Vivian's List by Haleigh Lovell

Her brother's best friend. A list. A love story.

After ending a horrible, scarring relationship, Vivian embraces her freedom by making a sexual bucket list. When her brother's best friend, Liam, finds it, sparks fly and hearts open.

Can Vivian heal one steamy encounter at a time?

Book: Vivian's List by Haleigh Lovell
Published: September 13th, 2013
Pages: 290
Genres: Romance, Freebie on Amazon, New Adult, Erotica
Format: Kindle
Date Read: November 16-22nd, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I really enjoyed this book - it was very ewll written and wasn't boring by any means. The reason for me giving this book a 3.5 was that is just ended. Things were finally looking up, they were finally on the same page and boom - book over. I know that this is just to get you to read the next one, I know, but I can't stand cliffhangers.

Other than that I had no complaints about this book. Good read!

Lost and Found (Love in New York #1) by Elle Casey

Sometimes engagement rings can get lost and then found. Sometimes people can too. All it takes is a heavy-duty dose of karma and the magic of Manhattan to make it all come together.

Leah is a financially destitute new age hippy. James is a wealthy surgeon with a trust fund. She's awkward, he's poised. She's completely crazy, he's way too sane. People might say they have nothing in common, but they'd be wrong. They both live in Manhattan, they both have no idea how to change a baby diaper, and they're both lost … until they find one another.

Book: Lost and Found (Love in New York #1) by Elle Casey
Published: December 25th, 2014
Pages: 401
Genres: Romance, Freebie on Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: November 12th-13th, 2018
Rating: 4 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

First of all, I just want to say I love how some books just come together so perfectly that everything is wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end. This book was definitely one of those!

I loved both James and Leah - so different and imperfect but fate kept intervening and bringing them together. I loved reading every page of this book, truly.

I have nothing but good things to say about this book - the characters were perfectly flawed, I loved the secondary characters as well! I just loved everything about this book from cover to cover.

Bound By Honor by Cora Reilly

A modern mafia fairytale.

Born into one of the leading mob families in Chicago, Aria Scuderi is a mafia princess known for her beauty. What many consider a gift means her doom when she’s forced to marry Luca Vitiello to bring peace between two mafia dynasties. Luca is the future Capo of the New York Famiglia, a man known for his brutality—and for crushing his cousin’s throat with his bare hands.

Aria is terrified of marrying a monster like him. He may be one of the most sought-after bachelors in New York, thanks to his good looks, wealth and predator-like charisma. But Aria knows the bad boy aura isn’t just a game; blood and death lurk beneath Luca’s striking gray eyes and arrogant smile.

In her world a handsome exterior often hides the monster within; a monster who can just as easily kill as kiss you. Yet, there’s no escaping the arranged bond, much less a man like Luca. He’d follow her to the end of the world. Her only chance to survive in a marriage with Luca is to gain his affection and work her way into his heart—even when rumor has it that Luca doesn’t have a heart to begin with.


A mafia princess known for her beauty given to a monstrous man.

Even monsters have a heart.

She has every intention of working her way into his.

Book: Bound By Honor by Cora Reilly
Published: December 14, 2014
Pages: 253
Genres: Romance, Mafia, Erotica, Freebie on Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: November 10th-12th, 2018
Rating: 3 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I have loved other books by this author and while this was a good read and I read through the pages eagerly, I felt like there wasn't enough build up between the characters. They went from hating to loving each other and I couldn't understand why. There weren't enough special moments or anything for me to see that's why it was leading in that direction.

I did enjoy the cast of characters and am interested to see how the rest of the series turns out. If the book was longer I'm sure there would have been more moments between the main couple.

Heart-Shaped Hack (Kate and Ian #1) by Tracey Garvis-Grave

When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.

Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.

But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.

Book: Heart-Shaped Hack (Kate and Ian #1) by Tracey Garvis-Graves
Published: August 25th, 2015
Pages: 340
Genres: Romance, New Adult
Format: Kindle
Date Read: July 3-6, 2018
Rating: 5 Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

I am a huge fan of this author to begin with, I LOVED On The Island, so its no surprise that I was immediately pulled into this book from the first page. I love this authors writing style - it flows so nicely that you are always able to "see" everything happeneing in the book, just as she meant it to.
From the first time Ian and Kate met I was rooting for them - I loved their interactions and the way they just went back and forth so effortlessly. I love how Ian is flawed but makes no apologies for it - he is who he is and he's not going to change. I love how Kate just wants to do something to help people - so sweet and courageous of her. I just love these characters so much.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something you will not want to put down. This author's writing style just makes it so hard to stop reading because she weaves such wonderful tales that suck you in.

I'm off to go get book 2 in this series!

Baby Fever Promise by Nicole Snow

WE CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN. I'M FAKING OUR SECOND CHANCE...

ROBBI

Once, Lucus Shaw was my everything.
First kiss. First surrender. First man to promise me a ring, children, a life together.
I remember his rogue smirk, his soul stinging kiss, the blistering words that always made him a little dangerous.
I gave him my body for one insatiable night. He gave me secrets, heartbreak, and hatred.
Friends, to lovers, to mortal enemies. Our tragic destiny.
But I survived. Adapted. Moved on.
Fate doesn't care.
Luke's back, and I have to pretend we still have a Cinderella romance to save my career.
Hate never fades. It rages when we lie to the world, when we lust, even when I'm begging for his baby.
What if hate can't save me anymore? What if the man I swore I'd never give a second chance gives me baby fever for real?

LUKE

I was her first, and I'll damned sure be her last. I made a promise.
Robbi's an addiction I can't quit. A million of her icy looks won't make me forget what we had.
How delicious she looked when I brought her to her knees. How she ached for more. How she ripped my heart out when vicious lies ended us.
This isn't over. Love never fades. I'll make our fake kisses real.
It's not too late to have it all: my ring on her hand, my name on her lips, my baby in her.
She'll beg for me again before we're done playing pretend. Oh, how she'll beg.

Book: Baby Fever Promise by Nicole Snow
Published: March 5th, 2017
Pages: 330
Genres: Romance
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 28th-July 2nd, 2018
Rating: 3 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

So I'm not sure where to start with this review. I didn't love this book but I don't hate it either. It definitely got me all fired up when I see the mistakes both the hero and heroine made but I had a hard time getting on board with this book. I just kept thinking that certain things didn't make sense.

This couple made me go nuts with how bad they were with communication. They did not need to be apart for 5 years - it was so unnecessary! Yes, Luke should have opened his mouth about what he knew to give her a heads up but she also shouldn't have been so nasty to him and shoved him out of her life when he technically didn't do anything wrong. Trust is a huge issue, I get that, but she could have at least tried to understand where he was coming from. I understand being angry in the heat of the moment and not thinking clearly but when they spoke a few days later she had had time to calm down and think rationally. I think I felt bad more for Luke than Robbi!

"No matter how sexy he is, how well he calls to my senses with his mad inks and muscle, I'll never forget our unique pain. I'll never forgive him for hiding what he knew, for letting his father prey on us, or for abandoning me in the end."

What? Five years have passed in this story and I'm seriously baffled by her thought process here. I get that her mom twisted her thoughts around but I really am confused as to why she has jumped to these conclusions. Yes, Luke backed off but she basically PUSHED him out of her life. The only thing he can be accused of is not telling her what he knew before she found out herself.

Luckily, after a lot more drama and yet another huge misunderstanding and speed bump, they got things right in the end and were granted a fairy tale ending - which they rightfully deserved. Both of them.

I don't hate this book but I don't think I will be reading it again - it was certainly interesting enough to keep me reading but I just can't deal with the hero and heroine's issues with each other.

Happily Ever After (Cinder & Ella #2) by Kelly Oram

This is the sequel to the #1 Bestselling novel Cinder & Ella from Kelly Oram.

The end of one story is often the beginning of another. Hollywood heartthrob Brian Oliver and his Cinderella princess Ellamara Rodriguez have finally found love outside the digital world. But leaving their anonymity behind creates a whole new set of obstacles for the nation’s new favorite sweethearts. With the stress of Brian’s fame, Ella's disapproving family, and the pressures of a new relationship weighing down on them, the It Couple quickly begins to wonder if they can hold on to their newfound joy, or if maybe happily ever after is only a fairy tale.

Book: Happily Ever After (Cinder & Ella #2) by Kelly Oram
Published: April 11, 2017
Pages: 342
Genres: Romance, New Adult, Famous Hero or Heroine
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 25th-26th, 2018
Rating: 5 Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

“You’re more than my pride and joy,” he said, softly stroking my hair with one hand. “You are my life, Ellamara. My heart. My soul. My everything.”

I love it when books have just enough drama and angst to not be boring but not so much that you are overwhelmed with it. This book fits that in spades! Once again this author has pulled me into this world that I didn't want to leave.

Brian and Ella certainly haven't had it easy, by any means, but I love seeing them be there for one another while growing as individuals and a couple. Its so refreshing to read about a couple that truly loves one another and is willing to do whatever it takes to support each other while not losing faith in their love. I can't say enough about this couple - I just adore them so much.

There is also a lot to be said for a book that wraps up all of the loose ends and doesn't leave you wondering what happened with certain things. This book was all wrapped up neatly in a bow at the end - and sometimes that is just perfect. It worked so well for this series.

I hope there will be a third book because I would definitely love to read more about these two!

Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella #1) by Kelly Oram

Cinder458: Your blogaversary is coming up, right?
EllaTheRealHero: Do all those Hollywood friends of yours know you use words like blogaversary?
Cinder458: Of course not. I need your address. Got you a blogaversary present.

Cinder got me a gift?
My heart flipped.
Not that I was in love with my Internet best friend or anything. That would be utterly ridiculous. The boy was cocky and stubborn and argued with everything I said just to be infuriating. He also had lots of money, dated models—which meant he had to be hot—and was a closet book nerd.
Funny, rich, hot, confident, book lover. Definitely not my type. Nope. Not at all.
Yeah, okay, fine, so he wasn’t my type by default because he lived in California and I live in Massachusetts. Whatever.

Cinder458: Hello? Ella?? Address??
EllaTheRealHero: I don’t give out my address to creepy Internet stalkers.
Cinder458: I guess you don’t want this autographed first-edition hardback of The Druid Prince, then. Shame. I had it signed it to Ellamara when I met L.P. Morgan at FantasyCon last week, so I can’t try to impress any other girls with it.

Not my type.
Not. My. Type.

What would you do if your anonymous Internet best friend turned out to be Hollywood’s hottest celebrity?

It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.

Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.

Book: Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella #1) by Kelly Oram
Published: October 1st, 2014
Pages: 322
Genres: Romance, New Adult, Famous Hero or Heroine
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 25th, 2018
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

"A great character needs trials to overcome—experiences to give them depth, to make them vulnerable, relatable, and likable. Good characters need hardships to make them strong. The idea makes sense, but it still sucks if you’re the heroine."

From the first page this book had me so completely hooked! First of all - who doesn't love the classic cyber friends fall in love and meet in real life? Like, seriously. We've all thought about it!

I loved Ella and Brian so much - their characters were so flawed, yet so perfect for each other. The way the author wrote them made them seem so real. Their situations could easily happen to anyway, and have! I have to give Brian major kudos for sticking to his guns in the end and making things right with his girl. Yes, in the beginning, he went along with what society and his management team demanded of him to get publicity and make himself look good, but there's just something so yummy about a guy who is willing to risk losing everything because they love you.

I truly can't say enough about this book - I loved everything about it and will defintiely be checking out the next one in the series. Kelly Oram has just landed herself on my list of favorite authors to read everything they have ever written immediately!