Review: Everything For Us by M. Leighton

 

Everything For Us by M. Leighton

Publication Date: September 3rd by Berkley Trade

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

 

About the book:

Olivia Townsend’s wealthy cousin Marissa had everything a girl could ask for—a great job, a privileged life, and all the friends she wanted. Or, at least, all the friends money could buy. But one case of mistaken identity has turned her privileged world upside down.

An abduction gone wrong lands her right in the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met. To Marissa, he’s an enigma, but one to whom she’s irresistibly, inexplicably drawn.

With him comes a new world of freedom and passion, of dark shadows and dangerous secrets, a world where nothing is what it seems—except for the blind passion that Marissa can’t escape—or maybe even survive.

My Thoughts:

*******Major Spoilers if you haven’t read the first two books in this series.*******

The last installment of The Bad Boys series left me with mixed feelings.  I LOVED the ending! Perfect for Olivia and Cash and for Melissa and Nash, however, I have varied thoughts on the rest of the novel.

Melissa and Nash are the main focus of Everything For Us, and to be honest I was a bit worried I’d have issues with Melissa because she was so horrible in book one.  I barely recognized her in this story.  Seriously, she felt like a completely different character.  Melissa was sweet, regretful of her past actions , and very likable. Not sure if I really found her complete 180 believable, but I liked her nonetheless.  Melissa feels an instant, intense and almost uncanny attraction to Nash after she’s rescued by him and Cash. He ends up staying with her for safety reasons, but she has no problem with that.  They, unsurprisingly, end up physically involved with Nash giving her big warnings that he’s not into commitments.  He makes it clear that he could care less one way or another she thinks about that. He only wants her for one thing.  A prize, right?

This brings me to Nash. The story is told in his POV as well and he is not an easy character to like. He was angry and bitter for most of the story and I could see a reason behind some of that, I just couldn’t wrap my head around why he felt this way toward Cash.  I didn’t get why he wouldn’t be happy and relieved to be reunited with his brother.  Instead, he somehow blames Cash for the whole situation, and is mad that he impersonated him.  He treats Melissa like crap as well, and after finding out what he did in the past, I liked him even less.

I did really enjoy parts of this series.  The chemistry and the wickedly sexy banter between the characters made for delicious build up, and a fun read.  There were some surprising twists and turns, and I love mystery.  The ending was just lovely, and as I said, so perfect! 

Yet, I have to say a few things didn’t sit well with me.  Both Cash and Nash did things as each other that I did not agree with. They took advantage of the women in their life by lying and deceiving them. I didn’t like that some of these partners acted interchangeable at times, and that it was sort of just swept under the rug in one case. Also, the whole reason for Nash being in hiding didn’t make much sense when Cash was impersonating him, anyhow.  No one thought he died in the accident, so why the charade? Why couldn’t the real Nash be himself all this time? Maybe I’m missing something here. 

I am glad to have finished this series.  I really wanted a happy ending for all the characters after everything they went through. 

 

3 Suns

 

 

 A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

 

 

The Bad Boys series (click on book for description):

 

 

    

 

 

About the Author:

 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Follow M. Leighton:

 

Blog  |  FaceBook  |  Goodreads  |  Twitter  |  Email



Review & Giveaway: Until I Break by M. Leighton

 

Until I Break by M. Leighton

Publication Date: May 12th 2013

 

About the book: "I’m intrigued. Tempted beyond what I’ve ever been before. To know her, to open her up. To break her."

In love, sometimes what you fear most is exactly what you need.

Laura Drake is an author. She writes bestselling paranormal romances that continue to top the charts. She is sharp. She is confident. She is in control.

And she doesn’t exist.

Samantha Jansen is the woman behind the wig, the woman most of the world doesn’t know exists. She is shy. She is insecure. She is nothing like her main character or her alter ego. She is scarred—deeply scarred—by a past she can’t let go of and a present she can’t make peace with.

Samantha’s dreams are consumed by one man, the broken hero from her books. Mason Strait is both her wildest fantasy and her most terrifying nightmare.

When Samantha meets Alec Brand, a corporate consultant, it is as though Mason has come to life. Alec is handsome to a fault, as elegant as he is arrogant, and more intense than any man has a right to be.

Samantha is soon sucked into a world that mirrors the fiction she writes. Just like her main character, Daire Kirby, Samantha finds herself unable to resist the forbidden lure of Alec. And just like Daire, she also finds that she is faced with taking a chance on a man who could either set her free or destroy her.

The scale tilts toward destruction when Samantha finds out that Alec is as much a work of fiction as Mason. And he has scars of his own, scars that could ruin them both.


**This book may be read as a stand-alone, as the story of Alec and Samantha comes to a conclusion in this book**
 

My Thoughts:
  “Although he’s nothing more than a product of my imagination, he’s both my wildest fantasy and my most terrifying nightmare.” Until I Break is a dark and mesmerizing tale of two broken people intensely drawn to each other. The question is, will they help mend or will they break each other beyond repair? I was utterly consumed by this story! I’ve read a M. Leighton before, but I think this is her best work yet!

Alec Brand is no product of Samantha’s imagination, yet he seems to embody her fictional hero on so many levels, scaring and thrilling her at the same time when he openly pursues her. What if the character you write about basically steps off the page and into your life?

The physical similarities between this man and my fictional leading man leave me breathless. The similarities that seem to float just beneath the surface leave me terrified.

Samantha is a popular paranormal romance writer hiding behind the pen name of Laura Drake. Her disguise is complete with wig, glasses, and a complete wardrobe change; a complete shield. As Laura Drake, she is cool, controlled and calculating, but in real life Samantha is anything but! She didn’t start with the best upbringing and you will discover as you read how her past would scar and damage anyone! Alec thinks Samantha is naïve and vulnerable when he meets her. Vulnerable? Yes. Naïve? No.

Alec Brand is dark, handsome, and exudes an air of danger! He makes no promise of hearts and flowers, only passion, desire and pleasure. There is more than meets the eye with this man, too. He has his own twisted past. With two people and a heap of secrets between them, will anyone come out unharmed? Can these two find love in the midst of all of this? We shall see.

I wish I could elaborate on the plot more but this is best discovered on your own. Do yourself a favor and DON’T read spoilery reviews.

Like I said in the beginning, I was utterly consumed and thrilled by this story! This may have been the HOTTEST sexual tension I have ever read! Sizzling, fiery, BLAZING buildup on INTENSE levels!! On: DANGER ABOUT TO EXPLODE levels!!

“If you’re going to look at me that way, I might need to warn you about me,” he says, taking a step toward me. Instinctively, I retreat. One side of his mouth quirks into a wry grin. “Or maybe you already know.”

“It’s not my intention to make you feel love. I don’t have that kind of emotion in me. But there are other things I can give you, other things I can make you feel. Really feel.” His eyes are hooded as he looks down at me. He takes one more step forward. This time, I don’t back up. “Excitement,” he says, reaching up to wind one long, red curl around his finger. When his eyes meet mine, I feel like he’s doing the same thing to me—winding me around his finger. “Anticipation. Desire. Warmth. I can make you feel very, very warm.”

He certainly made me feel warm! Holy heck!!

I loved this dark, twisted, and romantic story! The ending was perfect! All hearts and flowers, well,...mostly ;) I’m sorry that the author decided to pull this story from publication. Very sad. I hope M. Leighton changes her mind, because IMO, this is her best story yet! Darker for sure, but oh so good!

5 Suns

 



 

 

 



When I found out that M. Leighton was going to pull publication of this story I quickly bought copies in paperback.  Because I think this story is so awesome, I wanted to share a copy with one lucky reader.  The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!  Just fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. Thanks for visiting Waves of Fiction and good luck!!

Cover Reveal: Until I Break by M. Leighton

Until I Break by M. Leighton

Release date: May 14th 2013 

Purchase Links: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

About the book
Laura Drake is an author. She writes bestselling paranormal romances that continue to top the charts. She is sharp. She is confident. She is in control.

And she doesn’t exist.

Samantha Jansen is the woman behind the wig, the woman most of the world doesn’t know exists. She is shy. She is insecure. She is nothing like her main character or her alter ego. She is scarred—deeply scarred—by a past she can’t let go of and a present she can’t make peace with.

Samantha’s dreams are consumed by one man, the broken hero from her books. Mason Strait is both her wildest fantasy and her most terrifying nightmare.
When Samantha meets Alec Brand, a corporate consultant, it is as though Mason has come to life. Alec is handsome to a fault, as elegant as he is arrogant, and more intense than any man has a right to be.

Samantha is soon sucked into a world that mirrors the fiction she writes. Just like her main character, Daire Kirby, Samantha finds herself unable to resist the forbidden lure of Alec. And just like Daire, she also finds that she is faced with taking a chance on a man who could either set her free or destroy her.

The scale tilts toward destruction when Samantha finds out that Alec is as much a work of fiction as Mason. And he has scars of his own, scars that could ruin them both. 

About the Author 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Follow this Author

Blog  |  FaceBook  |  Goodreads  |  Twitter  |  Email

New Release: Up to Me by M. Leighton

Today, we are excited to join AToMR Tours in announcing the New Release of 
Up to Me by M. Leighton.

That's not all!! We have an excerpt of the book to share, as well as a special giveaway for Waves of Fiction Followers. Take a look!

Up to Me (The Bad Boys, #2) by M. Leighton
Published January 6th, 2013
Purchase Link: Amazon

About the book
Happily ever after doesn’t come easy. But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms. He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest. Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time. And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back. Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises. Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well. She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option. And this is one of them. If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life. But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

Up to Me - Book Excerpt

Cash’s back is to me. I see him run his fingers through his hair and I hear him sigh again.  “I’m asking you to trust me, Olivia.”  He turns to face me.  “Trust in what you know about me.  Because I know, if you stop listening to your fear, you know who I am.  Deep down.  You know me, Olivia.  You know me.”

His voice is sincere. His expression is urgent.  I close my eyes against his face, his handsome face, the face that haunts both my waking and my sleeping world.  I open them again when I feel warm hands cup my cheeks.  Cash is a breath away, his eyes pools of midnight, drawing me in.

“It’s me,” he says softly.  “Stop listening to everything else.  Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you.  Don’t think with your head.  You know me.  And when my lips are on yours, you trust me.”  As if to make his point, he dips his head and brushes his mouth over mine.  Sparks fly between us.  As always.  “You trust me, when my hands are on your skin.”  He runs his palms down my arms and then over to my waist where he pushes them up under the edge of my shirt.  Chills break out down my back.  “You trust me when you turn your mind off, when you just feel.”

Well if that caught your attention and you haven't read book one yet, check out the first installment. We are also hosting a giveaway of book one, courtesy of AToMR and the author.

Down to You (The Bad Boys, #1) by M. Leighton
Published September 21st 2012 by Smashwords
Purchase Link: Amazon

About the book
The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not. Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white. But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.


Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her. Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Author's Social Media Links

Blog | FaceBook | Goodreads | Twitter 

AToMR Tours and M. Leighton were gracious enough to offer the chance for one Waves of Fiction Follower to win an eBook of Down to You (The Bad Boys, #1). If the winner does not have an e-reader, they can download the Kindle app for free to their computers on Amazon. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Down to You by M. Leighton

Down to You by M. Leighton

Published September 21st 2012 by Smashwords
Purchase: Amazon

About the book

The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not.

Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white.

But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.
Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her.

Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them.

My Thoughts
Down to You was definitely an entertaining book! It had all of the elements of a fun and romantic read.

Olivia is just your average girl who’s trying to finish up her last year in college with one goal in mind – to head back to her father’s farm to help run the business. She comes from a small town and soon proves to be no match for the twin duo Nash and Cash. After landing a job at Dual, Olivia immediately feels a strong attraction to these two brothers. However, choosing between Cash who’s the bad boy among the two and Nash who is the clean cut, soon to be lawyer, but dating her cousin is only landing her heartache.

The book definitely kept my attention and managed to catch me off guard well past with the mid-point with the plot twist. I had to remind myself that I was reading a spicy/fun novel for pure entertainment, so logic needs to take a back seat in this adventure. I was curious how it would all come together, so that coupled with the fun, sassy banter kept me engaged all the way through to the end.

Overall, it was a fun read that served a dual purpose of delivering on steam and entertainment. After the cliffy, I would surely consider reading the next book in this series. Liked it much!

3.5 Suns