Beautiful Broken Mess Review + Giveaway

Jace Riley’s close connection with his identical twin brother, Jaxon, is put to the test when he tries to choose between keeping his promises and following his heart. Is this girl that still haunts his dreams, even after four years, really worth it? Jace can’t help but wonder if he made a huge mistake all that time ago when he let her walk into someone else’s arms, especially since that someone was his twin.

Audrey Mills often wonders at what point she should throw her hands up in defeat and allow all of the horrible circumstances of her life to overtake her. Despite the demons she has faced, however, something inside her won’t give in. When she leaves her small town in Texas to attend college in California, Audrey runs into the one guy who could make her or break her. But is the past they share too painful for them to overcome?

This is the second book in the broken series. While each book can stand on its own, it's recommended you read Beautiful Broken Rules before Beautiful Broken Mess.

New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance - recommended for ages 18 and up.  

 I gave Beautiful Broken Mess 4.5 stars. This was a nice follow up to one of my ultimate favorites, Beautiful Broken Rules. I was really happy to see Jace get his happily ever after. I went back and reread all the Audrey parts from book one to prepare myself for book two, and I was not too excited to read it. However, once I started the book, I couldn’t escape anymore. I started around one in the morning and then finished it around four in the morning. There was just so much angst and miscommunication, that I kept turning the page only to see them solve problems and then immediately create new ones. It was beyond infuriating, but we all know I really do love the angst.

I love, love, love Jace. He’s the more quiet one out of the trio of hot boys. He seems to be the most level-headed and responsible. He really is, except when it comes to Audrey. When they first meet at the beginning of the book, Jace already had me swooning, then all of a sudden I wanted to drop-kick him for being such an idiotic guy. But, I mean he was young… And he’s a guy… Seriously though, I could only give him so many free passes for being an idiot. Well, fine I gave him a couple extra because he’s a hot idiot. Audrey, his counterpart, needs to be wrapped up in a Jace blanket and hidden from the world. How can someone go through so much and still be able to love like she does? It’s amazing. Her strength is unreal. I admired her and shocked myself by falling in love with her. She went for what she wanted, and behaved like a normal girl in her shoes would. Their relationship was ridiculously confusing, but at the same time I found it strangely normal for their age. It was like one step forward, ten steps back. Talk about facepalm…

I was sooooo happy that we got to see Jax and Emerson as much as we did in this book. I wasn’t expecting it, but we basically got to see the continuation of their story here in Beautiful Broken Mess. Of course, we also get to see more Cole and Quinn cuteness. I was satisfied with the way both relationships progressed. And we get to meet Lane *swoon*. He is the second best thing that happens to Audrey (the first being Jace of course). Kimberly Lauren needs to stop hogging all the sexy guys in her books. Seriously. I can’t wait for his story.

 I'm a wanderer, an adventurer, a traveler. I want to see it all. I haven't been everywhere but it's on my list. "She travels the world & home is always in her heart." Lately if I'm not traveling or chasing a toddler, I'm writing. Which is weird because I hated writing in college. Oh wait, that's because that was boring. Who really wants to sit there and cite all your sources into APA format? Not this girl. Writing for yourself is enjoyable and cathartic. Please try it. Then tell me about because I love indie authors. When I was 19, I packed up and followed my high school sweetheart from Texas to California. We had a blast living it up in San Diego. Four years later we made a crazy decision and packed up again and moved to Germany. What? Yep, you read that right. Guess what? Best decision ever! We OWNED Europe. For three years we saw as much as we possibly could. We lived an hour outside of France, a couple from Switzerland and Italy. Most amazing time of my life. Please go out there and see the world, you won't regret it. After Europe we moved back to California, and for now we're just debating our next adventure. I earned a degree in Child Development. And now I write novels. Makes perfect sense! I write because I walk around all day with these stories in my head. It's nice to be able to get them out of my head in an organized fashion. I hope that someone out there enjoys them, because I have enjoyed so many others'.

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Blue Love Review

In this New Adult / College, Coming of Age story Tessa Ross tries to fight her attraction to bad boy Lucas Links. He is hot, arrogant, and has a sexual past that most boys his age could only dream of, (If they even knew they could dream of such things).

Lucas, the star quarterback seems to have it all, super star athletic abilities, expensive clothes, cars, and women who literally stop just to watch him walk by. On the outside he appears to have it all.

Tessa is a young woman who lives her life always doing what is right to make everyone else happy. She tries desperately to hold herself accountable to the demanding expectations of her family and everyone around her.

Is Tessa as innocent as she appears? Is Lucas just a spoiled young man who seems to have what every male, and female wants?

If you Love an emotional story that is full of spicy hot goodness. If you Love to follow a story from beginning until the bitter sweet end. If you are often left wondering what happened next... get your tissues and lip balm ready you are in for the read of your life.

As we all know, you should never judge a book by it's cover.

 

I gave Blue Love, the first book in M.J. Fields’ Love series, two leaves. I tried so hard to like this book, I really did. It was a unique story, but I couldn’t relate or even like any of it. The beginning was intriguing. The story was told from an omniscient third person point of view. The first few chapters were actually kind of a jumble, but like I said, it was intriguing. It skipped to about six different characters’ POVs in maybe the first three chapters. They were all connected in some way, and each time they interacted with someone new we would get to see inside their head a little of their past for about two and a half seconds. I was like, if this goes on the entire book I won’t get bored… However, it would have been very hard to keep the characters all straight in my head. I didn’t have to worry though, because eventually it just became Tessa and Lucas’ POVs with random Jade POVs.

Here’s the breakdown of the characters: Tessa and Lucas are in love. Which happened in less than a week after they started “dating”, mind you, which was preceded by some hate-flirting relationship that should have lasted longer. Tessa’s cousin Jade and Lucas’ best friend Tommy are in love. They fall in love at the same time Tessa and Lucas do, but they actually stay stable. Tessa and Jade have two friends, Becca and Phoebe, who are foster sisters. Oh, and Phoebe and Alex have some thing going on. I think. Alex is Tessa’s older brother. Then there’s Lucas’ twelve “ex-sexes”, one of which is his psycho ex-girlfriend Sadi. Surprisingly, we don’t have to suffer her POV, which is a very good thing. We can’t forget Toby and Ben. I’m not really sure what they are. They’re like Tessa’s ways of trying to get over Lucas? But, not really? Because her and Lucas are only together for maybe ten seconds of the book, not consecutively of course, and even when they aren’t they’re still making out, calling each other baby, texting, and saying “love you, anyways” to each other. An honorable mention goes to Tessa’s parents, whose separation is apparently supposed to excuse Tessa’s temper tantrums where she goes off and gets drunk and does reallyyyy stupid stuff.

Yeah… Dysfunctional doesn’t even BEGIN to describe Tessa and Lucas. Normally I’m all over dysfunctional relationships because, you know, they’re intense, full of drama, and never boring. Yet, the author somehow found a way to suck all the fun out of dysfunctional relationships. Tessa was immature, painfully so, and a tad bit bipolar. Lucas was a douchebag and the typical man-whore who never excused his behavior. Except, the only emotions I ever felt while reading were for Lucas and his terrible childhood, but it never lasted long. Lucas really does know how to make you hate him. All the other characters were meh. Jade and Tommy kind of had a cute first-love thing going on in the background. And they were the completeee opposite of Tessa and Lucas’ repetitively ridiculous relationship.

There were some redeeming aspects. Like the focus on family. Tessa is a great older sister. And Lucas becomes a fantastic older brother. He even manages to fix his father’s family life in the process. Tessa’s family? Her parents to be more specific, not good role models. At all. The dialogue was stilted and awkward. The characters were very hard to relate to. The writing could definitely be improved on. However, like I said the story was unique. So, you gotta give it that at least.

I can’t believe there’s going to be three more books… What else can possibly happen to them? I’m pretty sure I already know what all is really going to happen. The ending was predictable. It wasn’t a cliffy in the way where someone’s life is in peril, but there were TONS of unanswered questions at the end. I just was so sick of the ridiculousness that is Tessa and Lucas, that I couldn’t be anything more than annoyed that their story couldn’t just conclude already. I think the author could have trimmed out a ton from all four books and just made it one. But, who knows? Maybe the characters grow up? And become better people? Maybe? Hopefully?

I am a very new self published writer. I will tell you I have always had a very vivid imagination. 

Starting at age 3 (as it states in my Baby Book).

Sigma was my very first love (imaginary boyfriend). He lived about fifteen miles from my childhood home, (a farm). I took him chicken noodle soup every night on one of our families snowmobiles, (Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring). Apparently he was very ill and "Thank God" I was able to take care of him.

Next was my very first self publishing gig. At eight my cousins and I (and yes I was the president) wrote a newsletter and sold it to our family members.

Years later I decided to put it back into print to entertain my cousin as she was on an aircraft carrier on 9/11 (Kick ass cousin BTW) and very far away from home during a very scary time for our country, (protecting our butts).

Fast forward to 2012. I read 50 shades and thought, I can do that, (meaning writing). I have two complete series The Love Series, and Wrapped. I have two new series Burning Souls and Men of Steel. Ten books in 13 months. CrAzY and wonderful.

I love love! ( I would love to reference Pinks new song here, however I am not sure if that would cause copyright issues.)I also tend to enjoy watching people grow and change with self realization and moments of clarity that just sneak up behind you and smack you in the head. I love people and have always been able to see both sides of a story. Each person that comes into our life leaves us with something it is what we choose to do with it that helps us grow.

I live in central New York in the middle of nowhere and am surrounded by family and friend most the time. I run a small business out of my home and spend time reading and doing the typical Mommy things. Our house is full of pets and friends and noise ninety percent of the time, and I would have it no other way.

I love people,music, laughter, hugs, and books.

Broken Dreams Review

Rainey Daniels has been keeping a secret since she left her hometown, three years ago. The death of a friend’s father, though, has her questioning whether or not running away from her past is what’s best for her future. Add sexy Chris Baker in the mix and she’s even more unsure. After all, life is short.

Baker is an all-around good guy with a great sense of humor struggling to keep his new bar afloat. And he always thought Rainey was hot, even when she carried a few extra pounds in high school. Hell, he thinks she’s too skinny now. He knows she’s hiding something, too, but when he pushes the issue, she pushes him away. He tries not to care; she only wants a summer fling, right? But when her life is threatened, he realizes he may just be in love with her… and then he learns her secret.

Can they find love together before it’s too late?

I gave Broken Dreams 2.5 leaves. I liked that this was a short, quick read. The content was kind of heavy, but, unfortunately because it was so short I found it hard to connect with the characters. I was told this was part of a series, but it could be read as a standalone. For the most part this was true. However, I feel like I would have liked the circle of friends a lot more if I had read the first book.

Rainey has a secret, one she won’t tell anyone but maybe her two closest girlfriends. She doesn’t think much of it, until it comes back with a vengeance. Inconveniently, it’s at the time when she is back in Maine living with her never sober mother. And shacking up with her long-time friend, but also friends with benefits, Baker. I liked Baker actually. He was all sweet and boy-next-door. The only reason I didn’t like them much is because they went from “oh, it’s just a casual summer thing” to “I love you. I always have, and I always will” in like two seconds. I was like wait what? How did that even happen? There wasn’t even like a really big epiphany moment. Things were just happening way too fast, and it was predictable.

As much as I love a stubborn heroine, Rainey drove me insane with her stubbornness when it came to Baker. She basically wanted to keep him in the dark about everything, and the best part was she didn’t have a good reason why either. I mean, looking back it was because her sub-conscious knew she loved him way before she could admit, but still. Anyway, I liked the originality of the story. I wasn’t sure how I felt about their circle of friends. Wolfe and Gabby def issues. I can’t believe the story left off where it did. I don’t know what the next story could even be about. People say that the books are getting better the more we get into the series so we shall definitely see…

 Dawn Pendleton is a new adult author who began her writing journey in New England with her husband and their pup, though she now resides in Georgia and promptly became a Southern Belle (or so she likes to think). When she isn't staring at a blank page, willing the words to jump from her head to the screen, she's usually playing on her iPhone, reading a book, or taking pictures with her fancy camera (which she has no idea how to use).

Her newest release, the first novella in the Best Friends Forever Series, was an idea that occurred to her back in February, when she first started writing. She wasn't at a place where she could write them, though, so she started her Broken Series, instead. Through this past Summer, the BFF series emerged in her head, taking more space until she finally had to let them out. Liar, Liar, the first episode in the series, released this past Tuesday and is free on all retailers.

Aside from writing, she's the founder of Generation New Adult, a magazine that focuses on the new adult genre! 

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Still Human Review + Giveaway

Danny and Liv are back...

Danny loves Liv. He knows he loves her more than she loves him because she ran without a word when she saw their future mapped out before her. He knows he will never love anyone like he loved her and this time he doesn’t think he can move on.

Liv loves Danny. She knows she loves him more than he loves her because he broke her heart in the worst possible way, right when things were falling into place. She knows she will never love anyone like she loves him and this time she doesn’t think she can move on.

They needed a second chance because they just weren’t ready for their first, but when events changed everything between them, they discovered they were just human after all. Now Liv and Danny have to find a way to survive being hurt by each other. 

They doubted, they underestimated and they did believe the worst, but only because they were too young the first time and too vulnerable the second time. But now they have changed and if they are not the same, surely things can only turn out differently?

I’m determined to go out tonight, but he’s making it so hard. I turn in his arms and face him. He’s impossible to resist. I gasp as his hand slips inside the delicate lace of my underwear and shudder when his finger brushes my clit. I kiss him, slowly, as his fingers enter me. I know we’re not leaving this room tonight, but I keep up the pretence for a minute longer. While I’m lingering around his ear, I whisper what I wish he could do to me if we weren’t going out to dinner. He moans, turned on by my explicit words, so I continue, telling him what I wish I could do to him. Then, what I say to him turns him on so much it almost gets him there.

I whisper. “Oh, screw it. Use me…don’t hold back, take what you need.”

“Oh God, Liv.” He groans as I sink to kneel at his feet.

I take him in my mouth, running my tongue all the way around him to ease my path. He sighs at first but as I move, his sighs become whispers, the whispers become moans. Then as I begin to accept him deeper and deeper, his hands appear, ready to do what I asked. To use me and take what he needs.

He is never rough, but I love it when he takes control. That first night we were together, it happened by accident, but the effect on both of us was amazing, it’s something he knows I love now and he doesn’t feel bad about it. He forces himself into my mouth, over and over again, while my fingers dig into his thighs. My hands give an indication to him of just how much I can take. Occasionally they twitch up, almost at the point of asking him to stop, but I never do. I can take it, but it drives him crazy, thinking I'm on the verge of begging him to stop.

I make that low throaty moan he loves and he gasps.

“Jesus, Liv.” He hisses. “Touch yourself.”

A thrill goes through me and I willingly oblige, sliding my hand under the soft lace of my underwear. He can’t see, but he knows I’m doing it. I moan to let him know I’ve hit home and he seems to lose control at the thought. Focusing hard on his goal, he uses long, slow strokes. I roll my tongue around him every time he almost withdraws and accept him back as deep as possible each time he pushes in. His jagged breaths tell me he’s getting close and my fingers bring a stifled moan from me that seals the deal for him.

“I’m gonna come.” He moans desperately. I simply allow him to use me to get there, I love it when he really lets go “Oh God.” He gasps as his body tenses, then releases into my willing mouth.

He shudders as he finishes. Looking down at me, he laughs.

I’m breathless and weak with need, but I’m happy on this occasion to make that all about him. It’s one in the bank for me later, not that we’re keeping score. Trembling a little, I stand and wipe away the tears he forced from my eyes with his deep thrusting.

“Can we go to dinner now?” I smirk.

“I don’t think you were finished.” He grins, trailing a finger along the fabric of my knickers.

“Later.” I say firmly, moving his hand away.

“No, now!” He demands, lifting me suddenly.

I shriek, “Danny! Put me down!” Which he does, on the bed, with a thump. He yanks my underwear to the side and sucks in my clit, before I know what has happened.

“Oh, God!” I cry as his fingers push inside me.

**Warning: contains spoilers for book one. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ JUST HUMAN**

I rated Still Human 4.5 leaves! I was absolutely gutted at the end of Just Human. I mean, I don’t cry when I read but I do wail. Loudly. I had no idea that cliffy was coming and that it had a sequel in the works. I was very angry after I got over the initial shock. With that being said, I had no idea what to expect from Still Human. I was scared to read it honestly, since the first book ripped my heart out. I didn’t expect Still Human to be such a perfect happily ever after for Danny and Liv.

The beginning of the book was pure torture. I couldn’t believe that they were separated again and pretty much for the same reasons. They don’t know how to freaking communicate. Instead they doubt one another and the love that they share. Then they run away and hide from each other. Which makes me want to bang my head into the wall. Repeatedly. At the end of Just Human, Liv ran back to England without telling anyone because she thought Danny was having an affair with his ex-girlfriend. The catch? Danny was going to propose that night. So, Danny thinks she somehow found out, freaked out, and ran because she didn’t love him enough to marry him *face-palm*. But love makes idiots out of people right? However, Danny and Liv have the bestest best friends ever (Jen and Max, respectively). And eventually, Danny pieces together what happened. Well, after being pathetic for about a week, wallowing in self-pity. Ugh. Then the reason it takes them so long to reconcile is because Liv is a stubborn, pain-in-my-a**. I mean, I totally get why she was hesitant (that’s a light way to put it) about forgiving Danny, but she didn’t realize that HE WAS HURTING TOO. I swear, I threw my iPad down at least twice wishing it was Liv I was giving a smack-down to. But hey, strong emotions means good writing, right? I understand why everything was so difficult. They are essentially a new couple. Yet, they have a lifetime of love between them. Of course, they are going to have a million issues to get through. They have to relearn each other. They have to grow up together. They have to learn to trust and communicate. They cling to the past, and it takes them a while to realize that although they already went through a situation similar to this one, they are now different people. But, still very much in love.

So, Danny pulls all the stops to get her back. And I do mean ALL THE STOPS. I didn’t know whether I was wow-ed by the romanticness of his gestures or by the ridiculousness of his gestures. And, it doesn’t stop there. He keeps going non-stop at Liv until she if fully his. The second half of the book was completely different from the first. It was unreal with how perfect they were and how romantic it was. I was happy sighing the entire time. I loved Max and Jen for pulling their best friends’ heads out of their arses and giving them the shoves they so desperately needed to go seize their happiness. Danny and Liv had pretty much the Hollywood happily ever after. They totally deserved it.  I was fully satisfied with the way their story ending. And it definitely made up for the pain from the end of book one and the torture of the first half of this book. I loved that the characters were realistic and relatable, that is probably one of the most redeeming qualities of these two books. Oh, and the steamy scenes. Yeahhhh, Kerry Heavens knows how to write those… I need a Danny. 

 

Terrible wife

Mediocre mother

Appalling housewife

Fashion graduate

Wedding coordinator

Sex toy salesperson

Shop manager Designer

Font collector

Romance addict

Fancier of nice men

Ok, fancier of almost all men

Awesome cupcake baker

Incessant singer

Film buff

Friend

Writer

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Take My Hand Review + Giveaway

Twenty-four year old Dexter Michaels has arrived in the UK for a fresh start - leaving everything and everyone he knows behind in the states. Determined to put right some of the wrongs he’ll never be able to forgive himself for making and make his Aunt Sarah – the only person left who still believes in him - proud, he lands in London with the intention of working hard, getting his degree and keeping himself to himself. He can’t destroy anybody else that way…

His heart and his body have other ideas however when he finds himself sitting next to nineteen year old Emily Barton in his Psychology class. Moving down south to find her own New Life, Emily is shy, smart and beautiful – everything Dexter knows he should stay away from… everything he knows would be too easy for him to break. But she makes him feel things he’d forgotten even existed. She makes him laugh, smile, care… forget. Without her trying, and without him realizing, Emily has wound her way into the one place he swore to keep locked away forever – his heart. But can she stay there when she discovers the dark past he’s so determined to keep hidden from her? Or will he destroy her too, just like he always expected? (Not recommended for younger readers due to language, drug/alcohol abuse and sexual content) 

I gave Take My Hand 3.5 stars. This was more than a cute love story, it was a story of letting go, moving forward, and learning how to be loved. The writing was easy to read, and of course I LOVE the dual POVs. I liked the pace of the story, and the sexual tension was intense! The angst was off the charts, because at first Em is too scared to let Dex in and at the same time Dex doesn’t think he is worthy of Em. I found myself smiling throughout the book and the sheer cuteness of falling in love. I swooned over the way that they took care of each other. I liked that they became best friends first. I could relate with Em in the way she didn’t really feel sparks with any other guys and how she moved away from her parents to find herself. Dex did lots of stupid things that keep him from being one of my fave book boyfriends, but I kinda saw a lot of my fave book boyfriends in him.

I’ll admit, the first third of the story was rough for me. Dex was the typical man-whore who had no regrets about using women, but he was harboring some intense self-hatred that intrigued me. Em annoyed the crap out of me at first too. She was just so naïve! And I could see how she could be adorable, but really I couldn’t get over her immature style of thinking in the beginning. After that first third, I flew through the rest of the book. There were just so many hidden secrets that I had to get to the bottom of. So, I guess the intrigue was one of the major things that kept me going in Take My Hand. Dex and Em both have dark pasts and they bring them both down. When they finally reveal their secrets, I was actually surprised. I didn’t expect them at all. My heart broke for the two of them. And because of the guilt from their pasts, they have serious confidence issues. But, they bring the best out of each other. Even when Dex is being stupid and pushing Em away because he doubts her love for him. Their steamy scenes are INTENSE. I actually love the way they were written. It was sexy, emotional, and not overly erotic. I kinda wish there were more of them. (Did I mention Dex has FOUR piercings? And yeah they’re where you’re probably thinking of)

Take My Hand had the typical New Adult outline, however, this book was pretty unique, in my opinion. It’s like I knew what was going to happen eventually, but the way they happened and the timing of it was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t agree with half of what Dex did, but it kept me on my toes. I thought it was weird that Em goes from Jared to Dex with no big fanfare. Also, is it bad to say I really didn’t like Em’s best friend, Rachel? I have friends like her where we call each other beyotch and slut but not like Rachel and all her Ho’s. She never refers to Em by her name, only as Ho. It bothered me, and it matched her over-the-top character. I’m obsessed with England, so I love that this book took place in England. I learned new British terms! The book left A TON of loose-ends. I can’t stand cliffhangers so I was upset with this one, but I can’t wait to see where Nicola Haken takes us next on our journey with Dex and Em.

I live in Rochdale, England with my wonderful family. I have two novels under my belt (Inevitable and Saving Amy) and have just finished writing Take My Hand - book 1 in a 3 part series - which will be released in October.

When I'm not playing with my imaginary friends I can usually be found looking after my four adorable (sometimes!) children (five if you include the dog, six if you include the hubby!) or studying towards my English Literature degree. All in all I'm just an ordinary mum with an addiction to reading about hot book guys, writing about hot book guys and Pepsi Max! 

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