The Air He Breathes (Elements #1) by Brittainy Cherry

I was warned about Tristan Cole. "Stay away from him," people said. "He's cruel." "He's cold." "He's damaged."

It's easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster. But I couldn't do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him, because it also lived inside of me.

We were both empty. We were both looking for something else. Something more. We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays. Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe.

Book: The Air He Breathes (Elements #1) by Brittainy Cherry
Published: September 25th, 2015
Pages: 308
Genres: Romance, New Adult
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 29-October 2, 2017
Rating: 4 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

He gestured toward the house. “Hold her tight each day and night, because nothing’s promised to us. I just wished I would’ve held on tighter.”

Okay, now that I've finished bawling my eyes out until there are no tears left to shed…

I don't recall ever reading a book that has made me cry as often as this one did. And oh boy did it pull on my heart strings! Giving birth to my son 5 months could be helping to influence my emotions, but maybe not.

This book was such a great read from start to finish. I truly didn't want to put it down! I loved Tristan and Elizabeth, they fit together so perfectly. Two characters who were completely broken and just needed someone to help pull them out of the fog they were living in - they just made sense together. And we can't forget about Elizabeth's best friend Faye! Oh how I loved reading about that quirkly, foul-mouthed woman!

You know that place in between nightmares and dreams? The place where tomorrows never come and yesterdays don’t hurt anymore? The place where your heart beats in sync with mine? The place where time doesn’t exist, and it’s easy to breathe? I want to live there with you. –TC

This book had so many powerful messages but I feel like the main one is - live life to the fullest because tomorrow is never promised. And it's absolutely true. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice romance that will have you reaching for the tissues faster than you can say Tristan!

Only for You (Unforgettable You #1) by Beverley Kendall

College freshman Olivia Montgomery is thrilled at the chance to start over, escape the rumors that plagued her in high school. And she can finally put her juvenile crush, Zachary Pearson, where he belongs--in her past. Then her unrequited love strolls into her French class, shattering Olivia's newfound peace, and the feelings she'd thought buried for good come rushing back. Now she can't shake her unwanted attraction to the one guy who can twist her stomach into knots with just a smile...but has never given her the time of day.

Zach's good looks may have always gotten him his pick of girls, but it's the star quarterback's skill on the football field that gives him his pick of the Big Ten colleges. To escape the crushing demands of his win-at-all-costs father, Zach opts for a private university in upstate New York where...his present and past collide. And the one girl he's always wanted but can't have--and a class trip to Paris--turn out to be the ultimate game changer that has him breaking every one of his rules.

Book: Only for You (Unforgettable You #1) by Beverley Kendall
Published: December 30th, 2012
Pages: 294
Genres: Romance, New Adult, Freebie On Amazon, College
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 25-29, 2017
Rating: 3.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I almost wanted to take a day and think about how I wanted to word my review. Did I enjoy the book? Yes. Did I love it? No. Would I read it again? Probably not.

It was a good book, I enjoyed a lot of the characters and it was a decent read but there was nothing that made me want to block out the world for a few hours in a mad rush to finish this book. It kept me engrossed enough to continue reading but there was nothing extraordinary about it, at least for me.

That being said, check this book out - you might feel differently than I did. This review can also be found on my blog The Book Potato

Kulti by Mariana Zapata

“Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.”

When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.

It didn’t take a week for twenty-seven-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she’d seen in the international soccer icon—why she’d ever had his posters on her wall, or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.

Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man that hadn’t known she’d existed. So she isn’t prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team’s season: a quiet, reclusive, shadow of the explosive, passionate man he’d once been.

Nothing could have prepared her for the man she got to know.

Or the murderous urges he brought out in her.

“Sal, please don’t make me visit you in jail. Orange isn’t your color.”

This was going to be the longest season of her life.

Book: Kulti by Mariana Zapata
Published: March 20, 2015
Pages: 570
Genres: Romance, Athlete
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 15-25, 2017
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

I was sucked in from the first chapter of this book and I knew I was going to enjoy this read. I love the way the author tells the story and I so enjoy the main character, Sal's commentary and sense of humor.

"It was the worst non-break-up ever in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who didn’t even know I existed."

I love the character of Sal, she was so much fun to read about. And Kulti. Oh, how I love Kulti. This book was definitely a slow burn, super slow, but so worth it. The main characters had such chemistry and I enjoyed their banter so much.

"The German tilted his head up and cursed something low and long in German. “You were brought to this planet to give me an ulcer, weren’t you?”"

I also loved Jenny and Harlow - its always nice to see TRUE friends are out there. And I loved any of the squad members that we're backstabbing fakers.

"The second [voicemail} was from one of the defenders on the team that I wasn’t particularly close to, who laughed so hard she sounded like she was dying. “German Chocolate Cake! Oh my god, I thought I pissed my pants.”"

I think everyone should live by the motto below, its so true.

"Once you reluctantly accepted that people were always going to judge you no matter what, it got a little easier to deal with having people dislike you."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and highly recommend it to everyone, even readers that aren't huge fans of sports book. Read this book, you wont regret it!

Give Me Love (Give Me #1) by Kate McCarthy

Evie Jamieson, a former wild child, is not only a headstrong, smart-mouthed trouble magnet, she is also a lead singer with a plan. That plan involves relocating her band, including her two best friends guitarist Henry and band manager Mac, to Sydney to kick off their dreams of hitting the big time.

Jared Valentine is the older brother of Evie's best friend Mac and also the man determined to make Evie his. They strike up a long distance friendship which suits Evie because she's determined to avoid the distraction of love, not only because it doesn't fit in with her plan but because twice in the past it has left her for dead. Moving to Sydney however, has put her directly in Jared's path and he has decided it's the perfect opportunity to make his play.

Unfortunately Jared, co-owner in a business that 'consults' in dangerous hostage and kidnapping situations, makes an enemy who's determined to enact revenge. When this enemy puts Evie in his sights, Jared not only has a fight on his hands to make her his own, but also to keep her alive.

Is accepting the love he's so desperate to give worth the risk to both her heart...and her life?

Book: Give Me Love (Give Me #1) by Kate McCarthy
Published: March 15, 2013
Pages: 328
Genres: Romance, Musician, New Adult, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 13-15, 2017
Rating: 3.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I'm not really sure where to start with this review. Did I like this book? Yes. Did I love it? No. Did I enjoy a lot of the characters? For the most part.

Evie and Jared were a great couple, when they were together. I understand they both had their hangups due to previous relationships and that they were each having trouble overcoming them. I get it. But it was like the movie groundhog day - the same thing kept happening over and over. Something would happen and Jared would freak out and disappear while Evie would deal with the pain in her own, unproductive way. It got old, quick. However, I am happy that they were finally able to get their crap together and work everything out!

I'm not really sure where I stand on Mac's character. I have a very love/hate relationship with her since one minute I was happy with her and the next I wished she would disappear. Maybe, if she gets her own book, I'll understand more of her feelings and get some clarity as to what was going on with her in this book.

I enjoyed Evie's bandmates and would have liked to have seen a bit more of them - I'm sure they have a bigger role in the other books. And I loved Jared and Mac's brothers - I definitely would love to read more about them.

I enjoyed this book but I'm not sure if I'm going to read the rest of the series. Then again, you never know!

Taste for Trouble (Blake Brothers Trilogy #1) by Susan Sey

On the field, soccer star James Blake is pure poetry. Off the field? He’s pure trouble. When his fondness for fast women and bar brawls lands him a suspension from the game, he’s prepared to take his punishment like a man. But since when does a suspension come with a live-in nanny?

TV baking maven Belinda West is the epitome of home-made hospitality, on-screen and off. The personal is the professional when you’re selling the good life, after all. But when her wedding day implodes in front of a live studio audience, Bel’s career goes into a death spiral. She’ll do anything to save it, even take charge of soccer’s most famous bad boy.

To hell with the morals clause in his contract; James isn’t about to shape up for some knock-off Mary Poppins. But since when does Mary Poppins laugh like a naughty angel and smell like sugar cookies? He’s not looking for love but that kiss of hers is practically perfect in every way. And James has a powerful taste for trouble.

Book: Taste for Trouble (Blake Brothers Trilogy #1) by Susan Sey
Published: January 29th, 2013
Pages: 335
Genres: Romance, Athlete, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 12-13, 2017
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

This book gets 5 glorious potato stars. Haha.

Where to begin with this review?

“You don’t have problems,” Drew said.
James considered the condition of his career and his unexpected predicament with Bel. “I don’t?”
“Yes,” Will said. “You do.” He glared at Drew. “He does.”
“He doesn’t,” Drew said to Will. He turned to James. “It’s not a problem,” he said, grinning. “It’s love.”
James stared at him while the ring of truth reverberated through his entire body. “Oh, Christ.”
Drew laughed. “This is awesome.”
Will smiled grimly. “Awesome. Right.”

I LOVED JAMES AND HIS BROTHERS! Yes, they could be annoying and self centered and sometimes made me want to reach into the book to slap them (more so Will than James and Drew) but I adored each one and I cannot wait to read their stories.

“It’s perfect.” He took that last step and caught her hands up in his. “You’re perfect.”
She laughed, his approval seeping into her bones like summer sunshine. “I’m hardly perfect.”
“Any more perfect and I’ll have to dig up a set of dueling pistols to defend your honor after some jerk tries to take liberties at that damn fountain.”

James and Bel were so perfect for each other that I was rooting for them as soon as she showed up at his house with her butter and eggs. This book was definitely a slow burn and I truly enjoyed reading it. It was refreshing to read about a couple that didn't fall into insta-love and live happily every after within a hundred pages.

Brava to Susan Say for writing such a riveting book that I absolutely did not want to put down. I'm off to explore the rest of this series!

My Stepbrother, My Lover (My Stepbrother, My Lover #1) by Alice Ward

I should have known better.

The moment Jackson Montgomery III showed up for his tutoring session, I knew he was trouble, but I ignored my intuition.

Soon, I couldn't get my mind off him and he had no trouble letting me know that he wanted more than lessons from me.

The only problem was, he was the heir to a family fortune and I was the product of a single, feminist mother and working to supplement my financial aid at Harvard.

We shouldn't have been together, but I'm proof that opposites attract and I was definitely attracted to him and wanted him in a bad way.

Temptation weakened my resolve and I ended up having the most erotic night of my life with Jackson, but by the next afternoon everything took a turn for the worst.

The sexy frat boy that just rocked my world was in his ex's arms and I was devastated.

Then, a surprise engagement announcement from my mother revealed yet another unbelievable turn of events.

Book: My Stepbrother, My Lover (My Stepbrother, My Lover #1) by Alice Ward
Published: May 4th, 2015
Pages: 440
Genres: Romance, New Adult, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 11th, 2017
Rating: 4.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

I don't usually read this type of books (step-siblings falling in love) since its tpyically taboo for me, for some reason. However, I thought this was very tastefully done. I loved the relationship between Kennedy and her mother and that they both only wanted the other to be happy. And I loved Kennedy and Jackson's relationship once they actually got together. I understand Kennedy's reasonings for fighting true love but when you know, you know. Like other reviewers, I really wanted to hit her over the head with this book to get her to wake up and see what was right in front of her!

I also loved a lot of the secondary characters as well. But, Lauren was definitely a favorite of mine - I love that our heroine had such a loyal best friend. I would love to read a book about Lauren in the future!

Check this book out, definitely worth the read!

Winning Streak (The Beasts of Baseball #4) by Alice Ward

Fake Girlfriend... Fake Fiancée... Real Altar

I have two passions in life — baseball and women.

But in four years, I’ll be forced to take over my family's billion-dollar company, and they expect me to start acting like it. That means I’ll have to bring home a woman. Any woman.

What I didn’t count on was being blindsided by freckles, sunshine, and an ass so fine it makes me harder than my baseball bat.

Before I know it, Eliana Anderson goes from fake girlfriend, to fake fiancée, to an altar that’s all too real... I don’t even know how it happened. And all just to make my family happy!

She came into my world like a wrecking ball, but now I want to make her my home run.

I just never expected the virtual bomb that was about to go off and shatter our entire world.

Book: Winning Streak (The Beasts of Baseball #4) by Alice Ward
Published: March 4th, 2017
Pages: 370
Genres: Romance, Athlete, Erotica
Format: Kindle
Date Read: August 15 - September 11, 2017
Rating: 4 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

I loved this book, truly, and I enjoyed the main characters - Eliana and Kane. I thought they were so well suited for each other. And once I was able to sit down and have time to read and enjoy this book I did not want to put it down!

I like what Eliana and Kane were about and its nice to to see two very flawed characters come together and naturally fall in love. I hope the author references this couple in other books, I'd like to see what happens to them in the future!

My only reason for giving it 4 stars is that the book just abruptly ends. Things are coming to a head and we know something big is going to happen and then all of a sudden everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow and the book is finished so quickly it almost gave me whiplash. Everything was so perfectly paced and done so well and then everything just stops. I wish the end would have been fleshed out a lot more.

A Time to Give (About the Baby #1) by Kathryn Shay

In a TIME TO GIVE, Ben Cassidy has lost everything. A former CEO of a company he built and benefactor of a soup kitchen he started, he was tricked by an unethical vulture capitalist who cheated him out of everything. Ben hit the skids, but now is trying to get his act together. He allows himself to go to the soup kitchen as a guest once a week because it’s the single thing left of his accomplishments.

Emily is a volunteer at the soup kitchen and attracted to Ben from day one. But she suppresses her feelings because he’s a guest. For months, she keeps her distance but one night, when she gives him a ride home, they end up in bed together.

That one encounter changes everything between them until Ben learns two things: she’s the daughter of the man who destroyed him. And she’s also pregnant.

Follow these two people in their struggle to accept each other, their circumstances and the deep attraction they share. Poignant scenes involving all the characters reveal how difficult it is to repair broken promises and unrealized dreams.

Book: A Time to Give (About the Baby #1) by Kathryn Shay
Published: January 18th, 2017
Pages: 384
Genres: Romance, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 21st-24th, 2017
Rating: 3 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I really liked the premise of this book and I absolutely love the author but for some reason this book just didn't "do it" for me. It was a decent read but there was just so many things about it that I just couldn't get on board with. I liked the hero and heronine well enough but the story itself could have been a lot longer. The main characters weren't happy with each other for the longest time and then out of the blue everything is going well and the hero wants to do things to make the heroine happy. It all just happened too quickly for me.

That being said, it was still an good enough read to get 3 stars in my book.

Single Dad's Bride by Melinda Minx

I have one month to find a bride or I lose my daughter.
They say a tattoo artist with a dirty mouth can’t be a kickass father.
Bullsh*t. But my lawyer says I need a wholesome bride to convince the judge.
I know just the perfect girl—hell—I think she might even be a virgin.
Only problem? She’s my sister’s best friend, and she hates my guts.


When my best friend's brother asks me to marry him, I nearly slap him in the face. I’m pretty sure he’s teasing me—just like he always has—but marriage isn’t something to joke about. Not when I’m pushing thirty with no hope in sight. And not when I’ve always had a huge, stupid crush on him.

Then he tells me he’s serious. He needs me to do it so he can keep his daughter.

I have to refuse. He’s always treated me like crap, which makes my feelings toward him even more sad and pathetic.

How can I not have a crush on him though? He’s always wearing a thin, tight undershirt that shows off his cut abs and broad shoulders, and despite what some people say about his chops as a father, he’s as sweet to his daughter as he is mean to me.

Maybe I can say “yes.” I’d be doing it for his daughter, not for him. And I certainly wouldn’t be doing it with the sad hope that he’d look at me as anything other than his sister’s dorky friend—that he’d touch me and make me—no, definitely not that.

Book: Single Dad's Bride by Melinda Minx
Published: March 12th, 2017
Pages: 378
Genres: Romance, Erotica, Freebie on Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: March 28, 2017-June 21st, 2017
Rating: 3 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I read this book almost in one sitting and truly enjoyed it. I loved Deacon, I thought Rita was a decent heroine and I absolutely adored little Elsie! My only issue with this book is it was very short and I would have liked to have seen the storyline more fleshed out. I don't like it when there is no build up between the hero and heroine and they fall into insta-love.

That being said, I did enjoy this story and definitely wouldn't mind reading it again!

Escorting the Billionaire (The Escort Collection 1) by Leigh James

When billionaire mogul James Preston hires an escort as a date for his brother's wedding, he knows he's taking a risk. One thing he won't be taking? The escort's clothes off. He just wants a date--not a girlfriend. Not a relationship. No strings. No ties. No games. No sex. He has his reasons. He lost someone he loved, and isn't interested in trying again. Too many opportunities for mistakes or worse, heartbreak.

Audrey Reynolds became a high-end escort to keep her brother in his expensive group home. James Preston is the client of her dreams--he's offering to pay her more money for two weeks than she's ever made before. But James is...difficult. He's gorgeous, troubled and all too human for Audrey's business-like tastes. Determined to complete her assignment and collect the money, Audrey tries to play by James's rules. But before she knows what's happening, he's rewriting the contract.

When Audrey ends up in James's bed, he realizes that she's everything he's wanted...and everything he's been running from.

Book: Escorting the Billionaire (The Escort Collection 1) by Leigh James
Published: September 2015
Pages: 300
Genres: Romance, Freebie on Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: January 28-February 3, 2017
Rating: 4 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

I don't really have much to say about this book since it was a really enjoyable read but there was nothing about it that stood out to make it a 5 star book. I truly enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and everything about it. The story was fast paced but didn't gloss over anything and it didn't dawdle at any point.

My only reason for giving it 4 stars is because it definitely could have been longer and certain events and parts of the characters could be more fleshed out. Or at least that's how I feel.

I loved the dynamic between James and Audrey and how they just meshed together so perfectly. They were definitely made for each other!

I'm sure I'll be checking out the rest of the series!