REVIEW + GIVEAWAY ~Time For Love by Marie Force~

Title: Time For Love
Author: Marie Force
Series: The McCarthy's of Gansett Island #9
Release Date: July 23, 2013

My Rating: 5 Stars!

Dr. David Lawrence has spent the last two years atoning for his sins and recovering from the devastating breakup with Gansett Island golden girl Janey McCarthy. As the island's only doctor, he's had ample opportunity to show his fellow island residents that there's more to him than the guy who disappointed Janey so profoundly. Now if only he could find a way to forgive himself, he might be able to move on with his life without the woman he'd expected to love forever...

Daisy Babson, probationary director of housekeeping at McCarthy's Gansett Island Inn, is in bad need of a fresh start after her relationship with Truck Henry took a violent turn, leaving her battered and broken—in more ways than one. As she recovers from her injuries, her days are made brighter by her visits with David Lawrence. The kind and caring doctor who tended to her after the attack has become much more than a friend to her in recent weeks.

Will these two wounded hearts take comfort from one another and move forward on a new path toward love together? Or will ghosts from the past derail them before they get the chance for their own happily ever after?

Catch up with many of your favorite characters from earlier books in the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, and get set for another summer of love on Gansett!

This is definitely not my first McCarthy Rodeo but, it astounds me that this series gets more fantastic with each book. Ms. Force has a unique style, in that she gives the readers glimpses of past couples in each new book. I really love that aspect of this series. I feel like if the new books are about a new couple, as well as up to dates on past couples it keeps me more engaged. Because everyone on the island is so tied together we end up getting a lot of new favorite moments with all of the characters. I have to say though, that Time For Love has crept up above some of my old favorites. I didn't want to like David after his past transgressions but, Ms. Force makes it hard not to love this guy. They say every story has two sides. Well, this could not be more true for David. Yes, he did some terrible things but, he repented and learned from those mistakes. And truthfully, I think if Janey was able to forgive him, and find her own happiness, then we as readers can forgive him as well. 

Daisy, on the other hand, had my attention from the get-go. Her past is even more devastating than I first expected. She and David both needed time to heal but, they found out they could heal faster together. I loved that David put Daisy first. He didn't push, when he made a mistake he fixed it ASAP, he really redeemed himself in my eyes. Daisy had a long journey herself. She had to learn to trust and open up and despite his failings she learned to do all of that with David. A lot of their problems stemmed from Daisy's gun-shy reaction to men, and David's refusal to forgive himself. All in due time, and with a little help from David's past, they pave their own way to happiness. I also find it so comforting, and heart-warming that the secondary stories in this series keep getting better with time. I loved laughing with Maddie and Mac, crying with Janey and Joe, and watching Tiffany and Blaine overcome their current obstacle. I am so invested in this series now that I feel like I know all of these characters, and immensely enjoy the check-ups and new journeys each couple endures.

It's not often that an author can make me do a 180 where a character is concerned but, Marie did just that with David. I can finally see him as a long standing citizen of Gansett and am so looking forward to reading snippets of him and Daisy in future books. Time For Love upheld the tradition of making me want to cry one minute and then sigh in relief or laugh the next. This series is easily in my Top 3 of favorite series, and just when you think it can't get any better... it does. Daisy and David deserved every bit of the happiness they found in one another and I'm biding my time until I can make time to read the next McCarthy's of Gansett Island book!

Happy Reading!

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BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY ~Left Drowning by Jessica Park~

Title: Left Drowning
Author: Jessica Park
Release Date: July 16, 2013

My Rating: 5++ Stars (yes, double plus signs)

What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.

*This book is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content, and is recommended for Ages 17+

I'm warning you now, I'm not sure how fruitful this review is going to be. Only because, this book did such a number on me that, I still can't even fully explain how much I am absolutely, positively in love with it. I mean, you saw my rating, right?! 5++ Stars, that's a first for Same Book, Different Review. But here it goes.

"This boy makes it impossible for me to be pulled under."

~Blythe

Left Drowning had everything that I look for in a book and so, SO much more. This book and its characters mesmerized me from page one and I'm pretty sure I'm still a little hazy. I have read some fantastic books, that allowed me to channel the emotions through the characters but, this was a whole new ball game for me. The emotions that I experienced while reading Left Drowning were raised to the nth degree. The highs were higher and the lows were lower than most, if not all, of the other books I have read. I can't even pinpoint one specific thing that made this book so fabulous. It just struck a chord with me and now that I'm finished reading it I feel completely bereft. Someone actually asked me today, what book caused my worst book hangover. My answer? Left Drowning. The easiest way to explain it, is that this book simply wrecked me. It's a book that, even a couple days later I can remember one part of it, and that emotion I felt still rings so clearly, and makes my heart clench. It raised the bar for all other books, in my opinion.  

"The wine is out of my system, my thoughts are clear, and I am hit with the enormity of the impact this family is having in my life. They, and mostly Chris, are saving me. Or teaching me to save myself."

~Blythe

Left Drowning follows the life of Blythe McGuire, told in her POV. When we meet Blythe, she is struggling through senior year at Matthews College and her life is muted. Everything to her is dull, and depressing. Until one day she meets two brothers, who will change her life forever. Sabin introduces himself to Blythe by stealing her coffee, and captivating her with his upbeat personality. Chris, on the other, is a kindred spirit. Blythe can tell he has a dark soul, just like her, but there is something more to him that pulls her. Sabin, becomes the best friend she never had, while Chris becomes her home base. Chris and Sabin, along with their twin siblings Eric and Estelle, bring Blythe into their family fold and teach her how to live again. 

"You are the greatest love of my life that I'm never going to have."

~Blythe

Blythe and Chris are excellent friends but, they know they could be explosive as a couple. Blythe, well on her way to healing and making peace with her tragic past, is more accepting of their relationship than Chris. He can't help but think that, he will tear her back down with his haunted past. Chris may have saved Blythe from her demons but, he hasn't found a way to save himself or his siblings, and isn't about to let Blythe return the favor. This book is a series of ups and downs. It's painful, then comical, heart-breaking, then uplifting. The rollercoaster of emotions never stops. Heck, it still hasn't stopped for me! This cast of characters has been so damaged, that I'm surprised they held together this long. With Chris as the glue, when he starts to unravel... so does everyone else. At one point, I was huddled in my bed just staring blankly ahead wondering what in the hell had just happened. Then, I finally saw things coming to a close, and my heart was stomped on once again. And even though it had a happy ending that I love and crave, every one of the characters still have a long road of recovery ahead of them! I feel like I need to have at least one book a year with this cast of characters, checking in and seeing how everyone is doing. Like a well check-up book. That can be done.. right? (Note: I have no qualms about begging).

"Breathe into it."

~Chris

Left Drowning is truly a masterpiece and will be re-read several times by me, and I'm sure by many others. It is a fantastic book that will leave you satisfied, and wanting more all at the same time. I ached for and with Bylthe and the Shepherd siblings. But I also laughed at their antics and swooned at the connection between Chris and Blythe. For me, this book is worthy of sitting prettily on my bookshelf with my other favorite books and not just locked in my ereader. And if you know me, that's a true testament to my love for this book. If it makes my physical book collection, it's golden. So, pretty please go 1-click this wonderful book! You won't regret it! :)

Happy Reading!

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

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Meet Jessica:

Jessica is the author of New York Times bestselling FLAT-OUT LOVE, RELATIVELY FAMOUS, and the NA novel, LEFT DROWNING. She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations. On the rare occasions that she is able to focus on other things, she writes.

Connect with Jessica:

TOUR SCHEDULE

Dec 2nd - Chapter by Chapter

Dec 3rd - Cuzinlogic

Dec 4th - Same Book, Different Review

Dec 5th - Books Over Boys

Dec 6th - What She Reads

Dec 9th - A Southern Girl’s Bookshelf

Dec 10th - YaReads

Dec 11th - Rumpled Sheets Blog

Dec 12th - Booklovers LaceyCat

Dec 13th - Kimberlyfaye Reads

Renee Rose: Safe in His Arms

Title: Safe in His Arms
Author: Renee Rose
Release Date: July 23, 2013

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Synopsis: 
For as long as she could remember, Becca dreamed of a dominant man to take her in hand, and Zac, the handsome Marine she met at her sister's wedding, filled the role with aplomb… for a weekend. Then the fling came to an end, Zac went off to war and died for his country, and Becca learned she carried a child who would be born without a father.
Seven years later, Becca has done her best to move on and forget about Zac… until the day she walks into her kitchen to find the man she believed she would never see again locked in mortal combat with her son’s nanny, and realizes everything she thought she knew about Zac was a lie.

Like all Black Ops agents, Zac doesn't exist in any government record. His life is a series of deadly missions, and relationships of any kind are unsanctioned. But he keeps one secret. He watches over Becca, the beautiful daughter of a rogue agent, and Parker, the six-year-old boy he fathered that fateful weekend. When he spots a known assassin in their apartment posing as a nanny, he's forced to reveal himself and take them to safety… whether Becca likes it or not.

While Becca may have enjoyed his dominance once, bending her to his will again may not be quite so easy. He is determined to keep her safe, however, and if a long, hard spanking is required, he is more than willing to oblige. Having Becca over his knee rekindles more than his passion, though; even when the immediate danger has passed, he finds it much more difficult to “ghost out” on his family again. Must he resign himself to protecting those he loves from afar, or can he find a way to be the man Becca needs and longs for, the man who is worthy of her
submission and her love?

Publisher’s Note: Safe in His Arms is an erotic romance novel that includes both consensual and non-consensual spankings, anal play, graphic sexual scenes, and more. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.

My Review: 
I'm a little perplexed about this book, part of me loves it and part of me wanted it to be a teeny bit more developed. The banter between Zac and Becca was comical, loving, and steamy. The way Zac takes responsibility, once he is able, for Parker melted by heart. Then of course you have Zac struggling with himself and having to decide between his love for his family or his loyalty to his job. Sometimes I felt like every time Zac and Becca began to talk their lust got in the way, and I also felt that Becca should have resisted a bit more in the beginning.

However, one thing I love about authors is they almost never do things the way you would, and really who would want them to? Ms. Rose writes a great story about circumstances getting in the way of true love, and love triumphing it all in the end. I loved that this was not an all out suspense book, it had the erotic steam some of us love, and it had the comedic relief that we sometimes need. Once I got about a quarter of the way through I started to really get into Safe in His Arms. That first quarter just seemed a bit rushed. I will second the publisher's note above, there are some extremely steamy scenes that are not for the faint of heart, and as for the non-consensual spanking part... well I would say in the end it was consensual. It's one of those relationships where the "dominant" thinks/knows what the "submissive" needs, but Zac and Becca's whole relationship is not like that so don't let that scare you away. There is just as much romance as there is steam. If you like a lot of heat in your romance this book is the one to give it you. Safe in His Arms is avail be NOW! So, make sure to check it out!
*Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for a honest review*

Happy Reading!

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Gail McGhugh: Pulse

Title: Pulse
Author: Gail McHugh
Release Date: July 9, 2013

My Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis: How do you keep existing when your heart is so splintered, so completely torn to shreds, your pulse is fading?

You’re…broken. How do you move forward when every breath is nothing more than a constant ache? Living becomes an insidious reminder that you threw away the single largest part of yourself. Your…soul. No amount of distraction can pull you from the torture of losing your…life.

Now that Emily Cooper has walked away from her first love, she finds herself running toward her only love. Unraveling fast, but clinging to hope, Emily risks all she has left on the man that has consumed her every thought and dream since the day they met. Will Gavin take her back? And if so, will their reunion be a collision of two hearts destined to complete one another and rekindle a love that knew no boundaries? Or will scars from their past rip open, tearing slowly at what each of them was meant to be? Can fate, the ultimate game changer, mend the shattered road it laid out from the start?

Only time will tell…

Tick-Tock…

My Review:
This was the perfect conclusion to Gail McHugh's Collide series. I read this book in one sitting, I hardly ever do that, but I was not satisfied until Emily and Gavin got their true HEA. The beginning of this book just about broke my heart along with Emily's and Gavin's. Gail McHugh does a wonderful job closing out this series, she gives the closure everyone needs and of course throws in that one curve ball which almost made me walk away from the book :) I have not been so enthralled in a book in quite a while. I could not get enough of Gavin and Emily's story and felt that Ms. McHugh gave her readers the perfect HEA. The only downfall is that Ms. McHugh has decided to leave this world and will not continue with any of the secondary characters. Definitely one of the best New Adult books/series I have read this year.

Happy Reading!


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Lisa Renee Jones: Escaping Reality

My Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

Infinite possibilities….
Infinite passion…..
Infinite danger….

His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn’t trust him. I shouldn’t tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.

At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loves to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she’s finally dared to believe she is forgotten–even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets down her guard, the ghosts of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.

On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take “no” as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes

My Review:

I cannot recommend this book to too many people, or say too many great things about it. This book is in short, amazing. I never knew what was going to come next, and I could not get enough of the characters. Amy and Liam had chemistry burning off the pages, and the mystery hooked me in from the very beginning. Ms. Jones has been a long time favorite author of mine, and she definitely does not disappoint with her new series. I was thrilled to receive this copy from Net Galley, but the down side was I finished far too quickly, and I cannot wait for the second installment! Warning to readers: this does end on a semi-cliffhanger. Amy is aware who is after her, but not who is helping her. She must look over her should at every turn. Despite the danger, when she meets Liam she is inexplicably drawn to him and cannot seem to turn him away. One of the things that I love about this book is Liam and not for the obvious reasons. Liam is not your typical alpha male. To me, he was controlling but only in a helpful and loving way, not in a desperate need to dominate way. He did not try to strip Amy of her individuality, and only wanted to see her safe. Now, I like to think I'm good at guessing mysteries, but Escaping Reality has me completely stumped. I do not know, who Amy's handler is, or who is after her, or what roles all the characters play in her life at the moment, but I cannot wait to find out! I highly encourage everyone to go out and buy Escaping Reality, you will not regret it.

*ARC received from Net Galley*

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