Review: Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game

 Don't Hate the Player....Hate the Game by Katie Ashley

Description:
For Noah Sullivan being the best friend to a douchebag and player like Jake Nelson has never been easy. It's been a rocky road since kindergarten when Jake duct taped Noah to his chair before recess. With just six weeks to high school graduation, Jake accidentally blows his drunken ass up on his grandfather's tractor, and Noah finds himself immersed not only in a whirlwind of grief, but on a quest to find a mystery girl from Jake's past. 

While cleaning out Jake's room, Noah and Jake's dad make a startling discovery. Instead of the obligatory porn collection or pot stash, they find a ring, but not just any ring. Its half a carat of commitment in a platinum setting-proving even man whores have taste. After Jake's mom pleads with Noah to find the girl who meant so much to Jake, Noah begins a modern day Grail quest to track the girl down. 

Since Jake was a notorious player with a legendary collection of trophy panties, Noah finds himself in over his head. There are the usual suspects like Avery, the Ice Princess Jake dated for appearances, or Presley, the school mattress Jake dated for convenience. But the trail begins to point to the most unlikely of suspects: Maddie, the Valedictorian and choir girl who was trying to help the unmotivated jock graduate--the girl who also has surprisingly caught Noah's eye and meddled with his heart. 

Hanging out with Maddie shows Noah a different side of Jake--one that was deeply human and surprisingly douche-free. And the more he tries to solve the mystery of the ring and of Jake, the more Noah starts to discover about himself and of love.

My Thoughts:

This is the first book in awhile that I have read that was a stand alone. Lately I have been reading lots of series books and felt the need for a break and a somewhat quick read. I choose this one because I have ready several of Katie Ashley's other books and really enjoyed them so figured I would enjoy this one as well.  What I wasn't prepared for was all the emotions involved in this story. I was shedding tears and reaching for the Kleenex before I hit chapter 2.  I haven't had such an emotional involvement in a book in a long time.  I was really shedding tears from the beginning of the book until the final pages.

Noah Sullivan is what you would expect from a seventeen year old High School Senior. All about hanging with his friends, living life to the fullest, and not thinking about the future anymore than just graduation and getting to college.  Maddie Parker has been the invisible good girl of Noah's class. Working to achieve Valedictorian status, do all the good things she was supposed to do, and always obey the rules.  When a tragic event hurls these two together suddenly life takes on a whole new meaning.

This book kept me reading from page 1 to the end. I was never sure what was going to come of Maddie and Noah and in between crying about events I was laughing at the crazy stuff that was said by them.  Oh I must mention that Noah is definitely on my good list because he drives a Jeep. :)  LOL  

This book will make you remember your High School years, even if you weren't into the parties and such, just the whole how you waited your whole life to grow up and suddenly you are and now what?!  Sometimes life doesn't go as you plan and you have to regroup and adjust, just like the characters in this book had to.

I honestly loved this book, despite the fact that I cried over it! How she could write it without constantly crying is beyond me! The title makes sense after you read it, but at first glance it doesn't give the impression of the book it actually is.  

Please, go read this book! It will touch your heart, but make sure the Kleenex is close by because you will need it!!

Rating:  ©©©©

Cover Reveal for Permanent Lines by Ashley Wilcox

So today is the cover reveal for Ashley Wilcox's newest book, Permanent Lines.  It is about Merrick Drake, Kayla Reynolds best friend from Running from Forever. AKA the hot bar tender! :)  Anyway, now that you are done swooning over him I can say that Ashley allowed me to Beta read this book for her and it is SOOO good!!  Like couldn't put it down good! Today she is doing the cover reveal for the book and it is definately worthy of Merrick.  Sooo....here it is!



What do you think? :)  Well, the book doesn't come out until January 13th, so you will just have to wait until the new year to have some private time with Merrick.  In the mean time I will keep you busy with other fantastic books!!

Review: Rage

Rage by Michelle Pace and Tammy Coons

Description: 
Phillip Kersey finds himself and his hotheaded girlfriend, Stephanie, at a crossroads. He's the singer of the chart-topping rock band, Fury, and they're forever in the studio laying down tracks for their third album. Steph's photography career has exploded. She's always on location and out of his grasp. Tired of Skype dates and stolen weekends, Phillip makes plans to whisk her off to Ireland so he can pop the question. 

When Steph returns to the U.K. for the birth of their friends' baby, Phillip finally gets his chance. He's down on one knee when tragedy strikes. Aching hearts cause tempers to flair chaotically out of control. Phillip feels pushed aside and vanishes. Assumptions and accusations follow, and the public fallout between them becomes the stuff of legend. 

When fate brings both Fury and Stephanie to a remote Brazilian paradise, the former lovers have no choice but to face each other head on. Will their wildfire chemistry burn down the wall between them, or will the tumultuous pair simply go up in flames?

My Thoughts:
When I posted my review of Fury back in June, I had no idea that there was going to be a book 2. I was so excited when I found out and then the authors gave me an ARC because I had reviewed Fury I was floored.  It has taken me longer than I wanted to do this review, but the book is awesome!

Fury leaves off with us having witnessed the birth of Cheyenne's baby and wondering what is going on with Stephanie and Phillip.  That's exactly where Rage starts us.  Love it when a series flows together so smoothly.  

I fell in love with this band all over again and with the female roles too.  However, I will admit that I was ready to reach into the book and smack some sense into the characters!! Sometimes people can be so stupid!! LOL  

This story keeps you on your toes wondering when things are going to change. You always have a feeling that something is going to happen, but it never happens the way you expect.  One thing that I took away from this book is how much you should value a good relationship and communication is key to a successful one.  Not only in just this story, but in real life.  Stories that you can actually take away good advice are hard to come by and should be cherished when they are found.  It doesn't help that this story makes it apparent that sometimes men are just dumb! LOL  :)  

I felt this story had a better ending than Fury did. It wasn't rushed and still left you with a HEA ending. I had tears in my eyes at the ending, but I think that it was still leftover hormones! The little things still tear me up! 

Again as I said in my previous review the band is British. It still cracks me up to read how they speak because some things are so different than how we Americans speak. I can almost hear them speak with their accents as I read and that in my opinion is the making of a good book.  I know I wasn't specific about any parts of this story, but I really hate to ruin the story for you readers. It only took me about a day and a half to read this, which makes it a pretty quick read...especially considering I have my 3 kiddos taking up a lot of my day!


Please, read this book!! But read Fury first because it gives you the introduction to all the characters and the story line continues in Rage. I have no idea as to if they are writing another book for this series, but I can tell you that if they do I will be reading it!

Rating:  ©©©©

I'm back!!

Hello blog readers!! I am back! Pregnancy is over, baby is big and healthy, and I am ready to start posting reviews for everything I have been reading!! I have TONS of books to write reviews on, but no promises as to how fast I can get them out to you. However, I have one ready to go so thats a good sign, right? :)  I have missed being on here and hope that now and in the upcoming year I can give many reviews and help you find new things to read.  If you haven't already, please go like my blog page on Facebook too!  Here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/BarefootAndReading

Thanks for sticking with me and being patient with all my life changes! I hope I can help you with all your future reading!