Betül E. Follow

"All moments matter. We just rarely know how important they are until the chance to act on them has already passed."

The blurb of this book summarizes this book perfectly, so I am not going further into the plot. Show Me the Way is about two broken characters, Rex and Rynna, who have been burned in the past and have a hard time trusting people, especially Rex does not want to open up and trust new women. Fortunately, Rynna was more open and went out of her way to live her life and not let the past dictate her future. That doesn't mean she isn't careful. When Rynna first met Rex, he was very rude to her. His daughter, Frankie Leigh is his world and he has no place for anyone else in his life, especially women. Rex and Rynna both feel the attraction between them, but Rex is not keen on acting on it. On the other hand, Rynna does want to explore this feeling. Rex definitely didn't make it easy on Rynna for her to get to know him. However, piece by piece she chips away at the wall he built around his heart.

"Rynna. Fucking Rynna. Little Thief. Trying to steal my heart."

I have a soft spot for single dads so I really loved how protective Rex was of his beautiful and cute daughter. I was glad the author had Frankie Leigh play a somewhat large role in this book. I also enjoyed the interaction between Rynna and Frankie Leigh, it just made me so happy. The story had a great pace, and the author took her time in developing the relationship between characters. There were a couple of twists, of which I predicted some of them, that added a suspenseful spin to the story. I also really liked the side characters, and I hope they'll get their own story. Show Me the Way is a very entertaining, but also emotional contemporary romance. The sex scenes were very hot and I loved them. This is a great first book to the new Fight For Me series, and I can't wait to see what AL Jackson has more in store for us.

3.75 stars

Follow Me Back is the second book in the Fight for Me series. Amy has picked such a great title for the series because in each book the characters are fighting demons inside and out. In this book we have Kale, who still lives in the past and doesn't want to love again. Hope, hasn't had an easy life as well, is still struggling and has put her life on hold. The moment these two meet the sparks fly and they feel a very strong attraction to each other. However, Hope doesn't have room for a man in her life and shuts Kale's advances down. I was happy about that because one of my pet peeves is when characters end up sleeping together right after they meet (there only has been a couple of times I've let this action slide). Both of them think it's for the best because they don't have time for complications. However, the pull between them is strong and they eventually can't resist one another.

"How is it possible you're standing there? You are magnificent, Kale Bryant. Better than any dream. Better than any fantasy. Inside and out."

Overall, I think Follow Me Back was a nice contemporary romance with a couple of twists. However, there were some things that annoyed me, in particular Kale. Some of his actions felt very selfish and kind of broke my heart as well. I wanted him to man up and to follow his feelings. Hurting the people you love is not the right way to do this. I loved Hope, she was a very strong woman who would do anything for her loved ones, and there is no line she wouldn't cross. I also loved all the secondary characters, especially the children. There were a couple of heartbreaking moments were I had to stay strong and not shed tears. I think the balance between romance, suspense, and heartbreak was just right. It was not my favorite of AL Jackson's books, but I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

"I had always belonged to Oliver Preston. The problem was, he'd never fully belonged to me."

I had been looking forward to Ollie's book since the moment I met him in Show Me the Way. I love second-chance and friends-to-lovers romances. There is just something about two people coming together again, who have so much history that will link them together forever. Nikki, has been in love with Ollie since forever however after the disappearance of Ollie's sister, he has been closed off to any woman. He doesn't feel like he deserves to move on and be happy, so he keeps his distance from her. Nikki, continues to love him from afar and tries to be satisfied with being just friends.

"She was a carrot dangled in front of me like a tease. Always right there, always just out of reach. A connection I couldn't keep but wanted more than my next breath."

Even though Ollie keeps his distance, he still is aware of Nikki. He always watches and protects her whenever he feels like she needs it. After blaming himself for not taking care of his sister, he doesn't wants to fail Nikki. The attraction is there, and at moments Ollie is weak and can't resist the pull towards her. He is jealous when he sees her with other guys, however Nikki isn't up for him acting hot and cold towards her. She doesn't wants to be involved if she can't have all of him. I loved that Nikki stood her ground and had her limits. She doesn't want to be used by him whenever he needs her.

"I'm so lost, and I don't know if that vacant feeling is ever going to go away. Only thing I know is when I'm with you, it doesn't feel so vast."

Lead Me Home is my favorite in the Fight for Me series. I loved that there was a bit of mystery/suspense aspect to the story, and I thought it was done really well by the author. I hope she will write more suspenseful books. I also loved that she included flashbacks to when Ollie and Nikki met, and the strong bond they had from the start. This book also had a couple of very emotional moments, which I read teary-eyed. It was also great seeing what all the previous couples were up to. Lead Me Home was a great contemporary romance and I can't wait to see what Amy will have in store for us next.

"I don't want to be your duty, Ollie. I can't be a sin you're trying to make amends for."

"Do you think I could ever forget a single moment with you? Not ever. Not for a second. You were the only good thing I ever had."

More of You is the first book in AL Jackson's Confessions of the Heart series. Jace and Faith had a connection from the start. Faith comes from a good family, but Jace grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. He is seen as a troublemaker with a chip on his shoulder. However, Faith sees something in him that intrigues and draws her to him. I loved reading the flashbacks of how they met, and how their relationship developed. It is obvious that Jace is a good guy that is dealt a bad hand in life. He is very protective of his family and would do anything to save them, and this eventually becomes his downfall. Back to present time, Jace comes back to town after hearing about the incidents that are happening around Faith. She is in danger and he will do anything to protect her. She obviously is hesitant to allow him back into her life after he left her. However, she can't deny that she still has strong feelings for him.

"I could look at a million other women. A thousand sunsets. Every exotic beach. And you would still be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Amy is one of the few authors whose books I'll blindly pick up, and who I trust to deliver great stories with amazing characters. The second chance trope is one that is used a lot, however the author gives her own spin to the story, and I believe her powers lies in the phenomenal characters she creates. There is always great character development, which makes it easy for me to feel everything that is happening in the story. What I love about second chance romances is that it shows the growth of the characters, and how they always find their way back to be with the one they were meant to be. I loved how organically the romance between Jace and Faith felt. Nothing was forced or rushed, which I find very important in these type of stories. I loved that there was some mystery and suspense, because it fit well in this story. The sex scenes were super hot. I also enjoyed meeting all the secondary characters, and I hope some of them will be on the main stage in the upcoming books. More of You was another amazing love story by the awesome AL Jackson, and I can't wait for the next book in this series to release.

3.5 stars

"I think I could look at your face every single day and never get tired of it."

I absolutely loved how Kas and Elle met. She hits him while backing out of a parking spot. The situation itself wasn't funny, however the way they both acted was. Kas has a very fun personality, and he wasn't afraid to show his emotions. Elle, is a bit hesitant because she has been burned by someone who wants to be an actor before. She doesn't want to be used again, so she is a bit stand-offish. However, Kas is determined and knows exactly what to say and do to get under her skin. I absolutely LOVED his personality, he was definitely my favorite character in this book. He was funny, sexy, caring, and he knew he wanted Elle. It didn't take her too long to warm up to him, and see that he wasn't like the other guy who used her. Like the previous book I really enjoyed this story, however because of the length I just can't fully connect with the characters. Also there just isn't enough time to see an organic character growth. It was still done really well, and I thought this story was fun and light-hearted. I am looking forward to the next book in the Hollywood Chronicles!

"I've wanted you since the second I opened my eyes and thought I was looking up at an angel. You stole my breath then but it's my heart you're stealing now."

3.5 stars

Amy is one of my most read authors, and I always look forward to her books. She has a very poetic way of telling a story that appeals to me. Even though All of Me isn't my favorite by her, I still enjoyed it. I liked the characters and I was interested to see how the story would develop. I wanted to see how Ian and Grace would finally be together. It definitely wasn't easy and there were many obstacles that prevented them to be happy. I have to admit that I liked the second half of the story more than I did the first. In my opinion that is when the story really picked up and it got more intriguing. I also loved the hint of suspense that was added to the story. Amy creates great villains, and I secretly hope that Amy one day will write a full-on romantic suspense series.

I did have a couple of issues with how the story started. I would've shuffled some things around in the story, for example I was expecting Ian to be Grace's attorney earlier on in the story. So that the forbidden aspect was present from the start. The insta-lust was a bit too much, I personally am not a big fan of it. I also wanted more of a build-up to Ian and Grace having sex. Ian isn't open to be in a committed relationship because of the things that happened in his past, and are still happening in his current life. However, when he meets Grace he feels a very strong attraction/connection to her. Which shows that when you meet the one, you can't really resist what your heart wants. My heart broke for Ian, he really did have a very bad childhood. The flashbacks showing this were absolutely heartbreaking. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I loved seeing Jace and Faith (from the previous book) make appearances in All of Me. I am looking forward to Mack's story, I can't wait to see who he ends up with.

"The man had always bled pain. It was his biggest pitfall-his refusal to see that he could live outside of it. The belief that maybe my love could have been enough."

Pieces of Us is an emotional and beautiful second-chance contemporary romance. Maxon (Mack) already made an appearance in the previous two books of this series, so I already felt a bond with him. I wanted to meet the woman who would show him that he was worthy of happiness, love and a family. Izzy is his childhood friend turned lover who has left the town more than ten years ago after a very difficult decision Mack made. He got wrapped up with the wrong people, and he wanted to protect Izzy and her family so he broke her heart. I absolutely loved the flashbacks because they gave me a background story and explained the dynamics of their relationship. Mack still thinks Izzy deserves better, but that definitely doesn't stop him from pursuing her. He wants to do better and prove that he deserves a second chance.

"You are my heart. The one I ache for. The one I need. The moon in my sky."

The plot isn't one that hasn't been told before, however, I can always depend on Amy to create great, likable and intriguing characters. They are the heart of the story and I especially love when she writes a second-chance romance. I always feel very connected and feel a deep understanding for her characters actions. Mack and Izzy were a beautiful couple with a strong history and love. There were also two extra characters that were a great addition to the story, I absolutely loved their interaction with Mack. It was also nice for the previous two couples to make appearances in this book, so I could catch up on what they have been up to. Confessions of the Heart series is a great contemporary romance series, and Pieces of Us was a great addition to it. I already look forward to Amy's next project, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

"Did you really think I loved you so little? That my love was so superficial that you could leave and I'd forget you? Did you really think you could erase the spot where you are carved inside of me?"

I love friends-to-lovers and second-chance romances, and when the lead characters are the kids from previous books (Fighting series book #1 and #2) I read and enjoyed, it brings me extra joy. I was pretty excited to get started on Hold on to Hope. The main characters are Frankie Leigh (daughter of Rex from Show Me the Way) and Evan (son of Hope from Follow Me Back). They have had a strong bond and friendship from the moment they met when they were just five and eight years old. Evan has genetic defects: deafness and a transplanted heart. He shouldn't be alive and his life expectancy isn't high either. He feels like a burden to his family and friends, that they always will worry about him and not be able to live their lives to the fullest. However, Frankie Leigh has loved him so strongly and unconditionally. Their love was just so beautiful to witness in both the short flashbacks and present time. I felt a strong connection with and between them.

"All I ever wanted was to love you right. Be enough of a man to do it. To stand for you. To protect you. To take care of you. I never wanted you to see me as a burden. As a weight."

AL Jackson always does such an incredible job in making you live through the characters. Her writing style is very poetic and addictive. She will always pull at your heartstrings with her emotional scenes. Especially the flashbacks were a homerun in this book, I loved seeing the friendship and love grow over the years. I also loved seeing how the rest of the characters from the Fighting series were doing. It was just so nice to be reunited and see Frankie Leigh and Evan get their HEA. I can always depend on AL Jackson to come up with the best characters and straight forward romance that makes sense. No unnecessary drama or miscommunication that makes you want to pull your hair out. I fully understood why the characters made the decisions they did. I am just happy they found their way back to each other, because they were made for each other. The emotional scenes will bring tears to your eyes, the sex scenes will make you feel hot, and the suspense will have you on the edge of your seat.

"He was hotter than a thousand blazing suns. Yet somehow colder than the darkest hell. A falling star."

Kiss the Stars is the first book in the Falling Stars series. It features Mia West, who is the sister of rock-star Lyrik from the book Where Lightning Strikes, and Leif Godwin who is the drummer for the country band Carolina George. Mia is a single mother of two: Penny is eleven and Greyson is two years old. When a senseless crime rocks Mia West’s entire world, she agrees to spend the summer hiding out at her brother’s mansion in Savannah until the storm blows over. Leif finds himself at the guest house of this mansion when he is asked to temporarily fill in as a drummer for Lyrik's band.

"I'm no savior. You can be sure of that. But I'll gladly stand in the flames if it means keeping you from the fire."

The chemistry between Leif and Mia was really strong. They both have things they are dealing with both in past in present time. This opened up the way to some very suspenseful moments. Especially Leif has things he needs to handle before he can think of a future with Mia. He did his best to let Mia know that he wasn't good for her, but all of his actions show a different thing. He doesn't think he deserves her, but Mia isn't that easily pushed away. Also the way Leif interacted with Mia's kids was so beautiful. I especially loved the relationship he created with Penny, who was pretty shy. Both Mia and Leif were great characters and I enjoyed getting to know them. Both did a great job in healing each other. There was some suspenseful moments that had me on the edge of my seat, and I really wished there was more of that throughout the book. I think I mentioned this before in other reviews, but I really think AL Jackson would write a great romantic suspense novel.

"I wanted to carve out of place for him. Show him what it was like to belong. To be treasured and loved, the way he showed without asking for a thing in return."

Kiss the Stars was a great introduction to the Falling Stars series. I hope the other books are going to focus on the other three members in the Carolina George band. We briefly meet them in this book and I really liked them. I also loved being reunited with my favorite characters from the Bleeding Stars series. It was fun seeing what all of them were up to. This book was romantic, suspenseful, emotional, and funny as well. It really made me feel warm inside. AL Jackson has a way with words, and she really knows how to captivate and mesmerize me with it. I always end up highlighting a lot of quotes when I am reading her book. I recommend this book if you like your romance with a bit of suspense added to it. Also pick it up if you are a fan of the single parent trope, or if you like your heroes to be a bit broody and broken. Also him being a musician doesn't hurt at all.

"I touch you, and you won't ever forget it. I'll wreck you, beautiful. Looks to me like your heart is banged enough."

Catch Me When I Fall was a great book, and my favorite thing was the progression of Emily and Royce's relationship. Most of AL Jackson's book start of in a bit of an insta-love/lust way, which I normally don't like, but I always enjoy how the author handles it in her books. So I didn't really mind it in this case. Emily is the lead singer of the country band Carolina George (the same band Leif from the previous book Kiss the Stars is a member of), and Royce is head of A&R at Mylton Records who is put in charge to convince the band to sign to the record label. However, from the start you will notice that things aren't what they seem, and that Royce is hiding things from Emily and the band. He is out for revenge, but who is he exacting the revenge for and what is his end goal? You'll need to read the book to find out.

"That's what fallin' does, Royce. It changes everything. Because when you fall, you don't know where you're going to land. This...this was where I wanted to be. To fall and land in the safety of your arms."

I loved seeing Royce and Emily trust and open up to each other. Royce was very caring, protective and understanding. Emily has been hurt in the near past and is trying to find her way out of the darkness. Royce sees her cry out for help and piece by piece pulls her out of that darkness. I loved these two together so much. The dynamic of their relationship was great, and the way the it developed felt very organic. They were both hurt in the past, but they were able to heal each other and come out stronger. The setting of the book was also very enjoyable, I especially loved when the band was on tour and back in their home town. This book was romantic, emotional, suspenseful, sensual, and a little bit mysterious, which all worked perfectly together. I only wish the epilogue was longer, but it did make me extremely happy when I read it.

"I think you might be every line I've ever written. Interwoven in every song. There before I even knew you existed."

Falling into You was such a great second-chance contemporary romance. The characters were amazing and I could really feel the strong love and connection between Richard and Violet. We already met Richard Ramsey in the previous books, but Violet was new but I loved her immediately. She was strong, loyal, protective, and just so nice. Richard has demons he is battling with, and we as the reader know a little bit what is torturing him, but we finally get the answers we've been waiting for. I had no idea it went as deep as it did. Also with all the crazy things that are coming out in the real world, it wasn't that hard to imagine the things that were done in this book.

"A music god who'd stolen the songs right out of my soul. Pieces of myself missin' because they would forever belong to him."

Richard and Violet were the perfect match, and I loved seeing them be reunited. They both tried to stay away from each other, but when you've met your soul mate it is just impossible to walk away. Which Richard did six years ago, but I understood where he came from. Also he had been miserable ever since he broke Violet and his own heart. Like the previous books there was a pinch of suspense added to the story, which I loved. It was just beautiful seeing justice finally being served. It was also very emotional, uplifting, and steamy. It was great being reunited and seeing what all the previous main characters were up to. Falling into You was another great addition to the Falling Stars series. I already look forward to the next book Beneath the Stars, I am so obsessed with Rhys and I can't wait for him to fall in love.

"Richard. You...your touch has always burned me alive. Left me ash."