My Review: Sometimes It Last by Abbi Glines

From Goodreads:
Cage York has to choose between a love of the game and a love of the girl in this sultry Sea Breeze novel from New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines.

After waiting for his big break, bad boy Cage York is finally called up to prove his worth in the college baseball arena. But when Cage’s girlfriend, Eva, mourns the sudden loss of her father, it’s not Cage’s comforting arms she runs to, but those of her former fiancé’s twin brother, Jeremy.

Torn between his baseball dream and the girl of his dreams, Cage must prove he’s worthy of Eva’s love, or risk losing her to Jeremy forever.

                                    My Thoughts:

    So, I'm really doing this Abbi Glines Marathon? With her amazing Sea Breeze Series?  Yes I am! I am beating my Goodreads'  reading challenge this year... I've set 80 books  and I'm on my 100th right now! It feels so good and better yet this book from Ms. Glines made it to my 100th!

   I always loved Cage York the moment I got to know him from While it Last . He was a changed man after meeting the lovely Eva Brooks. Their relationship stood strong against all the odds. Eva choose Cage even if the world seems to disapproved but mostly her Daddy. I thought their story ended but I was beautifully surprised..because dear readers, this book is , again about Cage and Eva! It's like a Bonus chapter at the end of the book, but only this time,  it was longer! ( A book! ) So, what this makes me???     Happy, happy me!

    Ooooh! The Prologue really got me ! Eva was .....???? And how come she's with Jeremy?? Am I missing something important here?! Something was terribly, terribly wrong!

     As I read through, I can't help but to feel my heart about to crush. Cage crying over Eva? No..no..no!!! What did Cage do this time? Yes, that's my initial thought : It was Cage fault. Did he screwed this big time? He didn't ( well, not directly.) but Eva closed her mind and decided to end everything between her and Cage. I feel my world crushing.

“Baby, listen to me,” I said before she could say anything.

“No. You listen to me. I’m done. We’re done. You’re dead to me. Completely. I trusted you with my heart, and I realized that you were my biggest mistake. You will always be my biggest mistake. I trusted you. I should have known guys like you can’t be trusted. Good-bye, Cage York. Don’t come here again. Don’t come near me again. I don’t care what you have to say. I never want to hear your voice again. I never want to see your face again.” The line went dead.

The first sob caused my entire body to tremble. The ones that followed took my soul with them and left me void.”

     Cage York's world crashed. That's when I saw Cage cried. And I want to hate Eva for this! But I can't... since she had her reasons. And I know it must be hard for her too. I admire Low for being there for him...and his supportive friends.

     I love how Ms. Abbi Glines put all the characters from the previous books and make their lives somewhat interconnected. It also gave me an update to what's going on with their lives. I'm glad to see the very pregnant Low, Marcus, Amanda, Preston and Sadie too!  I'm not really a fan of too many characters in a book because it's making me lose focus to the main characters...but this? I don't mind at all. In fact , I love it because I have grown attached with these characters too. I even love Marcus's words of encouragement for Cage: to go after Eva. A wake up call for Cage to rethink what was truly important for him. Will he give up Eva , his Eva without a fight?

“Tomorrow I’d start proving to her I was worth her love. I knew what I was gonna do then. No begging for forgiveness; those were just words. No excuses; those were just weak. It was time I showed her with my actions.”

    He did not. He won't give up on Eva! That's my Cage York! Go get her!! 

    And boy! This Cage York can really prove using his sexy actions pretty well. It was also the swooniest chapters I read! Cage has a way of making my insides melt. His ways? Swoon. Be still my beating heart!

    When he pulled that piano playing and singing that Bruno Mars song? I am toast! I'm a goner! Cage York, I think I am falling hard for you! Oooops! Should Eva be saying these words? You want to know? READ. THIS. BOOK. 

“You’re mine, Eva Brooks. Always. You told me that yourself and, sweetheart, I’m holding you to it.”

I'm giving this book:

5 Swooniest , Sweetest Stars Ever! 

My Review: Just For Now by Abbi Glinnes

                                 
From Goodreads:
The day Preston Drake figured out that wealthy women paid well for a set of tight abs and a pretty face his life turned around.

The run down rat-infested trailer he had shared with his alcoholic mother and three younger siblings was now only a place he visited to pay the bills and stock the pantry with food. 

He no longer worried about his family starving or living without electricity. The money he made entertaining rich older women more than covered his family’s needs and his own. He had it all figured out. Except…

There was this girl.

She was as innocent as he was tainted.

Amanda Hardy wished her knees didn’t get weak when Preston walked into a room. She hated the fact her heart raced when he flashed his smile in her direction. He had a different girl in his bed every night. He was the kind of boy a smart girl ran from. So, why was she coming up with ways to get close to him? Even when it was obvious he wanted to keep her at a distance.

Maybe her heart knew something the world didn’t. Maybe Preston Drake was more than just a pretty face.

               My Thoughts :

    Abbi Glines' boys should be illegal! Yes, I knew it even at the start, but it was further rectified after I read this book! My goodness! Ms. Glines can make any ...ALL of her boys...so..so irresistible!  Even Preston Drake? (The asshole...douchebag and someone any sane, good girl would stay away..stay really away if you are smart?! ) Bad boy. I want him. High-paid gigolo? Hmmm.. *thinks twice* BUT I still want him!

     You read it right. Preston doesn't do love...he screws girls..err, even older..rich older women for money! Well, he was well endowed in that department.. and it's his well-kept secret. Even his bestfriend Marcus Hardy does not know it. Did he really have  to do this? Yes if he has mouths to feed! He got 2 brothers ...a sister and a very irresponsible mother to take care of. Life makes it hard for Preston...living him with no choice.

    Amanda Hardy. Sweet, kind , innocent ...naive...and she was crushing hard for Preston! That Preston Drake? Yes the very one. Preston tried to ignore her . Because she is Marcus ( Yes! His best friend's little sister! ) and totally off limits! If Amanda was smart ( yes she was! ) she should stay away from him! But *sigh* she wasn't when she offered "herself" to a drunk Preston one night! She imagined her first to be magical and romantic but then, she was taken into some dark , empty storage room ..and viola! The deed was done! Preston did not even kissed her! That douche !!! So you can now see how I hate this guy at first?! You think that would make Amanda  change her mind and forget about him? No..and no...not even close! Unbelievable! What are you thinking, Amanda???? I was so close into not liking her..but then, she REALLY wants Preston! It was like puppy love gone wrong!

      What could be douche-er when I say, Preston doesn't remember about that night?! He thought it was a dream?! Phuuuuleeeesh! Now, I am about to smack his face to make him ..remember?! Ugh! So, after a few months , looks like that these two is going to bump into each other again?  When Markus ask Preston to be his best man. Which means, helloooo Amanda. And boy, did he notice Amanda's long, beautiful legs strutting in front of him!  He is a virile young man after all! Why, I'm not even surprised?!  

    But again, the word of the day : OFF LIMITS?!  resisting Amanda was hard but being an asshole would be much easier to him? So he tried to be all-mean to her. But did it stopped Amanda from getting near? No. Na-da!  That girl! Nothing and no one can ever stop her! arrghhh! Now , I am starting to get pissed off. *groans*

   I love how Ms. Glines made me feel these "feels" . Like I really want Preston to have his HEA...but then he's making it difficult  because he was insecure. Like he feels like he doesn't deserve Amanda...that he's not good for her..and so on and so forth. But when Amanda tries to moved on ...like even a friendly date with Jason Stone ( Jax Stone younger bro! ) , he'll go all jealous apeshit?! Arrgh! Men?! What's with that????And Preston? Stop making it complicated?!

“Nothing about this thing we have is a bad thing. I’m not gonna lie about it: I don’t deserve you. I’m sure as hell not good enough for you, but as long as you want me, I’m all yours.”

    I loved how the story goes. It was well written. It gave me a clearer picture of Preston. Why he is like that. And what makes 

him different from the Preston most knew. Preston cares deeply..and selfless to the ones he cared about. And he loved Amanda so much that he's afraid that he might lose her when she finds out his secret.

“I knew she was waiting on me to say them, but how could I? Did I want her? Yes. Did I need her to breathe? Yes. Could I imagine life without her? No. But could I be in love with her, truly in love with her, and deceive her at the same time? I wasn't sure. Love was honest. It was pure. I was neither of those things. So how could I love?”

“I had been scared to tell you I loved you because I couldn't believe that what I was feeling was love if I wasn't telling you the truth about me. I lied to you because I knew you’d leave me if you found out. I didn't want to lose you.”

    Awwww... Awwwww... lots of Awwwww! With those coming from Preston's sweet sexy mouth? I was melting into a puddle  of sweetness. Who would have thought that the playboy boy toy Preston would turn his life around and would do everything to be worthy of the sweet Amanda? Sigh. The things you would do for love. *dreamy sigh.*

   Overall, I loved everything about this book. There is enough of everything and never overdone. The swoons, the drama, the steams are all in the right , perfect mix! Love.Loved it!    

I'm giving this book:

4 Sweetest Dreamiest Stars!

     

   

My Review : Night Owl by M. Pierce

 
From Goodreads:
Love is unstoppable...

At twenty-eight, Matt Sky has the perfect life. He has a beautiful girlfriend, a massive inheritance, and four national bestsellers -- all penned under his airtight alias, M. Pierce.

At twenty-seven, Hannah Catalano has a train wreck. Her boyfriend is a deadbeat and her job is abysmal.

Matt and Hannah meet online as writing partners. Their relationship is safe, anonymous, and innocent...

Until Matt sees a picture of Hannah.

Hannah's picture sparks an attraction Matt is powerless to ignore. When circumstance brings Matt and Hannah together, the strangers begin a love story that's passionate, poignant, unforgettable, and unstoppable.

                                My Thoughts:

      I have no freaking idea what this book is all about  until I started reading it! Yes, I did not read the freaking synopsis! A friend recommended this to me with these words, "It's  50 shade of Grey-ish"... And since I adore Christian Grey and his my 1st ....uhmm, book bf...1st hot book bf ?! Well, you know, nothing beats our firsts! Haha. Let's just say, after 50 shades... I'll never be the same "innocent" Billie again. Haha.

     So, I read it... My gosh! It was.. It was... I am completely lost for words! Night Owl ( his Skype name?)  or Matthew Sky Jr.  ( his real name! ) ...will make Christian Grey look like a... Prude?! ( Is this  the  right term?! ) He was insanely hot!  Imagine, Like all-hotness CG but also a VERY good writer?! His deep words will make you feel intoxicated and leave you wanting for more?  Yes, there's an air of mystery! He is M. Pierce , the best seller author but doesn't want the whole world to know!

     The story begun when he met Hannah a.k.a. Little Bird online. The common factor: they both love to write stories... Anonymously which works best for reclusive the Matt. All are about to change when he accidentally saw Hannah's picture. ( thanks to Hannah's carelessness! Hah! )  He can't forget that face. It stirred something from within... desire. What seems to be an innocent chat ...turned into something sexual and it turned on Matt so much that he thinks about that encounter every waking hour..

“Night.Owl:  A bathrobe...?

Little.Bird:  Yes. It's a soft fuzzy blue bathrobe. Hits me about mid-thigh.

Night.Owl:  Is that all?

Little.Bird:  Yes.”

    Not stopping there, they even do it over the phone! It was sexually charged! I was ... Whoa!!

“I'm about to talk to Matt.

I'm about to hear his voice.

I don't even know this guy.

What the hell am I doing?

He could be a psycho stalker.

We shouldn't cross this line.

I can hang up.

I can hang up now.

Yeah, I'm going to h—

"Hannah?"

I swallowed and slid down the bathroom wall.”

“He sounded sleepy.

He sounded sexy as hell.

I had the overwhelming urge to ask him to keep saying my name. Hannah, Hannah, Hannah. Help me come. Warmth bloomed between my legs.”

   Again : Whoa!  I can feel the atmosphere starting to change around here! ...like , how come it's getting warmer now ?!  *fanning myself furiously!* I could just imagine if these two are burning the telephone lines, what more when they finally meet?! I'm sure temperature will rise a lot higher!

     My guess was right! When these two finally meet? At the most ungodly hour, it's flaming desire!!! I can feel and even see the passion between them in the most graphic way! Boy! First, I was fanning furiously...then I'm blushing  the deepest shade of red! My oh my! Their first encounter was topnotch hot! Hannah would never expect to be "taken" inside the Night Owl's luxurious car! And did she like it?? Uh-oh.. Speechless? And I am about to hyperventilate!

     That did not stop there! As these two keep on seeing each other to fuel their burning.... needs... Each encounter was insanely  infernal... shockingly hotter  ?! The dirty talking? Way extreme!  The kinky "toys" ? Don't get me started! Haha. Matt Sky Jr., you are one delicious depraved man! 

     My goodness! I can't even say the "other" things they've done?! And I tried to make my Pink Blog, uhmm, NOT PG-rated or R-rated for that matter. Matt-Hannah doing it?!  I was like  :

...... like this in between those  very... uhm, well-described scenes:

...and almost like this the entire time:

    Well, did I tell you that Matt was super mysterious? Sure , he can make every girl's R-rated fantasies come true. Go ask Hannah for proof?! Or go read this book!  I have suspicions that there something off about him. I get it, he's a writer... so he is moody.. mercurial.. go figure. But there's something deeper than that! And yes, I was glued to every pages.... until the epilogue! Wha--what? Di--did I missed something? I tried to reread the last chapter.... No... nothing  to answer my questions! What did just happened? I was.. I was... I don't know what to say?! But maybe these words are sufficient enough : " M. Pierce, @%@?!! ( so close to cursing! Oooops?! Haha!) , you just made me one impatient woman! " NEED.TO.KNOW.WHAT.WAS.THAT.

      I'll be keeping an eye on you , M. Pierce! Looking forward for my Matthew Sky Jr fix soon? Ooh, please don't say ...WAIT.

            I'm giving this book :
     3 Will Make You Explode Stars!

My Review: While it Last By Abbi Glines

     
From Goodreads:
Maybe driving home after a few (or more) shots of tequila had been a bad idea, but hell, he did it all the time. The cops had to have been freaking bored to have pulled him over. He wasn’t even swerving! That’s Cage York’s story and he’s sticking to it.

Unfortunately, his baseball coach isn’t buying it. Cage has a free ride to the local junior college for baseball -- or he did, until he’d gotten a DUI. Now, Cage has to decide: does he drop out and give up his dream of getting noticed by a college in the SEC, and possibly making it into the Major Leagues -- or does he give in to his coach’s demands and spend his summer baling hay?

Eva Brooks planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbor, had been the center of those goals. He’d been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen, and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she’d received the phone call from Josh’s mother saying he’d been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva’s carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible.

Cage isn’t real happy with his closet-sized bedroom in the back of a foul smelling barn, or his daily interactions with cows, but he knows that if he doesn’t make his coach happy then he can kiss his scholarship goodbye. Only a sick and twisted man would decide his punishment was to be working on a farm all summer. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows.

Oh -- and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he’s every seen. But she doesn’t count, because as hard as he’s tried to charm her out of her panties - he’s pretty sure she’d rather see him hung from the rafters than let him get a taste of her pretty little lips.

                    My Thoughts:

    I  love...love...loved and always loved all the Abbi Glines' boys with all my heart , my BODY ( oh yeah specially my body..purrrssss! Haha! ) ...and soul! Yes! It was an ABSOLUTE love and adoration! I was amazed how these series was jam-packed with amazing stories...and REALLY really sexy characters! ( and I'm still at book 3?! )  .....and this thought just crossed my mind: Now I'm pretty sure what to ask Santa this Christmas... I've been both naughty and nice ...so I want ANY Abbi Glines' boys! Haha.

    Okay,  so moving on...

    I love the unique relationship both Cage and Low had in the previous book Because of Low . It's like two Cage in one person. Sure he was more of a serial douche playboy who doesn't know the word , commitment  as evidenced by the trail of pissed off ladies ( but clearly satisfied?! Hah! ) he leave ( more of  at his disposal?! ) girls behind?! I mean who could blame him? Look at Cage!! He is... he is... *me stammers?!*  a mouth-watering eye candy!! And of course, most girls wants a taste ( uh-oh!) of this bad boy! I so wanted to  post a picture of his body? ...But well, I decided to stick with only his face... to avoid distractions? ( Like, maybe having our.. errr, my eyes going south?! Whoops! *covers  my mouth!* Did I just said that?!Tsk. tsk. )

.....Ohhh! BUT Cage has a sweet side ! ( Oh I'm sure he's "literally" sweet all over! -Drools! Haha! ) When it comes to Low..He is beyond a true friend.With that I think, it balances the negatives with the positives? ... I'm sure , like me, you'll agree that Cage York deserves his own HEA!

     Well, this book started with Cage not so sweet at all.. I mean he got messed up and caught DUI  which  is a NO-no... and way irresponsible! So what's the consequence? Work in his coach's farm or he could kiss his baseball scholarship bye-bye?! So there isn't a choice?! Cage is bummed or doomed to be stuck in a farm in the company of hay and cows all summer long till he cleans up his act. This would mean like he'll be away from the "civilization'?! Like away from his legion of girls, maybe! Hah!

    But then... something.. someone just came into his wilderness... a girl with the clearest , bluest  and most beautiful eyes he has ever seen!

 

    Then there's Eva Brooks . Of course, Cage would be captivated .. because, duh! She is a girl... and gorgeous as well! But wait! She was not some kind of a  girl... the ones that will drop their panties at the sight of Cage's killer looks ( and Ehem! Body?! ) ! She even gave him the coldest stare when they first met! Yup, NO , absolutely no ( flirty ) smile for our Cage York!  And she was his coach's daughter? Off limits. And she wears an engagement ring? Double off limits.  So why bother when ... there are other girls ( practically throwing themselves?!) waiting in line for Cage?

    It would be wise to stay away from her. But Cage's reasoning has gone....south?! ( Uh-oh not that south.. well, maybe a little?! Because Cage is just being Cage?!) Well, he was incredibly drawn to Eva. ....because Eva was not really engaged?!  Why is that so? Ahh, long story ...you got to read it!

    Oh I just love their chemistry! It was sweet and hot combined. The combination was perfect ! How do you do it, Ms. Abbi Glines?!  Oh right, it's you and your very creative mind!  If I can spend a day inside one's mind, I would looove to be inside yours!

      It's no secret that I'm into some hardcore ..SWOONS! Yes,  I am! And this book offered a LOT of it! And its 90 percent HOT Swoons and 10 percent... well, SWEET swoons?! I love how Ms. Glines wrote the steamy scenes. Oh, if you think it's purely inside the bedroom.. think twice! Imagine: Cage York under the sweltering sun.. of course shirtless and running the cold , damp towel in his well sculpted body? I found myself between not breathing.. and breathing hard! Yes, that was one sight to behold! Again, Thank you Ms. Glines! I am  now fanning myself furiously! My goodness!

     Cage York is oozing with loads and loads of sex appeal! It was a given fact. I admit , I am not really into body ( nipple ) piercings ( seriously? Uhhm yes! ) but when I met Cage? I had a complete change of heart! Dangit! Those were REALLY sexy, Cage! And again, thank you, Ms Glines! 

     I love how the story goes. It has just the right amount of Arrrghhhh! moments when situations almost tore them apart? When there's lot of push and pull..Doubts and hesitations? And yes, insecurities! And surprise ..surprise?! Cage..the cocky, confident Cage?! For the first time felt like he is does not deserved the sweet Eva. And Eva? Is she ready to move on? To open her heart, despite all the odds? Oooooh! I sighed in frustration!  What can possibly be wrong when these two were perfect together?!  I was on the edge! Aaaaargh!!

     Just when I'm about to lose my mind.. ( Okay..that's ...I'm over reacting! Haha. ) good , swoony thing happened. It was .. WOW! and...AWWWWWW!!!! . I just loved it! Ms. Glines just know how to write that perfect moment... and it made me smile and my heart flutter. Loved it! 

      I'm giving this book:

4 Hot-Sweet Cage Stars!

 

   

My Review : Addicted For Now by Krista & Becca Richie

 
From Goodreads:

He's addicted to booze. She's addicted to sex...staying sober is only half the battle.

No. More. Sex. 

Those are the three words Lily Calloway fears the most. But Loren Hale is determined to be with Lily without enabling her dangerous compulsions. With their new living situation—sleeping in the same bed, for real, together—Lily has new battles. Like not jumping Lo’s bones every night. Not being consumed by sex and his body.

Loren plans to stay sober, to right all of his wrongs. So when someone threatens to expose Lily’s secret to her family and the public, he promises that he’ll do anything to protect her. But with old enemies surfacing, Lo has more at stake than his sobriety.

They will torment Lily until Lo breaks. 

And his worst fear isn’t relapsing. He hears the end. He sees it. The one thing that could change everything. Just three words. 

No. More. Us. 

                My Thoughts:

   This book was one of my most anticipated books. I loved Lily and Lo even with their unconventional relationship. Yes, they're both addicts..well, recovering addicts to be exact. And I want to know how they are coping.. now that Lo's finally coming home.

    It's been really hard for Lily to be away from Lo while he submits himself to alcoholic rehab . As a sex addict the separation  seems like forever  and has been  REALLY a challenge . The constant urges, the sleepless nights... are just few things she had to face. I'm also glad that she submits herself to therapy, and even though Lo was away, she had the support from her loving sister, Rose. ( and of course, not to forget Ryke and Connor too!)

 
     After those months, Lo was finally going home. I can feel Lily's SUPER high anticipation for this day to come! I'm expecting Lily grabbing and ripping Loren Hale's clothes..and they won't surely make it up to the bedroom! But what exactly happened: Lo take it oh so slow! ( Yes, they STILL  made it to their bedroom!) As usual , Lo is oh-so-sexy! ( as always! ) and this time he is pleasing and .... pleasuring?! ( Oh! I love that WORD, Damn! ) Lily on his own terms?!  And believe me, Lo's ways are mind blowing, freaking sexy!

     Oh right, there's like a black list from Lily's therapist : what is allowed , what's not. Seriously?! Yup, apparently if you're a sex addict ! It also means there's like a schedule when, where and even how they do it?! Goshhhhhh! How agonizing it would be for her to want IT but have to wait? Well, I guess with Lo looking oh-so-fine? I can't wait too?! Haha. But I think it's way different around Lily, she "craves" Lo like a drug! Just imagine : Sharing bed with Lo but just to sleep? She was not even allowed to touch herself?! It has to be done.

   Same thing goes for Lo, NO ALCOHOL EVER! No .. not even to think about it! Of course, Lo have sleepless nights  and it shows.. the haggard .. dark circles in his eyes, even the irritability  and restlessness. All these he had to endure ...because he wants to be a better person for Lily.

    Just the thought of it made me feel that "feel". It was quite touching that two people , no matter how damaged they were, find shelter and strength in each other. When it seems like everything is on smoothly... Like I thought , this was it... A road to happy ending, something huge happened!  Something that might destroy Lily. Apparently, her "secret" was not really safe . Someone knows. And threatening to destroy both Lo and Lily. 

     I was like, Oh no! Oh nooooooo.... I was filled with enough worry. Can Lily handle this? Will she survive? Will Lo be strong? For her and for both of them?  Dirty  and really malicious text messages keep on coming..but from whom?  I was hooked as I go through the pages. I have no freaking idea who might be responsible?! Arrgh!  Sure, Lo had a fair share of enemies  on his douche-bag years...well more like, a LOT of enemies ( his drunken mess! ) ...anyone can hold grudges against him. 

     And for Lily? Poor , poor thing. She was struggling painfully each day. Yes, she even tried to fight it..her addiction ---- constantly lurking ready to swallow her whole. And sometimes, she can't help it... Giving in to " self love" ... afterwards she feels guilty.  It must be really hard to be  her...and be in her situation.

     I love how this story grip every part of me. It was heavy with emotions which  made me feel  like I'm drowning.. like I'm struggling for air? I felt Lily's weight, her burden that seems to be so hopeless. And I also felt Lo, being torn to giving up and staying strong for Lily. Their love is like no other. When I think about the situation they gone  through is no piece of cake. I mean, it's beyond any sane person can handle?! And knowing how fragile they were, most specially Lily when all these cruel things are directed at her? I won't be surprised if she decided to end up her life. But again , this fragile , frail girl I thought I knew did surprised  me ! Lily was strong. She fought her demons.  I admired her  even more. 

   I loved the ending . The  wonderful closure was realistically written. It was a beautiful and heartfelt story about a difficult subject matter : Addiction. After reading this book, I am sure nobody can pull this off like both Ms. Krista and Becca Richie!   I'll  sure be looking forward for their upcoming books!

         I'm giving this book:

4 Emotional High Gripping Stars!

Once Upon A Time Series by Heidi Garrett Book Party Blog Tour

    Welcome to the Once Upon A Time Series by Heidi Garrett Book Party hosted by the wonderful Ms. Rose ! Today, I am (as always!) excited to be reviewing ALL the books in these amazing series. There will  be an awesome  giveaway ( found after my reviews! ) you can join and might win! So, check it out (later) pretty ones!

    Since I'll be reviewing ALL , and I write LOoooooong  reviews..believe me! Haha. I'll make today an exception...or let me put this way, I'm going to challenge myself into few words! Hah! I got to do this! Uh-oh! 

The Girl who waited for Elves:

Links : * Goodreads  *  Amazon *

Excerpt:

The first card in the tarot reader’s tableaux, depicted a smirking man, sneaking away, his arms full of swords. “Everything was lies and deception,” the tarot reader said.

The girl’s tongue itched. “It’s what my family knew best—how to hide the truth. Carefully layered in lies like butter rolled into dough when you make a croissant.”

The tarot reader nodded, encouraging, as his gaze dropped to the spread configured before him. He pointed to a second card that looked like a medieval tower exploding. Bodies flew through the air.

“Yes, it was kind of like that after my father won the custody battle.”

The young woman squirmed—they’d reached the part of the story she hated the most, because it brought her to the last day she saw her mother alive. She was not quite five.

                                    My Thoughts:

    First, I loved the cover! Looking at the little girl reading that book feels so magical. Like each page is offering her a glimpse into that magical world where all the troubles in the world would just disapper if you believe. Yes, that girl believed. 

    This story gave me the Cinderella vibe . Of course , there's the evil step mom that made everything difficult for the girl. But I admire the little girl . I can never imagine  how he endured all of these? Being Hopeful? That's when she heard the story about "The Elves and the Shoemaker" :

“And the girl began to imagine, that the kind voice of the narrator, who told the stories on the record, belonged to her real father—the one his new wife had locked up some place far far away.

And she began to think that her father was rather clever for sending a message to her from his real self.

And she decided that probably, one day, she would be able to rescue him, because now that her real mother had disappeared, he was all that she had left.”

    So the girl waited and waited for the elves to visit her. She looked for the elves everywhere. Until a name came up: Elva. Elva became her hope. But who is Elva?

    The entire book took me into a wonderful journey of finding hope... Discovering one's strength and most of all believe in magic all over again. 

                  My Rating: 

The Girl Who Dreamed of Red Shoes:

Links: * Goodreads *  Amazon*
Excerpt:

There was a young girl, an orphan, who lived in the forest. She scraped out a meager existence, living on nuts, berries, mushrooms, and whatever vegetation she could find. As lonely as she often was, there was also a happiness in her heart. She loved to come across squirrels running with nuts in their paws, or chipmunks playing hide and seek in the dirt and the brush. She also loved to rest in the cradle of low-lying branches and watch for blue jays. The most magical days, were the ones where she might catch a glimpse of the robin’s red breast, because red was her favorite color in the world.

The girl drank from rivers and streams, and sometimes, if she hid in the long grass and didn’t move at all, she might see a doe bring its fawn to drink. On rare occasions, the antlered buck might join them, regal and proud.

At night, the girl searched for grassy meadows, so she might sleep beneath the stars, and when the days got shorter and colder, she’d search for large rocks that she could burrow against.

Everyday she wore the same tattered dress, but sometimes she came across a swatch of dirty, but colorful cloth, dropped by a sparrow or a mouse. The girl collected these strips. When her pockets were stuffed with them, she went about dying them with raspberry juice so they would be red, like the breast of her favorite bird.

She began to collect string, and one day, she came across a needle in an abandoned nest. Within a few days, the girl had created a pair of red shoes, of sorts. They were funny little slippers, but they kept her toes from freezing, and softened the pinch of pebbles she walked on. The girl came to cherish them more than anything, because she’d made them.

                My Thoughts:

“So if I’m going to binge, is it going to be the Dunkin’ Donuts, Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Chunk Cookie, Half-Pound Bag of M&Ms Triple Header? Or, will it be the Stouffer’s Frozen Macaroni and Cheese, chased down by Häagan-Daaz Coffee Ice Cream, and a large bag of Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups Threesome?”

With all that goodies?   Sweet stuff!  If I drool..then it's entirely Ms. Heidi Garrett's fault! Lol. Being sweet tooth myself, very well, you just had my undivided attention!  

    This was the second short story from Ms. Garrett's Once Upon Today Collection, and once again I experienced the same kind of magic I had from her previous book. ( The Girl who watched for Elves ). 

    So, why binge? And why does this young lady feels disconnected with herself ?

“I’ll devour it unconsciously, I know this, but the effect of blotting out this wretched hunger, for things I don’t know that I want, or things that I think I can’t have, or things that I don’t know how to get, will help me make it through one more night, of not understanding, why my life feels… chained.”

Will she  ever find the answer she been looking for? Until she heard this voice of a "cantadora", the keeper of old stories  that took her into this magical threshold. 

“It transported her to an ancient wood, the threshold between the world of souls, and the world of dreams, where she came upon a wraith dancing in the woods. Mesmerized by the spirit’s frenzied spins and twirls, the young woman settled in the roots of a gnarled tree to watch and listen. For this was her spirit, and she’d come to retrieve it.”

“She began to collect string, and one day, she came across a needle in an abandoned nest. Within a few days, the girl had created a pair of red shoes, of sorts. They were funny little slippers, but they kept her toes from freezing, and softened the pinch of pebbles she walked on. The girl came to cherish them more than anything, because she’d made them.”

See? The fairytale like feel is always there. I just love it. It was definitely magical. As the rest unfolds the more I see how this red shoes became almost her obsession and how she felt lost and incomplete without it.  

“The problem was not the girl’s longing for red shoes. The problem was the living of a life that was not hers, a life that was disconnected from her spirit.”

“Searching for red shoes has distracted me from my compulsive nemesis—binging. Is the cure as simple as acknowledging that I really want something, and then refusing to give up or settle until I find it?”

I love how this book was written  that I can't help but to quote some excerpts  from it. ( mostly my personal favorites! ) 

                 My Rating:

The Girl Who Couldn't Sing

Links: * Goodreads *  Amazon *
Excerpt:

“You can’t sing.”

It just couldn’t be true. Heather Baker slid her Takamine guitar into its fur-lined case.

Artistic success was ninety-nine-percent perspiration. That meant, raw talent accounted for a measly one-percent. If you worked hard enough, you could achieve anything.

That’s what Heather believed, and that’s what she would continue to believe.

The woman was just plain wrong—plain and wrong. She didn’t have the courage to attempt something amazing, or face anything that terrified her.

She’d probably never even colored outside the lines.

Heather left the studio and headed for her red Isuzu pickup. Every interior entrance and exit in her mind was on lockdown. The echoing statement beat against her inner windows and doors, like a frenzied bird. She refused to count the number of voice teachers who’d made similar declarations. It was too painful.

Dreams of being on stage and strumming her guitar, with a hot flamenco rhythm, while she sang like an angel, were what kept her going.

What would she do without them?

She slammed the truck door and gunned the engine.

     My Thoughts: 

“You can’t sing.”

It just couldn’t be true. Heather Baker slid her Takamine guitar into its fur-lined case.

Artistic success was ninety-nine-percent perspiration. That meant, raw talent accounted for a measly one-percent. If you worked hard enough, you could achieve anything.

That’s what Heather believed, and that’s what she would continue to believe.”

    I loved Heather Baker. Her persistence, tenacity and even guts to sing her heart out, that is something I would want myself to have.  Like Heather, I couldn't sing! I mean, I can sing.. but not that sing-sing? Once I tried singing, my friends ( my only audience coz they have no choice?! haha!) have no clue which song I am singing?! Yes! That bad! I am out of tune! hehe.

   But Heather pursued her dream ..to sing! She even enrolled to get a degree in music! I love the determination! Nothing and no one can bring her down, she is such an inspiration.

    I love how Ms. Heidi link the astrological influences , like how Saturn or Neptune is somewhat affecting the series of things happening in our lives....but at the end it's always up to us and our choices.

    I love how this story warmed my heart. It made me believe that if we can't be good at something, then we can also be better at another  thing. The most important thing was to be open to all the possibilities. Because as we pursue and do the things we loved most..beautiful surprises will come along. This happened to Heather. .. and I believe it will happen to both you and me.  So, never give up. Keep pushing. Believe.

                   My Rating:

Beautiful Beautiful
Links : * Goodreads * Amazon *
Excerpt:

“Open the damn box,” Norah said.

Kerrin handed her Frank’s note. Her hands shook as she opened the expensive case. When she saw what was inside—an exquisite diamond choker—she couldn’t help but exclaim.

Joanie squealed and slapped her butt. The girl had a one-track mind.

“It’s going to look perfect with your gown,” Norah said.

The backdrop of the final, breath-stopping scene, in A Scorched Heart, had been a setting sun. A nod to those closing frames, the colors in her sunset-inspired gown, progressed from its blue-gray bandeau bodice, through lavender, gold, and orange, to end in a fierce train of red. Kerrin appreciated the aesthetics as much as the fairy tale princess motif.

Her gaze roamed over the chaos of boxes. Bittersweet memory tugged her heart. In one of them was a junkyard crown—one she’d used to play dress up, when she was a child.

“Honey, that bling would make a dirty sheet look good,” Joanie brought her back to the present.

Kerrin couldn’t laugh at the lame joke. She was too touched by a sense of enchantment.

“It was made to go with my grandmother’s shoes.”

*~*~*

Mibi clapped her hands. “Magic shoes!”

“Made of diamonds,” Kerrin exaggerated.

“Were they expensive?”

“They were a gift from her fairy godmother.”

Mibi folded her arms across her chest. “I wish I had a fairy godmother.”

“I’m sorry, honey, only orphans get fairy godmothers.”

“Was the girl an orphan?”

“Yes.”

“That’s sad,” Mibi said.

“It is.”

“So she got magic shoes instead of a family?”

“Something like that.”

“What happened next?”

My Thoughts:

     I  loved everything about this book.  I wish I could put into words the wonderful experience I've gone through with each page I flipped. It was definitely magical.  Like, I was inside the two layers of stories : First,  inside Kerrin's life story  and  secondly , inside her faerytale . These two stories were both   weaved into one truth that we all probably search throughout our lives. And at the end of it all, leaves us with this question: What's your beautiful, Beautiful?

                    My Rating:

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My Review : The Infamous Ellen James by N.A. Alcorn

From Goodreads :
Meet twenty-eight year old Ellen James. A sarcastic, feisty, foul-mouthed ER Nurse. She is snarky, sassy, and sometimes crudely inappropriate. After a terrible breakup with her fiancé, Ellen has promised herself that she will never make the mistake of falling for another man again… and physicians, well she’s more than written them off.

Once she meets sexy Trauma Surgeon, Dr. Trent Hamilton, this promise is unbelievably hard to keep. This too-hot-for-Ellen's-own-good man is undeniably sexy and down-right irresistible. He leaves her breathless, speechless, and irritatingly turned on. He makes her fantasize about him in all kinds of dirty, inappropriate ways.

With the help of her obnoxious, and often times hilarious best friend Amy, Ellen will find herself in several crazy, embarrassing situations. 

This is a story of friendship, love and how one very sarcastic woman can find the strength to pick up the pieces after having her heart broken. 

In her first novel, N.A. Alcorn provides interesting takes on the word vagina, while giving you a reason to re-think your next visit to the Emergency Room. This book is bound to make you laugh, smile, and provide you with enough sarcasm to choke your grandmother. No, N.A. doesn’t want anything bad to happen to your Grandma Ruth, but she does want you to strongly consider re-naming your vibrator after a guy who’s at the top of your spank bank rotation. Be prepared for dripping juice-boxes, awkward pelvic thrusting, and a little suspense to keep your snatch on edge. 

Warning: This novel contains explicit sex, profanity and far too much vaginal humor. This novel is not meant for anti-fornicators, up-tight prudes, or virgins who refuse to go to Pound Town.

               My Thoughts:

(Another) WARNING:  DO NOT PROCEED  IF :
1. You are a  minor ?( Sorry Teenies, definitely NOT for you! Wait till you can LEGALLY drink and drive! )
2. Anti-SMUT?  What's a SMUT : Highly developed stories with  love lines and other things  that appeal to women that also include  a lot of sexually explicit scenes. ( Per Urban dictionary ) ----This book  is smutty-ish?! Hehe. Reading this book, I discovered something new about myself: I am PRO-smut! haha.
3. Would really REALLY mind  the constant mentions of the "UNMENTIONABLES" in a more detailed  dirtier ...and creative  way! Tee-hee!
4. Would hurl at the mention of the GREAT "F-WORD"... the "S-WORD" in the kinkiest way, and AGAIN creative way! ( A lot, lot are all over this book! )
5. You have Urinary Incontinence. Huh?! Yes ! You read it right! Because you'll DEFINITELY pee in your ..uhmm panties?!  From laughing!

  ....SO, you still proceeded? Now, it's safe to figure out that :

1. You are a consenting ADULT.

2. You are PRO-SMUT? ...or VERY open to the  idea of it?! 

3. Would want to be ..uhmmm, well acquainted with Ellie and Trent's unmentionables?! Haha.

4. Is Swearing in times of certain situations like , you are freaking surprised? You are freaking annoyed? ....or you are freaking elated?! Yes!  A lot of F@cking wonderful moments ahead! 

5. YOU. WILL. STILL. PEE. IN. YOUR. PANTIES! Sorry about that! Hehe. 

    Let me tell you how come I am reading this smutty-zy book: You would be surprised that I read this the moment I bought it?! Not very me. This is me when I purchase  books : I look around, browse, look for something that catches my eye.. Click! Buy. Then store. ( I mean, hoard! Hehe. )  It was those spur of the moment thingy. I never regretted that moment! 

     This is a really, really good book that would put smile , smirk (?!)  and all the ridiculous funny expressions on your face! Just like what it did to me! 

    Both Dr. Trent Hamilton and Nurse Ellen James are really funny, adorable and f@cking hot and sexy together! ( oh! I warned you about those F-bombs! Teehee!)

    When these two meet, I know they will combust! And I know this is weird when I'm hearing Bruno Mars song "Gorilla" playing inside my head ?! 

   ... "Look what you're doing, look what you've done..

        But in this jungle you can't run...

        Cause what I got for you...

         I promise it's a killer...

         You'll be banging on my chest

          Bang bang, gorilla....

    ....Ooh , yeah...

         You and me making love like gorillas..

     ....Oooh, yeah

         You and me making love like gorillas...    <------ See?! Totally singing now! Haha! 

     Meet Dr. Trent Hamilton, the sexiest , hottest trauma doctor on Charlotte Hospital. He can turn any..I mean ANY female unleash her inner sex vixen just by battling his baby blues. He is a walking pheromones and a Shredder?! Or a magician?! Either rip it or make it disappear!! ...uh-oh! I guess, I just lost my undies?! Haha.

      Yes. I heard you say, Holy Smokes?! He is "it"! You are diagnose for  "Hamiltonian" effect! Symtoms include : you having this moments : “lick-lipping, ladyboner-sporting, mouth-drooling, c@ck-craving, bumbling idiot! " uh-oh! Uh-oh! ....oh! And I forgot to mention, you can't do anything about it unless you are Nurse Ellen James!  Lucky, lucky Ellie girl! I want to hate her for this ..but I can't! Because I adore this spitfire with all her funny antics specially when tequila is running through her system?! I just love her hilarious , crazy moments with her friend Amy!  Ellie's Epic fail version of the Harlem shake was the funniest! Oh. My. God. I think I just f@cking peed on my pants! Imagine Ellie doing her drunken version? In a bikers helmet and in her bra?!   Love. Loved it! 

“The intro to the Harlem Shake begins to play loudly in the bar, and that is when I begin to awkwardly thrust my pelvis to the beat of the music. Don't worry, the motorcycle helmet is still on my fucking head.

I'm going to kill Amy for this.

The song continues, and I am still in the corner of the bar, gyrating and pelvic thrusting like a god damn idiot. The camera swings back towards Amy, and she says, "Wait for it." Then you hear the lyric "Do the Harlem Shake" blaring from the jukebox as the camera turns back towards me in the corner.

Oh, god.”

   I already said, I adore Ellie? I will say it again, I really , really adore Ellie! I want to be just like her...outrageous, carefree , censor-free mouthed,  doesn't-give-a-shit and really infectiously funny! And this book was mostly her "censor-free" POV! ( prepare to be astound!) So, I picture Nurse Ellie to be looking like this:

      Yes...and gorgeous! One reason , our Doctor Beautiful Trent becomes very smitten! ( in 90 percent sexual way?! ..the remaining 10 percent goes to personality?! Haha!)  Oh! Ellie felt that too?! Probably mutual! Well, who could blame these two very hot blooded ...bunnies to be all too eager to go and rip each others clothes?! At first, it seems more physical. But the more they get to know...the real "them", the more they realized how much they fit in together. 

    So what seems to be the problem? Well, for one , Dr. Beautiful seems to be "temporary"  at Charlotte knowing that he'll be back to Seattle when Dr. Grey has fully recovered. Oh, forgot to tell you he's a sub doctor. Of course this was bothering Ellie! Because, what she felt for Trent was more than temporary?! And instead of talking this thing over Trent, she push it down...and tried to ignore and avoid it. She hates that she was falling too fast.

    Well, Ellie... Who won't fall for this adorable ...f@ckable ( uh my! That choice of word?!) ..delicious guy?! I am seriously having my Hamiltonian effect right when he said this words:

“I'm falling in love with you too, sweetheart. I know you're scared, and I know the shit that dickless douchebag put you through has you doing everything in your power to never go through something like that again, but I'm not him, baby. Don't run from it. Fall with me. Be with me, Ellie. I want to give you every part of myself. I want to be the reason you wake up every day with a smile on your beautiful face. God, Ellie. You own me. You fucking have me by the balls and I don't even care.”

     Awwwww....awwwwwww...awwwwwww!!! Gimme some Trent Hamilton right now, please?!! He is just sooooo damn perfect! Keep an eye on this one, Ellie... Or I'm stealing him from you! Haha!

     I love how the story goes. Of course, it was not as picture perfect as it seems for these two. But at the end , everything was beautifully and swoony-ciously resolved. I can go on and on..and on about all the swoony...funny..and yes very hot moments between these two...but I'll hold my tongue..or rather my fingers?! ( for typing the words, of course! Hehe.)  I leave it all to you. 

      Oh, and I want to thank Ms. N.A. Alcorn for giving me just what I needed! A chapter of Dr. Trent Hamilton's POV! It was really a Bonus chapter with all the glorious , pussy whipped ( uh-oh! Language!!!) Trent all over it! THANK YOU. THANK YOU! 

“Ellie, I don't want to be your knight in shining armor, your prince on the white horse. You don't need saving, baby. You're the strongest woman I know. The last few weeks have been rough—really rough—but together we're going to get through it. You're everything I could have ever hoped for, and just knowing you has made me a better man. I'm in awe of you, Ellie. Your beauty, your grace, your feistiness, your adorable charm, and your kind heart. Your outspoken personality and spitfire attitude that constantly keep me on my toes, mostly for fear of what you'd do to my balls if I pissed you off”

“Someone else has my heart now. Someone who walked into my life at a very unexpected yet perfect moment. Someone who makes me laugh and smile, and someone who has my pulse racing at just the thought of his lips pressed against mine. Someone who embraces me for everything I am—even the flaws. Trent doesn't put me down or try to change me. He seems to like Elle just the way she is.”

      If you loved the very funny "Tangled" by Emma Chase with the mixture of hilariously sexy "Wallbanger" by Alice Clayton, I guarantee , YOU. WILL. LOVE. THIS. BOOK! Promise.

          I'm giving this book:

5  swooni-licious Trent Hamilton Stars!