The Secret Place by Melodie Starkey

Emma only knows love from her older brother Trey. Her father ignores her and her mother hates her. Trey has always treated her like his own daughter. When their parents die in a car accident, Trey takes on the parental role even more giving his all to take care of Emma. When Trey marries, his new wife makes life miserable for fifteen year old Emma.

Two years later, Emma meets Jeremy. He is the great grandson of "The Witch" in Hutcherson, Oregon. Jeremy thinks he sees an angel when he sees Emma. Emma sees someone she can trust and be friends with. She also falls in love with his Gran, who treats her like family. Emma feels safe in Gran's home. But what will happen when Emma's secret comes out?

I couldn't put this book down. I read it in about eleven hours. I loved Emma. She has the best attitude. So spunky and bright. Jeremy is so loving and sweet. Gran is a spitfire and Trey gives you mixed emotions. I will definitely be reading this book again. The story was so compelling and vivid. If you're looking for a sweet romance then this isn't the book for you. It's a slightly dark story involving rape and incest. Jeremy is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Stars- 5
Passion- 2
Length- 278 pages

First Love (Now & Forever) by Melissa Johns

Emily has just moved to Buffalo, New York to be closer to her mom. When she starts her senior year of high school she catches the eye of Eric, the star quarterback. Emily's never had a boyfriend and Eric's not really allowed to have a girlfriend. His football career is too important to his dad. Now, these two grow closer and closer and have to figure out a way to make this work.

First, very cute story. I'll probably read the sequel when it's released. Second, this book needs an editor to not just edit but send it up in flames. There were so many punctuation, grammatical, and even tense errors that it was extremely annoying. Also, they're called contractions. Use them. It's okay to sometimes throw out the "I will" or "you are" in your sentences, but no one speaks like that all the time. Last, there was lots and lots and LOTS of smirking going on in this book. Pick a different expression. There are smiles, frowns, quirked lips, not just smirks.

I know it seems I have just slammed the hell out of this book. I did. BUT that doesn't mean I didn't still enjoy the book. Like I said earlier, I'm pretty sure I'll be reading the sequel just because I do like the story of Emily and Eric and I want to know what's going to happen. I just hope the next book will have been edited.


Stars- 2
Passion- 2
Length- 126 pages

Chasing Nikki by Lacey Weatherford

When Chase submerges himself in drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of his father's sudden death, he starts a tailspin into darkness. The once wonderful high school football player has quit the team and started doing nothing but partying. When he gets stopped late one night, on the way home from a party, and arrested, his mother decides it's time to do something drastic. She makes Chase move with her to his grandparents farm in small town nowhere. That's where Chase meets Nikki. His salvation. His angel. Now he just has to get her to realize that she wants him as much as he needs her.

Tear jerker anyone?

I loved this novel. It made me think "You idiot!" It made me smile. It definitely made me cry. This is a beautifully written novel with wonderful descriptions of the area and people. There are no 2D characters in this novel. They all wrap you up in their own personalities. Nikki is sweet and beautiful. Chase is hurt and confused and wonderful. This is a story of love and hope.

Stars- 5
Passion- 1
Length- 336 pages

Cowboys Down by Barbara Elsborg

Jasper is a London stockbroker who has decided he needs to learn to unwind, get dirty, and have some fun. This decision leads him to Nielson Ranch in Wyoming. Why he even decides that going to a dude ranch is beyond him. He just knows that he wants to get on a horse without throwing up. Unfortunately, the only thing he really wants to ride is Calum, the ranch owner's son.

Calum wants Jasper from the moment he sees him. Trying to hide that fact from his homophobic father is becoming harder by the second. It also doesn't help that his father doesn't trust him one iota as far as a handsome gay man being on the ranch is concerned.

When these two collide they decide that some risks are worth taking and some lives are worth changing.

I figured out pretty quickly what I loved about his book. It had a plot between all that hot M/M sex. There was plenty of sex, but this author actually made the rest of the book worth reading. A beautiful storyline that made me tear up in places and sigh with longing in others, I couldn't resist reading and reading and reading. Yes, my dishes got neglected. I couldn't help it. I also loved the fact that both of these men were men and not stereotypically gay. These men also had issues and problems to deal with and work through. All in all, I would love to read more by Ms. Elsborg.

Stars- 5
Passion- 5
Length- 266 pages

99 to Nowhere by Domino

Maxx is a runaway in a botched system. She's put up with too much abuse to believe in anything anymore. When a young man pulls her from in front of a car, he tells her about the chapel on 99. There's where Maxx meets Rio. Rio is another runaway who decides that Maxx shouldn't be on her own. Together they decide to get away. Try to find somewhere new. They decide to board a bus and go from 99 to nowhere.

I loved, loved, loved this book! I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen next. It shows the hard and rough life of a lot of kids in the system. It's beautifully written and will transport you to wherever Maxx is. It also gives you hope and belief, even when you think there's not much left.

I would say this is a YA novel, but there is some mild violence and some graphic language.

Stars- 5
Passion- 2 (one quick sex scene)
Length- 643 KB on Kindle (guessing around 300 pages)

Wishing for Someday Soon by Tiffany King

Katelyn has the normal everyday life of a seventeen year old teenager. At least, that's what she wants everyone to think. What she doesn't want anyone to know is how she protects her nine year old brother, Kevin, from the beatings her mother doles out to her or the string of "step dads" that flow through their lives. When they land in an extremely small town Katelyn meets Max. There she learns that it's harder to keep some of those secrets when people know everything about you from the moment you pull into town. Max doesn't care that Katelyn is poor. He just knows that he wants Katelyn and he wants her and Kevin to be safe.

I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. I was so drawn in that it was literally impossible. Katelyn was so strong, brave, and courageous. She was so well written it was as if she was someone who could walk right off the pages (or out of my Kindle). This was a wonderful YA book that shows what it's like to live in a small community where the town is willing to pull together to help each other.

Stars- 5
Passion- 1
Length- 288 pages

Solo by Sarah Schofield

Eliana has lived all over. It comes with the territory when your dad's in the military. When her dad gets deployed for a year, Eliana and her mother go to live with her grandparents in Oregon. After putting up a slight fuss, Eliana goes along to Oregon, even if she does miss California. She doesn't want to make any ties to the people in Myrtle Creek since she'll only be there for a year. Unfortunately, some of the people in Myrtle Creek want to be more than a passing acquaintance.

This book was a wonderful balance of teenage drama and feelings mixed with adult and responsible decisions. I liked how Eliana knew her own mind and had her own morals rather than going along with the idea of what could happen. Especially at prom. Lucas was ever the gentleman and perfect in so many ways. Casey was a bubbly fount of entertainment. I can't wait to read the sequel DUO when it's released later this year.

Stars- 5
Passion- 1
Length- 295 pages