Month: June 2016

Cover reveal: Broken Love by Evan Grace

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BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:
Broken Love by Evan Grace 

(Love Stings, #1) 

Published by: Limitless Publishing

Publication date: February 23rd 2016

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:

As a young woman, Abby Carmichael had it all—until the night a stranger tore it away…
A year and half after the brutal sexual assault, Abby is finally starting to feel like her old self. Teaching dance classes with enthusiastic kids is just the kind of job she needs—far away from probing eyes or vicious intentions of the opposite sex. When she connects with one of her students, Natalie, it isn’t long until she meets her father, Deputy Ben James.
Ben James is just a regular guy, working to make a life for himself and his daughter…
That’s what Abby tells herself when her sudden attraction for Ben catches her off guard. Abby has been steering clear of men for obvious reasons, and the idea of wanting that kind of relationship is more terrifying than intriguing. But with his doe-eyed daughter tugging at her dance uniform, Ben takes notice.
He’s ready for love, but does her past hold too many secrets?
After the assault, Abby coped by using heavy medication and fell into an ugly chain of one-night stands. But now that she’s out of rehab and finally on the right track, it’s only a matter of time before Ben finds out.
Will Abby be the true love Ben has always wanted? Or is she a tangled challenge, leading to yet another…
Broken Love?
Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes and Noble

AUTHOR BIO:

A Midwesterner and self-proclaimed nerd, Evan has been an avid reader most of her life, but five years ago got bit by the writing bug, and it quickly became her addiction, passion and therapy. When the voices in her head give it a rest, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Shayla Black, Jaci Burton, Madeline Sheehan and Jamie Mcguire. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, so if you see her wearing her headphones you know she means business and is in the zone.
During the day Evan works for a large homecare agency and at night she’s superwoman. She’s a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and Evan, a cook, a tutor, a friend and a writer. How does she do it? She’ll never tell.

Author Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads Author Page

Reader confessions tag

12 Comments

I was tagged by the amazing Kei @ Lovelypagesreviews! If you’re not already following her then please check her out! 

  1. Have you ever damaged a book? 😱😱😱 Gasp! I would never. But I may have damaged one as a kid? Awful 😂
  2. Have you ever damaged a borrowed book? Again 😱! If someone is kind enough to let me borrow a book I do my very best to treat it as well as I do my kids. Especially by keeping it very far away from said kids. 😂😳
  3. How long does it take you to read a book? Back when I was single and didn’t have children, I would devour books in a matter of a few short hours. Now it takes me a bit longer but I still read really fast. I just have to make an effort to find the time to read. Many nights I’m up until 1 or 2 reading! 
  4. Books that you haven’t finished? I always finish books. It’s a thing I have. I always think that maybe if I just keep reading it will get better or that I may like it more.
  5. Hyped popular books that you don’t like? My Name is Lucy Barton and 50 Shades of Grey. This doesn’t happen to me often as I’m quite good at picking books I’m confident that I’ll like. 
  6. Is there a book you wouldn’t tell anyone you were reading? Maybe 50 Shades. Wouldn’t tell my grandma about that one 😂
  7. How many books do you own? At least a few hundred. 😳 and constantly growing!
  8. Are you a fast reader or a slow reader? Fast. My husband and kids are always amazed by how fast.
  9. Do you like to buddy read? Never done it before!
  10. Do you read better in your head or out loud? Definitely in my head. I only read out loud to my kids.
  11. If you were only allowed to own one book what one and why? Hahahahahahha. No. 

Fun! Here are the people I tag! (No worries if you’ve already done this or just don’t want too)

Taylorreadsbooks
Teenbooklit101
Hangingwithamanda
Thesuspenseisthrillingme
Themisstery

Review of Friends Like Us by Sian O’Gorman

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Goodreads/Amazon
Genre: Chick Lit, Women’s Fiction

Release date: July 1, 2016

Publisher: Aria

Goodreads blurb:

Is it ever too late to take charge and live your life on your terms?
Life for school friends, Melissa, Steph and Eilis, hasn’t quite worked out the way they once imagined it might.
Melissa may be professionally successful but inside she’s a mess of insecurities.

Steph is lonely and lost, balancing the fragile threads of family life and walking on eggshells around her philandering husband and angry teenage daughter.
Finally, Eilis, a hardworking A&E doctor, utterly exhausted by the daily pressures of work and going through the motions with her long-term partner Rob.
It’s crunch time for all the friends…
A light-hearted and emotional novel about family, friendship and coming to terms with your past. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes and Amanda Prowse. 

Review:

I love a good chick lit novel. Emily Giffin, Lauren Weisberger, Mary Kay Andrews, etc. When I saw this on Netgalley I was instantly drawn to it because of the lighthearted description and lovely cover. Superficial, I know. Turned out to be fitting as this book was a tad superficial. I just wanted to be drawn in a little bit more. I didn’t feel a true connection with the characters.

Three friends from high school reunite to plan their twentieth high school reunion. Melissa, Steph and Eilis meet several times to plan things but that is not actually relevant to the plot. Instead the book focuses on the unraveling of the three women’s lives. All of them are facing heavy issues in their lives and they lean on each other for support. Divorce, infidelity, angsty teenagers, work woes, death and more all try and drag the girls down. 

Told alternately from Melissa, Steph and Eilis point of view works nicely. You get an intimate glimpse into all their lives and the book flows well. Even though they are dealing with some heavy subject matter, it still has an overall lighthearted tone. There are many sweet moments between the girls and O’Gorman was able to capture the power of true friendship.

While it definitely had its good moments, it was slightly clichéd and predictable. All that said, I did like the book, I just didn’t love the book. It is a nice, easy summer read though. If you’re looking for a book that is breezy and fluffy this might be for you.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Blitz:Shopping for a CEO’s Fiancée by Julia Kent/Giveaway

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Shopping for a CEO’s Fiancée by Julia Kent

(Shopping for a Billionaire #9)

Publication date: June 22nd 2016

Genres: Comedy, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:

We skipped right over the whole fiancée thing and went straight from girlfriend to wife.
At least, I think that’s what happened. I woke up after my brother’s Vegas wedding reception with my luscious girlfriend in bed with me. We’re both wearing wedding rings.
So is her coworker, Josh.
And our Vegas chauffeur, Geordi.
Who the hell am I married to?
Unraveling this mystery will be as difficult as figuring out why Amanda and I are having panic attacks over the thought of being husband and wife.
Or, whoever we’re actually married to.
Oh, ^%$#.
It’s true that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, with one exception:
If she’s my wife, we’ll make it work.
If she’s not?
I’ll make it happen.
Get the 9th book in Julia Kent’s New York Times bestselling romantic comedy series as Andrew and Amanda sort out their wild Vegas night…and the rest of their lives.

Amazon/iTunes/Kobo/Nook/Google Play/Goodreads
AUTHOR BIO:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge, and new adult books that push contemporary boundaries. From billionaires to BBWs to rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every book she writes, but unlike Trevor from Random Acts of Crazy, she has never kissed a chicken. She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com

Author Website/Facebook/Facebook reader group/Twitter/Goodreads Author Page/Newsletter and Text Sign Up

Review of My Sister’s Secret by Tracy Buchanan

10 Comments

Goodreads/Amazon/Author Website
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Mystery, Drama

Release date: June 30, 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Description:

Willow remembers her childhood as idyllic, full of love and happiness. But was it really as perfect as she remembers it?

Suddenly, Willow finds herself unraveling  secrets in her late parents, Charity and Dan’s past. There are long buried secrets that no one can help her bring to light besides Hope, the aunt that took her in after her parents deaths. When she receives a mysterious invitation to an event from

Who can Willow actually trust now? It seems as if everyone around her has been lying for years. How can she possibly move on with her life without finding out the truth? 

Review:

This one hooked me right from the start. Willow is searching for answers about her parents lives and is desperate to find out anything she can about the people they were. They died tragically when she was seven, so her memories are limited. Hope and Willow’s relationship is strained for reasons Willow isn’t even quite sure of. She knows her aunt loves her, but anytime she asks about Charity she is stonewalled. Because she can’t find the answers she is searching for at home, she sets off on a journey to the truth.

Willow’s voyage leads her to travel the world retracing her mothers steps. All she knows is that her mother had a deep fascination with sunken forests, so she sets off to see them for herself. Willow is a diver and the scenes where she is exploring these underwater forests are absolutely breathtaking. My favorite aspect of the novel is that Buchanan creates gorgeous imagery that really pulls the reader in. She made me want to visit these haunting forests myself, which is not anything I’ve ever dreamed of doing. Her descriptions of the seas and lakes are stunning and conjure up images of true beauty. 

The novel was told from both Willow’s point of view in the present and Charity’s perspective from years ago. Beginning in the 70’s right before her sister Faith’s tragic death all the way up to Charity’s own unfortunate demise, Buchanan takes the reader on a journey that is intriguing and emotional. Along the way you meet a cast of characters that are fascinating and leave the reader wondering what exactly they are hiding. Along with Willow, Faith, Charity, and Hope, there is Niall, a boy the three sisters grew up with on Busby-by-the Sea, Dan, Willow’s father, Ajay who is Willow’s diving buddy, and Lana who was Dan’s first wife. These characters add drama and suspense to an already suspenseful story. 

I don’t want to say too much more as I think this is the type of book that could be totally spoiled very easily. Suffice it to say, I throughly enjoyed every minute of this book. The ending was perfect and neatly tied up any loose ends and answered all the lingering questions I had. I was only sad to see it was over.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 (only because I’m quite stingy with my 5 star reviews!)

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Release Blitz/Giveaway:Game On! By Dani Jace 

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Genre: Romance/Erotic

Release Date: June 21, 2016

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Buy now: Amazon/Amazon UK/iTunes/GooglePlay/Kobo/Nook/All Romance/Goodreads


Synopsis:

Heath Lancaster’s happy to be on the practice squad of a professional football team, but

instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him unemployed. Until he finds a new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach, where a bikini-clad hottie snags one of his passes on the beach and offers him a tour of the area . . .

A scandalous affair turned Jordan Walker into media fodder—and in no hurry to get back into the dating game. But the easy going tight end of the new Triton’s team unleashes an inhibited wild streak in her and has her tempting him with a game of her own. But when she finds out who the owner of the Tritons is, she’s wondering if she’ll repeat her mistakes . . .
Meet the Author:

Dani Jace enjoys writing headstrong, flip-flop casual heroines and everyday heroes who work with their hands―and other body parts. Claiming the Outer Banks of North Carolina as her second home, she includes the scenic and legendary chain of barrier islands as a setting for many of her tales. When not working on her next novel, she’s dipping her toes in the ocean, reading or checking out the newest action flick. Her husband, son and Lab, plus her many imaginary characters make life complete.

Author Website/Facebook/Twitter/Newsletter/Amazon Author Page/Pinterest/Instagram/Google+/Goodreads Author Page
Excerpt

A few minutes later, they arrived at the beach. Inside the bathhouse, Jordan changed into her new suit. Eyeing herself in the mirror, she frowned.

GiGi painted her lips with a coral gloss. “It’s been over a year now, Jordan. No one will recognize you. The media is feeding on some other poor soul now.”

She could only hope.

After making their way to the pier, Jordan checked out the surf zone. Only a few young teens and old dudes on longboards bobbed in the ocean. The surf lacked the exciting swells necessary to attract anyone hot enough for GiGi. She should have relented and gone to Virginia Beach.

“Let’s cruise.” GiGi shouldered her beach bag stuffed with towels, drinks and their cell phones. They sank their toes into the sand at the water’s edge. “Looks like mommies’ day out with the kiddies.” She grumbled.

“Says the huntress.” Jordan kept walking toward the less crowded fishing area hoping to find GiGi something to stalk.

“I want confirmation this new bikini is worth the money.” GiGi thrust out her tits and swayed her hips.

Jordan glanced up, snagging a spiraling football inches from their heads. The ball stung her fingers with a slap.

GiGi squeaked, dropping her bag with their drinks. “Sorry!”

The intended receiver stood in the surf.

“Jesus! My bad!” The passer grimaced.

At least he had the decency to appear embarrassed.

Mr. Sandy Blond rushed from the water toward them. Damn. He had all the attributes of her favorite NFL tight end. Aviator shades hid his eyes. His brawny shoulders tapered to a waist set off by a six-pack.

“You okay?” His gaze followed GiGi’s to the bottles littering the beach. “Oh. Sorry about your drinks. He plucked the brews and wine coolers from the sand. “Wouldn’t open these for a bit.”

GiGi eyed their buff physiques and smirked. “Suppose you’ll have to share yours.” She nodded to their cooler.

“Not a problem.” The dark-haired passer motioned to his beach chair.

But of course, her model-looking friend was always first pick. Jordan handed the ball to the blond. More to her tastes anyway. The stripe on his board shorts accentuated his well-carved butt.

He extended his hand. “Heath.”

“Miller?” Jordan asked. Almost as tall and as muscular as the pro tight-end. A definite hard-body. He might have been threatening-looking if not for his endearing dimples and genuine smile.

He enveloped her hand with a firm grip. “Sorry, no. Lancaster is my last name, but you’d make a heck of a cornerback the way you picked off that pass.”

Electrified by his touch, her thoughts fired in directions she’d been dodging for months. “Jordan, sister to three older brothers. I can tackle, too, if necessary.” She grinned.

He let out a low whistle.

Other books in this series:

Hot As Blazes (Seaside Heat Romance #1)

Amazon/iTunes/Google Play/Kobo/Nook
Sand and Sin (Seaside Heat Romance #2)

Amazon/iTunes/Google Play/Kobo/Nook


Review of The Story of Our Life by Shari Low

7 Comments

Goodreads/Amazon/Author website
Genre: Contemporary/Romance, Women’s fiction 

Release date: July 1, 2016

Publisher: Aria

Description:

Colm and Shauna have been married for fifteen years. Their love is forever, and it is real. Life is a fairytale.
Until it isn’t.
Life recently changed, due to a devastating blow. Can Colm and Shauna cling to each other during tragic times? Or will they lose everything they’ve worked so hard to build?

What would you do if your husband, the love of your life, cheated on you? 

Review:

Who doesn’t love a good, old fashioned love story? I know I do, but The Story of Our Life is not your typical love story. Boy does not meet girl, get married, have 2.5 kids and they live happily ever after. No, this is real and raw, yet it is still a touching love story.

The pace of this book is perfect. It skips back, touching on important moments in Colm and Shauna’s lives fifteen years ago, all the way to the present. Shauna is the main narrator but a few times the story is told from Colm’s perspective. This works fantastically as it keeps the reader engaged and ready to find out more. You know if one of them begins telling a story about a night in 2009 that it is an important part of their story and you need to pay attention. It is not confusing at all, as every chapter tells you what year it is and a brief title description tells the reader what is coming up.

What I loved the most about this novel is that Colm and Shauna are completely relatable, especially if you have been or are married. Yes, these two love each other deeply, but they are human and they make mistakes just like the rest of us. They are stubborn, selfish, funny, but most importantly they are real. They deal with heartbreaks, grief, divorce, drama amongst a tight knit group of friends, infidelity, betrayal, illness. Everything that we all face through the course of our lives.
The secondary characters in this book are fantastic as well. They too are raw and honest and Low forces the reader to care about what is going on in their lives as well. There are Shauna’s uncaring and cold parents, their beloved daughter Beth, Colm’s twin boys from his previous marriage to Jess, their best friends Dan and Lulu, Rosie, who has been Shauna’s closest friend most of her life, Vincent, Shauna’s business partner, and my absolute favorite, Annie, Shauna’s grandmother. This colorful cast of supporting characters adds warmth and humor throughout the book.
Without spoiling anything, I only wish I could change the ending. I desperately wanted Colm and Shauna to get their much deserved happy ending. But that is just selfish on my part, as Low clearly wanted to tell a true, modern love story where life is not even close to perfect, but yet is truly beautiful.
Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Real Neat Blog Award

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I was nominated by the fantastic Bibliophilewanderlust for this award, thank you so much!

The rules are as follows:
Thank and link the blogger that nominated you.

Answer the 7 questions that the nomination has provided you.

Create 7 questions for your nominees.

Nominate 7 other bloggers.

Bibliophile wanderlust questions:

  1. If you can change place/life with a character in a book who would it be? Hmm too hard to pick one. Maybe a female lead from a romance novel that leads a charming life? Oh maybe Becky from the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. I’ve always wanted to live in the UK 😜
  2. How many physical and digital books do you own? Estimating close to 500.
  3. What book do you want to make sure your children’s read (present or future)? Harry Potter series. I’ve already started reading some of it to my oldest daughter, but I want her to read them on her own as she gets older.
  4. Do you prefer reading indoors or outdoors? I mainly read indoors, but there’s something amazing about reading on a beach. It’s heavenly.
  5. What was the worst book you have read? I can’t even remember the name, but it was a freebie on Amazon and it didn’t even read like it had been edited. It was really bad.
  6. Do you have any reading habits? I’m always reading a book and listening to one at the same time. But I never start reading a new book until I finish the old one.
  7. Do you think you’ll ever stop reading and get rid of all your books? Gasp! Never. That would be awful.

My Questions:

  1. Favorite series?
  2. Most under appreciated book you’ve read?
  3. Favorite book that you’ve reviewed? Link?
  4. Favorite book cover?
  5. Do you ever borrow books from the library? If so, do you return them on time or late?
  6. Why did you start your blog?
  7. Do you have a favorite snack/drink while reading?

My nominees: (if you’ve already been nominated or just don’t want to participate that’s ok!)

Capitolbooks

Storyscope
Shhiamreading
Journeyofangie
Eloraquence
Mrsreadsbooks
Lostinsweetwords
If you haven’t checked these blogs out, please do! Thanks again for the nomination.

50 followers!

19 Comments

I’m so excited to hit 50 followers. This has been such a fun experience and the book blogging community has been so amazing and supportive. I want to personally thank each and everyone of you who saw something in my blog that made you click follow. It truly means the world to me.

Let me know your favorite book blogs so I can check them out. I adore finding new  blogs to follow.