#books unhinged

[stacy-hgg]

New Review: Tangled by Emma Chase

I'd like to welcome Christina The Book Bitch to Books Unhinged!  I'm so excited! 

Tangled is her first review for us!!!

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  Tangled by Emma Chase

Series: Tangled #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance       

Age Group: NewAdult

Release Date: May 19th 2013

Print Length: 240 pages

Format: Kindle

Source: Purchased

Review Date: June 4th 2013

Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars

Reviewed by Christina the Book Bitch

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Summary:

Drew Evans is a winner. Handsome and arrogant, he makes multimillion dollar business deals and seduces New York’s most beautiful women with just a smile. He has loyal friends and an indulgent family. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed?  He’ll tell you he has the flu. But we all know that’s not really true. Katherine Brooks is brilliant, beautiful and ambitious. She refuses to let anything - or anyone - derail her path to success. When Kate is hired as the new associate at Drew’s father’s investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating.  Then, just when Drew is on the cusp of having everything he wants, his overblown confidence threatens to ruin it all. Will he be able untangle his feelings of lust and tenderness, frustration and fulfillment? Will he rise to the most important challenge of his life?  Can Drew Evans win at love?  Tangled is not your mother’s romance novel. It is an outrageous, passionate, witty narrative about a man who knows a lot about women…just not as much as he thinks he knows. As he tells his story, Drew learns the one thing he never wanted in life, is the only thing he can’t live without.

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Review:

In this book you meet Drew. Drew is a playboy that can pretty much get any women he wants, by giving his sexy smile and talking a few flirty words. Expect one women he meets at a club. This one is very different she doesn't fall at his feet when he flashes her his panty dropping smile. He never gets the mysterious women's name but he will soon know her very well. 

  That Monday when Drew returns to work at the investment banking firm he learns they are welcoming a new colleague to the team. Can you guess who that would be?? That's right none other than the captivating women Drew can't get out of his head from the club....Katherine (Kate) Brooks.  Oh and Kate so has him by the balls because Drew wants her bad! 

  Kate and Drew end up working together on a presentation to get a new client. The sexual tension between them is thick enough you can cut it with a knife. They finally give into one another and spend a entire weekend at Drew's apartment (insert steamy sex here).  When returning back to work that next Monday everything is amazing between them and they couldn't be happier...until they walk into the lobby of their office building. Kate's ex-boyfriend Billy is there to take her back. This is where Drew screws up everything. Instead of just asking Kate what happened between her and Billy when they talked he makes a complete ass out of himself. 

  And this is where I'm going to leave you guessing...can Drew fix everything between the two of them?? Or will he lose her for good? What lengths will he go to get her back? And is he the dreaded  L word with her..in Love??

  My Thoughts on Tangled:

I feel like Tangled only lived up to half of the hype and anticipation that it was supposed to have. It had its funny parts but I didn't feel like it was hilarious like I had read on other blogs and sites. If you are looking for a cute light-hearted love story, with laughs, and steamy sex this is your book. With all of that being said this book was just okay for me.  

  ~Christina the Book Bitch

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[stacy-hgg]

New Review: Come Alive by Jessica Hawkins

  Come Alive by Jessica Hawkins

Series: The Cityscape #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: Adult

Release Date: May 30th 2013

Pages: 271

Format: DRC

Source: Net Galley

Review Date: June 1st 2013

Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

Summary:

Determined to move on with her life, Olivia Germaine has vowed to forget David Dylan. Struggling to keep her head above water, she focuses on her new promotion and refuses to drown in the memory of their night together. But when Olivia realizes what life without David means, she must decide if she is willing to risk everything for him . . . and if she is ready to reopen the wounds of her past. Can Olivia move forward with her marriage despite her feelings for David? And can David stay away like he promised?

Review:

So this book is the second in hopefully a trilogy about Olivia and David.  It was painful to read but SO NOT in a bad way! Olivia deep down knows how she feels and what she wants but is so tormented and torn to do the “right thing” and is drowning in guilt. Yet, cannot stay away from what her heart truly wants.

I wanted to scream, cry, yell and throw my kindle at times.  I got emotionally invested in the characters and situations they find themselves in.  I felt like I was on a runaway emotional rollercoaster. Just when you think she makes a decision, the story takes a turn…and so on.  By the end of the book I needed a hug and a nap.  

The last chapter or two of the book I read holding my breath, breath I didn’t know I was holding.  I cannot wait to read the next book.  There are still so many unanswered questions and I NEED to know what happens as this one ends with an answer, or is it?  

Reviewed by LadyBalls!

Add to Goodreads

  Come Alive Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

  →The first book in the series Come Undone was reviewed also.  Click Here!!! 

  Purchase Book one on Amazon Below

[stacy-hgg]

Must Reads ♦ Favorite Books ♦ What Should I Read Next?

With so many great books out there to choose from it's hard to know what to read next.  I have a TBR pile that could circle the earth - so how do I pick my next read?

Rant:

Unfortunately, books are not free so I often go to the library to get my fix.  My county's library is AWESOME! It has like 30 branches, and amazing selection of books, and a great eBook & audiobook site.  So if I have a library book that's due soon I usually pick that one up. Even if that is not necessarily what I'm in the mood for.  I am trying to cut back on this bad habit :) So check out your local library's website.  It's a great resource that not enough people take advantage of.  There are not a ton of New Adult books, but there is a HUGE selection of YA and Paranormal books in most libraries. Another reason I might pick up a book is because I have accepted a free review copy.  It is fun getting free books, but it is not good practice to accept them without reviewing them.  They pile up really fast, and it's easy to get overwhelmed. So I have had to be much pickier with the review copies I accept.  I want to read and review everyone's books but I just can't    And finally there are the books/ebooks I have purchased.  Sadly, these are usually the books I want to read the most, but also the books I have the least time to spend reading.  So books like Slammed and Point of Retreat are sitting next to me unread.  I know, I'm like the last person on earth who hasn't read them but.... I also own Beautiful Disaster/Stranger which are also sitting next to me. unread... So why am I telling you all this?¿ Because the push I sometimes need is someone telling me that "such and such" was one of their all-time fav books and I just HAVE to read it!  So I put all my "I should really read this one's" aside, and just enjoy a great book. So I'm gonna tell you about my"You just HAVE to read it" books.  LadyBalls, BU's new contributors, will also give you her picks ;-)

  REAL (Real, Raw & Ripped #1) by Katy Evans

  This books has a cult-like following for a reason. IT IS AWESOME!!! I just read it recently and fell in love so freakin hard with this book that it took over Beautiful Disaster's first place spot on my fav's list.  Yes, it is my all-time favorite book EVER! So if you have not read it yet, stop what you are thinking of reading and pick this one up NOW!

♥♥My 5+++ Star Review of REAL♥♥

  Beautiful Disaster by Jaime Mcguire

  If you have not heard of Beautiful Disaster than I don't know how you found your way to this blog.  It's insanely popular, with a movie deal and all.  It was one of the first New Adult novels to hit the scene, which paved the way for countless others after it. There are some frustrating parts to BD, but I started reading again last year because of it.  (I had been in a slump) My sister, who is not an avid reader, finished it not to long ago and was obsessed!  I remembered that feeling *sigh* So if you have not read BD you should do it now, but first slap yourself for waiting so long! ;)

  ♥My 5 Star Review of Beautiful Disaster♥

    The Opportunist (Love Me With Lies #1) by Tarryn Fisher

  This is the kind of book that you love so much it hurts.  During and after you read it.  For some reason I do not need a HEA in my books to love them.  There are a few, like this one, that are just as good without one. I haven't read it in forever, but just writing about it gives me the chills. It's that good.

  "I think after the first time you give your heart away, you never get it back. The rest of your life is just pretending you still have a heart."

  "It was the last real kiss of my life. I would forever cling to that kiss. It was goodbye, and I'm sorry, and I love you so much. When it is done, he presses his forehead to my own one last time and he is gone. I am broken."

  So if you have not read the awesomeness that is The Opportunist. Do. It. NOW!!! I cannot stress to you how much I LOVED this book...

  ♥♥My 5+++ Star Review of The Opportunist♥♥

    The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

  This was the first book that I actually had to put down because my sobbing became so uncontrollable that I couldn't see through my tears. But it's not all emotional suicide, it's just a really great book.  There are very few books I place above this one.  It is a Must Read for sure!

    On the Island by Tracy Garvis Graves

  This novel is so unique. It's powerful. Forbidden love between student and teacher in the most extreme circumstances imaginable.  Definitely a Must Read!

Find You in the Dark by A. Meredith Walters

  This is a YA book, that has some dark subject matter - which includes cutting.  But the love story is so powerful and intense.  It is definitely my all-time favorite YA book, and A MUST READ!!

    All 3 A.L Jackson Books

  I CANNOT pick just one. They are all different, but so amazingly good.  If you enjoy a tear out your heart and stomp on it kind of book, these are for you.  There were times when I thought I couldn't take the pain anymore, but, of course I could. I'm a book masochist, that's for sure.  I was a sobbing mess throughout all three of these amazeballs novels!  Do NOT pass on this brilliant author!!!

  ♥My 5+ Star Review of Take this Regret♥

♥My 5+ Star Review of When We Collide♥

  More of my Fav Reads -> HERE

Now for LadyBalls list of MUST READS! (in no particular order...)

Strings (Hard Rock Harlots #1) by Kendall Grey

  I have never read a book where I should have actually heeded the warning it came with.  It was rude, crude, lude and full of raunch and I loved every single effing word of it, couldn’t get enough and was sad when it was over.  I was laughing at scenes days after I read it.  Kendall Grey is a god damn rock star!

  REAL (Real, Raw & Ripped #1) by Katy Evans

Hmm do we see a pattern with this book...

  The Help by Kathryn Stockett

    Consequences Novels by Aleatha Romig

    Chocolate Lover's Novels by Tara Sivec

  Well there are 3 books in this series and I couldn't just pick one, I loved them all. Fast paced stories that ranged from romantic, sexy, comical to dirty, dirty dirty. It takes a lot to make me blush and I blushed on more than one occasion! I can’t put into words how much I loved these crazy books!!!!

  Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

  Great! See I just got my next read!  Strings by Kendall Grey!   I have been wanting to read it, and have heard such amazing things about it (plus it's sitting in my Nook), so I'll put everything else aside and just read it next.... Happy Reading!!!

  Originally posted on www.BooksUnhinged.com

[stacy-hgg]

Cover Reveal & Teaser ♥ Playing For Keeps by Emma Hart

Playing for Keeps (The Game #2)  by Emma Hart

Expected Release Date: June 24th 2013

Summary: From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Emma Hart, comes the second book in The Game series, and the story everyone wanted after The Love Game…

  She's in love with him.  He's trying not to love her.  One night changes everything.

  Aston Banks never meant to get close to Megan Harper – not even for that one night. Haunted by a childhood he refuses to face, he knew she could break through every wall he’d ever built and tear them down without even realising she was doing it.

  Betraying Braden by starting a relationship with Aston wasn’t on Megan’s to-do list, but the second she sees a glimpse of someone other than the arrogant ass she’s come to know, she can’t walk away.

  Aston’s childhood is worse than Megan ever guessed, but as he tries and fails to push her away, it’s clear her love is stronger than the demons that cling to him every day. And now, because of it, he finally has to deal with what he’s buried deep down.

  What he doesn’t want to face. What he’s fought against for so long.

  And they have to do it all without Braden finding out.

  Keeping a relationship secret has never been harder.

  **This book can be read as a standalone novel, but reading The Love Game (The Game, #1) beforehand is advised.

Teaser:

  MEGAN

  “If you’re trying to hide, babe, then you’re failing. I can see you.” Aston’s words crawl over me in a smooth caress, making my throat dry up and my blood boil simultaneously.

“Why would I be hiding?” I sit up and look forward, determined not to meet his eyes.

He shrugs a shoulder carelessly, twirling a pen between his fingers. I catch his every movement from the corner of my eye. His eyes are burning into the side of my head - they’re begging me to turn, begging me to look.

“Because you want me so badly you can’t bear to see me,” he says in a dramatic tone with a touch of arrogance.

My back straightens. “Clearly someone has been feeding your ego again,” I reply dryly. “Because I don’t remember ever telling you I want you.”

His bicep brushes mine as he leans forward. “Is that so?” he asks, his voice low and barely perceptible.

I fight the urge to drop my eyes to the desk. “Damn right it is.”

A fingertip trails down the back of my arm, the tingling feeling making me fight against a shiver.

“I think you’re wrong,” he whispers. “Because I’m pretty sure you said you wanted me on Saturday night – right before you dug those nails of yours into my back and wrapped your pretty little legs around my waist.”

My head snaps round to him, and our faces are inches apart. His lips are curled in a slightly smug smile, and I hate the fact that’s where my eyes fell first. I drag them away from his mouth and across the sharp planes of his face until they meet his smoky eyes.

I remember why I didn’t want to look at him. His eyes have the power to entrance me and to break me. Right now it’s the former – the silvery hint at the edge of his iris pulling me in and holding me captive. I remember why, from the first touch of his lips against mine on Saturday night, nothing could have stopped us happening.

 Disclaimer: This is from the unedited version of the book, and is therefore subject to change or removal before publication.

Author Bio:

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to a terrible two year old and growing bump, due September 2013. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of juice and writes books. She likes to write about magic, kisses and whatever else she can fit into the story. Sarcastic, witty characters are a must. As are hot guys.

Emma is currently working too many books to even count - including Playing for Keeps, the companion book to New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel, The Love Game. She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to when all the ideas come to life.

  Find Emma online at: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

[stacy-hgg]

Review: Outlaw by Nicole James

Outlaw by Nicole James Series: Stand Alone Genre: Contemporary Romance Age Group: Mature Adult Release Date: April 14th 2013 Print Length: 416 pages Format: Kindle Source: Booklending.com Review Date: May 25th 2013 Cover Rating: 4 stars Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars Sensuality Rating: Hot Review: I have been on an MC kick lately – reading Unbeautifully and watching Sons of Anarchy (SOA), so when this title came through on my booklending.com account I decided to read it immediately. It was a good book. If I would have had to rate it halfway through I would have rated it 3 or less but the second half of the book had what the first half lacked! Cole Austin is a biker in his early thirties. If you have watched SOA then he is identical to Jax Teller: Vice President of his club, hot, sexy blond with blue eyes, charming, smokes, drinks, uses women, but also has a big heart. I mean seriously – this character was stolen straight from SOA. He meets Angel and saves her from a sadistic sociopath from another MC, who beat and raped her. Two days later she is sleeping with Cole. Not realistic at all. If someone is brutally raped they are not getting it on two days later. Not even close. But the saving grace for this novel is the second half, which I cannot go into too deeply because I don’t do spoilers. However, I will say that it turns into an emotional roller coaster. A good one. I cried often. I loved this couple and wanted them to have their HEA—I believed Cole could be saved from his demons. But could Angel forget that Cole has hurt her? She gets frustrating towards the end with her repeated refusals to even consider Cole’s apologies, when she is so obviously in love with him. So do I recommend you read it? Yes, if you like MC books. It has its frustrating moments, but overall it was a good read. Just do not expect it to live up to Madeline Sheehan’s Undeniable series, because it won’t. But in my opinion, not that many books can compete with them so… ~StacyHgg Books Unhinged

[stacy-hgg]

Mini-Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry Series: Pushing the Limits #1 Genre: Contemporary Romance Age Group: Young Adult Release Date: July 31st 2012 Print Length: 392 pages Format: Print Source: Local Library Review Date: May 11, 2013 Cover Rating: 5 stars Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars Sensuality Rating: Mild (YA)

Mini-Review: This book has been on my TBR list for some time now, and I’m glad I finally got to it. It is an excellent YA book with a great storyline and I was sucked-in from the very beginning. I loved Echo and Noah, and wanted them to have their HEA from early on. But there were many obstacles in their way. They both had severe family issues that had to be dealt—and this takes up majority of the story. Their love is heartbreakingly beautiful, and I loved every minute of it! I highly recommend this book to all YA fans! ~StacyHgg bit.ly/BooksUnhinged

[stacy-hgg]

Review: The Tied Man by Tabitha McGowan

The Tied Man by Tabitha McGowan Series: The Tied Man #1 Genre: Contemporary Romance/Erotica/Horror Age Group: Mature Adult Release Date: January 5th 2013 Print Length: 395 pages Format: Kindle eBook Source: Purchased Review Date: May 8th 2013 Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

Powerful, Dark, Intense, Tragic This book is so tragic that I had to distance myself from it twice, and take a day off before reviewing it. I feel like I have to get this review right for Finn’s sake. I know he is a fictional character, but when I was reading this he felt as real as I am. Mrs. McGowan is a tremendously talented writer, and I know that I would have never finished this book if she had not sucked me so far into the story that I actually could not leave it alone. I feared that the characters would forever be in this hell (if only in my head) if I did not finish the story. Let me tell you that I have read plenty of dark books, and have enjoyed many of them. But this one was so dark that at times it was too much for me to handle. I am VERY sincere when I say it is not for the faint at heart. It was so raw, powerful, and intense—I was in a constant state of dread. I was literally emotionally exhausted. So why do I give it 4.5 stars you ask? It is hard to put into words. My best guess would be that I fell in love with the main characters so deeply, and I hated the villain (Blaine) so much that I literally wanted to murder her myself. I was just so engrossed in this storyline that I felt it in my bones—so I had to give this book a high rating. Finn is an unbelievably beautiful character inside and out. He is also strong, surviving the most unimaginable cruelties as a sex slave, yet he has not broken. He is damaged, but not broken. He even has enough of himself left to fall for Lilith. “Lili” is the strongest female character I have ever come across. She is bold, independent, wild, sexy, and tells it like it is. She puts her life on the line to save Finn. It is an almost impossible task, but she cannot leave him there to be tortured. Will she be able to rescue Finn, or will they both perish trying? I have to mention a few things I would change about The Tied Man. First, if you are from the UK than this one doesn't apply to you. It was full of English slang that I didn't understand which at times made the book hard to follow. Thank goodness I read it on my Kindle so many of the words could easily be defined. And I still don’t know what a vest is. Is it a vest or another type of shirt?? Second, I could not understand why Finn never contemplated murdering Blaine. I am not a violent person, but if someone threatened the people I loved and continually had me brutally raped, I’m pretty sure I want to kill them. He was stronger than her, and definitely had the opportunity to. All things considered, this was definitely a book I will NEVER forget. It has a permanent imprint on my brain, and I’m still trying to figure out if that’s a good thing or not. If you think you can handle it, I recommend you try. Just have a barf bag and some tranquilizers ready just in case… ~StacyHgg Books Unhinged bit.ly/BooksUnhinged

[stacy-hgg]

Review: Cheating Death by Jen Naumann

Cheating Death by Jen Naumann Series: Stand Alone Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal Age Group: Young Adult Release Date: April 9, 2013 Print Length: 370 pages Format: Kindle Source: Purchased Review Date: April 30, 2013 Overall Rating: 4 stars Sensuality Rating: Mild (YA) ★★★★ Spooky, Unique, Emotional, Bittersweet… This book had my emotions all over the place. But at the turning of the last page the overwhelming feeling was bittersweet. This was a YA book with a heroine that acts like a real teenager, unlike the teenagers in many YA books that have the emotional intelligence of a forty year old. Lysandra is an average girl, in an average town, doing average (although risky) teenage stuff. She reminds me a lot of myself during my teenage rebellious years. She is naïve, superficial, and impulsive; think back to when you were teenager and you can most likely relate (if you’re being honest with yourself). She meets Aydin on her last day of her senior year in high school. He is a new kid, a recent arrival to her high school. As Lysandra’s decisions lead to horrible consequences he is there to help her out of the darkness. But he is hiding a lot. Aydin is a mystery, and when Lysandra finds out who he really is her world is turned upside-down. She is faced with adult decisions for the first time in her life. She is also forced into a supernatural world she knew nothing about. Will she survive through all this? You may be surprised… I thought I knew where the story was going so many times and was shocked each time I was wrong. This story has its supernatural elements, but above all it is a story about a young girl dealing with difficult circumstances and growing from them. The end is bittersweet. I was hoping for something different, but I also like to be surprised. And I was definitely surprised. Warning: this book contains underage drinking and (non-graphic) non-consensual sex/rape. StacyHgg Books Unhinged bit.ly/BooksUnhinged