Review: Paradise Hops by Liz Crowe

This is one of those books that sticks with you. It’s emotional and gut wrenching and above all else, makes you think about the choices you’ve made in your life. If you knew then what you know now, would you still make those same choices? But, if you didn’t, would you still be the same person you are now?

Paradise Hops is not a fast read. It’s something that you think about as you’re reading it. You soak it in and process it. Then, when you finish, you’re still processing it. That is, if you can stop the tears long enough to think!

I was captivated by Lori from the very beginning. She’s an amazingly strong woman who has borne more than her fair share of hard knocks in life.  But no matter what life has thrown at her, she toughs it out. She may not do it in the healthiest way but she does it.

Garrett is exactly what Lori needs but then so is Eli. The two men are polar opposites and yet, they both give her something she needs to survive. This is a love triangle of the worst sort, because there will be no ménage. There will be one man and one woman. We know who the woman is, the question is who will be the last man standing?

This is a haunting and chilling tale that will leave you wondering WTF just happened? I was amazed at the story Liz Crowe wove around me as I read and whole time I was thinking, how is this going to work out? Someone will be left bruised and broken. I was right, someone was left bruised and broken, but not who I thought. This did not turn out the way I thought, but then, life seldom does.

This is an amazing read and highly recommend it. Just be sure you have a box of Kleenex close by. Ms. Crowe, you can send my replacement box to My Secret Romance Book Reviews. They’ll get it to me!

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ARC Review: Paradise Hops By Liz Crowe

Lorelie “Lori” Brockton had herself convinced that after suffering a brutal rape that she is damaged and will no longer be able to be intimate with another man. She is also learning her way around her father’s brewery, Brockton Brewery, rotating from the different positions after a length of time.

Garrett Hunter is hired by Lori’s father to be the general manager of the brewery and is drawn to Lori from the first time he meets her. He is patient with Lori, understanding that she needs her time and space, but it drives him nuts because he is a very organized person and tends to take control in most situations. He loves her, but he knows that she is attracted to another even though she is with him. He is determined to win her love. He is in essence the “perfect guy”.

Eli Buchannan is a prima donna brewmaster, who is arrogant, rude, and in high demand from other breweries. He is known as a ladies man, and doesn’t want a relationship. He is a definite bad boy, and the sexual chemistry between Eli and Lori is smoking hot! He is trying to fight how he feels for Lori and attempts to push her away but it just doesn’t work.

I had a hard time liking this story. Lori went from a scared rape victim one minute to sex starved the next after she is with Garrett. She is bound and determined to learn how to brew different ales and lagers and must work with Eli to do it. She shoves Garrett away one minute then is close to him the next, all while trying to fight the attraction she feels for Eli. When she and Garrett break up she runs right to Eli for a night of smoking hot sex.

It takes her going away to Germany, to become a certified brewer, for her to open her eyes about how she feels about Garrett. Then, tragedy and finding out she’s pregnant almost happen at the same time. She did not handle what happened well at all, she went from closing herself off from everyone, to being a raving, crazy ass bitch. It bothered me the most how she was towards her baby.

The sex scenes were steamy, and I liked the premise behind the book. I just had a lot of problems with Lori and her overall character. I love Garrett and Eli, they were both hot and good guys in their own ways. This is the third book I have tried to read by Liz Crowe and I think her writing style and me just don’t fit.

Sweet, Sexy, Scorching Giveaway Hop- Liz Crowe

 

Caught Offside – Published by Decadent Publishing - 1 Night Stand Story

Ramon Castillo, world famous soccer player and international playboy has been brought low by a career-ending injury. After the humiliation of a shattered leg at the World Cup final, he has spent a year enduring surgeries and painful therapies, the last three months of which are at the Castillo resort in Las Vegas under the watchful eye of his cousin, Jackson Castillo and owner of the Castillo hotel chain. But Ramon’s lack of interest in soccer, women, or in anything besides the blackjack tables has Jackson worried.

Gillian Winter, catering and banquet manager for the MGM Grand Hotel is nurturing her own deep wounds. Her beloved husband has died unexpectedly, leaving her with a young son whose one dream is to meet his hero: Number 17 on the American National Soccer team, Ramon Castillo. When an apparent chance encounter in the lobby of the MGM reveals Ramon’s presence in their midst, everyone’s lives are changed forever.

Can Madame Eve work her magic and bring true healing to Ramon and Gillian? Or is it too late?

~Excerpt~

Leaning over, elbows on knees, he fought with every ounce of his being not to run back out the door. His knee and shin started throbbing in sympathy. He clenched his eyes shut and tried to still the mantra: I can’t do this…I can’t do this…I can’t go back here…it’s too much work…it’s….

A hand on his knee broke his concentration. He jerked his head up and stared straight into a set of deep green, worried eyes. The sudden urge to stand, take her with him and kiss her overwhelmed him until he had to grit his teeth against it. She smiled. The understanding in her gaze helped. His heart kept pounding, but he smiled back as he glimpsed Harrison’s bright hair and freckled face peeking around his mother’s long legs. They were both dressed to play.

“Mom,” Harrison tugged at her shorts. “Is that really….” He pointed, his smile huge and infectious.

“Ramon Castillo. I’m pleased to meet you.” The woman guided the boy from behind her and pushed him forward. The kid introduced himself, his face bright with awe. Ramon couldn’t help but grin at his enthusiasm. “Do me a favor, Harry.” Harrison looked up at his mom and she nodded. “Don’t make a big deal about it because I came here today to play with you.”

The boy nodded and reached for his mother’s arm.

“Oh, and with my mom. She’s a killer goalie, you know.”

Ramon got to his feet, only somewhat confident his legs would hold him and he wouldn’t throw up.

“Yeah, I’ve heard.” He extended a hand to her. She took it, and his entire body zinged at the connection. She gasped and stepped back, covering the awkward moment by kneeling down and talking to her son. Ramon froze in place, words caught in his throat, watching her strong body move under a tight T-shirt and soccer shorts. She finally stood back up and faced him.

“So, no gloves?” He pointed at her hands, devoid of the protection goalkeepers usually wore.

She gave him a challenging look. “You counting on me needing them?”

He put a hand on her back, dying to touch her again, and using the excuse of getting them out of a growing crowd of gawkers to do so.

“You might be surprised.” Some of his old confidence returned. The combination leather-sweat-turf odors of the place no longer made him nauseous, but became familiar and energizing. He hadn’t so much as passed a soccer ball since his accident. Something about the moment made him want that, if for no other reason than to divert the raging lust for the woman he followed onto the field.

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