★★★★★5 stars!!!

This was just an awesome read with one of the best closing lines, ever! Elle Kennedy gave this story so much meat, the epilogue was simply the second cherry on top of an already-huge dollop of frosting topping the most delicious cake.

Pardon if it sounds like I'm laying it on thick, but I'm just pleasantly surprised by hoe much I enjoyed Tucker and Sabrina's story. To be honest, Tucker didn't make much of an impression on me when I read the earlier books (not as much impression as Dean left, the manwhore that he is, for example). I knew a few things about him: he's steady, chill, and has no problem doing the "mom duties" in a house full of testosterone-ridden college athletes. As for Sabrina, we only ever saw her through Dean's eyes, and she came across as a bitch. Extremely smart, yes, but still a bitch.

Well, THE GOAL brought these characters to the spotlight and we get to see beyond their "steady" and "bitch" veneers.

It was first hinted in the third book, The Score, that Tucker had somehow gotten involved with Sabrina. It was surprising to me; I wouldn't immediately think if pairing these two, if given the chance. Elle Kennedy does an excellent job of convincing skeptical readers like me, though! Tucker and Sabrina are like puzzle pieces. They are very different in upbringing, temperament, inclinations, how they perceive situations, and how they respond to problems as they arise... and yet, the author makes it very believable and probable that they still inevitably end up working things out together.

This is where Tucker really shone for me! He's just a really, really, really good man. Not the meek, in-your-face "good guy" anti-thesis of the "bad boy" stereotype, but a guy who's screwed on right, know what I mean? He is patient without coming across as an annoying martyr. He gives space whenever Sabrina needs it, doesn't smother her with affection but neither does he make her feel that she's forgotten. Tucker is now my second favorite hero in this series next to Garett! (read Garett's story in book 1, The Deal)

With Sabrina, I did not immediately love her, but neither did I become extremely annoyed with her. This happens a lot with strong, independent heroines I read about who wind up making stupid, narrow-minded decisions about the people they love. I'm sure many of you have encountered a character like this before! Sabrina very nearly crossed that line with me, but it must be with the way Elle Kennedy wrote her that I understood her more than I disagreed with her. Yes she is a strong woman, she's a Superwoman to tell the truth (juggling a full load at Harvard Law, plus working two jobs on the side?? On top of other things? That's admirably unbelievable!)... but she's also vulnerable. She's not a goody-two-shoes either. She is outspoken about her sexuality, knows her appeal to men, and she can definitely hold her own against athletes and foul-mouthed men that she's forced to mingle with. She's the ultimate femme fatale. You very quickly realize that she is indeed the perfect match for Tucker.

I can't recommend this book enough! THE GOAL is a perfect weekend read. Oh, and it's pretty long, this book. Definitely read this on a Saturday so that in case you don't finish in one sitting, you still have the rest of the weekend to savor it.

Oh, and one last thing! The Goal's closing line is one of the best, and one of my favorites--ever!

"...love is the ultimate goal. It's not the one I had strived for, but I was lucky enough, so damn lucky, to achieve it."

Note on the cover: The Off-Campus Series has a new set of covers! The "abs covers", as I like to refer to them, are being replaced with the pretty lady covers, which I love! Check them out:

My sincerest thanks to Elle Kennedy, the publisher and Nina Bocci PR for the ARC copy via Netgalley!

5 stars! ★★★★★

★★★★★ 5 stars!!!

I just had to put those exclamation points in there because this book really hit me like a ton of bricks!

It's not unusual for me to be hungover on a really good book and not be in the mood for anything else for the next two days or more. This is the first time though when, literally, the moment I reached the very last page in my kindle (which I still repeatedly tapped, by the way, hoping for some kind of miracle and a couple more Epilogue pages would suddenly appear), I just knew I wouldn't be reading anything else for at least a week. I was lying on the sofa because my heart was already weak at this point (haha!). My right hand holding my kindle was the only part of my body that showed life, basically. So when I was done, my right arm just flopped right down and became dead like the rest of me.

I'm not exactly painting an attractive picture here, I'm sorry! In all seriousness, Unseen Messages just blew me away. I grew to care very much about the main characters and how they will be at the end of the story.

The synopsis tells us much of what this is mainly is about: our two main characters, Estelle and Galloway, survive a crash and are stranded on an island.

"They started as strangers. They grew to be friends. They fought the desire to be lovers." 

What the synopsis doesn't say, and what you guys should find out for yourselves, is how the event came about, who were involved, and most importantly (for me at least), how long they were there in that island.

I thought at first this would be something like Blue Lagoon where the characters would eventually adapt very well with the environment, that they'd build a fantastic cottage with slides, and that food would be abundant, that they will be healthy, etc... Unseen Messages does not ignore the realities of living with literally none of the most basic luxuries--not even a starter kit for boy scouts. Food, clean water, a proper ax to cut wood with, matches, medicine--my gosh, medicine. You'll have higher appreciation for penicillin and antibiotics after reading this book.

Estelle and Galloway had to learn how to survive without these very important things on hand.Sure, they'd get some coconuts and fish... but in reality they aren't getting all the essential nutrients the body needs to continue living. I love that Pepper Winters pointed that out in the narrative.

All those emotional, physical and mental difficulties aside... I love that the very best of humanity also took center stage in this book. =) The characters didn't go Lord of the Flies, thank God. They sought strength from one another, and in the process they really did become a family. The best parts are the happy moments shared by the characters, because in a situation like theirs, those moments are truly precious. They would have a really good few days, and then one instance of bad could overshadow that completely. Say, one day someone would get wounded. Without meds on hand, that could escalate from minor to deadly. So, as the reader I also cherished those happy moments because at any given time, it could be taken away.

Towards the end of the book, I became very much in sync with what the characters were feeling and thinking. In spite of the heartbreak and trauma, you do reach a point where you can choose to remember the happy times instead of dwelling over the bad.

I highly, highly recommend this book! This is by far the most memorable read of 2016 for me. It constantly slips through my mind even weeks after reading it. There would be moments when I'd suddenly think of this character and wonder (as though they were real people, lol), "How are they doing now?" It's crazy! And I adore Pepper Winters for writing something that makes me think that way about fictional characters.

To sum things up, Unseen Messages is hands-down one of the best I've read. =) The first chapters leading up to the crash had me holding my breath. It was nerve-wracking, I had goosebumps on my arms! I started reading while in line at my voting precinct (yeah, during the Philippine general elections! The analogy of a crash and the national election was not lost on me!), and I was gasping and clutching my kindle tightly, and I just gabbed at my sister who was sitting beside me. I just had to talk about what I was reading at that point! Overall, this book gave me a very fulfilling reading experience. Those hours were definitely worth it.

Read this, read this, read this!

★★★★ 4 stars

Here we go again! Sigh…

DIRTY PLEASURES immediately follows the final events of DIRTY BILLIONAIRE (read my review here!). Holly has just left her dirty-talking, billionaire husband, Creighton Karas. Normally I'd roll my eyes at dramatics over a single mistake, but in this instance I empathize with her. Creighton did not promise her love, but he did give his word that he will consider her career top priority, just as he does his own. Unfortunately, he forgot about Holly and that she had to make it to her scheduled tour—or else, her record label will drop her like a hot potato. Hurt and determined to succeed, she takes off on her own.

As the second book of this series, this was all about the growth of Creighton and Holly's relationship. They did things backwards if you recall in book 1: hookup first, a very public proposal driven by lust, and then a wedding very soon after. It's crazy. It's no wonder they are having trouble now.

There is one awesome thing here though: Creighton truly wants to make things work. I looooove it when the guys grovel. It's heart-melting, isn't it, when the heroes go out of their way to prove themselves to the heroine? Especially after a major screw-up? I was truly impressed with the lengths he had taken to make it up to Holly. He had to make major adjustments, from his lifestyle to the way he conducts business. However, since he is mostly on this mission throughout the book, his intensity was toned down by several notches. In book 1, he is an all-out tease king. He says such provocative things that had me blushing and looking over my shoulder. He's still like that in DIRTY PLEASURES, but... not so much anymore. Or I guess not the same intensity level. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something was just different.

I still like this second installment, but not as much as the first. Yes, I loved grovelling Creighton, but again I missed his intensity in book 1. The ending was another reason. SPOILER ALERT: Holly, yet again, leaves Creighton. If I was sympathetic the first time it happened, this time I'm just, "oh gosh, not again…" .

Tip? When you read this, make sure you also have the third book, DIRTY TOGETHER, because you'll want to just get on with what happens next. It is very obvious what the "next big fight" will be about, so I just wanted to know right away how the characters would handle it (crossing my fingers that no one will be running away yet again!).

★★★★★ 5 stars!

When I first read the synopsis for CORRUPT, it sent chills down my spine. The words are the stuff of thriller films, the kind that would make me cover my eyes. It also confused me: so there are four guys, and only one girl..? Will there be a love triangle, a love square?

Well, there certainly wasn't a square, there wasn't even a romantic triangle. There is, though, one widely-talked about scene involving three. Hint: this is an erotic romance, remember that! *wink2!*

Speaking of erotic romance, this is Penelope Douglas' first foray into the genre. Although her sexy scenes definitely lived up to expectations, there are only a few of those in this book. This isn't a sexfest (which most people would assume whenever they see the word "erotica"). There is a very thrilling and exciting story here. The hint of danger and threat definitely added to the intensity and sex appeal of the book.

...Rika alone at college. In my city. Unprotected. The opportunity is too good to be true as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they're out. We've waited. We've been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true. 

As always, Miss D does a great job at giving us small pieces of the story, one at a time, throughout the book. We know the score: Erika Fane did or said something that sent Michael Crist and his friends, Damon, Will and Kai, to prison. Three years later they finish serving their sentence. Now that they are out, they only have one goal: make her pay.

The narration shifts from the events of that fateful night three years ago to the present. The point of view also alternates between Rika and Michael. The downside of all these alternating timelines and pov's is that my mind was all over the place, so it was a bit slow for me at the beginning. On a positive note, this style became very useful as the story gets more exciting. Readers are given the opportunity to get into the minds of the guys, which was a very good thing because otherwise, readers will only ever see them as monsters out for revenge. We find out that Michael isn't really as vengeful as he thinks he is; that Will is struggling emotionally even though he appears to be more cheerful than any of the guys; that Damon has become more dangerous than we think; and that Kai has become stone cold inside. Each of them just begs for his own book! I am rooting for Kai's first!

I enjoyed Ms. D's character development. I witnessed Rika's transformation from a sheltered society princess to young woman who can own up to what (and who) she wants. By the end of the book, she's fighting her fears. She will no longer allow people with malicious intentions to make decisions for her future. She is not a victim because she won't allow herself to be. Michael was the one who helped her realize this.

Michael didn't get any less intense, but he certainly became more human to me by the end of the story. At the beginning, he and his friends seem to be on a different dimension. They're just so intense and passionate even as they are described as having a poker face, or something. With their blatant disregard for rules and decorum, plus everyone's deference to them including adults in authority? I think I put them on a pedestal. I couldn't even imagine them pooping, know what I mean?

The only other transformation we've seen is in Kai (won't say more about it though, keeping my mouth zipped!), but surely that was just the tip of the iceberg. Like I said, I am so ready to find out more about this guy! As for Will and Damon, we've only so far only seen how they have changed after being in prison. I am holding out hope that Damon will be reformed, and that Will may find the peace of heart and mind that he tries to fill by sleeping with numerous women.

What you can expect about CORRUPT is that it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Michael and his friends, collectively called "The Horsemen", are very seductive as they threaten Rika. It truly is a lengthy foreplay of words and goosebumps-inducing touches! What makes the words effective is that Ms. D made it obvious Rika also likes it. Sure, she's scared by it, but it is also her kink. Remember that, ok? I'd hate for people to jump to conclusions and say that this book promotes toxic and abusive relationships. Whatever, this book is not that at all.

CORRUPT is definitely not just for erotica readers. If you enjoy intensity and stories that ooze sex appeal even without the sex scenes, this one is for you. The thrill of being chased, the seductiveness of danger, Ms. D was able to convey them on page effectively. Just pick this up and you'll enjoy delicious tingles down to the tips of your toes!

And now for the TOP 5 list! I was given the opportunity to ask the author a list of Top 5's, and here it is!

Top 5 Most Difficult Scenes to Write in CORRUPT

Giveaway!

She dresses for autumn year round, loves anything lemon flavored, and believes there is too much blood in her Coca Cola stream. Or too much Coca Cola in her blood stream. Or...

You know what? It doesn't matter. She loves Coke. Now you know.

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and daughter.

★★★☆ 3.5 stars

★★★☆ 3.5 ~ 4 stars!

"I freeze. I'm so pucked. There'd better be a support group for hockey hookers. I'm going to need it after tonight."

I did not finish this book in one sitting. In fact I read it simultaneously with two other ARCs. It became my go-to read when I wanted a break from the one I was currently reading full-time. However, even though I did not read it continuously, I still really enjoyed PUCKED.

This book was surprisingly very funny! I have read the Clipped Wings series and those had a more serious and emotional tone. So coming from those books, it was refreshing to have a funny, light read from Helena Hunting.

PUCKED is a light romance set in the world of hockey. Alex is the captain and star-player of the Blackhawks. Violet is the step-sister of the Hawk's newest trade-in, and her step-father is also a hockey agent. It was very natural then when they met at the team's victory party was very natural. What was uncommon for the both of them was the instant attraction. So yes, this is one of those insta-lust stories but with a comedic bend.

★★★ 3 stars!

"He's going above and beyond the call of duty."

This is my first time to read something by Katee Robert, and it was just as I expected: quick, fun, sexy, and a happily ever after.

I have a weakness for stories about best friends falling in love with each other. There's already history between the characters. There's no need to introduce them to each other, so we can jump right into the meat of the story. Now for FALLING FOR HIS BEST FRIEND, we have Avery and Drew, best friends for twenty years and partners in crime since childhood. The story begins with Avery already aware that because of genetics she has a very high risk of having cancer. Her mother died because of it and her sister was also diagnosed. Thankfully she was cured, but only after undergoing hysterectomy.

Now here's the thing: Avery wants to have a baby now that she still can. At the moment it is her heart's dearest wish. It doesn't matter that she doesn't have a husband or even a boyfriend. She's already nearing thirty, plus there's that threat of cancer hanging over her head. When she breaks the news to Drew, it practically ignites the intense, latent feelings for Avery which he forcibly buried throughout the years. The idea of his best friend carrying another man's child is just unacceptable. His solution? Become Avery's baby daddy--and not by in-vitro!

"Avery, shut up and listen to me. If we're going to do this--and we are--we're going to do this right."

"...falling for your 'friends with benefits' would be a dumb move, and I'm no dummy."

This is one fun book! I was hesitant at first because I don't really enjoy books with infidelity or love triangles. Upon closer inspection of the synopsis though, it is clear that (a) there is nothing official between the hero and the baby-mommy; (b) the couple who will end up together is pretty obvious; and (c) with Emma Chase on the helm, this is bound to be a fun and light read!

I was not disappointed on all three points, which I'm really happy about!  Stanton and Sofia are two very smart and witty lawyers with a great sense of humor. From the first page to the end, their chemistry is evident and their sexy times are smoking!

Publication Date: April 21, 2015
Book 4 of the Fall Away Series

Synopsis: 

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Bully, Until You, Rival, and Falling Away comes the sizzling conclusion to the Fall Away series. 

The tables have turned. Now I have the power—and it’s his turn to beg…

Everyone wants to be me.

Maybe it’s the sway of my skirt or the way I flip my hair, but I don’t care. Even though their attention is the last thing I crave, I just can’t stop. I dominate the track, the speed rattles my bones, and the wind and the crowd screams my name.

I’m her. The girl driver. The queen of the race. And I’m surviving—something he thought I’d never do.

They all still talk about him. Did you see Jared Trent on T.V? What did you think of his last race, Tate? When is he coming back to town, Tate?

But I refuse to care too much. Because when Jared does come home, I won’t be here.

Tatum Brandt is gone. I’m someone new.

My Review: ★★★★★ 5 stars!!

Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Book 2 of the Off-Campus Series

Synopsis:

He's a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he'll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he's worth a second chance.

Now he's going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She's not a charity case, and she's not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He'll have to work for it. This time around, she'll be the one in the driver's seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

My Review: ★★★★☆ 4.5 stars!

After reading THE DEAL, I just fell in love with it. When I found out it is actually the first in a series of standalones, and that it will feature Logan, I was beyond excited! Spoiler alert, spoiler alert, spoiler alert! At the end of the first book we find out that Logan is actually smitten by Garrett's Hannah! This becomes the premise for book two and led to THE MISTAKE. 

I just love how the two titles of this series really signify the core plots of the books. The DEAL was obviously about a deal Garrett and Hannah made. So for THE MISTAKE, readers will soon realize what “the mistake” is in the first quarter of the story. Logan then spends the rest of the book correcting it and making up for it.

These days I tend to avoid reading a series wherein the books aren't standalones. I'm so glad though that I finally got started with the Royal Saga by Geneva Lee! I'm hooked in Alexander and Clara's love story, and I can't wait to find out how their romance will be wrapped up in the third book.