Gio (5th Street, #2) by Elizabeth Reyes

Book Description:

When tragedy strikes in the ring, Giovanni Bravo falls into a deep depression, walking away from his dream of boxing to train instead. He agrees to a two month get-away, helping train Felix Sanchez, his high school best friend and now welterweight champ of the world. Once at Felix’s lavish boxing complex, he’s reunited with Bianca Rubio, someone he remembers only as the girl with the innocent doe eyes back in high school. Her refreshing, cheerful demeanor not only takes Gio’s mind off his troubled conscience, he finds himself falling for her fast and hard. The problem—Bianca is Felix’s girlfriend.

Having a sexy, famous boyfriend has its perks, but they come with a price. Bianca not only has to deal with the ongoing tabloid rumors about her boyfriend hooking with other women, but also his constant absence when he is on the road. So now that Felix will be in town for two whole months to train for his next big bout, Bianca is thrilled. He’s even asked her to move into his cabin while he's there. But when he leaves for days at a time to promote his fight, Bianca spends time getting to know Felix’s gorgeous new trainer and good friend, Gio. Increasingly drawn to his sweet smile and smoldering green eyes, she finds herself saying and doing things she normally wouldn’t.

As it becomes more and more difficult for each to resist the other, Gio crosses the line between them. He hopes that one kiss will alleviate the overwhelming temptation and clear both their systems, but it does just the opposite. Their temptation suddenly becomes an obsession--an obsession that quickly forces Gio to realize this is more than just lust. He's fallen hard and to his delight so has she. Now he's forced to make the hardest decision of his life. Risk losing his long time friend or walk away from the only girl he's ever loved.

Christina's BookReview

RECAP

Giovanni Bravo's life is turned upside down when an accident in the ring leaves someone dead. Trying to get his friend out of his funk Felix, Gio's friend, invites Gio to join him as a trainer on his "vacation" in Big Bear. What Gio doesn't expect is to fall for the one person in Big Bear that is unavailable. No matter what Gio should stay away from Bianca, Felix's girlfriend.

Bianca has always been the good girl. She is in a relationship with a guy that she cares about and one that loves her. She refuses to let the rumors that are made up about her boyfriend to destroy them. But when Gio walks into her life she isn't expecting for her attraction to him to question her current relationship. No matter what Bianca should stay away from Gio. 

What happens when they both cross a line they shouldn't have?When desire and passion take over?

MY TAKE

Okay so in Noah I liked Gio and couldn't wait to read his story. Going into this I knew what the circumstances were. Reading the first half I understood the characters. Sadly, the moment they crossed the line they shouldn't have I lost all my enthusiasm to read this. If you all know one about me its that I hate hate cheating. I can deal with flirting but the moment it crosses that I'm can't get over it.

I lost respect most of all with Gio. He was a great friend to his 5th Street gang and so I respected that about him. I understood his struggle with falling for Felix's girl but thought that he should have respected "the guy code". Felix might not have been his best friend, but he was his friend. The moment he threw all caution to the wind I wanted to strangle him. I know that I can't expect him to be perfect but damn he just had no respect...or if he did it was little.

Unfortunately, Bianca wasn't a character I liked even from the beginning. Her POV's were boring to read. the only thing I did like about her character was her responses to Gio's flirtation. That's all. I felt like she was naive. Yes I understood that Felix might not have been the perfect guy but he still cared about her and she should have had more respect for him. The moment she started craving Gio should have been the moment she moved out or broken up with Felix. Even if she was just flirting with Gio in the beginning the moment it went beyond that and feelings got mixed up in it she should have walked away. That she didn't, was disappointing. But to each there own. My readers might think different.

Felix's character was not in the book a lot and your impression of him at first is that he's a womanizer. I have to admit I didn't like him at first either but seeing him with Bianca made me like him. He sweet to her, he truly cared about her. His devotion to 5th Street was also something I really like about his character. He didn't forget where he came from when he got rich and famous. You have to have mad respect for him because of that. Yes, he made mistakes, but what guy doesn't? I felt bad for him and I do look forward to reading his book if it is does come out one day.

The 3 stars is only because I liked the flirting and banter between Gio and Bianca in the beginning of the book.Surprisingly I like that whole "forbidden fruit" crap but only when it doesn't cross the line. 

I will let you decide on this one. 

Happy Reading!

Noah (5th Street, #1) by Elizabeth Reyes

Book Description: 

Veronica Cruz has been through hell and back. After disconnecting with the world two years ago to be at the side of her dying mother, she’s left alone, unemployed, overweight, and feeling a decade older than her twenty-eight years. When her best friend coaxes her into joining the local gym to ditch her depression and rejuvenate her life, she meets Noah. Assigned to help Veronica lose weight, Noah is everything she expected a young trainer to be—perfectly chiseled, supportive and motivating. Add to that, he’s incredibly sexy. He’s everything she’s ever looked for in a man. What she least expected was for him to fall for her, but he has. There's just one glaring problem: Noah is eight years younger.

Noah Quintanilla has his eye on a boxing title—someday. Down for a few months with an injury, his maintenance-boy pay at 5th Street Gym won't cut it. He’s finally given the opportunity to train. The catch? His trainee is an out-of-shape woman with a free week pass. Taking on the challenge, Noah stumbles into one of the closest friendships he’s ever known, and before he knows it, he’s in love. But Veronica’s not having it—the age difference is too much. Their platonic relationship means having to watch her date other men—something that would make him crazy. Believing he's the man for her, Noah sets out to prove that age is but an illusion, and there's more to him than just a number.

Christina's BookReview 

“Haven't you picked up on the irony of life by now? Things only just happen when you're not ready. When you're ready, you start trying, and gadamn I feel like trying right now.” 

RECAP:

Veronica has not had the best year. After suffering the lost of her mother veronica turns in on herself. After hitting rock bottom Veronica is obligated by her best friend to join the gym. Veronica goes along and at the end of the night she will have fulfills her friends wishes and return to her miserable existence. But fate has other plans. His name is Noah Quintanilla.

Noah Quintanilla has had a rough life. Moving from foster home to foster home has made him one tough man. The 5th Street gym is his family and he is finally given the chance to train. What Noah doesn't expect is a trainee much different from what 5th Street is used to. This trainee will be one that will change him forever.

What starts off as a friendship quickly changes for Noah and Veronica. But with the doubts and age difference between the two will these two ever get a happily ever after? Or are they at the wrong stage of their lives?

MY TAKE:

I won this book along with book 2 in a giveaway the author ran and was excited to start this. As a fan of The Moreno Brothers I couldn't wait to delve into this book. Although it was good I didn't enjoy it as much as previous reads from Ms. Reyes.

Noah and Veronica had a sweet friendship that blossomed throughout the book into a romance. While Veronica tries to work on herself and return to normal she also tries to deal with her growing affections for Noah, whose 8 years younger then her.  Unlike many twenty year old Noah has lived a very mature life. He isn't a boy and trying to get Veronica to see that is a difficult task which takes the whole entire book.

I liked the book but thought that the back and forth was a little drawn out which is why the 3.5 Stars. It consisted of the same things. They would flirt, she would back off, he would move forward. When they are finally together the book ends which is frustrating.

I recommend the book for the cute romance and the hot men of 5th Street. I look forward to reading Gio, book 2 in this series.

If you are a fan of Ms Reyes, I would say pick this up!
 

Happy Reading!

Always Been Mine (The Moreno Brothers #2) by Elizabeth Reyes

Book Description:
After one heartache too many, Valerie Zuniga vows to never let Alex Moreno hurt her again. A year later, she is forced to reunite with him at a party where one unexpected sizzling kiss tells her she’s far from over him. No way will she allow herself to get sucked back into that torment. She’ll resist him even if that means using the one thing that’ll stop Alex dead in his tracks: another man.

Alex is coming off one of the worst years of his life. He spent so much time wallowing in self-pity, he never realized how much he’d missed Valerie. That is, until that kiss. Now, he’s determined to get her back one way or another, and no other man will stand in his way. Especially after discovering that Valerie may be in danger, a danger he blames himself for.

Christina's BookReview

“The one thing I've always liked about that boy. As much as I hate his body language screaming he owns you, with him next to you ain't no one gonna mess with my little girl.It may as well be written on his chest in neon lights.” 

RECAP

Alex Moreno is your average ladies man. With a football scholarship and the weight of taking care of his family’s restaurant Alex isn’t ready for a commitment. That doesn’t stop him from wanting to be with Valerie, though. She doesn’t seem interested in commitment either and can deal with him disappearing once in a while. Or so he thinks. 

Valerie is sick of the heartache Alex causes her. She won’t be one of those chicks that know her man is cheating and turn a blind eye. There is a reason why he disappears weeks at a time. Alex isn’t what Valerie thinks. Unfortunately he won’t reveal his secret to her. With her mind made up Valerie finds the courage to walk away from the man she loves. No matter what Valerie will never let Alex come back.

A year later when both are forced to face each other they aren’t expecting to feel want and desire. Both will have to come to terms with the truth and learn to heal.

When trust is lost can it ever be regained? Can these two overcome the miscommunication?

MY TAKE

The second book in the Moreno Brothers series is Alex and Valerie’s story. We meet both in Forever Mine. I don’t know about anyone else but as soon as Alex was introduced I was in rush to get to Always Been Mine and I was not disappointed.

Alex is just like Angel from Forever Mine. He is possessive and he is overprotective. The only difference with this story is Valerie. Valerie is madly in love with Alex but she has the strength needed to deal with him. She didn’t let him bully her around and didn’t let him decide how she was going to deal with things. I do admit she frustrated me with all the lying and keeping secrets from Alex. I understood she didn’t want to deal with Alex’s behavior but these were her ex’s and it was a problem.

Because of Valerie being who she was and having the personality to deal with Alex you see a different part of him. His change from being a ladies man to being hopelessly in love with Valerie makes you love him. Their story is a perfect example of the saying: “You don’t know what you have until you lose it.”  I for one am happy that they got their HEA.

I also liked getting a glimpse into Angel and Sarah’s wedding and new life as well as Romero and Isabel’s relationship. I can’t wait to read their story in book 4.

Forever Mine (The Moreno Brothers #1) Review HERE