{REVIEW} Never Too Late by Micalea Smeltzer

Title: Never Too Late
Author: Micalea Smeltzer
Series: Willow Creek
Book: 2
Rating: ★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

I’d never met anyone quite like Mathias Wade. 
He was brooding and arrogant, but I loved him anyway. 
Together we were wild and uncontained—a hurricane raging. 
Then I had to leave, and words were exchanged that could never be undone.
But now I was back, and Mathias better watch out, because this bitch wasn’t finished with him. 
Game. Set. Match. 
All is fair in love and war, right?

Mathias Wade, the lead singer of Willow Creek, is used to getting everything he wants. Except for Remy Parker—the one that got away. Childhood friends that grew into more, Remy was the one constant in his life until she moved away. In anger, he lashed out and broke the only girl he ever loved. With temptation around every corner Mathias drowns his sorrow in women and alcohol. When the band returns to their hometown for the holidays the last thing Mathias expects is to run into Remy—but she’s back, and she’s not done with him.

Remy never forgot Mathias or the pain he caused her. When she moves back to the place she grew up to take care of her ailing grandma her heart is set on revenge. She’s determined to make Mathias fall in love with her all over again—only this time she’s going to break his heart.

But Mathias never stopped loving Remy—and she soon discovers that her feelings haven’t disappeared either.


Can two people too stubborn for their own good overcome their own demons and find the love they always deserved?

My Rating/Thoughts:

This book, holy guacamole was it an emotional ride! I absolutely loved it! After reading Last to Know I was so excited to get to know Mathias a little bit better and I am so glad we got that chance! Mathias Wade is one the best bad boys I've read in a long time. You can't help but love him. He's rude, brooding, a pain in your behind and has the attitude to match, but deep down he's the sweetest guy you could ever meet. My heart literally was in a puddle of tears seeing him worry so much over his sweet little pitbull puppy, Shiloh. Leave it to Micalea Smeltzer to really make you fall in love with the character's pets. Remy was a great character as well. I admit I didn't like her too much in the beginning because I hated that she just wanted to hurt Mathias so badly, but I really learned to like her when she let her guard down and saw why she was so bitter. She was just as sassy and strong as Mathias and these two are made for each other. I am so wrapped up in these characters and their stories that I am sad that I have to wait for the next one to come out! The Willow Creek series is written beautifully and so vibrant with lovable characters that you too will get wrapped up in their world. I really do love it and I am so thankful to be involved in bookstagram or else I wouldn't have heard known about these books.

Never Too Late is a great story. It has pretty much everything you want in a contemporary NA novel. It will have you laughing, crying, and crying from laughing! Seriously, I don't know how many times I was laughing out loud because Remy's grandma was such a hoot. But be warned, there are a lot of "sexy times" in this novel.

I loved the way these two messed up kids grew into such strong individuals and were able to find each other again to finally have their happy ending! Such a touching feeling. And! I absolutely LOVED seeing Maddox and Emma again! Oh my goody goody gumdrops! I loved loved Maddox and Emma in this novel and seriously started crying at the end (':

I am so glad I was given an ARC from the author because I had to dive in straightaway! She has truly captivated my heart with her characters and I can't wait for more!

{REVIEW} The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

Title: The Longest Ride
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.


Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.

My Rating/Thoughts:

“We shared the longest ride together, this thing called life,”

 This was another great story done by the talent Nicholas Sparks. I loved that we saw two very different couple's love stories told in different time periods that came together in a very unbelievable and touching way.

Ira Levinson and his love for Ruth were such a great love story. I seriously had tears in my eyes reading about their history. They went through everything together and their love never wavered. The fact that all he cared about in life was making Ruth happy was just so heartwarming. I didn't think I would like reading his perspective because it took place in the 1940s and he was in a car just reminiscing about his life. I thought it would be rather dry, but I found myself really interested. I was also really saddened that days went by and no one had found him off the highway after his accident! It was so sad that he had no family left and he was all alone. ): But his story was so important for the overall message of the book and how it tied into Luke and Sophia's story.

Speaking of Luke and Sophia, wow! Their love was amazing! The very first night that they met was truly one of the cutest moments. I loved their effortless chemistry and the way they would tease each other, Their whole connection was great and I loved reading about them so much. I loved Luke's devotion to the ranch and his mom. I was so touched the way that he would risk bull riding just to save the ranch even if it meant killing him. I was so scared after we heard his story about Big Ugly Critter and every time he would risk getting on a bull. I respected him and couldn't help but feel so much love for him.

I really think that if you are looking for a touching romance you need to pick this novel up. It was really amazing and now one of my top 5 Nicholas Sparks books.

Now where can I get my very own cowboy? Hello Luke Collins