Cheshire by Samantha Lovelock {a review}

Cheshire by Samantha Lovelock is officially available! This is the first book in her new Wonderland Novellas series, that is based loosely on Alice in Wonderland, and it is spectacular! If you enjoy new adult enemies to lovers romances that are in a college setting, then go read this book. It is dark, it is filled with secrets, angst, mystery, steam, and a little dubcon.

Now first things first...Right off the bat, Samantha Lovelock tells you that this book will end in a cliffhanger. So keep that in mind as you read. You'll definitely have questions, but they won't all be answered within Cheshire. Oh, also, book 2 isn't coming until sometime in the spring.

In Cheshire we meet Ali when she and her mother are living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It has been years since her dad died, and now her mom has just dropped a bombshell: they are moving to Washington state, selling the home they live in, and her mom is getting married. This also means that Ali is transferring schools. She will now be attending St Philips College, and will be living in the dorms. It is in the dorms where Ali first meets her roommate Finn, as well as Benny (she lives down the hall). As Ali is walking around campus with Finn, she feels as though she is being watched. Yet when she looks, no one is there. From this point on, a lot of things start to happen: from meeting the Reavers, to an encounter at The Underground, to discovering a tidbit about her past, to someone leaving a candy conversation heart at her doorstep. It all has you wondering what will happen next, as well as who is behind some of the happenings. Then there is the question regarding Finn's previous roommate Simone. What happened to her? Where did she go? Someone knows, but everyone is quiet.

Major characters in Cheshire:

• Alianna (Ali)
• Cordelia (Delia/Mom)
• Charles
• Rickman Absalom
• Gryffinn Sloan (Finn)
• Benedictina Souris (Benny)
• Axel and Deacon Rossetti (twins)
• Vauxhall Telford Cheshire III (Vox)
  
• Tal Hamilton & Christian Buck were also mentioned, but they did not have much if any part of this initial story.

Now, I didn't know that I needed a story based on Alice in Wonderland, but apparently I did! And oh how wonderful Cheshire was! Oh who am I kidding, if Samantha Lovelock writes it, I'm reading it. I'm hooked on her stories, and I don't see that changing. (see: Folkestone Sins) Back to Cheshire though... From the start of this book where Ali finds out she's transferring schools, to the move to Washington, to meeting her new roommate, the discovery Ali made, to everything that unfolds during and after her trip to The Underground, to the scene at the cabin in the woods, I was HOOKED!  

Side note: I am perplexed as to why a parent was able to transfer their young adult from one college to another without their knowledge and/or consent. What? That just baffles my mind. BUT, after things start to unfold at St Philips, I am beginning to see the reasoning behind it all. There's more to the story that is slowly being revealed. 

Oh, and Benny has my curiosity piqued. She lives in the same building as Ali, and is a nosey little thing. Also, you don't know she's around. She's quiet, and blends in so you don't notice her. Benny is always watching and listening. I wonder what her game is, other than trying to get with Vox. But what's her MO regarding Ali?

I am left wanting more! My mind is spinning about what is going to happen with Ali, Finn, Vox, Alex, and Deacon. Also, what happened to/with Simone? Where is she? What happened to her? What else will we learn about the Reavers?

Is it Spring 2022 yet so I can have the next installment of the Wonderland Novellas? If you need me I'll be hanging out in The Lovelocker group on Facebook waiting for any tidbits that Samantha Lovelock provides. What can I say? Other than I'm greedy and want to be in the know!

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts. If you are an Alice in Wonderland fan, a fairy tale retelling fan, or just love new adult romances, then PLEASE go read Cheshire. 

Laura

Cover Design: Honey & Sin Designs

"Follow me," he invites, "into the deepest, darkest parts. Where there are no limits, and all the best girls turn bad."

When her father is killed and her mother marries a man she barely knows, Ali’s precisely planned future falls apart. Until now, her careful life has always stayed within the lines.

Thrust into a world without boundaries, her reality blurs further when she finds herself craving the attention of the one person she hates the most—the man who’s sworn to destroy her.

Torn between light and dark, how long can Ali play his dangerous game, knowing full well there aren’t any rules?

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Meet Samantha Lovelock

Samantha Lovelock is a sarcastic individual with a decent sense of humour, darknesses hidden in mind-closets that occasionally Jack-in-The-Box her unsuspecting ass, and a love and loyalty for her friends and family that runs deeper than any ocean. Her guy means the world to her, and so does her cat; sometimes even in that order. Her Mum is her hero, hands down. She proudly wears the crown of a Queen of Innuendo, and of Name That Tune, and has never met a cliffhanger she didn’t like. She lives in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies with her British cowboy and their Norwegian Forest Cat, Winston Churchill.

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Thank you to Samantha Lovelock for providing me with an advanced copy of Cheshire.

Finding Paradise by Barbara Dunlop {a review}

Passion heats up in Paradise, Alaska, for two people who couldn't be more different in this sweet, sizzling romance from New York Times bestselling author Barbara Dunlop. Learn more about Marnie and Cobra in Barbara Dunlop's latest release, Finding Paradise. It is now available!

I went into Finding Paradise with a bit of uncertainty. I knew that the first book (Match Made in Paradise) was decent, but it didn't fully wow me. So I had that playing in the back of my mind.

I will say, I was pleasantly surprised by Finding Paradise. Returning to Paradise Alaska with the group of women was going to be a wild ride. Especially since none of them had been in the town before, it was totally going to be a fish out of water experience. Granted the women had been thoroughly vetted, but still.

The relationship between Marnie and Cobra grabbed my attention away from all the other "matchmaking" that was attempting to happen. Looking at the two, you wouldn't think they'd work, but yet they did. Especially was Marnie revealed more and more of her skills (as well as her past). She showed how easily she'd be able to fit into this small town, as well as be perfectly suited for Cobra.

I also loved how Marnie jumped in where ever she could to help out. Whether it was with the matchmaking group, the community, with Cobra, or even with Mia, it just speaks to her character.

There was so much of this book that I enjoyed. That being said, the ending wasn't my favorite. Granted it works for Marnie, but in my heart of hearts I wanted something a tidbit different. Honestly, I wanted her to make a grand gesture for Cobra.

Now when do we get Brodie and Raven's story? Because I NEED that. It feels like it is going to be a doozy.

Thank you for reading my thoughts about Finding Paradise. I hope you'll consider picking up this series, and discovering the town of Paradise for yourself.

Laura

Accomplished Los Angeles lawyer Marnie Anton has always been sensible, but when her friend Mia Westberg asks for help with a ridiculous matchmaking project, she can't say no. The idea of transporting city girls into the small town of Paradise, Alaska, is so crazy it just might...work? Against her best judgment, she tags along. Having grown up in a family of intimidating men, Marnie developed a preference for the urbane lawyers and clients in her life in LA. But when she meets a mountain of a buff Alaskan man with an intriguing snake tattoo, intimidated is definitely not the first thing she feels.

Conrad "Cobra" Stanford was skeptical of the matchmaking event from the start. Big-city women weren't adventurous, they were judgmental. They'd take one look at him and scorn his lifestyle, just like his first love did. Cobra planned to give the women a wide berth, but one of them won't be ignored. Marnie's everything that's wrong and everything that's right for him all at the same time. Just when he thinks he's got her pegged, she blindsides him with a startling past, falling into his arms and igniting his protective instincts and so much more....

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Meet Barbara Dunlop

image credit: archbould.com

Barbara Dunlop is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has published more than fifty novels. Her stories have ranged from lighthearted comedies to family sagas. Barbara is a four-time finalist for the RWA RITA award, and her Tule novel His Jingle Bell Princess has been optioned by Motion Picture Corporation of America for a Hallmark movie. Barbara resides in Yukon, Canada with her bush pilot husband. 

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Thank you to Barbara Dunlop, and Berkley Romance, for providing me with an advanced copy of Finding Paradise.

Breath to Bear by Paula Dombrowiak {a review}

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to read a debut novel by Paula Dombrowiak. She had been busy writing a rockstar romance called Blood and Bone. It featured Jack O'Donnell, the band Mogo, and Erin Langford. Erin was a journalist who was writing a piece about Jack, but it suddenly became more than that assignment. What happened next was a whirlwind romance, followed by a bit of heartache, and ultimately another project was born. Honestly I thought that was it for Jack and Erin. I thought they had their moment, and it was nothing more than a fling. I assumed we were going on to Hayley's story (Jack's daughter), and that would be that. Oh how wrong I was! Fast forward quite a few months, and suddenly I see Paula talking about her new project, Breath to Bear, and she's once again talking about Jack and Erin. My ears immediately perked up, and I knew that I needed to read this book as soon as possible. The only issue was that it wasn't scheduled to be released until November 30. THANKFULLY I was able to receive an advanced copy, and I dove right in.

If you read Blood and Bone, which I highly suggest that you do before reading Breath to Bear, then you know how that ended. It ended with Erin and Jack working together to write a book about his life, and that obviously included bits and pieces of the band's story as well. Erin agreed to write the book as a ghostwriter, so she obviously wasn't named anywhere in the book, nor did she need to do the promo for the book. Erin poured her heart and soul into this book, and along with everyone else involved, the book turned into a major success. Erin and Jack still make time for each other as schedules allow, but there is something holding Jack back. Or rather some one. Mia Stone. His ex. The woman he loved. The woman he lost. His everything. After a lot of back and forth, Erin finally tells Jack that she can't be second place anymore. She needs more, and he clearly cannot give that right now. Meanwhile Jack is holding on to the past. He has this final album that he, Mia, and the band created. It needs to be released, but Jack knows that it isn't ready yet. It's missing something, but he doesn't know what that something is. As a result he is pushing away the woman he has come to care for, and possibly even love. Why can't he move forward? Why can he not leave Mia in the past? What is it about that woman that she still has a hold on his life? Then there's his friendships with  Cash and Wade. Those are suffering a bit also. Not to mention the turbulent relationship with his daughter! What will it take for Jack and Erin to find their way back to each other? What will it take for Jack to release Mia, and move forward with his life? 

I said it in my original review of Blood and Bone, but if you enjoyed Daisy Jones & the Six, or even The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I think you'll enjoy these books by Paula Dombrowiak. They are so easy to read, and just immerse yourself into the world right next to the characters. You can sit right by them and witness their highs and lows, their heartache and their love, their passion, their creativity, their connection. And oh is it ever worth it. From the very first page of Breath to Bear, to the studio scenes, to Erin traveling for work, to the reunion, to the press junket, to the studio session where Erin lays it all on the line, to Cash coming in to be with Jack, and everything that happens because of that moment, it was all so worth it. Every moment of this book had me drawn in, and I did not want to leave the world I was in. Whether it was reconnecting with Wade, Adam, Cash, Amber, and Hayley, or it was being introduced to new characters (Sasha, and the band No Cover), it was all just fabulous.  I am happy to say that Jack and Erin have finally gotten their happily ever after, and it was quite the battle for them to get it. From the heartache, to the grieving, to the destruction, to the creation, to the birth of something new, the characters have all come out the other side that much better. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Bonds We Break. This is actually a companion novel, so it will be interesting to see what Cash has to say about everything that has happened with Mia. It looks like that book wont be released until May 2022, so we have a bit of a wait.

If you are a fan of rockstar romances, then PLEASE go grab the first two books in the Blood and Bone series. I think you'll fall for the characters and enjoy the story.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Breath to Bear. Paula did a fabulous job with this book, and it is safe to say she is on my auto-buy list now.

Laura

Image: Michelle Lancaster
Design: Lori Jackson
Model: Giorgio Torelli

These chains that weigh me down, my guilt I wear like a crown, SHE is my Breath to Bear

Jack O’Donnell

I thought telling my story would purge my demons, but it didn’t. If anything, it brought them closer to the surface.

Now, they’re threatening to drag me back into the darkness and stop me from moving on with the journalist who captured my story and my heart.

The guilt I bear is heavy, the road I’ve traveled long and littered with scars that run deep.

I’ve been down this road before, in love with two women at the same time.

It didn’t end well.

Erin’s running scared - for good reason - but I won’t let her get away that easy.

Am I strong enough to get rid of the ghosts from my past in order to have a future with Erin?

Erin Langford

Journalists are supposed to be objective, to look at a story as if you’re outside a window looking in.

That’s what I was taught.

That’s what I should have done.

Instead, I fell through the glass and right into Jack O’Donnell’s bed.

The memoire I was supposed to write turned into more than I bargained for.

I’m in too deep.

So far gone.

He’s like a bad drug, making his way through my veins, and stopping my heart.

Yet, I still want more.

There’s just one problem - he’s still in love with someone else. She’s the ghost in the room, the girl that ruined him for all others.

Am I strong enough to be the one to help him heal?

*This book is not a standalone. You will need to read Blood and Bone in order to fully enjoy Breath to Bear.

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Meet Paula Dombrowiak

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, right on beautiful Lake Michigan. The Chicago lakeshore is my favorite place in the whole world. I currently live in Arizona.

I'm a '90s girl but love discovering new bands, just as much as I love writing. So why not combine the two?  That was how Blood and Bone, my debut novel, was born. 

I am a sucker for a redeemable villain, bad boys and the tragically flawed.

My wardrobe consists of band T-shirts and leggings that are perpetually covered in pet hair.  

Animals are my homies and I don't eat my homies.

 

Music inspires my storytelling

 

Have you always dreamed of being a Rock Star? Well now you can be. Join my Reader Group and be a Rock Star too.

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Thank you to Paula Dombrowiak, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Breath to Bear.

Crank by Caitlyn Dare {a review}

Crank by Caitlyn Dare is NOW AVAILABLE! This little novella is the kick off to the upcoming Red Ridge Sinners MC series. I'm here for it! I had been hoping for something like this. 

We first met Crank in the Savage Falls Sinners MC series by Caitlyn Dare. In that series, we noticed him taking an interest in Quinn Renshaw. Yes, the same Quinn who wants nothing to do with guys in the club. She's trying to distance herself from that life. Yet Crank has her curiosity piqued. Which he shouldn't because he's older than her. Plus, what would her parents say?

I want more of their story! I'm greedy. I don't care. I can only hope that when River's story starts that we will see Quinn and Crank in the background. Maybe gleaning little snippets here and there. This age gap, hate to love romance had me from the beginning. Maybe it's because of my curiosity while reading Sacred, or maybe it's just these two characters. From the initial denial of interest, to the slight chase, to the jealousy, to the desire, to their happily ever after, I was ALL IN! I will say the one thing that I struggled with was Quinn's age. She's a senior in high school, so this relationship is quite forbidden. If you struggle with that age gap, this isn't the book for you.

Loved the characters. Loved reconnecting with the Savage Falls Sinners. Loved seeing little bits and pieces of the Red Ridge Sinners clubhouse, as well as their group members. My interest is definitely there for River's series, and I am looking forward to Ruin when it releases in February.

Have you read Crank? How about the Savage Falls Sinners series? Highly recommend. Especially if you enjoy MC series.

Laura

My name is Quinn Renshaw, and my father is the VP of the Savage Falls Sinners MC.

But I refuse to be a club princess.

I want more from life. I want to graduate and go to college and spread my wings. I want a life beyond Savage Falls and club life.

Until him.

Killian Crankton, VP of the Red Ridge Reapers.

He looks at me and I feel things. Things I don’t want to feel. Dangerous, deadly things. Things that will end up with my heart in tatters.

Because I’m about to find out that Crank will do anything to get wants he wants.

Especially me.

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Two angsty romance lovers writing dark heroes and the feisty girls who bring them to their knees.

   

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Love You Better by Brit Benson {a review}

 Love You Better is a sweet and sexy standalone, best friends to lovers, second chance romance. Its got heart, heat, and an HEA sure to make you swoon. It is the first standalone in the Better Love series.

When I started reading Love You Better, I knew I was getting a friends to lovers romance. I was excited for it. What I was not expecting was the emotional journey that Ivy was going to take us on. I knew she had gone through something, but I wasn't certain what that something was. Well that's not 100% honest. I had an idea in the back of my head, but it matched up with what was revealed. Then there was also the couple of side stories happening, and those touched my heart as well.

That instant connection that Ivy and Kelley had when they first met, and how Kelley was determined to be her friend. Then watching them grow together as friends, realize there is an attraction there, and then doing whatever they can NOT to act upon it (until many years later), and seeing how it was just Ivy that Kelley befriended, but it was also her little brother, just had me loving it all.

Now that Ivy and Kelley are in college, they still have that close friendship, but things have definitely changed. Ivy has gone through a traumatic experience that continues to affect her life. Most days she's okay, but every so often memories surface. (cw: sexual assault) As for Kelley, after a rough couple of years where he lost his scholarship, he has changed also. He's grown up, and continues to realize that Ivy is his person. She's his forever.

This book isn't just about these two coming together, and finally getting their HEA though. Oh no. There is also a little side story regarding Kelley, and one of the students in the classroom where he is student teaching. That student's home life is not the best, and Kelley has taken him under his wing. Making sure that he has an adult he can talk with, be comfortable with, and know that they are there for him no matter what. Then there is the storyline for Ivy's family. It's just her, her mom, and her brother, and well mom has to work a lot to make ends meet, so it's taxing on the family. Throughout the book, you will see this pop up, and how it affects Ivy's life.

I absolutely loved this book. I'm looking forward to reading Bailey's story (she's Ivy's roommate), and reconnecting with the group.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my thoughts on Love You Better.

Laura

Kelley Pierce is my person.

He has been since the 9th grade.

Passionate. Driven. Whip-smart and wickedly funny.

He gets me like no one else does, and I get him.

He’s the perfect…friend.

My best friend.

But Kelley is also totally gorgeous, magnetically confident, and tantalizingly tempting.

Or so I’ve been told.

None of that matters, anyway.

Best friends don’t notice those things.

Or at least… I never used to.

One chemistry-filled moment has the power to change everything, and soon old feelings I’d ignored and memories I’d tried to forget come crashing back.

I never prepared for falling in love with my best friend.

But after that kiss…

Who is this unbelievably sexy man, and what has he done with my best friend?

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Meet Brit Benson

Brit Benson writes romance novels that are sassy, sexy, and sweet.

When she’s not dreaming up her next swoony book boyfriend and fierce book bestie, she’s reading. 

When she’s not reading, she’s probably marathoning a Netflix series or wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles in Homegoods.

Brit currently resides somewhere near the Blue Ridge Parkway with her husband, daughters, and dogs.

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Better with You by Brit Benson {a review}

Better With You is the second interconnected standalone in the Better Love series by Brit Benson. This enemies-to-lovers new adult romance is sassy, sexy, and has a guaranteed HEA. As this is the second book in a series, I want to say that it is not necessary to read Love You Better before enjoying Better With You. That being said, Better With You will contain minor spoilers for Love You Better.

We first met Bailey in Love You Better, and now we are learning all about her, while witnessing her fall for Alex. If you're unfamiliar with Bailey, she is a college student who is studying to become an accountant. In her downtime she is a bartender, and she LOVES to bake. There's a contest coming up where the grand prize is $2000! Bailey is doing whatever she can to win. She needs to win. She needs that money. For Brandon. She made a promise. After work one evening, Bailey stops to pick up some ingredients and is in the process of deciding whether or not to get pure vanilla or the imitation stuff. In swoops Alex, and he is about to take the last bottle of the pure vanilla. Bailey puts up a fight, flirting ensues, and curiosity is piqued. Alex asks for her number, but all Bailey tells him is 31, and that he has to figure it out from there. (31 is part of the bar name where she works.) Alex is successful in his mission, and a night together is had. Which leads to another night. And another. Finally it is the day of the contest, and who walks in? Alex. Bailey is convinced he's there to cheer her on, until the moment she realizes he's a contestant. He's her competition. Oh, and his name isn't Alex. It's Riggs. And Bailey is crushed.

Full disclosure: I gave Better with You 5 stars. FIVE STARS! When I read Love you Better, Bailey caught my attention, and I was wondering what her story was. When her story was revealed, I was bawling. Probably even more so when she explained who Brandon was. Cue the tears. Bailey has been through so much, and I am so thankful that she has found a group of people who love her. Alex's life isn't all sunshine and rainbows though. He has some stuff going on also, and he is determined to bring joy to his mom's life. I loved how this story played out. From the initial meeting, to the dates, to finding out that Alex is also a baker and that his name isn't Alex, to learning about the woman who is with him, to the big competition that Alex has been offered to join, to the forced proximity with him and Bailey, to the meeting of Alex's mom, to the discussion about Brandon, and everything else that happened, I was all in. There was no putting down my kindle until the story was over. I had to know what was going to happen with Bailey and her family, with Alex, his "fiancee", and his parents, and of course what was going to happen with Bailey and Alex. Could they find their way back to each other, and get their happily ever after?

Better with You hit me in the feels. I sobbed like crazy. I laughed out loud a time or two. I fell for the characters. It was all so dang fabulous. Also, at the beginning when Bailey mentioned prince hair Harry, I knew immediately who Brit Benson was referring too. Then when Alex came back and mentioned long haired Harry, I was smiling like a fool. I freaking love Harry Styles, so naturally I loved that he was "mentioned" in this book.

long haired harry

prince haired harry

I highly suggest that you go read Better with You. Now of course I also suggest that you start with Love you Better so that you can get the backstory on Ivy and Kelley, but that's up to you. If new adult, college romances are a preferred read for you, then go grab this one. If you're an emotional reader, have the tissues close by.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts,

Laura

Riggs Stanton is a thief.

He’s also a liar, a jerk, and a playboy jock.

Sure, I might have thought we had a connection.

I might have thought he was worth breaking my “no dating” rule.

He might have even given me the best orgasm I’ve ever experienced to date.

But it was a farce.

A trick.

Another lie.

And I don’t make mistakes twice.

Now he says he needs me.

One week of my help and I never have to deal with him again.

For ten grand, I can suffer anything for seven days.

Even Riggs Stanton.

Except…

The more time I spend with him, the more I get to know him, the more I question myself.

What if what we shared before was real, and it’s everything else that’s fake?

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Meet Ivy & Kelley in Love You Better!

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Meet Brit Benson

Brit Benson writes romance novels that are sassy, sexy, and sweet.

When she’s not dreaming up her next swoony book boyfriend and fierce book bestie, she’s reading. 

When she’s not reading, she’s probably marathoning a Netflix series or wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles in Homegoods.

Brit currently resides somewhere near the Blue Ridge Parkway with her husband, daughters, and dogs.

Connect with Brit Benson

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Thank you to Brit Benson, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Better with You.