Isbella by Patricia M. Jackson

When I first started this book I thought for sure I was going to hate it. Not because of what you might think. The first peak at the story intrigues you and pulls you into the book. But because about 20 pages in there was one scene that really disturbed me. And in this scene Chad did not call the cops. When someone is about to do what these men were going to do to this young lady...you call the friggen cops. I understand that in this particular part of the story Chad is just 16 years old. Guess what? 16 is old enough to call the cops when you see something you know is wrong. Even if they didn't go through with it or whatever the case may be...one report to the cops can change everything. Not only that but even if charges aren't brought on these persons of interest...having them dragged away in handcuffs or even taken in for questioning in a case like that creates an awareness for women even if these men were to not have been convicted. Moral of that speal? He should have called the cops.
The other problem that I had with the book was how hard it was to keep track of how much time had passed throughout the story. I think it would have had more impact with me if I had known the time frame along with the other details of the story. And sometimes it was hard for me to distinguish what characters view I was reading through because it wasn't labeled like most other duel POV titles I have read in the past.
Aside from those small things the story itself was really enjoyable. Chad was actually a very humourous, feeling, and charming character. I love that he had red hair. All the romance books these days have the females with red hair, but never a man. He really stood out to me among the other characters. Izzy was a compassionate, loyal,and giving character herself and she was awesome in understanding Chads disability. Dyslexia is a horrible thing for people to have to go through and because reading is such a big part of my life when I heard about or read about someone that can't read it makes me want to cry. And sometimes I do. Even if it is just a book character. Because even though it's a book character...somebody somewhere is going through that. Somebody somewhere is struggling to get by because they can't read what things are in the grocery store or they can't read well enough to graduate college...or even high school. Look me in the eye (or screen I guess) and tell me that isn't heartbreaking. The point I'm making is that this book made me feel. This book might not have been something I would necessarily read again or something I was completely taken with but the way the book made me feel made up for it. I think I'm going to go back and read the first book in the series because from the flashes of that book that I got in Isabella I think I may enjoy it.

4 Stars

Built by Jay Crownover

Jay Crownover is by far one of my favorite authors to date. Her books are edgy, sexy, relatable, and fun to read. They keep you interested and keep you wanting more, time and time again. Not only that but when I first read Rule from her Marked Men series I thought for sure that it was going to be one of those series where the first book was the best one, and no book by her after that would measure up to Rule. We've all been there, right? I call it first book syndrome. This was not the case at all. Every book in the Marked Men series is just as good as the first. Not only that but some of them are even better. So as you could imagine when she announced the Saints of Denver series would hit the shelves about a year ago I was so elated I was practically vibrating with excitement. This was just what I needed. Exactly what I'd been waiting for. Then I read the most resent books of the Marked Men series, met Sayer Cole, and got a brief glimpse of Zeb Fuller before Built came out. I was beyond excited, already half in love with these characters, and even more pumped for the series. I finally got the chance to buy the book this weekend and I finished it by the end of the night. I think the fact that I read it in less than 12 hours says kind of a lot, don't you?
While I love Jay and her books I went into Built with a clear mind and I would like to just say that I don't judge books written by my favorite authors any easier or give unfair advantages just because I enjoy their writing in other books and series. If anything I may judge a little harsher because I know what they are capable of. I don't settle for less when I know they're capable of more.
The book was everything I had hoped it would be and more. Zeb was the exact kind of man I had imagined him to be. Sayer came out of her shell, blossomed into herself, and embraced her life with all she has. She went from meek and shy to something more and bolder. Still a version of the shy sad girl we came to love at the end of the Marked Men series. Just better. You understand the depth of her character far more. But it was more than just that. More characters were introduced that I can't wait to learn more about, things took a turn that I didn't expect, and Zeb and Sayer were explosive together. They brought out the best in eachother and discovered so much. I love when I can feel the chemistry between the characters and watching it getting stronger and blooming into something less sex focused and more love based...is what takes Built from your average "I'll read this in my free time because it's sexy and I'm bored" type of book to something more "I would live and die for these characters and who really needs sleep anyways I can't stop reading now" kind of book. I love a good plot twist and I love that Jay uses both the male and female protagonist POV in all her books. Being inside both characters heads takes all of her books to the next level. It really worked for Zeb and Sayer because they both keep a lot to themselves and process a lot internally. I feel like without being in both of their heads a lot of the story would be missing. I just wish we got to know Hyde more than what we did. It would have been nice to know more about this child that seemed so big a part of the story but had a much smaller part than deserved. In all I can't wait to read more of this series. It's captivating and addictive.
The next book, Leveled is much anticipated. This was a 4.5 Star read for me!

Secret Pleasures by Lora Leigh

Lora Leigh is so much more than just a writer. The way she weaves her stories and captures her readers hearts makes her so much better than that. She is a true author. To me that means so much more than what it sounds like. In my opinion a true author is someone that cares about what she (or he) is writing. Someone that puts their heart and soul into the words that they put down on a page. It's someone that makes people laugh and cry and jump for joy. Someone that makes people ache to the very bottom of their souls with sorrow, feel their hear drop into their gut, and makes people wish for the kind of love their reading about. That is the kind of  author that Lora Leigh is. So much can be said about someone as talented as this woman very clearly is. Everything that makes Lora Leigh so great is no doubt what makes her books so entrancing. Secret Pleasures is no different.

Everything about this title pulled me in from start to finish. Everything about these characters made me wish I knew them. And everything about this storyline broke my heart even as it was being put back together. With every page I was feeling. Feeling everything to the very depths of my soul. That's the kind of books Lora Leigh writes and I am so grateful to have been able to read this advanced copy. Nothing could have prepared me for how I would feel reading Alyssa's struggle with everything she is put through. Nothing could have prepared me for the heartbreaking way Shane and Sebastian splintered apart. And nothing could have prepared me for how full of joy my heart was when they all got their happy ending.

The emotions in this book are just the half of it. So much greatness fits between these pages. The action scenes were explosive, the raw sensuality was hypnotizing, and the writing itself flowed perfectly across the page in an almost poetic fashion. There is so much more that could be said. I am going to keep my trap shut about the rest though. Somethings you just have to read to believe. I do 110% recommend this book and I give it a full 5 Stars no doubt. Read it, love it, and then read every other Lora Leigh book you can find.

An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.