Let's Get Textual & I Wanna Text You Up by Teagan Hunter

Blurb:

A wrong number is supposed to be just that—a wrong number.

Delete. Done.

Do not continue to text. Do not flirt.

A wrong number shouldn’t be the first person on your mind in the morning, or the last at night…and you’re definitely not supposed to talk them into buying a baby goat.

Because that would be weird.

When Zach Hastings and I get into a wrong-number mix-up, we don’t follow the rules. We keep texting and flirting, because he’s wicked funny and perfectly nerdy and a wonderful distraction.

I’m not looking for love, and Zach definitely had the wrong number.

But maybe…

Maybe he’s the right guy.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Kxnk4i

Amazon PB: https://amzn.to/2tNnhdu

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Knk4g1

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2lHwjVF

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2Kvpwta

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: June 2018.

HOLY MOLY!! Seriously, where did this book come from, I'll be honest here and say Teagan Hunter is a new to me author, I was scrolling through a book recommendation thread in a book group on Facebook looking for authors and titles similar to the likes of Mariana Zapata, Sally Thorne, Christina Lauren, Alice Clayton, Helen Hoang, books that had that illusive spark we all seek. Something funny, a little zany, with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, with a depth that draws the reader in almost immediately...you know the unicorn of ROM COM world. I stumbled upon a post absolutely RAVING about Teagan Hunter, as soon as I read the duet titles I ran (figuratively of course, we all know I don't run... anywhere...ever) and #1clicked those badboys like it was a fire sale on lipstick.

I mean seriously....LET'S GET TEXTUAL... I love me so wordy jokes, they're so punny.... (I'll be here all week, try the chicken) any who I'm getting distracted, the point it, the titles alone drew me in, before I had seen the cover or read a blurb, and you want to know the best part? The first chapter absolutely sold me, witty dialogue, a meet cute I could go gaga over, this book played like a movie through mind, I was and in truth, still am absolutely smitten by Hunter's words. 

Delia, is newly single - despite it being a very amicable break up, she's still feeling the loss of something that was comforting if nothing else. Caleb wasn't her meant to be, there were no fireworks, no desperation to be near each other, no deep and meaningful conversations, it was a surface level relationship that was easy and fun, until it wasn't anymore. Not looking to jump back into the dating game, her focus is classes, hanging out with her bestie and roommate Zoe, and that's about it. When she receives a text from an unknown number she doesn't think much of it, chalking it up to her brother losing his phone yet again. As the texts continue she realises there's been a mix up of epic proportions. 

Enter Zack, when his roommate flubs the number of a business contact, he ends up sending a text to Delia. instead of an oops sorry wrong number, what follows is a steady stream of messages that both Delia and Zack enjoy far more than they could have anticipated. 

“You’re a cool dude.”

“A cool dude, huh? That’s what you call your best friend, or a guy you’ve stuck in the friend zone, not someone you keep kissing. Are you trying to friend-zone me, Delia?”

Let's Get Textual was fun, and light, and I found myself giggling while stopped at lights in traffic while my audio played, those two plus hours spent commuting to and from work suddenly felt too quick. I didn't want to leave my car, often finding myself squirrelling away extra moments to read one more chapter before heading into work, or home from my driveway. 

“Will you go on a second date with me?”

“We’re still in the middle of our first date, Zach. You can’t just ask me that out of the blue.”

“I already did, and I refuse to take it back.”

“What if I don’t like you by the end of this date?” I volley back.

“You honestly think that’s possible?” His dimples poke through his smile, and I know right then I’m going to say yes. “Say yes, Delia. Be wild. Do something crazy and fun.”

Zack is deliciously nerdy, and Delia, well she's got this take no sh*t vibe without the resting bitch face which I adored. It was their quirkiness that I loved, the back and forth, the push and pull that I found so enthralling, it was cute, and fun, and sweet, and sexy and so damn funny that it was absolutely impossible to put down, and that baby goat...don't even get me started on him...do yourself a favour a #1click Let's Get Textual now.

Blurb:

ROOMMATE WANTED
Chicks or dudes welcome!

Looking for a new roomie? I have a place for you! Like your music loud? I own headphones. Enjoy having late-night guests over? Again, headphones. Want someone to help pay the bills? Do the dishes? Take out the trash? You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours (metaphorically, of course).

Check us out, getting along already.

Must be able to pay first and last month's rent up front.
Must be okay with Breakfast & Beats.
No dogs.
No trying to sleep with me.
Two bedrooms. One bathroom.
$350/month plus electricity.

If interested, email ineedarobin@gmail.com.
P.S. Wiener pics sent directly to my grandmother. Don't do that crap to her.

This book does feature characters from Let's Get Textual but can be read as a standalone as the book does not follow the same timeline.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2IE5MBA

Amazon PB: https://amzn.to/2IF59Yz

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2KkVc8r

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2KmYfwI

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2yVCWNL

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: June 2018.

After the glorious high that was Let's Get Textual I had HIGH expectations, I mean come on... a baby goat... (trust me you'll understand when you read it) knowing I was diving into Zoe's story... well that had me positively giddy! Zoe as a supporting character in LGT was hilarious, but as the heroine she had a depth I didn't expect. When her bestie and roommate Delia moves out she needs to find a new roomie. In typical Zoe fashion her help ad is quirky and hilarious. 

Her search yields only one true candidate and it's the last person she could of expected, or wanted to be in such close proximity to. For the sake of keeping this review spoiler free I'm going to call the hero Mr C. These two are no strangers to one another, although they were never what you would call friends, they've spent sometime together while in college. Those surface level friendships we all have in life, deeper than an acquaintance but not someone you'd necessarily call to spend time with. Only lately Zoe has found her attention drifting to Mr C more than she expected.

“Where you’re from? That’s not you. Your dreams, your goals, those aspirations you hold so dear to your heart? Those are you. The rest of it only defines you as much as you let it.”

To the outside world Mr C seems to have his life together, talented, genuinely nice, everything he does he gives 100% too, but beneath the bright smile is a past that haunts him. Mr C is in need of a new place to stay, a place that is clean and quiet, with a roommate that won't ask too many questions or force him to open up and share anything real about himself.

"You know that's when I really started noticing you too. I mean, you were always this kind of force to be reckoned with, but it wasn't until Delia went though all that sh*t and you were there for her that I realized how great you really were."

When Zoe and Mr C collide, it's earth shattering for both of them, neither have ever sought anything more than surface level attachment, Zoe too scared to put her heart on the line, and Mr C to scared to open his life to prying and judgemental eyes. 

I Wanna Text You Up was fun, and flirty, with the witty banter I expected, and the kind of chemistry that burns up the page, but it also had a depth that sung to my heart, willing me to feel these characters intrinsically. Where Let's Get Textual was all about taking a leap, a chance on someone new, I Wanna Text You Up, was all about being willing to open yourself up to someone else, and having enough faith that what others saw there was enough to make them want to stay, it's the subtle messages that stay with me long after I turn the last page. This duet was wickedly fun, super sweet, quirky dialogue that made it utterly impossible not to be invested in the characters story. An absolute must read.

About Teagan Hunter:

I’m a Missouri-raised gal, but currently live in North Carolina with my US Marine husband and 8-year-old Miniature Pinscher. I spend my days begging him for a cat, and I survive off coffee, pizza, and sarcasm. When I’m not writing, you can find me binge-watching various TV shows, especially Supernatural and One Tree Hill. I like cold weather, buy more paperbacks than I’ll ever read, and I never say no to brownies.

Connect with Teagan on Facebook

Bad Penny by Staci Hart

Blurb:

Nothing good comes after the third date.

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’ll get 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 or that he 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.

Find Bad Penny on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2suAw4n
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2torX7F
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2rtA0DG
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2sCtzxR

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: June 2017.

When Staci Hart announced Bad Penny saying this book would be different from her previous ones she couldn't have been more right, Penny is brash, without filter and truly seems to have mastered the art of giving zero f*cks. She calls it as she see's it, refuses to behave demurely or deny her sexual urges because of societal expectation and says whatever it is she's thinking without fear of judgement or retribution, in saying that she's also inherently good and kind, despite wanting to show the world she's heartless, she has possibly the biggest heart of any of Hart's characters to date. Her bright hair, piercings and tattoo's may give off a don't even try me vibe, but underneath the sass and bravado, underneath the feisty and in control heroine is a young woman who's been burnt one too many times and is just trying to find a way she can navigate her life without ending up as someone's collateral damage.

"Here's the thing, Bodie. When I love, I don't do it halfway, I go all the way into the fire until it burns me up. It's obsessive. I lost myself once to someone else, and I'm not doing it again."

Penny's take on dating, is very clear, she doesn't date, she has short sexual entanglements and she moves on, before the guy can get attached and before she can go crazy, it's a simple rule that's been treating her well, her three hook up rule keeps everyone involved safe, and until she meets Bodie, her plan seems fool proof, when the hot blonde surfer catches her eye she's sure she can put her plan into action and walk away unscathed.

"Penny could take over the world if she wanted to. She could take me over. She kind of already had."

Bodie is tanned and toned to perfection, built in all the right places, with the face of a God and the worlds sexiest dimple he sets Penny's heart racing, chemistry in spades and an instant connection - everything about him screams to Penny's carefree, wild side, lust and attraction bubbling between them, but more than that Brodie is the ultimate nice guy, inherently good and decent, he see's beyond Penny's quirks, past her feisty attitude, to the young woman she hides underneath, he knows in the first meeting that she is exactly who he wants, if he can just figure out how to hold on to her long enough for her to see it too.

"But that was what Bodie did. He anticipated what I required and gave it to me, even when the gift was his silence. He cared for me without demand, without expectation."

Bad Penny is SEXY, and I mean balls to the wall, often times explicit sexy, and I'll be honest here, as my reading preferences have changed over the years I often find myself skimming my way through long or frequent sex scenes, feeling that it fails to propel the story forward and for me ends up feeling more like filler, and from the outset I suspected this book would be heavy on the sex, with Penny and her blatant sexuality I was concerned I'd find myself less engaged and  yet, I found myself so utterly invested in Penny's development and growth that I couldn't look away.

"You are the toughest chick I know, and the very last thing I expect from you is to let fear stop you from doing anything. Jump out the plane , Pen."

Undoubtedly the hero of this story is Penny, it's her journey from somewhat broken and flawed that absolutely grabbed me and demanded my attention. While I may not have always been able to connect with Penny and her behaviour, I inherently understood her fears and shared her pain, because at some point inside most of us lies that frightened girl, who has been burnt one too many times and is just trying to find a way to piece ourselves back together, the girl who refuses to apologise for how she healed herself and the decisions she's made to get where she is, and at the very heart of it, that's what made Penny so damn lovable and relatable, not her sass or bravado, not her wild at heart life mantra, nor her man eater ways, it's how truly unapologetic she is as she goes about her day to day life, it's the number of heartbreaks and dalliances with the crazy train she has endured and said f*ck it to the world, while pulling up her big girl panties and getting on with it. Bad Penny is laugh out loud funny, absolutely inappropriate at times in the best possible way, sinfully sexy while still maintaining that sweet edge, Hart shows her writing chops by delivering a story with the right amount of angst, commensurate to the age of the lead characters, ensuring nothing felt out of place or overdone, making Bad Penny utterly engaging and impossible to put down.

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 Facebook

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#1 Crush by T. Gephart

Blurb:

#1 Crush

Tia Monroe was smart, sassy and successful. Sure, she could get a little crazy at times—life around Tia was never boring—but that was part of her appeal. And while she didn’t see herself as ‘classically beautiful’, she had no shortage of options in the boyfriend department. She just hadn’t found one who held her interest.

Until she laid eyes on Eric Larsson, and then it was lust at first sight.

He packed the perfect mix of smoldering sexy and unapologetic cool into his blond-haired, blue-eyed, ridiculously hot six-foot-four frame. One smile from him was enough to twist her insides, making her girlie bits tingle in the most delicious way. But it wasn’t just his looks, he was smart and funny—charming in the most a-dork-able way.

The only problem was . . . Tia had never actually met him.

Eric Larsson was one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars, rising to the top of his game and leaving a trail of disintegrated panties in his wake. Tia’s were no exception—but she wasn’t delusional. Love, marriage and happily-ever-after were not part of her fantasy; she just wanted to meet him. Just one time. One time. Confident that just seeing him in the flesh would get him out of her system.

So, with her resolve steeled, Tia set off on a quest to make it happen while avoiding her mug shot being splayed across the five o’clock news.

The journey no doubt will make for one hell of a story.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2m3lwqW
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2krOfof
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2mlzViF
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2jZh7Di
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2kM7jOt
B&N: http://bit.ly/2kDhqEx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kX7whV
iBooks: http://apple.co/1tvo2pk

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

Before I tell you all about #1 Crush I feel the need to tell you a little known story, in year seven (the first year of high school for the non-Aussie's) I discovered David Duchovny, today's generation would know him as Hank from Californication, but back then DD or my future husband as I affectionately referred to him was Fox Mulder, he was half of the lead cast of The X Files and my God was he swoony... he was determined and single minded, he was searching for the truth and he was sexy AF! I adored him, his posters adorned my walls, his pictures covered my school diary and folder, I played the MATCH game with our names more times than I could count, hell myself and two of my friends probably could of started writing erotica with the crazy stories we came up with featuring our mutual love. Even now through his sexual addiction scandal and everything in between he still floats my boat if you know what I mean... you see we've all been there at one point. Or at least after showing you my crazy, I hope we've all been there, crushed on a singer or actor or someone we'd never have the slightest chance with, I mean sure David might have been my first, but through five live concerts for The Script I still try to convince everyone around me that there's a HUGE chance the lead singer Danny will see me in the crowd and fall madly in love with me, I mean sure it hasn't happened yet, but considering last time I touched his arm so we're getting closer, I have to hope for lucky number six.

"Not any crush either. Eric Larsson was my number one."

Now that I've thoroughly embarrassed myself, I can tell you about what you came here for, in #1 Crush Tia Monroe has a thoroughly indecent and unholy crush...obsession...lets just stick with crush on Hollywood A Lister Eric Larrson. He's well and truly out of her league in the sense that they run in two different worlds, that's not to say that Tia isn't a pretty rockin' lady, she's self sufficient, independent and under no false assumptions that she would meet and run off into the sunset with the object of her affection. Tia has been able to earn a decent living as a columnist for a New York paper and she's content, she's happy with where she is and has no real reason to complain.

"Think about it. I meet him, I see what an asshole he is and I move on with my life. Simple. Because we both know he’s going to be a disappointment.” Boom. Cured. It was brilliant."

Tia hatches a plan to meet her #1 Crush, with the goal to find out that he's a Hollywood jerk and finally get over her obsession over a night of heavy drinking with her bestie, I mean despite all the craziness involved what could possibly go wrong?? In true Gephart style what ensues is a wacky, wild ride as one woman gets everything she ever dreamt of. The author referred to #1 Crush as ridiculous and crazy, and I'll be honest, it is, it's so ridiculous that I found myself laughing my arse off, it's so crazy that it could almost actually happen, and it was so damn sexy that I found myself fanning my face as reality and one girls wild imagination collided in the best possible way. Instead of rolling my eyes or shaking my head, I was giddy for more, because while David and I were never meant to be, maybe there's a chance that the Tia's of this world might just have a chance with the Eric's and after all isn't that why we read romance in the first place?

"He’d stopped being my crush a while ago, and now he was my forever."

T. Gephart showed a new breadth to her talent with this release, while her previous books have had a comedic vibe, #1 Crush cemented her ability to write pure comedy, with a delicious sexy twist. Funny, engaging and impossible to put down this book left me giddy and overjoyed in a way very few have.

About T. Gephart:

T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.

T's approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.

With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.

While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have travelled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley the wonder dog.

An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident who didn't lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn't let it go.

T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colourful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey - she is well and truly enjoying the ride!

Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled.

Connect with T on Facebook

A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart

Blurb:

Sometimes your life is split by a single decision.

I’ve spent every day of the last seven years regretting mine: he left, and I didn’t follow. A thousand letters went unanswered, my words like petals in the wind, spinning away into nothing, taking me with them.

But now he’s back.

I barely recognize the man he’s become, but I can still see a glimmer of the boy who asked me to be his forever, the boy I walked away from when I was young and afraid.

Maybe if he’d come home under better circumstances, he could speak to me without anger in his voice. Maybe if I’d said yes all those years ago, he’d look at me without the weight of rejection in his eyes. Maybe if things were different, we would have had a chance.

One regretted decision sent him away. One painful journey brought him back to me. I only wish I could keep him.

*A contemporary romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion*

Find A Thousand Letters on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

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

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

Amazon Photobook: http://amzn.to/2kGG5JK

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

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

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: February 2017.

When Hart announced A Thousand Letters was inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion I was intrigued, modern retellings are part and parcel of my generation, who can forget Alicia Silverstone's modern take on Emma... it seems we revisited and revised many of the iconic literary greats over the years, and while some have been thoroughly enjoyable, others have missed the mark for me.

"I could heal him, but he would ruin me."

Hart's writing continues to go from strength to strength for me, resulting in A Thousand Letters being an emotionally charged, beautifully eloquent homage to one of the greats of romance. Wade and Elliot were once best friends and lovers, with dreams of conquering the world and trading their lives of obscurity for something far greater, but when demands were made, their plans for the future crumbled. Years apart, swamped with guilt and anger over their individual losses have altered the people they once were, when Wade has to return home under the most dire of circumstances, they are forced to address all that transpired all those years ago, when confronted with the pain of their past Wade and Elliot must decide if a second chance is what they need or if it's time to move on finally after all those years apart.

"Life is short, so short, so precious, every minute, every day. Don't let the people you love, the people who make you happy, the people who bring you joy —don't let them go. Hang on to them, even when it hurts. When it seems impossible. Hold on to the things that breathe life into you. Listen to your soul and honor what it tells you. Live. Fight for what you love."

There's a beauty in Hart's words, an eloquence that breathes life into everything she writes, there's that same beauty in her flawed and damaged characters, a resilience that must be admired, a quiet strength and tenacity that shines through, in A Thousand Letters the Author begs you to trust her to take a well loved favourite and give it a uniquely Staci feel, while I love her quirky humour, I absolutely adore her ability to create angst that never feels too much or overdone, it's in those quiet moments of exquisite prose that you find these rare gems of thoughtful and yet raw dialogue that leaves your heart thundering against your chest. If it's the author's job to make you feel, then Hart deserves a gold medal, it's impossible to not be moved by her words. Where other's have tried and failed, this inspired by story has absolutely hit the mark, leaving this sometime cynic clutching her chest, with the message of this beautiful story resonating so deeply within.

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 Facebook

The Dead Come Calling (The Wraith Files #2) by C.C. Wood

Blurb:

I'm Zoe Thorne and I speak to the dead. Unfortunately, dead isn't always synonymous with good-natured. In fact, most of the spirits I meet have dirty minds and a tendency to create mischief and mayhem.

For the past two months, I've been traveling with the cast of The Wraith Files, a paranormal investigation web show. Stony and Blaine are like the perverted, annoying brothers I never had. Our boss, Malachi Flemming, well, he makes my heart beat faster and my hormones dance.

During a break from filming, I've returned home to my resident ghost, Teri, an exotic dancer who died thirty years ago. I'm on a mission to find the man who murdered her and see that justice is served.

Preoccupied with my search for a killer, I'm unaware that something dark and twisted lies in wait for me. Not one, but two faceless entities intent on terrorizing me before moving in for the kill.

With unseen enemies shadowing my every move, it's time to discover how deep my abilities run. I need every bit of power I possess...or I'll be taking my place among the dead.

*This book contains a perverted ghost, two men who act like teenage boys, and lots of sarcasm.
Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

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

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

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

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2gBMvpR
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2hCAYUH
iBooks: http://apple.co/2fMG44r
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2h13Nyd

GPI's review of Don't Wake The Dead (Wraith Files #1)

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: December 2016.

As a self confessed non reader of the paranormal genre I always find myself at a bit of a loss with C.C. Woods books, there's something inherently special about her words, some magical culmination of her storylines, covers, and witty prose that have me so utterly invested that I can't put them down. The Wood Effect usually takes hold in the first chapters, it's in those initial pages that I forget about werewolves this and vampires that, it's when I don't even notice that a main character is a ghost, it's when I forget entirely that I have an aversion to the fantastical and just allow the Author to capture my imagination and take me wherever she pleases.

"I'm sick and tired of you using our working relationship as an excuse to deny our feelings for each other."

Right there is one of the many reasons I adore Wood's work, in between stories of fiction, some that absolutely profit on her ability to make believe is those brilliant reminders of the human condition. For those already introduced to the newest paranormal offering from Wood, you would of no doubt fondly remembered the slow burning chemistry of our hero and heroine. She created so wonderfully this smouldering connection between Mal and Zoe that it was palpable, you could feel it clawing it's way off the page, and yet much like it's predecessor, Don't Wake The Dead didn't rely on sexual intimacy to strengthen the story.

"I'm a man who knows what he wants and had the patience to wait for it."

I found myself devouring the pages, skimming in parts, not out of boredom but in desperation to know what came next, as the drama intensified, and the action increased I found myself restless and deliberately jumping ahead so I could get to the end quicker, for a usually fast reader, you can only imagine the utter excitement that was coursing through my veins as I absolutely devoured this book. Wood mixes her trademark wit with her ability to build tension perfectly here, Don't Wake The Dead was addictive, utterly impossible to put down. As Zoe frantically searched for Teri's murderer, and the pressure mounted, I found myself on the edge of the seat, yelling at my kindle like a childhood pantomime "look behind youuuuuuuu". Wood's latest offering was a breath of fresh air at a time when I find myself more and more underwhelmed by lackadaisical sex scenes that seem to only serve as filler. With a strong push toward character development and really crafting a story that I can't wait to continue, The Wraith Files has easily become one of my newest favourites.

  

About C.C. Wood:

A native Texan, C.C. grew up either reading or playing the piano. Years later, she’s still not grown up and doing the same things. Since the voices in her head never shut up, C.C. decided to share their crazy stories and started writing books.

Now that she has a baby girl at home, C.C.’s non-writing time is usually spent cleaning up poopy diapers or feeding the poop machine. Sometimes she teaches piano, cooks, or spends time bugging her hubby and two beagles.

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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.

Connect with Jay on Facebook

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!

Connect with Elle on Facebook

Roman Crazy (Broads Abroad #1) by Alice Clayton & Nina Bocci

Blurb:

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy, licking her wounds—and perhaps a gelato or two. But when her American-expat friend throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop when she sees a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello was the man—the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious! And so is Marcello…

Slipping easily into the good life of summertime in Rome, Avery spends her days exploring a city that makes art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over her unexpected what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could this really be her new life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twin-set cardigans and crustless sandwiches?


A celebration of great friendship, passionate romance, and wonderful food, Roman Crazy is a lighthearted story of second chances and living life to the fullest.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cW8kj5

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

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2co8WMv

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

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1m1OfIr

iBooks: http://bit.ly/2ckCglb

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: September 2016.

Alice Clayton has always been a must read author for me, her stories always captivate me with the perfect blend of swoon worthy romance, laugh out loud humor and sizzingly sexiness, falling somewhere between contemporary romance and chick lit, Clayton's prose eloquently invite the reader on a journey of sight, sound and smell, effortlessly evoking the senses in a whirlwind love affair with not only her characters but the world at large. Roman Crazy, not only cements Clayton's place amongst the best of the best but marks Nina Bocci's debut into authordom.

"Time apparently doesn't heal all wounds when it comes to proud Italian men."

Avery Bardot was once a wide eyed girl jet setting across the globe to study her passion, in those months in Barcelona she experienced the sights and sounds of young adulthood, of new love, of the kind of chemistry and attraction authors wax lyrical about in romance books, she lived a life many of us would envy with a carefree spirit synonymous with the young, and
then she returned home, changed forever, full of wide eyed optimism, but as is common for many of us, life happened. Granted not a horrible life, Avery's existence was filled with privilege, she wanted for nothing financially, and as a whole she convinced herself that she was content, happy even. It took walking in on her husband schtooping his administrative assistant to realise how much she had been fooling herself.

" My Marcello who could make me laugh and cry and gasp and sigh and feel all of the feelings that remind me I am part of this planet and experiencing good wonderful things as I was meant to? But, as quickly as I remembered all of the good things, I remembered everything else."

Setting her sights on Rome, supported by her best friend Daisy, Avery is ready to put herself first for the first time in almost a decade, what ensues is an adventure that delighted my foodie sensibilities, an adventure that set my heart racing as Avery crossed continents, and rediscovered who she is, and more importantly what she wants out of life. In a new country Avery is able to connect with the her surroundings in a way she hadn't been able to before, free of country club meetings and twin sets Avery discovers that the adage about the world being a small place is absolutely true, locking eyes with Marcello, the man that stole her heart all those years ago she's finally ready to revisit the choices she made once upon a time and the life those choices led to, and more importantly what the future holds for Avery now.

"You didn't end it. An ending has a finale. Come si dice, a resolution... You disappeared."

Roman Crazy was everything I expected and more, it was uproariously funny, it was scintillating and sexy, it was a feast for the senses that ensured I felt as though I was acquiring new stamps on my passport with Avery. It was every bit a European holiday, filled with excitement and exhilaration, a story about life and love and second chances, what's so special about Avery's journey is that there's that nugget of truth in her realisation for most of us, at one point or another we have found ourselves questioning whether the choices we've made were the right ones years later, hindsight is 20/20 and all that, having a second chance at life and love allows us to live vicariously through Avery's journey. Impossible to put down Roman Crazy left me with a sense of wanderlust only another dose of Clayton/Bocci magic can cure.

 

About the Authors:

Alice Clayton:

ALICE CLAYTON worked in the cosmetics industry for over a decade before picking up a pen (read laptop).

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

Now, about that Bernese Mountain dog.

Connect with Alice on Facebook

Nina Bocci:

Nina Bocci is a novelist, publicist, eternal optimist, unabashed lipgloss enthusiast, constant apologist, and a hopeless romanticist. She has too many college degrees that she’s not using, and a Lego addiction that she blames on her son.

Connect with Nina on Facebook