Review: Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: Recently I read Bad Romeo and it was a fun and angsty (I know those don't normally belong together) read; one I was glad I read right before Broken Juliet was due to come out because the ending of Bad Romeo was a killer.

Broken Juliet continues the story of Ethan and Cassie and in the same format of its predecessor; so we get both the present day story in conjunction with the flashbacks of how things went terribly, terribly wrong for them three years prior. Knowing that their story wasn't going to be an easy one, I mentally prepared myself and dived in. 

As I suspected Ethan made me want to choke him and hug him and, actually, Cassie made me feel the same at times. Their stubborn natures, their unwillingness in their younger years to work through things (though to cut them some slack they were young), and the utter heartbreak of losing that intense love they had was all over the pages. But...so was their love, their humor, their patience and kindness...and as they grew older, their willingness to be more open and honest.

This novel was a quick read; it was entertaining and infuriating in all of the best ways and while there was a definite steam factor, it was more about their story than it was about their sexy times. I think readers wanting to know their back story and see how they find their HEA, this novel will be fully satisfactory.  And good news! It appears that there will be a new book that is a spin off of this series! 

NOTE: This review is an oldie but goodie--originally written about 4 years ago.

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SYNOPSIS:

How do you fix a love that's been broken beyond repair?

For years, Cassie Taylor tried to forget about Ethan Holt. He was the one great love of her life, and when he failed to return her love, a part of her died forever. Or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he's determined to win her back. Claiming to be a changed man, he's finally able to say all the things she needed to hear years ago, but can she believe him? What makes this time different from all his other broken promises?

Ethan knows he can't change their tumultuous past, but if he's going to have any chance of being with the woman he loves, he'll need to convince Cassie that her future belongs with him.

Don't miss this stunning conclusion to the unforgettable love story that captivated over two million fans online.

REVIEW: Professor Feelgood by Leisa Rayven

OUR REVIEW:

I've really enjoyed Leisa Rayven's books in the past because they take me to settings that always appealed to me--theater and journalism--and Professor Feelgood continues that by putting me inside a publishing house. Throw in the ultimate city, NYC, and a poet and romance and of course I couldn't pass up a chance to check this new novel out. I enjoyed the humor, the love story, and the snarky tension between Asha and Professor Feelgood--they had quite a rocky path to navigate--miscommunications, lack of communication, and lots of hurt feelings with the added pressure of producing a manuscript under deadline. Obviously there was a lot going on here but it worked. I was interested in how they'd work through it all and what their happily ever after would look like. It was also cool to see Edie and Max in the background and I can't help but wonder about some of the other secondary characters and which one will get the Leisa Rayven treatment next. 


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SYNOPSIS:

What's a girl to do when a man who's countless shades of wrong feels oh-so-right?

Ambitious book editor Asha Tate is a hopeless romantic. Despite her mediocre track record with men, she believes in swooning, sighing, and the everlasting love of true soul mates. Sure, sex is okay, but she’s not someone who’s ever been driven by her animal urges.

Until now.

When Asha stumbles upon the scorching hot Instagram feed of someone calling himself Professor Feelgood, she falls in lust for the first time. Not only is she left panting over photos of the professor’s insane body, but his angst-filled poetry about losing his one true love speaks straight to her soul. 

Desperately in need of a bestseller for her struggling publishing company, Asha knows the professor’s potential to sell to his millions of loyal followers could be the lifeline her bosses need. However, the ink is barely dry on a book deal before she realizes she’s made a terrible mistake. Sure, the professor is incredibly talented and sexier than any man has a right to be, but the man behind the persona isn’t at all who she pictured. In real life, he’s intense, arrogant and infuriating, and his uncanny ability to rub her the wrong way turns her dream project into a total nightmare.

Knowing that the professor is everything she doesn’t want in a man should help Asha ignore her occasional urges to mount him, but she quickly learns that explosive, unwanted chemistry can make even smart people do stupid things.

Don't miss this sexy new standalone from the international bestselling author of Bad Romeo!

REVIEW: Mister Romance by Leisa Rayven

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: Mister Romance features a male escort in NYC and an investigative writer for a click bait news site and for some readers that may be all you need to know. You might think male escort + NYC, been there, done that ...or you might think male escort + NYC, those are my favorites! Or, you may be like me and realize you've a) never read a book about a male escort and b) the idea of a writer investigating who this guy is could be very interesting. Court: I have rarely read about this time of hero, so I was so in to figure out how Leisa Rayven was going to play this one. She is such an incredible writer, and I was floored by how things twisted and turned and threw predictability out the window. I was more nervous about the investigation and eventual fall out, but even still the ride was off the charts sexy and well...romantic!

Shel: What I realized early on is that my concept of what the man behind Mister Romance would be was way off--probably because I had similar preconceptions as our writer, Eden. I think I scoffed at the idea of this guy being as altruistic as he was made out to be, as did Eden. Turns out Mister Romance (Max) is pretty much as good, if not better, than either Eden (or I) expected and I don't think revealing that spoils anything because the more you read, the more you'll see that the conflict really resides more in Eden than anyone or anywhere else. Other than taking on roles for his dates, Max is ...Max. And god, what a swoon worthy book boyfriend he is--he says and does all the right things and yet has this undercurrent of mystery and angst that makes him interesting and intriguing.  Court: I *reallllly* enjoyed how she searched for him, investigated him...and how she eventually found him! Agghh. Such great storytelling. And the other players in this book...her Grandmother, Moby the Duck, Asha (Eden's sister) really made this so much more than a romantic comedy. The entire time I was thinking...man I wish this was a movie. 

Shel: It's not just the pressure Eden receives from her boss that creates pressure and conflict for her to figure out who Max really is, it's her innate skepticism about relationships that creates her angst --and the major conflict of this novel. Despite the people who love her most constantly trying to show her the beauty of relationships and love, she resists and resists and resists--she's really quite stubborn. It's her resistance and her desire to believe the narrative she's lived by (that she doesn't want or need love and that love is a force of destruction) that drives her inability to trust or really even understand the unique situation Max has created for himself and his clients. It's also her resistance and Max's ability to see past it that creates the friction and spark--and boy do they spark when they're together. Their on page chemistry is strong and constant and when things finally begin to shift and change between Eden and Max, that spark becomes an explosion. Court: And boy was it a wild ride. Unexpectedly by the trope, but not unexpectedly from the writer I fell in love with these characters and really didn't move much from my spot after that until it was a finished book. If you need any other reason to read it, I don't think you'll be hard pressed to find a book for your weekend than this one that you will enjoy! 

Shel: Mister Romance wasn't anything like I thought it would be and I suspect readers who've read more about male escorts than I have, it'll feel fresh. Not only does Leisa Rayven write something that is romantic, I've neglected to point out that she does so with a lot of humor and tenderness and if I'm looking at the title right, it looks like we can expect another character in this series to get the Leisa Rayven treatment too. Court: I'm very excited about continuing in this world! That will be ah-mazing. I also think that readers will enjoy this one just because it is a slow burn through most of it. If you're worried about something distasteful in the world of sex don't be. It's not like that at all. It is really a fun book, with fun characters and since we're stuck in Eden's head the whole time - she is funny yet misguided in her quest to never let someone love her. She is so sure of herself in this way, and it was really fun seeing if her heart would give in before her brain. 

BUY IT:http://amzn.to/2pqEIhv

Max Riley is the man of your dreams. Or at least he will be, for a price. 

 As his alter-ego Mister Romance, Max is a drop-dead gorgeous escort who makes romantic fantasies come to life. No sex, just swoon-worthy dates to die for, and the cream of New York's socialites can't get enough.  Whether they want a dominating billionaire, bad boy with a heart of gold, hot geek, sexy biker, or best friend who loves them from afar, Max can make it all happen, but he's careful to keep his real identity a secret. 

Enter investigative journalist Eden Tate. Having caught wind of the urban legend of Mister Romance from a lovestruck client, Eden is determined to publish a scathing expose on Max and his ability to swindle lonely society women out of their fortunes. 

Desperate to protect his anonymity and his clients, Max challenges Eden to give him three dates. If she doesn't fall in love with him, she can run her story with his blessing. If she succumbs to his charms, the story dies. 

Cynical Eden has no doubt she can resist his fake romance personas, but when the real Max admits he’s falling for her, she has to decide if the professional liar is telling the truth, or if the passionate man with the mysterious past is just one more character designed to con her out of her career-making story. 

Find out more about this book and the writer: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34452618-mister-romance?ac=1&from_search=true

REVIEW: Bad Romeo Christmas

Y'all I'm going to make this short and sweet:

These novellas all bundled together encompass all the goodness of the series. It features stories not only on Cassie and Ethan and Elissa and Liam but also Josh and Angel (what an unexpected surprise!). It was fun to catch up with all of these characters and laugh and swoon. All three novellas had the witty dialogue I'd enjoyed in the full length novels and enough steam to fill up a sauna. And to top it all off, they're all reads you can finish in a short amount of time; so if you're stuck waiting on a plane, train, or to arrive at your destination, this is a great read to have with you.

BUY IT: http://amzn.to/2gcgKlt

From the internationally best selling author of BAD ROMEO, BROKEN JULIET, and WICKED HEART comes an anthology of sweet and sexy novellas featuring beloved Starcrossed characters such as Ethan and Cassie, Liam and Elissa, and Josh and Angel; as well as the gang from The Grove.

Have Yourself A Sexy Little Christmas: An Ethan and Cassie Novella

Ethan and Cassie’s first Christmas with the Holt family should be nothing but jolly. Sure, Cassie’s a mess trying to impress her future in-laws with the perfect casserole, but when an unexpected blast from Ethan’s past shows up beneath the tree, the season gets a whole lot more serious—and sexy.

The Naughty List: A Liam and Elissa Novella

After being apart for months, Liam and Elissa are making up for lost time on a secluded island, where they think they’re free to explore each other’s bodies in peace. But when it turns out their Christmas sanctuary isn’t as deserted as it first seemed, their Christmas dreams turn into a nightmare.

Happy, Horny New Year: A Josh and Angel Novella

When the gang from the Grove gets together at a lavish New Year’s Eve party, it’s like no time has passed. Except Elissa and Josh are dating Hollywood royalty, Jack and Zoe have been hooking up in secret, Connor’s new girlfriend wants to murder Cassie, and Erika’s mystery man has everyone talking. Before midnight, shocking revelations are made, industry tongues are wagging, and the poor mistletoe is ready to pass out from overuse.

No matter how you're spending the holidays, BAD ROMEO CHRISTMAS is sure to heat up your festive season this winter.

REVIEW: Wicked Heart by Leisa Rayvan

No lie: I liked the first two books in this series but this one has that "it" factor that has made it my favorite in the series. It was a roller coaster of angsty emotion and I could not stop reading. I know it's nuts that I willingly subject myself to the angsty read but as I not-so-eloquently explained to Court, the angst in this novel wasn't the kind that made you want to rip someone throat out. It was a more gentle OMFG I have to found out what happens next kind of angst and I loved every second of it. I was seriously on the edge of my seat at times, tapping my toes and trying to inhale the words as quickly as I could. It wasn't so much the chemistry of Liam and Elissa (which was hot), or trying to figure out if I liked Angel (I won't spoil it but ...*muffles mouth so I won't tell you how I feel about her*), or even the banter between Josh and Elissa--all of that was great. It was my compulsion to find out why in the HADES Liam did what he did to her and why in the HADES Elissa was still drawn to him years later. I was also completely invested in the awkward and uncomfortable and obvious tension between them and, liking them all as much as I did, I needed to see how the HEA would be acheived; I'm happy to say I was completely satisfied with how it all went down (even with all of the heart palpitations that I had getting there--I had some moments, y'all, moments of hurt for what was going down). 

As a daughter to a theater brat and one who's been in very similar relationships situations as Elissa, I related to many of her observations but even if you've never had these experiences, I know you're going to enjoy this book! Happy reading!

Want to know more? Read below or buy it: http://amzn.to/1TvzZ6L

“Hilarious, heartwarming and unique, the Starcrossed series is highly recommended.” –USA TODAY

The one guy she can’t have is the one she can’t forget.

Liam Quinn is one of the biggest movie stars in the world…and the only man Elissa Holt has ever truly loved.

After being out of her life for six years, he and his gorgeous fiancé are set to star in the new Broadway show Elissa is stage managing. The only trouble is, when late night rehearsals bring Elissa and Liam together, the line betweenwhat is and what could have been gets blurred. Now one moment of weakness is about to create a scandal that will echo around the world.

Elissa knows that falling for Liam again would be a tragedy in the making, but as any good romantic knows, love doesn’t always follow the script.

“With the perfect balance of humor, steam, angst and impossible to put down, Leisa Rayven is a gifted storyteller, and Wicked Heart is truly exceptional.” –NATASHA IS A BOOK JUNKIE