Clean Lines (Cedar Tree #4) by Freya Barker @freya_barker

Freya Barker really took me on a unique ride this time. I can honestly say that it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t always a feel good thing either. From the history of these characters though,  I knew it was going to be some angst before the goodness.  Joe screwed up.  That’s all there is too it. He started something with Naomi and didn’t finish things that were “hanging” . One crazy ex and some time apart  ..and now Joe is right there again and thankfully Naomi was more receptive to let Joe clear the air. I don’t condone what Joe did in the beginning at all. I actually really hate anything that is close to cheating. The fact is ..he should have handled it differently.  So I feel like in some ways Joe deserved the cold shoulder from Naomi and he needed to man up and get things right this time.  Did Joe come through?  Yes he did, and I loved him. But it took some time to get there. I actually found some moments that Joe caused with his actions hard to take.  But Freya had a graceful way of clearing the air and making things better. I held on for the ride and really loved how much the characters grew and learned to trust each other. I’d have liked less crazy ex drama but I’m a romantic sap and that’s just on me.  There were some pretty suspenseful times and I wasn't expecting a lot of what happened. I really loved the previous books because there wasn’t any third parties to cause relationship angst.  But even though this story went a different direction I did feel like Joe and Naomi belonged together , they just had to fight a little harder then most to get to their HEA.  Freya had a way moving the characters towards  healing and redemption that is very important to me. Freya said it best, Real people that aren't perfect but still deserve epic love stories ..well those stories are sometimes harder to tell but still just as wonderful. The star of this book for me though was Fox. I adored this kid. I just did. I also can’t wait till I get to read Neil’s story. That guy is just right there in the forefront of my mind and his story is just one I really want. Even though I wasn't always in my comfort zone reading this sexy love story, Freya proved her brilliance with how she carried me through and kept me engaged, hopeful and faithful that she'd bring me down easy. Easy she did. Freya always gives me interesting characters and love stories I  believe in and that was still the truth for Clean Lines .

The Eden Trilogy by Georgia Le Carre @GeorgiaLeCarre

The Eden Trilogy swept me away and kept me riveted. I was captured by the instant attraction and then sucked into a passionate sexy mystery that Georgia is the master of penning. Jake Eden was phenomenal . I loved him from the first encounter. I felt that knowing this author like I do that she’d take a rough and even at times a jerk of a hero and turn him into one that would steal my heart. I was right. I felt the connection Lily felt was so intense and immediate.  I have never simply looked at a man and hungered to have him inside my body.   The chemistry of these two people was simply explosive and electric. I literally felt it..as if it was a current.  The kiss is possessive and demanding.  It is nothing like the other. This one is pure punishment. With this one he is branding me. Putting his seal of ownership on me.    In each installment layers were peeled back and more of the background of these awesome characters were revealed. I was on the edge of my seat at the end of books 1 and 2 and was eagerly awaiting the conclusion. Georgia gave me exactly what I wanted and I adored every second. From the added surprise of extra points of view from secondary and exciting characters to the constant electric feel of the suspenseful action I didn’t want to put this down. This author is beyond amazing at adding such depth of emotion in even the smallest scenes that you are left thinking about them for days. This is what I crave in my romance. Feelings and ..feelings are what Georgia brings out every single time.

Fracture by Amanda K. Byrne @AmandaKByrne

This was a suspenseful read and was at times so terrifying that I was holding my breath. I know that this was supposed to be a romance but the love story really didn't develop as much as the survival story took up so many pages. More about a girl who was knocked down but not out and a man who showed a few moments of kindness that helped shock her back into living. There were no romantic or sweet times. There wasn't many moments of tenderness. Mostly two people in an a very volatile situation trying to take what they could from each other to keep reminding themselves they were alive. Then choices had to be made that tied them together even harder than before. Extreme lack of communication led to even more pain and sadness. Then I finally see something maybe real from Declan and it ended. While this was written in a very intense and passionate way I really wish I could have had more of a love story. There was never any real change from Declan and I wanted inside his head. I'm very curious to read more from this author in maybe a different less intense backdrop and in more of a romantic type story. I can see she is a very creative and emotional writer so even with the parts that were lacking I saw greatness in the parts that were there. Because if I'd have been reading a thriller or survival story she really has an amazing way of setting up scenes. So I'm rating this 4 stars for the suspense and danger.

The Friend Zone (Game On #2) by Kristen Callihan - @Kris10Callihan

To say that I was excited for this book to come out would be an understatement.  I loved The Hook Up so much that it literally put me into a major book hangover for days. I thought about Drew Baylor every day and wanted more. I was so intrigued by Grey because this guy was like just the fun one, the one who you’d think would never take anything seriously. Then there were glimpses in Drew and Anna’s story that made me think there is something there that I want to know more about.  So that brings me to The Friend Zone and it started with the sassiest and even sexiest friendly yet flirty banter via text message.  I thought yes this is so cute and funny and I just can’t wait for them to meet.  So the friendship started and immediately I fell in love with Grey and the main reason was that he never even thought to look or touch another girl once he started texting Ivy. Yep playboy was no longer playing. I adored their conversations and I was on the edge of my seat with the anticipation of when they’d confess their feelings. I was starting to get a little bit desperate and then YES  ..friendship that really was the sweetest courting I’ve ever seen turned into a passionate love story and I was hooked. Grey was perfect, I loved him even when he would stick his foot in his mouth he still had my heart. This guy didn't have a very good example of how to love a woman but when he did it, he did it right. There was only one downside to my whole reading experience and that the book took a turn that dealt with a major trigger of mine on a personal note and that did detract from my love more than I would have wanted. But all in all I enjoyed how it ended and can’t wait for more from Kristen. But until then I’m still claiming to be the #1BattleBaylorFan and Grey ..you really amazed me.

Last Kiss (Hitman #3) by Jessica Clare & Jen Frederick @_JessicaClare @JenSFred

The Hitman series by far is in my top favorite series of all time. This duo of authors has captivated me and seduced me with Heroes that are imperfectly perfect and extraordinarily layered in so many ways. The heroines all have bravery and loyalty but most of all the ability to see past the hard exterior to the warrior inside and the man that loves beyond reason.   From mystery to passion this series has it all. But most of all Love stories that will at times have you gasping for air while others you are wanting to jump in and fight with these couples to find that HEA that seems right in front of them.       This installment has been on my mind since the characters were introduced. Vasily and Naomi were the most unique couple that I have ever read. I have read a lot and that is saying something. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this romance as I couldn't get a really good feeling in the previous books of how Naomi connected with those around her. I wasn't sure if I'd feel like she was being taken advantage of ..but I learned that she was totally aware of everything and everybody around her, she just chose to interact with who and what she wanted to. What really made this into a beautiful love story was that Naomi couldn't block out Vasily like she was able to do to other people ..she couldn't NOT react to Vasily. It's like from the beginning they connected on an almost cellular level. There was a whole truck load of mystery, action and suspense in this thrill ride. While I was being swept away on this crazy journey I also saw two people peel back layers and layers of thick protective walls and fall deeply in love. Neither Vasily or Naomi had one moment of wanting the other to change anything about themselves. I loved that Vasily accepted Naomi 100%. Anything he did was in protection of her. And when he protected her ..it was in the most possessive manner ever. He was totally 100% Grade A Alpha Male!      Also  when he messed up by accident he always made it right. This hard as steel man who didn't let anyone close couldn't stop from letting this vibrant and extraordinary woman climb into his heart.     She is my everything.  The beginning of the day and the end of it.   There were some difficult scenes to read in this book that would be triggers for a lot of people. Things that prove there is some real evil people in this world. Sometimes you gotta be a little bad to fight that evil. In this respect Vasily was the perfect bad guy that was good enough to make a difference. I am so happy to have finally enjoyed their love story and can't wait for the next one.