WELCOME TO REALITY BITES- LET'S GET LOST!


Monday, March 3, 2014

Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway for Enjoy Your Stay (Sugartown #2) by Carmen Jenner

Book Title: Enjoy Your Stay (Sugartown #2)

Author: Carmen Jenner

Genre: Contemporary New Adult

Release Date: March 3, 2014



The last thing Holly Harris expected was to wind up nineteen, knocked-up, and all alone. When Coop left to pursue his dreams of becoming a rock god, he left a tiny piece of him behind.

Holly wishes he hadn’t.

Jackson wishes he hadn’t.

Jackson Rowe tried filling the void his family left by drinking, screwing around, and leaving a string of heartbroken women in his wake. Moving back to Sugartown should have been easy, but he hadn’t counted on the fact his sometimes attraction to Holly would still be alive and kicking—and he sure as hell hadn’t counted on her being pregnant with another man’s baby.
They drive one another crazy, and yet they can’t stay away.
When old flames resurface, and even older wounds are torn open, can two people so similar make it work? Or will their stubbornness only drive them further apart?
*Content Warning. Intended for a mature 18+ audience. Contains angst, a crap-tonne of profanity, short-tempered Australian wildlife, and some very pregnant sex.








“We gonna talk about last night?”

“No. We’re not going to talk about it. We’re not going to have a repeat performance, and we’re not talking about it.”

“Okay then.” Jackson snatches up another handful of popcorn and shovels it in his mouth before chewing with it half-opened. I swear, one day I’m going to shove my fist in there, and then maybe he’ll learn to shut the hell up. “So you don’t want me to eat you out right here on the couch?”

I drop the bowl and popcorn spills out all over my lap. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and whisper, “I hate you.”

“No you don’t. You want to, but sweetheart, you got all kinds of feelings for old Jack, and none of them are based on hatred.”

“Would you please not refer to yourself as old Jack? You sound like a paedophile.”

“Night, Hols. Old Jack’s going to take a shower before hitting the hay. I might even forget to lock the door so you don’t have to kick it down.”

“I hate you!” I scream as he saunters away chuckling.

“Sure, sweetheart, you just keep telling yourself that.”



3.5 HEARTS out of 5
Genre: New Adult Romance
( mature content reader discretion is advised)

photo DRAMAGIF_zps2f3196d5.gif

While my trip back to Sugartown was HOT and extremely hilarious it was also hit with a whole LOT OF DRAMA.

Holly Harris, the snarky tell you like she means it with a one two punch red head that readers first fell in love with in Welcome to Sugartown is back annnnnd she’s pregnant.  Being nineteen and pregnant is scary enough, throw in the fact that the guy who impregnated you is nowhere in sight and that fear triples. Faced with having to put on her big girl knickers Holly decides that she will raise her child on her own with the help of her close friends who coincidentally are also her housemates.

Doubt she knew that her pregnancy hormones would have her ready to jump one housemate in particular just about every time he enters a room. The sexy and delicious town whore better known as Jackson Rowe.
“Sweetheart, right now you could be pregnant with the Dalai Lama’s baby, and I wouldn’t give two fucks.” - Jack

Jackson Rowe is back in Sugartown and he is screwing his way through the small town. LITERALLY, the guy can’t keep it in his pants. Jack has always had a hard on for Holly(pun intended) and her carrying another man’s child has not changed his desires to hit that. Jack feels like he has a claim on Holly. On this I would have to agree. As the flames between these two grow to an intense burn it becomes clear that she agrees too.

In spite of all that undeniable attraction neither Holly nor Jack seem to be able to get on the right track long enough to become in sync, deciding to instead tuck their feelings away for good times and sex play.

‘This is how we play safe; by teasing and rejecting one another until we can forget about the feelings between us.’ -Holly

As these two fall in to a comfortable just sex no strings attached relationship their roommates question it. Besides, let’s be honest how long before the strings do attach only to form a big ass tangled knot.
Round and around and around these two had me on a lust filled spin cycle.

I swear to you I am not over exaggerating there is a good deal of sex NOT that I necessarily mind the sex… *GRINS* I like my steam

photo 8150569_zps39da6256.gif


What I don’t like is all the back and forth. The whole I want you – I want you too – but – but? -  I don’t think I can handle this – I need you – I need you too – WAIT, STOP – NO, you want this –  JUST TAKE ME NOW – I need this, I need you - I take it back, we can’t be together – I know, you’re right – I need to be inside you – I want you inside me – Wait, we can’t keep doing this – But, I thought you said you loved me? GAH it drove me INSANE.

Now toss in his ex-fiancé and her baby daddy and the drama snowballs into a freaking avalanche. This is coming from someone who actually enjoys a good dose of drama in her reads soooo…like I said a good dose not an over dose.

My Enjoy Your Stay Highlights
-The big B O O M
- Hot sex against a door
- The Bold and The Beautiful
-Shower sex
-Confessional
-Cock-a-doodle-doo
-Camping

My Thoughts
This book would have worked a bit better for me personally if Holly and Jack did not evade their true feelings the ENTIRE BOOK I was not feeling that. These two are unyielding as they take being stubborn to the next level while reaching new heights each chapter at a time. I was feeling the dual pov's, Jack and Holly are two of the funniest characters I've met so far in 2014! Alas, this is not the first time a book  #2 in a series has failed to hit the spot for me by holding that suck you in plot line momentum of the first and it surely won’t be the last. The big booms in Enjoy You Stay did not exactly have the same reaction on impact as Welcome to Sugartown. Correction, after that first big boom the impact was not the same..because uh, that was a BIG BOOM.

On the bright side Carmen Jenner has a sassy entertaining writing style. I have no doubt that her characters will truly humor you with their witty banter.

Do I plan to continue with the series? Yes, I do

My Ratings
Characters- Likeable and horny with foul mouths
Writing Style- Fair
Plot/Storyline- Pregnant girl decides to raise her baby on her own, she develops a no strings attached sexual relationship with her roommate only for strings to attach and bond
Steam Factor- HIGH/Very Steamy on a scale of 1-10 I say 9
 Entertainment Level- Medium, it had some good funny scenes that had me laughing out loud
Overall- I liked it, I just didn’t love it as much as the first book in the series

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it!

**ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**








Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something author, doctor, pilot and CIA agent.

She's also a compulsive, flagrant prevaricator who gets to make things up for a living.

While Sugartown may not technically exist, Carmen grew up in a small Australian town just like it, and just like her characters, she always longed for something more. They didn't have an Elijah Cade, though. If they did, you can be sure she would have never left.




Welcome to Sugartown Website:








Welcome to Sugartown Buy Links:










a Rafflecopter giveaway
 






Posted by at 1 comment:

Review: Block 24 by Evan Tyler


Block 24 by Evan Tyler


A re-emergence of the past…

Natalie Clarke might be spiteful at best and vicious at worst, but was that reason enough for Phillip Gise to leave her lonely and diseased? Fortunately, she has a set of devious plans that just might keep her busy enough to forget her present situation.

Guy Lewis has played Best Friend Extraordinaire to Natalie since grade school, supporting her through all of her daily drama. This time around, Guy runs into his own troubles when his fierce, wealthy manager gives him the type of attention he never asked for…or expected.

Julia Clarke, Natalie’s younger sister, has arrived in Brooklyn to uncover their grandmother’s secret life in Block 24, the site of Auschwitz’s little-known brothel. What Julia discovers proves more relevant in the present age than ever before.

Both heady and sobering, Block 24 is a look at the ways evil from the past can so insidiously visit the present.




SPOILER FREE REVIEW -mature content reader discretion is advised.
4 HEARTS out of 5
Genre: Adult Romance/Dark Read

Two sets of sisters. Two different generations. Multiple stories. 
Love.
Hate.
War.
Tragedy.
This is Block 24.
Bare with me, pleeease bare with me. I apologize if my review is all over the place, I just could not help it once I started typing it just poured out of me. This book has me twisted up in an emotional tails spin. I cried often while reading. There are certain parts of Block 24 that were so raw that I became sick to my stomach. Evan Tyler gives a colorful array of characters each provoking multiple feelings, each with a story of their own adding different layers to the plot line.

Two sets of sisters - Different generations - Two Stories
When the book starts you’re thrust in to the world of Natalie Clarke. It took about five seconds for me to figure out that this chick was BAT SHIT C R A Z Y. Natalie is ambitious and cold with a twisted way of thinking that does more harm than good. She carries her ambition out in a very conniving and calculated manner...meaning she will do whatever it takes to get whatever she wants. Lie. Cheat. Steal. In fact the word evil is what comes to mind when I think of her.

“There’s only a fine line between truth and deception. Whatever people buy is the truth. That’s what I say.”
  - Natalie
Do you see what I was dealing with here and that was only the tip of the ice berg.

Philip is Natalie’s boyfriend things between them are slightly confusing and only becomes clearer as you read on. Actually, now that I think about it her entire story line only becomes clearer as you read on. Readers are given bits and pieces of info as the story progresses because of this my first impression when I started reading the book was a big “WTF is going”.

 Natalie’s younger sister Julia is her opposite. As opposites the two do not get along well though not for lack of trying on Julia’s part. Julia is kind hearted, warm, a bit shy and somewhat innocent. Everything Natalie is not. Julia wants to be a film maker and she’s currently on a mission to learn about her Grandmothers time spent at a place called Block 24 during the Second World War. She sets off to Brooklyn to film the story and this is where I became completely engrossed.

What readers should know: It honestly felt like I was reading two different books as the story goes back and forth from past to present. Sisters Natalie and Julia’s story is the present; Adina and Avigail’s past are woven in as Adina tells it to Julia.

photo BLOCK24COLLAGE1final_zps1fb6890f.jpg
photo block24quotes2_zpsabc2b3cc.jpg

War - Tragedy
Adina and Avigail Mortkowicz are separated from their mother one early August morning in 1944 Poland, when German troops invade their home and remove them. Their destination is Auschwitz though they do not know this at the time. Adina is the oldest at 17 and Avi is younger age 14; the girls vow to stick together no matter what.

“Look out for me. And I will look out for you. We can’t let the SS tear us apart. I need you to swear to me that the only way we'll be parted is by death.” Avi nodded, another wave of tears rising.
Along the way the sisters see a dear friend Jackob Adler.

Jackob is a character I will never forget, he will always be with me. He is one of three men in this story that will stay with me…FOREVER.

Jackob was one of many sons not the oldest not the youngest but definitely the smartest. He is very intelligent and considered to be a genius. He wears his heart on his sleeve. Even as I type my eyes fill with tears because I cannot remember the last time someone wrote a character that hit me so hard in the feels. His will to survive as his humanity was stripped from him BROKE. MY. HEART.

photo righttinthefeels_zpsf438d78d.gif

LOVE
At Auschwitz the sisters are put to work but no sooner than they arrive are they chosen to be moved to Block 24, a brothel for prisoners and SS soldiers.

photo block24quotepic_zpsd8169fec.jpg

 During their time at Block 24 Adina and Avigail both fall in love with an SS soldier named Hans.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH HANS!
Hans is the second character in this book that is tattooed on my heart and is one I will NEVER forget.

“I'll pray that God looks over your sister. And over you. But you probably need less prayers than you think. The prisoners and soldiers don’t really want to hurt the girls. Trust me when I say that we men need you women more than you know. We need you for survival.” He smiled shyly. “I’m sure you’ve seen what savage animals we can be.”
“Yes, I have,” Adina responded, nearly smiling back. “And you may be an animal as well, but I suppose you haven’t shown me your bite yet.”
He smiled wider. “I save my bite for my enemies. You don’t have an enemy in me.”

Hans does everything he can to protect Adina and Avi knowing he is risking his own life by doing so.

HATE
Natalie hates herself and EVERYONE. Actions speak volumes and hers scream hate. She is very complicated, even with all the things I learn about her throughout the book I am still not sure where the hell all that evil came from. Her mean and selfish ways began in her youth and continued in to her adulthood without correction.  She seems to care for no one not her mother, not her sister, not even her man.

‘Natalie had gone through a metamorphosis. Caterpillars were supposed to enter the cocoon and emerge a butterfly. Yet, shy, pre-teen Natalie had gone through cocoon of puberty and come out a scorpion. Julia had marked the stages of Natalie’s evolution.’

The only person Natalie seems to care for is Guy, her best friend. Only I found myself questioning her love for Guy at one point too. Nat had some deep rooted issues. She was hiding her true self by putting on a front for others to see. It took Philip time to realize who Nat was and that she struggled to love herself.

‘There weren't enough compliments or professions of devotion to satisfy women like Natalie Clarke. Moreover, he knew that nobody could remove the mask of steel from a woman except the woman herself.’   -Philip

photo Block24collage2final_zpsa77db70d.jpg
photo block24quotepic2final_zpsef782499.jpg

My Thoughts
There is not a set structure to this book...not really. The writing style alone changes as you go from present to past. I’m curious if the author wrote it separate then combined or what because…WOW..just WOW. It’s really fascinating how you go from the chaotic hot mess of a mind that is Natalie to the pain filled journey recalled by Adina, to the sweet yet a little sad hearted mind that is Julia. Wish we could have gotten a bit more Julia and a lot less Natalie though, can’t even lie that chick drove me bonkers.

I cannot conclude this review without mentioning Wix Williams we get a small piece of the man he was and I would have liked to get more. He is another unforgettable character.

‘He made her forget her days in Auschwitz, serving her with kind words, touching her with gentleness, asking nothing of her but to be happy.’   -Adina’s thoughts on Wix

Special thanks to Evan Tyler for allowing me to meet the characters in Block 24!

My Ratings
Characters- Lovable, Sweet and Unforgettable
Writing Style- Different, not my usual, had no formula to it and I still enjoyed it
Plot/Storyline- Two stories of sisters from different generations one the present the other the past we journey through war, hate, love and tragedy
Steam Factor- Low/ Low on steam on a scale of 1-10 I say 4
Overall- WOW!!!! I enjoyed it!!!
My Recommendation: Read it!!

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it!
*Copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest *






|  GOODREADS PAGE  |  AUTHOR WEBSITE  |    




Posted by at 1 comment:

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Review: Moore than Forever (Needing Moore #3) by Julie A. Richman

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18659841-moore-than-forever
 
 
"You have no idea of what you do to me, Baby Girl."
"It's smoochal."

Is the love they always dreamed of enough?

Continuing the emotional journey of love and betrayal that began on a college campus in Searching for Moore and turned their worlds upside down in Moore to Lose, handsome, California entrepreneur Schooner Moore and sharp and sassy, New York advertising agency owner Mia Silver continue to be confronted with the harsh reality of the remnants from the lives they lived apart for 24 years.

Now, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver face the ultimate challenge - were they really meant to be together or will their pasts continue to tear them apart?

On the heels of the birth of their newborn son, Nathaniel, Schooner and Mia must decide if their love and loyalty to one another is strong enough to learn to grow together as a couple or if the life they always dreamed of sharing was better left as a teenage fantasy.


This is the third and final book in the Needing Moore Series and is not meant to be read as a stand alone. Book 1 - Searching for Moore and Book 2 - Moore to Lose should be read prior to reading Moore than Forever.
 
 

The highly anticipated conclusion to Mia and Schooner's story picks up where it left off at the end of Moore to Lose.  Mia is in labour, 7 weeks early and Schooner is at CJ's place sorting out his son Zach.
 
Mia was reeling from the fact that Schooner had been away so long, leaving her to stay with his ex-wife and son.  Once again CJ has manipulated him into making a choice and he chose to leave Mia - again.  It's not as cut and dry as that though.  Schooner loves his kids and will do anything to them.  Zach needs his father so Schooner is there for him.  That's all there is to it but Mia doesn't see it from his point of view.
Once Schooner returns to Mia's side there is a lot they need to sort out if they really see a future together. 
 
This story then moves to Zambia, the place where Schooner went when Mia left him 24 years ago in college.  I was not expecting this diversion into Africa but it was a really important part of this story. 
 
Schooner as a father just makes me swoon, he loves his kids.  Above all of that though, he loves Mia with everything he is.  She brings the best out of him and she is a natural nuturer and mother.
 
There is a lot of emotion is this final instalment and even Zach grows up a little bit.  I loved the interaction between Zach and baby Nathaniel, so cute.  This was a nice ending to a great series.
 
And if you still want 'Moore', Julie has announced she is writing a new story called Bad Son Rising which will be Zach's story :)
 
Reading order:
Searching for Moore (#1)
Moore to Lose (#2)
Needing Moore (#3)
I give this 4 stars
 
 
Amazon:

B&N:
 
 
Website:
 
Twitter:
 
Facebook:
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:

Review: Death of a Rock Star by N. J. Frost

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18713426-death-of-a-rock-star
 
 
This book is intended for a mature audience 18+
It contains strong language, sex and references to drug use.

“Troubled rock star Jamie Grimes was found dead at his London home earlier today.”

So there you have it. Jamie is dead… and it's no surprise.
A victim of his addictions - his love of drugs and his love for her.

Sylvie Smith isn’t just any girl.
She was my best friend’s girl.
No, not just his girl, she was his downfall.
She’s the last woman on earth I should want,
but the instant I set eyes on her I know.
She will be my downfall too…

Thrown together in the aftermath of Jamie’s death, Blake and Sylvie's worlds are set to collide. Are they a disaster waiting to happen or an epic love story about to begin?

Find out in this prequel novella to THE BOY IN THE BAND.
 
 

This is a prequel novella to an upcoming book called The Boy in the Band.
Wow, this is how you write a prequel, it hooked me from page one and now I can't wait to read more.
Blake is a recovering addict and plays in a band.  He gets the call he almost expected to receive one day, Jamie is dead.  His best friend.
Sylvie was Jamie's girlfriend, not a loyal girlfriend, she spread her 'love' around to plenty of other guys, especially boy band guys.  She works for an indie music label in London.
Sylvie and Blake have never met but he has heard a lot about her from Jamie.  Blake finally comes face to face with Sylvie after Jamie's funeral, she is drunk and will never remember meeting him this night but Blake is completely captivated with her.
"She's like a fucking homing beacon to me.  I'm drawn to her against my will, against all reason.  It's such a fucking cliche." - Blake
He now understands why Jamie was so addicted to her, how she could have destroyed him.  Blake wants her but he hates her too.  He will not give into his desire out of loyalty to Jamie.  Or will he?
 
"But the dark rogue part of my heart whispers, fuck it, I couldn't think of a more beautiful way to fall..." - Jamie
 
This prequel is filled with so much sadness, hurt, passion and angst that you just know The Boy in The Band is going to consume you.
 
I give this book 5 stars.
 
Amazon:
 
 
Facebook:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Review: Room For You by Beth Ehemann

Add to Goodreads:
 
 
Four years ago, my dreams were shattered in an instant.

I tried to pick up the pieces and glue them back together the best I knew how, but something was always missing.

A father for my two girls.

But then, Brody Murphy landed on my doorstep, literally. He was a carefree, playful hockey player who barged into my life and messed with my head. He left me more confused than I had ever been.

What if the one thing I thought I needed was the only thing holding me back?
 
 
This was a great surprise to read.  I bought it on a whim and really enjoyed it.
The first thing that hooked me in was that it was a second chance at love story.  The other draw card was that there were cute little girls as well.  I also loved that the main characters were not new adult, they had a bit of life experience already :)
Kacie has two cute little twin girls and lives with her mum at the Cranberry Inn.  Her mum owns the inn so it's like a bed and breakfast place.  Her boyfriend left her when the girls were still babies and she has been raising them alone, with the help of her mum of course.  She works, is studying and has a really busy life, no time for dating at all.
Brody Murphy is a well known NHL Hockey star.  He is freaking gorgeous and is a woman magnet.  What I loved the most about him is that he loves his mum :)  Any guy who loves his mum is a keeper because it shows that he respects women :)
A weather bomb lands and over 12 hours the Inn slowly fills up with guests who are stranded and need a bed for the night.  The last person to show up is Brody and his dog Diesel, there is no spare bed but he happily takes the sofa by the fire.
There is instant attraction between Kacie and Brody - and then there are the girls, nicknamed the 'Twinkies' by Brody, the interaction between Lucy, Piper and Brody is so damn cute!
Brody ends up staying for two nights and he forms a special connection Kacie that he wants to explore.  Kacie is wary of pursuing anything with him because she doesn't get why someone like him would want someone like her.  She feels like she is damaged from her previous relationship, she feels scarred.
"I know, but the thing about scars, Kacie, over time they fade and get smaller.  It's time for yours to disappear." - Brody
She decides to take a chance on Brody but there is always this underlying worry that he could leave her and be with someone more glamorous and she is worried that if the girls get attached to him that all three of them will be heartbroken if he decided to walk away from them all.  Kacie doesn't think she is what he really wants.  Can Brody show her how much they deserve to be happy together before she runs away from him to protect her 'safe' way of life?
I love stories like this because it shows that there is someone out there for everyone and it's okay to chance.  It also shows the true reality of single parenting and dating someone who has children.
Favourite quote:
"You've made me realise I want more.  I want everything, and I want it with you" - Brody
Really sweet story and very easy to read :)
I give this 4 twinkie stars.
 
Amazon:
 
B&N:
 
 
Facebook:
 
Twitter:
 
 
 



 
 
 
Posted by at No comments:

Review: Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

Add to Goodreads:
 
 
When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.

Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. The first three books in the series need not be read to enjoy this book. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
 

Every once in a while you find a book that completely captivates and consumes you and this book was that for me.
 
Mia Sheridan is a very talented story teller and I was hooked from the first chapter.
 
Bree Prescott is  wanting to get away from everything, her friends, her city and the memories that haunt her every day.  She will never forget the day her father was murdered right in front of her and face of the man that killed him.  She finds a small town in Maine, beside the lake and moves into a cottage with her dog.  She finds the people to be really friendly and soon finds a waitressing job.
 
In her first couple of days she meets Archer Hale.  He is dressed a bit shabby looking, has long uncut hair and a lot of facial hair.  Underneath all of that though she notices his beautiful eyes.  He helps her pick up her shopping after she drops it all over the footpath.  She tries to strike up a conversation with him but he says nothing and walks away.
 
Bree is intrigued by Archer and begins to ask around about him.  She soon learns that he someone that most people in the town steer clear of as they fear him/don’t know him. 
 
Bree regularly passes by his house on her way to her favourite spot by the lake and once day her mischievous dog runs through Archer’s open gate so she follows him in. Thus begins her friendship with Archer Hale.  He is not someone to be feared at all, he is a kind and sweet man.  He has no voice box so can’t talk but has no problem communicating with Bree.
 
This is the story of the awakening of Archer Hale and Bree is the perfect person to bring him back into the light.
 
I absolutely love this story, I laughed, cried and then cried some more. It was just beautiful to read J
 
I give this 5+ stars
 
 
Amazon:
 
 
Website:
 
Facebook:
 
 
 
 
 



 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)