5 Stars – Elite Hall Publishing House

October 2, 2019

GETTING PLAYED (Getting Some #2) by EMMA CHASE

5 'we fell completely in love' stars!

‘I want to be her everything. Because somewhere along the line, that’s what Lainey’s become to me. Everything.’

We’ve been chomping at the bit for this book, desperately looking forward to returning to Lakeside, New Jersey to meet the girl who puts Garrett’s (from Getting Schooled Book #1) best mate, the drum playing, nerdy hot teacher, Dean Walker on his arse! Well, what a hit! We fell in love with everything about this story! The sexiness, the banter, the swoon, the characters and of course, Dean, as brought to life by the undisputed Queen of the male POV, in her own inimitable style!

We absolutely loved this story! Lainey was a fiercely protective Mum who had the most amazing relationship with her son. We loved how Dean not only taught these super-intelligent young minds educationally but also, about life. To enjoy it, and to just 'be kids'. Great message! The sweet and tender intimacy between Lainey and Dean complimented the sizzling and lusty chemistry perfectly.

September 22, 2019

BEARD WITH ME (Winston Brothers #5.5) by PENNY REID

5 emotional and heartbreaking stars!

‘It felt so good. It felt more than good. It felt like the beginning of something terrible and beautiful and dangerous and wonderful.’

This was the story we always wanted but were in no way prepared for. We were rendered speechless breathed in with every word. Although acutely painful, it still maintained the warmth and wit synonymous with Penny Reid’s stories. The Winston’s with their quirks and quick tempers exude the family loyalty and love that continually steals a little more of our hearts with each book.

This agonisingly heartbreaking story harboured a pain that spanned nearly twenty years and was a difficult story to read. We can only surmise the pain the author went through bringing this story to life, and we applaud her for telling it in all its raw, gritty, ugly and beautiful glory. Billy Winston – this boy – he made us believe that not all hero’s wear capes. He was written to perfection.

September 15, 2019

CHERRY BEATS by VICKI JAMES

5 Stars! You HAVE to read this book! A 2019 favourite, and up there as of our favourite Rockstar Reads of all time!

“Nothing tells you what a girl really wants to say like the song she’s begging you to listen to.”
“Don’t forget what this journey is about: the music, Presley. Always the music.”

Cherry Beats is THE rock star romance we have been searching for to satisfy our need for the real world of rock music, the raw emotions, the feeling of being in a packed stadium audience reverently banging our heads and belting out much-loved rock songs…out of tune of course. Cherry Beats is everything and Vicki James nailed it. The rock scene isn’t pretty, it isn’t all fun and fluff. Its highs can be equally matched with its low’s. It can be as dark as it can be bathed in a spotlight of adoration. It’s as filled with as much angst and self-doubt as it is filled with overwhelming joy and self-satisfaction.

In our opinion, the balance to get a rock star romance spot on is like walking a tightrope, this Author danced all over that tightrope and made it her bitch. She gave us everything and more. In Cherry Beats, Vicki James wrote one of our favourite rock star romances, one which will go on the list of never forget. The writing was outstanding and we must have highlighted half the book, as our hearts were pulled back and forth by truths, analogies, heartbreak, love, self-searching and the utter despair and exhilaration of achieving childhood dreams. And of course -the music- always the music.

Read more here:
CHERRY BEATS by VICKI JAMES

August 31, 2019

FIGHTING ABSOLUTION by KATE McCARTHY

5 emotional and unforgettable stars! **Spoiler Free Review**

‘Jamie is my best friend, and I’m in love with her. How am I supposed to let her go?’

We cannot begin to describe how breath-taking yet heart-breaking this book is, how utterly captivating it is in its ugly and tragic reality. The tremendous and detailed research Kate McCarthy clearly carried out massively showed, also it ensured that we felt like we were in the midst of war with the brave souls fighting for the freedom of others.

Fighting Absolution will stay with us as we struggle to let this story go. The characters safe in our hearts for a long time to come. The emphasis on friendship, loyalty, hardship, compassion, and love was outstanding and gave us goosebumps at times. Without question, this will be a top favourite read of 2019, one we will never forget. We closed this book with tears rolling down our cheeks and a smile on our faces from the sheer intensity of emotions we experienced whilst reading. You do not want to miss this epic read! Little Warrior and Bear, theirs was a story we never wanted to end…

Read more here:
FIGHTING ABSOLUTION by KATE McCARTHY

August 20, 2019

HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS (Devil You Know #1) by KERRIGAN BYRNE

5 breathtaking stars!

He could break her.
He could protect her.
She feared him.
She needed him.
She wanted…this.

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne ticked every single box on the list of why we have such a deep love for historical romance. Not only was it brilliantly written, it had a dark, broody and mysterious hero and a heroine who encompassed both innocence and a will forged in steel. We love historical romances that showcase a time of traditions and societal rules; that keep to the time within which it is written yet highlights the strength of women in a time where the man is considered the dominant. Yes, we absolutely love the ruthlessness, the mysterious and almost aloof nature of the romantic ‘historical’ man, but what we love even more is the fierceness of the -anything but- demure heroine.

Kerrigan Byrne perfectly laid out this story in such a way that we were gripped from the first page. The character development was on point and the story line one of great tragedy, intrigue and suspense. The romance was divine and the character connection intense. We inhaled every single word and barely came up for air. Lady Alexandra Lane and Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne stole our hearts.

August 3, 2019

PAINT IT BLACK (Beneath the Stain #2) by AMY LANE

5 emotional and unforgettable stars!

"You gonna let me in?"
"Yeah."
"All the way in? Into your heart?"

You can't imagine how thrilled we were to hear Amy Lane had written Blake and Cheever's story. We were excited and maybe a little worried, from an emotional perspective, to return to the rock star household, and thrilled to be spending more time with this family.

Amy Lane once again delivered a painful and difficult story driven by raw emotion and a beautiful love story at its heart. This is a tender and sincere account of two men each warring with their demons and whose hearts cried out for the other. There were times we found ourselves grinning from the witty banter, and times we felt our hearts crash and soar, and moments that reduced us to tears.

Nothing in Blake and Cheevers story is superfluous; every page gave us much insight into Blake, Cheever and the Sanders clan. Every tender, heartbreaking, sweet, funny and moving moment was savoured then locked away, into our hearts for safekeeping.

June 18, 2019

RAPHAEL (Deadly Virtues #1) by TILLIE COLE

NOW LIVE! - 5 disturbing and compelling stars!!!

‘Now, they were all as dark as midnight, not a single star illuminating their godless worlds.’

Tillie Cole warned us this series was going to be dark….dark has nothing on this series. Where The Fallen was indeed heartbreakingly dark and disturbing, Raphael raised the stakes in its horrific black abyss of psychological terror and physical violence. We knew from the prequel that this book was going to break us -and it did- to the point where we at times had to stop reading, play a meditation video on YouTube and pop an anxiety pill in order to continue.

This is a classic example of books we almost reluctantly love and it all comes down to the quality of writing, the haunting and eerie atmosphere and the incredible emotions it elicits. Our hearts are already broken but we will be first in line for the next instalment in this journey.

June 10, 2019

THE REGRET DUET by ALY MARTINEZ

**5 Star Spoiler Free Duet Review**

“This hurts,” I croaked. “God, why does this hurt?”
“Because love is an impossible game. Especially when only one person knows the rules.”

What a story!! Absolutely brilliant! From the heart-stopping prologue through to the beautifully emotional finish, The Regret Duet by Aly Martinez held us captive on every single page! We were unable to move whilst devouring this clever, exquisitely written jaw-dropping story that was unlike anything we’ve read in some time. With every turn of the page, we became enthusiastically, nervously and ravenously enthralled by Aly Martinez’s superb storytelling and wonderful characters.

The twists, turns, shocks and surprises in this incredible and intense story will leave you breathless! Everything about this story was flawless in our eyes. There were times we wondered how in the hell Aly Martinez was going to deliver resolutions without it feeling forced, but she did and she did it splendidly and organically!

Read more here:
THE REGRET DUET by ALY MARTINEZ

June 2, 2019

JANE DOE by VICTORIA HELEN STONE

5 brilliant stars!!!!

'I've never killed anyone. I'm not that kind of sociopath. But you never know. Desperate times…'

We’re always on the hunt for stories that offer something a little different, so if you’re like us and thrive on unique stories, then you MUST read Jane Doe. It was FANTASTIC! A suspenseful, wickedly amusing story with captivating mature writing that introduced us to a complex, funny and confounding character that is thirty-year-old, Jane Doe, a self-diagnosed sociopath with an acerbic wit and a vivid imagination. Jane Doe was one deliciously wicked and taunting tale we devoured from start to finish.

Jane Doe is a brilliantly written, captivating, intriguing, wickedly funny and somewhat deliciously dark story of revenge. Nothing is off limits in Jane Doe. Trust us, you'll devour this book!

Read more here:
JANE DOE by VICTORIA HELEN STONE

May 28, 2019

THE FALLEN: GENESIS (Deadly Virtues #0.5) by TILLIE COLE

5 stars!

"Please, Jesus, please save him. Redeem him, forgive his sins. Forgive me mine. I just need him to be okay. He is all I have left."

Tillie Cole has done it again! What an incredibly multilayered storyteller this lady is. Her talent never fails to astonish us. This series promises to deliver everything and more, so dust off the bookshelves because a new dark series is about to take up residence in your hearts, minds, and souls!

The characters in The Fallen shocked us, saddened us, broke us and made us so utterly desperate to hear each of their stories. This is no easy read. When Tillie Cole warned readers this series was VERY dark, she wasn't exaggerating. There were times we had to stop and regroup before we could continue. Some aspects of this story are confronting, uncomfortable and harrowing, and will have you questioning exactly what is good and what is the evil.