4 Smooches

Synopsis

Before you knew him as Trent in Ten Tiny Breaths, he was Cole Reynolds—and he had it all. Until one night when he makes a fatal, wrong decision…and loses everything.

When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he’d be able to lean on his best friends—the ones who have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they’re gone. Worse, there’s the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys.

Everyone assures him that they know it wasn’t intentional, and yet he can’t ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. Nor can he shake the all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won’t so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip on what once was important—college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It’s not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness.

And there’s only one person who can give that to him…

Review

“The crushing pain in my chest now has little to do with my injuries. And it’s suffocating me.”

This book was a hard one to read and this review is just as hard to write. How does one rate something like this? As always KA Tucker’s writing is flawless and she captivated me right away. Having read Ten Tiny Breaths (as you should before you read this novella or any of the reviews for it) I knew what I was getting into and was emotionally prepared for it. That does not mean I like Cole or what he did. It is super hard to love a book and not love the person it is about. But at this point in Cole’s story you shouldn’t love him. Not only is he suffering from PTSD but also who he is after his actions. His decisions had repercussions that affected the lives of a lot of people dramatically

“Five people . . one survivor . . . That means  . . . Six people are now dead. All because I didn’t hold up my end of the deal.”

Cole Reynolds was an attractive, smart, popular football player who made a bad decision. . . to drink when he was the designated driver. While he knew better than to drive after drinking his impaired judgment allowed him to believe that his closest friend, Sasha was sober enough when he told him he had stopped earlier. It is not long after Sasha, Cole and one other friend take off in their giant SUV that they collide with a small Audi carrying Kasey, her best friend, her boyfriend and her parents. Now all those who have read Ten Tiny Breaths know how that turned out. This story broke my heart. Things like this happen everyday, and while Cole was not driving he knows that his decision to drink while he was supposed to be the DD was the reason 6 people are dead and why Kasey’s life if forever altered.

“Did that smile survive?”

Cole’s sever depression leads him to become fixated on Kasey. How does one love a character who did all this? Deep down I love Cole and who he will grow to become but at this stage in his story my heart hurts for him and while I no where near hate him I cannot honestly say I love him either. However, Having read Ten Tiny Breaths first (YOU MUST and you will not regret it because that book is AMAZING) I am very happy to understand some of where his actions came from and watch him grow from the boy who inadvertently caused destruction in the lives of everyone around him into the man who helped heal! While this will never be an easy read and it is definitely not a romantic read I will say that for KA Tucker fans it is a MUST READ!

“I ponder what it would be like to have Kacey’s forgiveness. Would it lessen the burden of this weigh just a little? Would that be something too selfish to ask for?”

~miranda

5 Smooches

Synopsis

A summer of f*ck buddies? Something to take the edge off? I was down.

But when Chloe shows up at my hotel door, wanting to rip my head off, rather than give me head—I cared. A lot. Too much, in fact.

This is turning into more. And I can’t do more.

Like the ink under my skin she’s becoming permanent. Enduring. Immovable.

Was I ready to let her go though?

Not a f*cking chance.

Review

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? You’re probably lying anyway. Obviously, you’re good at it.”

OMG! Every part of this sexy serial leaves me dying for more. Chloe and Max have me so wrapped up in their story that I am desperate to get the fourth installment! Now for me personally that is a sign of a five star read. If I would be willing to drop what I am currently reading in order to get more of them that that is a WIN! Elisabeth Grace’s writing sucks me in and I get completely lost in it. I am currently in a serial frenzy and loving this popular format. This story picks up with Chloe’s boss threatening her if she does not stop seeing the competition, Max, in a personal capacity!

“I wasn’t God, but she’d be seeing the light in about thirty seconds.”

Max and Chloe have some amazing sexual chemistry and every encounter with them feels fresh and fun. I absolutely loved the whole sneaking around aspect when they find that they just cannot stay away from each other even when they know they need to. The hard part of this is watching all the miscommunication and denial of feelings but I have a hunch that all of that will come into play in a dynamic fourth book! Drama seems to follow Max and Chloe around and if there is one thing I am a sucker for it is angst and drama with a bit of wit thrown in for good measure!

“Not that I was complaining – I’d take an orgasm courtesy of Max any day.”

If you have read the first two volumes in this serial than you know that this is going to be good and if you haven’t stop reading this review of the third book and start reading the actual first volume! You won’t be let down. Before this series I knew Elisabeth Grace as primarily a New Adult Writer but she is quickly proving to me that she can seamlessly jump genres and write a compelling erotica story that is on par with some best sellers!

~miranda

4 Smooches!

Synopsis

Told from dual points of view, Elle and J must figure out how to bring down an MC, steer clear of flying bullets in Missouri and south of the border, all the while making sure Fernie is out of the line of fire. Elle’s love for J is tested, as is her belief that she will ever find “normal” with the man she loves.

J is determined to make things right so he can give Elle the “normal” life she deserves. He just has to stay alive to make it happen. With his own personal sun by his side, he knows nothing is impossible. That is, until the bullets are redirected from his head to Elle’s.

Elle: I held my hand up, showing him the ring he’d put on me. “This is us,” I told him. It was more than a ring. Well, to me it was more. “I promise to love you ‘til the day I die.”

J:”Us, baby. This is us. I’ll love you ’til the sun ceases to shine.”

Review

This is the final book about J and Elle, and I couldn’t wait to see how it all works out for these 2. They have been through many highs and lows and I feel the book ended the way that is should have.

We start this book with insight into what happened to Elle and Chris, we get the back story to them becoming friends. This comes because of a nightmare that Elle has in which she flashes back to that night. This happens because of how book 2 ends. The kidnapping that took place brings the emotions out for her. We get to watch as J consoles and comforts her. They finally decide to stop star fishing and tell each other the things they feel rather than hide them.

Elle and J are fighting for their lives, even if they weren’t aware of it to start off with. The kidnapping is just the beginning and they need to fight to stay alive. We read about what they are willing to do for each other and what they are willing to go through in order to make sure that they have a future together. J is feeling the weight of all this, he feels that he is responsible for Elle’s life change, he feels it is his fault that she is by his side and not alone and safe. But he just can’t give her up.

We get Fernie in this story as well as some other characters that are thrown in. we have J’s MC Brothers and we have new girl Isabel. We also get a chapter from Chris. It’s amazing to get to read from these pov’s as well as J and Elle’s. We feel the guilt that Elle has because of Fernie in this book. She feels that he is being out into this danger with them, when he shouldn’t have been involved.

We get to see the softer sides of both Elle and J which is fantastic to read, I love when they both open up to each other and tell it how it is. Elle finally talks openly about her feelings for J, “You own my heart, my love…me. Im in this with you now, and I’ll die for you, just like you would for me. I can’t lose you again. A life without you isn’t an option.”

I loved this book, and I felt the way it ended was perfect for them. They got their home. I look forward to reading more of Emily Eck’s work. Well done on another brilliant read.

“Us, baby. This is us. I’ll love you ‘til the sun ceases to shine. I’ll keep telling you until you believe me.”

Stacey

Buy It Now

5 Smooches!

Synopsis

Love isn’t supposed to be an addiction. It isn’t supposed to leave you bleeding.

Kona pushed, Keira pulled, and in their wake, they left behind destruction.

She sacrificed everything for him.

It wasn’t enough.

But the wounds of the past can never be completely forgotten and still the flame remains, slumbers between the pleasure of yesterday and the thought of what might have been.

Now, sixteen years later, Keira returns home to bury the mother who betrayed her, just as Kona tries to hold onto what remains of his NFL career with the New Orleans Steamers. Across the crowded bustle of a busy French Market, their paths collide, conjuring forgotten memories of a consuming touch, skin on skin, and the still smoldering fire that begs to be rekindled.

When Kona realizes the trifecta of betrayal—his, Keira’s and those lies told to keep them apart—his life is irrevocably changed and he once again takes Keira down with him into the fire that threatens to ignite them both.

Review

I literally just finished this book and I am reeling! I hope I can find the words to describe how much I loved this story!

When Keira and Kona first meet in college they are from two completely different worlds; Kona is the star of the football team and a total playboy. Keria is a perfect student; she keeps her head down and focuses on her studies.

When these two are partnered up for a class project, despite their many differences their attraction is undeniable. The feelings that these two have for each other are in no way simple or easy. What they have together is explosive, intense, heartbreaking and thick!

When a series of tragic events tears them apart it is devastating for both of them. Sixteen years later they find themselves back in the same city where they met and fell in love. That same magnetic pull that has them crashing into each other all those years ago is still there. A lot has transpired in the intervening years since they’ve last seen each other and old wounds are still not completely healed. After all this time can they finally find happiness with each other or are they doomed to repeat the same mistakes all over again?

This book really took my breath away! I loved these two characters. The dynamics of their relationship were anything but simple but there was something extremely beautiful about their love. I found myself teary eyed at many points during the story and had a hard time putting this one down. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be reading more from Eden Butler.

 Dana

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4.5 Smooches!

Synopsis

Jared Roman has lived his entire life feeling unworthy, unwanted and unloved. He’s lived a life of abuse, addiction and abandonment.

Zhoe Dawson comes from a different world than him. She comes from money and social status. But with that comes the dictatorship her father runs. All Zhoe’s ever wanted is to break free of his rules, and to feel loved.

When they learn Jared is the reason for Zhoe’s pain, her loss, and heartbreak he tries to walk away.

But, Zhoe offers him the one thing he’ll never be able to leave behind – her heart.

Can Zhoe’s love save him from his past?
Can she help him conquer his fears and doubts?

Review