Blog Tour - Chemical Reaction by Christina Thompson Review & Giveaway

Title: Chemical Reaction

Author: Christina Thompson

Published: October 7, 2013

Series: Chemical Attraction #2

Format Read: ebook

How I Acquired It: RAVBT

Date Finished: March 3, 2014

Find at: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

In Chemical Reaction, the sequel to Chemical Attraction, FBI Agent Joe Roberts and his fiancée, Dr. Madeline Pierce, must track down a rage-producing nano-drug before it devastates the nation.

Staying in Detroit with the FBI, Madeline works to develop an antidote from the confiscated journals. She clashes with the women from Joe’s past. In West Michigan, Joe hunts for the bio-weapon. With a history as a player, he’s worried his relationship with Madeline is at risk. Working apart, they attempt to focus on the threat.

Before Joe returns, agents are killed, Madeline is abducted, and the deadly nano-drug is put on the market. Without the journals, the mastermind needs Madeline to reproduce the drug.

While she plays a dangerous game of deceit, Joe struggles to put his fears of losing her aside to find the weapon first. Her life, their future, and the nation’s security are in jeopardy. Joe must now choose between his personal desire and his professional integrity. Can he live with the consequences?

~

This story had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was thrilling and suspenseful in a very realistic way. Thompson created a story that is believable to a point where I can imagine something like it happening. While the story is a great one, it was really the characters that did it for me.

The relationship between Joe and Madeline is one that seems to be continually tested. And to me, those are the best types. To know that someone is willing to fight for you time and again really strengthens the bonds you share. There were so many challenges they had to face, but they do it to get back to each other. Talk about love. The secondary characters were really quite enjoyable as well and added something great to the story.

I also really enjoyed the fact that this story picks up just a little after where the first left off. It added a sense of urgency, as not much time has pasted. But this also adds to the realistic tones as I can imagine FBI agents are kept quite busy. Overall, this was an awesome, fun, thrilling read and I hope to read more from Thompson!

4 Stars

~

About the Author

Christina Thompson, a retired acupuncturist, enjoys writing about the physical science, the emotional workings of our mind and heart, and the spiritual energy that taps into our passions.

Her degree in biology from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo gave her a love of science and a background into the physical realm of the body. Her diploma in Traditional Chinese acupuncture from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine taught her that the mind and spirit affect the body in powerful ways.

She teaches at the Reflexions Plus Holistic Center on many topics including massage therapy, acupuncture, Feng Shui as well as other modalities of Chinese medicine. She currently resides with her husband, Kraig, in West Michigan.

https://www.ChristinaKThompson.com | https://www.facebook.com/TheChemicalAttractionSeries | https://twitter.com/ChristinaPOV

Make sure to check out all the stops on the Chemical Reaction tour here!

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Blog Tour - Drowning by Rachel Firasek Review and Giveaway

Title: Drowing

Author: Rachel Firasek

Published: October 19, 2013

Series: Tears of Sin #1

Format Read/Pages: eBook/263

How I Acquired It: Itching for Books

Date Finished: March 2, 2014

Find at: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

**Drowning is a New Adult Contemporary Romance suited for 18+ due to some violence, language, and sexual content**

"I dare you."

Those words would change adrenaline junkie, Alice Harrison's life forever. She's a party girl that doesn't believe in love until she meets a man that only writes about it.

Seth James escaped his overbearing father and moved into one of the James family's vacant condos, hoping to create the music he loves in peace. But the fragile calm he's envisioned shatters when a tiny woman with a world full of energy bounces out of the elevator and nearly takes him out.

With the patience of a saint, Seth seeks the dark that keeps Alice from enjoying life. He challenges her to exorcise the demons in her past in order to discover the true meaning of love. But when the walls fall down, the hidden deceptions will bare the ugly truth about a woman drowning in sorrow and a man who may not know how to be her hero.

~

This is a very real and intense story from author. Rachel Friasek. I found the characters to be very relatable and the story believable while not being over done. Drowning is a highly emotional story and not for the faint of heart. 

I really enjoyed how real and relatable the characters were. I could see myself going through some of their issues without it being over the top and cheesy. There were real issues, such as abuse, that were tackled in this story. Mostly in a way that does not exploit it and make the characters feel contrived. The weight of guilt is a very powerful thing, and I feel that in Alice, we see how it can really affect a person and there everyday lives. 

Firasek created a story that was gripping and emotional, with characters that were able to capture my attention and make me believe they belong with each other. I have not read any of her other work, but I will definitely be checking it out in the future. 

4 Stars

~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Firasek spends her days daydreaming of stories and her nights putting the ideas to ink. She has spent a dull life following the rules, meeting deadlines, and toeing the line, but in her made up worlds, she can let the wild side loose. Her wonderful husband and three children support her love of the written word and only ask for the occasional American Idol or Swamp People quality hour.

She has a philosophy about love. It must devastate or it isn’t truly worth loving. She hopes that you all find your devastating love and cling to it with all your heart!

www.rachelfirasek.com/ | twitter.com/RachelFirasek | facebook.com/RachelFirasekAuthor

Make sure to check out all the stops on the Drowning tour!

The full schedule is available at Itching for Books.

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Thank you to Rachel Firasek and Shane at IFB for the chance to participate in this tour!

Blog Tour - Uncovering You by Scarlett Edwards Review & Giveaway

Title: Uncovering You: The Contract

Author: Scarlett Edwards

Published: March 27, 2014

Series: Uncovering You #1

Format Read/Pages: eBook/90

How I Acquired It: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Date Finished: March 1, 2014

Find at: Goodreads

*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

When I wake up in a dark, unfamiliar room, I have no idea what's waiting for me in the shadows. My imagination conjures up demons of the worst kind.

Reality is much worse:

A collar with no leash. A prison with no walls. And a life stripped of meaning.

I am presented with a vile contract and asked to sign. It outlines the terms of my servitude. The only information I have about my captor are the two small letters inked at the bottom:

J.S.

Armed with only my memories, I must do everything I can to avoid becoming ensnared in his twisted mind games. But in the end, it all comes down to one choice:

Resist and die.

Or submit, and sign my life away.

~

This was a very fast read and that made it even more enjoyable. I really would have liked to continue on, but the anticipation of what comes next is something that I like. This is a darker story then others I have reviewed on this blog, but still a very enjoyable read. 

The writing style took a little bit to get into, the jumping back and forth through time was awkward at times, but each time jump is clearly marked and that makes it easier. There are a few passages at the beginning of the story that really intrigued me, they are of what is to come in future pieces of the story and make me want continue on with the series. 

4 Stars

~

Excerpt:

I open my eyes to the brilliant expanse of my prison. I test the air with my nose. There’s no more odor.

I feel groggy, as if waking up from a long sleep. How long have I been out?

I push myself to a sitting position and look around. The tiles are clean. The vomit is gone. There are two jars close by that were not there before.

I crawl over and look at them. One is filled with water. The other is empty.

Without thought I clutch the handle of the first and start to chug. I spit the first mouthful out to clean my mouth, but the rest goes down quickly. My stomach rumbles in protest after my umpteenth heavy gulp, but my body needs the hydration.

Two more drafts and I set the jar down.

Only then does it strike me that the water might be drugged.

I start to feel sick again. I’m in the process of jamming my fingers to the back of my throat when the absurdity of what I’m doing strikes me.

You’re already a prisoner, and as vulnerable as you’re going to get. Why spike the water?

A hysterical sort of laughter builds in my chest. It’s the laughter that comes when all the lights have gone out and all hope has been extinguished. It’s the laughter of a woman on the edge of sanity.

I bolt to my feet, shaking with laughter. “What do you want from me?” I scream at the sky. I spread my arms and spin. “Show yourself! Show me who you are!”

I stood up too fast. A wave of light-headedness overcomes me. I lose my balance and fall.

My head bounces off the floor. Everything goes black again. 

About the Author:

I live near beautiful Seattle, Washington. I grew up reading all types of fantasy books before discovering the wonderful world of romances in high school. Now, I spend most of my time writing about sexy men and the women who love them.

https://www.facebook.com/Author.Scarlett.Edwards | https://www.goodreads.com/ScarlettEdwards | http://www.scarlettedwards.com/

Make sure to check out all the stops on the Uncovering You tour!

The full schedule is available at Book Enthusiast Promotions.

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Thank you to Scarlett Edwards and Book Enthusiast Promotions for a chance to participate in this tour!

Blog Tour & Giveaway - Etiole by Olivia Besse

Title: Etoile

Author: Olivia Besse

Published: July 25, 2013

Series: Mannequin #1

Format Read/Pages: eBook/307

How I Acquired It: IFB Tours

Date Finished: March 1, 2014

Find at: Amazon | Goodreads

The Mannequin series is an exciting erotic romance journey that gives readers an intimate look into the not-so-glamorous sides of the fashion and modelling industries. This book contains explicit content and is not intended for younger readers!

From afar, Elodie Marais is just a typical 19-year old girl roughing it in Manhattan. She hates her job, her love life sucks and she's totally getting ripped off by her landlord. Like most of her starry-eyed peers, she'll do anything for the Triple P's—Prada, a Promotion and the elusive Perfect Boyfriend. But Elodie and her friends aren't your average new adults who are bored to tears by their uninspiring lives—they're fashion models.

So what's a girl to do when her life is turned upside down as two irresistible bachelors vie for her doe-eyed attention, just as she's starting to make waves in the modelling world? Will she go with charming and sensitive James, a handsome financier, or reckless and unpredictable Tyler, the stunning male model du jour?

Follow Elodie's adventures from Manhattan to Paris as she navigates the terrifying worlds that are the modeling industry and her love life, one effortlessly chic outfit at a time.

~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olivia Besse is a rookie to the literary scene, moonlighting as a writer to keep what's left of her sanity! Stay tuned for relatable New Adult novels penned by an actual new adult!

http://www.oliviabesse.com/ | facebook.com/olivibesse

Make sure to check out all the stops on the Etoile tour!

The full schedule is available at Itching for Books.

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Blog Tour - Full Steam Ahead by Valerie Chase Review and Giveaway

Title: Full Steam Ahead

Author: Valerie Chase

Published: January 14, 2014

Series: Sea Swept #1

Format Read/Pages: eBook/166

How I Acquired It: IFB Tours

Date Finished: February 2, 2014

Find at: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

*This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Seven days aboard a luxury cruise.
The perfect getaway from it all.
At least, that’s what Georgia Cantwell was hoping for.

Georgia wishes she could run away from the nightmare that has consumed her life, but she can’t. With her inbox filling with menacing emails, all she can do is try to get through her sorority’s winter break cruise without anyone realizing how wrecked she is. So she really doesn’t need Jace McLaren seeing through her tacked-on smile when no one else seems to notice.

Growing up with a father in jail, Jace knows from experience that if you’re going through hell, there’s no way out but through. He has always steered away from girls like Georgia with her ice-queen attitude, but she’s in real trouble, and despite himself he pushes past her walls.

As much as Georgia tries to ignore it, Jace won’t let her pretend with him. But she can’t risk telling him the truth. Her past would ruin his trust, her family, her future—everything.

But out on the open ocean, there’s nowhere to hide. And when Georgia’s secrets come tumbling out, it might take more than Jace to save her. 

~

Going into this I really did not know what to expect. There were a multitude of ways that this could have turned out, but I was extremely happy with what was actually presented. Chase gives us a quick, sweet new adult read that is refreshing in a genre that can be a hit or a miss.

Full Steam Ahead starts with Georgia almost missing the cruise she is supposed to be on with a few of her sorority sisters over their winter break. We learn that she is reluctant to even go on the trip, as it will have her in close proximity with her ex-boyfriend, Hunter, that she recently split from. After a bit of a roommate shuffle she ends up rooming with mysterious and alluring Jace, who had a bit of a reputation. Georgia is also struggling with the fact that her family has lost their wealth and is pressuring her into thing that they think will make everything right again.

I found her hardship to be very realistic. Now, some people might condemn her and ask why she is going on such an extravagant vacation if she has no money, but in reality people will go to many lengths to hide the issues that they are dealing with. We later find out that a lack of money is not her only problem and that there are more serious problems that she has to deal with, so spending money on a cruise she can’t really afford is the least of her worries.

I really wish we could have explored Jace a little more. I really like him as a character and would have been interested in learning more about him. I do feel as though the issues he had with his father were a little too perfectly wrapped up, just because he had to get over the feelings of resentment to be able to accept Georgia for who she really is. Overall, I really liked both of the main characters and feel as though they complimented each other well. Not to mention the fact that they make one hell of a steamy pair.

Something that I really enjoyed was the setting. I thought that it was a great idea to have it be set on a cruise ship. It gave the characters plenty to do and see, while not getting in a routine of doing the same things over and over again. It also set a good timeframe for the story and a plausible reason for two people, who are not that good of friends, to be around each other so much.

The ending was wrapped up a bit to neatly for me, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story at all. Chase really provides all the makings of a great story and does not disappoint. I am looking forward to checking out more of her work in the future!

4 Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Valerie Chase is an author of New Adult Romance. She currently lives in the Washington, DC area. Full Steam Ahead is her debut novel.

As for her writing style, Valerie loves sexy banter and guys whose hearts are in the right place, even if their heads sometimes aren't. She loves discovering strong, awesome characters, putting them in entertaining situations, and watching them argue their way to love.

valeriechase.blogspot.com | twitter.com/val_chase | facebook.com/pages/Valerie-Chase/324942107643538

Make sure to check out all the stops on the Full Steam Ahead tour!

The full schedule is available at Itching for Books.

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Thank you to Shane at IFB and Valerie Chase for the chance to participate in this tour!!

Blog Tour - A Boat Made of Bone by Nicole Grotepas Review & Giveaway

Title: A Boat Made of Bone

Author: Nicole Grotepas

Published: January 13, 2014

Format Read/Pages: eBook/387

How I Acquired It: AToMR Tours

Date Finished: January 31, 2014

Find at: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads 

Kate Miller has been having recurring dreams about the same man . . . a dead man. Will Hawke, to be exact, a celebrity who died long before Kate had any reason to pay attention to celebrities.

While the night-world she enjoys with Will beckons, her waking world has suddenly gotten intriguing. Ty Watts--a guy with looks that could set a thousand housewives free--just walked into her life. He's got a smile and a secret that begs to be found out.

But is Ty a distraction or a savior?

Kate's dreams threaten to take over. She must negotiate the edge of reality, solve the mystery of her nightly rendezvous with Will and either set him free or lose herself forever in the seductively dangerous world he inhabits.

A Boat Made of Bone is a love story that spans worlds, generations, and reaches beyond death into the realm of fantasy. 

~

The cover was what captures my attention, but the description was what held it. This was a great start to a series that has a lot of potential to gain momentum as it continues. Grotepas introduces us to a very interesting concept and follows through with an enjoyable story.

I really liked the dynamic between all the characters. They fit well and complimented each other. Audra was a great companion for Kate to have and was one of my favorites. I must say that I would have liked to see more Ty, there is just something about him that I can’t get over. The beginning was a bit slow, but the second half of the story really picked up and held my attention.

Overall, the reading experience was enjoyable and I look forward to the continuation of this saga. 

3 Stars

About the Author

Nicole wrote her first fantasy novel in 7th grade on her mother's old Brother typewriter. It was never finished but it strongly resembled a Dragonlance plot and she's forever wondered what happened to the manuscript and Tonathan--the handsome elven protagonist. After living in Nashville where she worked as an editor, she returned to the Utah desert where she was raised. Nicole now lives near the Wasatch mountains with her husband. She writes and raises her son and three cats full time.

Find her on: Facebook / Goodreads / Pinterest / Google+ / Website 

Make Sure to check out all the stops on the A Boat Made of Bone tour!

Find the tour schedule at AMoTR tours.

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Thank you to AToMR tours and Nicole Grotepas for the chance to read and review A Boat made of Bone!

Blog Tour - Psycho Inside Me by Bonnie R. Paulson Review & Giveaway

Title: Psycho Inside Me

Author: Bonnie R. Paulson

Published: November 30, 2013

Format Read/Pages: eBook/171

How I Acquired It: Itching For Books

Date Finished: January 11, 2014

Purchase at: Amazon | B&N

I killed my first victim at thirteen years old – my age, not his. He was going to rape me, him and a couple of his friends. And so, I killed him. And then… I killed again. And again.

At seventeen, I’m killing four to six times a year – maybe more. Don’t stress out. I only go after the pedophiles and rapists. There are more out there than I could cover in a lifetime.

Saying I did this on my own would be selfish. Enforcing justice holds a glory all its own. But now, my lifelong friend and backup, Deegan, has been arrested. I have to decide if I want to give myself up and take his place or leave him with all the damning evidence. I don’t want to stop killing. But if I let him take the fall, I can’t kill anymore. And I need to keep doing that.

But the worst part of it all? I love him.

~

Can we just acknowledge that blurb and how catching it really is? As soon as I had read it I knew that I needed to read Psycho Inside Me. It enraptured me and there was no way I could not find out what happens to Deegan and how this all came to be. Bonnie R. Paulson captivated me with a very intriguing premise and kept me interested all the way through.

Something that I really enjoyed was that we jump right into the story; it starts when Cassie, our main character, is thirteen years old and makes her first kill. Within the first ten pages we have the first kill and a promise of more. It starts out fast paced and never lets up. The writing style, I feel, fit when Cassie was young. It was a little all over the place and reminded me of the thoughts and interactions of a young teenager. I would have liked to see it grow right alongside her, but it pretty much stays the same throughout the book, this does not detract from the story though.

While I really liked Cassie, there were times she made me want to pull out my own hair! You would think that after the second killing, where Deegan saves her ass, she would realize that she should just include him in the beginning and save everyone the trouble of having to guess whether or not he will make it to her in time. Their relationship was fitting for this type of situation, even though his insistence that they not be together is what gets them in trouble in the long run.

The story was one that captivated me all the way through and had me on the edge of my seat for the last few chapters. I feel as though the outcome was perfect and was believable in the sense that it really could have turned out that way.

This was a nice fast paced and short read with one of the most original ideas that I have come across in a long while. It was a highly enjoyable, dark and gritty story that shows what can happen when children are forced to grow up too fast. Paulson has written a number of other books and I will definitely be checking some of them out!

4 Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

There are people who know a lot about a little, we’ll call them experts. Then there are people, like Bonnie, who don’t specialize, but rather gather information like pebbles in their pockets and drop them like Hansel & Gretel in the stories they write.

The question is, do you want to follow them back?

Certified as a Radiologic Technologist, Bonnie prefers a touch of medical in her storylines. Don’t be surprised if romance somehow runs through a hospital or comes in contact with a paramedic. It’s just how she rolls. And you know there's nothing more romantic than an 18 gauge needle poking your vein!

She and her Hubs delight in dirt biking, snowboarding, fishing, cooking, eating, spending time together and more with their adorable children.

www.bonnierpaulson.com | twitter.com/bonnierpaulson | facebook.com/bonpaulson

Make sure to check out all the stops on the Psycho Inside Me tour! The full schedule is available at Itching for Books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Shane at IFB and Bonnie R. Paulson for the chance to participate in this tour!

Blog Tour - Heart Breaths by K.K. Hendin Review & Giveaway

Title: Heart Breaths

Author: K.K. Hendin

Published: November 5, 2013

Format Read/Pages: eBook/265

How I Acquired It: Itching for Books

Date Finished: January 5, 2014
Purchase at: Amazon | B&N

***Heart Breaths will be available for $0.99 on Amazon for this week only!!

After a tragedy nearly ripped 21 year old Madeline Darlington-Gray’s life in half, she's spent the past three years trying to put the pieces back together. But pieces never just fit back together, and when she's betrayed by those she trusts, everything crumbles. Shoving everything she owns into the trunk of her car, Maddie drives south, trying to run from her past.

Eno, North Carolina seems like the perfect place to hide. Working at a local café is light years from Maddie's Manhattan existence and for the first time in a while, she's finding her family. There's Grandma, the café owner; Samantha, the hairstylist next door with plans to make Maddie's life unsuck and Noie, the three year old girl who's stolen Maddie's heart.

And then there’s Gabriel Mendez, Noie’s single dad. He’s intrigued Maddie since the first time she met him, and while he has his own secrets, he wants more from her than just friendship. But the past never stays past, and all too soon, Maddie realizes she can't hide from hers. If she can't put the pieces of her shattered life together this time, she'll have no hope for a future.

A future she desperately wants.

~

I really, really, really loved this story. It hit me right in the feels and left me with more emotions than I ever like to have. I seem to be reading a lot of stories about loss and they all manage to make me feel for the characters as though they are real people. Hendin accomplished that and then some with Heart Breaths.

The fact that the single parent in this story is the father was something that I really appreciated. It seems that not many authors, these days at least, have fathers as the main parent, especially as a single parent. I feel as though it brought a whole new set of challenges that are not always seen, especially since Noie comes with challenges of her own. The relationship between Noie and Gabe was perfect and it made me feel as though they are the best father/daughter duo a person can ask for. Maddie seamlessly fits into the equation upon being introduced to the two of them and it just seemed natural for her to be there. 

The heartbreaking reality that is Maddie’s life is something no young woman should have to go through at that age. Given her circumstances and the reasons that drove her to flee her home, she really finds a place that she is able to let her guard down and start to find a new way to live. With the help of some kick ass friends and people that genuinely love her, she found something and someone to live for again. Watching her journey unfold made reading the story easy and had me setting a fast pace to see what new daily adventures she was embarking on along the road to happiness.

The one and only gripe I have about this story was the abrupt ending!! I feel as though I got no closure with the characters and I would have loved to see how they all turned out. Other than that, I cannot express how much I loved this story. I will definitely be on the lookout for any more stories that Hendin puts out. 

4.5 Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

KK Hendin's real life ambition is to become a pink fluffy unicorn who dances with rainbows. But the schooling for that is all sorts of complicated, so until that gets sorted out, she'll just write. Preferably things with angst and love. And things that require chocolate.

kkhendinwrites.blogspot.com | twitter.com/kkhendin

Make sure to check out the other stops on K.K. Hendin's Heart Breaths tour. The full schedule is available at Itching for Books!

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Thank you Shane at IFB and K.K. Hendin for a chance to participate in this great tour!

Blog Tour - Me After You by Mindy Hayes Review & Giveaway

Title: Me After You

Author: Mindy Hayes

Published: November 18, 2013
Series: Willowhaven #1

Format Read/Pages: eBook/290

How I Acquired It: Itching for Books

Date Finished: January 4, 2014
Purchase at: Amazon | B&N

Widowed at twenty-five, Sawyer Hartwell has no choice but to return to her hometown. Broke and alone, the intention was to heal and find herself again, but how can she heal in a place filled with so much sorrow and memories she yearns to forget?

Dean Preston has regretted leaving Willowhaven since the day he rode off on his motorcycle six years ago, destroying the only love he had ever known. Returning too late, he's found small comfort in a new life with Lily, but with Sawyer back he's not sure of anything anymore.

The time has come for Sawyer and Dean to face the past, to learn from their mistakes. The road to healing is paved with old wounds, each one threatening to tear them down completely. Carrying their own scars close to their hearts, they must both confront what's gone before or lose their second chance.

The measure of who we are is what we survive. Who we become is up to us.

~

This is an emotion driven story, about a young woman and her struggle to move on after multiple heartbreaks in her young life. It is a story about finding something to live for, when nothing seems worth it. Me After You had me engrossed from the first few pages and took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions to the very end.

The beginning really caught my attention; it was very abrupt and set the tone for the rest of the story. The opening has us at the funeral of Sawyer’s husband who has been murdered.  I had so many questions after the first few paragraphs, and I was extremely happy to not be left hanging and to receive all my answers. I was a little mad at Hayes for making me really like the dead husband, Grayson. Through well placed and timed flashbacks we get to see how he and Sawyer meet and how their relationship progresses. I knew that I liked him when he asked her out for “coffee or hot chocolate,” as a non-coffee drinker I find it is nice to see that others don’t assume everyone drinks coffee.

Most of the characters that Hayes introduces are likable enough, though they are not without their flaws. I felt strongly for Sawyer and I can’t imagine all the heartbreak she has had to go through in her 25 years, first with Dean and then with Grayson. I really think that she was written in a realistic fashion of a grieving young wife and that, to me, made the story infinitely better. I did not care for our main characters best friends. They both rubbed me the wrong way and if I found out my best friend lied to me, even to protect me, about something as important as what Alix lied to Sawyer about, there would have been hell to pay.

Dean was tough for me to get behind; he made some terrible choices, both by leaving Sawyer and then some when she returns. As the story progressed I found it a bit easier to understand his reasoning for leaving, but I will probably never understand him not telling her that he has still wants her right away. I just kept thinking to myself, ‘You know you want her, so tell her!!’

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. In some parts it felt a little slow and repetitive, but it was worth it in the end. Hayes really delivers a sweet, yet heartbreaking tale. I would be interested in seeing what else she has to offer us. 

3.5 Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mindy Hayes grew up in San Diego, California exploring her interest for singing and playing the piano. She first discovered her passion for reading when she had to take her first flight alone to South Carolina to visit her then fiancé. Mindy's love for writing followed shortly after. She and her husband have now been married for six years and live in Summerville, South Carolina.

www.mindyhayes.com | facebook.com/hayes.mindy | twitter.com/haymindywrites

To visit the other stops on Mindy Hayes' Me After You tour check out the tour schedule at Itching for Books. 

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Thank You to Shane at IFB and Mindy Hayes for a chance to participate in this tour!

Blog Tour Review - A Deal with Benefits by Susanna Carr

                                                  
   Title: A Deal with Benefits

Author: Susanna Carr

Published: December 17, 2013 

Format Read/Pages: PB/185

How I Acquired It: Itching for Books

Date Finished: December 28, 2013

Thank you to Shane at Itching for books and Susanna Carr for including me in this tour!

Thirty days and thirty nights!

Ashley Jones has been sitting in Sebastian Cruz's office. For hours. Behind the imposing wooden doors sits the man who stole her family's island home. And she wants it back.

But the fight is knocked from her when Ashley recognizes him as the man she knows intimately; the man who betrayed her after their blissful night together.

Sebastian has no intention of giving the island back, but he does want Ashley. He agrees to her deal, but has a few sub-clauses of his own. Specifically, a month at his beck and call; and in his bed!

~

This was a surprisingly good read. I have not read many Harlequin romance novels before, but when thinking of them I always pictured cheesy romance, not something that I would actually enjoy. Susanna Carr delivers a light, sweet read in A Deal with Benefits.

I actually enjoyed both main characters. There were some times where I got a bit annoyed with each of them, overall they were likable characters. Sebastian seemed a bit heartless at times and did not pick up on things that probably should have been apparent to him. There is no way that he should have missed how disheartening it was for Ashley to be referred to as his mistress. Once he realized the negative feelings that came with being called that, he looked like an idiot for not seeing it to begin with.

While I thought that the story was a bit rushed in places, it was still pretty well paced. I would have liked to actually spend more time with Sebastian and Ashley, I feel as though we only got a few days with them when it seemed in the beginning we would be getting the better part of a month. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and a great first real introduction to Harlequin romances. 

3.5 Stars

About the Author: 

Susanna Carr has been an avid romance reader since she read her first Harlequin at the age of 10. She has written sexy contemporary romances for several publishers and her work has been honored with awards for contemporary and sensual romance.

Susanna Carr lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she isn’t writing, Susanna enjoys reading romance and connecting with readers online.

www.susannacarr.com | twitter.com/SusannaCarr | facebook.com/pages/Susanna-Carr/242944799620

To visit the other stops on Susanna Carr's A Deal with Benefits Tour check out the tour schedule at Itching for Books.