Review – Moonshot by Alessandra Torre

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Baseball isn’t supposed to be a game of life and death…

The summer that Chase Stern entered my life, I was seventeen. The daughter of a legend, the Yankees were my family, their stadium my home, their dugout my workplace. My focus was on the game. Chase … he started out as a distraction. A distraction with sex appeal poured into every inch of his six foot frame. A distraction who played like a god and partied like a devil.

I tried to stay away. I couldn’t.

Then, the team started losing.

Women started dying.

And everything in my world broke apart.

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BFF K’s Review of Moonshot

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Alessandra Torre had me at baseball! I LOVE a good sports romance and I was so intrigued by the premise of this story, it’s way more than just baseball. Torre creates fascinating characters in an exciting setting presented with a unique writing style. And, there’s a terrific, suspenseful, mind-twisting element that I absolutely loved!

Ty has grown up in the Yankees organization. Baseball is her life and the team is her family. After her mother’s death, 7-year-old Ty became a ball girl for the team; and her Dad spends several successful seasons as the closing pitcher for the team. Just before her 18th birthday, the Yankees add 23-year-old Chase Stern to the lineup. He is cocky, brash, edgy, gorgeous and wildly talented and Ty is absolutely smitten. Once Chase walks into her life, nothing will ever be the same.

Shocking turn of events tear Ty and Chase apart. Their lives are flipped upside down and they spend several years apart. A trade brings Chase back to the Yankees and back into Ty’s life. An firestorm is set in motion and they’re virtually powerless to stop it.

I love the writing style of Moonshot. The book is written in 115 short chapters, some are several pages, but some are just a paragraph. This format kept me flipping the pages and I devoured the book in less than 24-hours. I think the unique writing style greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the story!

I’m anxious to read more of Torre’s books. This book has something for everyone. If you enjoy sports romance, suspenseful romance and/or books with a mind-twist, you’ll enjoy Moonshot. This is a terrific summer read. Moonshot was undoubtedly a home run for me!

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

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About the Author

Author Photo Alessandra Torre is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of thirteen novels. Her books focus on romance and suspense, all with a strong undercurrent of sexuality. Torre has been featured in such publications as Elle and Elle UK, co-hosted Dirty Sexy Funny with Jenny McCarthy, as well as guest blogged for the Huffington Post and RT Book Reviews. She is also the Bedroom Blogger for Cosmopolitan.com.

You can learn more about Alessandra on her website at www.alessandratorre.com, or you can find her on Twitter (@ReadAlessandra) or Facebook.

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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.

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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!

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.”

Weightless by Kandi Steiner. I just finished this amazing book. This is one of my favorite books of the year! #Reading #ReadingAngst #smartgirlsreadromance #AllTheFeels http://amzn.to/25Y6qUO

A photo posted by BFF Book Blog (@bffbookblog) on Jun 18, 2016 at 1:33pm PDT

“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.

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Review – Charged by Jay Crownover

From New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover comes CHARGED, the latest in her sexy The Saints of Denver Series, releasing May 24th! Known for her strong heroines and alpha males, you won’t know what hit you as you read Avett and Quaid’s story. Keep reading for more about the Leagle Eagle and Avett and order your copy today.

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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the second installment in the Saints of Denver series featuring a bad girl and a by the book attorney who could be her salvation…or her ruin.

Avett Walker and Quaid Jackson’s worlds have no reason to collide. Ever. Quaid is a high powered criminal attorney as slick as he is handsome. Avett is a pink-haired troublemaker with a bad attitude and a history of picking the wrong men.

When Avett lands in a sea of hot water because of one terrible mistake, the only person who can get her out of it is the insanely sexy lawyer. The last thing on earth she wants to do is rely on the no-nonsense attorney who thinks of her as nothing more than a nuisance. He literally has her fate in his hands. Yet there is something about him that makes her want to convince him to loosen his tie and have a little fun…with her.

Quaid never takes on clients like the impulsive young woman with a Technicolor dye job. She could stand to learn a hard lesson or two, but something about her guileless hazel eyes intrigues him. Still, he’s determined to keep their relationship strictly business. But doing so is becoming more impossible with each day he spends with her.

As they work side-by-side, they’ll have to figure out a way to get along and keep their hands off each other—because the chemistry between them is beyond charged.

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BFF K’s Review of Charged

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Avett was a bit much at the beginning of this book. I was struggling to find the redeeming qualities in her character, but at about 25-30%, Jay Crownover weaved her magical words and I fell head over heels in LOVE with both Avett and Quaid. I think it would be nearly impossible to find two characters that are more deserving of love and a loving relationship.

I had a hard time understanding what a slick, powerful, successful attorney would see in this hopelessly mixed up client. BUT wow, that’s when Crownover uncovers the most beautiful characters that you can’t help but cheer for! Page after page and hour after hour flew by while I was engrossed in their stories of forgiveness, hope and love.

The book is SO well written. Characters are redeemed, families are rebuilt and love conquers all! I thought I loved Built, but Charged is even better! This is going to be a MUST read series for me. I can’t wait for what’s in store in the next Saints of Denver novel!

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

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Excerpt

Quaid

I tapped the edge of my thumb on the black-and-white mug shot photo and couldn’t stop the grin from tugging at my mouth.

She tried to fire me.

She was five-foot-nothing, a lifetime younger than me, had multicolored hair that had seen better days, wild eyes that couldn’t decide if they wanted to be green, gold, or brown, while dressed in convict orange and obviously scared out of her ever loving mind, yet she still tried to fire me. If it had been any of my other clients—the cop accused of sexual battery, the frat boy accused of manslaughter over a bet on a football game gone wrong, the middle school teacher accused of pedophilia and having an inappropriate relationship with several of her students, or the pro football player accused of domestic abuse—I would have tipped my proverbial hat, wished them luck while I cut my losses, and walked away without a backward glance. People always committed crimes. People always needed a good defense, so it wasn’t like I was hurting for clients, but there was something about the girl. Something about the defiant tilt of her chin and the raw desperation in her tone when she begged me not to call her father.

“I don’t want your help. I don’t want anything from you.” She sounded like she meant it when she said it, but I figured she was too young and too scared to know exactly what she wanted or needed. Regardless, it was still refreshing to hear.

Everyone always wanted something from me and my help was usually the least of it.

I tapped the picture again, wondering why I found it so easy to believe that she really hadn’t been a part of the boyfriend’s plan to rob the bar. She wasn’t anyone’s idea of a model citizen and she had the shady track record to prove it. She was too young, and frankly too adorable, to have a file this thick. From what I could see, she had a set of parents always willing to ride to the rescue when she got herself into trouble. She looked like some kind of colorful woodland fairy from a Disney movie with her odd hair and delicate features. None of it added up, but the sincerity in her tone when she said she would never have gone with the boyfriend if she knew his intent and the fear in her eyes when I mentioned her father seemed genuine.

I learned long ago to treat everyone like they were guilty of whatever it was I was paid to defend them against. I didn’t want to know the truth. I didn’t want to know the circumstances. I wanted my clients to listen to me and let me do my job as I tried to convince the rest of the world they were innocent, regardless if they were or not. But this girl with her faded, rose colored hair and turbulent eyes oozed innocence through the cracks of a very guilty façade.

Because I was intrigued and actually believed the girl might be innocent, I wasn’t going to let her fire me. I was going to call her father and hope that he would help me keep her out of the slammer while I figured out how to plea bargain her charges down or get them dismissed altogether. Again, because a cop was involved in the robbery and because the boyfriend, junkie or not, was offering up a pretty plausible explanation for Avett’s involvement in the crime, nothing was a slam dunk, yet. I was going to help her whether she wanted me to or not.

And don’t miss the first titles in The Saints of Denver Series!

LEVELED

Studio portrait of young bearded man --- Image by © pinkypills/Corbis

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About the Author

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point, and the Saints of Denverseries. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she’ll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

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Review/New Release – The Summer Games : Settling the Score by R.S. Grey

Title: The Summer Games: Settling the Score

Author: R.S. Grey

Genre: Sports Romance/Romantic Comedy

Release Date: May 2, 2016

As an Olympic rookie, Andie Foster has spent far more time in her cleats than between the sheets. For 21 years, her Friday nights have consisted of blocking shots rather than taking them. But now that she’s landed in Rio, she’s ready to see for herself if the rumors about the Olympic Village are true:

The athletes are all sex-crazed maniacs…The committee passes out condoms like candy…The games continue long after the medals have been handed out…

As Andie walks the line between rumor and reality, she’s forced into the path of Frederick Archibald, a decorated Olympic swimmer and owner of a sexy British accent—too bad he’s unavailable in a way that “it’s complicated” doesn’t even begin to explain.

In other words: off limits.

It doesn’t matter that he has abs that could bring peace to the Middle East and a smile that makes even the Queen blush; Andie fully intends on keeping her focus on the soccer field. But the Village is small. Suffocating. Everywhere Andie goes, Freddie happens to be there—shirtless, wet from the pool, and determined to show her a whole new meaning of the phrase “international affairs”.

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BFF K’s Review of Summer Games: Settling the Score

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It feels like Summer has definitely come early and it’s hot, hot, hot! This book is absolutely everything that I hoped it would be: funny, sweet, steamy, full of memorable characters and pure romance. This is R.S. Grey at her very best!

Andie has devoted her life to being a world class athlete. She is at the top of her game with an Olympic medal within her grasp. Freddie has dominated the world’s best swimmers and is untouchable heading into Rio. Andie is anxious to explore all of the debauchery the Olympic Village has to offer and Freddie is hoping for a short-term escape from his messy personal life. When Andie and Freddie meet, it’s instant chemistry and a spark bright enough to fuel the Olympic torch!

Of course, we know that it won’t be so simple for the hero and heroine to find their happily ever after. They have to overcome several missteps, dodge the media, deal with an absolutely insane villainess and decide if their connection exists beyond the magic of Rio. (And, I’d be remiss to not mention the delightful inclusion of Kinsley, Liam and Becca from Scoring Wilder. It was fantastic to see them back in action.) The Summer Games is a standalone book. It has character overlap from Scoring Wilder, but you do not need to read one before the other.

The Summer Games: Settling the Score is delightful! It’s absolutely one of my favorite reads so far this year and I can’t wait for everyone to meet and fall in love with Andie and Freddie. The Olympic Village, world class athletes-aka hot bodies, an electric location and stellar characters. The Summer Games delivers a Gold Medal for all romance lovers!

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

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.

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Review – Serving Trouble by Sara Jane Stone

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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.

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Review

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.

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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.

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Review – Happily Ever Ninja by Penny Reid

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Happily Ever Ninja
by Penny Reid
Publication Date:
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Humor

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

From the USA Today Best Selling Author of ‘Truth or Beard’

There are three things you need to know about Fiona Archer… I would tell you what they are, but then I’d have to kill you.

But I can tell you that Fiona’s husband—the always irrepressible and often cantankerous Greg Archer—is desperately in love with his wife. He aches for her when they are apart, and is insatiable when they are together. Yet as the years pass, Greg has begun to suspect that Fiona is a ninja. A ninja mom. A ninja wife. A ninja friend. After fourteen years of marriage, Greg is trying not to panic. Because Fiona’s talent for blending in is starting to resemble fading away.

However, when unexpected events mean Fiona must take center stage to keep her family safe, her response stuns everyone—Greg most of all. It seems like Greg’s wish has come true.

Except… not.

When all is said and done, can Greg handle this new version of his wife? Will his irrepressible cantankerousness push her away? Or can the couple find a way forward without either being forced to step back into the shadows?

This is a full length, 100k word novel, and is the 5th book in the Knitting in the City Series. All books in the series can be read as a standalone except book #1.5

BFF K’s Review

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Penny Reid warns readers that this is an “odd book” in fact, all of her books are a little weird and that’s really what makes them so wonderful. Happily Ever Ninja is unlike anything else that I have read. The story centers around a married couple, their life, love and marriage. The tension in the book does not stem from a death or an illness or an affair. Penny Reid says, this is a book, “about a married couple with none of the cheating, divorcing, or standard plot-lines/tropes.” So, I wondered what it could possibly be about….

Happily Ever Ninja is a stunning, heart-warming, introspection of marriage. While Fiona and Greg may not be like every other married couple; she’s former CIA, and he works away from home months at a time. There are many, many parts that seem like a snapshot of my marriage and countless others that I know. It feels as though this book is a tribute to marriage, a hymn of praise dedicated to the ups and downs of these complex and essential relationships. I believe it is impossible to read this book without turning the looking glass to your own life. Those in a marriage will see common struggles and successes. Those who are searching for a happy marriage will find a realistic and honest look at the kind of relationship worth striving toward. Happily Ever Ninja does an amazing job of reminding us why the conquest is worth the struggles.

“But, I’ve yet to meet a monogamous person who is an expert on sex, nor have I ever met a polygamist who is an expert on love. Each marriage is a living thing, just as complex as the two individuals within it.”

Fiona is a fantastic heroine. While I was frustrated with Greg’s propensity to “save” Fiona when she is clearly more than capable; he has some seriously swoon-worthy moments. His quick wit, overwhelming devotion and that bloody British accent are almost too much. I love being able to check in with all of the amazing women from the Knitting in the City series. It feels like meeting up with a group of girlfriends I haven’t seen in months. Every book in this series leaves me more anxious for the next.

Penny Reid is a master of writing relationship-driven romance novels that are smart, funny, unique and completely unexpected. Happily Ever Ninja is another book on my list of ‘must reads’ and I will continue telling everyone about this wonderful, witty, unorthodox look at romance, commitment, love and marriage.

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

Excerpt

I tucked my fingers under her chin and lifted her face to mine, stealing a kiss; true distress clawed at my chest, traveled like a spike down my spine. I didn’t want to guess, or entertain any possibilities. Inevitably, my mind always jumped to the worst possible conclusion whenever I saw her inexplicably sad (i.e. brain tumor).

Even so, I attempted to keep my tone level and calm. “What could be too important for the greeting card aisle? It’s the perfect place to tell me anything and everything. There’s likely a card we can buy afterward for the occasion.”

She huffed a laugh, laughed a bit more, and then began crying again.

Her laughter was a good sign, so I went with it.

“Let’s see . . .” I shuffled us both to the rack and plucked a greeting card from it. “You tell me if this one describes your situation.” I cleared my throat and began to read, “Dear Brother, Many blessings on your fortieth birthday. May your girlfriend bring home that hot girl she works with and suggest a three-way.”

Fiona began laughing in earnest, burying her face against my chest.

I returned the original card, walked us a few steps farther down the aisle, and selected another card at random. “Here’s another. Dear Friend, Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I am so lucky to have you in my life, especially after that time I hit you with my car and salted the earth around your house.

I cracked a smile as I grabbed another card. She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

“Dear Co-worker, Get well soon. Sorry about the scorpions in your bed. And the leprosy. And the chlamydia.”

“Stop! I can’t- I can’t breathe.” Fiona gripped the front of my shirt as though she needed my solid frame to remain upright.

I took one more step and picked a new card. “Dear Dad, Happy Father’s Day. I know I’m not your favorite child, but I hope you will . . . you will . . .” I stopped reading because Fiona had stopped laughing.

In fact, she’d grown eerily still, though her fists remained anchored in my shirt. I don’t think she was even breathing.

“Fe?”

She released an audible exhale—as though bracing herself—and titled her head back. New tears shone in her eyes and she looked . . . emotional.

Not sad. Not worried or scared. Just emotional.

And I knew.

“I’m going to be a dad,” I said.

She nodded, her mouth wanting to smile but her eyes betraying the disordered chaos of her thoughts.

I had no idea what she was thinking.

I had no idea what I was thinking.

But I felt like I’d just been punched, slapped across the face. And it felt scary. And good.

I felt like I was the king of the universe, the luckiest man alive.

I felt panic, because I didn’t know how to be a dad, at least not the kind I wanted to be.

I felt a bizarre surge of pride, of accomplishment.

I felt a heady wave of possessiveness, for this woman I loved, for the child we’d made. I felt responsible.

But I did not feel burdened.

And I knew nothing would ever be the same.

About the Author

SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

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Review – Chasing Spring by R.S. Grey

Title: Chasing Spring

Author: R.S. Grey

Release Date: Feb 1, 2016

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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.

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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.

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Duo Review – Incendiary by Amy A. Bartol

WINNER OF THE 2013 UTOPYA AWARDS FOR BEST VILLAIN & BEST BOOK COVER OF THE YEAR

Cold, fine drops of rain fall softly on my cheeks as I emerge from the darkness of the ship’s interior to the gray, overcast sky of the main deck. Pulling my dark pea coat tighter to my body, the wind lifts red tendrils of my hair. I walk slowly to the railing overlooking the water.

I catch my first sight of the Irish coastline; its craggy landscape makes me shiver in dread. I find it difficult to imagine now how the Gancanagh had made this their home for so long without anyone realizing it. The cold, moss-covered edifices practically scream their presence. As I study the shadows between the falling-down stone, I imagine creeping shapes of undead Faeries grasping the rock, waiting for our ship to draw nearer to their position.

Tipping my face up, I let the rain wash over me. It bathes away the frigid sweat of fear that has broken on my brow. “You don’t know how fiercely beautiful you are, do you?” A quiet voice behind me asks, causing me to stiffen and fix my eyes on the rocks along the shoreline.

As one of Ann and Kiersten’s real life BFF’s, Missy has been subjected to countless hours of book discussions! Over the years there is NO other series that has generated as much discussion between Missy and Kiersten as the Premonition Series by Amy Bartol. It is one of our most favorites and we love it more than is really healthy.

The 5th and FINAL book in the Premonition Series, Iniquity, will be released on December 8. In advance of this exciting event, I asked Missy to join me for another guest edition of the Duo Review to share our thoughts on this incredible series! Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be sharing our thoughts with you about the awesomeness that is the Premonition Series!

Read our Duo Review of Inescapable.

Read our Duo Review of Intuition.

Read our Duo Review of Indebted.

Duo (Guest) Review

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This is the book where s#$% got real. The End.

Just kidding….mostly…..this book is so hard to describe and review without giving away so many many details.

There’s another new character that shakes the foundation for Russell, Evie and Reed. Anya rocks. She is a fantastic character and a terrific addition to the mix. This is also the book where we meet both Evie’s father and her long time guardian. These two characters also mix up the dynamics and change the game.

Incendiary is really about unraveling and clarifying the missions and separating the characters to define them and their relationships to one another. This book is where we see Evie begin to embrace her powers and accept her mission no matter the reasons behind it.

There are really not enough usable words in the English language to tell you how fantastic this series is and all of the reasons you should read it. This is the series that convinced me (BFF K) I do love paranormal romance.

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AND Missy

Amazon Links to Purchase The Premonition Series

Kindle Copy of All 5 Books in the Premonition Series

*All links also include Audible option.

Amazon Links to Purchase The Kricket Series by Amy A Bartol

Under Different Stars (Book 1)

Sea of Stars (Book 2)

Darken the Stars (Book 3)

*All links also include Audible option.

All of Amy Bartol’s Books have an audio book option. BFF K is a HUGE audio fan!

These are all absolutely fantastic!

About the Author

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: http://www.amyabartol.com

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Duo Review – Indebted by Amy A. Bartol

I hang my head in sorrow for just a moment when I know I am truly alone. I feel like I’m going to my execution, just as he had said. Then I move forward again. I hop a fence of fieldstone and cross a field dotted with Queen Anne’s lace. Goose bumps rise on my arms as I pass the cluster of windmills that I have seen in a dream. The scent is sweet in the field though, not the scent of heat, like it had been when it was forced upon me in visions. I gaze down the hill, beyond the small, whitewashed house that I knew would be there. The church looms dark and grim with its rough-hewn, timber façade, capped by tall, oblong spires reaching to the sky. Black, ominous clouds have collected above the roofline, as if Heaven is showing me the way.

Read our Duo Review of Inescapable.

Read our Duo Review of Intuition.

Duo (Guest) Review

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Evie opens up a whole can of new abilities in Book #3 AND her inherent need to protect those she loves is the driving force in her decisions in this installment of the Premonition series.

Brennus is still hanging out causing trouble and there is a whole cast of new creatures and nightmares. This book includes more narration from Russell’s point of view. It is so interesting to see things as they unfold but from a different perspective.

Reed realizes that his attempts to protect Evie sometimes leave her at a disadvantage and they will reevaluate some aspects of their relationship. Evie is evolving and developing, she’s learning about her strengths and just what she is capable of doing and being.

There’s drama and tons of character development. This is the book that moves so many of the storylines forward and further uncovers the story of Evie’s mission and everyone else’s role in that plot.

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AND Missy

Amazon Links to Purchase The Premonition Series

Kindle Copy of All 5 Books in the Premonition Series

*All links also include Audible option.

Amazon Links to Purchase The Kricket Series by Amy A Bartol

Under Different Stars (Book 1)

Sea of Stars (Book 2)

Darken the Stars (Book 3)

*All links also include Audible option.

All of Amy Bartol’s Books have an audio book option. BFF K is a HUGE audio fan!

These are all absolutely fantastic!

About the Author

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Duo Review – Intuition by Amy A. Bartol

WINNER OF THE 2012 UTOPYA CON AWARD FOR BEST VILLAIN

I don’t open my eyes so I can’t see him, but I can smell him. He thickens the air I breathe, choking me with his scent…his aroma. I shiver. I have to resist. If I’m not strong, then I will be relegated to the same fate as this predator whose sickness infects me even now. But now, I crave him and he knows that; he has been counting on my need to end the gnawing pain. How he would savor my surrender. I’m alive, but how much longer will it take until I beg him not to be?

Read our Duo Review of Inescapable.

Duo (Guest) Review

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Book #2 in the Premonition series introduces us to the most controversial of all characters in this series. Meet Brennus. There are few other characters that elicit such strong responses. Most readers either love Brennus or hate him, but even those that hate him are still drawn to him.

It is so hard to talk about all of the incredible things that happen in this book without just spilling our guts and giving away the entire book!

Evie is determined to protect those she loves and she will protect them to the death if she has to. The butterflies between Reed and Evie are still flying and there is a MAJOR development in their relationship at the end of Intuition. <3 <3 <3

Russell, Buns, Brownie and Zee are all playing their parts to protect and guide Evie in unraveling and completing her mission.

This book is full of action and some MAJOR romance. Evie is coming into her own and discovering her own powers and purposes.

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AND Missy

Amazon Links to Purchase The Premonition Series

Kindle Copy of All 5 Books in the Premonition Series

*All links also include Audible option.

Amazon Links to Purchase The Kricket Series by Amy A Bartol

Under Different Stars (Book 1)

Sea of Stars (Book 2)

Darken the Stars (Book 3)

*All links also include Audible option.

BFF K’s Review of Moonshot

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About the Author

BFF K’s Review

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.”

“Maybe I just wasn’t looking.”

About the Author

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BFF K’s Review of Charged

Excerpt

Quaid

I tapped the edge of my thumb on the black-and-white mug shot photo and couldn’t stop the grin from tugging at my mouth.

She tried to fire me.

“I don’t want your help. I don’t want anything from you.” She sounded like she meant it when she said it, but I figured she was too young and too scared to know exactly what she wanted or needed. Regardless, it was still refreshing to hear.

Everyone always wanted something from me and my help was usually the least of it.

And don’t miss the first titles in The Saints of Denver Series!

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BFF K’s Review of Summer Games: Settling the Score

Review

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BFF K’s Review

“But, I’ve yet to meet a monogamous person who is an expert on sex, nor have I ever met a polygamist who is an expert on love. Each marriage is a living thing, just as complex as the two individuals within it.”

Excerpt

Even so, I attempted to keep my tone level and calm. “What could be too important for the greeting card aisle? It’s the perfect place to tell me anything and everything. There’s likely a card we can buy afterward for the occasion.”

She huffed a laugh, laughed a bit more, and then began crying again.

Her laughter was a good sign, so I went with it.

Fiona began laughing in earnest, burying her face against my chest.

I cracked a smile as I grabbed another card. She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

“Dear Co-worker, Get well soon. Sorry about the scorpions in your bed. And the leprosy. And the chlamydia.”

“Stop! I can’t- I can’t breathe.” Fiona gripped the front of my shirt as though she needed my solid frame to remain upright.

I took one more step and picked a new card. “Dear Dad, Happy Father’s Day. I know I’m not your favorite child, but I hope you will . . . you will . . .” I stopped reading because Fiona had stopped laughing.

In fact, she’d grown eerily still, though her fists remained anchored in my shirt. I don’t think she was even breathing.

“Fe?”

She released an audible exhale—as though bracing herself—and titled her head back. New tears shone in her eyes and she looked . . . emotional.

Not sad. Not worried or scared. Just emotional.

And I knew.

“I’m going to be a dad,” I said.

She nodded, her mouth wanting to smile but her eyes betraying the disordered chaos of her thoughts.

I had no idea what she was thinking.

I had no idea what I was thinking.

But I felt like I’d just been punched, slapped across the face. And it felt scary. And good.

I felt like I was the king of the universe, the luckiest man alive.

I felt panic, because I didn’t know how to be a dad, at least not the kind I wanted to be.

I felt a bizarre surge of pride, of accomplishment.

I felt a heady wave of possessiveness, for this woman I loved, for the child we’d made. I felt responsible.

But I did not feel burdened.

And I knew nothing would ever be the same.

About the Author

BFF K’s Review

About the Author

WINNER OF THE 2013 UTOPYA AWARDS FOR BEST VILLAIN & BEST BOOK COVER OF THE YEAR

Duo (Guest) Review

AND Missy

Amazon Links to Purchase The Premonition Series

Amazon Links to Purchase The Kricket Series by Amy A Bartol

All of Amy Bartol’s Books have an audio book option. BFF K is a HUGE audio fan!

These are all absolutely fantastic!

About the Author

Duo (Guest) Review

AND Missy

Amazon Links to Purchase The Premonition Series

Amazon Links to Purchase The Kricket Series by Amy A Bartol

All of Amy Bartol’s Books have an audio book option. BFF K is a HUGE audio fan!

These are all absolutely fantastic!

About the Author

Duo (Guest) Review

AND Missy

Amazon Links to Purchase The Premonition Series

Amazon Links to Purchase The Kricket Series by Amy A Bartol

All of Amy Bartol’s Books have an audio book option. BFF K is a HUGE audio fan!

Amazon iBooks Barnes & Noble ** Kobo

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