Beneath the Blanket Book Blog

Review: "Man Eater" by January James

2021-04-29T10:56:00.004-04:00

It's been a while. Life got in the way and family has kept me occupied over the last few years, so I've rarely had time for myself to review anything, let alone actually read anything.

Luckily, over the past few months, I've gotten quite accustomed to listening to audiobooks, and they have become my new favourite past-time. I just wish I didn't go through them so quickly, because those Audible credits get used up quite fast.

I'll hopefully create another post about my "Return to Reading" journey at some point in the near future, but for now, this post was created to review a book that I actually read (and not listened to) recently. I have actually previously published this review last night via Goodreads, so I am simply just copying it to my blog.

Clicking the image will take you to its Goodreads page.

Quinn

I was a child prodigy.

Graduated two years early. Founded my media company at sixteen. Billionaire at twenty-five.

No-one could stop me. Not even my arch-enemy, who tried everything in his power to bring me down. I was heading for global domination.

Until I met her.

I was mesmerised. I was obsessed. I needed her like I needed the earth beneath my feet. As my life and business fell apart, piece by piece, she held me and made me forget it all. And then she was gone.

I was a child prodigy.

I knew the answer to every question.

Except one.

Who is Jade Bardot?

Jade

I had no idea who Quinn Sullivan was. That should have made it easier.

I was supposed to ruin him.

My aim was to uncover his secrets, unveil his weaknesses, unearth his flaws.

My task was to rip his world apart.

My weapon was seduction.

They all see beauty, but the beast is in my heart.

I was supposed to ruin him.

But what I did was so much worse.

"Man Eater" by January James

5 out of 5

First off, as a mother of a rambunctious toddler, I was quite surprised at how fast I was able to get through this book! I actually forced myself to stay awake to keep reading because I was so entranced by the storyline and I couldn’t put it down. It was as if I needed to know what happened next, and I needed to know it by yesterday.

January spent a lot of time at the beginning building on character development for both Jade and Quinn, and it was so beneficial to the plot as readers are literally able to witness how both of the characters transform as soon as they meet. Jade is a firecracker of a woman with an enigmatic interior and I love just how strong-minded she is. January James mentioned that this book is the first in the series called “Femme Fèroces” and Jade is truly a representation of a fierce woman. Describing Quinn is a tad more difficult, as he definitely is not the man I assumed him to be. A lot of his character development is a result of meeting Jade and their interactions, but it was refreshing to read a book where both the male and female protagonists have an equal share in the “Alpha” role.

The relationship between Jade and Quinn is an interesting one. As a reader, we are given so much information that neither of them are privy to as characters, and every interaction between the two of them creates a sense of tension that enhances the plot line. As much as I appreciate the physical relationship between Jade and Quinn, I feel like a little more emphasis on emotional intimacy would have given more depth to their relationship. With that being said, it is understandable why the physical connection overpowers the emotional connection, simply because of who both Jade and Quinn are as characters and once you read it you will understand as well.

Without giving away anything, the ending was predictable (as are most romances), however, it was the plot that did me in. I was so intrigued with the way the storyline progressed and appreciated the twists and turns that kept me reworking through my theories up until the very end. I enjoyed the originality of the storyline as it wasn’t your typical “boy meets girl; they fall in love” kind of romance. Also, I definitely did NOT see that coming. I had many theories about how it would come together at the end, and despite working them over and over with all the twists, I am impressed with how none of them fit the bill.

I would definitely recommend reading “Man Eater” if you’re looking for a dramatic romance with a hint of suspense and mystery. January’s writing is so descriptive that it literally inserts you into the book yourself. Her attention to even the tiniest of details is what captured my attention at first, but it was how she riskily, yet confidently, approached those details that kept me reading.

Personally, this is the first book by January James that I have ever read, as she reached out via social media to offer a copy of “Man Eater” in exchange for an honest review, but I can definitely say it will not be the last of hers that I read. Colour me curious.

If you're interested in reading "Man Eater", you can find out more information about it via January's website, or her Instagram page. You can also purchase it via the following links:

Amazon CAN (Kindle Edition)
Amazon US (Kindle Edition)

Thanks for reading! Let me know if there is anything you'd like me to post, change, talk about, etc!

Much love!

-BB♡

Cover Reveal: “Over Us, Over You” by Whitney G.

2017-11-20T21:00:00.001-05:00

STOP!!

I know, I know. I've been a horrible, non-dedicated, busy, pretending to be cool, neglectful, and slacking blogger. I wanted, sooooo hard, so so hard, to find time to review, but I've been absolutely and completely lazy to even begin writing a review. Before that, I was so busy with real-life and adult things that I didn't even have time to drink a bottle...I mean a cup, ahem...of wine.

What's funny is the fact that I've actually read more books in the last recent months than I have in the past year, so I've wasted so many possible amazing reviews (I'm not saying my reviews are amazing, but that the books themselves are amazing...because I'm just so modest like that). I would have loved to sit down and review every single one of them, and eventually I will. I'll have to reread them all and write it from a fresh memory -- which is just an excuse to read them again.

Just to give you an idea, I started writing this post on January 12th, and I'm now just continuing it today which is February 24th. More than a month later.

(Update: it is now November 20th...yup, I know.)

Since the last time I’ve visited this post, I must admit that I haven’t done that much reading. Well, I HAVE been reading, but mostly serial rereading many book series that I love over and over again. I did get a chance to read some new ones here and there, and I will get to them in future blog posts...eventually.

The good thing is now Goodreads allows you to "reread" books and actually put it towards your yearly count. I'm a serial rereader and I hated the fact that I would have to manually change my date every time I read a book for the second, third, tenth time. Now it's so much more convenient.

As for right now, the reason why I decided to revisit this ghost of a blog is because one of my favourite authors in the universe is revealing a cover for a new book she has been working on which will be releasing next week!

Whitney has done it again and I am beyond excited for yet another of her books. Take a look and let me know what you think! If you would like to give it a try, you can preorder it from Amazon for just one small payment of $4.97(cdn)! Did that sound like some sort of cheesy infomercial to you? Good.

And yes, I already preordered it.

“Over Us, Over You” by Whitney G.

Subject: Delete this message after you read it...

Dear Hayley,

I'm assuming you're still hungover, so I'll make this brief.

Last night, you slipped under my sheets (without my permission), and we almost had sex. I got the hell out of the bed once I realized it was you, and I took you home.

That's the story.

The end.

Period.

Just in case you've forgotten, you're my best friend's little sister. We will never be anything more. (We can't be anything more.) Our previous friendship is still unresolved--or "over" in your terms, so I'd prefer if we worked on becoming 'just friends' again since you're in town.

Nonetheless, I'm not a man who leaves questions unanswered--even the drunken ones, so to properly close our inappropriate conversation:

1) Yes, I liked the way your lips felt against mine when you were on top of me.

2) Yes, I do "prefer" rough sex, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't rough with you.

3) No, I had no idea you were still a virgin...

This message never happened,

Corey

Do yourselves a favour and give Whitney G a try! It doesn’t have to be this book, but it could be any of her books so far. I’ve posted about a few of her books on here already, so feel free to take a look for yourself!

Or you could just preorder this one anyway.

Amazon US

Amazon CA

iBooks

Lots of love!

~ BB ♡

Identity Crisis

2016-05-12T23:16:00.000-04:00

Hello, hello, hello.

Yes. It's actually me.

It's been a real long time since I've posted absolutely anything on here...and I sincerely apologize! I have been super busy over the last little while with a lot of personal things and haven't really been able to spend time for myself. Yes, I've kept reading. Albeit, definitely not as much as I used to.

Over the last little while, I have been introduced to so many new authors and have read a plethora of books. Hopefully sometime in the near future, I can find time to actually sit down and review them for your sake. I've also added many books to my "to read" list on Goodreads...and we all know how that goes. You read one and end up adding fifteen new ones in its place. I swear, that list will never see the end.

Anyway, on to the reasoning behind the title of this post. A few months ago, I attempted to update some things on Facebook and possibly find time to write a review or two. Unfortunately, it only resulted in me finding out that my "Book Bookie" Facebook is no longer in existence. (Damn, I guess they finally realized that Book Bookie wasn't my actual name!). This means that I lost my biggest source of networking with other bloggers, readers, and authors. I was very upset. I loved talking to you all on Facebook and networking on there. When that happened, I had no idea what I was going to do to replace Facebook in regards to Book Bookie's identity. I tried to completely build a website from scratch, but I definitely do NOT have that sort of expertise no matter how vigorously I studied HTML and all that jazz. I'm still in the process of trying to rebuild Book Bookie's identity, so if you have any suggestions for sites or methods that may work or help me out in the slightest, feel free to contact me.

Also, since it's been a while, does anyone have any recommended books to read? You can either comment them below, send them via email through the contact form to your right, or connect with me on Goodreads. I've recently taken a break from all the "adult" books and have reread "The Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare at least five times in the past few months. I'm also currently reading the "Vampire Academy" series by Richelle Mead (which I absolutely love, to be completely honest).

Thanks for reading and not giving up on me completely!

~ BB ♡

Contest: A chance to be a character in Colleen Hoover's next book!

2015-10-06T19:42:00.000-04:00

That's right! You heard (well, read) that correctly; Enter the contest and you will have a chance to become a character in Colleen Hoover's next book!

How awesome does that sound? I know I would love to have my name in one of Colleen's masterpieces.

All you have to do it visit the link and enter the contest by tomorrow! October 7th is the deadline. I wish I would have seen it sooner so that I could have made this post a lot quicker, but unfortunately, I missed out. Sorry!

But you can do it now! GO! NOW! The link is:

http://bit.ly/1j5M9FO

GO!

:)

~BB♡

Cover Reveal & Much (Much) More: "Secret Book #1" by Whitney Gracia Williams

2015-03-31T02:00:00.000-04:00

I know, I know...it's been way too long since I've posted last (I think it's been pretty much two whole months). If you've been following me on my Facebook page, then you know it's because I've been super busy with the end of the school year and whatnot, so I've been having to put a lot more time into being able to graduate than reading. Regardless, I'm here now.

SO, as the title of my post states, Whitney has finally graced us with the cover for her "Secret Book #1" that we've been hearing all about on her Facebook updates (and on her blog). Along with the cover, we also get to find out that "Secret Book #1" is no longer called that, but it has a name!

What is it, you ask?

Well, to be honest, why would I tell you....

...when I can SHOW you!

Clicking on this cover will take you to the Goodreads page.

Doesn't it look incredible? And I'm assuming that by the new title, "Sincerely, Carter", that THAT handsome hunk of man must be Carter...and I definitely can't wait to meet him. ;) I also noticed that the blue theme is still there...except it's blue and white, not blue and black like Whitney's "Reasonable Doubt" series (which, by the way, I will be mentioning at the end of this post, so keep reading to find out).

Now, having a cover and a title is amazing, but what could be more amazing?

How about a blurb?

Would that make it more amazing?

Well, let me give that to you too.

Blurb

Just friends.

We’re just friends.

No, really. She’s just my best friend...

Arizona Turner has been my best friend since fourth grade, even when we “hated” each other. We’ve been there for one another through first kisses, first “times,” and we’ve been each other’s constant when good relationships turned bad. (We even went to colleges that were minutes away from each other…)

Throughout the years, and despite what anyone says, we’ve never crossed the line.

Never thought about it.

Never wanted to.

Until one night changed everything.

At least, it should’ve...

Just friends.

We’re just friends.

I’m only saying this until I figure out if she’s still “just” my best friend…

Doesn't it just sound incredible? And if you're familiar with any of Whitney's other books, then you know it's going to be just as amazing. I can't wait!

Lastly, in order to make you all happy, I know another piece of information that might be useful.

"Sincerely, Carter" is aiming to be released some time in April 2015.

That means it's a matter of weeks, or even days!

So, if you haven't already added "Sincerely, Carter" (or formerly known as "Secret Book #1") to your Goodreads list, I suggest you follow this link and do so now.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since we're on the topic of Whitney G., I thought I would bring up that we're still waiting for her other new book, "Turbulence", to be released! Come to think of it, my last post was actually the cover reveal for it...

Clicking on the cover will take you to the Goodreads page.

Synopsis

Fuck me recklessly

Kiss me harder.

Take me again and again…

He and I met under a cloud of clichés:

Boy meets girl. Boy charms girl. Boy fucks girl.

Our story was supposed to end right after the orgasms, right after we went our separate ways.

But then we saw each other again…

And neither of us could walk away.

Our rules were simple.

Our passion was scandalous.

Our hearts were supposed to be safe…

But when you find something so all-consuming—something so intoxicating and inescapable, you’ll risk everything you've ever had, even if you’re destined to crash and burn.

This is us.

This is our messed up love.

This is turbulence.

If you haven't added "Turbulence" to your Goodreads list either, I suggest you literally go and do it now. Like right now. Here, I'll even help you out: GO DO IT NOW!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lastly, we're celebrating a very important event this week.

That's right! It's the one-year anniversary (ahem, Andrew's birthday) since Whitney released "Reasonable Doubt, Volume 1"! In order to celebrate, Whitney's hosting a lot of giveaways on her Facebook page all week long, so go enter!

Also, because she's a doll, Whitney has made "Reasonable Doubt, Volume 1" FREE all week long!

Get "Reasonable Doubt, Volume 1" FREE here (remember it's only until the end of this week!):

Amazon CA

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Interested in the whole "Reasonable Doubt" Series? Find the boxed set on the following sites:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With ALL of that said, I think that was the mother of all posts that made up for my time away and it gave me the chance to pay homage to the lovely Whitney G. for all that she has done so far!

As always, thank you very very much for reading! And since I'm on a thanking note, I just wanted to thank all of you who literally gave me 100 likes on my blog Facebook page literally overnight. I'm not quite at 500 yet, but it is very incredible to see all the love!

Remember, if there is anything you'd like to see or read on this blog or on my Facebook page, feel free to contact me via the form to the right or on Facebook. Also, if you have a review you'd like me to post on here for you, just send me the review! I do not mind guest bloggers at all (besides, the more the merrier!)

Love you all,

~BB♡

Cover Reveal: "Turbulence" by Whitney G.

2015-01-29T01:00:00.001-05:00

If you haven't read the last post that I made, literally half an hour ago, you should know that it also has to do with Whitney Gracia Williams, so I suggest you check it out here. Just as I said in that post, I absolutely love Whitney and she is most definitely one of my all-time favourite authors, so I definitely recommend reading her books.

As for this lovely book, I cannot wait for it to come out, or at least tell us when it's being released! This is such a tease...I mean...just look at that cover. If you've read her "Reasonable Doubt" series, then you're probably in the same position that I'm in...in dire need of some more Whitney G.!

~BB♡

Clicking on the cover will take you to the Goodreads page.

Title: Turbulence

Author: Whitney G.

Publication Date: TBA

Genre: Erotic Romance

Synopsis

Fuck me recklessly

Kiss me harder.

Take me again and again…

He and I met under a cloud of clichés:

Boy meets girl. Boy charms girl. Boy fucks girl.

Our story was supposed to end right after the orgasms, right after we went our separate ways.

But then we saw each other again…

And neither of us could walk away.

Our rules were simple.

Our passion was scandalous.

Our hearts were supposed to be safe…

But when you find something so all-consuming—something so intoxicating and inescapable, you’ll risk everything you've ever had, even if you’re destined to crash and burn.

This is us.

This is our messed up love.

This is turbulence.

Check out the Reasonable Doubt Series by Whitney G.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Release: "Mid Life Love" (Boxed Set) by Whitney G.

2015-01-29T01:00:00.000-05:00

Before anything, I just wanted to apologize for my lack of existence over the last little while. As a follow-up, I don't want to apologize for this post being the one breaking my hiatus because Whitney is one of my all-time favourite authors. If you haven't given any of her books a read, please do because you won't be disappointed and this is your chance to start!

~BB♡

Clicking on the cover will take you to "Mid-Life Love"s Goodreads page.

Title: Mid Life Love Boxed Set

Author: Whitney G.

Publication Date: January 29, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Buy it today: Amazon

BOOK 1: "Mid Life Love"

If you'd asked me what love was two years ago, I probably would've said, 'It's this amazing feeling that obsesses and possesses you; it's what me and my husband currently have.' If you ask me that same question today, I'll say, 'Please get the hell out of my face.’

Claire Gracen's life is picture perfect. Her career as a marketing director is on the brink of being legendary, and her marriage to her high school sweetheart has never been stronger. No, wait. It has. It used to be amazing and fulfilling, but one day Claire realizes that she's been living a lie and her best friend and husband have committed the ultimate betrayal.

Broken and depressed, Claire is in need of something new—new city, new job, new friends.

When she happens to attract the interest of the sexiest man she's ever met, a man significantly younger than her, she immediately turns him down—only to later discover that this man is Jonathan Statham, self-made billionaire and CEO of Statham Industries. Her boss.

Jonathan Statham is unlike any man she's met before. He's used to getting whatever he wants—whenever he wants, and he isn't about to take no for an answer.

Sexy, unpredictable, and charmingly clever, Mid Life Love is a story that will captivate you, entertain you, and force you to fall deeply in love with the characters.

BOOK 2: "Mid Life Love: At Last"

If you ask me if Jonathan Statham makes me happy, I’ll say ‘Absolutely. He’s the man of my dreams and I can’t wait to marry him.’ If you ask me why my ex-husband Ryan is currently one inch away from me—staring into my eyes and pressing his hand against my cheek, I’ll say, ‘I have no fucking idea…’

Claire Gracen finally has the life she’s always wanted: A career she loves, a man who’s willing to do any and everything for her, and friends that show her the true meaning of the word ‘friendship.’

As she and Jonathan prepare to make the ultimate commitment to one another and plan the wedding of her dreams, she quickly realizes that the hurtful past she left behind in Pittsburgh is a lot closer than she thought.

Sexy, unpredictable, and as charmingly clever as Mid Life Love, ‘At Last’ will captivate you from the first page and never let you go.

Already read it? Interested in some more Whitney?

Visit my other post about Whitney's upcoming release, "Turbulence" by clicking on the picture! Also includes links to Whitney's "Reasonable Doubt" series (which is absolutely amazing, by the way...can't wait to write my reviews for it!)

Coming Soon: "A Christmas to Love You" by Megan Smith

2014-12-15T22:18:00.001-05:00

Exciting News!!

Megan Smith posted on her Facebook page that she's releasing a novella in the Love Series!! If you don't remember, I had reviewed the first three books in the series already (I got sort of side tracked in the middle of the fourth book, "Let Me Love You", but I will eventually finish it...especially now that there's going to be something to read when I finish it). If you'd like to check them out, the links to the posts are below. You can also follow the links in the posts to purchase them on Amazon or Kobo.

"Trying Not to Love You" (Love Series 1)

"Easy to Love You" (Love Series 2)

"Hard To Love You" (Love Series 3)

Now, for this lovely novella, are you ready for this?

It's called "A Christmas to Love You", and I assume it's meant to be read after the fourth book, "Let Me Love You", because it's been titled as Love Series 4.5 (which is exactly why I desperately need to finish the fourth one now so I can continue on to read this one). As of yet, there are no links for Goodreads, Amazon, Kobo, etc. but I will definitely update when they are available. All we know, according to Megan's post, it will be releasing next week. No idea when or where, so keep your eyes open!

Clicking on the cover will take you to the Facebook post

How can they still be in love after all these years?

Andrew and Elle Cahill have been married for twenty-six years. They have a strong and healthy relationship along with a beautiful family. Join them and the rest of the Cahill’s this Christmas to hear about their epic love story and catch up with the rest of the crew.

Releasing next week.

So far, all we know is that it is focusing on the Cahill family, and I'm assuming it's in the present since it says "this Christmas" and I'm guessing it's told through the perspective of Andrew and Elle, MacKenzie's parents. I've always wondered about their relationship because of certain things you learn while reading the series, so I can't wait to see what this has in store for us! :)

Definitely a very exciting, and unexpected, Christmas gift!

THANK YOU, MEGAN!

~BB♡

Cover Reveal & Giveaway! : "Something Like Love" by Monica James

2014-12-10T00:30:00.000-05:00

It's finally here! Monica James has finally revealed her cover for the third book in her Something Like Normal series. Here is what you've all been waiting for, the cover of "Something Like Love", by Monica James. Also, don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post:

Clicking the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

Title: Something Like Love

Series: Something Like Normal, #3

Author: Monica James

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Release Date: February 2015

The secret’s out...

Fate has never been kind to Mia Lee, but her misfortune has driven her to seek redemption from a past filled with regret.

Mia’s future depends on uncovering her past, but sadly, the answers lay with her mother, a mother who abandoned Mia when she was only a child.

Now that Mia has finally found her kin, she’s determined to get the answers she so desperately seeks.

But those answers come with a price…

Mia’s blossoming relationship with Quinn Berkeley is the sole reason she carries on. But Quinn has a secret of his own. Will his secret destroy the one stable foundation in Mia’s life? And more importantly, what will Quinn’s secret do to him once he confesses the sins of his past?

Life for Mia and Quinn is about to explode in a way she never thought possible…

About the Author

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two.

She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers, and her inspiration comes from every day life. She is an Amazon best selling author in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals.

She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

Author Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormonicajames

Twitter: https://twitter.com/monicajames81

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ MonicaJames

Website: http://monicajames81.blogspot.com.au

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/m onicajames81/

Other Books in the Series

Amazon US Amazon US

Amazon UK Amazon UK

Amazon CA Amazon CA Coming

Amazon AU Amazon AU Soon!!!

B&N B&N

Kobo Kobo

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lots of love,

~BB♡

Review: "Dark Layers (Volume Two)" by A.L. Gray

2014-11-25T17:07:00.000-05:00

I have finally finished reading the second volume in the "Dark Layers" series, so here is my review. If you haven't read the first volume yet, I suggest you stop reading this post. Also, if you have read the first volume and haven't had a chance to read my review, I suggest you do over at this link.


Clicking the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

Book 2 of Dark Layers

PLEASE NOTE 18+ ONLY - strong sexual content and possessive nature

Synopsis

Your obsession lives on.

Haunted by her desires and abandoned because of her innocence, Anile is forced to face the waking day solo. Elijah has left her infinitely and utterly alone. His absence grows painfully inside her.
Elijah is also struggling with his feelings. He's trying to balance his dark possessing desires and his emotional connection to Anile, but at what cost?
Anile may have hope of rekindling her obsession but how long does she have to wait? And what games will she be forced to endure to prove her trust to Elijah?
While suffering mental pain because of Elijah's tormented past, Anile fights on. She will struggle throughout the coming weeks but she has hope that she can save Elijah from his dark self.

Is he worth her humanity, her innocence, her personal identity?

"Dark Layers (Volume Two)" by A. L. Gray

5 out of 5

*this book contains mature subject material (i.e., politics, symbolism, religion, sexually suggestive comments, BDSM, explicit scenes, etc.) and is definitely intended for an older audience with an open-mind.

First of all, I have to apologize that it took me so long to finish the second volume of the “Dark Layers” series, but I had started it a while back and then things just got a whole lot busier for me and I had to neglect it for a while. Well, I’ll have you know that I finally finished it today and I cannot wait to begin the third one (okay, I lied, I already began reading the third one…I couldn’t wait).

Alright, time to get to the good part: what did I think?

I loved it. Just like the first volume, it was incredibly unpredictable. Picking up from where the last book finished, Anile and Elijah just constantly pull you in. You can’t help but fall in love with each character on their own, and when they’re together. There is just so much character development evident throughout the book, and yes, you do find out a little about Elijah’s dark past (which is a whole different story on it’s own). You also do find out about Anile’s family and her past as well. I really find that this helps us, as the readers, to build a better relationship with the characters and understand where they’re coming from and why they are the way they are. I still love how the book is written in first-person perspective and that it is Anile telling the story. Obviously, to get insight into Elijah’s extremely complex mind would be incredible as well and hopefully we do get to have that opportunity.

The relationship between Anile and Elijah in this volume is just…indescribable. I can’t really describe it using words, so you definitely need to experience it for yourself. The emotional tug-of-war that goes on in your mind as you read through some of the scenes are just brutal. One moment you’re like “YES!” and then the next you’re like “What the?!? Are you bloody serious?”, which to me is very important because it just creates a much better reading experience. I love it. One thing that I have to say is that I completely fell head over heels in love with Anile and Elijah’s relationship. He just tries so hard to be what Anile wants him to be and it’s just perfect. I don’t want to say much about it because I could go on and on and on, but also because I want you to witness it for yourself and not spoil it for you.

Now, on to the interesting parts. If you’ve read the first one already (which you should have because there really is no point in reading this one then), then you know that there are some interesting things going on with Elijah. Like me, most of you have already probably figured it out, or at least had some sort of ideas. Well, my theory was totally correct. BUT (a very big but), it was still very shocking to find out about it. There are a few parts that are actually quite creepy…but no less amazing. Those creepy parts are what make this series what it is. I can honestly say that had I known that this was going to happen before I read the series, it probably would not have interested me and deterred me away. BUT, having read half of the series, I can say now that it would have been a big mistake to not read them. I can’t get enough of Anile and Elijah. I am so glad that I was introduced to this series because it is very well-written and A.L. Gray has obviously spent a great amount of time on the series, and it definitely shows. As I said in the previous review, I commend A.L. Gray for taking such risks in her writing because not many authors would do that. They tend to stick with what sells.

In a nut shell, I absolutely adore this series and I cannot wait to finish it. An easy 5 out of 5 stars because it was just that awesome, even the creepy parts. I completely intend to finish the next two volumes over the next few days since I seem to have a little break in all the chaos going on. I’ve already recommended it to many of my friends and fellow book lovers and have had great comments from them as well.

If you have read my updated version of the "Dark Layers (Volume One)" review post, then you know that volume one and two have recently been merged into one book called "Part One" and volume three and four have been merged into "Part Two". At this moment, I can only find links for both Amazon Canada and Amazon UK, not for Amazon US. Not sure why, but it shows that the books are not available. I've included the links for "Part One" (previously, volumes one and 2), "Part Two" (previously, volumes three and four) AND the whole box set, so all volumes. One note I'll make is that it is much cheaper to buy the box set.

Amazon Canada (Part One)

Amazon Canada (Part Two)

Amazon Canada (Box Set)

Amazon UK (Part One

Amazon UK (Part Two)

Amazon UK (Box Set)

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, comments, book suggestions, links, or absolutely anything, feel free to leave a comment or email me!

Lots of love,

~BB♡

Giveaway: Kindle Fire

2014-11-06T22:48:00.000-05:00

WIN a Kindle Fire over at this site, or simply follow the link below:

Post by Beneath the Blanket Book Blog.

You also get a free ebook after you sign up for the giveaway.

Good Luck to you ALL!

~BB♡

Review: "Dark Layers (Volume One)" by A. L. Gray

2014-10-27T01:19:00.000-04:00

I know it's been a while, but life has been way too damn hectic to spend time for myself and read. I've actually been asked to review volume one of the "Dark Layers" series by A.L. Gray and here is my review (I literally just copy-and-pasted it, so it's a little different than how I would normally write it):

Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

Prepare to be obsessed and possessed by the most unprecedented love.

Synopsis - 18 + Only

Knowledge is Power to everyone who seeks it
The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.
Frank Herbert (1920 - 1986)

Law graduate Anile has recently finished university. She's now ready to venture into the working world. Anile has suffered two discriminating and scrutinizing interviews but still remains sanguine with her attitude. She refuses to let anyone bring her down.
She reaches Darks Lawyers for her third interview - she's optimistic, but nervous.
While waiting for her interview, she meets a man who's dangerously beautiful. He's enigmatic, prepossessing and smart beyond any of her expectations - she has no idea who he really is, and she runs out of time before she can find out his name.
Anile inevitably finds him - Elijah Darks. He wants to possess her and lure her into darkness - he wants to indulge in his desires, as well as show Anile her own.
Are his intentions good or bad - is he good or bad? He has secrets, he has an agenda, but is there more to his obsession with Anile than meets the eye?
She cannot seem to find any information about him, he's reticent - and so is the internet - but she cannot help her desire for him, regardless of the unknown.
The danger, love, and trust issues ahead of her life are going to be challenging - will exploring a deviant man be the making or breaking of her?
Funny and smart beyond your expectations.
Read it for yourself.

4.75 out of 5 stars

*this book contains mature subject material (i.e., politics, symbolism, religion, sexually suggestive comments, BDSM, explicit scenes, etc.) and is intended for an older audience with an open-mind.

Wow.

Just wow.

There isn’t really much to say about the first book in A.L. Gray’s “Dark Layers” series except that it isn’t at all what I expected. At first, I was a little skeptical because it seemed to start off similar to “Fifty Shades” but it quickly took a turn and pulled you along.

Anile Gooden and Elijah Darks are two amazingly developed characters that instantly have you dying to learn more about them from the moment you begin reading. Anile is your typical sweet, innocent, gorgeous blonde trying to make her way through the world. She’s strong, witty, and definitely hiding something. Elijah is the handsome, mysterious, temperamental billionaire every woman wishes she had. He has a captivating mind that works in cryptic ways and is most definitely haunted by something. Together, they are just this incredibly energized pair, full of constant ups and downs and in-betweens.

Gray writes the story in a way that really makes you wonder what kind of person Elijah is through his interesting choice in quotes, his preference in decor, and his constant mood-swings. You also can’t help but wonder just what it is about Anile that has Elijah so enthralled (and why it isn’t you that he is completely taken by…come on, just for once let it be me?). As much as I hate his mood-swings because I just want him to be the perfect, caring, loving man that he is, Elijah’s multiple personalities seem to dig deep into his past and his haunting secrets, making him that much more desirable. The moments where his loving mood comes out, it is normal to be completely jealous of Anile because you’ll want to be on the receiving end of those swoon-worthy comments and sexual suggestions. Trust me. Which brings me back to my question: Why Anile and not me?

The setting takes place in London, England, and the writing style reflects that through the vocabulary. If you’re familiar with common English terms, you should be fine. However, if you’re not used to the way that the English speak or some of the words they use, like ‘lift’ and ‘underground’, then you may need a dictionary near by. Also, this means Elijah has an accent. An English accent. A very sexy and mouth-wateringly mesmerizing English accent. There are quite a few mythological references throughout the book, specifically the Greek gods and goddesses, and some background knowledge of them would be recommended. I must admit, I had to search a few of the names myself. If you don’t search the names, some things might not make sense to you at all, and because I gave up constantly searching for the significance of the gods and goddesses after a while, I feel that it may have compromised the overall significance of having them there in the first place. This is also the reason why I did not rate it a full five stars. Had A.L. Gray included some background about the mythological beings instead of having the reader research them, it would have been an easy five stars.

Overall, I loved “Dark Layers (Volume One)” as I could not put it down…not even for a minute or two. I literally began it this morning on the way to class and finished it on the way home. I’m actually about to begin “Dark Layers (Volume Two)" because I don’t think I can wait until tomorrow to see what Anile and Elijah have in store. It was literally a page-turner and kept me intrigued with every single page because it isn’t at all what you would expect. There are just so many themes and concepts that A.L. Gray took risks with and I believe they did her and “Dark Layers” great justice, giving the story those twists and turns that make it what it is.

After that review, you know you want to find out more about Elijah...don't you. ;) Get it here:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

A.L. Gray is also offering a free PDF version on this site for anyone that is willing to write a honest review of "Dark Layers (Volume One)".

OH...I feel like I should also mention that there's a sneak peek of the book on her site as well, so feel free to have a look at chapter one. ;)

If you buy ALL four volumes of "Dark Layers" by A.L. Gray on Amazon now, you can get it for FREE! I'm not sure how long the sale lasts, but it's well worth it, so HURRY and grab it now from here:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Don't forget to share with your friends and fellow book lovers!

~BB♡

UPDATED: November 19th, 2014

SO, I was talking to a friend about this series and went to give her the link from here. I just realized that these old links no longer work. Seems that the four volumes have now been combined into two books and both books are bought together as a box set.

Also, apparently only Amazon Canada has the new format available for Kindle. UK and US have only paper backs available, and only the second book. Sorry! If you find any other links, feel free to post them in the comments please!

Here is the new link:

Amazon Canada

Teaser: "Something like Redemption" by Monica James

2014-10-15T01:00:00.000-04:00

For those of you who have read my last post from yesterday and for those of you who haven't, here's a little tease (or two) from Monica James' new release, "Something like Redemption":

If you haven't already entered the Rafflecopter Giveaway from my last post, go there now and enter to win one of three prizes from Monica James!

Haven't gotten "Something like Redemption" by Monica James yet? No worries! Here are the links:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon AU

Kobo

Don't forget to pass this amazing new release on to your book loving friends!

Love always,

~BB♡

New Release: "Mr. Beautiful" by R.K. Lilley

2014-10-14T16:10:00.000-04:00

So, I log on to my computer to do some work for school, and what do I see?

After a long day of work, that was definitely a sight for sore eyes. For those of you who are not familiar with "Mr. Beautiful", it is the fourth book in R.K. Lilley's Up in the Air series. You DO need to read the first three books, I assume, mainly because it's the same storyline told through a different point-of-view. Aside from that, it is an amazing series and James Cavendish will have you drooling...literally.

Clicking the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

From R.K. Lilley's blog: Mr. Beautiful will be a male point-of-view novel for the Up in the Air series that tells the story of James, and Stephan, and their unwavering love of a woman that would make the two men family. Follow all of the characters from the Up in the Air universe in the years after the trilogy, with POVs from James, Stephan, Frankie, Tristan, and Akira.

I've done a review for the first book in the series on a previous blog I've had, but I can't wait until I get the chance to reread all the books in the series to write a fresh review here on BBBB. Honestly, these books are to die for. It makes you consider becoming a flight attendant. Trust me.

I highly recommend reading the first three books, like NOW, so I've decided to give you easy access to all the purchase links. However, there is a challenge:

I dare you not to fall in love with James Cavendish.


Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

When reserved flight attendant Bianca gets one look at billionaire hotel owner James Cavendish, she loses all of her hard-won composure. For a girl who can easily juggle a tray of champagne flutes at 35,000 feet in three inch heels, she finds herself shockingly weak-kneed from their first encounter. The normally unruffled Bianca can't seem to look away from his electrifying turquoise gaze. They hold a challenge, and a promise, that she finds impossible to resist, and she is a girl who is used to saying no and meaning it.

Bianca is accustomed to dealing with supermodels and movie stars in her job as a first class flight attendant, but James Cavendish puts them all to shame in the looks department. If only it were just his looks that she found so irresistible about the intimidating man, Bianca could have ignored his attentions. But what tempts her like never before is the dominant pull he seems to have over her from the moment they meet, and the promise of pleasure, and pain, that she reads in his eyes.

This book is intended for ages 18 and up.

Get "In Flight" (Up in the Air 1) by R.K. Lilley:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Kobo

Clicking the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

James and Bianca’s tumultuous story continues in the sequel to In Flight.

James has initiated Bianca into a dark and drugging world of passion and pain. He taught her about her own submissive, masochistic nature, and she fell swiftly and deeply in love with the undeniably charming and impossibly beautiful Mr. Cavendish, but a painful misunderstanding and the return of the brutally violent demon of her past have combined to overwhelm Bianca, and, confused and hurt, she pushes him away.

It’s been over a month since the shocking attack that hospitalized her, and since she told a distraught James that she needed space, but her feelings haven’t gone away. Even she knew that it was only a matter of time before he would cast his spell on her again…

Get "Mile High" (Up in the Air 2) by R.K. Lilley:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Kobo


Clicking the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

James and Bianca’s story draws to a close in the explosive conclusion to the Up In The Air Trilogy.

After a short but earnest courtship, Bianca can no longer deny her feelings for James, and though she’s tried her hardest, she can’t help but see that he cares deeply for her, as well. In a completely uncharacteristic move, she has put aside her misgivings and agreed to live with the enigmatic billionaire. Is her leap of faith the beginning of something wonderful, or is it too much, too fast?

As James and Bianca feel a growing need for each other that neither can deny, circumstances beyond their control intervene, trying to tear them apart. Amidst the ever mounting threat of a monster who wants Bianca dead, and the constant pitfalls of an indiscreet past that James can’t seem to escape, can these two passionate lovers manage to find their happily ever after?

Get "Grounded" (Up in the Air 3) by R.K. Lilley:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Kobo

New Release & Giveaway: "Something like Redemption" by Monica James

2014-10-14T01:00:00.000-04:00

Hey lovely readers! I just wanted to let you know that I've decided to participate in a Book Blog tour with a lot of other wonderful book blogs in order to promote Monica James's new release, "Something like Redemption". So, without further ado, please welcome Monica's second book in her Something like Normal Series:

Synopsis

Some secrets are best left untold...

Mia Lee escaped to the sleepy little town of South Boston, Virginia with the intent to be normal, and to find a place she could call home.

Sadly for Mia, her past has come back with a vengeance, and forced her to flee yet again.

This time, however, she’s not alone…

Mia and Quinn are on the run, fleeing for their lives, while attempting to prove their innocence for a crime they did not commit.

But with a tainted past like Mia’s, it was inevitable that one day, it was going to catch up to her in a way she never fathomed.

One ill-fated decision leads to an explosion of unimaginable events, and now Mia and Quinn are not only running for their lives, but also, for their redemption.

Buy Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon AU

Kobo

Author Bio

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals.

She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Website ~ Pinterest

Other books by Monica James

B&N

Amazon US Amazon US Amazon US

Amazon UK Amazon UK Amazon UK

Amazon CA Amazon CA Amazon CA

Amazon AU Amazon AU Amazon AU

B&N B&N B&N

Kobo Kobo Kobo

Smashwords Smashwords Smashwords

Rafflecopter Giveaway

If you cannot see the giveaway on this blog page, feel free to use this link to take you to the giveaway page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please make sure to share this page with your friends and fellow book lovers!

Lots of love,

~BB♡

Review: "Lascivious" by Shea Swain

2014-10-02T11:29:00.001-04:00

As much as I try not to, this review might include some hints that may lead to spoilers, sooooo read at your own risk.


Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

Lascivious: adjective-[luh-siv-ee-uh s] - inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd.

Reece, a good guy with a sweet chunk of bad boy mixed in, was hot as Hell. But to Lilly, Reece was just Reece. To see him as anything else was silly. He would always be her older brother's annoying best friend. That was until the day Reece had carried her to her bedroom, lost his balance, and his fingers slipped under her loose shorts, and into her panty-less crotch. For Lilly, it had awakened and confirmed her darkest desires.

She wanted more.

When Lilly was left in his care, Reece had the best intentions of being a responsible "Big Brother", and he had done a great job. For Reece, the slip up (or was it slip-in?) had changed everything. Over the years Lilly had grown from an innocent 13-year old into an 18-year old wet dream walking. She had already been skating on the edge of his self control, wearing little to nothing around the house. One accidental but red-hot touch…and Reece had to release while conjuring an image of Lilly naked and beneath him.

How in the hell was he going to resist little Lilly now, when he wanted inside her so badly?

Warning: Mature content and language not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. All characters are 18years or older.

~

Sooooooo...where to begin. Let's start with:

HOLY SHIT!

I mentioned that I would probably start reading "Lascivious" by Shea Swain in a post a few days ago, even though I'm still reading "Let Me Love You" by Megan Smith, and well, I did. I ended up reading it last night.

First off, it is exactly what I thought it would be like, yet it was completely unpredictable at the same time. Like, come on, that summary gives away practically everything, so the storyline is pretty much a given...but what you don't expect is all the sudden twists and turns and loop-de-loops that keep you on your toes.

At first, the story was pretty much your "girl falls in love with older brother's best friend", but it doesn't play out as it typically would and it sort of turns into "girl falls in love with the man that has her under his care" as it says in the summary. Because it's in the third person point-of-view, you get to see both Lilly's and Reece's side of the struggle while trying to stay apart. Sometimes it's a little frustrating because there is absolutely nothing holding them back from being together but their own stubbornness. When they finally get together, because you know they will, it is so...very...hot. It's intense. Shea writes with such detail that it literally leaves nothing to the imagination, well, the parts that shouldn't be.

From then on is when all predictability goes downhill. There is just so much that happens with Lilly, Reece and a few of the supporting characters, it's insane. I was constantly like "Whoa!" "Really?" "What the...?" "Are you SERIOUS?" "Holy shit!" "Wow!" "Nice....." and a few other vocables that can't really be typed.

Shea definitely stays true to the book's title, "Lascivious", as it is truly "lustful, wanton, and lewd". Lilly and Reece literally experience the ultimate fantasies that are so sexy, hot and incredibly enviable...if you like that sort of thing. But I can honestly tell you that I may not have ever considered something like this before now and well, I am definitely having second thoughts. There are a few things that I wouldn't do just because it's a little taboo, even for me, but hey, whatever floats your boat. Regardless, it makes for a very awesome read.

The only things I may not have liked are very minor and personal opinions, so they're very minor. The first thing is that it is really hard to read in the third person point-of-view because of the constant perspective change. I've always preferred first person because it allows the reader to get into the heads of the characters, and gives you a well-rounded understanding of what is going on. Shea's third person did give insight into Lilly and Reece's minds, but to me, I felt it wasn't enough. I like to "live" through the character. Another thing is the choice of words used during "certain" scenes. In my opinion, I don't like using the words "cunt" and "twat", so meh, it just didn't appeal to me. Lastly, it was way too short. I feel that Shea could totally have expanded and made it much longer. This would also give the story a chance to develop and flow together more. Because it was so short, I felt that the scenes were a little random and choppy and didn't flow so well. Don't get me wrong, they were still amazing scenes, but I just think there could have been more of the background story instead of just the nitty-gritty. I understand it was just a novella, and that the title and summary pretty much set you up to know exactly what was entailed, but I just like "more" (as I've said so many times).

Alright, I think I've gone on and on and should probably stop before this turns into a novel itself. Overall, I loved the book. Definitely one of the more mature books because of its focus on sex, but amazing nonetheless. If you're one of those "Fifty Shades of Grey" fans or other erotica books, than you'll definitely love this.

In the mood for your imagination to run wild? Get "Lascivious" by Shea Swain here:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to share BBBB with any booklovers you know!

-BB♡

New Release: "Lascivious" by Shea Swain

2014-09-30T21:11:00.000-04:00

Shea Swain just released her first novella, "Lascivious"!


Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

This is DEFINITELY going on my 'to read' list on Goodreads. I can't wait to start this one, and if I wasn't already reading another book, I would have started it right this moment. As far as the summary goes, "Lascivious" sounds like a hot and steamy read and I can't wait to see how the relationship between Lilly and her older brother's best friend, Reece, comes along.

Alright, fine. I give up. I'll probably end up reading it tonight instead of sleeping. It's only about 90 pages long since it's a novella, so it shouldn't take me that long. I just don't want to wait any longer.

Are you as interested in Shea Swain's book, "Lascivious", as much as I am? Get it here:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Thanks Shea for introducing your book to me!

-BB♡

Not a Review. For once.

2014-09-28T01:04:00.000-04:00

I'm so sorry that I haven't had time this weekend to read "Let Me Love You" by Megan Smith. It's ironic that weekends are supposed to be when you get to relax and do all the things you couldn't do during the week...I'm going to try to read some more before I eventually pass out for the night, so hopefully I get through most of it.

In the meantime, I wanted to invite you all to like my Facebook page, "Beneath the Blanket Book Blog", and add me as a friend through my profile, Book Bookie. (Clicking on the names, or the "big" font, will link you to those pages.)

I also have a Twitter account, @bb_bookblog so feel free to follow me there as well.

Lastly, if you'd like to know what books I've read or would like to read, you can always visit my Goodreads page. If you have any recommendations for new books, you can always send them to me through Goodreads as well!

You are more than welcome to follow me at any of these social media sites, and feel free to leave me a message on any of them. I always try to get back to you as soon as I possibly can.

Thank you and don't forget to share the love!

-BB♡

Review: "Hard to Love You" by Megan Smith

2014-09-25T16:38:00.000-04:00

Do NOT read this review if you haven't read the first two books in the series: "Trying Not to Love You" and "Easy to Love You" by Megan Smith. This is the third book in the series and needs to be read after you've read the first two. Although there are no spoilers about the other books, this review is based on you reading the first two.

Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

What do you do when the one you’ve always wanted becomes too Hard to Love?

Hailey Taylor's heart has always belonged to Mason Cahill, but one secret has changed everything.

Things on the baseball field come easy for Mason Cahill. Why can’t the rest of his life be simple? Mason's finally admitted he wants the one girl he can be himself around, but one secret destroyed that.

Their love isn't sweet and simple. It's hot, loud, and messy. But now, when he's finally all in, she’s folded. Sparks fly. Tempers flare. Hearts shatter. One thing is certain… everything has changed.

Who will be too Hard to Love?

If you've been following along, you'd know that this is the third book in the series and that it focuses on MacKenzie's best friend, Hailey, and MacKenzie's brother, Mason. In the past two books, we get glimpses of their relationship (their very rocky relationship), so it was great to finally know what is going on between the two of them.

The book is told in alternating points-of-view between Hailey and Mason, except for a few random chapters that are told by others. There are also a lot of flashbacks throughout the book that highlight important moments that have happened in either Hailey's or Mason's past. The storyline of the book does continue from where the previous book, "Easy to Love You", left off, so it does not act as a standalone. Although it focuses on two different people than the other two books, you do need to read those first two in order to understand what in the hell is going on.

First off, I love Hailey and Mason together. I also hate them together. They just have wayyyy too much going on between them and it really is frustrating. From reading the first two books, you understand that they have a very up and down relationship, but nothing compares to what you learn in this book alone. I value the fact that Megan decided to highlight a relationship that wasn't perfect in any way. We get used to reading romance books where girl meets guy, girl falls in love, guy falls in love and happily ever after. I like the fact that Hailey and Mason have a rocky relationship. That they aren't the perfect "lovey-dovey" couple where everything is perfect. You truly get to see the behind-the-scenes with these two despite what we might have seen in the previous two books. "Hard to Love You" really had me questioning things and wondering what the hell was going to happen with Hailey and Mason.

I love Hailey because she's your typical blond beauty, but she's stubborn as hell. In the previous two books, she's Kenzie's quirky best friend. She may seem all confident and perfect on the outside, but she's so weak and sensitive on the inside. Mason. Mason, Mason, Mason. These guys in these books will kill you, honestly. They are smouldering and just perfect. First Hunter and his undying love for Kenzie, and now Mason. Mason, however, is your typical jock who has girls literally dropping at his feet. The good thing is that he only has eyes for Hailey, but his past is what messes him up.

I truly can't decide whether I like Kenzie and Hunter's story or Hailey and Mason's story better. I think I may need to stick with Kenzie and Hunter though, only because they were the original two and they had two books (lots more to read, yet not enough) and their story continued on indirectly in "Hard to Love You" too. Oh, and Hunter. Why are there no guys like this in real life? Or more specifically, where are they?

Now that I've finished "Hard to Love You", I've moved on to the next book in the series, "Let Me Love You", which is Jaylinn and Cooper's story. I honestly can't wait to see how this one goes, because Jaylinn and Cooper were always in the background in the first three books. Sure, there were scenes and moments that made you question their relationship, but there was never enough detail to think about. I should be finished this one in the next few days as well, and then I'm screwed. The next book in the series isn't out yet, and then I'll have to find a new book or series to read. I have sooo many books on my "to-read" list on my Goodreads page, but I don't know where to begin...

Dare to continue the Love Series with "Hard to Love You" by Megan Smith? Find it at your local bookstore, or online at:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Kobo

Thanks for reading!

-BB♡

Review: "Easy to Love You" by Megan Smith

2014-09-23T17:03:00.004-04:00

Do NOT read this review if you haven't read the first book in the series: "Trying Not to Love You" by Megan Smith. This is the second book in the series and needs to be read after you've read the first one. Although there are no spoilers about the second book, it does rely on you reading the first one.

Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

Hunter finally has MacKenzie Cahill, the girl of his dreams. A horrible accident finds those dreams threatened. As their lives change, secrets begin to surface. These revelations could prove to be either the downfall of Hunter and MacKenzie or the catalyst that strengthens their bond.

Hunter has painful choices to make. Will he realize what he has before it’s gone? He knows what he must do to save his future, but will he be leaving everyone else in his past?

Will the bond between the two families be strong enough to keep them together?

I'm actually so upset that I wasn't able to finish this earlier...I should have been done on the weekend. Unfortunately, I had a few things to do this weekend and things for school to finish up. I'm so sorry.

Anyways, if you've read my previous review "Trying Not to Love You" then you would know that this is the second book of that series. I literally started reading this book the moment I finished the first one. This series just keeps getting better and better, and I commend Megan Smith for keeping her readers captivated because most sequels are definitely not as good as the first in the series.

"Easy to Love You" is the continuation of Kenzie and Hunter's story and starts off at that major cliffhanger that I told you about at the end of the first book. Oh. My. God. The storyline could have, honestly, taken off in any direction whatsoever and I found my mind reeling with possibilities as I was reading the first few pages. I would think that one thing was going to happen, then all of a sudden I'd think another thing, and then randomly think another thing. I love the unpredictability in a good story. Keeps you on your toes.

As mentioned before, Hunter is just the epitome of "book boyfriend' and this book just confirms it. He really is that good. You get a lot more Hunter in this book as there are more scenes that are from his point-of-view and I love it. I love it when you get to experience the guy's side of something. There is a lot more emphasis on Hunter in this book as well, which is fine by me. The more Hunter the better. You gather some insight on his past and his family, and although it's not always positive, it really does make you want to bring him into your arms and just...you know. Some of the things that you learn about him and his past are a little emotional.

Kenzie and Hunter have their relationship, finally, and it's just incredible. I love the love they have for each other. It's amazing. It's even more incredible knowing that they've felt like this since the beginning of time. Their relationship is strong and loving, but sure enough, they have their rough patches. It's during those rough patches that I get so frustrated. It's almost like when you find yourself screaming at the television when some idiot goes into a dark room (that you know is totally full of zombies). Tonnes of dramatic irony. The reader gets to read both Kenzie's and Hunter's points-of-view, and well, ugh, it frustrates you to hell when they won't work things out because you know they should. I think I may have found myself yelling at my Kobo because of that..."Stupid Hunter, what the hell are you doing?!?" or "Kenzie, just shut up and listen!". Yup. I'm an active reader.

Enough about that. Aside from Kenzie and Hunter, you also gain a little insight into Hailey and Mason's relationship. There are a few scenes that are written from their points-of-view and although they are supposed to add to the current story line about Kenzie and Hunter, those scenes really do help you get a feel for Hailey and Mason (who happen to have their own story in "Hard to Love You", which is the third book in the series...also the book I just started after finishing this one, so be prepared for another review in the next couple of days).

I really wish that Megan Smith would continue Kenzie and Hunter's story, because I feel that they didn't have enough "time". The story could have continued for at least another book or two. I'm not sure if Megan is going to do another Kenzie and Hunter one, but I know there are two books up on Goodreads that have no summary at the moment (well, one of them has the names of the people who are going to be focused, but the other one doesn't...so hopefully it's another Kenzie and Hunter).

I can't wait to finish this series because it's just so good! I can't get enough! But on the other hand, I don't want the series to finish because I want more, much more...Catch-22. BUT, you should definitely, most definitely check this series out because I can guarantee you that you will love it!

You can find "Easy to Love You" by Megan Smith at your local bookstore, or online at:

Amazon Canada
Amazon US

Kobo

Keep reading!

Much Love!

-BB♡

Review: "Trying Not to Love You" by Megan Smith

2014-09-18T17:04:00.000-04:00

Clicking on the book cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

MacKenzie Cahill has dealt with overbearing and overprotective brothers her entire life, making it near impossible to enjoy her teenage years. Having a boyfriend was practically impossible until she met a guy that wasn't afraid to stand up to them - Dominic. He was sweet, thoughtful, and everything MacKenzie ever wanted in a man.

But when they go away to college at Old Dominion University, MacKenzie sees a whole new side of Dominic and begins to wonder if he really is different from every other guy.

Her world is turned upside down after a party, and her brothers' best friend Hunter is the one there to offer her a shoulder to cry on. The chemistry between them is electric, and feelings for each other that have been hidden for years are finally voiced.

Is Hunter willing to be disloyal to his best friends in order to be with the one girl he's always secretly wanted?

New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language, and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Alright, so I literally JUST finished "Trying Not to Love You" by Megan Smith, and by literally, I mean I just started reading the sequel. Yes, it was that good that I needed to start the second one.

If I didn't have full-time classes, I'm pretty sure I would have been finished it by last night. I started it yesterday morning and it was just one of those reads that compels you to keep reading on and on and on and neglect the world around you. I may even have read it in class...or not.

I just couldn't get enough of MacKenzie and Hunter...oh boy...Hunter. Hunter is perfection. As the summary says, Hunter is the best friend of Kenzie's very over-protective brothers. You can only imagine how that goes...hint: read the title of the book again. Since it is written in Kenzie's point-of-view, we get to share her every thought and emotion as she deals with the struggle between Hunter and her brothers, and I admire the fact that it is very accurate.

I loved the constant struggles that Kenzie and Hunter had to face together. But the two of them are so adorable together and Hunter is the epitome of "book boyfriend". His love for Kenzie is just...just...melt-worthy and enough for you to fall in love with him. I think it helped that Megan Smith had a little background story in the prologue that gave insight into MacKenzie and her brothers, as well as Hunter too.

It's one of those books where you just want to shove your hands in the pages and literally smush the two people together because you just know it's going to happen but you're thinking to yourself: "Hurry the fuck up already!"

The one thing that bothered me a bit was Kenzie's naïveté. I think it may be because I just finished reading a book where the female was the complete opposite, so the change was just different. However, her naïveté did suit the storyline and added to the character development of other characters, so it's not all that bad.

Now, "Trying Not to Love you" is definitely for older readers as it deals with mature themes and a lot of sexy scenes...a lot. Amazing hot sexy scenes. Amazing hot sexy scenes with Hunter. Need I say more?

Definitely give it a read, and if you love it anywhere as much as I do, you'll definitely forget to eat and sleep because you'll completely immerse yourself into the words. Like I said at the beginning, I literally JUST finished the book before moving on to the second, "Easy to Love You". The ending finished in a cliffhanger that left you craving more and wanting to know absolutely everything.

Want to give "Trying Not to Love You" by Megan Smith a try? You can find it at your local bookstore, or online on:

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Kobo

If you've read it already, leave a comment to let myself and others know what you thought!

Much love!

-BB♡

Review: "The Hook Up" by Kristen Callihan

2014-09-16T20:53:00.003-04:00

I actually literally just finished this book and decided it would make a wonderful first review on BBBB.

Clicking on the picture will take you to its Goodreads page.

The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love.

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she's shut him down. Completely.

That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It's a good thing Drew knows all about winning.

All’s fair in love and football…Game on.

New Adult/Contemporary Romance with a HEA - Recommended for readers 17 and older.

To start off, I absolutely loved this book. Kristen alternates between Anna's point-of-view and Drew's. This way you gain insight into both of their lives and they are both just incredibly real and very easy to relate to. Anna is not your typical "girl-next-door" and Drew is not your typical "jock". They have emotions that take them on a rollercoaster ride, they have insecurities, they aren't perfect. I believe that having that sense of imperfection is admirable because, in reality, nobody is perfect. I really connected with Anna, and a bit with Drew, because I've lived their lives. I know what it was like to be them and I've been that emotional wreck. What am I talking about? You'll just have to read the book to find out. ;)

Although the title and summary of the book aim for a predictable read, I can guarantee you that there is, in no way, a chance that you will predict what Kristen has in store for Anna and Drew. These twists and turns are what kept my eyes glued to the pages and rendered it impossible for me to put down the book. I. Just. Couldn't. Stop. Reading. There was a dire need to know what happened next, and after that, and after that.

Reading "The Hook Up" evoked such a plethora of different emotions that I felt myself constantly crying, grinning like the Cheshire cat, laughing, smiling. cringing, crying again, biting my lip, tearing up with joy, sighing, and staring with my mouth agape (yes, I even caught myself smiling at my Kobo on the commute multiple times...I even began to tear up too, but luckily I had my sunglasses on).

I definitely recommend this to absolutely everyone, of age of course (because there are some very steamy, and incredibly well-written scenes). The one and only thing that I do not like is the fact that I felt it was so short...there should have been soooo much more of Anna and Drew, then again, I get like that with every book I read because I never want it to end. There actually is a sequel coming out, tentatively in 2015, "The Friend Zone" which is the story of Drew's best friend, Gray and I can't wait.

Definitely give "The Hook Up" a read. It was my first Kristen Callihan book, but it definitely is not my last. There were just so many memorable scenes that were vividly written, almost as if I was living the scene myself. There are also a million and one quotes that I want to share with you that just resonated with me. Perhaps, I'll start a monthly quote post with a compilation of my favourite quotes from the books I've read during the month. What do you think?

If you're interested in reading "The Hook Up", you can find it in your local bookstore, or on:

Amazon CAN (Kindle)
Amazon US (Kindle)
Kobo
iBooks

Thanks for reading! Let me know if there is anything you'd like me to post, change, talk about, etc!

Much love!

-BB♡

The Beginning of BBBB

2014-09-15T21:40:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Beneath the Blanket Book Blog!

I decided to start this blog after a little nudge from one of my friends. I read a lot...and I mean a LOT. So, after months of talking and sharing books with a close group of friends, she mentioned that I should start a blog.

Well, here it is!

I'm planning to dedicate this blog to anything book related. Literally, anything. I'm pretty sure the majority of my posts will be reviews of books that I am, or have read. Now, I have read soooo many books already that I'm going to have to reread them in order to write a review, but don't worry, I read quite fast.

Since this is the beginning of this blog, it will take some time to build. At first, I may introduce you to some of my favourite authors, or some of the books that I absolutely love. As this blog develops, I am hoping to do a lot more.

Now, a little bit about the person behind BBBB:

Ever since I was a child, I had a passion for reading. I would literally read everything in sight. I loved books. As I grew up into my teens, I started reading a lot more and eventually it became my life.

Now, in my mid-twenties, all I do is read. Don't get me wrong, I have a life. I'm a full-time student in my final year of post-secondary, studying to become an elementary teacher. When I'm not doing work for school, working, or planning my wedding, I am usually found with my Kobo in my hand. I'd rather read a good book than sit down in front of the television.

Over the summer, I was part of this non-official "book club" with a few friends from work. We started sharing books that we liked, talking about them, and the usual. I started out at the beginning of the summer with making them a list of all the books I've read at the time that were worth sharing (I honestly think there were at least a hundred books on that list...just imagine how many I have now...).

I mentioned before that I read quite fast, and I do. I usually finish a book a day (well, four hours actually). Out of my little non-official book club, I was always the first one done a book and I would always pressure them into finishing so we could talk about it without me spoiling it. I'm one of those people that can't put a book down once it's been opened, especially if it's an amazing read. I've also been known to forgo sleep, food, and life while reading a book. I think the most I've gone without sleeping because of reading is...possibly three days. Who needs sleep?

I typically read anything that sounds interesting, and sometimes I've randomly come across a book that I just read for the sake of it and it ended up becoming a hidden gem. I usually read a lot of those new contemporary romance books (yes, even the smutty ones). Those I love.

I like to indulge myself in the lives of the characters in the books I read. Like George R.R. Martin said:

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.

The man who never reads lives only one."

- George R. R. Martin

Alright, enough about me! I want to know more about you!

What are your favourite books?

What type of books do you like to read?

What do you look for when choosing your next read?

Who do you talk to about books that you like?

Which authors are to die for?

Do you write?

Anything else you'd love to share?

Ideas for the blog?

Feel free to comment below or send me an email at beneaththeblanketbb@gmail.com or using the form to the right. Also, if you do comment or send an email, just note that I may quote your comment or email in future posts to share with others (with all the crediting, of course!).

Lastly, if you have recently read a book and think that it definitely deserves some spotlight and would love to share a review, feel free to email me your post and I can post it on your behalf (I'll credit you with whatever information you've provided in the message).

Please remember, this is a blog. An opinionated blog. I do have my own thoughts about certain books and authors, whether or not they're the same as others'. No matter if you agree or disagree, please try to be respectful with your comments and posts. Thank you!

Anyways, much love!

~ BB♡

Update - September 19th : Just wanted to let you know that I will try my hardest to keep my reviews SPOILER-FREE. I know how much it sucks to read a review only to have the whole book ruined for you.

If on the rare occasion, I do include a spoiler, I will make sure you know it way before you start reading the post (ex, in the title of the post, and the first line of the post)