Tag Archives: Love Triangle

I Knew You Were Trouble (Oxford # 4)

By Lauren Layne

Synopsis

Taylor Carr has it all—a sleek job in advertising, a stunning Manhattan apartment, and the perfect man to share it with: Bradley Calloway. Even after Bradley dumps her for a co-worker on move-in day, Taylor isn’t worried. She’ll get her man eventually. In the meantime, she needs a new roommate. Enter Nick Ballantine, career bartender, freelance writer—and longtime pain in Taylor’s ass. Sexy in a permanent five-o’clock-shadow kind of way, Nick knows how to push Taylor’s buttons, as if he could see right through to the real her.

Nick’s always trying to fix people, and nobody could use a good fixing more than Taylor. Sure, she’s gorgeous, with mesmerizing silver eyes, but it’s her vulnerability that kills him. Now that they’re shacking up together, the chemistry is out of control. Soon they’re putting every part of their two-bedroom apartment to good use. Then Taylor’s ex comes crawling back to her, and Nick figures she’ll jump at the chance to go back to her old life—unless he fights for the best thing that ever happened to him.

Review

I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE is the fourth book in the Oxford series, but it’s only the third one I’ve read. Since it’s been a while since I read the first two books in the series, and because I haven’t read the third, I’m not sure if Nick and Taylor have appeared in the series before, or if they’re new. The first several chapters are set in the past, ranging from one year to six months ago, before continuing on in the present. This really gave the beginning of the story a fast-paced feel, but it was a good way of providing us with this couple’s backstory.

Taylor could be a hard character to like, because she’s so defensive and very quick to attack. She was bitchy to Nick from the moment they met simply because of the way he made her feel. But because you get to see inside her head, you learn that underneath her cool and aloof exterior, she’s just a woman who wants someone to love her.

What can I say about Nick? Not much, because compared to Taylor, he doesn’t really shine. By that I mean I took a lot of notes about Taylor, but hardly any about Nick, which tells me that he didn’t really do anything noteworthy.

I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE is told in dual POVs, and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. There are mentions of the previous couples, but they weren’t done in a way that left you feeling like you were missing something. I’m not a fan of a couple never using a condom, or when the conflict happens right at the end and is then resolved very quickly. Unfortunately, both of those things happen here. However, it does come with a lovely HEA for Nick and Taylor that I really liked.

I Knew You Were Trouble (Oxford # 4)

My Rating:

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Oxford Series

Phantom (Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story # 5)

By Michelle Irwin

Synopsis

When she came home she had nothing left, but now she wants it all.

After fighting her way back from tragedy, Phoebe Reede is ready to claim the life she deserves. With Beau at her side, she thinks it might be possible. Only, the things she wants are out of her reach.

Can Phoebe find joy in what she has, or will she destroy her own happiness chasing a phantom?

Review

Phoebe and Beau’s story is one that has captivated me since the very first page; it’s been a real page turner and has kept me on the edge of my seat. While I give PHANTOM 5❤️, I have to say that this was my least favourite book in the series. Phoebe had to fight several more battles, and I think I’ve just gotten to the point where I’m like, “She’s been through enough already. Leave her alone and let her have some happiness.” Because if anyone deserves peace and joy in her life, it’s Phoebe.

Phoebe has come a long way, but she still has a ways to go. A dream that once meant everything to her now means nothing, and without it, she’s not sure what to do with her life anymore. Because of that, I felt she made some huge life-changing decisions for the wrong reasons. These decisions were giant red flags for me; flags that Beau and her parents couldn’t⎯or didn’t want to⎯see.

Beau is still an absolute sweetheart, but in regards to one situation, maybe he was too much of a sweetheart. His willingness to sacrifice his happiness for Phoebe is admirable, but also a little dangerous. While I respect he wants to make her happy, he has to think about his own happiness⎯and sanity⎯as well. Honestly, I think both Phoebe and Beau would benefit greatly from going back into therapy.

In regards to other characters, I wasn’t a fan of the whole Angel situation, and that’s all I’ll say about that. Veronica was an interesting addition to the story, but sadly one that was not explored enough. Will we get more of her in the next story? Only time will tell. Finally, Declan. Well Declan is still awesome.

“What happened to my protective Daddy who was certain no one would ever be good enough for his little girl?”
“He met a guy that proved him wrong time and time again.”

PHANTOM is told only in Phoebe’s POV and, as with the previous story, it doesn’t end in a cliffhanger. In fact, it actually comes with a nice HFN ending. That being said, this is not the end for Phoebe and Beau, whose story will conclude in BEACON, which comes out in August.

Phantom (Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story # 5)

My Rating:

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Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story Series

Vicious (Sinners of Saint #1)

By L J Shen

Synopsis

Emilia

They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true.
The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares.
He is a brilliant lawyer.
A skilled criminal.
A beautiful liar.
A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover.
Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him.

Vicious

She is a starving artist.
Pretty and evasive like cherry blossom.
Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down.
She paid the price.
Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate.
That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t.
So she hates me. Big fucking deal.
She better get used to me.

Review

Vicious how can I hate him, love him, be devastated for him, want to strangle him and then want him to take me up against his boardroom door like he did with Emilia – I am hot, frustrated and just so emotionally invested in this story.

Firstly, the cover – LOVE IT – that is Vicious – I have not seen a cover that so explicitly depicts the main character as well as this one does – Brilliant!

Vicious is another fantastic story by L J Shen, I did not think I could love another one of her characters they way I loved Sparrow (if you read Vicious and love it – you need to read Sparrow too – I have read that about three times in 2016).

Now back to Vicious, the group of guys, I am thinking as this is #1 we should be seeing another three books – I do hope so – I am dying for Dean’s story as he was an intricate factor in the love/friendship triangle.

My favourite scene was the art showing as we find out what she was painting on Christmas Eve. I was shaking, had tears in my eyes and when Vicious saw and understood the meaning – god to entwine their history into that painting – brilliant – butterflies in the stomach moment right there. Then his reaction to that painting, opening his emotions and laying himself out bare I simply fell in deep love with that man as before I was simply lusting after him.

We get dual POV, the story does jump backwards to them growing up and also Vicious and his family history but it was done at moments that were critical to the story going forward – it was done to perfection. As I was reading this story I was continually highlighting paragraphs of moments in time in their story I did not want to forget. The dynamic of the friendship with the four guys was one of my favourite parts, them growing into men and forming their own company and his friends knowing all along how he felt about Emilia.

The emotion and intensity of Vicious and Emilia’s connections both in the physical and mental sense are inspiring and exhausting but so rewarding – I am left wanting more – I was not prepared to let them go at the end of the story.

Vicious (Sinners of Saint #1)

My Rating:

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Phobic (Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story # 2)

By Michelle Irwin

Synopsis

Sometimes starting over is the only choice.

Broken-hearted and looking for revenge, Phoebe Reede heads back to the US to take up a new challenge. Only, when she discovers who her teammate and rival is, the challenge might prove too great.

While she knew life away from home wouldn’t be easy, she never expected to be faced with an unpleasant surprise from her ex-boyfriend, or to be as drawn to him as ever. She needs to remain professional and push aside her feelings for him, but will she let someone else steal her heart away instead?

What will it take to prove she’s not afraid to take the risk?

Review

PHOBIC continues on from the cliffhanger in PHASE, where Beau broke up with Phoebe before she could surprise him with the news that she was moving over to the US to race and to be with him. She decides to go over anyway, determined to race for the next fourteen months and do her best to move on from Beau.

I loved Beau in the first book, but I was so angry with him in this book and I had to keep reminding myself that he really was a nice guy who was just doing shitty things. I had a fair idea about why he broke up with Phoebe, but even knowing that, it was still hard listening to all the cruel and hurtful things he would say to⎯and about⎯her. I get it, he wanted to hurt her the way she had hurt him, but the way he lashed out at her and toyed with her emotions was terrible and my heart was breaking for her before I even hit the 5% mark.

Phoebe was very loud and in-your-face in the first book, and I noticed that her personality had toned down considerably in this book. Heartbreak made her a little softer in some ways, and I found I liked it. Don’t get me wrong, she was still tough when she needed to be. However, I was surprised that she didn’t go ape-shit when she and Beau discovered the truth about their breakup. But maybe that’s just me; I’d built up that scene so much in my head that nothing short of hell on earth would have satisfied me.

“I told you once that love can destroy you if you let it, and it has, Beau. It’s broken me.”

PHOBIC is told in only Phoebe’s POV and it cannot be read as a stand-alone; you have to read PHASE first. Michelle Irwin is one of those few authors that, when starting one of her books, I have to prepare for it. I have to make sure that my housework and blogging responsibilities are up-to-date because I know that once I start, I won’t be stopping. I only put this book down when I absolutely had to, and I ended up reading it in one day. Be prepared for tears and for a cliffhanger that comes out of nowhere; a cliffhanger that has me both desperate and terrified for BEASTLY, the next book in the series.

* Note: This book includes scenes of sexual harassment and sexual assault, which may be triggers for some people.

Phobic (Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story # 2)

My Rating:

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Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story Series

Dark and Beautiful Nights (The Covenant Series Volume 3)

By Betty Shreffler

Synopsis

One man will fight to keep her love while the other will do whatever it takes to win it…

Devotion keeps Kayci longing for Adrian’s return. Dark magic is the only way to free him and its cruel seduction has captured Kayci in its embrace. Cassius, unwilling to lose the one thing he’s longed for—his mate, fights for Kayci’s heart and saves her from her biggest threat… herself.
Pulled between unrestrainable desire for Cassius and her devotion to Adrian, leaves Kayci suffering from the worst battle she’s ever encountered…the one for her heart.

Review

Dark and Beautiful Nights is the third volume to the Covenant Series and it does not disappoint. It picks up right where book two leaves off. Adrian is stuck and Kayci is looking for a way to free him using dark magic. This is slowly consuming her and everyone around her is worried. Including her other love interest, Cass.

I can’t really share to much of the story because, just like in Betty Shreffler’s preceding volumes, one detail leads to the next. Betty has a great way of surprising you when you least expect it.

Kayci is still a strong character that has taken on a lot of responsibility. She has the Covenant to run and has to find a way to bring Adrian back from the place that he was sent to. And as we have seen in the past the Covenant can be a dangerous group to be a part of.

Cass has a much bigger role to play in this volume and he really grew on me. He loves Kayci but she is devoted to Adrian and feels guilty for having any feelings for anyone else. We also got to know Alex a lot better and he was instrumental in helping Kayci stay sane.

I really love this series and hope that it continues. Betty Shreffler has a great way of adding one last detail at the end of every story. It leaves you wanting even more.

Dark and Beautiful Nights

My Rating:

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Until We Collide

By Charlotte Fallowfield

Synopsis

What do you do when the guy you’re in love with is seeing someone else?

That’s the dilemma facing Paige Taylor. All of her life she’s only ever had eyes for the gorgeous Alec Wright, but despite their undeniable chemistry, their timing has always been off. Fast approaching her thirtieth birthday, Paige despairs of ever finding love and a happy ever after. Her best friend Poppie tells her that she can either watch life pass her by, or grab it with both hands. She convinces Paige to throw herself back into the dating pool, or she could be waiting for Alec forever.

What Paige didn’t expect was the catalogue of dating disasters to follow. A neck brace, jelly fish, stitches, flashing and an encounter with a gorilla were some of the most memorable. Despite some downright hilarious, humiliating and cringe worthy dates, her biological clock is ticking and Paige is determined to keep trying until she finds the one. Was Alec Wright always her Mr. Right, or is he still out there waiting to be found?

Join Paige in her quest to find the ultimate prize. Love.

Review

First off, I want to say that I did enjoy this book. I really did. However, I would not classify UNTIL WE COLLIDE as a romantic comedy. Was there comedy? Yes. Paige is a walking disaster who ends up dating the worst kind of men imaginable and finds herself in some highly embarrassing situations. Her best friend, Poppie, is an absolute delight and a great source of laughs as well. That being said, take out those few scenes and I found this book to be sad and depressing. Why? Because it took Paige and Alec thirteen years to finally come together. Yep, you read that right…thirteen years. It’s lust at first sight when they meet when Paige was just seventeen and Alec was twenty-one. But from that moment on, they’re separated by boyfriends, girlfriends, work, miscommunications and a shitload of bad luck and bad timing.

I liked Paige, who I think tried really hard to move on from Alec. She’s a wonderful woman with an amazing career, who simply wants to fall in love, get married and have a family. It’s a simple dream, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that she spends all those years chasing it. Since this story is only told in Paige’s POV, it’s hard to get a read on Alec, especially since we don’t really see a great deal of him. He annoyed me when he made Paige wait six years before telling her he wanted her again. Paige spent those six years completely single while he slept around with a huge number of women. When she finally decides to quit waiting for him and starts getting serious with another guy, that’s when he decides to make his move. I also felt bad for the woman he strung along for years while waiting and hoping for another chance with Paige.

As I mentioned above, UNTIL WE COLLIDE is told only in Paige’s POV and is a stand-alone. The story takes place over thirteen years, with the epilogue taking place about seventeen years later. I’m trying to remember if there was any sex, but I don’t think there was. I think it was all done behind closed doors. It does come with a HEA for Paige and Alec, and if you can handle reading about years of missed opportunities, then I’d recommend picking this one up.

Until We Collide

My Rating:

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Tyed

By L J Shen

Synopsis

Rock bottom has built way more champions than privilege has.

Blaire, an underachieving college student with zero prospects and a ton of issues (hey, being the less-successful twin of a gorgeous supermodel would totally do that to you) needs something from Ty.

Mixed Martial artist Ty, a soon-to-be Welterweight champion of the Xtreme Warrior League and the hottest guy in the Bay Area, wants something from Blaire.

But Ty has a secret.

And Blaire can barely even handle his truths.

Life is about to throw a few knockout punches at both of them. Can they handle the pain?

Tyed is a standalone novel.

Review

Ty is definitely one dynamic and hot champion and owns the pages who kept me reading this even when I found Blaire for the first half of the book a bit annoying and a bit blah. She came into her own but my god her sister annoyed me no end and I felt frustrated by their relationship as she was a very self centred character. I wanted to throttle Blaire’s parents and I just would have liked the family dynamic explored just a little more as they were thrown in at parts and glossed over in others, especially when Blaire graduates. Blaire had such low self confidence and seeing how her parents and sister walked all over her, well no wonder. The whole scene at Las Vegas with the wedding just felt weird one day all drama then next at the wedding chapel.

I liked the second half of this book more, it does not slow down and works you up to a ending that is simply perfect and gives you your HEA. I loved seeing the characters find their own way back to each other and I did not pick Ty’s secret until all was revealed so that was great writing.

Cameron was a great character to introduce when Blaire needed someone and I must say that Shane also created drama and more questions and I enjoyed him.

This is my second book by this author, I have read Sparrow (two times) still one of my favourites from this year.

Tyed

My Rating:

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Cruel Temptation (The Covenant Series Volume 2)

By Betty Shreffler

Synopsis

The war is over. The rogue vampires dispatched. As a full-blood vampire and sorceress, Kayci Pierce finally feels safe. Her focus now set on how to run the Covenant and best protect her species. The next-in-line, Lycan clan leader shares Kayci’s vision—but his captivating and sexy brother, Cassius McCabe is a distraction Kayci can’t afford. New threats surround Kayci as she navigates unfamiliar territory and feelings she can’t hide. Will temptations destroy her and everything she’s worked for, or will love be enough to pull her back from the edge?

Review

Cruel Temptation is the continuation of Kayci’s story. It is an emotional journey from beginning to end. Now that she is a full vampire sorceress everything should fall into place but as she takes her place leader in the Covenant many obstacles unfold from inside and outside forces.

Cruel Temptation begins with Kayci trying to take the Covenant to the next level by inviting the werewolves and witches to join. This is a brave move because there are many unknowns with all three groups in the same room. As everyone arrives and starts talking in walks the next in line Lycan leader and his sexy brother, Cass. Kayci works hard to fight her attraction to Cass because she is in love with Adrian.

It’s on the trip to see leader of the Lycan clan that she is forced to explore her feelings for Cass and Adrian. While she is in Colorado she learns that she has opposition from many sides, and she goes from a high to a low. It is here that she starts to learn about herself as a leader and will shape her growth.

I couldn’t put this book down. Betty Shreffler has a way of writing that is very visual for me. I loved the introduction of the new characters even though I’m team Adrian. Adrian is the protector that we know him to be. Elise is the awesome best friend that helps Kayci keep her humanity. And Rosemary adds the mother figure that Kayci needs in guiding her as a leader.

In book two, again, the action doesn’t stop when you think it does. Book three is set up perfectly and I can’t wait to see how Kayci is going to deal with everything in her personal life and in her leadership role.

Cruel Temptation

My Rating:

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Reaper’s Fire (Reapers MC #6)

By Joanna Wylde

Synopsis

It’s time for more men and motorcycles in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Reaper’s Fall…

The club comes first.

I’ve lived by those words my whole life—assumed I’d die by them, too, and I never had a problem with that. My Reaper brothers took my back and I took theirs and it was enough. Then I met her. Tinker Garrett. She’s beautiful, she’s loyal, and she works so damned hard it scares me sometimes . . . She deserves a good man—one better than me. I can’t take her yet because the club still needs me. There’s another woman, another job, another fight just ahead.

Now she’ll learn I’ve been lying to her all along. None of it’s real. Not my name, not my job, not even the clothes I wear. She thinks I’m nice. She pretends we’re just friends, that I’ve still got a soul . . . Mine’s been dead for years. Now I’m on fire for this woman, and a man can only burn for so long before he destroys everything around him.

I’m coming for you, Tinker.

Soon.

Review

I always wondered what Gage’s story would be like, having followed him in the other Reaper’s MC books, he was always pretty closed off.

The sexual chemistry and tension in this story is off the charts, at one point I thought are they ever going to get together? I was so sexually frustrated myself reading this and then when they “did it” I was not disappointed, it was everything I thought Gage would be like with the women he would ultimately fall in love with.

Carrie was my absolute favourite character behind Tinker, the friendship and humour she provided to this story was just a total surprise and provided me with girl power moments and plenty of laughter.

Tinkers start in this story was heart breaking, I immediately connected with her and just wanted her to have her HEA all through this book. I kind of was deflated when I realised my dream for her was not going to come to fruition and she was taken on another path.

This story flowed well but I did feel the ending was rushed and I really wanted some more closure with Talia and Brandon and would also have loved not a 9 month jump between the fires and rebuilding the club house and Gage & Tinker taking on a new challenge. Then we jumped 22 years so I kind of felt like I never got to see Gage and Tinker really together as a couple.

I have to say I would have loved for the authors note to be at the front of the story, I kind of got a bit side tracked with the whole fire storm happening throughout this story, I knew it was going to play a part but it confused me somewhat.

Reaper’s Fire

My Rating:

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Broken Pieces (The Broken Series #4)

By H D’Agostino

Synopsis

One drunken night a nameless one-night stand changes everything for Alison Tanner. Her world suddenly turns on its side, and she has a whole other person to consider. One that will rely on her for everything and love her unconditionally. One that will cause her more guilt that she can imagine because she can’t answer the most important question of all… where’s my daddy?

Time passes and Ally moves on, finding love in one of the most unlikely places. But things are never that simple. What happens when the nameless stranger comes walking back into their lives? How will this affect their child, and is this new love strong enough to weather the storm?

Our hearts don’t always want what’s easy. Sometimes they send us on a path that will eventually break us. Which path will Ally choose, and who awaits her at the end of that journey? Join Ally and the rest of the gang in Broken Pieces, the final book in The Broken Series.

This book contains profanity and graphic sexual encounters. It may not appropriate for readers under the age of 17.

Review

I have not read any of the other books in the Broken series and I was pleastantly surprised you do not need to either as although other characters are introduced we are not given re runs of their entire lives, you do not need to know about them as this is pure and simply Ally’s story of finding love and a future for her and Caleb. I liked how we did not dwell on the fact that yes she got knocked up on a one night stand and glad it showed her mum being such a great support for her.

Three way lovers triangle with so many twists and heart breaking moments – my heart was beating so fast, I was scared for Ally when she though she finally had a future to dream about – simply loved this.
I was sucked into this story right from the beginning, when at the 30% mark it over a pizza delivery it explodes with secrets being revealed which then leads you on a path of anger, confusion and hurt. Decisions need to be made and I have to admit I was shocked with Ally’s decision – but loved it, I was so in his corner.

The author really had me guessing to the last moment, I had my own hopes and dreams for Ally and Calebs future and we were given lots of future flashes of how their lives turned out and then also Caleb as a teenager working in the Gym – are we going to get another story with Caleb and Rhys – the next generation?

Broken Pieces (The Broken Series #4)

My Rating:

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