New year, new books! Here's the first wrap up of the year, with all the books I've read and reviewed, what I've been up to and what I have blogged about:

What I Read

Destination Thailand by Katy Collins

Our Song by Dani Atkins

Holding Out for a Hero by Victoria Van Tiem

The Widow by Fiona Barton

4 Stars:

Queen of the Universe by Geralyn Corcillo

Match Me If You Can by Michele Gorman

The Confectioner's Tale by Laura Madeleine

The Girl on the Train by Laura Hawkins

Breakout by Aven Ellis

Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent

The Soldier's Wife by Pamela Hart

3 Stars: 

First Touch by Laurelin Paige

Resistance is Futile by Jenny T. Colgan
To Be Reviewed:
A Home in Sunset Bay by Rebecca Pugh
The Stylist by Rosie Nixon
The Great Village Show by Alexandra Brown

What I Was Up To

January mainly consisted of snow and trips to Ikea. After a fab New Year's Eve at a friend place (we has the coolest GoT stuff), we got our new place here in Munich the 2nd of January. It was completely empty and we spent the first few nights sleeping in an airbed surrounded by boxes. But slowly, we started filling it (I got my first bookshelf, which is already full). Still a lot to do but I'm quite happy how it's going so far. I'll share pics once everything is more or less in order.
Something that made our first month here a bit difficult was the snow and the freezing weather. For some days I thought we wouldn't be able to leave the house but it finally stopped and I have to admit that the views were quite great.
This last week we've had time to start exploring the area, we went to this little cute medieval town, Landshut, and loved it. We also met with a friend and I had the best curry I've had in a long while.
Oh! And just yesterday I came home to find all these goodies waiting for me. There some presents from friends, some book post and my new HP pyjama. It felt a bit like Christmas!

What I Blogged About

This month, I had a Guest Post by Notting Hill Press about the process of choosing a cover for a book. It's actually quite an interesting post about how to market it and thinking what might catch a reader's eye.

A very special post about my ten most precious books. 

And the last ten books you've added to you tbr pile.

Blurb: TV writer extraordinaire Lola Scott is about to lose her show because she STILL hasn't cast the role of Sam Destry, the dark, brooding bounty hunter. But then Arlen Black walks into her office and he is PERFECT for the part. One problem, though. He's not an actor there to audition. Nope. He's the handyman Lola hired to renovate her historic Hollywood house.

No problem. Lola gleefully offers him the dream job of a lifetime. No dice--the stoic recluse in a tool belt wants nothing to do with Lola and her show. But Lola doesn't give up. She goes after Arlen using every trick she can think of, but her Hollywood machinations just bounce right off him.

Why can't she get a bead on this guy?

A scrambling Lola is about to get the ax when Arlen surprises her socks off and signs on to play Sam. She has no idea why he changed his mind, but she doesn't have time to stop and think about it. Not when she has to get him camera-ready, suppress her totally unprofessional attraction to him, and hide from the studio exec, her million-dollar leading lady, and the world at large that her ace-in-the-hole leading man is really just her sexy handyman.

The stellar pilot garners media accolades, causing Hollywood gossip to sink its claws into Arlen. When one paparazzi photo threatens to destroy everything he holds dear, Lola finally understands why he upended his life to do the show and save her career. Now she's got to move heaven and Earth not to save the show ... but to save Arlen.

First of all I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I really enjoyed Geralyn Corcillo's debut, Miss Adventure, so I was very excited to read her second novel. In Queen of the Universe we meet TV writer Lola. She is talented, knows what she is doing and has been given the opportunity to run her own show, so everything needs to go perfectly. Slight problem though, they can't find their perfect leading man. Here's when Arlen enters the action, he is perfect for the role... but he is not actor!

I loved the concept for the story. Imagine taking a no one with no acting experience, who actually doesn't even want to be an actor, into the most anticipated comedy of the year in Hollywood. A recipe for disaster... but when everyone loves this no one and want to know more about him, that's when the story gets really interesting.

I love that Geralyn's style is so fresh and fun. While reading Queen of the Universe, I was able to totally disconnect from my everyday life and enter a complete new world for me, a studio in Hollywood. I love stories that have these behind the scenes story lines as I always enjoy knowing more about how this crazy world works and I think that Geralyn offers us the perfect glimpse into it. I felt like I was there with them, recording and avoiding paparazzi everywhere!

Plus, Lola and Arlen were fantastic characters. In fact, I might have a slight crush on Arlen myself. What a man! He was so much more than I was expecting and he had some secrets that I was not expecting at all. In fact, during the whole story, Geralyn managed to keep me wondering what was going to happen next and surprised me more than once.

So if you are in need of some laughs, romance and craziness, I highly recommend you pick Queen of the Universe, a refreshing Hollywood story that will surprise you. Geralyn's stories are original, fun and highly entertaining and I'm already looking forward to her next one.

Rating: 

Yesterday I reviewed Michele Gorman's latest book, Match Me If You Can, a fun read about three women looking for love and something more. And today I have a very special post to share with you! Michele's US Publisher, Notting Hill Press, have decided to change the cover for this title and give it a completely new look. Do you want to know why? Then keep reading!

Judging Covers by Notting Hill Press

It’s interesting to see how the same book is marketed differently depending on where its fans are based. Michele Gorman’s Match Me If You Can is published by Avon (Harper Collins) in the UK and by Notting Hill Press in the US. Avon took the lead in designing the marketing package for Michele’s UK chick lit fans, with a pretty teal cover, fun font and firm focus on the online dating/romance storylines in the book. 

Meet best friends Catherine, Rachel and Sarah. Yet to find Mr Right, they’ve been settling for Mr Right Now. But when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets the girls to join her dating site where they can rate and recommend their ex-boyfriends, they soon realise that anything could happen… There’s someone for everyone, right? These best friends are about to find out!

To complement the UK cover, we at Notting Hill Press designed the US cover using the same fonts and heart motif. But something started to bother us. Match Me If You Can is also about strong women. It’s funny, cheeky, poignant and realistic. The women join the dating website and recycle their exes but their lives – their friendship, families and careers – are at the heart of the book. And while both British and American fans are definitely romantics, American readers are also really partial to a feisty story about friends. 

We had to admit it: our hot pink cover didn’t seem quite right for Michele’s US fans. So we had a rethink about it, and here’s the result!

Meet best friends, Catherine, Rachel and Sarah. They’re fun, smart and successful, and haven’t had a date worth booking a wax appointment for in ages. 

Catherine runs London’s most successful matchmaking business with her silent partner and ex-husband, Richard, who’s just announced that he’s marrying his twenty-three year-old girlfriend. Catherine has bras that are older than Magda, and now she’s barging in on their business with her meddlesome demands and wedding plans. 

Blurb: Ever thought about recycling your ex?

Best friends Catherine, Rachel & Sarah are fun, smart, successful and single – just like millions of women with a low tolerance for idiocy in their dates.

Mr. Right hasn't turned up yet, and Mr Right-Now isn't worth booking a wax appointment for. So when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets Rachel and Sarah to join her dating site where they can recycle their ex-boyfriends in exchange for an upgrade, they soon realise that anything could happen...

Three best friends, proving that sometimes it really isn't you… it's him.

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Something I really like about Michele Gorman is that her stories are always so original. With her, there's no girl meets boy; with her, there are strong down to earth women who might be looking for love but also have a thousand other things in their heads too, they have dreams, concerns and expectations. And above all, they have each other's backs. And that's exactly what Match Me If You Can is about. 

Reading the blurb, I expected a fun story about online dating and its disasters. But what I got was way deeper and so self-affirming. Actually, the online dating is quite present in the stories of these three women, Catherine, Rachel and Sarah, but it's not the main focus. Catherine is the one who actually runs the website where you have to register with an ex and evaluate them so you both can find better fitted people for you. She actually owns it and other dating services with her ex-husband. Who is marrying a (quite) younger girl. Catherine was probably my least favourite character. She was OK in general but I didn't really care for her. It was interesting to find out more about her but her parts were the ones I enjoyed less.

Then there's Rachel, an architect who works with her ex-boyfriend. They are actually competing for a project, which made for some scenes between them. They join Catherine's website together and soon Rachel starts getting quite the attention. Rachel is quite stubborn and proud so I really enjoyed seeing her out of her comfort zone in her dates. And I was really happy with the ending of her story. She deserved it. 

And finally there's Sarah. She was my favourite of the three, I guess because at the beginning she was kind of lost, never bothering to leave the house and focusing all her energies on baking for her loved one and forgetting about the rest of the worl. She really needed to find herself and during the story we see her growing and learning to love herself. But the star of the story for me was Sarah's sister. She was such a special character. I'm sure you all will love her.

All in all, Match Me If You Can is a very entertaining story that flows easily. It has relatable characters and an original idea. It manages to surprise you more than once and it definitely makes you giggle. 

Rating: 

         

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. And who doesn't love a good list?

This week's topic is a freebie so I decided to share with you my most precious books. In the last couple of years I've had the pleasure of meeting several amazing authors both in person and online and I've been lucky enough to get some of my favourite books signed and dedicated by the author so my little collection of special books has grown and I'm very proud of it. It's been difficult to pick only ten of them to share with you, but here they are:

1) El Foraster by Quim Masferrer. Some years ago I got the chance to meet Quim Masferrer, a Catalan comedian that my husband adores. So I got his book signed for him and he wrote such a fun message for him. My husband was over the moon when he read it!

2) The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith. I won a signed copy of the Catalan translation of this book from the Catalan publisher. So I basically own a book that has been touched by J.K. Rowling!

3) The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson. I fell in love with Lucy's writing after reading her debut a couple of years ago and I have devoured and loved everything she has written then. So imagine my excitement when I met her last year! Amazing book, amazing author!

4) Always the Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk. You probable know by now that Lindsey Kelk is the bomb! And I met her! And she knew who I was! And she signed my book! Total fangirl moment. 

5) Letter to the Lost by Iona Grey. This was one of my favourite books of the year in 2015 and I had the opportunity to hear Iona talk about it and then talk to her about it! It's actually the first book she ever signed, so she wrote a big number one on it! Isn't that cool?

6) The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson. I adore Lisa and her books. I would absolutely love to meet her but until then I am happy with the copy she send me with the most perfect dedication!

7) The Time of Our Lifes by Jane Costello. When I went to an event with the fantastic Jane Costello last year, I had this fab book set in my lovely Barcelona signed by her.

8) The Two of Us by Andy Jones. Another book I really enjoyed last year. I was over the moon to meet its author and hear him chat about it. 

9) The Judas Scar by Amanda Jennings. I hadn't read this book when I won a signed copy. But then I read it and it completely blown me away. It was one of my favourite reads of 2014 so I'm really glad to have this copy.

10) The Silent Hours by Cesca Major. This one is actually not signed like all the other but I wanted to include it because I'm quoted on it. It's always such a great feeling to see yourself quoted on a book you have loved! Especially with such a fantastic read like this one! 

So here they are, my most priced bookish possessions. Do you have any especial books yourself?

Blurb: What secrets are hiding in the heart of Paris?

At the famous Patisserie Clermont in Paris, 1909, a chance encounter with the owner's daughter has given one young man a glimpse into a life he never knew existed: of sweet cream and melted chocolate, golden caramel and powdered sugar, of pastry light as air.

But it is not just the art of confectionery that holds him captive, and soon a forbidden love affair begins.

Almost eighty years later, an academic discovers a hidden photograph of her grandfather as a young man with two people she has never seen before. Scrawled on the back of the picture are the words 'Forgive me'. Unable to resist the mystery behind it, she begins to unravel the story of two star-crossed lovers and one irrevocable betrayal.

Take a moment to savour an evocative, bittersweet love story that echoes through the decades – perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Rachel Hore and Victoria Hislop.

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I love historical fiction, Paris and baking (and baked treats) so I was not surprised that I enjoyed this read so much. Laura Madeleine's debut takes us to Paris in 1909 and her detailed descriptions of the different neighbourhoods, their buildings and its people paint a clear and easy to imagine picture of how the city of love must have been back then. 

In Paris we meet Gui, a young man from the country that travels to the city with a good friend to find work and be able to send some money back to his mother. The two friends start working for the railways but soon Gui finds himself in a total new environment. After meeting the beautiful daughter of the owner of one of Paris renowned Patisseries, he manages to find a job in its ovens and as he falls in love with the young girl, he also finds another passion: baking the most extraordinaire creations.

But the story not only takes place in Paris at the beginning of the century. Many decades after, Petra discovers that her beloved grandfather, a famous British historian, was involved in a scandal in Paris back then. Something he had kept as a secret all his life. But what is the connection between these two stories? This mystery kept me glued to the pages of The Confectioner's Tales for hours. I wanted to know what had happened back then that had hunted somebody's life so much. It was actually not that big of a scandal at th end but I certainly enjoyed finding out.

The Confectioner's Tale is a well crafted story with a beautiful setting. I could totally picture myself in a patisserie in Paris eating some macaroons while people watching. It's a story that entertains, keeps you wondering and makes you part of it. What else can you ask for? 

Rating: 

Blurb: When Emily Wayborn receives an answerphone message from her former best friend Amber, she knows something is seriously wrong. Emily hasn't spoken to Amber in years, and when Amber uses a safe word in her message that Emily recognises -- a word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild partying days -- she knows Amber needs her help. But when Emily tries to find her, she discovers that Amber is missing.

Determined to track her down, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead her to enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis. Renowned for his shady dealings and playboy reputation, Emily is convinced that Reeve knows something about Amber's disappearance. To try and discover the truth, Emily sets out to seduce him. But when she's forced to decide where her loyalty lies, how will Emily choose between saving Amber and saving her heart?

If you devoured Fifty Shades and Sylvia Day's Bared To You series, you will love the latest intoxicating, passionate and addictive novel from New York Times bestseller Laurelin Paige.

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: What first caught my attention for this title was the mystery that the blurb promised. It had a thrillery aspect that most of this type of books lack, so even if I was not captivated by Sylvia Day's Bared To You nor Fifty Shades, I decided to give it a go expecting to be surprised, I was intrigued. The truth is that I was not that surprised. You have the same elements as always: an alpha type who runs a huge empire at a young age, who doesn't care about anyone but himself and has a lot of rules in his bedroom and a young pretty girl who thinks she is the woman who is gonna change him until she realises that she likes him just the way he is.

The story per se was quite interesting. I enjoyed discovering about the characters pasts and the plot was intriguing enough to keep me wondering what was going on but the thrillery touch I was expecting wasn't there. The search for the missing girl was left more in the background as the story focused solely in the two main characters and their (sex) relationship. I actually enjoyed more the first part of the book as we got to know them but I soon realiased that I didn't really like them as characters and I didn't care for them.

I really think the story has a lot of potential, especially after that ending. It was something I didn't see coming, not in a million years. And it has left me wondering what will happen in the next book. But there was something that didn't click with me, mainly the main two characters. But if you are a big fan of Fifty Shades and Bared To You then I highly recommend you pick this book, especially if you enjoy BDSM scenes. I think First Touch is like a better version of these stories. The author's style is impeccable and she makes the story flow easily. Plus, she certainly knows how to make a scene hot hot hot.

Rating: 

                               

Blurb: What if you had a second chance… to find yourself?

Instead of slipping on her something borrowed and tripping up the aisle to wedded bliss, Georgia spends her big day crying into a warm Sex-on-the-Beach, wondering where it all went wrong.

Forced to make a bucket list of her new life goals by best friend Marie, it’s not long before travel-virgin Georgia’s packing her bags for a long-haul adventure to Thailand.

Yet, Georgia’s big adventure doesn’t seem to be going to plan. From strange sights, smells and falling for every rookie traveller scam in the book Georgia has never felt more alone.

But the good thing about falling apart is that you can put yourself back together any way you please. And new Georgia might just be someone she can finally be proud of…

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I had been following Katy Colins' fantastic travel blog, Not Wed or Dead, for a while when she announced her book deal with Carina UK. I was really happy for her, reading her blog I could tell she had a special way with words and a fun and entertaining style. And when I finally had Destination Thailand in my hands, only reading the first few paragraphs, I knew it. It was going to be a fantastic read. And I was not wrong.

As the author herself, our heroine, Georgia, has been ditched by her fiance just a few weeks before the wedding. It's the perfect time to reevaluate her life and take some big decisions. Even more after getting fired from her job, so she decides to travel solo around Thailand following a bucket list, with things like riding an elephant or make something wild. As soon as Georgia lands in Thailand though we discover that backpacking alone around such a different country is not going to be easy...

Georgia starts her journey with a tour group, to make things easy, but it turns out that the tour is not the best well organised ever. This adds so many fun and awkward situations to the story that I found myself both laughing and feeling a bit sorry for her. But soon we start discovering this new exotic place through Georgia's eyes and I have to admit that I had a great time following her. And I also started feeling my wanderlust kicking in too. This read really makes you think if you are living the life you want.

Georgia was a treat to read about, I instantly warmed to her and getting to know her better only cemented this feeling. And all the varied characters she encountered during her travels added a fun spark to this fantastic read.

As I said, only a few chapters in, I knew I was going to enjoy this book immensely but I was greatly surprised with some really unexpected twists that made this book even better that I was expecting. I am already looking forward to the next installment in the Lonely Hearts Travel Club Series. I foresee a fantastic and successful future for Katy Collins!

Rating: 

Blurb: This is the story of Ally and Charlotte, whose paths have intersected over the years though they've never really been close friends. Charlotte married Ally's ex and first true love, David. Fate is about to bring them together one last, dramatic time and change their lives forever.

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Wow! It's only January and I think I've already read a firm contender to book of the year. Our song has completely and utterly broken me. My first thought when this beauty arrived at my doorstep was, that's quite a long book. But once I started it, I couldn't stop reading. They chapters flew by and soon I was wishing it was actually longer as I didn't want it to end. 

This is my first book by Dani Atkins so I had no idea what to expect. But it only took me a couple of chapters to realise I was in front of something special. Dani created a complex and intricate story about two couples who find themselves in the same unit, in the same hospital, in the same night. Both husbands are fighting for their lives but as the story unfolds, we learn that their stories go way back and this is a night no one is going to forget for the rest of their lives (I'd include myself here as I think this story will always stay with me, it took away a tiny piece of my heart with it and this is difficult to forget).

As I learned more and more about these four characters, I became part of their story too. They made me happy, they made me angry and they made me terribly sad. I am no ashamed to say that I cried like a baby during the last several chapters. So, a word of advice from me: have tissues handy at all times. This book will get to you, big time.

Our Song is an unmissable read. Heartbreaking but uplifting, it takes you on a journey where emotions play a big part. The four main characters are complex and layered. They feel so vivid, like they are part of your life. And thanks to all the flashbacks we learn all about them. There were moments when I hated some of them, moments when I didn't approve of their actions, moments when I forgave them... As it said, they crawled under my skin and for some days they were all I could think about. Isn't it amazing when a book makes you feel so much?

I strongly recommend you pick this brilliant book, you'd be daft not to!

Rating: 5 Stars plus the extra heart!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. And who doesn't love a good list?

This week's topic is about the books I have recently added to my (never ending tbr pile). I'm gonna start with the physical books I would like to read (really soon):

Blurb: The problem with first love is that it never truly dies...A funny, bitter-sweet romantic dramedy set to an 80s soundtrack.

Libby London fell in love in with the 80s, came of age in the 90s, and now, in the 21st Century, she's completely falling apart... Her New York City fashion sensibility is more 'vintage tragedy' than 'retro babe' and might just be what's holding her back in all matters of life and love...

At least that's what her well-meaning friends think. They've staged a #80sIntervention in an effort to bring Libby bang up-to-date. But how do you move forward when the one you love holds you in the past? Between her dreaded birthday party, friend's madcap ambush, and being forced to relocate her Pretty In Pink thrift shop, Libby's nearing the end of the rope... If her therapist isn't quick, it could be a literal one.

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: In 2014 I had the pleasure of reading Victoria Van Tiem's debut, Love Like the Movies, and I fell completely in love with her fresh and fun style. So when she announced last year that her second book was to be released in early 2016, I was over the moon, I couldn't wait to see what she would come up with next. So to say that I started reading Holding Out for a Hero with high expectations is quite the understatement. But I'm happy to say that just after some chapters, I already knew Victoria had done it again!

If Love Like the Movies was all about the movies, Holding Out for a Hero is all about the Eighties. The main character, Libby London, is stuck in the eighties. It might seem normal as she owns an eighties vintage shop so this decade is kind of her living but her friends think it's time for Libby to move on and leave the crazy neon style of that decade behind and embrace the new century once and for all. Libby is not overly enthusiastic about this #eightiesintervention but as her life is kind of falling apart at the moment, she decides to go for it.

We soon realise though that there's more to it than just an outdated dress style and musical taste... Libby is also emotionally stuck in the eighties and she is not ready to really let go. During the story we slowly learn what Libby is really going through and how hard her friends are trying to help her. She is a truly wonderful character, I was rooting for her until the last minute and I felt like I was part of her journey. She is definitely one of those characters you carry with you for a long time after finishing reading the book and once in a while wonder how they must be doing.

I think Victoria made just a fantastic job of handling such difficult and hard topics (if you want to know exactly what I am talking about, then pick the book, it's really worth a read). After finishing it, I was left with such an uplifting and warm feeling. I really think that Holding Out for a Hero is a wonderful read that a lot of people (including me) will connect with. Put a Libby London in your life!

Also, I didn't want to end my review without mentioning all the eighties references in the book. I think Victoria has a real talent to make us feel part of the story making us recall all our own great memories (with movies, songs and fashion). The first thing I did after finishing was watch The Breakfast Club, what a classic. And planning an eighties movies marathon soon. So all I have left to say is, when's Victoria's next book out? 

Rating: 

Blurb: Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. ‘Jess and Jason’, she calls them. Their life – as she sees it – is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough.

Now everything’s changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she’s only watched from afar.

Now they’ll see; she’s much more than just the girl on the train…

Review: A lot has been said about The Girl on the Train so I'm going for a short review on this one. It has definitely been one of the most talked about books of the year and the hype around it has been huge. There has been some mixed opinions but it seems like the main consensus is that a great psychological thriller and I have to agree with this. It kept me on my toes during the whole novel and I really had no idea how the story was going to unravel at the end. 

I have to admit though is has not blown me away but almost. It was a bit slow at the beginning as the narrative jumped from the girl on the train herself, Rachel, the victim in the story, Megan, and Anna, the new wife of Rachel's ex. I wasn't sure how they all were connected to each other but with each new chapter, their stories became more and more interconnected and at the end I was so engrossed in the book that I forgot about everything else.

All in all, I think that The Girl in the Train is worth a read. It lives up to all the hype and I am certainly looking forward to the movie adaptation with Emily Bunt.

Rating: 

Blurb: Lexi has an editing job for a corporate account, but it’s not fulfilling. Nor is her dating life, despite having the so-called help of The One Online Dating Service. Lexi knows there has to be more for her—on both fronts. She’s ready to take the next step, but it doesn't seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon. 

Until a flying puck changes everything. 

Niko Xenakis is the new Dallas Demons TV producer, and he’s looking to make his mark in his new role and hopefully work his way back to his hometown of Baltimore. But once he meets Lexi, he might just change his mind on what he wants for his future . . . 

But the road to love is never easy, complicated by the fact that they both carry emotional baggage from the past in their hearts. Can these two “breakout”of the past to find love in the present?

First of all I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Aven's books are like a happy place where you can escape to for a few hours and forget about everything else. And Breakout is no exception. She always creates the cutest stories with the best heroes: gorgeous and gentle guys, ready to love unconditionally. And that's the case with Niko Xenakis, perfect book boyfriend material.

When Aven first announced that she was writing a new installment in her Dallas Demons Series, I was over the moon as I am a big fan of a certain Dallas Demon captain so I was hoping for some guest appearances and I was not disappointed at all. It's always great to see how lovely Harrison and wife are doing. But what I enjoyed the most from this story was that contrary to the previous two books of the series, we get to see the other side of Hockey: the TV producers. I'm always curious to know what goes on behind the cameras and in Breakout we get a peek to the TV world which can be as stressing and fast as a hockey match.

I admit that it took me a while to warm to our main character, Lexi. I don't know why exactly but I didn't relate to her as much as to Aven's previous heroines. At firs, she seemed like a nice girl but there was something missing in her, a spark or something. But as I got to know her, I started to understand her better. I really think that Niko and her new job brought out a new more confident Lexi, which I liked better. You could really see who she evolved as a character and kind of grew up during the story.

I'm sure Aven's fans will love Breakout. She delivers all we love in her stories: love, friendship, sports and some fun banter. And if you haven't read any of Aven's book yet, where have you been? Definitely worth a read!

Rating: