Wonderful story!  Dalton and Spencer are my new favorite couple.
351253
I have been a fan of L.B. Simmons for years. I have read all of her books and they are all wonderful. Under the Influence is very different from her other books. It's darker and more poetic. It's beautifully written and the characters are deep, tortured and real.  Dalton and Spencer are my new favorite couple. The bond they share is epic. It's soul deep and transcendent.  Dalton is sexy, sweet, and intelligent. Spencer is smart, funny, sexy and knows what she wants.  Dalton and Spencer met when they were kids and he was brought to live with her mom for a short time after being in foster care for most of his life. The instant Dalton sees Spencer her knows she's special. He knows that he needs her to survive. Their friendship continues on for years. Spencer is about to turn 18 and she doesn't want to hide her feelings for Dalton anymore, so her friend Cassie (the awesome, crazy best friend), comes up with a plan to make him jealous. And, it works like a charm. Dalton finally admits his feelings for Spencer and when he does it's beautiful. He can't hide anymore. He opens his heart, soul and mind to Spencer and they finally get to be together.  After spending one amazing night together, her 18th birthday, tragedy strikes and Dalton vanishes.  Spencer can't let go. She doesn't know what happened to him, but she knows he's alive. She can feel it in her soul. Will Dalton come back for Spencer?  Will it be too late?
I could not put this book down. It had everything I love in a true love story, love, lust, humor, angst, loss, pain and forgiveness.

But I know he heard me when he finally releases a long, contented sigh because my own heart warms in response. I know because of the bond we share
That's exactly what it feels like when Dalton's heart smiles.

Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply as her emotion cleanses my mind and her tears mend my wounds. I allow her essence to blossom within me, to permeate my hollow voids, and the constant ache in my chest dwindles as it's replaced with the fervor of renewed hope.

It's not gentle. It's not slow. It's not composted. It's frantic. It's demanding. It's savage. It's unrestrained.
339948
I absolutely loved this story.  Juliette had me laughing pretty hard a couple of times.  These 2 quotes rocked my liver.
-- "I muttered again, "Bastard," then raised my voice. "Does the movie star know you're a bastard?"--  and the result of that caused this.  --one moment he was skiing smoothly down the hill, looking at my dopey smile. The next, he just sort of... went over.  It was glorious. ---

I'm looking forward to more of Juliette and Johnny.

I received this book in a FB contest. My review has not been affected by that.  I will be reading more of Bella Love's books. :)
81354
I completely fell in love with this book! The story of these two young people is absolutely beautiful! I couldn't help but fall in love with Camryn and Andrew that they had me crying by the end. I love their sense of humor and how well they got along. I also liked how this story didn't have any of those boring moments other stories tend to have at some point or another.
3582371
I really enjoyed this story! Brukr and Hannah are awesome characters. I loved the twists involved with this one as well. It's written really well and has Celia Kyle's typical snarky humor which I just love! I was drawn in from the beginning by these characters and had to keep reading to find out how they got their happy ending. They both deserve one but don't think they do or will ever have one. They are both trying to make up for things in their past, whether they did them or not. There are a few nice twists in the story that will definitely keep your attention. The sex is explicit but doesn't play a large part this time. There is a lot going on that keeps taking precedence. There's action and intrigue, along with a lot of sexual tension lol. I loved getting to see some of our other characters from previous stories, both  couples and singles that have yet to have theirs told. I can't wait to read some of their's. This book can be read as a standalone though I think that I get more enjoyment from them as I have read all in the series and am already attached to characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
1075698
I love reading books about the next generation, especially when I fell in love with their parents in the first series.  Cami and Dalton had chemistry from the beginning and I am glad that things worked out for them.  I loved that we got to visit with all of the Genrtrys .
2580527
I loved this story.  The instant attraction to full-blown relationship is one of my favorites, and Cari gave me enough in between to make me love this couple.

Rorys spunk was refreshing, though she was a bit too aggressive for my taste (her initial private time with Sam was a bit over-the-top IMO) and Sams sweetness, heartache and sadness was very well written.  Cari showed Sams myriad emotions and made my heart hurt for him.  Rory came in to be the balm for his wounds, and though she was over-eager, shall we say, once they were in the right place, their scenes were super steamy and ultra hot -- exactly what Cari is known for.
1258373
This book was GREAT! I love male POV stories. The male POV can be a hit or miss though. Sometimes the guy can come off as an immature frat boy. Christina Lauren and Emma Chase do an excellent job writing male POV books. And now I can add Lauren Blakley to that list. If you love Max Stella and Drew Evans, you will definitely love Spencer Holiday.

Spencer is funny and lovable. He is a bit crude, but I didn't get that jerk vibe from him. Friends to lovers stories are a favorite of mine, so I liked Spencer's and Charlotte's relationship. They were truly friends first. Their journey from friends to lovers is so sweet and funny. I read this book with a goofy grin on my face the whole time.

So what makes this a five star read for me. It's the ending. All the way up to about 85% this was a 4.5 star read for me. But the last 15% really knocked it out the park. Spencer and Charlotte's HEA is so perfect. I know this is a stand alone, but I would love to read more about Spencer and Charlotte. I don't want their story to end.

I can't wait to read Mr. Orgasm. Nick and Harper were great secondary characters who deserve their own story.
4481889
I love to read! To get lost in the story, life fades away and I just live in the characters their lives, their romance, their ups and downs. And this book is did that for me! When I had to sit down my kindle all I could think about was Weston and Wren!
Definitely an unconventional start but they fit right away. An innocent small town girl and a mature Hollywood movie star not a typical pair but I loved watching them fall in love. They struggled through untrusting family members, a vicious ex, Hollywood scandals, cat fights and more. It was an amazing story!
I have read all of this authors books and I can tell you this is by far my favorite!!! I love herhot steamy books but this one has that and more I love the STORY, the characters, the romance, the emotions!!! It was so good!!! Even now hours after finishing I just smile thinking about Wren and Weston.
142268
This book is a perfect read to get you out of a reading funk. Big Rock is a laugh out loud, friends to lovers romance, told solely in Spencer's point of view.

When we first meet Spencer, I was like uh-oh, not sure how much I'm going to like him. He seemed full of himself at times, but as the story progresses you see he truly is a good guy. When he opens his mouth and and tells his father that he's engaged, in hopes of helping his dad seal the deal on the sale of his company, he has to ask his best friend Charlotte to become his fake fiance.

Charlotte and Spencer have been friends since college. They are really close, and even co-own a business together. Watching these two together makes you wonder why they haven't hooked up before. Charlotte has to be persuaded into agreeing to Spencers plan, but as soon as her horrible ex shows up, all the persuasion is thrown out the window, and she immediately agrees.

At first I didn't think these two would be able to figure out how they felt about one another. But when their practice sessions get a little too steamy, and then Charlotte propositions Spencer, all bets are off. Even though they seem to break every rule they put in place to make sure that they can continue to be friends, they show they are perfect for one another.

I loved the back and forth and banter between these two. They just fit. The chemistry and the attraction is there, but the easiness of being around one another because they are such great friends and know one another is what really makes this story work. The inner dialogue of Spencer also helps lighten things up A LOT. This man is HILARIOUS, though he can be kind of dense at times!

Of course things go downhill for these two, but watching Spencer trying to figure everything out and then make things right with Charlotte was beautiful. I loved how he convinced her to be his for real, and I loved Charlotte in this part of the book as well. I loved how things ended for Spencer and Charlotte, I just feel as if the ending was a bit too rushed. We got to see the fake relationship for so long, that I wanted more of the real relationship. I really hope we get to see them in Nick's story (Mister O) coming this summer.

This is a perfect read if you want a great friends to lovers romance that will have you laughing out loud. I may not have been a fan of Spencers in the beginning, but he totally won me over in this book!
910907
What a great reading-experience this book was! I can definitely say that I was under the influence of the magical writing of L.B. Simmons from page one. A dear friend of mine recommended this book to me and Im so thankful for that.

This story is about two young people, Spencer and Dalton, who become friends at a very young age. The bond between these two is exceptionally strong and goes far beyond friendship. Dalton had a very bad childhood and experienced only violence and betrayal by the people who were supposed to love and protect him. They both meet for the first time when he shows up on the doorstep of her home as a foster kid. Dalton is acting like Spencers big brother always trying to protect her, while Spencer is secretly in love with him. Little does she know that Dalton has feelings for her too but is determined not to act upon them. He doesnt want to taint her light with his own darkness. The darkness he chose in order to survive, where his death seems to be the only way out

Spencer was such a strong female character. She was a very caring and determined person. Her goodness, her light shined so bright. No wonder that Dalton was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. He needed her love to guide him and show him how to open his heart and let the love shine in.

I loved Dalton so much! He was a broken little boy who decided to never be helpless again. He made choices in order to survive which he later regretted, but I cant blame him for that! The fierce way he loves Spencer is simply amazing. He was ready to do everything in order to protect her, even if it broke their both hearts in the process. Spencers safety and happiness were the only things that mattered to him.

I want to point out, that the second characters in this book, like Spencers friend Cassie or Daltons friend Rat, are as very well written and loveable as the main characters. These two made me laugh so much! I felt so incredibly connected to all of them.

This book was addicting from beginning to the end. L.B. Simmons writing is so beautiful and captivating. Her words created visions in my head and gave me all the feels. Ive read a lot of friends to lovers stories and this one is definitely among the best. Fantastic job L.B. Simmons! I will definitely read more of your books in the future.
575408
I loved this story a lot. Jax was and is a great man after what he went through. They were both damaged people, and I was so happy they found each other in an unconventional way. Madison was a great mother and person going through what she did, I loved Ryan what a cutie. I will definitely reread this again.
1872372
I adored this new love story from Anyta Sunday! There was an interesting premise, but It was the characters who brought this story to life. They were well-developed, had such great chemistry and truly moved me - both to laughter and tears. This is the best thing I've read in a while!
804965
Hugo and Becky are awesome together. Becky is such a wonderfully complicated, fierce woman, perfect for taking on a man-whore like Hugo. It killed me when I realized the past that they shared. Gabi has written a great second chance story. Her development of Hugo is awesome!
304190
I received an ARC for an honest review. There was such great chemistry between Dalton and Hailey. Great dynamic and hilarious banter. Loved to see their growth as people and together. Great read.
1187874
There was so much I loved about Bryan & Jases second chances love story! Where to start? Bryan and Jase meet in the military, Bryan is out and proud, but Jase, although curious, is married. They experience a steamy weekend before going their separate ways, Jase facing a divorce from his cheating wife. A year later they meet up at a buddy's wedding, Jase is still with his wife and has a 3 month old baby, Grayson. This is where I really fell in love with the story! Bryan and Jase rekindle their sexual attraction and there are a few scorching scenes! Bryan adores little Grayson and his feelings for Jase get more intense. Once again, they go their separate ways. Several years later, Jase, whose wife has no interest in her son, realizes he wants Bryan and makes a huge decision to uproot himself and Grayson and move closer to Bryan. Their chance meeting in the middle of a huge gaming convention is EPIC. Bryan and Jase begin their lives together with Grayson and Ms. Ellis writes a  sweet, wonderful HEA. You need to read this wonderful story to get the rest! I will use a quote I absolutely loved, though.

**********
After Jases dad finds out about them and forces Jase and Grayson to leave their home with Bryan:

I miss him already. I miss my room there. I miss Juanita, and I miss your smile for him. Hey, Ive still got a smile because I still have you. I never wanted my son to think he wasn't enough to make me happy. I know, but your smile for Bryan was special in a different way than your special smile for me.

Run and pick up this beautiful second chances story and fall in love with Bryan, Jase and Grayson!

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.  Reviewed by Barb from Alpha Book Club
1865544
I just love Lauren Layne's books. To Have and To Hold was no exception. Her new Wedding Belles series caught my attention with the prequel novella, From This Day Forward, which I really enjoyed. But I so much more than simply enjoyed To Have and To Hold. I adored the characters and the story. The romance was top notch and gave me major feels. It was sexier than the sweet cover would lead you to believe. It bordered on flat out steamy at times.

I had such an easy time connecting with the main characters in this book. I found Brooke easy to like and relate to. I felt bad for the things she dealt with in her last relationship in Los Angeles, so it was really easy to root for a better life (and romance!) for her now in New York City. It can't be easy to continue to plan weddings for other brides when your own special day exploded so spectacularly, so I give her props for being strong and still giving it her all. She had trust issues  and honestly, who wouldn't after that? She wasn't expecting to click with someone so quickly after moving to NYC and, of course, it had to be the older brother of her first client. That's not going to get messy at all, right?

Seth might've been hard and cold on the outside, but he was anything but underneath. He's definitely one of my new favorite book men. Sure, he was overbearing and prone to trying to control situations, but he did it for the right reason  out of love. If he hadn't been so worried about his sister Maya's upcoming nuptials (and fiance, for that matter) he might not have met Brooke and, well, that would've sucked. As much as I liked each character on their own, together they were that much better. They had crazy chemistry from the start and I really enjoyed reading along as it grew into more than just physical attraction. They were so well suited for each other.

The Wedding Belles series just keeps getting better and better. I can honestly say I'm in love with this series and can't flipping wait to get my hands on the next book. I'm already excited about Heather's story, so I'm really glad I won't have to wait THAT long to read it. Romance fans, you should be reading these books. If you've never read any of Lauren's before, this is a perfect place to start. If you have read and loved her work in the past, I think you'll feel the same about this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
4592821
I loved this part of Spencer & Andrew's story. We have seen their relationship develop in book 1/2 and It was so great to see how they evolved in this part. There are so many special and beautiful moments here. They really need each other and this shows how they belong together. Must read series.

*ARC