Review – Falling with Style by CM Foss

Lawrence and Steph Brooks spent years fighting their love, and then they fought their way back to each other. After earning their happy, swoon-worthy ending, they were intent on keeping it.

But a few years, a fledgling business, and a couple of kids later, Steph and Lawrence learn that falling in love was the easy part and happily ever after isn’t for sissies. With life bearing down on them, they can’t always escape the fall, but they can do it with style.

*Falling with Style is a companion novella to Swoon, but may be read as a standalone.*

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BFF K’s Review of Falling with Style

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“The Happily Ever After is never the end, it’s just the beginning.” This is a quote from CM Foss about the premise behind Falling with Style, and I love this idea. The idea that the lives and loves of our favorite characters continue after we finish a books’ final chapter. This novella is really a continuation of Lawrence and Steph’s stories started in her previous books.

TRUE CONFESSION TIME…I haven’t read Swoon or Shiver – YET! I prove the theory that this book can be read as a stand-alone and it is perfectly enjoyable. BUT, now I am anxious to read Swoon and Shiver to get all of the back-stories that I know I’m missing.

I can relate to Lawrence and Steph. They’re busy. Full-time jobs and a full-time family, they’re trying to balance all of the important things in life and still find time for one another. There are a couple of instances of “interrupted romance” that had me laughing out loud. But, what spoke to me the most about this novella is the tenderness and commitment that Lawrence and Steph have for one another. With all of the distractions and frustrations, they love each other to the core. They’re committed to creating a joyful and fulfilling life together. That kind of love and devotion is truly a Happily Ever After.

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An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

 

About the Author

CM Foss is a hopeless romantic with a love for the written word. When she was little, her mom would ration her books so she wouldn’t go through them too quickly. It didn’t matter, she would just re-read. She’s always been an avid equestrian, competing in the top levels of Three Day Eventing by age seventeen. CM now resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and kids where they own and operate their own equestrian business, as well as raising grass-fed, sustainable meats. She doesn’t have this thing people call “free time”, but she does spend a weird amount of time writing, reading, playing with her kids, milking goats, and drinking wine, while avoiding bananas at all costs. Other books by CM Foss include Shiver, Swoon, and City Beautiful.

Review – Claimed by Love by Melissa Foster

Family law attorney Gabriella Liakos has one true love, Elpitha Island, where she grew up and hopes someday to return. But Elpitha is in financial ruins, and Gabriella will do anything to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.

Duke Ryder is a savvy real estate investor set on making Elpitha into an exclusive resort. Unlike other investors, he’s not scared of purchasing a property where one family has roots so deep they practically reach the ocean floor…until he meets his beautiful, stubborn, and enticing tour host―the daughter of the owner of most of the island.

Gabriella sets out to dissuade Duke from purchasing Elpitha, but Duke has other ideas. He wants Gabriella and the island. Duke’s powerful seduction draws Gabriella in, but can a savvy investor who’s used to glamour and glitz, and a woman interested in preserving the culture she adores find a happily ever after together?

 

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Check out BFF K’s Review of Seized by Love – Ryders #1

BFF K’s Review of Claimed by Love

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You have to be ok with Insta-Love….Just a warning about this story line. When Duke and Gabriella meet one another there is an instant chemistry and attraction that overwhelms them both. Their trip from strangers to soul mates is so quick it will leave you spinning. If you’re ok with Insta-Love, this is a really wonderful, romantic, heart-felt story.

Gabriella grew up on the fictional island of Elpitha. Though she spends her days as a successful family attorney in NYC, her heart longs to be on the island surrounded by family and friends. Duke comes to the island to consider the possibility of investing in the property and turning it into a bright and shiny playground for people with time and money to spend. But, when he meets Gabriella, his thoughts are only about saving the island and preserving her visions of both what it is and what it can be.

There is tension in the story, a push and pull of Gabriella and Duke learning one another and learning how to trust one another. (Though that’s not really surprising considering the short time they’ve known each other.) There is no denying the spark that ignites between the two and their roller coaster relationship is steamy and sweet, just be sure to hold on for the quick and wild ride!

If you can accept and embrace an Insta-Love story with a sweet and determined heroine and a protective, caring, committed alpha hero, then this is definitely a one-click. Claimed by Love is a solid romance that takes the reader on a fun little ride.

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An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

 

Giveaway

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About the Author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Review – Built by Jay Crownover

Sometimes a real hero lets you save yourself . . .

Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation while Zeb spends his working with his hands. But none of that has stopped Zeb from wanting the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her—even if the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest.

Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior. When he shows up at Sayer’s door needing her professional help, she’s both disappointed and relieved that she won’t get the chance to find out just how good he could be.

But as they team up to right a wrong and save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide cannot be ignored.

Amazon US ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo

BFF K’s Review of Built

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Are you looking for a bold, bearded, tattooed, reformed, sensitive, alpha Book Boyfriend? You need to meet Zeb! He is all of those things and so much more. When he finds himself faced with a circumstance that would send most people running in the opposite direction; he steps up and embraces his situation in a way that you wish everyone would. Through all of the changes in his life, Zeb has a bone-deep belief that Sayer is meant to be with him. He’s not intimidated or cowed by the fact that she’s smart, well-educated and independent. He finds her personal strength appealing and helps to uncover a softer side to her personality. Zeb loves every part of her.

Sayer is a strong female character who is almost strong to a fault. She’s so determined to take care of things on her own that she doesn’t want to be vulnerable and let Zeb into her life. Her process of growth and self-awareness is an interesting journey. She has a growing circle of friends and family. Sayer is accepting of people and has a strong desire to help and support those she loves.

When Zeb and Sayer finally come together, the chemistry is explosive. (I may never look at a freshly painted wall the same way again!)

Ahhhh, I’m in love with the new Saints of Denver series by Jay Crownover! I can’t wait for more. A couple of additional notes: I did a combo read/listen and the audio format of this book is outstanding. I own most of Jay Crownover’s Marked Men series. Though I know I will love them, I’ve never had time to get through the entire series. Even though the Saints of Denver is a spin off of that Marked Men series, I’m proof that you don’t have to read the first to thoroughly enjoy the new series and characters. Built is a really solid choice for an outstanding, steamy, contemporary romance. It’s a definite one-click recommendation!

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About the Author

Jay Crownover lives in Colorado. She loves tattoos and body modification and loves to incorporate what she sees into her writing. She loves to read, particularly any kind of great story that engages; and of course a pretty, tatted-up bad boy always makes it better.

Website ** Blog ** Facebook ** Twitter

BUILT Goodreads ** Jay Crownover Goodreads

Review – Where Lightning Strikes by A.L. Jackson

The BFF’s are thrilled to bring you an amazing review for Where Lightning Strikes by A.L. Jackson. This new release is an absolute must-read!

Do you know what it feels like right before lightning strikes? How you can feel the current running through your veins? The trembles of warning that ripple through the air? It was a thrill Tamar King chased all her life until it became the very thing she had to escape.

For the last four years, Tamar King has hidden herself in an isolated world she created. She was safe. No one could touch her. Until Lyrik West walked through her door.

He’s the lead guitarist for Sunder and everything she can never have. The dark and beautiful rock star becomes everything she craves.

Lyrik’s life has been devoted to his band and that success has cost him. Bitter, hard, and filled with regret, he refuses to lose himself again, but from the moment he sees her, he wants one night with Tamar King.

The gorgeous bartender is more than he bargained for. Their attraction is consuming. Their desire overpowering. With one touch, they ignite.

But is it worth the cost of getting burned?

She’s a gorgeous nightmare and he’s a wicked dream…

WHERE LIGHTNING STRIKES, a Bleeding Stars Stand-Alone Novel

Purchase Links

     iBooks     Amazon


BFF K’s Review

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A.L. Jackson writes books that feel more like poetry or song lyrics. Her newest novel, Where Lightning Strikes is just another example of her exceptional writing. I always have to plan a little extra time when I start a book by A.L. Jackson. I know that her words and phrases are so lovely that I will definitely need time to re-read and savor them.

Where Lightning Strikes is the 3rd book in the Bleeding Stars series. We get glimpses of Sebastian and Shea (from books 1&2), but this book is really all Lyrik and Tamar. And, OMG – Lyrik….. If you’ve read the first two books in this series, you know that Sunder is a band with some baggage. The members of the band have been to hell and back together. They have stayed together and their loyalty to the band and to one another is remarkable. That loyalty has also been a tremendous burden for Lyrik. But, there is also a heartbreaking gentleness in this broken soul. He sees in Tamar a kindred spirit and he is drawn to her with a push and pull that’s irresistible.

Tamar is broken. But, she tries to shelter those broken pieces behind an armor of toughness. That shield protects her from everyone except Lyrik. He chips away at the barriers and burrows his way into her life. Tamar is a survivor, but will she survive Lyrik’s impact on her protective barrier and her heart?

Where Lightning Strikes is an emotional, angst-filled journey through the past, present and future for two broken and damaged souls who find courage, hope and love in one another. As much as I liked the first two books in this series, Where Lightning Strikes absolutely blew me away. While I tend to avoid the more angst-ridden, super emotional reads, I will make an exception to that for books by A.L. Jackson. With this novel, she has done it again. I’m left with both the tear tracks and the overwhelming hope and love she has crafted in every passage. This entire series is an absolute one-click recommendation!

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An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Trailer

 

Giveaway

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Check out BFF K’s Review for A Stone in the Sea, Book #1 in the Bleeding Stars Series

Check out BFF K’s Review for Drowning to Breathe, Book #2 in the Bleeding Stars Series

 

About the Author

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.

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.

Connect with A.L. Jackson online:www.aljacksonauthor.com

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!

 

FACEBOOK      TWITTER      GOODREADS      AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Review – Serving Trouble by Sara Jane Stone

Enter below to Win a Print Set of 
Sara’s Independence Falls Series, including,
FULL EXPOSURE, CAUGHT IN THE ACT, 
HERO BY NIGHT and WILD WITH YOU

 

Serving Trouble by Sara Jane Stone

SERVING TROUBLE
Second Shot #1
Sara Jane Stone
Releasing March 8th, 2016
Avon Impulse

 

The first sexy contemporary romance in Sara Jane Stone’s brand new Second Shot
series!

 

Five years ago, Josie Fairmore left timber country in search of a bright future. Now she’s back home with a mountain of debt and reeling from a loss that haunts her. Desperate for a job, she turns to the one man she wishes she could avoid. The man who rocked her world one wild night and then walked right out of it.

 

Former Marine Noah Tager is managing his dad’s bar and holding tight to the feeling that his time overseas led to failure. The members of his small town think he’s a war hero, but after everything he’s witnessed, Noah doesn’t want a pat on the back. The only thing he desires is a second chance with his best friend’s little sister.

 

Josie’s determined to hold onto her heart and not repeat her mistakes, but when danger arrives on Noah’s doorstep and takes aim at Josie, they just might discover that sometimes love is worth the risk.
 BUY NOW
 

Review

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The minute I finished Running Wild, the prequel novel to Serving Trouble, I went in search of the continuation of Josie and Noah’s story. (If you haven’t read Running Wild, you should go download and read that immediately!) I was drawn to Josie and Noah. I like the “Siblings BFF” trope and this one sets up beautifully.

Josie has a less than stellar reputation around her small town and she was anxious to break free of the confines and people’s perceptions. Noah is the hometown hero; a High School football star turned war veteran who has returned to take over the family business, Buck’s Bar. Oh yeah, he is also Josie’s brother’s best friend. Outside of one wild night just before Noah left for the service, (Running Wild) they have kept their distance despite a mutual attraction and shared affection. Noah is working behind the bar when Josie rolls into town desperate for a job. It doesn’t take long for the two to give in to their mutual attraction and overwhelming physical and emotional needs for one another.

Sara Jane Stone has woven a tale full of both romance and suspense. Josie and Noah are rich and complex characters. When they are threatened by an unknown source, both Josie and Noah must fight to stay together and safe. Both characters are independent and strong, but they want to share life’s struggles and to be a support for one another.

This was my first novel by Sara Jane Stone and I’m anxious for more in this Second Shot Series. I read Serving Trouble on a road trip and was so consumed by the story and the characters that miles and hours passed in the blink of an eye. There’s just enough mystery to keep the pages turning and more than enough steam to keep it interesting. If you’re looking for a solid romance with great characters and an engrossing story, Serving Trouble is a solid choice!

 

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An Advance Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway

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Make sure to pick up RUNNING WILD, the FREE Prequel Novella

Read BFF K’s Review of Running Wild

Amazon | B & N | Google Play 

About the Author

 

 

After several years on the other side of the publishing industry, Sara Jane Stone bid goodbye to her sales career to pursue her dream-writing romance novels. Sara Jane currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her very supportive real-life hero, two lively young children and a lazy Burmese cat. Join Sara Jane’s newsletter to receive new release information, news about contests, giveaways, and more! Visit www.sarajanestone.com and look for her newsletter entry form.
 
 

 

Review – Game Changer by Collette West

 

Title: Game Changer
Series: New York Kings #1
Author: Collette West
Genre: Sports Romance (18+)
Published: July 15, 2014 
Young, rich, and unaware of how seriously hot he is, Brooks Davison is tearing it up as the latest shortstop for the New York Kings, despite his tendency to blush whenever girls scream his name. 
When a health scare forces his best friend, Kyle Roberts, off the team, no one can stomach the thought of replacing him, especially so close to the playoffs. 
Until Kyle’s sister, Sasha, steps in, convincing management to let her take his place. The idea of signing the first female player in Major League history proves too tempting for the Kings to resist. 
Nevertheless, Brooks doesn’t want any part of it. Sasha is Kyle’s little sister, not some sideshow. 
Yet when Kyle takes a turn for the worse, Brooks promises to do everything in his power to help Sasha win a championship for him. Because there’s no way he’s letting either of them down. Not now, not ever.

BFF K’s Review

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Game Changer is the first book in the New York Kings Series, each of the books in this baseball-themed, sports romance, series is a stand-alone with interconnected characters. I have now read book #1 and book #5 in the series and enjoyed them both. I’m anxious to read more of the stories from the NY Kings!

I love baseball and I consider myself to have above-average knowledge of the sport, for a girl. Game Changer does require a true baseball fan to envision a woman successfully playing for a major league team. Sasha Roberts is the little sister of three major league baseball playing brothers. She’s grown up around the sport and has a sincere love of the game. When her brother Kyle is stricken with a genetic heart condition that takes him out of the game, Sasha rushes to NYC to be by her brother’s side. One of Kyle’s biggest stressors is the stability of his position with the Kings. Sasha decides to offer herself at the mercy of the Kings leadership and asks to take her brother’s place on the team until he’s healthy enough to return. While I love this premise and I’m all for the girl-power message, which is really well done, I had to suspend my disbelief and accept the idea that this could actually happen. Once I decided to let fantasy rule and go where the book lead me, it was a fun little trip.

Brooks Davsison is not only the short stop for the Kings, he’s also the best friend of Kyle Roberts. They’ve grown up through the minor leagues together and have each other’s backs. But, Kyle is not at all keen on Brooks’ interest in his little sister. But, with Kyle on the injured reserve and Sasha as his new teammate, Brooks can no longer deny his long held feelings for Sasha.

What ensues is a tension-filled relationship full of ups and downs. Brooks and Sasha are thrown together and pulled apart repeatedly. But, the development of their relationship and the push and pull of their situation makes for a fun and enjoyable read. Brooks is a terrific hero. He’s just enough of an alpha male to be protective and possessive, but he has a sweet and sensitive side. Brooks also sees Sasha as a true teammate, more than just a PR gimmick and way more than just Kyle’s little sister. Sasha is bold and headstrong, but also sweet and vulnerable. Her emotions, fears and excitement as the first woman in major league baseball seem to be authentic reactions for someone who might be thrown into that scenario.

If you enjoy a sweet, romantic, fantasy with a sports twist, this is definitely a book to place on your TBR. West obviously understands the game of baseball and does a great job of making the baseball talk approachable for people at various interest and experience levels. I’m looking forward to getting to know more of the NY Kings players and I’m also looking forward to West’s new spin-off series (Stockton Beaver Series) coming soon.

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An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

Excerpt

I’m in a fitful kind of sleep, one arm tossed over my face, one leg hanging off the bed, when I hear a rapping at my door.

My heart starts to pound. What if it’s some demented stalker fan? I pull the covers up to my chin, determined to wait it out. But when it comes again, my curiosity gets the better of me and I inch slowly off the bed. Going stealthily step by step, I take a deep breath and look through the peephole.

I gasp when I see Brooks standing there.

My heart goes from a dull pounding to full-on somersault mode. I run my hands through my hair. I must look a wreck. But why should I care?

Because he’s pacing outside my room in the middle of the night.

He knocks again, and I unfasten the chain and twist the lock before I change my mind. His feet are bare, and he’s wearing nothing but a faded Pac Man shirt and his boxers. He shouldn’t be out here looking like he just rolled out of bed, but he is.

The way his eyes are roaming across my body makes me conscious of the fact that I’m only wearing a pair of itty-bitty shorts and a flimsy tank. I cross my ankles and fold my arms around myself in an attempt to bolster my courage.

“Don’t,” he whispers, stepping across the threshold. His hands encircle my wrists, gently pulling them away from my body. “You’re too beautiful to cover yourself up.” He presses the door closed with the back of his foot, extinguishing whatever light was streaming in from the hallway.

Now we’re alone together in the darkness of my room, and I’m kind of glad he can’t read my face. I’m too conflicted. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know why he’s here. But if I’m being honest, I’m glad that he is. He’s finally making the effort to reach out to me instead of leaving me in the barren wasteland I’ve been living in. Oh, how I’ve missed basking in the warmth of his smile.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, feeling the heat of his body against mine.

“Apologizin’,” he says in that sexy twang of his, drawing out every syllable.

The New York Kings Series

About the Author

Collette West grew up as somewhat of a jock-nerd hybrid. Entering the world three weeks premature, her dad nearly missed her birth because he had seats behind the dugout for a sold-out, highly-anticipated match-up between two of baseball’s biggest rivals. Not to be outdone, her book-loving mom taught her how to read by the time she was three. A love of the game coupled with an appreciation for the written word were instilled in Collette’s impressionable brain from a young age. No wonder her characters believe in the philosophy: sports + romance = a little slice of heaven.
Splitting her time between the Pocono Mountains and Manhattan, Collette indulges her inner fangirl by going to as many games as she can from hockey to baseball and downloading every sports romance novel in existence onto her iPad. When she’s not clicking away on her laptop, she enjoys walking her dog in Central Park, satisfying her caffeine craving at the Starbucks on Broadway and keeping an eye out for Mr. Right. But above all, she loves dishing with her readers.
She is the author of the New York Kings series which includes: GAME CHANGER, GAME ON, PERFECT GAME, INSIDE GAME and GAME WINNER and the Stockton Beavers series which includes: SINGLE.


HOSTED BY:

 

 

Review – Jockblocked by Jen Frederick

She’s always played it safe… College junior Lucy Washington abides by one rule—avoid risk at all costs. She’s cautious in every aspect of her life, from her health, to her mock trial team, to the boring guys she dates. When a brash, gorgeous jock walks into the campus coffeeshop and turns his flirt on, Lucy is stunned by the force of attraction. For the first time ever, she’s willing to step out of her comfort zone, but can she really trust the guy who’s determined to sweep her off her feet? He’s always played around…

Entering his last year of college eligibility, linebacker Matthew “Matty” Iverson has the team captaincy in his sights. And it’s his for the taking, if he can convince his quarterback Ace Anderson to give up the starting position. Luckily, Matty already has an edge—the hottie he’s lusting over just happens to be Ace’s childhood best friend. Getting Lucy on his side and in his bed? Hell yeah. Matty is more than confident he can have both, but when he falls hard for Lucy, it’s time for a new game plan: convince the woman of his dreams that she’s not sleeping with the enemy.

Purchase Links

BFF K’s Review

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Sexy, passionate, sweet, sincere, hot-as-hell, football player falls for a kind, thoughtful, hard-working, risk-averse girl and turns their lives upside down! And, it’s a great read!

Jockblocked is just what you hope for when you select an NA sports romance. Matt Iverson meets Lucy Washington in the college coffee shop and is immediately drawn to her. He’s not the kind of guy to give up when he sets his sites on something he wants; and he wants Lucy. Of course, it’s not that simple. There is strife within the football team and Lucy’s childhood BFF and the current quarterback on the team is right at the heart of the drama. This drama causes complications for Matty and Lucy too.

Matt and Lucy and wonderful characters. They’re real and rough and learning to trust each other and themselves. The football talk is spot on and tons of fun, particularly if you’re already a fan. Jockblocked is a delightful story about a super hot football player and the girl he falls for. If you’re a fan of sports based romance, this is a definite one-click!

 

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@jensfrederick #Jockblocked #hotjocks #sexyreads #sportsromance #football #pheremones #oil

A photo posted by BFF Book Blog (@bffbookblog) on

 

About the Author

Jen lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

Review – The Bride Wore Starlight by Lizbeth Selvig


Once comfortable on stage in front of thousands, Joely Crockett is now mortified at the thought of walking—or rolling—down the aisle at her sisters’ wedding. Scarred and wheelchair-bound, the former beauty queen has lost more than the ability to walk—she’s lost her fire. But when one handsome, arrogant guest accuses her of milking her injuries and ignites her ire, Joely finally starts to feel truly alive again, and soon it’s impossible for her to resist her heart’s desire.

Alec Morrissey knows a little something about loss. A famous rodeo cowboy before he was injured in Iraq, he’s managed to create something of a normal life, even if it’s not the one he always imagined. Encountering stunning but damaged Joely, he sees a kindred spirit who can learn from his mistakes.

As these two healing souls begin to fall in love under the Wyoming stars, they must discover if they are willing to give in to the tragedies of life or fight for a future together.

Purchase Links

Barnes & Noble / Amazon / iBooks / GooglePlay

BFF K’s Review

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The Bride Wore Starlight is so much more than it appears to be from the outside. I might have gone into this with a preconceived notion about what to expect. I was planning on a light, fluffy, quick-read romance. What I found instead was a deeply rich, character driven, tension-filled, emotional read that was intensely satisfying.

Joely and Alec are both physically damaged, rocked by massive bodily injuries in the prime of their lives. Alec has a head start on the physical and emotional healing. When he meets Joely, he sees in her a suffering, kindred spirit who needs a kick in the pants to get out of her own head. As Joely accepts the healing guidance of Alec, she recognizes that there are still issues he has to tackle as well. What unfolds is a powerful story of trans-formative love. The love Alec and Joely create heals them both physically and emotionally.

There’s a fantastic HEA with a delicious epilogue. I was timid about the country/cowboy angle of the story. I grew up (and still live) in Nebraska. Though I was a ‘city kid,’ I’ve had many rodeo and ranch experiences. I wasn’t sure what I would think of the cowboy genre. I was pleasantly surprised. This book is well done. If you have ever entertained thoughts of a rugged, sexy as sin, cocky cowboy – this book will bring that to life in spades! (I mentally cast Scott Eastwood in the role of Alec!)

Joely transforms from a damaged, self-pitying, lost girl. As Alec helps Joely to heal and rebuild, he breaks down his own walls and overcomes his own fears. There are inherent tensions as they each conquer their own demons and learn to trust each other. The journey is inspiring and fulfilling. The Bride Wore Starlight delivers a super sexy, heartwarming romance for two characters who desperately deserve a happily ever after.

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An advance copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

Check out this post for an excerpt from The Bride Wore Starlight AND a special interview with Lizbeth Selvig.

About the Author

Lizbeth Selvig lives in Minnesota with her best friend (aka her husband), and a gray Arabian gelding. After working as a newspaper journalist and magazine editor, and raising an equine veterinarian daughter and a talented musician son, she won RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart® Contest in 2010 with her contemporary romance The Rancher and the Rock Star. In her spare time, she loves to hike, quilt, read, horseback ride, and spend time with her new granddaughter. She also has four-legged grandchildren—more than twenty—including a wallaby, two alpacas, a donkey, a pig, a sugar glider, and many dogs, cats, and horses (pics of all appear on her website www.lizbethselvig.com). She loves connecting with readers—contact her any time!

 

Review – Some Sort of Love by Melanie Harlow

 

This is one of BFF K’s favorite reads so far in 2016!

 

 

Title: Some Sort of Love
Series: Happy Crazy Love #3
Author: Melanie Harlow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
 Release Date: February 9, 2016

On the surface, I have it all—a career I adore, a loving family, the Nixon metabolism but not the Nixon ears, and a salary that supports my lavish taste in designer shoes, fine wine, and lacy lingerie…but I have no one to share it with.

Until the day I run into him—my one night stand from college with the cocky smile, let’s-get-out-of-here eyes, and dirty, dirty mouth.

Levi Brooks is six feet four inches of hot bearded fantasy. A sexy single dad with broad shoulders, strong hands, and a fantastically big…heart. (I mean, it’s massive. And generous. And it pumps so hard… um. Sorry. Lost my place.)

But he lives for his son, and he’s keeping me at a distance because he thinks I deserve someone better—a man who can give me more time, more attention, more of himself. He doesn’t believe he could ever be enough.

But he’s wrong.

He’s everything.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK   

KOBO / iBOOKS

BFF K’s Review

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Some Sort of Love is the continuation of this absolutely wonderful series by Melanie Harlow. And, one of my best reads for far in 2016. If you haven’t read the other books in the series, you’ll want to start now. Though each is a standalone, the characters are interconnected. I can’t imagine missing out on any of these great stories. The thought of missing these makes me feel sad. Seriously, not exaggerating, the thought of never having read these books makes me sad!

Some Sort of Love is the story of Jillian and Levi. A VERY brief college tryst is reignited when the two run into one another at a wedding. (I won’t say whose!) The attraction and chemistry is immediate and off-the-charts! But, life isn’t as simple as it was in undergrad. Both Jillian and Levi have demanding careers and Levi is the single father to a son with special needs. These are some rough waters to navigate and the couple must decide if their attraction and affections are a strong enough foundation to build a new life together.

Some Sort of Love brings back an incredible cast of characters – Jillian’s sisters, Skylar and Natalie and their men Sebastian and Miles. I love each of these books for so many reasons. I love each of these couples and their unique struggles and circumstances. I absolutely can’t pick a favorite!

And, let me just spend a minute worshiping all that is Melanie Harlow. I’m absolutely head over heels for her storytelling. Melanie Harlow creates characters that are a lovely combination of strong and vulnerable. There’s something so relate-able and insightful about her characters, it’s like you get a glimpse into yourself through the lens of her terrific players. The steamy scenes she dreams up are second to none. And, Harlow can describe a simple cocktail that makes my mouth water!

It was 2am when I finished Some Sort of Love and it’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! If you haven’t read the Happy, Crazy, Love series – start right now, PLEASE! This entire series is packed with wonderful, emotional, dreamy romance and the most incredibly human, deliciously flawed characters. I finished this book in less than a day and I will be recommending it for weeks!

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An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

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 Favorite Quotes

“Love isn’t a finite thing in the universe. It’s not like it gets used up by people who get there first.”

“Harry Potter fan, huh? So what are the chances I can Slytherin to your chamber of secrets tonight?”

“Ah, wine. Wine was my friend. Wine understood me. Wine knew it was entirely possible to be one hundred percent happy for your sisters and also ten percent jealous, because Wine does not care about mathematics. And Wine would never ask why I didn’t have a man by age thirty. Wine and I had spent enough alone time together that Wine knew it wasn’t that I didn’t want to find love-of course I did. But it was fucking hard.”

” ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m thinking about kissing you.’

‘Stop thinking.’ ”

“Over sea bass and grilled tuna we shared firsts and favorites,”

“I’d rather be someone’s shot of whiskey than everyone’s cup of tea.”

Excerpt

“So.” I glanced out the windows to the patio. “You want to go back out there?”

“Not really,” she said.

“You want to get out of here?”

She grinned. “Yeah. I do.”

I watched her rush up the stairs to get her things, and as soon as she was out of sight, I adjusted myself in my pants. My dick had jumped to life the second she said yeah, I do, as if the question had been you want to get naked and fuck? rather than something much less suggestive. Not that I didn’t want to get naked and fuck—hopefully I’d last a little longer than I had in the broom closet eleven years ago—but I didn’t want to make her feel like that’s what I expected. She wasn’t a horny nineteen-year-old college student anymore; she was a doctor, for fuck’s sake. She was beautiful and smart and mature and sophisticated, and a woman like her did not want some Neanderthal who probably needed a haircut and a new pair of shoes to throw her up against a wall for a five-minute fuck.

A woman like that deserved attention all night long. She deserved someone who would undress her slowly and delight in each new inch of her skin as it was revealed. Someone who would run his hands all over her body and find out where she liked to be touched, how she liked to be touched, what she wanted to hear whispered to her in the dark. Someone who would wrap those gloriously long legs around his neck and use his tongue until she begged for his cock, then use his cock until she begged for mercy.

Fuck. I could be that guy.

Except I couldn’t be. Not tonight. Because I wasn’t a horny college student anymore either—I was just a horny single dad who didn’t have the luxury of taking a woman home and lavishing all my time and attention on her the way I wanted to.

As soon as I had the thought, I felt guilty. Scotty was the love of my life and always would be, and whenever I felt the slightest bit resentful about something I couldn’t do because of him, that resentment was immediately crushed by shame. He didn’t ask to be born wired differently, into a terrible relationship, to a mother who would decide she couldn’t handle being a parent, to a father who wasn’t prepared for any of it. He was completely innocent, and he needed me to be a better man.

Running a hand through my hair, I exhaled and wondered if I should ask Jillian for a raincheck on a night when Scotty’s usual sitter could be there. If he woke up again and I wasn’t home yet, he might never get back to sleep. We’d be up all night, tomorrow would be miserable, and the whole start to the week would be off.

But she was so beautiful. And I hadn’t been this attracted to someone in so long.

“Fuck,” I muttered, checking my watch. What was the right thing to do? If she were a different sort of woman, if her brother-in-law weren’t my friend and client, if we lived three states apart…if any number of circumstances were changed, I’d grab her hand, drag her out to my car, and spend the next thirty minutes fucking her brains out in the back seat. It would feel so good to take control that way, to lose control that way, to release some of this fucking tension. But was that fair to her?

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

“Hello?”

“He’s up again.” Monica’s voice was strained, and in the background I heard the familiar keening of a nighttime meltdown. My chest hurt, the way it always did when Scotty was upset.

“Shit. OK, I’m on my way. Twenty minutes, OK? Thirty at the most.”

“OK.”

“Tell him he can play on his iPad.”

“That’ll just rile him up more. He’s tired. He needs to go to sleep.”

I clenched my fist. “Just do it, OK? It will help calm him until I get there.”

As I ended the call, I heard footsteps above, and then Jillian appeared at the top of the stairs carrying a small suitcase. I watched her descend, the tightness in my chest growing. Also the tightness in my pants. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she said, her face concerned as she reached the ground and saw my expression. She set down the suitcase. “What’s up?”

Sighing, I put my phone back in my pocket. “I have to get home. Scotty woke up and he’s upset.”

“Oh.” She tried to hide it, but I saw the disappointment in her eyes.

“I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“That’s OK. I understand.”

“Can I call you?”

“Of course.” She smiled, and her lips looked so soft and inviting, I took a step closer.

If you kiss her, it will be that much harder to leave.

I knew it was the truth, but I couldn’t help myself. One kiss. Just one. And then I’ll go. I moved even closer and took her head in my hands.

The curve of her smile deepened. “What are you doing?”

“I’m thinking about kissing you.”

“Stop thinking.”

I lowered my lips to hers and let them rest there, fully intending the kiss to be short and sweet, just a goodnight.

But I couldn’t break it off. I wanted more—I wanted to taste her. Slanting my head, I changed the angle of the kiss, teasing her mouth open with mine, slipping my tongue between her lips. A little sigh escaped her, and my dick jumped to life again.

You have to go, you have to go, you have to go.

But her hands were moving up my chest and my fingers were sliding into her soft brown hair and I could smell something sweet and citrusy on her skin and it mingled with the taste of whiskey on my tongue and oh God, I wanted my tongue everywhere on her body. I wanted make her come with it just so I could hear that little sigh again and again and again. And I wanted to feel my hands in her hair just like this while she got on her knees and took my cock between her lips, looking up at me with those big blue eyes…

Groaning, I forced myself to take my lips off her before I completely lost my senses. “God, I wish I could stay,” I said, resting my forehead against hers. “I wish a lot of things.”

“I know.” She played with my tie again. “I wish I was taking this tie off you, not straightening it.”

“What a coincidence, that’s one of my wishes too.”

She laughed and kissed me quickly. “Another time, maybe. You better go.”

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK
AMAZON US / UK

About the Author

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

 

Review – Chasing Spring by R.S. Grey

 

Chasing Spring Release Day Blitz
Title: Chasing Spring
Author: R.S. Grey
Release Date: Feb 1, 2016
Find on Goodreads
Chasing Spring Cover
I thought I’d left Blackwater, Texas behind for good. I didn’t belong in the small town, but my dad wouldn’t listen. He dragged me back home in his beat-up truck and dropped a bomb along the way: Chase Matthews was moving in with us. He was the golden boy of my high school, my former best friend, and the last person I wanted sleeping across the hall. His presence was too great a reminder of the ghosts I was trying to forget.

 

I didn’t ask for a hero. I don’t want to be saved.

 

To me, Lilah Calloway meant late nights sneakin’ out, moonlit hair, and sparklers in July. She was my best friend until the day she left and I’d assumed Blackwater had seen the last of her. Then, like a tempest, she rolled back into town for the final half of senior year. The chopped hair and dark devil-may-care attitude warned most people away, but I knew if I fought hard enough, I could find the lost girl.

 

I didn’t want to be her hero. Some girls don’t need to be saved.

 

BFF K’s Review

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R.S. Grey is a master of the rom-com. I was a little anxious about cracking open something so different from her usual sweet spot. But, I soon realized there was nothing to fear. Grey is a serious talent. (Pun intended.) Chasing Spring is intense, suspenseful, heart-felt and emotional. It’s one that will definitely stick with me awhile.

Lilah and Chase have been tied together since before their birth. Their stories are complex and intricately interwoven. Lilah and Chase may only be teens, but their experiences have given them an intellect only possessed by those who have faced legitimate struggles and suffering. Lilah finds herself back in Blackwater, Texas, and suddenly roommates with her former best friend. He’s kind, caring, talented, humble, hard working and popular. Chase is the golden boy. This description is so fitting; I would sometimes picture him with a golden aura.

The burdens that Lilah and Chase are struggling to bear seem, at the same time, easier and more desperate when the two are in close proximity to one another. The uncovering of their shared pasts will have you rapidly turning the pages.

I have been an R.S. Grey fan because of her skillfully executed romantic comedies, but this book proves that she is adept in other styles as well. Her skill for crafting complex characters and enjoyable stories knows no boundaries. I am looking forward to many, many more of Grey’s books regardless of the genre.

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An Advance Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

About the Author

 

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things… everyday.
I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m a comedy geek and love all things “funny”. Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.