Review: Be Your Everything by Catherine Bybee

Be Your Everything is the second book in The D'Angelos series. This book explores more into Chloe and Dante's journey. If you enjoyed the first book, than you will love this one. This series just keeps getting better.

If you don't know already, Chloe and Dante, their families have been great friends since childhood. With the friendship between the guys, one thing has always been set in stone, Chloe was off limits. Dante has been known for his player ways and with their over protective nature, it would never mix well.

From the last book, you know what happened to them in Vegas. If you don't well, one evening after way too many drinks, they found themselves getting married in Vegas. In their case, what happens in Vegas took an entirely different meaning because when Chloe woke up the next day and saw that ring on her finger, she knew it had to stay in Vegas because the world would implode if her family found out what happened. Between her traditional Italian mother and her over protective brothers, Dante wouldn't have a chance. Trying to figure out what to do, they decide to keep it a secret to avoid any rift between the families.

Even though Chloe has always secretly wanted to date him, being married was a completely different scenario. As they get to know each other, something deep down desires him more knowing that she could be the one. He's always been fond of her but the more time they spend, he sees how special she really is. When their situationship gets tested and Chloe flees to Bali, Dante realizes more than ever their destined to be together. The question is will he be able to convince Chloe to follow her heart without fear?

I really love this series. I feel so invested in their lives. They just invite you in. I love how everything comes full circle and destiny got it right with these two. Their roller coaster journey to getting their hea was worth every page turn. The strength of this family despite the looming reservations she has with what she thought they would feel was so underestimated. No matter what gets thrown at them, that bond is thicker than no other. Chloe is so sweet and deserving of love. Dante, it's nice to see guys like him willing to change and do what it takes to earn the right girl.

I can only assume who will be next in the third book. I have my wishes but we'll see. If you haven't checked out the series, you must add it to your series list to catch up on. Make sure your read them in order because I don't want you to miss anything. So, another wonderful one from Catherine Bybee. I will be patiently waiting for the next.

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Review: Relative Distance: A Memoir by David Pruitt

Summary

Relative Distance is a powerful memoir of resilience and faith. While it’s an unflinching look at brothers being raised by a violent, abusive father and a detached, mentally ill mother, it’s also an inspiring account of two distinctive life journeys and an examination of the role played by family and society in individual homelessness.

After surviving his tumultuous upbringing, David Pruitt rises to become a CEO in Corporate America, while his brother, Danny, becomes a long-time homeless traveler. As David helps to grow a fledgling North Carolina business into what is at the time the largest specialty bicycle retailer in the United States, Danny sleeps under overpasses, jumps passing freight cars, lives in and out of shelters, faces death more than once—and encounters the best and worst of America in a restless search to find a better place in the world. Yet, despite their differences, a common thread runs through the distinct trajectories of the brothers’ lives: each of them struggles with difficult psychological issues stemming from their troubled past.

This deeply moving memoir examines the lifelong challenges that often come for those raised in an abusive home, along with the limitless possibilities we open ourselves to when we allow faith and determination to overcome judgment and fear.

Review

There are no words to describe the experience of reading this book. This was a difficult journey to read but a story that needed to be told. It saddens me deeply how their circumstances robbed them of perhaps a greater destiny but at least for one, found light from a dark place.

Relative Distance hit the core of my being. David, sharing the life of himself and his brothers, just aches the heart. Growing up with a mother with mental health challenges and a father who’s love went hand and hand with his impulse for abuse, crippled their chances of a life full of dreams, hope and aspiration. Despite this, what inspired me the most was how each tried fighting through the adversity to work towards being better than anything they ever knew.

Despite the hardships two of the three brothers faced trying to find their way through life, David is such a testament of the power of faith and perseverance. There is a moment in the book that just exalted my spirit when he decided that he wanted to go to college and do better. That moment despite the lack of support and pushback, the catalyst that ignited that fight within, really inspired me. When you’re told over again that you are nothing and won’t amount to anything, that moment that he decided to defy that fight for himself to show that he was somebody truly was remarkable. The trajectory of his life from that moment on, no one can take that away and for those who experienced the same give hope that anything is possible.

Overall, this is a beautiful memoir that is honest and filled with a story that deserves to be told. I truly feel that the journey of his family is similar to others and can bring hope and healing for those who have struggled or want to have a better life. If you like memoirs, consider this for your reading list.

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Review: All Downhill With You by Julie Olivia

Summary

The moment we meet, it’s all downhill.

My job is providing happiness and smiles at Honeywood Fun Park, and Emory Dawson is the frown our park didn’t ask for.

When our star roller coaster malfunctions with me on board, the manufacturer’s heir and lead engineer, Emory, vows to renovate the attraction. So instead of having a fun summer season as Marketing Manager for Honeywood, I’m now saddled with playing host.

Wonderful.

Emory is the opposite of a good time. He’s the grump that won’t stop grumping, and our arguments escalate quicker than my heart rate after a roller coaster’s fall.

He knows I can see right through his broody gaze and big ideas. Repairing the coaster? More like overhauling his own company’s reputation, regardless of whether it helps our local theme park.

But when our firm handshakes start lingering too long, or when his muscled thighs rest against mine under the table, I’m thrown for a loop.

Most roller coasters are fun, but I’d like to get off this emotional one, please.

Review

From the jump, All Downhill With You had a difficult task to complete. At sixteen, Emory Dawson had designed a ride at Honeywood and twice while riding it, Lorelei had gotten hurt on that ride. And now, she was suing his family’s manufacturer company. This book had to sell a love story between them.

It made sense for her to hate him, and given their first interaction, he didn’t do much to change her opinion of him and his company. And given their complicated history and the present lawsuit going on between them, I was intrigued to see how and why they would fall in love. Unfortunately, after they kiss, a flip is switched, and they both do a one 180. I was looking for a little bit more build up between them two. The lawsuit isn’t really focused on a lot.

Also unfortunately, I felt that development wise both main characters were lacking. And a lot of the supporting characters were forgettable. I had trouble remembering who they were, their relationship to the main characters, and what they did. However, I did like how most of them worked at the park.

Final Thoughts

All Downhill With You takes place in a charming theme park with a decent romance that does feel rushed at times. 

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Review: Big Chicas Don't Cry by Annette Chavez Macias

When I tell you I loved this book, I truly mean from the bottom of my heart that I loved this book. In the beginning, I got butterflies reminiscing about the friends in the Sisters of the Traveling Pants. With Big Chicas Don’t Cry, instead of friends, we get to fall in love with the Garcia cousins and their family as their journey through forgiveness, loss and the unbreakable bond of family.

We are introduced to the Garcia cousins: Mari, Erica, Selena and Gracie. These girls are not just family but they are best friends. They share their lives together and vow to never leave each other. Besides their unbreakable bond, they share a mutual love for their great grandmother, Welita. When Mari learns that her parents will be getting a divorce and will have to leave them, little did they know that would be the catalyst that would change their lives indefinitely.

As the book transitions to 15 years later, we follow these ladies as they navigate life and ultimately try to find their way. Mari seems to have everything perfect on the outside but her life is anything but. Giving up her dreams, losing herself in the process, the most important people in her life seem out of her reach or forgotten. Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy for her to realize that but will it be too late?

Erica’s boyfriend just dumped her and she’s trying to move on with life. When her news editor boss comes into the picture, they aren’t too fond of each other. As they get to know each other and the walls come down, the headlines of their story change and they find themselves to be the feature story.

Selena is trying to make it out there. She’s super talented and finds it hard standing out. As she tries to find herself in the professional world, her personal life is up in the air. After being hurt in the past, she decided that her current situation suits her just right until feelings were thrown in the air. Will she open herself up to catch them?

Gracie is my favorite. Her innocence is so sweet. She is a school teacher in a Catholic school who got the shock of her life when an old crush became the newest teacher. As they get thrown together on a mutual project, they get to know each other and find themselves drawn to each other. Then an unexpected event changes their lives forever.

As they vowed never to leave each other years before, life happens and sometimes people drift apart. When tragedy happens that breaks the anchor of their family, will this be the catalyst to mend their broken bond?

This is such a beautiful book that will touch your heart and fill you with so many emotions. I love how this book shows the love and beauty of this Mexican American family. The strength and bond of these strong women and the multi generational influences really are what makes me love this book more. I lost my mother and grandmother a couple of years ago, so I found so much comfort reading this book. It reminded me of them and the traditions and lessons that I hope to never forget. I can’t wait to read her next book that’s coming out in the Spring. Make sure you check this book out.

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Review: Fake Love by Jocelyne Soto

I had everything going for me.

Drafted right out of college. Signed a multimillion dollar contract. Slated to become a hall of famer.

All my prospects were looking up… Until a diagnosis caused me to ruin everything.

It took me a season to destroy my career and now I have to work to repair it.

Step 1 : Get clean.

Step 2 : Show my new team that their investment isn’t a waste.

Step 3 : Find a woman and convince her to be my fake girlfriend and make my mom happy.

1 and 2, I got a handle on. Step 3 is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought. Finding a woman was a piece of cake, convincing her is a different story.

Jen Zaragosa is hardheaded, feisty, and a pain in my behind. But even with her being all those things, I start to fall for her

And hard.

This started out as something to make my mom happy and it’s turning into me planning our future together.

Jen is my grand slam and there is nothing fake about it.

Review

The two most important things in Maddox’s life is baseball and his mom. Ever since he was young, he’s been on the field, and his mom has been supporting him. He’s close to her, and when she gets diagnosed with cancer, it sends him spiraling. He turns to drugs to numb himself and ends up almost losing his career. Months later, he’s fresh out of rehab and traded to a new team. And in order to repair his public image, he enlists Jen, a barista that he met, to pretend to be his fake girlfriend. Jen doesn’t really care for his job and really wants to be a social media manager. Thus, why she agrees to date him—to run his accounts.

From the beginning, Jan and Maddox had this attraction and when they had their first interaction, I knew it was going to be good. And I wasn’t disappointed. Although, they have a “fake” relationship, it was clear from the almost the beginning that nothing was fake between them, and they had a great trust with each other.

There was a nice mixture of sweet and angst moments. And I really enjoyed all the characters. Especially Maddox’s relationship with his mother. It was so pure, and it made since with how close they were that he would struggle when he learned she was sick. Everything he did was for her, and it really touched my heart.

Final Thoughts

Fake Love is a near perfect fake dating romance that can pull at your heart strings. 

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Review: Golden Hour of You and Me by K. Jamila

Sheyanne Shaw hates nothing more than she hates her hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Except maybe being forced to return to it. After escaping her estranged relationship with her father, leaving behind her brother and her best friends, she returns after four years away. All to help her father in sorting out the house and the stables she grew up on. But she is not just greeted by him and the demons she tried so hard to leave behind.

Liam Landon never thought he’d step foot in such a small town.

Raised in the city of Vegas, the small town was not what he expected. Hired to help Mr. Shaw manage his finances, he can’t turn down the opportunity to help out his grandparents and start building a life for himself. While traveling for the job isn’t unheard of as a freelancer, it’s a bit different to be expected to stay for three months. Liam is open to it—only to be met with the absolute spitfire of his boss’s daughter.

Sheyanne is forced to confront her demons and her past relationships that have faded into nothing in the years she’s been gone. And she is forced to confront Liam. A man here on limited time, who seems to see straight through her defenses. He is cool, calm, and collected, and there for her every step of the way.

When faced with her worst fear and her own thoughts, will Sheyanne decide to leave like before?

Or will she stay?

 Review

I finished Golden Hour of You and Me and I was left speechless. In a good, emotional way. It’s one of the best books that I’ve read this year. There was something so raw about the journey. In the beginning, Sheynne was rough around the edges and flawed. She had a lot of things she had to work through. She’s forced to come home, after being gone for so long. And now she’s back, and the relationships that she left are still broken. There’s a lot of mixed feelings about her being back. Liam is only there to do his job and help her grandparents buy a house. He’s perfect. That is the best way to describe him.

The two of them start to warm up together and create this beautiful, realistic love story full of trust, support, and of course some banter. They were precious. And as that is going on, we start to see Sheyanne come to terms with a few things and work through her issues with her father.

I really enjoyed how it was stressed within the book that mental health is important, and that love couldn’t solve everything. Sheyanne had one of the best character developments I seen and I’m honored to have witnessed that in this book.

Final Thoughts

Golden Hour of You and Me was a beautiful, touching, unforgettable story about family, self-discovery, and forgiveness. It's one sticks it's landing, and leaves the reading a sobbing mess after reading it. 

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