Review: Calmly, Carefully, Completely by Tammy Falkner

Calmly, Carefully, Completely 

by Tammy Falkner

(The Reed Brothers #3)

November 18, 2013

264 pages

Genre: New Adult Romance

Contains: strong language, sex, sexual assault triggers

Source: eARC for Honest review

She’s been locked upeven longer than he has.

Peter Reed is fresh out of jail, fresh out of excuses, and ready for a brand new start.

Reagan Caster needs to thank Pete for an act of kindness, but he wants more than just her thanks.

Reagan knows how to protect her body, but not her heart. And her traitorous body responds to Pete in a way it hasn't with anyone else.When Pete's innocent flirtation becomes more, Reagan's ready to accept what he has to offer.

Pete assumes Reagan needs to be loved carefully and calmly. 

But Reagan knows she needs to be loved completely. 

Can he give her what she needs?

I absolutely loved Pete and Reagan's story! This is the 3rd book in the Reed Brothers series. Now I loved reading the first two books, which are Logan's story. But this can easily be read as a standalone. But I warn you that you will likely fall in love with the Reed brothers and want to read all of their stories.

Pete and Reagan's story begins with a terrible assault, intertwining these two strangers' lives due to the cruelty of another. Fast forward, Pete and Reagan are once again in each other's lives, Pete fresh out of jail for something unrelated, and Reagan the fresh face Pete has thought about all this time, as they meet up once again, this time at a camp for boys. Time apart, however, has not broken their small but significant connection, and we get to see what happens when two people fall in love, one step at a time.

I absolutely loved Pete and Reagan. Pete has learned from his mistakes, but even with the jail experience, he is still the loving brother who would do anything for his family, which has now turned into the kind, considerate, compassionate man who is able to slowly but surely break down the walls that Reagan has built up around her. Pete is funny as well as serious, able to balance his emotions and think of those around him. I loved how he treated Reagan with respect and tenderness, but not as something broken or damaged. I also loved his interactions with the boys at camp. You could see the natural mentor coming out of him, and I loved this aspect of the story. And, of course, witnessing any and all of the Reed brothers interacting is always wonderful.

I also loved how strong Reagan was. She's been protecting herself for a long time, and with that self-preservation, she has pulled back from others. Yet she is still kind and genuine, and that shines through despite her walls. But I also loved that with Pete she was finally able to take steps away from those walls, and trust him and his intentions. She is young in some aspects, but a wary soul in others. Her respect and admiration for Pete are apparent, but also her blossoming feelings. I loved them so much together. I also loved Reagan's parents. They had such a fun dynamic to witness - overprotective dad and calm mom - and I could imagine them as real parents. 

This story is definitely a love story, and I fell for Pete and Reagan big time. But there are many other aspects as well. For such a sensitive topic as sexual assault, the author sure was able to make a beautiful, sweet story. Reagan's situation was handled really well, yet it wasn't dwelled on in the way I am used to. Perhaps that's due to the timeline of the book. But I loved that we get the heartbreak of what happened to her, feel the deep root of how she has been affected, but we also get a beautiful love story about two people who work so well together. Additionally, we get this youth camp with a mix of ex-cons, juvenile offenders, and disabled or disadvantaged children. All of their interactions were important and moving and I loved the integration of it all.

Bottom-line, I loved this story, loved the characters, and loved how the author brought it all together. I'm excited to continue reading the rest of this series. 

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

The Reed Brothers Series:

Book 1: Tall, Tatted, and Tempting

My Review ~ Amazon (free) ~ Goodreads

Book 2: Smart, Sexy, and Secretive

My Review ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (40)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.

What I Read Last Week:

 
Cruel Summer by KR Conway
Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane
     

My Reviews Last Week:

  
 
CODA by CD Reiss (my 5 star review)
Finding Mr. Brightside by Jay Clark (my 5 star review)
Cruel Summer by KR Conway (my 4.5 star review)
After Dark by M. Pierce (my 3.5 star review)
     
What I'm Currently Reading:

 
Calmly, Carefully, Completely by Tammy Falkner

Stacking the Shelves (102)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

  
 For My Kindle:

Ten Below Zero by Whitney Barbetti


eARC Goodness:
  
 
Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane
Aimee and the Heartthrob by Penny Reid
Calmly, Carefully, Completely by Tammy Falkner
Under the Spotlight by Angie Stanton
The Shadow Revolution by Clay & Susan Griffith
 

(Adult) Review: After Dark by M Pierce

After Dark by M. Pierce

(Night Owl #3)

March 24, 2015

Genre: Adult Erotica, Contemporary Romance 18+

Contains: Very explicit sex and mature language

Source: eARC for Honest review

In the final novel of the Night Owl Trilogy from bestselling author M. Pierce, can a passion that has withstood many ordeals become a love strong enough to last a lifetime?

At twenty-nine, Matt Sky is trying to return to normal, having faked his death and come back to life. He and Hannah move to a simple house in the suburbs, and strive to grow their relationship into something durable and honest. They become more and more entangled, in the best ways possible.

At twenty-eight, Hannah finally has the life she's always wanted: she's pursuing her career as a literary agent at Granite Wing Agency, she is writing her first solo novel, and she is living with her hot, passionate lover. For the first time, Matt and Hannah are able to explore intimacy without inhibitions—without lies, secrets, or jealousy—and the results are explosive.

Still life together is not as easy as it seems. Matt is estranged from his brothers in the wake of his cruel stunt; Seth Sky, embittered by his failed pursuit of Hannah, makes a play for Hannah's sister; and the topic of Hannah's novel—her relationship with Matt and the Sky family—is driving a wedge between her and Matt. The lovers are devoted to one another, having come through many ordeals, but is their bond strong enough to last a lifetime?

'After Dark' picks up right where 'Last Light' left off. Well, it doesn't take long for Matt and Hannah to start giving me whiplash. This couple, I tell ya, they are so sweet one moment, so sexy another, and so secretive and screwed up the next. Perhaps that is their appeal. Because entering this third book, even when the scenes start to take an unpleasant turn (in my opinion), I can't seem to look away.

I'd hoped the whiplash and the secrets would chill out eventually, but... well. Now the things I've liked about Matt and Hannah started to get a bit tiresome here. Don't get me wrong. Matt and Hannah still have an appeal about them that is mesmerizing. They continue to have the intense sexuality about them that we have come to expect, taking even more risks here. A healthy combination of wake-up, make-up, and shake-it-up sex. But with the forward momentum of their relationship there also seems to be a regression in their maturity. The secrets, the enabling, the ignoring. These two had a lot of work ahead of them.

This story is also about more than just Matt and Hannah. Other family members have things going on, that may or may not affect Matt and Hannah. I thought the author took interesting risks and created a storyline that had twists and turns that kept me wondering how it all would end. One character, however, I was really upset about how they were treated. There was such an imbalance of how this person was treated compared to others and I felt like this person was just never given a fair shot or a chance. Matt's childish actions overshadowed this person and I was left dissatisfied and disappointed with this segment of the storyline. Though I will say the epilogue tried to balance things out and find redemption for the characters and I liked that hope was gained in the end.

Overall, I found 'After Dark' an engaging read and I was engrossed in the conclusion of Matt and Hannah's story. While Matt and Hannah drove me crazy frequently, I liked them as a couple, and felt invested in their somewhat neurotic romance. Though I did not like all the choices made here, I was still gripped by the story, and happy with where they were at in the end. And I still like Pierce as a writer and feel he really brings a unique voice to his characters and to this trilogy. I look forward to more from him in the future.

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

Have you started the Night Owl trilogy yet?

Night Owl #1

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

Last Light #2

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

Pre-Release Blitz & Excerpt: Deep by Kylie Scott

Deep by Kylie Scott
(Stage Dive #4)
March 31, 2015

Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins' ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben's the only man she's ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn't looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She's his best friend's little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he's not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he's always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn't always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible...but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

His laughter, it didn’t really sound the smallest bit amused. “Chr---. You’re done here.”

“Ah, no. I’m actually not. Now see, this is where we have a problem.” I folded my arms. Then unfolded them because like f--- I’d look defensive. He was the one in the wrong, not me. “You’re not prepared to take me, or my feelings, seriously. What you want is to hide away in Mr. Too Cool for Commitment land and just play with my affections when it suits you. Okay, I’ve accepted that. But none of that means it’s okay for you to come in here and act like you’re the boss of me. None of it.”

“That so?” he asked, leaning down so that we were almost nose to nose.

“That’s so, baby.” I play-punched him in the shoulder, which it should be noted, I barely came up to. Okay, so maybe the alcohol on a mostly empty stomach had made me slightly/lots braver/sillier. “So why don’t you take your little caveman jealous tantrum bullsh-- somewhere else. See, I do this funny thing I like to refer to as whatever the f--- I want. Understand?”

He just stared.

“And as pretty as you are with your beard and your muscles, you are too damn tricky and . . . complicated and sh-- for me.”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are. Are you finally seeing my point here?”

“You bet.”

“Excellent. So take your hotness elsewhere, kind sir. I want no part of it!” Huh. I had so told him. Drunken bravado was the best.

Meet Ben and Lizzy on March 31st!

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK 

Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks 

Stage Dive Series Reading Order

Lick (Book 1)

My Review ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

Play (Book 2)
My Review ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

Lead (Book 3)
My Review ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

Deep (Book 4)
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Kylie is represented by Amy Tannenbaum at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, New York.

Stalk Kylie Scott: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

THANK YOU!

Review Tour & Giveaway: Cruel Summer by KR Conway

Cruel Summer by K.R. Conway

(Undertow 0.5)

March 16, 2015

231 pages

Genre: YA Paranormal

Contains: some mature language, some sexual references, child abuse triggers

Source: eARC for Hoest review

Kian O’Reilly is flawless as a killer. 

Well-practiced in the art of making murder look like an accident, he is selfish, wealthy, and totally arrogant as a soul-stealing immortal. But when he ends up stranded on Cape Cod with a stolen car and a dead drug dealer in the trunk, he thinks his luck couldn’t get any worse.

That is, until Ana Lane shows up.

Gifted as a mechanic and surfer, feisty Ana is not a fan of the entitled Frat Boys who show up every summer, messing with local girls. Believing Kian is one of those typical rich brats, she fixes his car and ruthlessly dismantles his cocky ego . . . which intrigues the dangerous soul thief.

Determined to spend more time with the prickly mechanic, Kian sets out to understand what makes Ana so fierce. Soon, however, he uncovers the painful truth behind the real Ana Lane, and the decision to save her, may destroy them both.

** This is the prequel novella to UNDERTOW and is based on the story of Kian and Ana the summer they met. While it can be read at anytime in the series, it is meant to be read after UNDERTOW and STORMFRONT.** 

I loved both Undertow and Stormfront, so when I heard we would get the full backstory on Kian and Ana, I was thrilled. Though we get glimpes and hints at their past from the other books, there is so much we don't know. While Cruel Summer is considered a prequel, as its events happen prior to Undertow, I really enjoyed reading it after Undertow and Stormfront. There is something compelling about Kian and Ana's mysterious past, and the discoveries and reveals along the way, and then getting the full story afterwards. So I would suggest reading at least Undertow first, and Stormfront as well if you can. But if you're dying for their story now, go for it.

Now, as Kian and Ana's story goes, I really enjoyed the building up of their friendship, trust, and then the moments when they realize their feelings have gone beyond what they could have imagined. Knowing them from before, their connection and chemistry could always be felt, but this story really brought that bond to life. At times I worried that Ana was too young, but then again, her life and experience have really matured her, and the way Kian respected her, was able to ease my worries. What I loved about them was that they were able to balance being funny, sweet, snarky, protective, and loving. Their relationship was multi-faceted. I also loved that they brought out the very best in each other.

We also get more history to Ana's friendship with MJ and the slow building of trust between Kian and MJ. Unfortunately, we also get the history of Ana's relationship with her father. Knowing he was cruel, and then witnessing it, are two different things. I thought Conway really dealt with the issue of child abuse well, and all the conflicting feelings a child, as well as a child's friend, would be feeling toward the person and the situation. Then the additional plot pieces about Ana's father's debts and history there, we uncover many more happenings around Ana that were not as innocent as she thought. It's a harsh confrontation of reality for poor Ana, and though she and Kian reach such a beautiful height of trust and love in their relationship, we know that things will end badly soon enough.

I really enjoyed Cruel Summer. I thought this would be a quick little novella, but the depth and extent of storyline far exceeded my expectations. But even with the sad ending, luckily we know where Kian and Ana's story goes in Undertow and Stormfront, so if you're like me, you'll know what happens next (and want to do a re-read), or if you're new to the series, you'll want to dive in with the rest of the series (because it's great!) I'm looking forward to whatever happens next in this series.

Series Links & Suggested Reading Order:

Undertow (Book #1)

My Review ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

Stormfront (Book #2)

My Review ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

Cruel Summer (Book #0.5)

My Review ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

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I have been a journalist for 15 years and serve on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod Writers Center. I also drive a 16-ton school bus because I am ENTIRELY NUTS.

In addition to working jobs that should come with a warning label , I hold a BA in Psychos (Forensic Psych), torment the tourists about Jaws, and occasionally jump from the Town Neck bridge in an attempt to reclaim my youth.

I live on Cape Cod with two smallish humans who apparently are my kids, my fishing-obsessed husband, two canines (adept at both flatulence and snoring), and a cage-defiant lovebird that sleeps in a miniature tent. Nope - that's not a type-o. The bird is quite the indoor camper.

K.R. Conway Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Book Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours