Escape by Jay Crownover

   It's been 5 years since I first proclaimed my love for the fabulous Jay Crownover and I'm very happy to say that the love has only grown. By now you all know how much I adore the Marked Men series and I have to say the Getaway series is just as good!
   Last year I was sent Retreat for review and I LOVED it. If you'd like to check out the review click HERE When I saw that Escape was up I jumped on it. FYI I have not read the second one. I apparently was living under a rock last year and not paying attention to the fact that Shelter was released. I do plan on reading it but because I was sent Escape for review I had to have it up by a certain time. Anyway enough of that boring stuff, on with the review!
   Through out Escape we follow Lane - one of the Warner brothers who are the lead men in the other two books - and Brynn. If you haven't read the first book let me give you a little back story. Lane and Brynn were best friends growing up and he took on the role of her protector because her home life was terrible. When Brynn got older and was beat up by another one of her mothers drunken boyfriends - this one even trying to sell her into human trafficking - Lane proposed to her to get her out of her mothers house. After telling him no because she didn't feel like he was asking for the reason she wanted him to his father proposed to marry her in name only because he was ill and could bring her into his family. She said yes and from that day forward there was tension between Lane and her. Okay now flash forward years and years and Brynn is being proposed to by another man that she isn't in love with and Lane takes off. After a few days she goes after him and asks him to come home to which he agrees.
   Now what's great about this is through out the story we get to watch them finally do something about their feelings for one another and we also get to see characters we fell in love with in the start of this series. But what I love is that Jay also includes this thriller aspect to it which she did in the first book and from the sounds of it the second as well. So not only are you getting this love story but you're also getting to experience this thrilling ride. It's awesome.
   Lane is by far one of my favorite men that Jay Crownover has ever written. He's the kind of guy that I would love forever and ever. Brynn is also one of the best girls she's ever written because she's sweet but she's also a bad ass - as are a lot of her characters.
   I also loved the guest appearance of a character from the Marked Men series but I'm not telling you who it is. Just know that when I read it I got very very excited.

I'm giving Escape 5/5 donuts!
                                       

Buy Escape Here:
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OMG That Song Book Tag

My Jam
A song you have to listen to no matter how many times you've heard it and a book you'll never get sick of.Literally every Ed Sheeran song.
...TFIOS.

Throwback
A song that reminds you of the cringiest time in your life and a book that you read that you wouldn't like if you read now.
Lullaby by The Cure - Bad relationship. Ish. Bad breakup. Ish.
Ironically the song choice was because of a guy who I wouldn't like now and you want the book I wouldn't read. I'm going to go with Insurgent because I hate Allegiant and should've stopped with Divergent. Did you follow that mess? :P

Replay
A recent song that you have on repeat and a recent favorite book.
This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things by Taylor Swift
See Me by Nicholas Sparks

Gets Me
A song that is literally me and a book that is me in book form.
Don't Stop Believin by Journey. I am a small town girl and I took a train...to Utah.
Gosh this ones hard. I think I'm a lot like Becky from the Shopaholic series except for like the excessive spending. More like the awkward, silly, I love shopping part of her.

WUT
A weird song that you liked anyway and a unique book that stuck out to you for some reason.
Informer by Snow.
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout!

Let's Go
Pick your best pump up song and a book that inspires you.
If you mean pump up like excercise then Air Force Ones by Nelly. If you mean pump up like make me feel better I'll go with Fight Song by Rachel Platten.
TFIOS inspires me because Hazel goes through so damn much and she's still incredible.

Chill
Your best chill or relaxing song and a book you'd curl up with on a rainy day
I love to listen to John Mayer when I want to chill, any song of his, I don't care which. I always want to curl up with Twilight on a rainy/snowy day.

Addicting
A guilty pleausre song and a light, trashy read you can't help but love.
Barbie Girl by Aqua.
Fifty Shades series :P

Nostalgia
A throwback song you look back on fondly and a book you read and loved when you were little.
Mmbop by Hanson
Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume.

The Very Irresistible Playboy by Lila Monroe

Good afternoon fellow book addicts, today I have a review on The Very Irresistible Playboy by Lila Monroe. To start off I want to say that I was sent an ARC of this for my honest review and an honest review you shall recieve.

Here's the lowdown, we follow Max and Hallie who have sizzling hot chemistry and are an incredibly enjoyable couple to read about. Hallie is an aspiring photographer who's trying to get her foot in the door and Max is an exceptionally wealthy man from a very well known family. Hallie finds herself without work when she meets Olivia who convinces her to work for her. What's the job? Pretending to be Max Carlisle's girlfriend on his family trip. If she can pretend for one week that she's desperately in love with Max she'll walk away with $50,000. But in typical rom com style she wants more than money.

When the two of them get to Florida and begin the family schmoozing they find out that Max's grandfather has changed his will and Max and his relatives have the oppurtunity to win everything he has. How? By competing in a scavenger hunt. Max and Hallie embark on a seriously hilarious adventure to find all of the clues and win the fortune.

When I went into this I didn't realize it would be so funny! Hallie cracks me up and Max is obviously charming. I loved reading about the two of them and I would love to read more honestly.

The only downside I can say is that if you're not a fan of insta love then this book isn't for you. It's a quick read so that makes it feel even faster and I know some people seriously hate that trope. But if you're looking for a comical sweet rom com-esque book then you've found it.

I'm giving The Very Irresistible Playboy 3.5/5 Donuts!

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Nope Book Tag

1. Nope: Ending
A book that made you go NOPE either in denial, rage, or simply because the ending was crappy.
The ending of Allegiant. I threw the book, I kid you not.

2. Nope: Protagonist
A main character you dislike and drives you crazy.
Nan from the Rosemary Beach series drove me bonkers. When I found out Abbi Glines wrote a book for her I was not a happy little camper...but I ended up loving her because Abbi Glines does this to you.

3. Nope Series
A series that turned out to be one huge pile of nope after you've invested all that time and energy on it, or a series you gave up on because it wasn't worth it anymore.
Can I say the Divergent series? I mean I already said Allegiant. I loved the first book, liked the 2nd and felt like I'd wasted all my time after the 3rd.

4. Nope: Popular Pairing
A "ship" you don't support.
Katniss and Peeta. #TeamGale

5. Nope: Plot Twist
A plot twist you didn't see coming or didn't like.
I didn't see a plot twist that happened in the Mortal Instruments series concerning Jace and Clary. I won't say it just in case you haven't read it.

6. Nope: Protagonist action/decision
A character decision that made you shake your head.
When Edward breaks Bella's car so she can't go see Jacob. Not cool man, not cool.

7. Nope: Genre
A genre you will never read.
I don't see myself reading Sci-fi.

8. Nope: Trope
A trope that makes you go nope.
Not the biggest fan of love triangles. Sometimes I don't mind them but when that's all I've been reading I'm kinda over it.

9. Nope: Recommendation

A book recommendation that is constantly hyped and pushed at you that you simply refuse to read.
I don't really refuse to read it but the Throne of Glass series is so hyped and I just don't really see myself getting into it.

10. Nope: Cliche/pet peeve
A cliche or writing pet peeve that always makes you roll your eyes.
When authors say "I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding." I actually giggle every time I read that.

11. Nope: Love Interest
The love interest that's not worthy of being one/A character you don't think should have been a viable love interest.
Peeta. #TeamGale :P

12. Nope: Villain
A scary villain/antagonist you would hate to cross and would make you run in the opposite direction.
Lord Voldemort...he's a scary SOB.

Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker

   A couple months back I received an email asking me if I wanted to read Keep Her Safe for review. As I usually do I looked into the plot of the book to see if it was something that interested me. USA Today said "Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and illicit affairs from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrate for her "propulsive plot twists and searing seduction." 
   If that doesn't sound intriguing I don't know what does. I finished this book very quickly because I simply couldn't put it down, that's how good it was!
   The book begins with two police officers, Jackie and Abe, who are not only partners but best friends. Abe is like a father to Jackie's son Noah, so when Abe is murdered in a hotel drug bust not only do they lose their friend but Abe's daughter Gracie and his wife are left behind as well.
   Flash forward many years later and Jackie -who's now Chief- is also a drunk who is constantly facing demons from her past. Noah returns home one night to his mother so intoxicated that he can't understand any of the cryptic comments she's making to him. He goes to take a shower and while he's gone Jackie commits suicide. Leaving behind not only a destraught son she also leaves behind clues for Noah telling him that Abe's murder wasn't what everyone thinks it was. She also leaves him money that she instructs him to give to Gracie who now lives in a trailer with her drug addicted mother who has never recovered from Abe's death.
   Gracie and Noah get off to a rough start but after things are explained and the two of them go on the hunt to find out the true story of her fathers murder things start to heat up not only between them but in the case as well.
   I loved that there was a relationship we got to watch form between the two of them but I also loved that I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going to happen. Who killed her father? Why was he murdered? Would Noah and Gracie be next for not leaving the past in the past?
If you're looking for something to keep you guessing and also will give you the romance you crave then I definitely recommend picking up a copy of Keep Her Safe.

Buy Keep Her Safe Here:
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4.5/5 Donut Stars!!

See Me by Nicholas Sparks

I've been reading Nicholas Sparks books since I was in 8th grade. I'm 27. That's a hot minute. The last one I read was Safe Haven and that was yeeeears ago. I've recently been going to my library a lot and by habit I go straight to the Nicholas Sparks section. I saw See Me and decided it was time to read another of his novels so I checked this bad lad out.
Oh goodness did I love it. If you're a fan of Mr. Sparks then you know he's known for writing romance and his characters don't often fare to well. In Safe Haven he introduces more of a thriller aspect and I loved it, it's actually one of my favorites of his. See Me also has you on the edge of your seat and it kept me intrigued the entire time - which by the way is a big deal considering this book is almost 500 pages.
Colin has been in trouble most of his life and is currently at the top of a cops watch list. If he screws up at all this dude is gonna lock him in a cell and throw away the key. Even though he has a troubled past Colin is trying to better himself by exercising religiously to calm the rage and is in college with the goal of becoming an elementary teacher.
Maria is a lawyer who is working for a firm that is home to a dude who is a serious creep in the "I cheat on my wife and sexually harass pretty girls" kinda way.
The two of them meet one night when Maria is stranded on the side of the road and Colin offers to fix her tire. Funny enough Colin is in one of Maria's sisters classes and they end up meeting again and hit it off.
Throughout the book we get to watch their relationship develop and really watch them grow as individuals as well.
However while we are experiencing their love story something more sinister is brewing. Someone is following Maria and watching her every move. She begins getting threatening letters and threats of other sorts. Together Colin and Maria are trying to figure out who is stalking her before it's too late.
If you're interested in romance with an edge then See Me is for you!!

I'm bringing back my donut "stars" rating system!
I'm giving See Me 4/5 donuts!!

Buy See Me Here:
Amazon
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Kobo

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Top 10 Books of 2017

In 2015 I only read 17 books so my post last year was only my top 5. This year I read 32 so I'm going to do a Top 10! Enjoy :)

10. The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans
REVIEW HERE

9. All Broke Down by Cora Carmack
I thought I had reviewed this one but I can't seem to find it. I thought this book was so darn sweet and Cora Carmack can do no wrong!

8. See Me by Nicholas Sparks
My review for this is coming Thursday so please check back to see what I thought. I will say now that I loved it and it's in my Top 5 favorite Nicholas Sparks books.

7. Under The Lights by Abbi Glines
REVIEW HERE

6. Without Merit by Colleen Hoover
REVIEW HERE

5. Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker
REVIEW HERE

4. To Hate Adam Connor by Ella Maise
REVIEW HERE

3. Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick
REVIEW HERE

2. Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines
REVIEW HERE

1. Confess by Colleen Hoover
REVIEW HERE

Honorable Mention:
Retreat by Jay Crownover
REVIEW HERE

2018 Bookish Goals

My Bookish Goals for 2017 Were:
-Read 20 Books
-Interview 5 people
-Post 2 times a week again
- Reach 100,000 pageviews
-Participate in at least 3 blog tours
-Review 10 books
-Post 6 more DUFF stories

I read 33 books this year which makes me super happy. I set my goal on Goodreads to 20 and then raised it to 25 and then again to 30. Lucky for me I had a really good reading month in December as well as most of the year.
I in fact did not interview 5 people and honestly I'm kinda bummed about it. I did interview an awesome author named David so many thank yous to him for taking the time to answer my questions. If you'd like to read that interview click HERE
For the most part I have posted 2 times a week and I have 6 more posts than I did last year!
We've reached 250,712 pageviews guys! I'm so thankful that you all take the time to read what I have to say, it means more than you'll ever know.
I participated in 2 blog tours this year so I didn't meet that goal but it's better than none! ;)
I totally surpassed my goal of reviewing 10 books by doing 24! Yay! :)
And for the DUFF stories I did not meet my goal and unfortunately only did the one, however it was a great one!

My Bookish Goals for 2018 Are:
-Read 20 books (I don't want to set my goal to high because then I get discouraged)
-Interview 5 people (I'm gonna achieve this one dang it!)
-Reach 300,000 pageviews
-Review at least 15 books
-Participate in 5 Blog Tours

Hello 2018

It's 2018! Whaaaaaat?
I for one I can't believe it but boy am I ready to embrace it.
Every year I do a post like this thanking all of the wonderful people who help make my blog what it is. This year I want to thank David Jolly for giving me the time to interview him, Heather for being so open in her DUFF article, all the people I work with at Atria who hook me up with ARCs, Loot Crate, Turo and mostly every single one of you who take the time to read my posts. Every single one of you mean so stinkin much to me and I will never be able to express to you how thankful I am.

I have a post going up Thursday for my Bookish Goals so you'll see those then, but before I close this post I want to tell you all that I'm hoping to make 2018 a great year on my blog and I hope you all are as excited as I am.

Please leave comments letting me know what you're most excited for in 2018. Also if you have any ideas on what you'd like to see on my blog please leave me suggestions. I love hearing from you all :)