The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred

“You can’t turn love on and off like a light switch, no matter how hard you try. All you can do is wall it off, one brick at a time, until you’ve created an impenetrable fortress around your emotions. And once that fortress is built, you camouflage it so well that even you can’t see it anymore.”

The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred is a heartbreaking love story between two people who have loved one another since they were children. But due to certain circumstances, Alix and Nick's love for one another was also the reason that eventually tore them apart. Told from the first point of view, Alix first met Nick when she was only eight years old and he was ten years old. Spanning a total of nine years, the first part of the book essentially tells us how their friendship formed.

Coming from two completely different worlds, Alix is a daughter from a well-respected family while Nick is the son of Frank Anderson who is often drunk and owns the salvage yard. While accompanying the Judge, Alix's grandfather, she ends up meeting and befriending Nick with just a tin can of bee balm. The start of their relationship was absolutely beautiful and heartrending once you look at the whole picture. Nick has always believed that Alix deserved someone who was much better than him. But at the same time, the possibility of living a life without her was just not possible. The same would of course be said of Alix.

“There was only one boy I wanted, and I lived for the times when I could be alone with him. It was simple. When I was with Nick, I was happy. When I wasn't, I was restless and miserable.”

As Nick and Alix grew older, their love for one another was undeniable and it was getting harder and harder to resist. I can honestly say that I loved how realistic their relationship was. It wasn't fast-pace or love at first sight. It was a slow progress through the years until finally they both started realize it. But alas, as you know from the synopsis, their is a huge twist in this novel. One in which involves Nick's father being shot dead and Nick leaving Alix for fifteen years. Just thinking about their last scene together brings about tears to my eyes.

“To my surprise, Nick reached under his shirt and pulled out the half-heart pendant. With his gaze fixed on mine, he slid the chain over my head. “No one should have to go through life with only half a heart,” he whispered.”

In my opinion, this is definitely one of the most heartbreaking and sweetest romances that I have read in awhile. Even though there was so much pain and lies between Nick and Alix, their love for one another still shined through. It wasn't perfect, but in the end, everything did work out one way or another. This is what I call true love. Overall, so many tears came out for this book and I can say that they were all worthy tears.

Rating: ★★★★★

One Naughty Night by Laurel McKee

“You can tell me to stay away, if that’s what you want. I can’t promise I will do it, but you can tell me to.”

And that was exactly what she should do. But it was not what she wanted to do. Lily was suddenly weary of doing what she should do. She wanted to cease to be cautious for a moment, to be mischievous and seize life as her siblings did. Even as she knew it would not end well.

I absolutely adored the love story of Lily St. Claire and Aidan Huntington. It was sweet, extremely hot, and just heartbreaking at the same time. Their attraction to one another was just irresistible! One Naughty Night is simply a great start to a wonderful series about the St. Claire family. I can't wait to read Two Sinful Secrets, which features Lily's brother, Dominic St. Claire, and Aidan's cousin, Sophia Huntington next! We do get a glimpse of the start of their relationship in this book as well as a possible romance between Aidan's brother (David, the heir to the Dukedom) and Lily's younger sister (Isabel, the shining star of the Majestic theater). I can't wait! This book had romance, suspense, and plenty of hot scenes between Lily and Aidan.

“I… I have to go,” she whispered. He stood up beside her, not trying to touch her again. His blue eyes glowed in the shadows. “Where can I find you?” he said hoarsely.

She shook her head. He was a dream—and she had to wake up now. She whirled around and ran away from him, lifting her skirts to flee once again. “Wait! Please,” he called after her. But she didn’t dare look back.

Lily St. Claire is the first sibling to get her HEA in the series. Unlike her brothers and sister, Lily was actually adopted by the St. Claire's when she was a little girl... after trying to pick pocket Mr. St. Claire. Her past is her own story to tell, but I'll briefly explain it. Lily's childhood before she got adopted was actually really sad. After her mother's death, she ran away and met Tom Beaumont -- he is one sick, cruel, and disgusting man. Well, soon after she was adopted, he was caught and sent away to Australia and believed that Lily was the reason that this had happened. Which is why now he wants to enact revenge on her and her family.

She started to turn away, but he caught her hand and raised it to his lips for a quick kiss, his mouth hot through her glove. “You won’t escape me that easily, Lily,” he whispered.

Lily grows up to be a beautiful woman, even though she doesn't think so, and ends up meeting Aidan after her failing rendition of Juliet in the St. Claire's opening play of Romeo and Juliet in their theater. Lily has never forgotten about Aidan -- even though she ended up marrying Harry Nichols, but he died two years later. Three years have passed since then and their attraction towards one another is hotter than ever.

Overall, I'm really glad that I decided to read this book. I needed my historical romance fix and this certainly did the job!

Rating: ★★★★★

Unraveled by Courtney Milan

Oh, Smite Turner. Miranda Darling, you are one lucky girl to be able to finally win the love of your life. Unraveled is the love story of Smite Turner and Miranda Darling as well as being the last of the Turner series. It has been such a wonderful ride! I have been a fan of Courtney Milan since her book, Proof of Seduction... but this has to be one of my favorite book yet! I loved everything about. From the fragile and heartbreaking romance between Miranda and Smite to the mystery behind who the Patron was. Now was that an unexpected twist! I would have never known. But obviously my most favorite aspect of this book was definitely the romance. I loved how Miranda gets confused whenever Smite calls her name; whether it's Miranda Darling or Miranda, darling. I think it was absolutely adorable! They're a perfect match.

“I'm not broken,' he repeated. 'Although at the moment...at the moment, I may be coming a bit unraveled.”

Smite Turner is a someone who I think is the most tortured one of all between the brothers. He has a dark past full of pain and sorrow... and to this day, he often at times has nightmares concerning his past. That is, until he meets Miranda. His relationship with Ash has always been strained; I think deep inside, Smite hasn't really forgiven Ash for leaving him and Mark with his mother. Their relationship will of course finally be resolved by the end of this book. From the very beginning, I have always been intrigued with Smite. He was the brother who was always at the back of the room looking after his brothers. In a sense, this fits his character perfectly because what he does as a living is to look out for others by judging those who have committed crimes.

“You anchor me without holding me down. You frighten me without threatening my future. You're unflinchingly devoted. I love you.”

Miranda Darling is the half to Smite Turner. She is essentially the love of his life who heals the part of him that is broken. Even though as a child, Miranda was essentially happy, the life that she has lived up until now was harsh. She works as seamstress and wig-maker as well as a guardian to a twelve-year old boy named Robbie. Her meeting with Smite was actually quite amusing! For protection, Miranda works for the Patron by going to court-hearings and disguising herself in order to deliver false testimony for the convicted. Smite sees through her disguises immediately and that is how our two pair meet! One thing that I loved about Miranda was that even though she knew Smite had the power to destroy her, she never wanted to let him go. She's witty and just so damn beautiful to Smite that that's all that really matters.

Overall, I loved this book to pieces. It's one of my favorites and the love scenes between Miranda and Smite were smoking hot! Just an absolutely wonderful read. I will never regret picking this series up because even though Courtney Milan writes in a genre where things can often seem typical, there's actually something different about her books! Either it's the characters, the romance, or the story, everything is perfection!

Rating: ★★★★★

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

Courtney Milan has certainly done it again when it comes to her latest installment in the Turner series. Unclaimed is about love, betrayal, and ultimately trust and committment in the end. Jessica Farleigh has decided to take up the task of seducing the perfect Sir Mark Turner in order to finally turn her life around and start anew. In fact, her story was truly heartbreaking to read... especially when she ends up falling in love with Mark and has to decide upon two choices: either to destroy Mark's reputation or desroy her own self. As for Mark, he is truly a her worthy of Jessica because of how much he loves her whole-heartedly and how he would anything at all for her. When it comes to love, even the best of men... or should I say women, would give up or do anythingat all in order to make their special someone happy.

The Characters:
I vaguely remember Sir Mark Turner in the previous book, Unveiled, but in this book... he definitely makes a big impression of himself. For someone who is supposedly a virgin and a chaste being, he is very wicked in his own way. In the beginning of the book, I didn't exactly get a sense of his 'real' self because of how he often tries to please the public an whatnot. Inside that person is someone who has been scarred by his past and irrevocably changed forever. He has so much dept and I loved his reason as to why he stayed a virgin this long. (view spoiler)[It's simple. He's a romantic who is waiting for that special someone that sees him for himself. Someone to love and cherish and be loved in return. (hide spoiler)] It's no wonder why he's Margaret's (the previous heroine) favorite brother. ;)

Oh, Jessica Farleigh. That's not really her name, mind you. But still. She has so many layers and I loved how even though she set out trying to seduce Mark... she ended up being the one seduced. Like I've said before, her story is so tragic and heartbreaking; mainly because of the fact that she never wanted the life of a courtesan and was forced to be one instead. When she first set out to seduce Mark, she thought that it was going to be an easy trap. But boy, was she wrong. Mark likes her for herself, not the fake persona that she's trying to be. And the more she becomes herself and starts liking him while doing so... this certainly smells like trouble!

The Romance:
One of the things that I loved most about this book was the dialogue and prose written by the one and only Courtney Milan. She's woven a truly wonderful tale full of flawed yet amazing characters. Neither of the main characters are perfect... and yet, I'd say you'll love them anyway. I'm somewhat disappointed in the lack of love scenes between the two, but the author definitely made it up by having plenty of steamy moments and sexual tension between the two. Not to mention that there were also a lot of sad moments between Mark and Jessica as well. I didn't like how even towards the end, Jessica kept shooting Mark down even though we all know that she loves him! Oh come on! Get with him already and get your happy ending! Thankfully, everything worked out in the end... and I got the perfect ending to a wonderful story.

I can't wait to read Smite's story next!! As readers, we sort of get an introduction to his story in Unclaimed... so I'm looking forward to it! Overall, 5/5 stars.

Rating: ★★★★★

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

I think I'm honestly in love with Courtney Milan and her writing. To me, every single book that she comes out with is a shining star in which I absolutely can't wait to read later on! The Governess Affair is a novella about the love story between Serena Barton and Hugo Marshall. It's a gorgeous romance that's absolutely fitting to start this off in an entirely new series called Brothers Sinister. I loved it. I just loved the story, the romance, and how strong and wonderful these two people are. They're different but alike in so many ways. It was so short that I just wanted more from the book! *sigh* Oh well, I'll get more in from Robert in the next book, which I think, is another wonderful story in store for us.

The ending was absolutely perfect! Like most of Courtney Milan's story, there has to be some kind of twist near the end. And that is exactly what happened here! I'm really glad that Hugo finally saw the light and went after his most beloved instead of deciding to live a life without her. Beautiful! There was also a short epilogue where we get to meet 11-year old Robert Blaisdell, the son of the Duke of Clermont, and his cousin Sebastian Malheur studying at Eton. From there, they end up meeting Oliver Marshall, Serena and Hugo's son. Oh snap! Things will only get more interesting from there...

Rating: ★★★★★