More Than Scars by Sarah Brocious

Synopsis:

Disclaimer: This story is a modern day Fairytale. Prepare for events that go beyond the normal day events you are used to. Plan on a happily ever after escape.

They say that the best way to heal is to find someone who suffers more and invest in their healing. Nerissa Meadows decides to make a change in career and experiences the strangest of interviews. She had been through so much but nothing like her soon to be employer, Liam Byrne. His scars have stolen from him...from his two little girls. It's as if life has ceased to exist outside of his own front door in order to protect what he loves and keep out what he fears. He perceives his weakness but Nerissa sees in him a wounded hero. Her heart aches for his two girls. Their young lives have been touched by too much sadness! They need her and she finds that she most desperately needs them. Fairytales can take shape in the most unlikely of places!


My Review: 4.5 Stars

Nerissa Meadows hasn't had an easy life. She has been put through the wringer on more than one occasion. When cancer took away her dream of becoming a mother, she decided to change careers from a teacher to a nanny. Her interview with the mysterious Liam Byrne is anything but ordinary. She is instructed to not look at him, to keep her eyes lowered. Even though it was the strangest of interviews, Nerissa feels an instant connection to Liam. And when she meets little Brianne and Amelia, she is a goner. She knows that she is right where she needs to be.

Liam is broken and scarred. There are very few people that he actually trusts. He, too, has been put through the wringer and he has closed himself off from the world, both physically and emotionally. His life is his two little girls and he will do anything and everything to protect them from the ugliness of the world.

Nerissa definitely has her work cut out for her when it comes to Liam. She has to teach him to love, to trust, to face his fears, to live. She has to show him that there is so much more to a person than just their outside appearance... that it's what's on the inside that matters most. He has the hardest time seeing and understanding this but Nerissa refuses to give up on him. She will earn his trust and she will help him face his demons.

I loved watching Nerissa and Liam grow and become stronger, not only as a couple but as individuals as well. They both know a thing or two about heartache and suffering. Watching them lean on each other and encourage each other was one of my favorite parts of the book. I felt their heartache, their pain, their happiness, their love. It felt like I was right there with them on their journey to discover their own HEA.

And can I just how much I loved all the characters in this book?! Especially Ian! Holy crow! He was seriously awesome! And little Brianne and Amelia... so stinkin adorable! I fell in love with them instantly. :)

I am a complete sucker for any kind of Beauty and the Beast story. When I stumbled upon More Than Scars and read a few reviews, I knew it was one that I just had to read. I was sucked in from the very beginning and had an extremely hard time putting it down! I stayed up way too late and woke up way too early just to finish it!

So why only 4.5 stars? There is just two things that bugged me. I'm not going to get into too much detail because this story was really good and I think that everyone should definitely give this book a try. First there was just way too many exclamation points throughout the entire book. The majority of the time they just did not fit and were not needed. The second thing is the book just ended! And you all know how I feel about that... I hate it! I need closure dang it! Lol. I would have loved an epilogue just to tie everything together.

This is the first book by Sarah Brocious that I have read and I will definitely be reading more by her.. especially if she ever decides to give Ian his own book... ;) Hehe. I love finding new authors that I can share with others. It seriously makes me happy when I can add more to my list of authors to watch. :)

And we can't forget about my casting! What do you think?! Pretty good, eh? ;)

Another Shout Out For The 2015 Swoony Awards!!

Is it just me or has this year gone by extremely fast?! I seriously can't believe we're heading into the last week of October already! This is seriously CRAZY! So... since we have a little over 2 months left in the year I thought I would do another SHOUT OUT for the Swoony Awards!

What Are The Swoony Awards?

The Swoony Awards are a reader’s choice award recognizing excellence in clean secular fiction. It is hosted by The Happily Ever After Book Club. We wanted a way to show our appreciation to these awesome authors who write the kind of books that we love. It’s also a great way to find new books and a good go-to when looking for something fun to read.

What Are The Eligibility Requirements For The Swoonys?

-ONLY books PUBLISHED December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2015 are eligible.
-Intimacy: No sex or closed door/fade-to-black, no/low innuendo, nothing crude or crass
-Language: None/mild (No F words or other explicit language) nothing overly crude
-Violence: Mild/low
-Religious: No Christian/Inspirational themed novels.
-Page Count: Novellas or Novels only, 100 pages or higher, no short stories this year
-Age: Only Young Adult, New Adult and Adult, NO children’s or middle grade
-Mood: Since the Swoonys are sponsored by the Happily Every Book Group, we are looking for books with HEAs. Uplifting, lighthearted and feel good books preferred. Some drama is okay, but not downers or overly depressing stories.

Note To Authors:

If you’ve written a book that matches the above criteria fill free to nominate it for a Swoony. And of course make sure you vote for it! Don’t be afraid to promote the award or to let your fans know your book has been nominated and needs votes. We are doing some promoting, but sometimes a newsletter, Facebook, Twitter or blog post directly from the author is the best way to let your fan base know your book has been nominated.

Note Tor Readers:

If you’ve read a book this year that you think is awesome…VOTE! This is a great way to let authors know you appreciate all their hard work. You can vote for up to 100 books on the list. We’ve also learned that the order you rank the books you vote on does affect the overall score of the book. So take a minute and make sure you have your books in the order you want them. Invite your friends to vote! Voting ends December 31, 2015.

Where Do You Go To Vote?

You can head on over to our Goodreads Page for the Swoony Awards by clicking here.

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There are over 160 books that have been nominated for a Swoony Award so far! Which ones have I read and voted for?!

Jessie Belle by Jennifer Peel
Trouble in Loveland by Jennifer Peel
Professional Boundaries by Jennifer Peel
House Divided by Jennifer Peel
My One and Only by Shannon Guymon
Free Fallin' by Shannon Guymon
At Last by Shannon Guymon
Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane
Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson
Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity by Rachael Anderson
The Academic Bride by Lucy McConnell
The Organized Bride by Lucy McConnell
The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell
Hello Again by Heather Tullis
My Pride, His Prejudice by Jenni James
The Boardwalk Antiques Shop
Catching Caytie by Cindy Roland Anderson
Tess in Boots by Courtney Rice Gager
Echoes of Summer by Laura D. Bastian

Have you read any of the books that are eligible for a Swoony Award?! Have you voted for them yet?! Yes?! Sweet!! We love you!! No?! What?! What is wrong with you?! Get your rear in gear, head over to Goodreads and VOTE!! Don't have a Goodreads account?! Sign up for one!! It's easy peasy!! And it's a FANTABULOUS way to keep track of the books you have read, find new books to read and meet new, amazing friends!! That's how Heidi, Kathy and Katie met!! And I'll tell you what... you sign up for Goodreads and I'll be one of your first friends... I promise!! ;)

So come on party people!! Let's get voting and show all these AMAZING authors how much we love them and their books!! <3

Tess in Boots by Courtney Rice Gager

Synopsis:

Tess Dougherty plans every aspect of her life right down to the last detail. But she doesn’t plan on running her boyfriend off by bringing up the topic of marriage before he’s ready. And she doesn’t plan to lose her job on the day she’s set to receive a huge promotion. So when her perfect world unravels, Tess makes a new plan: disappear.

Tess packs her bags and leaves her city apartment for a remote vineyard in North Carolina. At first, she’s put off by the slow pace of small-town life in the South. She’s especially irritated by Thatcher, the vineyard’s smart-mouth, dimple-faced farmhand. But she soon begins to appreciate the area’s charm, and Thatcher’s charm, too. She even swaps her trademark heels for a pair of cowboy boots. As Tess spends more time getting to know Thatcher, she finds herself loosening her grip on her old life little by little. Unfortunately, things on the vineyard aren’t as simple as they seem. There’s a secret here, and when the truth comes to light, Tess is forced to reconsider every plan she’s ever made.


My Review: 3.5 Stars

Let me start out by saying I know there are a lot of people who are going to disagree with my rating on Tess in Boots and that is totally fine. I really, really wanted to love this book because so many of my friends have read it and absolutely loved it! But alas... there were just a few things that kept me from really loving this book.

Tess has to have every aspect of her life planned out. She is overly organized and everything has to be perfect. When her longtime, non-spontaneous boyfriend, Logan, calls in the middle of the day to say they are going to go out to dinner she just KNOWS he's going to propose to her! But when he presents her with a "congratulations on your promotion" cake, Tess ends up giving him an ultimatum... propose by the end of the summer or we're over. Logan shuts down and says "we'll discuss this later" and takes her home. The next day he leaves for his business trip without another word to Tess.

While Tess is trying to deal with the aftermath of her non-proposal/ultimatum, she gets thrown into another loop. The promotion she was supposed to get will not happen. In fact, she ends up losing her job! She decided it's time to disappear and the answer comes in the form of her twin brother, Jake, who's wife has just inherited a Vineyard from her Uncle Carl. They are in need of a Marketing Director to get the Vineyard back up, running and turning a profit.

Soon after arriving at Carl's place Tess meets Thatcher. She tries her best to stay away from him but there is just something about Thatcher that draws her in. She gets to know him and the more she does, the more she likes. In fact, she just might be falling in love with him! But there's just so many secrets and no one is giving away any information. No matter how hard she tries, everyone is keeping their lips sealed.

Tess has a hard time adjusting to the slower pace life but it eventually grows on her and she gets to the point where she just doesn't want to ever leave. She's finally getting to figure out who she is as an individual and what she really wants out of life. But just as she's getting to where she wants to be, life throws her yet another loop and confuses her all over again. Who does she really love? What direction is her career going in? Should she take the easy way out? Or should she reach for higher and better... even if that path is harder?

All in all this was a cute read. I did enjoy it but like I said earlier, there were just a few things that kept me from really loving this book. The secrets for one thing. They got old after awhile and I ended up rolling my eyes when I discovered what some of them were. Also, I had a hard time connecting with Tess. I am not sure what it was but I did have a hard time with her. I ended up skimming over some parts just to be done with it. Sad... I know. Maybe it was my mood? The last thing that bothered be was the book just ended! And for those of you who know me, know how much that really bugs me! I wanted just a little more... I need closure! Lol. *sigh* Oh well!

This was my first book by Courtney Rice Gager and I will definitely be adding her to my authors to watch list. :)

This casting was a bit on the difficult side for me. I was about halfway into it before any kind of description for Tess was mentioned! So this one might not be perfect but it's who I eventually saw while reading. :)

To Authors Everywhere...

... I personally want to apologize for all the unnecessary negative reviews out there!

While searching Goodreads this morning for my next book, I ran across a review that really irritated me. The more I read, the more irritated I became. And then I read some of the comments that were attached to the review. I was appalled at what I was reading! I could not believe how cruel some people could be! I understand that we all have our own opinions and I respect that... I really do. But there are just some reviews out there that should NOT be posted! I have been coming across more and more on a regular basis and it really breaks my heart!

Don't get me wrong... I get that not everyone is going to LOVE every book they read. But, in my opinion, us, as readers, need to have some class when writing reviews. There is a way to write an honest review without saying cruel and mean things. Personally attacking an author is seriously unacceptable to me. How would we like it if people started tearing our work apart for no other reason than because they wanted to?! I mean come on... authors are humans too! Yes... I know that they have to have a tough skin in this industry and they are not always going to have glowing 5 star reviews all the time. But they also don't need to be torn apart for how they write their books. This is, after all, THEIR creation! These characters speak to them... they each have their own individual writing style that makes them unique and puts their mark in the book world.

I will admit that I, too, have been guilty of doing this in the past. Granted not to the extent as some reviewers, but still, that is no excuse. My pledge to you as authors is that I will try and do better in my future reviews. I may not like the book but a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into creating that book for me and millions of other readers. The least I can do is write an honest but classy review. 

I hope I haven't offended anyone for putting my thoughts and opinions into this post. But all day I have felt like I needed to get this out there for others to read. Hopefully, as readers and reviewers, we can help to lift up and encourage our favorite writers, new writers and future writers. 

To all authors reading this post... YOU are amazing! YOU are a rockstar! YOU can do this! And THANK YOU for creating a magical place that we can disappear into and discover new worlds whenever we open a book! 

Echoes of Summer by Laura D. Bastian

Synopsis:

When her former boyfriend shows up eight years later, Madison isn’t sure if she’s more relieved or angry he doesn’t recognize her. Especially since she’s forced to work with him for a few months and he has no clue she kept such a huge secret from him.

When Stephen finally realizes Madison is the same girl he knew as Bea from his grandparents’ town, he’s excited to catch up and reminisce about those summers — but she seems cold and wants nothing to do with him.

The truth comes out and he learns he’s the father of a seven-year-old son, throwing him into completely unfamiliar territory as he tries to develop a relationship with his child and attempts to rekindle the romance he’d once shared with Bea.

Can they each overcome their sense of betrayal and learn to be united for the sake of their son, and perhaps find love again?


My Review: 4 Stars

The last thing Madison expected to see in her boss' office was her ex-boyfriend, Stephen, from 8 years ago. She is surprised to say the least. But when he does not recognize her she doesn't know whether to be angry or relieved. Angry because of the way things ended but relieved since she's keeping a HUGE secret from him. You see... he is the father of her adorable 7 year old son, Milo. When Stephen first saw Madison he thought there was something familiar about her but he just couldn't figure out what. He was definitely going to be looking forward to working with her and getting to know her better. 

Madison is not forth coming about who she really is or that Stephen is the father of Milo. In fact, she goes out of her way to hide all evidence of Milo at first. She plays it off as long as she can. But when he catches a glimpse at her license the jig is up. However, she still tries to keep Milo's existence from him as long as she can. But when a comment gets misunderstood she blurts it out in a moment of anger and then completely shuts Stephen down and runs away. 

And this is where the emotional roller coaster begins. Trust has been broken... years of past hurts have surfaced... and both Madison and Stephen have no clue where to go from here. Madison has a hard time of letting go of the past and does everything she can to shut him down. She seems to be very insecure and lets her pride get in the way. She thinks that since Stephen left her once, he'll do it again so she just won't give him the chance. Stephen on the other hand proves to be more than patient with Madison. In all honesty the man is a saint! He had every reason to be a complete jerk towards the end of the book but his love for Madison was too great and he was determined that they would get their HEA... together as a family.

While both parties are to blame for how things played out, I think there are 2 more that should have shouldered the majority of the blame... her parents. But that was never really addressed in the book. And I'm not going to lie... that irritated me beyond belief! Stephen missed out on SEVEN years of his son's life because 2 people filled their daughter's head full of lies and always hung up on Stephen whenever he called for Madison. I would have LOVED to see Madison and Stephen confront her parents and see them eat a little crow. But alas... it didn't happen. :( 

Even though there were parts of the book that had me angry and growling, Echoes of Summer was a cute, sweet read that kept me engaged through the whole thing. I read it in less than 24 hours for crying out loud! And that's saying something since I have been in that dreaded reading rut for a few weeks now! Lol. This was my first book by Laura D. Bastian and I look forward to reading more by her! 

And we can't forget the casting! I had a blast with this one! The more I read, the more I could see these two as Madison and Stephen.. what do ya think?! ;) 

 

With a Dreamboat in a Hammock by Marcia Lynn McClure

Excerpt:

“Sir, I am so sorry,” Valynn started to apologize as her intestines began to twist themselves into knots of anxiety. “I had no idea who you were. I thought you…well, that you were here to lock up the building or something. I don’t even know what I thought really…but I didn’t think you were, you know, you.”

Valynn found herself uncharacteristically breathless as he smiled down at her and said, “It’s fine. Valynn? Is that right?”

“Yeah,” she managed to answer.

“It’s good to finally meet you,” he said. “And your work is…” He shook his head with admiration. “Your work really is the best I’ve ever seen.”

“Th-thank you! Wow, that means more than you can imagine…coming from you.” she stammered...

Instantly Valynn realized that she’d never really seen a photograph of the well-known photographer and entrepreneur. His work was so popular, as well as artistic, that she’d never paused to wonder what the man behind the camera looked like. But if she had taken a moment to wonder, she never, ever, ever would’ve imagined he was six foot three-ish, with gorgeous raven black hair, eyes that looked like two sapphires had been placed in them, the firmest, squarest, most perfectly shaped chin and jaw she’d ever seen on a man, and an overall appearance of just plain sigh-inducing hotness!

My Review: 3.5 Stars

Valynn loves photography and restoring old photographs. When an opening presents itself to join Wolfe Photography doing the very thing she loves, she jumps at the opportunity. She was not expecting the owner Jensen Wolfe to be so young or so good looking! She is definitely going to enjoy her work and the scenery while there! ;) 

When Jensen first lays eyes on Valynn he was hooked. Seeing her little victory dance after restoring an Edwardian bride had a lot to do with it but he can't help but think how adorable, funny and passionate she is about her work. They were both goners from the very beginning. ;) Their courtship was cute and drama free.

While this book was cute and I enjoyed it, it seemed to lack some of the Marcia trademarks that I fell in love with. I can't explain exactly what was missing but just that something was. But if you are looking for a quick, drama free, cute, fluff read then this is definitely a good choice to curl up with! :) 

And yes... I did casting for this one too! Aren't they cute?! ;)

 

The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell

Synopsis:

Amber Appleby is not the blushing bride. She makes a career out of being a wife—a business wife that is. After signing divorce papers with her third husband, Amber’s looking forward to a few months in a tropical location when Pamela calls her into the office to ask a favor. Pamela explains that her life-long friend has passed away leaving a world-class ski resort and extensive financial holdings to his grandson, Rym, with the stipulation that he marry a BMB bride to coach him through his first year as a billionaire. Amber’s up for the assignment but Rym turns out to be a maverick—and a gorgeous one at that. Amber’s skills as a life coach are tested at every turn right along with her heart. Faced with a law suit that could wipe out the resort Rym’s grandpa built from scratch, Amber has to decide if she’ll protect her marriage or the thing Rym loves most. Marriage was much simpler when love wasn’t involved.

My Review: 4 Stars

Rym has been estranged from his grandfather for years. When he receives a phone call telling him that he must head to his grandfather's house right away he has no idea that his life is about to change. When he gets there he finds his grandfather on his deathbed and learns that he is the sole heir to his grandfather's estate and ski resort. Of course there is one stipulation that he must abide by in order to inherit.. he has to get married. But not to just any bride... a bride from BMB... a bride that his grandfather has hand picked for him. To say Rym is a bit irked is an understatement. But he will do anything to keep the ski resort in the family and running the way his grandfather did. He is definitely stubborn in the beginning but once he opens his eyes he sees exactly what he has been looking for and needing in his life.

Amber has just signed the divorce papers for her 3rd marriage and is looking forward to a tropical getaway. But before she can walk out of BMB she is called into Pamela's office and is told she has another marriage already lined up for her. There will be no getaway. She is heading to cold, snowy Park City, UT. She definitely does not like the cold but she loves her job and with this marriage she will be one step closer to her goal. Little does she know that this marriage will be different than any of her other marriages. She was definitely friends with her other husbands but with Rym... well... let's just say the heart wants what the heart wants. ;) And when a decision needs to be made and Rym isn't around to make it she will do anything she can to make sure Rym keeps the ski resort that he loves... even if that means sacrificing what she has been looking for and needing in her life.

I really enjoy this series! Each story has been fun and I find myself always looking forward to the next book to be released. Lucy McConnell definitely knows how to grab me and suck me into her books. I love it! Definitely an auto buy author for me! :)

And of course I can't forget my Amber and Rym! I have Lucy to thank for my hero choice. Once the seed was planted it stuck and I was definitely NOT complaining... ;) Hehe.

 

(Un)wise by Melissa Haag

Synopsis:

The dreams start and Bethi’s very normal life goes down the toilet. Reliving past lives, where Dog-men chase her and she sees her eventual tormented death, Bethi sets out to find a way to live this time around. The dreams hint at an answer. She needs to be strong enough to find it, or die…

My Review: 4 Stars

Bethi is a normal teenage girl, going to school, living her life when all the sudden she starts dreaming these horrible, horrible dreams! They are of past lives and they all end the same way... in her death. She wakes up screaming because she not only sees everything but feels it as well. It's like she's there reliving everything over and over again. It gets so bad that she tries extremely hard to stay awake... at any cost. 

When she meets Luke she knows exactly what he is. She doesn't want to have anything to do with him because she thinks that he is just like the other werewolves in her past lives. She knows that they will only torture and use her. For what? She doesn't know but she will do everything she can to figure it out. The dreams mean something but until she can figure it out, she is stuck with trying to stay far away from any werewolves.. if only her heart and tummy will stop doing crazy things whenever Luke is around. And if only Luke would stop being so nice and protecting her. She doesn't really know what to do about him or her growing feelings. Will she realize that Luke is nothing like the other werewolves and is her true mate before it's too late? Can she figure everything else out before she dies... again?

Holy crow Batman! Information overload! This book is packed with A LOT of information! Most of my questions from books 1 and 2 were answered but more arose by the time I finished (Un)wise. I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything! There was literally SO much! So many dreams... memories... pain... anger... frustration... and yes even romance... be prepared for an emotional roller coaster! And do not even try to figure anything out... there are twists and turns that had me shaking my head, scratching my head, asking what?! 

While I am definitely enjoying this series I need to take a short break before delving back in. This book has a lot of flashbacks and since Charlene's book is the next one, I have a feeling it's going to be loaded with even more flashbacks. I usually don't mind all the flashbacks but this was a bit too much for me. I can see why the author did what she did but it was just too much crammed in in my opinion. I would have liked to see some of this information in the earlier books.

And of course I have my casting choices... ;) Hehe.