Review and Giveaway: The Bachelor Auction by Rachel VanDyken

bach I always look forward to Rachel’s releases. When life gets to be a little too serious I can count on her to bring out the funny and make me smile. This newest book is no exception.

Blurb
Jane isn’t entirely sure that Cinderella got such a raw deal. Sure, she had a rough start, but didn’t she eventually land a prince and a happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Jane is busy waiting on her demanding, entitled sisters, running her cleaning business, and . . . yep, not a prince in sight. Until a party and a broken shoe incident leave Jane wondering if princes—or at least, a certain deliciously hunky billionaire—maybe do exist.

Except Brock Wellington isn’t anyone’s dream guy. Hell, a prince would never agree to be auctioned off in marriage to the highest bidder. Or act like an arrogant jerk—even if it was just a façade. Now, as Brock is waiting for the auction chopping block, he figures it’s karmic retribution that he’s tempted by a sexy, sassy woman he can’t have. But while they can’t have a fairy-tale ending, maybe they can indulge in a little bit of fantasy . .

When I think of Cinderella, I definitely think of Jane. She gives and gives and never receives. This girl can never catch a break. She works tirelessly just to make ends meet, with zero help. I just kept waiting for her prince to come. At first I was irritated with her, for taking so much from her sisters and not giving it back to them, but then I knew there would be a breaking point. I just had to hold on and be patient.

Brock is a complex guy. He has a pain deep inside that he tries to hide. He’s afraid to say no, so he finds himself in a life that wasn’t of his choosing. And now he finds himself being auctioned off like a piece of art. But what he really wants is to take his Cinderella and live happily ever after.

The tension between Brock and Jane was off the charts. I was one very happy girl. And when you toss in Brock’s brothers, this book had everything I like. It had my emotions all over the place. I was happy, then angry, then I was swooning. So many feels. A great way to start this series. I can’t wait to read the brothers’ books.

~Melpomene

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Review: Empire by Rachel VanDyken

01 aemI can barely get my thoughts together after I finished this book. I’m emotionally drained. While I’m thankful this book had the comic relief sprinkled in, it did not help the amount of tears I shed.

“His love story is going to be epic.”

Sergio, sweet Sergio. He has just suffered immensely and I didn’t how much more he could take. Another arranged marriage may very well kill this man. I mean, what was going to be left of him if this went south again? He lost the love of his life and no one was going to compare to her. The last thing he wants to do is get close to another woman and possible fall for her. He loves Andi, and he will always love her. But he will do what he’s told even if that means living a life as half a person.

I loved Val. She was innocent in all things. She has no idea what she’s getting herself into, but she soon finds out that, no matter what, she’ll never compare to Andi. This poor girl has no choice but to hold on for the ride of her life and hold her heart is still in one piece when it’s over.

Without saying spoilers, this book had quite a few surprises. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, Rachel pulled the rug out from under me. The raw emotions pouring through practically every scene had me clutching my stomach. The utter devastation was almost more than I could take. But as Val did, I held on and had lots and lots of tissues nearby.

Audible Review: Restless Waters by Jessica Park

01 aud Just when I thought a book couldn’t get any better… Man, oh man! I just finished listening to the audible version and I’m a puddle on the floor. Since I’ve read the story, I knew what was going to happen. But nothing could prepare me for actually hearing this heartbreaking story. Between the super talented narrator’s voice and the beautiful music that was sung throughout, I was overcome with emotions. I tend to get that way when I read anyways, but this was more. It’s hard to describe, but when you actually hear the words, they have more of an impact. In fact, my husband was laughing at me, as the tears fell down my face, more than once last night. I was a mess.

Arielle DeLisle was fantastic as the narrator. She made me forget everything and drew me in. Her voice brought so much emotion, I could feel Sabin’s torment and pain. It gutted me. And then to add Troy’s music and voice in the mix, I was sunk. Totally sunk. He captured Sabin’s emotions perfectly.

I know that Audible members can get 50% off right now, before the holidays. So if you’re on the fence about getting this, trust me. You want to hear this.

~Melpomene

Grab the audible version HERE.

Grab the kindle version HERE. It’s actually free on KU!

Check out my review HERE.

Review: Love Unspoken by Lisa De Jong

01 loveI swear, Lisa De Jong has mastered the art of tying me up in knots and then very slowly loosening the ropes.

Love Unspoken takes place immediately after Lies Unspoken. So if you haven’t read the first book, stop reading this right now. Go and read it and then come back here. I’ll wait…..

still waiting…..

more waiting….

Done? Good. Whew! That would’ve been bad.

Love Unspoken is about finding happiness and love. It’s about making the right choice, even if it hurts. And boy, does it hurt. It hurts so good.

SYNOPSIS
I lent my heart to the bad boy, and he did exactly what I expected he would. He broke it.

And the guy I should have been with—he’s still here. He tries to take my mind off everything I’ve lost while showing me what I could have. I’m ready for a new start, to fall in love again … to do what I should have done in the first place.

Everything seems perfect.

Then the past comes walking back in. I thought I was over him, but one look and I know that’s not true. We went through too much together for those feelings to completely fade away.

When my past and present collide, how am I supposed to choose? They both love me, and I love them.

A heart will be broken … and it could be mine.

Where to begin??? When we last saw Lila, she was left heartbroken and now she has to put the pieces of her heart back together. When so much time has passed and she begins to wonder if she’ll ever be whole again.

My word, does this book bring out the feels!! I mean, seriously. Lila is trying to move on but her heart won’t let her. It wants what it wants. And it wants a second chance with the one who broke it. But man, oh man, does it take the long way around. Lots of speed bumps disguised as secrets and surprises made for an interesting ride.

I spent much of the book angry at Blake. I understand he has things from his past, which we find out, but he didn’t handle things as I think he should’ve. He should’ve told Lila everything. Why leave her in the dark? On the flip side, I get why he did. Sometimes heartaches of that magnitude, aren’t so easy to talk about.

I loved Pierce. LOVED. He was so supportive and I am so glad Lila had him to lean on. He was the perfect man. Strong, alpha and so very sexy. Majorly swoon worthy. All through the book I just wanted him happy.

While the first book KILLED me, this book was a slow burn. I was good with that. I don’t think my heart could take any more drama.

“Our hearts weren’t made to hold one person. They were made to love many with a special place for the one we love most.”

And that ending!!! I have a feeling I know who the next book is about. I couldn’t be happier. Bring it, Lisa. I’m ready to have my heart ripped out again.

~Melpomene

Buy Lies Unspoken (Flawed Love Book 1)

Love Unspoken (A Flawed Love Book 2)

EXCERPT
My eyes scan the room, full of well-dressed men, many with beautiful women on their arms. A few of them look lost like me, but most own the room like professional socialites. This could never be my whole life, I think to myself.
And, as I continue scanning, I see him.
He’s here. The man who stole my soul is standing across the room with his back against the wall. My eyes are locked on him, but his eyes dance around the room like I’m not here. Maybe to him, I never was. Maybe he’s looking for the next one—the girl he’ll show the world to then disappear.
I look beside me—at Pierce—and I feel sick that any part of me even wants to go across the room. I feel sick because there’s a man here who I know could make me happy—who does make me happy—and yet I’m willing to throw it all away. He looks away from Royce, eyes instantly finding mine. He smiles, and I return it the best I can because for just a few more minutes, I need him to think that nothing has changed. And, maybe nothing has.
“I’m going to find the restroom,” I whisper to Pierce.
“I’ll come with you.”
Shaking my head, I say, “No, you stay. I’ll be right back.”
He nods, hesitantly, and I wait for him to turn his attention back to Royce before blazing a path through the crowd, anxious to prove to myself that this isn’t a dream.
The shield cracks.
My heart races.
His eyes still roam, taking in everything … everything but me.
I’m not going to let him out of my sight … I’m not going to let him hide from the anguish he’s buried me in the last several months. He has nowhere to run. Even if he did, I wouldn’t let him, not this time.
A few long strides and I’m standing in front of him, staring into those familiar pained eyes. When you love someone, it’s impossible to look at them and feel hate. You may want to feel it. You may think you feel it, but love and hate can’t co-exist. I hate that I love him, but I can’t hate him.
And, I want to hate him. It would make it easier to love someone like Pierce who deserves my heart. This man stole it months ago, and I don’t think he has any intention of returning it. Sometimes I don’t know if I want it back.
But then, I think of the last few days—few months actually—and I realize another man may be winning it back for me. Maybe it’s not gone forever but simply misplaced.
His hair is a little longer, but he’s the same. The way he stands … the way his fingers curl around a beer bottle. He’s exactly the same.
“Blake,” I whisper, afraid of what he’ll say, what he’ll do. Still afraid he’ll find a way to run away, and I won’t be able to catch him.
He stares at me like he’s never even met me, or maybe he’s spent the last several months trying to forget me. I can’t say I haven’t tried to do the same. There’s not enough alcohol in the world do erase him.
“Does he make you happy?” he finally asks, practically staring through me. He sounds so broken, so sad.
“Who?” I ask, caught off guard by his question.
“Pierce. Does he make you happy?”
My eyes well with tears I’ve left unshed … tears I left for him to see. “Yes,” I whisper, doing my best to hold them in. He deserves to watch every single one of them run down my cheek but not here … not now.
He nods, reaching his fingers up toward my cheek before quickly pulling them back away. And just as quickly as he came back into my life, he’s gone.
It’s really over.
If any part of him wanted me, he would have fought for me.

Review: Restless Waters(Left Drowning #2) by Jessica Park

01 rest My heart has been squeezed and shredded, and glued and mended. Restless Waters is filled with enough emotion to sweep you out to sea, unless you’re holding tight to someone.

“Breathe. Just breathe.”

“There’s no air, Blythe.”

“Reach for me. I won’t let you drown. I’m right here.”

He rubs my back some more and then laughs lightly. “You’re already taken.”

“I have two hands, Sabin. Grab one.”

I have loved Sabin from the very first moment we met him, in Left Drowning. I knew there was more going on inside his head than he let on. I KNEW that his story, however it was told, was going to make me feel. I was so right.

SYNOPSIS
A storm is coming, and with storms come restless waters.

Pulled from the depths of catastrophe and depression, Blythe McGuire has learned to escape from her past while embracing the future. A future now entwined with the Shepherd siblings.

With Chris, she shares a staggering romance that kicks heartbreak’s ass.

With Sabin, she shares an intense friendship, one that’s becoming more complicated than either had expected. A friendship now being put to the test because Sabin’s brutal past still haunts him. Because trauma is the gift that keeps on giving without mercy.

Now Sabin is the one left drowning and struggling to breathe, and his turmoil threatens to send all three into dark currents they cannot escape. Even after going through her own hell, saving Sabin will take much more than Blythe had anticipated. Their connection and their love could help, but getting him to reach for her hand could be Blythe’s biggest challenge ever.

Blythe has found a way to breathe, with the love of Chris and Sabin. Sabin is her best friend. In fact, everyone would count themselves lucky to have a friend like Sabin. He is charismatic and loving, and loyal to a fault. He wants his loved ones to feel no pain. But as they grow closer, she notices that Sabin is falling apart. He wants to be free, but at the same time, he can’t stand being alone. If Blythe isn’t strong enough to save him, she’s going to drown right along with him.

My heart was breaking this entire time. True to the Left Drowning feel, I had to step away from everyone, as I couldn’t contain the sobs that overcame me, at one scene. I was completely caught off guard and my heart squeezed so tight.

I wanted Sabin to be happy. But no matter how loud and crazy he was, there was undercurrent within him, that you felt through the pages. Restless waters is the perfect description of him. He was all over the place. Never settled. He was hurting and helpless. After growing up the crazy household they did, there are bound to be scars that remain below the surface. Healing doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of fierce love and compassion to prevent someone from drowning in sadness and pain.

So hold on. Grab a box of tissues and get cozy. You won’t want to get up until you’ve finished.

~Melpomene

Buy Restless Waters: A Left Drowning Novel (Left Drowning Series Book 2)

Read Left Drowning (Left Drowning Series Book 1) first, to fully understand where Sabin is coming from. This book is in my top 10 of all times. I have much love for this series.

Review and Giveaway:Trusting Liam by Molly McAdams

01 tru You know how books have short epilogues, that just give you a small glimpse into their futures? Well, this book was like the most epic of epilogues. For those who don’t know, Liam is the son of Chase and Harper, from Taking Chances and Stealing Harper. I’ll admit, when I hear Liam was getting a book, I said a little prayer to the book gods that I was going to be able to handle it. Taking Chances was my first book ugly cry, and Stealing Harper about killed me. Molly pretty much destroyed me and everyone else, with those books. So you can understand my nervousness.

SYNOPSIS
When Kennedy Ryan moves to California, she never expects to come face-to-face with Liam Taylor—the intriguing man who has haunted her thoughts for a year. A man who led her to breaking every one of her rules for a single night of passion that ended up meaning more than it was ever supposed to. Accustomed to disastrous experiences with men, Kennedy shields herself before he can break down more of the carefully built control she’s clung to for the last four years. But every time she sees Liam, she feels her resolve weakening.

Liam Taylor has been asked to help socialize his boss’s nieces. But what he thinks sounds more like a babysitting job ends up leading him to the only girl who ever slipped away before morning—a girl he thought he’d never find again. And now that she’s within reach, Liam’s determined to never let her go.

But when a secret from her past tests their relationship, will they be able to cling to the trust Liam has worked so hard to build?

I adored Liam!! He’s had some big shoes to fill. His dad was loved by a lot of people and sometimes that can be overwhelming for him, since he never met him. Many times throughout this story I found myself tearing up as they reminisce about the past. My heart would splinter a little bit, when they talked about Chase. I know the book is about Liam, but Chase played a huge part in this entire series, so it’s really hard to forget about him.

Kennedy was a tough nut to crack. I kept yelling at her to loosen up, but she never listened to me. But then, I found out why she was the way she was. Then it all made sense. The past few years have been rough on her.I can see why she had such apprehension, when it came to Liam. But he wasn’t going to give up. He’s much like his dad in that sense. If he wants something, he will fight for it.

I was so happy to see all the past characters, especially the side ones like Brian. He was a funny, and very loving guy. Comments like dude number one and dude number two, when he was talking to Kennedy and her sister, made me snort a bit. When he would speak about Chase, with such love, tears were forming in my eyes. He loves Liam just as much as his father. And let’s not talk about the name Little Chachi, unless you have a tissues nearby.

All in all, I am very happy with this ending. It’s not a happily ever after, because life isn’t always happy, but it’s about as happy as you can get with what life’s dealt you. Well done, Molly!

~Melpomene

Trust me when I say that you should read Taking Chances and Stealing Harper before you read this. You will benefit more from it. And then when your tears have dried up, you can start on Liam.

Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Date: June 9, 2015

Buy Taking Chances (Taking Chances and Forgiving Lies Book 1)

Buy Stealing Harper (Taking Chances and Forgiving Lies Book 2)

Then buy Trusting Liam: A Taking Chances and Forgiving Lies Novel

TrustingLiam

Review: GUS by Kim Holden

01aaaa How do you go back to doing what you did before, when half of you is gone forever?

This book….This book is about so many things. This is about healing, moving on, forgiveness, love, just to name a few. This book will make you cry, and at the same time those tears will bring you healing. Your heart will be overflowing with so many emotions, the release will make you complete.

When I read Bright Side, I fell in love with Gus. I know the book wasn’t all about Gus, but I knew, I knew Gus was going to need someone very special after that. There is no way you can recover from that alone. But my heart was in no way prepared for what Gus would go through. His world was shattered. His heart was shattered. He was merely alive, but in no way living. It was going to take more than just him mom and band mates to bring him back.

On the outside, Gus is this hot rocker that likes to party all the time. He gets mixed up in all kinds of vices that are slowly tearing him apart, but he doesn’t care. His life is no longer bright, so he has lost the will to do anything anymore. Watching him self destruct was one the most painful things I’ve ever experienced. He was wrecked. There is nothing left, but a shell of a man in search of anything to fill him up.

Cue, Scout. Scout is hired on to be his keeper. Little does she know that in watching him, she is healing him. And in doing that, he is healing her as well. I loved Scout. I loved the fact that she wasn’t perfect. I loved the way that Gus brings her out of her shell. Her life was so far from ideal, that she wished for something better. I enjoyed watching her grow to realize that no matter how mismatched a family is, as long as their is love, that’s all that matters.

It cracked me up watching Gus try and figure her out. She had secrets that prevented her from living life to the fullest. But after a few rough patches, he found that making her smile was his new goal. That’s when the book became a little more funny. But don’t let that fool you. While this book had a nice dose of silliness and teasing, it had a hefty dose of reality. And sometimes reality sucks. It suck hard. But like I said before, this book will bring you healing. Just hold on tight, and perhaps grab a box of tissues before you start.

I was so thankful for a glimpse into the Bright Side characters. I needed to know that they were ok. I have to believe that even through something so devastating, with the right amount of time and love, healing can happen.

“Some people wear their scars on the outside. Others wear them on the inside.”

~Melpomene

Buy Gus

To fully understand where Gus is coming from, you must read Bright Side
You can thank me later.

Review: Hate: A Love Story by Laurel Curtis

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“No bottle is big enough for human emotion. Love, hate, anger, happiness, and deep melancholy. Each one exists for a reason. Emotion is real. It’s meant to be released. It’s meant to be lived.”

WOW. This book….WOW. What an emotional roller coaster.

Synopsis
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Life can be messy,
And love can be too.

Most people say that it’s not important where you’re going, but instead, how you get there.

Unfortunately for me, the journey to love was absolutely agonizing. Love and Hate wrestled with my life day after day, year after year, and the only way to stop it was to let one of them win.

Which one?

I fought to love harder. But I loathe my love story.

I admit, I knew nothing about this book, except that I liked the cover. But as I immersed myself in this story, I discovered that this was going to be one of the most devastatingly beautiful stories I’ve read this year. And I was right. One minute I was cracking up, and then next I was sobbing into my pillow. The overwhelming feelings of loss and heartache brought me to my knees. This is another of those books that I have no words for. I lived the story. I felt the story. I loved the story.

Whitney is a no nonsense kinda girl, with a quick wit and the gift of banter. She befriends Blane and they start on this epic journey called life. These two together were hilarious. I loved them together. They decided to add another friend to their mix, Franny, and that adds to their dynamic.

She is always there for them, even through loss and devastation. No matter what. She could never imagine her life without them. But soon life decides to change it up and see how she can handle it.

“DON’T LOOK FOR WHAT IF. Embrace what is.”

I feel in love with all the characters in this story. They were your average every day people. Moms and dads loved each other, and loved their children. Even Granny was a blessing. She had a way of being snarky and loving at the same time. Her character brought the funny, when all you wanted to do was sit and rock in a corner.

But unfortunately, no amounts of love can keep the hate and pain away forever. It will still creep in, when you least expect it. You just have to learn how to push it aside and hold on to love with all your might.

~Melpomene

Buy Hate: A Love Story

Review and Giveaway: Living with Regret(Rain#3), by Lisa De Jong

01liv

“Sometimes true friends make the best true loves.”

I knew going into this book, that it was going to toy with my emotions, so I was sort of prepared. But yet, not really.

Synopsis
I had my whole life mapped out. Perfect guy. Perfect friends. Everything was exactly the way I wanted it.

That was until that night–the one I can’t remember. It’s all my fault, and now the memories are all I have left of him. Of us.

My guilt drowns me until Sam Shea steps back into my life and helps me to the surface. He slowly opens my heart and crawls deep inside before I even realize what’s happening. I know I don’t deserve him.

While I’m trying to get used to my new life, pieces of that night slowly start to come back to me. Lies and secrets shatter everything I thought I knew.

Maybe I’m not the only one living with regret.

Holy heartache!!! Rachel wakes up, in a hospital bed, with no memory of how she got there. She doesn’t remember the final 24 hours of her “perfect” life before it was turned upside down. The only people that seem to want to help her, without any hidden agendas, are her friends, Kate, who she met in college, and Sam, the next door neighbor. But since Kate’s hours away, Sam’s the only friend she’s got to rely on. They may have lost touch, in the past few years, but he was always there when she needed him. And she needs him now.

Sam hasn’t had the best life, but he always cared for Rachel. He would take away her pain and heartache, if he could. He wants to show her that because she’s a live, she needs to make the most of what she’s been given. She needs to learn to forgive herself and move on. But that is most definitely easier said than done.

Rachel has always cared for Sam, even when she was dating someone else. He was her best friend. But lines are beginning to blur and she’s not sure what to do about that. Little does she know that his feelings run a bit deeper than friendship. But he slowly begins to show her.

“Life doesn’t always give you a second chance, so when it does, seize it, If you don’t, you might always regret it.”

I loved Sam. He was the most caring, patient, swoon worthy guy I’ve read about, in a long time. Some of his lines were so sweet, they made me tear up. He knew the right things to say to Rachel, to help her on the path of forgiveness and discovery.

“There’s no need to run when everything you want is right in front of you.”

I was totally cheering for Sam, but I understood that Rachel needed space to get her head on straight. As she starts to slowly get snapshots from that night, you start to realize that things weren’t always so clear. Just when I thought I understood, some thing else would come out of left field and slam right into me. I wouldn’t call them twists, but more like pieces to a puzzle. You really don’t know what you’re looking at, til all the pieces are in place. But putting those pieces together creates more heartache than the poor girl was ready for.

Life changes quickly with the turn of a key. If it’s the right one, it can unlock something fantastic, but if it’s wrong, it stops you in your tracks.

After much heartache and lots of discovery, Rachel finds out the truth about herself and the many people around her. But most important, she learns that living with regret isn’t living at all.

When you’re lost, the only thing left is to be found.
You can be lost in sadness and found in happiness
Lost in regret but found in forgiveness.
the key to being found comes from within…
No one is going to hand it to you.
…Life isn’t meant to be that easy.

~Melpomene

LWR - RD

Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy

Read the first two books:
When It Rains (Rains Standalone Book 1)

Changing Forever (Rains Standalone Book 2)

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Review: Becoming Calder and Finding Eden, by Mia Sheridan

Downloads2
When Mia Sheridan first announced she was writing a new book, I was thrilled. When she started writing, she told us that there was so much to say and she would be writing two books and releasing them simultaneously. I couldn’t be happier. Not only were we getting another book, but we were getting TWO! After reading Archer’s Voice, I didn’t think she would be able to come close to Archer, but, boy was I wrong. This is another of those books that I wanna yell, “Just read it!!”

It is so hard to put to words how I am feeling after reading these books. I have never read books like this. The subject matter alone, makes this even more tragic and beautiful. How love can blossom in a time of such destruction and deceit, I will never know.

Synopsis
There is a place in modern day America with no electricity, no plumbing, and no modern conveniences. In this place, there is no room for dreams, no space for self-expression, and no tolerance for ambition.

In this place, there is a boy with the body of a god and the heart of a warrior. He is strong and faithful and serves his family honorably. But he dares to dream of more.

In this place, there is a girl with the face of an angel and a heart full of courage. To her family, she is the vision of obedient perfection. But she dares to want that which she has been told can never be hers.

Eden is brought to Acadia as a little girl, to save them. She is the chosen one. The one the prophecy told of. Calder is the water bearer and one of the many people she will save. As children, their connection was almost instant, but it wouldn’t be allowed to blossom, because she was to be the wife of the “Father” and no one was going to get in his way.

As the years go by, the connection between Calder and Eden is stronger than ever. Eden has been kept away from the other children, but they find times to sneak off and be together and learn more about each other. What starts off as innocent friendship, grows into a fierce love that no man can even think of separating.

“Eden, I vow this. My heart is yours. My life is yours. My body is yours. My art, my dreams. You own each and every part of me.”

I was in a constant state of angst. I was lost in the romance. I was devastated in the crushed dreams. I was downright destroyed at the loss. I was hopeful in the future.

No matter the years or the miles, true love will always finds it’s way.

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This silly, kid-like, review hasn’t even touched 1% of these book’s force. Just go and buy them and you’ll know why I struggled with all the emotions that are running through me. Sometime’s putting words to overwhelming feelings is so much harder than you think.

~Melpomene

Becoming Calder and Finding Eden will both be released on October 5th. Calder is up for pre order now. Finding Eden will be available on release day.