Jamie McGuire – Beautiful Burn

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This was the final piece in the Maddox family story.  This one is as excitedly, emotionally erratic as the rest of the series.  Those Maddox men have a hot temper and strong feelings, which leads to a lot of romantic drama.  Here’s a sample:

“Goddammit, Ellie,”  Tyler said.  “You’re right.  I’m jealous as fuck.  You’re sending all these mixed signals and some guy walks in on you, sees you naked, then he’s asking about you … I have a million fucking feelings swirling around.  I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.  I’ve never felt like this before.” …

“Grow up,” [Ellie said]

This one wasn’t my favorite in the series – of course Travis is tough competition.  However, I appreciated all the little things that got clarified and tied up in this book.

I never quite understood why Tyler couldn’t let Ellie go.  He makes it clear that he’s certain that he is in love with Ellie because he fears the pain of losing her.

All in all, this is a MUST READ for fans of the series!

Jamie McGuire Combination

See Related Posts:

Jamie McGuire – Beautiful Redemption

Jamie McGuire – Beautiful Sacrifice

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Friday’s Five Star Finds – February 19

Five Star Books

Five Star Books that I’ve reviewed in the past week

(click on book to read the review)

February 19

Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren

February 12

Boiling Point by Tessa Bailey

Wild Aces by Marni Mann

A Sudden Crush by Camilla Isley

January 29

Brave Enough by M. Leighton

January 22

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

Prince Hudson by Lily Cahill

January 1

Blood Kiss by JR Ward

She Whom I Love by Tess Bowery

What Five Star Books have you read lately?

Christina Lauren – Wicked Sexy Liar

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This book was able to pull me out of a stressed-out funk and had me rolling on the floor laughing.

I loved the characters.

I loved the story.

I’m grateful to have had the chance to read something that made me feel this good.

London’s independence is fantastic.  When Luke wants to dive south she refuses.

“I can’t give my heart away all at once.  I want to.  But I can’t.”

The romantic aspects of the story are just as sensational as the humorous ones.  Even Luke, the player, can grow up and find a way to prove his love.  The difference between the steamy scenes at the beginning of the book and near the end are both great.  There’s a taste for hot and fun as compared to sultry and loving.

Grams is the best side character ever.  She embraces the quick-witted elderly person that is inappropriate and embarrassing.  She has no qualms about comparing asparagus to a penis at the dinner table.

And hey, it’s educational, too.  Did you know that

“Vagina roughly translates to sword holder in Latin.”

This may be my favorite in the series.

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See related posts:

Christina Lauren – Dark Wild Night (Wild Seasons #3)

Christina Lauren – “Dirty Rowdy Thing”

Favorite Spin-off Book Series

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Commitment to Reading Goals

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At the beginning of the year, I set my reading goals for the year.  I’m not the only one.  Many people choose to follow different kinds of reading challenges or design their own.

Now, it’s half-way through February.  It seems like a good time to check-in and see if I’m on track.

Book Count …

I read 166 books last year.  I hoped to read 150 this year.  So far, I’ve read 21, which means I’m on track.

New Authors …

My goal was 3 per month.  So far, I’ve read 10 new authors.  I love it when I find a new author that I like.

Weekly posts …

I wanted to create two more weekly posts.  I’ve continued my Teaser Tuesday post where I feature a hot image that includes a quote from a favorite book.  I started a new Friday’s Five Star Finds where I list all the books that I recently awarded 5 stars.  Perhaps I’ll come up with another weekly post soon.

New genres …

I have a couple in my reading schedule line-up.  This year, I’m more organized and created a spreadsheet to keep track of books that I have scheduled to review and books that I want to read.

How is your reading challenge going?

See

Book Blogging Goals for 2016

D.W. Marshall – Weeping Violet

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If you read the first book in the series, Stolen Flame, then you need to read this book.  This novella is like an epilogue on steroids.  It is exactly what you wanted after the first book but would have been too long to include as an epilogue.

The beginning of this book rehashes a lot of the emotional trauma of the first book.  Rather than just being repetitious, it puts the reader into the mindset to appreciate Violet’s story.  It leaves you desperate for a happily ever after.

I worried that Brin wouldn’t figure out what she needed to heal herself.  I found it stressful that Brin could just as easily fall apart as she could reclaim herself.  When she finally figures it out what she needs, it is no guarantee that she’ll get it.

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See Related Post:

D.W. Marshall – Stolen Flame

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Author Bio:

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D.W. Marshall an author of an elclectic array of romance novels writes direct and distinctive dialogue wrapped in sensual imagery. The first in her series, featuring Vivian Travis, is Stolen Flame. As a wife and mother residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ms. Marshall uses the sexuality on the streets of Sin City to fuel her stories. She is in her bliss with pen in hand creating her characters.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SevenChamberSeries

Blog: https://7chambers.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19294181-stolen-flame

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwmarshall7

 

 

Friday’s Five Star Finds – February 12

Five Star Books

Five Star Books that I’ve reviewed in the past week

(click on book to read the review)

February 12

Boiling Point by Tessa Bailey

Wild Aces by Marni Mann

A Sudden Crush by Camilla Isley

January 29

Brave Enough by M. Leighton

January 22

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

Prince Hudson by Lily Cahill

January 1

Blood Kiss by JR Ward

She Whom I Love by Tess Bowery

What Five Star Books have you read lately?

Camilla Isley – A Sudden Crush

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Review

Suddenly, Joanna and Connor are rescued from the island and suddenly I can’t put the book down.

After the rescue, the story is filled with unexpected turns, each more fantastic than the previous.  This isn’t a predictable Cinderella story, it is far more romantic and enticing.

Anyone that has ever had their heart broken, wants closures.  This book had me in tears (while I read it in public) when Joanna finally gets hers.

The book is also humorous, Katy says to Joanna just after seeing Connor in person,

“I thought you were a good writer, but you suck.  He doesn’t sound half as hot in your book.”

Blurb 

Joanna Price is a city girl with the perfect life. She loves her job as a book editor, she just married Liam, high profile bestselling author and the man of her dreams, and she’s headed to the Caribbean to enjoy two weeks of paradise for her luxurious honeymoon.
Connor Duffield is a gruff, grumpy rancher from the Midwest. He is a country boy who has a no-nonsense approach to life, more scars than he’d like to admit, and he hates city girls.
So it’s just a misfortune they have to sit next to each other for a six hour plane ride. Even more so when their flight is caught in the perfect storm and Joanna wakes up stranded on a desert island with Connor, the very man she hoped she would never have to see again.

Why are they alone on this forsaken island? What happened to Joanna’s husband?

When her dream honeymoon turns into a hilarious tropical nightmare, Joanna’s first thought is survival. However, she and Connor will quickly discover just how boring paradise can be. As the days turn to weeks, and then months, this mismatched pair will have to learn how to coexist and how to resist the sparkles of an attraction they weren’t prepared to feel.

When they are finally rescued will Joanna’s marriage be saved as well, or will the life she knew and loved be in ruins?

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Author Bio:
Hi! I’m a writer of romantic comedy, cat’s lover, coffee addict, and shoes hoarder.  Besides writing, I love reading (surprise, surprise), cooking—and eating—especially pasta, going to the movies and obviously ordering a gigantic bowl of popcorn, and watching too much TV.
I understand that mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem as a part of other animals’ diet, and I don’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but I could really live without them.

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