What I’m Reading

I am so behind it’s not even funny. Between Coming Up Roses release and it being my busy time in the salon, I’ve been slacking, and I’m sorry. Ha! Look at me assuming y’all even care. But, for the sake of my fragile ego, let’s pretend yeah? I have read so many good books as of late, but if I were to go back and tell you about them all, it’d take me hours. 

So, let’s fast-forward to what I’m reading now:
HIDEAWAY BY PENELOPE DOUGLAS. 
It is the 2nd book in The Devil’s Night Series and it is one I’ve been waiting for since the very second I finished book 1 (CORRUPT), about a year ago. 
Long wait right? But y’all, it was MORE THAN WORTH IT. 

These books are dark and twisty and steamy and angsty and mean and basically everything we love and expect from Penelope. Hideaway has blown me away. 
I’m talking BIG BAD WOLF, STRAW HOUSE, BLOWN ME AWAY. And, I guess that’s fitting because I can just see the Horsemen banging on someone’s door… 
“Little pig, little pig, let me in…” 
Yeah, I can see that just fine. 

So, let’s start with book 1, CORRUPT:

BLURB:
Erika 

I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession. 
His name is Michael Crist. 
My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He is handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me. 

But I noticed him.
I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away. 

Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore. 

Because he’s finally noticed me. 

Michael 

Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.
My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway. 

Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college. 
In my city. 
Unprotected. 

The opportunity is too good to be true as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out. 

We’ve waited. We’ve been patient.
And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.







This book GAVE ME CHILLS from the blurb alone, and every page sent my heart racing. It is hands-down my all-time favorite book, and one that I readily recommend. You can read an excerpt of Corrupt on HERE!

And you can purchase it here: http://amzn.to/2yY1WQk



Now, let’s talk about the much awaited and anticipated book 2, HIDEAWAY: 

 BLURB:

BANKS
Buried in the shadows of the city, there’s a hotel called The Pope. Ailing, empty, and dark—it sits abandoned and surrounded by a forgotten mystery.

But you think it’s true, don’t you, Kai Mori? The story about the hidden twelfth floor. The mystery of the dark guest who never checked in and never checks out. You think I can help you find that secret hideaway and get to him, don’t you?

You and your friends can try to scare me. You can try to push me. Because even though I struggle to hide everything I feel when you look at me—and have ever since I was a girl—I still know that what you seek is so much closer than you’ll ever realize.

I will never betray him.
So sit tight.
On Devil’s Night, the hunt will be coming to you.

KAI
You have no idea what I seek, Little One. You don’t know what I had to become to survive three years in prison for a crime I would gladly commit again.

No one can know what I’ve turned into.

I want that hotel, I want to find him, and I want this over.
I want my life back.
But the more I’m around you, the more I realize this new me is exactly who I was meant to be.

So come on, kid. Don’t chicken out. My house is on the hill. So many ways in, and good luck finding your way out.


I’ve seen your hideaway. Time to see mine.




I wish I knew where to start with this book, but I don’t. It is so all-encompassing that literally, all else fell away while reading. Normally I fly through books, reading 2 or so a day, but with this one, I went slow… I savored each and every word. Absolutely an amazing continuation. And I say continuation because even though it is a standalone, it is best read after book 1 to get the full feel. <3 

Purchase Hideaway here: http://amzn.to/2fOvyLe


Today, I have TWO books for y’all!
First up: 
DRUNK DIAL BY PENELOPE WARD
http://amzn.to/2g7wF8z

Y’all, this story was something else. It had more curves than a freaking backroad! Everytime I thought I knew where the story was going… SWERVE!
So good.
And the characters, all of them, were so damn likeable. I wanted to stick them in a shrink-a-dink, package them up, and carry them around in my pocket. <3 
Not to mention, friends-to-lovers + a sort of second chance? Yeah… Sold.


Now, for book 2…
HOLLYWOOD SCANDAL BY LOUSIE BAY
http://amzn.to/2isfNdm
So, diving into this book immediately after Drunk Dial made me giggle, but to know why, you’ll have to read them both! Muahahahahaha!
For real though, this book was everything you expect a Louise Bay book to be. It was swoony and steamy and funny and angsty and filled great characters. I absolutely adored Lana and Matt, even though, at times I wanted to smack them! But, that’s how you know you’re reading a well-written book. 
Celebrity books are usually very hit or miss for me, but Louise nailed it. I’m talking 100% amazing. <3 


 BOOK SLUMP=OVER! 
The book that cured me? 
SLAM BY ANDEE MICHELE! 
http://amzn.to/2vUCU3D
Legit, it’s so good. The story telling is engaging and the characters are on point. Especially Layne. She’s so damn strong, a little bit stubborn, and at times vulnerable. 
She’s real and I LUUURVE her. 
As per usual, I’ll update y’all with a full review, but just know, IT’S SO GOOD ALREADY!



 Okay y’all, I’m in between books at the moment, as nothing has caught my attention. So, lemme tell you all about the book that last wrecked me.
Absinthe by Winter Renshaw. 
http://amzn.to/2wfv5Zh

HOLY-FREAKING-ANGST-BATMAN
This book freaking ripped me apart. Shredded the pieces. And then patched them together, leaving me whole but different. This book was so… gah. It really got to me. 
It had an effect on my mood and then some. It really sunk its claws into me. 
Everyone knows I’m a sucker for Student/Teacher and this was an entirely unique (to me, at least) take on in. I highly suggest this one y’all. It’s so damn good. 


http://amzn.to/2wfv5Zh


 I’m currently reading BENEATH THE TRUTH by (http://amzn.to/2vxrfZR) Meghan March, who happens to be one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE authors. I stumbled across book 2 in her Beneath series and FELL IN LOVE. So, naturally, I one clicked every book available in the series and binged them like they were a Netflix Original. Only now, I’m on the final book in the series. How bittersweet. 
But y’all, it’s so-so-so-so-so amazing.
It’s one of my favorite tropes: Best friend’s little sister… YAAAS! 
Okay, so, this book was magical. The perfect ending to an effing phenomenal series. AND we’re getting a darker spin-off! Heck to the yaaaas! 

BLURB: From USA Today bestselling author Meghan March comes the final sexy standalone set in the Beneath world of New Orleans.


I used to believe there were lines in life you don’t cross. 
Don’t lie. Don’t cheat. Don’t steal.
Until I learned people don’t always practice what they preach.
I turned in my badge and gun and walked away from everything.
Then I got the call no one wants, and I’m back in New Orleans.
What I don’t expect is for her to be here too.
Another line you don’t cross?
Don’t touch your best friend’s little sister.
She’s always been off-limits. 
Too bad I don’t follow the rules anymore.


***May absolutely be read as a standalone!***

 One click it here: http://amzn.to/2vxrfZR
& the rest of the series here:
BENEATH THIS MASK: http://amzn.to/2fEfhrX
BENEATH THIS INK: http://amzn.to/2uVtmTB
BENEATH THESE CHAINS: http://amzn.to/2vCpMQs
BENEATH THESE SCARS: http://amzn.to/2wIBQjh
BENEATH THESE LIES: http://amzn.to/2fFI0wq
BENEATH THESE SHADOWS: http://amzn.to/2vCrMYE

SO GOOD BY NICOLA RENDELL IS SO GOOD! 
(http://amzn.to/2vG8mEP)

Well, my last read (Checkmate: This is Dangerous) was a total hangover kinda book. Thank da Lort, my one-click queen, Nicola Rendell recently released a new book…  & It’s turning out to be the perfect read to pick me up. 
There are a few things you can always count on Miss Rendell for, and those things are, as follows: 
1. Sweetness. Such sweetness. 
2. Steam. All of it. Five alarm, and then some. 
3. Swoon. Seriously. Look the word up, and right there in the dictionary, it’ll say “Men written by Nicola Rendell.” Swear it. 
Now, I can’t review this little diddy yet, as I’m still reading it, but what I can & will do, is leave you with a teaser & the blurb.



 BLURB:
On the roof of a house outside Truelove, Maine, master carpenter Max Doyle looks down through a skylight and sees the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on. She’s naked, she’s gorgeous, and everything about her is perfect, down to the ball-busting tattoo of a rose that wraps around her hip. But it isn’t just any woman making his knees buckle. It’s his best friend, Rosie Madden. And as he stands there, mesmerized and precariously close to toppling off the roof, he knows he’ll never, ever be able to look at her the same way again.

Rosie can’t help but notice that Max is suddenly acting very strange—lots of long stares, totally tongue-tied, and not at all like the slightly cocky hunk she’s proud to call her best friend. She can’t figure it out, until later that night when Max rescues her from the world’s worst date, challenges her to a game of pool, and shows her just exactly what she’s got him thinking about. Repeatedly.

But life is complicated. Rosie’s cat, Julia Caesar, wants to eat Max’s dog Cupcake for an afternoon snack. A dream job threatens to pull them apart. And another glance through the skylight changes everything, one more time. Yet try as they might, they can’t go back to being just friends, because falling in love with the one you’ve always adored?

It feels so good. 

  *Review coming soon*



 Okay, y’all. I’m on a HUGE Kennedy Fox kick. I’m talking I’ve been devouring their books. 
I started Checkmate: This is War on Friday, and here I am 2 days later 

getting ready to start Checkmate: This is Effortless. 
I’m flying through these duets.
 They’re everything you could ask for in a book. 
Fabulous and engaging writing. 
Likable, yet flawed characters. 
Believable tension, drama, and angst. 
Swoon. 
And steam galore, lovey-lous. 



 So, duets are new to me. These are actually the first ones I’ve ever read.
 *GASP* I know, I know. *Hangs head in shame*
Don’t worry, I’m remedying this… So, if you have any duets that are not to be missed, please lemme know! 

 If you haven’t read these… I highly recommend that you do! <3 



 Checkmate: This is War
http://amzn.to/2hBL0u6
Checkmate: This is Love
http://amzn.to/2vabAzi

 So, the first Duet in the Checkmate series focuses on Viola & Travis, and OH. MY. LORT. If there’s one thing I LOVE, it’s enemies to lovers and this book hashtag-nailed-it.
Viola is a crazy smart bookworm with a smart mouth & Travis is your run of the mill playboy… or so you think! These characters have so much depth. They grabbed my heartstrings, and never let go! No, instead, they passed them right on over to Courtney & Drew. 



 Checkmate: This is Reckless
http://amzn.to/2vurgPa
Checkmate: This is Effortless
http://amzn.to/2hBI2pQ

 So, I finished these 2 on Sunday night, and whoa! Courtney and Drew are the best. Friends to lovers, with a touch of suspense. Also, Drew is a cop… I mean, c’mon. Oh, and on top of being besties… THEY’RE FRIGGIN’ ROOMATES. I mean, I really feel like that covers all the reasons this duet should be an auto one-click! <3 


Checkmate: This is Dangerous
http://amzn.to/2vcgVVo



 Now, the 2nd book in this duet isn’t out yet. Nope… I have to wait until September 19th! Literally, I might die waiting. Kidding, I’m kidding. Now, I can’t fully review this title yet, as it is my current read, but lemme just say this: IT’S SO DAMN GOOD. Y’all, this book has ALL the feels. So much angst. So much chemistry, I’m talking off the freaking charts. And, it has an ending I never saw coming. Talk about NEEDING book 2! <3 

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2 Responses

  1. I need to start that series! Can you type up a little bit about the plot or what kind of genre it is?

    Site looks great!

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