Book Review: Finally Home by Ann Vaughn 5 STARS!

OMG. OK. I just finished Finally Home. I need an alcoholic beverage and its only 3pm right now. Firstly, anything Ann Vaughn writes is guaranteed to be freakin awesome. Or your money back. GUARANTEED. Out of all the guys, I thought Riley was my favorite. Really, I can have no favorites now. I love all the boys-ahem, I mean men. You can't help but love them all. Before I get ahead of myself let me tell you what the book is about. Mike Casiano-Italian, strong silent type, been through hell and back, selfless, has the self control of Jesus, determination like a bull chasing a red flag and a heart of gold. His nickname is the Commander and boy does it fit him perfectly. There is no way you can not love him. He was a Navy SEAL, was a POW and tortured beyond belief. Any Sherrilyn Kenyon fans in the house? He reminds me a bit of Acheron-except Acheron's suffering was for many years and Mike for 12 hours. Acheron is a freakin God and poor Mike is just a man.  Still, your heart will bleed for him. I haven't even started on Lainey! What a great match for "Mike. Freaking. Casiano."   

This review might not be coherent as I'm still a blubbering mess over this book. Talk about book hangover at it's finest!


Here are some of my favorite quotes:

• You're the one who sent a card to Riley addressed to Malibu Ken." Colt laughed and even Mike had to chuckle at that one.
• Call Colt up here. He was our medic." Her eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you say that in the first place?" "You were so insistent on playing Florence Nightingale, who was I to stop you?" he said, deadpan.
• Everything about the huge space was masculine and sleek, tasteful yet Spartan...she decided it suited Mike to a T.     

• "It's fine. I've faced down Al Qaeda, right? I think I can handle one pissed off little blonde."
• "Consequences for disobedience will be immediate and severe." (A line from Mr. Anthony Rawlings if I do say so myself!)
• "If I tell you I'm going to do something, then I'm going to do it. Don't question me when I've already given you the answer, capisce?" (Capisce! made me giggle!)
• "You didn't notice Nick's hair?" "Um, was a little  preoccupied by the fact that he had your face," she grumbled. (No kidding! My thoughts exactly!)
• "You caroused?" Jenna asked Riley with a raised brow. "I was in my mid-twenties and a badass SEAL. Hell, yeah, I caroused," he replied...
• Riley walked up then, Colt and Coop just behind him. Lainey took just a moment to admire how they had recognized that their Commander was in a confrontation and they all came to stand behind him. (I love them all damn it! Sticking up for Mike. AHHH My poor heart!)
• Devil's Lair?" AM MADDEN ( I LOVE when authors do that! When they give a shout out to another awesome book!)
• Fine...but this would be a lot easier if you were with me and not hovering behind me like Kevin Costner."
• "Dio," he swore, then because he couldn't help it, wrapped his arm around her head and rested his chin on the top of her head. "I don't know if you're an angel or the devil."

• Not a quote but: OMG Mike teasing the stalker #priceless! #avengingangel #iceman
• "He's just Mike." (MAGIC MIKE LOL)

I did go a little hashtag crazy with this one. Here are some of my favorites:

#avengingangel

#iceman

#MagicMike

#thecommander

#MikeFreakingCasiano

#popeye

#bleedingheart

5 stars! All of the guys are book boyfriends, book husbands and favorites of all time! 

Favorite quotes Behind His Eyes Consequences

Well, I could not just write a review and forget about my favorite quotes could I? I just did not want to overwhelm you with an essay on Mr. Rawlings. Aleatha has great quotes in all her books. One thing I love about Mr. Rawlings is his eloquent speech. When I hear his voice in my head it is very distinct and debonair, like V from the movie V for Vendetta.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes!

• "As an esteemed businessman, he forgot one very important rule-he forgot to read the fine print. It wasn't an acquisition to own another person as he'd previously assumed. It was an agreement to acquire a a soul."- Aleatha Romig, Convicted  (Pretty badass!)
• Clair Nichols was something of a fantasy, his distraction, like an exhibit at the zoo.
• The fact that the vengeance gods looked down and blessed his plans reinforced his determination.
• Before embarking on any deal, Anthony Rawlings thoroughly assessed the situation, eliminated the risks, and accentuated the assets.
• Never in forty-five years had Anthony Rawlings considered himself someone's boyfriend. The concept was laughable. (I agree, he is way too manly for the work "boyfriend.")
• She needed to recognize his authority! (Insert Cartman from South Park video above)
• "Excuse me?" Anthony slowed his words. "Did I stutter?" (Oh, crap. She pissed him off!)
• ...he owned her-all of her, including her thoughts. (This also reminds me of Gatsby wanting to own/change things that is impossible for another to control.)
• ...his omnipresent power... (Tony has a tiny
  
  
  little God complex)
• "If I say you will do something, you will do it. There are no gray areas? Do you understand?" (Yes, Tony, no 50 shades over here.)
• Breaking her spirit had been his goal, and in true Anthony Rawlings fashion, he succeeded.
• "A single moment of misunderstanding can be so poisonous that it can make us forget the many loveable moments spent together." Melchor Lim (So true!)
• It wasn't like he demanded that much from her. (UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY!!)
• "Claire loves you and you love her. Let that be enough. There are other Nichols who can pay." ..."Nothing else is necessary; her name is off the list." (WTF, does Catherine get a brownie point?)
• "Did you take this toxin knowingly?" (*&^%#$#@$^!!! insert any vulgarity here)

Behind His Eyes Consequences by Aleatha Romig

Click here for amazon

***WARNING-This is a long review & GIVEAWAY at the end.*** 

5 stars!

Well I'll be damned! What a total mindf*ck! Yes, I'm sorry, that was necessary! It is becoming increasingly popular to read the same book from the male perspective. I have read most of these if I love the original book. It is good. I'm happy I do but they do not evoke the same emotions the second time around. The WOW factor is dimmed a bit. I don't mean that in a bad way of course. We already know what happens but we are getting a different perspective. I think that is what I expected when I started this book. BOY WAS I WRONG! (yes, shouty capitals were necessary)

I read this book slowly. I wanted to devour each word. Or maybe I did not want to relive some of the "glitches." We really get to know Tony. He is so frustrating at times! Normally when I write reviews I do it after I finish the book. I might make a few notes here and there. For this one I had a notebook by my side and scribbled my thoughts-4 pages worth! Normally I have nice handwriting. These notes look like chicken scratch! At one point I got so stressed I had to stop and organize my desk at work! 

Above: sloppy notes
Below: Clean desk 

Even though you know what is going to happen it does not change your reaction. A part of me did not want to keep reading- I didn't want to relive any other glitches! Even through the good times you are constantly on edge. Waiting...worrying... The rules really hit home. It doesn't matter if you didn't do anything wrong, if it looks wrong he will be mad-and there will be Consequences. What you never see coming is how deep Tony's vendetta runs! Or the depths of his inability to trust. LITERALLY, you will be SHOCKED! 

What you can expect from Behind His Eyes Consequences:

• not a retelling of Consequences
• renewed anger for Tony
• increased hatred for Catherine
• Saying, "OMG, Tony is effin crazy!" many times

Other thoughts:

I love The Great Gatsby. One thing that stuck out with me from that book was the concept of wanting too much. Gatsby wanted Daisy to deny that she ever loved Tom. He wanted to control her heart and her past. He wanted too much. Tony wanted too much. He never felt completely satisfied. He felt the need to test Claire to the breaking point-WELL beyond the breaking point. 

Another thing that stuck out with me was the idea of temptation. How much temptation can one person resist? Is it really fair to continuously tempt someone and be shocked with they finally give in to that temptation? 

***GIVEAWAY TIME***

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