Review - Keep Me Still by Caisey Quinn

Keep Me Still

 

 

By

Caisey Quinn

 

Blurb:

Scarred by loss, Layla leaves her hometown of Hope Springs, Georgia, hoping to put her painful past behind her and start over in college in California. When she runs into Landen at freshmen orientation, she has a choice to make. Reinforce those steel walls she's built up around herself or give the only boy who can keep her still a second chance.

Landen’s more than ready to tear down those walls, but this time when they come crashing down, they might bury her.

Info:

As a Caisey Quinn Fangirl, I would read almost anything she writes. No really, I would actually read a story about toilet paper if she wrote it!

But no matter how many stories of hers I read (Girl with Guitar, Girl on Tour)...Her stories just keep getting better!

My version of Keep Me Still includes a copy of Let You Leave which is a prequel Novella so I'll requiew the two of these together.

Let You Leave Blurb:

Layla Flaherty had the perfect life, or close to it. Until a stranger gunned her parents down right in front of her, leaving her with seizure inducing PTSD. After years of trying to pass as normal and failing miserably, she resigns herself to being invisible. But new to town Landen O’Brien sees her, and he likes what he sees. Much to Layla’s surprise, he doesn’t freak out when she has a seizure in front of him. He does the exact opposite, calming her until the tremors subside. But Landen has secrets of his own. Secrets that will either bind them together or tear them apart.

Review:

"He holds me, he keeps me still. Like he always has"

This is such a stunning novel - it covers some very difficult topics, such as abuse, violence, death, PTSD, illness and young love, and it covers them beautifully.

Lets start with Let You Leave as this is where the story truly begins.

Layla is a young girl who is trying her damn hardest to get through her Senior Year unnoticed. Which, for any normal teenage is difficult, but for her, it is almost impossible. Because she is "Freaky Flaherty" - The Orphan. The Orphan who's parents were shot in front of her. The Orphan who suffers from seizures.

Landed is an athletic High School student who travels all over America following his Dad - An Army Colonel with one hell of a temper. He only sticks around to protect his fragile Mom.

None of them are actually living - they are both just Surviving  

Then their eyes meet in the school hallway and both of their lives change forever.

This beauriful novella helps us inderstand the story in Keep Me Still, it gives us an intro to our lead characters and sets the scene for their college lives.

Keep Me Still...I honestly don't know how to put into words just how stunning a story this is. It is touching, heart breaking, full of loss and leaves you full of hope.

I don't want to give too much of this story away but what I will tell you is this:

• Layla is a strong young woman going through what can only be described as turmoil
• Landen loves Layla more than he ever thought possible - he would do anything for her
• Layla's Aunt Kate is a bit of a controlling bitch, even if it is meant with the best of intentions
• Corin, Layla's roommate, will make you laugh with her witty one liners and outlook on life
• You will NEVER look at Cherries in the same way EVER again...

 

Keep Me Still will break your heart - over and over again. Just when you think all hope is lost, something incredible happens and restores your faith in humanity. It will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling and with a huge contented smile on your face!

 

I absolutely loved it!

Caisey Quinn my Gorgeous Girl...you did it again!

5 Incredible, Extra Cherries on Top, Stars!!

Author Bio:

Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the author of several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. She is currently working on Girl in Love, the third and final book in the Kylie Ryans series.

You can find her online at:

www.caiseyquinnwrites.com.

www.facebook.com/AuthorCaiseyQuinn
www.twitter.com/CaiseyQuinn
www.goodreads.com/CaiseyQuinn

Caisey Quinn

Blog - GoodReads - Amazon

Purchase Link

Amazon

Review - Thoughtless by S C Stephens

Thoughtless

by

S C Stephens

Blurb
 
For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

Review

Ok. It's been 4 days and I'm STILL trying to untangle my thought and feelings on this one. That alone has bumped the star rating up a bit - I keep telling myself something about this book got to me and kept me entranced...only an epic author can do that!

My overall feeling throughout this book was FRUSTRATION. Complete and utter, screaming at my kindle, stamping my feet, Frustration.

Let me try and go from the beginnning.

Kiera moves across the US to allow her partner Denny to work his dream internship at an Ad agency - he is originally from Australia and has the sweetest accent (In my head anyway!). Denny adores Kiera...

"You're my heart, Kiera"

Denny is sexy, loving, caring, adoring, careful and safe. I think in the beginning I may have been in love with him.

Then he got an amazing work opportunity and left. Gone. Just like that.
Ok, ok, it may not have been exactly like that. He left for 2 months and Kiera felt like her heart had been ripped out.

“He said I was his heart, and you don’t leave your heart behind. You can’t live without your heart.” 

So what did she do? Well, only what any normal young girl would do in that situation...

SHE. GOT. DRUNK.

VERY. VERY. DRUNK.

Unfortunately, this involved Kellan Kyle getting drunk with her.

Kellan.
Oh Kellan.
Kellan Kyle.
Kellan Sex-God Kyle.
Kellan Rock-Star Kyle.
Kellan Bed-Head-Hair Kyle.
Kellan Beautiful-Voice Kyle.
Kellan Funny Kyle.
Kellan Caring Kyle.
Kellan Hurt Kyle.
Kellan "Mine" Kyle.

Need I go on???I tend not to use castings in my reviews but I can't not use these pictures...look how gorgeous!

 

Oh Kellan is just Sex-On-Legs. Up there with the top book boyfriends of the New Adult world (Think Will, Holder, Liam, Trace, Connor, Travis etc). He is well and truly Swoon-Worthy.

You can pretty much guess what happens when our lovely Lead Characters get drunk, I don't need to spell it out for you. So it gets a little messy when Denny appears back home.

And so begins the indecision.

Oh GOD the INDECISION...I wanted to take Kiera and SHAKE SOME SENSE INTO THE GIRL!! She is the only reason this book is not getting 5 stars from me. She is just INFURIATING.

Every other thought that went through that stupidly naive girl's head went something like this:

 

“love doesnt exactly come with an off switch” 

Girl...get over it!! For goodness sakes, they are both Amazing men and YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH OF THEM...IT'S NOT FAIR!

The comedy factor in this book was brilliant - Griffin and Kiera's Sister are hilarious!

“When life throws yumminess in your lap, take a whiff. And if necessary, a lick or two.” 

I was addicted to this (very long 503 page) book from about 20% - I was listening on Audio Book whilst I was driving about and to be honest, most of the time I actually wanted to get in the car just so I could listen to some more but Kiera's immaturity took a 0.5 Star from me - it was getting ridiculous towards the 75%-85% mark.

Luckily, S C Stephens pulled it back from the brink with the ending but I will definately need to give myself more time to work up to Effortless and Reckless as I dont think I can take the tension!

Brilliant writing style, excellently portrayed characters and an addicting storyline - A Big 4.5 Stars from me.

About the Author

S.C. Stephens is an independent author who enjoys spending every free moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.

Her first attempt at a full-length novel was Thoughtless. She wrote the angst-filled love triangle in early 2009 and published it that summer on FictionPress. Amazed and surprised by the response, more stories were quick to follow.

Conversion, the first novel in a three story vampire series, was released in the fall. Collision Course, a tragic, yet hopeful tale of love and loss was released in early 2010. The second Conversion novel came out next, along with It’s All Relative, a different take on a one night stand story.

In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys reading other people’s fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block reducing music, heading out to the movie theaters, and spending quality time with her children.

You can contact Stephens at ThoughtlessRomantic@gmail.com 

Links

Thoughtless
Amazon

Effortless
Amazon

Reckless
Amazon

Review - Off Course by Sawyer Bennett

Off Course by Sawyer Bennett

Blurb:

Renner Caldwell has her life perfectly mapped out. She has the ideal relationship, the perfect job and all is right in her world. When a shameful turn of events happens, she boards the first plane bound for Ireland to lick her wounds and get her head back on straight.

Cillian O’Bradaigh is the sexy, front man to the Irish rock band, Over The Edge. His rising fame and sultry voice make him every woman’s fantasy come true. Not to mention his single-minded determination. To put it simply: what Cillian wants, Cillian always gets. And he wants Renner, because there’s just something about the flame-haired beauty he has to possess.

If their relationship was just about sex and rock n’ roll, it would be easy for them to get lost in their desires. Only their relationship is anything but a hook-up. Will lies, deceit and hidden tragedy get in the way, making the path to true love uncertain? Or will the girl whose been knocked Off Course, find her footing with the man who is teaching her it’s okay to lose control?

Review

Off Course is the 4th in the Off Series by Sawyer Bennett (all links below) and can be read in sequence or as a stand alone.

Ok, time for a bit of background information on our lead Character and how she ties in with the others in the Off Series:

Renner is Flynn's Brother
Renner and Flynn's Cousins are Lincon (Book 2) and Nixon (Book 3)
Lincon play Hockey and his Team mate is Ryan (Book 1)
Flynn's story will be (Book 4) and the final installment

Right, confusing bit over, lets tell some of Renner & Cillian's story...

*Warning: Ladies, prepare to Swoon and drop your panties for Cillian!*

Renner meets Cillian when she is 17 and spending time in Ireland with her Family. They share a passionate moment, sensual and touching, then nothing. Renner goes back to New Jersey and Cillian rises to Rock Star Fame.
 
Renner is hiding out in Ireland because she has lost her job with an airline. There is more to this story but you can read about it when you buy the book. She gets an apartment and a job at her Uncle Keefe's popular bar in the centre of Dublin and everything is coasting along quite fine.
 
Until Cillian O'Bradaigh.
 
Cillian is the lead singer of Over The Edge, a rock band originating from Dublin, Ireland. Cillian is just delicious. Tattooed, pierced, muscly and demanding. I swear, I was dreaming of his lip-rings for a good few nights after I finished this book! Never found them sexy before, but now, I would LOVE to kiss them.

Over and Over and Over.

"Cillian leans in closer so he's wispering, clearly not wanting the others to hear. "First, I'm not pestering you. I'm trying to make it clear that I want to fuck you into oblivion. Second, there is no other woman that I'm interested in. Clear enought for you?""

 
Cady is Renner's Cousin and Cady's best friend is Teagan. These two are joined at the hip and their comedy could rival Laurel and Hardy. They provided the comedy factor!
 

""Then let's come back here to your place after and disclose all of our dirty, sexy secrets" Teagan chimes in. "I had a hot date last weekend with one of my co-workers and he was hung like a race horse. I can't wait to tell you about it""

 

I absolutely love this series - 5 Stars!

Cannot wait on Book 5!!
 

Author Information

 

Sawyer Bennett is the pen name for a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Email: sawyer@sawyerbennett.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bennettbooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bennettbooks
 
Links
 
Book 1 - Off Course
Amazon - GoodReads

Book 2 - Off Limits
Amazon - GoodReads - My Review

Book 3 - Off The Record
Amazon - GoodReads - My Review

Book 4 - Off Course
Amazon - GoodReads

Book 5 - Off Chance
GoodReads

Castles on the Sand - E.M. Tippetts

**3.5 Caring, Intense Stars**

Blurb:If there’s one thing Madison Lukas understands, it’s pain. The pain she feels when her mother ignores her completely. The pain her best friend endures as her parents starve her as punishment. The pain of a dangerous boy whose mother has to be carried away by law enforcement on a regular basis.

She gets it. She feels the pain of others as if it were her own.

But when a mysterious man claiming to be her long lost brother appears with promises of relieving her suffering, trusting him could reveal more truths than Madison is ready for. Because the truth can hurt, too.

*I was given this book by the Author in exchange for an honest review*

This book covers Madison, a quiet late-teens teenager who goes to School, goes to Work in a Library and hangs with her best friend Kailie. That is her life - normal, quiet, simple.

Enter John.

Her Brother.
Her Brother, the one she didn't know existed.
Her Brother, the Mormon.

This throws Madison's life into a bit of disarray. No, it turns it upside down.

Madison is very grown up for her years, she raises herself as her mother is a wreck of a woman. Ignorant, hurtful, indignant, self-absorbed and just plain mean.

Kailie, Madison's best friend, has a horrible home life. Her family is torn apart due to her Fathers need to control everything.

In the mix of everything is Alex - Military Jacket Wearing, Sexy Looking, troublemaking delinquent who's mother is the local Looney.

This book covers some difficult topics - Child Abuse, Religion, Mental Health Issues and the age old issue of Growing Up. Emily covers these beautifully.

This book made me:

Laugh
Scream
Giggle
Tear Up
Hopeful

I very much enjoyed this book - my only criticism is the angst and immaturity of Kailie and the irritation of Madison's mothers actions. I got to the "ARRRRRRGH I have to put this book down or I'm going to throw my Kindle away" moment. I do, however, understand why this was needed to make the story believable.

I have the second in this series:Love in Darkness

And plan on reading it soon (Blog Tours, Cover Reveals and Guest Blogging are taking up my precious reading time!)

Author Bio:

 

Emily Mah Tippetts writes romance under the name E.M. Tippetts and science fiction and fantasy under the name Emily Mah. Originally from New Mexico, she now lives in London with her family. Before she was a published author, she was an attorney who specialized in real estate, contracts, and estate planning, especially literary estate planning.

Her most recent pro publications have been her science fiction and fantasy short stories in magazines like Black Gate, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, and the anthology, Shanghai Steam.

Goodreads page

Facebook page

Twitter account

Amazon author page

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Amazon Purchasing Link for Castles on the Sand - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Castles-Sand-...

Amazon Purchasing Link for Love in Darkness - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Darkness...

Exciting News!!

WWW.SHEREADSNEWADULT.COM

 

Well Everyone...After a few months of Reading, Reviewing, Blogging, Cover Revealing, Author Interviewing and Giveaway Hosting – I’ve finally hooked up with some AWESOME Ladies and I’m now part of a Group New Adult Book Blog:

www.shereadsnewadult.com

If it wasn’t for Goodreads, I’d never have come across Blogging or the Lovely Lori L Clark who invited me to be part of the blog so Thanks Goodreads Creators!!

The Girls I’ll be working with are:

Lori L Clark - http://www.shereadsnewadult.com/

A L Parks - https://twitter.com/almparks2012

Kath - https://twitter.com/kathatoodles

Jamie Bodnar Drowley - http://jbodnardrowley.wordpress.com/

Emma - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5539176

TeriLyn - https://twitter.com/TLReads

There is something happened almost every day on this blog – Cover Reveals, Reviews, Author Interviews, Blog Tours, Giveaways etc. Check out the Calendar for info (http://www.shereadsnewadult.com/p/calendar.html)

We all love New Adult but have other styles we like to read (Me – Contemporary Romance, Indie, Young Adult) so check out the “Review Policy” page for contact details if you wish to send us any books for review/blog tours/giveaways/interviews etc.

I’ve got the following book reviews coming over the next month (or so!):

• I Breathe You by Lori L Clark

• Love, Exactly (Sticks & Stones #1) by Cassandra Giovanni

• Take Me Now by Faith Sullivan

• Girl On Tour by Caisey Quinn

• Saving Rain by Karen-Anne Stewart

• Hidden (Hiding from Love #1) by Selena Lawrence (Blog Tour)

• Castles in the Sand by EM Tippetts

• Love In Darkness by EM Tippetts

• I Surrender by Monica James (Blog Tour)

• Remnant Truths by Bill Colella

I also have some AWESOME news being released on Thursday 1^st August but I’m sworn to secrecy until then!!!!

That’s all for now Lovely Readers – Pop by SheReadsNewAdult soon and have a peek - I'd love your comments! J

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