Category: 4-Stars

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Book Review: Raving About Rhys by Jessica Redland

Raving About Rhys

by Jessica Redland

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK

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Bubbly Callie Derbyshire loves her job as a carer, and can’t believe she’s finally landed herself a decent boyfriend – older man Tony – who’s lasted way longer than the usual disastrous three months. Tony’s exactly what she’s always dreamed of … or at least he would be if he ever took her out instead of just taking her to bed. And work would be perfect too if she wasn’t constantly in trouble with her boss, The She-Devil Denise.

When the new gardener, Mikey, discovers her in a rather compromising position at work, Callie knows that her days at Bay View Care Home could be numbered. Can she trust him not to tell Denise? If she’s issued with her marching orders, who’ll look out for her favorite client, Ruby, whose grandson, Rhys, seems to constantly let her down? What does Ruby know about Tony? And what is Denise hiding?

Surrounded by secrets and lies, is there anyone left who Callie can trust?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Believe me, I’ve kissed more than my fair share of frogs. And toads. And snakes.

 ‘Please don’t tell anyone I said rude words. Especially The She-Devil.’ … I’d been hauled into her office only the week before and lectured on the ‘inappropriateness’ of shouting out, ‘Who’s farted?’ during film night. It didn’t matter to her that the residents had found it hilarious… Apparently, ‘The elderly frequently suffer from flatulence issues and staff should know better than to draw attention to it using vulgar language’. Whoops.

 I like sugar daddies. Did I tell you about my first one? I was sixteen and he was the fifty-eight-year-old lion tamer at the circus. There was nothing that man couldn’t do with a whip…

 My Review:

 

I have read this series out of order but that doesn’t seem to have mattered as every installment has strong enough legs to stand on its own. I have enjoyed each of the Whitsborough Bay stories that I’ve read and fervently hope that Ms. Redland continues the series into perpetuity. I enjoy her amusing storylines and uniquely vulnerable characters, as most of us in the real world are struggling with something even if the issues appear of no consequence or minuscule to others. Her stories are well balanced with humor, angst, and an interesting and relevant storyline with a few twists and surprises tossed in to keep us alert.

Author Bio –  Jessica Redland

 

Jessica had never considered writing as a career until a former manager kept telling her that her business reports read more like stories and she should write a book. She loved writing but had no plot ideas. Then something happened to her that prompted the premise for her debut novel, Searching for Steven. She put fingers to keyboard and soon realized she had a trilogy and a novella!

She lives on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast – the inspiration for the settings in her books – with her husband, daughter, cat, Sprocker Spaniel, and an ever-growing collection of collectible teddy bears. Although if the dog has her way, the collection will be reduced to a pile of stuffing and chewed limbs!

Jessica tries to balance her time – usually unsuccessfully – between being an HR tutor and writing.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @JessicaRedland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/

Website and blog: www.jessicaredland.com

 

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Book Review, Giveaway: Road Trip by Andie M. Long and Laura Barnard

Road Trip

by Andie M. Long & Laura Barnard 

Amazon US / UK

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Romantic comedy authors Andie M Long and Laura Barnard have teamed together to bring you the hilarious Road Trip! 

Out NOW!  #oneclick #romcom #chicklit #lovehate

After the end of a car crash relationship can Katy find true love?

Catching her sister in bed with her fiancé, school teacher Katy Cornish enlists playboy colleague Felix Montague to help her save face. What she doesn’t bargain on is them both losing their jobs in the process.

With finances running out, Katy must endure the rude and arrogant Felix while they embark on a road trip around the country in hopes of securing a new job. But there’s just one problem… they’re up for the same posts. This road trip is going to be unlike any other, with them doing whatever they can to sabotage the other.

Can they see past themselves and their egos to each other? Or will their desperation to continue their careers drive them apart?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I might be twenty-six, but in my parents’ eyes me and Vic are still about twelve. I am, but only in clothes.

 I don’t need to prepare anything. People naturally love me. It’s you I’d be worried about. People assume you’ve got something stuck up your arse. You might want to look into that.

 It wasn’t my fault, it was Victoria’s… She hit it with a stick while I was at a swimming pool party. It flew around and stung my bum. Then it died, so I felt really sad while Vic laughed that it had been so scared of my bottom it had died of fright.

You like me? … Like, as in you also like cheese? Or a different kind of like?

My Review:

 

I frequently smirked and occasionally giggled-snorted during this amusing and saucy misadventure of two broke and suddenly unemployed teachers, who were not always comfortable or friendly with each other while sharing a ride during their desperate attempts to find new employment. Both had lost their teaching positions due to a backfired prank, with continued shenanigans, antics, irresponsible behavior, poor planning, bad luck, accidents, mishaps, and incidents of sabotage to come during their careening trek across the country in search of new futures while their limited funds dwindled to mere coins. Written from my favorite dual POV, the story was entertaining and engaging with colorful humor and bits of steam. However, the snarky characters were not always likable or admirable in their motivations as they are often competing for the same limited job openings. Forced to remain in constant contact and close quarters for days on end, they began to see each other differently and an unexpected attraction bloomed in a fretful and vexing manner until they scorched the sheets. I scored a new addition to my Brit Vocabulary list with “on the lash” which is drinking to intoxication.


Giveaway

Head on over to Laura’s Facebook page to enter their giveaway for a chance to win $10/£10 Amazon Gift Card.

Connect with Andie

Website ☆ Facebook ☆ Twitter ☆ Instagram

☆ Pinterest ☆ Goodreads

 

Connect with Laura

Website ☆ Facebook ☆ Twitter ☆ Instagram

 ☆ Pinterest ☆ Goodreads

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Book Review: The Wedding Date by Zara Stoneley

The Wedding Date

by Zara Stoneley

Goodreads

 Amazon  US /  UK   /  iBooks  /  Waterstones

One ex.
One wedding.
One little white lie.

When Samantha Jenkins is asked to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, she couldn’t be happier. There are just three problems…

1) Sam’s ex-boyfriend, Liam, will be the best man.
2) His new girlfriend is pregnant.
3) Sam might have told people she has a new man when she doesn’t (see points 1 and 2 above)

So, Sam does the only sensible thing available to her… and hires a professional to do the job.

Actor Jake Porter is perfect for the role: single, gorgeous and cheap! Sam is certain it’s the perfect solution: no strings, no heartbreak and hopefully no chance of being found out.

But spending a week in the Scottish Highlands with Jake is harder than she imagined. He is the perfect boyfriend, charming, sexy and the hottest thing in a kilt since Outlander! And his dog Harry is quite possibly the cutest things Sam has ever seen!

As the wedding draws closer, Jake plays his part to perfection and everyone believes he is madly in love with Sam. The problem is, Sam’s not sure if Jake is acting anymore…

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The drinks are green. I’m never quite sure that anything I eat or drink should be green. Apart from M&Ms.

 

She giggles in what I can only describe as a flirtatious manner and I could swear she’s got a bum wiggle going on as she heads back towards the front door. Bum wiggles should be banned for all mothers, at least when their daughters are there. Particularly if the wiggle is for the benefit of their daughters’ boyfriends. Honestly, it’s indecent, even if he isn’t a proper boyfriend.

 

Dad knows the warning signs, he knows that sometimes, like after a bottle of wine, or a couple of cocktails, she gets stuck in and things can escalate. Like they did in Crete when Juliet said she’d dived in the Commonwealth games, so Mum said she’d dived for the Girl Guides and ten minutes later had to be rescued after a belly flop that half-emptied the pool of water. It added insult to injury when she recovered enough to find her saviour looked more Sumo wrestler than Hoff and he was determined to give her the kiss of life. For some strange reason we didn’t sit by the pool after that; it was all sea, ice-creams and historical monuments.

 

I haven’t had hot sex for at least three years, and that happened by accident when Liam accidentally put the air conditioning on a heat setting he didn’t know it had. I thought he was all hot and sweaty from excitement, and apparently he thought the same about me.

 

‘Steer well clear. I think she must be … what do they call it … vajazzled or something, to have led Liam astray like that… Well, the rest of her isn’t that pretty, is it? … Crystals for your crotch, it said in that magazine article I saw in the hairdresser’s. I’m not sure it would suit me though dear.’ From the look on Dad’s face it wouldn’t suit him either. ‘I’m quite sensitive down there and if you start using superglue you don’t know where it will all end up, do you?’

 

My Review:

 

I alternated between smiling and smirking while I read this amusing tale of relationship woe.   Samantha had been unceremoniously dumped, shortly before her best friend’s wedding, where she was to be the maid of honor, and her ex the best man – awkward. The wedding festivities were to last a week, in Scotland, with friends and family, including the ex and his “hugely” pregnant girlfriend. Yikes – obviously his “double-dipping” had been going on for quite awhile, which crossed the intersection of Uncomfortable and Embarrassing and turned right onto Torture Street! Not wanting to be pitied and unable to find a suitable date, Samantha hired an actor, a sweet and gorgeous man, to be her pretend boyfriend. While the overall premise was not anything new – we’ve all read similar tales – the quirky characters, clever humor, and fresh storylines made this one unique. I adored the twinkly-eyed Jake Porter, who had relationship wounds of his own. Samantha’s mother was an original personality and her scenes provided considerable mirth and gleeful entertainment. I was brand new to Ms. Stoneley’s wily humor but I hope to rectify that oversight going forward; reading her clever words was good fun.

Author Bio –

Born in a small village in Staffordshire, Zara Stoneley wanted to be James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. Writing novels means she can imagine she is all these things, and more!

Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘The Holiday Swap’, ‘Summer with the Country Village Vet’, ‘Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage’ and the popular Tippermere series – ‘Stable Mates’, ‘Country Affairs’ and ‘Country Rivals’.
She lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a naughty cockapoo, and a very bossy cat, and loves spending time in sunny Spain.

Where you can find her-

Website:http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter:@ZaraStoneley
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zarastoneley/

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Book Review: Keeping 6 (Rock Point Series #1) by Freya Barker

 
Title: Keeping 6
Series: Rock Point Series #1
Author: Freya Barker
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 2, 2018
Cover Design: Rebel, Edit & Design

Bookstore owner Kerry Emerson finally seems to be back in control of her life. Her failure of a marriage firmly in her rearview mirror and her recent business expansion a success, she is in charge of her own future. One that is looking better than ever. 


The sight of the tall man, with the familiar salt and pepper goatee pushing open the door of her store, sets her hair on end. He doesn’t exactly bring good memories. 

FBI Special Agent in Charge, Damian Gomez, is just looking for a decent cup of coffee when he walks into the small store offering books and brew. The pretty, feisty woman behind the counter is an unexpected surprise. Not at all unpleasant, especially since her finger that used to hold a wedding ring is now bare. 

Her wild hair, boho style, and silvery grey eyes suddenly hold a lot of promise. But when his office is pulled into an international investigation into the trafficking of rare books and manuscripts, the straight-laced SAC realizes he has to keep his distance from the woman who might well be involved. 

Easier said than done since fate seems determined to throw them together.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Damn that man. I can’t even hang on to a good snit.

 

My mind twisted in so many different directions, I was giving myself whiplash.

 

He really has no idea the kind of danger he’s putting himself in right now. My sister can be like a rabid Chihuahua, especially with men.

 

“You know you’re near perfect, right?” “Near?” I sputter, mock insulted. “Perfection is boring, but near perfection? There isn’t a thing more intriguing, more tantalizing, more beautiful than that.”

 

Deadly words, those— I’m fine. Especially since it doesn’t take much to know she’s anything but fine.

 

…the reality of her never was a match to the dream of you.

 

There’s a reason I’m moving to Durango, aside from my job. More than an hour or two at a time and my mother has me reaching for the rat poison… for me!

 My Review:

 

I have enjoyed every Freya Barker book I have ever picked up. Her books always provide me with a smirk-worthy level of entertainment as in addition to the intrigue of a good mystery and few murders and maybe a fight or two, Ms. Barker always supplies a healthy serving of humor, spicy sensuality, adult level romance, and authentic characters that I would enjoy knowing. I wasn’t familiar with the law enforcement terminology of keeping your 6, but I had an inkling of what it would mean, and it was an excellent title for this engaging tale. I adored FBI Special Agent in Charge Damian Gomez and loved the humor make available by the family dynamics of his intrusive relatives. I am already looking forward to the next installment of this new series.

“With impeccable writing Freya Barker weaves words into a story so captivating I was glued to the pages for hours.” ~Britt Red Hatter Book Blog

 

 

“Freya’s unmatched storytelling leads the reader up a mountain of suspense and intrigue. Dangers lurk as the cast of characters, both main and secondary, along with the readers, are consumed in the mystery of what’s to come. Five stars granted for the first book in this edge of your seat series. Cannot wait to see what’s coming next.” ~A.C. Bextor, Best selling author of KEPT: A Second Chance Fairy Tale

 

 

“Freya Barker has never written about perfect people. She writes about real people. This is why I can never put her books down.” ~ Kez’s Korner Blog

Damian

“You?”

My head whips around at the sound of a woman’s voice.

It’s been a long-ass morning already with meetings I would’ve loved to have avoided. Since being put in charge of the Durango field office, it seems I spend more time in meetings than working in the field. I swear each week there are new task forces put together, and I can barely keep up. I stepped out of the office for a much-needed break to find that the coffee shop around the corner had a sign plastered on the door stating they were closed due to a family emergency. Desperate for my caffeine fix, I kept walking and bumped into Kerry’s Korner: Books & Brew. Something about the name is familiar. I push the door, which opens with the ring of a bell, when I hear her voice. 

She’s pretty. The woman behind the counter looks like a seventies flower child, with wild, dirty blonde hair, some kind of flowy top leaving her collarbones and a goodly amount of cleavage exposed, and a pixie face. Something about her is familiar, and it appears she knows me, too. Fuck if I can’t place her. 

“Got me at a disadvantage, sweets,” I tell her with a shrug.

“You’re FBI,” she says, propping her hands on her nicely rounded hips. “I remember you.”

I look at her a little closer. Not a hardship, there’s a lot to check out. Those pale gray eyes trigger a memory. “You’re Kimeo’s girl,” I say, remembering the case a few years ago when I first saw her for the briefest of moments. A case long since put to rest, but not before this woman was snatched and roughed up before we got to her. We’d been called in by Gus Flemming, a friend of mine who owns an investigation and security company in Cedar Tree. Kimeo, the wife of one of Gus’s guys, found herself in the middle of shady land deals and this woman, her best friend, had been kidnapped to ensure her silence. I may not have remembered her name until I saw her standing behind the counter of Kerry’s Korner, but I sure as hell remember her. I also remember the wedding ring on her finger, which is why I didn’t bother looking twice at the time. 

The hands resting on her hips no longer sport that wedding ring, just a large knuckle ring on the middle finger of her left hand as a sort of fuck you to the world. I bet she flips that bird easily, judging by the attitude she throws off. I like it.

“Kerry,” she says, almost as a challenge. 

“Right. You look better now,” I tell her, making her snort loudly.

“No shit. I’d just been used as a punching bag when you found me and shoved me into the back of a van without a word.” Yup, most definitely a challenge. She doesn’t like me much, I deduct from the slightly distasteful look on her face.

“Was a little preoccupied with my investigation. Sorry if I didn’t take the time to make nice.” Fuck me, I sound like a dick. Something about her attitude grates on me, especially when she rolls her eyes dramatically before placing her hands on the counter in front of her and leaning over. 

“Damian. Right?” She doesn’t wait for my confirmation before she continues, “Well, Damian, what brings you to my bookstore?”

“Coffee. Straight up,” I tell her without blinking. She turns her back without a word and starts fiddling with the expensive-looking machine on the sideboard, and I take the opportunity to check out her backside. “Double shot?” she asks over her shoulder, catching me ogling. 

“Good guess.” I smile at her, which only earns me another eye roll. Attitude in spades, this one. As much as it irritates me, it somehow turns me on, too. 

She’s late thirties, maybe forty, if I had to venture a guess from the lines around her eyes. She obviously laughs a lot—something I wouldn’t mind hearing. I have a feeling with that slightly raspy voice of hers, her laugh will sound even sexier. She’s not wearing a stitch of makeup from what I can tell and seems totally at ease in her skin. Not usually the kind of woman I find myself drawn to, but this one has an appeal all her own. Most women I end up with are well put together: stacked, sweet, and sultry. Just the way I like them. This one, though? This one is like the fucking girl next door. Fresh-faced, with a hippy vibe, barely enough tit to fill my hands, but an ass that should be framed, it’s that lush. Always considered myself a boob man, until I just got an eyeful of her backside. 

While she doctors the elaborate coffee machine, I take the time to check out her shop. An older building, it has an old-fashioned facade with shallow bay windows, displaying an assortment of books, framing the door. Old wood floors that have been left bare to the wear and tear of foot traffic, resulting in a well-worn look more suited to an old saloon. Rows of rugged bookcases, jutting out from the back wall, with chalkboard display signs indicating the different genres. The counter is on one side in front of the window and on the opposite side, in front of the second bay window, is a small seating arrangement with an old, brown leather couch and two club chairs around a small, round coffee table. On the counter is a large, round, glass cake stand with pastries. 

“Here you go. Anything else with that? A pastry to sweeten you up a bit or perhaps a book on appropriate social behavior? I have both.” I can’t stop the smirk tugging at my mouth. This one’s a handful, for sure. Too much of one. I pull out my wallet and slap a couple of dollar bills on the counter. 
“Nah,” I drawl. “Not the kind of sweet I’m looking for, and as for the book, I’ll just wait until you get done with it. You’re probably due for a reread.” I snag my coffee off the counter, and with a wink, I saunter out the door, leaving her standing with her mouth hanging open and fire shooting from those pretty gray eyes.

Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Driven to make her books about ‘real’ people; with characters who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills, and some hot, sizzling sex in their lives.

A recipient of the RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for best first book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya has not slowed down.


She continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

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Book Review: Between Me and You by Allison Winn Scotch 

Between Me and You

by Allison Winn Scotch 

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N

From New York Times bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch comes an honest, touching, and funny exploration of falling in and out of love, told from two perspectives—one rewinding history, one moving it forward—and each with bias and regret.

When their paths first cross, Ben Livingston is a fledgling scriptwriter on the brink of success; Tatum Connelly is a struggling actress tending bar in a New York City dive. They fall in love, they marry, they become parents, and they think only of the future. But as the years go by, Tatum’s stardom rises while Ben’s fades. In a marriage that bears the fallout of ambition and fame, Ben and Tatum are at a crossroads. Now all they can do is think back…

A life of passion, joy, tragedy, and loss—once shared—becomes one as shifting and unpredictable as a memory. As the pieces of their past come together, as they explore the ways love can bend and break, Ben and Tatum come to see how it all went wrong—and wonder what they can do now to make it all right.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I want you to be anything you dream of. But mostly I want you to be happy. Those things aren’t always the same, you know.

 

I can’t measure my love for Ben against Mom’s love for Dad because it’s not like you can quantify these things. It’s not like I can pour them into a cup and see which one measures more.

 

It’s raining in Los Angeles, and no one knows what to do about it. People are scattering around, hovering in Whole Foods, tweeting with panicked abandon: It’s raining! It might be the apocalypse!

 

He tells me he’ll be on his best behavior, but I’d cleaned up enough of Leo’s messes over the years… to know that while Leo might promise the moon, he’ll often never even glance up at the sky.

 

“He needs to grow up, Ben.” I could picture my dad shaking his head like he couldn’t imagine how Leo had gotten this far in life without being drafted into clown school.

 My Review:

 

I struggled, valiantly I must add, oh, how I struggled, as this book was a full-on angst-fest and that is so not my jam. But I also couldn’t stop reading. Hmm, Allison Winn Scotch seems to have a handle on this writing thing… The storylines wove in and out of various timelines, and not in chronological order, with emotions and motivations capriciously seesawing from cautious jubilation to bleak and heart-squeezing despair, with clever licks of humor and amusing observations periodically tossed in. Ms. Scotch’s deftly paced, observantly insightful, and emotive writing pulled me in quickly and held my attention, despite my exasperation with the prickly and temperamental characters.

The characters weren’t inherently bad people but they were fatally flawed and vastly insecure as well as alluring, complicated, moody, selfish, stubborn, and damn it, they fascinated me to no end. They weren’t always likable or admirable, in fact, there were times I despised them and wanted to throw my Kindle down in disgust of their self-centered, pettish, and pedantic behaviors. And the more successful they became, the more out of sync, self-involved, dour, and loathsome they appeared. Both had made critical errors in judgment in dealing with each other, so much so that I wasn’t sure a reunification was the best thing for either one. The actress’s penchant for playacting had gone so far afield she had become inauthentic, even with herself. Yet despite their odious and repellent behaviors, I couldn’t stop reading… I was more than satisfied with the conclusion and proud of myself for my dogged perseverance yet I had the irrational impulse to hurriedly close my Kindle before they could start in on each other and ruin it again. Silly me. 

Allison Winn Scotch   

Website

I’m the author of a bunch of novels, including IN TWENTY YEARS, THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES and TIME OF MY LIFE. My next and seventh book – which I am suuuuper-excited about! – is titled BETWEEN ME AND YOU and will be released in January 2018.

As an author, I know how brutal reviews can be, so I’ll only post about books I’ve enjoyed. (Just in case you’re wondering why all of my reviews are positive!)

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Book Review: Conflicted by Maria Macdonald

 

Title: Conflicted
Series: Deliverance #2
Author: Maria Macdonald
Genre: Coming of Age M/M
Release Date: April 17, 2018

 

Blurb
They say, ‘Be true
to yourself and follow your heart.’
But what if the two
things aren’t mutually exclusive?
If only one half is being
honest, can you ever really be complete?
For years I was my
own oppressor until I found my absolute.
He was the addiction
I didn’t want to fight, one that nearly broke me.
But I knew, when it
came to Casper, I was never going to be a survivor.
I enjoyed drowning
too damn much.

 

Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

You know you can’t go back, right? … To before. To only a moment ago, when you were really in denial when you believed you could change who you truly are. Now your consciousness has recognized your soul. You can’t backtrack, can’t lock up the truth. All you have now is the lie… it’s your choice whether you live in it or not.

 

I believe there’s one person out there. One person who will fill every hole inside your soul. That person will stand by your side through the rough times and stand in front of you in the toughest. The person who’s always on your mind. Not just first thing in the morning and last thing at night, but also throughout your dreams… I don’t know what I’d do without her. It would be like living without my sight. I feel like maybe not everyone has one person, but I’ve always felt something inside of me. Almost a silent voice, telling me that when I meet her, I’d know, and when I love it will be forever. Never will there be anyone else for me. Not ever.

 

I’m sorry. This is hard for me, but I’m getting there slowly.” He shakes his head and looks conflicted. “That’s not an excuse… it’s—… I’m reaching for you… I am. Will you wait for me to settle my soul?

 My Review:

 

Conflicted was a quick and captivating novella, written from the first person POV of Caden, a college student who recently came out about his sexuality to his dysfunctional family/currently divorcing parents, twin brother, friends, and teammates. I adored the gentle and witty Caden and his selfless and protective twin brother Tarrant. Early adulthood and college years are a stressful and trying time of life for the vast majority of creatures, but add in harassment and sexual identify issues and – yikes! Major struggles, yet Caden was highly insightful, supportive of others, and patiently finding his footing amongst the turmoil. The writing was emotive, angsty, and thoughtfully observant with licks of amusing humor and sweetness.

Also Available
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Author Bio

Maria is a full time working Mum, she has two beautiful daughters, both of whom love books as much as she does. 

Maria has loved to write since she was a little girl. 

Reading and loving books, as well as blogging, has inspired her to write and publish.

Maria, her husband and children now reside in Wiltshire, England. 

Author Links
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Book Review: Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton

Hurricane Season

by Lauren K. Denton

From the author of the USA Today bestseller The Hideaway comes another story of families and mending the past.

Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have long since buried their desire for children of their own. While Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, Betsy busies herself with the farm’s day-to-day operations and tries to forget her dream of motherhood. But when her free-spirited sister, Jenna, drops off her two young daughters for “just two weeks,” Betsy’s carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble.

As the two weeks stretch deeper into the Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world—and revel in the laughter that now fills their home. Meanwhile, record temperatures promise to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.

Attending an art retreat four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She finally has time and energy to focus on her photography, a lifelong ambition. But she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she’s made back home as a single mom.

When Hurricane Ingrid aims a steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decision that will change her family’s future, even as Betsy and Ty try to protect their beloved farm and their hearts. Hurricane Season is the story of one family’s unconventional journey to healing—and the relationships that must be mended along the way.

 

 My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

… the battered gray school bus from Bankston Detention pulled up out front, and twenty teenage boys shuffled off, hormones and pent-up energy swirling around them like almost visible steam.

 

She smoothed her hands across the blanket, straightened the corners, and imagined the room holding two little girls after holding nothing but dreams and damaged furniture.

 

Jenna always hated icebreakers like this. They reminded her of the week in college when she lost her mind and thought she might actually want to join a sorority. Five grueling days of prim parties, saccharine conversation, and ridiculous icebreakers where one by one, girls explained through tears how their future happiness depended on having a certain arrangement of Greek letters tied to her name.

 

It’s what I do when these storms come in. I bake till the power goes off, then I eat. It keeps me calm. And fifteen pounds over my goal, but calories consumed during acts of God don’t count.

 

My Review:

 

Lauren Denton has gifted us with a stealthily crafted and slowly developing yet highly satisfying story with most of the action and progression of the narrative occurring within the major characters’ inner musings, memories, regrets, and observations. Their exteriors were quiet and politely guarded, while their interiors were fraught with a myriad of concerns, tension, heartbreaking disappointments, and unspoken aspirations. The writing was emotive and Ms. Denton took me into the story with her highly descriptive and lushly detailed scenes; I felt the pressure of the humid heat of the gathering storm as well as the crack of heat lightning, and I coveted their refreshing and lip-smacking lemonade and sweet tea. The characters were multi-layered and complex, surprisingly gentle and sweet, and cleverly observant. I enjoyed hitchhiking in their headspace although I now seem to be contending with an unusual impulse to dig in the dirt and plant something just to watch it grow.

About Lauren K. Denton

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Lauren K. Denton now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent. On any given day, she’d rather be at the beach with her family and a stack of books.

Connect with Lauren

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

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Book Review, Giveaway: One Wild Night by A.L. Jackson and Rebecca Shea

One Wild Night 

A flirty, sexy contemporary romance from bestselling authors, A.L. Jackson and Rebecca Shea . . .

“A fun, flirty, and fire-hot, feel-good romance” –Karen, Bookalicious Babes
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It’s here!!!!!! ONE WILD NIGHT is LIVE!
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It’s fun.
It’s flirty.
It’s sexy.
And yep, it’ll still give you the feels!
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I had an absolute blast writing this collaboration with one of my very best friends, Rebecca Shea, and we’re so proud to bring it to you. It’s a departure from what we typically write, but there is something about it that just hit the spot 😉
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I hope you love Paxton and Kaylee’s super fun, sexy story
xoxo – Amy
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Blurb:

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A flirty, sexy contemporary romance from bestselling authors, A.L. Jackson and Rebecca Shea . . .
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Kaylee Rose Burton, kindergarten teacher, has never been a believer in fantasies.
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Living in L.A. her entire life, she knows the glitz and glam of Hollywood is just an illusion.
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That is until she stumbles head first into the arms of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor.
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It was just another day for Paxton Myles on the red carpet until the blue-eyed beauty literally stumbles at his feet.
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A single glimpse in her innocent eyes and he knows he has to have her.
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After one night of unbridled passion, Kaylee slips away to live her quiet life, but the paparazzi has other ideas.
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When Kaylee’s world comes crashing down, can Paxton convince her that their one wild night could turn into forever?
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My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

She wants answers, and my brain is moving at the speed of a snail in molasses right now.

My Review:

 

Sizzle and Snap! Holy scorched ceiling tiles Batman! I frequently had to stop to catch my breath and wipe the sweat from my brow while reading this spicy little tale. Every girl has had a fantasy of catching the eye of a rich and handsome man and becoming his sun and moon, and that is what happened to this sweet little kindergarten teacher. However a vile publicist and rabid press ensured it was not all unicorns farting rainbow sprinkles for the smitten couple, but it was a quick and saucy read packed with naughty fun and London sightseeing done the rich and famous way. Oh, my!

$50 Amazon GC Giveaway

A.L. Jackson and Rebecca Shea are bestselling authors residing in Arizona. After being writing partners for five years, it only made sense that they’d put their minds together to bring their readers something fun, flirty, and sexy.

Connect with A.L.

Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson

Facebook: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonPage

Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonAmzn

Bookbub: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonBookbub

Twitter: @aljacksonauthor

Instagram: @aljacksonauthor

Snapchat: @aljacksonauthor

Connect with Rebecca

Newsletter: https://goo.gl/VX1w4U

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccasheaauthor

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527432567356595/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-Shea/e/B00E4RIUQ6

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-shea

Twitter: @beccasheaauthor

Instagram: @rebeccasheaauthor

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Book Review: Leona’s Last Resort (Tawnee Mountain Mysteries Book 1) by Karen M. Bryson

Leona’s Last Resort 

(Tawnee Mountain Mysteries Book 1)

by Karen M. Bryson

Goodreads

Amazon

When Max Elliot invites Izzy Grant to a fancy Ivy League alumni reception at the Tawnee Mountain Resort, the ghost hunters anticipate a romantic weekend getaway at the premier ski and golf destination.

But when wealthy hotelier Leona Hutton is murdered, and her ghost asks Izzy to find her killer, she and Max decide to investigate.

Will Izzy and Max solve the case before more alumni end up dead, or the killer turns the tables and decides to hunt the ghost hunters?

Leona’s Last Resort is a part of the Tawnee Mountain Mysteries series, a collection of seven brand new mysteries, from seven award-winning and bestselling authors, taking place at the same final destination, the Tawnee Mountain Resort.

Leona’s Last Resort features ghost hunters, Izzy Grant and Max Elliot, from the Izzy & Max Paranormal Mystery series.

Each book in this multi-author series is a standalone novella, and the series can be read in any order.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He’s got his earbuds in and he’s joyfully oblivious to the fact that he’s singing way out of tune. “This is the dawning of the Age of Asparagus. The Age of Asparagus…”

 

Even though his sister and I are about the same size that’s where the similarity between us ends. She was the head cheerleader and her high school’s prom queen. My Old Town classmates voted me the Most Likely to Kill Herself and then laughed about it our entire senior year.

 

Sam has a habit of saying everything like it’s a cheer. I always wonder if I’m supposed to respond with, “Go. Fight. Win!”

 

Dr. Spencer Jamison epitomizes the term old coot. He looks like he’s twenty years past his expiration date. He’s so old that his wrinkles have wrinkles. And he’s much crabbier than I am even when I’m raging with PMS on a bad hair day.

 

I’m surprised by how much I sound like a gumshoe from one of those old noir detective novels. I feel like I need to follow-up with “Don’t leave town,” but I refrain.

 

My Review:

 

I enjoyed this entertaining murder mystery with a bit of ghostly assistance; I absorbed it quickly and found a frequent smirk on my face as I read. This quick and engaging tale was written from the first person POV of Izzy, a prickly and contrary nonconformist with a snarky tongue, yet her inner musings belied her softer side and amusing observations. I always take pleasure in Ms. Bryson’s sardonic wit and colorful insights, I get her. I look forward to more smart and snappy stories from this sly and clever author.


 

KAREN M. BRYSON writes romantic mystery and suspense stories. She is a winner of the prestigious RONE Award for Excellence in the Indie and Small Publishing Industry as well as the RWA Lone Star Writing Contest.

Karen is also an award-winning/optioned screenwriter.

When she’s not at her computer creating new stories, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Karen previously wrote contemporary romance under the pen names SAVANNAH YOUNG, SIERRA AVALON, REN MONTERREY and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DAKOTA MADISON.

Please note that Karen M. Bryson (TM) is a trademark and may not be used without the owner’s permission.

Where to find Karen…

Website: http://www.karenmuellerbryson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenMuellerBrysonAuthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karenmbryson/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmbryson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenmbryson

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Book Review: The Baby Plan by Kate Rorick

The Baby Plan

by Kate Rorick

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Paperback: 432 pages

 Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (March 20, 2018)

“Smart and funny, The Baby Plan is irresistible! A winner.” -Susan Mallery, #1 New York Times bestselling author

In The Lizzie Bennet Diaries creator Kate Rorick’s first adult fiction novel, we enter the wild, bewildering world of modern pregnancies. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll shake your head as you wonder where everyone’s sanity went…

Meet the mothers…

Nathalie Kneller: Nathalie’s plan: to announce her pregnancy now that she’s finally made it past twelve weeks! But just as she’s about to deliver (so to speak) the big news to her family, her scene-stealing sister barfs all over the Thanksgiving centerpiece. Yup, Lyndi’s pregnant too, swiping the spotlight once more…  

Lyndi Kneller:  Lyndi’s plan: finally get her life together! She’s got a new apartment, new promotion, new boyfriend. What she didn’t count on—a new baby! She can barely afford her rent, much less a state-of-the-art stroller…

Sophia Nunez: Sophia’s plan: Once she gets her daughter Maisey off to college, she’ll finally be able to enjoy life as the make-up artist to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and girlfriend to one of rock’s hottest musicians. But after 18 years she discovers the stork is once again on its way…

Now these women are about to jump headlong into the world of modern day pregnancy. It’s a world of over the top gender reveal parties (with tacky cakes and fireworks); where every morsel you eat is scrutinized and discussed; where baby names are crowd-sourced and sonograms are Facebook-shared. And where nothing goes as planned…

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He was also a musician, which as far as Maisey could tell, meant he wore really expensive weathered clothes and always looked like he was wet.

 

I remember I was so bloated with Luke, I looked like I’d died in the bathtub and they found my body three days later.

 

They’re trying to think of something good to say. Because saying ‘you don’t have your life together enough to have a baby,’ doesn’t really fit on a Hallmark card.

 

Yeah, and do you know what I told him ten minutes before you got married? … That if he ever did anything to hurt you, I would travel to South America, buy an authentic machete, bring it back, and hack him to pieces with it… I was in my horror-movie-watching phase.

 

I had only happened recently, this need to ABC – Always Be Couching.

 

My Review:

 

Silly me, from the cover and synopsis, I was expecting a romantic comedy, and while it was often witty and packed with amusing insights and observations, it was more of a women’s fiction tale with heartbreak, maternity issues, and loads of family drama. The storylines were relevant and entertaining while plucking at my heartstrings almost as often as it contributed to the smile lines on my face. I enjoyed the author’s writing style, smart humor, and unpredictable conundrums, although I didn’t see these characters as types I would personally want to befriend.

 

About Kate Rorick

Kate Rorick is an Emmy Award-winning writer who has worked on a number of television shows, most recently The Librarians on TNT. She was also a writer for the hit web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and authored the two series tie-in novels, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet and The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet. In her other life, she writes bestselling historical romance novels under the name Kate Noble. Kate lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Find out more about Kate at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.