Review: Empower by Jessica Shirvington

Title: Empower
By: Jessica Shirvington
Series: Violet Eden Chapters #5
My Copy: Ebook from Netgalley
BookWhisperer Rating:
5 STARS

It has been two years since Violet Eden walked away from the city, her friends, her future and - most importantly - her soulmate, Lincoln. Part angel, part human, Violet is determined to stand by the promises she made to save the one she loves.

Living in the perpetual coldness of a broken soul she survives day to day as a Rogue Grigori in London.

But when an unexpected visitor shows up at her door, the news he bears about someone she swore to protect leaves Violet with no choice.

Even worse, she fears that this might all lead back to the night she tries hardest to forget. And what was taken without her permission.

Violet is going back to New York ... and she knows exactly who is going to be there.

With Phoenix in her dreams and Lincoln in her heart she knows it is only a matter of time before the final choice must be made.

The End!!!! Such a bitter sweet word in reference to the Violet Eden series. These books are stories are so momumentally detailed that while every book offers roller coaster ride to the end of the book they are also very exhausting. All of the other stories were minimal compared to the complexity of Empower. Anyone and Everyone that we have come to love and hate over the past books have an appearance in this last installment. The consistent teeder todder of romance between Lincoln, Pheonix, and Violet will come to an all consuming resolution. While it was everything that I had been anticipating, and the ending that I was looking for, it also tugged at my heart strings and I was left with a very emotional goodbye. This was a very sorrow filled story that takes on a much different feel from the past, and the trials that we have experienced previously are nothing compared to the emotional devestations that will be offered here. This was wonderful conclusion to the series. Everything seems to have been wrapped up nicely, and a stage was set for our imaginations to lay out the future. Watching Violet grow has not been easy, but it created such a powerful masterpiece that was a pleasure to read. I can not believe how much has happened, and it is all coming to a close. I don't know that we will ever see more of the Grigori and Exiled world, but it has been worth the grueling minute. After such an impressive display of talent I look forward to seeing more from the author my only hope is that she can continue the same level of splendor with all her other works. The bar has definitely been set high! ~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~



Cover Reveal: Everything I Shouldn't

 

Title: Everything I Shouldn't (Nashville Nights #2)

Author: Stacey Mosteller

Release Date: May 20, 2014

Cover Design by Ashley at Ashbee Designs (http://www.ashbeedesigns.com)

Cover Models – Kathy Riddle Hodge & Brandon Lowman

Photographer – Kathy Riddle Hodge & Ted Alley

   

Synopsis

It’s been eight days, sixteen hours and forty-seven minutes since life as I know it ended. I know, it sounds so melodramatic and teen-soap worthy, but it’s the truth. Eight days, sixteen hours and forty-seven minutes since David found out. Since he kicked Jeremy out, ended their friendship and told me I could never see him again.

I didn’t plan on David getting suspicious, and I definitely didn’t plan on getting caught. My selfishness has cost Jeremy everything, my brother won’t even look at me, Lyric must hate me for practically blackmailing her to keep silent and my best friend is barely speaking to me.

Now my life is full of secrets and lies. The people around me have been affected by the choices I’ve made and the lies I’ve told. But what will they do when they discover the biggest secret of them all?

Jeremy is everything I shouldn't want, and the person I can't live without.  

Prologue

SarahBeth I've been in love with my brother's best friend, Jeremy, for as long as I can remember. Just saying the words aloud causes my heart to clench. I’ve never admitted it to anyone other than Olivia, but I knew she’d never tell a soul. She encouraged it actually, went out of her way to help me find sexy outfits to wear around him and helped me come up with some crazy plan to make him notice me. Those usually ended with him scolding me so they probably weren’t the best way to get his attention. I’m not really sure when my feelings for him started changing. First, my love for Jeremy was the love any child has for her hero. My dad was always busy, and while, my brother David loved me, Jeremy was the one who kissed my knee when I fell off my bike, the one who taught me how to climb a tree, all the things my brother - who even as a teenager was over-protective of me - didn't want me to do. He never grouched about having to watch me like David did, he was always willing to play games with me and include me in whatever he and my brother were doing. I was heartbroken when David went away to college, but the fact that Jeremy was gone too devastated me in a way that not even losing my parents did. All of a sudden I was alone. They both kept in touch after they left for school, at least at first. The phone call came every few days for months, but gradually became only once a month or less, especially after David came back for Christmas and argued with our dad. After that, the only time David would call was when he knew Dad was gone. Then, when our parents died and everything fell apart; Jeremy was there to comfort me, to hug me, to dry my tears. That doesn't mean that my brother wasn't there, because he was. He was just stuck being the grown-up. David had to deal with funeral arrangements, lawyers, wills, the court and our grandparents. Once Jeremy and David moved back home, David became more of a parent than a brother, and Jeremy made every attempt to fill that role. Unfortunately, my feelings for Jeremy were never that simple. The fact that he became as over-protective now as my brother is did nothing to discourage my growing infatuation with him. Up until recently though, Jeremy never gave any indication that he saw me as anything other than David's little sister. I’ve been chasing after Jeremy since about a month after my brother moved back and brought him with him. We spent a lot of time together because he was trying to distract me from the life I was thrust into, taking me to the movies, hanging out, helping with homework… all the stuff that brothers do with little sisters. It didn’t take long for hero worship to turn romantic. But looking back, it’s clear I wasn’t the only one with a secret. At the time, I thought that the reason my brother didn’t react the same way Jeremy did when I really started dating was because he was so preoccupied with getting his business off the ground and raising me. Now, I can see that the reason Jeremy always did his best to scare away any guy I brought around was because he was jealous. I imagined that convincing Jeremy to give me a chance, to really look at me like a woman, instead of his best friend’s baby sister would be impossible. But just when I thought I should give up, he kissed me. We continued our relationship in secret because I was afraid of what David would say and how he would react. It didn’t take much to convince him to keep it a secret, even though I know it bothered him to not be able to tell him. I finally got everything I wanted, but I fucked it up royally. I lied to my brother, my best friend, even Jeremy. I was so concerned with what I wanted that I didn’t give anyone else a thought. Jeremy wanted me and maybe even fell in love with me, but now, everything I had, all the people who loved me; none of them are here. It’s all so completely screwed up, and I have no idea where to start fixing anything. Jeremy's friendship with David is ruined, my brother broke up with Lyric, Olivia won't even speak to me. I'm completely alone for the first time. I have so much to make up for. I’m the hateful bitch who destroyed a friendship, made someone who could have been a friend lie to my brother, and I kept secrets and lied to my best friend’s face. I have no idea how to even begin to make things right, but I know I have to try. Jeremy I fucking knew this thing with her would blow up in our faces. I should have known better, but instead, I went for it. It’s always been SarahBeth for me, always. And not in a dirty old man way, don’t call Chris Hansen and To Catch A Predator because it’s not like that. When it started, I was jealous of David. He had a dad and a mom, which was already something I didn’t have, and then came SarahBeth. She was this tiny little thing with big eyes and curly blonde hair, I swear to God, she looked like an angel the first time David showed her to me. He was disgusted and pissed because she was crying all the time and taking all the attention. Meanwhile, I would have given anything to have the life he had. As she got older, she worshipped her brother, and me by association. Following us around, trying to imitate us and running after us on her short little legs. By the time she was old enough to chase us, we were thinking about cars and tits not little sisters, and she drove David crazy. He’d get impatient and yell and she would cry. Big, fat tears that broke my heart, even back then. We grew up, moved out and then moved on, leaving SB behind us. At least for a while. Then, the unthinkable happened. That night, it almost broke David. I think it did in some ways, but SarahBeth? Man, it destroyed her. In the blink of an eye she lost her parents. In a way, she gained a new parent in David because he took the “guardian” title to a whole new level. In fact, and it makes me feel like an asshole to say it, but I think Dave may have been more her father than her actual dad was. When we moved back, David spent a lot of his time building his business. It was easier for me in a way because I just had to get hired. David built his job from the ground up, which took up the majority of his time, leaving me to entertain SarahBeth. We got extremely close during that time. I knew she had a crush on me, but I thought it was more hero worship than true romantic feelings. I was wrong. The older Sarah got, the more beautiful she became. Gone was the tiny tomboy who wanted to follow us everywhere, and in her place was a beautiful woman. The more time I spent with her, the more I started noticing things about her; the smell of her hair, how soft her skin was. The more I noticed, the more I tried to stay away. The sister of my best friend shouldn’t be the girl I can’t stop thinking about. I did everything I could to distance myself from her, making excuses when she asked me to take her places, showing up with a date when I knew she would be there, even though I knew it would hurt her. The lengths I went to were atrocious and shameful, but I was trying to avoid this situation. Instead of thinking of her like a sister, I was thinking of her as someone I wanted to own. She became the girl I wanted to claim, to make sure everyone knew she was mine. Finally giving in and taking her should have brought relief, but instead all it brought was more stress and in the end more heartache. I’m old enough to know better. Hiding things never works, secrets always come out. I wanted her more than I wanted his friendship, and look where it got me. He hates me, she’s devastated, and everything is completely fucked up. I have to make things better; I need to fix this. Fixing my friendship with Dave and deserving SarahBeth is the only thing that matters to me now. He has to understand that hiding our relationship wasn’t to hurt him; we weren’t trying to deceive him. We were only trying to figure out how to tell him. David discovered us before we were ready, before we could figure out what to say to him. We should have just been honest from the beginning. If I had just gone to him before, explained that I do love her, that I will be good to her, maybe he would have given his blessing. At least then, we would know. David’s reaction might have surprised us. Instead, I let the fear of losing his friendship, of no longer being like brothers color my reactions and influence my decisions. I’m done being afraid; I’m done hiding. Making him understand just how much I want to be with her, that she is it for me has become my top priority. Now I just have to figure out how to get him to talk to me without him kicking my ass.  

Save Me From Myself (Nashville Nights #1)

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | Goodreads

 

Southern Seduction Box Set – featuring Never Wanted More (Nashville Nights #0.5)

Amazon US | B&N | Goodreads | Southern Seduction Box Set

   

About the Author

I am a wife and mom to 3 boys, ages 15, 14, and 8! After spending the first half of my life in a small town outside of Philadelphia, PA, my parents moved my brother and I to another small town outside of Greensboro, NC. I moved to Hickory, NC after marrying my husband. We dated a total of three months before getting married, and we’d known each other for a total of six! People thought we were crazy, but 2014 marks our 10 year anniversary, so it obviously worked out!  

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Email

 

Giveaway

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Cover Reveal: Love Me To Death

Love Me To Death
By: Marissa Clark
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis: Medical research scientist Elena Arcos has always lived her life under the radar. When she is shot in a convenience store robbery, Elena finds herself rocketed into supernatural insanity courtesy of a sexy immortal law enforcer. He’s convinced she’s some kind of freaky half-vampire thing and that her deceased dad was the real deal: a blood sucking monster. Yeah, right.
Nikolai Itzov never anticipated battling the urge to kiss the offspring of his father’s murderer. As a Slayer, an elite law enforcer descended from Azrael himself, his orders from the Underveil General are clear: Kill her or die.
Nikolai and Elena find themselves in a life and death battle to stop a plot designed to lift the Underveil and enslave humans. With her analytical mind and his centuries of training, they might be able to foil the plot with their lives and maybe their hearts intact. But in order to succeed, he must help her become the very thing he hates the most: an Undead.

Website: http://www.marissaclarke.com/

Twitter @MaryL_MarissaC

Blog: http://marissaclarkeauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marissaclarkeauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6525929.Marissa_Clarke

Newsletter: http://www.marissaclarke.com/contact.php

Marissa Clarke lives in Texas, where everything is bigger, especially the mosquitoes.
When not writing, she wrangles her rowdy pack of three teens, husband, and a Cairn Terrier named Annabel, who rules the house (and Marissa's heart) with an iron paw.
She loves to connect with readers, so follow/friend her on Facebook and Twitter (buttons in the bar above), or shoot her an email from the "Contact" page.
Marissa Clarke is a pseudonym. Her real name is Mary Lindsey and she also writes young adult novels for Penguin USA.
Tagline:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16005226-love-me-to-death
Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1gU7ACm
Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://bit.ly/1hptWzf

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Review: Rockin the Heart by Gracen Miller

Title: Rockin’ The Heart

By: Gracen Miller

Series: Hot Wired #1

My Copy: Ebook for Review

BookWhisperer Rating:

If music nourishes the soul…
Loved by millions, but shunned by blood, Heath “Fang” Fangor has led his band, Hot Wired, to the top while others have fallen by the wayside. He devoted his life to music, and from that devotion harvested a new family—his band mates and fans.
A man can desire nothing else…or can he?
Living in the shadow of her brother’s fame sucks! Sam Collins is desperate to have what she wants—a simple and uncomplicated life. She’s no stranger to scandals and how they work. Now that she’s inadvertently dragged Fang into the center of her latest gossip, could the scandal she created in her quest for freedom have gone too far?
Amid stardom the heart stages a new melody…
Fang has more fame and fortune than he will ever need, but none of that matters if he can’t have the woman of his dreams. Years have been wasted waiting for the right moment to approach the woman his heart desires above all others. There’s just one major problem...she’s his best friend’s sister. To have her, he will have to risk it all.
One that might be responsible for Rockin the Heart!

Such a powerful and intense start with these two friction building characters. I was on the edge of my seat from the start with the emotional level of turmoil between Sam and Heath. To further add to the suspense the story's turn for the media power play was incredible. It puts both character in close proximity for the duration, and the possibility for romance is at an all time high. In the very beginning it obvious to everyone around them that there is more to the story. It is discussed and handled, so that this point my assumption was that the story will be altered by outside influences. Boy was I surprised with Jase is the one to cause the inferno. This gave the story a very unsettling feel. I was confused and perplexed by the developments; leaving me feeling as though the beginning was misleading and undeveloped. As the story continues it only seems to build on the unsettling with Sam's brother finally landing on his malicious attempts to cause further problems between our main characters. I am so upset with the turn of events, because the beginning seems so incredibly written. It was building an incredible story with am amazing amount of potential. I really wish that the remainder of the story hadn't fallen apart, and left me confused and lost in where things went wrong.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

Review: The Recruit by Fiona Palmer

Title: The Recruit

By: Fiona Palmer

Series: MTG Agencies #1

My Copy: Ebook from Netgalley

BookWhisperer Rating:

Jasmine Thomas may not be completely normal, but she’s a pretty typical seventeen-year-old girl. She hates the rich mean kids, loves her best friends, and can’t wait to get out of school each day. Her spare time is spent at The Ring — a boxing gym where she practically grew up — learning karate, boxing and street fighting. So, yeah, Jaz can kick some major butt.
Life seems pretty normal until the day Ryan Fletcher enters her gym…mysterious and hot with heaps of bad boy charm. Sure, she checks him out. Who wouldn’t? But what doesn’t show on his gorgeous abs are secrets and lies that dominate his very grown-up world. Now Jaz has to figure out just how far she is willing to go to know more. Could Ryan really be offering the life-fulfilling life path she’s always dreamed of?

Prepare yourself for this is by far the most Aussie book I have ever read. There were many moments that I had to stop and regroup to fully understand the meaning. Otherwise, the story actually being told was a very creative and enjoyable adventure. Jasmine Thomas is not your average seventeen year old. Having been a regular member of the gym and talented in all things fighting; she can take down grown men almost effortlessly. Unlike the plethora of books about damaged and scorned characters; this was a real breath of fresh air. With the help of her Mother Jazz has been slowly uncovering her personality, and it seems to be thriving in this world of martial arts and boxing. This is not your lonely girl, but rather a strong and powerful characters. Jasmine has planned a future, but it never involved and dark and mysterious man or the world of secrecy that he would bring with him. This story was very unlike anything that I have read, but it has such an abundance of potential. It is one that really enjoyed the concept and creativity. The possibility of something spectacular was just below the surface.

Review: All For Maddie by Jettie Woodruff

Title: All For Maddie

By: Jettie Woodruff

My Copy: Ebook from Author for Honest Review

BookWhisperer Rating:

I believe in love at first sight... because I am a mother.
Living a complete lie, holding on to a secret that could cost me the most important thing in my life was about to surface. I couldn’t breathe without Maddie. Maddie was my life. The saying about dying for your child is the absolute truth. The other things you would do are comparable to that of death. I know, I did those things. I did unthinkable things, all for Maddie. I continued the lie, the secrets with the one man who had no right. People say you always have options. That’s a lie. I had no choice. I did it all for her... for my Maddie.

As a Mother, All For Maddie is a tragic terrifying story. I don't really know what I expected going into this book, but it was not at all what I had anticipated. From the start I was puzzled by Alex's character, and the actual prospect that this a relationship could exist at all for this couple. She was raped how could you possibly find yourself able to recover from such a marred past. Alex is pushy and malicious from the start I have a hard time falling for his charms, and as the story continued found myself more and more perplexed by this harmonious existence that they find with one another.
Then the shit hit the fan! What in the world just happened. While I questions every motivation and gracious act by his character. Unbeknownst to me, I guess I really had begun to believe him, because each and every time when the bottom dropped out so did my stomach. And I do mean every time, but this happened quite a few times. This book was just packed full of Jekyll and Hyde scenarios with Alex. Then at one point I even began to question Whitley, and wondering if each situation was her perception of the stories and not what was actually happening. In the end, I have to say that I am still reeling from the turn of events. I am not entirely certain if tables were turned that I would be able to love such a man. The avenues and depths at which he went this story to keep her were malicious and vindictive; couple that with the fact in which Maddie was brought into existence, and you are let with a world of scars that hold me back.
All For Maddie twisted my emotions into knots. I might just have to get a massage to work out the tension throughout my shoulders from the strain that this book vividly displays. This is nightmare and fairytale all wrapped up into one. The Girl given anything her heart desires and love, but shadowed by a terribly tragic past. This is a book that I feel many readers will love, but I think it will mount an equally extensive group of haters. Jettie Woodruff tests your limits, and ability to accept love at all costs. This was such a well written story that I will be looking for more from this author. She has displayed her strong talent for intrigue works that I find most enjoyable.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

Review: Scare Crow by Julie Hockley

Title: Scare Crow

By: Julie Hockley

Series: Crow’s Row #2

My Copy: Ebook from Amazon

BookWhisperer Rating:

Nineteen-year-old Emily Sheppard is losing her sanity. Ever since her mob king boyfriend, Cameron Hillard, abandoned her for her own good, Emmy has been attempting to move on with her charmed college student life as if nothing happened. Now rejected from the underworld and left grieving over Cameron’s alleged death, Emmy realizes she belongs nowhere. Worse yet, she is now keeping a dangerous secret.
After just a short time with Emily, Cameron has lost control over his world. As he miserably attempts to return to what is left of his life and unravel the mess he has made of the underworld, Emily’s hate turns to desperation. She needs to kill the kingpins responsible for Cameron’s death before they come looking for her. As Cameron secretly observes Emily, he has no idea of the danger he has placed her in—or that it may already be too late for him to save her.
Scare Crow is a tale of revenge, terror, and love as Emmy and Cameron embark on separate journeys to face enemies, correct past mistakes, and find their way to their destinies.

OMG!!! I never thought I would get it. After such an agonizing wait Scare Crow is finally available. This sequel to the beloved Crow's Row was everything that I was waiting for. After the shattering conclusion of book 1 this book seriously had it's work cut out, and I was praying that the author wouldn't flop. Emmy and Cameron will continue this adventure with alternating chapters. It is also telling two entirely different stories, because they are both living separate lives. As they stumble through life we will see the inevitable conclusion looming in the distance, but no predictions about how we are going to get there. There were key moments that would stand out leaving me with clues to possible ways to connect their two lanes, but every encounter they seemed to be passing with a hairs breathe of near misses. I was shocked with the development of Emmy's character in this book, and look for her to develop into one powerful player. This sequel was incredible, and I was very happy to see the further development as well as reintroduction of characters. Julie Hockley is an incredibly talented author that can tell one hell of a story. She creates an entire world in vivid color. I feel as though a story by Julie will engulfs you into her mind, so that you are almost watching it in living color. I am beside myself now as to what will come, and how they can survive this deadly world they live in. After such a long wait I have no idea what or when we can expect to see more about this series. These waits are killing me.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

Review: Touching Scars by Stacy Borel

Title: Touching Scars

By: Stacy Borel

My Copy: Ebook for Honest Review

BookWhisperer Rating:

Timber Nelson has recently returned home after serving two tours in Iraq. Suffering from PTSD, he’s a shadow of the man he was before his time in the military. Instead of learning to live with the nightmares he faced in the war, he drowns them in a bottle of Crown.
Katherine Pierce is an alluring woman with dark brown hair, tattoos, and a fiery attitude. Yet her history is one full of disturbing images that she’s been trying to run away from for the better part of six years.
Undeniable attraction between Timber and Kat reaches its peak and they both give in to the unquestionable pull.
Will Timber be able to save Kat from her past repeating itself?
And will they be able to soothe each other’s scars? Or will their old scars become new wounds?

Touching Scars is definitely for a Mature Audience, but it is a powerful and hopeful story that readers will find their selves racing through. Timber and Kat have every dark and damaging pasts. These two characters have endured much, and this is the stories to their HEA. There is a tremendous amount of hope to these few pages, and while it is sad to see the darker side of life the story here shows the light at the end of the tunnel. This was another first experience with works from this author. She can successful build a story that will grab or attention, and her characters are intense and smoldering. Her journey here was a perfect mixture of sultry and action that kept my attention devoted to the story.

Review: The Beautiful Ones by Lori Brighton

Title: The Beautiful Ones

By: Lori Brighton

Series: Prequel #0.5

My Copy: Ebook from Netgalley

BookWhisperer Rating:

Some say we’re special, and that’s why we’re kept in seclusion. Beyond those walls evil lurks and innocent prey would be lost in minutes. Gone. Destroyed. Forgotten.
Others say the opposite: we’re locked away because there’s something wrong with us. If we roamed the outside world, we might taint the beautiful ones. A species so pure, that to merely be in their presence is a gift.
As for my beliefs…I’m not sure.
But I do know one thing: neither of those reasons explains why it is that they come for us only after we’ve passed the age of sixteen. Whether we want to go or not, we’re taken through those iron gates. Escorted away from the only home we’ve ever known, escorted to our destiny—whatever that destiny may be—never to be seen again.

The Beautiful Ones really sets the stage for this new series. If the quality of this prequel is any indication as to what is to come I am anxious to continue with the series. The world that this built up in this debut was one of extensive detail and creativity. The mystery of this world was closely concealed until the very end of the short story. At first glance the reader is just as mystified about the unfamiliar objects of this world. As the character studies each item in depth it is interesting to put them together, and finally understand what it is that the they have discovered. This is going to be a powerfully detailed and monumental adventure that looks to be created by a highly talented author. I look forward to checking out the first novel that is actually due this Spring. Be on the lookout for more details on The BookWhisperer.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

Review: No Regrets by Jessica Sorensen

Title: No Regrets

By: Jessica Sorensen

Series: Nova and Quinton #3

My Copy: Ebook from Netgalley

BookWhisperer Rating:

Today is the first day of Quinton Carter's new life. The toxic guilt of his past left him in pieces-but one girl unexpectedly put him back together. Thanks to Nova Reed, Quinton can finally see the world with clear eyes. She's the reason his heart is still kicking behind the jagged scar on his chest. And he would love to have her in his arms every minute of the day . . . but he's not ready yet.
Playing drums in a band and living with her best friends are just some of the highlights of Nova's life. But the best new development? Talking to Quinton on the phone each night. She wishes she could touch him, kiss him, though she knows he needs time to heal. Yet shocking news is on the way-a reminder of life's dark side-and Nova will need Quinton like he once needed her. Is he strong enough to take the final leap out of his broken past . . . and into Nova's heart?

Breaking Nova began such a melancholy series about the dark and dangerous world of drugs. This is book three of the series, and the final installment for the solo story of Quinton and Nova. This is not your feel good romance that will leave you uplifted and a hopeless romantic. This story will drag you through the dark alley and rat infested getto to find two people that just may be able to overcome the relentless world that they have found their selves a part of. The reality of this story is scary, and the brutal honesty is disheartening. I would like to say that I am so happy with the ending; but I feel that would be a bit morbid, because not everyone's ending was happy. More importantly, it is not entirely a happy ending to know that Quinton and Nova are survivors that together can have a better chance to beat all the odds. This does not spell out roses and butterflies, but rather days of struggle and temptation that will require dedication and strength to stay clean. I am anxious to check out the side stories for Delilah and Tristan. Jessica Sorensen is a wonderfully talented author that has an uncanny ability to create even the darkest story into a must read. I will be a fan for life, and will follow everything that she creates.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

Review: Play by Kylie Scott (Stage Dive #2)

Title: Play
By: Kylie Scott
Series: Stage Dive #2
My Copy: Netgalley.com
Book Whisperer's Rating: 

Kylie Scott returns with the highly anticipated follow-up to international bestseller Lick. 

Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast—at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn’t plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn’t count on finding the one right girl. Anne Rollins never thought she’d ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls—especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn’t end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?

I really enjoyed the first book “Lick” and loved the characters together that Scott presented however, Mal and Anne didn’t seem to really mesh well together until the very end for me.  It surprised me because right off the bat I loved Evelyn and David together; they fit.  Mal and Anne seemed almost forced as a couple and if something were to be forced, I rather it be after a passionate night and Anne found herself pregnant and they deal together as a forced couple than a pretend couple. 

Now this doesn’t mean that I didn’t dislike the entire book.  I did like Mal’s exuberant personality.  He was all over the place in a matter of seconds but did it with such coolness that as I reader, I couldn’t judge him and think of him a manic.  Anne was as best as level headed as one could be (which kind of threw me off of why she participated in the made up relationship.)

However, my favorite part is at the very end when these two characters really seem to find each other’s worth in their own eyes.  I don’t want to say too much but it was heartbreaking to see how strong Anne stand beside Mal when she finds out the family secret and how she has to say ‘no’ when I know her heart wanted nothing more than to say ‘yes.’  This scene, to me, made Anne stand as a strong character in my eyes because this whole time she kind of just follows Mal around and does whatever he wants to do.  Living with a rock star is a whole new world to her so of course she participates but when Mal make a huge decision and Anne says ‘no,’ she finally sees the meaning of their relationship and how much he means to her and how right it is to say ‘no.’ This part made this couple real to me and turned them into a solid unit and then the end came.  I wish I could have read more about them.  Hopefully I can catch a glimpse of them in the future books.

Review: The Arrangement #7 by H.M. Ward

Title: The Arrangement #7

By: H.M. Ward

Series: The Arrangement #7

My Copy: Bought from Amazon

BookWhisperer Rating:

When Avery learns Sean's dark secret, everything changes. His confession blindsides her. Sean has a shady past, she knew that from the beginning, but this is so much worse than she thought. There's a dangerous side to Sean. It's alluring and frightening at the same time. Avery has to decide if love can overcome anything or if she should protect her heart.

I took a bit of a break from following this series so closely. I love the story, but this duration of short stories can be overwhelming. More importantly, this is a terribly expensive way to offer this story. At 2.99 a pop, and the fact that I am on installment 7 this series can be very expensive. I am just hoping that maybe the series is coming to an end, because I can not continue to spend this much on one series. As for reviewing the story; this was a great addition. I was surprised by the turn of events, and I am honestly unsure that liked all of the changes with Sean. Regardless, the danger continues to build, and I am anxious to see if this moment of happiness will continue into Arrangement 8. ~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

Review: The Fine Line by Alicia Kobishop

Title: The Fine Line

By: Alicia Kobishop

My Copy: Ebook for Review

BookWhisperer Rating:

High school senior Liv Evans has one rule: No attachments. She’s lost enough in her life and has vowed to do whatever it takes to make sure she never again feels the emptiness of losing someone she loves. Boys are a fun distraction, but a serious relationship is something she’d rather live without. Her determination for a future free of pain and heartbreak is put to the test when she meets–and quickly forms an unexpected bond–with Logan Tanner.
Logan has always been a free spirit, but ever since a life-changing event took place, which left him doubting the integrity of those who are closest to him, he’s taken that term to a whole new dangerous level. Learning the hard way that life is too short for worries or work–and that women can’t be trusted–Logan has exchanged steady work for street racing. When Liv walks into his world, everything he thought he knew about life and women is challenged.
In The Fine Line, Liv and Logan will discover if it’s possible for true love to have a future, or if history is destined to repeat itself.

Street Racing and Romance a sure winner. I love this story line. Logan's playboy antics and Liv's scarred past make the perfect combination of tension and lust. There is a bit of love a first sight with Logan's instantaneous devotion to Liv; that was well played off by the resistance from Liv's past. That is until she seemed to take this just a little too far. I felt that this was the perfect scenario, but I desperately wished that it would have been concluded a bit earlier. I think it would have best received if she had experienced her epiphany a bit earlier. As the story is she hits the moment of whiny and a bit ridiculous. Regardless, the story still maintains a extremely entertaining flow, and it offer a bit of punch in the end. This kind of story will test your emotional limits, and leave you craving more.

Review: 10 Ways to Steal Your Lover by Dee Tenorio

Title: 10 Ways to Steal Your Lover

By: Dee Tenorio

Series: Love by Numbers #1

My Copy: Ebook from Amazon Freebies

BookWhisperer Rating:

His best friend's wedding just turned into the craziest hangover ever...
Kane Wilkensen's buddy was about to marry the girl of Kane's dreams. Which would have been fine—heartbreaking but fine—if Kane hadn't woken up in a Las Vegas honeymoon suite with her, a giant sack of money and a great big blank spot in both their memories first.
He'd always thought a good man would never steal his best friend's lover, but one crazy night may be just the chance Kane needs to show his "wife" that she's with the right husband after all...

Wow! This book is like your best dream too short, forbidden, and sexy. Delilah and Kane are perfect characters for enticing the maximum intensity, and mouth watering lusty scenarios. I loved following them throughout this short adventure. It was a creative story line not just your drunken binge that leaves the characters not remembering the past. More importantly the irony of their concern once discovering the sequence of events of the day prior was great. This was a excellently quick and funny read. One worth checking out.