4 Star Review: Yours Truly, Taddy (The Undergrad Years #2) by Avery Aster

Yours Truly, Taddy by Avery Aster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who doesn't love Taddy and the rest of the gang?

This is the second tale in the Undergrad Years series and follows Taddy and her misfit group of friends to get photo shoot. Things don't exactly go to plan though and the group find themselves facing death as their plane develops a problem.

Who knew that, despite the events which occur as a result of the plane's crash that Taddy would have such an interesting time in the arms of Leon!!!

I can't wait for the next instalment and to read Blake's story.

If you're looking for a lighthearted read and one which is, at times, hysterically funny then read Avery Aster's amazing series. It lifts your spirits and helps you to enjoy the funnier side of life!!!

Copy received from Netgalley in return for a review.

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4 Star Review: XO, Blake, (The Undergrad Years #3) by Avery Aster

XO, Blake by Avery Aster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've always loved Blake and this sweet instalment has just made me love him even more.

What an opportunity Avery Aster has given us to spend time with the four besties, who are in their late teens, as they continue to be faced with danger around what seems like every corner. We've had an explosion, a plane crash and now we have yet another possible deliberate attack on the group but who would want to hurt them?

Although all four of the Manhattanites feature in this short story but it's Blake who sets the story on fire as he finally gets his hands on the man, or men, of his dreams. And boy, do sparks fly when they come together. I really can't wait for more, grown up, Blake.

I love the gentle humour and friendly sparring in these stories as each personality fights for dominance. They are easy to read, thoroughly enjoyable and really addictive. I can't wait for more from Avery Aster and Blake, Taddy, Vive and Lex.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1B7Fkfx
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1MvbNNf

5 Star Review: Always & Forever, Vive (The Undergrad Years #4) by Avery Aster

Always & Forever, Vive by Avery Aster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


These stories may be short but they pack a fantastic punch.

From the first few lines you laugh and fall in love that little bit more with Vive as you realise what a wild and free spirited child she was and the way her childhood has formed who she is today. I especially love the school reports which all outline the reasons the foursome ended up at Avon Porter and not incarcerated, permanently.

Vive, Taddy, Lex and Blake are still determined to find out who, if anyone, is trying to harm them or if they have simply been part of an unfortunate set of circumstances. This time, they reach out to Sanderloo to see whether he can help them unlock the mysteries of their recent run of bad luck. I was crying laughing when even beyond the grave poor Sanderloo is still fearful of Vive and her friends.

The madness continues along with the sexiness especially when we are introduced to Vive's boyfriends, yes that's right, plural, and as you can expect with Vive and her high expectations in live, they are perfect, in almost every way!!!

I simply love Avery Aster's writing style. She is has a wonderfully quirky way of expressing herself through her characters and by doing so pulls you into the storyline until you are crying out for more. This is so much more than a YA series, it sets the scene for the Manhattanites in their later years as we witness what moulded them into what they have become today; simply fabulous.

Review: Top Bottom Switch

Top Bottom Switch by Chelle Bliss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pure Bliss!!!

In a market flooded with wannabe authors offering books from the weird to the wonderful, readers are occasionally treated to stories which take them far away from the humdrum of everyday life. For me, Chelle Bliss is an author whose writing embraces me like a comfort blanket and helps me to find that ultimate escape into a fantasy-land unlike no other.

In Top Bottom Switch, Chelle’s storytelling took me into a world which challenges the norm. For me, kinky stories that embrace the BDSM lifestyle are approached cautiously rather than emphatically and, unless I find comfort in the characters, I can often find myself finding displeasure at the expense of the characters’ pleasure. I need a Dom and their Sub to work together in harmony rather than in a tentative and uncomfortable manner but thankfully, Ret and Alese were a match destined to be bound together. Ret was smooth in his dominance and despite his fierce reputation, he handles the damaged Alese sensitively and helps her to find what she has unknowingly been looking for.

I will never be a self-professed expert in all things BDSM so I can't comment on the authenticity the scenes and Club Life but what I found was an entertaining story which spanked the reticence out of me whilst Ret sets about making Alese his. Their connection was most assuredly felt throughout the story as readers follow them on a journey of self-exploration and a testing of boundaries. Despite how Ret and Alese’s story commences, it is quickly apparent that this is a love story; just one borne from a less conventional lifestyle. Ret was strong but tender and Alese was more than receptive to his demands, administrations and kinky challenges.

The only problem with this book, and it was a big problem for me….. it was just too short. I knew it was only a novella but having connected and started to love the characters, I was really disappointed when their story jumped to the epilogue. Readers are offered the chance to vote at the end of the book for more from Ret, Alese and The Club so another instalment could certainly be on the cards. (Fingers crossed!!!)

This book took Chelle’s storytelling into a more sexually oriented direction but she more than rose to the challenge in Top Bottom Switch. I found the story fascinating, but not titillating, and the kink was balanced out by a simple but yet strong storyline. You certainly get a lot of bang for your buck in this story!

This ebook was kindly provided by the author prior to release in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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Review: The Sound of You

The Sound of You by Annie Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a sweet story of teenage love but it’s a love that’s overshadowed by an unexpected turn of events.

I love my college dramas so reading this was a must. Another new author to me but with strong past reviews, I happily dipped a toe into the Annie Hughes book pool.

This book tells the sad story of Hallie Clarke. Having been treated despicably by boys to date, she heads off to college to hopefully start a new life away from her painful past. Arriving at college though, and wanting to keep herself to herself, Hallie finds her roommate to be the opposite of what she had hoped for as Codie quickly decides that Hallie is going to be her new BFF. Hallie’s problems escalate though when she meets her neighbours: Ryan and Nate. Immediately attracted to Nate, Hallie does her best to resist his charms but with Codie, Hallie’s roommate enamoured with Ryan, her avoidance plan proves to be more difficult than she anticipated.

Sadly, it’s not long before Hallie’s past catches up with her, thanks to the new Queen Bee who also happens to be the Dean’s daughter. Tami wants Nate and will do anything she can to break his attraction to Hallie. What she didn’t expect though is Nate’s determination to make Hallie his, despite Hallie’s repeated attempts to keep him at a distance. What Hallie experiences in college is sadly all too familiar with bullying and cruel attempts to break her. Despite this, Hallie is outwardly strong though and when Tami’s attempts to damage her seem fruitless, we’re shocked when her life suddenly becomes even more miserable when she realises that a person she thought she could trust has developed a dangerous attraction to her. It was apparent that this story was heading towards something unexpected right from the beginning. However, the turn of events was completely unexpected and left me stunned as Hallie finds herself fighting a battle that no-one would have expected.

I didn’t expect a cliffie but that’s exactly how the story ended and by doing so, it sets the scene for part two of this series. The writing was strong and the story maintained a steady pace right up until its shocking conclusion. At times I felt the story fell a little flat and scenes, which I would have liked to have seen developed, seemed to be edited out or deliberately avoided. I would have also liked to have seen some of the character traits and personalities developed more in order to acquire additional insight into their emotions. I bonded with the characters immediately but I didn’t fall head over heels in love with them and this connection held my emotions at bay.

For YA/NA lovers though, this really is a sweet read and one which keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ending was painful though, and without a HEA, so read this book with the warning that you will have to wait to find out exactly what life has in store next for Nate and Hallie.

This ebook was kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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Review: Calico

Calico by Callie Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the cover, the synopsis and the overall feel of the book, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Calico but what I found was a story of second chances, long lost love, and bone crushing memories.

Right from the start, it’s clear that Callie’s amazing penmanship has lost none of its magic as we meet Coralie and Callan. Both living in different parts of the US, having been childhood sweethearts and neighbours, neither has seen, nor heard, from each other in 12 years; that is until Coralie’s father dies.

Now settled in LA, Coralie is enjoying a peaceful life and she knows that returning home will resurrect horrific memories of her early teenage years living under her father’s roof. Despite never wanting anything from her father again, Coralie is faced with a cruel reminder of his controlling ways as she comes to realise that in order to bury her past once and for all, she must jump to her father’s demands one last time.

After returning home, Coralie is surprised to find that Callan has also made the journey back to his roots. In part to support Coralie, but also to find out why she fled from his arms, Callan knows he will have to force Coralie to face some painful memories in order to secure the truth as to why she left so suddenly all those years before. What Callan doesn’t expect is to be shocked to his core when Coralie tells him the truth behind their fateful past and its buried secrets.

This was a very emotional and heartbreaking story and it is definitely not the type of book that I’d normally pick up. That said, the strength and power in the writing made it a rewarding read, despite the graphic abuse that Coralie suffered throughout her childhood. With a second chance romance at the heart of this book, readers are treated to a tender story of a childhood love which has stood the test of time. Callan is Coralie’s knight in shining armour throughout this story as he innocently protects her during her childhood, and upon their reconnection even more physically so, as he tries to stop Coralie’s father hurting her one last time.

Despite the HEA, and the gamut of emotions portrayed throughout the story, it’s the real meaning behind the book’s title that will haunt me for a very long time.

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