  SO, I purchased the series and read it in its entirety, in one weekend.  (Each book is short, like the rest of her serials.)  Here is what I thought about it:

This series is Young Adult (YA) series.  My genre lately has been Mature Adult (MA).  So, if I were a YA reader (teen), I would like the series.  I did enjoy the series.  It was cute.  It was about high school love and the decisions that come along with graduating high school, etc. 

It really was a great series.  I'm glad I read it and glad I can now read Stipped (once it comes out) without wondering about this Trystan Scott character.

As I said earlier in this blog, I love H.M. Ward.  I don't think she could write a bad book.  Cute, fun little series.

The Alpha Group series by Maya Cross

Locked by Maya Cross

(The Alpha Group, Book #1)

 

Book Synopsis:  Who is Sebastian Lock?

The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.

 

But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.

Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.

There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.

Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?
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Lockout by Maya Cross

(The Alpha Group Book #2)

 

Book Synopsis:   Sophia had never felt attraction like that before. Raw. Electric. Irresistible. Swept off her feet by the dashing, enigmatic billionaire Sebastian Lock, she was taken on a journey of self-discovery, taken to places she never dreamed she’d go.

But things are never as simple as they appear. Sophia’s trust is a fragile thing, and Sebastian seems insistent on testing it. He has his own demons to battle, and nobody has brought them to the fore like she has.

As their relationship deepens, and Sophia begins to break down his walls, all that greets her are more questions. Why is Sebastian fighting so hard to keep her at a distance? Who is the girl on the background of his phone? And why does the strange tattoo on his chest seem so familiar?

These puzzles plague her, but as Sebastian’s mysteries begin to unravel, she must face an entirely different truth. Staying in the dark may be painful, but finding the answers could be deadly.

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Unlocked by Maya Cross

(The Alpha Group, Book #3)

 

Book Synopsis:  The heart can lead you to dangerous places. Abandoned by the man she loves, with nothing more than sweet words and riddles for an explanation, Sophia Pearce felt like her life was crumbling before her eyes. And then they came for her. Now, things will never be the same.

Confronted with the truth about Sebastian’s identity, she’s thrust into a high stakes world beyond anything she could have imagined. A world that threatens much more than just her feelings. Sebastian’s enemies will stop at nothing to get what they want, and they want her.

Their passion for one another consumes them, but as the danger mounts, and loyalties are tested, Sophia must answer one simple question. What is she willing to risk for love?

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My review:  5 stars!!!

 

Okay.  I bought this series on a whim!!  I've never heard of or read anything by Maya Cross, but . . . I'm glad I did.  It was kind of short, or it seemed really short.  (Or maybe I just read it really fast!!)

 

It was so good.  It had every thing I like in a book.  It was suspenseful and sucked me right in!  I won't reveal too much, but I liked Sophia right away.  She's strong and works hard, a charastic I can relate too and appreciate.  She's a little hesitant about though, she's been burned before and doesn't really want to walk down that path again! 

 

Sebastian is of course, your normal, or not so normal millioniare with a dark past and secrets.  Who doesn't love a dark past and secrets!!  He is hot and says just the right things, I loved him instantly. 

 

Oh my goodness!  I can't tell you much more than that, I don't want to ruin it.  Just go read this series.  It's great.

 

Happy reading!!

Meet the Author . . . A. L. Jackson

Meet the Author . . . A. L. Jackson

About Me:  A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.

Links:  Website

Blog

Goodreads

Facebook Author Page

Facebook page

Book List:

Take this Regret Series

  1.  Lost to You (#0.5)
  2.  Take this Regret
  3.  If Foever Comes

When We Collide

Pulled 

Come to Me Quietly  (preorder:  Preorder Link)

Stripped by Jasinda Wilder

Stripped by Jasinda Wilder

 

Book Synopsis:  So how did I get myself into this situation, you ask? Simple: desperation. When you're faced with being homeless and hungry or taking off your clothes for money, the choice is easier than you'd imagine. That doesn't make it easy, though. Oh no. I hate it, in fact. There's nothing I'd like more than to quit and never go into another bar again, never hear the techno beat pulsing in my ears again, never feel the lecherous gazes of horny men again.

Then, one day, I meet a man. He's in my club, front and center. He watches me do my routine, and his gaze is full of hunger. Not the kind of desire I'm used to though. It's something different. Something hotter, deeper, and more possessive. I know who he is; of course I do. Everyone knows who Dawson Kellor is. He's People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive. He's the hottest actor in Hollywood. He's the man hand-picked for the role of Rhett Butler in the long-awaited remake of Gone With the Wind.

He's the kind of man who can have any woman in the entire world with a mere crook of his finger. So what's he doing looking at me like he has to have me? And how do I resist him when he looks at me with those intoxicating, changeable, quicksilver eyes?

I'm a virgin, and he's an American icon of male sexuality. I'm a stripper, and he's a man used to getting anything and everything he wants. And he wants me. I know I should say no, I know he's the worst kind of player…but what my mind knows, my body and my heart may not.

And then things get complicated.

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My review:  3 stars!

Okay, so this is a new author for me.  I have purchased a couple of her books before, but haven't read them yet.  I'm kind of addicted to buying Amazon Kindle books, so I buy hundreds (literally) and then read them in no particular order (unless it's a series, which I research and then plan accordingly).  My first impression of Ms. Wilder is not great.  Unfortunately.  I have to say I am disappointed about this book.  It had great reviews and everyone was talking about it coming out and how excited they were.  And I do not like giving bad reviews.  I love almost every single book I read.  And I read a lot!!

Here goes nothing . . . this book was HOT!!  It was what all ladies expect in an adult novel.  It had a sexy guy and a gorgeous girl.  I loved that part of the book.  However, the beginning of the book, the parts about Grey and her family, especially her father, were very slow for me.  Very hard to read.  Maybe I just wasn't expecting so much about her life in Georgia and found it extremely hard to read.

Once Grey gets to LA, the story picks up, significantly . . . and in comes Dawson Kellor.  Sexy movie star with a dark past (don't we all have one of those).  He is hot and is hot to read about.  The story was great with him.

However, the book was almost 70% of the way through and you have no idea how the author could possibly finish the story in 30%.  The way she accomplishes that is . . . she skips large chunks of time, and I mean, large. chunks. of. time.  She fast forwards over a year into the future.  One minute you are reading about present day Grey and Dawson and literally the next (next chapter, in fact), you are reading one year later.  I had to go back, I was like, wait a minute, what happened?  Did I miss a chapter?  Did I fall asleep?  WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?  Then you fast forward a little more and the book ends (I won't tell you the ending, no worries).  I still felt that the story was missing something.  Yeah, it was missing time, literally. 

I was very disappointed with the skipping around .  Other than that, the book was good.  It was definitely hot and I would still recommend it.  Just don't be surprised if you feel shafted with the ending and the missing "pages" and time.  But, I will still keep reading Ms. Wilders' books and hopefully I will love the next one.

Happy reading!!

Bring Me Home by Cassia Leo

Bring Me Home by Cassia Leo

(Book #3)

 

Book Synopsis:  The breath-taking conclusion to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series is expected to be released August 6, 2013.

"Sometimes letting someone go is the ultimate act of love."

Claire Nixon is a college student with a past full of secrets and heartbreak. She was saved once by her first love, and rock star, Chris Knight. But when she encouraged Chris to leave town to pursue his dreams, both Claire and Chris didn’t realize it would be the biggest mistake of their lives.

After a devastating year apart and thousands of miles of distance between them, Claire met sexy surfer Adam Parker. With his awful jokes and profound patience, he helped Claire pick up the shattered pieces of her broken heart for the second time.

But now Chris has returned and he is willing and determined to make Claire’s dreams come true—the same way she did for him when she let him go.

With Adam’s former girlfriend in the picture, Claire finds herself torn between the new, passionate love she shares with Adam and the love and family she shares with Chris.

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My review:  5 stars!!!

 

Okay.  So, I re-read the first two books in this series, just so I could finish the series out with this book.  And OMG . . . this book did not disappoint.

 

I loved, loved, loved this book.  It was heartfelt, tearful and romantically dramatic.  I laughed, I cried, and I wanted a Chris in my life.

 

Now, don't get me wrong . . . I love Adam too.  But, this book was all about Chris.  And I have a total crush on Chris.  Claire finds herself in this book and finds what makes her happy.  She has been tested to the limits in her life.  She's had a make lots of big decisions by herself with no one to lean on.  She grew up fast and lost herself in the process.  Well, she's not lost anymore.  She is found and has found the man she wants (I won't tell you which one).  I think he is good her and she for him.  Together they are unstoppable.

 

I think this book was a GREAT ending to this series.  I am so happy with the way it ended.  Cassia Leo is one of my favorite authors.  I will keep an eye out for more of her books!!

Go read this series.  You will love it.

Happy reading!!

Pieces of You by Cassia Leo

Pieces of You by Cassia Leo

(Book #2)

 

Book Synopsis:  Book Two in the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling series.

"Sometimes letting someone go is the ultimate act of love."

In Relentless, college student Claire Nixon and surfer Adam Parker each had a painful past too heavy to carry alone. Claire tried to push Adam away, but Adam's relentless pursuit of her heart and her secrets made her walls come crumbling down.

But now Claire's attending college a hundred miles away from Adam. With their new relationship already hanging by a thread, Adam is sent to Hawaii on business.

And Claire's first love, rock star Chris Knight, is back in her life.

Chris wants his ex-girlfriend back. Both he and Claire know that only Chris has the power to mend the final missing piece of Claire's shattered heart. But Claire's strength is tested as she is forced to confront the demons she's been running from for more than a year.

Now Claire must choose between a long-distance relationship with Adam and a second chance at true love, family, and home with Chris.

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My review:  5 stars!!!

 

This is the re-read of book #2.

 

I loved this book.  I really like Claire.  She's still on a journey of self discovery and finding her place in the world.

 

At the beginning of the series, I really liked Adam.  I wanted Claire to pick Adam.  The further into this book, the more I fell in love with Chris. I can see what Claire loved about him during their time together.

 

I still like Adam.  I think he is as confused as Claire and I'm not really sure they should stay together at this point.  He really is a good guy and is only trying to help Claire make the best decision possible, for her.

 

On to the third book. 

 

Happy reading!!