RILEY REVIEWS NEIGHBOR DEAREST BY PENELOPE WARD

I am convinced that Penelope Ward can create a five star read out of a grocery list. I've enjoyed everything I have read by her, but she's absolutely outdone herself with Neighbor Dearest.

She took a secondary character from Stepbrother Dearest that I wouldn't have even thought about again and gave her a story of her own. 

Honestly, I probably would have never thought of Chelsea Jameson again. I mean Elec and 
Greta got back together. Which was what I wanted to happen in Stepbrother Dearest. I never really gave a second thought to Chelsea's broken heart so I have to say I'm so glad Penelope Ward gave Chelsea a voice to tell her story.

In case you don't know, Chelsea was absolutely devastated by her break up with Elec. So broken that she wouldn't visit her sister in New York City fearful that she might run into Elec. So broken that she was spending a bunch of money on phone therapy with a super expensive shrink. 

In the midst of all the heartbreak, Chelsea's sister comes to visit her and as they're sitting outside of her apartment building having sister conversation they happen to see a very sexy yet angry looking artist painting a mural. Now his description alone is delicious, dark hair, dark blue eyes, artistic type. Throw on that beanie and his tight body with tanned skin and well he just becomes irresistible. Irresistible and totally not interested in making friends with his neighbors. The sisters conversation about the angry artist is hilarious and it just so happens our neighbor dearest, has supersonic hearing, which makes it even funnier.

The angry artist? His name is Damien (insert Omen joke here) Hennessey and yes just about everyone he encounters makes some reference to his namesake. He not only lives next door to Chelsea with two very loud dogs, he also is the owner of the building. So when Chelsea goes to complain about said dogs, well she's not getting very far.

Damien turns out to be not completely anti social and he and Chelsea become friends. That is after they iron out some wrinkles, like Damien being able to hear her conversations with her shrink since their bedrooms back up to each other. He basically tells Chelsea stop paying this lady, she's not helping you. You can change your own story. 

Of course, the more time she spends with Damien, the more she begins to develop feelings for him. Damien, however is not relationship material. He lets Chelsea know they can be friends, but nothing more. There's no real obvious reason for his aversion to relationships. He just doesn't do them.

As you read Neighbor Dearest, you can see the obvious attraction between Damien and Chelsea. Especially, when the two are out for lunch and happen to see Elec in the distance. To distract Chelsea, Damien gives her a "fake kiss". You can literally feel the heat coming off of the pages during their kiss.

So why is Damien holding back? Why doesn't he just get together with this girl he so obviously is attracted to? Well, that's Damien's secret to tell and I'm not sharing it. So I would definitely one click Neighbor Dearest to find out exactly what's going on in this picture.

I completely love the way Penelope Ward writes. You can feel the emotion in every scene between Damien and Chelsea, between Chelsea and her sister Jade and even between Damien and his brother Tyler. And then there's the humor. Ask Damien and Tyler their middle names.

I laughed and I cried while I read Neighbor Dearest. This was also a book that I could not put down. I had to read it all in one sitting, because it held my interest from the very beginning until the very end. 

I'm so glad that Elec broke Chelsea's heart and she got her own book. Truth, I think I love Damien even more than I loved Elec. Maybe it's the beanie. I don't know.

Speaking of secondary characters, I'm hoping Jade and Tyler get a story! Talk about drama!

Five lip smacks from me for Penelope Ward and Neighbor Dearest.

EMILY REVIEWS TWISTED REALITY BY HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN

As you probably have figured out by now I am a huge fan of Heidi McLaughlin’s books, and the reason is simple…  Consistency.  Her stories are always intriguing and they keep my interest.  Her characters are always swoon-worthy, sexy and I can easily identify with them (or when required I feel real hatred towards them). Her writing is smooth and enjoyable to read. What’s not to love?  

Twisted Reality is another winner from Heidi McLaughlin.  A continuation of the big cliffy in Blinded Reality, where I was left crazed!!

Joshua Wilson is every girl’s fantasy and in Twisted Reality you get to really see what a good guy he really is.  He’s honest, emotional and he just really wants to be a good man for Joey! I am seriously in love with this guy!!

Joey Wilson is who every girl wants to be.  I mean can you imagine getting married to your celebrity crush?  Gah!  I would die!  I really love Joey and the way she stays true to herself, she really is a nice girl who has fallen in love with the real Josh Wilson, not just the celebrity.

What’s twisted about them?... Enter Jules, or as I like to call her the DEVIL!!!  She really is a sick and twisted puppy!!  She just rolls in and causes trouble and wreaks havoc whenever and wherever she sees fit.  I mean she is completely delusional!    Add the paparazzi, Josh’s jerky agent Matt, and Bronx into the mix and more chaos erupts.  At times, it seemed as though everything and everyone was against them.  Through it all Joey and Josh fight to stay together and fight for each other.  I believe their love really comes through when they are faced with the worst from Jules! 

Some of my most favorite parts in this book involve Joey’s family.  They are good people who have accepted this crazy, non-traditional union and have embraced Josh into their family.  The relationship between Josh and Joey’s dad had me all kinds of emotional and weepy, as Josh never had any of the love and friendship that exists between father and son.  I really admire how Josh recognizes what a good family is like and how he strives to make himself better, instead of just using his bad upbringing as an excuse for failure!

Twisted Reality was an emotional ride for me. Seeing Josh get pushed down and kicked over and over had me absolutely heartbroken.  It seemed like there was no one he could trust and I really felt for him.  Joey, too, kept getting hit over and over with the craziness of Josh’s world and I admired how she continuously dusted herself off and got up again!  They are both so strong and genuine.  Their love really grew and their bond was unbreakable!  Heidi McLaughlin really comes through with an amazingly crazy and emotional conclusion to Josh and Joey’s love story!!  

5 loving lip smacks for Twisted Reality by Heidi McLaughlin!!!

RILEY REVIEWS AN ACT OF OBSESSION...BY K.C. LYNN

After I've laid claim to every inch of her body, I hold her in my arms until she fall asleep and I decide this very second that I'm going to keep her forever.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I don't think I have the words to do justice to this review of K.C. Lynn's An Act Of Obsession. This story gripped me from the prologue and didn't let go until the end. Yes, I sat down and read it all in one session. 

I absolutely enjoyed both other books in the Acts of Honor Series, but K.C. Lynn outdid herself with this story. An Act Of Obsession is truly a story about two broken people making each other whole.

Sophie Parish has survived an unthinkable horror that forces her to leave behind everything she has ever known and loved. Fortunately, she finds a new home in Sunset Bay and has the good fortune to be working for Sheriff Cooper McKay. It's always good when the original Men of Honor are on your side.

But that's not what this story is about. I do love How K.C. Lynn keeps the original Men of Honor and their families connected to the Acts of Honor Series. I love the interaction between the characters and let's face it, I love knowing what's going on in everyone's lives.

This story actually begins when Sophie (now called Lia for her own protection) arrives at the Men of Honor center to sign up for self defense classes. She runs into none other than Kolan Slade. You remember him right? He was in a lot of trouble the last time we saw him. Trouble that brought Katelyn, Kolan's sister and Nick Kolan's best friend together in more ways than one,  An Act Of Salvation, (awesome story, go one click if you haven't read it yet). 

Anyway, Kolan Slade is a champion fighter whom for reasons I'll leave you to learn about he's retired. Kolan has zero plans of getting back in the ring. He's big and tatted up and intimidating, but something about Lia (remember secret identity) has him feeling things for this woman he thought he never could. Kolan is dark and has many secrets, which is ok because Lia obviously has secrets too.

During their self defense sessions the two are obviously attracted to each other. Lord, who wouldn't be attracted to Kolan? Dark hair and chocolate brown eyes, a body he clearly worked hard to achieve, covered in some super sexy ink. Of course a girl can't stop thinking about him after the lesson is over. Honestly, everything about Kolan is sexy. The way he controls EVERYTHING is enough to get any one hot and bothered.

Kolan even starts to think he might be able to have something with Lia. They do share a very sexy scene together after they attend a benefit dance Kolan only showed up to because he knew Lia would be there. Oh, is it warm in here? 

Then strange things start to happen. Things that no one seems to be able to explain. Cars and property get damaged. While Kolan thinks he knows who the culprit is, he gets Nick to do some investigating for him. 

The information Nick comes back with will blow you away. In this story, what you think you know, becomes something totally different. And you seriously won't be able to stop reading until you know it all. 

K.C. Lynn has given us an incredible story in An Act Of Obsession. We get a smoking hot alpha protector in Kolan Slade, and an amazingly strong beautiful heroine in Sophie Parish. A story that will keep you on your toes and a feisty little sassy pants named Benny who I totally loved! 

A total five lip smack read for me. Another awesome job by K.C. Lynn!