Oh my gosh, what an emotional rollercoaster!

Hudson and Laynie' s story in Forever with you had everything. There was happy times, sad times, sexy times, heartbreak upon heartbreak.

I have never wanted to bitch slap a character, with a brick, more than I did Celia. she's a sociopath!

I am glad that their story got the outcome that it did, even if it was a struggle to get there!

Thank you Ainslie Paton for giving the the chance to relive my childhood whilst reading Hooked on a Feeling!

Although maybe not so many thanks for making me feel old!!

Seriously, it was like I was reliving growing up in the suburbs of Sydney.  Be warned non-Aussies that there are quite a few product names and brands mentioned, but they are mainly at the beginning, and I see it as payback for all the American brands and names I always have to read about!!



I loved the story of Gayle, newly separated and trying to make do on her own for the first time ever, along with her son Dean. At first her shame at being dumped by her douche of a husband is palpable. 
But then it is like a switch was flipped.  It is like she finally started to live her life when she moved into the quite suburban street.


The whole neighbourhood seems to come alive when Gayle and Dean move in.  And she does not escape the notice of the single men in the area either.  Ray and Kim, Steve and Hazel didn't know what hit them!

it's been too long since I have delved into the world of the Rock Chicks and the Hot Bunch, but now I am back I don't want to leave!

Where OH where are the men like Luke Stark in my life? He is one hunka hunka burning alpha!

That's it, I am moving to Denver to hunt them down (well maybe not moving but I am visiting in a few months, and I will be on the lookout!)

I was over the moon to receive and advanced copy of CP Smith's second Novel, Restoring Hope. So different from her first novel A Reason to Breathe, but just as wonderful.

Set in New Orleans, Nic and Hope's story is an amazing read. Nic and hope are both broken and exhausted. Troubles from their past are still playing on their minds, in their every waking thought.

Who would have thought that two such emotionally broken people could be so right for each other - but they are.

I couldn't help but love Nic. I mean, who wouldn't. From the minute he sees Hope, he goes into protective mode for her. Not all alpha, beating the chest, MINE kind of protective (which I do love - well in my books, might be a bit much to take in real life)

And while I did not connect as much with Hope as I would have liked, I think it is because she is so cautious and at times withdrawn. She is such a strong woman, going through hell but mostly with a smile on her face - even if she is constantly looking over her shoulder.


You just know from the first minute these two are in a room together that things are going to be pretty spectacular with them, that things are never going to be easy but they are going to be explosive.

If you are not on the sidelines cheering for this pair to get together, I don't know what is wrong with you.

There are some great secondary characters in Restoring Hope. Nic's son Nicky is your typical teenage boy in some respects, but so much more mature in others. At times my heart was ripped out, taped back together and shoved back in my chest, just ready to be ripped out again.

New Orleans is such a big part of this story. The sights, the smells, the traditions. But most of all, the beignets (I swear I put on 2 stone just reading about all the beignet eating.... damn, now I want some!!) You can almost hear the music and noise of Bourbon Street, feel the hustle and bustle of tourists.


BUT the scene stealer in the story is definitely Maman Rose. She is bold, brassy cajun, who is as spicy as the food she serves up! Her and Big Daddy are fantastic, and as much as they are in your face, you know they'd have your back, and they prove over and over again what they do for their friends.

So, will Nic and Hope get their happy ending?

Nope, for that you are going to have to read for yourself.

Just be aware there is a fair bit of French/Cajun talk, and at the beginning it is i bit overwhelming. But Ms Smith has put a handy glossary at the beginning of the book, and after a few chapters, I didn't even need to go back to check it.

Ms Smith writes with the maturity of someone with more than 2 books behind her. The stories flow, the characters are well developed, I get drawn into them as soon as I pick them up.

Now, can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Copy received from Escape Publishing via Netgalley for an honest review.

I have previously read Jenny Schwartz's novel It's Love, Dude and enjoyed it, so when I got the chance to read Hero Duty I took it, especially as Brodie is the brother of Zane from It's Love Dude.

This was a sweet, cute, romance - with a tinge of darkness to it (but not much)

Brodie, ex military, protective. Who wouldn't want him to be their "emotional bodyguard"? OK, yeah it is a stupid title, but I could completely understand what Jessica needed from him.

Jessica, OMG she has been so downtrodden by those who are supposed to love her, you can't help but feel sorry for her. How she hadn't completely emotionally broken down was beyond me.

There was that zing of attraction between the two from the beginning but they didn't jump straight into bed, so we got that build up of tension between them

What I loved was how Brodie encouraged her to stand up to people, and loved watching Jessica break those chains and watch her become the strong woman we know is hiding behind all the fear. When she lets it rip - man you hear the dragon roar, her chest expand with pride as she finally realises her full potential.

There is so much backstabbing, deception. It was hard to know how to trust. Goes to show that people will do anything for money and power!

I really liked the retro feel to the cover of Hero Duty. And I enjoyed that this was for the most part set in my home town of Sydney, so I could mentally picture the place they were visiting.

I am becoming a bit of a fan of Ms Schwartz's work, and look forward to reading more in the future.

This second book in the Reckless Beat series, and is a little darker than the first, Blind Attraction.

And I think it loved it even more. Blake's and Gabi's relationship is as sweet as it is painful. The circumstances of their first "meeting" (which is played out in the prologue)was pretty emotional. They both had tragedy and problems in their past that still haunt them today.

I loved how we got to see their relationship grow when they finally "meet-meet", how they both dealt when neither of them had really done relatinships.

I felt for Gabi as her family and friends didn't really support her and Blake. Yes, I could kind of understand it but I hurt for her. I also felt for her as she came to terms with a relationship in the public eye. Can't be easy for anyone being thrust from regular life to life in the limelight.

I loved that we got more of Mitch and Allie, and all the guys (and girl) from Reckless Beat. Leah is a saint to put up with those guys, Mason still cracks me up, I am wondering what is going on with Leah and Sean, and my heart hurts for Ryan with things that are going on .

But don't get me started on Michelle - hisssss!!! You will hate her as much as I did, I can guarantee it.

It has taken me forever to get around to reading this book, and I am kicking myself for it. Now on to Reckless Weekend and more of these sexy rockers.

ARC received from St Martin's Press via Netgalley

If you have not met the men of Kylie Scott's Stage Dive yet - why not? Get to it now!

I am a huge fan of rockers, and these boys are no exception. I have had the first two books sitting on my Kindle forever, and when I received Lead, I binge read the whole series. And it just keeps getting better and better.

If you have read Lick (#1) and Play (#2), you will know how much of an arsehole Jimmy Ferris is. Lead singer of Stage Dive, he has the world at his feet and he acts like it too. He is a complete douche to his other bandmates, especially his brother David. For the first two books I just wanted to

the crap out of him. There was no way that I could ever think good of him.

And then I read Lead - or as I am now calling it, Jimmy's Redemption.

Wow, what a change! We learn so much more about Jimmy and David's upbringing, and the people who shaped who he is today. My heart broke a little for him when he confronts his bitch of a mother, and David's reaction to this meeting. I hate, hate hate their mother grrrrr there is not one good quality in her. I wanted to jump into my kindle and throttle her, I had such a visceral reaction to her!!

Lena is Jimmy's "sober companion/assistant", and god did I love her! She is strong, feisty, mouthy. And she is the one person who sees the real Jimmy, and the one person that Jimmy lets in. She is so good for him, but he is not so good for her. She fights her feelings for him, but she knows at the end of the day he is the one person who can really hurt her.

There was times when I still wanted to slap the crap out of Jimmy, but there was also many times that I teared up during his story. So many feels!!! You could feel the tension between Jimmy and Lena, you felt the frustration Jimmy felt at himself as he tried to change, and Lena's as she tries to walk away, to save herself the heartache.

Ms Scott has a way with her stories that the never quite take the route that you think they will. There is always that little bit of misdirection so you are surprised where the storyline goes. I love her sweet and sexy rockers and the women who bring them to their knees.

I loved David, LOVED Mal, but couldn't help but fall for Jimmy in a big way, even with all his arseholiness and narcissistic behaviour!

Now, what fun will we have watching as Ben succumbs to a woman? I cannot wait to find out!

I hadn't read the first book, Defiance, so it took me a little while to get into the post apocalyptic feel of Redemption. but when I did I a mutually quite enjoyed it, but it just seemed to end. Guess there will be more to the story later?