Peace Love Books: April 2018

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Book Review: Bad Intentions by Charleigh Rose

Bad Intentions (Bad Love #2)

by Charleigh Rose

Release Date: April 27, 2018

Source: Author

Goodreads

Lo
Moving to River’s Edge was supposed to be a fresh start.
Away from chaos.
Away from bad influences and worse relationships.
All I wanted was to give my little brother more of a chance than I ever had.
It should’ve been simple.
I didn’t count on my transgressions following me.
And I definitely didn’t count on meeting Dare.
Tall, tortured, and tattooed.
A Lost Boy through and through.
Falling for someone like him was asking for heartache.
But I was a sucker for punishment.

Dare
I had a routine.
Eat, work, sleep, repeat, only ever doing the bare minimum to keep up appearances.
I kept my circle small and my guard high.
I spent years making sure I didn’t repeat the mistakes of my past, forming an impenetrable layer of ice around my heart.
Then Logan showed up in my town, in my tattoo shop, testing my patience along with my self-control.
She was fire and I was ice.
I should’ve stayed away.
But I had been cold for far too long.

Whenever Charleigh Rose has a new release, I want to drop everything and read it. I was so excited for Dare's story and couldn't wait to watch the tattooed, silent bad boy fall in love!

Lo has spent her entire life taking care of her younger brother, Jesse. When she finally decides they've had enough and moves them to River's Edge together, she's hoping she can provide the safe, stable life her brother has always deserved. When she stumbles into the tattoo shop looking for a job and finds Dare, Lo is put off by his rude demeanor, no matter how attractive she may find him. And Lo has just gotten out of a seriously unhealthy relationship and is in no rush to jump into another one. The more she sticks around town, though, the more she runs into Dare and they find that they kind of need each other after all.

Going into this one, I found myself sucked into the story of Lo and Dare. I really admired Lo and how much she loved her younger brother. When Lo and Dare first met, I liked how Lo was not impressed with his bad attitude and only continued to butt heads with him until they really got to know each other. I absolutely LOVED Dare's character and how we got to know him more and more throughout the book. I mean, he was really such a softie on the inside and I wanted him all for myself.

When it came to Dare and Lo's relationship, I did find myself wanting just a little bit more angst and development. Don't get me wrong, there was definite angst in the beginning, but I felt like it was not as drawn out as I usually like it. They did have some pretty hot moments together, though, and I liked how Lo really tried to resist him because of her past. And when he revealed his past?? Ugh, my heart!

Not only did I love Lo and Dare, but I also loved the entire cast of characters who live in River's Edge. I definitely want a book for Jesse and Jake and all of the guys at the tattoo shop. Can this just be, like, a ten book series? I love this whole world and all of these broken characters who find someone who can help them put those pieces back together. I definitely recommend starting with book one, Bad Habit, but you HAVE to pick up Bad Intentions!

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Blog Tour: Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas

Title: Birthday Girl Genre: Contemporary Romance Author: Penelope Douglas Release Date: April 17, 2018

Synopsis
JORDAN
He took me in when I had nowhere else to go.
He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He doesn’t treat me like I’m nothing, take me for granted, or make me feel unsafe.
He remembers me, laughs with me, and looks at me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.
I have to stop this. It can’t happen.
My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable.
Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one.
I am.

PIKE
I took her in, because I thought I was helping.
She’d cook a few meals and clean up a little. It was an easy arrangement.
As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to.
The more I find my path crossing hers, though, the more she’s becoming a part of me.
But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight.
And her boyfriend’s father.
Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

*BIRTHDAY GIRL is a stand-alone, contemporary romance suitable for ages 18+.

Buy a Copy Here

Amazon/ Amazon CA / Amazon UK / Amazon AUS

My Review
The moment Penelope Douglas dropped the news that this book was coming out, I was DYING to get my hands on it. I didn't care that it wasn't the next book in the Corrupt series; it was a forbidden romance and I was ALL FOR IT.

When Jordan and her boyfriend, Cole, can't afford their apartment anymore, they find themselves moving in with Cole's dad. The very man who makes Jordan feel cared for, cherished, desired. While they both know their feelings are wrong, it feels too good to not be right.

I am always wary going into big age gap books because I hate when they're not done well (this one is 19 years). I have only read a handful of them that I've been all in for. Seeing as this is Penelope's book, I had no doubts that I would be OBSESSED with this relationship. Since it is a forbidden romance, seeing as Jordan is dating the son of the man she's actually attracted to, the romance was so slow burn and there was so much chemistry. I was DYING for Jordan or Pike to just finally make the first move and see if their chemistry was as explosive as they were feeling.

The other aspect of this book that made the age gap okay for me was how the attraction grew and how the relationship progressed. Jordan and Pike's relationship was so realistic and they had real highs and lows that tested their relationship. Also, Pike never acted like the creepy older guy lusting after the teenager. He really saw Jordan as an equal, unless Jordan was playing with him and poked fun at his age, and Jordan was so mature for her age. They just balanced each other so well, so I wasn't bothered by their age difference at all. Jordan knew what it was like to have to work hard for a living and had to grow up fast in her own life, so I found myself not even realizing there was such a big age gap between them.

Once again, Penelope Douglas absolutely nailed it with this sexy, emotional, and addicting forbidden romance. Unlike her most recent books, this one was just a romance between a guy and a girl who wanted to be together. It had a much lighter tone that what we've been getting and it was just the book I needed to become obsessed with. If you haven't yet, BUY BIRTHDAY GIRL. Everyone needs a man like Pike in their lives.

About The Author
Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her books have been translated into thirteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil’s Night Series, and the standalones, Misconduct, Punk 57, and now Birthday Girl. Please look for Kill Switch (Devil’s Night #3), coming later this year, and the standalone, Motel, coming in 2019.
She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.

Subscribe to her blog: Click Here

Be alerted of her next release: Click Here

Follow Her Here: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest

Monday, April 23, 2018

Book Review: Blood Type by KA Linde

Blood Type (Blood Type #1)

by KA Linde

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Source: Publisher

Goodreads

A startling new vision of paranormal romance: When a human ventures into the world of vampires—a decadent milieu of blood-bonds and betrayal—she discovers that not all is what it seems.

For Reyna Carpenter, giving up her body isn’t a choice. It’s survival.

In a civilization laid waste by poverty and desperation, Reyna accepts a high-paying position with the wealthy and hungry vampire elite. Her new job is as the live-in blood escort for the intimidating, demanding, and devilishly handsome Beckham Anderson. He’s everything she expected from a vampire, except for one thing—he won’t feed off her.

Reyna soon discovers that behind Beckham’s brooding, wicked façade lies a unique and complex man. And that, in a dark and divided world, she is more valuable than she ever would have believed.

For with each passing night, Reyna can’t shake the sensation that it’s Beckham who’s afraid of her.

I have been craving a good vampire romance lately, so when I saw that KA Linde was coming out with a new paranormal romance series, I was all for it. I couldn't wait to dive into a world of vampires and mayhem.

Reyna Carpenter has spent years feeling useless as her brothers work themselves to the bone every day to provide for the family. Because of the way society has fallen since the vampires have risen in power, it's been impossible for Reyna to go to college, which means it's impossible for her to get any sort of job. Feeling desperate, Reyna signs up to be a part of the humans who serve the wealthy, elite vampires. When she's assigned to Beckham Anderson, she finds herself in a world of luxury, danger, and a whole lot of mystery.

When this book started, I was really intrigued by the world Reyna was living in. Vampires were of the wealthy, upper-crust section of society and Reyna was going to have to be the personal blood supply for a wealthy vampire in order for her to make the money her family so desperately needs. The dynamics of the society was very interesting and I appreciated how I hadn't read a vampire book like that before. When it came to the relationship and the secrets the characters had, I was a bit let down. The secrets/plot twists that came at the end were very predictable and I found myself just moving through the story to get through the end.

As for the romance, I was not as intrigued with Beckham as I think the author wanted me to be. Like I said before, his character was pretty predictable, especially behind why he was so dark and brooding and dangerous around Reyna. There were some pretty random things thrown in that Beckham and Reyna have to do together and the plot didn't really flow as seamlessly as I would have liked. There was a lot this book was trying to be and I don't think it achieved what it set out to.

Overall, this was a unique vampire novel, but I think it was too predictable for my taste. I did enjoy Reyna's character and how she was pushed into a world that had scared her and that she knew nothing about. From the beginning, though, I knew exactly who to trust, who not to trust, and the secrets most of the characters were hiding. I'm not sure if I want to pick up book two when it comes out, but this one was just an okay read for me.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Book Review: Cracked Kingdom by Erin Watt

Cracked Kingdom (The Royals #5)

by Erin Watt

Release Date: March 1, 2018

Source: Book Signing

Goodreads

These Royals will ruin you.

Ever since Hartley Wright met Easton Royal, her life hasn’t been the same. There are enemies behind every corner and dangers beyond each door. When tragedy strikes and steals her memories, she can’t trust anyone, not even the blue-eyed boy who promises her that everything will be all right.

Because while Hartley’s memory is full of gaps, her instincts tell her Easton is dangerous. She doesn’t know if he’s the snake in the garden or her chance at salvation. The chaos he brings wherever he goes is too much to handle, the intense feelings he evokes are too confusing to unravel.

Easton wants her to remember. Hartley thinks it’s better to forget.

She might be right.

Tragedy. Treachery. Trust. Hartley has to face the facts—in this world, you can’t escape the Royals.

Either you live by their rules or you die by them.

I put off reading this book for so long (well, at least for me), because I did not want one of my favorite series to end. I couldn't wait to read more about Easton's story and watch everything come together in the end.

Hartley's life changed the moment she popped up on Easton Royal's radar. But when Hartley loses her memory, she cannot believe a guy like Easton Royal had ever given her the time of day. Easton will do anything for Hartley to get her memory back and remember who she had become in that past year. He has to let her remember on her own, though, or risk losing her forever.

I have to say, when the whole Hartley losing her memory thing came along at the beginning of this book, I was slightly annoyed. I really hate that trope and realized we were going to go through the whole book watching Hartley relearn what her life is. This meant, though, that we literally relearned everything from the previous book that we already knew. I wanted something new and not just a rehash of what I'd already read.

While this was the conclusion of the Royal series, I felt like there was SO MUCH LEFT UNEXPLAINED. Like, what was up with the twins?! They acted super weird and it was only glossed over and never fully explained. A secret about Easton was just tossed out there with no real reaction. And the ending felt super rushed and thrown out there to create some tension and a conclusion.

This was probably my least favorite book of the series, but nothing can ever change my love for the Royals and their journey in this series. I still gave this one a four star rating because I absolutely love this world and these characters. The execution of this finale, though, didn't feel like a finale and left a lot unsaid.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Book Review: Needing Him by Kennedy Fox

Needing Him (Bishop Brothers #2)

by Kennedy Fox

Release Date: April 17, 2018

Source: Authors

Goodreads

Evan Bishop is your typical hotshot doctor.
Hardass, brooding, and all business.

Instead of working on the family ranch, Evan broke the mold and became an ER doctor.
He’s good with his hands—in more ways than one—smart as a whip and is the definition of God’s gift to women. Being a gentleman is in his Southern roots, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t flawed. Exclusive dating has never been a top priority and his tragic past makes him stay at arm’s length. Deciding to let loose for a wild night, he takes a page from the Bishop brother’s relationship book and hooks up with a mysterious girl he’ll never have to see again, which is perfect for this self-proclaimed bachelor.

Emily Bell is a city girl through and through but is determined to get away from her family and past. All she wants is a fresh start and to make a name for herself in the medical field. No random hookups and no dating coworkers—that’s her new motto after being burned time and again. When she agrees to attend a wedding as a plus-one, she’s soon ditched and left to drink solo—but not for long. Mr. Suit is the ultimate temptation with his Southern charm, messy blond hair, and irresistible sex appeal. Everything about him screams bad news, but he makes her reconsider her rules just for one night.

After all, some rules are made to be broken.

They want the same thing—one night of passion then they’ll go their separate ways. No cuddling afterward. No next day phone calls. No awkward goodbyes. Too bad the universe has other plans—one that’ll be obvious when they report to work on Monday morning.

*A contemporary romance with a little Southern drama. This is book 2 in the Bishop Brothers series. Each book features a different brother and can be read as a complete standalone. HEA guaranteed!*

Kennedy Fox always knows how to write a fun, adorable romance. While I enjoyed the first book of the series, I was excited to read Evan's story and watch the cowboy turned doctor fall in love.

Evan Bishop has worked hard to be where he is an an ER doctor. Every moment has been spent being the best doctor and helping out on his family's ranch. So when he acts out of character and spends an amazing night with a mysterious girl at his brother's wedding, Evan can't believe how much they click. But when he wakes up the next morning with no clothes and no sight of the girl he spent the night with, he's angry. When he walks into work and finds out that Dr. Emily Bell is the new ER doctor on his floor and he will be training her, he's shocked to see the girl he spent that amazing night with. While the two instantly butt heads, it's impossible to deny the chemistry they discovered that wedding night that they promised would never happen again.

While this book started out entertaining enough, the more I got into it, the more I thought this book was trying to be too much. So many cliched tropes were thrown in left and right that I felt like way too much was trying to happen. That meant that not enough of the storyline was fleshed out because the characters would have different aspects of their pasts thrown out that were rushed and not really explained that well. I never felt deeply connected with them because they seemed very superficial and like characters, not actual people.

Also, the relationship between Evan and Emily was so up and down. I think the authors wanted to do that on purpose, but it made Emily's character hard to understand because one moment she'd be holding her own and the next she'd be like, "I don't know how I could ever end up with a guy as amazing and good looking as him." Some moment just didn't match up to me. It was just hard for me to enjoy this and get through it.

While this wasn't a bad book, I felt like too many things were thrown out for the plot's sake that it was hard to see this as a realistic book. I've experienced this with these authors' books in the past, but not to this extent. While this book sounded promising, it took me forever to read and I couldn't really connect with the characters and what they went through.

Release Day Blitz: Needing Him by Kennedy Fox

Not suitable for readers under 18 due to adult language and sexual content.

AVAILABLE NOW

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | KOBO

About the Authors

Brooke Cumberland & Lyra Parish are a duo of romance authors who teamed up to write under the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym, Kennedy Fox. They share a love of You’ve Got Mail and The Holiday. When they aren’t bonding over romantic comedies, they like to brainstorm new book ideas. One day, they decided to collaborate and have some fun creating new characters that’ll make your lady bits tingle and your heart melt. If you enjoy romance stories with sexy, tattooed alpha males and smart, independent women, then a Kennedy Fox book is for you! Keep up with all their social media platforms for updates & info!

WEBSITE | NEWSLETTER | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Cover Reveal: Arrogant Devil by RS Grey

Are you ready for ARROGANT DEVIL? We are so excited to reveal the cover of this next release from R.S. Grey! Check it out below!

About ARROGANT DEVIL

(available May 10th)

Everyone in Cedar Creek, Texas, knows Jack McNight is an arrogant devil. Physically, I get it: he’s tan and fit, with coal-black hair that’s clearly been scorched by hellfire. Oh, and his personality? It burns just as hot.

When I show up on the doorstep of Blue Stone Ranch, I’m run-down and rockin’ my last pair of underwear. I’m hoping for a savior, but instead, I find him.

My opinion of Jack is marred by a dismal first impression, but his opinion of me is tainted even before I arrive. He’s heard I’m a spoiled princess there to take advantage of his goodwill. To him, I’m more trouble than I’m worth.

Our button-pushing banter should get under my skin. His arrogance should be a major turn-off. Problem is, devils are known to offer their own form of temptation.

Every one of his steely glares sends a shiver down my spine.

Every steamy encounter leaves me reeling.

Sure, it could be the Texas heat messing with my head, but there’s no way I’ll survive the summer without silencing him with a kiss and wrestling him out of those Wranglers.

Who knows…going to bed with the devil might just be the salvation I’ve been looking for all along.

Add ARROGANT DEVIL to your Goodreads list here!

ARROGANT DEVIL releases May 10th - you'll be able to preorder your copy for .99c starting May 7th!

Keep an eye on R.S. Grey's Facebook page for the link!

About R.S. Grey

R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels, including THE FOXE & THE HOUND. She lives in Texas with her husband and two dogs, and can be found reading, binge-watching reality TV, or practicing yoga! Visit her at rsgrey.com

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Book Review: Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas

Birthday Girl

by Penelope Douglas

Release Date: April 17, 2018

Source: Author

Goodreads

JORDAN

He took me in when I had nowhere else to go.

He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He doesn’t treat me like I’m nothing, take me for granted, or make me feel unsafe.

He remembers me, laughs with me, and looks at me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.

I have to stop this. It can’t happen.

My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable.

Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one.

I am.

PIKE

I took her in, because I thought I was helping.

She’d cook a few meals and clean up a little. It was an easy arrangement.

As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to.

The more I find my path crossing hers, though, the more she’s becoming a part of me.

But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight.

And her boyfriend’s father.

Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

The moment Penelope Douglas dropped the news that this book was coming out, I was DYING to get my hands on it. I didn't care that it wasn't the next book in the Corrupt series; it was a forbidden romance and I was ALL FOR IT.

When Jordan and her boyfriend, Cole, can't afford their apartment anymore, they find themselves moving in with Cole's dad. The very man who makes Jordan feel cared for, cherished, desired. While they both know their feelings are wrong, it feels too good to not be right.

I am always wary going into big age gap books because I hate when they're not done well (this one is 19 years). I have only read a handful of them that I've been all in for. Seeing as this is Penelope's book, I had no doubts that I would be OBSESSED with this relationship. Since it is a forbidden romance, seeing as Jordan is dating the son of the man she's actually attracted to, the romance was so slow burn and there was so much chemistry. I was DYING for Jordan or Pike to just finally make the first move and see if their chemistry was as explosive as they were feeling.

The other aspect of this book that made the age gap okay for me was how the attraction grew and how the relationship progressed. Jordan and Pike's relationship was so realistic and they had real highs and lows that tested their relationship. Also, Pike never acted like the creepy older guy lusting after the teenager. He really saw Jordan as an equal, unless Jordan was playing with him and poked fun at his age, and Jordan was so mature for her age. They just balanced each other so well, so I wasn't bothered by their age difference at all. Jordan knew what it was like to have to work hard for a living and had to grow up fast in her own life, so I found myself not even realizing there was such a big age gap between them.

Once again, Penelope Douglas absolutely nailed it with this sexy, emotional, and addicting forbidden romance. Unlike her most recent books, this one was just a romance between a guy and a girl who wanted to be together. It had a much lighter tone that what we've been getting and it was just the book I needed to become obsessed with. If you haven't yet, BUY BIRTHDAY GIRL. Everyone needs a man like Pike in their lives.

Release Day Blitz + Giveaway: Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas

Title: Birthday Girl Genre: Contemporary Romance Author: Penelope Douglas Release Date: April 17, 2018

Synopsis:
JORDAN
He took me in when I had nowhere else to go.
He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He doesn’t treat me like I’m nothing, take me for granted, or make me feel unsafe.
He remembers me, laughs with me, and looks at me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.
I have to stop this. It can’t happen.
My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable.
Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one.
I am.

PIKE
I took her in, because I thought I was helping.
She’d cook a few meals and clean up a little. It was an easy arrangement.
As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to.
The more I find my path crossing hers, though, the more she’s becoming a part of me.
But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight.
And her boyfriend’s father.
Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

*BIRTHDAY GIRL is a stand-alone, contemporary romance suitable for ages 18+.

Buy a Copy Here

Amazon US---> https://amzn.to/2EQwjKk
Amazon CA---> https://amzn.to/2JQedvr
Amazon UK---> https://amzn.to/2vkEQ8z
Amazon AUS---> https://amzn.to/2H5Hfty

About The Author:

Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her books have been translated into thirteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil’s Night Series, and the standalones, Misconduct, Punk 57, and now Birthday Girl. Please look for Kill Switch (Devil’s Night #3), coming later this year, and the standalone, Motel, coming in 2019.
She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.

Subscribe to her blog: Click Here
Be alerted of her next release: Click Here

Follow Her Here:
Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest

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