BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Sweet Cheeks

I want to give all the stars everywhere to SWEET CHEEKS by K. Bromberg. It's hard to put into words how much I loved it (but, of course, I will). If you can handle my fangirl flailing, read on for my review and then, for the love of cupcakes everywhere, please go buy it and experience it for yourself.

Sweet Cheeks, by K. Bromberg
Publish Date: November 14, 2016
Publisher: JKB Publishing, LLC
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher via Netgalley
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) It all started with the invitation. To my ex-fiance’s new wedding.

I should have ignored it.Thrown it away. Set it afire. But I didn’t. I replied.

With a plus one.

And then my assistant accidentally mailed it.

Enter Hayes Whitley. Mega-movie star. The man who has captured the hearts of millions. But I gave him mine years ago. He was my first love. He was my everything. Right until he up and left to chase his dreams without so much as a simple goodbye.

When he showed up out of the blue ten years later, I should have known to steer clear. I should have rejected his offer to take me to my ex’s wedding. I should have never let him kiss me.

But I didn’t.

And now we’re left wondering if the pieces of the life we once shared still fit together somehow. First loves are hard to forget. The question is, do we want to forget? Or do we risk the chance and see what happens next?

For those of you who know K. Bromberg from her Driven series, let me say this. This is not Driven. 

It's better. 

Now, before you cry blasphemy too loudly, hear me out. I gave the entire Driven series 5 stars. It introduced me to this incredible author. And Colton Donovan is so incredible. But Hayes Whitley absolutely destroyed me in all the best ways. Sweet Cheeks was sheer perfection. 

Sweet Cheeks is the best second-chance romance I've ever read. Ten years earlier, Hayes and Saylor were so in love. Then Hayes left her without a single word for the bright lights of LA. Saylor, although devastated, moved on and eventually opened her own cupcake shop and got engaged, only to break things off with her fiancé right before the wedding. Months later, her business is in trouble due to her fiance's powerful family blackballing it. And then, she gets invited to her own wedding. Except, she's been replaced by a different bride. 

Saylor does what we all would want to do - she accepts and says she's bringing a date. I mean, who wouldn't want to do that to the guy who's made your life difficult just because you were trying to be honest with yourself? Problem is, she doesn't have a date. Enter her meddling older brother who still happens to talk to Hayes all these years later, even though he's now an A-list Hollywood movie star. Hayes shows up and takes Saylor to the destination wedding, and those feelings she thought were gone fly to the surface with one look. One touch. But his job is still a barrier, as is an ex of his. And just when Saylor thought her life couldn't get more complicated - enter the paparazzi.

I ran the gamut of emotions while reading Sweet Cheeks. Reading about how Saylor's ex-fiance and his family have treated her and caused her business to stall, and then later in the book when they say awful things about her to her face and to the media, made me want to rage at them on her behalf. Saylor's and Hayes' thoughts on the demise of their relationship when they were teens brought tears to my eyes. Their antics and playful moments now as adults made me smile and laugh. and Hayes' efforts to win Saylor over for good at the end - I swear to you, I've never, EVER swooned harder before in my life. 

This is one of those books that I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time. I loved every second of Hayes' and Saylor's efforts to find their way back to each other again after all this time. I loved watching each of them realize in their own time that they never stopped loving the other. I loved every drop of sexual tension and every moment of uncertainty when they reflected on whether they could risk their hearts again.

I'm such a wreck. I'm over here turning a playful twirl in the moonlight into a kiss I don't want to want, to fantasizing how it would lead to my happily ever after.

The end is one of the best book endings ever for a romantic girl like me. It makes every moment of angst, every angry word, and every past deed disappear with the smash of a cupcake and a well-worded Tweet. This book makes you believe that true love really does conquer all, including time, distance and mean girls. 

Sweet Cheeks is written in dual POV, which was wonderful. I loved getting both Hayes' and Saylor's side of the story, especially regarding the past. This book also is not lacking in the hot, steamy sex department. Hayes and Saylor have an incredible connection borne out of time and experience, and that translates into a powerful physical presence together. K. Bromberg captured all of this so perfectly and more than delivered on her desire to deliver an outstanding story outside of the Driven world.

"You've always been there, Hayes. In my dreams. On my mind. In my hopes. Tattooed permanently on my heart." 

 

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love. 

She’s a mixture of most of her female characters: sassy, intelligent, stubborn, reserved, outgoing, driven, emotional, strong, and wears her heart on her sleeve. All of which she displays daily with her husband and three children where they live in Southern California. 

On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Since then she has written The Driven Series (Driven, Fueled, Crashed, Raced, Aced), the standalone Driven Novels (Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, Hard Beat, and Down Shift), and a novella (UnRaveled). She is currently finishing up Sweet Cheeks a standalone novel out November 14th. 

Her plans for 2017 include a sports romance duet (2 books: The Player, The Catch) and the Everyday Heroes series (3 books: Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit). She’s also writing a novella for the 1,001 Dark Night series that will be out in February 2017. 

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media:

Website: http://www.kbromberg.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KBrombergDriven
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kbromberg13/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1koZIkL
Amazon Author: http://amzn.to/204Qnfz
Driven Group: http://bit.ly/1PMUoG3

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Mistletoe and Mr. Right

Mistletoe and Mr. Right, by Lyla Payne
Publish Date: November 5, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: hardback, provided by the publisher
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) In Mistletoe and Mr. Right, Jessica takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays for Christmas break, sure that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily ever after. But it turns out his family – and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend – don’t feel the same way, and the only person making the trip worthwhile is a hot local, who has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most ... and least.

The holiday high jinks continue in Sleigh Bells and Second Chances, when Jessica’s best friend makes her own way across the pond! Christina Lake does not want to be away at Christmas, but she has an intern job as publicist for London’s hottest band at their last-minute concert on Christmas Eve ... even though she had a fling with Cary, the band’s lead singer, that never officially ended. Now forced to reconnect, Christina is starting to think that maybe London is exactly where she’s supposed to be to get the perfect New Year’s kiss – at least until she finds out that he’s been lying the whole time. Can Cary find a way to prove himself before the clock strikes twelve? Or will the New Year ring in a new romance?

Lyla Payne wraps up two perfect holiday novellas, ties them with a ribbon of romance, and tops them with a light dusting of snow. Perfect to curl up with under the tree. Just add hot cocoa!

I have to confess something. 

I am a Scrooge. 

Christmas books and movies are not my thing. And DEFINITELY not before December 1. At least. So, I broke all my own rules when I not only read Lyla Payne's MISTLETOE AND MR. RIGHT, but I read it in early November! And here's the thing. 

I kinda loved it. 

Mistletoe and Mr. Right is a collection of two holiday novellas focusing on college roomies Jessica and Christina. First up, Jessica travels to Ireland on a whim to find out once and for all if her "looks good on paper" boyfriend is marriage material. It's a surprise to him and his family when she shows up on his doorstep unannounced two days before Christmas, and well, you know how well surprises like that usually go over. 

Mistletoe and Mr. Right was funny and sweet. Prim, proper and orderly Jessica is a complete fish out of water among the Donnelly family. She's ignorant to their customs, and it's evident that she's messing with his mother's otherwise perfect Christmas. This does nothing to bolster Jessica's flagging self-esteem. 

Enter Grady, the Donnelly's employee and a man that does nothing to coddle Jessica. He's a believer in going after what you want, not settling for what you think you need. And that line of thinking rocks Jessica's world and causes her to question everything - her relationship with Brennan, her future career... herself. 

The idea that this guy I've never met thinks it's possible to change the world - that I could change the world - opens up windows in front of my eyes. In my soul. 

The second story in the book, Sleigh Bells and Second Chances, focuses on Jessica's roommate Christina, and takes place one year after the events in Mistletoe and Mr. Right. Chris is being sent to London for New Year's to be the personal assistant for one of the hottest bands in the world. What makes this situation painfully awkward is that four years earlier, she fell in love with the lead singer, and he left her without a word. 

I think I liked Sleigh Bells and Second Chances better, only because I'm such a sucker for a good second chance love story. And this one was fantastic. There's the lingering mystery throughout as to why Cary left Chris at the end of that summer four years before in the first place. From the very beginning, it seemed as if he was still totally into her. So, you knew there was more at play here than what met the eye. 

Chris has never forgotten, nor gotten over, Cary. Despite her also still being furious at him for breaking her heart, Cary is determined to wear her down and convince her to trust him again. And this time, he isn't going anywhere. When the truth comes out about why he left, though, there may be nothing he can do about her leaving him this time. 

In addition to the story between Chris and Cary, there is also a side story about Chris and her father, who lives in London with his second wife and her daughters. Since her father divorced her mother when she was a child, Chris hasn't had much contact with  him, mostly by his choice. As you can expect, that has made Chris extremely bitter toward him and hesitant toward his overtures now. I felt SO BADLY for Chris in regards to her relationship with her father. That part of this novella was so compelling. 

Sleigh Bells was more sexy and dramatic than Mistletoe, which was more humorous and sweet. It was awesome getting a taste of both emotions in one package. I also loved the small connection between the two stories - Chris is mentioned and has a few conversations with Jessica in Mistletoe, and Jessica comes to visit Chris in London in Sleigh Bells. It made the two very different stories go together very nicely. 

And, can we talk for a second about how amazing these settings are?? Mistletoe takes place in Ireland and Sleigh Bells takes place in England. The countries are depicted in full color with Lyla's words, and it was part of the fascination and charm I had with this book. 

Consider me a reformed Scrooge - at least when it comes to holiday-themed books. There is still no way that I will ever put up a Christmas tree before the first week of December. 

Lyla Payne is the USA Today bestselling author of the Whitman University series, the Lowcountry  host books, and the holiday novella Mistletoe and Mr. Right. She graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in film but no desire to tackle Hollywood, and made it through three quarters of an M.A. in ancient history before writing took over. She lives in the Midwest with her two dogs, two cats, and the characters in her head. Find her online at lylapayne.com and on Twitter: @Lyla_Payne.

Learn more about Lyla: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

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BLOG TOUR: Shoalman Immortal (The Shoalman Chronicles #2)

It's my pleasure to kick off the blog tour for Toni Decker's SHOALMAN IMMORTAL! Read on for information about this new adult paranormal/fantasy book, then check out a scene from Shoalman Immortal. Oh, and there's a giveaway too!

Shoalman Immortal (The Shoalman Chronicles #2), by Toni Decker
To Be Published January 16, 2015
Publisher: self-published
Genre: new adult paranormal/fantasy romance
To Pre-order: Amazon

(Synopsis) Falling in love was never supposed to be part of the picture.

Kyrissa Spears was born with a powerful, and deadly, gift. When she paints, she captures emotions so strong they cankill.Desperate to find a teacher capable ofhelping her unlock and controlher abilities, Kyrissa'ssearch leads her toan artist who may be able to help her.And he's the one person she can't accidentally kill.

After five centuries of pain and loneliness, Robert Shoalman craves release from his immortality. He's all but given up hope until he meets the beautiful and intriguing Kyrissa.She could paint his death and break the curse, but at the cost of destroying her gift and being lost to him forever—none of which will matter if the demon hunting him finds them first.

Other books in this series:

Excerpt

    “You would not dare, Miss Spears.” Robert held his hand out in front of him.
    “Not only would I dare, Mr. Shoalman.” Kyrissa inched closer. Her arm extended without her control, slapping the wet brush across his arm. “I would do.” Not sure whether to laugh or run, she reloaded her paintbrush with paint.
    “Well.” Robert paused. He grabbed a gray cloth from the table and wiped the meadow green wetness from his forearm. “It seems I have underestimated your ability to fight dirty to prove your point.” Kyrissa stilled, waiting for Robert to make a move. “But I believe,” Robert flattened both his hands into two puddles of wet paints, one blue, the other a mixture of yellow and brown, "You have underestimated my need to win an argument at all costs.”
    “You wouldn't.” Kyrissa scampered to the other side of the worktable, backing away until she impacted against the brick of the studio wall.
    Trapped in the corner of the studio, Robert darted towards her, both hands raised and poised to strike his target—her. “Oh, but I would.” Robert smirked. “And I will enjoy every moment.”
    Kyrissa bit her lip as Robert slowly stepped towards her. Body poised, her gaze locked on chocolate brown eyes full of mischief that glistened like the wet paint. She lunged and her paintbrush made contact, smearing bright purple across Robert's cheek. Before she could further her assault down the tight navy t-shirt she wished he wasn't wearing, his fingers wrapped around the wrist holding the paintbrush. Soft and gentle, but tight enough that made her unable to escape his grasp.
    “Oh yes,” he said, lifting his other hand to her face. “I am most definitely going to enjoy this.”
    Holding her breath, she let his slick, warm palm spread on her cheek. Linseed oil and Robert's cinnamon flavor mingled when she finally inhaled again. He swiped along her jaw, down her neck. She only wished she had worn a v-neck t-shirt so she could feel his touch spread over her chest. If only he knew how deeply he had inserted himself into her heart, he'd know exactly how far she'd let him push this moment.
    “I can't say that I'm not enjoying this myself.” She laughed. Her wrists were now a swirl of colors and Robert steadily added more to her neck. “I used to like this sweatshirt.” She smiled.
    “If you are looking to save that sweatshirt you have exactly three seconds to remove it,” he warned.  “Because this masterpiece is not done yet,” he said, sliding his hand over the puddles of wet paint until new colors covered his hands again.
    Kyrissa threw the garment over her head as fast as she could even though she didn't really care about the sweatshirt at all. Heat rose in her chest as she exposed herself to him. Shaking his head, he sauntered closer, each step making her heart pound louder. He didn't seem to notice her state of undress, or if he did, he didn't show it.
    “Now I believe the challenge was that I would not allow myself to let go enough of my control to have fun while painting." Robert slid one hand under her tank top, the fabric sticking to the wet paint in a way that was both comfortable and not at the same time. "I think I have won this argument."
    "Not yet," Kyrissa teased and grabbed her own handful of paint.

About the Authors

Who is Toni Decker?

Two authors telling one sizzling story after another about twenty-somethings getting along in their own crazy, fantastical worlds. Both women are wives and mothers, sharing brain cells and characters as if they only exist with the other.

Toni, one half of the Toni Decker brain, is an avid reader of all things Young and New Adult while Kira, the Decker half of Toni Decker brain, devours fantasy for midnight snacks.

Together, their stories are one part New Adult, one part Fantasy and three parts of Holy Hotness.

We leave it up to the readers to decide who writes which character.

Learn more about Toni Decker:

Twitter: @ToniDeckerBooks and @KiraDecker & @ToniPicker
Facebook: Toni Decker Books, Kira Decker, Toni Picker
Tumblr: tonideckerbooks
Goodreads: Toni Decker
Wordpress: Toni Decker Books

Tour Schedule

Week 1:

Jan. 12 - Krista's Dust Jacket

Jan. 13 - Poisoned Rationality

Jan. 14 - The Book Swarm

Jan. 15 - BookShelfery

Jan. 16 - Step Into Fiction

Week 2:

Jan. 19 - Winterhaven Books

Jan. 20 - Jenuine Cupcakes

Jan. 21 - Reads All The Books

Jan. 22 - Read-Love-Blog

Jan. 23 - The Irish Banana Review

Giveaway

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ROAD TRIP BLOG TOUR: Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits #1.5)

Now, I know that, if you've read PUSHING THE LIMITS and BREAKING THE RULES, you've wanted to hit the road with Echo and Noah. Who wouldn't, right? Well, you're in luck! Join me and a few other fabulous bloggers on a special road trip with Echo and Noah tour, organized by Inkslinger PR! Read on for information about Breaking the Rules, and a very special guest post from Katie McGarry about today's location. To make this tour even better, you can enter a giveaway exclusive to my blog to win a signed copy of Pushing the Limits (US/Canada)!

Today's Location: 

Vail, CO

Guest Post by Katie McGarry:
Nestled at the bottom of a mountain, Vail is possibly the most beautiful town I’ve ever visited. The cobblestone streets with tidy buildings transport me into a cute little Swiss mountain village. Each store I pass screams expensive and boasts if you break it, you buy it. Well, the ice cream shop doesn’t boast that, but it would be cool if it did.

I love Colorado. Absolutely love. My love affair with the state started eight years ago when I visited Vail, CO for a week. Even though I’m a writer, I’m not sure that I can describe the majestic beauty and peace found within this mountainous area.

It is because I love this place so much that I decided to have most of BREAKING THE RULES take place in Vail. Echo and Noah’s souls are so full of chaos and I wanted this place to help them find peace.

About the Book

Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits #1.5), by Katie McGarry
Published December 8, 2014
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN
Genre: young adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books-A-Million * iBooks

(From Goodreads) A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.

About the Author

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON,  BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

Tour Schedule

December 15-Vilma’s Book Blog

December 16-True Story Book Blog

December 17-KimberlyFaye Reads

December 18-Krista’s Dust Jacket

December 19-Nose Stuck in a Book

December 20-TSK TSK What to Read

December 21-K-Books

December 22-A Bookish Escape

December 23-Stuck in Books

December 24-Jenuine Cupcakes

Giveaway

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Ripped (Real #5)

If you're a big Remy fan, then you really have to meet Kenna. Check out my review of RIPPED, Katy Evans' latest book in her Real series, and don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour, organized by AToMR Tours!

Ripped (Real #5), by Katy Evans
Published December 9, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books
Format: e-ARC, provided by AToMR Tours
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) The fifth book in the New York Times new adult series that began with Real. When an angry, heartbroken girl is forced to be near her rocker ex-boyfriend, only time will tell if the fire between them will consume them both.

Pandora, the gothic friend of Brooke (Real, Mine, Remy) and Melanie, thought that getting her heart broken by her bad boy rocker ex could only happen once. But now, he's back in town with the biggest concert of the year. Pandora hates him so much that she gets Melanie to come with her and play a prank on him at his gig. But when they are caught by security, and her ex himself is summoned, he decides not to press charges if she'll follow certain conditions. Pandora likes none of his rules, or that he's in charge of her, especially since they seem designed to make sure she's in close contact with him again. But the closeness reignites the passion they once shared, and soon no matter how much she wants to hate him, it's clear she's still hung up on him. And worse: he knows it too.

So, you know Pandora, right? Brooke's and Melanie's other friend from the other Real books? She's always been cagey about the man that broke her heart, and now, in RIPPED, we get the whole story about the man that brought Pandora down. 

When Pandora finds out that the ex that destroyed her is in town with his world-famous rock band, she decides to prank him. But, when she's caught, she's forced to do her time, which includes touring with the band and spending a ton of time around the man she loathes. But, eventually, she has to tell him the whole story about why she hates him and she also has to come to terms with the fact that she still loves him. 

Pandora has always been the angry goth girl who hates men. And, in Ripped, that really hasn't changed. She's still really mad at pretty much everything. We always knew it was because a man had broken her somewhere along the way, but we didn't have the whole story. 

People choose to fall in love because it makes them feel protected, safe. Not me. I choose hate. It makes me feel good. Protected and sane. Hating him means what he did to me doesn't matter. I can still feel something. I am not yet dead, because I can feel this hate corroding me. He's ruined me for other men. Stopped me from being the woman I could have been. He's broken every dream of a future with him I had. He was my first love and my first everything, including my first heartbreak. 

It seems from the first meeting (or, re-meeting) of Pandora and McKenna that he feels the same for her too. To be fair, she did throw rotten fruit at his head during his performance. But, He really doesn't seem much happier to see her either. In fact, her intense ire seems to feed him and his mega attitude. But, if you read between the lines, it's clear that both of them are still very much affected by one another. 

   
Passion can manifest in many ways, and it's clear these two have passion in spades. For awhile after Pandora joins his band on tour, the passion between them comes out as extreme irritation, anger and sadness. There's so much regret and misunderstanding between them, it's just heartbreaking. 

And, thank goodness Katy Evans made Ripped a dual POV, because Kenna's POV is the best part of this book. I couldn't wait to get his outlook on Pandora and how she acted. As it turns out, he's just as conflicted as she is. And even more confused. 

Their reconnection happens in stages. Once they get past the extreme hate, they realize that they can have sex without feelings. Except, when has that ever worked in the history of ever? It brings them closer together, but it also complicates things more, because they finally have to face what caused them to break up in the first place. 

I have to say, out of all the Katy Evans books I've read, Ripped was my favorite. Katy Evans brings the feels, and this book was even more feelie for me than any of the other ones. We get cameos from Brooke, Remy and Melanie, which was fun. And, Pandora's and Kenna's relationship was volatile and passionate and sexy and I was in love with these two from the first page. 

About the Author

Katy Evans grew up with books and book-boyfriends until she found a real sexy boyfriend to love. They married and are now hard at work on their own happily ever after. Katy loves her family and friends, and she also loves reading, walking, baking, and being consumed by her characters until she reaches “The End.” Which is, hopefully, only the beginning…

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: As Long As You Love Me (2B Trilogy #2)

I am so in love with Ann Aguirre's 2B Trilogy! AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME is the second book in the series, and it follows Lauren and Rob, whom we met in book 1, I Want It That Way. Read on for my review, and don't forget to enter the awesome giveaway at the end!

As Long As You Love Me (2B Trilogy #2), by Ann Aguirre
Published September 30, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin
Format: ARC, provided by NetGalley
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | B&N | BAM | IndieBound | Vroman’s | Book Depository | Powell’s| iTunes

  
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Most people dream about getting out of Sharon, Nebraska, but after three years away, Lauren Barrett is coming home. There are the justifications she gives to everyone else—missing her family, losing her college scholarship. And then there’s the reason Lauren can’t admit to anyone: Rob Conrad, her best friend’s older brother.

Football prowess and jaw-dropping good looks made Rob a star in high school. Out in the real world, his job and his relationships are going nowhere. He can’t pinpoint exactly what’s missing until Lauren comes back to town, bringing old feelings and new dreams with her. But he’s the guy that women love and leave—not the one who makes them think of forever.

Though she’s terrified of opening up, Lauren’s ready to take that chance. Because the only thing more important than figuring out where you truly belong is finding the person you were meant to be with.

As taken as I was with Ty in book #1, I was still insanely curious about Lauren. She seemed to be one way and act another, and I didn't know why. Truthfully, most of her friends seemed confounded as well. So, I was so glad that we didn't have to wait long for her story to come out. 

Lauren has dropped out of school and returned home to live with her mom. Although she knows she's seen as a failure to most, she's finally free and happy for the first time in awhile, away from the pressure to perform at school. While at home, she reconnects with her BFF's older brother Rob, whom she has had a crush on for years. He too seems to be stuck in a rut doing what other people want him to do. Rob and Lauren lend each other some much needed support and confidence, but can they make it when one experiences success far beyond what either of them had dreamed?

We get to the bottom of Lauren's issues fairly quickly. Turns out, she is plagued with severe social anxiety, to the point where she gets panic attacks when faced with meeting new people or having to attend social functions. College, with all it's large classes and bustling cafeterias and forced social interaction was absolute torture for her. To deal with it all, Lauren drinks too much and spends too much time in the company of men she barely knows. Her friends all thought she was a party girl because she's beautiful and seemed to love parties. The truth was hard for her to hide. 

She never questioned that I'd turned into a social butterfly when, in fact, I was just a caterpillar with a pretty parachute. But, ultimately, living a lie made me miserable.

Lauren was a completely different person when she was alone with her mother or with Rob. She was relaxed and witty. She was compassionate and sweet. With Rob, she was passionate and loving and concerned about what he thought of her. With strangers removed from the equation, Lauren became a different person, and I really liked her. 

Rob - my goodness but I felt for him. He's lived in the shadow of his little sister forever. His family treats him like a dumb jock, as does his girlfriend. And, he believes them to be right. It was so sad and infuriating. Lauren draws him out while they work together on restoring his house. They share their hopes and dreams with one another and help each other try and achieve those dreams. Their romance was so awesome to see unfold. It was born of the very best things - mutual respect and admiration and friendship. 

But, Lauren's head gets in the way, as it has most of her life. That nasty little devil sits on her shoulder and tells her things that aren't true. I guarantee, you will want to shake her. I know I did. It made things sad and depressing for awhile. 

Events overlap a bit from the first book, so if you've read it, you'll recognize where you are in the story pretty quickly. We do see Nadia and Ty some in the second book, but we only hear from Max and Angus, Lauren's and Nadia's roommates from college, via e-mail and Skype. This story is pretty much soley Lauren's and Rob's. It's told entirely from Lauren's POV, and there are times when I really wished it was a dual POV, because I think getting inside Rob's head would've been awesome.

Thankfully, we have less than two months to wait until the final book in the 2B series comes out. I can't wait. Max has always seemed way more complicated than he lets on. His relationship with Lauren was proof of that. It's time to tell his story too. 

Read the first chapter of As Long As You Love Me

About the Author

Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.

Links:  Website **Facebook**Twitter**Tumblr ** Goodreads ** Newsletter SignUp

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: STAY WITH ME (Wait For You #3)

I am SO thrilled to be a part of the STAY WITH ME blog tour, organized by Inkslinger PR. I love Jennifer L. Armentrout's Wait For You NA series. I never thought I'd say this, but Stay With Me was absolutely the best one yet. Read on for my review, and stay tuned tomorrow for an excerpt, the trailer and a great giveaway. And, don't forget to pre-order STAY WITH ME. Today's the last day to use your pre-order to gain a special Cam and Avery bonus scene! Visit Jennifer's Web site to learn more!

Stay With Me (Wait For You #3), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
To Be Published September 23, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
Format: e-book, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes ** Kobo ** GooglePlay
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) At 21, Calla hasn’t done a lot of things. She’s never been kissed, never seen the ocean, never gone to an amusement park. But growing up, she witnessed some things no child ever should. She still carries the physical and emotional scars of living with a strung-out mother, Mona—secrets she keeps from everyone, including her close circle of college friends.

But the safe cocoon Calla has carefully built is shattered when she discovers her mom has stolen her college money and run up a huge credit card debt in her name. Now, Calla has to go back to the small town she thought she'd left behind and clean up her mom’s mess again. Of course, when she arrives at her mother’s bar, Mona is nowhere to be found. Instead, six feet of hotness named Jackson James is pouring drinks and keeping the place humming.

Sexy and intense, Jax is in Calla’s business from the moment they meet, giving her a job and helping her search for Mona. And the way he looks at her makes it clear he wants to get horizontal . . . and maybe something more. Before Calla can let him get close, though, she’s got to deal with the pain of the past—and some very bad guys out to mess her up if she doesn’t give them her mom.

The unthinkable has happened. I thought no guy in Jennifer L. Armentrout's Wait For You series could top Cam. I mean, Jase came really, really close. But, those Sunday morning eggs of his edged Cam out as top book boyfriend. Until now. Jax... well, this guy is so unbelievably amazing. He did it. He edged Cam out of the top spot. 

Calla has forever dubbed herself "Friend of the Hot Guy Brigade." A fire when she was young has left her permanently scarred on much of her upper body, including the left side of her face. At this point, she's just trying to make it through college. When her junkie mom cleans her out, Calla is forced to go back to her hometown to try and get to the bottom of things. While there, she meets Jax who seems unbelievably unconcerned about her appearance. He's also very protective of her, especially when the guys who are after her mom start coming after her. 

I've always been a big fan of stories in which the girl is put in some sort of mortal peril and the guy feels the need to take on the alpha male protector role. It's not that I enjoy seeing females reduced to the quintessential damsels in distress. On the contrary - I prefer strong, resilient women who make their own decisions and can stand on their own two feet. But, let's face it. In the face of danger, most people will crumble a bit, and it's always good to have someone there to back you up. Bonus points if that someone is super duper hot and sexy. 

Calla is amazing. She's overcome some seriously awful circumstances to remake herself. And, when she's slapped with the unthinkable - $100K in debts she didn't rack up and nowhere to stay - Calla puts on her big girl panties and goes home, which is the last place she wanted to go. Calla made me sad for awhile, because even though she was incredibly strong and super smart, she doesn't see herself that way because of her scars. She's never had a boyfriend, never traveled - never done many things because of her self-consciousness. It's unfortunate that she saw herself that way. 

But, Jax saw through all that stuff right from the start. And, this man was so confident and patient, he didn't allow her constant rebuffing to deter him from getting to know her better. It's like, he saw her and immediately decided that she would be his, no matter what she had to say in the matter. I loved that about him. He was not perfect either. He has a past to answer for, and his past comes back to bite him in the ass. He didn't respond how I would've liked him to at first, and when Calla calls him on it, he does own it. But, it didn't stop me from wanting to smack him around a bit. 

Jax makes it his personal mission to help Calla start to live like she never has before. He sees that it's her own self-image that is holding her back from doing the things she wants to do. And, he also was smart enough to know that all she really needed was a little bit of a push. He did push her way outside of her comfort zone more than once. It ended up being a growing and learning experience for both of them.

The bad guys after Calla's mom put her in bad situation after bad situation, and Jax is always there to help her out. He's a former soldier, so the role comes naturally for him. His take-charge attitude was what really made me love this guy. He doesn't take no for an answer when it comes to her safety. Instant. SWOON. 

Stay With Me is told entirely from Calla's POV. Her relationship with Jax was real and vibrant. This story is hot, hot, hot, too. But, there's sweetness in spades too. Jax takes his time wooing Calla. It was perfectly paced with no lulls in the action at all. We see lots from Cam and Avery and Teresa and Jase too, which I loved so much. Stay With Me was one of the best NA books I've read this year. 

So, Calla mentions the Hot Guy Brigade in the beginning of the book. In her words, Cam is the president of the Hot Guy Brigade. Jase is the lieutenant. Ollie was second to the lieutenant, as was Brandon, her secret crush. So, it got me thinking - who would be in my Hot Guy Brigade? 

 

Chris Hemsworth
President, Krista's Hot Guy Brigade

Chris Pine
Lieutenant, Krista's Hot Guy Brigade




 
Charlie Hunnam
Second to the Lieutenant, Krista's Hot Guy Brigade

Who's in YOUR Hot Guy Brigade? 

About the Author

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. 

Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Learn more about Jennifer --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** J. Lynn Goodreads ** Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: I Want It That Way (2B Trilogy #1)

I Want It That Way (2B Trilogy #1), by Ann Aguirre
Published August 26, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin
Format: ARC, obtained from the publisher at BEA
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she's determined to make them come true—for her parents' sake as well as her own. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, she barely has time to think, let alone date. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B….

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can’t risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, the last thing he wants is noisy students living in the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia’s and Ty’s paths cross, and soon they can’t stay away from each other.

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can’t know what you truly need until you stand to lose it. 

 
This one book - I Want It That Way - is all it took to put the deliciously talented Ann Aguirre on my personal bookish map. Hell, I've named an entire country after her on said map. I've always known Ann as a YA horror author, and since horror is probably my least favorite genre, I've never picked up anything written by her before now. Forgive me, Ms. Aguirre, for pigeon-holeing you. It was completely unfair and totally misplaced. Because, peeps - this "YA horror author" absolutely rocked my world with this new adult contemporary romance named after a famous boy band song. Seriously - who'd have thunk?

Nadia and her four besties have just moved into off-campus apartment 2B. On day 1, she meets Ty, her moody neighbor in 1B. Soon, she realizes Ty doesn't live alone - he shares his home and his life with his adorable 4-year-old son Sam. Ty decided when Sam was born that he had no extra room in his life for love, so when Nadia and Ty start to have late night conversations on their outdoor patios, Ty makes it clear that friends is all they will ever be. Nadia, however, is already too into him to turn away, and she's willing to take him any way she can get him. As Ty and Nadia grow closer both literally and figuratively, Ty has to decide whether she is worth altering his plan and letting her into Sam's life on a more permanent basis. And, his ultimate decision has the power to destroy them both.

First, can I just tell you about the absolutely flawless writing? Ann Aguirre is a friggin' genius. I felt SO MUCH over the course of this roughly 350-page book. I laughed A LOT. I cried. I got pissed. I felt it all and I felt it strongly. Case in point - Nadia's thoughts when she realizes for the first time that she has fallen in love with Ty:

It wasn't rockets or fireworks or any of the Hollywood effects I'd been led to expect. Instead, it was crisp air lightly touched by the scent of burning wood, spiced with insatiable longing. A bonfire was burning nearby, and love was Ty's hand around mine, warm and fast, binding us together. Other people walked down the sidewalk, but they weren't a part of us. They had their own lives, heading to clubs whose music pounded out of open doorways. This was a perfect moment, one I'd remember forever.

Nadia was an amazing character. She is attending school to be a special education teacher, and works part time at a daycare center. Despite her best efforts, she falls in love with Ty quickly and completely. She understands where he's coming from, though, regarding Sam, and why he thinks he can't have a relationship. So, she keeps her feelings to herself and just enjoys his presence as much as he will allow. She leans on her friends for support and they lean on her for the crap that happens in their own lives. Nadia is strong, compassionate, intelligent, and infinitely patient.

Although Ty has gone to extremes in regards to his outlook on love and relationships, he has good reason. He was burned terribly in his relationship with Sam's mom, and now he just wants to be a good father to a kid who has already had one woman in his life drop him like a hot potato. I HAD to admire that about Ty.

Ty's and Nadia's relationship was incredibly sweet. They started as friends, and then became something more. Despite Ty's inability to out their relationship to Sam or to make it more than what it was - one weekend a month and a few stolen moments in the daycare parking lot - the times they were together gave me a big case of the sighs. Ty was attentive and sweet and slightly awkward. Nadia was snarky and witty and dedicated to both Ty and Sam. And, when I reached that point that always is there - the part where things go to crap - my heart broke into a thousand pieces because they were PERFECT for each other.

Nadia's relationships with the secondary characters in the book kept me just as interested as her relationship with Ty. Her BFF Lauren and roomies Max and Angus were all very different people brought together by one commonality - they all cared deeply for one another. All four roommates go through some really tough times over the course of the book, and every time, the other three are there to lift the hurt one up and share a gallon of ice cream and carnage on the television. Friendships like this are what we all want to have in real life.

I Want It That Way is told entirely from Nadia's POV, but my ARC copy had a bonus chapter (one from earlier in the book) in the back from Ty's POV.  The chemistry between Nadia and Ty was so delicious and hot, and when they finally did give in to their attraction, it was so satisfying (I may have read that part several times).

I am ridiculously excited to see what else is in store for the residents of apartment 2B.

About the Author

Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.

Learn more about Ann:

Website **Facebook**Twitter**Tumblr ** Goodreads ** Newsletter SignUp

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Sugar on the Edge (Last Call #3)

Welcome to my stop on the Sugar on the Edge blog tour, organized by AToMR! Three books in, and I'm a HUGE fan of Sawyer Bennett's Last Call series. Read my review to find out why and don't forget to check out the other stops! And, even better, Sawyer Bennett is giving away a print copy of Sugar on the Edge to one lucky winner - enter at the bottom of the post.

Sugar on the Edge (Last Call #3), by Sawyer Bennett
Published July 28, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, obtained from AToMR Tours and the author
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) He’s utterly alone…

Tortured and existing in a dark spiral of despair, bestselling British author, Gavin Cooke, has come to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to escape the seedy lifestyle he had been living in London and in a desperate attempt to regain his writing focus. He’s twisted, bitter and angry at the world. He’s a loner… needing not a single thing other than his Scotch and a laptop upon which he can bang out his next erotic, dark thriller.

She’s running in place and getting nowhere…

Savannah Shepherd’s life is falling apart. Her dream of being a wildlife photographer seems a distant memory and she’s barely able to make ends meet. Driving herself forward with no clear goals apparent, she’s about ready to pack up her bags and head home with her tail between her legs.

Two unlikely lovers…

He’s raw, forceful and a dirty talker. She’s a flowers and romance type of girl. Yet within each other, they find a mutual craving that can only be satisfied by giving in to their desires for one another.
Lust turns into something more… something they were not looking for but tentatively accept. Will it be enough to push them past the obstacles of Gavin’s bitter past?

Every book in this series gets better and better. I've been waiting for Savannah's story - the sweet, quiet girl who runs herself ragged. All work and no play make Savannah a dull girl. Turns out, Savannah's anything but dull, and it took cranky Brit Gavin to draw her out. 

Gavin moves to North Carolina to finish writing his latest book. He had to get away from England - away from all the memories that have haunted him, driving him to drink, which doesn't really make for a brilliant book. Needless to say, he's not a happy guy. But, now he's holed up in this huge beach house, and he needs some help keeping it clean. He hires Savannah to do just that, but she eventually becomes a bigger distraction from his grief, his drinking and his book. 

I love stories about bitter, tortured souls who are brought into the light by the most unexpected person. I loved this story. Gavin was as bitter and tortured as they come. He has experienced the worst kind of loss a person can experience, and it totally turned him inside out. He's sad and angry and it seems like no one can crack his rough exterior. He's pretty much given up on everything. 

Then, along comes Savannah. He hired her as a cleaning lady. It was supposed to be simple. Yet, she confounds him. She seems timid and shy one second, and then, feisty and fiery the next. She's beautiful all the time, though, and she turns out to be just what he needs to forget his pain. Their time together was explosive and hot and so, so sexy. I loved how Gavin called Savannah "Sweet" and she called him "Filthy." Their pet names for each other were very apropos. 

Savannah was a wonderful heroine. She works several jobs just to earn her own keep. At one job, she puts up with seriously icky treatment from her boss just because it pays well and is something she enjoys doing. She's a completely stand-up person - someone you can always count on, and someone who never allows herself to have much fun. No time. 

She might bring out the best in Gavin, but believe it or not, he brings out the best in her too. He encourages her to go for what she really wants and to give up what she doesn't. He asks her to go outside of her comfort zone, and it turns out it's a fun place for her to be. And, when the going gets tough and Gavin gets going, Savannah learns that Gavin also taught her to be resilient and strong even when you don't think you can go on. 

I haven't met a Sawyer Bennett book I didn't like. The previous two books in the Last Call series, as well as her new adult series, the Off Series, are some of my favorites. If you haven't tried her out yet, you really should. The writing is fantastic, the characters are interesting and the story lines will make the book really hard to put down. Even though Sugar on the Edge is the third in this series, you can start here if you want. I know a few friends, actually who did just that. They read Sugar on the Edge first, and then immediately purchased the first two books in the Last Call series because it was That. Good. Maybe you should do the same. 

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate. 

Learn more about Sawyer --> Website / Facebook / Twitter



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