Loud Is How I Love You by Mercy Brown

Title: Loud Is How I Love You (Hub City #1)

Author: Mercy Brown

Publisher: InterMix

Release Date: January 19, 2016

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / B&N / Indigo

One girl’s heart gets rocked to the core in the first novel in this sexy New Adult series.

Twenty-one-year-old front girl Emmylou knows that getting her band noticed in the ’90s indie rock scene will be no easy task. She definitely knows better than to break the number one rules of the band: Don’t sleep with your bandmates! But after she ends up having the best sex of her life with her guitarist, Travis, she finds following that rule is a lot harder than it sounds.

When the band gets the gig of their dreams, making it big seems just within reach. But Emmy’s inability to keep her hands off Travis threatens everything they’ve worked for. Can Emmy find a way to break the rules and not blow the chance of a lifetime?

I am totally guilty of judging books by their covers. Let’s be honest, it’s something we pretty much all do. Sometimes, a pretty cover ends up leading to a disappointing story. But with Mercy Brown’s Loud Is How I Love You, the story was even better than the cover.

Emmylou knows that getting your band noticed is hard. Especially when you’re just far enough from the big city to compete. But she’s determined to make it. And wheat’s going help her and her band make it? Following some simple rules, the most important being to not sleep with one of her bandmates. But that’s easier said than done. Especially since Emmy can’t stop thinking about the one night she spent with Travis, her band’s guitarist, and her best friend. All Emmy wants is for things to go back to normal, especially with the band’s big shot at getting noticed is within their grasp. But Emmy doesn’t know what normal is anymore. She just knows she wants the band to succeed and she doesn’t want to lose Travis. She just has to find a way to make both work. But that’s easier said than done.

I first found out about Mercy Brown’s Loud Is How I Love You when the cover was revealed. And I totally judged the book by its cover because I knew I wanted to read this book before I even read the description. Then I read the description and it confirmed that I wanted to read this book. Then I kind of forgot about it...until the last couple of weeks when people started talking about it again and it reminded me that I wanted to read this book. And then I read it and, guys, I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved this book. I loved reading about this band trying to figure things out in the mid-1990s in New Jersey. I loved the romance in this story. I just loved the story in Loud Is How I Love You so freaking much. And, honestly, I don’t really know how to put that love into words. Just know that if you love music, if you love romance, if you just love good stories then this is a book you need to read. Just the fact that it’s set in the 90s indie rock scene should really be enough to get you to pick up this book. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia?

I’m pretty sure the reason I loved Loud Is How I Love You as much as I did is because of the characters. No joke, I wanted to be best friends will all the members of Starts on the Floor. Beyond being a band, they were just this awesome group of friends and they seemed like they always had such a great time together. So many times while I was reading, I was just cracking up at their interactions and conversations with one another and it just made me want to be friends with these people even more. But most of all, I just really want to be friends with Emmy. I loved the way her brain works. The way she would have these inner monologues that would go on tangents that didn’t really seem to make sense but they actually did. Maybe that’s because that’s how my own brain has a tendency to work. But at the end of the day I loved her. And then there was Travis. Who, obviously, I loved. Did I mention that I loved basically everyone in this book? But back to Travis. He was pretty freaking fantastic. As much as I loved Emmy, at one point I wanted to yell at her to get over herself and stop pushing Travis away. But it all worked out and I was happy.

In case it wasn’t clear, I loved Mercy Brown’s Loud Is How I Love You. I loved the romance, I loved the friendship, I loved the music, and I loved the 90s throwback. And I can’t wait to read more about this band and their friends in Stay Until We Break.

Series Review - Reluctant Hearts by Brighton Walsh

Title: Caged in Winter (Reluctant Hearts #1)

Author: Brighton Walsh

Publisher: Berkley Books

Release Date: November 4, 2014

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

In this emotional and sexy New Adult debut from Brighton Walsh, the only thing more frightening then commitment is hope…

Aspiring chef Cade Maxwell is immediately, viscerally attracted to Winter Jacobson. But it’s not her mouthwatering curves he’s drawn to—it’s the strange emptiness in her eyes. When Cade saves her from a drunken customer with grabby hands, he’s shocked at her response…

Winter doesn’t need Cade’s help. After a lifetime of getting by on her own, she’s happy to rely on herself. She’s exactly seventy-six days away from graduating college, and if she can hold it together that long, she’ll finally be able to rise above the crappy hand she was dealt.

But now, every time she turns around, Cade is there, ready to push her, smile at her, distract her from her plans. Winter knows she can’t afford to open up—especially to a man she’s terrified to actually want…

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Cade wasn't looking for anything or anyone when he first came across Winter at the bar where she's a waitress. But after helping her with a handsy customer he can't stop thinking about her. And he's determined to find out more about her, to get to know her. Except that Winter is not looking for a hero. She's only has a couple months of school left before she can finally make something of her life. But Cade isn't ready to let her go that easily. And the more he pushes, the more Winter starts to open up, even if she doesn't want to.

WHAT I THOUGHT

I somehow missed the memo about Brighton Walsh’s Caged in Winter when it first came out. Like I don’t even know what I was doing that I missed it. And even then, I only found out it existed after randomly coming across Tessa Ever After, wanting to read it,  and then realizing that it was the second in the series. All that to say that I have since (obviously) rectified the situation and read Caged in Winter. Which opened the door to some binge-reading of the other books in this series once I got my hands on them. But about Caged in Winter itself. I loved Cade and Winter. Sure, there were plenty of times when I wanted to slap them both in the back of the head and tell them to pull it together and stop being idiots, but I really did like them. A lot. I sped through their story, rooting for them every step of the way despite my sometimes momentary frustrations with them. But they made it through and I loved them all the more for it. And as much as I loved them together, it should be said that Cade and Winter were also pretty awesome individually. Even if it sometimes drove me a little crazy, I loved and respected Winter’s desire to do everything on her own. And Cade? My heart melted a little bit anytime he interacted with his niece. There is just nothing more adorable than a big tattooed guy having a tea party with his four-year-old niece. And obviously reading Caged in Winter made it clear that I needed to read the rest of the books in this series. 

Title: Tessa Ever After (Reluctant Hearts #2)

Author: Brighton Walsh

Publisher: Berkley Books

Release Date: May 5, 2015

Source: Gifted

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

In this grippingly emotional New Adult novel from the author of Caged in Winter, what you want isn’t always what you need…

Jason’s been living (and loving) the rich playboy lifestyle for five years, but now his parents are pressuring him to get involved in the family business. The last thing he wants is another obligation, but when his best friend moves out of state and asks Jason to look after his sister, he can’t just say no.

Tessa had to grow up way too soon. After dealing with the aftermath of her parents’ deaths, then becoming a teenage mom, she knows the meaning of responsibility. Which is why, at twenty-two, she’s looking for so much more than a party boy. She’s looking for someone who can stand by her and her daughter…forever.

A relationship between them is doomed from the start, but who says they can’t have a little fun? But as Jason gets closer to Tessa—and her daughter—fun starts to turn into something else…Something Jason’s no sure he’s ready for.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Even though she's just twenty-two, Tessa knows a lot about life. It's what happens when you get pregnant and have  daughter at seventeen. Now, she's ready to settle down and find someone who'll be there for her and Haley. But the person who steps up is the last one she expected. When his best friend asked him to look out for his sister, Jason never thought it would be anything more than checking in on Tessa and Haley once in a while. But the more time he spends with Tessa, the more he finds himself wanting to be there for her and her daughter. He just has to prove to her that he isn't the party boy she's known him as her whole life. 

WHAT I THOUGHT

I apparently love books that involve children. So really, reading Tessa Ever After was a no-brainer for me. And Haley, the child in this particular story, is adorable. Add to that Jason and Tessa and well I couldn’t possibly not love this book. I always love romances between people who’ve known each other their whole lives. I love seeing that friendship turn into something more. And I loved seeing that happen for Jason and Tessa, even though neither one of them expected things to go that way. And Tessa and Jason were just fun to see together because of all that shared history they had. Granted that shared history sometimes made it so both of them were hesitant to get involved in anything romantic with each other. But still. I loved it. And much like Cade with Haley was adorable, seeing Jason step up and take care of that little girl completely melted my heart. And Cade's reaction to hist best friend and sister getting together? I was laughing. And I should probably mention that I loved Tessa, right? Because I did. If I had had a kid at seventeen, I can only hope I would have my life as together as Tessa does. Also, I want to be friends with her because she's pretty awesome. And I just know we would have a blast hanging out together. With Haley, too, of course. 

Title: Paige in Progress (Reluctant Hearts #3)

Author: Brighton Walsh

Publisher: Bright Publishing

Release Date: January 19, 2016

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

She wanted a one-night stand…and then he moved in next door.

Paige Bennett is more than content with her life and what she does—and does not—have in it. She’s got a supportive family, a great apartment, and the best friend a girl could ask for; so what if her relationships expire faster than a carton of milk? After a disastrous detour courtesy of poor judgement in the boyfriend department, her plan is back on track and her dream job is finally within her grasp. Nothing can make her lose focus now. Well, nothing except the one-night stand she had with her best friend’s surrogate brother. The one-night stand she can’t stop thinking about.

Adam Reid has always been reliable…the responsible son, the loyal friend, the steady boyfriend. Two years ago, he graduated Magna Cum Laude and is well on his way to making a name for himself at an accounting firm in Denver—a far cry from working as a helper in the Mom and Pop store his parents own in Michigan. But when said store starts failing, he’s the only on who can step in and help. So reliable Adam does what he always does and comes to the rescue.

Paige thought Adam was a safe bet because he lives halfway across the country. But then suddenly he’s moving back to their town, and then into her apartment building, and soon he’s worming his way right into her life. If she’s not careful, he might sneak his way into her heart, too…

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

When she hooked up with him all those months ago, Paige thought Adam would be the perfect one-night stand. After all, he lives halfway across the country. What she didn't count on was being unable to stop thinking about him. And him unexpectedly showing up in town and moving in to the apartment across the hall from her. But even though she can't stop thinking about him, Paige isn't looking for a relationship. Adam, hasn't stopped thinking about Paige either. And he's determined to spend more time with her. If only he could convince her that relationships aren't as bad as she believes they are. But then, what happens when Adam has to leave town again?

WHAT I THOUGHT

I have a lot of book boyfriends, let’s not kid ourselves here. And I often say that I wouldn’t mind if a guy from a book existed in real life. But never has that been more true than with Adam in Paige in Progress. I have come to the conclusion that Adam is pretty much my dream guy. Seriously. Every time I thought he couldn’t get more perfect, something new would happen and I would fall for Adam a little harder. Also, I want to be Paige’s new best friend. Well, actually her’s and Tessa’s new best friend. I just know we would have a lot of fun together. Because I loved Paige something fierce. I just loved her attitude and the way she didn’t take crap from anyone. And how she and Adam were together? When she wasn’t having a mini breakdown about the idea of being in a relationship, that is. That’s the kind of relationship I want with someone. There was just so much that I loved about Paige in Progress and of the three books in this series, I think it might just be my favourite. Probably (definitely) because of Adam (but Cade and Jason are great, too). All that to say that I absolutely loved reading this book.

VERDICT ON THE SERIES?

If you love New Adult romance and haven't yet picked up Brighton Walsh's Reluctant Hearts series, what are you waiting for? Believe me when I say that you need to read these books, like yesterday. And don't even think about trying to fight me for Adam because I've already called dibs.

The Turning Point by Marie Meyer

Title: The Turning Point

Author: Marie Meyer

Publisher: Forever Yours

Release Date: January 12, 2016

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

It’s funny how a piece of paper can change your life—a diploma, a ticket…a plain white envelope.

For as long as I could remember, I was the girl with the plan. Good college, good medical school, good career. I would save lives instead of standing by helplessly, watching while they slipped away.

That was before my father called for the first time in fifteen years to tell me about the terminal illness stealing his life—an illness that might be stealing mine, too. It was before he gave me the name of a doctor and a plane ticket to Italy. Before I flew across an ocean. Before I realized how brilliantly bright life could be. Before I met Lucas.

He’s everything I’ve always wanted, and the timing couldn’t be worse. I can’t do this to him—he deserves so much better. My head tells me I can’t afford to fall in love with Lucas, but my heart won’t listen. Lucas is fearless about the future, while I’m not even sure I have one. There’s only one way to know what’s ahead and it’s waiting for at home inside a plain, white envelope.

All I have to do, is open it…

I pretty much love any book that involves travelling. And I will read pretty much any book that involves travelling. And travelling was all I really knew about Marie Meyer’s The Turning Point when I found out about it. And that’s pretty much the only reason I wanted to read it. Well, that and the fact that it was a romance.

Sophia thought she knew what the summer after her college graduation was going to look like. She would spend a couple weeks helping out her mom at her family’s gelato shop, and then she would start med school early. But that was before her estranged father dropped and information bomb in her lap. Before he offered her a six-week paid trip to Italy. And before Sophia decided to go on that trip and met Lucas. She couldn’t have met Lucas at a worst time. But she can’t help the way she feels about him and Lucas shows her what the future could be like. But in order to have that future, in order to be with Lucas, Sophia is going to have to go back home and face what her father revealed.

Travel books are totally one of my weak spots. If a book involves travel, I will read. I don’t really need to know much more about it than that. And that’s all I really needed to know before I clicked “request” on Marie Meyer’s The Turning Point. Well, that and that it was a New Adult romance. Travel + NA + romance, that’s like the definition of an Emilie book if ever we were to put what those books are into words. Add to that the fact that the travelling in this books is in Italy, which is pretty much my favourite place to travle, and I just had to read this book. And I was absolutely right in assuming that I would enjoy reading The Turning Point because I totally did. I loved that there was more to this story than just a girl hopping on a place to Italy where she meets a hot guy and falls in love. Don’t get wrong, I love those stories (and I not so secretly wish they would happen to me any time I set foot on a plane), but I liked that there was more to it than just that with The Turning Point. And a lot of that, for me at least, had to do with the fact that I really enjoyed the characters, almost more so than the story itself.

I really enjoyed seeing Sophia’s growth over the course of the story. Seeing her go through everything she did in order to accept what was potentially happening to her and coming out the other side. Granted, there were times when I anted to tell her to stop being stupid and just be with Lucas. But at the same time I could absolutely understand her reservations and why she was doing what she was doing. But still. You don’t walk away from Lucas. Because when I said that the characters were a large part of why I enjoyed this story as much as I did, what I really meant to say is that I loved Lucas and therefore I really liked this story. I don’t know what it was about Lucas but he just worked for me. That’s really all I can say about him. Well, I can say more (and I will) but that’s all you really need to know about him. But for real, I loved how easygoing Lucas was, and how willing he was to just be there for Sophia no matter what. And the next time I travel to Italy, I hope I find my own Lucas. Because I really wouldn’t mind. 

If you’re looking for a fun romance that digs a little deeper while also making you want to hop on the first available flight to Italy, then Marie Meyer’s The Turning Point is the book you’re looking for. Just know that you’re going to want to find a hot video game creator the next time you travel to Naples. 

Call Me Maybe by Ellie Cahill

Title: Call Me Maybe

Author: Ellie Cahill

Publisher: Loveswept

Release Date: February 9, 2016

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / B&N / Indigo

Clementine Daly knows he’s the black sheep. Her wealthy, powerful family has watcher her very closely since she almost got caught in an embarrassing scandal a few years ago. So when Clementine’s sent on a mission to live up to the Daly name, politely declining isn’t even an option. Of course, the last thing Clementine does before departure is grab a stranger’s phone by mistake—leaving the hunky journalist with her phone. Soon his sexy voice is on the line, but he doesn’t know her real name, or her famous pedigree—which is just the way Clementine likes it.

Despite all the hassles, Justin Mueller is intrigued to realize that the beautiful brown-eyed girl he met at the airport is suddenly at his fingertips. They agree to exchange phones when they’re both back in town, but after a week of flirty texts and wonderfully intimate conversations, Justin doesn’t wan tot let her go that easy. The only problem? It turns out Clementine has been lying to him about, well, everything. Except for the one thing two people can’t fake, the only thing that matters: The heat between them is real.

It might only be February, but I think I already have a contender for one of the cutest books I’ll read in 2016. And that’s saying something coming from someone who reads basically any book that is described as cute or adorable. But I can’t help it, Ellie Cahill’s Call Me Maybe was just a fun and adorable read that I loved.

After what almost happened a few years ago, Clementine Daly knows to keep a close eye on her phone. The last thing she wants is a repeat of that, especially when she’s supposed to finally be figuring out what to do with her life to live up to the Daly name. So when she realizes that she grabbed the wrong phone in her rush to get on her plane, Clementine panics. She can’t even begin to imagine what would happen if the wrong person ended up with her phone. When she finds out that the hot guy from the airport is who has her phone, Clementine starts to think that things might not be so bad. Especially when they start texting back and forth. Justin Mueller thought that ending up with  stranger’s phone would just be a major inconvenience. But as he gets to know the girl with his phone, Justin realizes that even once he gets his phone back, he wants to keep talking and getting to know Clementine. If she’ll let him. But Clementine hasn’t been entirely truthful about who she is. But if she wants to be with Justin, she’s going to have to prove to him that she hasn’t been lying to him about everything.

Ellie Cahill’s When Joss Met Matt was one of my favourite NA reads of 2015 (or 2014? I can’t exactly remember when I read it…#booknerdproblems) and so I’ve been looking forward to reading her next book ever since. When I read the synopsis for Call Me Maybe, my excitement for the book grew exponentially...and it ensured that I ended up with Carly Rae Jepsen’s song stuck in my head for a few days. It just sounded like an adorable story that would totally be my kind of book. And trust me when I say that it was both of those things. In Call Me Maybe, Ellie Cahill writes a story that  is all kinds of adorable. I mean, how could it not be? Two people accidentally trade phones without realizing it and then start getting to know each other as they plan how to return the phones to their rightful owners. I’m not going to lie, most of the time I spent reading this book, I had a stupid smile on my face. I just couldn’t help it. I was powerless against the adorableness of the story. Call Me Maybe was just a fun story to read, that’s all there is to it. (Actually, there was more to it than fun, but I’m trying to keep things short and sweet here okay?) And a lot of that fun and adorableness had to do with Clementine and Justin. And Justin’s early texts to Clementine because those were just the cutest thing.

One of the ways I immediately connected with this story was through Clementine. Though I might not come from a family that is practically considered American royalty, that whole what do I do with my life now that I’m done with college part of her? Yeah, totally been there, done that (and still doing it, for that matter). And the romance book loving. That I definitely understood. Needless to say, I liked Clementine. A lot. But Justin? Justin is the reason I now hope I accidentally switch phones with someone at the airport. Because Justin made that whole experience seem like a lot of fun. And like a fantastic way to fall in love. I mean, if I had been on the receiving end of those texts, I would have had pretty much the same reaction as Clementine (as in fall for him before even meeting him in person). But for real, Justin was great and I loved him. I loved how easygoing he was and how he challenged Clementine in the best ways. And they were just adorable together, okay? That’s really all you need to know.

Ellie Cahill’s Call Me Maybe was totally the adorable book I had hoped it would be. I couldn’t stop smiling while reading and it made my heart happy. The only downside? I’ve had Carly Rae Jepsen’s song of the same name stuck in my head ever since I finished reading.

The Score by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Score (Off-Campus #3)

Author: Elle Kennedy

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: January 11, 2016

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / B&N / Indigo

He knows how to score, on and off the ice.

Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she’s going to do after college. To make matter worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the kind of one-night stands.

It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over

Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.

In 2015, Elle Kennedy became one of those authors where I drop everything when I get my hands on one of her books. And then I proceed to do nothing else until I’ve finished reading said book. And I’ve yet to be disappointed by any of those books. In fact The Score might just be my new favourite.

Allie might not know what she’s going to do after graduation but she knows one thing for sure: she’s ready to put her broken heart behind her and move forward. The way she figures, rebound sex with someone she couldn’t possibly want to be in a relationship with is the perfect way to do just that. And Dean Di Laurentis is the perfect candidate. Or at least he would have been if he would stop trying to get her back into bed after that first night they spent together. Dean never expected to want more than one night with Allie, he’s not usually one for repeat performances with girls after all. But there’s just something about Allie that makes him want to keep going back for more. If he really wants Allie though, Dean is going to have to go beyond his usual tricks in order to get the girl. 

When I first read The Deal close to a year ago, it was an instant favourite. I mean, how could I not fall in love with Garrett and Hannah? They were just so freaking adorable and perfect and they just put a big, goofy smile on my face. Then I read The Mistake and though I loved it, it didn’t displace The Deal as a favourite. I fully expected things to go the same way with The Score before I started reading. It’s just one of those things, the first book in a series always seems to be my favourite. But I was wrong. I was really, really, really wrong. Because The Score? Totally my favourite out of the three. I did not expect to feel this way about Allie and Dean’s story at all. I mean, I knew I was going to like it, but I had my reservations about what might happen with them. Those reservations went straight out the window about three pages into the book. I got sucked into this story in no time at all. It made me laugh (a lot), put me in a slightly awkward position when I was reading certain parts in public, and definitely broke my heart a couple times along the way. But the end result made it absolutely worth it. And by the way, if you reach the end of this book and don’t immediately need the next one, I don’t understand you. At all. And we might not be able to be friends anymore. (Just kidding. Well, mostly.)

Before reading The Score, Allie was just Hannah’s best friend. I had kind of seen her in passing but didn’t know all that much about her beyond her theater background. Now I can say that Allie is such a relatable character. There were so many times while I was reading that I would think to myself “Yes! This! This is what I mean! Allie gets me!” And nowhere was that more true than when it came to her feelings about casual sex versus sex in a committed relationship. The way she would struggle with the idea of just having casual sex, not because she thought there was anything wrong with girls (or people in general) engaging in casual sex, but because of how the world made her think she should feel about it. That internal struggle just felt so real and so relevant and it’s one that most girls, regardless of their age, but especially when in college, struggle with. Add to that all the other aspects of Allie’s character, and it was pretty much impossible for me not to love her. And don’t even get me started on Dean. Dean hadn’t exactly made a fantastic impression on me in the previous two books. And the first time I saw him in The Score, that impression didn’t exactly improve. But about two chapters later, I was like Allie, and well on my way to falling in love with Dean. Dean just took me completely by surprised. And much like I loved Allie’s inner struggle with casual sex, I absolutely loved Dean’s fierce stance against slut shaming. It was pretty freaking fantastic to see a male character take a stand against it and it only really made me love Dean that much more. Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, Hannah and Garrett are still just as adorable as ever.

So The Score? Totally my new favourite Elle Kennedy book. It was just everything to me. Though based on what was revealed at the end of this one, I have a strong feeling that The Goal might give it a run for its money. But for now, I’ll just stick to having ALL the Allie and Dean feels.