Tumble (Dogwood Lane #1) by Adriana Locke

Tumble (Dogwood Lane #1) by Adriana Locke

Kindle Edition, 279 pages

Expected publication: February 26th 2019 by Montlake Romance

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Blurb:

After being burned by her dream job in New York City, sports journalist Neely Kimber suddenly finds herself jobless and paying a long-overdue visit to her hometown in Tennessee. Her plan? Relax, reset, and head back up the corporate ladder. There’s just one unexpected step. Neely’s back in Dogwood Lane for barely a day when she sees the man she ran from nine years ago: the bad boy next door who was her first kiss, her first love, and her first heartbreak.

Devoted single dad Dane Madden knows he hurt Neely in the worst way. He’s got a lot to make up for. And as passionate as their reconnection is, it’s a lot to hope for. Having her back in his arms feels so right. But falling in love all over again with a woman who wants to live a world away is bound to go so wrong.

What’s it going to take for Neely to give him—and Dogwood Lane—just one more chance?

Review in Portuguese and English:

2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!

Eu gosto muito da escrita da autora e acompanho o trabalho dela desde os primeiros livros dela.

Esta é uma história de segunda chance e reencontro.

Neely volta para a sua cidade natal, Dogwood Lane, após 10 anos de ausência. 

Ela não tinha planos de voltar, mas uma mudança em suas metas profissionais a faz tomar esta decisão.

De volta pra casa ela tem que reencontrar Dane, seu grande amor e sua grande decepção amorosa.

Ambos se amavam e tinham uma vida inteira planejada, mas Dane acaba o relacionamento e a trai com a melhor amiga dela e o que é pior, a engravida. 

Traição total em minha opinião, porque ele poderia ter sexo com qualquer outra, mas escolheu a melhor amiga dela para isso.

Lembrei de Ross e Rachel no seriado Friends e a desculpa de que estavam separados.

O fruto desta traição é Mia, uma garotinha carismática e também carente de amor maternal.

Nosso herói tentou fazer dar certo a união dele com a mãe de Mia, Kate, mas foi abandonado com um bebê para criar. 

Ele teve outro relacionamento sério com Sara, inclusive moraram juntos, e pensou que ela seria a parceira dele para criar a filha. Mas Sara não estava preparada para criar a filha de outra mulher e o deixou também. Então temos um herói receoso e tentando proteger os sentimentos da filha dele. Mia ficou devastada quando foi abandonada por Sara.

Nossa heroína teve relacionamentos casuais, mas nada sério. Ele sempre foi o grande amor dela e por isso focou mais na carreira e deixou a vida pessoal de lado.

Quando nossa heroína demonstrou toda a sua raiva e frustração com a traição dele e falou palavras duras para Dane, confesso que gostei dela. Pensei que teríamos uma heroína forte e que o faria trabalhar duro pelo perdão dela.

Mas não foi o que aconteceu. Penso que o reencontro deles foi rápido demais e ela ainda se sentiu culpada por estar brava com ele e acaba se desculpando. Não gostei disso, porque foi ele que agiu errado e ele que tinha que rastejar mais. 

A partir dali a história foi ladeira abaixo para mim. Ela se mostrou fraca!

Ela está em uma encruzilhada profissionalmente e sente que algo está faltando na vida dela. Este reencontro a faz questionar o que ela realmente deseja para o resto da vida dela. 

Será que a vida profissional é mais importante que a pessoal? 

Vale a pena arriscar novamente e ser ferida? 

Todas estas questões a fazem se sentir vulnerável e incerta. 

Mas ela nunca encontrou outro amor igual ao que sente por ele e isto mexe com ela.

Dane é pintado como um ser perfeito que quebrou o coração dela e cometeu aquela grande traição em nome de boas intenções. 

Veja bem, o inferno está cheio de bem intencionados. 

Eu não perdoaria tão facilmente! Mas sou uma pessoa que guarda rancor e cínica.

Mas se está bom para nossa heroína eu tenho que me conformar e aceitar, mas realmente não entendo heroínas tão bondosas e misericordiosas.

Nosso herói ficou com a garota e ainda de bônus uma mãe para a filha dele.

No mais uma leitura ok e que não ficará na memória.

------------------------------------------

I really like the author's writing and I follow her work from her early books.

This is a story of second chance and reunion.

Neely returns to her hometown, Dogwood Lane, after 10 years of absence.

She had no plans to return, but a change in her career goals makes her make this decision.

Back home she has to see Dane, her great love and her great heartbreak.

They both loved each other and had a life in common already planned, but Dane ends the relationship and cheats with her best friend and worst, he gets her pregnant.

Total betrayal in my opinion, because he could have sex with any other, but chose her best friend for it.

I remembered Ross and Rachel on the Friends show and the excuse that they were on a break. 

The fruit of this betrayal is Mia, a charismatic little girl and also much in need of maternal love.

Our hero tried to make it work with Mia's mother, Kate, but was abandoned by her with a baby to raise.

He had another serious relationship with Sara, even lived together, and thought she would be his partner to raise his daughter. But Sara was not ready to raise another woman's daughter and left him too. So we have a worried hero trying to protect his daughter's feelings. Mia was devastated when she was abandoned by Sara.

Our heroine had casual relationships, but nothing serious. Dane has always been her great love and so she has focused more on her career and left personal life aside.

When our heroine demonstrated all her anger and frustration at his betrayal and said harsh words to Dane, I confess that I liked her. I thought we would have a strong heroine and that would make him work hard for her forgiveness.

But that's not what happened. I think their reunion was too fast and she still felt guilty for being angry with him and ends up apologizing. I did not like that, because he was the one who acted wrong and he had to grovel a lot more.

From this point the story went downhill for me. She was weak!

She is at a crossroads professionally and feels that something is missing in her life. This reunion makes her question what she really wants for the rest of her life.

Is professional life more important than personal?

Is it worth risking again and being hurt?

All these issues make her feel vulnerable and uncertain.

But she never found another love that matched her feelings for him and this messes with her.

Dane is painted like a perfect guy, even though he was the one who broke her heart and committed that great betrayal in the name of good intentions.

You see, hell is full of well-meaning people.

I would not forgive so easily! But I'm a bitch who holds a grudge and a cynic.

But if it is good for our heroine I have to conform and accept, but I do not really understand such good and forgiven heroines.

Our hero won the girl and still as a bonus a mother to his daughter.

In the end it was an ok reading and it will not stay in memory.

Highlights

“Why are you negotiating with a dog?”

“You know what they say—sunshine brings opportunities.”

My thighs clench together as I consider what Dane could do to me now. With that body. With those lips. With that damn smirk.

“She’s just a girl from my past. I ran into her. People run into their exes all the time.”

I broke her heart. I broke her heart in the worst way I could, and the fact she didn’t tell me to fuck right off is more than I really deserve. It’s more than I would’ve given me.

“You always were a gambler.” He winks. “Were a gambler. Were. Past tense. Trust me,” I say. “Gambling is for the young and dumb, and I am not either anymore.”

“I have to stop putting all my hopes on the line without some safety net. It’s too big of a gamble. I’ve fallen too hard, too many times.”

A part of me will never forgive him for what he did. I may have found the pieces of my broken heart, but they’ll never fit together the way they did before that Saturday morning when he destroyed it.

“There’s nothing sexy about a grown man being called daddy—sugar or not.”

“You know I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

"I bet you were thinking that while you screwed Katie. I bet you were thinking, ‘Boy, I hope this doesn’t hurt Neely.’”

“You didn’t mean to have a baby with my best friend while we were on a break.” 

You’ll be here playing house or whatever it is you do with Katie and your kid.

“Probably not. You probably ruined our relationship for a one-night stand, didn’t you? Good work.”

“Everything happens for a reason, huh?” I ask. “I don’t know what caused you to sleep with Katie, but that’s your problem. I won in the end.” His eyes darken.

Dane as a father. Dane as Mia’s father.

Then when Sara moved in after our dating for a year, a woman I really liked and saw a potential future with, Mia latched on to her like a leech. And when six months went by and she left us, too, saying she wasn’t prepared to raise someone else’s child, Mia was broken.

Right or wrong, I broke up with her. I gave her hope we’d work some kind of long-distance thing out. I slept with Katie. I had a kid.

I’ve been with a few women since Sara, but those relationships have been a hookup here and there.

“You’re what I want Mia to be.”

 

Review: The Accidentals

The Accidentals by Sarina Bowen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do not usually read YA, but I was positively surprised and could not stop reading. 
The story involved me completely and I liked it a lot.
The heroine's father only appears when the heroine's mother dies of cancer. He was never interested in meeting his daughter and only sent a check every month.
Our heroine was always very curious to meet her father, but she never got the chance and her mother refused to touch the subject.
Throughout history she is overcoming her mother's loss, her new school environment, her relationship with her father, and meeting grandparents who did not know of her existence. And the loss of a friendship and the birth of a new love.
All very well written in a way that engages the reader to the end of the story.

View all my reviews

Where the Wheat Blows by Mae East

Where the Wheat Blows by Mae East 

Formato: eBook Kindle

Tamanho do arquivo: 844 KB

Número de páginas: 530 páginas

Editora: Envizage Publishing; Edição: 2 (25 de dezembro de 2013)

Idioma: Inglês

Blurb:

The Second World War may be over, but for Katherine Thompson other battles are only beginning. When she marries Robert, the only man she has ever loved, her life changes forever. She finds herself living the perfect dream with the perfect man. A man she loves completely and in return loves her just the same, or so she believes. However Robert has another love stirring in his soul, a dark calling lures him toward a dangerous woman.

Katherine sees the threat, but her fight only deepens when a devious yet charming business man befriends her for his own desires. Unknowingly she and Robert become targets of a deceitful plan, thrusting Katherine and her perfect life face to face with the devil inside. 

Review:

I bought this book on .Dec 7, 2014. and it was on my reading list.

I do not remember who recommended the reading, but I bought it and added it to my cheater's shelf.

This month I'm trying to get my TBR up-to-date and I've researched my Kindle and discovered this book.

I had read reviews at the time, but fortunately I did not remember anything.

This book evokes so many feelings and their love is so beautiful at the beginning of the reading that we really get touched.

Our supposed hero has had a miserable childhood and fears poverty. He witnessed the death of his mother and sister in extreme poverty. He is a dedicated husband and father, but feels that life is not fair to him and deserves more material things. He envies the wealth and power of the city's elite.

He has a wonderful wife and their lives are simple but full of love and happiness. They are happy and envied by people for their qualities as a couple and as family.

Their crop of wheat suffers a great loss and he seeks employment in one of the factories of the city.

The daughter of the factory owner has an obsession with him and wants him for herself. One of the employees at the same factory has an obsession with our heroine and he wants her for himself.

The two unite to separate the couple and achieve their goals.

But if it had not been for the hero's greed and the choices he made they would not have achieved their goal. 

He began to compare the other woman's wealth and the ease with which she buys everything and is served by servants at any simple request. He even makes love to his wife by thinking of the other woman because she helped him in Christmas shopping and he was charmed by her wealth.

Gradually he moves away from the family and becomes more and more involved with the other woman and being blinded by greed.

Meanwhile the other man who covets our heroine begins to infiltrate their family and make a presence.

I was shocked by the coldness that he leaves the family and is deluded with clothes and cars that the other woman buys for him. He cuts off all kinds of contact with the family, not accepting calls from the wife and ignoring the children. Even at his sons' birthday party he does not appear.

Our heroine is destroyed and the children do not understand what happened.

I confess that I was very sad to accompany a story of love and family so perfect that broken in this way.

He sends divorce papers for her to sign without even coming face to face with her. He sends through the man who from the beginning coveted his wife. This man seeing the suffering and destruction of our heroine begins to regret and feel guilty about his part in the separation of the couple.

The supposed hero gets stuck in his ivory tower with the other woman who is a bitch, expensive clothes, cars and money that in the end are worthless. 

The grass is greener in the neighbor's yard. 

But not everything that glitters is gold.

Never forgetting that the story takes place during the Second World War and that women behaved differently from the present.

My grandmother had to wait until my mother got married to be able to separate from my grandfather who was a great cheater. Because at the time divorced or separated women were not well accepted by society.

I was outraged at her intention to accept the cheater back because she still loved him, but her children had a different opinion. They were disgusted by the abandonment of their father and began to hate him. There is a very strong scene where the children show him what he did to their family.

Our supposed hero turned out in the end besides being greedy, being a great coward who could not bear to face the consequences of his actions.

Our heroine continued to be the wonderful person she was and found happiness.

I finished the book exhausted and with a sadness in my heart. The author gave us strong feelings and a satisfying ending. I would prefer that the supposed hero live with the other woman until the end of his life in great wealth but miserable inside. But I'm a vengeful bitch.

I recommend reading.

Midnight Fever (Men of Midnight Book 6) by Lisa Marie Rice 

Kindle Edition

Publication Date: May 26, 2017

Language: English

Review in Portuguese and English.

Copy received for honest review.

Blurb:

Fighting fire with fire

Nick Mancino always gets what he wants -- until now. Despite his seductive persistence, brainy, beautiful scientist Kay Hudson continues to elude him. However, Nick was a Navy Seal, and an FBI Special Agent, so giving up isn't an option.

Ever since that incendiary kiss they shared when Nick saved her beloved grandfather's life, Kay’s been having red hot fever dreams about Nick, but she’s got no business being tempted by anything. She’s on the verge of risking her reputation, her career, her very life, to blow the lid off a deadly bioweapons conspiracy, and Nick’s smoldering eyes, rock-hard body and hot, searching lips should be the very last thing on her mind. 

However, with so much to lose, she deserves one blazing night of pleasure with Nick before she disappears forever.

But Nick won't let her face her demons alone . . . and they will have to face down an enemy that could consume them...and the entire world.

Review:

Uau! História maravilhosa!

Se você está procurando um herói perfeito e uma heroína encantadora você acaba de encontrar. 

Ele é um macho alfa de primeira qualidade com aquelas características que amamos e conhecido como "Nick the Lionheart" pela bravura dele.

Ela é uma linda mulher, amorosa, leal à família e amigos, com grande ética profissional, super inteligente e especialista em virologia com um PhD e dois Masters. 

Os heróis juntos são explosivos e colocam fogos nos lençois quando conseguem chegar até eles, porque eles são mestres em transar contra paredes. Os dois são muito quentes e a química entre eles é perfeita.

A melhor amiga da heroína descobre que alguém do departamento deles está vendendo os estudos para ser usado como arma biológica. Esta amiga é assassinada e deixa Kay encarregada de continuar a investigação. 

Traída por colegas que deveriam assegurar que as pesquisas feitas seriam usadas somente para o benefício das pessoas e não para enriquecimento pessoal.

Os caras malvados criaram uma arma biológica com o vírus da gripe que somado com o DNA do alvo escolhido se torna em uma arma mortal e que atinge apenas a vítima ou aqueles que compartilham DNA com ela. Um vírus que é a arma perfeita com ação rápida e que some do organismo em 24 horas não deixando nada que incrimine o assassino.

Após vários assassinatos interligados à investigação. Tudo dá errado e nosso herói e a equipe dele entram em ação para salvar o dia.

Muitas cenas de ação e suspense e mais paredes são testadas pelos heróis.

O leitor não consegue parar a leitura para saber como tudo vai ser resolvido e se o assassino vai conseguir atingir Kay.

O final é realmente muito bom e o pedido de casamento é épico. Nunca vou esquecer a cena.

Recomendo muito toda série.

Este livro foi meu favorito até agora.

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Wow! Wonderful story!

If you are looking for a perfect hero and a charming heroine you just found here.

He's an alpha male of first quality with those features we love and known as "Nick the Lionheart" by his bravery.

She is a beautiful woman, loving, loyal to friends and family, with a great work ethic, super smart and Virology expert with a PhD and two Masters.

The heroes together are explosives and put sheets on fire when they can get to them, because they are masters at sex against walls. Both are very hot and the chemistry between them is perfect.

Kay best friend finds out that someone in the Department is selling the studies to be used as a biological weapon. This friend is murdered and let Kay tasked to continue the investigation. 

Betrayed by colleagues who should ensure that the research done would be used only for the benefit of the people and not for personal enrichment.

The bad guys have created a biological weapon with the flu virus that combined with the DNA of the target becomes in a deadly weapon and that reaches only the victim or those who share DNA with. A virus that is the perfect weapon with fast action and that disappears in 24 hours leaving no anything that would incriminate the killer.

After several murders connected to the investigation. Everything goes wrong and our hero and his team come into action to save the day.

Many scenes of action and suspense and more walls are tested by the heroes.

The reader can't stop reading to find out how everything will be resolved and if the killer will get Kay.

The end is really good and the proposal is epic. I will never forget the scene.

I highly recommend the whole series.

This book was my favorite so far.

Highlights: 

"...he was with Alpha Security International, a big security company in Portland."

"Nick wasn’t known for his long-term relationships, but he wasn’t a player, either."

And yet…it never failed to astonish her that people could be more dangerous than disease. More murderous, capable of much greater damage."

"The consensus was that Nick was a really good guy, one of the rare ones. Hard-headed, yes, stubborn as they come, but brave as a lion."

He must be wondering whether she suffered from some kind of mental or hormonal disorder. Maybe she was. Nick Lust Disorder.

“It’s just dessert, Nick.” He wasn’t smiling at all. “Not the way you’re eating it, sweetheart. You’re making this pure sex.”

"Nick the Lionheart!"

"...he hadn’t been to bed with anyone since that kiss. Pathetic, but there it was.

"She was a virologist and geneticist—the fuck he knew about genes? Except the fact that his were irresistibly drawn to hers."

"Kay was real and warm and funny and so sexy she turned him inside out without even trying."

“I don’t think I can make it to the bed,” he whispered against the skin of her neck. “Then don’t,” she whispered back."

“Wow.” Wow was right.

"They’d walked into her hotel room and then she’d found herself plastered against the wall, somehow her clothes had come off and enough of his clothes had come off to make sex possible and the rest was a sweaty blur."

“We’re not alone, honey. We have a team at our back.”

"I have a horrible feeling we’re looking at a powerful bio-weapon, maybe weaponized Spanish flu. Certainly, whatever killed Mike did it in a minute, a minute and a half."

“we’re a team. Where Nick goes, we go.”

“A perfect murder weapon. A virus tailored to someone’s DNA, delivered by drone. Essentially a natural death, put down to a sudden allergic attack, a stroke or a heart attack. The murderer can be far away, guiding the drone by a tablet, waiting for the right moment."

"It’s the perfect weapon, surgically precise."

“Dr. Frank Winstone. The head of the CDC.”He’d betrayed her, he’d betrayed the thousands of people working for the CDC, he’d betrayed the thousands who’d risked their lives. He’d betrayed the millions of Americans who trusted the CDC to keep them safe.

“Bio-weapons, huh? Give me a gunned-up mobster any day.”

"Kay scienced the shit out of him.”

Delayed Call (Assassins #11) by Toni Aleo

Delayed Call (Assassins #11) by Toni Aleo

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: March 20th 2017

Review in Portuguese and English.

ARC received via Netgalley to honest review

Blurb:

Vaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins' star player. He's brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn't afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self.

Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders. As the staff reporter for the Assassins, she balances her high-profile job and its heavy travel schedule with being the sole provider for her adult brother with Down syndrome. Sure, she'd like to find love. But who has time for that when there are bills to pay?

Brie has been the match to Vaughn's gasoline since the day she first held out her microphone to him. They strike sparks off each other, keeping their friends, the team, and the Assassins fans in stitches. Brie’s refusal to fawn over Vaughn sets his teeth on edge and his blood boiling. Especially in that body part... 

Brie's been let down by love before, but she knows she deserves nothing less than real, forever love. Vaughn's past has left deep, hidden scars, and there are some secrets he cannot bear to reveal. As much as Brie wants him, Vaughn may be too big a risk for her wary heart to take. But he is at his best under pressure. When the delayed call is in effect and he has no choice but to score, Vaughn always delivers.

Review:

Eu acompanho a série desde o início e fiquei intrigada sobre a história do casal. A interação entre os dois no livro anterior foi uma preliminar do que aconteceria neste livro.

Os heróis tem uma face que eles mostram para o mundo e outra bem diferente só vista pelas pessoas que eles amam e causas que eles se dedicam e que eles realmente se importam. 

Nem sempre as coisas são o que parecem ser. Confesso que fiquei surpresa com a verdadeira essência do herói e o lado maternal da heroína. Ele transmitia uma imagem de frivolidade e irresponsabilidade. Ela transmitia uma imagem de mulher mal humorada e só focada no trabalho.

Eu amei os diálogos e constante enfrentamento entre os heróis geraram cenas engraçadas e cenas irritantes ao mesmo tempo. 

Fiquei torcendo para que os dois ficassem juntos logo e imaginando as cenas quentes e os fogos que viriam entre o casal.

Amei ver meu casal favorito Shea e Elli marcarem presença! Fiquei curiosa sobre os amigos do herói e estou ansiosa pela história deles.

A autora não decepcionou aos fãs da série e nos presenteou com um história gostosa de ler e nos deixou querendo mais.

Recomendo!

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I follow the series since the beginning and I was intrigued about the story of the couple. The interaction between the two in the earlier book was a preliminary of what would happen in this book.

The heroes have a face they show to the world and quite another to just view the people they love and causes that they are dedicated and they really care. 

Things are not always what they seem. I confess that I was surprised with the very essence of the hero and the maternal side of heroin. He transmitted a picture of frivolity and irresponsibility. She conveyed an image of woman in a bad mood and just focused on the work.

I loved the dialogues and constant confrontation between the heroes generated funny scenes and annoying at the same time.

I was hoping that the two would be together soon and imagining the hot scenes and the Fireworks to come between the couple.

I loved seeing my favorite couple Shea and Elli being present. I was curious about the friends of the hero and I'm looking forward to their story.

The author did not disappoint fans of the series and presented us with a hot story to read and left us wanting more.

Recommend!

With My Whole Heart by MariaLisa deMora

With My Whole Heart by MariaLisa deMora

Formato: eBook Kindle

Tamanho do arquivo: 3453 KB

Número de páginas: 175 páginas

Idioma: Inglês

Data Publicação: 20 de março de 2017

Review in Portuguese and English.

Blurb:

With My Whole Heart is a complicated story about family.

Jaime’s a young, single mother who is trying to make ends meet, feeling like she's always waging an uphill battle to make sure she and her son are housed, fed, and healthy. Connor’s designed his life to stay too busy for relationships.

How complicated is it?

She’s his big brother's surrogate, and he’s the sperm donor. How in the hell would this ever work? Connor didn't know, but he was determined to convince the feisty little blonde to take a chance on him. What he didn't realize was it meant taking a chance on himself, too.

Review:

Quais sacrifícios uma mãe está disposta a fazer para dar uma vida digna para seu filho? 

O que um irmão dedicado está disposto a fazer pela família dele?

Nesta história linda temos estas respostas e acompanhamos a jornada dos nossos heróis rumo ao final feliz deles.

Jamie está enfrentando dificuldades econômicas e como ultimo recurso está disposta a servir como barriga de aluguel para conseguir meios de sobreviver junto com o filho e conseguir uma vida mais segura para ambos. Ela é uma mãe incrível e faz o possível para que o filho tenha uma vida feliz e cercada de amor.

Nosso herói Connor tem uma família maravilhosa e fará de tudo para que todos sejam felizes, mas ainda não se conformou com a perda do irmão gêmeo dele. Ele se sente culpado e procura a felicidade de todos deixando os próprios desejos de lado.

Quando iniciei a leitura eu fiquei imaginando todas as coisas que poderiam acontecer e a variedade de emoções envolvidas durante toda gestação. Fiquei imaginado os sentimentos de todos envolvidos com criação da nova vida e o impacto na vida e relacionamentos de todos. Futuros pais e os doadores tanto do óvulo quanto do esperma estavam todos muito envolvidos, não só por laços familiares mas sentimentais também.

O filho da heroína deu um tempero especial à história e adorei a personalidade dele e os desafios na criação de uma criança especial.

De uma situação que tinha tudo para dar errado temos uma história linda onde o amor e os laços familiares triunfam sobre todas as dificuldades e tristezas da vida.

Terminei a leitura com um sorriso no rosto e com o coração alegre.

Recomendo a todos que desejam uma história repleta de emoções e bons sentimentos.

--------------

What sacrifices a mother is willing to do to give a dignified life to your son?

What a devoted brother is willing to do for his family?

In this beautiful story we have these answers and follow the journey of our heroes into the happy ending of them.

Jamie is facing economic difficulties and as last resort is willing to serve as a surrogate to get means to survive along with his son and get a life safer for both. She is an amazing mother and makes it possible for the son to have a happy life and surrounded by love.

Our hero Connor has a wonderful family and will do anything for everyone to be happy, but not yet conformed with the loss of his twin brother. He feels guilty and seeks the happiness of everyone leaving his own desires aside.

When I started reading I was imagining all the things that could happen and the variety of emotions involved throughout pregnancy. I was imagined the feelings of all involved with creation of new life and the impact on the lives and relationships of all. Future parents and donors of both the egg and the sperm were all very involved, not only for family ties but also sentimental.

The son of the heroine gave a special spice to the story and I loved his personality and the challenges in raising a special child.

A situation that had everything to go wrong we have a beautiful story where love and family ties triumph over all difficulties and sorrows of life.

I finished reading with a smile on my face and joyful heart.

I recommend to all who want a story full of emotions and good feelings.

Sebring (Unfinished Hero #5) by Kristen Ashley

Sebring (Unfinished Hero #5) by Kristen Ashley

Published January 11th 2016

Review in Portuguese and English.

Blurb:

Nick Sebring has issues. Born feeling like an outsider in his own family, growing up under the shadow of a brother who could do anything, Nick isn’t that great of a guy. But when this culminates with Nick lashing out to hurt his brother through the woman he loves, Nick turns inward and makes some decisions about the man he intends to be.

And as he does this, he falls in love and truly learns the man that he’s grown to be.

When his love is murdered right before Nick’s eyes, Nick knows he has to avenge her. He knows how he’s going to avenge her. And he has no qualms using Olivia Shade to exact that vengeance.

Olivia Shade has grown up on the outside of her family too. Her problem is that they don’t want her outside. They want her all the way in, right under their thumbs. She pays the price for seeking escape and learns her lesson—she’ll never see a dawn where she wakes up free.

Then she meets Nick Sebring, and even as she fights it, the hope that died years ago starts to blossom. She can find love. She can have a man of her own. She can be happy. She can be free.

Olivia hopes while Nick schemes.

However, as Nick peels back the layers of all that is Olivia Shade, he finds something surprising. He understands its fragility. He falls in love with its beauty. He seeks to protect it. 

But he forgets to protect his Livvie from one thing: Nick Sebring.

Review:

Uma história de superação. Nosso herói passa de um ser desprezível nos livros anteriores para um ser humano decente e digno de ser chamado de herói. Esta série trata de pessoas imperfeitas e humanas, com falhas e defeitos reais, mas que são perfeitas juntas e se completam. Nossa heroína é uma sombra que aos poucos vai tomando forma e se fortalecendo como pessoa. 
Ele renasce do desejo de vingança e ela renasce da estagnação total que é a vida dela. É muito interessante ver a jornada dos dois que se inicia puramente sexual e vai mudando a medida que os dois vão se conhecendo e deixando as facetas da personalidade deles aparecerem.
Temos cenas muito quentes e também cenas tocantes entre os heróis. Como não podia deixar de ser num livro da autora, temos ação e suspense e muitos vilões.
Adorei a participação dos outros personagens da série e minha frase favorita foi a seguinte:

“I live in dark. Dawn never comes for me. There will be no new day where I wake up complete. Happy. Loved. There is no other side to make my way to. There is no believe. It just isn’t for me.”

Recomendo muito!

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A story of resilience and individual growth. Our hero was a despicable person in previous books becomes a decent human being and worthy of being called a hero. This series deals with imperfect people with flaws and defects, but they are perfect together and complement each other. Our heroine is a shadow that will slowly taking shape and getting stronger as a person.
He is reborn of the desire for revenge and she is reborn of total stagnation that is her life. It is very interesting to see the journey of two that at first it was purely sexual and changes as the two are getting to know each other and gradually showing facets of their personality.
We have very hot scenes and also touching scenes between the heroes. As in every book of the author, we have action and suspense and many villains.
I loved the participation of other characters in the series and my favorite quote was:

“I live in dark. Dawn never comes for me. There will be no new day where I wake up complete. Happy. Loved. There is no other side to make my way to. There is no believe. It just isn’t for me.”

I highly recommend!

Like a Memory by Abbi Glines

Like a Memory by Abbi Glines

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: February 14th 2017

Review in Portuguese and English.

Blurb:

One memory. 
One special summer. 
The one thing Bliss had lost herself in when the fear and sickness were too much, moments never to be damaged by the harsh reality that followed… until now. 

Bliss York didn’t live a normal teenage life. She didn’t go to Friday night football games, walk the halls with her friends every day, go to her prom or even walk to receive her diploma. It had all been taken from her the fall that she was fifteen years old and she was given the diagnosis no one ever wants to hear. 

She had leukemia. 

Seven years after spending a summer with a girl who he knew would always be his first love and the one who got away, Nate Finlay returns to Sea Breeze to help his fiancé open her new boutique clothing store. When the new employee walks in Nate is taken back seven years to the girl he thought he’d love forever. The one who never answered his calls or returned his text. The one who shut him out completely with not even a goodbye and broke his heart. 

They’ve each become someone different. No longer the young teens with stars in their eyes. But does that matter when your heart still says that’s the one.

Review:

Eu li várias resenhas negativas e ao conversar com minha amiga Simone eu resolvi encarar a leitura.

Nada poderia ser pior do que Grant e Nan, então eu iniciei a leitura.

Nosso herói é um menino rico criado em uma família amorosa e com um círculo de amigos legais.

Mas ele tem a mente fodida e é fraco, egoísta e um covarde com medo de encarar a vida e os sentimentos que viver plenamente despertam. Ele arruma a mulher ideal para encaixar no mundinho dele. 

Acho que o dedo podre da Nan deve ter tocado a alma dele quando bebê.

A noiva dele é rica e com uma personalidade horrível, mimada, esnobe, controladora, gosta de sexo em lugares públicos, fria e acha que está acima de todos. Ela faz ele de empregado e mandalete e ele obedece numa boa. O relacionamento deles é frio, distante e baseado somente em sexo e o fato de pertencerem ao mesmo círculo social. Os dois combinaram de nunca terem filhos e viajarem o mundo todo.

Ao ficar encarregado de montar a nova loja da noiva, enquanto ela está na Europa, ele reencontra nossa heroína. Os dois se conheceram na adolescência e tiveram um amor de verão. Nossa heroína cortou todo o contato com ele ao enfrentar um câncer e só agora esta reiniciando a viver normalmente e é empregada da noiva dele.

Os dois ainda tem aquela ilusão sobre o primeiro amor deles e aquelas memórias afetam os dois até hoje.

Na verdade eu acho que o suposto amor deles é baseado somente naquela ilusão adolescente mesmo, porque os dois cresceram e mudaram muito ao longo dos anos. Ela afetada pela doença e a superação dela e o retorno a vida como uma pessoa mais forte. Ele como um típico riquinho desencantado com a vida e que só toma decisões egoístas. Em nenhum momento ele pensou nos sentimentos da heroína ou até mesmo da nojenta da noiva dele. 

Ele acabou o noivado através de mensagem de texto. Só isso já demonstra a covardia do suposto herói.

Aquele drama todo com a noiva dele foi uma pobre explicação do comportamento deplorável dela. Ela era uma pessoa egoísta e sem sentimentos que só pensou em se vingar do herói da maneira mais desprezível imaginada. Só faltou trilha sonora de novela mexicana para acompanhar a cena.

Confesso que a história não me afetou em nenhum momento e a leitura foi quase clínica. Não encontrei aquela química entre o casal e o suposto amor deles não me empolgou nada. Fiquei curiosa sobre os amigos da heroína e achei eles mais interessantes que o casal.

Espero que a autora publique uma árvore genealógica porque fiquei muito perdida.

Dei graças a Deus quando o livro chegou ao fim e não terá continuação ou acabou em cliffhanger. Temos que agradecer ás pequenas bençãos que alcançamos.

Recomendo para fãs ardorosos da autora ou aqueles que amam Grant e Nan. 

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I read several negative reviews and talking to my friend Simone I decided to face reading.

Nothing could be worse than Grant and Nan, so I started reading.

Our hero is a very wealthy boy raised in a loving family and a circle of cool friends.

But he's got the mind fucked up and is weak, selfish and a coward afraid to face life and feelings that the full life awakens. 

He arranges the ideal woman to fit into his own little world. 

I think the rotten finger of Nan must have touched his soul as a baby. 

His fiancée is rich and with a horrible personality, spoiled, snob, controller, likes sex in public places, cold and she thinks she is above all people. She treats him as an employee and handyman and he obeys like a puppy. Their relationship is cold, distant and based solely on sex and the fact that they belong to the same social circle. The two agree never to have children and travel the world.

Our hero to be in charge of setting up the new shop of his fiancée, while she is in Europe, he finds our heroine again. The two met as a teenager and had a summer love. Our heroine cut off all contact with him when facing a cancer and it's only now that she is restarting to live normally and is employed from his fiancée.

The two still have that illusion about their first love and those memories affect the two until today.

Actually I think the love between the two is based only on that adolescent illusion, because the two have grown and changed a lot over the years. She was affected by the disease and her resilience and return to life as a stronger person. He's like a typical rich boy who is disenchanted with life and make selfish decisions. In no time he thought heroin's feelings or the feelings of his fiancée.

He ended the engagement via text message. That alone demonstrates the cowardice of the supposed hero.

That whole drama with his fiancée was a poor explanation of the deplorable behavior of her. She was a selfish person and without feelings that just think about getting revenge on the hero in the most despicable way imagined. The only thing missing was the soundtrack of Mexican soap opera to accompany the scene.

I confess that the story does not affect me.  The reading was almost clinical. I couldn't find that chemistry between the couple and the supposed love of them even touched me, my feelings were neutral. I was curious about the heroine's friends and found them more interesting than the couple.

I hope the author post a family tree because I was very lost.

I gave thanks to God when the book came to an end and will not have continued or ended in cliffhanger. We have to thank at small blessings we've accomplished.

Recommend to ardent fans of the author or those who love Grant and Nan.

Highlights: 

"Octavia fit me. We were more alike than my mother realized. We both wanted to make our own mark on the world separate from our well-known parents. We wanted to travel and didn’t want kids. She was a touch spoiled. No, actually Octavia was ruined, but we’d agreed to sign prenup agreements to protect both of our interests."

"Bliss York had been my first love. Or so I’d thought back then. Come to find out she’d been my first lust, because I had no idea how to love."

"Once I finally got it through my head that Bliss York wasn’t the perfect girl, I’d let myself forget her entirely."

"If she told me who she was and asked if I remembered, I could still act as if I’d forgotten."

"NATE FINLAY. HOW did this happen to me? Not that it was going to be an issue because he didn’t even remember who I was."

"Nate Finlay was engaged to Octavia, who had given me my very first job."

"I had just hoped that the memory I had of Nate would remain untouched. But reality was ruining it."

"I loved Eli. I wasn’t in love with Eli. I loved him the way I loved my brothers."

"Drama and women were more than I could handle. Octavia didn’t inspire drama. She was too busy making her life appear perfect. I fit into her role and she fit into mine. It worked."

"Octavia hadn’t called to check on things. She knew I would handle anything that came up and that should make me happy. Instead, it greatly annoyed me. Didn’t women normally text or call their fiancés? Wasn’t that fucking normal procedure? When did I become so needy?"

"She was nothing but a childhood fling."

"The more I got to know Octavia through her calls, along with the texts she sent, I realized she thought that way. I myself didn’t exclude anyone, because I didn’t want to be excluded. This, of course, made me wonder about Nate. Who had he become? Someone attracted to that?"

"I loved Octavia in a way of speaking. Loved the idea of “us.” We fit. The sex was hot. She wasn’t needy. It was and had been the easiest relationship I’d ever had. I’d be stupid to destroy it."

"Octavia couldn’t burn me. She was safe. The effort was minimal."

“The girl beat cancer. Fought and won the war. Strong girl. Town really loves her.” “Cancer?” What the fuck did he mean she had cancer? He nodded. “Yeah. She’s got a lot of friends in Sea Breeze. Worried the whole bunch to death.”

"Octavia would never be my center. I was safe from that kind of heartbreak. I could continue on breathing and living if something happened to her. Sure I’d be sad, but I wouldn’t die from it, which was healthy and normal. That was all I wanted in life. Shallow? Yes. But shallow is safe. I’d convinced myself of that."

"Octavia was a drama free selection. Easy, unchallenging and simple. She had been a relief. What I thought I was looking for. Until I came back here. Until I saw Bliss again. Then I remembered what perfect actually was. What I wouldn’t have. What I had once had."

"She was Sea Breeze and her world was here. Mine was out there waiting. Getting the hell out of one coastal town and settling in another wasn’t change. It was another fucking coastal town."

"Once I thought that the scripture in the Bible about not being promised tomorrow was depressing and lacked any joy. Now I knew it was real. Something we all needed to accept."

"I needed mental preparation for this. To remind myself why I chose Octavia and why Bliss wasn’t a fit. I had no place in my heart or future for all that Bliss would require."

“Hmmm, one of the many reasons I love you,” was her response then the distinct sound of kissing followed. It wasn’t loud. It was just the sound of bodies pressed close. Breathing erratic and choppy, and silence when there had been talking. I stepped back. Eavesdropping was never a good thing and those who did it deserved to be punished. This was my punishment."

"Octavia was back and that was enough to remind me what I needed in a life."

“Octavia is spoiled and thinks she’s entitled. She’s been a good boss, but if she thought I was a threat, she’d get rid of me in an instant."

“Bliss, you’re making a mistake. He still has a thing for you. It’s in his eyes. I’m never wrong about that. But he’s not man enough to admit it."

"She’s not like us. She doesn’t need to think she could fit into your world and mess up the best opportunity she’s going to get in this town. God knows women can be stupid when it comes to you.”

“Bliss isn’t like us. You’re right. She’s a farm girl from Alabama with an inferior education and very little sense of the real world. She lives in a bubble here in Sea Breeze. One she won’t ever get out of or hope to break free from. But that makes her safe. She’s a good employee and one we now know you can trust.”

"I’ve never known you to settle for someone so beneath you.”

"I grabbed her waist, pulled her against me, and kissed her until neither of us could breathe."

“Free. Without attachment.” He wanted to feel nothing. He didn’t want to chance the pain to experience the great. He was a coward. He didn’t love Octavia. He loved how simple it was with her."

"Picking up my phone I texted her just that: Why the fuck are we engaged? I don’t want to be married. And damned if you do. We don’t fit."

"When had I missed the fact Nate Finlay had become an asshole?"

"The simple text I had gotten from her said more than enough: Glad you figured that out sooner rather than later."

"I want to be the girl a guy will throw it all away for. A girl he fights for. I want to be worth it.”

"I wasn’t ready for her. To be the guy she wanted. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be that guy for anyone."

“Are you and Octavia actually broken up?” I asked needing to know I wasn’t doing something wrong. “Oh, yeah. That’s done.”

"I’d never get pregnant. I couldn’t. I had survived cancer but it had taken so much from me. The one thing that hurt the most was that I’d never be able to carry a child inside me."

"The traces of blood were there on my skin and the inside of her thighs. Mixed with my semen. Making her mine when I knew she never would be."

"The first time she wanted to do it, we did it in the men’s restroom at a club. With a guy who walked in watching. She told me to go harder when the guy came in and she became a maniac while he watched. He’d started jacking off while watching us and that made her come. None of us were anywhere near sober but that night I was sure I could live with Octavia the rest of my life."

"If this was why men got married and settled down, then I completely got it. They found the hottest pussy attached to someone as sweet and beautiful as Bliss and they were begging to be tied down."

"Octavia’s stepmother found her two hours ago. She . . .” God, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. The image was there in my head. Burned so deeply even though I hadn’t seen it. The clarity of it and the pure horror wrecked me. “She was hanging from the banister of her father’s home. A rope around her neck and a note.”

“Pregnant. She was four months pregnant,”

"I just don’t understand it. How someone can be so upset that they take their life knowing the devastation they’ll leave behind.”

“WHEN YOU MEET a girl that you still love once she’s a woman then you don’t give that up. .” Grandpop’s words replayed over and over in my ears."