Lev (Shot Callers #1) by Belle Aurora

Title: Lev
Series: Shot Callers #1
Author: Belle Aurora
Source: eARC directly from the author
Rating:

From the moment Lev Leokov spots the young woman hiding behind her hair in the middle of the gentleman's club, he can't take his eyes off of her.
For the very first time in his life, he is affected. Having been told his entire life that he can't process or understand emotion, he considers it a big deal.

When Mina Harris gets caught red-handed with a wallet that isn't hers, she falls apart. She's tired, lonely and hasn't eaten in days.

Lev offers her an ultimatum... A nice warm bed, a hot meal and a job, or the cops.

Mina takes her chances with Lev.
After all, a person with nothing has nothing left to lose.

 

  First and foremost I'd like to thank the author, Belle Aurora very much for an advance readers copy of this book.
I will admit I haven't been that updated with my Belle Aurora book but I've been a fan of hers ever since I started the Friend Zoned series and of course we cannot forget RAW but I digress, we're here to discuss this new book of hers, LEV- so let's do this!

I started this book knowing nothing about it. I didn't even read the blurb. It was like new Belle Aurora book. Check. MUST. READ. Check.

We start this book with Mina Harris a young girl who is basically at the lowest of low in her life. She is a runaway orphan who is living off the street struggling to even get her next meal. She becomes so desperate because of her hunger that she ends up at a local strip club where she decides to do something drastic. Something so out of character for her- to steal. Now she is basically no inexperienced at this that she doesn't notice the guy across the bar watching her captivated by her secret beauty. So, she nabs the wallet thinking she's invisible and that's when she goes head to head with our hottie hero Mr. Lev Leokov.

Yups ladies and gents. Lev Leokov. He is the hottie dark hero of this story. Ever since he was young Lev understood that he was different anyone who knew him knew there was just something different about him. He was a recluse, unemotional, and silent boy. His sister and brother always kept an eye on him and helped him adjust to societal norms being his guardian angels. He is immediately drawn to this shy, quiet and damaged girl. From that first meeting on things unravel and we see the true Lev Leokov the sweet, possessive and adorably protective man. He thinks he doesn't show emotion and cannot care for anyone else but throughout the story we see a different man come to pass.

His eyes roamed my fresh face. "You can't hude behind make-up. You can try, but you won't succeed. Not with me." He paused then said "I see you" 

He crossed his arms over a broad chest. "Masks don't suit a person with your face." 
"My face?" I asked. 
"A face like yours makes men stumble over themselves." He titled his head to look at me through a new angle. "Faces like yours are carved into statues, immortalized in stone for the world to see over the ages." He let in a deep breath then exhaled slowly. "You...are art." 

 I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reminded me in a lot of instances of the first book of Friend Zoned series. Not to mention that this is sort of a spin-off of of that series. (You'll understand in the ending) It was intriguing, steamy and you easily fall in love with the characters. I was especially intrigued with the supporting characters and their hopefully future stories. But there were parts of the book where I felt like the writing was rushed but at the beginning of the book there came a point where I felt it a bit dragging specially the first few chapters and some in the middle. But overall I loved it. It was so sweet. I loved getting into Lev's psyche so I was really into the parts where it was Lev's POV.


I totally recommend this book to everyone who enjoy reading contemporary romances or those fond of realistic fiction books. :)
Anyway, til the next review. Peace!
xoxo
Carrie

Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4) by Miranda Kenneally

 

(from goodreads.com) 

They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack… 

Okay, I am giving this book 3.5 STARS.

I have been reading Miranda's Hundred Oaks series since the very beginning. It all started with Jordan and Sam, Parker and Will and Kate and Matt. In the fourth installment of the series we are introduced to Savannah, who is a self proclaimed expert at anything to do with horses -especially riding them. We are also introduced to Jack, the eldest of the Goodwin siblings. Savannah has a goal in life, that is to not end up like her father. Being so full in debt and working at age 30+ for minimum wage pay. Jack, is pressured this year because his father has put him in charge of their farm. All decisions fall to him and he is out to prove himself worthy of running the famous Goodwin Ranch. Savannah and Jack's paths collide and now they have to prove themselves to each other and their parents. I enjoyed seeing Savannah stand up for herself and not settling. Jack though at some parts especially the "friends with benefits" scene -I wanted to punch him in the face! Boy! But okay, I'll give him a break here, he sure is one tough guy. Not all 17 yr old guys could've pulled it off. Getting ready for college, going after the girl he wants, putting up with his parents high expectations and sick rich-poor views.  I really enjoyed Roary and Vanessa as well. I'm hoping they get their own book.
All in all this book is a quick read. But I didn't find the characters that intriguing as Jordan and Sam. hehe, you can sorta guess my favorite of the series  That being said. I still think you should pick up a copy for yourself! :)

Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti (Sin Brothers #1)

(image via goodreads.com)

ARC from NetGalley.com for an honest review. 

His Secrets Can Destroy Her

From the moment Josie laid eyes on sexy, mysterious Shane Dean, she was in love. Their desire ignited a passionate affair, and within weeks, Shane had slipped a ring on her finger. It seemed her every fantasy was coming true . . . until her new husband disappeared without a trace. Now, two years and one broken heart later, Josie is shocked by the hospital calls: Shane has been found . . . at a crime scene with no memory of how he got there.

Her Love Can Save Him

Shane can't remember the blue-eyed angel at his bedside—or who he even is—but he knows something isn't right. His hearing is razor sharp, his physical strength incredible, and the urge to protect Josie overwhelming. For powerful enemies are hunting him, and Josie is the key to discovering why. As Shane struggles to unravel his past, dangerous new truths come to light. Can he protect the only woman he's ever loved? And can Josie trust a man she thought she knew—one who carries such a deadly secret?

Josie Dean has suffered enough. She has been abandoned by her husband Shane Dean. Even though their romance was a fast and life altering event, for her, he probably thought otherwise. Because after their most passionate night in their marriage she awoke to find that her husband was gone.
It's been two years since she's heard from Shane. Called on by Detective Malloy to verify the identity of patient in the hospital found beaten and battered Josie suddenly finds herself in front of the one person she thought she'd never see again. Shane. But now, he is a different person. He's got amnesia.

Although he can't remember anything that happened from the last two years Shane still knows in his heart that he most definitely loved Josie. Reason why he left? He still can't figure it out. He also can't figure out why he has heightened senses and abilities he can't explain like major ass kicking skills and computer wiz abilities. Still, he knows one thing. He is not letting go of Josie again.

People are after Shane and his brothers. The same people who created them. This is their first journey into redemption for what was done to them as children. He and his brothers are out for blood. Who's? The Commander's. He is the man who trained them since "birth" to be ultimate killing machines.
But his first priority is to keep Josie safe. She isn't making it easy but they will both have to see if this time their love is enough to keep them together.


Okay, this book is filled with action packed scenes. But, yeah, I felt really bad for Josie at one end of the story. I mean seriously? How many times can one person be abducted in a day? This girl has BALLS! and I mean it. She may be dainty and "soft" but she can sure protect herself. Shane and his brothers, are the cliche alpha male pack. They protect what is theirs. And now since Shane decides that there is NO way that he is letting Josie go a second time the three brothers are there to protect her. Although, in the end Josie I guess is the one who ends up protecting them. :)

Rome (Marked Men #3) by Jay Crownover

 Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

Oh yes, boys and girls! The third book in the Marked Men series is out! And I must say Jay Crownover as always, did NOT disappoint! I absolutely adored Cora and Rome's story! The ups and downs that Rome goes through to find a way back to fit into civilian life and his family life. Still trying to figure out what role he is to play in everyone's lives. All these years he's been in the war while the loved ones he left behind have moved on and no longer seem to rely on him anymore. Also trying to figure out how to get over things eating him up inside, his brother's death, his PTSD and nightmares haunting him. He stumbles upon a bar owned by ex soldier Brite who eventually takes Rome under his wing and tries to help him through all the troubles of trying to fit in to civilian life. Rome is then pulled into a romance with Cora, Marked's shop manager.

Cora has been hurt once by her ex-fiance who she thought was her one and only. Only to find out he was just a cheating slime ball. She is damaged and cautious to giving her heart out to someone who isn't her exact description of Mr. Perfect. But she ends up attacted and pulled towards Rome Archer, just something about him draws her to him. These two go through a wonderful journey at finding love, acceptance and peace in their lives. This book will absolutely not disappoint. If you've read the last two books Rule and Jet you will most definitely enjoy this one ;) 


Captain No-Fun and Half Pint 4ever. 

p.s:

The epilogue drops a total bomb on what we are going to find out next in the Marked Men series which will be tackling Nate's story. 

I will end this with a few of the wonderful quotes I got out of this book:

 "Relationships are not tailor-made and people are flawed. You have to work around that and love the other person anyway. Out flaws are what make us unique, and while Rule might not be perfect, he is absolutely perfect for me." -Shaw 

"I was tired of trying to guess what others' expectations of me were and had to get my head around the idea that my expectations of myself were enough" -Rome 

"Some of us found it in the love of a good woman and making a family, others, like Brite, found what was next by helping the most lost of us onto a better path. Whatever your next is kid, it'll find you or you'll find it. Don't beat yourself up about it." -Torch 

"He always tells me I color his entire world, but he did the same thing for me. If what I felt for Jimmy is beige, then what I feel for Rome is a damn box of Crayola crayons." - Cora 

"Someone had to set you right. I knew I could do it. Love is never perfect, big brother. It's what you make of the imperfections in it that makes the ride worthwhile." - Remy

Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery

(image from goodreads.com)

 Welcome to Fool's Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There's lots to do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there's just one tiny problem in Fool's Gold: the men don't seem to stick around. Maybe it's the lure of big-city life, or maybe it's plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may be just the city planner to do it.

Charity's nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer everything, that is, except its sexiest and most famous resident, former world-class cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she's not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he's perfect just the way he is. But maybe that's just what he needs someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he's just chasing perfect.

 This book is a very quick read. I give it 3 stars. :) I was actually kind of disappointed, I've heard great things about this series, and yes, I will finish it. (it will just take me a while) but it was
a cute story, but I found the writing to be very dragging and the time when they identify the culprit was very anti-climactic. 

I'm moving onto the next book of the series which is Almost Perfect I'm hoping for a better experience with that book. *crossing my fingers*

*spoiler*

My favorite scene was when Josh stopped mid race just to speak to Charity. :) So sweet, yeah? :) 


The Author:

        

Susan Mallery is a New York Times best-selling author who has written more than 80 Harlequin and Silhouette romances and a number of full-length novels. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and cats. 

Finding Hart by Ella Fox

 (from tumblr via google images)


 Okay. Wow. My mind is blown!

 I gave the first Hart Family book a 2 star rating. As the story progresses it only gets better. I am giving this one a very well deserved 4 star rating!

I'm guessing this will be the final book of the series? Since the epilogue basically says it all. I loved their happy ending, but boy did the whole family go through a wild roller coaster ride to get there. I seriously pity Dillon and especially Spencer for having been born to such an obnoxious, crazy-ass biatch Tally, though at times I felt really bad for her, she was seriously messed up as well. I absolutely loved the letters parts throughout the story. *spoiler* 7 days apart 


 
((from tumblr via google images)

 Falling in love with this man is the best thing that ever happened to me and I wouldn't change a thing. As Dillon has always said, all of our roads led to each other.

Unattainable by Madeline Sheehan

 

LOVED IT. 5/5 STARS!

   

“Most importantly - what I would stress the very most - is that love doesn’t solve a goddamn thing. Love doesn’t erase a broken heart, and it sure as fuck doesn’t change people. But no matter how old, how flimsy, how frayed the rope of love is, it does keep you tethered to the people you love. And I was forever tied to Cage “

In this book we follow the unrequited love story of Tegan and Cage. Tegan is now all grown up and moved to San Francisco living her life as a tatted up,loud mouth, hot tempered and pierced hippie and still trying to forget about her long lost love that is Cage West, prince of Hells Horsemen. Cage is still stuck in Montana livin’ the man whore biker life, hanging at the club, drinking and sexing it up with all the club whores around. But when Tegan comes back to Montana to deal with her mother being shot by one of the Hells Horsemen’s crazy wives, the two end up clashing in a all out verbal, physical and emotional brawl. The book tells their story on how they find they bearings and deal with all the drama that comes with the Hells Horsemen’s lives as well as coming to terms with their past mistakes *cough* Cage *cough* and moving on with their possible future.

Another wonderful story that you will encounter which I actually preferred is the story of Ellie and Horseman Dirty/Michael.

One More Day (The Alexanders #1) by M. Malone

3/5 STARS
ARC copy from Netgalley.
I really wanted to like this book, and at times I did. But I found it to be very dragging.
It’s a very quick read. I absolutely adored Jase and Chris, Jackson’s two sons. As well as the Alexander family, they reminded me of the Chase series books.
The books follows Ridley, who is the shy good hearted girl next door type as compared to her traveling supermodel twin Raina. Ridley, is trying to escape something that is haunting her back in Florida she ends up at her sister’s doorstep in Virginia but finds out that her sister is at a photo shoot in Singapore. She then falls into the arms of next door hunky music producer neighbor Jackson Alexander,who has just lost his wife to a terrible accident and is now a single father raising two boys. The story follows their instant chemistry and their journey to gaining both their trusts and surviving whatever is haunting Ridley.