Book review: TORE UP, by Abbi Glines

Mississippi Smoke #1

Bane & Halo

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

The author promised angst and heartbreak and wow, did she deliver.  I lost count of how many times I cried because it was so devastating.  Talking about what happened spoils the story so let me just express my feelings during the story.  

Bane starts out as a violent, aggressive man.  Later I saw that he was in the grip of a huge pain, the loss of his little brother.  I saw the hate he felt for Halo, blaming her for his loss.  But then I saw Halo’s beautiful soul, a girl who suffered mistreatment from her family and yet, she kept being a sweet and kind person, her only weakness trying to win the love from the people who were supposed to love her. 

I saw how Bane changed, saw how all the guys in the house accepted Halo as one of them.  The first chapters of this book are harrowing as Halo learns all the circumstances of her new life, the truths of her old life.  I cried many times, but it felt so good!

The story evolves and it all turns good and everything that is sexy and deep.  I loved how Halo won everyone over because she’s just so good. And I loved how Bane found the peace that he had lost, as he cared for her.  

The story felt different because it’s not all mafia business, it’s all about heartbreak and healing.  There’s one gory scene but it’s all tied to the story and I can’t say it wasn’t needed because it was.  All in all, a story of redemption, a love that went wrong, but another that went right.  A girl who only wanted acceptance and love and finally found it, not without first suffering a heavy loss.  Astounding, heartbreaking, cause of a crying fest, but it was absolutely fascinating and wonderful.

Purchase links

https://geni.us/toreup

Add to your Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220223196-tore-up

Find more books by Abbi Glines: https://abbiglinesbooks.com

About the author

Abbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, Field Party, and Existence series. She never cooks unless baking during the Christmas holiday counts. She believes in ghosts and has a habit of asking people if their house is haunted before she goes in it. She finally moved to New England into a home that is 200 + years old with it's own ghosts. She drinks afternoon tea because she wants to be British but alas she being born in Alabama, her life in New England is as close as she will get. When asked how many books she has written she has to stop and count on her fingers. When she’s not locked away writing, she is reading, and/or watching Netflix like the introvert that she is. 

You can connect with Abbi online in several different ways. 

www.abbiglinesbooks.com

TikTok @abbiglines

Twitter: @abbiglines

Instagram: @abbiglines

Snapchat: abbiglines

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbiglinesauthor

Book review: WORTH THE FALL, by J. Sterling

Sugar Mountain #1

Thomas & Brooklyn

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this first installment of the Sugar Mountain series, J. Sterling has embraced the small town trope with great success.  There’s a resort, the O’Gradys own it and run it and it’s the jewel of this town, responsible for a lot of the tourism coming in.  There are three gorgeous O’Grady brothers, each with their own angsty story and we get the oldest one here, with snippets of what’s to come about the other two.  And there’s one precious little girl, Clarabel, who is eight years old, and clearly the owner of all the O’Grady men’s heart.  It all promises to be a yummy story and the author delivers!

Brooklyn McKay has just gotten divorced from a loser husband who preferred to play video games with his buddies than to spend time with his wife.  There’s guilt and sadness over all the time spent in a marriage that had been doomed for some time.  When she’s offered the job of event coordinator at Sugar Mountain Resort, she jumps at the chance, and in so doing, came to work with the oldest O’Grady brother, the grumpy Thomas.  Sparks fly, chemistry burns, all systems alert!  There are funny references to rock climbing and it’s not about mountains, but about rock abs!

I loved that the author didn’t give us cookie cutter characters, but people with real flaws.  In Thomas’ case, he was grumpy, quick to take offense, and judgy.  And of course, Brooklyn has a smart mouth that sasses him right back!  Thus starts a spicy sweet story, interspaced with snippets of brothers playing pranks on each other, banter of all kinds, and a little girl bossing over everyone.

It was a delightful story, with yummy sexy times, and cute cuddly times. Very entertaining, and very sweet. I loved the O’Grady brothers and can’t wait to read Patrick’s bittersweet story of lost love.

Purchase links

https://geni.us/worththefall

About the author

 

J. Sterling is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author whose goal is to write stories that you can get lost in. She wants you to end her books with a smile on your face and a happy heart. If you can forget about the real world while you're reading, then she’s done her job.

 

Jenn is a Southern California native who recently moved to Colorado. It's really cold out here you guys (at least for a day, and then it gets warm again, and then cold and then warm and on & on) If you can't find her sitting behind a computer screen writing her heart out, then there's a good chance she’s sitting in the bleachers of a stadium watching her son, Blake, play baseball. She loves traveling to new places, meeting her readers and living life with the Real Jack Carter. 

Connect with J. Sterling

Email: jsterling@jennster.com

Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThePerfectGameChangerGroup/

Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/61955745839edddd7aa02e58

What to expect: 

🍂Small Town Romance 

🍂Single Dad 

🍂Grumpy Hero

🍂He’s her boss

🍂Forced Proximity

Book review: THE PLAYER + THE PACT = I DO, by Louise Bay

New York Billionaires #2

Leo Hart & Jules

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Leo Hart, playboy extraordinaire, is about to confront a heartache from his past, back when he was eighteen and full of hopes and dreams. He was a baker’s son, distributing bread through the city, when he met the Hammond heiress.  They had a summer full of love but she broke his heart.  Ever since then, he has a problem opening his heart to love.

Jules grew up in the atmosphere of The Mayfair, working there since she was sixteen, with her mother who worked there.  She wants to be the manager, especially since the actual manager is doing a crappy job, and the hotel is not doing as well as it should.  She sent many resumes, asked for interviews, with no success.  So in the end, she decided to apply for the assistant position to  Leo Hart, hoping to get close and convince him.  Instead, she ends up in a fake marriage to the guy!

Leo got an award that requires going to a dinner where his teenage heartbreak will be going with her husband.  Although he’s over her, the pang of being rejected still lives within his little dejected heart, so he needs the reinforcement of a wife.  What he never expected was to find this firecracker who will not bow down and will sass him back.  

The book was fun and I loved Jules! She was so sure of herself and what she wanted, and she didn’t hesitate to tell Leo off.  Leo, accustomed to all those “yes” women, stood up at attention.  I saw him first as a flirt, not much substance, always affable and nice.  He did improve and grew up along the story.  His fixation on his teenage girlfriend did not look good on him, and I loved how his friends told him off about it.  

I liked the first book in this series much more than this one, but this one has Jules and she made it all the worth reading it.  Loved her!

Purchase links

Amazon - https://geni.us/TPTPID

PB - https://geni.us/TPTPIDPB

US Audio - https://geni.us/TPTPIDaudio

UK Audio - https://geni.us/TPTPIDUKaudio

About the author

International, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes contemporary romance novels that make you laugh - the kind she likes to read.

Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry when she grows up.

Louise loves the rain, RHOBH, London, days when she doesn't have to wear make-up, hanging out with her kid, elephants and champagne (not necessarily in that order).

She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!

 

Keep up with Louise Bay and subscribe to her newsletter: https://louisebay.com/newsletter/

 

To learn more about Louise Bay& her books, visit here!

 

Connect with Louise Bay:

https://louisebay.com/contact/

Book review: SUNLIGHT, by Devney Perry

Haven River Ranch #2

Jax & Sasha

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There’s such a delight in immersing into a Devney Perry small town story.  She certainly dominates this trope and gives us such lovely stories with wonderful characters.  I loved the first book in this series and couldn’t believe she could write another better one, but she did, and wow.  

Sasha was a very closed up character but even so, her niceness, great humor, and huge capacity to love comes through.  Jax comes on as playful and snarky, sometimes he behaved like a typical little brother to West, and completely heartwarming and thoughtful with Sasha.  It was his tenacity that allowed him to get close to Sasha, and once we have our surprise pregnancy, his considerate and supportive ways really win him the girl.

Sasha and Jax have this cute game of asking for a lie and asking for a secret.  Many important feelings and thoughts were exchanged in this cute game, I loved it!

There’s a mystery throughout the book regarding someone called Eddie.  I was dying to know the secret and that kept me passing the pages until I could find out what.  Sasha felt like she had a huge load on her shoulders and at times she seemed to be overwhelmed by all her responsibilities. I loved seeing Jax try to help shoulder her load.  I particularly loved one dialogue, among all the wonderful banter they exchanged.  He asked how she was doing, she asked: You got me? He said: I got you, she said: Then I’m all right.  Wonderful and so heartwarming!

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/45SoJwN

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/SunlightHavenRR

Audible: https://adbl.co/3BCEUDv

Narrated by: Stephen Dexter & Ava Erickson

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3RWtnUN

About the author

Devney Perry is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over forty romance novels. After working in the technology industry for a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to pursue her passion for writing. She was born and raised in Montana and now lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. 

 

Connect with Devney

Website: www.devneyperry.com

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kncXnb

Amazon: https://geni.us/nAXkP

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/devneyperrybooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/324585607979213/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/devneyperry

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2v1Hr7t

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/devneyperry

Book review: BLACK SHEEP, by Skye Warren

Cirque de Miroirs #3

Perfect, as only Skye Warren can do it!  The first book in this trilogy was exciting, the beginning of an adventure, escaping to the circus; the second was romantic, as the love flourished and affirmed between Sienna and Logan; and this one was angsty, full of despair for one, full of determination for the other. Logan is in prison for the murder of Sienna’s father, which we know is just not true.  The specter of Logan’s father is very present in his mind, and all his demons are pummeling him.  Sienna is on the warpath to free him, from prison and from his demons.

The story is rapid pace, angsty and anxious. We also get to see Sienna and her mother, as they repair their relationship.

It’s a page-turner story, as Sienna tries to free Logan and keep his circus together.  All the baddies from earlier books appear again, trying to defeat this feisty woman.  We also get a glimpse into Liam and Vanessa North, even one little fun peek at Elijah.  This is one short, feisty story, full of despair and hope, angst and steam.  Great finale!

Purchase links

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dFdaMl

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3Xkclmu

Nook: https://bit.ly/3AR8vIG

Kobo: https://bit.ly/4cMwAhk

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3AFu92F

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4dGFtdA

About the author

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance such as the Endgame trilogy. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. Her books have sold over ​two million copies.​ She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.

Connect with Skye

Website: http://www.skyewarren.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5339130.Skye_Warren

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BX2sUG

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyewarren/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1569845016592572/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyewarrenbooks/

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/skye_warren

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/skye-warren

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/skyewarren/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skyewarrenbooks

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/skyewarren