Sy reviews: LEAD by Kylie Scott

Title: Lead
Series: Stage Dive #
Author: Kylie Scott

As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it's booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble. 　

Lena's not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

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~REVIEW~

Who would want to read a story about a bad boy? Who would want to read a story of a bad boy rock star? Now, who would want to read a story about how a bad boy rock star gets tamed? Me! Me! Me!

Nothing hurt quite like an unrequited love. And that's exactly how the story of Lena and Jimmy revolved in Lead.

Lena is like a breath of fresh air as a heroine. She has great wits, sense of humor, and I love how she is not perfect in height or in size but her uber great personality makes up for it and then some. Of course, you gotta admire her for taming the beast too.

James Dylan Ferris. Now that seemed like a name of person with heartbreak written all over him. Heck, he not only hurt Lena, he broke my heart too! I kid you not, I still feel my heart ache until now during that one particular scene. And believe me, as a self-declared masochist and sucker for all things "book heartaches", there are still very few authors who have made me feel like my heart is slowly being ripped into pieces. But Kylie did exactly that.

I'm not sure if it's wrong to say this but at some point while reading this book, I told myself rock star stories should not make me feel this much. It should not give me that feeling where I had to take a moment and take deep breaths because suddenly everything is just too much. Then I remembered feeling something similar in Lick. Then in Play. Then I realized that I guess Kylie Scott is a genius if she made me feel this much in three of her books already.

I love how Lead has shown me the uglies and the beauties of a rock star's life-how someone can get out of the gutter if he really put his mind to it. How the support of loved ones can make a person more determined. How hot Jimmy Ferris is and how crazier Mal has gotten. Haha!

~PLAYLIST~

Here's my Lead playlist:

Nine Days - Absolutely (Story of a Girl)
Coldplay - In My Place
John Legend - You and I (Nobody in the World

John Legend - This Time

I think John Legend's song is the perfect song for Jimmy to sing to Lena. The line "out of all the girls, you're my one and only girl ain't nobody in the world tonight" made me remember all the times he and Lena had tv nights and how they're like living in their own bubble in that place.

This Time is my Jimmy's song to woo Lena. I seriously think that he could've just sang this song to Lena and she would've forgiven her in a heartbeat. Well, maybe not but you know, this would've given him so much headway. ;)

Rating:

PLATINUM RECORD

About the Author

Kylie is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Contact her at kylie@kylie-scott.com

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Sy reviews: UGLY LOVE by Colleen Hoover

Title: Ugly Love
Author: Colleen Hoover

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her. Never ask about the past. Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

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~REVIEW~

I wonder why Colleen Hoover would put her readers through more than 60% of the time feeling frustrated and angry and hurt and heartbroken with this book. Did she stop with Maybe Someday? No. She has to write Ugly Love and torture us again. Sadist much?

I just read Ugly Love and I loved it. And I hated it. And then I loved it again. At first I love the dual POV in this story. But that didn't last long. I ended up just loving Tate's POV and found myself bracing for a world of pain and hurt reading Miles's POV.

Tate. I like Tate. I like how she was hopeful in the face of hopelessness. I love a heroine who knows when to fight for what she wants and when to stop.

Miles. God, Miles. I'm still torn about his character even if he redeemed himself in the end. Reading Miles's POV and past is like watching a train wreck. It's like watching closely a person make one bad decision right after another.

I was really conflicted with this book and whether I hate it or love it. I was so conflicted that it came to the point where I questioned myself if I should start basing my rating of a book on the number of times it made me swoon and fall in love with the characters, the number of times I highlight certain parts of the book or the life lessons it taught me. This book did not make me swoon and fall in love with the characters. This book never really taught me life lessons or words to live by. Hardly. I did highlight a lot of lines from this book though.

I decided to just simply rate the book based on what and how it made me feel. How strongly it made me feel throughout the whole time I was reading it. Sure, most of the time I had the urge to drink some hard liquor while reading this book just to help me get through all the heart ache that eats at me chapter after chapter of this book but I guess that's why I still loved it in the end. Because it made me hate it just as much as I love it.

And yes, this is a story about love. This is a story of how ugly love can become. How painful it can hurt. This is also a story of how love can be beautiful and how all the heart aches and pains are worth it because in the end, after everything people go through, when they find love those beautiful moments of love make up for all the uglies. So thank you, Colleen for reminding us of that. And thank you for still giving me an ending I loved. Even if the journey to that last page was a slow torture. Haha!

~PLAYLIST~

Here's my Ugly Love playlist:

Ed Sheeran - Photograph
Demi Lovato - Fix A Heart
Christina Aguilera - Hurt
James Morrison - You Make It Real
Ray LaMontagne - You Are The Best Thing

Paolo Nutini - Last Request

Rating:

PLATINUM RECORD

About the Author

She loves music. LOVE music. Namely The Avett Brothers, Lumineers, Pink, Eminem. She has eclectic taste? If you have any recommendations, send them her way! She's addicted to diet pepsi and could tell you in a taste-test which restaurant it came from. It's a serious addiction. She gets stoked whenever she gets a message from goodreads saying she has a new friend request... If you want to know when she has new books out or just want to be inundated by random, pointless blog posts, stalk her!

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Sy reviews: BEFORE JAMAICA LANE by Samantha Young

Title: Before Jamaica Lane
Series: On Dublin Street #3
Author: Samantha Young

One simple lesson in seduction between two friends can turn into so much more…

Despite her outgoing demeanor, Olivia is painfully insecure around the opposite sex—usually, she can’t get up the nerve to approach guys she’s interested in. But moving to Edinburgh has given her a new start, and, after she develops a crush on a sexy postgrad, she decides it’s time to push past her fears and go after what she wants.

Nate Sawyer is a gorgeous player who never commits, but to his close friends, he’s as loyal as they come. So when Olivia turns to him with her relationship woes, he offers to instruct her in the art of flirting and to help her become more sexually confident.

The friendly education in seduction soon grows into an intense and hot romance. But then Nate’s past and commitment issues rear their ugly heads, and Olivia is left broken-hearted. When Nate realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he will have to work harder than he ever has before to entice his best friend into falling back in love with him—or he may lose her forever…

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~Review~

A certified manwhore and a girl with insecurities. Put them together and you got a recipe for a sweet love story with just enough heart ache.

I have started to read this series last year but only got to pick up Before Jamaica Lane today to get me out of a book slump. I almost forgot how in love I have been with this series and reading Before Jamaica Lane and being reunited with these characters reminded me of that.

Lately, I have been dreaming (okay fine fantasizing) about book characters with alpha male badassery attitude. And believe me, I always find that hot. Now Nate, he may not be the alpha male I've been reading lately but boy that man still managed to sweep me off my feet with his wits and charm and well, his handsome and hotness glory. There's just something about his character that makes you want to cheer for him even if he's a manwhore. I guess it's because he's also sweet and kind when it matters.

Olivia, I guess every girl can relate to her. I think at one point in every girl's life she struggles with insecurities to the point of almost breaking her. And I think Olivia is also every girl's hero. I admire how she's brave enough to do something about battling these insecurities and I think girls would pick up a thing or two from her.

Before Jamaica Lane is that kind of love story that slowly builds up and blooms in the end. It's not even just the story of the main characters. I love how every story from these series have all these great sideline stories excellently and strongly written to prepare you for the next one.

~Playlist~

Here's my Knight playlist:

Taylor Swift - Sparks Fly
Ed Sheeran - I'm A Mess
Casey James - Don't

Rating:

DIAMOND RECORD

About the Author

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She's been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET. ON DUBLIN STREET is Samantha's first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in twenty-seven countries.

For more info on Samantha's adult fiction visit http://www.ondublinstreet.com. For info on her young adult fiction visit www.samanthayoungbooks.com

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Sy reviews: KNIGHT by Kristen Ashley

Title: Knight
Series: Unfinished Hero #1
Author: Kristen Ashley

Anya Gage has learned that to get anything good in life, you have to work for it. She has no expectations, no dreams.

Then she finds herself at a party where she doesn’t want to be and she meets Knight.

Knight Sebring knows who he is, what he wants and what he likes. And he gets it. But he never expected something as sweet as Anya Gage to wander into his bedroom during a party he did not expect to be having to borrow his phone.

Knight tries to leave Anya to the life she deserves of white picket fences and a man who watches football on Sundays – good, normal and clean. But when Anya comes to his nightclub and finds herself in a situation, he knows someone has to look after her, he can’t fight it anymore and he decides that man will be him.

Knight teaches Anya that, just as with the bad, in life you should also expect the good. And he teaches her this by giving it to her.

But Knight has a dark past and just as he desires Anya for exactly who she is, he fears when she finds out exactly the man he has become and always intends to be, she’ll leave him for good, normal and clean.

WARNING: This book is an ADULT EROTIC romance featuring an anti-hero. This novel contains explicit sex scenes and language. The hero in this novel lives a life by his own code with no apologies. He is not your "normal" hero. If you do not enjoy the above, this novel may not be for you.

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~Review~

I was a bad girl. A very very bad girl. I talked and judged this book too soon. Way too soon.

So I'm sure the whole universe knows by now how much I love and adore and love more KA's books and her alpha males. I was a little hesitant though to get started on Knight because I've been hearing more negative feedback over this than positive ones. Then one day, I decided to read it and guess what? I wasn't feeling it so I did not finish it. I guess that decision to not finish the book was also clouded by so many mixed reviews for that book.

As a KA fan and self-declared rock chick though, I feel some sort of an obligation to read all her books. So during one of those evil week-long book funk, I picked up Knight again and decided to give it another try. And I'm so glad I did.

Knight, I love Knight. He is utterly sweet and generous and controlling in a way that works for me. And if I'd usually get irritated at weak heroines, for some reason, Anya's submission to Knight almost immediately all the time works for me too. Now that is the the kind of opposites attract that I find beautiful and sweet.

So the "Daddy" thing maybe a little too much for me but I was willing to let that slide because there were other parts of the story that more than made up for it.

My favorite parts of the book? First was the end result of "Honey, you haven't even kissed me yet." I read that part a million times because it's just indescribably too swoon-worthy. Second, Knight's birthday. What he said was so touching I was in tears. Third, when Knight gave Anya a ring (it's not what you think) and he said some words that even if it's not what a girl wanted and have always dreamed of hearing from her man, it was so heartfelt that it's more than enough. Lastly, when Anya shared her "secret" on the last part of the book. That part right there, where not much words were said but how KA described the scene was too perfect again it left me in tears.

This is not just a Dominant-Submission kind of book. This is more of a story about love and accepting and loving a person for who they truly are and what they do and what they believed in even if it's against or opposite your beliefs. Knight may not be the conventional dream man every girl wishes to have. He may not be the ideal alpha male I was used to but when I got to know him, he has won me over. Knight may not be the kind of fairy tale I've always known but it's the kind of fairy tale that's real and for that I love it. So for those who rallied and almost bossed me to give Knight a second chance, thank you!

~Playlist~

Here's my Knight playlist:

Matt Nathanson - Run
Jason Walker - You Fill My Heart
Ron Pope - Perfect For Me

Rating:

DIAMOND RECORD

About the Author

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
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Sy reviews: PROMISED by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Title: Promised
Series: One Night #1
Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas

Livy notices him the moment he walks into the coffee shop. He's heart-stoppingly stunning, with a blue-eyed gaze so piercing she's almost too distracted to take his order. When he walks out the door, she thinks she'll never see him again. Then she finds the note he left on his napkin . . . signed M.

All he wants is one night to worship her. No feelings, no commitment, nothing but pleasure. Every defense mechanism Livy has adopted during her solitary life is at risk of being obliterated by this confounding man. He's obnoxious but well-mannered. He's a gentleman but aloof. He's passionate but emotionless. Yet the fascination is so powerful, Livy can't deny him... or herself.

M awakens something in Livy, something deep and addictive that she never knew existed -- and that she fears only he can satisfy. But she senses that behind the fast cars, fancy suits, and posh apartment, he's aching inside. To have him, body and soul, she'll have to brave his dark secrets. Delving into his world and breaking down his defenses become her obsession - an obsession that could shatter her heart beyond repair..

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~Review~

If you think this is another one of those dominant billionaire story, think again. It may seem like it is but I promise you it is not.

Promised started off with M being all rich and snob and cocky and of course hot and Livy being all sweet and kind and beautiful. M made a proposition to Livy which she eventually agreed on because really, she didn't have any choice. I mean, how could she have with someone like M?

This is a budding love story shrouded with mysteries and dark & secret pasts from both main characters. There are parts of the story that made me swoon, laugh, made my heart ache and made my ereader almost burst into flames.

As a lover of romance and steamy novels (did I really just say that? Haha! I did), it is rare to find a story that veers away from what is usually written and still make you, as a reader, feel full and satisfied. A good sign of a love story for me is if I get so sucked in with the story and the characters that it puts me in a trance for sometime. And Jodi Ellen Malpas did exactly that the whole time I was reading Promised.

This is an achingly beautiful yet twisted love story that's full of promise.

~Playlist~

Here's my Promised playlist:

Talking to the Moon - Bruno Mars
Regina Spektor - Samson
Uncle Kracker - You Make Me Smile
Gabrielle Aplin - Ready to Question

I just wanna say that when M showed Livy his paintings and they sat on the couch facing the London night sky and he told her that some nights he could sleep there, I think that was just beautiful in a very heartbreaking and sad and lonely way. And then Bruno Mars's Talking to the Moon has been playing in my head after that.

Rating:

PLATINUM RECORD

About the Author

Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her two boys. Working for her father’s construction business full time, she tried to ignore the lingering idea of writing until it became impossible. She wrote in secret for a long time before finally finding the courage to unleash her creative streak, and in October 2012 she released This Man. She took a chance on a story with some intense characters and sparked incredible reactions from women all over the world. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters have become her passion - a passion she now shares with her devoted readers. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Nikki reviews: PRINCE CHARMING by Sara Celi

Title: PRINCE CHARMING
Author: SARA CELI

School. Tests. Scholarships. Goals. 

Senior class overachiever Geoff Miller thought he had it all figured out. All he needed to do was make it through the next six months, graduate, and get on with his life. 

College at the University of Virginia beckoned him-- and he just wanted to put the last horrible four years at Heritage High School in the "done" folder. 

Geoff just didn't count on one thing: Laine Phillips. 

For years, Geoff crushed on Laine from afar. He didn't think she even knew he was alive. In fact, the obsession seemed to him like a distraction from an unhappy life in a snobby Greater Cincinnati suburb. 

Until the day that all changed. And when it did, this unlikely Prince Charming got a chance to make his move. 

This is a Mature Young Adult Romance. Not suitable for younger readers. Contains sexual references and profane language.

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~Review~

So I have been in a book and writing funk lately - okay fine, in a  life funk actually. Funking life. Lol. And I am really having a hard time finding books that would get me out of this crazy and not fun stage of being a bookworm. The sweet Mia Sheridan recommended this book on her page and so I gave it a chance...

Well, I shouldn't be less honest here right? When I saw the cover of Prince Charming I was like "Holy #^$#^%&*! Who is this guy?! Where does he live?! Why isn't he marrying me?! Wait, why isn't he my husband yet?!" I needed to get my butt into one-clicking mood. And so I did. Because of the recommendation. No really, because of the book cover. There's no one more perfect to be a prince charming but this guy on the cover. So very Geoff Miller.

Now, enough with the cover talk. I feel dehydrated because of all the drooling I'm doing every single time I see this cover. It's so damn perfect it should be illegal! Like seriously. 

PRINCE CHARMING - a nice, charming short read about a geeky guy. Did someone say GEEKY?! Oh boyyyy, I've always love me some geeky guys! They will always have a soft spot in my ever flirty heart. After I've seen the cover and found out on the blurb that this book is about a nerd and is solely told from the guys POV, the decision has been made: you can kiss my ass book funk.

Geoff Miller - our conflicted prince charming. Why do I say conflicted? It's not because he's a broken boy in this story - but it's mainly because of his character alone. When he's around his friends and step-brothers, he's all high and mighty, like everyone's below his IQ level. Maybe he's just conceited like that, or maybe he's just really tired of all the high school drama. But when he's around Laine, the insecurity switch is flipped on automatically, all confidence down the drain. At times Geoff was becoming a frustrating character, but a very believable one. I believe we've all gone through high school bullshit once in our lives and I for sure can say that there are more dramas in high school than we can ever imagine. Agree?

Another thing I loved about this book is the humor. I found myself literally laughing out loud in the middle of the night like I've gone nuts. I was actually afraid I'd wake up the neighborhood. I love the type of books that makes my heart flutter in a very light, teenage-ry way. With million of books released everyday since indie exploded, sometimes it could get tiring to read books with the same themes. Themes like let's-fuck-with-this-girl's-emotions-up or frustrate-the-hell-out-of-the-reader-until-she-throws-the-book-away or sometimes even themes where you actually question the existence of humanity. With me experiencing quarter-life crisis and all the shit that comes with it, I honestly don't need those types of book right now and I am so thankful I found PC. It was a breathe of fresh air! Hallelujah!

Prince Charming isn't exactly a trip down the memory lane but I could actually consider it as something like that of a throwback Thursday or a flashback Friday stuff. ;) It is very relatable because once in our lives, if not been, then we've known a Geoff or a Laine or an Evan during high school.

♥♥♥

~Playlist~

Here is my playlist for Prince Charming (sorry we don't have Spotify here in the Philippines!):

Treasure - Bruno Mars
All I Ever Wanted - Brian Melo
Kiss Me Slowly - Parachute
Must Have Done Something Right - Resilient K
She's So High - Tal Bachman
Love Is A Verb - John Mayer

Days after I finished reading PC, Treasure played on my phone while I was sound trippin', and guess who popped up to my mind? Yep, Prince Geoff. So I had no choice but to put this on top of the list. ;) I chose All I Ever Wanted as Geoff's other song for Laine because of the lines below that remind me of the scene in the hotel. And everyone who have read this book, come tell me this isn't the perfect song for that scene. ;)

"Slow down, make it last,

I'm having the time of my life.

And take a photograph,

I don't wanna leave this behind.

What seems so out of reach........"

Rating:

PLATINUM RECORD (plus a dime)

About the Author

New Orleans born Sara Celi has lived all over the United States. She calls the Greater Cincinnati area and the Queen City home.  She has spent more than a decade working in journalism and broadcasting, with jobs both on-air and off-air at TV stations in Louisiana, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Her work has appeared in numerous online publications, magazines and newspapers, and she is a contributing author to Chicken Soup For The Soul: The Power of Positive. Sara graduated cum laude from Western Kentucky University in 2004. In her spare time, she likes to read, shop, write, travel, run long distances, volunteer with the Junior League, and fund raise for Cooperative for Education, a non-profit providing educational opportunities for Guatemalan kids.

Author links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Sy reviews: ARCHER'S VOICE by Mia Sheridan

Title: Archer's Voice
Series: Sign of Love Novel
Author: Mia Sheridan

** A Sign of Love Novel based on Sagittarius **

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.

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Purchase from:

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~Review~

I feel like my heart is so ready to burst from too much emotion on this book. Like seriously, I think I'm going crazy. I feel like crying and smiling all at the same time. See? Crazy?!

This story and every emotion it has drawn from me was somewhat unexpected. I knew it was gonna be amazing. I knew it was gonna be deep. I just didn't know it was gonna be that amazing and that deep. If I'm not making any sense to you right now, pardon me, I'm still emotional after finishing Archer's Voice like 3 minutes ago.

This book has taken me on a roller coaster ride of emotion. One minute I was laughing, the next minute I was tearing up and the next I was hurting, my heart was hurting! What is it with Mia's men leaving to find themselves? Gosh, that was heartbreaking. Still, I loved how Archer has become a stronger and more confident man after he was gone. Also, can I just say that Bree's character was awesome. I mean, she wasn't weak at all and I love that for a heroine. I also admire how all characters in this story are so likeable. I mean, not Victoria, but everyone else. Even Travis! For some reason, I like Travis. Or perhaps that's just me and my thing for men in uniform, but hey, he came around in the end so all is well.

So here's the thing, I'm kinda emotional lately especially after reading this book so I may or may not have cried while writing these next words. I think Mia has great talent in creating these strong characters and in writing these stories that will surely tug at your heartstrings. I love how Archer's Voice is all about the underdog. How strong that underdog is and how stronger he even became towards the end. How everyone needs friends. How we can hear someone's pain and loneliness in silence. Most of all, I love how this story gave me hope.

~Playlist~

If you want to listen to Mia’s playlist, it’s here.

Here is my Archer playlist (sorry we don't have Spotify here in the Philippines!):

I Believe - Christina Perri
Demons - Imagine Dragons
You Fill My Heart - Jason Walker
Echo - Jason Walker

All these songs are my Archer song. Christina Perri's though could be my Bree song but I really wanna talk about Jason Walker's Echo. I'm not sure if I used this song on another review but when I listened to it again it was like I just had a come-to-Jesus talk and He told me that this is Archer's song. I could be over exaggerating here but just go listen. ;)

Rating:

PLATINUM RECORD (plus a nickel)

About the Author

Mia Sheridan is an avid reader, and now writer of romance and erotic novels. She live in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband who is a police officer and her biggest fan (not necessarily in that order). They have four children here on earth and one in heaven. When she's not sitting on her couch with her head buried in her Kindle, she can be found writing or doing anything creative from building a patio, to sewing pillows. The wild hairs she get know no bounds. She's the author of Sign of Love Series (Leo, Leo's Chance, Stinger and Archer's Voice).
Stalk her: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Nikki reviews: ARCHER'S VOICE by Mia Sheridan

Title: Archer's Voice
Series: Sign of Love Novel
Author: Mia Sheridan

** A Sign of Love Novel based on Sagittarius **

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.

Add on:

Purchase from:

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~Review~

My alternate rating (diverging from our blog's usual): “Endless and forever” stars 

I was so lucky enough to read Archer’s Voice in its rough draft. And finally, three weeks after reading it, I think I had enough time to collect whatever part of me is left and try to write a review for it. I said I’ll try. Don’t get your hopes up so high because I am not sure I’d be able to do this book justice. 

Mia blew me away together with those dandelion seeds and brought me to a magical place where Archer and Bree exist. I almost don’t want to go back... Their story opened my eyes more to all the possibilities of how true love should be. It strengthened my belief that love, indeed, is for all. No matter who you are, no matter what you are, no matter the shit you’ve gone through and who or what you’ve turned out to be, you deserve to love and be loved. 

You can say that Archer’s Voice is your typical romance novel: girl sees boy for the first time, gets intrigued, asks around, the first meeting, the butterfly-in-your-stomach scenes, the falling in love. Really, all that there is in a romance novel, you can find it in this book. But I kid you not, it is far – SO FAR – from being a typical love story. It defies whatever romance novel stereotype (if it even exists) there is today. And it transcends the usual stuff that we, romance sucker, are used to. It. Is. Different. But different in an exquisite way. 

Anyone who has been following my book reviews would know by now that since Leo’s days I’ve already been Mia’s fan. She captured me with her stories, this sweet story teller of mine. I don’t want to repeat myself over and over again so I just went back and re-read my review for Stinger because I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned there a million times how much I love Mia’s writing and I found out I said these things: 

"I wanted to say that Stinger is the story I’ve been waiting for my whole life to read but I don’t want to swallow my own words when Mia release another novel for the Sign of Love series, so yeah, I wouldn’t push my luck on that one because I believe in the gift of this woman, and I know for sure that she’ll continue to alter my bookworm universe for as long as she writes." 

And boy did she alter my world with Archer and Bree’s story. I am so, so ruined. But the kind of ruin I am so willing to submit myself for if it means I’d be able to experience this again. Sure I read tons of books in a year, but it is not everyday that I could stumble upon something as unique and as moving as Archer’s Voice. I am in awe, as always, with Mia’s ability to make a story that’s so exceptional it would leave you breathless and wanting for more.

With all the things I’ve said, I feel like I can sum up this review in a sentence; that Archer’s Voice IS a genre of its own and that MIA HAS WRITTEN A GAME CHANGER.

~Cast~

Also, I was lucky (again!) to be able to work with Mia in finding my representation of Archer and Bree and it wasn't an easy feat!!! I know we all have our own Archer and Bree in mind but this is what I have in mine.

 Ladies, meet my Archer and Bree.

~Playlist~

If you want to listen to Mia’s playlist, it’s here.

Here is my Archer playlist (sorry we don't have Spotify here in the Philippines!):

Come Back Down - Lifehouse
Find Yourself - Brad Paisely
Words I Couldn't Say - Leighton Meester
Forever - Rascal Flatts
Awake - Secondhand Serenade
All Eyes On Me - Goo Goo Dolls
Collide - Howie Day
Better Man - Robbie Williams

~Teasers~

Some teasers I did for Archer. I enjoyed doing this! ❤❤❤

About the Author

Mia Sheridan is an avid reader, and now writer of romance and erotic novels. She live in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband who is a police officer and her biggest fan (not necessarily in that order). They have four children here on earth and one in heaven. When she's not sitting on her couch with her head buried in her Kindle, she can be found writing or doing anything creative from building a patio, to sewing pillows. The wild hairs she get know no bounds. She's the author of Sign of Love Series (Leo, Leo's Chance, Stinger and Archer's Voice).
Stalk her: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Sy reviews: THREE BROKEN PROMISES by Monica Murphy

Title: Three Broken Promises
Series: Drew + Fable #3
Author: Monica Murphy

Genre: NA/Contemporary Romance

~Synopsis~

Commitment. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life.

I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.

Add on:

Purchase from:

Amazon | B&N | TBD | Kobo

~Review~

 

Greetings of peace and love and joy!

Are you weirded out by that greeting? Me too. I just remembered that's how our school letters always begin. Hehehe.

Anyway, here's my 3-star review of Monica Murphy's Three Broken Promises. And I'm so sad I couldn't rate it any higher than that. *sighs* Oh well.

I was pretty excited when I got an ARC of this book. I'm a huge fan of Monica Murphy's One Week Girlfriend series and when Jen & Colin were introduced in Second Chance Boyfriend, I was dying to hear their story.

If you are the happy ever after kind of reader then this book is for you. I am a happy ever after kind of reader too. It's just that this story fell short for me. I guess I was looking for a little more challenge and issue between Jen and Colin's love story. I think some of their fights here were not that necessary.

Let me tell you though that Monica Murphy did not disappoint when it comes to writing the sexy scenes. Hee hee. I'm just gonna come out and say here that those were some of my favorite parts of the book. Okay, no judging now. I'm sure you liked them too. Haha! Having said that, I think there were more sexy scenes in this book than deemed necessary. Hey, not that I'm complaining or anything. It's just that I think it was just more than what it should have been.

If there's anything I really love about this book, it's how I felt Jen's sadness and pain. I think the real story, and everything really started to get interesting for me was when Colin found out what Jen had done in the past. And I guess the masochist in me is rejoicing when I got to that part when Jen left. Like I said, I'm a masochist, I get my kicks at these things.

So again, if you're a happy ever after kind of reader that does not really want to be so stressed out with how the characters in the books they're reading are doing, then this book is for you. The ending of this book is so good, by the way, it left me feeling warm and fluffy with love. :)

Here's my Three Broken Promises playlist:

I Never Told You - Colbie Caillat
Impossible - James Arthur
Clarity (acoustic) - Zedd

~Playlist~

I Never Told You is my song for Jen and Colin. How they both are too stubborn (borderline stupid hehe) to not tell one another what they truly feel. Impossible is my song for Colin. This is because Jen can really break his heart without her knowing it. Clarity-when I first heard that Monica Murphy is writing a story about Jen & Colin and I heard this song, I told myself (and I think I tweeted her this too) that this is my Jen & Colin song. There are other books that I almost put this song to as part of my book playlist for reviews but I kinda have grown an attachment to pairing this song and this book. Plus, I think the chorus speaks to Jen and Colin too.

Rating:

  GOLD RECORD

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series. She writes new adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as Karen Erickson. A native Californian, she lives in the foothills below Yosemite. I'm a wife, and a mom. A believer in kissing. A believer of love.

Find Monica online: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook