#Review ~ Love, in English by Karina Halle

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter. I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.

 

4.75-5 Stars

He slowly turned around. “What is love? In English?”

I raised my brows. “Love, in English, is love?”

“What is it in Spanish?”

I was so enthralled by his hypnotic eyes, I could barely remember. “Amore?”

He shook his head ever so slightly. “No. Love in Spanish is you.”

I am utterly FLOORED by this book. This was STUNNING! As I sit here trying to write this review, I’ve had a few hours to reflect. I’m having trouble finding the adequate words to describe this story. The first words that come to mind are immediately: Beautiful, heartbreaking, conflicting & sweet. Sorry for the unoriginality, but meh! I suck at trying to paint a picture. All I know is that this one made me a swoony, hot mess.

Love, that ultimate villainess. She makes examples of us all.

And yet we still come back for more.

We keep playing the role she gives us.

For one more chance to feel alive.

Love has made me a villain. But at least now, I don’t have to be misunderstood.

This is my story…

Vera has a reputation. Her tattoos, her promiscuity has followed her around since she was teenager. At twenty-three years old, she’s a bit…lost; she’s kind of stuck in a rut, of sorts. So she decides to go to Spain and join this program to help Spaniards with their English. It is because of this program that she will have a free room for the next month. This is where she eventually meets the handsome Mateo.

I liked the calm Mateo, the witty Mateo, the lusty Mateo, and the hot-tempered Mateo.

I liked all of him.

No. I loved all of him.

I loved Mateo Casalles.

Mateo is thirty-eight, married and has a young daughter. He is also a former pro football (soccer) star who is now co-owns restaurants in Spain, but wants to expand internationally, hence why he’s in this program. Mateo and Vera hit it off immediately. They seemed so at ease with each other, their conversations constantly flowing. There was a definite connection. Vera, being Vera, knew instantly she was in deep trouble with Mateo.

“You’re married!” I yelled. “I cannot be the other woman!”

“You already are the other woman!” he yelled right back. His words smashed into me, blowing me to smithereens. He cupped my face in his hands. “You already are, whether you want to be or not. You’ve bewitched me, Vera. You’ve blinded me. You’ve made me forget my vows. And all you had to do was shine.”

Although I loved this book, part of me was torn. I love Vera & Mateo together, but the fact was that he is married. Yes, it does become quite obvious that he is in a loveless marriage, but like I said, he is still legally with his wife. I can completely understand why Vera felt so much guilt because honestly, I felt them too. You really felt all the struggles she went through – both physically and mentally. Only phenomenal storytelling can make you feel that.

My Estrella.

Overall, this was just one beautiful read. Karina Halle did a extraordinary job of writing this. The story flowed nicely, it kept my interest and it’s the type of story that will stick with you for a very long time. Bravo, Karina! Bravo.

The Will (Magdalene 1) by Kristen Ashley #Review

Title: The Will

Author: Kristen Ashley

Series: Magdalene #1

Release Date: April 8, 2014

Synopsis:

Early in her life, Josephine Malone learned the hard way that there was only one person she could love and trust: her grandmother, Lydia Malone. Out of necessity, unconsciously and very successfully, Josephine donned a disguise to keep all others at bay. She led a globetrotting lifestyle on the fringes of the fashion and music elite, but she kept herself distant.

While Josephine was trotting the globe, retired boxer Jake Spear was living in the same small town as Lydia. There was nothing disguised about Jake. Including the fact he made a habit of making very bad decisions about who to give his love.

But for Josephine and Jake, there was one person who adored them. One person who knew how to lead them to happiness. And one person who was intent on doing it.

Even if she had to do it as her final wish on this earth.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Author Website:

http://www.kristenashley.net/

Five Stars

Ok, I know I say this EVERY FRIGGIN' TIME but I FREAKIN' LOVE YOU KRISTEN ASHLEY!!!

Nobody, and I seriously mean NOBODY can write the Gorgeous, Possessive, Alpha Male that has you just salivating to climb like a tree and claim for yourself like this amazing woman!!

Now, not that I don't love everything that KA does, I think you got that, right? But seriously, The Will has a classic KA feel to it. Now unless you have read her all along, you may not understand what I mean. So I will help you out here! This is the kind of story that just makes you feel good all over. You will laugh, cry, swoon, and even shiver a little now and then just from the sheer beauty of the story. You get I love these stories, right? There are very few authors that can make me wax poetic like the lovely Ms Ashley!

In this amazing story we find Josie home for her grandmothers funeral, her grandmother, who was her closest friend in the world is gone and she is trying to hold it together. She comes back to Magdalene to settle her grandmothers affairs, here the reading of the will and take care of Lavender House. She is totally unprepared for Jake Spear. Jake and his children were near and dear to Josie's grandmother and yet Josie knew nothing about them. 

That is of course until she leaves Josie to Jake in her Will. Oh yeah, you heard that right, now let the fun begin!! I promise you will fall head over heals in love with Jake and want to be BFF's with Josie, she is that freakin' awesome. I mean seriously....check out this possessive Alpha statement...

"Every inch of you, outside and any way you can get inside, baby, physically or emotionally, is mine. You don't share that. Ever." ~Jake 

These characters are absolutely wonderful!! All of them, Josie, Jake, Jake's kids and all of the supporting cast just make up a bunch of people that you would love to have the pleasure of knowing!

If you are a KA fan than The Will is a must, or if you have never read her then The Will is a PERFECT place to start!!

#Review ~ Ravage Me (Ravage MC #1) by Ryan Michele

After spending the last two years stuck behind bars for a crime she didn’t commit, Harlow ‘Princess’ Gavelson’s time inside has finally come to an end, and she’s ready for revenge. Unfortunately, being the daughter to the Vice President of the Ravage Motorcycle Club cuts into her plans, as orders must be followed. Trying to settle back into this life is proving difficult when the tables are turned and the woman who framed her is out for blood. Lucky for Princess, growing up in a MC has taught her how to hold her own.

After spending years in hell overseas, Donavon ‘Cruz’ came home to lose the very thing he went into hell for, sending him to the darkest moments of his life. Joining Ravage two years ago was his safe haven, and he protects his family at all costs.

When a dark-haired bombshell struts into the club’s shop, he’s caught off guard but immediately knows she’s the one he’d do anything for. Tough as nails, and taking no crap from anyone, he’s captivated by a woman who could handle this life. Trying to meet the needs of the MC business and follow his heart proves to be difficult when the two collide, and lives are at stake.

Can these two find a way to be together, or will the needs of Ravage cost them everything, including their lives?

*Contains mature content including, sex and violence. Mature audiences only.*

Four Stars

“I will not be someone’s piece of ass. Not ever.”

Hi! My name is Tessamari and I love badass Biker books.

Alright, alright. Please forgive me for that. Then again, I can’t help my tastes. I saw this on FB and I couldn’t say no. I mean, have you seen that cover? Exactly. So I figured if I was in the mood for a Biker book, I might as well check this one out, especially since this author’s last book earned a solid four stars from me. In regards to this book, this was a pretty entertaining.

She was everything I never knew I wanted in a woman. She was strong, fierce, smart-assed, loving.

After serving two years in prison, a place she does not want to ever go back, Harlow is looking forward to her life back at the Ravage MC. Being the daughter of the Vice President, Harlow has always been the MC’s Princess, but she definitely doesn’t act like one. Although she is known as Princess around the MC, her actions are from it. She knows how to fight, shoot and ride. She loves the MC life, though she knows she’ll never be patched in. She knows this life and accepts it. The one rule she has is to never sleep with a brother; it only leads to complication and a reputation she does not want. But when Cruz meets her, he immediately wants her and will do anything to have her.

When she climbed on her bike and fucked it in front of all of us brothers, I almost came in my damn pants. That was the hottest fucking thing I’d ever seen

Harlow is unlike any woman Cruz has ever met; he has definitely met his match. The only problem is that she’s very adamant about the no fucking brothers rule. However it doesn’t take long for the two to connect. As a matter of fact, Harlow tries to put up a front, but it’s all for nothing. Cruz definitely gets under her skin. But he isn’t the only one after her. Harlow’s life is in danger. The woman who set her up and landed her in prison is once again after her. Her life is one big hot mess.

Surprisingly this book wasn’t as predictable as I had originally thought. Yes, the relationship between Harlow and Cruz was inevitable, but there were a lot of other things happening within the story itself. It kept me entertained and I just loved how Cruz protected what was his. I’m really liking that each book will be about a different couple and I’m really looking forward to reading G.T. & Casey’s story. Well done, Ms. Michele.