Book Review : First Touch (First and Last, #1) by Laurelin Paige

First Touch

First and Last, #1
by Laurelin Paige

Release Date:
December 29th, 2015

Publisher:
St.Martin's Griffin

Source:
Publisher via NetGalley

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

When Emily Wayborn goes home to visit her mom while on hiatus from her hit TV show, she receives a voicemail from her former best friend, Amber. Though the two were once notorious party girls, they haven't spoken in years. Although the message might sound benign to anyone else, Amber uses a safe word that Emily recognizes, a word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild days. And what's more chilling than the voicemail: it turns out that Amber has gone missing. 

Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead her to the enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis, a hotelier known for his shady dealings and play boy reputation. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must seduce Reeve to learn his secrets and discover the whereabouts of her friend. But as she finds herself more entangled with him, she finds she's drawn to Reeve for more than just his connection to Amber, despite her growing fear that he may be the enemy. When she's forced to choose where her loyalty lies, how will she decide between saving Amber and saving her heart?

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

First and Last Series on Goodreads:

Review:

I decided to wrap-up my reading challenge of 2015 with First Touch by Laurelin Paige. This book has been appearing on my social media news feed for the last few weeks. The reviews have been fantastic and I could not wait to read my first Laurelin Paige book. I have heard many amazing things about her other books and I could not wait to experience an unforgettable reading escape.

Emily Wayborn is left speechless when she gets a message from her long lost friend. They have not talked to each other in years, and when Amber leaves their safe word in her message Emily knows that she's in trouble. It's a race against time to find out what happened to Amber. As days go by, Emily creates a plan that will bring her in the arms of dangerous Reeve Sallis. He might have the answers that she is looking for and she is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Amber disappearance.  Emily knows she is playing with fire, but she can't resist Reeve's scorching touch. How far is she willing to go to save her friend?

First Touch is the first installment of The First and Last Series. I really did not know what to expect since this was my first time reading a book by this author.  It was an intense, passionate, twisted and a page-turning reading escape!  I have to admit that it started out slow for me. I could not feel the chemistry between Emily and Reeve. Don't get me wrong their chemistry was extremely hot, but Reeve's hot and cold behaviour towards Emily got me so mad! It took me a while to connect with them, but when they started to open up about each other's past I could really feel the connection then.

This story played out like a movie in my head. I was trying to solve the mystery surrounding Amber's disappearance at the same time that Emily did. It was like a crazy game of Ping-Pong when it came to Reeve's involvement. Guilty, not guilty, guilty, not guilty ... I was going crazy trying to figure it out!! I was on the edge of my seat until the very end. That cliffhanger?!?! Gah!!!!! WTF!!!!!

I'm really happy I closed my reading challenge with this book. I can't wait to see what happens next! I want answers to my questions!!!!! lol!!! The next installment is going to be extremely intense. I can't wait to put all the pieces of this mysterious puzzle together!

Rating:

I give First Touch, by Laurelin Paige, 4 intriguing, intense, erotic, thrilling stars!

About the Author:

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.

Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Best of 2015

2015 was such an exciting year! 

We got the opportunity to discover new authors and fall in love with new characters! We can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for us!

Here are our top 10 Favorites of 2015!
(In no particular order)

Lindy

 

Mikki

Ro

 

 

Ria

So Everyone did 10 but I'm a picky McPickerson so I've only got 5 :/

Blog Tour: Built (Saints of Denver #1) by Jay Crownover

Built
Saints of Denver #1

By:
Jay Crownover

Release Date:
January 5, 2016

Publisher:
William Morrow PB 

Add to
Goodreads

GR's Summary:

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes an electrifying new spin-off series, Saints of Denver, featuring all the characters fans have been dying to read about. 

Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk, he’s all denim and flannel. 

Zeb’s wanted the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her. It doesn't matter how many smooth moves he makes, the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest—either that or she doesn't return it. Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior. 

But just as things start to heat up, Zeb is blindsided by a life altering moment from his past. He needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. He can’t risk what’s at stake just because his attraction to Sayer feels all consuming. But as these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, battling together to save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide can no longer be ignored. 

Saints of Denver:

My Review of Leveled Here

*Add the Series to Goodreads Here

My Thoughts:

I am loving the Saints of Denver Series!  Ms. Crownover is giving her readers the stories of minor secondary characters from the Marked Series.  In Leveled, we got Orlando Frederick and Dominic Voss' story, which was wonderful.  Now, in Built, we get Zeb Fuller and Sayer Cole's story!  I have been waiting for these two to get a story, ever since we got to see the spark between them in Rowdy's story. 

Sayer Cole is a beautiful and intelligent woman.  She is loyal, helps those in need, and is passionate about her career as a lawyer.  Sayer projects an aura of flawless perfection.  She is numb, and uses an "ice queen" persona to protect herself from getting too close to others.  Sayer suffered many years of emotional abuse at the hands of her father.  He criticized and degraded her, which has left deep and hindering emotional scars.  As a result, Sayer views herself in a negative light.  She doesn't see herself as worthy of love or even understand what anyone could ever see in her.

From the moment Zeb met Sayer, he thought she was a beautiful woman.  However, as he has gotten to know her on a deeper level, he recognizes what a special lady she is.  Unfortunately, no matter how hard Zeb tries, Sayer will not lower her walls enough to let him in.  When Zeb need's Sayer's professional help, the lines between client, friend, and lover get blurred.  Zeb is a patient man, and willing to do whatever it takes to call Sayer his.  Will she eventually take a chance on love by allowing herself to be vulnerable?

Built was such an amazing read.  I loved watching Sayer's transformation in this story.  She became more "human," passionate, and endearing, as Zeb's presence in her life changed her for the better.  I cannot even express how much I loved Zeb's character.  He was so caring, attentive, sensitive, and devoted to those he loved.  He was a "gentle giant."  I pictured a man who was huge, sexy, and intimidating to look at.  He protected what he considered his, but at the same time was so gentle and tender with those that needed his care.

The passion between Zeb and Sayer was intoxicating.  These two were so sensual, erotic, and carnal together.  Yet, they also had that intimate and intense emotional connection as well.  

My Rating:

I give, Built, by Jay Crownover, 4.5 Sweet and Sexy Gentle Giant, Devoted, Patient, Transformative, and Blossoming Love!  I am really excited to continue this series, and am looking forward to the next book, Hooked!  This will be Quaid (who is introduced in Built,) and Avett's (from the Marked Series) story!  Ms. Crowover gave us a great little snippet of these two, and let me tell you, she sure knows how to build anticipation!

Casting by the Author:

"Zeb"

Book Teaser:

Book Excerpt:

As though my intense and swirling thoughts had pulled Zeb into the vortex of self-pity I was struggling in, my phone vibrated in my hand with a message from him as I wandered aimlessly through the empty rooms. 

     I shivered at the sight of his name and then silently scolded myself for having such a powerful reaction to only his name on the screen. His message was simple but for some reason it felt full of more meaning and emotion than the three words staring up at me indicated. 

     Can you talk? 

     I bit my lip and decided how to answer. I didn’t talk to my clients after office hours were done for the day and I was already having a really hard time keeping the professional and personal lines clear where he and this case were concerned. I sighed and tapped out:

     I can. Do you want me to call you? 

     I had started this process as his friend first and it wasn’t fair to him that my heart was pulling itself apart because of his situation. He was probably nervous and scared about what was coming next week, and I was the only one who could put some of that at ease. 

     There wasn’t a response for a long couple of minutes and I hated that all I could do was stare at my phone and pace back and forth while I waited to see what he was going to say. I was acting like a teenager and it was ridiculous. I snorted at myself and was headed into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine when the phone rang and made me jump. I wasn’t prepared for him to call me right that moment and had a bout of anxiety about answering the call before I told myself to man up and swiped my finger across the screen. 

     “Hey. Everything all right?” I heard a car honk its horn wherever he was calling from, and he mumbled something that wasn’t directed at me before answering.

     “Fuck no.”

Preorder At:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks
 Kobo | HarperCollins

About Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men and The Point series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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