Review – Wait by A.L. Jackson

 

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From NYT & USA Today bestselling author comes a new Bleeding Stars stand-alone novel…

 

She is his strength and he is her weakness. And this time he won’t let her go.

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Edie Evans is gorgeous.

Sexy.

Kind.

She’s also the definition of off-limits.

But that didn’t stop me from sneaking into her room to comfort her at night.

But guys like me? We destroy everything, so it should have been no surprise when I destroyed us, too.

The night I sent her running, I thought I’d never see her again.

Until I saw her standing like a vision in the crowd.

Austin Stone is dangerous.

Alluring.

Tempting.

He broke my heart and I refused to give him the chance to do it again.

It’s been years since I’ve seen him, and now I can’t do anything but stare at the gorgeous, tattooed man playing onstage. I should run. I know I should. But like a fool, I run straight back to him.

Our desire is overpowering.
Our need unrelenting.

She is my hope.
He is my weakness.

We should have known a passion this intense would burn us right into the ground.

 

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BFF K’s Review of Wait

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I am typically drawn to the lighter, feel-good books. But, if I want something angsty and emotional and beautifully written, I know without a doubt that Amy Jackson will deliver what want and then some!

Wait is the continuation of the Bleeding Stars Series that follows the members of the world-famous band, Sunder. I was sucked into this series from the very beginning with A Stone in the Sea and I feel so deeply invested in the lives and loves of all of these characters. Each book and each story gets better than the last. (And, I’m giddy thinking about Ash getting his world rocked in the next book!)

Austin and Edie are two pieces from the same puzzle. They have both experienced tragedy and heartbreaking losses that have fundamentally changed who they are. The pieces of their broken hearts and souls fit together and belong nowhere else. Both of the characters are flawed and damaged; but at the same time so desperate to fight and be better for themselves and each other. Their story is inspirational and ultimately uplifting though it is encased in layers and layers of angst!

A.L. Jackson’s words are lyrical. I feel like the pages should be set to music to create the most beautiful songs. Her prose and phrasing flow off the page. It is an absolute gift to have a book filled with so much emotion and so many lovely words. While Wait is a stand-alone, you’ll maximize your enjoyment of the book if you read the other books in the series first. This is a book (and series) that should be devoured word for word!

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

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Read BFF K’s Reviews for the rest of the Bleeding Stars Series:

A Stone in the Sea

Drowning to Breathe

Where Lightening Strikes

 

 Book Trailer for Wait

 

About the Author

aljacksonphotoA.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, as well as the newest BLEEDING STARS novels. Watch for the next installments, WAIT and STAY, coming in 2016.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://bit.ly/NewsFromALJackson or text “jackson” to 96000 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

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

Snapchat: aljacksonauthor

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Review – Chased by Love by Melissa Foster

Discover the man behind the music…Boone Stryker

 

CHASED BY LOVE
Love in Bloom: The Ryders #3
Melissa Foster
Releasing Aug 17th, 2016
World Literary Press

 

Actress Trish Ryder takes her job seriously and has no time for those who don’t. When she’s awarded a major role in a new movie featuring America’s hottest rock star, Boone Stryker, she’s beyond excited. The six-two, tattooed hunk of burning desire is known for his dedication to his craft—but when he ditches their first meeting, she begins to wonder if he’s just another rocker with a great PR team.

Sex, booze, women, and music pretty much sum up Boone Stryker’s private world. He’s coasted through life playing by his own rules with plenty of people willing to cover his tracks, and he’s not likely to change—until he meets a woman who refuses to give him the time of day, much less anything more.

Sparks fly from the first moment Trish and Boone meet—Tensions run hot and desire runs hotter when they’re trapped together on a remote location with no place to hide. Will sparks ignite, or will a hurricane douse the flames?

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BFF K’s Review of Chased by Love

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This book was such a wonderful surprise! I’ve read all of the books in the Ryder’s Series that have been released to date, so I was confident that I would read a good book. They have all been interesting and enjoyable reads, but Chased by Love is definitely my favorite so far! This book is a great combo of characters we know, and blended storylines from Foster’s other series’, combined with a really strong Rockstar/Hollywood Actress trope. The result is a thoroughly fulfilling page turner! (Though this is the 3rd in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone.)

Trish Ryder has the movie role of a lifetime and the chance to work with world famous, and super HOT, rockstar Boone Stryker. (Boone is absolutely swoon worthy! I picture him with the heart/mind of a poet and a body for built for wickedness.) Everything seems to be lining up perfectly to take Trish’s career to the next level, but something is off in Boone’s performance. Their sizzling chemistry seems to go MIA when the cameras roll. The stars are sentenced to 10-days sequestered together to figure it out.

Together Boone and Trish discover that there is so much more to both than just their public personas. The attraction sparked between them catches fire, and the reader gets singed by the flames. Trish and Boone are both great independent characters, but also a really exceptional couple as well. They navigate their feelings for each other, their personal dramas, the stress of the film and their burgeoning romance. The conclusion is an immensely satisfying, character-driven-story that delivers all the feelings and emotions you want in a great Romance. If you love the Rockstar/Hollywood Actor tropes, this one is sure to please!

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

Read BFF K’s Reviews for the other books in the Ryders Series

Seized by Love

Claimed by Love

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 About the Author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance, and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, perfect beach reads, and always family
oriented.

 

 

 

 

 

Review – Politically Incorrect by Jeanne McDonald

Young couple flirting with legs at the restaurant under the tableRelease Date: August 16, 2016

Sex. Lies. Greed. Power. Scandal. Politics.

Political strategist, Elizabeth McNeal has been called a lot of things throughout her career—bitch being at the top of the list—but she doesn’t let it get to her. She’s bold, she’s blunt, and she takes orders from no one. This is how she’s survived working in a man’s world. She’s the master of diversion, and her specialty is winning an election—no matter the cost.

That is, until she meets her new client, Democratic candidate, Congressman William Baxter. Kind, considerate, insanely handsome, honest, and ten years her junior, he’s a unicorn among politicians. He infuriates her. He challenges her. Most of all, he makes her see past the scandalous world of politics and helps her to discover the heart of the woman inside her.

With sparks flying between them and the election rapidly approaching, the last thing either of them need is to be caught in a compromising position. Some lines are meant to be crossed and some rules broken, but for Elizabeth and Liam is it worth the cost of being politically incorrect?

 

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BFF K’s Review of Politically Incorrect

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I’m a sucker for a political romance and this one delivers a powerful storyline that is sure to please the pickiest pundit. (sorry, I couldn’t resist that alliteration!)

Elizabeth McNeal is the real deal! She’s a strong, smart, savvy political operative that knows the best moves to make to make sure her clients come out on the winning side of every race. When she meets William (Liam) Baxter, politics are no longer the most important thing in her life. William is that rare politician who speaks with honesty, means what he says, and truly wants to make the country better. (I long for a real life Liam Baxter!) Elizabeth wants to help him win a coveted spot in the US Senate; but she is pretty sure she wants to win the spot warming up his bed just as badly. Their immediate and undeniable attraction creates some fabulous angst-filled moments. Elizabeth is also a few years older than Liam. This fact bothers her much more than it does Liam, but it’s part of what leads to the angst that drives the storyline. The story is packed full of drama and some interesting characters, making you wonder “who can be trusted in the political-snakes-den?”

Politically Incorrect is a quick read, full of interesting plotlines and intriguing characters. There are also more than a couple of super steamy scenes to deliver all the feels! If you’re a fan of Political Romance, this should be a definite one-click release for you!

 

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

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One of Two Signed Paperbacks of Politically Incorrect by Jeanne McDonald

 

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About the Author

Jeanne McDonald is an author, a mother, a wife, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in true love. When she’s not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, chatting with friends or diligently working toward her bachelor’s degree in literature. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.

 

Connect with Jeanne

Website: http://www.jeannemcdonald.com

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BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2arcEEm

 

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Review – Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton brings her trademark blend of funny and sexy to this second contemporary romance in the brand-new Hudson Valley series!

Manhattan’s It Girl, Natalie Grayson, has it all: she’s a hot exec at a leading advertising firm, known industry-wide for her challenging and edgy campaigns. She’s got a large circle of friends, a family that loves her dearly, and her dance card is always full with handsome eligible bachelors. What else could a modern gal-about-town wish for? The answer, of course, is…cheese.

Natalie’s favorite part of each week is spending Saturday morning at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, where she indulges her love of all things triple cream. Her favorite booth also indulges her love of all things handsome. Oscar Mendoza, owner of the Bailey Falls Creamery and purveyor of the finest artisanal cheeses the Hudson Valley has to offer, is tall, dark, mysterious, and a bit oblivious. Or so she thinks. But that doesn’t stop Natalie from fantasizing about the size of his, ahem, milk can.

Romance is churning, passion is burning, and something incredible is rising to the top. Could it be…love?

BFF K’s Review of Cream of the Crop

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I want a hot farmer and so will you as you read through the Hudson Valley Series! Alice Clayton delivers an absolutely delicious treat with her story of Oscar the Dairy-Man and Natalie the ad-(wo)man.

Oscar is a man of few words, but it’s easy to see that there is a depth of character beneath his gruff and gorgeous exterior. Natalie is one of the best heroines that I have read in quite awhile. Natalie is a ‘bigger girl.’ But, her size doesn’t come-off as token or pandering. She is a beautiful, successful and confident woman; and she owns both her curves and her cleverness in a way that leaves no apologies. It is such a refreshing approach and completely endearing.

On paper, Oscar and Natalie may not seem to be a perfect fit. But, they find a way to be perfect for each other. There are times when you will want to shake them both because they can’t seem to get out of their own way. But those frustrations make way for reasonable plot lines, sultry resolutions and plenty of LOL moments. Cream of the Crop is a well-crafted story that is whipped and sweetened to perfection! I’m already looking forward to my next visit to the Hudson Valley!

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This book was reviewed in both Kindle and Audio formats and both are excellent!

Read BFF K’s “That’s What She Said” Exclusive Interview with Alice Clayton

Amazon Kindle Preview of Cream of the Crop

And, don’t forget about Nuts, Book #1 in the Hudson Valley series!

About the Author

New York Times Best Selling author ALICE CLAYTON worked in the cosmetics industry for over a decade before picking up a pen (read: laptop).

She enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up, and has finally convinced her long-time boyfriend to marry her.

Now, about that Bernese Mountain dog.

People Magazine says of Alice: “Clayton is a master at balancing heart, humor and plenty of action between the sheets.” 11/24/14 issue

Review – The Marrying Type by Laura Chapman

Always the wedding planner, never a bride, Elliot Lynch is famous for orchestrating the splashiest weddings in Charleston, South Carolina. When her father’s sloppy management practices leave them on the brink of bankruptcy, Elliot will do whatever it takes to save the family business. When asked to appear on “The Marrying Type,” a reality TV show about the people behind the scenes as couples exchange I dos, she says yes to the invasion of privacy (and the hefty paycheck that comes with it).

With a camera crew capturing every detail of her life, Elliot faces her most challenging contract yet: planning a wedding where her ex is involved in every part of the process. Add in a lazy assistant, liquor-loving bridesmaid, and rival planner encroaching on her turf, and Elliot’s wedding season goes from high-end to high-stress.

Forced to confront her past, Elliot must live out her troubled present on national TV if she has any hope of saving her future.

 

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BFF K’s Review of The Marrying Type

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The Marrying Type delivers just what you expect from the synopsis. It is a straight-forward, sweet, storyline that delivers a fun read and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the book on audio and enjoyed it very much. (The narrator can get a bit nasally, but it didn’t interfere with my overall enjoyment of the story.)

Elliot Lynch is in a predicament. She needs a quick solution to save her family’s business and keep her life on track. When she ends up planning the wedding of her ex’s sister, while filming a reality TV show at the same time, there are bound to be additional complications. Enter Eric-the-Ex. He’s all of the wonderful things that Elliot remembers and it’s becoming harder and harder to deny their feelings for one another. Suddenly the things that pulled them apart years ago don’t seem as daunting.

This charming story has a great mix of two fun settings: wedding planning and reality TV. Add a dash of 2nd chance love and you have The Marrying Type. This is just a lovely romance with little to no steamy times, but it’s full of quirky characters and lots of heart! I look forward to more books from this author!

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An audio copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

About the Author

Laura Chapman is the author of The Marrying Type, Hard Hats and Doormats and the Autumn and Tuck series, which appear in Merry & Bright and A Kind of Mad Courage. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Until she fulfills her dream of landing a British husband or becoming a Disney princess, you can find her in a bar penning her next novel.

 

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Review – Broken Prince by Erin Watt

These Royals will ruin you…

From wharf fights and school brawls to crumbling lives inside glittery mansions, one guy tries to save himself.

Reed Royal has it all—looks, status, money. The girls at his elite prep school line up to date him, the guys want to be him, but Reed never gave a damn about anyone but his family until Ella Harper walked into his life.

What started off as burning resentment and the need to make his father’s new ward suffer turned into something else entirely—keep Ella close. Keep Ella safe. But when one foolish mistake drives her out of Reed’s arms and brings chaos to the Royal household, Reed’s entire world begins to fall apart around him.

Ella doesn’t want him anymore. She says they’ll only destroy each other.

She might be right.

Secrets. Betrayal. Enemies. It’s like nothing Reed has ever dealt with before, and if he’s going to win back his princess, he’ll need to prove himself Royally worthy.

Buy Broken Prince NOW

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BFF K’s Review of Paper Princess

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WARNING

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They’ve done it again! The evil geniuses behind the Royals Series have left me #RoyallyRuinedAGAIN! I said this after Paper Princess and I’ll say it again: I don’t typically post the cliffhanger warning at the beginning of my review, but I’m doing this as a public service… I don’t want the warning to hold you back from devouring the first two books in this series; I just want you to know what you’re in for! #RuinedbyRoyals

I don’t want to say too much, so I’m going to err on the side of not giving away much AT ALL! No Spoilers here!

Jennifer Armentrout has been quoted as saying the Royals Series is, “This generation’s Cruel Intentions.” I completely agree, but it’s even better! There is romance, angst, revenge, corruption and power struggles…and those are just inside the gates of Astor Park Prep School. This family is so deliciously f-ed up! You want to love them and hurt them all at the same time.

I devoured this book in an afternoon and that’s saying something. I couldn’t wait to see what was was coming next and now I’m completely stressed out about having to wait until October to know what happens next! Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick are masterful at delivering this world full of wickedness and deception. Their cliffhangers are threatening to kill me, but I’ll happily climb over this ledge anytime!

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

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Buy Broken Prince NOW

Amazon      Barnes & Noble     Kobo

Add to your Goodreads

Buy Paper Princess

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Add to your Goodreads

Amazon International Links for Paper Princess

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About the Author(s)

Erin Watt is the brainchild of two bestselling authors linked together through their love of great books and an addiction to writing. They share one creative imagination. Their greatest love (after their families and pets, of course)? Coming up with fun–and sometimes crazy–ideas. Their greatest fear? Breaking up. You can contact them at their shared inbox: authorerinwatt@gmail.com

 

Review – Grin and Beard It by Penny Reid

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Grin and Beard It

by Penny Reid
Winston Brothers #2
Publication Date: May 31, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy

Sienna Diaz is everyone’s favorite “fat” funny lady. The movie studio executives can’t explain it, but her films are out-grossing all the fit and trim headliners and Hollywood’s most beautiful elite. The simple truth is, everyone loves plus-sized Sienna.

But she has a problem, she can’t read maps and her sense of direction is almost as bad as her comedic timing is stellar. Therefore, when Sienna’s latest starring role takes her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park she finds herself continually lost while trying to navigate the backroads of Green Valley, Tennessee. Much to her consternation, Sienna’s most frequent savior is a ridiculously handsome, charming, and cheeky Park Ranger by the name of Jethro Winston.

Sienna is accustomed to high levels of man-handsome, so it’s not Jethro’s chiseled features or his perfect physique that make Sienna stutter. It’s his southern charm. And gentlemanly manners. And habit of looking at her too long and too often.

Sienna has successfully navigated the labyrinth of Hollywood heartthrobs. But can she traverse the tenuous trails of Tennessee without losing her head? Or worse, her heart?

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Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords

BFF K’s Review of Grin and Beard It

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Penny Reid has done it again. Her newest novel, Grin and Beard It is just a really wonderful story! It is a much anticipated trip back to the Smokey Mountains to spend some delightful days with the Winston Brothers. In this installment, the oldest of the Winstons, reformed bad boy, Jethro is front and center. He finds himself head-over-heels for America’s sweetheart. Actress Sienna Diaz is filming her latest movie in the National Park and her terrible sense of direction leads her right to Jethro.

Jethro is a complicated man. He has spent the last 5+ years turning his life around. He has worked tirelessly to prove himself a worthy and trustworthy brother and friend. Jethro has to decide if he is ready to add ‘boyfriend’ to that list. Sienna is delighted that Jethro seems to have NO idea who she is, but he likes her for her. She is tired of the Hollywood game and once she begins to understand the kind of man Jethro is, she can’t help but think about what kind of partner he would be for a short-time or maybe a lifetime. The book is a slow-build to solidify their relationship, but it pays off in a satisfying HEA!

I can always count on Penny Reid to deliver strong stories, complex characters, engaging storylines, witty banter and smart romance. Penny Reid is one of my most recommended authors for good reasons. She consistently delivers wonderful books that I want everyone to read!

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

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About the Author

Penny Reid is the USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

 

 

 

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Audio Review – Shopping for a Billionaire by Julia Kent

When mystery shopper Shannon Jacoby meets billionaire Declan McCormick with her hand down a toilet in the men’s room of one of his stores, it’s love at first flush in this hilarious new romantic comedy from New York Times best-selling author Julia Kent.

This novella originally appeared in A Sweet Life boxed set (all proceeds donated to diabetes research), so if you bought that boxed set you already own this! If you didn’t buy that boxed set, here’s your chance to read or listen to this series.

BFF K’s Review of Shopping for a Billionaire #1

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Shopping for a Billionaire is a delightfully fun romp! The Shopping for a Billionaire series is a set of mini-novels that take you on a fast and furious adventures that are absolutely hilarious! When Shannon meets Declan in this ‘episode’ I had to pause the audio to allow for laugh breaks. Their bathroom encounter made my sides hurt from laughing.

All humor aside, the heart of this story is a hard-working, smart, witty, heroine who is caught off guard by the epitome of “tall, dark and handsome!” I’m anxious to know what comes next for this burgeoning super couple.

I enjoyed the performance and the narration so much that I immediately purchased the audio for #2 and look forward to diving in! If you’re looking for a light, quick, LOL-funny, audio-adventure, this is one to add to your Audible queue. (Or your Kindle if you prefer!)

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This audiobook was given by the author at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

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Just $1.99 on Audible

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent turned to writing contemporary romance after deciding that life is too short not to have fun. She writes romantic comedy with an edge, and new adult books that push contemporary boundaries. From billionaires to BBWs to rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every book she writes, but unlike Trevor from Random Acts of Crazy, she has never kissed a chicken.

Review – One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid


From the author of Maybe in Another Life—named a People Magazine pick—comes a breathtaking new love story about a woman unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiancé who has finally brought her back to life.

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

 

BFF K’s Review of One True Loves

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I’ve found it hard to write a traditional review for this book. My thoughts and emotions are so raw and jumbled that I can’t do the more standard assessment. But, there are a few things that I know I want to say about One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid:

1. This book is extraordinary. I can’t even find the words adequate to explain the emotions and feelings I experienced through this book.

2. I HATE love triangles. There is typically something essentially disturbing to me about the tension involved in a love triangle. I seldom understand how a person is so evenly (or unevenly) torn between two different people. BUT….this book is one of the rare exceptions to that rule. This is a love triangle where no one is at fault, no one is to blame and the emotions are absolutely gut wrenching. Even thinking about it now my heart feels like it’s going to crack in two.

3. There is something about Taylor Jenkins Reid as an author that gives me the unique experience of immersing myself in another person’s journey. But, it’s beyond someone else’s story, I feel the emotions so intimately it is as if the story is happening to me. Or, I can clearly see how it could easily happen to me.  I have spent days, hours, minutes thinking about this story in relation to my own life. I think about how much I desperately love my husband and how wonderful he is. I weep over the thought that something could happen to him and he would be taken from me forever. The grief is absolutely palpable as Emma describes the thoughts and emotions of her complete desolation. I want to think I would be brave enough and love myself enough that I could eventually pull out of that hole to find love again. But, how does one do that? How does it change you? Who do you become once you survive, because you’re never again whole and certainly not the same. Then, what becomes of everyone when the miracle happens? Does it really seem all that miraculous?

4. Taylor Jenkins Reid is the master of the analogy! She tells stories and describes emotions with analogies that make the feelings or the settings so crystal clear. You immediately understand and pinpoint the emotion or the situation and you marvel at why you’ve never seen similar situations through that lens before.

5. This is a book about grief. The way that Reid writes about Emma’s grief gives the reader a physical and visceral reaction to the words and the emotions.

6. This is a book about finding life after loss. Emma must climb out of her grief for Jesse and find a way to continue to live.

7. This is a book about creating a life that brings you happiness and fulfillment even if it isn’t the life you once imagined or even created for yourself.

8. This is a book about change. Changing how you see the world, who you are, what you want, and what makes you happy.

9. This is a book about love. Romantic love. Family love. Love of home. Love of place. Love of self.

10. This is a book about hope.

Emma’s journey and her loves for both Jesse and Sam will leave their mark in your head and your heart. One True Loves will absolutely join Maybe In Another Life on my list of 2016’s Best Reads and it will be one that I recommend to anyone and everyone.

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The audio of this title is exceptional as well! I highly recommend a listen!

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An Advance Copy of this book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The audio version was purchased by the reviewer.

 

About the Author

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author, essayist, and TV writer from Acton, Massachusetts. Her debut novel, Forever, Interrupted, has been optioned with Dakota Johnson attached to star. Her second book, After I Do, was called a “must read” by Kirkus. Her most recent novel, Maybe In Another Life has been featured in People, Cosmo, Bustle, Good Housekeeping, PopSugar, USA Today and more.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Rabbit. You can follow her on Twitter @tjenkinsreid.

Review – Weightless by Kandi Steiner

I remember the lights.

I remember I wanted to photograph them, the way the red and blue splashed across his cold, emotionless face. But I knew even if my feet could move from the place where they had cemented themselves to the ground and I could run for my camera, I wouldn’t be able to capture that moment.I had trusted him, I had loved him, and even though my body had changed that summer, he’d made sure to help me hold on to who I was inside, regardless of how the exterior altered.

But then everything changed.

He stole my innocence. He scarred my heart. He took everything I thought I knew about my life and fast-pitched it out the window, shattering the glass that held my world together in the process.

I remember the lights.

The passionate, desperate, hot strikes of red. The harsh, cruel, icy bolts of blue.

They symbolized everything I endured that summer.

And everything I would never face again.

BFF K’s Review

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I’m a HUGE fan of Kandi Steiner’s Palm South University Series. It’s brain candy and I love every minute of it. I’m also a proud member of Kandi’s Facebook Reader Group, Kandiland. I have been anxiously awaiting Weightless. I was armed with the knowledge that this book was a more angsty, emotional read than the PSU series. But, I wasn’t at all prepared for just how amazing this book is! #AlltheFeels

Natalie is at a crossroads in her life. She is struggling with who she is, who she wants to be and what she wants to do with her life. She is examining her relationships with her friends and her family. She experiences some unexpected changes in those relationships and decides to make some changes in her life. Those changes lead her to Rhodes.

Rhodes. Rhodes. Rhodes. He is one of the best, bad-boy heroes that I have read! Life has been a challenge and survival has meant making some really tough decisions. When he and Natalie begin spending time together, Rhodes is challenged to examine his life: what he truly wants, who he is and what he stands for. He doesn’t believe himself worthy of Natalie. He wants her, but doesn’t believe that he is or can ever be worthy or her trust, affection and love.

The relationship between Natalie and Rhodes is angst-filled and full of tension. To quote Natalie, “I was going to need a chiropractor for the whiplash.”

There is a suspenseful element to the story that almost sneaked up on me. But, it added so much to the story and gave even more depth to the characters. This book is also beautifully written. The sentences and scenes are lovingly crafted to create incredible imagery. I could honestly feel the emotions, the conflict and the resolution. I was drawn in so that it almost felt like I was less a reader, and more of an observer living inside the story and watching it develop alongside the characters. What a stunning experience as a reader.

It will rock you to understand the meanings behind both the title and the prologue. I can’t recommend this book highly enough, this is one of the best coming of age stories that I’ve read in a long time. Weightless is beautifully crafted, New Adult perfection and the crowning jewel of Kandi Steiner’s writing career thus far. I can’t wait for more!

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Excerpt

“I just don’t understand,” he said as he began rolling the ball up my calf. I moaned out loud, realizing that area was packed with trigger points, as he had called them.

“Don’t understand what?” I asked, still holding my breath as he rolled over my other calf. I leaned up on my elbows and turned my head back to meet his eyes.

He paused, holding the ball in place as he gazed back at me. “How could I never have noticed you before?”

I swallowed, almost more afraid of the brief tenderness I caught in his eyes in that moment than the usual hardness that existed there.

Shrugging, I answered his question just above a whisper. “I’m easy to miss.”

I held his eyes for a moment more before laying my chest back to the ground, resting my head on my arms. He started rolling the ball up my hamstrings and I closed my eyes tight. I thought I might explode from the mixture of pain and pleasure that rocked through my body. After a few moments, he spoke again.

“Maybe I just wasn’t looking.”

Kandi Steiner takes words and creates magic. A million stars aren’t enough. Weightless left me breathless.” – Brittainy C. Cherry, Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
Weightless is so full of heart, it’ll spill off the pages and into your soul. One of my favorite contemporary romances of 2016.” – Bestselling Author Staci Hart
“Weightless is a book of FEELS. From the first to the last page, it’ll wrap you in emotion and hold you captive. Between the writing, the story, and the characters, it was simply unforgettable. A favorite read of 2016 for me.” – Angie, Angie’s Dreamy Reads
“Flawless. Phenomenal. Breathtaking. Weightless will undoubtedly be my top read of the year.” – Erin, Southern Belle Book Blog
Weightless left me challenged and breathless. It’s an emotionally-charged story that carved a place in my soul. I knew Kandi could write, but this book takes it to a whole new level.” – Tina, Typical Distractions Book Blog

About the Author

Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer. 
Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).
When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.