{Review} Unmaking Marchant by Ella James

Unmaking Marchant
by Ella James
Series: Love Inc. (#3)
Source: Provided by Author
Available as of February 12, 2014
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Marchant Radcliffe, owner of the exclusive Love Inc. brothel, is no stranger to darkness. He lost his parents in a plane crash and since college has harbored a secret almost too terrible to bear. He keeps his head above water by pouring his energy into his business—and he’s thrived, despite the dark blot on his soul.

Then, after ten years of good fortune, Marchant’s skeletons start to peek out of the closet, tossing him down a trail of ruin that begins with arson and could end with murder. Because he’s kept his struggles private, he has no one to pull him back from the brink.

After a breakup with her longtime fiancé, Suri Dalton, daughter of one of Silicon Valley’s tech tycoons, has nowhere to go except her BFF’s new penthouse in Las Vegas. The last thing Suri is looking for is a man, but after drowning her woes in wine on the flight over, she stumbles into a torrid make out session with a beautiful stranger—who just so happens to be Marchant Radcliffe, playboy and literal pimp.

Despite an immediate attraction, Suri writes Marchant off as exactly the sort of guy she should avoid. Until Love Inc. goes up in flames, Marchant winds up at the bottom of a swimming pool, and Suri is the only one around to pull him out.

What happens when what you see isn’t what you get? What do you do when destiny is too alluring to resist and too dangerous to survive?

Overall Rating

Review

I read Selling Scarlett as soon as it was released and when I heard about Taming Cross, I jumped on it. Unmaking Marchant was no different. When Ella James sent me my review copy on release day I was beyond ecstatic. When I found out that I had a snow day the following day, I hunkered down and read to my hearts content.

Like Selling Scarlett and Taming Cross, Unmaking Marchant followed two other characters around, Marchant and Suri. If you've read Taming Cross, you'll remember a fire... well, Unmaking Marchant picks up just before the fire takes place. We get a nice look into Marchant's life and get answers to questions we didn't even know we had. I enjoyed his and Suri's beginning, but I don't think any story in this series will be as good as Selling Scarlett. This one ends on a cliffhanger. If one sentence was removed, it wouldn't, but needless to say I'm dying for the next book.

Overall, it was definitely a good read. I usually check my progress (percentage wise) while I read, but with this story I went from 47% to 95% and didn't even know it. So, I got lost in it. If you want an book that will make you fall in love with Marchant, if you weren't already, pick this up. If you haven't started the series yet, I highly recommend it. 

{Review, Interview & Giveaway} Tell Me When by Stina Lindenblatt

Tell Me When
by Stina Lindenblatt
Source: Provided by Publisher
Available as of January 20, 2014
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Amber Scott should be enjoying life as a college freshman. She should be pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She should be working hard to make sense of her precalculus math class.

She shouldn’t be waking up her college roommate with screaming nightmares. She shouldn’t be flashing back, reliving the three weeks of hell she barely survived last year. And she definitely shouldn’t be spending time with sexy player Marcus Reid.

But engineering student Marcus is the only one keeping Amber from failing her math course, so she grudgingly lets him into her life. She never expects the king of hookups will share his painful past. Or that she’ll tell him her secrets in return, opening up and trusting him in a way she thought she’d never be able to again.

When their fragile future together is threatened by a stalker Amber thought was locked away for good, Marcus is determined to protect her. And Amber is determined to protect Marcus…even if that means pushing him away.

Overall Rating

Review

When I received an email asking if I would like to review this book, I jumped at it. I wanted to know why this girl woke up screaming in the middle of the night and why she had the nightmares. The idea of this story intrigued me and I had to read it. Stina Lindenblatt did a wonderful job hooking me from page one.

The two main characters, Amber and Marcus, are social opposites. Amber is a shadow of herself and isn't easily trusting of anyone. While Marcus had a rough childhood and has turned into a womanizer because of what he went though. Anyone could see how Amber's trust in Marcus would be nonexistent, yet they become close in the time they spend together.

The story itself was fantastic. I didn't expect some of the things that occurred, but I also guessed a lot of the gory details. I loved that we got to see everything from not just Amber's side, but Marcus's as well because they both have wounds that are trying to heal and to understand why one of them does something is heavily dependent on where their mind is at. This story wouldn't be nearly the same if we only got to see it from one side. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, specifically Amber's roommate. She was such an annoying little she-demon, but we find out why towards the end.

There are two things that I can think of off the top of my head that bothered me with this book. First, Marcus gives Amber a nickname... Kitten. Being the huge booknerd that I am, I recognize this nickname from The Perfect Game by J. Sterling. I don't want to say that other books can't use or incorporate the same nicknames that are used in other stories, but the first time I saw "Kitten" while reading I automatically thought of Jack and Cassie. Second, after reading, I never really understood why the story was titled "Tell Me When." Normally you get the sense of why books are titled how they are while reading, but I still haven't figured it out.

Overall, Tell Me When was a quick read that kept me interested. My two little qualms are just personal issues that have nothing much to do with the stories content; therefore, it shouldn't deter someone from picking this book up. If you want to read a NA story that will keep you coming back for more, you've found it.

Interview
With Stina Lindenblatt

Pet Peeves? Everyone has them. Could you tell us about a few of yours?

When it comes to books, it drives me nuts when authors end the story on a cliffhanger. I don’t mean the kind of cliffhanger found in Catching Fire. At least the story problem was resolved before the cliffhanger ending. It’s the ones where you wonder if the author forgot to include the final pages of the book that annoy me.

Other pet peeves include leaving kitchen cupboard doors open. I don’t know what it is about them, but I always manage to hit my head on the doors. It also frustrates me when crossing the street at a pedestrian crossing and cars don’t stop. I mean, do they really think they’ll get to work quicker by hitting a pedestrian?

If you could choose to have any superpower, what would you want and why?

My superpower would be anything that would make cleaning my house super quick and super easy. But not only that. The house would be sparkly clean once I’m finished. Like most writers, I never seem to have enough time to clean the house. Deadlines come first. And what can I say? Running helps me when I’m stuck with a plot point. Cleaning toilets doesn’t have the same effect, though I wish it did.

If we were to take a look at your nightstand, what book would we find?

At this moment, I’m reading Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. I’m like a Jodi Picoult virgin. Normally you’ll find a New Adult or edgy YA novel on my nightstand.

When you aren't writing what do you enjoy doing?

I love photography, especially the close-up variety, and I love to read. My newest hobby is checking out Pinterest. I mean, where else can you go and find hot guys, steamy romance, and cuddly kittens? It’s like a tiny patch of heaven all on the computer.

Name 3 things you always have with you when you are writing.

• Diet Dr. Pepper. I don’t drink coffee so this is my caffeine fix.

• My computer. Sometimes I use my PC and sometimes my MacBook Air. It depends what I’m doing.
• Scrivener. It’s an amazing software for writers that I can’t survive without.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, can you name a few songs that were playing or inspired you while writing Tell Me When?

I wish I could listen to music while I write. Unfortunately I’m easily distracted. If I play songs, I only end up singing (badly) along with them.

Can you describe Tell Me When in 10 words or less?

It’s a sexy story about finding hope, forgiveness, and love.

Where did you get the idea for this book?

I remembered something I once read about stalking. College students are at the highest risk of being stalked than any other population (if you exclude celebrities and the paparazzi who stalk them). While in university, I had to deal with a stalker. Fortunately the outcome wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I researched the topic and decided to write about the life of the victim after the stalker is caught.

Are any of the characters based off of people you know?

There’s a bit of me in both Amber and Marcus, but probably more so with Marcus. He uses sex to deal with his emotional pain, much like I did in university. Other than that, unless it was subconscious, I didn’t base my characters off anyone I know.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

If you ever suspect you’re being stalked, take it seriously. Stalking can be emotionally traumatic and might end up becoming deadly for yourself or a loved one. If you’re in an abusive relationship, the abuser might add stalking to his list of faults and that too might lead to deadly consequences. Get help! Don’t become a statistic.

Giveaway

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{Review} Selling Scarlett & Taming Cross by Ella James

Selling Scarlett
by Ella James
Series: Love Inc.
Publisher: Barkley's Books
Pages: 336
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Available on: April 13, 2013
Read: September 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this - one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago.

Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail.

When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it.

Follow Elizabeth - code-named Scarlett - to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.

I completely and utterly adored this story. While it took a few days to read due to life's distractions, I did have a hard time putting it down once I picked it up. I loved both Elizabeth and Hunter and didn't find their age difference or backgrounds troubling to their pull to one another. Their trials and tribulations made me love each of them more. Elizabeth, while young and educated, had this need to get rid of her v-card and her reasons made her way of going about it somewhat, although slightly troubling, understandable. Hunter, on the other hand, is really a giant mystery throughout the story which I enjoyed because I had to question his motives along the way. Selling Scarlett was and entertaining and captivating read told from two points of view that kept me up late. If you are a fan of more adult themed books, like Crossfire by Sylvia Day or Wallbanger by Alice Clayton, you'll be sure to get a kick out of this one. 

Taming Cross
by Ella James
Series: Love Inc.
Publisher: Barkley's Books
Pages: 336
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Available on: August 19, 2013
Read: September 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

For twenty-three years, Cross Carlson was a playboy. You know the type. Tall, dark, and wealthy. Blue-eyed. Charming. He seemed to have it all so easy. But Cross was harboring a terrible secret - one that helped ruin the life of an innocent girl and almost ended his own.

Finally out of the hospital, Cross is flailing, scarred in both body and mind and stifled by the weight of the secret he still keeps. The only way to absolution lies in a Mexican convent, and going there could cost him everything.

If there's anyone who knows what it's like to screw up big time, it's Meredith Kinsey. Just a few years ago, Merri was an ordinary girl with a job at her college newspaper and white picket fence kind of dreams. Now she's holed up in a Mexican convent, hiding from a drug lord who thinks he owns her.

What happens when the only way out of hell is with the son of the man who put you there? They say love conquers all, but does it really?

I loved Selling Scarlett and my expectations were extremely high going into Taming Cross. While I enjoyed it all the same, it was definitely different. While Selling Scarlett was more focused on sex and Elizabeth's infatuation with Hunter, Taming Cross was more of a "lets get to know you" type of story. We see Cross through his recovery and watch him learn to deal with his new impairment on an extremely risky journey. This story is action packed and very hard to put down. I highly recommend this series and cannot wait for book three in November!

Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone's parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella's books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon's Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To find out more about Ella's projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.

{Review & Giveaway} Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards

Six Months Later
by Natalie D. Richards
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 336
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller
Available on: October 1, 2013
Read: September 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Chloe didn't think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life. Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her.

What happened to her?
And why can't she remember?

In the past few months I've, for the most part, stopped reading young adult fiction. Before that, I was never one to really pick up a thriller/mystery. They just didn't appeal to me. However, after reading the synopsis for Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards I realized that this book needed to be picked up because who loses a whole SIX MONTHS of their life...unless of course they were in a really bad accident and are sitting in the hospital. 

Once I started reading Six Months Later, I found myself engrossed in the story and had an extremely hard time putting it down. Unlike most books I've read, I couldn't put my finger on exactly how it would end until I was about 75% of the way through. I also found myself at war with who I thought was the good guy and the bad guy. At one point I thought everyone played some role in making sure Chloe forgot. 

The more I read and the more information I gathered, the more I started thinking about everything I'd already learned and started putting the pieces together. This is rare for me. I love that I was completely into this book and thinking about what each and every comment or item meant. I love that I questioned motives and was dying to find out how it would end. As soon as I finished I emailed Natalie and asked one question that I'm sure a lot of people are going to want to know...and no, I'm not going to tell you. You'll have to read to find out.

I don't want to get into too much detail about the characters because I think that would start to give away some pertinent information. All I will say about them is this.... They were each well thought out played an integral role in Chloe's life. Chloe herself was a girl on a mission and I loved her because, in the end, she made a decision that most wouldn't. She showed that she had integrity and she didn't want to compromise it. 

Overall, Six Months Later captured me from page one and kept me engrossed to the very end. Being that I'm not a big thriller/mystery or even much of a young adult fan anymore should say a lot. If you do enjoy thrillers/mysteries, then you'll probably enjoy it just as much, if not more than I did. I highly recommend taking a stab at Six Months Later because I'm sure it will be just as captivating for you as it was for me.

Question of the Day!

If you woke up and realized you were missing six months of time, would you want to find out all the details of what happened, or would you rather live not knowing?

Things to note about this giveaway...

1) There will be ONE winner.

2) You must be 13 or older to enter.

3) Each day there will be an available Question of the Day (#QOD) in each participating blog. Answer the questions on each blog for additional points. You can find a full listing of participating blogs here.

4) The winner of this giveaway will NOT be drawn by rafflecopter luck. The winner will be the person who has participated the MOST. If there happens to be a tie, then rafflecopter will determine a winner.

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Natalie D. Richards won her first writing competition in the second grade with her short story about Barbara Frances Bizzlefishes (who wouldn't dare do the dishes.) She later misplaced her writing dreams in a maze of cubicles and general office drudgery. Natalie never forgot about Barbara or those dishes, and eventually she found her way back to storytelling, following the genre of her heart, teen fiction. When she's not writing or shopping her manuscripts, you can probably find her wading through the towers of dog-eared paperbacks that have taken over her bedroom. Natalie lives in Ohio with her amazing husband and their three children, who inspire her every day to stick with her dreams.

You can find Addison...

Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

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{Review & Giveaway} Losing Virginity by Ava Michaels

Losing Virginity
by Ava Michaels
Pages: 348
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Available as of September 19, 2013
Read: September 2013
Amazon

WARNING: THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY ONLY FOR AGES 18 OR OLDER. OLIVIA HAS CRAZY THOUGHTS. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY INAPPROPRIATE THOUGHTS I RECOMMEND YOU DON'T READ THIS. IF YOU HAVE VIRGIN EARS I RECOMMEND YOU DON'T READ THIS. IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR THEN READ THIS.

Olivia Spurgeon has been a good girl her entire life. Her friends have called her Spurgeon the Virgin since 9th grade. Why? Because everyone in her group of friends had already lost there virginity by then. Over the past four years it has been like a foreign object attached to her and even named it something simple.

Virginity.

Now, she's a freshman in college and still hasn't done the deed. All three of her roommates do not have Virginity attached to them and they aren't scared to show it off. Olivia is jealous. She wants what they are having, feeling. One day she finally decides that she doesn't want Virginity attached to her anymore and begins the journey of losing it.

When Ava Michaels contacted me about her debut, I couldn't say no because I'm in love with New Adult books and reading about people more my age. It didn't hurt that Losing Virginity sounded like it would be one funny ride.

I must say that this book had me hooked before I even got 3% in. It didn't take long for Ava to have me laughing and turning pages like it was my job. The main character, Olivia, is this extremely innocent, never-done-a-thing-wrong kinda girl. At the ripe age of 18 she's dying to get rid of her virginity and have the experience that will make her a full-fledged woman. 

The further I read into this story, the harder it was to put down. It was extremely addicting and it helped that the main character was not only funny, but also had a good head on her shoulders. While Olivia's main goal was to lose her virginity, she wouldn't just lay down for anyone. This left me admiring Olivia because she didn't just pick the first guy to walk up to her. Unlike a number of college girls, she wanted to actually date the guy and get to know him first. 

As you may have seen above, this story come with a warning to those who are easily offended. While I'm not easy to offend or embarrass, I frequently found myself blushing at some of the thoughts and comments that came from Olivia and her friends. When I say blushing I mean full on, glad-I'm-not-in-public blushing. I was beat red with a dropped jaw. While the comments and thoughts were vivid and detailed, there were also times when I would die laughing and have to put the book down, reread, or share with friends. 

Overall, I highly recommend Losing Virginity to those over the age of 18 who aren't faint of heart. This book was hysterical and had me quoting lines because they were too good to not share. It is definitely worth the time to sit down and read and I look forward to any other books that Ava decides to write!

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{Review} Scarred Love by M.S. Brannon

Scarred Love
by M.S. Brannon
Pages: 416
Source: Provided by Author via Reading Addiction Blog Tours
Available as of June 6, 2013
Read: July 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Darcie Claiborne spent several years of her young life living with a monster, always fearing what he would do next. Clasping onto her last ounce of hope, Darcie releases a scream. It’s her final attempt to live; to survive the villain of her reality. Sweeping her up in his arms, Darcie’s knight in shining armor rescues her from the hell she’s been living; from the stepfather she's feared for all those years.

Reggie Evans has been forced to grow up before he’s ready when his mother dies of an overdose, leaving him responsible to raise his younger brothers. One fateful night, Reggie jogs by an old, run down house and discovers a young girl clinging to life as she screams for help.

Three years later, Darcie is healing and always protected by the man who saved her, but now she's fighting with something she isn't prepared to face. The growing love for the man who saved her life three years ago, the same man who’s nine years older. All the while, Reggie fights to protect Darcie from the demons of her past and new ones of her present.

**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content**

M.S. Brannon has a way with words that will keep you enticed regardless of if you can guess how her story ends. It was dark, exciting, and captivating. A read you won't want to miss out on.

Darcie comes from a dark, tainted past. Rescued by Reggie, her life begins to brighten, but will she ever be able to move past the abuse, the darkness?

I loved each of the Evans brothers. In some way, they each held a special light in Darcies life. To say that Darcie was a rambunctious, foul mouthed devil would be an understatement. She was spunky and fearless.

The only reason this book isn't 5 hearts for me is because not 25% through, I could tell you exactly what was going to happen in the end. I kept reading because there were a few questions I wanted answered about Reggie's past and to see if my prediction was correct...it was. I loved that we have parts from Darcie's past, and some scenes from Reggie's point of view. 

Overall, Scarred Love was a fun, exciting, and captivating read that kept me hooked regardless of my assumption on how it would end. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good romance and a girl with a dark past. 

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising*

{Review & Giveaway} 3 Sides to a Circle by Jolene Perry & Janna Watts

3 Sides to a Circle
by Jolene Perry & Janna Watts
Pages: 205
Source: e-book provided by author via YA Bound for review
Available as of February 25, 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Love is the ultimate rush.

Freshman year of college isn't easy. But with a friend like Libby Patterson, it is unforgettable.

Libby is honest and fearless and adorable. She's the girl on campus that everyone knows. The life of every party. Infectious and addictive, Libby captivates all those around her. Particularly her roommate Honor and their boy bestie Toby.

But three isn't always a magic number. And there's more to this trio than what everyone sees.

When Honor finds herself falling for an artist, and Libby doesn’t approve, and Toby finds himself watching Libby more than he should...the sides of their circle become strained.

The three are suddenly stretched between friendship, love and taking sides. They must fight to hold on to each other. But the tighter the hold, the harder it gets. Especially when Libby's unpredictability turns dangerous. Now it's up to Honor and Toby to save her from the downward spiral that could break their circle for good.

Funny and adorable are two words that I would use to describe 3 Sides to a Circle. The content was unexpected, but the characters were so easy to fall in love with.

A new home where nobody knows her and what she does is all Honor wanted. She didn't ask for the crazy roommate who happens to know just about everyone on campus and she certainly didn't ask to fall in love or to have two amazing best friends. What will it take for Honor to figure our her place in the world?

The character in this unforgettable story each had their own quirks. Libby was this eccentric ball of excitement that bounced off the walls. Honor was a quite, shy girl who was unsure of her beauty, future and her place in front of the camera. Toby was a riot when reading from his point of view. He got these ideas of what it would be like to be with Libby or Honor, even both, that would cause him to make a situation awkward.

I really enjoyed this book because of the dynamic between Libby, Honor, and Toby. It was interesting to say the least. I love that we got to see it from both Honor and Toby's points of view, but I would have been in heaven if Libby had a voice as well. The only thing about 3 Sides to a Circle that really bothered me was the scene/location changes. They weren't well defined, but I wasn't reading from a finished copy.

Overall, 3 Sides to a Circle was a fun read that kept me on my toes begging for more. If you want to read a fun New Adult book that blurs the lines of friendship, pick this up. I promise you won't regret it!!

Jolene wears juvenile T-shirts, worn-out Chucks, and eats too much chocolate. She makes up words, drinks Shirley Temples, and suffocates a little without her iPod.

You can find Jolene...

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Janna wears juvenile pajama pants, worn-out Chucks, and wakes up ridiculously early. Pen name abuser. Rule Breaker. Trouble maker. Corrupter of youth. In books.

You can find Janna...

Twitter | Goodreads

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To follow the rest of the tour click here. 

FTC Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.  

{Review} Desert Flower by Angela Scott

Desert Flower
by Angela Scott
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Source:  e-book courtesy of Reading Addiction Blog Tours
Available as of January 24, 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bodies have a canny way of finding Samantha Jean Haggert. The first, the dead body of her mama. The second, a naked man in the middle of the Arizona desert. For Sam, dealing with one dead body in her lifetime is more than unfair. Two, is downright cruel.

Seven years after running from West Virginia, Sam's now a young woman of nineteen, trying to put the pieces of her life together with the help of her family—Jacob, Boone, and Laura. But the naked man in the desert spirals her world out of control, resurfacing past hurts, revealing old secrets, and pitting her between two men who via for her heart. Carson, her friend, her first kiss, and the one man who knows everything about her past and loves her despite it. And Turner, the stranger who knows nothing, but who excites and frustrates her all at once.

When bad choices made as a child leads to more bad choices as a young adult, Sam finds herself at a crossroads and is forced to face her demons head on if she plans to have any future at all—with Carson, with Turner, or with anyone. But fixing the wrongs of the past takes time, and learning to forgive herself is damn near impossible.

Other Books in this Series

Desert Rice

I read Desert Rice back in September and adored the heartbreaking story of a young girl running from her past. As soon as I got the invite for this tour I immediately responded. Desert Flower takes the girls life one step further and, just like with Desert Rice, I couldn't put it down. 

Six years later Sam and Jacob are still living with Boone and Laura. Six years older and six years wiser Sam is going to college in hopes to become a veterinarian. She has a boy completely in love with her, but a wildcard has been thrown her way in the form of a naked guy in the desert.

This was an interesting read for me. Sam has lived through so much abuse and we see how it has affected her years later. There were times while reading when a scene would get to be too much and I would have to put the book down. I was constantly questioning Sam's motives and actions, while at the same time, wanting her to pull through in the end. For this book in particular, I really think the love triangle worked. It is not at all a traditional love triangle, but I was really pulling for one of the guys (no, mine didn't win...). At times the story was slow, but I feel like it made an impact on how some events were perceived and gave me time to process. 

Overall, Desert Flower was a perfect compliment to Desert Rice. I had ideas on how Sam's life would be after the first book, but this story took her life beyond what I thought it would be. If you read Desert Rice, this is a must read. If you haven't read Desert Rice, go pick it up!!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising*