Thomas & January by Fisher Amelie

(Sleepless series, book 2)
Thomas Eriksson thinks he has it all figured out.

“People crossed the street when they saw me. I’m not really sure why that was. I mean, okay, I might have looked a bit intimidating if I was being truthful with you. I’d changed since New York. New York represented a life that wasn’t real, not truthfully, anyway. No, New York was the ‘young, immature, in love, idiot’ side of Tom. The ‘Tie-Dye Tom of New York City’ didn’t exist anymore. Tie-Dye Tom was dead.”

January MacLochlainn thinks she’s her own worst enemy.

“I quit Berkeley. Threw away a full scholarship. Plans, you ask? What plans?”

But they’re both wrong. Life for Thomas and January will never be the same again…whether they like it or not.

 “You revived me. You saved me. You did what I’m convinced no other person could have done and believe me they’d tried.” – Thomas

Alrighty, I just want to start out by saying this: Don’t go into this book and expect another story like Callum & Harper, or I think you’ll unfortunately be disappointed. This book’s issues aren’t nearly as heavy as in Callum & Harper; it’s a lighter romantic story. I put Callum & Harper out of my mind and tried not to compare to the two books, because they are very different.  That being said, I loved Thomas and January’s story.

When Thomas is offered a job in Austin, TX as a talent scout, he jumps at the opportunity and takes his broken heart far away from Kelly and New York City. He drops his lighthearted attitude and adopts the personality of an asshole. He starts dressing in dark t-shirts, black hoodies, and black boots. He never lets girls in because he refuses to have his heart broken again; Enter January.

Fresh off being kicked out of her parent’s house because she dropped the bombshell that she wouldn’t be going back to Berkeley, she lands a job at Seven; the same company Thomas works for, and soon learns she will be accompanying him to Europe to scout bands overseas. Why are both of them dreading traveling together? Well, because they’ve already met…sort of…and let’s just say it didn’t go so well. While they are clearly attracted to each other, they have both put up a wall against the other…but just how long will that last?

I just love Thomas and January. Their witty banter back and forth was hilarious, and seeing the progression in both of their feelings towards each other made my heart smile. Thomas started out so cold towards January that I almost didn’t like him, but what he does for her on the ferry is the first time I think I realized that sweet New York Tom was still in there somewhere, and January progressively gets him to break down the walls he’s built up one by one. I think my favorite part of the book is when he finally completely opens up to her about his past while they’re sitting on the floor of the hotel room…or when they’re in the back of the cop car…or when he shows up at her grandma’s house. Okay, okay, fine! I have a lot of favorite parts, but it’s because I loved their story so much! Their issues weren’t as big as Callum and Harper’s, but they were issues they had to work through nonetheless, and some of those issues broke my heart a little.

One other plus is that you get to catch up with the characters from Callum & Harper, which I loved because I adored all of them.  If you enjoyed Callum & Harper, I would definitely recommend this book, but you just can’t go into it expecting the same type of love story. Thomas and January have their own story, and it’s adorable, frustrating, sometimes a little steamy, and incredibly entertaining.

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White Walls by Lauren Hammond

(Asylum series, book 2)

Adelaide Carmichael knows that she lost her mind. She’s aware that she’s being sent to The Oakhill Institution, but she’s been told that she’s being sent there to get better. She’s been told that the staff is there to help.

And it doesn’t take Adelaide long to discover that she was very, very wrong about The Oakhill Institution. Patients roam the halls like zombies. Electric current vibrate through the plaster walls. Patients are fed sedatives like mashed potatoes and now Adelaide knows one thing for sure, she wants out.

And she’ll do whatever she can to escape.

“Something else tells me that we just might be what each other needs to keep each other from falling apart.” – Addy

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy. I’m kind of at a loss for where to start with this review...in a good way. Although White Walls wasn’t quite as good as Insanity, I still absolutely loved it. First of all, I have to admit something… when I started this book, I didn’t know it was going to tell the story of Addy’s first trip to Oakhill and finally tell us why she always felt a connection to Dr. Watson in Insanity; I thought it was picking up where we left off so I was all sorts of confused. Whatever, I’ll chalk it up to having a blonde moment I guess. Secondly, I loved that this book had a different feel to it; Insanity was kind of a f*cked up, heartbreaking rollercoaster ride, but White Walls kind of has the overlying feelings of hope and contentment. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still intense, but I think the crazy is dialed down a notch or two.

Addy seems a little more lucid while she’s at Oakhill during this book, and isn’t quite as defiant and batsh*t crazy as she is in Insanity, although she’s definitely a few crayons short of a box. She’s dealing with finding out the truth about what really happened to her mother, the aftermath of father’s trial, and of course, Damien. You know, I’m just not really digging Damien anymore. The way Addy sees him and how he “acts” towards her makes me want to punch him in the throat…if I could, of course. And honestly, who needs Damien when you have Elijah Watson?!

My, oh my…Elijah Watson. I swooned over him more than I ever did for Damien to be completely honest. The relationship between him and Addy had me grinning like the freaking Cheshire cat, and the more I learned about Elijah’s background, the more I was convinced that he and Addy are two peas in a pod; they just belong together.

I loved this book, just not quite as much as Insanity. I am super antsy to read the third book, and judging by the short excerpt at the end of White Walls, it’s going to blow my freaking mind!

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Insanity by Lauren Hammond

(Asylum series, book 1)
Sometimes love…can drive you crazy.

Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn’t be more opposite. Adelaide’s mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father. Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.

Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love. And they had a plan. They were going to run away. Be together forever. And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane.

Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure…she wants out. And after Damien follows her there to aid in her escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her memory that are missing.

And it doesn’t take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes…that one true love never dies.

“I’m like a whirlpool in the middle of a choppy sea, once you’re in my grasp I’ll have no choice, I’ll snatch you by the leg, and pull you under.” –Addy

I just…How can I…WHAT THE F*CK JUST HAPPENED?!? I finished this book a few hours ago, and I am still trying to put this review into words. I had heard that Insanity would mess with my head but I had no idea just how much! It seemed like just when I was starting to maaaaybe understand what was going on, I got sucker punched in the back of the head and lost my bearings…again! There were several instances throughout the book that I went back and read again because I’m not gonna lie, I felt dumb. I hate when I read a book and I feel like I might know what just happened but I’m not completely certain. I’m sitting here talking to myself saying, “well, I think she did…but maybe she didn’t…or maybe HE…” Yes, I was sitting here having a conversation with myself trying to decide if I had just read this sh*t right…I started feeling like maybe I should be committed to Oakhill! Kidding…maybe ;) 

The crazy love story of Addy and Damien is just freaking wonderful. The sacrifices he was willing to…and did make…just to be with her proved that she really was his whole world. They were the couple that never should have been; he came from old money, planned on going to Yale for college, and was the hottest bachelor in town. She came from nothing, felt like she had no future, and dealt with an abusive, drunk father on a daily basis. With his mother telling Addy that she didn’t want her son “slumming it” with her, and her father never letting her ride in a car with a boy…let alone DATE a boy…they had the odds stacked against them, and they never let it matter. They found a way and made a plan to run away together.

The parts of the book with Addy in Oakhill…just…wow. I feel like I can’t really say a whole lot because I absolutely don’t want to give away any spoilers and ruin it, but sweet sassy molassy! Oakhill is just…not right. The pills that make people go mentally numb, the screams they hear from time to time coming from the basement because of electroshock therapy, her crazy roommate, and the handsome but terrifying Dr. Watson all make up the horrifying reality that is now Addy’s world…but she’s determined to escape with the help of Damien, because she’s not crazy. She’s not. Or is she???

This is one of the best books I have read this year and the ending, of course made me freaking cry! Honestly, could I be any more emotional?! Let’s all hope not…cripes. Any who, if you like trippy books, I would absolutely recommend Insanity. But hey, don’t say I didn’t warn you…prepare to be mindf*cked!! (I would say mindfreaked to keep it clean, but that makes me think of Criss Angel and that guy is a douche.)

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COVER REVEAL: Valley Girl by Amy Asbury

Expected Publication Date: Sept. 1, 2012

Valley Girl: Childhood in the 80's is a prequel to Amy Asbury's first book, The Sunset Strip Diaries. You can see my review for The Sunset Strip Diaries here. 

SYNOPSIS:
Pop some pink bubblegum and turn up the boom box: It's time to visit the 1980's. Crazy cartoons, wacky food, crackhead-like candy and the most important decision of a pre-teen's life: new wave or heavy metal? Jelly shoes or checkerboard Vans?
Growing up in California's San Fernando Valley in the 80's was chock full of sunshine and skateboards, but author Amy Asbury takes us through the lesser known issues such as creepy pervs in cars and overly sultry sixth graders. Amongst these lively essays are the 80's pop culture: Why did Simon LeBon's sexy stare work straight through the TV? Why did Cabbage Patch Kids start to run out of good names like Jennifer and start coming out with names like Bertha and Edna? Why did we love camel-toe inducing designer jeans? Why did the bass of "Billie Jean" make us stop in our tracks like a dog hearing a silent whistle? Why did a boy's entire social life depend solely on his kickball skills?
Read about the fights with neighborhood kids, taking down bullies and trying to fit in with the cool chicks; slumber party games, crushes, scary teachers; rivals, finding one's talent (double joints, rolling tongue, or wonky eye tricks), looking at boobs in Sears catalog and forays into capitalism by way of lopsided homemade carnivals and melty sno-cone stands. 
Jump into the salty waves at Zuma beach, eat your 30-scooped zoo sundae at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor, and get yourself down to the North Mall: It's time to dive into the world of the Valley Girl. 

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Lean On Me by Cherise Sinclair

(Masters of the Shadowlands series, book 4)
Andrea wants to submit, but not to just any so-called Dom. He has to be tougher than the slum-bred bullies she grew up with. She’d given up finding a true Dom when her friend finagles her a place as a trainee in an exclusive BDSM club with the powerful Shadowlands Masters. Andrea’s thrilled…and terrified.

Forced to accept an unknown submissive into his carefully run trainee program, Master Cullen is furious. Not only is the young woman new to BDSM, but she’s unsuited to her role – armored in leather like a Domme, she’s more liable to punch a Dom than kneel. He decides to push her right back out the door. But as he ruthlessly intimidates her, punishes her, then comforts her, his glimpses of the woman inside the emotional armor intrigue him and her utter surrender captures his heart.

Although Master Cullen is famous for his unfettered lifestyle, Andrea believes he might be interested in her, until she discovers he’s not just a bartender – he’s a cop. Maybe he’s overlook her past brush with the law, but when another trainee accuses her of stealing money, Andrea’s sure she’s lost the Master she wanted with all her heart.

WARNING: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and a strong BDSM theme.

Well, shit. I think i jinxed it when I said in my review of Breaking Free that there hadn't been any main characters I didn't like so far. After this book, I'm sad to say I can no longer say that. I did enjoy some parts of the book, but this one was by far my least favorite of the series so far.

Andrea is a mouthy, independent sub who can’t seem to find a Dom that she’s willing to submit to. Given her background of growing up in the slums with an alcoholic father who always taught her to stick up for herself and taught her to fight when she was just 10 years old, being a sub isn’t something that naturally comes easy for her; that is, until she becomes a trainee at Club Shadowlands and meets Master Cullen. He’s intimidating, big, and just the type of Dom she needs to make her truly submit. Andrea begins to develop feelings for Master Cullen, but there’s one problem: he never gets involved with his trainees. Well, he never has until now. As much as he tries to talk himself out of it, he finds himself wanting to pursue Andrea beyond the Master/trainee relationship. He becomes frustrated with her attitude at times, but just when it seems that they may be able to take their relationship to the next level, Andrea finds out Master Cullen’s day job is in law enforcement. She has kept her background from everyone except her best friend, and had her previous records sealed in an attempt to forget that part of her life. Unfortunately, her past comes into full focus when fellow trainee, Vanessa, accuses Andrea of stealing her money from her locker. Master Dan, also in law enforcement, manages to obtain Andrea’s record and what he finds in it only backs up Vanessa’s claim that Andrea is a thief. After being kicked out of Club Shadowlands, Andrea fears she will never see Master Cullen again, and worse…he will never want to see her again after he finds out about her past.

Okay. I was so excited for this book because I have liked Master Cullen since the first book, but I was actually kind of disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, there were still some parts of the books that I loved (I’ll get to that a little later) but Andrea just ruined this book for me. I really did try to like her, I promise I did! I just couldn’t. Her whole attitude was more Domme than sub, and her unwillingness to show fear or ask for help at all was just beyond ridiculous. Not to mention, I lost track to how many Doms she accidentally punched just because they touched her. If you want to be a sub, you miiiight want to get used to Doms touching you without freaking punching them! She was just super annoying to me and if I had to hear her say Dios one more time, I was probably going to lose it. I get that she’s Mexican, but cripes…I thinks the word Dios is on every other page. She’s by far my least favorite sub so far…as if you couldn’t already figure that out.

I liked Master Cullen, but not quite as much as I thought I would. He seemed so much wittier and outgoing in the previous three books. My favorite parts of the book were actually the scenes with the other Doms and subs: Master Z, Master Dan, Master Nolan, Jessica, Kari, and Beth. I love that Dan and Kari are married now, and I still think Jessica and Kari are my favorite subs.

I didn’t hate the book, but I didn’t love it either. I didn’t even really like a lot of it, just because Andrea wasn’t my cup of tea. I thought it was okay. The saving grace was the incorporation of the characters from previous books, who I all love. The BDSM content seems to get a little more intense with each book, although there hasn’t been anything that made me really cringe yet…thankfully! Overall, the book was just alright. Am I still looking forward to the next book in the series? “Yes, Sir.” ;)

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Breaking Free by Cherise Sinclair

(Masters of the Shadowlands series, book 3)
A sadistic husband left Beth scarred, inside and out. Only at the Shadowlands BDSM club does she feel like a woman. But her fears limit her to Doms who won’t overwhelm her – the ones who cannot arouse her. The Master of the Shadowlands gives her an ultimatum: accept the Dom he assigns or lose her membership. The last thing Beth wants is a ruthless, powerful Dom, but that’s just what she gets.

Asked to take on a problem sub, Nolan sees the issue immediately – although truly submissive, the little redhead is too scared to relinquish control and her Doms have let her get away with it. That will change right now.

As Master Nolan takes Beth under command, compelling her submission, she’s terrified, but the experienced Dom brings her pleasure, not pain. His only demand is that she never lie to him. Under his capable hands, her body comes alive, and she begins to heal. As he pushes her limits, she learns to trust…and then to love. And she realizes he is beginning to care for her in return.

But now her cruel husband has found her, and Master Nolan discovers that she’s been lying and lying and lying…

WARNING: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language and a strong BDSM theme.

“Well, hell. He’d gotten sucked right into caring for this little bundle of troubles…” – Nolan

After I finished the third book in the Masters of the Shadowlands series, I realized that I like each book a little more than the last. This book was by far my favorite so far, because it mixes in the steamy, BDSM scenes with a new element that I felt lacked from the previous two: suspense.

Beth has finally run away from her sadistic husband, Kyler, relocated to Florida, and is attempting to dive back into the BDSM scene but not having much luck. She is a submissive to the core, but the previous physical and emotional abuse she endured from her husband has her scared to choose a strong, powerful Dom, so she chooses ones that don’t intimidate her. The problem? The Doms she is choosing don’t get the job done. The solution? Master Z gives her an ultimatum; either she is paired with the Dom of his choosing to remedy her situation or she will lose her membership. With her hands tied (pun intended) she finally agrees and is paired with Master Nolan; a strong, intimidating Iraq veteran. When Master Nolan sees all her physical scars, he realizes he is going to have to do a hell of a lot to get Beth to trust him the way a sub should. While he pushes her limits and gains her trust, they both start to realize there is more to their relationship than just Dom/sub play. Unfortunately, Beth hasn’t been perfectly honest with Nolan about her relationship with Kyler, and it’s only a matter of time before she will have to spill the beans. Not only that, but Kyler isn’t ready to give Beth up yet and is embarking on a manhunt to find her…and then punish her mercilessly for running away.

I have liked all the couples so far in the Shadowlands series, but I think Beth and Nolan just might be my favorite (out of Zachary & Jessica and Dan & Kari.) Beth had the farther to go trust wise because she had been abused so horribly in the past, and Nolan was just so sweet and patient with her. He knew exactly how far to push her without making her turn and run, and he proved that during the 4^th of July party at his house. He has Beth restrained and blindfolded, and just as she starts to have a panic attack and use the mild safeword (yellow) he is already in the process of removing her blindfold to calm her down. He is so nurturing and sweet to her, but is incredibly intimidating when he’s in Dom mode…and I dig that!

I loved the incorporation of characters from previous books: Master Z, Jessica, Master Dan, Kari, and Cullen. There hasn’t been one major character from all three books that I haven’t liked, which is rare. It seems like every book I read, I always get annoyed with a main character and wish they would get hit by a bus or something. This series hasn’t disappointed me yet, and I can’t wait to read the fourth book, which focuses on Master Cullen (FINALLY!!) The subplot with Beth and Kyler is what made me like this book a little more than the previous two, because it added the element of suspense that the other two lacked a little bit. If you want a book that involves romance, suspense, and crazy-hot BDSM sex, this is where it’s at y’all! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m getting a little hot and bothered just thinking about all this, sooo….just read the book. You can thank me later.

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Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

(Gabriel's Inferno series, book 1)
Professor Gabriel Emerson, a specialist in Dante and the art of seduction, believes he has already earned his exile to the lower circles of hell. Since redemption is impossible, there is no reason to refrain from indulging in a life of pleasurable sin, using his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm as a means to gratify his every whim. But when he meets Julia Mitchell, a brilliant, lovely, and innocent grad student with the achingly familiar eyes of an angel, all of his cynical convictions are challenged. Her mysterious allure and the havoc she wreaks on his self-satisfied existence cause him to lash out at her, while her quiet beauty and innate goodness consistently undermine his control, tempting him beyond measure.

Despite surviving a traumatic childhood, nothing has shaken Julia’s faith that redemption is possible for everyone – everyone but her. Her unworthiness torments her, since the only man she will ever love has managed to forget her very existence, failing to even recognize her when they reconnect. Too naïve to see that Gabriel’s hostility is a mask for his increasing obsession with her, Julia forces him to come to grips with his past while she continues to unwittingly torment his senses. His fascination grows into a dangerous preoccupation, for Julia is forbidden fruit…

Will Gabriel survive the inferno, or will he succumb to the flames?

“Maybe we don’t deserve each other, but I can choose who I love. And I choose you.” - Julia

I have always been interested in anything regarding Dante’s Inferno and The Divine Comedy, which is the main reason why I chose to read this book and I’m so glad I did. This isn’t your typical romance novel; Gabriel and Julia have a very distinct love story and I was reeled in from the very beginning.

The story starts off with Julia being called on by Professor Emerson in one of her classes at the University of Toronto. Julia has been in her own little world, and is unable to answer his question; he begins to get angry with her (yet he can’t quite understand why he’s being this way towards her) and embarrass her in front of the whole class. Luckily, a handsome classmate named Paul happens to be sitting next to her and comes to her rescue…well, sort of. He decides to distract her from the Professor’s angry, burning glances at her, and slides her a note that reads “Emerson is an ass.”  Thinking that the only person who can see her is Paul, she giggles at the note and once again attracts Professor Emerson’s attention, and this time he demands that Julia see him in his office after class.

It’s after this that we begin to piece together the history between Gabriel and Julia, although I will say…I didn’t care for Gabriel one bit at first. He came off as an arrogant, condescending, asshole and poor, skittish Julia was his prey. The way he reacted when he first walked into her little studio apartment for the first time made me want to smack him! She’s a grad student living on student loans, homie! Do you think she’s going to be able to afford a penthouse apartment with marble countertops, hardwood floors, and a view of Toronto’s skyline?! Ugh. I just wanted to punch him right in the throat. That is…until he finally put the pieces together and remembered who Julia was and how he knew her. Their backstory was incredibly unexpected (at least to me) and oddly refreshing, not to mention I love the entwinement of Dante and Beatrice that stems back to the first time they met each other.

I adored Julia and her innocence actually made me like her even more. There are some novels I’ve read where the virgin is just too innocent and it bugs the crap out of me! Julia wasn’t written that way and so appreciated that. Her innocence was sweet and endearing. She was ignored by her father and emotionally abused by her mother as a child, not to mention had some horrible experiences with an awful ex-boyfriend during college which have left her self-conscious, shy, and with the feeling that no one will ever love her. My heart went out to Julia multiple times while reading this book, and I loved watching her progression to finally realize that she deserves to be treated like a queen…and more importantly, that she absolutely does deserve to be loved.

The issues Gabriel and Julia had to overcome to be together…including the whole student/teacher relationship, which the university has a zero-tolerance policy on…prove just how much they really love each other. They are perfect together, and she really is the Beatrice to his Dante. She’s the sunshine to his darkness, and he spends his days showering her with love and building up her confidence that was beyond broken. They both have emotional scars from their pasts, but seem to be each other’s cure to make the scars just a little less visible. The story of their relationship is beautiful, satisfying, and at times incredibly steamy. I absolutely adore Gabriel and Julia together!

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