Book Review: A Beautiful Sin by Terri E. Laine and A.M. Hargrove

Terri E. Laine and A.M. Hargrove show us again how believable their well created characters are. They feel so real to me and that’s one of many reasons why their stories are amazing. It’s like I am a part of it.

This is a bittersweet story with a lovely ending.

A Beautiful Sin is told from a dual POV. It’s about finding a way to deal with ones past of abuse, fear and guilt and to find a way to live a life the way it makes oneself happy.
I really liked that these authors didn’t shy away from topics that are mostly taboo in our society or hushed up and wrote about them so sympathetically.
I wasn’t bothered by the religious part in this book even though I am not a religious person myself. I absolutely loved to read Canaan’s story because he seemed so authentic.

Canaan made me believe again in the good in people. I was amazed at how calm and selfless he helped other people, strangers even, despite how messed up he was on the inside. He went through a lot of awful stuff but he never complained or opened up to others, partly because he thought of himself as a sinner. I don’t say it’s the right way to be silent but it showed me his tremendous strength especially because regardless of all he went through he still became this amazing man.

The Story:

Haven had a tough life and so did Canaan, but they both have had different evil done to them. When they meet again after some years, Haven can’t control her anger towards him for sending her away all this years ago, back to her personal hell when all she wanted was help.
Canaan had his reasons for having sent Haven away. He did it because he was afraid that something bad would be done to her by someone. What he kept so long as a secret becomes more and more a burden for Canaan as he learns that his actions took devastating effects on others.
Her growing artistic career brings Haven back to her home town and even though she is furious at Canaan, she can’t help but notice how humble and nice he is, and also really good-looking.

Conclusion:

Oh what I would give to see Haven paintings - they sounded incredible.
I absolutely loved Canaans character. I felt horrible for what he had experienced.
When I finished the book and I passed a church where the mass was just about to start, I had the urge to go inside. I have no idea why on earth I wanted to go inside, maybe to feel closer to Canaan because this story was finished now?! I haven't been to church since… I can't even remember how many years it's been that I have been to a mass. It reminds me of my childhood and my grandmother because I went with her to Christmas children's mass even though I have always been afraid of churches. They creep me out in a way that I can't describe. As if I was being watched from all around inside a church.

Anyway, the ending was lovely but it was something that I probably wouldn’t have chosen myself though I absolutely loved the epilogue.

The rating of this book was not an easy task for me because I really enjoyed reading this story but I did not love it like I did other books by those authors.
I loved the characters and couldn’t put the book down but for me it seemed like not all of the potential of this story was used up especially in the first half of the book. I feel bad for saying that because it's still such a beautiful story.

-- I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. --

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

View full review on Goodreads

  

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/28T5Ejs
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/28Q0hPq

 

     

                                                      About the Authors:

                                                          A.M. Hargrove:

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, USA Today bestselling author, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So she made a quick decision to quit her job and reinvented herself as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author. 

She fancies herself all of the following: Reader, Writer, Dark Chocolate Lover, Ice Cream Worshipper, Coffee Drinker (swears the coffee, chocolate, and ice cream should be added as part of the USDA food groups), Lover of Grey Goose (and an extra dirty martini), #WalterThePuppy Lover, and if you’re ever around her for more than five minutes, you’ll find out she’s a non-stop talker.

                                                                        Terri E. Laine:

Terri E. Laine, USA Today bestselling author, left a lucrative career as a CPA to pursue her love for writing. Outside of her roles as a wife and mother of three, she’s always been a dreamer and as such became an avid reader at a young age.

In her early years, she and her best friend would tell each other stories over the phone when they were bored. They called them their "soap operas" and generally revolved around whatever boy they liked at the time.

Many years later, she got a crazy idea to write a novel and set out to try to publish it. With over a dozen titles published under various pen names, the rest is history. Her journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. She looks forward to many more memories to come.

Connect with A.M. Hargrove:

Website: http://www.amhargrove.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMHargroveAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amhargrove1
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/amhargroveauthor
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A.M.-Hargrove/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove

Connect with Terri:

Website: www.terrielaine.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TerriELaineBooks
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TerriELaineAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TerriLaineBooks
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TerriELaineAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14299771.Terri_E_Laine
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Terri-E.-Laine/

Book Review: Black Widow by Lauren Runow

Holy shmoly! Where can I get more of this?
Wow. This was an unexpected enjoyable fucking amazing ride. Smokin' hot!

I loved it from the beginning. The characters and their stories were well developed. The concept of the club was awesome. I loved the Greek names Baubo, Eros and Eurydice and how well they fit to the characters.
The first half of this book was so hot. It leaves me wishing I knew a club like that, full of good looking people on the lookout to having some fun.
Preston was some special guy. I loved how he cared for Kamii and that he looked out for her safety.

The Story:
Preston lost his wife to suicide a year ago and wants to satisfy his needs at his sex club without emotions and in anonymity because without emotion and without getting to know the person he has sex with, it doesn't feel like cheating on his dead wife. It is just sex to meet his needs.
Kamii lost her husband 5 years ago when he was killed. She isn't the same person anymore since. Hardworking and without friends she escapes in the fantasies of her books until she meets Becca. Becca introduces Kamii to a whole new world of which Kamii always just dreamed and read about but didn't imagine really existed.
When Preston and Kamii meet, their lives are about to change. And so the story begins.

Thoughts:
I was surprised at the turn of events in this book. I didn't expect any of them though it felt a bit like reading two different books. But I still enjoyed it. I was just so turned on by the first half that I never wanted it to end. I definitely want more of that! =P

-- I received an ARC of this book from the author through the Fifty Shades Support Group on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. -- 

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

View full review on Goodreads

Cover Reveal: The Game That Breaks Us by Micalea Smeltzer

THE GAME THAT BREAKS US 

by Micalea Smeltzer

Series: Us #3

Genre: New Adult

Release Date: June 27th

Hockey’s bad boy needs to clean up his reputation…

Bennett James has built his career at being the best, on and off the ice, and now it’s come back to bite him. The media has turned against him, and with a near career-ending injury, he needs to clean up his act and prove that he’s serious about the game. For Bennett, working with his old coach at his alma mater feels like a step back, but it might be just what he needs.

…and she’s going to help him do it.

Grace Wentworth has always been the good girl, and she’s tired of that stigma. She wants to prove that she can get down and dirty with the best of them. The problem? She doesn’t know how.

Bennett will teach the good girl how to be bad, if she pretends to be his goody two-shoes girlfriend in front of the media.

But what happens when the game becomes real?

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Book Review: Chasing Butterflies by Terri E. Laine

This story pulled at my heart. It's no typical love story but one I will cherish for a long time to come. The characters really got to me.

I enjoyed reading both POVs especially because sometimes they were overlapping in time (but just a small part of it and never in a boring kind of way) and some scenes were interesting to read from both perspectives. It’s like reading both characters story and this helped to understand them better because they both had to struggle with different things while growing up.

Even though I went blind into the story because I didn’t read the full blurb and instantly knew I would like it, I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I do.
This is such a unique story for a unique boy with bicolored eyes. Imagine standing in front of him and looking into those gorgeous eyes of his. *swoon* Kelly is one of the good guys even though he thought different of himself.

I love that the author put a lot of meaningful details into the story and that they fell into place so perfectly. (For example the name Kelley and the nickname Lenny wasn’t picked randomly and you will probably notice what I mean when you read the book. Also the bicolored eyes of Kelley and the butterflies.)

I enjoy Terri E. Laine's writing and how she creates her characters. I already loved her other books Cruel and Beautiful and also A Mess of a Man which she both co-wrote with A.M. Hargrove.




The Story:
I don’t want to spoil anything in telling you too much about the story apart from that it’s about a young boy named Kelley who has no easy life growing up. He has to deal with loss, love, anger and so many more emotions that are especially hard to deal with when you are a lonely kid and not able to share your stuff with someone else. Since his family moved a lot, he didn’t have any friends. What made it even harder for him was that he had to endure the anger of his drunken father. He found distraction and oblivion in meaningless sexy with girls until he meets Lenny.




 
Thoughts:
I was surprised by how much I loved every part of it no matter how ugly or sweet it was. I couldn't put it down even through the tough parts of it.
I almost read the book in one go and I wish I took more time so I could still enjoy it.

I felt so sorry for Kelly. He had a hard life and so did Lenny. Their childhood was horrible and her life after high school wasn't easy either. I am glad though that especially in that hard time they found each other even when it wasn't a Cinderella-like story where the instant they saw each other everything was perfect. They still had a tough life but they found the perfect match in each other because they knew firsthand how fucked-up life can be.
I envy this love they shared. I think this is a rare love to find but the best one to have. They’re lucky besides all that horrible stuff they had to go through.

Conclusion:
This is no ordinary fairy tale where boy meets girl and they find their happily-ever-after because both characters have some hard stuff to go through. But maybe this is exactly why this is such a special story.

-- I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. --

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

View full review on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1RGZBtk

iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/zy8rl9f

About the Author:

Terri E. Laine, USA Today bestselling author, left a lucrative career as a CPA to pursue her love for writing. Outside of her roles as a wife and mother of three, she’s always been a dreamer and as such became an avid reader at a young age.

Many years later, she got a crazy idea to write a novel and set out to try to publish it. With over a dozen titles published under various pen names, the rest is history. Her journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. She looks forward to many more memories to come.

Connect with Terri:

Faceboook: www.facebook.com/TerriELaineAuthor    

Twitter: www.twitter.com/TerriLaineBooks

Instagram: www.instragram.com/TerriLaineBooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14299771.Terri_E_Laine

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1YUePk8

Website: www.terrielaine.com  

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