(R) Undone by Shannon Richard

Paige Morrison is the round peg trying to fit in the square hole that is Mirabelle, Florida.  After losing her job, her boyfriend, and her home in Philadelphia, she is forced to move back in with her parents.  After a series of unfortunate events, Paige meets Brendan.  He helps her find a job (even if it is in a funeral home), new friends, and even a new boyfriend - himself.

Brendan realizes very quickly that Paige is the only woman for him and he wants her to marry him.  Together, they weather the storm that is Mirabelle's gossiping women.  When a man attacks Paige, the tongues of Mirabelle's gossip blog begin to wag, blaming Paige for what happened.  Brendan wants to protect her from their harsh words but when the post is placed on her office door, she not only finds out what they said but also some skeletons from Brendan's closet.

When another tragedy strikes, Brendan again wishes to protect the woman he loves.  But how can he protect her from the heartbreak within her own family?

I really liked this book - to a point.  I felt like the author tried to condense too much into a book.  She dragged out the problems within their relationship much longer than I thought was necessary.  I feel that more time could have been better spent on the attack and aftermath rather than adding another problem onto the plates of Brendan and Paige.  I feel the family problem could have been better done as a standalone novella rather than in the book.  It felt rushed.  But despite that, I really fell in love with Brendan and Paige.  Their love was fresh and vibrant and you supported them through everything.  The way Brendan stands by Paige, no matter what, just goes to show that his love for her runs deep in his veins.  It was a joy to read them falling in love and I look forward to seeing more of Paige and Brendan in this series.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

(R) Rebecca's Lost Journals by Lisa Renee Jones

There is always a back story.... *SPOILERS*

Rebecca is lost in her life.  She wants to work in the art world but can never seem to find the right moment to pursue her passion.  Then she meets Mark who owns an art gallery in town.  Her asks her if she wants to work for him and she agrees, deciding it is time for her to go after what she wants.  There's just one problem - she wants Mark.  And she knows Mark wants her.  But not in any ordinary relationship.  Mark is a Dom and he wants her to be his submissive.

In this grouping of novellas, we get to see inside Rebecca's mind as she is presented with his contract.  She wants Mark to have a relationship with her and yet she knows he won't have a "normal" relationship.  If she wants him, she will have to give into his contract.  When she begins her submissive, she feels free.  She loves how attentive Mark is to her; the way he seems to know what she needs before she needs it.  He pushes her boundaries; sometimes, she feels, too much.  Can her feelings for Mark change into what he wants or should she move on and try to have a normal relationship with someone else?

This book is written in journal form so there is no "normal" flow to this book.  But what I really love about this book is just how much you feel for Rebecca.  You feel her confusion, her elation, her heartache, and her love.  Through her journal, we get to know Rebecca deepest thoughts.  You know her feelings for Mark are genuine and yet we can also see how Mark pushes Rebecca almost too far.  It was nice to see a heroine who realizes the man is not enough for her and even though she loves him, she decides they are better off apart.  It might hurt her but she knows that Mark will never love her in the way she loves him.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.