Falling for Autumn by Heather Topham Wood

Falling For Autumn

Autumn Dorey ran away to college. She left her town behind and the awful rumors that tormented her. She was tired of dealing with what happened in the last few years before she finished high school. Her friends and boyfriend had turned on her and she had become an outcast. However, this girl is determined to reinvent herself and dedicate her school years to study. She especially wants to stay clear from the football gods.

Blake Preston is the football running back star for Cook University. He is not only a football god but he is also the hottest guy that everyone wants. When he meets Autumn he seems to be angry at her but later on he is always wanting to spend more time with her.

It doesn't take long for them to discover they want more than friendship but secrets have a funny way of resurfacing when you least expect it.  The question is can their relationship survive it?

“Things from before that I can’t tell you. I should tell you, but I don’t want it to ruin everything. Because it feels like what we have is fragile and the more you get to know about me, the more likely it will all shatter.”


Autumn is a very interesting character. She has been hurt and bullied to the point of rock bottom. I like that she had an open communication with her parents to what happened to her. Both parents were very supportive of her and her mother's advise at the end really surprised me. It made me like her even more.
Blake was a loyal guy despite having an awful mother. I could see the struggle he faced and even though, I'm not happy he kept the secret for too long, I understood why he was so frightened to reveal it.
I loved when Blake dealt with the high school bullies especially Autumn's ex.  A fist pump was in order.
I'm very happy with the ending and there was no cliffhanger.

“I love you and what we have is stronger than anything I felt before. We have something real and I never want to let you go. I see you smile at me when you wake up in my arms and I want that every day for the rest of our lives. I want to be the kind of man that gives someone as incredible as you a reason to smile.”

4/5 Fangs
ML

 

 

Raw by Belle Aurora

Raw

Lexi's childhood was not easy but instead of making her angry as an adult, she decided to help the children and teenagers that grew in a home like hers.  She still remembers helping her young neighbor too.
Lately, she has noted someone following her and when the stranger/stalker saves her, for unknown reasons she feels safe with him.

“I’m so ashamed of myself for wanting this. His brand of sex comes with a warning label. That should make me want to run in the opposite direction.”

Twich has wanted Lexi for a while. He is damaged.

“Monsters don't always lurk in the shadows. Sometimes they hide in plain sight.”

Angry is the best way to described him. At first it seems like he wants to hurt Lexi but soon his attachment to her is real.

“Not everyone can be a fairy-tale hero.” He pauses a moment, then adds, “The world needs villains too.”

I know I'm in the minority but I didn't love this book. I also didn't hate it, that's why this is a 3 Fangs for me. Some scenes are hard to read or to relate to.
Twitch is not a nice person.  His business is shady and he doesn't apologize about any of it. I also didn't understand why he blamed Lexi for the way he was.
Some of the things he did turned me off him.

There are so many things that are wrong with him. Hiring someone to try to attack her and rape her is just sick. He also, made her do drugs and left her alone which in turn left her vulnerable and ended up having a cocaine reaction.

I was mad at Lexi too for letting herself get involved in certain situations and acting irresponsible and her close friends didn't help either.

I did appreciate the ending. It was different and it leaves you guessing that maybe there is a Raw 2 or there should be one. If there is a second book I will read it too.

“You gotta promise to never leave me. I-I… you just gotta.” Her response is, “You have to promise to try to love me back. What you’re doing to me…that’s not how you treat a person you love, Twitch.” I’ve loved you since you were six. Kissing her once more, I tell her without hesitation, “If you promise to never leave me, I will love you. And be good to you. I’ll treat you like a queen.” My queen. I heard somewhere that a king only bows down to his queen. And I’m bowing down to Lexi. My chest aches. I don’t know if I like this love thing.”

3/5 Fangs
ML