Review: UNTOUCHABLE by Nicole Dykes!

About the Book: Cassie
I'm finally free. Free to make my own decisions and prove to my family that I'm not the problem child they think I am. 
I'm here to make a change, clean up my act, and be someone all of the Monroes can be proud of. But it's true what they say, old habits are hard to break. 
That is until Hunter Thompson. Football God, super hot and above all, moral. But he sees me as nothing more than his best friend’s little sister.

Hunter
I’ve almost reached my ultimate goal. After years of hard work and determination, both on and off the field, I’m closer than ever to getting my degree and heading to the big leagues. 
That means I don’t have time for distractions. I stick to fitness regime, avoid getting drunk every weekend and don’t sleep around. My friends tease me and call me ‘choirboy’, but they just don’t get it. I’m so close, and that’s when the final hurdle enters my life; my best friend and former teammates younger sister. How on earth am I supposed to concentrate when all I can think about is Cassie Monroe? [Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: Okay, don't tell the rest of the Monroes this... but I think Cassie and Hunter's story might be my new favorite. Luke's story was great, and Dylan and Jax are certainly unforgetable.. but man, Hunter is quite the dreamboat. Author Nicole Dykes really knows how to write a good, solid, dishy hero, and Hunter is no different. He's a legitimately good guy, which is a breath of fresh air after reading book after book of a bad-boy-but-good-at-heart. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but sometimes a girl just needs a knight in shining armor.

I've been eager for Cassie's story for some time, since she's had such a rough time of it. And it was even better than I had hoped! I'll admit, there was a time or two that I found the dialogue to be a little unrealistic, and that's the only thing keeping Untouchable from being a five star read. Once I started Hunter and Cassie's story, I devoured it. I had to know she would get the happy ending she deserved, and that the Monroe family would manage to continue bringing the drama I've enjoyed so much thus far.

Cover Lovin': Yum! And, it fits perfectly with the rest of the series.

Recommendation: Untouchable can be read as a standalone, but the Monroes are a large family - and they have adopted quite a few strays. So reading previous books helps when it comes to knowing all the side characters, as well as Cassie's not-so-stellar dating history.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). This was a great one, and forgive my gushing, but Hunter is just so dishy, I wish I could have kept him for myself. If you love new adult/college romances, this definitely needs to be on your to-buy list!

Be sure to check out the entire Monroe Family series on Amazon.com!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Review: UNBRIDLED by Nicole Dykes

Release Date: June 13th, 2016

Type: Series, Book two, New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Don't Worry - He's Older Now

About the Book: Luke

I'm living the dream. I'm the starting wide receiver for a Big 12 college football team. I have a full ride scholarship. On paper, I have it made.
Just one problem with that, though, it's someone else's dream.
Now I’m bridled with rules and curfews stuck in a classroom when I would rather be back home, working at my brother’s custom car and motorcycle shop.
To top it all off, she's back in my life. The one girl that turns me into a total dumbass. 
And she wants nothing to do with me.
Hannah

I'm finally in college. I'm exactly where I want to be. Free of my religious father. Well, for the most part. I'm living my life the right way, and if I fall out of line, I always have my dear friend Rachel right there to correct me.
But then everything changes when I see him again. The man that makes me brave and cowardly all at once.
I know deep down I need to keep him away, but he’s just not taking the hint. He sees it as a challenge. 
And I know Lucas Monroe never backs down from a challenge.

*Unbridled is a New Adult Romance novel that contains mature content and is not suitable for anyone under 18.**Although, Unbridled is technically a part of the Monroe Series, Luke and Hannah's story can easily stand alone. [Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: So this book gave me two of my favorite romance tropes all at once - the friends to lovers, as well as the together-then parted-then back together. Then, throw in the fact that this is New Adult, and features a football player? I was sighing in delight before I even got through the first chapter. I enjoyed watching Luke and Hannah find each other, and themselves, throughout the course of the book. At no point did the relationship between the two feel forced, it just flowed with the story.

I also greatly enjoyed seeing the differences between Luke and Hannah's lives. Luke's family is close, despite what happened in their past, while Hannah's family is cold. Hannah needs that feeling of belonging, of being a part of a family, whereas Luke needs to rely on Hannah's strength and spirit to realize following his own dreams isn't the worst thing in the world.

What I disliked most about this book was not something that can be fixed, because it needed to be there. Hannah's life, family, and "friend" drove me insane. I can only imagine how someone actually in that situation would feel, but just reading about it made me feel smothered and claustrophobic. But I appreciated the author's decision to have her family act as they did, because it made Hannah's character shine that much more.

Honestly, I'm really addicted to this family. I desperately want to read the first book, and I cannot wait to see how the rest of the Monroe clan gets along. I have to commend author Nicole Dykes - her characters felt real, enough that I want to be friends with them. I want to be a part of their weird-but-wonderful extended family.

Cover Lovin': Whoa, talk about yummy!

Recommendation: Since I didn't read the first book, I am living proof that Unbridled can be read with no prior knowledge of the characters. However, I'll most likely be checking out the previous book.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). I want the first book, and the next book, asap!

Make sure to get your copy of Unbridled by Nicole Dykes from Amazon.com today! And get book one, Unsocial, while you're at it!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.