Review: Awaken (Spiral of Bliss #3) by Nina Lane

Title: Awaken (Spiral of Bliss #3)

Author: Nina Lane

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: Self-Published

Pages: 426

Source: Purchased from Amazon

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Synopsis:

“I love that you love me, professor.”

“I love loving you, beauty.”

Since their intense, passionate beginning, Professor Dean West and his wife Olivia have fought dark secrets and betrayal in order to save their marriage. Now reeling in the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Liv and Dean are driven further apart by a vindictive threat to Dean’s career.

Struggling to stand on her own for the first time in years, Liv is determined to defend her husband and prove herself. Then an unexpected letter dredges up old insecurities and endangers Liv’s newfound independence. As Dean fights for his professional life, he is forced to confront his worst fear when he discovers that he can’t protect his beloved wife from her own painful past.

My Thoughts:

I am so happy I finally got a chance to read this book. I read the first 2 books late last year, and they were phenomenal so I had high hopes. Well, this book did not disappoint.

Awaken starts off a few days after the events of Allure.  Dean is away in Italy, involved in a dig and trying to stay away from the University and Maggie Hamilton. Liv is still dealing with the miscarriage and trying to stand on her own feet without the help of her husband. She has depended on him for too long and needs her independence.

I first decided to read this series because the main characters were a married couple going through their ups and downs. I have never read that before so I was intrigued when I started the first book. What I got after reading was much, much more. The love between Dean and Liv, they are really no words. It is absolutely breathtaking, captivating and addictive. These words don’t even describe their love correctly. It leaves you breathless. It makes me hope that I will find my Dean. Their story is one of the most amazing and passionate love stories I have ever read. Even now, thinking about it, I want more. The challenges they faced and the way they overcame them by believing in each other and trusting each other, no matter what; it is an epic story I will never forget. Even though I’m sad to see them go, I’m glad they got an HEA.

I loved that the author wrote the story in both Dean and Liv’s POV. It showed what they were each thinking at any given time but more importantly you get a glimpse and see the love they have for one another. Being able to read Dean’s POV made me fall for him harder than I already did.

I loved Nina Lane’s dedication at the beginning of the book:

“This book is for all the readers who love Liv and Dean West as much as I do. This is for those of you who know the courage it takes to trust your instincts and find your way. This is for the women who love being someone’s girl, and for the men who are your heroes. And this is for everyone who believes in the good things—books, a cup of tea, sexy professors, interesting travels that lead you back home, warm quilts, and perfectly imperfect love.”

Isn’t this the most unique and greatest dedication you’ve ever read? It is for me because it sets the tone of the book."

The author’s writing was beautiful and kept me wanting more. I loved the cover. The flowers are absolutely beautiful and in bloom and I love how the keys are pointing at different directions but always intersect. It is a great symbol of how Dean and Liv’s love will change but bloom; they will always be with each other through thick and thin. 

My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Raquel

xoxo

In My Mailbox (36) & Stacking the Shelves (42)

Welcome to this week's In My Mailbox. In My Mailbox (IMM) is hosted by The Story Siren, who was inspired by a fellow book blogger Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. It features books I have bought or received for review.

Stacking the Shelves by Tynga`s Reviews is about adding books to my shelves I received during the past week whether it is physical or virtual.

Bought from Amazon:

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons

Emi Lost & Found Series by Lori Otto

The Here & Now by Ann Brashares

I am so happy to start reading the books I got this week. These books are very different in genres but they piqued my interest. I finally bought The Winner's Curse and I have been hearing A LOT of good things about it. The Deep End of the Sea has to do with Greek Mythology which is one genre I love, so I am excited to read this one as well.  One of the book blogs I follow absolutely loved Emi Lost & Found series so I wanted to try it. On NetGalley, I was pre-approved for The Here & Now and it sounds interesting so I downloaded it. Overall I had a good week in books :)

I hope everyone has a great week!

Raquel

xoxo

Blog Tour: Deep Blue by Jules Barnard

Synopsis:

When Cali Morgan kicks off her perfect post-college summer in Lake Tahoe, she has everything she ever wanted: acceptance into a top law program, a gorgeous boyfriend, and an incredible summer planned with her best friend. Confident about her place in the world, Cali makes it her mission to be her friend’s wingwoman and help her meet guys. What Cali doesn’t count on is running into Jaeger Lang, one of her older brother’s high school friends, or the sparks that fly when she’s around him. Jaeger has changed, and it’s not just the added height and muscle. There’s something about him that’s deep and a little scarred. In spite of the changes, Jaeger becomes a top pick for her friend—if Cali can keep her hands off him.

But when Cali’s boyfriend dumps her and her carefully laid plans begin to unravel, she finds herself questioning what it is she truly desires. In the midst of doubts about her future, one thing is very clear: she wants Jaeger for her own. The question is, has her friend already fallen for him?

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Author Bio:

Jules Barnard is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended UC Davis, whose college landscape often finds its way into her New Adult novels. She has a Master’s degree and spent many an hour running statistical analysis, until she realized her favorite part of the job was writing reports. She decided to cut out the math and add in some hot guys, and so began her career as a novelist.

Jules is a Northern California native living on the coast with her husband and two children. She has no impulse control around cupcakes and credits herself with the ability to read while running on the treadmill or burning dinner.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Deep Blue Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

Deep Blue starts off with Cali and her best friend Gen, moving to Lake Tahoe after finishing college. They will be working at a casino for the summer. Cali is extremely confident in herself, about to study law at Harvard. She has a hot boyfriend, Eric. Everything is right in her world. When Cali meets Jaeger, sparks fly. They have this instant attraction to one another. Cali has never felt this way about anyone before, not even with Eric. She is also unsure about going to study law and have no idea what to do.

Deep Blue is exactly the kind of book I needed to read at this point in time. It was a light read but still a romance. It is book about becoming an adult and everything that means. Being an adult, there are ups and downs; Cali has never really had to deal with that but after she moved to Lake Tahoe, her whole life changed. From getting dumped, problems with her summer job and completely changing her career path, she is forced to be strong and deal with everything.

I liked Cali as a character. She was smart and her narrative was sometimes laugh-out loud funny. She is extremely loyal to her friends, always wanting what is best for them. I absolutely adored Jaeger. He sounded so HOT by her description of him. I wish we were given the option to read his POV. Through his facial expressions in the beginning when they saw each other again as adults and all throughout the book, I would have liked to know exactly what he was thinking. The chemistry between Cali and Jaeger was so strong. I could feel their connection like it was something tangible.  

 I would gladly read the next book the author writes in the series. I would like to know more about Gen or even a book (or scenes) from Jaeger`s perspective would be awesome as well. We also still have no idea what`s going on with Tyler (Cali`s brother). If you are looking for a romantic book which is a light read with amazing chemistry, Deep Blue is the book for you. 

My Rating:

3.5 Stars