Tuesday, May 31, 2016

REVIEW: Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst

If you're a Jennifer Probst fan, I have no doubt you'll enjoy the first book in this new series--a take on the HGTV show The Property Brothers that involves the three Pierce brothers. The first book has two alphas going at it: Caleb is the broody and stubborn builder and Morgan is the equally stubborn and demanding designer. These two are full of spark and chemistry, witty barbs, and really the best thing--Probst has written characters who don't play games and who actually communicate. I really appreciate characters who don't create unwanted drama by jumping to conclusions or not speaking their mind and with these two 30-somethings that is NOT a problem.

If you're into building and design + sibling squabbles + a southern heroine who is equal parts sassy and conservative and you have a little time (it's got a lot of detail so this isn't necessarily a quick read), you'll be very happy with this new series.

Want to know more? Read the synopsis below:

Hot on the heels of her beloved Marriage to a Billionaire novels, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst nails it with the first in an all-new sexy romance series featuring red-hot contractor siblings who give the Property Brothers a run for their money!

Ever the responsible eldest brother, Caleb Pierce started working for his father’s luxury contracting business at a young age, dreaming of one day sitting in the boss’s chair. But his father’s will throws a wrench in his plans by stipulating that Caleb share control of the family business with his two estranged brothers.

Things only get more complicated when demanding high-end home designer Morgan hires Caleb to build her a customized dream house that matches her specifications to a T—or she’ll use her powerful connections to poison the Pierce brothers’ reputation. Not one to ignore a challenge, Caleb vows to get the job done—if only he can stop getting distracted by his new client’s perfect…amenities.

But there’s more to icy Morgan than meets the eye. And Caleb’s not the only one who knows how to use a stud-finder. In fact, Morgan is pretty sure she’s found hers—and he looks quite enticing in a hard hat. As sparks fly between Morgan and Caleb despite his best intentions not to mix business and pleasure, will she finally warm up and help him lay the foundation for everlasting love?

FAVORITE READS: May 2016 Edition

I almost don't want to say anything --but seriously you guys!!--we've had five consecutive months were we've had so many good reads that we have to cull the list so it's not so long. Here are our favorites for the month of May--it features a little of everything: athletes, actors, fighter pilots, nerds, lawyers, and leaders of a rebellion.

Click on the book cover image to buy it or get more information.

The Summer Games: Settling the Score by R.S. Grey was a great blend of summer Olympics (athletes!), quick plot, steamy sex scenes, and hilarious side characters. This is the perfect beach read!

Wasted Words by Staci Hart features our new favorite nerd girl and her jock counterpart. We get to not only see the Bad Habits crew, we get to fall in love with a whole new slew of Staci Hart characters and they're great. We want to go to NYC and hang out in Wasted Words all because Staci Hart is brilliant.

Wicked Heart is the last installment of this series by Leisa Rayven and all it did was make us crave more by Leisa Rayven. If you are a theater/movie junkie or like the idea of watching theater people fall in love, this series is the perfect choice. We're sad to see the series over and ready to see what Rayven gives us to read next.

Hot fighter pilot? Check. Independent business woman? Check. Random Vegas hook up? Check. This novel was steamy and fun and emotional and has us completely excited for the next one in this series. You will love Fly With Me!

Charged the second book in this series, got us all sorts of philosophical about why we do dumb shit and how good it feels when you find forgiveness and redemption. Each book is a stand alone and feature the characters we've come to love from Jay Crownover

Cecilia London is killing us with this series. Caroline and Jack are an angst-fest (in the best way) as they navigate their relationship while trying to save the United States from the dystopian world it's quickly devolving into. The last two books in this series cannot come fast enough!

We hope you found something great to read in May and we'll be back with our June round up at the end of the month--it'll be another good one, we just know it!

Monday, May 30, 2016

REVIEW: The Anatomy of Jane by Amelia LeFay

OUR REVIEW:

Honestly, y'all, I was torn between calling this a very modified Cinderella story (see the synopsis) or just pure fantasy but maybe it's a little bit of both. No matter how you categorize it, I will say that if you're looking for a quick read that has funny banter (Jane is hilarious, in my opinion), some steamy smutty scenes, and a quick paced plot The Anatomy of Jane is exactly what you're looking for. The book reads very swiftly and gives you enough detail to get a taste of who these characters are, without bogging you down with too much, and yet it leaves you clamoring for more.

In my mind it was broken into three basic parts--getting to know Jane and how she gets involved with Max and Wes, seeing how their relationship develops, and watching how various people in their lives 'deal' with their relationship. I was also pleasantly surprised at the lack of mean girl drama that I kept waiting to happen--maybe LeFay decided that Jane and the boys had enough going on and that more drama would just take it too far? Maybe it was the cliffhanger she gave us? Maybe it's because Jane and Max and Wes are very strong characters (all alphas in their own ways) who don't play games with each other and prize their relationship and honesty above all else? Whatever the reason, The Anatomy of Jane worked and I cannot wait to see how Amelia LeFay resolves all of the things she's left open at the end: what will happen with these three and their parents, will we learn details about Max's dad, who is Irene's new guy, will Jane's parents show up? SO.MANY.QUESTIONS. It'll be exciting to see which ones she answers for us.

Want to know more? Read the synopsis below, find Amelia LeFay here, or purchase the book here.

Jane

I’ve always been on my own. My life used to consist of nothing but work, keeping Allen out of trouble, and if I had time, sleep. Then I became their maid.

Max

Every day more than half a million people tune in to watch my show. They trust me. I know it’s because I’m the only son of the prominent Emerson family. However, I like to believe it because I’m honest no matter what story I report on. I’m honest about everything but the man I’ve been f**king for the last four years… and now her.

Wesley

First I want three things: First Maxwell Emerson and Jane Chapman both in my bed. Second, to be the best bloody chef in the country. Third, to figure out how to simultaneously get the first and second things I want without any of us getting hurt.

THREE PEOPLE.

ONE LOVE STORY…

REVIEW: Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward, fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time- the kind Mercedes never had herself.

Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy- so far. Her absentee mother isn’t home nearly enough to know about Mercedes’ extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won’t even say the word “sex” until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn’t bank on Angela’s boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn- or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.

When Mercedes’ perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her reputation and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, FIRSTS is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up.

I absolutely loved this novel. I enjoyed it so much that I almost don't want to write a review because I feel like I'm going to mess it up or, more likely, not be able to quite pinpoint all of the reasons I loved it (without rambling). It's probably a cop out to do what I'm about to do, but eff it..I'm doing it...here are just some of the reasons why I loved this novel:

Faye. I needed a Faye in my teen years. I needed that friend who'd hold my hand, stand by my side, help me out, and hold me accountable. I didn't really have that in one person...I had it in pieces of people, and I'm so glad that Flynn wrote Faye for Mercedes.
Zach. I won't go into detail here because spoilers are not nice, but I really adored this character and that's all I'll say.
Mercedes. I hurt for her and I understood her and I wanted to make things better. Her need to control things in her life, her lashing out at Kim, her desire to keep everyone at arms length--all of that resonated so deeply with my inner teen. I think I liked her so much not only because she was so well written but because I felt like I recognized bits and pieces of me in her.
Sex. Despite the amount of sex that was happening on/hovering over the page, it wasn't this erotic, salacious sex romp (not that that's bad...see most of what we read?) but it was sex for a purpose. What Mercedes was doing made sense as much as it didn't make sense and even though what she was doing wasn't wrong, the 'why' she was doing it was what made it hurt so much by the end.
Dealing. Mercedes had to 'deal' with a lot in this novel and it was when she didn't really know how to cope with certain emotions/events that things seemed to spin out of control. Truthfully, what happened when everything converged into one massive CF was where my love affair with Faye/Mercedes/Zach went up a whole 'nother level. I appreciate Laurie Flynn for not making things super easy for her characters and writing the ending the way that she did. I think many of us can relate to wanting to run from our fuck ups and I loved how Flynn wrote those hard scenes; they felt real.
Chemistry. I think I actually learned some chemistry. NO LIE. I love it when I feel smarter by the end of a reading.

I won't lie and say that I'm not hugely curious about what's happening now with Mercedes and Zack and Kim and Roy, which I hope you see is a testament to how completely immersed I was into this novel and these characters. I loved this novel and cannot wait to see what Laurie Elizabeth Flynn writes next.

Laurie Elizabeth Flynn writes contemporary fiction for young adults. Her debut, FIRSTS, will be published by Thomas Dunne Books/St Martin’s Press in 2016.

Laurie went to school for Journalism, where the most important thing she learned was that she would rather write made-up stories than report the news. She also worked as a model, a job that took her overseas to Tokyo, Athens, and Paris.

Laurie now lives in London, Ontario with her husband Steve, who is very understanding when she would rather spend time with the people in her head. Laurie can mostly be found writing happily at her desk, with the world’s most spoiled Chihuahua on her lap. Laurie drinks way too much coffee, snorts when she laughs, and times herself when she does crossword puzzles.

Laurie is represented by the amazing Kathleen Rushall of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

FIND HER HERE: http://www.laurieelizabethflynn.com/

Sunday, May 29, 2016

REVIEW: Sin & Suffer by Pepper Winters

"Some say the past is in the past. That vengeance will hurt both innocent and guilty. I never believed those lies. Once my lust for revenge is sated, I'll say goodbye to hatred. I'll find a new beginning."

SIN & SUFFER

She came from a past Arthur "Kill" Killian never forgot. She made him sin and made him suffer. She tugged him from the shadows and showed him he wasn't as dead as he thought. And with her resurrection came betrayal, deceit, and war.

But then they took her. Stole her. Imprisoned her.

Now Kill's carefully laid plans for vengeance are complete. He craves action, retribution-the blood of his enemies. War has begun. War is all they'll know until they've paid their penance. He will get her back-and rewrite their destiny . . .

NOTE: In order for this novel to really give you the gut punch it should, you should read Ruin & Rule first.

As I was telling Courtney, this is novel is very much a "Pepper Winters" novel: sex, violence, feels, and good overtaking evil. As I'm thinking about what stands out for me, it's how unexpectedly good Kill was --it even took Cleo by surprise! Even when he was seeking retribution, it was 'good' (mostly)--I wasn't quite expecting Kill to seek his vengeance in all the ways that he did. I also didn't expect Cleo to be so gung ho into the club lifestyle--she had some thoughts about how things should be and it was interesting to see her observe and work through some of the new things Pure Corruption put in place.

Reading about the history of Cleo and Kill, the history of Pure Corruption and Wallstreet, and seeing how it all worked together made for an interesting, emotional, and action packed (and sexy) novel. If you're looking for a MC club novel that challenges what the typical person thinks about bikers + a love story that spans the lives of the two main characters, this is definitely the 2 book series for you!

Review: The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Having recently turned 42 (gasp!), the title The Year We Turned Forty caught my eye, the blurb grabbed my attention, and when I settled down to read about Claire and Jessie and Gabriela their chance to go back in time was one that I found very interesting. As I read about their lives as they approached 50--their regrets, their secrets, their acceptance, and their successes--it made me think about how much could change with the chance to erase 10 years of your life. What good would come of it, what bad would come of it, and how would life be different if you could go back? The answers to these questions seemed to be the thesis of this novel and were the questions I kept asking myself as I read about all of the adjustments to their 'old' lives when they were given a second chance. For every problem they tried to fix from their past, it seemed like a new challenge came with it. For every cringe-worthy moment--and there were many--there were opportunities to finally get some things 'right'. And while there were many moments when what was happening seemed far worse than how their first chance at 40 went, it was gratifying to see how much they learned about themselves and the people they learned as they worked through this year. I don't know that anything was necessarily unexpected by the end but I don't think I needed there to be for me to get what I wanted out of this book: a chance to really think about what could happen with a chance to time travel and what we can learn from Claire, Jessie, and Gabriela. As I sit here with my mind spinning from all that they went through and where they ended up, I know many people will walk away with different things that they related to or thought about with these characters and so what have a learned from them? Simply put, a lot.

BUY IT HERE: http://amzn.to/23fvVKv

Read more about it here:

If you could repeat one year of your life, what would you do differently? This heartwarming and hilarious novel from the authors of The Status of All Thingsand Your Perfect Life features three best friends who get the chance to return to the year they turned forty—the year that altered all of their lives, in ways big and small—and also get the opportunity to change their future.

Jessie loves her son Lucas more than anything, but it tears her up inside that he was conceived in an affair that ended her marriage to a man she still loves, a man who just told her he's getting remarried. This time around, she’s determined to bury the secret of Lucas’ paternity, and to repair the fissures that sent her wandering the first time.

Gabriela regrets that she wasted her most fertile years in hot pursuit of a publishing career. Yes, she’s one of the biggest authors in the world, but maybe what she really wanted to create was a family. With a chance to do it again, she’s focused on convincing her husband, Colin, to give her the baby she desires.

Claire is the only one who has made peace with her past: her twenty-two year old daughter, Emily, is finally on track after the turmoil of adolescence, and she's recently gotten engaged, with the two carat diamond on her finger to prove it. But if she’s being honest, Claire still fantasizes about her own missed opportunities: a chance to bond with her mother before it was too late, and the possibility of preventing her daughter from years of anguish. Plus, there’s the man who got away—the man who may have been her one true love.

But it doesn’t take long for all three women to learn that re-living a life and making different decisions only leads to new problems and consequences—and that the mistakes they made may, in fact, have been the best choices of all…

Saturday, May 28, 2016

MEMORIAL DAY SALE & FUNDRAISER

Thanks to amazing, generous authors and publishers we have over 70 BOOKS on sale this weekend to help fundraise for Samuel Thorne.

Please take the time to read about Samuel and why he needs our help and support. Grab yourself a bargain with these amazing sales, and don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the post and enter the HUGE GIVEAWAY for $300 worth of Amazon gift cards, signed paperbacks + much more.

Samuel was running around with all his friends at his school disco one night and within 48 hours, he was in an induced coma, fully paralysed and on a life support ventilator breathing for him. His entire spinal cord and parts of his brain stem were being attacked by his own immune system brought on by a rare condition known as Transverse Myelitis. The extent of the effect on Samuel has been extreme.

This fit, healthy and loving young boy has seemingly overnight been robbed of so much capacity.

To get Samuel home, over $350 000 has been estimated as the amount of funding needed. This will go to covering costs for home modifications, specialized medical and therapy equipment, wheel chairs and a modified motor vehicle. Samuel will also require staff to monitor him during the day and night for the long term.

Until all basic equipment, home modifications and staffing are in place, Samuel’s family cannot bring him home.

You can read more about Samuel’s condition on the Facebook page or Website.

Please consider donating to Samuel’s campaign and help him get home to his family. Every dollar makes a huge difference and is so appreciated.

DONATE HERE

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FOR SAMUEL

GOFUNDME / FACEBOOK / WEBSITE

Collision by K.A. Sterritt

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Underneath it All by Kate Canterbary

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Make Me Forget by Anna Brooks

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Paradise Tempted by L.B. Dunbar

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Big Girl Panties by S.J. Sawyer

AMAZON

Mister Black by P.T. Michelle

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Bound by Lies by Hanna Peach

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Limits of Destiny by Sharlyn G. Branson

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Leather and Lace by Susan Arden

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Fearless by Brynley Bush

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Savage Stalker by Kathleen Kelly

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Dangerous Ally by Michelle Grey

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Playing for Keeps by Liz Matis

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Defy the Stars by Magan Vernon

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A Very Xander Christmas by Anne Mercier

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Familiar Ground by Michelle Lynn

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Memphis Black by MJ Fields

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Kissed By Reality by Carrie Aarons

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Toward the Sound of Chaos by Carmen Jenner

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Hummingbird by Kasey Millstead

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Paper Dolls by Hanna Peach

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North Star by M.E. Montgomery

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Dirty Secrets by Jani Kay

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Instead of You by Anie Michaels

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The Loss by Vicki Green

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Pretty When You Cry by Skye Warren

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Play of Light by Debra Doxer

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Savage Fire by Kathleen Kelly

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Saved By Her by Michelle Horst

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Irresistible Refrain by Michelle Mankin

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Unleashed Box Set by Callie Harper

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Tainted Deception by Aleya Michelle

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Watching Fireflies by Jaycee Ford

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The Break-Up Psychic by Emily Hemmer

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Plus None by Emily Hemmer

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Show Me How by Anna Brooks

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Call Me, Maybe by Ellie Cahill
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The Escape Diaries by Juliet Rosseti
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Spy Fall by Diana Quincy
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A Most Scandalous Proposal by Ashlyn MacNamara
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Hidden Heat by Carla Swafford
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Leaving Yesterday by Zoe Dawson

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Sutherland’s Secret by Sharon Cullen

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