The (Half) Truth by Leddy Harper ~ Review & Teaser (@LeddyHarper)

This is another new-to-me author thanks to my Kindle Unlimited subscription. This one was quite fun and I enjoyed Leddy Harper's writing and the characters she created. I hope to pick up more of her work soon!
The (Half) Truth
Title: The (Half) Truth
Author: Leddy Harper
Genre: Romance
Published: February 19th 2019

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From bestselling author Leddy Harper comes a sizzling romance about an aspiring young chef who may discover that the perfect recipe for love involves all accidental ingredients…

Tatum Alexander is so close to realizing her dream of becoming a sous chef she can taste it, but working at her ex-fiancé’s restaurant with his new girlfriend was never in her career plan. To save face and prove she’s moved on, Tatum cooks up a lie that she’s in a relationship with her best friend’s superhot cousin. There’s just one problem: Jason only recently moved to town, and he has no idea they’re already “dating.”

Jason’s a recovering ladies’ man who shouldn’t be on the menu, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune to Tatum’s quirky charm. Giving her lie a kernel of truth, they decide some no-strings-attached fun between the sheets can’t hurt. But as Tatum’s forced to keep making up stories to cover her original fib, she has a hard time separating what’s real and what’s fake—including her feelings for Jason.

With too many tales spun, Tatum can only watch in horror as her collection of yarns begins to unravel, leaving everyone she cares about feeling betrayed. After so many lies, will it be too late to set the record straight? And more importantly, will she be able to convince Jason there’s truth in their love?

I haven't read Leddy Harper before, but The (Half) Truth sounded like quite the entertaining read! Although the book started with a sad and heartbreaking moment for Tatum, I was looking forward to seeing her grow her wings and find happiness once again.

What a character Tatum was! She would always get herself into awkward situations that would have you both cringing and laughing! She had a heart of gold though, but one little lie led her into a fair bit of trouble! I really enjoyed meeting Jason and see the spark back in his eyes after his move back to his home town. I could see that he had a connection with Tatum and they genuinely liked spending time together.

I liked that Tatum was close to Jason's family, and her best friend was actually Jason's cousin. Although Jason was a bit older than some of his cousins, he worked hard to show that he was not the same boy that he had been in high school.

I thought that this was a fun read and I was quite surprised as to how much I enjoyed it. I liked how Leddy Harper introduced the characters and created a world that was easy to be a part of. There were a few moments that had me scratching my head, but overall it was quite a fun read. 

Hehe... this one is a little fun, it made me swoon and smile!! 😜

“But that’s not why I’m coming over.”
“If it’s not for the sexual pleasure that I offer, what other reason is there?”
“You’ve had a craptastic day.” Somewhere, an angel sang.
“Good line, but you said you wanted to get what you’ve waited all day for.”
“Oh, you want the list? All right . . . to see your smile, look into your eyes, and for the love of God, I need to kiss you before I fucking go crazy. Your lips . . . damn. I’m convinced you lace your lipstick with crack or something.”

Kindle Page 236

Bestselling author Leddy Harper had to use her imagination often as a child. She grew up the only girl in a house full of boys. At the age of fourteen, she decided to use that imagination and wrote her first book, and never stopped.

She often calls writing her therapy, using it as a way to deal with issues through the eyes of her characters.

She is now a mother of three girls, leaving her husband as the only man in a house full of females.

The decision to publish her first book was made as a way of showing her children to go after whatever it is they want to. Love what you do and do it well. Most importantly Leddy wanted to teach them what it means to overcome their fears.




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Coldhearted Boss by R.S. Grey ~ Review & Teaser (@AuthorRSGrey)

I was a little surprised as to how much I enjoyed this read. I hadn't read R.S. Grey before, and honestly, I don't know what has taken me so long to try her work. I enjoyed meeting the characters and the amusing antics they got up to! 
Coldhearted Boss
Title: Coldhearted Boss
Author: R.S. Grey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 6th 2019

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I’m desperate and destitute when Lockwood Construction rolls into my small town with an offer too good to pass up: high wages to any able-bodied man willing to join their crew.

Say no more. I throw on baggy clothes, tuck my long hair under a baseball hat, and apply for a job. Unfortunately, my half-baked idea of disguising myself as a guy is flawed from the beginning. As Shakira says, these hips don’t lie.

Still, I like to think I might have pulled the whole thing off save for one thing:

I know my boss.
Last month, we met at a bar, and after a fiery first encounter, it seems we’re destined to be sworn enemies.

Ethan Stone is ruthless and arrogant, a man I never would have crossed had I known how much he likes to toy with his prey.

He should just fire me and be done with it. Instead, he decides to make me his personal slave. Oh right, I think they’re calling it personal “assistant” these days.

It’s torture, all of it—his bad attitude, his ruggedly chiseled face, his desire to grind me into dust.

Every one of our friction-filled battles burns hotter than the last.

A girl can only hold out for so long. Soon, I’m bound to go up in flames.

My objective? Survive the heat long enough to send home a paycheck.

My real objective? Stop having X-rated fantasies about my coldhearted boss.

I've been meaning to pick up something by R.S. Grey for a long time, so you know I snapped up this one while browsing the other day. After reading the description, I could see that it was going to be amusing, and that Taylor and Ethan would have intense chemistry.

From Taylor and Ethan's first encounter, I was hooked to this story! Taylor was sad and vulnerable, but was willing to take a chance with a good looking man, despite not knowing one another. However, her intentions changed and she was unable to follow through. She showed me that she was a good person and was willing to change her life her own way.

When they met again it was interesting to see that Ethan held a bit of a grudge, and the story unfolded as to why. I enjoyed seeing these two bicker, and the sexual tension continued to grow between them. Taylor had made mistakes, but it was good to see her do everything in her power to hold down this job to support her Mother and sister.

I really enjoyed this read, and watching the relationship between Taylor and Ethan grow. The author did a great job building the world and characters, which made it hard for me to put the book down. I felt the ending was a little rushed, however I am glad that they were able to get a happy ending and I saw how much their lives had changed. I am looking forward to more work from R.S. Grey! 

I loved how open and honest Ethan was in this moment!

“You asked me the other day if I was tired,” he says, using his other hand to lift my chin, bringing our faces closer. “Do you remember that?”
I say nothing. In fact, I don’t even move, so he continues.
“You wondered what it would be like if we put our weapons down. At the time, you mentioned friendship, which is why I rebuffed your offer. Friendship is for someone like Tanner, someone who is willing to sit around for two years and wait for the person he loves to make up her damn mind. Unfortunately, I don’t have Tanner’s patience. So again, you asked me if I was tired…” His sultry gaze is narrowed on my mouth as he says, “I’m fucking exhausted, so no more games. No more pretending I don’t love the way you look in this red bathing suit. No more pretending I don’t hunt for you every time you enter a room. No more pretending your wit and smart mouth aren’t the perfect match for mine.”

Kindle Loc 3084

R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of nineteen novels, including seven #1 bestselling romantic comedies. She lives in Texas with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. 



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War Storm by Victoria Aveyard ~ Review & Teaser (@VictoriaAveyard, @harperteen)

Well, I finally made it! I picked up the final book to see how the journey ended. So much happened and it was action packed right up to the final chapters! I hope that we can come back to this world again one day!
War Storm (Red Queen, #4)
Title: War Storm
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Series: Red Queen #4
Genre: YA Fantasy
Published: May 15th 2018

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Victory comes at a price.
Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all… starting with the crown on Maven’s head.

But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything—and everyone—in his path.

War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive.

I took my time getting into the final book in the Red Queen series, because I really didn't want the story to end, and lets face it... it was a big book! Once again it was quite the adventure, with everyone facing so many hard times and tough hurdles to try and find peace and balance throughout all the lands.

Mare struggled with her feelings for Cal, and the distance between them allowed her to focus on the end game. I could see that the Red Dawn had a plan, and I was eager to see it all unravel. Cal was adjusting to the hand he was dealt, and tried to make it as easy as he could for all involved. He stepped up when he was required and made decisions that were beneficial to all parties involved.

It was interesting to see some alliances grow, where others crumbled under pressure. I was surprised by a few twists and getting extra perspectives really allowed me to see what was going on through each country.

By the time I finished the book, I felt a little relieved. All important threads were tied up and I was satisfied as to the direction everything was heading. I would've liked more of an epilogue with Mare, because I wanted to feel that happiness in her once again. But overall, I enjoyed the ride, fell for all the characters and hope that one day we can revisit this world!

This is a bit of a long tease, but it was hard to chop down. It was a big moment for these two in the middle of hard times.

Neither of us moves.
“I can’t,” I bite out, looking anywhere but his face.
He responds quickly, with force. “Neither can I.”
“But I also can’t—”
Stay away. Keep doing this. Denying ourselves in the face of always-looming death. Tiberias hisses out a breath.
“Neither can I.”
When we take the step forward together, from opposite directions, both of us laugh. It almost breaks the spell. But we keep walking, equal in motion and intention. Slow and methodic, measuring. He watches me, I watch him, as the space closes between us. I touch him first, put- ting my palm flat over his thudding heart. He inhales slowly, his chest rising beneath my fingers. A warm hand slips around my back, splaying wide over the base of my spine. I know he can feel my old scars through my shirt, the knobbled skin familiar to us both. I answer by curling my other hand at the nape of his neck, gently digging my nails into the lock of black hair.
“This doesn’t change anything,” I say against his collarbone, a firm line against my cheek.
I feel his answer in my rib cage. “No.”
“We aren’t making different decisions.”
His arms tighten around me. “No.”
“So what is this, Cal?”
The name has an effect on us both. He shivers, and I move closer, flattening against him. It feels like giving in, for both of us, though we have nothing left to surrender.
“We’re choosing not to choose.”
“That doesn't sound real.”
“Maybe it isn’t.”
But he’s wrong. I can’t think of anything more real than the feel of him. The heat, the smell, the taste. It’s the only real thing in my world.
“This is the last time,” I whisper before I cover his mouth with mine.
Over the next few hours, I say that so many times I lose count.

Paperback Pages 369-70

Victoria AveyardVictoria Aveyard is an author and screenwriter, born and raised in a small town in Western Massachusetts. Both her parents are public school teachers, as well as avid film, television, and literature fans. Victoria grew up on a steady diet The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and LOST. She pursued a degree in Writing for Film & Television at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. After graduating college in 2012, Victoria moved home from Los Angeles and began writing the manuscript that would become Red Queen. 

She has since published three #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling books, two New York Times bestselling novellas, and continues pursuing her writing career while living full-time in Los Angeles, California.

The Red Queen series is currently being translated into 37 languages and counting.


Other reviews featuring Victoria Aveyard
Red Queen series
Red Queen #1

Glass Sword #2
King's Cage #3
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Undeniable by Melanie Harlow ~ Review & Teaser (#MelanieHarlow)

I've read a few of Melanie Harlow's books, so when a new read pops up, I try to give it a whirl! This one was a sweet read featuring a great cast of characters!
Undeniable (Cloverleigh Farms, #2)
Title: Undeniable
Author: Melanie Harlow
Series: Cloverleigh Farms #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 20th 2019

Buy Now - Amazon USAmazon Aus

When we were eleven, Oliver Ford Pemberton dared me to jump off a barn roof. He said you couldn’t break a leg from a 12-foot-jump.

He lied.

(You can also break a collarbone, which served him right as far as I was concerned.)

I wish I could say it was the last dare I ever took from him, the last bet I ever made with him, the last time I ever trusted Oliver Ford Pemberton.

But it wasn’t.

Because he had the nerve to grow up gorgeous, charming, and sexy. And as we got older, the dares only got dirtier—and the betting stakes higher—until finally, he left me in pieces. I swore I’d never talk to him again.

But twenty years after I took that flying leap, he’s back in my life, daring me to risk everything for him: my job, my self-worth, and my heart.

How many chances does love deserve?

This is the second book in the Cloverleigh Farms Series, but it's the first book that I've read. It seemed perfectly fine to read as a standalone as it featured a different couple to who appeared in the first book. To me this was like a second chance, friends-enemies-lovers kind of read, where I was able to see some of Chloe and Oliver's past, as well as how they interacted in the present. It had the right mix of amusement and swoon worthy intensity that I devoured this book quickly.

It was interesting to see that Chloe and Oliver had a bond from an early age, they were quite competitive and would often find themselves in trouble. Even in the present, they didn't back down from a challenge, despite their love/hate relationship. I really liked seeing them spend time together, however Oliver annoyed me a little when he could take charge in all aspects of his life, but couldn't make time for an adult conversation.

Despite the conversation hiccup, I really enjoyed this read. It was nice to see how close Oliver and Chloe's families were, so everyone was secretly hoping that they would get together. I liked seeing how their paths kept crossing in the past, and how it drove them to stand up and succeed for themselves in the present. Melanie Harlow introduced me to a cast of characters I would love to see more of! 


This was a nice moment where Oliver bared his soul to Chloe... made me swoon!

“Chloe.”
“What?”
“I need to say something.”
“Okay.” I picked up my head and looked at him.
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. And I’ve never been more sure that something is right. I know it was a risk for you to trust me, but I won’t let you down.” His crooked grin appeared. “From now on, it’s you and me.”
Pure joy radiated through me. “Are you trying to make me fall for you, Oliver Pemberton?”
He grinned. “We don’t fall. We jump.”

Kindle Page 182

Melanie HarlowMelanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. Her stories are about modern couples falling in old-fashioned love, and even though romance is a fantasy, her heroes and heroines are everyday people with real problems who stumble on their way to happily ever after. She lifts her glass to readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.





Other reviews featuring Melanie Harlow
After We Fall
Man Candy
Frenched series
Frenched #1
Happy Crazy Love series
Some Sort of Happy #1
Other reviews featuring Melanie Harlow & Corrine Michaels
Hold You Close
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The Rebel of Raleigh High by Callie Hart ~ Review & Teaser (@_callie_hart)

This is the first time I have picked up a book by Callie Hart, and I can tell you that it won't be the last! I loved meeting the characters and the way that Hart moved me with her intense storyline and beautiful writing! She is a master and I want more! 
The Rebel of Raleigh High (Raleigh Rebels #1)
Title: The Rebel of Raleigh High
Author: Callie Hart
Series: Raleigh Rebels #1
Genre: NA Romance
Published: April 27th 2019

Buy Now - Amazon USAmazon Aus

Silver

Hit me.
Kick me.
Hurt me.
Hate me.

There’s nothing that the students of Raleigh High can do to Silver Parisi anymore. Over the past year, she’s had to endure more pain and suffering than most people are asked to bear in their lifetimes. She’s a pariah, an outcast, a ghost. She’s also never been one to take shit lying down, though…despite what half the football team might say.

With only one hundred and sixty-eight days left of the school year, it won’t be long until graduation, and Silver’s planning on skipping town and leaving Raleigh firmly in her rearview mirror…

Until he comes along…

Alex

Orphan.
Degenerate.
Reprobate.
Deviant.
Alex Moretti’s earned most of his labels, and he’s not ashamed of a single one of them. He’ll earn far worse before he’s finished with his new found ‘friends’ at Raleigh High. Having spent years being ground down under the boot heel of society, it’s time for a little payback. And if exacting revenge upon the heads of the Raleigh elite means he can also help the beautiful girl who hovers in the shadows, then that’s all for the better.

Oil and water. Fire and ice. The differences between Silver and Alex are broader than any chasm. To reach one another, they must take a leap of faith and fall into the divide.

And falling?

Nothing good ever came from falling.

What an intense and emotionally charged read this turned out to be! Both characters had been broken at some point, so it was intriguing to get their stories, see them connect and be there for one another. It's going to be one of those reads that will stay with me for a long time!

It was sad to see the way Silver was shunned and treated like crap after what happened to her nine months earlier. But to see her blossom again after Alex started at the school was sweet to see. Alex faced his own demons at such a young age, he had struggled through his childhood and finally had some stability. I liked the way he connected to Silver, and was willing to pursue her, although she tried to shut him out.

The bullying at this school was appalling! I couldn’t believe what these kids were willing to do and had gotten away with. I could see this story building, and I could sense that something big was going to happen, but I did not expect it when it did!

The Rebel of Raleigh High is not a read for everyone. It dealt with some sensitive subjects, however I thought the author delivered it perfectly and it made a huge impact on me. My heart ached for both characters as they shared their stories, and I was on the verge of tears a few time while reading this book. There were a few threads left open at the end of this book, so I can see that there will be more to Silver and Alex’s story, and I can’t wait to come back and see how they deal with everything.

I'm telling you, I just LOVED Alex! 

“It’s okay to be broken. You have every right to be. Just don’t let them keep on breaking you. That’s not how you win this particular game.”

Kindle Loc 659

“Strength is drawn to strength, Silver, and I think there’s a chance that you might be the strongest person I have ever met.”

Kindle Loc 1510

“It isn’t just that. I also happen to think that you’re the most beautiful fucking thing I have ever witnessed with my own two eyes. I am watching you just as much as you’re watching me…and I don’t trust myself to look away.” Ho…ly….shiiiiiiit.

Kindle Loc 1514

Callie Hart is a USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary and dark romance. Her Blood & Roses Series is currenly being translated into multiple languages all over the world. Having spent the last seven years living in Australia, Callie now calls Los Angeles home, where she enjoys hiking, spending time at the beach, daily hot yoga classes, and generally pretending to be a hipster.

Callie is often asked, 'What is dark romance?' Her reply is always the same: Dark romance is a story that makes you fall for the anti-hero. It is a story that will make you walk a tightrope, question your sanity, and have you checking your moral compass at the door. If you love a good story about a very bad boy, then dark romance is for you.'

Under her legal name, Frankie Rose, Callie writes young adult fiction that has been globally recognized, and has received numerous awards for her 'Halo' series. She is also Editor In Chief of Metric Magazine, set to be launching in 2017.




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