Say You'll Stay by Corinne Michaels

 

a very generous 2 Star except the audio

Presley needed Zach to stay and he didn't.  In the process took her heart with him.  17 years later after marriage, babies, and the death of her husband as lead to Presley going home for the first time in a long time.  One of the first nights home she runs into her old love and there is still a spark.  Will they be able to work through their past to find their happy ending?

This book made me so MAD!  The way the book was described Zach did something so heinous that broke them up.  In reality all he did was follow through on his dream to play ball.  That was it.  She wanted him to give up his dream to stay with her and since he didn't they were done.  But it was ALL his fault.  Presley whined about everything.  Nothing was ever her fault.  She literally have a list of things to complain about and it was a ridiculous list.  I really didn't want to see her get her HEA.  She abandons anyone who doesn't fit her narrative including her kids.  Like they lost their dad and she was more concerned about her feelings and her new love life then her kids.  The writing and prose were good in the book I just hated the characters.  If you've never read one of her books don't start with this book.  There are so many other books that are better than this one.  I will be listening to the next book because I do like her writing but this book is a hard pass for me.

Audio 5 Star

I love Andy Arndt and Sebastian York narrating this book.  They did an amazing job bring the story to life.  Giving each of the characters unique voices and really showing the emotions the characters were trying to portray.  The issues I had with the book were not the narrators fault.  I would definitely listen to another book narrated by either of these two voice actors.

Book 1 Hennington Brothers

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Adverse Possession by Rebecca Zanetti

 

4 Star

Anna and Devlin are back.  Devlin has been outed as an ATF agent.  He's all in with Anna until a woman from his past comes to town wanting him to go undercover as her man.  When the agent ends up murdered on Anna's porch Anna will need to figure out who did it to clear her name.  While dealing with murder charges she's also opening her own practice and dealing with meddling grannies.  Will she be able to clear her name and keep all those she loves safe? 

I enjoyed this book a lot.  Devlin's damn lucky Anna is so forgiving.  He caused her so much trouble in this book.  He causes the havoc but then tries to keep her in the dark to "protect" her and this just causes so much more trouble.  She ends up being investigated for the murder of his former partner as well as nearly killed.  I don't know many people who would be willing to put up with everything she puts up with.  I am not a huge fan of Devlin because of things that happened in books 1 and 2 and three doesn't really win me over either.  I still liked the book.  I am tired of them alluding to the Anna's kidnapper and would like some more solid information on him.  The other frustration was the meddling grannies.  They couple is clearly not ready for more but there was a whole lot of pushing that got old.  All of these were minor issues and I feel it was a good addition to the series.

Book 3 Anna Albertini Files

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Close Up by Elise Faber

 

3 Star

Eden doesn't do seconds with any man.  That is until she makes the mistake of hooking up with her photographer friend Damon.  Damon has always wanted Eden but wasn't willing to give up his friendship with her so after their night together and her freaking out he goes back to friends until she's ready to be together.  He's hoping it won't take long and she can get the help she needs so she can be happy even if they don't end up together.  Will she be able to get passed her and get her happy ending?

This was an ok book.  Eden kind of irritated me a lot.  She had been through a lot and I understand that but instead of getting help she would rather just have one night stand upon one night stand.  She uses Damon throughout the book and when times get tough and things she doesn't want known are released she wants to run.  She doesn't and they end up together but I just ended up feeling bad for Damon throughout the book.  The writing was good but didn't really like the people in it.  Here's hoping the next one is better.

Book 3 Love, Camera, Action

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Action Shot by Elise Faber

 

4 Star

Artie has been in the industry forever.  She is used to it all.  When a young up and coming director asks for her backing for a project he's working on she's thrown for a loop.  Never has she been so attracted to someone but with a 15 year age difference there's no way it will work.  After one hot night together they part ways as friends until several years later when she gives him a book to option and direct.  The flames are still there but so is the hesitancy on her side about the age difference.  Will she let that come between them or give them both their happy ending?

This book frustrated me so much in a good way but it was still frustrating.  It is an older woman/younger man tale which we don't normally get to see a lot of.  I loved that they didn't harp on or talk about cougar almost at all.  I hate that term and the fact they didn't keep using it made me incredibly happy.  I liked seeing Artie and Pierce work through all there issues.  Artie screws up BIG in the book and she apologizes and makes it right with Pierce.  Normally when the women make the mistake they don't usually do the apologizing so to see it here was another check in the good book box for me.  It was a good addition to the series.

Book 2 Lights, Camera, Action

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Dotted Line by Elise Faber

 

4 Star

Everyone thought she had it together because that's what she shows everyone in her professional life.  Her personal life not so much.  When her professional life clashes with her private life chaos reigns.  Olivia has a reputation of being a bitch agent.  Sports figures want her to have their back and sports teams don't want to go up against her.  She has had the hots for Cole who she used to represent.  She never acted on it as it violated her code.  She still won't act on them because of her past until an accidental meeting that leads to them getting way closer.  Will she be able to get past her hang ups to find her happy ending?

I really enjoyed this book.  I wanted to know about Olivia's past way before we found out what all happened to her.  Cole was very patient and slow with her.  When they finally figured everything out it was perfect.  To read this book it might help to have read the short story/some of the Gold Hockey books.  There are things mentioned that would make reading this book better understandable but it isn't necessary.  Good start to a new series.

Book 1 Love, Camera, Action

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Virgin Daiquiri by Elise Faber

 

4 Star

Brent lost men he served with but the one that hurt the most was his best friend after they were both out.  Dealing with emotional pain in addition to the physical pain led him to with draw from life.  Bartending to make ends meet he meets a woman who intrigues him.  Iris has led a life where she's always done what was expected until she couldn't any more.  When she loses her wallet at a bar she retrieves it from the bartender who she is interested in and at the spur of the moment asks him over for Christmas dinner.  He excepts and shocks the hell out of her by actually showing  up causing her to burn her pies.  She never burns her pies.  When a secret is revealed and it is not handled well hurt feels leads to misunderstandings.  Will they be able to get passed these and find their happy?

This book hit all the feels.  I really enjoyed Brent and Iris.  You really are rooting for them to succeed as a couple.  They both had strife in their past and needed some happy.  The issues they had were very much a miscommunication and they eventually work it out.  The epilogue was a holy shit moment and you will want to go right into that book.

Book 2  Love After Midnight

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4 Star

Loved

Book 2 Love After Midnight

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Rum and Notes by Elise Faber

 

4 Star

Romance writer has had some crap luck.  She lost her parents, then her brother, and then her boyfriend left her.  She moved and became inspired by a local bartender to write her books.  Kace had everything that revved her engine.  For six months she took her laptop to the bar and ignored everyone to write.  Kace finally worked up to asking her out and scared her off.  Will he be able to win her over and keep her?

I really enjoyed this book.  Kace was a pretty stereotypical male model these days for romance book.  Big, muscled, and tattooed and it was interesting to see how Brooke used that for her books.  It was also interesting to see how Kace won her over.  The only issue I really had was problems they had to overcome was not really something big so it was really just a straight romance.  This is fine as sometimes you just want that and this book is really good.

Book 1 Love Notes

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