Book Review : I Want It That Way (2B Trilogy,#1) by Ann Aguirre

I Want It That Way
2B Trilogy, #1
by Ann Aguirre

Released:
August 26th, 2014

Publisher:
Harlequin HQN

Source:
Publisher

Synopsis: 

Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she’s determined to make them come true. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, dating’s the last thing on her mind. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B…. 

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can’t risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, the last thing he wants is noisy students living in the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia’s and Ty’s paths cross, and soon they can’t stay away from each other. The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can’t know what you truly need until you stand to lose it. 

Purchase At:

Amazon | B&N | BAM | Indiebound | Vroman’s  

Book Depository | Powell’s | iTunes

2B Trilogy on Goodreads

Lindy's Thoughts:

I Want It That Way was such a sweet and romantic love story.  I've seen some mixed reviews on this story, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my escape in to Nadia and Ty's lives, and could not put it down.

I related to the main character Nadia, and absolutely loved her.  She reminded me a lot of myself when I was in college.  She was going to school full-time to be a special education teacher, and worked hard to earn excellent grades, and keep her scholarship.  She worked full time at a daycare, loved her job, and had a special way about her when it came to taking care of the kids.  She truly cared, and had endless patience.  Nadia was in her junior year of college and rented an apartment with her childhood best friend, Lauren, and two good friends, Angus and Max.  I loved reading about her friendships with her roommates and admired her loyalty and sweet sensitive caring, when it came to being there for anyone in need.

Ty was a wonderful male lead.  He was a dedicated and hard worker, who was a single dad, raising a cute little four year old.  Ty worked in construction during the day, attended college night courses towards his degree in architecture, and didn't have time for a social life.  When Nadia becomes his neighbor, he is very attracted to her, but determined that nothing will come of it, because he was burned so badly in the past.  However, we can't chose when we fall in love, and sometimes life brings us the surprise of a lifetime.

I  Want It That Way, by Anne Aguirre, was such a sweet, sexy, and endearing read.  I cherished every moment that Nadia and Ty spend together.  The anticipation of these two realizing what they meant to each other, just about killed me!  They both deserved happiness, and I wanted them to have it with each other.  Ty's son, Sam, was absolutely adorable, and stole my heart right from the beginning.  This story had me sighing and smiling from all of the swoon-worthy and heartfelt moments that were shared.  

I cannot wait to read the sequel, As Long As You Love Me, which will be about Nadia's best friend, Lauren, and Nadia's brother, Rob!!!  I give, I Want It That Way, by Ann Aguirre, 4 Super Sweet, Romantic, and Heart-Warmimg Stars!

Mikki's Review:

The first thing that caught my eye with I Want It That Way was the cover. This series has beautiful covers, and the titles are just AWESOME! Please take note that you will have the Backstreet Boys song stuck in your head before, during and after you finish reading I Want It That Way. I'm not complaining, I love BSB. :)

IWITW was a sweet reading escape! Nadia is a college student who has big dreams. When she moves into a new building with her friends Lauren, Max and Angus the last thing she expected was to find a single dad who would steal her heart. Ty's life was forever changed when his son Sam was born. He works during the day and takes night classes, which leaves him drained, but he does it all for his Sam. When he meets Nadia he wants to keep his distance because she makes him feel things he's afraid to feel. He was burned in the past and he's not looking for a relationship. As days go by, they can't deny the chemistry between them and they agree to a no strings attached relationship. Will Nadia be able to put back together the pieces of Ty's broken heart?

I really enjoyed this book. Even if the storyline was predictable, it was still a story that kept me turning the pages. What I really liked about the story was how much Nadia's character grew. I loved how she was determined to fight for Ty. Even if she did not have much experience with relationships, she listened to what her heart was saying. And, it was telling her to fight for Ty and make him see that not every relationship is one that will leave you with a broken heart. I really liked her and I connected with her character from the very beginning.

Connecting to the story and characters is really important for me when I read a book. With IWITW I connected with Nadia, but not at all with Ty. I think that my connection with him was hard to find because the scenes that he shared with Nadia were very limited. Weeks could pass before they would talk or even see each other. Don't get me wrong they had great sexual chemistry, but I had a hard time connecting with them on an emotional level as a couple. I felt like Nadia gave her all in this relationship while Ty pushed her away because he was afraid of getting hurt again. I understand his POV, but I still wanted to see him fight for the girl that put back together the pieces of his broken heart.

I loved to read about the moments that Nadia would share with little Sam in her class and at home. That was super adorable!!! Sam stole my heart from the very beginning. The secondary characters were awesome as well and I liked how we got to know each and every one of them. 

Overall this story kept me turning the pages and was easy to relate to. Even if I did not find the connection I was looking for with Ty, I enjoyed this book and it did not take anything away from my overall reading experience. I look forward to reading As Long As You Love Me and The Shape Of My Heart. The main characters in these stories are two secondary characters in IWITW that I really liked and I'm really anxious to see them find happiness.

Rating:

I give, I Want It That Way, by Ann Aguirre 3.5 sweet and enjoyable stars!

About the Author

Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. 

Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.

Website**Facebook**Twitter**Tumblr**

 Goodreads**Newsletter SignUp

Stacking the Shelves & Our Sunday Post (43)

For Review Consideration & Review:

Finished Copy:

Add to Goodreads

eARCS:

Add to Goodreads

Add to Goodreads

Add to Goodreads

Add to Goodreads

Add to Goodreads

Add to Goodreads

Add to Goodreads

Purchased:

Add to Goodreads

Big Thanks To:

Harlequin, Grand Central Publishing, 

Berkley Romance & Egmont USA :)

Book Review: Lennon's Hope (Lennon's Girls #3) by Chris Myers

Lennon's Hope

(Lennon's Girls #3) 

by 

Chris Myers 

Pub July 1st 2014 

by Books on the Edge 

Summary
Sometimes in love, you lose all control…
A young girl with a big problem
An ex-girlfriend on the rebound
A hard-partying bad boy
A confession shadowed by tragedy

At age ten, Rain fell hard for the sweet boy caring for his sister.
At age eighteen, she runs into Lennon, now an experienced player and no longer the innocent boy she once loved.
At age nineteen, she has to put all her plans on hold to have his baby, and under a cloud of deception, she faces tragedy and heartbreak.

At age ten, Lennon proposed to Rain in front of the whole school.
At age eighteen, he thought he was over her until he sees her at a party, no longer a little girl but all grown-up and sexy as hell.
At age nineteen, he loses what he cherishes most.

***WARNING: This book is New Adult Contemporary Romance and contains sexual content.

Dealing in What if's Only Ever Leads to Darkness 

This was such a sad and difficult read. I wanted to find out what would happen to all of these beloved characters. The story was dark and Lennon was faced with loss and despair unlike anything he’s ever experienced. Rain was his whole world and for a long time these two faced unimaginable pain. From the very beginning Lennon’s life gets put into sheer darkness. I was waiting for Jinx to appear and what her role would be in this story. At first I was so angry at Rain for her actions and the way she abandoned Lennon when he needed her most. Lennon comes a long way in this final installment and I was so proud of his development. The ending was spectacular and I can sincerely say everything played out leaving all the t’s crossed and i’s dotted.

L-ove, Lennon finally has everything he could ever want. A proposal is finally accepted making him the happiest man alive.
E-nsemble, Rain can’t help but keep her eyes on Lennon at all times there isn’t anyone else for her ever. She can’t wait to become his wife.
N-otorious, being a rock god comes with a lot of pressure and temptation but there will never be anyone for Lennon other than Rain.
N-aughty, in love and bliss these two love each other intensely, passionately, and it will never fade.
O-bligations, all Lennon wants to do is be by Rain’s side but she has shut him out not knowing how to deal with her pain she pushes him away.
N-arcotics, Lennon is tempted by the absence of pain and in the effort of trying to make it go away he creates more hurt. Mistakes and misunderstandings will be his undoing.
S-ins, Lennon will always care for Jinx but no matter what happens he will always only love one woman and thats Rain.

H-elp, Rain has been working on herself and it will take some pain before she realizes that she cannot be without Lennon. A tragic incident will put them in close proximity and Rain will do what it takes to make things right.
O-pen, helping Jinx get past her heart break is something that comes as second nature to Lennon. They both realize they would never work and the best part is Jinx finds her happiness.
P-romise, Lennon’s father has always disappointed him but sharing a painful secret will ignite the desire to forgive. In the end these two are much more similar than Lennon ever expected.
E-nding, the dreams Lennon and Rain shared come to fruition. Their road wasn’t easy but looking back the events in their lives that were painful only served to make them stronger and their union something truly beautiful.

The ending was spectacular and my girl Jinx was taken care of. So I’d say bravo! The road certainly wasn’t easy there is a lot of darkness and pain. Thankfully they pull through the difficult time together. Another great read by Myers this story definitely pulled at my heart strings. I experienced every emotion reading this final installment. The ending was sad but it was beautiful at the same time, the tears I shed were happy ones. Lennon has come a long way. Two young ones found each other and lost each other but in the end nothing could ever tear them apart. I really enjoyed the fact that Lennon was able to work on his relationship with his father. They found a common ground in the end. This was a very entertaining series full of drama and dark moments. Myers was able to bring everything to a lovely close tying up all the lose ends nicely.

My Rating

4.0 SUV, Tour, Gazebo, Hope, Clive, Brother, Cliff, Compound, World Tour, Jinx, Drugs, Media, Twins, Broken Heart, Stalker, Hearing, Texts, Tutor, Rehab, Counseling, Powerful Love, Undying Union Filled Stars! For those that enjoy drama and ups and downs. This series is for you.

Purchase Lennon's Hope Through

✿ Amazon ✿ Barnes & Noble ✿

Purchase Lennon's Rain Through

 ✿ Amazon ✿ Barnes & Noble ✿

✿ Review ✿

Purchase Lennon's Jinx Through 

 ✿ Amazon ✿ Barnes & Noble ✿

✿ Review ✿

About the Author 

Chris Myers spends most of her free time writing and dreaming up new characters who fight each other for page time. She is an award-winning author and lives in Colorado with her daughter, her better half, and her Bichon BeBe. Her work has appeared in the NewsMag and has earned several awards including first place Paul Gillette, Colorado Gold finalist, and semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. She has taught writing workshops for conferences, PPW, and Delve Writing and was an adjunct professor at CSU. Chris is a member of SCBWI and Pikes Peak Writers. She earned a Masters from the University of South Florida. 

Look for her series RIPSTERS, a Young Adult, paranormal/mystery with the spark of romance, starting with DATE WITH THE DEAD.

✿ Website ✿ Facebook ✿ Twitter ✿

✿ Blog ✿ Goodreads ✿

Book Review: Sins & Needles (The Artists Trilogy #1) by Karina Halle

Sins & Needles 

(The Artists Trilogy #1) 

by 

Karina Halle

Pub January 25th 2013 

by Metal Blonde Books 

Summary
Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she's much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for - Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie's counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she's not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie's plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn't dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it's one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

Lindy's Thoughts:

Ellie Watt had a dysfunctional upbringing with parents who were con artists.  She learned how to pack her bags on a moments notice, and live on the run.  As a young child, she got seriously scarred after a con gone wrong.  Her scars lead to anger, and long-terms plans for revenge.  She's only ever had one friend, Camden McQueen, who she met in high school.  Camden and Ellie were both outcasts in school.  Unfortunately, she destroyed their friendship when she betrayed him.  Now, many years later, Ellie is on the run again and headed to ask her Uncle Jim for help.  However, her uncle is struggling, and not willing to let her live with him for a long period of time.  While back in Palm Valley, Southern California, she runs in to Camden, who has had a complete transformation.  Camden is gorgeous, fit, sexy, and the successful business owner of his very own tattoo shop.  Ellie, who is in desperate need of money, begins to plan a con, in which she will steal a large sum of money from Camden.  However, everything doesn't go according to plan, and Ellie and Camden will both never be the same again.

Sin's & Needles, by Karina Halle, was suspenseful, action-packed, and delivered an enthralling plot!  Ellie was tough on the outside, but very vulnerable on the inside.  She was such an intriguing character, that gave me mixed views and emotions concerning her character.  She made me feel angry at times, and sorry for her at other times.  She was very lost, and while she made many bad decisions, there was a part of me that had hope, that she was redeemable.  Camden had an air of mystery, and danger, as well as vulnerability.  I could tell that he was in love with Ellie, yet he had been hurt badly by her actions.  

Javier (Ellie's ex-boyfriend, that she was on the run from) was a character that we got introduced to, but don't learn much about.  He exudes power, danger, dominance, and ruthlessness.  It will be interesting to learn more about him in the next segment, and see if he ever really loved Ellie or just viewed her as a possession.  The plot was very fast-paced, had a lot of ups and downs, and some crazy and unexpected twists.  I am very eager to continue this series, and see where it leads.  I'm hoping that Ellie and Camden get a happily every after, but at this point; I'm not holding my breath.

I give Sins & Needles 4 Tragic, Heart-Thumping, On the Run, "Will Love Prevail?" Filled Stars!  If you are looking for a story with mystery, crime, danger, intrigue, suspense, action, and an edgy sexy quality, you must read Sins & Needles by Karina Halle!!!      

My Favorite Quotes:

"Do you think because you can't see my scars that they don't exist?  That's the trouble with pain, Ellie.  If you're lucky, you can wear it for all the world to see.  Most people have their pain deep inside, in places no one ever goes.  Not until it's too late."  (eARC, Loc. 1761)

~Camden

"I hate you, Ellie Watt," he whispered, lips coming closer to mine, "because I still love you after all these years."  (eARC, Loc. 3423)

~Camden

"We all make our own paths in life.  Everyone we meet, everything we do, it changes us.  It makes us who we are.  And, if we're lucky, we're given the chance to make things right again.  (eARC, Loc. 3606)

~Camden

OMG Becky Look at Their Baggage… 

It is so big!

Ain’t that a fact yall! Wow!! Uh news alert…The rumors are true, this is dark. For the first 30% of the book I could not stand Ellie! Then at right about 40% in BAM!!! TKO!!!

 


I wanted to feel bad for Ellie because I really censed her fear but I couldn’t muster up the empathy(that I usually exude btw!) It probably had to do with Camden and the way she treated him. BUT I’m happy to report…Much love now!! I’m not making excuses for Ellie she’s made a lot of mistakes but now she’s owning them. As for Camden, I will make a million excuses for him all day, every day, because I heart that guy pretty hard.

 


I’m sort of dying to clear my schedule so I can read the next book in this series! Sins & Needles is the perfect example of not liking a character but still having love for the book. Ja feel? Its like “man that girl is a b” but its all written so tragically beautifully that how can I not heart this!

S-eparation, Ellie has been gone for a long time running its what she does best but for the first time she wants to come home and put an end to the games.
I-nsecure, life has punished Ellie her past is full of nightmares all she’s ever wanted is to be normal.
N-otorious, Camden McQueen was treated poorly and branded with terrible names but only one person ever truly broke his heart.
S-urprise, being reunited has proven to be more than what Camden and Ellie bargained for.

&

N-ostalgia, being close to Camden again brings back feelings Ellie didn’t understand in the past and is too guilty to amend in the present.
E-scape, being pursued by very dangerous people will lead Ellie to commit an unthinkable act.
E-ntrust, Camden needs Ellie their situation isn’t perfect but it’s the beginning of something amazing.
D-reams, life has kicked Camden so many times but he knows deep down Ellie is justified and soon he will come to know exactly why.
L-ies, the time for secrets and shame is over Ellie bares her soul and receives an unimaginable gift.
E-lude, Ellie and Camden have a common goal and will do what it takes to reach it.
S-acrifice, uh uh uh I don’t want to spoil it just know that its gut wrenching!



GAH!!!! Yes talk about a show down of epic proportions and some serious crazy turns along the way. Camden was amazing all throughout even when his flaws come out the depth of his emotions are his saving grace. He helps Ellie beyond words and reaches her deeper than anyone ever has before. There is no clear answer on who the “bad guy” is yet…Well other than “That one Bad Guy” but he’s not really in the picture. I’m talking about Javier I cannot wait to find out more about him. He’s no Camden(heck no) but I’m curious as all get out! I have some pretty heavy feelings on whats to come and I can’t wait to find out. I could not put this down! This is definitely one of those “I’m just going to read one more chapter” then before you know it…Its 3am and your fighting sleep! Eeeeep!

My Wish

I'm not sure what Javier's deal is yet...Is he bad? Yes. Does he love Ellie? Most likely. Probably. Definitely. Gah!! I hope everyone comes to a happy medium? Lol its probably gonna take some more heartache I know, I know...I'm just sayin' I can't WAIT! :0) 

My Rating

4.5 Date Site, Teenager, Safe, High School, Dates, Long Hair, Trampoline, Night Sky, Sir Limps a Lot, Sergi, Javier, Sophia, Ben, Vegas, White Mustang, Hotel Setup, Bullet Hole, Bargain, Fifty K, Love Confession Filled Stars!! This is one that will leave you craving MORE! In a great way! I highly recommend this book its a new Fav of mine!!

Purchase Through

✿ Barnes & Noble ✿ Books-A-Million ✿  IndieBound ✿ 

✿ Powell’s ✿ GooglePlay ✿ 

✿ iTunes ✿ Amazon ✿

Excerpt

An hour later, Camden was drunk, attempting to make a fire, and we had finally settled on a name. He had wanted to do a nod to some of his Irish ancestry on his late mother’s side, so his new persona was called Connor Malloy. It wasn’t too similar to Camden McQueen, but because of the pacing, the words rolled off the tongue the same way. To tell the truth, he kind of looked like a Connor.

Though he’d always be Camden to me.

“Come sit with me,” he said. He had gotten the fire going and was sitting cross-legged on a Mexican blanket in front of it. The very same place we’d shared some wine and, uh, certain parts of each other. It felt like ages ago. It was amazing how fast everything had changed, even our names.

I hesitated. He was drunk, which was fine. I mean, I’d seen him drunk before. But things were so different and so unpredictable, I wasn’t sure who I was going to get. Camden? Connor? Caithness? Today had been the first time we’d been together in a few days, and while things were going smoothly at the moment, I didn’t want to push my luck.

“Please,” he said, patting the ground beside him.

Feeling he probably wouldn’t ask nicely next time, I got up and sat down beside him. The fire wasn’t too hot since it was a Duraflame log, but it was pleasantly warm and toasty. I brought my knees up to my chest and watched the flames dance.

“So when do I start becoming Connor Malloy?” he asked in a dull voice.

I turned my head to look at him. The flames reflected in his glasses, making it hard for me to see his eyes.

“When we run,” I said.

“Do you ever get tired of running?”

I managed a weak smile. “Why do you think I came here?”

“I thought you came here to screw me over,” he said. It was so emotionless and he watched the fire as if hypnotized.

“I didn’t come here to screw you over, Camden.”

“Please, call me Connor.”

“Seriously, Camden, listen to me. I know you don’t believe me or trust me but…you have to know, you weren’t why I came here.”

“No? Then I’m a bit disappointed,” he said sadly.

“I didn’t think I’d know anyone here. That’s why I came back. I figured everyone was either too old to remember me or had moved on. No one stays in the town they were raised in unless they have a reason. I thought I could just start over. I thought my uncle could help me. Or at least try. But he didn’t want me.”

“You could have gotten a job like everyone else. A real job.”

“I tried—“

“You didn’t try.” His eyes snapped to mine, taking me by surprise. “You wanted the easy way out. Don’t you know by now that there is no easy way out?”

His tone put me on edge. I tried to placate him with kind eyes. “I’m getting out now,

aren’t I? We both are.”

A savage smile slowly spread across his lips. “But you think this is easy. Don’t you? You’re relieved that all you have to do is help me with something you’re good at. Somehow, in the end, you’ll walk away. Maybe not any richer, but you’ll walk away. And you’ll feel great about how much you helped Camden McQueen or Connor Malloy or whatever my name will be. You’ll walk away feeling like a winner. That’s not fair, Ellie. You don’t deserve to feel that way.”

I couldn’t figure out what to say because what he was saying was the truth. He removed his glasses and put them on the ground beside him. His eyes, heavy lidded with drink, drifted to my mouth. I gulped nervously, not liking the tension that was jagging between us.

“How do you think I should feel?” I asked thickly. My nerves were on fire. Everything was on fire.

“Like this,” he said. Slowly, he leaned over and kissed me. His lips were soft and tasted like bourbon. I couldn’t kiss him back if I wanted to; I couldn’t do anything but freeze. He pulled back a little, his eyes inches away. I could see my frightened reflection in the black hole of his pupil. “See? You’re afraid.”

“You want to scare me?” I whispered.

He kept his lips an inch from mine. His fingers smoothed the hair off my face, tucking it behind my ear.

“Yes,” he murmured. His lips brushed mine as he spoke. My breath hitched as his other hand slid the strap of my tank top and bra off my shoulder. I shivered from his touch, from his eyes, from whatever was buried in his heart and eating him alive.

“Camden,” I warned, my voice shaking.

He placed his lips on my shoulder and started kissing down my arm. He was right. I was scared. I was so, so afraid. Yet a terrible part of me wanted him to continue. I was turned on and frightened, ready to run, ready to fight, ready to grab him and kiss him, devour every part of him. I didn’t know what was going on, but I was stuck in a cage with something that might or might not harm me, that might give me everything and leave me with nothing.

His lips came back up my arm and across my collarbone. Slowly. Very slowly. The slowest, softest kisses I’d ever felt. Then his mouth edged down my chest. I was sure he could feel my heart underneath, pounding wildly. With his hand, he pulled down my top and bra and exposed my right breast. My nipple was already hard and now puckered in anticipation. His lips circled it, then his warm tongue lashed it gently, teasing, tempting. He let out a small sigh then tugged at my nipple ring with his teeth. The pleasure traveled along my nerves like lightning strikes.

I couldn’t swallow. I felt like I was drowning under his touch. “Camden, please…”

Please stop, I was thinking. This isn’t right. It feels right and it feels wrong but it isn’t right. There’s a

motive and it isn’t lust. It isn’t lust. It’s revenge.

Revenge never felt so good.

He nipped at me, and my back arched. A low moan escaped my lips. I wanted him. I wanted the person that didn’t exist. I wanted the wrong thing.

About the Author

The daughter of a Norwegian Viking and a Finnish Moomin, Karina Halle grew up in Vancouver, Canada with trolls and eternal darkness on the brain. This soon turned into a love of all things that go bump in the night and a rather sadistic appreciation for freaking people out. Like many of the flawed characters she writes, Karina never knew where to find herself and has dabbled in acting, make-up artistry, film production, screenwriting, photography, travel writing and music journalism. She eventually found herself in the pages of the very novels she wrote (if only she had looked there to begin with). She’s hard at work on her next novel.

Karina’s social media

✿ Facebook ✿ Website ✿ Twitter ✿