Book Review: These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

These Witches Don't Burn (These Witches Don't Burn #1)

By Isabel Sterling

Release Date: May 28, 2019

Goodreads

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. 

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day.

I have been devouring adult paranormal romances, but I haven't really been reading any YA paranormal books. When I saw the cover of this one and saw it was about teen witches, I knew I had to pick it up! 

Hannah is still hurt over how things ended between her and her ex, but when strange things start happening and signs of a blood witch are popping up, Hannah knows they have more serious problems. As an elemental witch, Hannah has to make sure to hide her own powers while trying to figure out if a blood witch is really in town and how to protect those she loves. 

I love a good paranormal book, so it's no surprise that I absolutely loved the magic system in this book. I really loved how there were three types of witches and, even among witches, there was stigma against what kind of witch you were. I also loved how much Hannah actually used her powers and seeing the scope of her abilities. Of course, living with humans (or "regs" in this book), the whole aspect of having to keep her powers secret added a whole other dimension of conflict to the story. 

And talk about diversity! There were so many different kinds of relationships and identities in this book and I was soooo in love with Hannah's own romantic journey in this book. Her ex was definitely very toxic, but I enjoyed watching Hannah meet a new girl and starting to date her while still getting over her heartbreak. Hannah's best friend was also a huge bright spot in this book and I loved all of the friendships in this book. 

While reviews aren't the best for this book, I absolutely loved it! It was so witch-ey and I was all in for Hannah's romance. While I thought I had everything figured out by the end, there were some serious surprised thrown in and I immediately went to Goodreads to see what book two was releasing. I can't wait to read even more from Isabel Sterling!

Book Review: The Perfect First by Maya Hughes

The Perfect First (Fulton U #1)

by Maya Hughes 

Release Date: April 25, 2019

Source: Author

Goodreads

Persephone Alexander. Math genius. Lover of blazers. The only girl I know who can make Heidi braids look sexy as hell. And she’s on a mission. Lose her virginity by the end of the semester. 

I walked in on her interview session for potential candidates (who even does that?) and saw straight through her brave front. She’s got a list of Firsts to accomplish like she’s only got months to live. I’ve decided to be her guide for all her firsts except one. Someone’s got to keep her out of trouble. I have one rule, no sex. We even shook on it.

I’ll help her find the right guy for the job. Someone like her doesn’t need someone like me and my massive...baggage for her first time. 

Drinking at a bar. Check. 

Partying all night. Double check. 

Skinny dipping. Triple check. 

She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. The walls I’d put up around my heart are slowly crumbling with each touch that sets fire to my soul. 

I’m the first to bend the rules. One electrifying kiss changes everything and suddenly I don’t want to be her first, I want to be her only. But her plan was written before I came onto the scene and now I’m determined to get her to re-write her future with me.

I love new adult sports romances and some of my favorite books ever fall under that category. I was so excited when Maya Hughes sent me a copy of The Perfect First because it is a romance between a college football player and a math genius determined to make her last year of college a memorable one. 

Reece loves football and knows that's his only future, which means he has to buckle down and be serious when it comes to NFL scouts. What he doesn't need is the distraction that is Persephone. Seph has been driven to be perfect by her father her whole life, which is not including her next year in school. Left feeling like her life is out of her control, Seph decides to make a list of everything she hopes to do before the school year is out. Reece was definitely not part of those plans, but when the two accidentally meet, Reece can't stop thinking about Seph and decides to help her on her quest. 

I love a romance between two unlikely people and you can't get more different than Seph and Reece. I loved how Seph was determined to try new things and really live her life and it was so fun how Reece decided he was the one who was going to help her do it. There was an inexplicable draw to Seph that Reece felt and I loved how he slowly realized he was actually kind of falling for her. 

What I also tend to love about new adult books are the entire cast of characters that surround the two main characters. In this book, Reece had some pretty awesome friends and, as soon as I finished this book, I ran to Goodreads to see who was getting the next two books. I am so excited for the next books because I fell in love with all of the characters and their quirky personalities in this book. 

Overall, this was such a fun sports romance and I loved how both characters really grew and learned from one another. If you're a fan of the Off-Campus series or the Game On series, you have to try out The Perfect First!

Release Day Blitz: One Little Lie by Whitney Barbetti

New Release: One Little Lie by Whitney Barbetti

One Little Lie by Whitney Barbetti

Genre: New Adult

Designer: Najla Qamber Designs

Blurb

Adam Oliver hated me. Loathed my very existence. He had every right to, but that didn’t make my life any easier the afternoon I had to rescue him on the side of the road. But worse than rescuing a guy who hated me to his core was the lie I told my parents. Because I’d just told them that my long-term boyfriend was finally back in town. My long-term boyfriend who didn’t actually exist. The one named Adam Oliver—the guy I’d crushed on all through high school. So the real Adam had no idea that he and I were engaged in a years-long, committed, serious relationship. And, somehow, some way, I needed to convince him to play along with my one little lie.

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Book Review: Bad Influence by Charleigh Rose

Bad Influence (Bad Love #3)

by Charleigh Rose

Release Date: June 12, 2019

Source: Author

Goodreads

Allie

When I moved to River’s Edge, dating was the last thing on my mind. 
I definitely didn’t expect to fall for him. 
Jesse Shepherd. 
Popular. Star athlete. Cocky as hell. 
You know the type.
But as time passed, I realized there was more lurking beneath that gorgeous exterior.
Secretive. Angry. A little bit broken.
The more I peeled back his layers, the deeper I fell. 
Until I slammed headfirst into his sea of lies.


Jess

I blew my shot. 
Pissed everything away—college, lacrosse, my future—only to end up right back where I started in River’s Edge. 
I was content to revel in my misery, spending my days drowning in a bottomless pit of booze and girls.
Until I saw her. 
Allison Parrish. 
Beautiful. Sarcastic. Perpetual bad attitude. 
The pretty little distraction from the shit show that was my life. 
But the sins of my past were closing in on me, and I learned the hard way that nothing gold can stay.

Charleigh Rose is one of my auto-buy authors; she releases a book, I'm going to read it. I was very excited that Jesse was getting a book and I couldn't wait to have it in my hands! 

All Allie wants to do is finish school and figure out what she wants to do with her life. Ever since her dad died, it's been hard to move on. When Jesse enters her life, Allie knows he's bad news. But when she starts working for his sister, it's pretty hard to ignore him. Jesse is intrigued by Allie, especially since the rest of his life is going down in flames. He's tired of being a disappointment and his past has told him nothing good ever lasts, so will Allie really last or will she slip through his fingers? 

From the moment Allie and Jess meet, I love how cocky and annoying Jess is. There's nothing better than a bad boy in a new adult novel and that's exactly what Jess is. Allie, on the other hand, is just trying to figure out her life and try to figure out her future. It was fun watching her and Jess dance around each other and tease each other. 

While the romance was fun, I will say that this book dragged just a bit and I was not at all a fan of Jess's big "secret" he was hiding from Allie. I felt like, at this point in the publishing world, that was a cliche and I was disappointed it wasn't something more exciting or surprising. I was happy, though, that we got to see the characters we love from Bad Intentions! 

In the end, this was a fun read that had a very entertaining romance. There was a lot of back and forth and angst and I was definitely a fan! While some parts dragged, I enjoyed the book overall!

Book Review: Superfan by Sarina Bowen

Superfan (Brooklyn #3)

by Sarina Bowen

Release Date: June 15, 2019

Source: Author

Goodreads

Sometimes lady luck shakes your hand, and sometimes she smacks your face. Sometimes she does both on the same day.

Three years ago I met the most amazing girl in the world. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny.

But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name.

While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly.

But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date.

She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart. 

Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing for keeps.

I have been a huge fan the Brooklyn Bruisers series ever since book one came out. I'm so happy that Sarina Bowen has continued the series after the original three and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the newest installment. 

Silas has been Delilah's superfan ever since they met in a bar he was working at three years ago. Now, she's a famous musician and he's an NHL goalie. They both finally achieved their lifelong dreams, and Silas finally has the chance to catch the girl of his dreams. 

From the beginning, Silas was such a sweetheart and I was swooning over his character. Both in the flashbacks to when they met and in the present, Silas really showed Delilah how much she meant to him and how serious he took their relationship. I will say, I wasn't a huge fan of how physical their relationship became so quickly when they reconnected and I wish there was a bit more substance built over their reunion, but that's just my own personal taste. 

My only other disappointment in this book was the lack of hockey. This book takes place during the off season, so we don't even get Silas playing any hockey. I prefer more sports in my sports romances, but other than that, I really loved Silas's relationships with all of his teammates and their significant others and how present they all were in this book. They were rooting for Silas the whole time he was dating Delilah and it was too cute!

Overall, this was another great addition to the Brooklyn series with a super swoony hockey player. The music aspect of Delilah's career was a great plot line and I loved watching Silas and Delilah trying to make it work!

Blog Tour + Review: Nine by TM Frazier

"Nine was just as hilarious as it was dark and violent. Just as deep and emotional as it was smoking hot. NINE stars!!!"- BB Easton, bestselling author

Nine: The Tale of Kevin Clearwater, the highly anticipated new standalone from USA Today bestselling author T.M. Frazier is available now!

Nine lives.

Nine inches.

One chance to make her his.

Preppy's brother is about to live up to the family legacy in more ways than one.

This is the story of Nine, The Tale of Kevin Clearwater.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CWvzF7

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I've been reading TM Frazier for about two years now, and whenever she has a new book coming out, I am always itching to get my hands on it. I was super excited to see she was coming back to the King series with a new character!

Nine has had a rough life. He finally decides to leave and try to find the only family he has left. He finds a home and a family with Preppy, but a ghost from his past is back and he needs to protect her at all costs. 

From the prologue of this book, I was seriously hooked. I loved how Nine and Lenny met and how we got some of their backgrounds before we skipped to years ahead when they finally meet again. This book took on much more of a romantic suspense and I loved it for that. Lenny had no idea what she had gotten herself into and Nine was there to try and help keep her out of danger. Of course, they had insane chemistry and Lenny didn't know what to feel sine she's never been involved in that kind of life before. 

I will say, for a dark romantic suspense, this one wasn't as dark or suspenseful as I wanted it to be. There were some slower parts and I wanted so much more action that the first books in this series have. Of course, there was a dramatic twist near the end, which is typical of TM Frazier in her books. I'm not so sure it had the impact I wanted it to have, but overall this story was definitely entertaining and I really loved the romance between Lenny and Nine. 

While this one isn't my favorite of the series, it was a great addition to the King world. This can be read as a standalone, but I loved seeing all of the characters from the previous books in this series that we know and love. Fans of the King series should definitely pick up Nine!

About the Author

T.M. (Tracey Marie) Frazier never dreamed that a single person would ever read a word she wrote when she published her first book. Now, she is a five-time USA Today bestselling author and her books have been translated into numerous languages and published all around the world. T.M. enjoys writing what she calls sexy‘wrongside of the tracks romance’ with morally corrupt anti-heroes and ballsy heroines. Her books have been described as raw, dark and gritty. Basically, what that means, is while some authors are great at describing a flower as it blooms, T.M. is better at describing it in the final stages of decay. She loves meeting her readers, but if you see her at an event please don’t pinch her because she's not ready to wake up from this amazing dream.

Connect with T.M. Frazier

Facebook: http://bit.ly/TMFRAZIERBOOKS

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Book Review: On the Rocks by Kandi Steiner

On the Rocks 

by Kandi Steiner

Release Date: June 13, 2019

Source: Author

Goodreads

Noah Becker is nothing but trouble.

That’s what Mama told me when I was a kid, kicking his pew in church and giggling at the games we’d play. It’s what the town said when his father died and the Becker brothers went wild. 

And it’s on repeat in my mind the day I walk into the whiskey distillery where he works to buy a wedding gift for my fiancé.

He’s trouble. 
Dirty, sweaty, rude trouble. 

No matter how many times I repeat it, I can’t escape Noah in our small Tennessee town. And the more I run into him, the more he infuriates me. Because he sees what no one else does.

He sees me—the real me. 

The me I’m not sure I’m allowed to be.

I’m Ruby Grace Barnett, the mayor’s daughter. Soon to be a politician’s wife, just like Mama and Daddy always wanted.  Soon to fulfill my family’s legacy, just like I always knew I would.

Until the boy everyone warned me about makes me question everything, like whether the wedding I’m planning is one I even want. 

Everyone says Noah Becker is nothing but trouble.

If only I had listened.

Anytime I hear Kandi is coming out with a new book, I mark my calendar and count the days until that book is in my hands. The minute a copy of On the Rocks landed on my kindle, I devoured that book!

Ruby Grace Barnett is back home in Stratford, Tennessee and ready to marry the perfect man in six weeks. The perfect man who she can be the perfect politician's wife for. The day she encounters Noah Becker is the day her life turns upside down. Noah is nothing but trouble, and he's not afraid to ask Ruby Grace the hard questions. Does she want to be married so young? What about her own future? Ruby Grace is scared to answer those questions, but the more time she spends with Noah, the more she realizes the truth she's been trying to ignore, as well as some feelings she knows she should not be feeling... 

Starting this book, I was very wary it was a romance between a 19-year-old and a 28-year-old. I don't typically like the girl being super young, but Ruby Grace was presented very mature for her age. She was such an altruistic person and I loved how selfless she was. When it came to her relationship with Noah, they really because friends first, which made me such a fan of their romance. Neither one jumped in head first, but instead got to know each other and really understand each other before more feelings came about. 

I love small town romances, and this had all of the small town romance vibes and more. The town was very important to the plot of the story and how Ruby Grace made her decisions. I also enjoyed how important their families were to the story. We don't really get anything from Ruby Grace's sister, but I loved Noah's family and how important they were to him, especially his mom. The characters were built up very well so that I already can't wait for book two in this series!

Overall, this was a super sweet romance that hit the spot for me. I loved the slow burn of Ruby Grace and Noah's relationship and the drama that unfolded by the end of the book. As usual, I was sucked into this book and became obsessed with this romance! All romance fans need to read On the Rocks!