Hate Story by Nicole Williams

Blurb:

Nina can’t let herself fall in love with the man she’s going to marry. Both of them have experienced the sting and sham of love and have no intentions of falling victim to it twice. Love is expensive—hate is free.

Three years. A million dollars. A solution to both of their problems. They planned it all, from the story of their first meeting to the date of their divorce. Nothing could go wrong.

But what they didn’t consider was chemistry, and Nina and Max have no shortage of it. After too many near-kisses, Nina convinces herself that hating Max is better than loving him, and the more she gets to know this soon-to-be-husband of hers, the more she discovers just how very much she truly, madly, and deeply . . . hates him.

This isn’t a love story. This is the other kind.
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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2iFE1w8
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2hxhvtf
Amazon CA : http://amzn.to/2irK9vZ
Amazon AU : http://amzn.to/2irQmrD
Nook : http://bit.ly/2hkRN9u
iBooks : http://apple.co/2h0qYbz

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: December 2016.

My forays into Nicole Willliams writing began way back with her hit Crash, as the title suggests Lucy and Ryder crashed into my life and I was immediately swept away with their story, so much so that I still remember so much of their trials and joys all these years later. When news of Hate Story was released I was instantly intrigued, a proposal, two strangers, and Williams' writing ability and how could I not be?

"I knew I wasn't the traditional Venus men wanted to take a piss on to mark their territory. I wasn't a head-turner, the body a guy pictured as he jacked off. I wasn't the first girl asked to dance... or the second or third."

Nina needs money fast, with mounting debt and her limited options to earn cold hard cash she accepts an indecent proposal from Max Sturm, unlike Demi Moore in the feature film by the same name there is no sex in her contract. Get married, present a picture perfect image of marital bliss and stay married for three years... in the grand scheme of things the $1million pay off is more than worth the inconvenience. For Nina it was as close to perfect as she could get until she met the man who would become her husband.

“I kind of hate you, you know that?”
His eyes challenged that. “I’m asking you to marry me, not like me. Hate me all you want.”

Max Sturm is a formidable business man, born in Germany but raised in the States, Max is desperate to stay in his adopted country. A marriage of convenience with a financial reward seems like the only plausible option. The rules are simple, the terms concrete, he's three short years away from being granted everything he desires.

"Hate was love not ready to be realized. Hate came from fear and doubt and burned at the same degree as passion.
Our hate story had become a love story."

The banter, the sexual tension, the chemistry between the these two left me desperately turning pages, from their initial meeting to them moving in together and beyond that Hate Story was the kind of book you don't want to put down, light, funny and easy to read. Max's conviction to have Nina hate him was absolute, desperate to keep their relationship strictly professional, the more they recognised something in other that ensured this marriage of convenience would blossom into something bigger, something bolder, the more Max fought to be the kind of man who was easy to hate. While this trope certainly isn't new, Williams managed to make it feel fun and fresh. Being on holidays and soaking up the Australian summer sun by the beach, Hate Story was the kind of book I needed, it was effortless in the best kind of way, I found myself giggling on the sand, smiling on a deckchair, and swooning on the balcony with a wine in my hand. Williams reminded me why I loved her writing all those years ago, humour, heat, and most importantly a genuine balance of heart, Hate Story left me sated and yet wanting more, just as a good book should.

About Nicole Williams:

I'm a wife, a mom, a writer. I started writing because I loved it and I'm still writing because I love it. I write romance because I still believe in true love, kindred spirits, and happy endings.

Nicole loves hearing from her readers.   


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Sick Pleasure (Crazy Beautiful #3) by Jessica Serra Huizenga

Blurb:

Hazel Blake loves Tristan Sharp.
Tristan Sharp hates Hazel Blake.

There is only one word to describe Hazel Blake and Tristan Sharp: history. Intense, painful, passionate history. (Ok, four words.)

But it’s been over five years now and Hazel’s ready to leave the past behind. Having nobody but an absent father, a crazy mother, and a preoccupied brother means she could really use her old friend again. So what if she still has deeper feelings for Tristan? She knows she majorly screwed things up and doesn’t deserve him anymore, so she’ll settle for anything he might be willing to give — even if it’s just his body.

When Hazel comes storming back into Tristan’s life, opening all sorts of old wounds, he wants nothing more than to get to the forgetting part. But he’s also having trouble with the whole forgiveness thing, too. When the girl you love rips your heart out and tosses it around like a beanbag, it tends to change a guy. But nobody gets under Tristan’s skin like Hazel, so he just needs to get her out of his system, right? Hit it and quit it. For good this time, and nobody ever needs to know.

Yes, everything that went down between Hazel and Tristan is in the past.
Too bad history is about to repeat itself…

What happens when you love the person you hate?
Can people that hurt each other heal together?

**This books is for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and explicit sexual content**

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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2gLFWSP

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2guAEXL

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2gyKclQ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2gyKzwF

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: November 2016.

Jessica Serra Huizenga has become an author that intrigues me greatly, her debut Crazy, Beautiful was the breath of fresh air I desperately needed to read, light, fun and sexy, her ability to draw the reader in and create characters that I desperately wanted to know more about, with Mad Addiction, her second offering I again felt that dizzying excitement that comes with loosing yourself in a writer's words, throughout learning more about Hazel and Tristan, eagerly awaiting that moment that their past would be explained.

"she was there- written on me, wrapped around me, buried under my skin and permanently etched into my heart. She was and still is. Always has been, always will be."

Sick Pleasure is darker, more complex that the previous books in the series, with the shroud of secrecy that Huizenga has methodically built hanging over the main characters I found myself itching to know what happened between them all those years before. Second chance romance is a trope I enjoy when done well, when the build up is absolute, the writing flawless, and most importantly when the reason for the original break up when revealed is valid. As a reader of primarily contemporary romance I need a sense of reality in my happily ever afters, I need to feel that sense that this could truly happy in real life, and what I really enjoyed here was the rawness and honesty that shone through in Huizenga's words.

"Do I love Hazel Blake? F*ck I don’t know. Can you love somebody you hate?"

Huizenga burst onto the Indie scene this year and has easily created one of my favourite full series of the year, consistently strong writing, beautiful covers, intriguing blurbs, Sick Pleasure has all the hallmarks of a great second chance romance, showcasing the author's ability to create a dynamic and soulful story about addiction and recover, first loves and last loves, about the family you wish you could choose and the friends who become family. Hazel and Tristan share the kind of past that is filled with soaring highs and heart wrenching lows, a past that clearly still has it's clutched firmly in their hearts years later, it's their connection, and their own self realisations that make this story so very compelling.

About Jessica Serra Huizenga:

When she’s not making confetti as head honcho over at The Confetti Bar (theconfettibar.com),
co-dreaming with creative women through Monarch Workshop (monarchworkshop.com), and
blogging about her health & wellness journey going sugar-free at Simple Unsweet ((simpleunsweet.com), Jessica loves to spend her nights getting caught up in imaginary worlds.
She lives in central CT with her husband, Clifford, and the cutest cat EVER, named Curious.
She loves colorful things, making people smile, things that smell good, and is obsessed with
lemon water. And glitter. Lots of glitter.
She also loves, well…love. (She’s a sucker for a sweet story.)

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Stroked Hard (Stroked #3) by Meghan Quinn

Blurb:

He’s hot. Like, stop breathing kind of hot with his killer body, vivid blue eyes, and constant five o’clock shadow.

Did I mention his body?

Watching Hollis Knightly, Olympic diving gold medalist, man-pony specialist—and cocky bastard—stand up on the diving platform in nothing but a small piece of Spandex? Yeah, I’m beguiled.
And easily seduced.

I want to keep things light but he won’t leave me alone. And hell, if he’s not wearing me thin.

What is supposed to be a simple summer fling with a very hot man, has now morphed into a f*cked-up mess of feelings, attachment, and dare I say it…love. But I don’t do relationships. And Hollis Knightly does.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ezpjnZ

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2fOtphN
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2eTlj2T

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2dUCpk2
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2fjMA1S...
iBooks: http://apple.co/2eQuMZR
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dPh3Qc

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: November 2016.

You would think with two Olympic Gold medals under his belt and a body made for sin that Hollis Knightly would be far more arrogant and cocky, but buried under that bravado he often displays for Make Up Artist Melony is a man who has found the woman he wants to marry. From the very first glimpse he catches of Melony, he is smitten, despite numerous road blocks and push backs, Hollis refuses to halt his advances or give up.

Hollis rocks the old soul, suave gentleman vibe, at times he almost seems to good to be true, and much to my absolute reading pleasure, Hollis is every bit the kind of hero I long to cheer for in books and in life. Everything about him sang to my romantic heart, I absolutely longed for him to be seen as the man he was instead of the womanising playboy that Melony imagined him originally to be. I often find myself desperate to connect with heroine in my books, but more and more in Quinn's stories I find myself drawn to her heroes, with their charm, charisma goodness. In fact as much as I understood how Melony's past has impacted on her present and threatens to derail her future chances of happiness, I often found myself wanting to climb inside the pages and gently shake some sense into her, I wanted to shout....Hollis is jump for joy, kick your heels in the air amazing and you're going to miss out if you don't see that!!! It was for that reason I found myself rating Stroked Hard four instead of five like I originally was heading towards.

Bursting to the brim with Quinn's trademark silly, sexy snarky banter, Hollis and Melony's tale of love and lust and all that comes with it was the perfect read to drag me out of a pain killer induced haze (broken tail bones are not fun people!!) plenty of laughs, quirky humour and some serious sexiness that left me fanning my face meant Stroked Hard completed this series with aplomb.

About Meghan Quinn:

When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn't take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. It wasn't until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven't turned back since.

You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.

​I currently reside in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.

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LUCAS (A Preston Brothers Novel) by Jay McLean

Blurb:

In a sprint, every millisecond counts.
When you’re waiting for love, those milliseconds can feel like eons.

High school senior Lucas Preston has it all: star of the track team, a scholarship waiting for him, an apartment to himself and a revolving door of girlfriends. He also has an older sister, five younger brothers and a father who relies on him to make sure those brothers don’t kill each other.
His saving grace? Lois “Laney” Sanders, a girl he started to fall in like with when he was just eleven.
A girl who became his best friend, his confidant, his courage.

It took only sixteen clicks and eight seconds for Lucas to realize that his like for Laney had turned into love.
Eight life-changing seconds.
It’s also the exact length of time it took to lose her.

Find Lucas on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2f06Ntc

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2e4wRyI

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2eTpjk5

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2dUEKvj

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: October 2016.

I'll be honest, when Jay McLean first spoke of writing and releasing Lucas I was a tad worried, I adored the More series, all of it, each book made me fall a little more in love with the author's words, with the worlds she created, so much so More Than Enough found itself on my Platinum Lipstick - favourite of all time list and it's dedication would end up being inked on my skin, that kind of love is difficult to emulate, in fact I was scared that I wouldn't love Lucas the same way I had loved it's predecessors. The truth however is that I needn't worried, this story was a perfect combination of sweet romance and thrilling suspense and raw heartbreak.

"You're my best friend, Luke, and you're standing here right now on the side of a highway telling me I should hate you while driving to a store an hour away. For me!"

Lucas Preston and Lois (Laney) Sanders met as children and became firm friends, their young friendship saw more than most high school crushes , the setting of college dreams, the bond these two developed was raw and real in the best possible way, equal parts childhood naivety and adult reality, their relationship blossomed into something bigger and bolder along the way leaving them trying to navigate what it meant for them now. Granted from my words, you would be expecting a teenage friends to lovers romance much like I did, but Lucas was so much more than that, much like the relationship that developed between Lucas and Laney, this story was bigger and bolder than that, it left me gripping my kindle to my chest, swallowing down panic, desperately hoping something (yes I'm being deliberately vague here) to happen.

"And so without meaning to, without wanting to, I started to fall in like with a girl who would later become my best friend. My confidant. My courage... A girl who would later crush my heart and destroy me."

This is the point when I'd usually tell you about the story and the impact it had on me, I'd tell you all about how certain scenes left me reeling or made me feel exuberant and joyous but inside I'm going to beg to experience this book the way I did...blind. Know that Lucas is part YA/NA, part coming of age, part friends to lovers, all heart wrenching gloriousness that had me addicted, everything about McLean's latest work was impossible to put down. For fans of the More series, Lucas will delight and intrigue, it will easily fill the void left by a beloved series ending, for those new to the world of Jay McLean Lucas will easily enrapture leaving you wanting More. (See what I did there )  Allow McLean to steal your heart the way she did mine, with two characters who feel more like family as they take on adolescence and high school crushes, adult issues and everything in between, allow McLean to take you on a journey that you won't soon forget.

About Jay McLean:

Jay McLean is an international best-selling author and full-time reader, writer of New Adult Romance, and most of all, procrastinator. When she’s not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, playing house and binge watching Netflix.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her hurt and make her feel.

Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in a forever half-done home where music is loud and laughter is louder.

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Keepsake (True North #3) by Sarina Bowen

Blurb:

There's a first time for everything.

Lark Wainwright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.

When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.

Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.

Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.

Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he's good for much more than farm labor.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2e3WTC2

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2fvxref

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2eQXt7R

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2eIta5K

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: October 2016.

I've been a huge fan of Sarina Bowen's for a while now, her writing goes from strength to strength for me, the True North series has easily captured my heart, but Keepsake was something else entirely, it was special in the way that the author's words spoke directly to my heart, every moment had me lost in the story, eager for more and yet desperate to savour every little nuance. Keepsake was everything I look for in a book, the sweet and blissful interspersed with heartbreak made this the kind of book that will stay with me long after I turn the last page.

"Lying in a girls bed was not something I'd ever done before last week. Touching people didn't come easily to me. But Lark didn't have the same hang ups."

Zack intrigued me from the moment he was introduced in Bittersweet, he was quiet and reserved, funny and sweet, the ultimate hard worker, he was dedicated to his duties and in turn to the Shipley's. His upbringing in a religious cult formed the man he is in so many ways, but the last four years spent in Vermont also has a huge impact on his mental well being and character, now free  from the life he once knew, Zack has grown exponentially, letting people  in, loving the friends that have become his family, finally a part of the world around him, Zack is experiencing all kinds of things he never knew about and finding someone he wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with was something he expected until Lark came crashing back into his life.

"But lust isn't shameful, no matter what they used to tell you. Now's your chance to stick it to 'em. Name a desire. It doesn't even have to be realistic."

Lark was once the life of the party, she was fearless, ready to take on the world, any challenge she was game to tackle, until her work transfer to Guatemala ended with her being kidnapped from the busy street market and held captive. Returning to her normal life seemed impossible, crippled by guilt and shame over what transpired, nightmares that won't abate, and feeling like she's a burden on her parents, she jumps at the chance to spend some time in Vermont, picking apples and forgetting everything that happened that changed her from the fun loving girl she once was.

"You're so much more than a bad memory. I love you and even if my life is kind of a mess right now, I still want you in it."

When Lark and Zark meet again for the second time there was something there, like two souls recognising their mate, while they both seem okay on the outside, they are harbouring past hurts that have the ability to break them. When Lark's nightmares leave her screaming in her sleep, Zack is the one who provides comfort. It was in those quiet moments that Keepsake easily became one of my favourites of 2016. Their connection was tangible, their chemistry unmistakable, knowing that Zack offered comfort without expectation, seeing the light return to Lark's eyes only served to make Zack more endearing. Keepsake was more than just a story, more than just a romance novel, it was a beautiful combination of lust, heartbreak and happiness. For fans of this series, reconnecting with the Shipley's and Jude only made this story more special. Zack proved to be the kind of hero that I love, strong, sure, a man with a pure and good heart, everything about him made me smile, he came from a place that could of ruined him, but instead he found himself thriving, meeting Lark changed him again, and allowed him to push past his comfort zone and become a new version of an already good man who loved his lady wholeheartedly, without fear. Lark left me in awe of the woman she became, her tenacity and perseverance showed her strength. Keepsake filled with elegant prose, and heady romance left me sated and yet desperate for more, but what I truly loved was how this story beautifully captured the essence of true life, showcasing two people fighting for their chance at something good, happiness in all it's forms, showing that those with pasts that threaten to defeat them overcome anything. Keepsake imprinted itself on my heart, scoring itself on my soul, leaving me cheering for these two characters that felt so real. Beautifully written, Bowen ensured that this is a story I won't soon forget.

About Sarina Bowen:

Sarina Bowen is the USA Today bestselling author of steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction. She lives in the wilds of New England.

She is the author of The Ivy Years, an award-winning series set amid the hockey team at an elite Connecticut college. Also, the The Gravity series.

With Elle Kennedy, Sarina is the author of the RITA award winning HIM, and its sequel, US.

NEW IN 2016: Two New Series!

Sarina has begun a new Vermont contemporary romance series, True North. She's also unrolled new hockey novels from Penguin Berkley including Rookie Move.

Sarina enjoys skiing, espresso drinks and the occasional margarita. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.

Connect with Sarina on Facebook

Tonic by Staci Hart

Blurb:

Joel Anderson doesn’t take anything seriously.

Not his relationships, which have been few and far between since his brutal divorce. Not the drama of working in a tattoo parlor, which seems to be around every corner. When things get him down, he smiles and cracks a joke. But he’s not the kind of man you cross, or you’ll find yourself at the wrong end of his fists.

Annika Belousov takes everything seriously.

Like her job as a reality television producer, given that she typically has something to prove. Or her love life, which is defined by a series of requirements — affluent, ambitious, accomplished, to name a few. Definitely her family, who worked their whole lives to afford her every opportunity, a sacrifice she doesn’t take lightly. When she’s tapped to produce a reality show at Joel’s shop, she doesn’t think twice, just goes in for the kill, as if there were any other way.

The second Annika walks into Joel’s shop, he makes it his mission to crack her open, but she’s not having it. He’s all wrong — too crass, too hairy, too un-serious. But it doesn’t take her long to find out there’s more to him than smirks and tattoos. And what she finds could put her career and his heart on the line.

Not that Joel cares. Because for the first time in a long time, he’s found his tonic.

Find Tonic on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2eJetwc

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2efhTsa

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dNPMzD

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2ewR2tt

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: October 2016.

There's something effortlessly cool about Tonic, in fact there's something effortlessly cool about the author Staci Hart too, fans of the Bad Habits series will remember Joel Anderson, his turn as Tricky's boss, mentor and friend in Last Call was both hilarious and endearing, the hulking piece of bearded man meat was the kind of secondary character I personally was hoping we would get more of. Hart's previous Bad Habits series and follow up stand alone Wasted Words cemented her an Author I follow, with eye catching, gorgeous covers and quirky, intriguing blurbs Tonic was sure to pique my interest. With Joel taking his place front and centre made me giddy with excitement, the man who affectionately tattooed his hand and fingers THIS and THAT was bound to be the kind of leading man I was sure to love.

“He didn’t shy away from my glare — which would level most men — instead, he met it with heat that burned through me like molten lava. Or indigestion.”

Annika Belousov has not only mastered the art of resting bitch face, but mastered the stone cold demeanor to match, as cold as ice, professionally a shark who can sniff out the proverbial blood in the water. She wasn't always the ice queen she is now, but a baptism of fire in her chosen career shaped her into a formidable task master, capable of deception and manipulation to rival the best. As Executive Producer on what will hopefully be the breakout hit of an over saturated reality television market focusing on Joel and his tattoo shop Tonic.

“Three steps and I was in his arms.
Two heartbeats and I looked into his eyes.
One breath and I kissed him.”

Everything about Joel and Annika is electric, volatile, all consuming... their chemistry, their passion, like a match waiting to be struck, the only certainty is once they come together they are sure to go up in flames. The back and forth, the banter, the push and pull of animal magnetism between them made Tonic was one fast paced ride. Two people desperate to keep their cards close to their chest with a hero who never takes anything too seriously and a heroine who never lets her guard down, and a cast comprised of old favorites and new friends, Hart crafted an addictive story that was impossible to put down. Equal parts funny, sexy and sweet made Tonic another winner for me.

About Staci Hart:

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 on Goodreads

A Place In The Sun by R.S. Grey

24/10/2016

Blurb:

When her mother’s incessant matchmaking hits an all-time high, Georgie Archibald does what any sensible woman would do: she flees the country.

Seeking refuge in the picturesque seaside village of Vernazza, Italy, Georgie’s only plan is to lie low, gorge herself on gelato, and let the wine and waves wash her troubles away...that is until she wakes up in a bed that belongs to the most romantic-looking man she’s ever seen.

Gianluca.

After going out of his way to rescue her, the former London financier turned mysterious recluse makes it clear that despite acting as her white knight, he has no plans to co-star in her fairytale.

But Georgie isn’t asking for his heart—she’s merely intrigued.

After all, Gianluca isn’t just gorgeous—tall and tan from days spent in the sun—his touch sets her world on fire. With him, Georgie experiences the most intoxicating passion she’s ever known, and it only takes a few steamy nights for her to realize that sometimes running away from trouble is the best way to find it.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2efcxxg

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2emxyqX

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2en28Dr

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2eJcW9o

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: October 2016.

For fans of R.S. Grey, Georgie Archibald burst onto the scene in Settling The Score (The Summer Games #1) as Olympic Gold medalist Freddie Archibald's loud and energetic younger sister, everything about the gregarious and often misunderstood by her mother Georgie intrigued me, in terms of female side characters, Georgie was certainly one I hoped to know better. When the younger Archibald has had enough of her meddling mother and her incessant match making ways, she spins a globe and lands on Vernazza, Italy. Off on an adventure, Georgie is determined the live the life she imagined, find love and step out from under the expectations of her demanding mother.

"The day I got intimidated by another woman would be the day I was no longer Georgie Archibald."

Georgie isn't the only one that found themselves in Italy because of love, whereas she hopes to find it, Gianluca hopes to forget the pain and destruction it brings. Scarred and broken from his past dalliance with love, Gianluca is in no way ready for a second go around the block regardless of how attracted he may be to the British spitfire that seems to be everywhere he is.

"Because women always do," explained Katerina. "They think they'll swoop in and coax him out of his shell. They want to heal him like a bird with a broken wing, but it's actually easier with birds, because they want to fly so badly. Gianluca-well, for the past five years, he's made it clear he doesn't want to be healed. He wants to stay on the ground."

Full of Grey's trademark wit, A Place in the Sun is equal parts sweet and sexy, with the perfect amount of angst thrown in for fun, Georgie and Luca's chemistry was tangible, so real it jumped from the page, their burgeoning relationship was everything I look for a romantic comedy, funny, sweet, sexy as hell, the more I read, the deeper I fell down the rabbit hole that is the worlds Grey continues to create. For lovers of quintessential contemporary romance, who want to relax with a book and lose themselves within the words, who want something a little deeper than your stereotypical rom com, A Place in the Sun is destine to be a sure fire hit.

About R.S. Grey:

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, metaphors and similes, 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 are 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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Harley and Rose by Carmen Jenner

Blurb:

Ever since she was a little girl, thirty-year-old Rose dreamed of the day Harley would carry her across the threshold on their honeymoon. So what if this isn’t her actual wedding day, and that she’s only here because Harley was left at the altar just a few hours earlier?

Trading San Francisco for paradise and swapping her bridesmaid’s bouquet for a Blue Hawaii, Rose hopes she can finally escape the friend zone.

Once upon a time they had been more than friends, but life got in the way. She’s spent every day since wishing Harley would get a clue.

She’s always been his best friend.

He’s always been hers.

She’s in love with him.

He’s … not in love with her.

He’s … marrying someone else.

He’s … hiding something.

He’s … well—it’s complicated.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2dXSSkZ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2eM3tlL

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2dKNsZ6

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: October 2016.

It's a truly unexplainable feeling beta reading for an author you admire, it's a process like anything that grows and develops and inevitably changes over time. As the reader you continue to grow, you become more and more widely read, your tastes change and that thing you look for when wanting to lose yourself within the pages of a book continues to develop, mature, it's the nature of being a book lover, what you read and loved years ago might not hold that same wow factor were you to pick it up for the first time now, with this you hope that the Authors you read change with you, holding onto some modicum of what makes their stories uniquely theirs, and yet develop and change and hopefully still grab you by the collar and demand you sit up and take notice. When Ms Jenner first mentioned Harley and Rose over a year ago now, the words sweet and light and funny were thrown around, when she dropped hints like friends to lovers and second chance romance I may have inwardly cheered, for anyone who knows me, they know the affinity I share with friends to lovers and their elk, my imagination almost immediately ran wild with images of funny, sweet interludes, of childhood bestfriends who grew into the strongest of lovers, yet for almost a year after that moment Harley and Rose was shelved in favor of other stories needing to be told. When Harley and Rose once again became a living breathing entity and found itself on my kindle I felt a heady sense of trepidation, the images I created in my mind were vivid and full of beautiful colour, I found myself questioning how I could read and critique something I had already built up such lofty expectations for? What if the story the Author told weren't what I expected?  What I couldn't have anticipated was how much this story would claim my heart or how sorely mistaken I would be thinking that the images that originally flooded my mind would have ever done these characters justice.

"Do you love her?"

"Rose - "

"Do you?"

"I don't know. Yeah I think so. When I'm with her I'm a different man, but when I'm here with you, I'm...I'm me."

"God, That's so much worse."

"I know." 

Harley and Rose have never done anything the easy way, from the moment they met as children, their lives have consisted of epic adventures, of great loves and harrowing heartbreaks, as teenagers we tend to romanticize every moment, our first loves should inspire sonnets, our heartbreaks enough to wage wars, every moment and every part of adolescence is filled with a sense of manic desperation that feels too big to be contained. For Rose, her entire life is filled with Harley, her past, her present and her future is consumed by a boy who would always be the Peter Pan to her Wendy, the boy who inspired girlhood crushes and adult lifelong loves regardless of which twists and turns their lives have taken, despite lovers who may come and go, part of her heart would always belong to the boy who never grew up.

"Over it? I laugh but there's no humor in the sound. I wish I could put you aside as easily as you seem to be able to dismiss me, but I can't, because I've been loving you so long I don't know how to stop."

 I have so much I want to say here, so much I want to tell you about why Harley and Rose was nothing like how I expected nor wanted, and yet everything I needed, I want to tell you how indelibly Rose left her mark on my heart, how much her pain and heartbreak seeped into my very being, causing wave upon wave of raw emotion to wash over me, I want to tell you how much I pride myself on not crying in books and yet how Harley and Rose broke my tightly held control and left me blinking through tears begging for relief from the pain that I *knew* would only grow. I want to tell you how much I wanted to crawl into the pages and hold Rose, comfort her, hold her through all those moments that saw her struggle for breath, to give her strength. I want to tell you one of the things that cemented Carmen Jenner as a much read author for me was her ability to craft strong willed heroines that are also beautifully broken, her ability to showcase the dichotomy of the human condition in her characters, especially in her leading ladies is a feat few authors truly accomplish for me. Rose with her tenacity and quite strength intermingled with her vulnerability and inability to walk away even when self preservation calls for it cemented her as a character that will remain in my mind long after her story ended. But mostly, I want to implore you to read this book, avoid spoilers, go in as blind as possible and allow Ms Jenner to steal your heart with her heady blend of raw emotion, humor and sizzling chemistry of two people who were always destined to be in each others lives.

About Carmen Jenner:

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY and international bestselling author of the Sugartown, Savage Saints, and Taint series.
Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU 2015.
A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore MAC addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny north coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.
A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?

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TONIC by Staci Hart - Cover Reveal

COVER REVEAL
Title: Tonic
Author: Staci Hart
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cover Design: Staci Hart
Photographer: Perrywinkle Photography
Release Date: October 13, 2016

Blurb:

Joel Anderson doesn’t take anything seriously.

Not his relationships, which have been few and far between since his brutal divorce. Not the drama of working in a tattoo parlor, which seems to be around every corner. When things get him down, he smiles and cracks a joke. But he’s not the kind of man you cross, or you’ll find yourself at the wrong end of his fists.

Annika Belousov takes everything seriously.

Like her job as a reality television producer, given that she typically has something to prove. Or her love life, which is defined by a series of requirements — affluent, ambitious, accomplished, to name a few. Definitely her family, who worked their whole lives to afford her every opportunity, a sacrifice she doesn’t take lightly. When she’s tapped to produce a reality show at Joel’s shop, she doesn’t think twice, just goes in for the kill, as if there were any other way.

The second Annika walks into Joel’s shop, he makes it his mission to crack her open, but she’s not having it. He’s all wrong — too crass, too hairy, too un-serious. But it doesn’t take her long to find out there’s more to him than smirks and tattoos. And what she finds could put her career and his heart on the line.

Not that Joel cares. Because for the first time in a long time, he’s found his tonic.

Find Tonic on Goodreads

About Staci Hart:

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, even 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. Her favorite word starts with f and ends with k.

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 sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics.

Connect with Staci:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacihartnovels

Twitter: https://twitter.com/imaquirkybird

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/imaquirkybird/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quirkybird/

The Goal (Off Campus #4) by Elle Kennedy

New Cover

Original Cover

Blurb:

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.
Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2djjFqt

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2cSNtLV

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dthHHk

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2ctRCTT
B&N: http://bit.ly/2cRoyWK
iBooks: http://apple.co/1Ye8BLO

Purchase:

The Deal (Off Campus #1)

The Mistake (Off Campus #2)

The Score (Off Campus #3)

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: September 2016.

Elle Kennedy has quickly become one of my favourite authors, the Off Campus series I often find myself rereading when I'm in a funk, there's something inherently thrilling about these big, brooding, dirty talking ice hockey players that ticks all the right boxes for me. Throughout the previous books in the Off Campus series, I've found myself particularly drawn to John Tucker, the lovable larrikin of the house, the man that ensures that the groceries are done and meals are cooked, the one that makes sure the house and the team continues to function. I wasn't under any false impressions that Tuck didn't enjoy the perks of being a former Frozen Four winner, surely having women throwing themselves at him wasn't a chore, being one of the undisputed Kings of school wouldn't have hurt, but there was always something deeper there that intrigued me, something about him that left me eager for more, I like most readers finished The Score absolutely desperate for The Goal, not only for Tuck but for the elusive Sabrina.

"I'm trashy, I live with trashy people. I belong in a trashy place. The question is, will I ever be able to rub off the stench of my past to belong at Harvard? I thought I could."

Throughout the previous books Sabrina seemed like a stuck up b*tch to put it mildly, she is self sufficient to the extreme, determined to excel in everything she takes on, tough as nails in every aspect of her life. Sabrina's life is carefully constructed timetable, every activity, every moment scheduled to precision, while she may be well known on campus, very few actually truly know her, she knows how to get in, get off and get out, strict rules for all of her brief sexual encounters, and keeping people at a distance is a way of life. Everything about Sabrina shouts stand back and stay away, while most people see the out of reach, bitchy façade she puts on, Tuck see's past it all and is instantly intrigued, desperate to know more about the woman who quickly captured his attention.

"I'm usually the strong one. But right now I don't feel strong at all."

Tuck has seen both sides of the proverbial coin, growing up he was all to aware of the trials of living in a single income home, his widowed mother sacrificing to ensure he never went without, while still living a modest existence, despite living away at college, playing for a championship winning team, proud recipient of a scholarship and big man on campus he has dreams of something more, a career outside of hockey, a wife and children, his Southern charm showing through.

"You're the only one for me. My sun rises and sets on your smile. My heart beats because yours does.

What I adored so much about this story is that Sabrina makes no apology for who she is, and what she does, she's straight forward, blunt to a fault, Sabrina has only one goal in life, to work her way out of her soul crushing existence and to a life she's always dreamt of, one where she's self sufficient, financially stable, and shooting to the top of Harvard, kicking ass and taking names. She doesn't need a big circle of friends, to be liked or dare say loved, she certainly doesn't need a man, but for the first time in her life, with John Tucker she finds herself wanting one, wanting someone to share the load. For the first time in a long time, there wasn't a clear hero for me, both Sabrina and Tucker stole my heart in equal measure, while fans of this series will remember the bombshell that Elle Kennedy dropped at the end of The Score, with the two stories running partly concurrently, I expected to lose that WOW! factor, and I found myself even more drawn into the story, immediately invested because of that. While The Goal is the fourth book in the Off Campus series, all of these titles can be read as stand alones. While The Deal will always hold a special place in my heart, The Goal and in fact this entire series continues to go from strength to strength, everything about this book stole my heart,
with the perfect blend of heat, heart and humor The Goal hit the mark for me.

About Elle Kennedy:

New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

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