4 Smooches!

Synopsis

Cooper Sterling has been in love with Briley Sheffield since fifth grade, when he asked her to marry him on wide-ruled paper crafted into the fold-and-tuck square. 

But life isn’t that neat and tidy. 

Years later, defending Briley from an attack lands Cooper in prison, powerless to protect her and unable to convince her to wait for him. 

When a failed engagement opens up the possibility of a relationship with Cooper, a mysterious envelope threatens to slam shut every door in Briley’s path. Now she must choose . . . risk the stability of friendship she has with Cooper, or put everything on hold and solve the mysteries of her family secrets.

Wait For Me is book 1 of a 2-book series, but can be read as a standalone.

Review

I absolutely loved the synopsis for this book. A best friend to lovers story is always guaranteed to get its sweet and sexy claws into me so with Wait for Me I was eager to dive right in and uncover all the mystery and angst that seemed to be promised.

Briley is our female protagonist, suffering in a complicated and incredibly unstable relationship, cheated on and pretty much in total isolation from the only person she can trust and turn to when in need of guidance or comfort- her best friend, the delectable and dangerous Cooper. Cooper is what absolutely makes this story so captivating. He’s toxic with rage and anger, something that has landed him in serious trouble time and again but it’s his loyalty, love, friendship and secretly harboured romantic love for Briley that keeps the fighting soul in him alive.

‘“I’m going to taste you. I’ll wait until you’re relaxed and ready to give me every ounce of your trust.” His eyes flashed with desire before he kissed the opposite corner of my mouth in the same manner. “When I’m finished with you, you’ll never remember you were ever with anyone else. The only name you’ll ever exhale from this day forward is mine.”’

Wait for Me started out great, in fact I was mesmerised and surprised by the setting in some circumstances, the storyline was remarkably fresh and unused and for once I wasn’t entirely sure what the outcome was going to be with these two tortured and well-developed characters. Unfortunately it was the to and fro pull of Coop and Briley that dulled the plot down considerably as the story progressed. I’m all for a angst and trouble and the big dramatic disruption to the equilibrium of the relationship but when it becomes an overused template of couples not communicating on basic things and the whole ‘I’m pushing you away to save our life long friendship’ thing, I lose interest and such was the case here. Jealousy, pettiness and one-up-manship do not a happy couple make, or reader for that matter and for the last part of the book that is exactly what we got. It is difficult to accomplish a genuinely perfect ‘best friends to lovers story’ without recycling certain tools and showing the natural progression of love between them but for me, the drama was anti-climatic, it just fell a little flat and left me disappointed in what should have been a five star read.

I will say Wait for Me is tremendously well written and like I mentioned previously Cooper is a super sexy hot-headed force to be reckoned with, it was just my personal displeasure of certain aspects in the plot that let the book down as a whole, regardless, many other readers will love it.

~Nicole

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5 Smooches!

Synopsis

You.
Have.
Breast.
Cancer.

I wasn’t prepared to hear those words. Neither was my loving husband, family or friends. And none of us were prepared for what life had in store after they were spoken.

I should have seen the signs all around me. I should have paid attention to the people who supposedly loved me, the people who I’d always trusted. But I was blind to what was going on. The effects on my flourishing career, passionate marriage and carefree lifestyle would be insurmountable.

It was time to take control of my life and the overwhelming chaos. Time to make the choices that were right for me. Right for my future. The future I hadn’t planned on. 

My life didn’t stop when I heard those four little words…it was only just beginning.

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Review

THIS BOOK!! I loved it so much. Yes, this is a story that involves cancer but it is so much more than just that! It's a story of a lives turned upside down, of betrayal, friendship and of strength, survival and growth as a person. I couldn't put this down until I finished!

Victoria's life has been flipped right around, happily married and well on her way to where she wanted to be in her career, cancer wasn't apart of her plans. Having cancer is something no one ever wants or needs to hear. At times Victoria wants to just crumble, she doesn't know what else to do but her group of friends who are amazing refuse to let her mope, as they so bluntly put it! and with her sarcastic personality making an appearance at the most needed times she is an entertaining and strong character for sure. Sarcasm, wit, mixed with outrageously funny people, amazing friendships and hot doctors, this really is a great story especially with what the main subject of the story is.

"Find the positives...always the positives!"

With cancer apart of the story it’s not always an easy journey but it’s one that is more than worth experiencing. It’s a tough subject matter but mixed with Victoria’s wit and sense of humor and sarcasm its a heart warming and surprisingly a story that will have you laughing. I loved the friendship with Victoria and her three friends, through all the highs and lows they were a strong presence through out it all. This book is so real, it pulled so many emotions from me. I was hooked. She is definitely thrown some curve balls. Sometimes the dialogue was hard to connect with for me, too formal and structured but the story continued to grow and there’s no way I could give it anything less than a 5 smooches review!

– Jade x

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4 Smooches!

Synopsis

“Quint and Annie sitting in a tree…K.I.S.S.I.N.G.” 

Quint Lawson and Annie Weber heard that childhood song over and over and it never bothered them. Even though Quint was only five, Annie wasn’t just his neighbor. She would become his best friend and the love of his life. Annie wasn’t interested in dolls, or girly things when growing up. A tomboy at heart, having a boy as a best friend suited her just fine. That same boy captured her heart.

Quint had two passions, his girl and baseball. From kindergarten to college, Quint tore up every baseball diamond he played on. His position was shortstop. His talent was undeniable. Professional ball was most definitely in his future, and he was ready for it. Annie would be right by his side. 

When everything in life is perfect, it’s hard to imagine heartbreak in any form. Quint wasn’t immune to its power. This shortstop had no idea what any form of heartbreak could do to his perfect world. When it hit, there were many casualties left in its wake…the most important one was Annie. 

Can a person be prepared for, understand, or even endure a misfortune if they’ve never experienced one before? In Quint Lawson’s case the answer is no.

The Shortstop is a contemporary romance stand alone novel meant for readers who are 18+ due to mature content.

Review

Oh boy, where do I start with this one? It was perfect. Until it wasn’t. Confused? Welcome to how I felt by the end of The Shortstop. For half of the book it was such an epic and beautiful love story centred around two teenage sweethearts, sports hotshot Quint and the incredibly lovable Annie. In fact they first fall in love at five years old, becoming best friends and progressing to kissing friends that soon transformed into an insatiable and passionate love story that takes us to the present, after college and beginning a new era in their lives together- engaged and flying high. The beginning chapters were utterly perfect- romantic, steamy with sex, funny and full of relationship drama from a different set of characters but it’s only when Quint suffers a serious setback in his rising baseball career that everything begins to fall apart between him and the kind and sweet Annie. Anger, resentment and depression slowly creep in and take over the once loving and protective Quint, leaving behind the shell of the man that Annie fell in love with, however Annie is a remarkable heroine to have in your corner as her love and compassion and optimism never falters for Quint, she’s his strength and cheerleader in his darkest hours but unfortunately Quint is so far immersed in his own self pity that he begins to push Annie to the limits, testing their once unbreakable bond.

Tears blur my vision but anger is what’s fuelling my words. “You can’t be hurting as much as I am.”

“Really, because I haven’t loved you since the age of five? I couldn’t possibly be affected by all this as much as you are, if not more? Well, guess what? You’re fucking wrong! I am hurting as much as you. I may not hurt physically, but what’s happening inside me, what I feel every waking moment of every day is a pain like I’ve never felt before. The worst part is I never thought I’d ever feel pain in association with you. I never imagined you’d be the one to make the pain I feel worse with every malicious word out of your mouth.”

What started out as a brilliant story soon became embroiled in a stomach churning plot of dark angst and a serious case of WTF? Quint does something unforgivable in my eyes whether it was premeditated or not and designed to push away Annie or not, it just took the whole story down into the gutter for me. Annie’s character became far too malleable and meek and everything that was wrong or had gone wrong, the relationships that were ruined and desecrated-all of it was just swept under the carpet and everyone moved on with their lives. It’s a story that will work for some, they may love it but for me the second half was just too depressing and upsetting to even contemplate. It was very well written and the characters are well developed, even the secondary characters bring a lot of action to the table but it was just that one huge moment that threw me for a loop and sent the rest of the book downhill.

~Nicole

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5 Smooches!

Synopsis

My life changed forever the night my husband died. 
I was left with a shattered heart, a heap of bills, and our daughter, EVERLEIGH. I don’t want to rely on anyone, least of all CREW GENTRY. He’s my first love and the man who almost destroyed me, the man who has let me down every time I’ve needed him. 
But when tragedy strikes a second time, Crew just might be my only hope. 

My life changed forever the night my brother died.
I was left with a guilty conscience, a pile of mistakes, and little else. I take care of JULIA GENTRY, my brother’s widow and the love of my life, and their daughter. I know she doesn’t want my help, but she gets it anyway. I owe her that.

When another disaster hits, I’m given the opportunity to make things right. I’m taking it. I’m willing to sacrifice it all.

Review

Holy hell, pass the cold tea bags and cucumbers for my poor swollen eyes. Adriana Locke just about ripped my heart out, tossed it around a little and smushed it right back into place with this remarkable and awe inspiring story. The two main protagonists, stoic fighter Crew and struggling single mum Julia, manage to be the strongest, most independent and willful people around, willful to the cusp of stubborn, yet once we get to the bottom of their antagonism towards each other and uncover the secrets they harbour between them, you begin to understand the amount of hurt and heartache these two share, the beauty and connection they hold and the understanding and depth of emotion that falls within them, which only serves to highlight how complex and structured their characters are and this is done with aplomb by the magnificent Adriana Locke. This is only the second book of Adriana’s I’ve read but even I can determine how breathtaking and multifaceted her writing is, her characters and her storylines culminating into one memorable and brilliant tale of loss, redemption, salvation, sacrifice and complete and utter love and devotion.

‘“I’ve pretty much done wrong by everyone in my life. I know this. I know you don’t trust me and you have every right not to.” The shadows across his face darken, his voice lowers. “But give me a chance to make some things right. Give me a chance to do something I’m proud of, for once.” He smiles to himself. “Give me a chance to man up.”

Crew is so….I don’t even have the words. He gives everything he has to protect and take care of Julia and his young niece. He’s hardened by events in his life but he’s a man who feels deeply and cares just as much and when Julia and Ever need him more than ever after some awful news he comes through as the ultimate book hero. Julia is superb, she’s grounded and real and makes sacrifices daily for her daughter even through her own heartache and sadness.

Adriana builds upon her characters pasts, they highlight the connection between the hero and heroine as well as setting up some huge dramatic story arcs from it. There is plenty of heart in this book, Ever especially plays a pivotal role in bringing in the emotion and light comedy, with her mum and Crew contributing to the sexual tension, angst and drama in every page they’re together. A truly remarkable book with a bit of a shock ending. I didn’t quite call it but regardless it was a perfect ending to a rollercoaster ride of an epic love saga.

~Nicole

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5 Smooches

Synopsis

I met the woman of my dreams when her husband paid me to sleep with her.

I won the woman of my dreams when I proved to her I wasn’t the man she believed me to be.

Now, I plan on keeping the woman of my dreams by ending her husband, once and for all.

I’ve done some terrible things in the past, but this will be my darkest deed.

Regardless, if Lena is still by my side at the end, it will all be worth it.

Review

“I’d never been with a woman before who inspired me to find every single part of her body that could make her writhe, to spend as much time as possible using my mouth, and cock to get her off. A woman so perfectly made to fit me, it was as if we were pieces of the same puzzle.”

Bringing this exciting and suspenseful serial to a conclusion, Private Property was impossible to put down and I throughout enjoyed the twists and turns Anie Micheals took us on to get there. I have been hooked on this series from the first installment. Private Property both tied up all loose ends and gave Preston and Lena the HEA they deserved all in one sexy and action packed book.

“You don’t have to take anything from me, as I’ll always give it to you freely.”

Lena and Preston have finally been reunited in Hawaii and all seems to be happy and smooth but thinking their past are behind them is a mistake. People and problems they thought were behind them soon come back to not only cause problems but rattle them to the core. Deciding to face them head on and work together to make a life in which they can be with each other, Preston and Lena soon find themselves doing things they never thought they would do and fighting for the happiness they deserve.

“Everything you think you might have lost, or given up, I want to be the one to give it back to you.”

Told entirely from Preston’s point of view, Private Property gripped me from the beginning and the excitement never slowed down. Preston is extremely protective of Lena and their is nothing he wouldn’t do to keep her safe and happy but Lena has found her strength and is determined to fight alongside of Preston for their happiness. In addition to Preston and Lena the book is full of secondary characters that I fell in love with! I desperately want more from Piper, Preston’s sister. If you have been following these two on their journey I highly recommend grabbing this exciting conclusion and if  you haven’t started yet make sure you start with Private Affairs! You won’t be let down.

~miranda

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