4 Smooches

Synopsis

It’s a time for new beginnings, a time for change, but things don’t always go as planned. How do you pick up the pieces of your heart and move on when you can’t find them all?
Chloe recovers from her physical injuries, but does that mean she’s healed? How much longer can Skye sit back and watch the only woman he loves slowly kill herself?
Lines are crossed and souls are shattered, but when you have faith in those you love, nothing is completely lost. Happily ever after’s come to those who work for it. It’s not something that is handed out freely. For it to be worth something, you have to earn it.

No matter what we go through, in the end, if you’re strong enough to weather the storm, the sunshine that peeks out from between the grey clouds is so much brighter. The rainbow that appeared after our storm led me to my pot of gold. And I know that if every material possession we owned was stripped from us, we would still be richer than we could ever dream. ~ Skye

There are books you read that you like, and there are those that you love, and then there are others that crawl into your soul. They suck you into their world of make believe and turn the reality of your world to fiction. ~ Chloe

Review

Yay! A conclusion to Chloe and Skye’s story! I feel like I have been on a personal rollercoaster with these two and gone through so many emotions. I was so excited to find out if after everything that has happened can these two get the happily ever after that they very much deserve! But nothing in Chloe and Skye’s life can be that simple!

We find Chloe in the midst of a panic attack and dealing with mixed feelings over her departed friend, Tom. Soon she is using methods to deal with her anxiety and depression that just complicate her life more. As frustrating as some of Chloe’s decisions are I like that she is not a perfect heroine. Women come in all types and some can be super strong and some weaker but if the heroine in a book is well written and has depth I love them all.

Skye loves her so much that to watch what she is doing is impossible for him. I felt so much for these two! How much can two people handle! I mean it! My heart was breaking at times but I loved it all the same! Tabetha knows how to tell a story that takes you on a journey and that she does here! You don’t wanna miss this series it is one to read!

~miranda

4.5 Smooches

Synopsis

Dalton Calhoun hadn’t always planned on a life up on the big stage, beneath the bright lights, but that was where he found himself. A second chance of sorts. An opportunity that had come along after his real dreams vanished when he was eighteen years old. Although country music was more than he could’ve expected, he’d never dismissed the notion that there was still something missing.

When Dalton followed his buddy Cooper Krenshaw to Devil’s Bend, Texas, it didn’t take long before Dalton realized just what that was. But just because he has topped the country music charts, and made his fair share of women swoon, doesn’t mean that everything comes easy to him. And when he sets his sights on the black-haired, gray-eyed waitress at The Rusty Nail, Dalton realizes he might just have to work for what he wants.

Katie Clarren’s life has been a series of unfortunate events, starting from the time her mother left on her eighteenth birthday. Not exactly how she had planned to spend one of the major turning points in her young life. Nor had she planned to spend the next five years dealing with the fallout. Somewhere along the way, Katie adapted, doing exactly what she needed to do in order to survive. But Katie has secrets that even her closest friends don’t know. Secrets she has worked hard to protect.

Although she longs for handsome, charming, country music sensation, Dalton Calhoun, she knows that anything that starts between them can’t last. Too bad her heart doesn’t seem to be on the same page. Katie gives in to her love for Dalton, needing that human connection that has been missing for so long. But when it comes time to make the hard decisions, Katie forces herself to walk away from him. To protect her secrets, and him. The last thing she wants to do is hurt Dalton, no matter how much pain she has to endure in the process. She loves him.

Can the two of them overcome the secrets and lies? Can they look to the future and stop living in the past? Or will they keep dwelling on the dreams that vanished, not seeing what is right in front of them? Each other.

Review

“Are you gonna kiss me?”

Vanishing Dreams is book 2 in the Devil’s Bend series by Nicole Edwards although it is easily read as a standalone. Vanishing Dreams tells the story of famous singer Dalton Calhoun and spunky waitress Katie Clarren. We met both these characters in book one and learned of their attraction for each other so when this book starts they are already deep in the midst of a flirting relationship. But for Katie that is where is needs to stay. Katie has many secrets and knows it is for the best to keep Dalton at arms length but their sexual chemistry makes this very very difficult.

“He damn sure didn’t intend to give up until she was his. Forever.”

Despite Katie pulling back from him, Dalton is determined to make her his. Now this being said that does not mean he doesn’t make many mistakes of his own and even lets her run from him. It is clear from early on that Dalton and Katie love each other and even that they are aware of this but all the secrets Katie is keeping makes a relationship impossible. In order to have the only man she has loved and given herself to she has to learn to open up and let him in to not only understand her but to help too.

“I’ve got you, Katie,”

This book started off getting super sexy sooner than the first but I honestly felt it had even more depth and story than Chasing Dreams as the story played out. I fell for these two and desperately wanted them to put their stupid decisions and thoughts of what they thought were best for the other aside and just be together. Once I started getting into this book I simply could not put it down and was riveted by Katie’s life and all she has been through. If all of this does not convince you to read this great book how about the fact that Braydon Walker makes an appearance! For me I would be SOLD! I am loving the Devil’s Bend series and absolutely cannot wait for the next story!

~miranda

4 Smooches

Synopsis

Cooper Krenshaw knows what it’s like to feel the bright lights upon him, the sound of the crowd roaring when he walks on stage; after all, he happens to be one of the biggest names in country music at the moment. And he has knowingly just dropped off the grid. The first decision he has made on his own in quite some time. Cooper only thought he was looking for a challenge when he walked off of that concert stage in Chicago. After finding himself in Devil’s Bend, Texas, he soon realizes that the dream he’s been chasing might not be the one he was after all along.

Now he’s found himself not only starting over in a new town, but he’s pretty sure he’s met the toughest challenge of his life… she just happens to be an angel in blue jeans.

Tessa Donovan hasn’t been the best of friends with Fate for quite some time now. Owning and operating The Rusty Nail, a small bar in her hometown of Devil’s Bend, has been enough to keep her going through the motions of her life. But it’s the only thing she’s got. After losing her husband fifteen short months after they were married, Tessa has spent the last four years chasing dreams in order to maintain her sanity. Only those dreams are soon ripped right out of her grasp by a sexy country music star who claims he descended on her small town by accident.

Coincidence? Or has Fate stepped in once again? Whatever the case, Tessa knows the handsome cowboy might get to overtake her dreams, but she’s bound and determined that he won’t take her heart.

Review

“That was the point in her life when she’d realized she would never find a man who could replace Richie. Never.”

Chasing Dreams is book 1 in the Devil’s Bend series by Nicole Edwards and I was extremely excited to get the chance to read this seeing as how I have loved her other series. I was not let down. While it is clear that this series is going to be very different than the Alluring Indulgence and Club Destiny series focusing more on monogamous relationships it was still fabulous. Maybe there is something down there in the water in Texas but Nicole knows how to write a sexy cowboy like nobody else!

“If I kiss you, Tessa, I won’t be able to stop,”

Tessa Donovan’s heart was broken when her husband died in the line of duty. Content to run her bar and know that her one true love is gone and she is never getting that back she goes on with life for years living a quiet existence. All of that is thrown out the door when she locked eyes with super sexy cowboy and famous county music singer Cooper Krenshaw. Deciding he is tired of the hustle of Nashville, Cooper decides to move to Devil’s Bend and soon after he decided that Tessa is his and she just needs to learn this. Can Tessa learn that you can have more than one “true love” and give into all she is feeling?

“I’m not looking for one night, Tessa.” “I’m not looking for forever, cowboy,”

This book had so many wonderful things in it, drama, good sex and a panty dropping sexy cowboy. I loved it! I will warn you if you are going into this looking for some ménage action or a little m/m this story does not have that. What it does have is a sexy Alpha Cowboy who gives good dirty talk and even better at the real thing. I loved how even thought Tessa has been through the worst kind of tragedy she didn’t let it break her and even learned that life is short and set about chasing all her dreams. Chasing Dreams was a uplifting story that was an easy read and clearly the start of a great series

~miranda

5 Smooches

Synopsis

After the only girl he ever loved told him that he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and set out to live up to his nickname. A good ol’ boy looking for good times and good friends, Rowdy refuses to take anything too seriously, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Burned by love once, he isn’t going to let himself trust a woman again. But that’s before his new co-worker arrives, a ghost from the past who’s suddenly making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in house with too many rules and too little fun—a world of unhappiness she couldn’t wait to forget. But one nice thing from childhood has stayed with her; the memory of the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been head over heels in love with her little sister.

Now, fate and an old friend have brought her and Rowdy together, and Salem is determined to show him that once upon a time he picked the wrong sister. A mission that is working perfectly—until the one person that ties them together appears, threatening to tear them apart for good.

Review

“I feel like you and the past have been chasing me down ever since you walked in to that shop, Salem. What are you going to do if I decide to let you catch me?”

Rowdy is the fifth book in the Marked Men series by Jay Crownover and in many ways it takes me back to the first book, Rule. Rowdy and Salem have a deep history and that history both taints and enhances all that they come to have. Despite being a couple years older than him Salem and Rowdy were best friends as kids but that is where it stopped. Feeling trapped in her small consecutive town with her preacher father who was full of judgment for his non perfect daughter, Salem quickly got out as soon as she graduated leaving orphan Rowdy there alone with just her all to perfect sister, Poppy. Rowdy desired all that Poppy stood for and soon they too become close but in the end all that Rowdy left their town with was a broken heart and the clothes on his back.

“I’ve heard you say my name in a lot of ways, Salem. Gotta say hearing you say it in bed when I’m about to eat you is probably my favorite to date.”

When Nash calls and offers Salem a job at the new shop (per Phil’s request) she cannot say no to reconnecting to the one friend she was sad to lose when she left home. But seeing him her feelings for grown up Rowdy are very very grown up! Oh yeah! These two and their tangled past broke my heart at times. You could see that they wanted each other but damn why must they fight so hard. Salem is so into him but just can’t get past his past with her sister and for him Salem reminds him of all those who have left him. Can these two get past these hooks up and all their other issues to find peace with themselves and their pasts?

“You always made me really happy, Rowdy. I’m sort of infatuated with all the different ways you make me happy now that we’re all grown up.”

This book was oh so steamy and had me wiggling in my chair reading it! I knew that Rowdy would get me all riled up and I do love when I am right. But then again which of the Marked Men has not been sexy as hell! Once Rowdy lets loose there is no turning back and I LOVED this sexy man!

“”I always thought it was the firsts that matter, but now I know that it’s the lasts that stay with you.”

This book is a great New Adult novel with an erotic feel. The characters are young and fun and you get peeks into the lives of all the couples from previous books which is a nice little thrill for me and a bit of story into what Asa’s book will be like (come on April I am dying over here) Overall I was extremely pleased with this book and look forward to reading it again!

~miranda