Review ~ Jack & Coke ~ Lani Lynn Vale #AudioChallenge #TakeControl

Jack & Coke by Lani Lynn Vale
Uncertain Saints #2
Narrated by: Mason Lloyd and Kendall Taylor
Release Date: October 11, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove, #TakeControl
Goodreads

Synopsis
Lies

Mig's wife is a bitch.

How else do you describe a woman that lies, cheats and steals to get what she wants?

That's exactly what happens when she traps him into a marriage he wants nothing to do with, saddling him with a kid that he knows doesn't deserve to be in a world like his.

He's doing a pretty bang-up job at ignoring everything but his responsibilities as a DEA officer and a member of The Uncertain Saints MC.

Deceit

Annie teaches Mig that not every woman is out to get him.

Her love for Mig stretches past what's appropriate for two friends, and Annie soon straddles that invisible boundary between appropriate and inappropriate.

Annie's not a cheater, though.

When she tries to say goodbye, Mig won't let her leave, and soon the tiny town of Uncertain blows up with the news of Annie and Mig's innocent friendship.

Betrayal

Matters of the heart are foreign to Mig, and it takes Annie being gutted for him to see the wrong he's done.

He waits too long, though, and Annie's heart is broken.

She wants it all, or she wants nothing. She can't take anymore half-hearted attempts at being just friends.

The heart wants what it wants, and it doesn't take long for Mig to realize that.

But just when Mig finally has it all in the palm of his hand, his life is ripped to shreds by a new player in the game, and it takes all of Annie's love and devotion, as well as help from the men of The Uncertain Saints MC, to put Mig back together again.

Jack & Coke pulled me in a bit quicker than its predecessor and seemed to have resolved some of the editing issues that took away from my enjoyment of Whiskey Neat. While I still felt some of the plot threads were too over-the-top, and the storyline a bit formulaic, I did like Mig and Annie's story. There were elements that kept me engaged - mostly the suspense part because I wanted to know who was behind things and how it would work out. And I liked Mig and Annie - they were decent people who both worked to help others although through vastly different means. I liked meeting/spending more time with some of the other characters. However, as I was writing this review and thinking about the story I realized these things:

• the story is predictable - following a similar outline to the first book
• the characters were a bit morally questionable and suffered traumas and tragedies that were too far-fetched for me
• the plot had promise but also had quite a few elements that were too over-the-top

Does this all add up to a bad story? No. It had its moments. But I think the narrators are the best part. Mason Lloyd and Kendall Taylor do a stellar job with what they have to work with and that is admirable.

I have two more from this series in audio but I don't know if I'll continue. I'm definitely going to take a break though.

As an aside, I saw quite a few people were upset by a certain plot element...it is not described/detailed in the story, just stated. It didn't bother me and was explained in a way that made sense and developed another part of the plot. But just so you know - date rape drugs/date rape (perpetrated by a female) is a part of the story.

Audio Review ~ Whiskey Neat ~ Lani Lynn Vale #AudioChallenge #ShelfLove

Whiskey Neat by Lani Lynn Vale
Uncertain Saints #1
Narrated by: Mason Lloyd and Kendall Taylor
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Griffin Storm wasn't prone to violence, but when someone takes what Griffin holds dear, the world as he knows it is gone.

Retaliation, revenge and rage fuels him. His club, the Uncertain Saint's MC, do their best to offer support, but Griffin is beyond redemption. He'll do what he has to do. Kill who has has to kill.

He doesn't care if that means he dies. If it gets him what he wants, then it's worth it.

He fakes it all until the night he walks into a sex shop for batteries and lays eyes on a woman that will change his life.

Lenore makes him think past tomorrow. Makes him want to see just what the future might bring.

But his life's a dangerous one built around pain and deception, and not for the faint of heart.

He won't give up the past, not until he's done what he promised to do.

And if that means she's not there when the dust settles, he'll risk it.

Lenore, though, won't give up on him. She'll fix him, whether he wants her to or not.

Whiskey Neat served as the introduction to the Uncertain Saints series and while the story and characters have promise, the execution made for a bumpy ride.

What Worked:

• Griffin & Lenore
  These two had interesting backstories with Griffin searching for the person who took what mattered most to him and Lenore dealing with...well, several things. They're both good people but Griffin is treading a fine line and sometimes steps over in his quest for justice. And besides dealing with her issues on her own, Lenore also runs a sex toy shop. That part was a hoot!
• MC Brotherhood
  The camaraderie between Griffin and his brothers was strong and it allowed me to meet all the players in the series.
• Plot
  I liked how Lenore and Griffin were brought together and how determined Griffin was in his mission for justice. The way things began revealing themselves created suspense too which helped keep me engaged.

What Could Have Worked Better:

• Griffin & Lenore
  I liked these two characters but it seemed like they were dealing with too much - especially Lenore - so that their stories were a bit far-fetched.
• Plot
  Although I liked the story overall, some things were a little OTT for me...stretched my ability to suspend disbelief.
• Editing
  I think having listened to Whiskey Neat made the editing issues more glaring. Editing might have helped in tightening the plot and it would have helped with things like "These thoughts carried her to the door as she locked the door."

The real highlight was the narration! Mason Lloyd and Kendall Taylor were pretty phenomenal. They kept me engaged where I might have given up otherwise. Their voices for each character were distinct and they managed a nice pace for the story.

Whiskey Neat wasn't bad. It just could have been better. Since I have the series in audio, I'll give these guys and gals another go.

Review ~ Happily Ever After ~ Jen Meyers #ShelfLove #TravelingtotheTerminus

Happily Ever After by Jen Meyers
Happily Ever After #1
Release Date: February 14, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
For wedding planner Everly Vaughn, her best friend's high-profile Caribbean island wedding could be her big break. The good news? She's starting her own business. The bad news? Well...

One client.
The wedding of the season.
Twelve days to pull it off.
No staff.
A bride who's been engaged four times but never makes it down the aisle.
And the bride's brother who she's trying desperately to resist...to no avail.

What could possibly go wrong? (Seriously? Absolutely everything.)

Happily Ever After was a quick, sweet read. I wasn't sure how Everly was going to get her HEA but Meyers delivered.

Everly hasn't seen Austin since that night. She's essentially buried herself in work and her head in the sand for fear of hearing about Austin's antics with the ladies. She's so afraid of putting her heart on the line. However, they're about to come face-to-face whether she's ready or not because she's started her own wedding planning service and planning Lucky's wedding - Austin's sister - is first on her agenda.

I enjoyed Happily Ever After even though it wasn't a deep read. The close friendship between Everly and The Girls was fun and endearing. I also saw glimpses of Everly spreading her wings and growing more confident in her job - which was nice because she's dang good at it.

I most liked seeing how that night and the fallout affected both Everly and Austin. They've known each other for most of their lives and the relationship they had was as close, if not closer, that the one she had with Lucky. Both Austin and Everly realized they wanted to build on that but had to make a few changes in themselves so the could have their HEA.

Like I said, sweet! Although I wouldn't have minded a few more pages to really flesh out things, Meyers did deliver a good, if predictable, story with characters I was pulling for. And I will finish up this little series with Willow's story, Yours Truly.

Review ~ Breathe into Me ~ Sara Fawkes #BloggerShame #COYER #ShelfLove

Breathe into Me by Sara Fawkes
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #BookishResolutions, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
How did my life get so broken? It's a question Lacey St. James asks herself every day. Stuck raising her little brother in a trailer park while she works a dead end job at a grocery store, she has a stalker exboyfriend, a bad reputation, and no way out.

And then she meets Everett, whose presence changes her entire existence.

Everett is an outsider to her small community, in town for the summer housesitting one of the grand mansions off the Mississippi coast. When he saves her in a bar one night, she's grateful but wary of his intentions. Lacey doesn't trust most men in her life, but for reasons Lacey can't understand, Everett is completely captivated by her. He's determined to show her that life can offer more than she'd ever hoped for, if only she believes in herself. As she works with him to free herself, Lacey desperately yearns to trust him, to move on and perhaps start fresh.

But what happens when she finds out that everything he's told her about himself was a lie?

Breathe into Me is a story of a broken girls in need of a fresh start meeting a boy who makes all the difference until she realizes he's broken, too. Can they move beyond their pasts and make a future together?

Lacey is that girl. You know the one? The one everyone whispers about, spreads rumors about because of where she lives and what they think they know about her. But no one takes the time to get to know her. She's not the girl everyone thinks she is. She's loyal, hard-working, smart... She's looking to make a fresh start but it's hard when you live in a small town. And she feels like she can't leave her little brother because her mom is a drunk and her grandmother is abusive. Then she meets Everett. A boy more than willing to lend a helping hand with whatever she needs whether it's study help or rebuilding an engine. But can she trust his intentions? Everett seems like sweet guy and his intentions are above-board. He's smart and kind but he's a city boy only in town for the summer.

Breathe into Me had a lot of potential but didn't deliver on all of it, in my opinion. I think the writing could have been tighter - more focused - because the story meandered at times. Also there were some consistency issues - which may have been corrected in final edits - that bothered me. For instance, it's Sunday and Lacey and Everett are studying. He asks about her plans for later and she says she has to pick up her little brother from daycare. Um, it's Sunday. I also got frustrated with Lacey at times because although she wasn't necessarily one to whine about her situation, she made questionable decisions - ones that didn't help her situation. Of course, I do give her a little leeway because of her age, but still. One last gripe is that I didn't like one of the plot devices used to create extra angst. I didn't feel it was necessary with everything else these two had going on.

All that makes it sound like I didn't like the book but I did. Fawkes created characters I rooted for, wanted the best for. Lacey and Everett were surrounded by a realistic cast, both good and bad. And the overall story was good. I felt for both Lacey and Everett, understood what they were going through. I liked watching them become friends and the becoming more. It just felt like too many plot threads though and I think fewer would have made a tighter story.

Review ~ Filthy Rich ~ Raine Miller

Filthy Rich by Raine Miller
Blackstone Dynasty #1
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease, #COYER
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
Billionaire Caleb Blackstone lives in the glamorous world of wealth and success, with every material luxury. But the moment he sees Brooke Casterly, none of that matters. Caleb is filled with a raw, undeniable need that he can't ignore...for a girl who is so completely different from everything and everyone he's ever known.

Only Brooke isn't looking for love. She knows all too well just how much damage the wrong guy can do. Still, what same, broke British girl can resist the charms of an incredibly sexy, chivalrous billionaire? What starts as flirtation quickly turns into all-consuming passion. Nothing could have prepared her for the searing heat of Caleb's touch--or just how much she craves him.

Their whirlwind romance is the stuff of high-society fantasy--but for every moment of pleasure, there is a cost. Past mistakes and tragedy shadow them both...and falling for him might be the kind of trouble she can't afford.

Having adored the Blackstone Affair series, I was quick to request Filthy Rich when I saw it offered on Netgalley. While I liked the story overall, it didn't pack quite the punch I was expecting.

What Worked:

• Caleb Blackstone. He was self-assured and handsome, so I loved his becoming tongue-tied when first meeting Brooke.
• Brooke Casterly. She was, for the most part, feisty, lovely, a loyal friend and granddaughter.
• Big Cast. I quite enjoyed meeting the characters I assume will inhabit the series and I'm eager for more of Caleb's siblings.
• The Mystery. There was a lot of the plot that was predictable but there was this one thing...I didn't see it coming.

What Could Have Worked Better:

• The plot. As I said, there was quite a bit that was predictable. There was also an insta-love element and although they built on the relationship, it all happened rather quickly.
• Brooke's past. I suppose this falls into the plot category but I just felt her past could have had a bigger impact. I didn't really feel, under the circumstances, that it made the difference it was meant to.

Overall, I liked Caleb and Brooke's story. There were things that could have made the story more powerful if they'd been executed differently and it was disappointing to be left wanting when Miller is a favorite author of mine. But I liked it enough to continue the series.

New Release Review ~ The Barefoot Summer ~ Carolyn Brown

The Barefoot Summer by Carolyn Brown
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease, #COYER
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
Leaving one widow behind is unfortunate. Leaving three widows behind is just plain despicable. Oil heiress Kate Steele knew her not-so-dearly departed husband was a con man, but she's shocked that Conrad racked up two more wives without divorcing her first. The only remnant of their miserable marriage she plans to keep is their lakeside cabin in Bootleg, Texas. Unfortunately, she's not the only woman with that idea.

Fiery, strong-willed Jamie wishes Conrad were still alive--so she could kill the scoundrel herself. But for their daughter's sake, she needs that property. As does Amanda--twenty-eight, pregnant, and still weeping over the loss of her true love. On a broiling July day, all three arrive in Bootleg...with a dogged detective right behind who's convinced that at least one of them conspired to commit murder. One momentous summer filled with revelations, quirky neighbors, and barefoot evenings on the porch offers three women the chance to make the journey from enemies to friends, and claim a bright, new beginning.

I've read Carolyn Brown before so when I saw her name attached to this title, I didn't hesitate to request it. The Barefoot Summer wasn't exactly what I was expecting but it was a pretty good read.

The premise is what originally drew my attention. Three women realizing they were all married to the same man? And that realization coming at his funeral?? Yeah. And then all three showing up at a cabin they'd shared with said man, ultimately deciding to share it for the summer? Well, it kinda sounded like a fun read. However, the story ended up being a bit deeper - murder investigation notwithstanding - and if the execution had been a tad tighter, it'd have been excellent. As it stands, it was pleasant.

The story overall is about these three women doing some soul searching. Do our decisions determine the direction of their lives? Karma? Fate? God? What makes a family? These are questions they ask themselves and each other as they spend the summer together. It's set in small-town Texas, where everyone knows everyone else's business - and I loved that element. The three wives Conrad left, Kate the oil heiress and determined businesswoman, Jamie the school teacher who is also mother to adorable Gracie, and Amanda the pregnant thrift store owner and youngest of the three, are all so different. And yet there are qualities they share, obviously, as they all married the same man. What they learn about themselves and each other over the course of the summer was a delight to be witness to.

My issue with the story is mostly that everything happened rather quickly and I didn't get to develop a deep connection with the characters. I liked them all well enough but the connection could have been stronger. And there was one element where my suspension of disbelief was challenged. Not sure that element was at all realistic.

At any rate, it was a sweet read. It had so much potential and could have been outstanding if only...

Audio Review ~ Pirate ~ Eve Langlais

Pirate by Eve Langlais
Space Gypsy Chronicles #1
Narrated by: Chandra Skyye
Release Date: May 24, 2016 (audio)
Genre: Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Source: Tantor Audio sent me a complimentary copy
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
Earth: a space pirate's dream when it comes to booty, but not a good place to hide when bounty hunters come looking. Pulling up stakes means Rafe must leave his vintage trailer behind, but in the process he acquires a passenger, a mouthy female who seems to think she's calling the shots. She'll soon learn who's the captain. And it isn't Annabelle, his sassy ship.

A true red-blooded male, Rage does his best to teach Emma her place in the universe, but her human attitude gets in the way. So why doesn't he sell her when he gets the chance? Damned if he knows, but despite his motto of "the universe revolves around me", he finds himself putting his life in peril to save hers. But that doesn't mean he's letting her in on all his secrets. Some things a man has to carry alone, and some revelations a pirate will kill to keep.

The universe might be out to get him, but he's not giving in without a fight.

Pirate isn't my first read from Langlais, but it is my first listen. It's also the first in a new sci-fi series and while the characters and the world building were interesting, it didn't always hold my attention.

Emma, or "Wench", as Rafe lovingly? refers to her, is a delivery truck driver. She's been delivering to Rage for awhile and he's also apparently been trying to score with her. Despite the fact Emma is rather charmed by him, she's continually refused him. This would actually turn out in her favor when she's essentially kidnapped by Rage and removed from Earth.

See, Rafe is a space pirate and as such he often angers powerful people, meaning he's a wanted man. He's also an alien, um, Romani. They're travelers and Rafe gained a traveling companion in Emma when she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

As Langlais developed these characters, the spaceship, and world they now inhabit, we learn that the Romani are quite chauvinistic in their treatment of women. There are also hints at Rafe's and Emma's feelings towards on another - especially Rafe's - as being "special". There was some sarcasm and sexually-charged banter - I particularly liked Rafe's AI, who runs his spaceship, being so snarky with him. But honestly, I was bored for a lot of the book. At about 75% in, more hints were dropped about where this story might be going, the romance amp'd up, and the suspense tightened. From there, I was eager to put my earbuds in and listen to what happened next.

Is it the narrator, the story, or just me? I don't know. I felt Skyye did a fairly good job with narrating but her delivery in places was slow and that didn't help keep me engaged. I really think this is a case of me having certain expectations of Langlais and those not being met. Not as much humor and not as many sexy times. She did hook me in the end though and I will continue the series.

#OctobeRecFest Review ~ Becoming a Jett Girl ~ Meghan Quinn (@AuthorMegQuinn)

Becoming a Jett Girl by Meghan Quinn
Bourbon #1
Release Date: May 29, 2014
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Recommended by: Naomi @Naomi's Reading Palace
Goodreads

Synopsis
How did I start the Lafayette Club?

Well, I'm in the business of saving tarnished souls. I hand pick girls from the street who have no options left in life and give them an opportunity they can't possibly refuse.

They come to work in the Lafayette Club which is full of EXQUISITE DEBAUCHERY, where influential men come to conduct business and lap dances are considered a fine art.

The girls are trained, they are morphed, they are educated, they follow the rules of the club and they know to submit to me. They live by my motto, no relationships, no love, just sex.

They are never touched, only by me, they are never completely naked, only with me, and their personas are entirely anonymous. The only person who knows who they truly are, is me, Jett Colby.

If these girls were ever seen on the streets of New Orleans, you would never know they were a Jett Girl.

I met Meghan Quinn recently and told her I'd just finished reading Becoming a Jett Girl. She asked me if it was scandalous. ;) Let me tell you, I was properly scandalized for sure. Becoming a Jett Girl had a bit of everything in it - sadness, angst, romance, suspense - and overall, it was purely entertaining. Scandalously entertaining.

Goldie/Lo is a young woman who's been down on her luck since Hurricane Katrina. Barely making ends meet as a waitress in a strip club, she's even resorted to less than acceptable means to pay her bills and those left to her when her parents died. Then, out of nowhere, comes an offer she finds it hard to refuse - a miracle - a means to left herself out of her miserable life and into a much better one.

Jett is rather enigmatic when we first meet him. Little by little we see more about him and realize the reasons and good intentions behind the Lafayette House. He's very noble in his intentions and with Goldie/Lo, he finds himself breaking all his self-imposed rules.

In some ways, this felt like a debut. There were issues with the writing - transitions were a bit clunky and there were editing problems. But the story and its characters were rather unique and that helped to make up for those issues. I will admit that Goldie/Lo's mouth had no filter - the cursing and other things that fell out of it were, well, scandalous. *winks* As Jett said,

"What comes out of that mouth of yours is never a dull moment."

Seeing Goldie/Lo and Jett get acquainted and start falling for one another was sweet though. With Goldie/Lo being so brash and feisty and Jett being so controlled, you'd think they wouldn't fit. But they meld together quite well, giving the other the ability to do things - like have calm or loosen up - that they can't achieve on their own. They also allow the other to see their vulnerabilities and that was powerful.

Even though there were editing issues, I quite enjoyed Becoming a Jett Girl, am fully invested in these characters and their stories, and am eager to see where they all go from here.

Review ~ Give Me Something ~ Elizabeth Lee

Give Me Something by Elizabeth Lee
Give Me Something #1
Release Date: March 3, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #CleanSweep, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Here's the deal...I learned a long time ago that sometimes you have to use what you've got to make things happen. What I happen to have is a pretty smile, long legs and the ability to make men believe anything I say. Before you get on your high horse and start judging me, can you honestly say you've never batted your lashes at some guy for a free drink at the bar? That's what I thought.

Keep that in mind as I tell you my story of how I took it one step further. My story of lies, deceit, manipulation and love. Yeah, love. Believe me, it fits. Especially, when you factor in Nick and Tucker - one had my heart and the other one wanted it all for himself. Which one? Well, I can't tell you that. It would defeat the purpose of the story. If I'm going to fill you in about me, Lila Garrison, and my life as a con artist you're going to need to know all the facts, including the ones about the two guys who made me want to give up the life of fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and easy money. Because sometimes, one person can give you something that's more valuable than all of that.

If you're still interested, stick around. Just remember, I'm pretty good at convincing people to do what I want, so if by the end of this whole thing you feel worked over, don't say I didn't warn you.

I think I'm a jaded NA reader. Maybe I would have enjoyed Give Me Something more 3 years ago? I don't know. I wanted to love it but in the end, it was just an okay read.

What didn't work:

• The heroine. Lila wasn't likable - at least in the beginning. I might have been forgiving of her actions but the reasons behind them boiled down to greed.
• Nick. Normally I'm just fine rooting for the bad boy but I didn't like him. He was manipulative, deceitful, and greedy.
• Predictable. Within the first few chapters, I had it all figured out. There was only one small twist I didn't already know at the reveal.

What did work:

• Lila...eventually. She eventually showed a lot of personal and emotional growth. I appreciated that she saw the error of her ways and realized a lot she'd been doing was wrong, even if there were some good intentions behind some of her actions.
• Tucker! I LOVED HIM! He's just a good guy. He was made out to be a manwhore but I never saw it. He was loyal, stable, witty, and charming - a good ol' country boy.
• Lee's writing. It flows well and is very readable. She was able to sway my opinion of Lila, and to a very small degree, Nick, and that's impressive. And even though I knew where the story was going, I wanted to see who the characters got there.

Despite not being over the moon with Give Me Something, I'd absolutely read Lee again.

Audio Review ~ Like Gravity ~ Julie Johnson

Like Gravity by Julie Johnson
Narrated by: Jillian Macie
Release Date: January 26, 2016 by Tantor Audio
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
Twenty-year-old Brooklyn "Bee" Turner is no stranger to grief. After witnessing her mother's brutal murder at age six, Brooklyn is guarded, damanged, and-by all accounts-a bitch. And that's just the way she likes it, if it means keeping everyone at arm's length. When she stumbles, quite literally, into Finn Chambers-campus ladies' man an the lead singer of a local band-she's unprepared for his persistence in befriending her and for the dangerous attraction she begins to feel for him. Because with Finn, she knows that it would be more that just sex, more than just friendship, and maybe even more than just love. When a sinister presence from her past reemerges, Brooklyn will be pushed to her breaking point. For the first time in fifteen years, she will confront both her grief and her memories, as she plays a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with an unforeseen enemy. Contains mature themes.

Like Gravity was my first read/listen from Julie Johnson and Jillian Macie, and while it didn't completely trip my trigger, I'll definitely give them both another go.

Like Gravity is one of those NA stories with familiar trope - damaged girl meets great guy disguised as a bad boy, and eventually she heals. I liked the suspense element though as well as some of the other circumstances Johnson mixed in. I hoped maybe the suspense would being something fresh to this story. And it did - sort of. But in the end, it felt like melodrama. And that combined with the element of a lack of communication, typical in this genre, left me feeling 'meh' about Brooklyn and Finn's story.

Brooklyn was witness to her mother's murder at the age of 6. After a brief stint in a group foster home, her father, who'd she'd never met, stepped in to take custody of her. However, he was never really interested in having a child so was distant to say the least. Brooklyn is, understandably, reluctant to trust anyone with her heart. Now a sophomore in college, she's facing a double threat - one to her person and one to her heart.

Finn is known as the campus playboy. So when Brooklyn falls into his life, literally, he plays it cool. But they continue crossing paths and the more he learns about her, the more he wants to know. And the more time they spend together, the more caring he proved himself to be.

I like that Brooklyn and Finn's relationship more slow-burn despite their obvious chemistry. It was nice to see them get to know on another slowly. The solid foundation, though, made Brooklyn's reaction to a revelation about Finn seem a bit over-the-top. I also enjoyed Brooklyn's friendship with her best friend. It allowed some more depth to Brooklyn and the story.

As for the suspense element...despite Johnson trying to throw the reader off trail, I figured out the answer. I did like the tension that plot line added but the resolution seemed to simple.

Overall, Like Gravity was a middle-of-the-road read. I felt more could have been done with certain elements and I didn't like the gratuitous drama and angst caused by certain revelations and reactions to them. But I did like the story. Johnson created likable characters and the pacing was pretty good.

Ms. Macie's narration was fair. It took me a little time to warm up to her style but I did and she did a nice job with Brooklyn's and her best friend's voices. Her male voices were pretty good although I'd have preferred them deeper to better distinguish between them in the dialog.

Contemporary Romance Review ~ Slow Ride ~ Cathryn Fox

Slow Ride by Cathryn Fox
Playing for Keeps #1
Release Date: September 28, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on nook
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #OctobeRecFest 2015
Goodreads

Synopsis
He's looking for love. She's looking for trouble...

As a successful doctor and weekend cowboy, Chase Cooper enjoys a full life with plenty of female company. But lately, something hasn't felt right. He's been distracted. Antsy. Damn it, he's been lonely. With an eye on settling down with a nice girl, Coop invites his high school best friend down to his ranch to see if maybe she's the one for him...

Instead, her twin sister shows up. The one who loathes him.

Julia Blair is already halfway to Coop's ranch when she learns the invitation wasn't for her, but her vivacious twin sister. She has two choices: slink back home, or see just how far this farce will go. One glance at hotter-than-sin Coop, and she knows she's playing a dangerously hot game. Because what this cowboy wants, this cowboy gets...

I one-clicked this first installment of the series after reading Anna's review (@Herding Cats & Burning Soup) of #3 in the series. I liked the idea behind the series - 3 guys hatching a plan to try to catch the one that got away. Slow Ride was a fast, hot, and fun read.

Coop had a girl as one of his best friends in high school. Oh, everyone believed they were more than friends, or at least friends with benefits, but Coop actually had the hots for his best friend's twin sister. There were two problems with that. 1) being the best friend's twin, Julia was off limits. And 2) Julia claimed Coop wasn't her type. That couldn't have been further from the truth. Julia had the hots for Coop but knew she couldn't compete with her sister for his affections.

The two meet under dubious circumstances - the guys' plan - and Coop and Julia get reacquainted during a week working on a dude ranch. I enjoyed the rekindling of feelings, the closeness they develop, and their smexy times. My only complaint was that since this is a novella, they story felt rushed. And I would have liked a little more openness between them sooner.

Overall though, it was a quick, sexy read. And I'm eager for the other guys' turns with their ladies. ;)

Review ~ Off Sides ~ Sawyer Bennett

Off Sides by Sawyer Bennett
Off Series #1
Release Date: February 21, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased my own copy.
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #COYER B2B, #2016HW, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
"I'm not sure what possessed me to do it. Maybe it was the impossible expectations I faced, maybe it was my own self-loathing. But I just knew I needed something different to happen. I needed someone... something... to derail me from my current path. Otherwise, I would become lost... a hollowed out shell of a man. So I did it. I approached her, then I pursued her, then I made her mine. And my life was saved..."

Ryan Burnham is the privileged son of a U.S. Congressman and captain of his university's hockey team. While he is on the verge of fulfilling his dreams to play in the NHL, his parents want him on a different course. One he is expected to accept for the sake of his family's public image.

Forced to abandon her music career after the heart breaking death of her parents, Danny Cross exists on the opposite side of the tracks from Ryan. She is struggling to make her own way, working two jobs, attending college part time and volunteering in a homeless shelter. She is on a mission to build her own success.

With a chance meeting, their vastly different worlds collide, causing each to evaluate whether they are truly on the correct path to self-fulfillment and happiness. Can their relationship survive? Particularly when others are against them every step of the way. A lot can happen in just ten short days...

I actually received an eARC of this but I took so long to read it, my guilt induced me to one-click it - lucky for me it was 99 pennies when I did. ;)

Off Sides was my introduction to Bennett's work, although she comes highly recommended. (*wink*Lexxie*wink*) This is also Bennett's debut and she, of course, has quite the body of work at this point. So, I'm going to give you a list of what I liked and what I liked less about Off Sides. 

Since I like bad news first, here's what I liked less:

• It's NA - therefore both MCs suffered tragic upbringings in some way.
• It was a bit predictable
• I wanted more - there was a rushed feeling that would have been negated, in my opinion, if the story had been longer.
• Insta-love

What I liked:

• Compelling characters - I really liked Danny's and Ryan's desire to live life by their own rules. They're both intelligent and admirable in their own ways.
• Riveting story - despite it being predictable with those common NA elements, I was still eager to know what came next, would things work out?
• Bennett's writing style - it's inherently readable. It flows smoothly and is nicely paced - very easy to read.
• Dual POV - I'm finding more and more love for this narration style. Getting the POV of both MCs added so much depth to the story and I felt more connected with them both.

All in all, I was impressed with Off Sides. I can see Bennett hitting her stride in her writing and I'm eager to read more from her backlist - meet more engaging characters, learn all about their lives, and fall in love right along with them.

Blogger Chick Chat ~ Enemies on Tap ~ Avery Flynn

Enemies on Tap
Sweet Salvation Brewery #1
Release Date: July 14, 2014
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Brewing up trouble one pint at a time.

Enemies...After years away, Miranda Sweet returns to Salvation, Virginia to save her family's brewery, but her fate is in the hands of her lover-turned-enemy, Logan. What's a girl to do when the only person who can help her is the man who betrayed her?

Lovers...Logan Martin can't believe his luck when the woman who smashed his heart to smithereens walks into his bank asking for his help. What she doesn't know is that he needs the land her brewery is on--and he'll do whatever it takes to get it.

An Irresistible Combination...Their wager becomes a battle between their attraction and their determination to win. But it's in each other's arms that they realize there might be more at stake now than their bet. With the town against the Sweet Salvation Brewery's success, Logan has to choose between what's expected of him and what he really wants...

***

Lexxie (@Unconventional Bookviews) had so much fun doing a buddy read and chat, we decided to do it again. I hope y'all enjoy our chat as much as we did!  ;)

I like that Miranda is confident enough in her skills that she'd shoot to revamp her family's brewery in a bid for a promotion.

I fell hook, line, and sinker for Logan - the Prince of Salvation who didn't want anything to do with that title. I like his persuasiveness (I'm thinking of the pie bet) and I feel for him living a role picked for him.

Natalie is an interesting character. We don't get to see enough of her for her to have much dynamic but I want to know more. I want to see how growing up in Salvation, and having 2 sisters that are mirror images of you, affected her personality.

I wish we could see more of Ruby Sue. I like a little old lady with spunk and she has it in spades. She doesn't shy away from telling anyone like it is. And I'd like to have some of her famous sweet ice tea and pecan pie! (Have you ever had sweet ice tea or pecan pie??)

I think Flynn did an excellent job of conveying the benefits and big drawbacks of growing up in a small town. I think the negatives were more obvious in this story because this is a Southern small town.

I wish we could have a little more backstory on Miranda and Logan - how they came to be together way back when...before everything went to hell. I think that would have made it more clear the hurt between them.

I also would have liked a little more closure - how is Miranda getting out of her deal with her company? what about Logan's dad and his job? There were some things left 'untied' at the end. Although these things may be addressed in the next book...

I also wish we'd seen a bit more of the events that apparently happened off page between Miranda and Logan. I know they had history but since that wasn't well defined, things seem to happen rather quickly. I hope we'll see more of them in the other books. 

I really enjoyed the brew talk. Since hubs has brewed beer and we've done a few ;) brewery tours, I could really envision the brewery, all the equipment, the smells of the mash and hops...Flynn clearly has some experience with beer. ;)

So what did you think?

I agree that Miranda was a pretty kick-ass character on the surface, but I felt like I didn't really get to know her all that well. Between feeling bad because of how the small town had always treated her family, and the way she also felt about her family plus trying to get Sweet Salvation Brewery to become a profitable business, there wasn't a lot of place for character development. 

Logan was great, but I also didn't feel like I got to know him very well. I agree with what you said towards the end of your mail, that it would have been nice to have a little more back story for both of them. 

I am pretty sure we'll get to know Natalie better in the next book, and I hope we'll actually get to meet Olivia then, too! 

Ruby Sue was great, she didn't care what other people thought of her, she stood by the people she enjoyed, and that's it! Of course, she also had her famous pecan pie ;)

Apart from getting more closure - which would have been really great! - I would also have liked to have a little more brewing in the pages of the story. There was very little that really had to do with brewing beer... more about how to turn a business around, and problems with staff. But all of the staff kind of disappeared off the pages after Miranda fired Carl. only Sean was still present and a part of the story. That made the story feel like it was touching on the surface much more than going in depth as it could have, without adding too many pages to it overall.

And I could have done without all the passive-agressiveness of Miranda's boss at the financial company. We never met him either, but he almost had a bigger part in the story than some characters that I thought were more important than him...

I hope some of these things will be taken care of in the second book, because even if I gave three stars, I did enjoy it enough to continue reading about the Sweet girls and Salvation :) I wanna learn how to brew my own beer!

I'm glad you liked Enemies on Tap. :)

I do agree that more character development would have been nice. I think that's why I wanted more backstory, etc. I do like Miranda, Logan, Natalie...but it did feel as though we only get to know them on a certain level. More character development would have made each of the characters more robust and the story deeper.

I didn't even think about the fact we never met Miranda's boss. A lot of time was spent on him and I did *not* like him one bit. But that's part of the reason I wanted closure about Miranda's job. Flynn didn't explain how that was going to be taken care of and it was a pretty big 'loose end'. 

I, too, would have liked more time spent on the brewing of beer. You're absolutely right...Flynn did spend more time on the business aspect of it. And you're right about her staff disappearing from the story with the exception of Carl and Sean. 

We have a common theme going here, don't we? We both want MORE! I gave this 3 stars as well because Flynn did pull me into the story and I do care about the characters. But if MORE was there, Enemies on Tap could have been a richer read. I really do want to read Natalie's story to see if we get the MORE we're looking for.

Yeah, taking care of Miranda's job, and her boss, and make sure both are left behind for good without any trouble coming to show up in the future would have been really nice.

Having most of the staff on the outlines of the story could have worked, but they just plain disappeared, and that made me feel like the story was still a little rough… I'm sure you know what I mean.

Wanting more is a good thing, I guess, and I do look forward to reading Hollywood on Tap. I'm very curious about Sean and his past – hopefully we'll get more backstory ;)

My Final Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed Enemies on Tap and will continue the series. Flynn got me interested and invested enough to want more of Salvation and the Sweet sisters!