Review - Fair Play by Dakota Madison (Matchplay #2)

Fair Play (Matchplay #2) by Dakota Madison

My Rating, Summary and Review

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Fair Play is book #2 in the Matchplay series and picks up right where Matchplay ends. Aaron Donovan has just asked Rainey Dey to marry him and she's accepted much to the dismay of Keira Whitley. How dare he fall in love with someone other than Keira, much less someone who is in a lower social circle and whose family is in a much lower income bracket. Keira's and Aaron's mothers have been planning for years that their children would fall in love, get married and bring even more wealth into their already wealthy lives. 

Keira is ready to do anything it takes to get Aaron away from Rainey, just so she can have him for herself. 

I really liked Matchplay because I loved watching Aaron and Rainey's relationship develop amid the obstacles that were tossed their way and snooty booty Keira was not my favorite secondary character at all, so I will admit I was a little hesitant about going on with her story. But I wanted to give it a chance and I'm glad I did. 

I won't go as far to say that Keira is someone that I'd want to invite to my house for dinner or hang out with, but I did enjoy her story. It was nice to watch Evan bring her down a bit from the high horse she came riding in on, and it was very great to see Rainey not back down and let Keira know that she was not going to win the battle over Aaron. 

Evan who I'm surprised to say whose character was redeemed for me here as well, deserves a medal for seeing something in Keira before anyone else did and for chipping away at her heart until she realized what she could have was right in front of her. And I loved her surprising friendship with Roxie. 

The Matchplay series continues with Book #3, Final Play which features the brother of Rainey's roommate Olivia. 

I received a complimentary copy of Fair Play in exchange for an honest review.

"Waiting on Wednesday" - Melting the Ice by Jaci Burton

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for this week has a few of my favorite things!

1. It's a romance

2. There's a hockey player in it

3. The cover is hot enough that it could be Melting The Ice!

4. It's by Jaci Burton

Melting the Ice by Jaci Burton

About the Book: 

Carolina Preston has only one goal in mind—launching her new fashion line. She needs only one last thing to make it perfect—hockey phenom Drew Hogan. But Carolina and Drew have a history that goes back to their college days, and Carolina doesn’t want the embarrassment of her past to cloud the brightness of her future. 

Drew is eager for the chance to show Carolina he isn’t the boy who hurt her back then, but a man now, with the skills necessary to melt the icy exterior of her cold heart

My Notes:

This is Book #7 in Jaci Burton's Play By Play series!!!  Her books are known for hot sexy athletes and lots of steamy action so I'm definitely looking forward to reading this one!

Expected publication:  February 4, 2014

Review - Blackness Takes Over - by Norma Jeanne Karlsson

Blackness Takes Over by Norma Jeanne Karlsson

My Rating, Summary and Review

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I received a copy of Blackness Takes Over in exchange for an honest review. 

Shannon Kelly has had two life-altering events in her life, one when she was a child at the time her dad was killed and the other in her freshman year of college. After the second event, she finds herself in the middle of an unconventional friendship with the 3 guys that saved her. The guys are the kinds of friends that become her new family and their parents/siblings also call her one of their own. Kavy, Cally and Sully are gorgeous sexy guys, who would do anything in the world for her and protect her with every once of their being, while loving her unconditionally. Even after college, their worlds remained immersed, as they all share a house, and their careers are all intermingled. 

Dylan Kellerman (Kel) comes into their lives, as the son of a late eyewitness and he is immediately floored by Shannon and he also falls into protective mode over her, but it's different for him than it is for the other guys. Shannon hasn't ever really felt drawn to anyone romantically but there's definitely something about Kel that makes her want to change that. 

Due to circumstances revolving around the crime that Kel's dad witnessed, Shannon receives some death threats and the guys feel that she needs even more protection than what they can offer, so bodyguard, Taylor (just as gorgeous and sexy as the other guys in her life) comes into the picture. Once he gets to know Shannon, he too falls under a spell when it comes to her but he's not even trying to hide it from the guys or from Kel, so even though Shannon is completely enraptured with Kel, he starts feeling insecure with their blossoming relationship. 

I wasn't really sure what to think about this book when it first started but as I got farther into it, it got harder to put the book down. It's definitely got a unique story which was very refreshing to me. The friendship between Shannon and the guys was crazy fast, but with all of the feelings that are revealed later on in the story, it does make perfect sense. Shannon is amazingly strong in spite of or maybe because of all that she's had to deal with. Kavy and Cally and Sully absolutely make the story. Sure, it's all about Shannon, but it's because of them and their quirks and their loyalty that stole the book for me, with Kavy being my favorite. The banter between them all had me laughing so often but also was very touching whenever things were getting too heavy. 

My only complaint is that I didn't know it was going to have a serious cliffhanger at the end and book 2 won't be out until April. The next few months are going to drag by while I wait and ponder what's going to happen next. But please don't let that stop you from reading this book. Even if book 2 is only 1/2 as good as Blackness Takes Over, it will be a book well worth waiting for!

Review- Finding Home by Aine Kelley

Finding Home by Aine Kelley 

My Rating, Summary and Review

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I received a copy of Finding Home in exchange for an honest review. 

Sam is about to graduate college and she has sworn off men and relationships thanks to what she's experienced with her own parents and with her dating history. Every one of her boyfriends has cheated on her and made her feel inadequate. She is busy planning for her future, which includes a teaching job in Boston, using her new college degree and finding a new place to live. 

Sam Cole's best friend and roommate, Jenny, is heading back home to California to work at her family's winery. When Sam's teaching job falls through due to budget cuts, Jenny makes Sam an offer that she can't refuse - joining her in California and helping out the family business while she figures out where to go from there. 

Jenny Foster's brother Ben has been grieving for the past 2 years, over the loss of his fiancee Beth who was killed in a car accident and is afraid to let himself have feelings for anyone else. Sam and Ben have spoken on the phone a few times, when he's called to speak to his sister and she was out but have never met face to face, until he picks Sam up at the airport as a favor to his sister. They both feel a connection but is that connection strong enough to break through the walls that each has put up around their hearts? 

I absolutely loved this book. Aine Kelley did an amazing job with this, her debut novel. I love that she offers us both point of views, with the chapters alternating from Sam's point of view in one chapter, to Ben's in the next. I always enjoy being to get into both main character's heads to know what they are thinking. Sam and Ben were such likeable characters - both had been dealt a tough hand by their own circumstances and both had very strong fight or flight instincts and I so wanted them to figure out that what they could offer to each other was worth fighting for. 

Aine Kelley's next book keeps us with the Foster family, featuring Jenny and Ben's best friend Jack and is due out in the spring of 2014 and I for one, cannot wait for it!

Cover Characteristics #4 - Ethnic Characters

Cover Characteristic is a weekly meme hosted by Sugar & Snark.  Each week they pick a characteristic and then all the participants choose 5 of their favorite cover's with that characteristic.  

I am going to try to pick books from my own library to fit the weekly characteristic whenever it's possible and this week's characteristic is:  Ethnic Characters

Here's what I've come up with from my Goodreads Shelves: 

Guardian of Eden by Leslie Dubois (on my TBR list)

Oh Babe Yes by Kenneth Burrel (on my TBR list)

Ain't No Sunshine by Leslie Dubois (on my read list)

Reclaim My Heart by Donna Fasano  (on my read list)

and

Jack & Diane by Lena Hampton (on my TBR list) 

.

Let me know what you think of my covers! 

Stacking the Shelves #4

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books they've received in the past week!  

Another week of great additions to my book shelves! 

  For Review: 

When It's Love by Emma Lauren 

From my hockey-fan Father in Law 

Orr My Story by Bobby Orr

Added to my Kindle:

Jane Austen Girl by Inglath Cooper

Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck

Caught Up In Us by Lauren Blakely

Broken by Ker Dukey

Bottom Feeder Maria G. Cope

Every Little Piece by Kate Ashton

Handle with Care by Emily Porterfield

Girl with Guitar by Casey Quinn

Secrets of the Heart by Laurie Leclair

Held by Jessica Pine

Orr, My Story will probably be one book that my entire family will be reading.  My husband is not big of reading (if you can believe it) but he's big on hockey and even though he's not a Bruins fan, he'll be the first to tell you that Bobby Orr is probably THE best defensemen to ever play in the NHL.   My 9 year old and 11 year old sons live, dream and breathe hockey so after I read it to make sure there's nothing age-inappropriate for them, they'll both more than likely want to read it. 

I'm also looking forward to reading Inglath Cooper's Jane Austen Girl.  Seriously, there's no book by her that I've read that I haven't enjoyed, so I'm confident this one will follow suit.  

The rest are all new to me authors!

What books have you added to your stacks this week? 

Review - Anonymous by Holly Hood

Anonymous by Holly Hood

About the Book: 

Elle Saunders is a train wreck. Everyone makes mistakes but she made one of the worst. She doesn't want her life back on track she wants to forget. But those plans come to an end when she meets someone else failing at life.

Hart Allen, he's handsome and smooth and knows just the right things to say to keep people at a distance. He wants to save everyone but himself. He spends most his time locked in rehab, and the other half finding ways to go right back when he's not. But when he meets Elle things change, he is determined to help her.

He has no way of knowing that for once he might not be able to talk himself out of his latest mistakes. He has to face them.

My Rating and Review: 

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I received a copy of Anonymous in exchange for an honest review. 

Elle's way of dealing with the biggest mistake of her life has her hitting rock bottom, but instead of wanting to get facing it and moving past it, she thinks the answer is to keep on trying to forget about it, and bury herself in a bottle. Even with rehab, she thinks her mistake is just too unforgivable. Even her longtime boyfriend Pauly, isn't as supportive as she needs him to be and is the first to point out to her about her downfalls. She meets Hart during one of his many stints in rehab. He has his own share of mistakes, and he's fighting his own brand of demons. Neither Elle nor Hart can deny the strong pull towards their friendship - even though neither of them is at the point where it's difficult for them to open up completely and honestly with each other. 

I really like this story. Elle's story was heartbreaking and there were so many instances where I just wanted to smack her friends and her family. Pauly definitely needed a shakedown, as did her brother Nick and her dad. Hart though stole the story for me. I know he's been dealt a hard hand all of his life and has made so many wrong decisions, especially lately but if you can get to the other side of his walls, it's easier to understand why he does what he does. I loved his friendship with Jesse as that was his safety zone and Hart knew that Jesse loves him enough through thick and thin to be able to call him out of his actions and even give him a little bit of hope that things will work out okay after all. 

Friday 56

Friday 56 (#4) - Emerge by S. E. Hall

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice.  All you have to do is grab a book (any book will do)!  Turn to either page 56 or 56% in your ereader.  Find a sentence or two that grab your attention and then post it and link it  here.

From Emerge (Evolve #1) by S. E. Hall 

About the Book: 

Laney Walker is a quick witted, athletic, southern tomboy who lets few get too close, using her sarcastic zingers to deflect. She also has no idea how others view her, Evan having protected and coveted her since they were children. But college puts a gap between Laney and Evan that neither of them were prepared for- old relationships are tested, new ones are formed and nothing will ever be the same.

Especially when in walks one Dane Kendrick, not at all the familiar, southern charmer of home, but an animal all his own.

A story of growing up, friendship, loyalty, first love, primal love...and life.

What's Next Thursday - Blackness Takes Over, Connected By The Sea or Fair Play

Hosted by: IceyBooks

Description: Can’t decide what to read next? Make a post with 3 books you want to (or have to!) read soon and link up every Thursday at IceyBooks, so your readers can help you decide by casting votes!

Here's 3 books that I need to read ASAP to submit reviews:

Fair Play by Dakota Madison 

The Good-Girl, the Bad-Girl and the Boy They Both Want...FAIR PLAY begins where the New Adult romance MATCHPLAY left off. 

Bad girls need love, too...

Keira Whitley is used to getting what she wants and what she wants is the sexy-and-smart, Aaron Donovan. They're both from extremely wealthy and prominent families and their parents have talked about getting the two of them together since they were kids.

The only problem is that Aaron recently got engaged to the girl of his dreams, Rainy Dey. 

But Keira knows she and Aaron are supposed to be together and she's not about to let a little thing like Aaron's declaration of true love for Rainy get in her way. 

But is all really fair in love and war?

WARNING: This book is told from the perspective of Keira Whitley, a villainous Queen of Mean. If you're looking for a story told from the point of view of a sweet Mary-Sue virgin, this book is NOT FOR YOU. Go read Fifty Shades of Grey again. And if you decide to read this book anyway, DON'T say I didn't warn you.

Blackness Takes Over by Norma Jeanne Karlsson 

Shannon Kelly’s life has been anything but typical. 

Her life has been altered viciously at the hands of others twice. 

However horrible they have been, it’s these changes that have given her a family and career…now possibly love. 
The last thirteen years she has been supported and loved by her protector, her entertainer, and her comforter, but never a lover.

When Dylan Kellerman enters Shannon’s life he changes its course in more ways than one. 
He gives her hope and promise of a future she was convinced wasn’t attainable. 

Just as she begins to believe she has finally turned her life into something she can build a future on…blackness takes over.

Connected by the Sea by E.L. Todd

Sydney is attending University of Hawaii on Oahu where she's majoring in Marine Biology. She loves her friends, her job, and her school. Since her ex-boyfriend cheated on her six months ago, she hasn't moves onto anybody new yet. When Coen catches her eye, she's immediately attracted to him in a very carnal way. She refused to let herself feel that way because he's a heartbreaker just like her ex was. But when she's called to her professor's office because she's asked to tutor someone, she doesn't realize it's Coen. Will he convince her that he really is boyfriend material or will he turn out just as she suspects?

Which one do you think I should read first?  Please leave me a comment with your choice for me!

"Waiting on Wednesday" - Abandon by Cassia Leo

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My can't wait til it's out choice for this week is:

Abandon by Cassia Leo 

About the Book: 

This gritty spin-off of the New York Times bestselling Shattered Hearts Series follows mysterious and sexy Tristan as he attempts to abandon his demons in the name of love. 

A steady stream of meaningless sex is all Tristan has left when he discovers the grandmother who raised him is dying and his best friend is getting married. He is lost; and the dark secrets in his past keep coming back to remind him of this.

Until Tristan has an idea that will change his life and fulfill his dying grandmother’s wishes: Abandon his playboy ways and settle down.

And who better to do it with than Senia, the girl who has occupied his thoughts since their scorching hot tryst in the back of his sports car. The girl who makes him laugh and feel like a kid again.

But when his world begins to crumble around him, the pain Tristan is hiding finds its way to the surface. Will Tristan finally learn to trust again? Or will he abandon Senia when she needs him the most

My Notes: 

I loved the Shattered Hearts series so I'm looking forward to reading about Claire's friend Senia and Tristan's story.    I've seen several reviews from readers who were fortunate to get ahold of an ARC and they are all raving about the book!

Expected Publication: January 27, 2014

Classified as New Adult Romance

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme sponsored by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's Top Ten list is all about my Top Ten items on my reading wishlist.

This was a hard topic for me and I tried to come up with 10,  but after 9 I just couldn't come up with any more ideas.

1. Unlimited amount of time for reading.  I recently returned to the workforce after being a stay at home mom for 9 1/2 years so my reading time has taken a huge hit.

2. Unlimited amount of money on my Amazon account so I can afford to buy each book that I see and think that I can not live without.

3. Romances with hot hockey players.  Hockey players are definitely my favorite sports heroes so if you give me a romance with a smoking hot hockey player who's hot enough to melt the ice, I'm all over it.  I have loved books where there's no talk about the hockey action on the ice and other romances that are heavy on the hockey talk and I'm good with either.

4. A romance where a guy falls in love with his best friend's sister (who happens to be the best friend of his sister).  The best friend is beyond furious with the guy and they actually stop talking to each other for a long time but then they make up because he understands how it happened after he discovers that  he too has fallen in love, this time with the other guy's sister.

5.  Less series books and more longer standalones.    I can understand why so many authors do this, but as a reader it's often frustrating to read a book (with only about 150 pages)  and become completely immersed in the story only to find that there's a MAJOR cliffhanger and the story is to be continued in book 2, which won't be out for another few months.   And then to lose yourself again in book 3 and it happens again - major cliffhanger and the pages run out again.    I'd much prefer to wait a little longer and have the parts all in one longer book then have to wait months and months to get from the beginning of a series to the very end.   I can definitely understand why so many readers won't read a series until ALL parts have been released!

6.  More major plot twists.  I'll admit that there's a comfort for me to read book that have the same basic premise - girl meets boy, boy meets girl, they fall in love, something happens to tear their relationship apart, they get back to together, the end.  But it's nice to know that sometimes you will find a book that has such a surprising plot twist that all you can do is shake your head and wonder what the heck just happened.  As long as it's a believable twist, then I'm all for it.    Molly McAdams did this to me in Taking Chances about halfway through the book.  I absolutely hated the event that changed the story to the point that I briefly considered throwing my Kindle across the room in frustration.  Once I started breathing again, I realized that I had to find out how it all played out.  Since I still have such a strong reaction to the book so many months later every time I think about it, I will be the first to admit that she's a wonderful author to be able to invoke such a strong reaction from her writing.

7.  More humor in romance novels.  I love to laugh when the main characters joke around with each other and have their own inside jokes.  Crystal Bowling made me laugh so many times in her Always The Last to Know book and I've reread that book several times because of the humor she added to the story.

8.  Romances where the bad boy does not get the girl but she finds happiness with one of his less bad-boy friends.  Ok, so I'll admit to being drawn to bad boys myself a time or two when I was younger, so I can understand the attraction but in real life some bad boys are just not tame-able.  I'd love to read a romance where the girl decides that the nice guy friend of the bad boy is someone she could fall in love with.

9.  More male perspective.  I love it when the author lets us know what's going on inside the guy's head.  It can either be by alternating chapters in the book, or just as a standalone told completely from his angle.  Although I've rad a few,  I'm not a huge fan of reading a book 2 in a series where it's only his perspective of everything that happened chapter by chapter in book 1.   Just give them to be in one volume as it's happening and I'll be a happy reader!

So that's all I could come up with.  What's on your top ten reading wishlist?

Giveaway - $10 Amazon GC

Win a $10 Amazon GC from Let's Get Lost in A Good Book!

I am having a blast with Let's Get Lost in A Good Book!!   It's so much fun to be able to talk the great books that I read with you all and to hear about what you're reading too, so to celebrate the launch of my blog, I'm giving away a $10 gc to Amazon.com for you to use to add to your own library!! (US Only please)

Thanks for stopping by and good luck! 

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Review - The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson

The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson

About the Book: 

Luke Carney has no idea what possessed him to move back to Shelter Springs, Colorado, to set up his veterinarian practice. His parents have long since left, the small farming community is on the brink of extinction, and only one close friend from his childhood remains--Taycee Emerson, his best friend’s little sister, who isn’t so little anymore. 

Then there’s the matter of Shelter’s Bachelorette, an online reality dating show created to raise some much needed funds for the town. 

Unwittingly cast as the bachelorette, Taycee wants out, especially when she discovers that Luke, her childhood crush, is back in town and will be one of the bachelors. To make matters worse, it's up to the viewers--not her--to decide which bachelors stay or go. And they all seem to like Luke.

Unwilling to let him break her heart again, Taycee launches a subtle attack on Luke’s good name with the hope of getting him voted off the show. But she’d forgotten that Luke's an eye-for-an-eye kind of guy, and when he discovers what she's up to, it means revenge.

My Rating and Review:
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This was such a fun read!! Taycee (love her name) was such a regular girl so it was easy to relate to her. Luke, her brother's best friend and the boy she'd had a major crush on as they were growing up,  returns to town after being away for 10 years.  As we got to know him,  it was easy for me to understand why she could've fallen in love with them all those years ago.  Taycee and Luke's rekindled friendship was fun to watch and I kept hoping that it wouldn't take him long to realize that the girl who spent her young teenaged years tagging along with him and his friend could be someone he could fall in love with. 

Giveaway Alert:
Rachael Anderson is giving away 3 audiobooks of The Reluctant Bachelorette on her website.  Just hop on over to
http://rachaelreneeanderson.blogspot.com/2014/01/multiple-audiobook-giveaways.html and enter via her rafflecopter  within the next 4 days.  While you're there, you can also try your luck at winning an audiobook from 8 other authors!!   Good luck! 

Cover Characteristic #3 - Trees

Cover Characteristic is a weekly meme hosted by Sugar & Snark.  Each week they pick a characteristic and then all the participants choose 5 of their favorite cover's with that characteristic.  

I am going to try to pick books from my own library to fit the weekly characteristic whenever it's possible and this week's characteristic is:  Trees

Here's what I've come up with from my TBR shelf :

Falling by Shirley Miranda

Breaking Twig by Deborah Epperson

Condemn Me Not by Dianne Venetta

Forbidden Fruit by Nancy Evans Yates

but my favorite tree cover is a book I read and LOVED in April 2013.  

The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life by Michelle Pace and Tammy Coons

Have you read any of my choices?  Let me know!