Review – There You Stand by Christina Lee

From the author of All of You and Before You Break comes a new Between Breaths male/male romance about the silent, inked up skateboarder and the tattoo artist who unravels him piece by piece…

Tattoo artist Cory Easton has worked long enough at Raw Ink to know, just by looking at a dude, what his body art reveals, what makes him tick, what even makes him scared. Until he meets the quiet and remote Jude York–so unreadable, so unreachable, and so unlike anyone else, he can’t help but arouse Cory’s curiosity.

As captivating and complex as his ink, Jude is a mystery–and Cory’s falling fast and hard under his spell. Against his better judgment to steer clear.

The rumors of Jude’s past overshadow him–whispers of prison and an unmentionable secret that’s kept him in the protective shadows of a local motorcycle club. As Cory probes deeper, he wonders how much he really wants to know. Especially since Jude has awakened something inside him that has been buried too long–and has him feeling completely alive for the first time in forever…

Includes a preview of Christina Lee’s upcoming adult romance Two of Hearts.

BFF K’s Review

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Full Disclosure – this was my first M/M book. I was a little apprehensive going in, not sure what I could expect from the characters or the storyline. Christina Lee’s book proves to me that romance, interesting characters, unique story lines and good dialogue make a great book a great book regardless of the genre.

I really loved this book! I was immediately drawn into Cory and Jude’s story. I found myself cheering for both of them and their burgeoning relationship. Cory and Jude both have damaged and difficult pasts. They struggle to come to terms with their pasts both independently and as a couple. They also work together to create a shared future.

The book was a super quick read, sweet and a little steamy. Lee threw in a couple of unexpected plot twists, good supporting characters, and just enough romance and angst to keep me flipping the pages. I will definitely read more from Christina Lee and I will not be afraid to try a M/M book in the future!

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GIVEAWAY

One Winner to receive the following: $10 gift card to the book retailer of their choice = An ARC of my adult romance releasing May 5th, TWO OF HEARTS, and some Between Breaths swag mailed.
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About the Author

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son–her two favorite guys.

She’s addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin. ALL OF YOU, BEFORE YOU BREAK, WHISPER TO ME and PROMISE ME THIS available now. Book five in the series, THERE YOU STAND, coming in April, 2015.

Also, her Adult Contemporary Romance, TWO OF HEARTS is releasing on May 5th, 2015.

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REVIEW – When We Met

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The BFF Book Blog reviews, When We Met. Today’s premiere New Adult authors combine their talents to tell four original stories from inside one house.When four girls decide to live off campus together as juniors at a college in Michigan, they expect it to be their best year yet. Little do they know, it’s a year that will change the rest of their lives.

 

BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson

Unable to live down her ex-boyfriend’s deception, Misha is determined to avoid betrayal. When, the new guy next door, Darryn starts to get under her skin, her defenses start to crumble. But trusting Darryn seems impossible, especially if he’s not sure he can trust himself.

SAVING ME by Molly McAdams

On the outside, Indy is always ready for a party—but inside she’s breaking. Kier makes a weekly routine of saving the girl next door from herself on Saturday nights… but when will she be ready to remember him on Sunday morning?

FOULING OUT by Tiffany King

Working at a sports bar, Courtney has become a pro at sidestepping propositions from arrogant jocks—which makes her a more elusive catch for campus basketball star Dalton than he expected. But when he falls for the saucy waitress, Dalton will have to rethink his game plan to prove he’s not the jerk Courtney expects.

BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee

In order to ace her fashion internship, Chloe must team up with local college dropout and set builder, Blake—much to her chagrin. But after some “hands-on” experience, Chloe will have to ask herself if Blake factors into her carefully laid plans…

BFF K’s Review:

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I’ll admit, I normally shy away from novellas. Unless it’s a series where I’m already really invested in the characters, I’ve always felt that novellas are a little like eating a whole bag of Skittles….Sure, they’re tasty and they make me happy, but I’m always left wanting something more substantial.

BUT, this book is working hard to change my mind! Plus, it is an incredible chance to get a glimpse into the fantastic writing styles of several of the genre’s best authors. I’ve followed several of these authors on Facebook forever, but haven’t had the chance to read their work. (Looking at you, Molly McAdams!) So, this was a great way to get a glimpse at writing styles. Now that I know what I’ve been missing, I have several more authors to add to my go-to-lists!

I will definitely reconsider my stance on novellas. I’ve usually thought that the character development in novellas is weak. I was a little over 1/2 way through the book and declared (in my Kindle notes) that “when a writer is skilled at building deep, rich, beautiful characters you don’t need a full length novel to get to become invested in the characters!” Trying to pick my favorite from these 4 stories seems a like trying to pick my favorite treat in a tasty appetizer sampler….it’s really hard, depends on what you’re hungry for and sometimes just can’t be done! 🙂

BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson – Misha and Darryn have a really sweet story and A.L. Jackson’s writing seems to flow like poetry.

SAVING ME by Molly McAdams – Kier is amazing. He’s the kind of book boyfriend that you wish for your BFF. This is particularly true if your BFF has had a run of really bad luck like Indy. They’re two lost souls who find each other in a really unique and heartfelt way, with lots of unexpected twists I didn’t see coming!

FOULING OUT by Tiffany King – I loved the story of Dalton and Courtney! I’m a sucker for an athlete love story, especially when the heroine is immune to the skills. This story was really sweet! You’ll likely find yourself wishing that Dalton was trying to prove his love for YOU!

BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee – Blake and Chloe have a wonderful, opposites attract story. They seem like such an unlikely match from the outside, but each brings out some really wonderful characteristics in the other!

The only thing the book didn’t deliver was a glimpse into the relationship(s) between the roommates. It was a feature that I was expecting, but there’s not a ton of interaction or relationships built among the girls. That’s not a criticism, just an observation. The overall icon ratings are difficult because each book brings a little something different to the table, but I’ll do my best! All in all, this is a really sweet NA read with romance, a little angst, a few steamy scenes and stories that end in happily ever afters!
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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Come to Me Quietly, Come to Me Softly, Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!

Instagram @aljacksonauthor

 

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iPhone and iPad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

For information on any of Author Tiffany’s titles, visit her blog at www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com
Where to connect with Author Tiffany
Twitter@AuthorTiffany
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Email– authortiffany@yahoo.com

 

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.

Come be my friend!


Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son–her two favorite guys.



She’s addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.



Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin. ALL OF YOU, BEFORE YOU BREAK and WHISPER TO ME available now, PROMISE ME THIS on October 7th, 2014.



Also Adult contemporary romance TWO OF HEARTS coming from Peguin/NAL on May 5th 2015.