Brandi Janee's Bookshelf

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevado | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 11:47:00 +0000

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevado
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 388
Source: Purchased
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago’s life has been about making the tough decisions—doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness.

Even though she dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, Emoni knows that it’s not worth her time to pursue the impossible. Yet despite the rules she thinks she has to play by, once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.

My Thoughts

PERFECTION! Okay that might not be a universal opinion, but Elizabeth Acevado has a way with words that has me living in every moment with Emoni.

The book follows 17 year-old Emoni as she going into her senior year of high school. While most kids her age are thinking about hanging out with friends and what college to go to, she struggles with pursing her dreams of becoming a chef and making sure her 2 year-old daughter wants for nothing.

This was a refreshing take on the topic of teen pregnancy. The majority of the books I’ve heard of deal with the teen finding out they’re pregnant and making a decision on what to do. With the Fire on High follows life after that decision has been made. The author did not shy away from all the stereotypes placed on teen moms from their surroundings (i.e. her peers, the baby’s father and his parents, and the public). I love how through everything Emoni had the love and support of her family, friends, and teachers.

It’s no secret that I loved this book and I will be singing its praises as much as I can from now on. I knew just from The Poet X but now I can confirm that Elizabeth Acevado is one of my favorite authors and I will be reading everything she puts into the world.

Ruthless King by Maya Hughes | Release Blitz

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 06:14:00 +0000

Title: Ruthless King

Author: Maya Hughes

Genre: New Adult Romance

Cover Design: Najla Qamber, Qamber Designs

Release Date: January 10, 2019

BLURB

My d*ck never got me in half as much trouble as my heart...

We were high school sweethearts. I was head over heels for her and no one could tell me we weren’t going to last forever. College? Going pro? My family’s money? None of it mattered. She was all I needed.

Then she ripped my heart out. But I’m not going to let that happen again.

She’s back. Invading my life and acting like she was the wronged one. The pain is still there, but I can’t keep my eyes off her. I can’t stop thinking about her and how much was left unsaid between us. Being this close is making me question everything I thought I knew about her.

This time everything will be on my terms. Everything…

GRAB YOUR COPY AT THE SPECIAL RELEASE PRICE OR READ IT FREE IN KU!

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Author Bio

Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! :-) I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.

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Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MBZ1XNV

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MBZ1XNV

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07MBZ1XNV

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07MBZ1XNV

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Jock Rule by Sara Ney | ARC Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 11:51:00 +0000

Jock Rule (Jock Hard #2) by Sara Ney
Publisher: Three Legacies, LLC
Publication Date: December 6, 2018
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 214
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

Kip Carmichael is no pretty boy.

He's a rough. Dirty. Giant. Hair so unruly, and a beard so thick, his friends on the team call him Sasquatch.

The first time Sasquatch lays eyes on Theodora "Teddy" Johnson across the keg at a party one night on Jock Row, she'd been relegated to the sidelines by her jock hungry "friends."

Week-after-week, he watches beautiful but bashful Teddy getting overshadowed, and overlooked. Sasquatch finally broad shoulders his way through the crowd, offering to to be her hairy godmother. But the minute their eyes meet? He's a goner.

Teaching her the RULES for winning a jock will be the easy part. Not falling in love with her is going to be a losing game.

My Thoughts

I wouldn't even know how to begin to explain my level of excitement when I found out I was approved for a review copy of this book. When the first book in the companion series, Jock Row, came out earlier this year I picked it up and finished the book in 2 days. Since I'm a pretty slow reader that's a big deal for me. Jock Row is one of my favorite romances of the year, especially when it comes to new adult romances. Similar to the previous book, Jock Rule follows two characters that meet randomly at a party and their unexpected romance afterwards.

Sara Ney has a way of writing protagonists that I almost immediately feel attached to. Teddy and Kip had some similarities to the characters from the other book but they didn't feel like they were the same people in a different setting. I loved the connection between the two and how their time together throughout the novel progressed. There were moments where I was shocked by the escalation of the physical connection but it never felt like things between Teddy and Kip were rushed.

Another unexpected factor of joy in this story was Kip's family, mainly his sister. When she first appeared I wasn't expecting her to have such a prominent role. However, Kip has consistent communication with his sister throughout the entire novel. I really loved it because they had such a strong sibling relationship and she brought a lot of humor whenever she appeared.

Jock Rule was another book by Sara Ney that I had a lot of fun with while reading. I wish we had a little more time with Teddy and Kip before their story ended but overall I really enjoyed it. I am definitely looking forward to whatever else this author releases in this series!

Jock Rule (Jock Hard #2) by Sara Ney | Cover Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Kip Carmichael is no pretty boy.

He's a rough. Dirty. Giant. Hair so unruly, and a beard so thick, his friends on the team call him Sasquatch.

The first time Sasquatch lays eyes on Theodora "Teddy" Johnson across the keg at a party one night on Jock Row, she'd been relegated to the sidelines by her jock hungry "friends."

Week-after-week, he watches beautiful but bashful Teddy getting overshadowed, and overlooked. Sasquatch finally broad shoulders his way through the crowd, offering to to be her hairy godmother. But the minute their eyes meet? He's a goner.

Teaching her the RULES for winning a jock will be the easy part. Not falling in love with her is going to be a losing game.

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Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British. She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Website

Love, Sincerely, Yours by Sara Ney and Meghan Quinn | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 10:54:00 +0000

Love, Sincerely, Yours by Sara Ney and Meghan Quinn
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: October 9, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 273
Source: eARC from Ink Slinger PR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

Dear Mister...**strike out** no, too formal.
Hey there sweet cheeks *strike out* no, too forward.

To whom it may concern,
Full disclosure; before we move forward with this email, I would like it to be known that I have consumed an adequate amount of alcoholic beverages to intoxicate myself tonight. Three margaritas, two shots, and one beer—because it was free.
I think it’s important to be open and honest with your co-workers, don’t you?
So here I am, being honest. Drunk but honest. Or just drunk with lust? You decide.
I like you so much it’s clouding my judgment and making me do things I never would sober. Like write this letter.
I have a hopeless, foolish, schoolgirl crush on you when you are the last person on earth I should be falling for. Did you know people around the office call you a sadist? An egomaniac. An insensitive, arrogant prick. Your bark is worse then your bite, and you don’t scare me. The fact is, I’d love that bite of yours to nip at my bare skin while we’re both wearing nothing but sheets.
For once I want you to look at me as more than one of your employees.
And as long as we're being honest, that navy blue suit you wear? With the crisp white shirt? It really makes me want to loosen your tie and show you who’s boss.
Love,
Sincerely,
Yours.

My Thoughts

When I first saw this book I knew I had to pick it up! Office romances can be hit or miss for me but Love, Sincerely, Yours sounded promising. In this book we are following Peyton who works running the social media for Roam, Inc. Pretty early on she reveals she has a secret crush on her boss and CEO of the company, Rome Blackburn. When she goes out with a few friends she ends up sending Rome an anonymous email with details on how she feels about him.

Oh man!! I was not expecting the slow burn but it was so good! I realized it was going to take about halfway through the book for Rome to realize it was Peyton emailing him and I was worried the romance would feel rushed from that point on. That was not the case. The waiting made that moment right after he found out really intense. Also, it was even better because Rome started noticing Peyton outside of the emails. At this point they had a closer connection than just physical attraction. Although they had this connection and Rome was finally fully aware, they didn't automatically jump into a relationship which I really appreciate.

The pacing of this entire story was amazing! It never felt like anything that happened between Peyton and Rome was happening too fast or slow. I absolutely loved the two characters and the effect they had on each other when they were together. On a bit of a side not the, I was disappointed that one of the subplots wasn't fully developed. Since Rome thinking Peyton betrayed him was a major part of their relationship, I wanted to know who the mole in the company was and if what happened with Peyton was a set up. I had my suspicions but I would have loved a definite answer.

Before starting this book I had already read a couple books by Sara Ney and enjoyed her writing. However, I've never read anything by Meghan Quinn so I wasn't sure what to expect from the two of them. The two authors writing together was magical and I never wanted to put the book down. With the way this book ended I'm guessing these two are planning to collaborate for at least one more book and I can't wait! Love, Sincerely, Yours is on of my new favorites this year and I highly recommend for anyone wants some romance in their life!

Cold Spell by Mia London and Susan Sheehey | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 06:49:00 +0000

Cold Spell (Sweet Escapes #3) by Mia London and Susan Sheehey
Publisher: Amepphire Press
Publication Date: October 3, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 147
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

She can't stand him. He thinks she's never more adorable than when she's angry at him.

Liddy Drake would rather gamble on double black diamond runs than take a chance on love. Escaping dreary San Francisco for a Colorado mountain resort with her besties is just what the doctor ordered. But an injury on the first day lands her in the lap of a loud-mouthed ski instructor who knows exactly how to get under her skin. She doesn't have time to waste on a playboy with a too-easy laugh and gorgeous blue eyes.

Luke Sawyer left New York ten years ago for the ski runs of Colorado, concealing his identity as a Rothchild heir. He'd seen money change too many people, never for good. Scrappy, sassy, and oh-so-sexy Liddy doesn't fall for the mask of his over-the-top charm. He accepts the challenge to show her his true self.

Their chemistry is enough to melt snow-capped mountains, until she finds out the truth. There's no way her humble background could compete with America's royalty. How can he melt the ice around her heart and convince her that Mr. Wrong is actually Mr. Right, who loves her just the way she is?

My Thoughts

Cold Spell is the third and final book in the Sweet Escapes series. As soon as I realized Hot Spell would be following Jordan I was curious to see how Liddy's love story would play out. At the start of this book Liddy had a pretty tough year after going through a break up and getting drugged on their last vacation. This time around the three friends decide to go to a ski resort right before Thanksgiving. Due to an unexpected injury Liddy has to sit out most of the trip and as a result spends a lot of time with Luke.

I was on the fence about Luke for a while. When he was mentioned I had a feeling he would be the love interest. He seemed a bit obnoxious but not in a terrible way. There was a scene pretty early on where Luke accidentally sees Liddy naked. The scene and Luke's actions in them didn't feel right considering the two main characters didn't know each other. While the situation was funny, Luke's actions were inappropriate. I appreciate that Luke immediately called himself out and thought what he did was wrong, however he never apologized to Liddy or at least talked to her about how he crossed a line. After that scene Luke started to grow on me and I felt like he would be a good match for Liddy. They had amazing chemistry and in between their intimate moments they talked!

I have mentioned this in reviews of the previous two books but I absolutely love the friendship between Sam, Jordan, and Liddy. They are always supportive of each other but always call one another out when one isn't thinking clearly. I was sad we didn't get to see them together as much in Cold Spell but I still love them. I was also a little disappointed we didn't get a Sam and Chase wedding. Overall I think this was a satisfying conclusion. If you want to read about an amazing friend group, stunning vacations, and swoon worthy men make sure to check out the Sweet Escapes series.

Blood Highway by Gina Wohlsdorf | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 13:11:00 +0000

Blood Highway by Gina Wohlsdorf
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 320
Source: eARC from Publisher
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

A gripping, surprising, and sexy thriller with a big, pounding heart, Blood Highway takes a seventeen-year-old girl on a brutal journey into adulthood on a road trip that threatens to kill her before she reaches the end.

Rainy Cain, a tough, troubled high school senior, desperately wants to escape the confines of her life in Minneapolis. When her increasingly unstable mother suddenly commits suicide, Rainy thinks she has found her chance. Instead, her father, Sam—who she had always believed died before she was born—escapes from prison and abducts her, taking her on a cross-country trek in pursuit of millions of dollars that he believes her mother had kept from a botched robbery years earlier. On their heels the whole way is a young Minneapolis detective intent on bringing Rainy safely home. It is an odyssey that will test Rainy’s considerable instincts about sanity and madness, and keep readers turning pages till the twisty end.

My Thoughts

ARC provided by Algonquin Books for honest review.

Typically I don't read a lot of thrillers so I never know what to expect when I start one. I was really intrigued after reading the synopsis and was excited to see how the story would play out. Unfortunately, Blood Highway had a bad case of giving away too much of the plot in the description. If so much of the story hadn't been revealed before I even started reading it could've had a stronger impact.

It took me a while to get into this story. The beginning was really confusing and I'm still not completely sure I understood what was going on. We are following 17 year old Rainy as she does her best to deal with the crappy life she's been dealt. It's not clearly stated but it's hinted that her mother might have some type of mental illness. It has gotten so bad it's like Rainey doesn't exist to her mother. She's forced to lie and steal to take care of herself.

I'm not sure if Rainy, or any of the other characters that appeared were meant to be likable. Each were well rounded but they had so many flaws it was hard to feel connected to any of them. I didn't exactly like Rainy but I admired her tenacity, especially when it came to her survival. Throughout the story Rainy made some bad decisions but every step of the way I hoped she would succeed. Also, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about Blaine but I quickly grew to like him. I've never felt so conflicted about a set of character but I was happy Rainy and Blaine were able to be there for each other.

Blood Highway was such a dark, twisted story. It took me a while to wrap my head around some of the things that happened. Some of what happened still makes me feel wrong and violated. There was so much build up throughout the majority of the story and I didn't like the way it ended so suddenly. It left me feeling really unsatisfied with the ending. This was an intriguing and sometimes unsettling story but there was too much that felt missing for me to enjoy it more.

Trigger warnings for abduction, extreme violence, drug use, suicide, child neglect.

Hot Spell by Mia London and Susan Sheehey | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 03:51:00 +0000

Hot Spell (Sweet Escapes #2) by Mia London and Susan Sheehey
Publisher: Amepphire Press
Publication Date: September 5, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 123
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

She never trusted unconditional love. He never believed he'd be worthy.

Almost-Olympian gymnast Jordan Beck has coordinated an emergency vacation getaway in Puerto Vallarta for her broken-hearted bestie. Nightly parties, exotic drinks, and sandy beaches are just what she has in mind for her and her friends. She strives for perfection in everything she does and believes she's found it in the emerald-eyed bartender who doesn't back down from her challenge.

Zac Durant learned early on that life is a gift and he's determined to live his to the fullest. Scuba, surfing, tending bar by the ocean, his abuelita's tamales. He's content--until a Latina beauty struts across his pool patio and orders his best drink. Zac isn't the kind to hook up with the resort guests but Jordan changes his mind.

Zac and Jordan know this sensual interlude in paradise is a vacation fling but when sparks turn to fireworks, they are tempted to believe in something real. The illusion of perfection vanishes and Jordan panics, erecting walls around her cautious heart, sabotaging their chance at happily ever after. It is up to Zac to prove that unconditional love is worth a shot at the gold.

My Thoughts

Hot Spell is the second book in the Sweet Escapes companion series. This book follows Jordan as she finds love when the girls take a vacation in Mexico to help Liddy get over her recent breakup. I was so excited going into this sequel/companion because I had so much fun while reading Dry Spell. Sadly I didn't have that same giddy feeling as I did reading the previous book.

If you've read my review of Dry Spell you'll remember I mentioned being concerned that the length of the book wouldn't leave enough room for the story to fully develop. While I didn't feel like it was a problem in that book I think Hot Spell could've benefited from being longer. There was quite a bit going on in the story and there wasn't enough time for each of these aspects to shine.

With that being said, I still think Hot Spell was an enjoyable read. Just like in Dry Spell my favorite part was the characters. I love the friendship between Sam, Jordan, and Liddy! They are always supportive but are never afraid to call each other out when they believe another is making a mistake. I also fell in love with Zac and his grandmother. This was a quick, fun read and I'm looking forward to seeing how things are rounded out in Cold Spell.

Ten Reasons to Stay by Candace Knoebel | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 10:58:00 +0000

Ten Reasons to Stay (The Risky Hearts Duet #1) by Candace Knoebel
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: August 29, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 238
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

One day a week—Thursdays—my husband and I could do whatever or whomever we pleased.
Protection was non-negotiable.
And no matter what, we had to be home by midnight.

Jack was the one who wanted an open marriage, but we were supposed to keep things simple. No strings. No commitments. It seemed so easy… until it wasn’t.

Devilishly handsome Cole Blackwater was only supposed to be a fling, but everything about him made me feel alive. Wanted. Seen. When I realized he was my husband’s boss, I should have broken things off right then… but I didn’t.

One day a week, I could pretend that I was his and he was mine… until Cole wanted more.

But how could I decide between the man I’d promised to love, honor, and cherish, and the man who tempted me to break every single vow I’d made?

My Thoughts

I never thought the day would come where I would pick up a book centered around an open marriage. It's not something I could ever see myself agreeing to which was why I was so intrigued to see how everything would play out. Let me just start by saying I was not ready for the emotional rollercoaster Ten Reasons to Stay took me on.

For about 80% of this book I was frustrated with Corrine. She allowed herself to get into this situation even when it was not something she wanted. Also, I didn't agree with her way of thinking. Corrine had this idea that she was there to provide for her husband while completely disregarding her own wants and goals. Anytime her husband, Jack, made a suggestion or told her what to do Corrine would go along with it, no questions asked most of the time, in order to please him. This continued until it got to the point where Jack suggested they should have an open marriage. Once again she went along with it because she thought it would make Jack happy.

"Aren't we all searching for sunlight? For that warmth from the brightest touch that lets us finally breath."

Hands down the best part of this whole book was Cole Blackwater! I loved him almost from the very beginning. He came into the picture and showed Corrine exactly how she should be treated. Cole challenged every thought Corrine had of how marriage should be. Like I mentioned before this story had my emotions all over and half of that had to do with Cole. As much as he tried to hide it, Cole was incredibly vulnerable in their agreement. He was always willing to follow Corrine's lead even when he wanted so much more.

Throughout the book I enjoyed being able to see Cole pull Corrine out of the shell she was in and help her realize she deserved more than she was getting. I never thought I would become so invested in a story dealing with a failing marriage where the people in the relationship just tried to patch up the holes instead of actually addressing the problem. The entire situation was messy! This story broke my heart and put the pieces back together. Essentially Ten Reasons to Stay is about finding your worth and never settling. With all that being said, if this author can continue to deliver this level of emotional impact I am looking forward to reading more from her.

The Wedding from Hell Part 3 | Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 10:46:00 +0000

The Wedding from Hell
Part 3: Exclusive Excerpt of Consumed

by J. R. Ward

Available: August 28, 2018

Gallery Books | E-book Original

ISBN: 9781982105389 | Free

The Wedding from Hell, Part 3: Exclusive Excerpt of Consumed is the final part of J.R. Ward’s The Wedding From Hell ebook serialization. Don’t miss this exclusive teaser to her upcoming standalone romantic suspense, CONSUMED (available in October 2, 2018). See why “Consumed takes it to a whole new level” (Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

About the Book:

From the creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series, get ready for a new band of brothers. And a firestorm.

Anne Ashburn is a woman consumed...

By her bitter family legacy, by her scorched career as a firefighter, by her obsession with department bad-boy Danny McGuire, and by a new case that pits her against a fiery killer.

Strong-willed Anne was fearless and loved the thrill of fighting fires, pushing herself to be the best. But when one risky decision at a warehouse blaze changes her life forever, Anne must reinvent not only her job, but her whole self.

Shattered and demoralized, Anne finds her new career as an arson investigator a pale substitute for the adrenaline-fueled life she left behind. She doesn't believe she will ever feel that same all-consuming passion for her job again—until she encounters a string of suspicious fires setting her beloved city ablaze.

Danny McGuire is a premiere fireman, best in the commonwealth, but in the midst of a personal meltdown. Danny is taking risks like never before and seems to have a death wish until he teams up with Anne to find the fire starter. But Danny may be more than a distraction, and as Anne narrows in on her target, the arsonist begins to target her.

About the Author:

J.R. Ward is the author of more than thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than fifteen million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-six different countries around the world. She lives in the South with her family.

Purchase Link: http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Wedding-from-Hell-Part-3-Exclusive-Excerpt-of-Consumed/J-R-Ward/9781982105389

Video from J.R. Ward:

Excerpt:

Harbor Street and Eighteenth Avenue

Old Downtown, New Brunswick, Massachusetts

Box alarm. One-niner-four-seven. Two engines and a ladder from the 499, responding.

Or, put another way, Anne Ashburn’s Friday night date had showed up on time and was taking her to a show. Granted, “on time” was the precise moment she had sat down for a meal at the stationhouse with her crew, and the “show” was a warehouse fire they were going to have to chorus-line for. But if you judged the health of a relationship on its constancy and whether it brought purpose and meaning to your life?

Then this firefighting gig was the best damn partner a woman could ask for.

As Engine Co. 17 turned the corner onto Harbor with siren and lights going, Anne glanced around the shallow seating area of the apparatus. There were four jump seats behind the cab, two forward- facing, two rear-, the pairs separated by an aisle of gear. Emilio “Amy” Chavez and Patrick “Duff” Duffy were on one side. She and Daniel “Dannyboy” Maguire were on the other. Up in front, Deshaun “Doc” Lewis, the engineer, was behind the wheel, and Captain Christopher “Chip” Baker, the incident commander, was shotgun.

Her nickname was “Sister.” Which was what happened when you were the sibling of the great Fire Chief Thomas Ashburn Jr., and the daughter of the revered—falsely as it turned out— Thomas Ashburn, Sr.

Not everybody called her that, though.

She focused on Danny. He was staring out the open window, the cold November wind blowing his black hair back, his exhausted blue eyes focused on nothing. In their bulky turnouts, their knees brushed every time the engine bumped over sewer access panels, potholes, manholes, intersections.

Okay, okay, she wanted to say to fate. I know he’s there. You don’t have to keep reminding me.

The hardheaded bastard was a lot of things, most of which carried terms you couldn’t use around your grandmother, but he knew she hated the “Sister” thing, so to him, she was Ashburn.

He’d also called her Anne—once. Late at night about three weeks ago.

Yes, they had been naked at the time. Oh, God . . . had they finally done that?

“I’m gonna beat you at pong,” he said without looking at her. “Soon as we get back.”

“No chance.” She hated that he knew she’d been staring at him. “All talk, Dannyboy.”

“Fine.” He turned to face her. “I’ll let you win, how about that?”

His smile was slow, knowing, evil. And her temper answered the phone on the first ring.

“The hell you will.” Anne leaned forward. “I won’t play with you if you cheat.”

“Even if it benefits you?”

“That’s not winning.”

“Huh. Well, you’ll have to explain to me the ins and outs of it when we’re back at the house. While I’m beating you.”

Anne shook her head and glared out the open window.

The first tap on her leg she ascribed to a bump in the road.

The second, third, and fourth were obviously—

She looked back at Danny. “Stop it.”

“What?”

“Are you twelve?” As he started to smile, she knew exactly where his mind had gone. “Not inches. Age.”

“I’m pretty sure I peak more like at sixteen.” He lowered his voice. “What do you think?”

Between the sirens and the open windows, no one else could hear them—and Danny never pulled the double entendre if there was a risk of that. But yes, Anne now knew intimately all of his heavily muscled and tattooed anatomy. Granted, it had been only that once.

Then again, unforgettable only had to happen one time.

“I think you’re out of your mind,” she muttered.

And then they were at the scene. The old 1900s-era warehouse was a shell of its former useful self, sixty-five thousand square feet of broken glass panes, rotting beams, and blown-off roof panels. The outer walls were brick, but based on the age, the floors and any room dividers inside were going to be wood. The blaze was in the northeast corner on the second floor, billowing smoke wafting up into the forty-degree night air before being carried away by a southerly wind.

As Anne’s boots hit the ground, she pulled the top half of her turnouts closed. Her ponytail was up high on the back of her head, and she stripped out the band, reorganized the shoulder length, and cranked things tight at her nape. The brown was still streaked with blond from the summer, but she needed to get it trimmed—so all that lightness was on the chopping block.

Of course, if she were a woman “who took care of herself,” she’d get it highlighted through the winter months. Or so her mother liked to tell her. But who the hell had time for that?

“Sister, you sweep the place with Amy for addicts,” Captain Baker commanded. “Stay away from that corner. Danny and Duff, run those lines!”

As Captain Baker continued to bark orders out, she turned away. She had her assignment. Until she completed it, or there was an insurmountable obstacle or change of order, she was required to execute that directive and no other.

“Be safe in there, Ashburn.”

The words were soft and low, meant for her ears alone. And as she glanced over her shoulder, Danny’s Irish eyes were not smiling.

A ripple of premonition made her rub the back of her neck. “Yeah, you, too, Maguire.”

“Piece’a cake. We’ll be back at pong before ten.” They walked away from each other at the same time, Danny going around to the stacks of hoses in the back, her linking up with Chavez…

Liar by Stephanie St. Klaire | ARC Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 11:57:00 +0000

Liar (Faux-Mance #1) by Stephanie St. Klaire
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: August 23, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 190
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PRR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

Fake it until you make it. That was the mantra Cori Dash chanted as she chased a big city dream. The more you tell people you’re on top of the world, the more they believe it – just like they believed the embellished image she sold them with her knock off designer facade. It wasn’t lying if the truth stood somewhere in the middle – and she didn’t get caught.

Dominic Blackthorne owned half of that big city…and a reputation. Rather than dispel rumors or show the world the real Nick, he let his own fake image run free. Until Cori Dash – the only person who told him exactly how it was, even if it stung.

When Cori is faced with her ex-fiance, now engaged to her ex-best friend, it’s game on. In her boldest move yet, she concocts her biggest lie to date by introducing the first handsome stranger that walks by as her new fiancé. Happy to play the part, Nick is already planning the fake wedding of her dreams.

You know what they say about lying – the truth always comes out – and it hurts. Especially when Cori finds out she isn’t the biggest Liar in this game, and she’s been out played.

My Thoughts

Going into Liar I was a little worried. I had read one book by this author and while I liked the idea of that story I didn't really like how it turned out. Fake relationships are one of my favorite tropes in romance novels. That coupled with the rest of the description made this sound like a book I would love which is why I decided to give it a try.

Liar wasn't exactly what I was expecting after reading the synopsis but it had such a strong start. The beginning played out like it would in a movie, from Cori latching on to the first stranger she made eye contact with after running into her ex-fiancé to Cori and Nick pretending to be engaged, and I was loving it. I'm not sure if it was meant to be funny but I even laughed a few times at how childish Cori and her ex-best friend were acting. Even Nick joined in at moments and I thought it was hilarious how messy the entire situation was.

About halfway through this book is when things started falling apart. I didn't know going into this the story was meant to be a novella and not a normal length novel. In this case, the story wasn't as good as it could've been if it had the extra time to truly come alive. The author spent so much time setting up the fake relationship and the very beginning of their arrangement that there wasn't enough time for everything else. Even though they were in a fake relationship there were some missed opportunities to show off some significant moments between the two main characters. Most of the important moments were rushed through or were completely missing for example, their first kiss, them realizing they might have a feelings for each other, and other little moments like that. I had this feeling that I missed out getting to see them connect on the romantic side of their relationship.

While I didn't enjoy feeling like I was being rushed through the second half of the story, by the time we got to that I was already invested in the characters and I didn't care too much. In the end I still wanted Cori and Nick to have their happy ending. If you are considering checking out Liar keep in mind some of the things I mentioned above if they'll have a big impact on your enjoyment while reading. With that being said, I feel like Stephanie St. Klaire is one of those authors whose writing improves with each new book release.

Professor Feelgood by Leisa Rayven | Cover Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Professor Feelgood by Leisa Rayven

September 16th

What's a girl to do when a man who's countless shades of wrong feels oh-so-right?
Ambitious book editor Asha Tate is a hopeless romantic. Despite her mediocre track record with men, she believes in swooning, sighing, and the everlasting love of true soul mates. Sure, sex is okay, but she’s not someone who’s ever been driven by her animal urges.

Until now.

When Asha stumbles upon the scorching hot Instagram feed of someone calling himself Professor Feelgood, she falls in lust for the first time. Not only is she left panting over the professor’s insane body, but his angst-filled poetry about losing his one true love speaks straight to her soul.

Desperately in need of a bestseller for her struggling publishing company, Asha knows the professor’s potential to sell to his millions of loyal followers could be the lifeline her bosses need. However, the ink is barely dry on a book deal before she realizes she’s made a terrible mistake. Sure, the professor is incredibly talented and sexier than any man has a right to be, but the man behind the persona isn’t at all who she pictured. In real life, he’s intense, arrogant and infuriating, and his uncanny ability to rub her the wrong way turns her dream project into a total nightmare.
Knowing that the professor is everything she doesn’t want in a man should help Asha ignore her occasional urges to mount him, but she quickly learns that explosive, unwanted chemistry can make even smart people do stupid things.

Don't miss this sexy new standalone from the international bestselling author of Bad Romeo!

Amazon US: https://goo.gl/UMAViT
iBooks: https://goo.gl/dBbkHZ
B&N: https://goo.gl/Nsv67M
Kobo: https://goo.gl/u395t1
Goodreads: https://goo.gl/QazQbk

Leisa Rayven

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leisarayven?lang=en
Website: https://leisarayven.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8034143.Leisa_Rayven
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Leisa-Rayven/e/B00MDA7RPG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leisarayvenauthor/

The Wedding from Hell Part 2: The Reception | Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 03:24:00 +0000

The Wedding from Hell

Part 2: The Reception

by J. R. Ward

Available: August 7, 2018

Gallery Books | E-book Original

ISBN: 9781982105372 | Free

The Wedding from Hell, Part 2: The Rehearsal Dinner is the exciting second adventure in J.R. Ward’s three-part ebook serialization: The Wedding From Hell. This exclusive prequel to her upcoming standalone suspense, Consumed (available in Fall 2018) takes us back to the night steamy arson investigator Anne Ashburn and ‘bad boy’ firefighter Danny Maguire will never forget.

About the Book:
The Wedding From Hell, Part 2: The Reception: As the wedding from hell continues, Anne and Danny find themselves walking the delicate balance between professional distance and explosive attraction. Will the desire they feel last through the night and change their lives? Or are they doomed to part after one night of passion?

About the Author:
J.R. Ward is the author of more than thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than fifteen million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-six different countries around the world. She lives in the South with her family.

Purchase Link: http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Wedding-from-Hell-Part-2-The-Reception/J-R-Ward/9781982105372

Video from J.R. Ward:

Excerpt:

Saturday, October 31
T minus 2 hours ’til blastoff
St. Mary’s Cathedral, New Brunswick, Massachusetts

Anne Ashburn had never had veil envy, as they called it. As a young girl, she had never pictured herself walking down an aisle in a white dress, ready to be rescued by a knight-in-shining-armor groom who was going to take charge and take care of her for the rest of her life.
Nope. Anne had wanted to fight fires like her father and then her brother. Even though she no longer respected the former, and had a strained relationship with the latter, she’d wanted to pull on turnouts and strap an air tank to her back and breathe canned air as she ran into open flames dragging hundreds of pounds of charged line with her. She’d wanted to rescue grandmothers, and children, and people who had succumbed to smoke inhalation. She’d been ready to cut open crumpled cars and drag broken bodies out of wreckage at the sides of highways. She’d been determined that the extremes of cold winter nights, hot summer days, physical exhaustion, and mental fatigue would never keep her from doing her job.
So, yup, the old fashioned Mrs. degree had never held any fascination for her. There was no way in hell she was going to be like her mother, living a derivative, nineteen-fifties version of life, nothing but a pretty blow-up doll that was expected to cook, clean, and cut the yapping.
On that note, as she pulled into St. Mary’s parking lot and looked up at the great cathedral’s stained glass windows and lofty spires, she decided it made sense that not only was she not the bride, she wasn’t even a bridesmaid.
Like the rest of the crew down at the 499 firehouse, she was a groomsmen in the impending nuptials of Robert “Moose” Miller and Deandra—what the hell was her last name anyway? Cox. That was it.
Anne was thinking groomsmen was a role she might as well get used to. Not that Duff, Emilio, Deshaun, or any of the other men she worked with were settling down anytime soon.
Especially not Dannyboy Maguire.
Right on cue, a Ford truck entered the parking lot, the late afternoon sun flashing across its windshield.
As Anne’s heart kicked in her chest, she was tempted to hustle in the side door of the church—but she had never been one to run from a challenge.
Danny was more than just a challenge, though.
And okay, fine. So maybe she had already run out of his way at least once: Last night, at the rehearsal dinner, she’d positively bolted after he’d made that speech of his.
I never believed in love . . . I thought it was just a word, a title folks gave to daydreams and misconceptions about destiny, a lie folks told to themselves to make them feel solid in this imperfect, unreliable, and mean-ass world.
Now I know it can happen between two people. And it doesn’t have to make sense because it’s not about logic. And it doesn’t have to have good timing because forever is like infinity, without beginning or end. And it doesn’t have to be defined because truth is like faith—it just is.
So, let’s toast to love.
He’d looked at her while he’d spoken. He had been talking . . . to her . . . in that slow, deep voice.
Everybody else had toasted Moose and Deandra. But Anne had known it hadn’t been about them. Danny, ever the ladies man, king of the one-night stand, he who shalt never be tied down . . . seemed to be suggesting not just that he’d had a change of heart.
But that he might have given his own to Anne.
Unless she was misreading everything? Then again, they had kissed the night before that. In her living room. While riding an adrenaline high after they’d saved a life in an alleyway.
And lips-to-lips had been better than good, the rare circumstance when reality had improved on a fantasy. After two years of attraction and sizzle and unacknowledged heat, that which had been pushed under the rug was exposed now. And there was no going back.
Especially as she felt the same way.
So hell yeah she had bolted out of that restaurant. The second she had been able to get up from her chair, she had hit the exit and left Danny without a ride home.
He’d called two hours later. He’d been in a bar, probably
Timeout where the crew always went, the noise in the background loud and raucous.
She had not answered. He had left a short message, but not called again.
Anne just wasn’t sure what to do. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. There were plenty of things she wanted to do to him, with him, on him—all of which were naked and erotic and not necessarily only horizontal.
Refocusing, she watched Danny’s truck pass by. From behind the wheel, he looked over at her.
She waited for him to find a space and get out, and as he walked across to her, she tried—tried—not to go sixteen-year-old girl at the sight of him in a tuxedo.
#epicfail
He was very tall, over six feet five, and he was built hard and muscular, his shoulders so wide, his chest so broad, his waist the point of the inverted triangle of his torso. His jet-black hair was still damp, and what sunlight there was in the mostly cloudy sky flashed blue in its depths. He was freshly shaven—his cologne reaching her nose even before he stopped in front of her—and his eyes were that brilliant blue that had always arrested her. Irish eyes.
But they were not smiling.
For a man who was rarely serious, he looked positively grim, and she frowned.
“You okay?” Stupid question. “I mean—”
“Yeah, no. I’m fine.”
Standard answer for firefighters when they were in pain. And she wondered if it had to do with that speech of his, and what she could have sworn he had been telling her.
His eyes shifted off to the side and then his mouth got thinner.
“And here’s the blushing bride.”
A stretch limo entered the parking area and made a fat turn toward the back door of the cathedral. When it stopped, its driver got out and went to the rear door.
Seven all-in-pink, spray-tanned, body-glittered, and blond-streaked women got out one by one, a clown car of bridesmaids who were such carbon copies of each other, it was like they had been ordered out of a catalogue.
And then the white dress emerged.
Deandra, Moose’s intended, had her blond-streaked hair—natch—piled up on her head in an organized, sculpted waterfall of curls. Her veil was a gossamer fall over her tiny waist and her big skirt, and the shimmer of crystals across the bodice and down the front and sides of the gown made her look like a princess.
Provided you didn’t catch her expression.
She was sour as an old woman with gout and shingles. In spite of the fact that she was supposedly marrying her true love, she looked downright nasty as she snapped at the driver, glared at her maid of honor, and yanked her skirting up to march into the back of the church.
“Wow,” Anne muttered. “That’s a happy bride.”
“Whatever. They’re on their own with this dumbass idea.”
“Did you happen to talk to Moose last night?” she blurted.
“As in out of this? Or would that be considered tacky given it was less than twenty-four hours before the priest hit the altar with them.”
Danny rolled his eyes. “He’s bound and determined to ball-and-chain himself. Personally, I’d be running in the opposite direction.”
And then there was silence between them. Tension coiled up quick, and as Anne’s temples started to pound, she decided it was going to be a long night, just not for the reasons she’d assumed at the beginning of the weekend.

Dry Spell by Mia London and Susan Sheehey | ARC Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:13:00 +0000

Dry Spell (Sweet Escapes #1) by Mia London and Susan Sheehey
Publisher: Amepphire Press
Publication: August 1, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 187
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

Samantha Callahan fights hard to succeed in a man’s world. At the top of her game with a promotion nearly in her grasp, nothing can stand in her way, not even greedy competitors or a crashed laptop. So, an overdue and well-deserved vacation to the beach with the girls shouldn’t put her on edge. But perhaps Sam’s head has been down in the trenches for so long, she’s forgotten how to enjoy life.

Chase Bradshaw is the classic hottie next door—a nice man who happens to surf as well as he sizzles in the bedroom. He ditched corporate America for the stress-free salt life, and to follow his dreams. When Sam walks onto his beach, he can practically see the uptight personality oozing from her pores. The woman looks like she could use something other than work to keep her up at night.

Lucky for her, Chase is just the man to coax the conservative right out of her.

My Thoughts

Dry Spell was a pleasant surprise for me. Usually I try to go into a book feeling neutral however I was a little concerned when I realized this book was listed as only being 187 pages. I worried that since there wasn't a lot of time work through a story line everything would feel rushed. Once I started reading I grew even more concerned after seeing that the story was told in third person POV. I'll be the first to admit sometimes I find it hard for me to get into stories told in third person and I really don't like it in romance novels. As you can see from my rating none of those things were an issue when it came to this story.

The POV did take me a little time to adjust to but what I love was that it didn't keep me from connecting with the characters. I acknowledge that this story took place over a short amount of time, and there were moments I felt the main characters were moving fast, but I never questioned their feelings for each other. The authors made me believe anything is possible with the right person. One of my favorite parts about Chase and Sam's relationship was that they were able to have an emotional connection in between the steamy bits. Those moments helped make me feel like their feelings were more than surface level. I also really loved Sam's friends and the relationship between them.

I've never read anything by Mia London or Susan Sheehey so I have no personal experience with their writing. In this story they managed to come together and blend their writing seamlessly. With less than 200 pages they we're able to make me fall in love with the characters and experience each emotion right along with them. Without a doubt I will be continuing the series. I definitely recommend supporting Mia and Susan by picking up Dry Spell!

Love Sincerely Yours by Sara Ney and Meghan Quinn | Cover Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 17:09:00 +0000

A sexy, smart, and heart-swooning romance about a girl who has nothing to lose when it comes to flirting with her boss.

This seductive contemporary romance from bestselling authors Meghan Quinn and Sara Ney will keep you on the edge of your seat as you fall in love with the first novel from this dynamic duo releasing October 9th!

Dear Mister...**strike out** no, too formal.

Hey there sweet cheeks *strike out* no, too forward.

To whom it may concern,

Full disclosure; before we move forward with this email, I would like it to be known that I have consumed an adequate amount of alcoholic beverages to intoxicate myself tonight. Three margaritas, two shots, and one beer—because it was free.

I think it’s important to be open and honest with your co-workers, don’t you?

So here I am, being honest. Drunk but honest. Or just drunk with lust? You decide.

I like you so much it’s clouding my judgment and making me do things I never would sober. Like write this letter.

I have a hopeless, foolish, schoolgirl crush on you when you are the last person on earth I should be falling for. Did you know people around the office call you a sadist? An egomaniac. An insensitive, arrogant prick. Your bark is worse then your bite, and you don’t scare me. The fact is, I’d love that bite of yours to nip at my bare skin while we’re both wearing nothing but sheets.

For once I want you to look at me as more than one of your employees.

And as long as we're being honest, that navy blue suit you wear? With the crisp white shirt? It really makes me want to loosen your tie and show you who’s boss.

Love,

Sincerely,

Yours.

ADD TO GOODREADS

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Website

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

The Wedding From Hell by J. R. Ward | Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 05:19:00 +0000

The Wedding from Hell
Part 1: The Rehearsal Dinner

by J. R. Ward

Available: July 17, 2018

Gallery Books | E-book Original

ISBN: 9781982105365 | Free

Don’t miss #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward’s three-part ebook serialization: The Wedding From Hell. This exclusive prequel to her upcoming standalone suspense Consumed (available in Fall 2018) takes us back to where it all started between arson investigator Anne Ashburn and ‘bad boy’ firefighter Danny Maguire. The Wedding From Hell is a sexy standalone novella that sets up Consumed’s storyline, leaving fans hungry for more and dying to snatch it up.

About the Book:

It’s a classic recipe for disaster: Take one bridesmaid who thinks pink is the root of all evil, mix with a best man who’s hotter than a four-alarm fire, add in their explosive sexual attraction, a nightmare bridezilla, two cat fights, and an emergency call, and you have the wedding from hell.

Experience the sizzling start of Anne and Danny’s intense relationship. Is this the start of something good...or just an erotic one-night stand that rocks their world, but must never be repeated?

About the Author:

Purchase Link: http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Wedding-from-Hell-Part-1-The-Rehearsal-Dinner/J-R-Ward/9781982105365

Video from J.R. Ward:

Excerpt:

Thursday, October 29

T minus 48 hours ’til blastoff

College Row, New Brunswick, Massachusetts

Because womenare not frickin’ groomsmen! That’s why she can’t be in the goddamn wedding!”

As Anne Ashburn walked in the back door of the shotgun apartment, that happy little explosion was not only what she’d expected all along, it also offered her the out she’d been praying for. And it was probably the one and only time she was ever going to agree with the bride.

Not about the role of females in bridal parties, but that Anne wasn’t going to be in the “goddamn wedding.”

Everyone standing in the kitchen turned and looked at her: Deandra Cox, the impending wearer of the white dress; Robert “Moose” Miller, her exhausted fiancé and Anne’s fellow crew member down at the 499 fi rehouse; and . . . Dannyboy Maguire.

Who was the only one she really noticed and, for that reason, the person she refused to look at.

Too bad Danny always made an impression. Like most firefighters, he was in great physical shape, his big body thickly muscled and ready to snap into motion in an instant. With his heavy arms linked over that chest and his long legs crossed at the boots, he was leaning back against the chipped countertop, his too-blue stare missing nothing. He was fresh from a shower, his glossy black hair wet, and Anne tried not to picture him naked under the spray, his tattooed torso arching as he rinsed the shampoo out of his—

She put her hands up to stop herself as much as the argument. “Look, I don’t want to cause any problems. I’m happy to step aside—”

“And now I have one too many bridesmaids.” The bride-to-be refocused on her intended. “My count is wrong. You wait until two days before the wedding to tell me this when you know I’m not going to like it, and now my count is off!”

As the groom focused on the linoleum floor, it was impossible not to picture a wax version of the couple on a multi-tiered cake: Deandra in skinny jeans and that tight cashmere sweater, her dark hair streaked blond, her body cocked forward like she was going to throat-punch the man she was going to marry; Moose in his New Brunswick Fire Department T-shirt, all broad-shouldered and bearded around the face, easing back like someone with the flu was about to sneeze in his face.

Ah, true love.

“I didn’t think it was a big deal,” Moose muttered. “Anne’s a member of the four-nine-nine crew, and everyone else is with me.”

“She’s a girl.” Deandra pointed at Anne. “It throws off everything.”

“I really don’t want to cause any problems.” Anne put her hands up again. “So I’ll just be in the congregation. It’s perfectly fine—”

Deandra’s glare swung Anne’s way. “The count is still wrong. And my friends have already paid for their dresses. They were a hundred and twenty dollars apiece.”

And that’s my cue to go, Anne thought. Moose may have volunteered for this, but no one else had or needed to—

“I think women can be whatever they want.”

As Danny spoke up, everyone looked at him—including Anne, who suddenly felt shades of what Deandra was throwing out.

Don’t you dare, she mouthed at him behind the bride’s back.

Danny just shrugged like he’d thrown on a pantsuit and was channeling Oprah, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton all at once. “I mean, Deandra, you’re above all that sexism, aren’t you? No one’s going to tell you what’s right and wrong for your own wedding. You’re more secure than that.”

I am going to kill you, Anne vowed. “I think Deandra wants things done properly for her only wedding.”

Danny frowned in pseudo-confusion. “So you’re saying it’s okay to have a double standard for men and women? That’s a shocker given how you are at the station. I thought you believed in equality.”

“I do,” Anne snapped. “But this isn’t about equality.”

“You sure? I don’t know how you can support traditional gender roles when it comes to a wedding ceremony at the same time you defend the right for women to be firefighters, cops, and on the front lines in the military.”

“Spare me someone who’s never been in a dress having an opinion about women’s issues, okay?”

“I’m just pointing out that you don’t want women out of dresses.”

“It’s her wedding.” Anne jabbed a finger at Deandra. “She’s the bride. She gets to say what’s right and wrong for her, and she does not need some man telling her what to do.”

“Even if I’m defending the rights of women?”

“Until you grow a set of ovaries, you can shut the hell up about our rights!”

As Anne’s voice ricocheted around the kitchen, she realized that she’d marched right up to Danny—and that Deandra and Moose were watching the two of them in total stillness.

She cleared her throat and took a step back. “Anyway, Deandra’s made up her mind. And I support her decision.”

Deandra’s eyes narrowed on Danny, and something about the way the woman looked at him didn’t seem right.

“Actually,” the bride said, “maybe she should be in the wedding party.”

Anne prayed her expression stayed neutral. “Don’t compromise your vision on my account.”

“I won’t.” The woman stared at Danny. “Fine. Let’s put her in a tuxedo like the rest of the men. She can walk my sister down the aisle, just like a man should. Her shoulders are too big for a gown, anyway, and that way my count stays the way it should.”

Anne rolled her eyes. Let’s hear it for girl power.

“So it’s settled,” Deandra said with a tight smile. “You need a tux. Unless you already own one.”

For a moment, Anne waited for somebody to argue with the woman. Like Moose. But he was clearly done falling on swords over the wedding details, and Danny had just gotten what he wanted so he wasn’t going to say a damn thing.

And the truth was, after how many years of fighting fires with these men, they were her brothers in all but blood. Even though she thought Moose had lost his ever-loving mind marrying this beautiful but sour woman after knowing her for a matter of months, Anne was still going to stand up for the guy if he wanted her to—and he did. He’d asked her down at the stationhouse specifically.

“Where did you guys rent your suits?” Anne said to him.

“Tuxedoes,” Deandra corrected.

The groom blinked like he’d forgotten how to speak English. Then again, he’d been doing that a lot at the firehouse lately. “You’re actually going to wear one?”

“What the hell do I care?”

“Yes, she is wearing one,” Deandra cut in.

Danny spoke up. “I’ll go with you. I know where the place is.”

DILF DIARIES: Oh Baby by Stephanie St. Klaire | Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 09:55:00 +0000

Today we are taking part in the blog tour for DILF DIARIES: OH BABY by Stephanie St. Klaire! This book kicks off a brand new series that you cannot miss! Enter the giveaway below to win a surprise book box, including a Kindle!

Sign up for Stephanie's newsletter for exclusive news and details about the series.

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DILF DIARIES: OH BABY by Stephanie St. Klaire

Available Now

Synopsis:

He likes to find them hot, and leave them wet…

Women are setting their lawns on fire and sticking cats in trees all so they can dial 911 and get a glimpse of Jack Decker’s…hose. When a firefighter looks like he does, it’s no wonder panties are melting, and hearts are ablaze all over the city because he is H-O-T…hot! Jack might put out fires like a regular hero, but it doesn’t stop him from heating up the sheets and letting them smolder.

In a burning twist of fate, Jack finds himself up all night long for an entirely new reason, a reason that’s anything but smoldering. That is until the feisty firecracker next door threatens to ignite a fire he doesn’t know how to battle…Oh Baby!

----------------------------

For a few more days only, enter the RELEASE GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a surprise book box filled with goodies -- including a Kindle!

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Stephanie St. Klaire is a Pacific Northwest native currently living in Portland, Oregon with her husband, five children, and two ferocious lap dogs that are used to the finer things in life like sleeping all day. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found with a plate full of taco’s, a side of bean dip, and probably some gummy bears while being a little bit hippy and a lot bit busy mom’ing and wife’ing.

When she’s not tossing around gritty crime show inspired serial killers and diabolical bad guys, she likes to make people pee their pants a little with a good romcom. Sometimes, her worlds collide, and she writes really funny stuff right before she kills people off on the pages! She loves murder and mayhem as much as a good laugh and HEA! That’s why she’s a die-hard Hallmark junky but loves her gritty crime shows – balance!

Stephanie has always been a story teller, with the gift of “gab”, and a life-long goal to be a writer. Unfortunate circumstances with her health, finally afforded her the time to do so. Irony at its best, she began writing her first novel at an adverse time, to escape her circumstance and explore the stories in her imagination for relief. She is happy to share those stories with her readers, and bring a little fun, entertainment, and of course smexy characters to the pages.

Follow Stephanie St. Klaire on Social media to learn more about her, how often she really eats taco’s, and to keep up with her work.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Favorite Bookish Merch (ft Literary Book Gifts)

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 14:56:00 +0000

If you are a book lover part of the online bookish community you are also likely a fan of all kinds of bookish merch. I was inspired by Literary Book Gifts to talk about some of my favorites. Literary Book Gifts is a small bookish company that specializes in offering merchandise centered around some favorite classics. Their designs are offered on t-shirts, backpacks, and totes bags. The owner of the shop offered 20% off to my readers using the code BRANDIJANEESBOOKSHELF20. I don't receive anything from this code so feel free to use it as much as you'd like.

Now let's talk about some of my favorite merch.

1. Candles

Out of all the bookish merch I have, candles/wax melts are probably my favorite. Every book that I remember reading has mentioned the scent of a person, the surroundings, sometimes even the food. Candles and wax melts bring that aspect of the story to life and add to the whole reading experience. Some of my favorites are from Wick & Fable, Flickering Tales, and Paperly & Co. There are also a ton of other shops I haven't tried yet. I love bookish candles so much that I've been considering opening my own shop.

2. Book Sleeves

This a relatively new type of merch I have been loving lately. Not only do they look gorgeous but they are useful since they protect your books while on the go. Most of the book sleeves I own aren't based on any specific fandom but I do have a few custom ones themed after certain stories.

3. Pillows/Home Items

Another one of my favorite types of bookish merch is home items, especially pillows/pillow cases. The book community is lucky to have so many talented artists. Over the years I have seen some of these artists produce some of the most beautifully designed pillows and the best part is they include quotes from some of my favorite books/stories.

4. Bookmarks

This one might be a little obvious but I still love them. Like with the home items, many artists have created unique bookmarks that feature quotes from different books. Besides the designs I have also seen so many different types. Magnetic, woodmarks, water colors, hand lettering, and even foiled bookmarks are some of the different ones I have seen.

These are only some of the bookish merch I have collected over the years. Let me know what your favorites are! Also, don't forget to check out Literary Book Gifts and use my code BRANDIJANEESBOOKSHELF20 if you decide to purchase anything.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 01:04:00 +0000

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 370
Source: Purchased (Owl Crate + Fairy Loot)
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

GUARD YOUR MORTAL HEART.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him—and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

My Thoughts

The Cruel Prince was one of those books that was extremely hyped even before it released. After it's release more people talked about it and mostly everyone had only amazing things to say. I'll admit that most of the reason I put it off for so long was because of this. I didn't want to be too excited when I started reading because I knew if I did I would be even more disappointed if I didn't enjoy it. Anyway back to the actual review.

The Cruel Prince takes place in a world where the fae world is right alongside the human world. The story focuses on Jude after she's taken to the fae world with her sisters after their mother is killed by her ex-husband and her older sister's father. We follow Jude 10 years later as she tries to make a way for herself in this world she has been forced to live in.

I wasn't completely enamored by the story. I found it interesting and enjoyed seeing Jude become entangled in the politics of the fae. However, there wasn't a lot that happened throughout the majority of this book. So much time was spent watching Jude get bullied by the high fae in school and led around by those in power. It also didn't help that the further along the story went the more her relationship deteriorated with her twin over silly things (in my opinion).

The ending was what saved this story from being just an okay read for me. From the scene where the crown is supposed to be passed to the next king until the end I was completely invested in what was going to happen. Even though I guessed where parts of the story were headed, I was still shocked by some of the twists. The very last scene had me feeling so many emotions and I need the sequel now! While The Cruel Prince wasn't my favorite book it was a good set up for the rest of the series. I can't was it to see what Holly Black has planned for The Wicked King.

Atlas Fallen by Jessica Pierce | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 03:46:00 +0000

Atlas Fallen (Cyber Crown #1) by Jessica Pierce
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
Pages: 368
Source: eARC from Author + Purchased
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

One space station.
One throne.
And the girl who holds the key.

Tesla Petrov, daughter of an infamous traitor, no longer lives a life of promise in the Atlas space station's elite flight training program. Stripped of her military rank and banished to the slums, she now scrapes out a brutal existence competing in illegal robot fights for Minko, ruthless leader of the Red Ashes crime syndicate. But when a wrong move costs her a fight--and a fortune--for the crime lord, Tesla knows her days aboard the Atlas are numbered.

Daxton Larose isn't just visiting the station to celebrate the Centennial of the Crown--he's hunting a terrorist threatening to end a century of peace on Earth. To do so, he'll need someone who knows the station. Someone willing to strike a deal at any cost.

Someone like Tesla.

But as the hunt for the terrorist uncovers secrets from both their pasts, Tesla and Daxton realize that nothing, and no one, is what it seems.

My Thoughts

I was not at all prepared for Atlas Fallen when I first started reading. This was one of the last books I picked up in May and after having reading quite a bit the rest of the month I wasn't really in the mood to read. It took me a little bit to get invested in the story and characters but once I did I was hooked.

This story opens following Tesla going to meet with one of the gang leaders on the lower levels of the Atlas, the space station that she's living on. From the synopsis we know Tesla is struggling after her father was branded a traitor. In the midst of everyday life and participating illegal bot fights Tesla is trying to find proof that her father wasn't a traitor. When she receives an opportunity to go to the upper levels of the Atlas she can't pass it up.

On the other hand Daxton has his own goals when he came aboard the Atlas Fallen. After meeting, Daxton gets Tesla to help him in exchange for something she wants.

Atlas Fallen is different from what I typically think of when it comes to science fiction. However I still found it easy to understand and believable, which is always a good thing. This book was really action packed and had me on the edge of my seat several times while trying to figure out how the characters would get out of the current situation.

One thing that can always take the story to the next level for me is the characters. Without realizing it I fell in love with the main characters and the people close to them. Tesla is one of my favorite types of characters. At the start of the story she has a realistic outlook on her life but I felt like she was still naive to some things. Throughout Atlas Fallen she went on a journey of self discovery while learning a lot more about what's going with everything and everyone around her. By the end she's in a completely different space than she was at the begging but she still has a long way to go. I can't wait to see the rest of Tesla's journey throughout this series.

There were parts of this story I found predictable but there were so many parts I didn't see coming. If you are looking for an action packed science fiction novel pick up Atlas Fallen! This book was exciting and had my emotions all over the place in the best way. I can't wait to see the direction the author takes in the next part of the series.

Thank you to the author for gifting me an early copy.

Wild Card by Lila Monroe | ARC Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:16:00 +0000

Wild Card (Billionaire Bachelors #2) by Lila Monroe
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: June 11, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 213
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

Is there anything worse than playing maid-of-honor to your bitchy college nemesis? Try it when she’s marrying your DAD! Olivia Chambers doesn’t know what she’s done to deserve this karmic retribution, but she needs a date to the wedding from hell - and fast. She’s used to matchmaking billionaires, but now she needs a Prince Charming of her own. Someone handsome and famous enough to make bridezilla and her minions drool with envy…

Someone like hottie ex-NFL star Ryan Callahan.

Ryan is looking for love. Well, the fake kind. He needs the perfect woman on his arm to woo investors for his superstar new business venture, but nobody is scoring that touchdown… until elegant, sophisticated Olivia comes to him with a proposition. She’ll play his perfect date - if he’ll play hers.

The deal is simple! Or is it? Take one week in the Florida Keys, a dose of sizzling sexual tension, a madcap wedding, and some seriously humid frizzy hair, and Ryan and Olivia have the recipe for disaster… or maybe the time of their lives.

But can Olivia let down her guard long enough to let Ryan sweep her off her feet? And will Ryan take his eyes off the (business) prize long enough to see what’s right in front of him?

My Thoughts

Where do I even begin with my thoughts on this book. I have read the previous two books in this series so I knew the basics to expect when it came to the story. What was a little different about this one person who set up the arrangements in the previous books was the one in the spotlight this time around.

It was interesting seeing the dynamics of Olivia's business behind the scenes. It's not something most people would think about and when they do they probably misunderstand the purpose of what she is trying to do. There is a so much that goes into what she does and I really appreciated how dedicated she was to finding the perfect person to complete each job.

One of my favorite things about this book was seeing Olivia on the other end of the type of arrangements she usually sets up for her clients. There are strict rules set up in each contract so there is a clear understanding that everything is supposed to remain professional and the arrangement isn't meant to be for romantic compatibility. As much as she initially tries to fight it Olivia begins falling for the guy that she has come to an agreement with. IN the midst of that she also has to deal with her father's new fiancee who happens to be her old college roommate.

I know this wasn't meant to be a huge part of the story but I wanted to know why Vanessa kept acting the way she did towards Olivia. I never understood why there was so much animosity there. Also I didn't like that Olivia's father didn't notice how Vanessa acted towards her and if he did notice I didn't like that he never addressed it.

I'll admit I didn't feel as connected to Olivia and Ryan as I would've liked to. I did still enjoy seeing their relationship throughout the story. They both had preconceived notions about each other and it was nice seeing them get to know each other and realize the other wasn't how they thought he/she was. If you are looking for a quick romance with lots of humor and some drama thrown in, check out the Billionaire Bachelors series.

Thank you to InkSlinger PR for sending me an early copy for my honest thoughts.

Whisper by Lynette Noni | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 10:26:00 +0000

Whisper by Lynette Noni
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, SciFi, Paranormal
Pages: 317
Source: eARC from Edelweiss + Purchased
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

“Lengard is a secret government facility for extraordinary people,” they told me.

I believed them. That was my mistake.

There isn’t anyone else in the world like me.

I’m different. I’m an anomaly. I’m a monster.

For two years, six months, fourteen days, eleven hours and sixteen minutes, Subject Six-Eight-Four — ‘Jane Doe’ — has been locked away and experimented on, without uttering a single word.

As Jane’s resolve begins to crack under the influence of her new — and unexpectedly kind — evaluator, she uncovers the truth about Lengard’s mysterious ‘program’, discovering that her own secret is at the heart of a sinister plot … and one wrong move, one wrong word, could change the world.

My Thoughts

I have been wanting to read something from Lynette Noni for years so when I received the opportunity to review this book I knew I couldn't pass it up. Whisper follows Jane Doe, also known as Subject 684. For the last two and a half years she has been held in a secret government facility where she has been tested on. Through it all Jane has refused to talk. Things start to change for her when she is assigned a new evaluator and given a month to prove her worth.

It's a little mysterious by from the beginning it's hinted at that Jane has some type of power. As the story progresses we learn that her powers express through speech and because of something in herr past she has basically vowed to never speak again. Whisper wasn't my favorite read but I still thought it was enjoyable.

The story mainly takes place inside Jane's head which had both positive and negative effects on my enjoyment while reading. It was strange being inside Jane's thoughts because most of the time it felt like she was talking directly to me. I'm not sure how many people think as if they're having a conversation with someone and that brought me out of the story sometimes. On a slightly different note I though Jane was too accenting. For the past 2.5 years she has been held hostage and tortured at times and she automatically accepted what was told to her by the people in charge. It might have worked if she had grown up in this situation and didn't know anything different but since this has only been her life for such a short amount of time I didn't find it believable.

I felt like the author relied heavily on tropes that have typically been used in this genre of books. With all that being said, I did still enjoy the story. Whisper reminded me a lot of one of the later books in the Lux series by Jennifer L. Arrmentrout. If you've read it then I'm sure you will recognize the similarities. I was hooked into the story by the end. I have so many questions that I need answered and I can't wait to see what direction Lynette Noni takes the next part of this story.

DILF Diaries: Oh Baby by Stephanie St. Klaire | Cover Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:26:00 +0000

Today we are sharing the cover reveal of DILF DIARIES: OH BABY by Stephanie St. Klaire! This book kicks off a brand new series that you cannot miss! It is available for pre-order for just .99 cents and will release on July 12th! Enter the giveaway below to win a surprise book box, including a Kindle!

Sign up for Stephanie's newsletter for exclusive news and details about the series.

-------------

Pre-order Now for just .99 cents on

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Barnes & Noble (coming soon!)

DILF DIARIES: OH BABY by Stephanie St. Klaire

Coming July 12

Synopsis:

He likes to find them hot, and leave them wet…

Women are setting their lawns on fire and sticking cats in trees all so they can dial 911 and get a glimpse of Jack Decker’s…hose. When a firefighter looks like he does, it’s no wonder panties are melting, and hearts are ablaze all over the city because he is H-O-T…hot! Jack might put out fires like a regular hero, but it doesn’t stop him from heating up the sheets and letting them smolder.

In a burning twist of fate, Jack finds himself up all night long for an entirely new reason, a reason that’s anything but smoldering. That is until the feisty firecracker next door threatens to ignite a fire he doesn’t know how to battle…Oh Baby!

----------------------------

Enter the PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a surprise book box filled with goodies -- including a Kindle!

GO HERE TO ENTER

Pre-order Now for just .99 cents on

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Barnes & Noble (coming soon!)

---------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Stephanie St. Klaire debuted in 2016, launching her writing career with Rescued, the first book in the widely popular, five book series known as McKenzie Ridge. Stephanie is a Pacific Northwest native currently living in Oregon with her husband, five children, and two ferocious lap dogs. As a writer, Stephanie brings realistic circumstances to the pages, and fills them with real emotion, reactions, and outcomes. Her characters are passionate, have bold personalities, and full of life. She writes happily ever after’s, with plenty of twists, turns, drama, and of course, steamy romance. Stephanie has always been a story teller, with the gift of “gab”, and a life-long goal to be a writer. Unfortunate circumstances with her health, finally afforded her the time to do so. Irony at its best, she began writing her first novel at an adverse time, to escape her circumstance and explore the stories in her imagination for relief. She is happy to share those stories with her readers, and bring a little fun, entertainment, and of course smexy characters to the pages. Follow Stephanie St. Klaire on Social media to learn more about her, and to keep up with her work.

AUTHOR LINKS:

I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting | ARC Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Tue, 29 May 2018 07:59:00 +0000

I Flipping Love You (Shacking Up #3) by Helena Hunting
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: May 29, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 320
Source: eARC from Publisher
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

A new kind of love story about flipping houses, taking risks, and landing that special someone who’s move-in ready…

SHE’S GOT CURB APPEAL

Rian Sutter grew up with the finer things in life. Spending summers in The Hamptons was a normal occurrence for her until her parents lost everything years ago. Now Rian and her sister are getting their life, and finances, back on track through real estate. Not only do they buy and sell houses to the rich and famous, but they finally have the capital to flip their very own beachfront property. But when she inadvertently catches the attention of a sexy stranger who snaps up every house from under her, all bets are off…

HE’S A FIXER UPPER

Pierce Whitfield doesn’t normally demo kitchens, install dry wall, or tear apart a beautiful woman’s dreams. He’s just a down-on-his-luck lawyer who needed a break from the city and agreed to help his brother work on a few homes in the Hamptons. When he first meets Rian, the attraction is undeniable. But when they start competing for the same pieces of prime real estate, the early sparks turn into full-blown fireworks. Can these passionate rivals turn up the heat on their budding romance — without burning down the house?

I FLIPPING LOVE YOU, set in the Shacking Up world, follows two people, both working in real estate, who find themselves vying for the same properties in the Hamptons, leading to a sometimes-not-so-friendly competition.

My Thoughts

I Flipping Love You is the third book in the Shacking Up companion series. I wasn't expecting another book in this series so I was really excited when I fount out it would be part of it. I Flipping Love You follows Rian and Pierce (whose sister Amalie was the main character in Hooking Up which I loved!!). The two end up meeting when Pierce mistakes Rian for her twin. After their first encounter they continue to run into each other.

I thought this story following Pierce and Rian was adorable. At the beginning they are both pretty guarded because of past experiences but Pierce is a lot more open to the possibility of something happening. On the other hand Rian has been closed off for so long and she only allows herself to fully open up to her sister since it has been just the two of them for so long. As she starts to accept that she might want more than a casual fling with Pierce she allows him to see more of her and where she came from. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationship throughout the story.

Since I've read and reviewed Hooking Up I have gone back and read Shacking Up. After having read all three now there were some things that stood out and made me a little disappointed in this one when compared with the other two. There were times when I found it hard to keep track of the passing time. Several times in the book one line would be talking about the current time and the very next line jumped to week or more later. I think this could've been easily solved with mid-chapter breaks. Another thing that really stood out to me was the lack of use of the side characters. Don't get me wrong, the side characters were there but the majority of the story took place inside a bubble where only Rian and Pierce and existed.

While Hooking Up was my favorite of the three, I Flipping Love You was a light, fun read with lots of humor thrown in. This was truly a story of a chance meeting and falling in love. I'm not sure if Helena Hunting has any plans for another book in this series but I would definitely pick it up if she does!

Marked by Drew Elyse | ARC Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brandi) — Thu, 24 May 2018 07:11:00 +0000

Marked (Sailor's Grave #1) by Drew Elyse
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: May 15, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 262
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
Find on Goodreads

Goodreads Description

“MOVING ON” IS JUST ABOUT ACTING THE PART.

I would never say as much to the people I love, but it’s the truth.
They want to see me doing better.
They want to see me living for more than just my son.
So I let them.
Every day is about putting on a face,
pretending to get over the loss of my husband.
And every day is a lie.

UNTIL MOVING ON IS A TEMPTATION THAT CAN’T BE DENIED.

I’m not about to claim I’m a genius,
unless we’re talking with a tattoo gun or woman in my hands,
but I’m smart enough to know the beauty serving up my cupcake fix is off limits.
Really, I know.
Too bad the lure of putting a real smile on Kate’s face is so strong.
When she visits Sailor’s Grave Tattoo Parlor,
I can’t help but want to leave my mark.

My Thoughts

Going into this book I was really interested in the concept. I love reading about characters that get a second chance at a one of a kind romance. Marked follows Kate and Liam. Kate lost her husband in a tragic accident 3 years before the start of the story and she hasn't gotten to the point where she is truly living agin. Liam is a tattoo artist in the town that Kate is currently living in with her son.

Honestly, I had some mixed opinions about this story. From the synopsis I knew a big part of this story was going to be Kate grieving and pretending to move on. Liam understands Kate isn't in the right place to start a romantic relationship. Even though he's interested in more Liam offers Kate friendship, or at the very least someone to talk to. The two start to grow closer when Liam starts working on Kate's tattoo. During the time they spend together Kate starts to realize she might be ready to move on.

One of my big worries while reading was this would be a situation where a new love/relationship cures everything Kate had been dealing with for the past 3 years. For a while it seemed like the story was going in that direction. Thankfully the author didn't take that route. Instead there was a focus on wanting to make a change for the right person. On another note I didn't care for the writing, mainly the use of flashbacks. They were overdone and at times made it hard to get a grasp on the movement of time.

While I didn't care for the writing I really enjoyed the journey this author took me on. Marked showed that people grieve in many different ways. Even though Kate spent 3 years just going through the motions for her son. she couldn't truly move on until she was ready. Being able to see the progression of Kate and Liam's relationship form the beginning to the end of this story was truly beautiful.

Brandi Janee's Bookshelf

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevado | Review

My Thoughts

Ruthless King by Maya Hughes | Release Blitz

Jock Rule by Sara Ney | ARC Review

My Thoughts

Jock Rule (Jock Hard #2) by Sara Ney | Cover Reveal

Kip Carmichael is no pretty boy.

He's a rough. Dirty. Giant. Hair so unruly, and a beard so thick, his friends on the team call him Sasquatch.

The first time Sasquatch lays eyes on Theodora "Teddy" Johnson across the keg at a party one night on Jock Row, she'd been relegated to the sidelines by her jock hungry "friends."

Week-after-week, he watches beautiful but bashful Teddy getting overshadowed, and overlooked. Sasquatch finally broad shoulders his way through the crowd, offering to to be her hairy godmother. But the minute their eyes meet? He's a goner.

Teaching her the RULES for winning a jock will be the easy part. Not falling in love with her is going to be a losing game.

ADD TO GOODREADS

FOR A KINDLE LIVE ALERT SIGN-UP HERE

Love, Sincerely, Yours by Sara Ney and Meghan Quinn | Review

My Thoughts

Cold Spell by Mia London and Susan Sheehey | Review

My Thoughts

Blood Highway by Gina Wohlsdorf | Review

My Thoughts

Hot Spell by Mia London and Susan Sheehey | Review

My Thoughts

Ten Reasons to Stay by Candace Knoebel | Review

My Thoughts

"Aren't we all searching for sunlight? For that warmth from the brightest touch that lets us finally breath."

The Wedding from Hell Part 3 | Blog Tour

Liar by Stephanie St. Klaire | ARC Review

My Thoughts

Professor Feelgood by Leisa Rayven | Cover Reveal

Professor Feelgood by Leisa Rayven September 16th

Leisa Rayven

The Wedding from Hell Part 2: The Reception | Blog Tour

Dry Spell by Mia London and Susan Sheehey | ARC Review

My Thoughts

Love Sincerely Yours by Sara Ney and Meghan Quinn | Cover Reveal

A sexy, smart, and heart-swooning romance about a girl who has nothing to lose when it comes to flirting with her boss.

This seductive contemporary romance from bestselling authors Meghan Quinn and Sara Ney will keep you on the edge of your seat as you fall in love with the first novel from this dynamic duo releasing October 9th!

PRE-ORDER NOW

AMAZON | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | B&N | iBooks to come

** KU NOT AVAILABLE WITH THIS RELEASES **

The Wedding From Hell by J. R. Ward | Blog Tour

DILF DIARIES: Oh Baby by Stephanie St. Klaire | Blog Tour

Today we are taking part in the blog tour for DILF DIARIES: OH BABY by Stephanie St. Klaire! This book kicks off a brand new series that you cannot miss! Enter the giveaway below to win a surprise book box, including a Kindle!

Sign up for Stephanie's newsletter for exclusive news and details about the series.

-------------

Purchase Now

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Barnes & Noble

DILF DIARIES: OH BABY by Stephanie St. Klaire

Available Now

Synopsis:

He likes to find them hot, and leave them wet…

In a burning twist of fate, Jack finds himself up all night long for an entirely new reason, a reason that’s anything but smoldering. That is until the feisty firecracker next door threatens to ignite a fire he doesn’t know how to battle…Oh Baby!

For a few more days only, enter the RELEASE GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a surprise book box filled with goodies -- including a Kindle!

GO HERE TO ENTER

Purchase Now

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Barnes & Noble

---------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Favorite Bookish Merch (ft Literary Book Gifts)

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black | Review

My Thoughts

Atlas Fallen by Jessica Pierce | Review

My Thoughts

Wild Card by Lila Monroe | ARC Review

My Thoughts

Whisper by Lynette Noni | Review

My Thoughts

DILF Diaries: Oh Baby by Stephanie St. Klaire | Cover Reveal

Sign up for Stephanie's newsletter for exclusive news and details about the series.

-------------

Pre-order Now for just .99 cents on

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Barnes & Noble (coming soon!)

DILF DIARIES: OH BABY by Stephanie St. Klaire

Coming July 12

Synopsis:

He likes to find them hot, and leave them wet…

In a burning twist of fate, Jack finds himself up all night long for an entirely new reason, a reason that’s anything but smoldering. That is until the feisty firecracker next door threatens to ignite a fire he doesn’t know how to battle…Oh Baby!

Enter the PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a surprise book box filled with goodies -- including a Kindle!

GO HERE TO ENTER

Pre-order Now for just .99 cents on

Professor Feelgood by Leisa Rayven

September 16th

KU NOT AVAILABLE WITH THIS RELEASES