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The Ones Left Behind by Ari Reavis

When Jolie lost her sister, she never thought she would smile again. It was hard enough to go on, let alone think about being happy. But then a stranger walks into the support group her parents force her to go to, and for the first time, in a long time, someone makes her want to know more about them.

Elijah’s been drowning in guilt since his best friend died. Not thinking the support group will actually help but not knowing where else to go, he walks into the room and silently takes a seat. When he looks at the woman a few seats down, something in her eyes makes him think maybe she’s the one person who can truly understand him.

They build a bond through their grief, but then very different emotions begin to come into play. Can they heal from their losses enough to discover what they could have together? Or are the scars caused by the ones who left them behind too deep?

TW: Both of the main characters have recently had a loved one commit suicide. This book deals heavily with this subject, as well as mental illness. The suicide does not take place on page, but is described.



I've pretty much moved out of my contemporary romance phase, but there's something about the way this author writes that keeps making me come back!

I don't know how she made something that should have been incredibly sad into something that was incredibly sweet, but that's exactly what she did.

When you lose someone, especially in the ways that both Elijah and Jolie lost someone, how do you ever get past it? Through it? How does one accept that there will never be answers to their many questions and move on?

The Ones Left Behind told me there's no one answer on how to move through grief. It's different for all of us and not everyone will understand how you feel. And that's okay. Your feelings are valid and if you're really lucky, like Elijah and Jolie were, you'll find someone special who'll truly get it. Who'll stand by you through any and everything. Who will love you through the good and the bad, the happy and the sad.

So while this story could have been heartbreaking, it had too many happy and uplifting moments to really get me down. It was full of hope and honesty and when it feels so real, it's impossible not to love it!


Ari Reavis is a wife and mother of five. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, she enjoys staying in, devouring books and watching movies. Her kids are running around, her husband is trying to show her martial arts moves, and she's trying to write. Her day in a nutshell.

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Rattle Some Cages by Lani Lynn Vale

It’s not every day that you see a dead body at the beach. Or the woman of your dreams sitting next to that dead body.

Price Crow first saw Sabrina Proctor in the middle of a hurricane.

She’d been sitting next to her dead best friend, who’d passed away on the beach, with no way to get her back home, thanks to the world’s worst luck, and one hell of a storm.

So Price does what any decent person would do: he carries Sabrina’s dead best friend to their beach house and doesn’t leave her side until he’s forced to.

He had every intention of bridging that gap, of checking up on her and making sure she was okay, but life is funny and has a way of making a mockery of the best-laid plans.

Despite one hell of a connection, under the worst of circumstances, they go their separate ways. At least, he tries to. But he can’t stop thinking about her, and it becomes apparent, very fast, that he has a decision to make.

Choose Sabrina, or live out the rest of his life making everyone else around him happy except for himself.



It was practically love at first sight when Price caught his first glimpse of Sabrina. He knew nothing about her, but she intrigued him. Whether it was a coincidence or some strange sort of luck, when he goes on a family vacation, Sabrina happens to rent the house next door. However, while he's there for fun in the sun, she's there to say a final goodbye to her best friend. And when she's at her lowest, it's Price who helps her pick up the pieces.

I had a lot of problems with this story and that's really saying something because everyone and their mama knows how much I adore this author. While reading it, I kept thinking... this is messy.

For what I think is the first time, I didn't like the heroine. I didn't care about what she was going through, I didn't care about her feelings, and I didn't care if she got her happy ending. The only reason she was even a factor for me is because of Price. I loved this man and was willing to put up with the woman he chose so he could be happy. But it wasn't easy.

My biggest issue with this woman was that she was supposed to be socially awkward and shy, but I didn't really get that. I got a person who made excuses for her problems and did nothing to change them. She kept looking to others for basic things. She seemed to know nothing about life and yet she had a job with the school board. Why didn't she ever seek out some therapy?

She was very judgy, which irked the ish out of me.


No. Really? Well, I've been living under a rock and didn't hear the news. Price is better than me. Why do I smoke? Hmmm... well I don't know you and guess what? Don't ask me stupid questions. Don't question me. Mind your damn business.

She was also nosey, presumptious, and kinda rude. I'm still wondering what she was doing with her life that she put up with her ex for so long. Where was her common sense?

And so, I had to average everything out... such as missing details, my intense dislike of the heroine, dangling plot points, etc., and give this book its due.

Again, I absolutely love this author and will read whatever she pushes out. This just happens to be my least favorite book yet.

About the Characters:

Main Characters: Price Crow and Sabrina
Children: Hercules & Faye
Price's Family:
Derringer Crow (father)
Reedy Crow (mother)
Tide "Rook" Crow (twin brother)
Haggard "Thief" Crow (brother) - found in Always Someone's Monster)
Callum "Shine" Crow (brother) - found in Make Me Your Villain
Bram "Reaper" Crow (brother)
Cannel Crow (sister) - found in Chalk Dirty to Me

Check out the other books from the series:

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

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Make Me Your Villain by Lani Lynn Vale

Flaws—he has them.
Laws? He breaks them.
Dues? He’s paid them.
Scars? He bares them proudly.
Lessons? He’s learned them.
Problems? He has one.
Her name is Iris, and she’s the one thing in his life that he can’t control.



I honestly don't even know where to start here. My heart is hurt! This author, one of my absolute favorites, seems to enjoy playing with my emotions lately. People are dropping like freaking flies all over the place here. Why oh why do people keep dying???

Shine was fine and Iris was sweet. They just clicked and although their connection was instantaneous, it really worked for them. Well, it definitely worked for me. I love when characters simply mesh without things being all messy. The drama involved wasn't created by them and yet it added another dimension to their relationship. I really liked these two characters so much!

Shine was awesome! I'm very intrigued by the Crow family and so far Haggard and Shine have raised the bar.

This story had so many moving parts and I was really looking forward to watching them all come together. However, many of them didn't. I'm left with putting things together with my imagination and let me tell you... I am not that creative. Aside from the dangling bits or the parts that were only partially explained, I enjoyed myself. I was entertained. I only wish there was a bit more because I needed to truly understand what the heck was going on. Show/hide spoiler

About the characters:

Main Characters - Shine Crow & Iris
Children - baby boy Crow
Shine's family - Derringer Crow (father)
Reedy (mother)
Trinket (brother)
Rook (brother)
Bram (brother)
Haggard (brother) - featured in Always Someone's Monster
Channel (sister) - featured in Chalk Dirty to Me
Iris's family - mom & stepdad
Anderson (brother)
Abby (sister)

Check out the other books from this series:

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

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Trouble by Ari Reavis

Trouble.

People don’t understand how much power a name holds. Justin has been known as Trouble for as far back as he can remember. He’s never seen any other choice than to live up to his name so he can be able to take care of his younger brother. But then…he meets her, and his name begins to feel like a burden he no longer wants to bear.

The moment a handsome stranger walks into Lena’s office, she wants to know what story lays beneath his many tattoos and sexy grin. Putting a hard past behind her, she’s starting her future, but now she can’t help but wonder how Justin might fit into it. She couldn’t have imagined just how much he would change her life, how much he would change everything.

She only knows him as Justin. How long can Trouble stay hidden? When their worlds collide and the secrets between them are exposed, can they survive them?

Find your copy of Trouble here:

Goodreads * Amazon

"Trouble" was anything but.

Justin knew what it was to struggle and survive. Abandoned by those who were supposed to care the most, he took on the responsibility of raising his little brother. However, with no education and no marketable skills, there was only one job he was qualified for in the hood. And thriving? He would leave that for his brother.

Lena knew what it was to struggle and survive. Alone and abandoned, she grew up in the system. Instead of taking the hard road, she was determined to succeed.

So different and yet so compatible. When they meet, they recognize something in the other that was necessary in their lives. Their relationship blossomed organically and beautifully and I was in love with the way they loved each other.


So beautiful!

My heart hurt for all that Justin had to go through, for all that his brother had to go through, but I loved how they powered through everything. I loved their dynamic and found myself rooting for their success. And can someone find me a Miss Lydia and/or a Miss Lou to come save a chick?

Oh and let's not forget the ending of this book... If I wasn't already going to rate it highly, the lump in my throat at the end as I forced myself not to cry made its five-star-worthiness quite clear. I can't recommend this author enough. She writes such authentic characters and heartwarming stories and everyone who loves romance should be reading her.


Ari Reavis is a wife and mother of five. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, she enjoys staying in, devouring books and watching movies. Her kids are running around, her husband is trying to show her martial arts moves, and she's trying to write. Her day in a nutshell.

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Scarred by Ari Reavis

It’s the scars of the past that keep us from seeing what the future could hold.

Liam has scars that remind him daily why he refuses to allow love into his life. What good is it when it only leads to anger and hatred later on? But then he literally bumps into someone who makes him wonder if there is more to life than reliving the pain of what he’s been through.

Some scars are easier to bear than others.

Nia can’t look in the mirror without being reminded of what she’s endured. She carries the past with her like a living darkness wherever she goes. When she meets someone who looks beyond her scar, she dares to hope for a future she never thought possible.

But the past never stays dead for long.

When the ghosts of the past come back to haunt them both, can they make it through together? Or will the fear and uncertainty tear them apart before they can find happiness? The past and present collide and they’ll have to fight for each other if they want to have a future.

Find your copy of Scarred by Ari Reavis on Amazon
https://amzn.to/3B7NDrV

I consider every book by Ari Reavis to be a comfort read. While no two stories are alike, and each one gives me a unique experience, they all read like I'm coming home.

After meeting Liam and then Nia in Imperfect, I didn't think I needed more. I was cool with what I knew. Then I picked up this book and realized how necessary their story was. How else was I going to fall in love with them?

Both characters had traumatic pasts, things done to them that affected how they went about their daily lives, and yet they thrived. Neither of them hid or fell apart. And together... they created something magical. Liam and Nia were such wonderful, kind, compassionate, patient, and understanding characters. I felt their pain, their confusion, their fears, their blossoming love, and all of their joy.

I love when an author can give us something so stunningly beautiful out of the ugliness that created deep emotional and physical scars.


Ari Reavis is a wife and mother of five. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, she enjoys staying in, devouring books and watching movies. Her kids are running around, her husband is trying to show her martial arts moves, and she's trying to write. Her day in a nutshell.

The artist.

Renna should be focusing on her first art showing, but instead, all her attention is on the man standing in front of her painting. When she goes over to introduce herself, she’s unprepared for the passion one look from him ignites.

The fighter.

Kyle taking the night off from his martial arts school to come to the gallery appears to be worth it, as he admires the works on display. Then the beautiful woman who painted them gives him one smile and he knows he’ll never get enough of her.

The unexpected.

Kyle’s used to having to fight, but what will happen when he comes up against something he can’t beat? Renna’s always counted on art to clear her mind, but when the future becomes blurry, it gets harder to keep envisioning the picture perfect life she wants.

It’s easy to say you’ll never leave each other’s side when things are easy. But can that promise be kept when it has to become more than just words?

You've got to meet Timaeus Lambros and see why he deserves ALL THE STARS!!

Heartbreakingly beautiful and devastatingly annoying, Timaeus Lambros, a deaf, former military translator, has just been assigned as my co-teacher for the rest of the school year.

His stupid-hot face gets on my nerves.

So does his well-fitting jeans.

Charming and gorgeous men like him should not be teachers.

They should be locked away in a storage closet... with me.

But that’s just a teachers’ lounge fantasy with a big dreamy sigh attached.

Tim and I can never be a thing. He’s broody and closed off, while I’m the new owner of a one-way ticket back to Costa Rica, thanks to budget cuts.

But my Abuelita always said life wasn’t a fairytale. So even if Tim does have a magical tongue and a dreamy body, we still might not get a happily ever after.

Find your copy of Incomplete here:
Goodreads | Amazon
FREE with Kindle Unlimited

You have to save yourself…

Ebony knows this better than anyone. She’s been trying to pull herself out of the darkness for longer than she cares to admit, but each day only seems to bring her deeper. Her life revolves around her siblings, and getting through the next day. Music is the only thing that affords her an escape, but someone else might prove she isn’t really alone.

Sometimes you need a little help…

Marcus just might be the light Ebony needs to show her how beautiful life can truly be, if she would just notice him. He knows nothing is ever easy, but it is always worth it in the end. He’s got his own story to tell and she’s the only one he wants to share it with.

What would it take to let someone in?

Letting Marcus into her world might be the hardest thing Ebony has ever done, and when her past threatens to drag her back under again, will he be able to handle it? Can Ebony win against, what has always seemed like, insurmountable odds?

Find it here:
Goodreads | Amazon

Read it for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Find it here:
Goodreads | Amazon

Read it for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Two broken souls. One last chance.

Avery never expected to take another chance at love. Until she's thrown a curve ball she isn't anticipating – a man that causes her pulse to race and also happens to be one of her bosses. Finding herself drawn to him, Avery does her best to push him away, but she in no way predicts her heart pulling him in.

Logan doesn't trust women. Period. But a one-night stand cut short exposes him to a mysterious woman that flips his world upside down. He didn’t predict meeting her - the one that would make him question everything. Undeterred by her need to keep him at an arm's length, he goes against everything he believes in the quest to prove that they're worth fighting for.

Goodreads | Amazon

Read it for FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Anton Scalene
I was born in hell, raised in a nightmare.
I was fifteen when I killed for the first time.
As a child, my dreams were about climbing out of that hell, of being on top of the pile of bodies and not one of them.
I live in the shadows, find solace in the darkness.
Until her.
A chance meeting, a fleeting moment…
Her innocence beguiles me.
I want her, but to have her would destroy the very part of her I crave.
And even knowing that, I can’t stay away, until my past threatens to drag her into my nightmare.
Letting her go is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but a demon has no business falling in love with an angel.