Ivy Wild is a new-to-me author, so I went into Brightly Burning Bridges with no knowledge of Silas. I’ve gathered from the previous books that he was really a jerk, and while there are some alphahole tendencies, I wouldn’t classify this as a bully romance. He’s mean and gives you whiplash, but I wouldn’t necessarily classify him as a bully. But I digress…
Silas and Skylar’s story is wonderfully told in dual POV between present day and flashbacks to high school 10 years ago. Their friendship starts off rocky, but there is a genuine thread of appreciation and respect between the two of them. Until the day that it all goes to crap because of Silas’ actions when it comes to Skylar’s private sanctuary, her bridge. Neither one of them ever forgot that day, even though Sky was sure that his actions meant she meant nothing to her. How wrong she was.
Both of these characters are broken, but Silas especially so. There is a sweet and vulnerable boy underneath the alpha facade, and once Sky really lets him back in, theirs becomes an epic love story.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Ivy Wild
Writer of all things untamed, romantic and free, Ivy Wild never planned on becoming a romance novelist.
In fact, she hated romance as a kid and was quite proud of that fact.
Basically, life is weird.
Married to her own alpha hero, she currently lives in various places of the world at various times thanks to his military career.
Her brother made her untouchable. But that won’t stop his best friend–and her new roommate– from pursuing her.
It’s official. I’ve hit rock bottom. I just broke up with my manipulative boyfriend and am moving in with my older brother until I can get back on my feet.
Which is where I run into his cocky roommate, River.
From the second we meet, I want nothing to do with him and his manwhoring ways. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. The guy goes through women like I go through a sleeve of Oreos.
But I guess I can’t really blame him for having a big head. He gets paid to be looked at, and has a revolving door of gorgeous women at his beck and call. Once I move in, my brother raises the forbidden stakes and claims me as off-limits. Which only entices River further.
After all, he’s a sucker for the things he can’t have.
Model Behavior is a great series starter from Kelsie Rae! When I started reading Model Behavior, I actually had to go back and reread the blurb, because I was sure this story was going to be about Reese and Jake, her brother’s best friend from childhood. But nope, it’s River — model, manwhore River — who turned out to be the guy who captured Reese’s attention.
I loved how strong of a heroine Reese is, even if she doesn’t think she’s strong. She’s starting over again after an abusive relationship, and moves in with her brother Milo and his 4 roommates. Milo lays down the law that Reese is untouchable, and even though each guy is hotter than the next, Reese is not in any headspace to enter into another relationship. But she does start up a friendship with model River, and it turns out that there’s a lot more to the guy than being a pretty face.
River is so sweet and shows such a vulnerable side when he’s with Reese. And you know what? He’s got a rep as being a manwhore, but as soon as he realizes that he’s really into Reese and is willing to risk his friendship with Milo in order to date her, he immediately stops playing around with other women. But once Reese gives in and she and River start seeing one another in secret, it’s a time bomb waiting to explode.
This story took a turn that I really wasn’t expecting, and really puts some stress on Reese and River’s relationship. When tragedy strikes, Reese shows how strong she is and just how much River means to her. I loved where Model Behavior went from there! I can’t wait to see what happens with the rest of the roommates!
This book has all the same sweet moments and connections between the H/h as her Signature Sweethearts series, but is not the same sweet/clean romance. Sexy, sexy times abound!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
If you love forbidden romance, jealous exes, and sexy alpha heroes, then you’ll love Model Behavior by Kelsie Rae. One-Click today!
From USA Today bestselling author A. M. Madden comes a second-chance, surrogate romance.
Helping people is what I do best. I’ve made a career around it and dedicated my adult life to it. So, when my two best friends decided to start a family but weren’t able to conceive, it made total sense for me to become their surrogate.
Once I pleaded my case, and they finally agreed, I moved from New Jersey to Florida, excited for a much-needed change. But no one could’ve predicted crossing paths with the love of my life, the one who’d left years earlier, the one man I never got over.
Ryder Carter.
Despite how much we’d loved one another, life happened and circumstances pulled us apart. But he was back now, in Florida, single and still as gorgeous as ever. Even better, he wanted to pick up where we had left off. He wanted me.
Ryder appearing when he did couldn’t have come at a worse time. Because, even as just a surrogate, I had to wonder: Would he still want me when he learned I was pregnant with another man’s baby? Would he wait out the nine months to be with me? And even more important, how could I ask him to?
Not Turning Back is meant for a mature reading audience.
I really wasn’t sure how this second-chance romance was going to work, but I really enjoyed it! This book is Riana’s story, and she was Cooper’s girlfriend in Upside Down. Obviously, there are lots of appearances by Cooper and Ricky since Ree is acting as their surrogate, but No Turning Back is a standalone and it’s not necessary to have read the other books in this series.
The fact that Riana runs into Ryder — the one who got away, the guy who didn’t fight for her — just as her life is about to change in the biggest of ways was bittersweet. Does she put off a potential romantic reunion because she’s about to undergo IVF as a surrogate for someone else? Does she miss out on the opportunity to try again with the guy she never got over? There are alot of big decisions that Ree has to make, and she doesn’t take them lightly. And Ryder has many choices to make as well once he’s filled in. Can he be with Riana as she carries another man’s baby? Will his own painful family history with childbirth be too much and prevent him from supporting the woman he’s still loved all this time? And what happens when Ree and Ryder — neither of whom wanted children to begin with — change their mind about becoming parents but are afraid to tell the other?
I thought that this story was so well-written. Ree and Ryder’s communication issues is what blew up their relationship the first time around, and they really do try to not make those same mistakes. The tension in their rekindled relationship comes from them wanting to protect the other, and not because of the baby she’s carrying, which I appreciated. I wouldn’t have liked this story if Ryder couldn’t get on board with what Ree was doing for Cooper and Ricky. But making their issues be the same issues that caused trouble the first time around — and how they handle that now, years later — showed great growth for both characters.
No Turning Back is sweet and sexy, full of swoony moments, sizzling chemistry and about a couple that is meant to be forever.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet A.M. Madden
A USA Today bestselling, award-winning author, A.M. Madden is also a Jersey girl whose addiction to romance started at twelve after reading Judy Blume’s Forever. As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, she truly believes that true love knows no bounds. In her books, she aspires to write fun, sexy, realistic love stories that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. She creates realistic characters and believes there’s no better compliment than when readers felt they knew the characters personally.
When not writing, she’s busy being a wife to her soulmate, and a mother to two boys who she believes are the most handsome men on earth. She loves to cook, hates to bake, and dreams about living at the beach someday.
A. M. Madden is the author of the popular Back-Up series, as well as several other contemporary romances. She is also a published author with Loveswept/Random House and Entangled Publishing.
Her debut novel was Back-Up, the first in the Back-Up series. In Back-Up, A.M.’s main character, Jack Lair, caused readers to swoon. They call themselves #LairLovers and have been faithful supporters to Jack, as well as to the rest of his band, Devil’s Lair.
Title: Playing for Keeps
Series: Hope Valley
Author: Jessica Prince
Contemporary Romance; Small Town Romance
When it came to the men in her life, Charlotte Belmont was cursed. She’d known losers, cheaters, abusers, and criminals, so it went without saying, she stopped trusting her judgment a long time ago. Then Dalton came into her life; a good, dependable man who made her heart race and her body hot. When she felt herself falling for him, she did the only thing she could think to protect them both . . . she ran like hell.
Dalton Prescott was a protector by nature, so when the woman he’d been tasked to keep safe was almost killed on his watch, he carried that guilt like a weight on his shoulders. What made matters worse was that before everything went south, Dalton had started to care for Charlotte in a way that had nothing to do with his job.
She’s determined to ignore their attraction and keep him at a distance, but he’s playing for keeps and has no intention of losing. However, when ghosts from the past start popping up, bringing with them a whole new threat, Dalton may be the only man who can keep her safe this time.
**Hope Valley is a series of interconnected, standalone, small town romances.**
His eyes were still dancing with humor when he finally got a hold of himself and looked back down at me. “What’s so funny?”
“The fact you thought you had to convince me you weren’t perfect,” he said, a chuckle still shaking his chest. “Believe me, Thumbelina, I’m well aware of the fact you aren’t perfect.”
My eyes narrowed into slits when he started cracking up again. “All right,” I said snootily. “You don’t have to laugh so damn hard about it.”
“You did everything you could to make my life miserable when I was put in charge of keepin’ you safe. You were loud, you picked fights constantly, you’re hardheaded, you had shit taste in music, you’re messy, and you were constantly eatin’ my yogurt, even though I put my name on it before stashing it in the fridge. Christ, baby. You pretended to have menstrual cramps just so you could sneak out on me when I was tryin’ to protect you. Straight up, you were a pain in my ass, so trust me when I say you don’t have to warn me.”
I squirmed in his arms until he was forced to let me go, and took a step back, planting my hands on my hips while shooting fire from my eyes. “First off, I do not have shit taste in music.”
“Babe, every one of your playlists is like bein’ trapped at the g***** Lilith Fair with no escape.”
“Second,” I continued, ignoring his dig, “I’m not messy. I know exactly where everything is.”
His brows climbed high on his forehead as he looked around my apartment to the piles of clothes and shoes strewn about.
“I got really tired after finishing my laundry,” I defended snappily.
“But I’ll have you know, they’re all clean, and like I said, I know exactly what is in each and every pile.”
He grinned arrogantly, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do more, kiss it or smack it off his sexy, stupid face. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”
“And last, that yogurt was in my fridge. That means, labeled or not, it was fair game.”
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
Ah! Dalton and Charlie’s story was everything I hoped for! I loved their banter in the previous book, and I was thrilled that I didn’t have to wait very long to see Dalton and Thumbelina get their HEA!
Poor Charlotte has not had an easy go in life. And Dalton wants to be her knight in shining armor, but she doesn’t think she deserves to have anything good in life…. He is so patient and understanding with Charlie, determined to prove to her otherwise.
Playing For Keeps is a super sweet addition to the Hope Valley series with another lovable couple. As with the other Hope Valley books, there is a bit of a mystery thread throughout, and I know better than to think that the plot point with Charlie’s sister was mysteriously dropped! I can’t wait to see what unfolds from that nugget!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Visit Hope Valley a series of interconnected, standalone romances
Born and raised around Houston Texas, Jessica spent most of her life complaining about the heat, humidity, and all around pain in the ass weather. It was only as an adult that she quickly realized the cost of living in Houston made up for not being able to breathe when she stepped outside. That’s why God created central air, after all.
Jessica is the mother of a perfect little boy–she refuses to accept that he inherited her attitude and sarcastic nature no matter what her husband says.
In addition to being a wife and mom, she’s also a wino, a coffee addict, and an avid lover of all types of books–romances still being her all time favs. Her husband likes to claim that reading is her obsession but she just says it’s a passion…there’s a difference. Not that she’d expect a boy to understand.
Jessica has been writing since she was a little girl, but thankfully grew out of drawing her own pictures for her stories before ever publishing her first book. Because an artist she is not.
It’s been ten years since Asher left me with nothing but the remains of our shattered dreams.
The last place I expected to see him was at a small bar in a city of over eight million.
With my heart set on expanding my business, I needed one of New York City’s best real estate executives. Little did I know it would be the same man who had torn my heart like a piece of paper before setting it on fire.
Once my gaze lands on his, I know Asher is no longer the boy I loved when I was eighteen. No, this Asher treated me like a stranger. All for the sake of not wanting to sift through the ashes of our past.
Yet Asher’s arrogance rivaled any sort of rejection, even mine. Using his own selfish ambition, he needed me to claw his way to the top.
Despite his true motives, I had foolishly let him back in.
I’d fallen in love with Asher Owens once before and this time I would try my best not to make the same mistake twice.
Paper Hearts was a phenomenal enemies-to-lovers second chance romance! It is one of those books that I started reading around 8 pm and stayed up way into the night, finishing it because I could not put it down! This is the first book I’ve read by Brittany Taylor, and I absolutely loved it. It is well-written, the pacing is perfect, Asher and Charleigh’s story is heartbreaking, and their journey back together is full of tears but so beautiful!
Ten years after Asher gave her the brush-off the night of their high school graduation, Charliegh is shocked to run into him in NYC. And even more shocked that their best friends are married to one another. But since he’s one of the best realtors in the city, she’s kind of forced to work with him in finding a new space to expand her floral shop.
It’s not an easy feat, and spending time together brings up all kinds of bad memories for both of them. But as they face their past hurts and address the issues between them and where things went wrong — and rediscover the love that brought them together in messages left behind on paper hearts — Asher and Charleigh realize that they never stopped loving one another. A marvelous, emotional, second chance story! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
EXCERPT
I step forward, closing the space between us. It’s the closest I’ve been to her in ten years. She steps backward, her back hitting the wall behind her. Her scent fills the air around us, a mixture of vanilla and flowers. Even with her heels, the top of her head still doesn’t meet my chin. I’m hovering over her, looking down at her as she tips her chin up. Breaking my eyes away from hers, I take a glance at how many floors we still have to go—only ten more left. Her whole body turns rigid with mine pressed against hers. She presses her lips together and swallows, her eyes dancing between my mouth and my eyes.
“What bothers you more, Charleigh? The fact that I won’t work with you or that you think I’m a shit friend? Because it seems to me it might be both.”
She bites down on her bottom lip, pulling it between her perfect teeth.
Fuck.
Suddenly I’m remembering how those lips once pressed against mine. Standing this close to her was a mistake, my reaction to her beginning to grow within the black pants of my suit.
Despite my question, she remains silent, so I continue. “And don’t pretend to be shocked by my question. We both know the truth behind how you really feel about me.”
Her bottom lip pops out from between her teeth, the flesh pink from the pressure she placed on it. “Wow.” The word slowly seeps out of her mouth, letter by letter. Her eyes narrow once again, and it’s as if she’s pierced me straight in the chest. “How arrogant you must be to assume how I feel about you after ten years of silence. Don’t act like you’re the victim here, Asher. You made your choices and I made mine.” Her words are laced with venom, meant to poison me.
It took nearly ten years to put Charleigh out of my mind. The pain of what happened, her forcing me to make the decision to leave her, is still fresh, even after all this time. We both lost something the night I left, but in a way, I feel I lost more than Charleigh did…my mother, and Charleigh.
I thought I was doing what was best for the both of us, but the differences between her and me couldn’t be more apparent.
The elevator settles before the doors slide open. I’m still standing in front of Charleigh, pressing her body against the wall. She pushes against my chest and quickly walks out. I hold my breath, knowing I should let her go. But like the fool I’ve always been, I don’t.
AUTHOR BIO
Brittany Taylor grew up all over the world including places such as California, England and Texas. Today she resides in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, two cats, and a dog. She loves reading but loves writing even more. Her favorite things in life are her family, binge watching Golden Girls, and tacos.
As in the only word to describe making the mistake of falling for someone who is not only ten years younger than you, but your best friend’s son…
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars
I flew through this older woman/younger man romance fairly quickly. I’ve read a few of Xavier Neal’s books before, and Aleatory was pretty in line with what I’ve come to expect from her writing. I was expecting a bit more of the forbidden aspect to Nix and Sloan’s relationship — but when it all came out at the end, I was almost relieved that it *didn’t* cause major upheaval.
Sloan is a romance writer who has hit a slump… and while taking in a change of scenery in the small town where her best friend Cora lives, Sloan finds inspiration in the most unlikely of sources: Cora’s son, Nicholas, aka Nix. There are only ten years between Sloan’s 36 and Nix’s 26, so the forbidden aspect becomes more about the fact that she’s best friends with his mom. I really loved Nix and Sloan’s relationship — they brought out the best in one another, despite the stress of sneaking around. The major drama in their relationship comes from some level of immaturity on Nix’s part, and Sloan quickly puts him in his place.
I really enjoyed the small-town feel to this romance, and the sizzling chemistry between Sloan and Nix. At the end of the day, their age really didn’t matter much, because these two so perfectly balanced one another out.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About the Author:
Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub genre to sub genre like a game of Hopscotch she can’t resist.
In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy’s t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible).
She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband “Lumberjack” and her rather lazy dog, Missy.
A sexy, swoony falling-for-the-neighbor standalone romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely!
Just my luck – my new next door neighbor is a unicorn.
Yep, the British hottie is clearly a mythical man because – get this – he’s a sexy, witty, charming, big-hearted single dad.
Who, wait for it, wants to find Mrs. Right and get hitched.
He’s a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of man, and it’s a darn shame I’m not on the market. If I were, his accent alone would melt me. Add in the fact that he’s a veterinarian, and my animal-loving heart would be flip flopping.
But my heart’s on the mend. I’m a single parent like him, and raising my teenage daughter is my top priority. Plus, falling for a guy who shares your property line is a line you shouldn’t cross.
Still, I’m an outgoing gal, so I do the neighborly thing and offer to be his dating insider.
Surely, I can help this small town’s most eligible bachelor ever navigate his way through all the fantastic single ladies eager to make his acquaintance.
What could possibly go wrong in helping the dream guy next door find his one true love?
So I set him up on one date, two dates, three dates — and I’m about to find out exactly how dangerous my offer is.
Another great romcom from Lauren Blakeley. I loved how strong and sassy January is! Miss Fix-It is secure, confident and knows what she wants. Swoony veterinarian/single dad Liam moves in next door and decides he’s ready to start dating again. But since January is dead-set on not being in a relationship, she offers to help him find his way around the local single ladies… and of course these two end up falling head over heels for one another instead.
This book has all the LB trademarks for a great romcom: witty dialogue, great writing, awesome supporting players and a sweet small town feel.
There isn’t a lot of drama, just two people ignoring their feelings for one another. So if you want an easy to read feel-good romance, this one is a winner!
I voluntarily left a review.
About the Author:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes red-hot, sexy romance and USA Today bestselling LGBTQ romance. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, with more than 50 titles on the USA Today Bestsellers list alone. She’s sold more than 4 million books. She likes dogs, cake and show tunes.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Trope: World War II, Pearl Harbor
SYNOPSIS
From the author of Last Words, USA Today Bestselling Author Shari J. Ryan brings readers a new, unforgettable novel. Last One Home was inspired by true events of the attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II.
AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR THIS IS NOT A DRILL
Piercing sirens led to cries for help. The pungent scents of burning oil would be seared into our memories forever, and the meaning behind loss was incomprehensible on that infamous day in history.
Twenty-year-old Elizabeth Salzberg, a nursing student and strong-willed Jewish woman, lived under the strict guidance of her father, a naval commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Oahu, Hawaii. For the five years following her mother’s untimely death, Elizabeth had struggled to abide by society’s expectations of a woman’s duties. While spending her days preparing meals and keeping a clean house for her father and brothers, Elizabeth desired a more profound sense of worth and purpose in life.
Elizabeth’s dream of escaping the rigorous daily grind was drifting out to sea just before her unexpected encounter with the new handsome lieutenant on base. Everett Anderson, a former Hollywood actor who put his career on hold to serve in the Army is the talk of the town as women gossip over his arrival. Despite the attention, Everett fell for Elizabeth at first sight, but unbeknownst to him, she was the commander’s daughter and off-limits to all servicemen on base.
On the morning of December 7th, 1941, a forbidden romance was the least of Elizabeth and Everett’s worries when they found themselves fearing for their lives as they dropped to the ground beneath the air attack that would wipe out the U.S. Fleet within hours.
Elizabeth saw this pivotal moment as a turning point in her life. An opportunity to join the Army Nurse Corps was the purpose she had been seeking. She knew the country needed her services. This path was in resistance to her father’s wishes and would likely disrupt any future plans between her and Everett, but despite the internal battle to make a life-altering decision, Elizabeth felt an overwhelming need to prove her strength as a coming of age woman at a time when equality was more important than ever.
Could Elizabeth and Everett survive the bloodshed and tears of war, or would one have to come home without the other?
Last One Home is a gripping story of soulmates, faith, fate and never-ending love, set against the backdrop of WWII and the aftermath of the numbing of Pearl Harbor in particular. Shari Ryan did a great job of creating a vivid visual of that horrible day, and how it plays into the rest of the heroine’s story as Elizabeth struggles with finding her purpose, being proud in her faith as a Jewish woman, and falling in love when she least expected to.
The story is told from Lizzie’s POV in modern 2018 and flashbacks to 1941-44. It’s very much a journey of her growth as a woman as it is a historical romance with the whirlwind relationship between Lizzie and Everett. Last One Home is intense, raw, heartfelt and emotional, a wonderful story that had my heart racing at times and breaking at others.
I absolutely loved Shari Ryan’s Last Word books, so I was very excited to see what she brought to the table with Last One Home. Although I felt this book was missing that special *something* that made Last Words a spectacular story, I still very much enjoyed Last One Home.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
GIVEAWAY
$25 Amazon Gift Card and a Signed Paperback a Rafflecopter Giveaway
Shari J. Ryan is USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Massachusetts with her wicked awesome husband, and two wild sons who fill her life with non-stop comedy.
With a life full of love, writing, drawing, TV binging, reading, and Starbucks, Shari is living her best life.
My name is Carter Trayland, And I really screwed up.
Wreck My Plans, an all-new standalone enemies-to-lovers romance from Kelsey Clayton is available now!
I should’ve ended things before they began. Instead, I wound up in a twisted love triangle, One that I never wanted to be a part of.
The wrong choice sent my life on a whirlwind. A woman I forced myself to love is dead. My best friend was nearly blamed for her murder. And the one I’ve always wanted, now wants revenge.
Her favorite person is gone, and she thinks it’s my fault. I’m not about to correct her either. Not when the reality is so much worse.
She can’t find out the truth of what happened. Knowing would ruin her in ways I can’t fathom. If blaming me is her way of coping, I’ll gladly carry that burden.
Because Tyeler Morgan is the one girl I’d protect at all costs.
Wreck My Plans is a standalone and part of the North Haven University series. It deals with sensitive topics that my be triggering to some readers.
I turn toward the door to see Carter, Jace, and Jace’s girlfriend standing there. The guys look just as shocked to see me as I am to see them, but the girl next to Jace is most likely picturing ways to murder me in her mind.
“You two know each other?” Amelia asks.
She grunts. “Not exactly, but I know enough of her to know she’s a fucking bitch.”
“Woah,” Kennedy steps in. “Easy, Paige.”
“Yeah, babe. Let’s calm down a little,” Jace tries, but she’s not having it.
She rips her arm out of his hold. “No! Fuck no! She tried to put you away for life, Jace. For life!”
The reminder of my best friend’s murder trial is a slap in the face, and my testimony was based off my belief that he actually did it. If I had seen the tape showing the other angle before I got on the stand, I never would have agreed to testify. The one thing I can see, though, is that Jace seems to value his life a little more than he used to, because he doesn’t try to calm his girlfriend down again.
Paige glares at me as she steps forward and into my face. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re doing here, but let me make one thing clear: if you try fucking with my friends, my family, we’re going to have serious issues.”
There is absolutely nothing that I find intimidating about this girl. To be honest, it looks like I could have the right guy punt her across a football field. But I can respect her loyalty to her friends and the courage to jump into the lion’s den to defend them.
I used to have that.
She turns around and walks back toward Jace. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
“No. Allow me.” I interrupt and my eyes find Carter’s. “Suddenly, this is the last place I want to be.”
Neither Kennedy or Amelia try to stop me as I slip out the door—not that I expected them to. They’ve been friends with them longer. Of course, Carter manages to take everything from me. He took Davi. Now he already has Kennedy and Amelia. There’s no way those two will have anything to do with me once I start doing things to get back at Carter, and nothing will stand in the way of my plans.
Nothing.
As if he has an actual death wish, the door opens and Carter comes running out, calling my name. I consider not stopping. I’m sure nothing good can come from talking to him, but my anger is enough to get me to freeze.
“Don’t leave,” he tells me. “I’m sorry for what Paige said.”
I balk. “For what Paige said? That’s what you’re sorry for?”
Running his fingers through his hair, he sighs. “Not the only thing, but it’s something I’m sorry for. Can we just go somewhere and talk?”
A bark of humorless laughter echoes out of me. “No. I don’t want to go anywhere with you. I don’t even want to fucking look at you.” My fists clench, and I can feel my nails digging into my skin as he stays quiet. “You just have the perfect life, don’t you? You’ve got your team and your friends and your family. And where’s mine? Oh. That’s right. Six feet under, right where you fucking left her.”
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Star
Wreck My Plans is another great story in the North Haven University series by Kelsey Clayton, telling Carter and Tyeler’s story. It is a standalone, but events are referenced from the previous book, Change My Game, but I think the reader would be fine not going in without that background.
Now we know exactly why Tyeler transferred to NHU, and why she’s gunning for Carter: She wants him to pay for the death of her best friend, Davi. Even though Jace was wrongly tried for having killed Davi, Tye holds Carter responsible. After all, he was Davi’s fiance, and she blames him for taking her best friend away from her.
This book is all kinds of twisted, and Tye is really out of control. Some of her paybacks are harmless pranks but she crosses the line to illegal more than once. And Carter just takes it all because he’s been in love with her for years, and knows that she’s suffering and hurt. While it’s a bit outlandish that Tye never pays for anything she does, I read it knowing that I had to suspend belief. Carter carries his own guilt over Davi’s death, and has been worried about Tye ever since. He knows that her grief is consuming her, and rather than being pissed off about her antics, he is genuinely terrified for her own mental health. The worst part of it all is that Carter has the info that would make Tye stop it all, but he knows that revealing the truth to her about Davi would hurt her even more.
Wreck My Plans is a second-chance story with a bit of hate, lust, love, revenge and forbidden romance between two enemies to lovers who have both been hurt by events of the past and find a shred of peace in one another to move forward. I think Carter and Tye may be my favorite couple of this series so far… but I can’t wait for Easton and Kennedy’s story!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Kelsey Kelsey Clayton is an internationally selling author of Contemporary Romance novels. She lives in a small town in Delaware with her husband, two kids, and dog.
She is an avid reader of fall hard romance. She believes that books are the best escape you can find, and that if you feel a range of emotions while reading her stories – she succeeded. She loves writing and is only getting started on this life long journey.
Kelsey likes to keep things in her life simple. Her ideal night is one with sweatpants, a fluffy blanket, cheese fries, and wine. She holds her friends and family close to her heart and would do just about anything to make them happy.
From International Bestselling author Kaydence Snow, comes a student-teacher romance full of suspense and forbidden heat.
Harlow
My life is a mess.
No plans for the future, constantly disappointing everyone, and now some creep is threatening me, making me do reprehensible things.
Oh! And a teacher is somehow involved too. Easton Monroe is strict, aloof, and not at all what everyone at school thinks he is. The more I dig beneath his neat shirts and disapproving frowns, the more I catch feelings for the complicated man.
I have to figure him out – before we do something we’ll both regret.
Easton
My life is a lie.
In a job I can’t stand, alone and miserable, the anonymous psycho blackmailing me is the only person I speak to regularly.
In case I didn’t have enough to stress about, a student is being targeted by the same psycho. Harlow Mead is stubborn, brave and so much more than she lets people see. She’s determined to fight and more beguiling the more I get to know her.
I have to get us out of this deadly situation – before I ruin us both.
Like You Should is a student/teacher romance, but it’s worth noting that Harlow is 18, Easton only 23, and he’s not *her* teacher — just teaches at the same elite academy where she attends.
Going into this book, I didn’t have much of an opinion of Harlow based on her appearances in the previous ones. She was just kind of a background player, but she really comes into her own in Like You Should. She was always Donna’s little sister who needed taking care of, but now she’s trying to take care of her big sister. Even if it means doing shady, illegal things to protect Donna’s wild past from coming to light. I *really* liked Harlow. Whereas I found Donna to be a bully and a mean girl in her book, I thought Harlow was fiercely loyal to her family and selfless. Sure, she was being coerced into breaking and entering among other things, but she was doing it to protect her big sister. Harlow always put herself down as being stupid, but I found her to be full of street smarts and a strong heroine.
Then there’s Easton. Cold, uptight Mr. Monroe is actually a weekend tattoo artist, full of ink and a pretty sweet guy to boot. He’s cold at school because he hates being there. He, too, is being coerced to do shady things, and it’s all to protect his little brother, Ford. He tries so hard to distance himself from Harlow, but there’s a strong connection there that he can’t deny. Even though he’s not her teacher, Easton tries to do the right thing and not compromise either of their reputations.
But as Easton, Harlow and Ford work together to try to uncover the identity of their mysterious blackmailer, Easton learns that there is much more to Harlow than the bratty rich girl he originally thought she was, and she discovers that there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to protect those who matter to him… and that includes her. I thought these two were wonderful together… I really think they are my favorite couple of this series so far!
Like You Should can be read as a standalone, but there is an ongoing storyline with a mysterious self-help group called BestLyfe that has continued through all three books so far. Somehow — I’m sure of it! — the hacker who was blackmailing Easton and Harlow is connected to BestLyfe, but that was mysteriously dropped as soon as Ocean’s identity was revealed. But I trust Kaydence Snow has the resolution to it all planned out for Amaya’s book, coming next! And can we PLEASE get a book for Ford??
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Kaydence Snow has lived all over the world but ended up settled in Melbourne, Australia. She lives near the beach with her husband.
She draws inspiration from her own overthinking, sometimes frightening imagination, and everything that makes life interesting: complicated relationships, new experiences and good food and coffee. Life is not worth living without good food and coffee!
She believes sarcasm is the highest form of wit and has the vocabulary of a highly educated, well-read sailor. When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, planning when she can write next, or reading other people’s writing, she loves to travel and learn new things.
Sunny Shelly Reads 