Anyone  who has ever battled with mental illness - and yes, it can be a battle - knows how difficult it can be to talk about your struggles.  It can be excruciatingly brutal to sit in a room and bare your soul to one stranger - and usually that stranger is licensed and trained and knows how to deal with your particular brand of crazy.  But to go out on a limb, and release a book that details the darkest and most vulnerable parts of your soul, is incredibly, and awe-inspiringly brave.  That is what Tessa James is with this book - astonishingly brave.
That being said, this book is definitely not for everyone.  In fact the author herself warns this on the first page. The book contains triggers and can be difficult to get through.  I myself, who suffer from anxiety and major depressive disorder, found it a challenge - first to pick up, then to finish.  It is raw and exposes James, like a beating heart that is pulled out of the chest cavity.  What I found more telling than the stories and the poetry, which were revealing in different ways, was the artwork that was scattered throughout.  Very personal - some of it macabre and deeply unsettling, but it really added to the overall feel of the book.  
From a technical standpoint, some of the book was a bit rough around the edges - it could have used a bit of a refining hand. But, if you look at this as the published pages of a personal journal, the roughness does lend a more authentic feel. And I think that those who will get the most out of this book won't mind a few editorial snubs.  
Tessa, thank you for having the gumption to release such a piece of work - for those of us who have not yet found our voices.  You let us know that we are not alone and in fact, there is hope after all.

Seeking Perfect was such a great find on Kindle Unlimited.  We all know that KU is like the Winners of Amazon - you go to the big store and scour the sales racks hoping to find the real gems among the rhinestones.  Sometimes you get lucky. Other times, not so much.  But in this case, I was pleasantly surprised at finding and loving Bronson's debut novel.  It handles tough topics with maturity and tact, and shows the consequences and effects that they can have on people.  It's a sweet Cinderella-esque story, but it doesn't fall into the tired category. I really enjoyed this book, and I hope to see more from this author soon.

Seeking Perfect tells the story of 17 year old Jesse who lives a rather horrible existence with her alcoholic mother, and her mother's latest boyfriend, in a rundown trailer park on the outskirts of a small town. Jesse does her best to stay invisible in life. She doesn't make friends and doesn't do any type of relationship because she's so afraid of people finding out about her tragic home life.  The only exception is her boss Charlotte and Charlotte's family - and they are only close to Jesse because they kind of wore her down over time.  Jesse has some serious trust issues and baggage - she knows it, and everyone else does too.  But one boy, popular basketball star Derek, can't seem to stay away from Jesse.  He is drawn to her, and he wants to know more about her.  He starts sitting with her at lunch and very slowly, he starts to break down the walls she has erected.  Jesse and Derek embark on a sweet romance - but they have a lot of obstacles that stand in their way. Jesse's mom, rivals at high school, and even Jesse herself are determined to prove that their love story can't have a happy ending.  

What I liked about this story was that Jesse's insecurities and trust issues truly plague her throughout the book - they aren't just brushed aside because the handsome boy pays attention to her.  The reader is as frustrated with Jesse at times as Derek is.  Derek is a realistic character.  He has doubts as to how much he can handle from Jesse.  While the romantic in me didn't want him to have any doubts, the realist appreciated the fact that a 17 year old boy probably would have a lot of worries and questions.  I appreciated that Bronson did not shy away from this, even though it took a bit away from his Prince Charming pedigree.  

All in all I was very satisfied with this book and the story that Bronson told.  I read it quickly because I just couldn't put it down - which is the ultimate compliment I can give to a new author.  Keep writing, Ms. Bronson because I really look forward to the next story you have to tell.  
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I think I have become obsessed with MC romances, and it is books like this one that have left me in this state.  Running Hot is book 2 in J.L Sheppard's Hell Ryder's MC series - and you should really read book 1 - Running Wild - before you read this one.  (Personally I feel you should always read a series in order, and that if a book is part of a series, it is never really "a standalone",  but what do I know?) 
In Running Hot, we get up close and oh-so-personal with Thomas "Cuss" Layne, the sapphire-eyed biker we met, and let's be honest, crushed on, in book 1.  Cuss has been in love with Tiffany for seven years, ever since he first saw her when she was in high school. Since then he has been looking out for her, but he's never done more than that because he considers himself biker trash, and doesn't think he is good enough for her.  Little does he know that Tiffany is head over heels in love with him too.  Cuss finally decides to make a move and make Tiffany his after her father hires him to scare off a stalker she's been having trouble with. He realizes that he can't live without her. But how hard will it be to go from friends to something more? And will Cuss be able to convince himself that he's good enough for Tiffany?
Let me just say that the main draw for this book is that Cuss is just swoon worthy. He's a total badass, but when it comes to his girl, he is such a softie.  There is a lot of will-they-won't-they, and misinterpretation between the two that does get a bit aggravating, but their love story is still so worth it to read.  J.L. Sheppard writes men with such brimming emotion that as a reader, I was just captured.  She also does a great job of introducing other plot elements that make you want to keep reading the series.  So far there are four books about the Hell Ryders.  I can only hope that she intends to write more.

Julie has done it again. She has taken characters we thought we were finished with, and brought them back into our hearts.  In this short, but satisfying, epilogue to the I Love You series, we are reunited with Lexi and Rafe exactly one year after they said I Do.  Rafe is still obsessed and overprotective and completely addicted to Lexi, and Lexi can't get enough of him either - although she does know how to handle him in her own way.  Their obsessiveness only escalates when they decide to start trying for a baby.  Rafe makes it his new mission to get her pregnant and Lexi is only too happy to let him try.  And without spoiling anything, with the way those two go at it - it's only a matter of time before they start hearing the pitter patter of little feet. 
This epilogue is like Lexi and Rafe's Hawaii paradise - it's perfect.  It's long enough to give readers a healthy dose of the characters, it's sexy and steamy, it's heartwarming, and - quite frankly - it made me jealous - but in a good way.  Who wouldn't want to catch a glimpse inside a Happily Ever After, only to discover that it is indeed happy? I also loved the mention of Max and Peach and their twins, and also the introduction to the Tucker brothers.  Here's hoping we will get to read more on them soon.  
Thank you Julie for being so kind to your fans. You know what we want and you give it to us.  I can't wait to read more...so get writing!