Wednesday 31 May 2017

Review ~ When It's Real by Erin Watt


Book Description:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Erin Watt comes the addictive contemporary tale of a teen rock star in need of an image makeover and the teen girl hired to be his fake girlfriend. 

Meet Oakley Ford-teen celebrity, renowned pop star, child of famous movie stars, hottie with millions of fangirls… and restless troublemaker. On the surface he has it all, but with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry, and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley's team decides it's time for an intervention. The result: an image overhaul, complete with a fake girlfriend meant to show the world he's settled down.

Enter seventeen-year-old Vaughn Bennett-devoted sister, part-time waitress, the definition of "normal." Under ordinary circumstances she'd never have taken this gig, but with her family strapped for cash, she doesn't have much of a choice. And for the money Oakley's team is paying her, she figures she can put up with outlandish Hollywood parties and a team of publicists watching her every move. So what if she thinks Oakley's a shallow, self-centered jerk? It's not like they're going to fall for each other in real life…right?

Buy Links:


Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“You’re the one person in my life who wants nothing but me and it’s terrifying and awesome at the same time. Don’t ever leave me.”


I absolutely adored the Royals series which was when this writing duo first joined forces and they gave me everything that I love…especially angst and teenage drama. While When It’s Real is not on the same scale it still had all those traits that I first fell in love with. In When It’s Real we are also treated to some of my favourite tropes…rock star falls for a “normal” woman and who doesn’t love a fake girlfriend? Couple this with angst and drama and you know that you are always going to get an entertaining read and it was just that.


“There aren’t any cameras here. This isn’t for show. This is as real and as awful and as wonderful as it gets. I’d hold her forever if she’d let me.”


Oakley Ford was a child rock star, emancipated from his famous parents because they were jealous of his own success. He hit the charts in his early teens and now has plateaued. He feels his “sound” is old and he wants his new music to be a reflection of the fact that he has grown up, he wants to reinvent himself and there is only one person he wants to do it with. King, the producer he desperately covets is unwilling to work with him, he sees him as a loose cannon, unsettled and so Oak’s team come up with the “fake girlfriend” stability and settling down angle to entice him.

Vaughn is the girl next door type, extremely intelligent but her life is stifled by the situation her family finds themselves in. Vaughn is currently taking a year out to look after her little brothers as since the death of her parents, Vaughn and her sister have become both mom and dad. Their little family is in desperate need of money and it seems their answers may have come all at once.

The dynamic between Oak and Vaughn is tenuous at best, these two rut against one and other, especially once all the “advisors” get involved. Vaughn is far from superficial, she has her long-term boyfriend and her family’s best interests at heart, but when this charade gets awkward it is not long before tension is rife from both the men in her life.


“Half the time when you open your mouth, you say something that makes me want to punch you...But when you sing…you make it really hard to hate you.”


I loved how these got to know one and other first, how they naturally progressed from bitter enemies to friends and then more. Their journey felt organic rather than forced and made their relationship all the more believable. Oak was like an onion and with every layer that Vaughn managed to strip away she got to see more of the real person underneath. Misunderstood, career minded, a perfectionist but most of all…he was lonely. Fickle friendships par for the course and everyone out for what they could get…except Vaughn.


“You said that everything in your life was fake, but we’re not fake, Oak. We’re real. We’re so real.”


This does have a little angst and drama but nowhere the same level as the Royals, but the plot flowed effortlessly and this was an easy read for me. This was a book easy to escape into and one that kept the pages turning with the budding relationship between Oak and Vaughn. To see the real Oak was heart-warming and as we got to understand him more, his character only became more lovable. I would say however that this, for me, would be a more mature YA novel.

Blog Tour & Review ~ Grand Slam (Boys of Summer #3) by Heidi McLaughlin



Title: Grand Slam
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
Genre: Sports Romance
Release Date: May 23rd 2017


Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2e6BD2s

Book Description:

Win the game. Lose your heart.

Everyone knows who I am and that I could have any female fan I want. That's supposed to be the "perk" of playing left field for the Boston Renegades. But I don't want just any woman; I want her.

She should be just another face in the crowd, but I can't stop thinking about the one night we spent together-and her look of regret the morning after.

Because Saylor Blackwell is the kind of woman who haunts a man. Smart, sexy as hell, and one of the best managers in the business. She's every ballplayer's dream woman. And I'd do anything to make things right with her. 

I'm done sitting on the bench when it comes to Saylor Blackwell. Time to swing for the fences.


Buy Links:

Google play: http://bit.ly/2eiHmEs



Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***



“Race you.”
“To what?”
“To be the first one to fall in love.”


Grand Slam is the third book in the Boys of Summer series and can be read as a standalone. I still need to read the first one but have loved the last two. Grand Slam is the story of Travis Kidd, the Boston Renegades player who only loves baseball, himself and a woman who wouldn’t give him a chance. Travis was the prankster, the ladies’ man and a man whose past was only lurking in the background waiting to catch up to him.


“Memories of the night we shared come rushing back, showing me how perfect and amazing we were together, taunting me, reminding me that I can’t have her, that she feels like I’m not worth the risk. But I am, and I want to show her that I’d be everything she needs in a man, and more.”


One night stands are Travis Kidd’s norm, for him relationships and baseball just do not work so it is easier to fuck and forget. When one such potential F&F gets spurned her last pearls of wisdom were “…You’ll pay for this.” And boy does she make him pay. A woman scorned has the power of missile and this was one missile that Travis certainly wished had never been launched.


“She deserves someone better than me, but I want the pureness that she brings into my chaotic world.”

Saylor Blackwell was Travis Kidd’s publicist and these two had some extremely intense chemistry. Two years prior Saylor had broken the cardinal rule and slept with a client…Travis and it was one that she was determined she would never break again. Being a single parent, career suicide was not on her agenda and she needed this job more than life itself. With a strict no fraternization policy in place she had to stay away, even though deep down that was the last thing she ever wanted.

Travis really got to me in this book. My heart broke for him many, many, many times. Despite his outgoing, cocky personality, underneath was a man with a heart of gold that just wanted to love and be loved, but he only wanted that with one woman or maybe two...his relationship with Saylor’s daughter was heart melting in itself and boy does he love this little girl. But Saylor though was the one woman who spurned him every chance she got. The crap that Travis goes through in this book would have bought many a man to his knees and I loved that Heidi McLaughlin gave Travis strength, because he certainly needed it in this book. I don’t condone what Travis was put through and my one niggle with this book was I wanted to see what happened to “the other side.” I think culpability would have been a good example to make in this book.


“I only want to be in the same room with you, and I’ll be happy.”


Saylor was infuriating at times, but being a mother I understood her completely, even if my heart was breaking for Travis. As time went on I was begging her to do the right thing knowing that Travis would always be there to support her but Heidi McLaughlin ramps up that angst until you are only left pulling your hair out, desperate for her to make her move.


“She’s going to kick my ass when I need it, love me when I don’t deserve it, and be my constant when I need her the most.”


For me this was an unputdownable read and it was a one session job. I laughed, I cried, my heart broke and happiness was restored but this was certainly one hell of a ride. This was a different read than the others and the angst, more than the relationship itself was what kept those pages turning. My heart went through the mill with this one and I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series.



The Boys of Summer Series

Third Base (book 1)
Home Run (book 2)
Grand Slam (book 3)


About the Author:

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, a Highland West/mini schnauzer, JiLL, and her brother, Racicot. When she's isn't writing stories, you'll find her sitting court-side at her daughters' basketball games.

★Newsletter ---> http://bit.ly/heidnews
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Cover Reveal ~ Beautiful Mistake by Vi Keeland

The #1 New York Times Bestselling author Vi Keeland is back with a brand new standalone, Beautiful Mistake releasing on July 17th and we have the amazing cover for you today!

 

Model: Lucas Barbosa Gil
Photographer: Chuando & Frey
Cover designer: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative

Book Description:

The first time I met Caine West was in a bar. 
He noticed me looking his way and mistakenly read my scowling as checking him out. 
When he attempted to talk to me, I set him straight—telling him what I thought of his lying, cheating, egomaniacal ass. 
You see, the gorgeous jerk had wined and dined my best friend--smooth talking her into his bed, all along failing to mention that he was married. 
He deserved every bit of my tongue-lashing and more for what he'd done. 
Especially when that lazy smile graced his perfect face in response to my rant. 
Only it turned out, the man I'd just told off wasn't the right guy. 
Oops. My mistake. 
Embarrassed, I slunk out without an apology. 
I was never going to see the handsome stranger again anyway, right? 
That’s what I thought…until I walked into class the next morning. 
Well, hello Professor West, I’m your new teaching assistant. 
I’ll be working under you…figuratively speaking. 
Although the literal interpretation might not be such a bad thing—working under Professor West. This was going to be interesting… 



No pre-order is available for Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Google Play (ebook) 


     

About the Author:


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Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author. With more than 1.5 million books sold, her titles have appeared in over eighty Bestseller lists and are currently translated in sixteen languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six. 

Tuesday 30 May 2017

Release Day Blitz & Review ~ Found Underneath (Finding Me #2) by KL Kreig

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FOUND UNDERNEATH by KL Kreig is LIVE! 

"KL Kreig nailed it! The perfect heart-stopping ending to a fantastic duet, Found Underneath is everything you hope it will be and so much more!" ~ KL Grayson, USA Today Bestselling Author

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Book Description:

It began as a ruse.

Take a girlfriend. Divert the press from the fucked up mess that’s my family until my father is re-elected. Stage a public breakup. Move on. 

Only that brilliant plan went straight south the moment I set eyes on Willow Blackwell.

I found her. 

My center. My future. A soulmate with the will of a mule and the mouth of a harpy.

I now want things I never wanted before. Permanent kinds of things. 

Only Fate—and her ex—have other plans for us. 

In some sort of cosmic impossibility, our lives unknowingly intersected years before when tragedy befell both our families. Once the devastating truth is finally revealed, the future I’d found in her will come crashing down around us and for the first time in my life I’m completely helpless.

I may very well lose the only woman I've ever loved to a past neither of us saw coming.

*warning: 18+ only. Contains foul language, explicit sex and a hot alpha (or two, or three). NOTE: This is NOT a standalone. It’s the conclusion to LOST IN BETWEEN, which MUST be read first.

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Buy Links:

Amazon CA: goo.gl/w3gTMo 
Amazon AU: goo.gl/vsEIa9 
iBooks: goo.gl/iYzZxs 

ADD TO YOUR TBR: http://bit.ly/2oBq0lM

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Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“We all love and lose. It’s a sad fact of life. But we can choose to hold on to the loss itself or to the love that came before it. All this time I’ve chosen wrong.”


After finishing Lost In Between, I was salivating for this book. I had patiently waited and as soon my scheduled permitted I dived into this one with gusto. Found Underneath continues where Lost In Between finished and there is no time to take a breath, because this book starts as it means to go on…rollercoaster…twists and turns galore which I loved and never saw coming but more importantly a romance that grabbed a hold of my heart and never let go. Man, these two…seriously…one of my favourite book couples ever. This is testament to KL Kreig’s exceptional writing talent, because these two became real, I lived their journey, I breathed it but most importantly I loved it.


“I think if I had woken you, I would have lost myself in you, Willow.”
“Maybe you can find yourself in me, instead.”


Willow and Shaw may not have started with pure romantic intentions but the heart wants who the heart wants, and these two, their hearts only beat for one and other. The more and more this story progressed the more that this became apparent. Their connection was tangible, never once did I believe that these two wouldn’t make it. The chemistry between these two was seriously off the charts and the scenes between these two left me fanning myself and some much-needed freezer time for my kindle. KL Kreig delivered that character connection with such intensity and ferocity that my emotions were all over the place, tears of happiness, tears of sadness, but no matter what these characters felt, I felt it too.


“But the fact still remains that professing our love only adds layers of complexity to this already convoluted mess and for once, I don’t know what to do about it.”


KL Kreig’s writing style is one that I gelled with from the very first book, her books are incredibly easy to read and the pages turn freely and this one was no different. The pacing was perfect and the story flowed with ease and felt like a natural progression. Nothing felt forced, plot lines were well explained and delivered and KL Kreig remained true to her characters.


“I love you, but I’m not sure that’s enough.”


As I said above, Shaw and Willow are one of my favourite couples ever, it’s hard to explain, I just felt like I was watching friends fall in love, I related to these two on a personal level and became a part of their journey. It was intense, it wasn’t always plain sailing, but what relationships are? It is just whether the couple have the strength and belief in what they have to navigate those choppy seas.


“In them, I saw absolutely nothing…But in you, Willow, I see a blank page I want to fill with color and memories, light and laughter. I want to pack page after page with the story of our life, and I’ve never wanted that before.”


The change in Shaw was overwhelming, from serial manwhore to a man literally debilitated by love and it was one affliction that this man grabbed with both hands. While some mens stories feel unbelievable or forced, I actually felt this one and with every scene where this man is pouring his heart out, words that had never crossed his lips before, my heart swelled with pride, like a mum being proud of her kid. I adored Shaw.


“…but in you, Willow Blackwell, I’m not lost at all. In you, I have finally found my reason for existing. You epitomize graceful strength and quiet courage. You are different because I’m in love with every last piece of you. The scared, the scarred, and the sacred. I think I love those the most, the sacred parts you haven’t shared yet because I know when you eventually do they will mean even more to me than the extraordinary gift of your name.”


Willow is such a strong character, I adored her. She has had such a tough life and yet she battles on regardless. Willow takes the rough with the smooth and yet still keeps that smile pasted. Her propensity to forgive and just to give a piece of herself to those that need it was humbling and just made me adore her all the more. Willow’s inability to share her emotions was understandable, her hesitance and reluctance to trust justifiable, she just hadn’t met anyone worthy…until Shaw. Willow was just a woman shaped by her past and now it was up to her to let Shaw in and reshape her future.


“Don’t squander the gift Charles Blackwell gave you. Make my father proud.”


This was a fantastic conclusion, it was hot, seriously hot, it was angsty but not overly so, all wrapped up with an abundance of feels and emotions that ticked all my boxes. I didn’t want to leave these characters behind. The epilogue was perfection and now I am itching for Noah’s story...best friend, loyal, partner in crime and business, but most of all, he is still single. His brother in arms may be off the market, but he certainly isn’t…or is he? Bring it on KL Kreig, pretty please!!


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Trailer:


Other Book in Series:

BK1 Lost In Between Promo E-Book and Print.jpg

Lost in Between


About the Author:

As a USA Today Bestselling author, I write stories that are deeply emotional with flawed characters, because humans ARE flawed and if we read about perfect characters living in their perfect world, first of all, snoozer, but secondly, we never experience the gratification of redemption. Outside of writing, I’m just a regular ol’ Midwest girl who likes Game of Thrones and am obsessed with Modern Family and The Goldbergs. I run, I eat, I run, I eat. It’s a vicous cycle. I love carbs, but there’s love-hate relationship with my ass and thighs. Mostly hate. I like a good cocktail (oh hell…who am I kidding? I love any cocktail). I’m a huge creature of habit, but I’ll tell you I’m flexible. I read every single day and if I don’t get a chance…watch the hell out. My iPad and me: BFFs. I’m direct and I make no apologies for it. I swear too much. I love alternative music and in my next life I want to be a bad-ass female rocker. I hate, hate, hate spiders, telemarketers, liver, acne, winter and loose hairs that fall down my shirt (don’t ask, it’s a thing). 

AUTHOR LINKS 

Monday 29 May 2017

Cover Reveal ~ Bad Penny by Staci Hart

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Bad Penny, an all-new romantic comedy standalone from Staci Hart is coming June 15th!

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Title: Bad Penny
Author: Staci Hart
Cover Designer: Quirkybird Designs
Photographer: Lauren Watson Perry

Book Description:

Nothing good comes after the third date.

See, date three is the crucial point when things get real, which is exactly why I bounce out the door, twiddling my fingers at whatever poor boy I’ve left behind. Because if I stick around, one of three things will happen: he’ll profess his undying love, he gets weird and stalky, or I’ll go crazy. Like, Sid and Nancy crazy. Like, chase-him-through-the-streets-begging-him-to-love-me crazy.

Seriously, it’s better for everyone this way.

So when I meet Bodie, I figure it’ll be the same as it ever was. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t put a single string on me. Doesn’t matter that he’s funny and smart and jacked and can play my body like a grand piano. Because even though I’m built for love, love has only carved me up like a Christmas ham.

Resistance is something I can only hang on to for so long, and he has persistence in spades. But my heart isn’t as safe as I want to believe, and neither is his. And the second I ignore my cardinal rule is the second I stand to lose him forever.

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/pVXrzF

About the Author:


Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics. 

Connect with Staci:

Join Her Reader Group Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stacihart/

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway ~ This is the End, Baby (War & Peace #7) by K Webster

This is the End, Baby
War & Peace #7 
by K. Webster 
Publication Date: May 23, 2017 
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Dark Romance


Book Description:

***This is the seventh and final book in the series. First six books must be read in order to fully understand this story line. THIS STORY IS A NOVELLA AND SHORTER THAN THE REST.*** 

They say the king is the most powerful piece on the board. 
However, they haven’t met me. 
This queen knows all the rules. She plays the game better than him. 
In my game, the queen can knock the king right off the board. 

Game over. 
The END. 

But, I love him. 
The darkness threatens to make me lose sight of my strategy from time to time, but in the END, love always prevails. 

Problem is, my black king is playing by a different set of rules. His END game is one he shields from me. It’s a game he plays closely with the white king, the most brilliant player of all. Together, they want to END my game. 

They want to END me. 

This queen doesn’t go down without a fight. 

This queen makes her own rules. 
This queen will outsmart those who play against her. 

This is the END, baby. 
In the END, I am going to win it all. 


***Warning*** 

This is the End, Baby is a dark romance. Extreme sexual themes and violence, which could trigger emotional distress, are found in this story. If you are sensitive to dark themes, then this story is not for you.


Buy Links:




Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“Happy endings aren’t for villains… But we fucking take them anyway.”


K Webster has delivered one dark, sick and twisted series with War & Peace and I have lapped up every single book. While this book is only a novella it dots the I’s, and crosses the t’s on Gabe and Hannah’s story. Yes, this really is the end baby, in all its gory details. As ever, K Webster holds nothing back, not that I expect her to and to be honest, when it is Gabe and Hannah we are talking about bloodshed is par for the course.

This is kind of a bittersweet read for me, because as much as these characters have sickened me from the get go I have loved their journey. No two people have ever deserved one and other as these two do. They complement each other perfectly, Gabe is the only one that can control Hannah and yet even he struggles at times. Hannah is one unhinged woman and as this series has progressed her need for murder, blood and psychological warfare has only intensified. The question on everyone’s lips in this book is…”is anyone safe?”


“I can’t risk their lives. Their mother is unhinged and unstable. She’s a vase full of cracks, and one day, water will gush out, drowning those she loves in the process. I’ve plugged those cracks, but I’m afraid I can’t do that any longer.”


I have to admit, I do feel sorry for Hannah at times, at the end of the day she is ill and it pains me that nothing works to pull her back from her dark place, but it is these dark places that puts everyone on edge knowing full well that she could snap at any given time. It is this edge that K Webster really drives home in this ending and knowing this, is what has you questioning…who will be her next victim? Or will someone take her down before she has the chance?

K Webster pulls a lot of punches in this book, ones that will have your guts churning accompanied with those little giggles as you really cannot believe what is happening as you read. Sick and twisted situations, reactions and actions are par for the course as K Webster wraps up this series with a bang. I should have been disgusted and yet I wasn’t, does that make me weird…probably. I have read some dark shit in my time and this series does rank up there with them.


“Babies have made me soft. Ever since Brie came into my life, I’ve become weaker. My children have made me this way. Love makes you weak. So fucking weak.”


If you love a dark, sick and twisted read then this is definitely the series for you. I have loved every moment of it and am truly sad to leave these characters behind…especially Gabe. Even though I should hate him K Webster did the impossible, I actually liked him.

Series Order & Review Links:


About the Author:


K Webster is the author of dozens romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers. Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen. You can easily find K Webster on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads! Website: www.authorkwebster.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bllgoP 



Giveaway:

Cover Reveal ~ Notice by K Webster


Notice
by K. Webster 
Publication Date: June 6, 2017 
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Dark Romance, Suspense


Book Description:

I didn’t notice her before…but now I do.
The shiny strands of gold in her silky brown hair.
Tiny crinkles between her eyebrows when she frowns.
Her passion for neatness.

Once I focus on her, I can’t take my eyes from my newest obsession. Ever.
I need to know everything about her.
Her past. Her present. 
The way she takes her coffee.
Exactly how she smells after a spritz of perfume in the mornings.

She’s perfect in every way and I was blind.
But, God, now do I see.

I notice the organized way she arranges her clothes in her closet.
How she visits the same market each Saturday. 
The sounds of her breathing as I lie beneath her bed in silence.

Violet is mine.
She just doesn’t know it yet.


***WARNING***

Notice is a dark and unusual romance. Extreme sexual themes and violence in certain scenes, which could trigger emotional distress, are found in this story. If you are sensitive to dark themes, then this story is not for you. If you aren't into super obsessive stalkers, then this story is not for you.



About K. Webster:

 

K Webster is the author of dozens romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers. Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen. You can easily find K Webster on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads! Website: www.authorkwebster.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bllgoP 

Sunday 28 May 2017

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway ~ A Girl Like Me (Like Us #2) by Ginger Scott


We're celebrating the release of A GIRL LIKE ME by Ginger Scott! Readers have fallen in love with these characters!


A Girl Like Me by Ginger Scott
Book 2 in the Like Us Duet
A mature YA romance, and a little something more…
Release day: May 26


Book Description:

I’m not supposed to be here.


Death has come for me more than once, and each time it’s been a boy who’s

stood between me and my final breath.


I called him Christopher when he saved me as a child. When he came into my

life again, only months ago, I knew him as Wes. Just as he did the time

before, he disappeared the moment he made sure I was out of harm’s way; as

if I didn’t need any more saving.


This time, though, death left me with a reminder of how powerful it is. I

know it meant to strip me of my spirit again, but it failed.


Even so, I know I need Wes to survive. Our souls are woven together

somehow, our every breath in sync. I feel it, even though everyone says I

shouldn’t.


The world thinks he’s missing.

His loved ones don’t want to believe he’s dead.

Only I know just how special he is.


I’m going to find him and bring him home, where he belongs. Together,

we’ll face impossible—we’ll rewrite our ending.


And when the bad guys come calling, we will always win.


Buy Links:



Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4.5 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“I promised you I would tell you everything I could, but some things might be better left in boxes.”


After the ending of A Boy Like You I was totally confused, but in a good way. My mind was running a mile a minute with what ifs, buts and maybes. My mind was a jumble of trying to piece together what was going on and in what direction Ginger Scott would take this. A Girl Like Me is not what I was expecting, but I loved it anyways and I have come to the conclusion…my predictions are shite.


“He said I’m supposed to be your hero…what if I’m the bad guy?”


I will say that the beginning of this book was a little slower paced than her usual style and it did take me a while to get back into the swing of this story, but once I was in, I was hooked. While the plot does stretch your imagination a little it was not way beyond the realms of possibility and I did enjoy this unique spin on their story.


“I just need you…I need you…I need you…and you are not my villain.”


I have to be vague unfortunately because I don’t want to give any spoilers away, but for me, the main thing that I took away from this book was Joss’s growth. After the way her life was left at the end of A Boy Like You most people would have given up the ghost. Joss though, she perseveres and her inner strength and determination were admirable qualities and really made her grow up in my eyes. The way she throws herself into everything with one hundred percent commitment is commendable and Joss was a great role model in this book.


“There are so many people who love you in this world. I’m merely one of them.”


I particularly loved the relationship she forges with her father. Joss’s father went to pot once her mum had left and had become an absentee drunk, but when needed, he made amends even if he did not go about it the right way, his intentions were pure and honourable. I loved seeing these two build those bridges and went quite the way into showing that a love a father has for a daughter and vice versa never wanes, despite the circumstances.

But onto the romance, here I will be extremely vague. Sometimes you don’t find love, love finds you. There is someone in this world for everyone and at times I am sure that your life is predetermined so that you find them. Call it kismet, call it fate or soul mates or whatever, this I firmly believe as I didn’t find mine until later on in life. Joss’s life was written as a fairytale…or is it a horror story…who knows…well I do, but you need to read it. But, if it is meant to be, it is meant to be and there is nothing that you can do about it.


“Before, I only stayed away for you. Everything…it’s for you. I came back for you, I was born for you.”


Love is a battle, there are ups and downs, twists and turns and it is this journey that makes it stronger. Life makes it stronger. Being there in times of trouble is testament to the bond that a couple has, it is easier to give up, it takes strength and true love to stay and weather the storm. This is certainly a journey that this couple undertakes. It was tragic and beautiful and I loved the romantic element that Ginger Scott delivered.


“We’ve come home, to the beginning. Our story starts again. And nobody writes it but us.”


Overall, I adored this duet. I loved its uniqueness, I loved the morals behind the story, I loved the suspense element and I loved how Ginger Scott finely knitted all these elements together. As ever the writing style was beautiful, totally captivating and submerses the reader into the story being told. Another hit from Ginger Scott.



Book One: A Boy Like You


A BOY LIKE YOU
YA Contemporary Romance
Released on: March 3, 2017



Giveaway:


About the Author:



Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before, Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, Hold My Breath, and A Boy Like You.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @TheGingerScott

Thursday 25 May 2017

Release Day Blitz, Review & Excerpt ~ Loving Jade (Riverstone Estates #3) by Roya Carmen


Book Description:

I never thought I’d be able to leave Michael, but I finally worked up the courage. I’m not sure where I’m heading but I feel safe here with the Riverstones. This place is lovely and serene. There is so much beauty and love here.

Yet, I still don’t feel free – I know Michael will find me. It’s just a matter of time.

Love is the last thing I’m looking for, but Flynn is such a beautiful man, inside and out. He makes me believe that I can be stronger, that I can be fierce. He believes he can fix me with equine therapy but he has no clue how much damage has been done.

Yet, somehow, he manages to get through to me. With patience, love and understanding, he slowly peels off the hard layers of self-doubt and fear that have held me captive all these years.

Just as I finally start to get stronger, Michael tracks me down and sends us all into turmoil, and threatens not only me but the family I’ve come to love.

Author’s note:

Loving Jade contains explicit sexual scenes and some coarse language, and is intended for a mature audience.

Loving Jade also contains scenes of domestic abuse and violence which could be a trigger for some. The central theme of the story, however, is female empowerment and self-love. Equine therapy plays a large role in this story as I wanted to share this wonderful form of therapy with my readers.

Loving Jade is the last book in The Riverstone Series, and can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, if one intends to read all three books, it is best to read them in chronological order to avoid spoilers.


Buy Links:



Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“…it’s all about taking control and not being afraid…being strong and fierce.”


Roya Carmen has charmed me with the Riverstone family over the last three books and to see a family so close and so supportive is very welcome. The setting is idyllic and while the Riverstone family seem to have their shit together it is their spouses that always seem to have the problems. Loving Jade is the story of Flynn Riverstone, the brother of Amber and Ruby who were the main characters in the previous two books. Flynn is the equine therapist, a cowboy doctor of sorts and was completely adorable.


“Hottest. Doctor. Ever.”


Jade has been married to Michael for ten years. Jade has been by his side in times of poverty and has witnessed his meteoric rise to immense wealth. The money certainly changed him and not for the better. While I have no doubt that Michael loved Jade, their love was toxic. Michael was a master manipulator, he had Jade on a short leash, was emotionally abusive and at times physically, but never enough to warrant a visit to the ER. Michael had battered Jade’s heart and soul, her self-esteem and her sense of self-worth. Jade was an empty vessel and now it was her time to fill herself back up.

Flynn is an Equine Assisted Therapist, a man that uses horses to help and heal those people that are damaged through things like PTSD, depression and stress. The power of animals is immense and it is this bond that helps people gain confidence and definitely brings them out of their shells. When Jade appears at the Riverstone Estate seeking refuge from her abusive husband, the family take her in with open arms…some arms more open than others.


“I’m in love. I’m in crazy love.”


This was a journey of self-discovery for Jade, for finding her true self away from her husband and trying to rectify the damage that he had inflicted. The support from the entire Riverstone family aids Jade in just that but with Michael a constant lurker in the background you always knew he wasn’t going to make life easy for her.


“My stomach sinks. Is that how I’ve been…a pathetic needy little dog.”


This book had a little more angst than the others but was also incredibly sweet too. Some characters really surprised me in this book, especially knowing them through the previous ones and for me did act a little out of character and not in a good way. I did enjoy the way the story went with Jade and Michael however, I did feel that this was a little rushed and would have liked a little more depth. None the less though, this was an easy read and a page turner. While this is the concluding book in this series I am hoping that at some point in time this adorable family is revisited. While this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading them in order so that you can appreciate the supporting characters, the family and their dynamic.


Excerpt:

“I’m sorry, Jade. I don’t know what game you’re playing but I’m not playing it. This thing with us… it’s real for me. And if it’s not real for you, if you’re just getting off on the drama, getting off on this cat and mouse game you two seem to be playing…”

I’m at a total loss for words. I wish I could say something but he’s rendered me speechless.

“If you’re just using me to make him jealous, hoping he’ll chase you and fight for you—”

“No… that’s not what I’m doing.” His words cut so deep. Is that really what he thinks?

He runs a hand through his hair. “If I’m just a pawn in your fucked up little game—”

“No,” I scream.

“I’m just tired of this shit. I’m tired of this guy. Is something still going on between you two?”

I inch closer to him and look up into his eyes – there’s so much hurt there. I hate that I’ve hurt him. It’s the last thing I want to do. “No,” I tell him softly. Doesn’t he know how much I care about him? “I filed the papers on Tuesday.”

His eyes darken. In an instant, he pulls me against him, hard. His mouth crashes onto mine, and the warmth of him sinks deep, melts me into a puddle. He’s hungry and wild as he slides his hot tongue across my jawline, down the curve of my neck. My mouth is frantic as it searches for his again. He tugs at my hair as he kisses me again, and grabs my ass as he pulls me hard, closer against him. I grind him, wanting more. 

This is a Flynn I haven’t seen before, but I like it. I love it. I pull my mouth from his, breathless. “I want you, Flynn.” 

With a dark gaze, he grabs my hand in his and pulls me behind him. 

As soon as he closes the door behind us, he slams me against the wall. His loft is dark and smells of horses. It’s cold as hell too but I’m burning inside.

I’m wrapped around his hips, my feet off the floor, my mouth lost in his. He slides his hot tongue across my neck. “You’re a dark soul, Jade,” he whispers, his mouth pressed to me ear. “You get off on this. You like it hard, messy and complicated. Admit it, that’s how you like it.”

He’s not completely wrong. I know one of the reasons I’ve always been so attracted to Michael, so infatuated with him, is his darkness. I find it powerful – it’s so intense. He makes me feel alive. 

Flynn drops me to the floor. He slaps a hand on my ass and jerks me around and flattens my face against the wall. He slides his warm hand under the skirt of my dress, up my thigh. “Is this how you like it?”

I close my eyes. 

Yes…

Other Books in Series:

Loving Amber




Loving Ruby