Category Archives: Contemporary Romance

MASTERPIECE by Juliette Jones

Header Review Masterpiece

Max is a bull rider who was more than satisfied with the life he lived full of fame, success and women, until one rodeo accident that almost took his life happened, and his view and objectives in life changes. From that point on he wants and longs for something more, especially where women are concerned. He is tired of the meaningless encounters before the accident, and easy women who trow themselves at him, he wants to finds THE ONE for him…

“I’ve already accepted that I changed during my forced hiatus from the rodeo circuit.”

717825f3043c210bac2ba5e3354cdeff

Elle is an assistant curator at a New York gallery, where she has lived her whole life. Lately she has been having these sensual dreams where an mysterious cowboy devours her, so when her boss gives her an ultimatum to go to Montana to sign in a local artist, she think that maybe, just maybe, she will get a chance to make her sexy dreams come true, and find her own flesh and hot blood cowboy.

“And maybe my dream was some weird, random premonition. Like I’d become a seductive psychic whose stars were suddenly aligned or something.”

aff6c9e6fcb4975161af33f76dde0ef5

Of course her paths immediately cross, especially because the secret that Max has been keeping a secret <spoiler>he’s a painter, an amazing one, according to Elle </spoiler> is the final link that allows Max to transform their undeniable attraction into something more, since for the first time a woman has not fallen on his feet upon meeting him. Her sassy spirit and her uptight attitude and look that beg for him to dishevel are the final straw to his decision of making her wholesomely his… And he’s never letting her go…Not that she wanted it. LOL 😉

“Masterpiece, is the word that comes to mind. Like everything about Max Cash.
The real man makes the dream man pale in comparison.”

50d445d8b1c9a3850cce517d7d03d369

This was a fun, sexy and short read, the bull rider and curator thing for the MCs it reminded me a bit of The Longest Ride, by Nicholas Sparks, but that’s how far as the similarities go. I enjoyed all the characters, and I would love to hear more about his brother’s stories. Max was such a man’s man, and you could practically feel the testosterone vibes exuding from him. Yummy! And Holy hotness had the man a filthy mouth on him… (*cue fanning myself*)

“You like that, darlin’? You like my big cock spilling my seed all over your sweet pussy? You want more? I’m going to take you now, baby girl. As soon as you start to come, I’m gonna slide my big cock all the way inside.”

I have to say that in this version, he was absolutely perfect! And when he realized that she was the one for him, he was willing to do anything to get her forever. Elle was a smart and confident character and every bit of city girl, but open to explore and see what else was out there for her. And she was more than rewarded for that.

This is the consolidation of every steamy cowboy fantasy compiled in one compact short story!

a20fa4a74dd8190172db82509fc2b0f9

Again I would like to congratulate Juliette for the amazing job, but especially for being brave and humble by editing her work, after the release, after taking into consideration our tips and advices. I wish there were more author out there with such courage and care for what their readers have to say, and especially being open to accept that maybe, their initial approach in a particular scene was not the ideal one. IMO, in this specific case cutting and twerking a bit a scene, made a world of difference, because it completely changed the global view of the H.

So again, kudos to you, JJ! I look forward to read even more of your stories ( I’m a greedy bitch and I’ve already read all of them, so I want more!)!!! 😉

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for a honest review

Goodreads ADD button       Goodreads review Link

Curvy by Alexa Riley

Header Review Curvy

Flynn is the very definition of a workaholic businessman, and it has been getting worse since his father’s death. His company is everything he is interested in, and he’s completely devoted to it. That is, until one day in a meeting while discussing new strategy for a failing lingerie brand, one particular binder falls and reveals someone that completely and utterly steals his attention…

I’ve never had a reaction like this to a woman. I’m too old to get a fucking hard-on from seeing a woman in a picture. She’s not even naked. Just the sight of her in her underwear has me nearly bursting in my slacks.

4c0f36aa3d4328939d3744951869237f

He is instantly more than attracted, and it’s so funny to see him struggle to keep his bearings. Not that he succeeds…LOL

“Her name?” I push, and she reaches for the binder. I pull it back, not wanting it taken from me. Almost like a toddler with his favorite toy.

I really loved this initial scene, where we see all these different sides and reactions from him. And we immediately acknowledge the perfect H that he is and it’s set to makes us swoon at every turn. 

She tries to hand me another binder, but I have no desire to look at pictures of other women. What would be the point? They’d all pale in comparison. I’ve just seen perfection and I know nothing could beat it.

To be able to approach and meet her, he arranges for a photoshoot where she is hired as one of model. She has no idea that this photoshoot will change her life forever…

Cali is a plus size model, that has been working in the industry for some years. She is strong, confident and very comfortable in her skin. Of course she also has some hang-ups and moments of doubt, but those are part of our human nature.

I’ve got the body of a “real woman.” I think every size is beautiful. Every woman is a real woman: tall, short, thin, and big. Beauty comes in different shapes. I’d just prefer it if the sexy stuff came in my size more often.

BW_47db4b0c680f823fcdf0f53a1accaad5

Flynn was one of the most OTT obsessed Hs I have ever read. Sometimes it’s funny how he really can’t see reason where Cali is concerned. 🙂

“He’s gay, sir.”

“He won’t be when he sees her.” I find it completely unbelievable that there would be a man on earth who wouldn’t want her. I’d only seen a picture of her and I was obsessed. Consumed.  (Flynn to his executive about the photographer)

If he was already obsessed with her through her photos, that takes a whole new dimension when he sees her in person.

She’s definitely mine, and I’m never letting this angel go. 

5f86be7c39ff5ed8a653824f464c87be

And upon the first touch, there is no coming back for either of them…

As soon as I make contact, it’s there, and so is the heat. It’s an instant attraction. It’s as if my soul has finally found its other half. (Flynn’s inner thoughts)

I can we not sigh? Alexa Riley’s always offers us amazing heroes, and this one is not exception. No one creates a dominant, obsessed and loyal like her. AR totally rocks this genre, how can I not be a die hard fan of her work? 😉

I’ll give her anything she wants. All she needs to do is ask. I will devote my life to waiting hand and foot on her if that’s what she desires. She is mine to protect and to cherish, always.

bc11f44ef46aa8d511ab6330401838a5

This story has the perfect balance of sweet, funny and steamy hot. An amazing OTT Hero and a fantastic heroine, and most importantly, off the charts chemistry! On a side note, I would like to point out that it was refreshing that there were no snappy comments or mean girl talk amongst the models. They only speculated and wanted a piece of Flynn, but come on, let’s be honest, who doesn’t? LOL

And now, I anxiously wait for my next AR fix! 😉

“How do you know?” she asks, and I can see the pleading in her eyes. “Because I didn’t exist until the day I saw you.”

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for a honest review

                                             Goodreads ADD button      Goodreads review Link

BEST KASE SCENARIO (Hyde #2) by Layla Frost

Header Review Best Kase Scenario
Harlow hides being a bubbly facade, but she is slowly drowning in her own life. She’s incredibly loyal, and such a fighter and a through and through good person. The only person she isn’t good to is herself. She comes to such desperation, that to earn enough to help, she starts working as a stripper in a club. That on top of her internship and college.
So, she works herself to the bone until someone finds out and decides to intervene…

Kase (who I can totally see as Jesse Williams with dreads, with his baby blues popping out)has secretly wanted Harlow from the first moment he saw her. The more time went by the more he realized, that so much more laid beneath the apparent constant happiness of the redhead. And the more he was drawn to her. Of course he knew it she wouldn’t just give in to those feelings, and he had to fight to knock down her walls. Actually not so much walls, as her constant flight risk! 😉

Fuck it. She wants to run, then I’m gonna chase.

After being pushed to take action, upon finding out about her new job, he was all in for the fight, and believe me, it wasn’t an easy one, but he sure knew how to deal with her insecurities.

7cbfe9a47718ea4be254e4857c50284c

“I know. She’s really nice, and the good princess always gets her prince. Like you have Kase!”(Hadley to Harlow)

Yes, Kase was a true prince charming, his calm and confidence were incredible. He never had any doubts about his feelings, and always knew the right words and actions to smoothly deal with Harlow’s issues, and help awake her feelings for him.

“Man, she’s worse than Jake.” I drained the last of my beer. “I wanna push, but I don’t wanna fuck this up. I mean, you saw her. Half the time she looks ready to bolt.”
“And the other half?”
I smiled. “It’s what makes all the work worth it.”(Kase to Rhys)

And on top of that he is such a romantic soul (sigh), he and everyone around him admitted as much. We learn that he got that trait from his father.

“Yeah, he was always like that. He’d say, ‘If she’s worth your love, she’s worth your life.’”

a3dc5220fb873751dc68024c30b148ee

There were so many times he made melt and sigh. He really was an amazing H, especially because, even after all the bad things that happened in his past, he always kept a positive attitude and a happy and calm vibe that was contagious to those surrounding him.

“Made me who I am,” he whispered back. “I’ll never take for granted all the good I have in my life because I know how fast that can change. Seen the bad, the dirty, the fuckin’ ugly, which means I can really, truly appreciate the beauty for what it is.” Gripping my ass, Kase stood, taking me with him. “I’m thinking now’s a good time to do just that.”

Harlow was such a strong and independent character, beautiful and smart, nerdy and sweet, the perfect match for Kase.

And, while I was a dude that loved some tits and ass, a big brain was what really did it for me.
The fact she also had the tits and ass was just an added bonus.

For those of you who, like me, enjoy a lot of spice in their story, you will not be disappointed. The sex scenes are beyond hot, and more than plentiful! Our H shows us, yet again, why he is such a great book boyfriend, because he allies his constant romantic nature to a true dirty talker, and that ladies and gentlemen creates an explosive combo.

687474703a2f2f33312e6d656469612e74756d626c722e636f6d2f66316139323736313564383738613938303562646263333663633565306336312f74756d626c725f6d6b626f6f774b6e7a783173327366616b6f315f3530302e676966

“Watch me fuck you, Harlow.” His words were sharp, clipped. “Take what’s mine. What I need.”

I loved this couples’ story and it was good to see again those wonderful group of friends and family. And Hadley was sweet and delightful little girl. In my opinion, the book could have been a bit shorter (yes, I can’t believe I’m saying this), and the story would still be there. It was wonderful to read a full book without any OW drama, and the barely any OM issues, which proves to many authors out there that you don’t need this kind of drama to create a full length novel with enough excitement and events to keep us glued to the story. So kudos to Layla Frost for that – and it’s only her second book!!! Now I want the next in the series, please!

3ec34eb8b2520a0d651f0c5d85824b75

“Marry me, ipo?” I repeated, making it a question. “Let me give you lani. Make your life moeʻuhane.”
She nodded, her face turning red as she blinked back tears. “But it already is.”

   Goodreads ADD button      Goodreads review Link

JUST GIVE A REASON (Lopez Brothers #2) by Rebecca Rogers Maher

Header Just Give me a Reason

Tony is a recently divorced, single parent of two little girls.
For years he was dedicated to his store/business and family, but now with his divorce finalized six months prior and the struggle to keep his business afloat., he feels that he’s losing control of everything around him, and he’s slowly drowning. But he feels he needs to keep up appearances for his girls and for his younger brother Ray (the H of the previous installment).

Beth is a strong willed independent woman. After a weekend fling where all form of birth control failed, she found herself pregnant, but instead of the predicted emotions for a person with her lifestyle, she decided to embrace Fate and was confident about her option. Before this life changing event, she was a very sexually liberated woman, she enjoyed her ONS and was always very honest with her partners.

How are you supposed to do that when you’re shackled to one person for your whole entire life? People should have the freedom to fuck their obsessions away when they feel like it.

 

I will never, ever make that mistake. I might not want a long-term relationship, but I’m not a cruel person. I don’t want to be the cause of anyone’s suffering. By being rigorously, diligently honest, I make sure that doesn’t happen. Always. I make sure the other person can accept my terms before I get involved with them.

d2cdc537fc2abaef3bcf4860e5ae13fd

As she mentions multiple times through the book, her problem regards the conventional, monogamous relationship, especially marriage, not children, so she always saw them in her future, but always as a single mother. Her deeply ingrained issues with marriage, as we find out through the reading, come from her parents disastrous marriage ( I won’t reveal too much here because that is one of the main core issues to the character, and the slow paced reveal really adds to the enjoyment of the book).

From the moment they meet (Beth is best friends with Holly, who is dating/living together with Ray, Tony’s brother – previous book MCs), they immediately feel drawn to one another, but with Beth’s recent pregnancy discovery and Tony’s personal and professional life problems, they try to ignore the chemistry.

ba4368d800a5f9e862fefce203ae6e6b

Certain events take place (with a little unconscious help from Holly and Ray) and they find themselves cohabiting the same space, and struggling even more with their physical reaction to the other. Until the moment they loose the fight…

“But for the record,” she says, “you are kind of ridiculously hot, okay? I want you to know that.” I breathe in, deeply, and hold the breath. She can’t possibly know what it means to me to hear that. After so many years of Alexa’s indifference. I know I’m not bad-looking. I know I’m a decent guy. But when your wife doesn’t want you, how can that not crumble your confidence?

0125d09be7b6c8823c46c436c9043f74

OMG, I can honestly say it was one of the more realistic books I have ever read, their personal insecurities, their fights, and their honesty was incredible.

I might not be the woman for him in the long term; I’m not that woman for any man. But I can give him one gift today. The gift of losing himself. The gift of learning what lies beneath the nice guy he so studiously presents to the world.

 

As much as it hurts—and God, why does it hurt so much?—I can set aside my own complicated feelings. And just support her.

I was feeling what they were feeling, suffering with their internal battles, cheering their obstacle they overcame, and yelling my head with their poor decisions.

I wasn’t built for long-term romantic commitment. I am too much like my father. Impatient and restless, wanting adventure and space and my own separate life. I would hurt Tony like Dad hurt Mom, and I couldn’t live with myself if I did that.
He deserves so much better.

 

“You think you’re going to hurt him, don’t you? You think you can’t be you and still be with him, and you think you’re going to get sick of that and leave, and break his heart.”

Given how much I enjoyed the book, I have to say that Beth’s denial in accepting their relationship, her feelings for Tony, and particularly her unconsciously blindness and denial, were the main reason to which my rating wasn’t higher. I could understand the first time – not that I liked it – she pushed him away and didn’t want contact, but the second time <spoiler>after her baby’s birth, where he was her support and help </spoiler> I was really mad at her. It was to much, because Tony, he was just so damn sweet and loving…

I’ve tried to be as normal as I could—like a friend would be.
But this.
This was always here.
This need for her. This craving.
This love.
Rippling through me. Tying my hands.
Asking for more.
Because it’s not enough, only being Beth’s friend.

 

“I love you, Beth. And I want you. And your child. Everything is what I want. That’s how it is.”

23marcus-cc3a2mara

He was really incredible, I just wish, at times, that he was a stronger, less beta, character, and hadn’t allowed her to push him away so much. That he had taken some action. I understood why he didn’t, given his past and the reasons for his failed marriage, I just wanted a bit more strength and hands on attitude! This being said, for a beta, he was of the best and sweeter male MCs I have ever read. In the end, they overcame their problems, but damn, I wanted more, hence the other half a star deduction, because their ending felt a bit unfinished, and I wanted a epilogue, to see how they manage their solution on the long haul. Nonetheless, it was a great read, and I will for sure, read more from the author.

There’s no going back now to the place inside myself where I’ve been hiding all these years. For better or worse, she found me out. And now here I am, as open as she is.

 

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from CrushStar Multimedia LLC for an honest review.

   Goodreads ADD button      Goodreads review Link

COUNTER TO MY INTELIGENCE (The Heroes of The Dixie Wardens MC, #7) by Lani Lynn Vale

Header Counter to my Intelligence

Sawyer was a bright and happy nursing student until one night, while driving her boyfriend and best friend back from a party, a car crosses her path and her life was irrevocably changed.
As a consequence to the accident, four people were dead and she was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Now, eight and a half years after, she is free, but she is no longer that person, but a woman with so many demons and guilt that she can barely breathe.

There would be no healing for me.
There would just be existing.
And that’s all that there would ever be.
Existing, alone.
I was a horrible, no good, very bad person and not a single day went by that I didn’t wish it was me that’d died that day instead of them.

 

That would be awesome… if I were worth having that.
But I wasn’t, so I wasn’t going to look too much into it.
What was the point?
They didn’t know me.
And they didn’t need to. I was worthless.

And then we have Silas, the president of The Dixie Wardens MC, and before I start the rant (OK, I promise I’ll control myself…LOL), I would like to point out that I have nothing against the cover model, au contraire, but when I picture Silas (according to his descriptions) there are a bunch of graying short haired and short bearded, blue eyed rugged DILFs out there that fit the bill better, IMO, such as this one.

tumblr_ns7kd5w5la1qbmtx9o1_500

Ok, we could need to roughen him up even more but he would be perfect, and then the age gap and her attraction to him would be undeniable. But hey, that is just my opinion, and it’s worth what is worth…LOL
Now back to the character, he has made appearances although out this author’s books and we know that his past is less than savory (especially for someone like me that ab horrors cheating in my readings) as I mentioned in the point ‘cheating’, so I will just say that he made me give him a clean slate, the author was able to make me forget my grudge against his past and that is quite a feat since I’m a resentful bitch (worse than a scorned woman, because normally I just can’t let it go – sorry, Elsa – no way, no how). So that just shows you how much his character, and especially his actions forced me to really look at him, and see a new person with stood up to his mistakes, was honest and wonderful to Sawyer.
Now, let’s go to that, the present Silas…
Silas, is a mature man, and his position on the MC is a reflexion of his personality, he is a confident, what you see is what you get, straight shooter. Like any club member, his club brothers are his extended family, and we feel his longing for a better connection with his sons and daughter’s family (especially Sam), but he fully accepts that the decisions he made to protect them in their past will forever be remember only by the bad part, not the good that came out of them.
Silas was aware of Sawyer’s predicament mainly because he was dating her mother (I know, I know, normally that his another of my triggers, but I felt it was more a companionship of two lonely persons than really dating, they never had sex, and only kissed, so it really didn’t bother me), and was intrigued by the situation, which surprised even himself… LOL

I didn’t really want to know, but the fucking brothers had turned me into a fuckin’ gossip whore.(Silas’ inner thoughts)

But when Sawyer came out, and he came face to face with her there was a magnetic pull between them, that both try to deny and fight.

I’m not a person known for his good decisions.
I knew I shouldn’t take her.
Knew it was bad on way too many levels.
Yet my dick and my mind were in complete agreement.
And I was a big believer in fate.(Silas’ inner thought)

Since fate really put them literally in each others path, and the attraction was so strong they decide to let it go, and give in to the pull. And boy, oh boy, were they HOT together, the sex scenes were of the charts, and Silas, OMG he takes dominant to a whole new level… 😉

b49fa7b11e44e130707d25008b5aa152

Of course they try to fight their feelings, and not get emotional involved, being straight that they want only a physical relationship, only sex.

“I don’t do relationships. And whatever this is, it’s not going to be hearts and flowers. I don’t have time for that,” he said again.
She shrugged. “I don’t have time for hearts and flowers anyway. It’s just not for me.”

But as we all know, life is not always as we plan, and they start getting more and more involved with the other’s life while having some crazy hot sex where Silas makes very clear ( in a orgasmic way 😉 ) how their dynamic is going to work…

“When I tell you to do something…I expect you to do it. I’m not a man like any of the others you may have known. I’m older and set in my ways, I expect things to be done the way I want them done, and all that means you need to follow my directions. Everything I do and say has a purpose, and that purpose is what’s in your best interest. So from now on, in all ways, you obey me,”

afb5c308ebd2e40f67a1a6da77f90580

I love how the author manages to provide us some humorous moments that perfectly balance the heavy themes, and always crack me up.

“I didn’t know his favorite anything, and I’d had sex with him multiple times!
I knew how he liked his cock sucked, though.
Which I guess was better than knowing he preferred chopped brisket to sliced brisket.”

One of the things that made me love Silas was his honesty, and the way he opened up to Sawyer, and when he know he was having strong feeling for her, he didn’t keep them to himself.

“Why are you telling me this?” I gasped, tears starting to leak down my cheeks.
“Because you need to understand,” he said, bending down to press his lips against my face. “Because I think I’m falling for you when I promised myself I’d never do this ever again. Because it hurts too fucking bad.”

And before he confessed that to her, he fully disclosed everything about his life, his past, his mistakes, errors and his deepest regrets. That truly surprised me, and Sawyer, it seemed, but it was a wonderful thing to see a strong and confident character like his open himself up like that, and show a huge vulnerability and fear of getting hurt.

But I couldn’t help feeling it was wrong, what he’d done.
That it was wrong of me to want to be with him. (Sawyer’s inner thought upon the reveal)

Sawyer took a second to analyze his reveal, aware of the wrong that he had done, but saw how much he regretted all those mistakes, understood his reasoning but was strong and said what she felt about the situation.

“But I like you too much to leave. Just know that if you ever get into a circumstance where you have to do anything similar to that to me, I’ll tear down heaven and earth to have you at my side. I won’t tolerate cheating under any circumstance, even if it’s supposedly to protect me. Understand?”
He smiled, a brilliant one that made my heart throb in my chest.
“Yeah, I gotcha.”

Once they clear all that up, there was no way of going back for them (not that they wanted it!), and it made Silas (and us as a reader) understand why (unconsciously) he had made some of that bad choices in the past.

It’d been her eyes.
The innocence in them.
I was drawn to that.
It drew me in every, single time.
Which had been the reason I’d fallen for Sawyer, too.
Now, though, I knew she was nothing like Leslie.
She was stronger.
She was someone I’d never in my life cheat on. She knew all about me, and I knew there’d never be a time that I kept a goddamn

And this realization was the final step for him to come to peace with his dark past and open himself up for the future with Sawyer.

“Hell, now that I had Sawyer, I realized just how much I didn’t love Leslie.
Because what I felt for Sawyer, I knew, was real love.
It was unshakable.
This love…it would withstand the test of time.
She got me, and I got her.
Before her, every damn night, I’d dream of how my life could’ve been.
Now, with Sawyer in it, I dreamed of what our life will be like.”

772aadb51283ed7b6aac31e1451beb38

So together they fought each other demons, (SPOILER ALERT) Silas made sure to unravel the true circumstances of Sawyer’s accident and unfair trial, therefore slaying her dragons (SPOILER END) , overcame all their fear regarding love, and are really for everything that may come their way.

“And even though he was still hurt and had some healing to do, I knew everything was going to be alright.
Because Silas would make sure it was.
He’d never stop fighting for me, and I would do the same for him.
Because I loved him, and he loved me.
It was just as simple as that.”

Like I said before it was an amazing story, that surprised me and made me wish for even more from them. Wish a will surely get in the next book, but I want it now! Feb. 3rd can’t come fast enough (pouting…)!

    Goodreads ADD button      Goodreads review Link

REVIEW: PERFECTLY IMPERFECT by Harper Sloan

Header Review Perfectly Perfect

Willow’s life changed completely when her mother died. Her stepfather revealed his true colors, and from there forward she found herself alone and being verbally abused by him and her horrible half-sister, Ivy. This caused depression and terrible self-image problems for her, made worse by her verbally and emotionally abusive husband, that she can’t seem to overcome.
On her way to her divorce settlement, from her cheating husband Brad (with her sister) she meets Kane Masters, famous actor, and her life has set a new course.

Kane is looking for a true connection someone to make him feel everything he has been searching. When he meets Willow, even in her worst possible situation, he immediately realizes she is all he ever wanted.

I want companionship. I want a partner I can build a life with outside the insanity of my celebrity status. I want more for my future than bright lights around me.”

815b2b5c474d0f99e422a5dcb802447d

“I want someone real. I need a challenge. I want to feel that connection to someone I’ve never been able to find. That one you read about. The one that makes you feel alive. Awakens you with just a glance. I know it’s out there because I felt it once before; a fleeting feeling gone just as quickly as it hit, but it’s out there … otherwise, the movies they pay me millions to create wouldn’t be instant blockbusters. Everyone dreams of finding that feeling. And until I find it, I’m afraid I’ll spend the rest of my days wandering around like a lost puppy.”

“I’m not a person driven by lust anymore; I’m a man who knows a real solid connection when it smacks you in the face. “I felt it, Mia.” I sigh. “I felt that zap. That feeling of being kicked right in the chest. All it took was for her eyes to meet mine.”

OMG, I really can’t put in to words I wonderful and amazing Kane truly was. He was loyal, devoted and caring, and so supportive of Willow through her self-discovery journey. Actually he was the key to her del-image issues, showing her herself through is eyes.

“There isn’t beauty in perfection. It’s as fake as the image the word projects. Beauty is found in imperfection, Willow, because to admit you’re not perfect means you’re admitting you’re not whole and absolute. When I think of myself, I see someone willing to admit he’s as far from complete as it gets because, in order to get to that perfection, I need to find the other part of me who will make my life better. To take all the faults I have and fill them, and only then will I be there. You see, the way I see it, the only way to become perfect is to find that perfectly imperfect person who brings it out of you.”

e3063eb7047aa1afa2a3ae0e3ab5fde7

“I can see the same intensity I’m feeling reflected in her stare, and I know that what we’re both feeling goes beyond the love we’ve developed. This is more than just coming together physically. This was our souls devouring any space left between them to become one. To fuse together in a bond that will never be broken.
At this moment, our love turned into something so much bigger than words can describe. It’s only when I roll my back to the mattress, pull her body to mine, and feel her head rest gently against my chest that I realize tears of my own have fallen from my eyes.”

The secondary characters, especially Eddie and Kirby, were amazing and their help was crucial. And their bluntness and shameless comments also allow a few funny moments through the book.

“Everyone does it, Willow. You act like I’m the only person who uses a little ass cream on my face.” He stops what he’s doing when he realized what he said, a slight frown between his brows. “Don’t—”
“Don’t what? Point out the fact you’re probably used to butt cream in other places?”(Eddie and Willow)

Willow had through the book a true journey of self discovery, with the help of her friends and especially Kane’s love, we see her evolution, and blossoming of her true beauty. She let go of her awful past and open her arms to the future.

“I welcome the light just as much as I welcome the body I used to hate, because not only does the man I love adore every inch, but through his eyes, I do too.”

“I’m ready to move on from my past, and I know you’re worried about me because of everything you had to watch me suffer through, but you have to stop. It’s taken me a while, but I’m free of that pain. I can see that I was trying to search for the feelings I felt lacking, but I didn’t realize I was the one who held the key to them. I’m strong. I stepped out of that comfort zone I was stuck in, and just like you said it would, my life began.”

“When I look in the mirror, I won’t see the things they will most likely say about me. I’ll see me, Willow Tate, the woman who isn’t perfect, but she is perfect in her imperfections. They are not allowed to have that from me. I’m not weak. I no longer fear words meant to tear me down because I’m better than that. I love me for me. I love me for you. And I love you because you were the one who gave me this beautiful love, taught me how to see myself, and there is no one who could ever come between that.”

This didn’t get the five stars rating for two reason, first the way the whole Mia situation was treated and resolved. (SPOILER ALERT) I get that the whole is Kane the father of her baby was to add some angst to the story, but really there was no need for him to allow the press to fully assume it was his child. It would be all very simple done, just making a press explaining the was JUST Mia’s friend and the baby was not his. Of course the press would speculate who is the father, but it is very far fetched think they would find out that Kyle was the father. If the author still wanted to keep the angst, at very least this should have been done after the reveal to Willow. It’s very poor taste and unfair to her (even if she suggests it) and to their future children, because the press will never give it a rest, and assume the child is truly his. The other point is that I really wished that the epilogue would show us a look in to their distance future, not only their closer future, of only one year later. (SPOILER END) Nonetheless it was truly a beautiful and revealing story, something we should all want to achieve, acknowledging our self worth.

 

 Goodreads ADD button      Goodreads review Link