Paper Princess (The Royals #1) by Emma Watt

Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 370 pages

Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

ASIN: B01DT9ZWNI
 

From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone. 

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees. 

Cover:  I really like this cover.  I think it's really quite pretty and it drew me in.

I hadn't really heard of this book, but I saw a beautiful post on Instagram and the cover intrigued me. I of course looked up the synopsis on Goodreads and the tagline 'this generation's Cruel Intentions' really  hooked me in.

And this was a bit of an odd read for me, because it kept me turning pages, I didn’t want to put it down, but at the same time I was never really 100% sure I liked what I was reading.  But something drew me in.

Ella has had a tough life.  I really liked her character- she had a lot of courage and spunk.  She helped her Mum through her terminal illness, and since she passed away, she’s struggled to support herself through school.  And she’s done it by working multiple jobs…one of which is a stripper.

Until Calum Royal shows up out of the blue claiming to be her guardian.  And whisks her off to his giant mansion and offers to put her through an elite prep school, shopping trips, a car…but she has to put up with his five sons, who have made it very clear to her that they don’t want her there.

An interesting relationship develops between Ella and the Royal brothers.  It starts off rocky, but eventually a sort of friendship starts with some of them, but there seems to be an odd connection between her and Reed. 

I wasn’t sure if I was enjoying it, because the rich lifestyle and they’re spoilt behaviour, and it’s pretty messed up. I couldn’t understand Calum- and his grief over his wife’s death and yet I couldn’t reconcile his behaviour with someone that was upset and supposedly loved their wife enough to never have cheated on them.  Getting with someone (and not a nice someone) 6 months after her death.  No wonder his kids are messed up- undercover fights, pain killer addiction, threesomes, sharing a girlfriend.

I liked Ella, but I struggled to see how the attraction to Reed started.  I mean he was awful in the beginning – and she’d been so strong and independent, particularly with the snobs at school.

Towards the end I started to warm to Reed, albeit reluctantly.

But the end of this book, with its massive cliff hanger, had that come crashing down, but I think there’s more to that than initially meets the eye.

Rating was hard, because I was engrossed but not always entirely comfortable.

3.5/5 stars.
And I will be picking up the sequel because of that cliffhanger.

Leo's Chance by Mia Sheridan

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 237 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1490381716
• ASIN: B00DFTUSB4

A companion (alternate POV) novel to the USA Todaybestselling book, Leo. 

Does everyone deserve a second chance? Even someone who lies and deceives to get it?

Do we all have a second chance coming? Even if we play a part in our own destruction?

How hard would you fight to have a second chance at love? A second chance at life? Another chance to tell your own story?

Every love story has two sides. Evie told hers. This time it's Leo's chance.

THIS IS A POV NOVEL OF LEO (LEO SHOULD BE READ FIRST). New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Cover:  Another simple cover.

After reading Leo, I immediately wanted to pick up the companion novel, Leo's Chance.  Essentially getting the other side of the story.
And I'm glad I did.  You definitely need to read Leo's POV if you've only read Evie's.
I can understand why the author didn't initially use both points of view in alternating chapters in Leo as it would have 'ruined' the intended big reveal.  This works better.  Even though you are essentially reading the same book twice, so some aspects can be a little repetitive- I still really enjoyed reading it, and would recommend picking up this New Adult duology for fans of the genre.
4/5 stars.

Read from September 21 to 25, 2015

When You're Back (Rosemary Beach #12) by Abbi Glines

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (30 Jun. 2015)
• ISBN-10: 1471122360
• ISBN-13: 978-1471122361

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the next new adult novel in her beloved Rosemary Beach series, which continues the story of Mase and Reese from When I’m Gone.

The future is bright for Reese Ellis. She has Mase Colt-Manning, the man of her dreams, and a family she didn’t know existed until her long-lost father arrived on her doorstep in Rosemary Beach. After growing up with a cruel mother and abusive stepfather, Reese is eager to get to know the caring and charming man who wants to be a part of her life. Everything is finally falling into place.

While Reese is visiting her new family in Chicago, Mase spends time with his “cousin,” Aida, who has worshipped him since childhood. Though they’re unrelated by blood, Mase and Aida have been raised to think of each other as family. But when Reese returns, she can tell something isn’t quite right with Aida, who clearly resents Reese and excels at manipulative little games. And though Mase is unsuspecting, Reese knows Aida doesn’t love him like a cousin should...

Cover: A cute cover that I neither love or hate.

I really enjoy the Rosemary Beach series- my favourites are still the first ones, Fallen Too Far, Never Too Far, Forever Too Far and Rush Too Far.  Rush and Blaire just can't be beaten for me.
I really enjoyed the first book in Mase and Reece's story- When I'm Gone, so was really looking forward to the conclusion to their story.
And I enjoyed this one too.
I'm a sucker for cheesy romance, and that is exactly what I got.
I do find one element of this series slightly disturbing in it's formulaic approach, and that's how all these young people are spawning, and I don't think it's very believable that all these young couples are reproducing at a somewhat alarming rate.
Other than that- I did really enjoy it, but just not quite as much as the first.
3.5/5 stars.

Read from July 18 to 21, 2015

#BUILT BLOG TOUR by Jay Crownover

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harper (28 Jan. 2016)
• ISBN-10: 0008116237
• ISBN-13: 978-0008116231

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes an electrifying new spin-off series,Saints of Denver, featuring all the characters fans have been dying to read about.

Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk, he’s all denim and flannel.

Zeb’s wanted the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her. It doesn't matter how many smooth moves he makes, the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest—either that or she doesn't return it. Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior.

But just as things start to heat up, Zeb is blindsided by a life altering moment from his past. He needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. He can’t risk what’s at stake just because his attraction to Sayer feels all consuming. But as these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, battling together to save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide can no longer be ignored.Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller are as different as two people can be. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and kill it and grill it. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk while he’s denim and flannel.

The differences between the two of them don’t stop Zeb from dropping every hint he can think of that he would like to get to know her on a more personal level, but Sayer seems oblivious to his interest or is just too nice to tell him to take a hike. To Sayer, a guy like Zeb could never be interested in someone as reserved and boring as she is. She’s never been with anyone that was hot enough to melt the icy exterior she’s had wrapped around hera since her awful childhood. But what if Zeb is the one who might finally thaw her out…?

Cover:  I love this cover.  The black and white, with the vibrant pop of pink really makes it stand out.

I also like that it compliments the Marked Men series.

I've been a massive fans of Jay Crownover's Marked Men series from the second that I picked up Rule.  

So when I found out about a new series from her- I was extremely excited.  

Then I got even more excited when I found out that while it was a new series, it was still connected to the Marked Men - Sayer is Rowdy's sister.

On paper Zeb and Sayer shouldn't work- but there's this attraction and chemistry between them that shows otherwise.  I seem to love stories where the love interests are TOTAL opposites

As always Jay Crownover has written a guy to swoon over.  I love Zeb just as much as I loved Rule...and I LOVED Rule...just saying.  I found myself rooting for Zeb and Sayer- despite wanting to shake Sayer at some points.

While you don't have to read the Marked Men series first, I do think it gives you a nice platform to start this series, you'll be able to see connections and already know a few characters that pop up here and there.  And if you enjoyed the Marked Men series- then you need to pick this one up!!  I look forward to more installments in this series.

Definitely one to read!

Recommends for;

Romance lovers, New Adult fans, Marked Men readers

Sweet Fall (Sweet Home #2 Carillo Boys #1) by Tillie Cole

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 441 pages
• Publisher: Tillie Cole LLC; 1 edition (26 Aug. 2014)
• ASIN: B00MQGABYQ

From the USA Today Best Selling Sweet Home Series, comesSweet Fall; a tale of heartache, beating the odds and finding strength in the most unlikeliest of places. 

We all have secrets.

Secrets well buried.

Until we find the one soul who makes the burden of such secrets just that little bit easier to bear.

Lexington "Lexi" Hart is a senior at the University of Alabama. Surrounded by her best friends, her loving family and having fulfilled her life-long dream of making the Crimson Tide cheer squad, everything is going exactly as she always dreamed it would. But beneath her happy exterior, demons lurk, threatening to jeopardize everything Lexi has worked to achieve. When events in her life become too much to cope with, Lexi finds herself spiraling down into the realm of her biggest fear. Lexi falls hard, victim once again to the only thing that can destroy her and, on the way, finds herself falling straight into the dangerous tattooed arms of a guy from the wrong side of the tracks.

Austin Carillo, starting Wide Receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide, must get picked in this year's NFL draft. He needs it. His brothers need it. Most importantly, his mother desperately needs it. Brought up in a world where the poor are forgotten, the sick are left to fend for themselves and no hero miraculously appears to pull you out of hell, Austin had no other choice but to make a living on the wrong side of the law—until football offered Austin the break to get his life back on track. But when a family tragedy drags him back into the clutches of the gang he believed he had left far behind, Austin finds himself falling. Falling back into criminal ways and falling deep into a suffocating darkness. Until a troubled yet kindred spirit stumbles across his path, where Austin quickly finds he is falling for a young woman, a young woman who might just have the power to save him from his worst enemy: himself.

Can two troubled souls find a lasting peace together? Or will they finally succumb to the demons threatening to destroy them?

New Adult/Contemporary Romance novel—contains adult content, sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 18 and up.

Can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Cover: Simple, yet relevant.  Perfect.

I love Tillie Cole. 
I literally love everything of hers I've read.  She's like my spirit animal.
My favourite series of hers remains, and probabily will always remain, The Hades Hangmen series.  It has a special place in my heart.
I read the first book in the Sweet Home series, and while I really enjoyed it, I didn't love it quite as much as The Hades Hangmen.
But Sweet Fall got it back on track.
Major love for this book.
I love the characters, their chemistry, the plot, gang culture, series topics- basically A TILLIE COLE BOOK HAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT!!
Austin and Lexie.  I loved them as characters.
On paper, Lexie and Austin shouldn't work.
Doctor's daughter and recovering anorexic Lexie, and ex-gangmenber footballer Austin.  And yet they are inextricably drawn to each other.
5/5 stars.
A must read.

Read from December 14 to 18, 2015

Sweet Rome (Sweet Home #1.5) by Tillie Cole

Format: Kindle Edition

Print Length: 465 pages
ASIN: B00I4D2QYS

You met Romeo Prince in the Amazon & USA Today bestselling novel, Sweet Home. Now hear the story from his lips: unbarred, uncensored, and raw to the bone.

It makes me laugh when I hear folks think Molly and I rushed into things too fast, spouting that we couldn't possibly have felt what we did for each other in such a short space of time. I say, how the hell would they know? We made it, didn't we? She became my whole life, didn't she? And as for my folks not being real, being true? Tell that to me aged ten, eleven, twelve—damn, all my bastard life—when I was never enough, when I was beaten until I bled for being too good at football and not being everything they'd dreamed: the perfectly dutiful son. Tell that to thousands of kids around the world getting wailed on by asshole parents for whatever stupid reason; tell them evil don't exist in their eyes.

Fuck Romeo and Juliet. This is the story of me and my girl, from my lips. No mushy sentiment, no cheese, just the plain, hard truth, and, because I'm feeling generous, I'm going to let you in on more of our story too.

Sweet Rome is a New Adult Companion Novel to Sweet Home—contains adult content, sexual situations, and mature topics. Suited for ages 18 and up.
 Cover:  I like how the cover matches the first one.

I really love Tillie Cole's Hades Hangmen series- so I was stoked when I found she had more more books for me to get my teeth stuck into whilst waiting for my next Hangmen fix.
I read the first book in this particular series- and really enjoyed it, BUT I really missed having the male protagonist's point of view, and really think the story would have benefited from having his perspective.
So I was definitely looking forward to getting Rome's thoughts and feelings.  Seeing how much he loved and needed Molly- and I loved the bonus scenes.  My heart melted at some of the emotional scenes in this one.
Definitely worth picking up if you enjoyed Sweet Home.
I still think Sweet Home should have been told in alternating perspectives but still glad I got his POV at all.

4.5/5 stars.

Read from August 28 to 31, 2015

Teaser Tuesday 29/12/2015 'Sweet Hope'

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read

- Open to a random pageShare two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

This week's teaser comes from the 18% mark of Sweet Hope by Tillie Cole.




""You don't know me, girl,"
"I know your work...more than anyone else, I know your work..."
Aliyana.  Damn Aliyana Lucia for getting in my fucking head.
From the minute I'd seen her two nights ago in the gallery, catching me by the marble angel, I'd been shocked speechless.
I'd never seen any chick look like her.  I'd never seen anyone with eyes that bright, hair that dark or a smile that fucking blinding."

W...W...W...Wednesday 23/12/2015

 To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

My current read is Heart On a Chain by Cindy C. Bennett

I recently finished reading Sweet Fall by Tillie Cole 

I think my next read will be Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

[BLOGTOUR] Sweet Soul by Tillie Cole

One shy lost soul.
One silent lonely heart.
One love to save them both.

Life has never been easy for twenty-year-old Levi Carillo. The youngest of the Carillo boys, Levi is nothing like his older brothers. He isn’t dark in looks or intimidating to everyone he meets. In fact, he’s quite the opposite. Haunted by a crippling shyness and the tragic events of his past, Levi spends his days with his head buried in his books, or training hard for his college football team. Too timid to talk to girls, Levi stays as far away as possible and completely on his own… until he saves the life of a troubled pretty blonde, a troubled pretty blonde that might just be the exception to his rule.

Elsie Hall is homeless. Or at least that’s all anyone ever sees. Everyday is a fight for survival on the cold streets of Seattle, everyday a struggle to find food and keep warm. Alone in life—a life that’s dangerous and cruel—her will to keep going is an ever-losing battle. In her world of silence, Elsie has given up hope that her life will contain anything but constant struggle and pain… until the beautiful boy she has severely wronged comes to her rescue at precisely the right time.

New Adult novel—contains sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 18 and up.

Cover:  A perfect cover for this book.

I've made no secret of the fact that I love Tillie Cole's books.  When I first read the Hades Hangmen books- It Ain't Me Babe and Heart Recaptured, I fell in love.  It was an instant obsession that still hasn't abated and the wait for the third book nearly killed me.  When you're in that constant pain while waiting for a book's release- you know you've found a good'un.
Whenever I picked up one of Tillie's books, I know I'm in for a good ride- the highs, the lows, the laughs, the tears, chemistry, sizzle, swoon worthy guys and PLOT.
Sweet Soul was no exception.
Levi was such a different male protagonist.  In a lot of New Adult novels- we see the lothario, or a cocky player type character - not ALL the time, but Levi definitely stood out for me.  He's a shy, sensitive guy- blushes, can't really speak to girls and doesn't really have any interest in doing so.  He plays his football but is also very study conscious.  But then he meets Elsie...and he's VERY interested in her.
I loved that this book tackled some serious issues- as have Tillie's previous books.  We see grief and loss as well as damaging effects of bullying.  The Tillie portrays this issues really did cause a lump in my throat as well as tearing up a time or two.
Elsie and Levi were made for each, 'Twin Souls' as it were.  I really did fall in love with them, and root for them all the way.
This instantly become one of my favourite books...seriously.
I couldn't put it down and seriously resented any interruptions.
Highly recommend this one, but maybe consider picking up the rest of the series first.
5/5 stars.

Read from December 09 to 11, 2015

Excerpt

Elsie grabbed her pen and paper; I took her hand. I walked her out of the pool house to the kitchen door. I opened the door, and Elsie walked through. When she glanced over her shoulder, I said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Elsie smiled and walked up the stairs to her room. Just as I was about to shut the door, Lexi appeared from the darkened dining room, a sleeping Dante in her arms.

I opened my mouth to say something when Lexi beat me to it. “Dante woke up for a feed a while ago. I was in the dining room when I saw Elsie run by and leave. I panicked at first thinking she was running away, then I saw you by your pool house. Saw you let her inside.”

My face was on fire as Lexi spoke, rocking my nephew in her arms. I didn’t say anything, but I clearly didn’t need to. “You like her. A lot,” Lexi stated. Unable to lie to my brother’s wife, I nodded my head.

Lexi moved closer. “You’re taking her out tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

Lexi nodded, then went to walk back up the stairs. Before she did, she turned round, and looked like she wanted to say something, but stopped herself. Needing to know what it was, I questioned, “What?”

Lexi looked in the direction of the stairs, in the direction Elsie went, and she said, “I think she’s been through more than we can understand, Lev. I’ve tried to talk to her every day, but she avoids conversation completely.” Lexi sighed and added, “I think she’s really broken inside. Severely. I think there’s something dark in her past that’s haunting her.”

My heart ached, and just as I turned to go back to my room, I whispered, “Then we’re the same. That’s what makes her so special to me.”

“Lev…” I heard Lexi hush out softly, but I was out of the door and into the pool house before she could react.

My mind raced with what Lexi said, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t already see. Elsie didn’t speak, she was too timid and shy.  She’d lost her mamma, like I had lost mine. And I could see she was lonely, just like me.

Taking off my jacket, I walked to the table to clear away the mugs, when I saw a piece of paper was lying on the top. I wondered what it was. Suddenly I recognized Elsie’s handwriting.

Moving round the table, I dropped to the seat. The paper was folded in two, my name written across the top.

My heartbeat picked up speed as I opened the paper. At first I was confused by the centralized column of words, then my heart burst apart when I read a poem that Elsie had written:

Alone and lost, appeared this saint,

With pretty gray eyes, darkness can’t taint.

He stole her from cold, from blustering storm,

Kind and gentle, he took her from harm.

Fearful of dark, he created her light,

A jar of gold, chasing demons of night.

Telling stories of love, he brought to her life,

A moment by his side: no pain, no strife.

He gifted her poems, a gesture on whim,

With every word read, she could see only him.

She counted the days until he returned home,

The boy with his light, the girl not alone.

Invisible to all, a shade wandering in dark,

He brought back her faith, with his pure kind heart.

I love poetry, Levi.

Thank you for the book.

Elsie x

Teaser Tuesday 08/12/2015 'Sweet Soul'

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read

- Open to a random pageShare two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

This week's teaser comes from the very first page of Sweet Soul by Tillie Cole, book 4 in the Sweet Home series.

"The rain pelted hard.  I pulled the collar of my jacket higher on my neck.  Reaching the warehouse door, I made to unlock it with the key I'd secretly copied from Axel's master key, my warm breath ghosting into a white mist as it collided with the cold air.

Thunder rumbled around the distant edge of a dark gray sky."