lemmylou's reviews
31 reviews

My Heartless Soul by Daisy Thorn

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dark emotional

5.0

 โ€œ๐†๐จ๐, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฆ๐š๐ง ๐ˆ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ.โ€ โ€œ๐‹๐ž๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ž ๐›๐ž ๐ฐ๐ž๐š๐ค ๐š๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.โ€ โ€œ๐€๐ง๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ž, ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž. ๐€๐ง๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ž.โ€

Daisy Thorn did it again ๐Ÿงก gave us another story of raw beauty. real characters who have been broken by the world and those around them. and fighting to be strong enough for you and those around you.

sometimes we donโ€™t see the strength and beauty we offer the world. we hide in the shadow where we think itโ€™s safe because no one else can harm us again. but My Heartless Soul is a reminder that sometimes someone will meet us in the shadows and be patient to step into the light together.

one of my favorite scenes was when Vas was describing his favorite color and why. Kira is thinking she is nothing like he describes. but itโ€™s Vasโ€™s favorite color because it reminds him of her ๐Ÿค because he sees what she doesnโ€™t. because he loves her, broken heart and all ๐Ÿฅน

thank you so much for letting me ARC read this story Daisy - I love you and the stories you share with us, especially this one ๐ŸคŸ๐Ÿผ 
Hideaway Heart by Melanie Harlow

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fast-paced

5.0

 Look if Melanie Harlow writes it - I am going to read it because she ALWAYS deliver.
Her books make me laugh, swoon, overheat, cry and love. And Hideaway Heart just jumped into my top 5 Melanie books.

Xander and Kelly gave me so much to enjoy. Xander's internal monologue had me smiling and giggling. A big, tatted former Navy SEAL turned bodyguard who tells things like it is and is not only protective but SUPPORTIVE - yeah Xander is winning. And Kelly Jo - I adored her from the start and she continue to become one of my favorite females that Melanie has written. Kelly Jo is sweet, sassy and strong and her verbal sparring with Xander deserves all the gold stars. The trust these two have in each other was such a beautiful thing - from talking about their feelings, listening to each other, opening up to the other, being intimate....it was all such a journey.

"๐‘ฐ'๐’๐’ ๐’”๐’•๐’‚๐’š ๐’˜๐’‰๐’†๐’“๐’†๐’—๐’†๐’“ ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’˜๐’‚๐’๐’• ๐’Ž๐’† ๐’•๐’."
"๐‘น๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’‰๐’• ๐’‰๐’†๐’“๐’†. ๐‘ท๐’๐’†๐’‚๐’”๐’†." ๐‘ฏ๐’†๐’“ ๐’ƒ๐’๐’…๐’š ๐’“๐’†๐’๐’‚๐’™๐’†๐’… ๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’‚๐’Š๐’๐’”๐’• ๐’Ž๐’Š๐’๐’†. "๐‘ด๐’š ๐’”๐’‚๐’‡๐’† ๐’‘๐’๐’‚๐’„๐’†."

Also the toys, the little photoshoot, breakfast cookings, dirty talking, little touches and encouragement to each other to chase their dreams....yeah it's a 5 star.

PS - that extended epilogue had me crying. Love seeing more to the story! 
Wild Island Love by Melissa Foster

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5.0

 This was my first Melissa Foster book and won't be my last.
I need to go back and read all of Leni's siblings stories that are out!

Leni is a smart, sassy, strong and determined businesswoman. Nothing wrong with that except she is letting work and past relationships hold her back from experiencing and living life to the fullest. When you first meet her, her walls are up but you see glimpses of her fun side - her true nature she tries to keep buried. Duncan Raz can see through her walls as if they are made from glass. He helps her see there is more to life, that things aren't always what they appear to be, that we shouldn't take the little things in life for granted.

They may keep saying their affection is all to sell the "fake dating" scheme they are in but these two are so wrapped up in each other it's adorable! And they both realize they are more than physically attracted to each other - they are also attracted to each other mentally and emotionally. They open up to each other, their banter is gold star worthy, and the closer they get the more the little acts have bigger impacts.

Duncan helps Leni slow down and enjoy the things around her and shows her how much she means to him without having to pull out fancy acts...just the simplicity of being honest with her, spending time with her and listening.

Loved these two and Melissa had me tearing up multiple times! 
Stuck with Tuck by Daisy Jane

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5.0

โ€œ๐”ผ๐•ง๐•–๐•ฃ๐•ช๐•ฅ๐•™๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•˜ ๐•š๐•Ÿ ๐•ž๐•– ๐•š๐•ค ๐•ฅ๐•–๐•๐•๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•˜ ๐•ž๐•– ๐•ค๐•™๐•– ๐•’๐•Ÿ๐•• ๐•€ ๐•’๐•ฃ๐•– ๐•ž๐•–๐•’๐•Ÿ๐•ฅ ๐•—๐• ๐•ฃ ๐•ž๐• ๐•ฃ๐•– ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•’๐•Ÿ ๐•ž๐•’๐•œ๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•˜ ๐••๐•š๐•๐••๐• ๐•ค ๐•ฅ๐• ๐•˜๐•–๐•ฅ๐•™๐•–๐•ฃ. ๐•Ž๐• ๐•จ, ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•’๐•ฅ ๐•จ๐• ๐•ฆ๐•๐•• ๐•“๐•– ๐•’ ๐•ง๐•–๐•ฃ๐•ช ๐•’๐•“๐•ค๐•ฅ๐•ฃ๐•’๐•”๐•ฅ ๐•˜๐•ฃ๐•–๐•–๐•ฅ๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•˜ ๐•”๐•’๐•ฃ๐••.โ€

Okkkk Stuck with Tuck by Daisy Jane started my July reads off strong. This book is spicy but what I wasnโ€™t prepared for was sweet Tucker. The way he is obsessed with Vienna and wants to be with her is just ๐Ÿ˜ป I seriously was in love with him from the beginning.

The chemistry, the attraction, the friendship and fate for these two is just perfection. They are able to give each other what they have been missing and I was smiling (and fanning myself) through this whole book.
One Touch by Lena Hendrix

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5.0

โ€œ๐•€ ๐•”๐•’๐•ก๐•ฅ๐•ฆ๐•ฃ๐•–๐•• ๐•™๐•–๐•ฃ ๐•™๐•’๐•Ÿ๐•• ๐•’๐•Ÿ๐•• ๐•ก๐•ฃ๐•–๐•ค๐•ค๐•–๐•• ๐•š๐•ฅ ๐•’๐•˜๐•’๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•ค๐•ฅ ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•– ๐•“๐•–๐•’๐•ฅ๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•˜ ๐• ๐•— ๐•ž๐•ช ๐•™๐•–๐•’๐•ฃ๐•ฅ. โ€œ๐•๐• ๐•ฆ๐•ฃ ๐•“๐• ๐••๐•ช ๐•š๐•ค ๐•ž๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•–, ๐•“๐•ฆ๐•ฅ ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•š๐•คโ€โ€”๐•€ ๐•ก๐•๐•’๐•Ÿ๐•ฅ๐•–๐•• ๐•ž๐•ช ๐•™๐•’๐•Ÿ๐•• ๐• ๐•Ÿ ๐•ฅ๐• ๐•ก ๐• ๐•— ๐•™๐•–๐•ฃ๐•ค ๐•ฅ๐•  ๐•ฅ๐•ฃ๐•’๐•ก ๐•š๐•ฅ, ๐•ฅ๐•  ๐•ž๐•’๐•œ๐•– ๐•™๐•–๐•ฃ ๐•—๐•–๐•–๐• ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•– ๐•–๐•ฃ๐•ฃ๐•’๐•ฅ๐•š๐•” ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•ฆ๐•ž๐•ก๐•ค ๐•“๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•’๐•ฅ๐•™ ๐•™๐•–๐•ฃ ๐•ก๐•’๐•๐•žโ€”โ€œ ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•š๐•ค ๐•š๐•ค ๐•ช๐• ๐•ฆ๐•ฃ๐•ค.โ€

One Touch is the second book in The Sullivan Family series by Lena Hendrix and let me tell you ๐Ÿ˜ this book is wonderful.

Kate Sullivan is back in her hometown of Outtatowner and on a mission to restore the family farmhouse. Her brother decides to ask his best friend, Beckett Miller, an award winning builder to step in and help. But Kate knows Beckettโ€ฆ.since heโ€™s her ex-boyfriendโ€™s older brother, and sheโ€™s not a fan of him or his family.

There is tension and temptation. And as Kate and Beckett start moving past enemies - they both realize they have a deeper connection than they could have imagined. This book was beautiful and watching these two grow as individuals to strengthen their relationship was such a journey. (I bawled my eyes out but it was worth it).

Add this to your TBR!
The Flame King's Captive by Chloe Chastaine

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5.0

You were taken from your family as a tithe, that the religious cult controlling your country demands, due to a low harvest. You gave been punished and beaten, targeted by the High Priest and the past year has been leading up to this moment. The moment you will become the bride of the King....but the King is dead and you are being dragged to his funeral pyre as a sacrifice. A sacrifice they state will help with the war that has broken out when dragons appeared in the sky with their riders. But as you are about to become ash along with the King - dragons appear and a large soldier dismounts one to help you, only to be captivated by your smell and pledges to take you away, keep you safe and harm those that have harmed you.....

Isavelle's story is such a captivating one of growth, understanding, change, heartbreak, fight and discovery. It's not everyday a "commoner" is claimed to be the mate of a strong, fire-breathing dragon rider, commander, soldier and leader. Isavelle is confused by Zabriel's draw to her and the possessive things he says about her. But as she learns the history of her country, she learns more about herself and who she is destined to be. 

Zabriel is an Alpha in every way and watching him find his purpose with Isavelle at his side is such a beautiful thing. These two push and pull and learn from each other. Isavelle helps Zabriel be a better leader, to understand situations and feelings he's not use to. In return, Zabriel gives Isavelle the encouragement to find her inner strength and become a fierce force. 

This story is just beginning and I can't wait for more! It was such a great read full of action, magic, mystery, and passion.
Beauty and the Cornerback by Ava Woods

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4.0

โ€œ๐•๐• ๐•ฆ ๐••๐• ๐•Ÿโ€™๐•ฅ ๐•ฃ๐•–๐•ž๐•–๐•ž๐•“๐•–๐•ฃ?โ€ ๐•€ ๐•’๐•ค๐•œ๐•–๐••, ๐••๐•–๐•—๐•–๐•’๐•ฅ ๐•’๐•Ÿ๐•• ๐•’ ๐•ฅ๐•ฃ๐•š๐•”๐•œ๐•๐•– ๐• ๐•— ๐••๐•ฃ๐•–๐•’๐•• ๐•”๐•ฃ๐•’๐•จ๐•๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•˜ ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•ฃ๐• ๐•ฆ๐•˜๐•™ ๐•ž๐•–. โ„๐•– ๐•ค๐•™๐• ๐• ๐•œ ๐•™๐•š๐•ค ๐•™๐•–๐•’๐••. โ€œโ„•๐• ๐•ฅ ๐•ก๐•’๐•ฃ๐•ฅ๐•š๐•”๐•ฆ๐•๐•’๐•ฃ๐•๐•ช. ๐”น๐•ฆ๐•ฅ ๐••๐•’๐•ž๐•Ÿ, ๐•จ๐•™๐•’๐•ฅ๐•–๐•ง๐•–๐•ฃ ๐•€ ๐••๐•š๐•• ๐•ž๐•ฆ๐•ค๐•ฅ ๐•™๐•’๐•ง๐•– ๐•“๐•–๐•–๐•Ÿ ๐•˜๐• ๐• ๐•• ๐•š๐•— ๐•€ ๐•จ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•ฅ ๐•—๐•ฃ๐• ๐•ž ๐•ช๐• ๐•ฆ ๐•™๐•’๐•ฅ๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•˜ ๐•ž๐•– ๐•ฅ๐•  ๐•ž๐•’๐•ฃ๐•ฃ๐•ช๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•˜ ๐•ž๐•–.โ€

Cole Jackson just wants a DATE with Kristen Keller. But she wonโ€™t give him the time of day - because sheโ€™s sworn off relationships and isnโ€™t impressed with his playboy history. So imagine their surprise when they wake up in Vegas as husband and wife.

Kristen has a full plate and a thick wall built around her but Cole is determined to use this marriage to show Kristen she can trust someone, that she doesnโ€™t have to be alone, and he wants to keep her in his orbit and arms.

This book has the spice (letโ€™s just say Vegas hot tub) and sweet (like a pantry full of her favorite cereal). But also a great reminder that we can learn from our pasts but donโ€™t let those pains block you from a beautiful present and future.

Also, add in two precious, funny and not so easily fooled Grandmas that will have you smiling and nodding in agreement.
The Man Upstairs by Jade West

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4.0

Look if you have read a Jade West book before - you should know by now what you are signing up for. 
It's going to be emotional, dirty, k!nky, forbidden and all the emotions in-between. Jade is always going to deliver you a love story though, just not a "traditional" one - which is why I love her! 

Julian is going to fill all the dark and taboo things. But he is also a complicated character that is struggling and his feelings and thoughts are raw and sometimes hard to have compassion for him but Jade makes it work. And you still want to be on this journey with him as he deals with his past and his current situation....Rosie. 

Rosie comes into her own in this. She has such a nurturing old soul. Sometimes I wanted to reach through and talk to her, be there for her. She is just wanting that wanting and with her homelife, it was easy to see why she pursued Julian. 

Read it - especially if you have read other Jade West books. I would deem this a "movingly twisted" book.
Lost Love Found by Cristina Santos

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5.0

This book - ahh where to begin? 
Short and sweet description would be strangers to friends to lovers. 

Getting to experience Adam and Elaina become friends was precious. They have this instant connection and I loved watching that grow and them strengthen upon it. The bond is so tender and patient and even with them stressing they were "just friends" - everyone around them was watching this relationship bloom into something beautiful. 

They both come with some baggage (which don't we all?!) and they were honest and open with each other which was so refreshing to read. And their friends and family who supported them were an amazing group of people - they didn't just sit back, they pushed and encouraged them both as individuals and as a "fake dating" couple. 

I giggled - seriously, Elaina's internal monologue is hilarious! 
I swooned - Adam. Just Adam. Everything about him. 
I cried - from laughing, from life experiences, from the pain life can bring but also the joy. 

It was a wonderful read!
The Romance is Dead by Daisy Thorn

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4.0

This was the cutest small beach town - like I want to visit! 
The whole town is so quirky from the Motivation, Hug and Love cars to the cocktail menu at LP's - and especially all the residents. 

Hope has left a horrible relationship and is on the path to self discovery and mending bonds with her family. She shows up in her parents new town Loverly Cave determined to be there for her family and close herself off to relationships. But she catches the eye of Alec Colson - tall, handsome, surfer, tattoo artist Alec Colson. The instalove is real here and Daisy makes it work with Alec having to put in the work to show Hope she is worthy of being loved fully. 

I laughed out loud several times in this book. The dynamic with Hope and her sisters, Joy and Grace, is so relatable. Hope's and Alec's moms who are best friends are determined to get these two together and stay together - so they pull out all the meddling. 

This is a great summer read and I can't wait to see what the other sisters get into in Loverly Cave!