Cannon by Sabrina Paige

Cannon
by Sabrina Paige

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Published by: Amazon Digital Publish Date: May 31, 2015
Genre: NA, Step-Siblings
Rating: 4 Stars
You might think you've heard every story of forbidden love. But you haven't heard ours. Hendrix "Cannon" Cole is a damaged, sexy-as-hell ex-Marine. And he's my stepbrother. I'm a country singer in the spotlight. Our history is complicated. I used to hate him. Then I loved him. Then I hated him again. When he joined the Marines five years ago, I thought he was gone forever. Now he's back. I have everything to lose. He has nothing left. The heat between us is explosive. And both of us may wind up getting burned.

This is my third stepbrother novel by Sabrina Paige, having read Prick and Tool before. I wasn't a super fan of Tool, but am glad I tried Cannon because I really enjoyed it.

I didn't really believe the opening situation in which Hedrix and Addison found themselves in. It seemed like a flimsy excuse to put these two together. Addison is caught in tabloid photos hanging around other VIPs who are drinking and doing drugs, although Addison herself wasn't partaking. Her parents then decided that her stepbrother Hendrix, a former marine, would be her bodyguard aka the person who would keep her reputation on the straight and narrow. It just didn't ring true for me since Addison wasn't even doing anything wrong.

That said, the heat and push-pull between Hendrix and Addison was spot-on. I wanted to see them get together. Each character was well fleshed out and someone I cared about. I'll definitely read Sabrina's fourth book in the series next.

Tool by Sabrina Paige

Tool
by Sabrina Paige

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Published by: Amazon Digital Publish Date: April 3, 2015
Genre: NA, Step-Siblings
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Gaige O’Neal is nicknamed “Tool” because of what he’s packing. Rumor is that he’s well equipped. He’s a cocky, entitled, insufferable jerk who’s as reckless with women as he is with that stupid motorcycle he races. It's been four years since I've seen him. Four years ago, he was the bane of my existence. And my best friend, my biggest confidant, my first love. My stepbrother. It’s just my luck that the first time I see him in four years, he’s buried beneath three scantily clad blondes. Now I’m stuck here under the same roof with him while he recovers from a racing injury. An injury that clearly hasn’t affected the use of his tool. The problem is, as much as I despise him, I just can’t help myself. I want to find out what kind of tool he's working with.

As soon as I finished Prick by Sabrina Bailey, I immediately bought the second book in her stepbrothers series, hoping for older characters and just-as-hot chemistry as Prick brought to the table. I was a tad disappointed in Tool.

Gaige was engaging, cocky, and sexy-as-hell with a Southern drawl on top instead of a cherry. He was commanding in the bedroom and and in everyday life. Loved him.

Delaney, his stepsister, was quite another story. She really had no personality, no "oomph" if you will. She felt like a piece of dry toast to me and I was never sure why Gaige wanted her over the other women he had access to. I just didn't feel like the author really fleshed out this character. I wanted more.

Despite the fact that I didn't love this book, I did buy the next one, Cannon, which I will review next.

Book Subscription Boxes for the Book Lover!

I'm vaguely in love with reading as well as fun, monthly subscription boxes. What's not to love? I thought I'd post a few options to send to your favorite book-lover or even yourself!! Post this on Facebook and say "hint hint" . . . Maybe someone you love will send you one. :)

Once Upon a Bookcase

Choose your MONTHLY plan... phone size...and style! Either way, we have you "Covered". $26 per month

Each Book Box includes a different style phone case with a small gift such as a necklace, notepad bookmark etc. Along with a 5" x 7" quote print.
Valued at $50 per box
Fashionable Bookish accessories
Phone cases for men and women!!
Choose your style!

Book Riot YA

The Subscription Box: Book Riot YA QUARTERLY Box
The Cost: $50 a box + shipping (ships every quarter)
The Products: At least 2 YA books in every box plus book-ish goodies. (No overlap with the original Book Riot Quarterly box).
Ships to: US and International

Muse Monthly

As the only subscription box of its kind, Muse Monthly delivers a unique experience for lovers of literature and tea. Every month, you will get a new novel and a full box or tin of tea on your doorstep! So go ahead: curl up and enjoy! $21 per MONTH

Average value of $40
Full size tea tins
Newly published novels (occasionally hardback!)
Great community and customer service

Prudence & the Crow

$27.57 per MONTH - Starting on the 13th of every month we send out exciting book boxes to our wonderful subscribers containing a vintage paperback book, a handmade book bag, a library card to catalogue their growing collection and added surprises!

Lit Cube

A MONTHLY subscription box that contains bookish items, including a t-shirt! $34.99 per month including tax! The December box's theme is Mr. Grinch.

The Bookworm Box

Get 2 autographed books + bookish items each month! I'm not sure on the pricing.

The Book(ish) Box

Every box includes a t-shirt in your size from Appraising Pages Shop, and 3-5 items. Each box has a cute theme & will feature new small shops. Expect to see home, beauty, and fashion items with the geeky, but stylish lady in mind. $29.99 per MONTH.

2016 Inspiration, Guidance & Accountability from Leonie Dawson!

Need inspiration, guidance, and accountability for your life or business in 2016? I highly recommend Leonie Dawson​'s 2016 Shining Life & Biz products! I get one every year.

You can choose either the Shining Life system or the Biz System . . . or Both! If you so choose, please use my affiliate link. :)

Here is a screenshot from my 2014 Shining Life Workbook. It's 100 Things I wanted to accomplish that year.

Here's a screenshot from my Biz Workbook:

CLICK HERE to learn more about your 2016 SHINING YEAR!

Prick by Sabrina Bailey

Prick
by Sabrina Paige

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Published by: Amazon Digital Publish Date: February 10, 2015
Genre: NA, HOTT, Step-Siblings
Rating: 4.25 Stars
Caulter Sterling is a prick. A filthy-mouthed, womanizing, crude, spoiled, arrogant prick. The tattooed, pierced, ridiculously hot son of a celebrity. I hate him. He's slept his way through practically every girl at Brighton Academy. Except for me. I'm the good girl. The responsible girl. The 4.0, class president, studied-so-much-she-never-lost-the-big-V girl. And in celebration of graduation and adulthood, I just made the worst decision in the history of ever. I lost my V-card to the devil himself. It was just one night. So what if it was mind-blowing? Hit it and quit it. Except I just found out that my father - the Senator, the Presidential hopeful - is marrying Caulter's mother. Oh, and this summer? We're hitting the campaign trail. One big happy family. I'm totally screwed.

The ONLY reason I gave this book 4.25 stars and not higher was the fact that the MCs are only 18 years old. I'm kind of over the "high school kids falling into forever love" thing (I'm an old lady of 38). It's just not realistic for me, HOWEVER, besides the tiny fact that these two are young (and sound young) this book was HOT HOT HOT! I love the step-siblings trope, loved the push and pull of Caulter and Kate, loved that they hated to love each other, and actually loved that the ending happened the way it did. It made things a bit more realistic for me. HEA of young adults is hard to swallow sometimes, but the author did a great job of making it believable and making me glad it actually happened for them.

The author has 3 more stepbrother books out there and I already ordered the next one! The others seem to have older characters, so I'm hoping I'll just love those even more! :)

No One Knows by JT Ellison

No One Knows
by JT Ellison

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Published by: Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books Publish Date: March 22, 2016
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Rating: 3 Stars
NOTICE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The day Aubrey Hamilton’s husband is declared dead by the state of Tennessee should bring closure so she can move on with her life. But Aubrey doesn’t want to move on. She just wants Josh back. It’s been five years since he disappeared, since their blissfully happy marriage—they were happy, weren’t they?—screeched to a halt and Aubrey became the prime suspect in his disappearance. Five years of emptiness, solitude, loneliness, questions. Why didn’t Josh show up at his friend’s bachelor party? Who anonymously sent Aubrey her favorite cocktail at the bar where Josh stood her up? Was he murdered? Did he run away? And now, all this time later, who is the mysterious and strangely familiar figure suddenly haunting her new life?

As her heroine faces the possibility that everything she thinks she knows about herself, her marriage, and her husband is a lie, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison expertly peels back the layers of a complex woman who is hiding dark secrets beneath her unassuming exterior. In a masterful thriller for readers who love Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and Paula Hawkins, Ellison pulls you into a you’ll-never-guess merry-go-round of danger and deception. Round and round and round it goes, where it stops…no one knows.

This is a hard book to review. I thought the book was well-written overall, the 3-dimensional characters, the conflict among them viable, and the mystery that kept me interested. I won't say anything more as I don't want to give anything away. For my taste, then end was . . . well . . . a little too Gillian Flynn Gone Girl for me. It seemed rushed, and while their were clues along the way that vaguely explained what happens to Aubrey at the end, I just didn't buy it. I didn't buy any of it. You'll have to read and decide yourself.

Schooled (Travesty Book 1) by Piper Lawson

Schooled (Travesty Book 1)
by Piper Lawson

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Published by: Piper Lawson Books Publish Date: June 1, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Witty, Romance
Rating: 4.5 Stars
NOTICE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A sexy story about smart girls, big dreams, and best friends’ little brothers who just keep. Coming. Back...

Twenty-one-year-old Alexis Caine is so close to her dream she can taste it. And it tastes like validation and Häagen-Dazs.

In a few months the self-admitted control freak will graduate with a shiny new business degree and launch a fashion label with her best friend Ava. All the planning, dedication, and saying ‘no’ to every distraction will pay off.

Then Dylan Cameron, Ava’s tall, dark and broody younger brother, returns from the East coast as a sophomore at Lex’s San Diego college. Lex has hardly seen him in years. Given his reputation for partying and girls, that’s fine with her.

Now Dylan’s all grown up. And a night of unplanned confessions for both of them threatens to tear Lex’s carefully constructed world off its axis.

Dylan may be new on campus, but he's making it clear he wants more than Lex's attention. Their shocking chemistry is too hot to ignore. But is Lex willing to put her dreams, her best friend and her heart on the line?

I really, really enjoyed this book. The author imbibed wit, charm, and likability into each of her characters. I cared about who they were, what they wanted, and what they had to say. Oftentimes, I put down new adult books because they are written in too juvenile a manner for me, but Piper Lawson renewed my faith in NA writers with Schooled. I can't wait to read her next installment!

This standalone book also had a well-plotted arc and realistic conflicts. Again, those are not very prevalent (in my opinion) in today's new adult genre. I didn't feel as though the author was using old, tired conflict to create tension between Lex and Dylan. Everything that happened was natural. I would have made the same assumptions she did.

I won't give too much away other than to say READ THIS BOOK! I can't wait until the second book in her Travesty series comes out. :)