Tag: A Stella Highly Recommended Novel

A Stella Review: Out, Proud, and Prejudiced by Megan Reddaway

RATING 4,5 out of 5 stars

One’s proud, one’s prejudiced, and they can’t stand each other.

Quick-tempered Bennet Rourke dislikes Darius Lanniker on sight. Darius may be a hotshot city lawyer, but that doesn’t give him the right to sneer at Bennet, his friends, and their college. It doesn’t help that Bennet’s restaurant job has him waiting at Darius’s table. So when his tutor recommends him for an internship at Darius’s Pemberley estate, Bennet isn’t sure he wants it. He’s also not sure he can afford to turn it down.

Darius is a fish out of water in the small college town of Meriton, but something keeps pulling him back there. He’s helping out a friend with business advice, nothing more. If he’s interested in Bennet, it’s not serious. Sure, Bennet challenges him in a way no other man has. But they have nothing in common. Right?

Wrong. Their best friends are falling in love, and Bennet and Darius can’t seem to escape each other. Soon they’re sharing climbing ropes and birthday cake, and there’s a spark between them that won’t be denied. But betrayal is around the corner. Darius must swallow his pride and Bennet must drop his prejudices to see the rainbow shining through the storm clouds.

A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

I’m a huge fan of Jane Austen and in general of that era literature. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all the time fave books. I saw and read everything related to the novel. More or less I liked them all. That’s why of course I had to read this new release by Megan Reddaway, a new to me author. I thought I could enjoy the story but I wasn’t expecting to love it so much. It was a lovely surprise.

I’m not going to focus my review on the plot cause the blurb tells you what you have to know and well, since it’s about Pride and Prejudice, you know what to expect. That said, the book is really well done, written so well my reading flew easily, and to me, being English is not my first language, this happens only when the writing is great. The greatest surprise were the characters, apart from the fact I adore coral stories like this one, when there are quite a few characters to meet and love, the author did a good job and she let me know a little about all the second characters, some of them I loved, others I despised as I did in the original novel. Some true gems like Giorgio and Jamie caught my heart deeply with their pureness. And then Bennet and Darius with their parts followed  the enemies to lovers trope and made my heart beating like Elizabeth and Darcy always do.

I want to highly recommend Out, Pride and Prejudiced, it’s not just a simple retelling, through all the reading I felt connected to Jane Austen’s work, I could find all the elements I needed and everything was just right and fitting. I loved it.

The cover art by Natasha Snow is not a favorite of mine among the artist works, it is nothing special and in my mind is doesn’t fit the story, I don’t know why.

SALE LINKS:  Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 270 pages

Published June 4th 2018

ISBN13 9781912735006

Edition Language English

A Stella Review: Alaska (Sawyer’s Ferry #1) by Cate Ashwood

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

Nobody says no to a Prescott.

Not even one of their own.

Holden:
Living up to expectations had never been easy, but when I went after something, I got it. Success. Money. Victory. I was standing on the doorstep to having it all. There was only one thing standing in my way.

Gage:
Power and prosperity are overrated. Especially when they come at a price. When enough became enough, I walked away. Nothing had ever tempted me to look back, until one day the past showed up in my backyard.

I’m not so sure I can walk away a second time.

Finally a book that truly satisfied me and left my heart full. I’m so happy Cate Ashwood wrote Alaska, she did an amazing work and missed nothing. A perfectly written book, with well defined characters, a good plot, clear and real chemistry and love between the MCs, hot sex scenes, a dreamy ending. And so much more. What else could I request?

Gage and Holden conquered my heart from the beginning, I was caught into their minds and was so curious to know how they were going to get their HEA, I couldn’t put my Kindle down. Maybe for the first time I’m glad the blurb told me pretty much nothing, that’s why I’m not going to reveal nothing in this review. Just know it will be almost impossible to be disappointed by the story, it’s funny, sweet and sexy, an easy read, with just a tiny bit of drama. I loved Alaska, every words and every characters. I can’t wait for the next book and the next couple to love.

With this first installment in the new Sawyer’s Ferry series, the author gave me everything I want to find in a story. It was a huge success and I can’t stop myself from recommending it to all of you. I think I’m going to reread it right this second.

The cover art by the same author is lovely, I can see Gage in the model even if his face is eyes are cut off.

SALE LINKS:  Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 1 edition, 183 pages

Published April 22nd 2018 by Cate Ashwood

ASIN B07CKMRZ1J

Edition Language English

A Stella Review: Found (Hamilton’s Heroes #1) by Annabella Michaels

RATING 4,5 out of 5 stars

As a former USAF pararescueman, Jeremy O’Brien is used to following orders, no questions asked. So, when Micah, his boss at Hamilton Security, asks him to take on a special case, he readily accepts. Micah’s instructions are simple, find the man in the picture and bring him back to Chicago.

Seven years ago, Zane Wilkinson left the hospital against doctor’s orders, only to suffer a final, devastating blow that left him with no choice but to leave the only place he’d called home. Feeling heartbroken and empty, Zane moved from town to town just trying to survive, while never letting anyone get too close.

In a chance encounter, Jeremy finds himself crossing paths with a man who fits Zane’s description. His instincts tell him that he’s on to something, but Micah warns him that he needs to be absolutely sure. Jeremy sets a plan in motion that will allow him to get closer to the man he believes to be Zane. However, the closer he gets, the more he likes the man and begins to question why he was sent to find him.

Will Jeremy be able to follow through with his orders without becoming too attached? Or will he realize that in his search for Zane, he’s found so much more than he bargained for?

Found by Annabella Michaels is exactly the type of story I love to read. Althought I’m always curious about new to me authors, I was a little afraid when I started this novel, since the last new to me authors I read lately delivered very poor books. From the beginning I understood Found was going to be a winner. I was pleasurable surprised by the writing, engaging and well done, it sucked me into the story and it made the reading easy. I literally couldn’t put the story down for a minute.

The main reason why I loved it so much lays in the characters, I adored them till the end, they were what I look for in my romances. Zane with hiis hurting past, scared in the heart and in the face, with his guard always on. Nonethless when Zane and Jeremy met, something happens.  I liked how Zane and Jeremy knew their feelings and overcame the misunderstanding (let’s call it like this, I don’t want to share too many details) like the adult and smart persons they are. The feeling they shared were clear and pure, I felt their hearts, I saw how good they were, not just together, but in their jobs and with their friends and coworkers. I was soon caught in the novel and it actually didn’t happen from some time, but I stayed up till morning to finish it.

I have to say the plot was what I was expecting and this is the only reason why this is not a five stars review. I saw the surprise element coming a mile away, still that part was so emotional I obviously shed a couple of tears.

Found is the first book in the Hamilton’s Heroes series, I can’t wait for more. And since this was the first novel I read from Annabella Michaels, I had a look at her previous works and discovered this new release is connected to (at least) one book in her other series Souls of Chicago, I have to read it now!

The cover art by Jay Aheer is not a favorite of mine, I like the artist style but this one don’t work for me, I don’t know why.

SALE LINKS:  Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 1 edition, 192 pages

Published February 23rd 2018

ASIN B079V2XCYC

Edition Language English

Series Hamilton’s Heroes #1

A Stella Review: Contour (Shape of You #1) by Meg Harding

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

Jamie “Roxy” Albright has one great love in his life and room for no other. He lives and breathes makeup. Men are nothing more than temporary distractions and romance… well, that isn’t worth his time. With a burgeoning career as a YouTube makeup artist opening doors to never before dreamed of opportunities, time isn’t something Jamie has and distractions aren’t something he can afford.

Instagram model and shirtless wonder Tyler Jackson is quickly falling for elusive Jamie. How it went from a seemingly innocent message to feelings, he’ll never know. Their chemistry is instant and fiery hot, and Tyler’s never been that good at self control. The challenges are endless, though. There’s Jamie’s walls to break through and a country worth of space between them. And just when things are starting to look up, life throws a wrench in the works.

I devoured Contour in one night, I have to admit I couldn’t put it down for a second and I was sleep deprived the morning after but I didn’t care at all. This new release by Meg Harding caught my attention since I read the blurb and once I actually started reading it, I was gone. Tyler and Jamie were amazing characters, I adored them, together they were the perfection, they clicked so well, it was unavoidable not to fall in love with them. I especially liked how Jamie changed (still being himself) once he finally let his attraction for Tyler become more, and later how Tyler helped him to come out of the shell Jamie had built around, and never once he asked Jamie to be someone else if not himself. Tyler loved him and his love for makeup, he loved his smart mouth too.

And then the second characters as Lorelie and Dan and Mattie were the friends everyone should have, always supportive and ready to follow their best friends in their new adventures.

The author did a great job with Contour, well written, scenes always clear and great dialogues, well defined characters, and engaging plot, no drama or angst, just two lovely famous persons falling in love. Contour is the first book in a new series and I can’t wait for the next one.

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design.   The cover art could be perfect but I honestly can’t see Jamie in the model face.

Universal Buy Link: books2read.com/ContourMH

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 1 edition, 200 pages

Published January 23rd 2018 by Oceanside Press

ASIN B078WNKVDK

Edition Language English

Series Shape of You #1

A Stella Review : Having Her Back by Ann Gallagher

RATING 4,5 out of 5 stars

Trevor Larson is a Navy brat. He’s used to moving every few years, and thanks to social media, he can stay in touch with the friends he leaves behind. But shortly after he leaves Okinawa, his best friend, Brad Gray, cuts off contact and disappears.

Four years and two bases later, Brad resurfaces—and announces his family is coming to Trevor’s base in Spain. But a lot’s changed in four years, and Trevor is stunned to find out Brad is now Shannon. Their reunion isn’t quite what either of them had hoped for, but they quickly find their footing, both relieved to have each other back.

Except nothing is ever all sunshine and roses. The military is a small world, and there’s no keeping Shannon’s transition a secret. Parents warn their kids away from her. She can’t attend school on-base for fear of harassment or worse. And although her parents try to hide it, being ostracized by their only social circle while they’re thousands of miles from home is taking a toll on them too.

More and more, Shannon leans on Trevor. But she’s also drawn to him, and he’s drawn right back to her, feeling things he’s never felt for anyone before.

Trevor’s scared, though. Not of dating a trans girl. Not of damaging his chaplain father’s career or reputation. After finally getting his friend back, does he dare take things further and risk losing Shannon a second time?

Having Her Back was a lovely surprise, I adored the story from the start till the last words. The relationship bewtween Trevor and Shannon caught my heart, althought I’m not a huge fan of young adult books, this was a truly gem.

I’d like to make a little premise, this is not an MM novel, yes Shannon is a transgender character but she is a girl and the reader needs to approach this book like it is going to read an MF novel with important themes linked to the LGBTQ world.

Having Her Back was the first book I read by Ann Gallagher but having read title she wrote under other pseudonims, I knew this new release was well written, and the double POVs in this case were very well done and needed to understand both MCs’ minds.

This is not just a YA book, but a friends to lovers too, a trope I always enjoy. I loved how Trevor and Shannon found each other again four years later, but this time when they met, Trevor came face to face with Shannon and not the Brad he left behind. And after a misunderstanding, they realized nothing really changed, on the contrary little by little, Trevor will discover an attraction he wasn’t expecting at all. Beside them, an important net of friends and family ready to stand against the world and support Shannon and Trevor on their new lives.

Never title was more fitting than Having Her Back, it sums everything the story is about. And then there’s love, in every form it can be showed, there’s sweetness, a lot of misunderstandings but they are young characters so it’s normal, at the end a good believable story. I loved it so much and feel to recommend it.

The cover art by Lori Witt is adorable.

Sales Link:  Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 250 pages

Published May 19th 2017

ASIN B07172NXLP

Edition Language English

A Stella Release Day Review: Permanent Ink (Art & Soul #1) by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

At twenty-three, Poe Montgomery is going nowhere. He still lives in his father’s basement and spends most of his time tagging with his friends. When an arrest lands him in debt, Poe accepts the front desk job at Permanent Ink, the tattoo shop owned by his father’s best friend, Jericho McAslan. Jericho is nearly twice Poe’s age, but with his ink and prematurely graying hair, he quickly takes the starring role in Poe’s hottest fantasies.

Jericho is known for his ability to transform poorly designed tattoos into works of art, but he was once as aimless and misdirected as Poe. Wanting to pay it forward the way someone once did for him, Jericho makes Poe his apprentice and is determined to keep things strictly professional. Easier said than done when Poe makes his interest—and his daddy kink—abundantly clear.

Jericho can’t resist Poe or their intense chemistry for long. But between the age gap, tension with Poe’s father, and Poe’s best friend calling him a sellout, they’ll need to ensure they’re both on the same page before they can rewrite their rocky start into something permanent.

I’m familiar with Piper Vaughn works, she is one of my fave author, I don’t even need to know the blurb of the new stories she writes, I can hit the buy button and be surprised with whatever she wants to tell her readers. That’s why I jumped at the chance to have her new co-authored novel on my kindle. Being a huge fan of her writing style I had enormous expectations for Permanent Ink. While I honestly haven’t read Avon Gale’s works (except for a well done Christmas short) but I know she is so loved. Yes, I was over the moon and I started Permanent Ink as soon as I received it.

Permanent Ink is an amazing story, first of all it’s so well written ,the reading flew easily and I was able to finish it in the blink of an eye. And the double POV was perfect to better understand both characters and know their lives from different perspectives.

I admit I fell in love with Jericho as soon as he was introduced, he is generous, funny, with a big heart and his sympathy versus all the people that come to him to have their tattoo fixed. He had a troubled past but he was lucky to find the right person who put him on the right path. That’s exactly what he hoped he could do with Poe, use the tattoo apprentice to take Poe away from bad friends and behaviours. But Poe is so much more Jericho was expecting, a talented graffiti artist and  maybe a brat too, but surely it wasn’t expecting the strong attraction that burst between them.

I adored how the relationship developed, how they were both mature and open with Landon, Poe’s dad and Jericho’s best friend. And how London was able to accept this and support both of them, the more important persons in his life. The plot is full of characters I can’t wait to know more about, I see and hope in future stories.

I can’t explain how much I loved this novel and I want to recommend it to everyone, if you love your MCs to have an age difference, if you like to read about a little daddy kink, if you are looking for great characters (main and secondary ones), well defined and positive, most of all if you want a well done book, don’t miss Permanent Ink.

The cover art by Natasha Snow is freaking awesome! I love it and I am totally picturing Jericho in the model on it.

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing |

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 256 pages

Publication Date: August 7th 2017 by Riptide Publishing

ISBN13 9781626496439

Edition Language English

Series Art & Soul #1

A Stella Review: Strong Medicine by JK Hogan

RATING  4 out of 5 stars

Strong MedicineTwo men who meet in a psychiatric institution couldn’t possibly find happiness together—could they?

The world seemed to be telling disgraced former child star and singer Cameron Fox that he would never be happy again. A drunken car accident gets him sentenced to a work release program at Riverbend Behavioral Health Facility.

Reclusive, traumatized writer Jonah Radley has an entire graveyard of skeletons in his closet. Jonah regularly hospitalizes himself for psychotic episodes caused by a horrific childhood trauma, his biggest secret—one he refuses to speak about in therapy.

Jonah and Cameron form a bond inside the hospital, forged in mutual pain and hope for a better life. Once they leave the hospital, they must decide if they are brave enough to explore the intricacies of living with mental illness—and find a new normal together.

Strong Medicine was my first book by JK Hogan and it really surprised me. Reading  the blurb I have to admit I was a little scared at the start, afraid it was going to be hard to take. It was exactly what I was expecting, I hurt  so much through all the story. Still it was so worthed.

Cameron and Jonah are completely different: the first is a former child prodige, just being excluded by his whole big family from their band and sent by a judge to a behavioral health facility, where he will work for a year and learn to never drive after having drinking. Here Cameron is soon attracted to Jonah, the young man who will later steal his heart (and mine). Jonah is a survivor, each time he needs to committee himself, afraid to hurt not only himself, he comes back to life, sure he is more shattered than ever but he is working on his illness.  And hoping for a better life.

I think what I loved more were the characters, they were real and flawed just like us. And this is something I really need in books like Strong Medicine, true and painfully beautiful stories. Yes it scared me and brought tears to my eyes more than one, following Jonah in his psychic breaks wasn’t easy, seeing through his eyes what he was seeing. But I have to say everything, every single detail, was IMO well delivered, I enjoyed a lot.

This book is not for everyone, if you like sweet and romantic stories, it is really none of that. It’s  almost unbearable in some parts but the changes in Cameron and Jonah’s lives were emotional and believable. I feel to recommend Strong Medicine to everyone but please keep in mind my previous words.

I like the cover art by Wilde City Press, the style and colors are different from the usual covers and so it’s a winner to me.

Sales Links:  Wilde City Press | ARe | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 289 pages

Published May 18th 2016 by Wilde City Press (first published May 11th 2016)

ASIN B01FEH1GL0

Edition Language English

A Stella Review: Succumbing to His Fear by River Mitchell

RATING  4 out of 5 stars

Succumbing To His FearAfter a life changing event makes Alfie the legal guardian of his estranged step-siblings, as well as a chance meeting one drunken night, he finds his world turned upside down when he discovers that everything he thought he knew about himself was catastrophically wrong.

Before meeting Alfie and his family, Fear was content with his casual hookups and one-night stands, purposefully keeping everyone at an arm’s length. As Alfie comes into his burgeoning feelings, a curveball shakes the two men, threatening to destroy Fear and his new found chance at happiness with Alfie.

With everything thrown into turmoil, Fear decides to fight for those he loves, Alfie and his family included. Will they be able to survive the collateral damage around them, or will they lose everything?

Alfie is 24 years old when he gets the news his father, unseen for about two decades, is killed in a car accident. The same dad who built a whole new family which Alfie knew nothing about. His two siblings are now waiting for him to take care of them. Moreover they are in the States, not in London where Alfie lives and to look after them, he needs to move to Pennsylvania. Of course he can’t abandon them and there  will begin a new life to Alfie and his new big family.

I admit I’m a sucker for those kind of stories, I adore reading about children and the first meeting with Griffin and Lily left me with puffy eyes.  I loved the nuggets.The book caught my attention from the start. It was hard to put my kindle down and deal with my RL. I liked the characters, all of them, especially cause I usually enjoy a large support cast and here we had so many great second characters I’d love to read more of. One more thing I loved was how easily Alfie accepted his desire for Fear, no second thoughts, no issues to solve, he just followed his heart and body.

The only reason why I’m giving Succumbing To His Fear “only” 4 stars is due to the mystery part, so unreal, it simply didn’t convince me. But if you can overcome the trite ending, you will find the novel by River Mitchell a pleasure to read. I surely will read the next book in the series about Tate and Talon. Can’t wait!

The beautiful cover by Jay Aheer is a winner to me.

Sale link:  Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 185 pages

Published February 26th 2016 by Via Star Wings Books

ASIN B01AVVS3JM

Edition Language English